The futuristic applications of transition metal dichalcogenides for cancer therapy

The second-most common cause of death resulting from genetic mutations in DNA sequences is cancer. The difficulty in the field of anticancer research is the application of the traditional methods, which also affects normal cells. Mutations, genetic replication alterations, and chromosomal abnormalities have a direct impact on the effectiveness of anticancer drugs at different stages. Presently, therapeutic techniques utilize nanotechnology, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), and robotics. TMDCs are being increasingly employed in tumor therapy and biosensing applications due to their biocompatibility, adjustable bandgap, versatile functionality, exceptional photoelectric properties, and wide range of applications. This study reports the advancement of nanoplatforms based on TMDCs that are specifically engineered for responsive and intelligent cancer therapy. This article offers a thorough examination of the current challenges, future possibilities for theranostic applications using TMDCs, and recent progress in employing TMDCs for cancer therapy. Currently, there is significant interest in two-dimensional (2D) TMDCs nanomaterials as ultrathin unique physicochemical properties. These materials have attracted attention in various fields, including biomedicine. Due to their inherent ability to absorb near-infrared light and their exceptionally large surface area, significant efforts are being made to prepare multifunctional nanoplatforms based on 2D TMDCs.     

Fallacies of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy in detecting sentinel node in breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is one of the three methods of evaluating sentinel nodes in patients with breast cancer; however, it has been reported to have a high false negative rate. CASE PRESENTATIONS: We report here two cases where the preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was found to be fallacious. A 44-year-old female with T2N0 breast cancer underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy with Tc99 sulfur colloid which failed to show any uptake in axilla or internal mammary chain. Intraoperative scintigraphy with blue dye and hand held gamma probe identified sentinel lymph node in axilla. Another patient with T2N0 lesion underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy which showed a sentinel lymph node in axilla and another in supraclevicular fossa. Intraoperative scintigraphy failed to show supraclevicular node however axillary node was correctly identified. CONCLUSION: These two cases further strengthen the need to carry out triple test in identification of sentinel lymph node in patients with breast cancer. It also demonstrates the fallacies of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy.     

<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">L</Emphasis>(+)-Lactic Acid Production Using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus Casei</Emphasis> in Solid-State Fermentation

Lactobacillus casei was grown at 37 °C on sugarcane bagasse (5 g) soaked with cassava starch hydrolysate (final moistening volume 34 ml) containing 3 g reducing sugar in a solid-state condition. The maximum yield of l-lactic acid after various process optimisations was 2.9 g/5 g initial substrate corresponding to 97% conversion of sugar to lactic acid with initial substrate moisture of 72%.     

Comprehensive miRNome and in silico analyses identify the Wnt signaling pathway to be altered in the diabetic liver

Aberrant microRNA expression patterns underlie the pathogenesis of diverse diseases, however in a disease as complex as diabetes where the liver exhibits deregulations of normal metabolic processes, the status and role of microRNAs are not yet completely understood. In a step towards unraveling this correlation, we assessed the global microRNA expression profiles in the control and diabetic (db/db) mice liver. These db/db mice were on a C57BLKS/J background and they exhibit diabetic phenotypes that are remarkably similar to those in humans. microRNA microarray profiling revealed 11 miRNAs to be up-regulated and 2 to be down-regulated in the db/db mice liver. Predicted targets of these differentially expressed microRNAs were retrieved from miRanda and TargetScan and the maximum number of commonly predicted targets mapped onto the Wnt signaling pathway that is otherwise conventionally associated with organogenesis and development. Towards validation of this prediction, we found that major components of the Wnt signaling pathway are inhibited in the db/db mice liver. A significant number of these down-regulated genes of the Wnt signaling pathway are predicted targets to the up-regulated miRNAs and specifically our results show that miR-34a and miR-22 decreased the protein levels of their targets. Overexpression of miR-34a and miR-22 and also inhibition of Wnt signaling using specific inhibitors led to increased lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Our data suggest that the Wnt signaling pathway could contribute towards the deregulated hepatic behavior in these animals and an altered hepatic miRNA signature could be playing a regulatory role herein.     

Proteogenomic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by high resolution mass spectrometry

The genome sequencing of H37Rv strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was completed in 1998 followed by the whole genome sequencing of a clinical isolate, CDC1551 in 2002. Since then, the genomic sequences of a number of other strains have become available making it one of the better studied pathogenic bacterial species at the genomic level. However, annotation of its genome remains challenging because of high GC content and dissimilarity to other model prokaryotes. To this end, we carried out an in-depth proteogenomic analysis of the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain using Fourier transform mass spectrometry with high resolution at both MS and tandem MS levels. In all, we identified 3176 proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis representing ~80% of its total predicted gene count. In addition to protein database search, we carried out a genome database search, which led to identification of ~250 novel peptides. Based on these novel genome search-specific peptides, we discovered 41 novel protein coding genes in the H37Rv genome. Using peptide evidence and alternative gene prediction tools, we also corrected 79 gene models. Finally, mass spectrometric data from N terminus-derived peptides confirmed 727 existing annotations for translational start sites while correcting those for 33 proteins. We report creation of a high confidence set of protein coding regions in Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome obtained by high resolution tandem mass-spectrometry at both precursor and fragment detection steps for the first time. This proteogenomic approach should be generally applicable to other organisms whose genomes have already been sequenced for obtaining a more accurate catalogue of protein-coding genes.     

Conceptualizing "suicidal genetically engineered microorganisms" for bioremediation applications

Use of genetically modified microorganisms (GEMs) for pollution abatement has been limited because of risks associated with their release in the environment. Recent developments in the area of recombinant DNA technologies have paved the way for conceptualizing "suicidal genetically engineered microorganisms" (S-GEMS) to minimize such anticipated hazards and to achieve efficient and safer bioremediation of contaminated sites. Our strategy of designing a novel S-GEM is based on the knowledge of killer-anti-killer gene(s) that would be susceptible to programmed cell death after detoxification of any given contaminated site(s).     

Synthesis, molecular modeling and bio-evaluation of cycloalkyl fused 2-aminopyrimidines as antitubercular and antidiabetic agents

An economical and efficient one step synthesis of a series of 8-(arylidene)-4-(aryl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-quinazolin-2-ylamines and 9-(arylidene)-4-(aryl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-cycloheptapyrimidin-2-ylamines by the reaction of bis-benzylidene cycloalkanones and guanidine hydrochloride in presence of NaH has been developed. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv strain and the α-glucosidase and glycogen phosphorylase enzymes. Few of the compounds have shown interesting in vitro activity with MIC up to 3.12 μg/mL against M. tuberculosis and very good inhibition of α-glucosidase and glycogen phosphorylase enzymes. The most potent non toxic compound 40 exhibited about 58% ex vivo activity at MIC of 3.12 μg/mL. The present study opens a new gate to synthesize antitubercular agents for diabetic TB patients. In silico docking studies indicate that mycobacterial dihydrofolate reductase is the possible target of these compounds.     

Designing B‐ and T‐cell multi‐epitope based subunit vaccine using immunoinformatics approach to control Zika virus infection

The Zika virus is a rapidly spreading Aedes mosquito‐borne sickness, which creates an unanticipated linkage birth deformity and neurological turmoil. This study represents the use of the combinatorial immunoinformatics approach to develop a multiepitope subunit vaccine using the structural and nonstructural proteins of the Zika virus. The designed subunit vaccine consists of cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte and helper T‐lymphocyte epitopes accompanied by suitable adjuvant and linkers. The presence of humoral immune response specific B‐cell epitopes was also confirmed by B‐cell epitope mapping among vaccine protein. Further, the vaccine protein was characterized for its allergenicity, antigenicity, and physiochemical parameters and found to be safe and immunogenic. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies of the vaccine protein with the toll‐like receptor‐3 were performed to ensure the binding affinity and stability of their complex. Finally, in silico cloning was performed for the effective expression of vaccine construct in the microbial system (Escherichia coli K12 strain). Aforementioned approaches result in the multiepitope subunit vaccine which may have the ability to induce cellular as well as humoral immune response. Moreover, this study needs the experimental validation to prove the immunogenic and protective behavior of the developed subunit vaccine.