Explore the vast range of titles available.

Polymeric micelles have gained interest as novel drug delivery systems for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer, as they offer several advantages over conventional drug therapies. This includes drug targeting to tumor tissue, biocompatibility and biodegradability, prolonged circulation time, enhanced accumulation, retention of the drug loaded micelle in the tumor and decreased side effects. This article provides an overview on the current state of micellar formulations as nanocarriers for anticancer drugs and their effectiveness in cancer therapeutics, including their clinical status. The type of copolymers used, their physicochemical properties and characterization as well as recent developments in the design of functional polymeric micelles are highlighted. The article also presents the design and outcomes of various types of stimuli-responsive polymeric micelles.

Soil contamination with organic pollutants is a growing environmental concern, with the FAO reporting that 80% of agricultural soils contain such residues. Industrial chemical production has doubled to 2.3 billion tonnes and is projected to increase by 85% by 2030, exacerbating the issue. Key pollutants include pesticides, pharmaceuticals, antimicrobials, and plastic residues, contributing to a 15–20% loss in agricultural productivity. In this context, rhizosphere-mediated remediation has gained significant attention for its potential to degrade organic contaminants. Rhizoremediation, when integrated with biochar application, not only enhances contaminant degradation but also supports plant and microbial growth due to biochar’s nutritive properties and its role in improving contaminant bioavailability. This review explores the synergistic interactions between plant–microbe systems and the role of biochar in accelerating the degradation of major organic contaminants, including crude oil, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), antibiotics, and organic dyes, aligning with circular bioeconomy principles. Additionally, meta-omics approaches such as metagenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics provide insights into active microbial communities involved in the rhizoremediation-biochar process. The efficiency of pollutant sorption and desorption is influenced by biochar’s chemical structure, composition, porosity, surface area, pH, elemental ratios, and functional groups. Therefore, this review also highlights the potential of engineered biochar for enhanced rhizoremediation while addressing challenges associated with its application, emphasizing the need for optimization strategies to mitigate any negative impacts. Furthermore, the exponential growth of the biochar market, valued at USD 2.05 billion in 2023, presents a promising opportunity for both global economic expansion and ecosystem restoration, underscoring the significance of biochar in sustainable environmental management.HighlightsBiochar application with rhizoremediation is a novel strategy for organic contamination remediation.Meta-omics technologies reveal degradation insights in rhizoremediation with biochar amendments.Bioengineered biochar improves eco-restoration strategies and promotes plant growth.The global biochar market can boost the circular economy and support sustainable restoration.

Reproductive traits and plant–pollinator interactions largely depend on seasonal weather conditions, which are species-specific. Turnera ulmifolia is an ornamental plant distributed worldwide. There is little information about plant species’ reproductive ecology and environmental factors’ impact on it. Here, we aimed to examine the effects of seasonal atmospheric factors (e.g., temperature, light, relative humidity, rainfall) and photoperiod on flowering, interactions with flower visitors, and the reproductive success of Turnera ulmifolia in West Bengal, India. Flowering intensity peaked in hot summers and dropped in cold winters, correlating positively with temperature and humidity. Flower opening and closing occurred earlier on hot days, while flower longevity increased in winter, showing a negative correlation with temperature and humidity. Pollen and ovule production were lower in cold weather, positively linked to temperature and humidity. The self-compatible plant was moderately dependent on pollinators and had no pollination deficit in open conditions. Visitor abundance, richness, and diversity varied season-wise, with higher values during spring–summer. Based on pollinating agents, the plant showed multiple pollination modes (e.g., melittophily, myophily, myrmecophily, and psychophily). Effective pollinators were Amegilla zonata, Borbo cinnara, Halictus acrocephalus, Nomia (Curvinomia) strigata, and Tetragonula iridipennis. The fruit set (%) did not differ significantly season-wise, but the seed set remained higher in the hot days of summer than in cold winter. Therefore, it can be concluded that atmospheric factors and photoperiod significantly impact floral traits, plant–pollinator interactions, and plant reproduction.

Anthropogenic activities and industrial effluents are the major sources of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in different environments. Microbe-based remediation techniques are known to be effective, inexpensive, and environmentally safe. In this review, the metabolic-target-specific pathway engineering processes used for improving the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated environments have been described. The microbiomes are characterised using environmental genomics approaches that can provide a means to determine the unique structural, functional, and metabolic pathways used by the microbial community for the degradation of contaminants. The bacterial metabolism of aromatic hydrocarbons has been explained via peripheral pathways by the catabolic actions of enzymes, such as dehydrogenases, hydrolases, oxygenases, and isomerases. We proposed that by using microbiome engineering techniques, specific pathways in an environment can be detected and manipulated as targets. Using the combination of metabolic engineering with synthetic biology, systemic biology, and evolutionary engineering approaches, highly efficient microbial strains may be utilised to facilitate the target-dependent bioprocessing and degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Moreover, the use of CRISPR-cas and genetic engineering methods for editing metabolic genes and modifying degradation pathways leads to the selection of recombinants that have improved degradation abilities. The idea of growing metabolically engineered microbial communities, which play a crucial role in breaking down a range of pollutants, has also been explained. However, the limitations of the in-situ implementation of genetically modified organisms pose a challenge that needs to be addressed in future research.

Background Rice-fallow agroecosystems face challenges such as poor soil fertility and low crop productivity. This study evaluates a multi-species bacterial consortium—comprising atypical rhizobia ( Pararhizobium giardinii , Ochrobactrum sp.) and non-rhizobial endophytes ( Serratia plymuthica , Serratia sp.)—for improving lentil cultivation in these soils. Multilocation field trials assessed its effects on plant growth, soil nutrients, microbial diversity, and nifH gene expression in nodules. The goal is to offer a sustainable, biologically based alternative to chemical fertilizers like diammonium phosphate (DAP), enhancing soil health and enabling lentil intensification on fallow land. Results In greenhouse pot experiments, the bacterial consortium increased lentil growth by 166% in sterile and 116% in non-sterile soils compared to the uninoculated control. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed enhanced root hair development in treated plants. Further, the consortium treatment modulated the root exudate profiles, which demonstrated higher concentrations of fatty acids, triterpenes, and methyl esters. This markedly affected the composition of the rhizosphere microbial population. The consortium facilitated a proliferation of beneficial taxa, including Mesorhizobium , Rhizobium , and Bradyrhizobium , enhancing synergistic microbial interactions associated with enhanced plant development. The bacterial treatment increased nifH gene expression inside root nodules and augmented leghemoglobin content by 275%. Field experiments at five rice-fallow sites exhibited enhancements in soil pH, organic carbon (16%), nitrogen (6.5%), phosphorus (8%), and enzymatic activity. Meta-transcriptomic analysis demonstrated a 200% augmentation in nifH expression inside the root nodules, in the plots treated with the consortium. 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed that the microbiota in the rhizosphere and nodules was predominantly composed of Pseudomonadota, with elevated numbers of rhizobia in both environments. Microbiome alterations correlated with a significant yield increase, with lentil grain output reaching 1168 kg/ha, surpassing both the uninoculated control and DAP treatment. Conclusions The study showed that a multi-species bacterial consortium of atypical rhizobia and non-rhizobial endophytes (NREs) improved plant growth and soil health in rice-fallow soils. It enhanced nifH gene expression in root nodules and altered root exudation, fostering a beneficial, plant growth-promoting microbial community. Importantly, these effects were achieved without chemical fertilizers, highlighting the consortium’s potential for sustainable lentil intensification on fallow land.

Glaciers cover a substantial portion of the world and are home to various biological populations. The Himalayas constitute the largest glaciated region outside the poles; hence, they are regarded as “The Third Pole” of the World. There are around 84 glaciers in the Teesta basin (Sikkim Himalaya). There is substantially less data available on the microbial diversity embedded in the glacial ice core samples of the Sikkim Himalaya, as well as their physico-chemistry and potential geomorphological hazards related to their retreat or decrease in snow-line cover. The present study aims to evaluate the microbial diversity in the glacier ice core region and the study area; therefore, two glaciers in the Sikkim Himalaya were chosen: Frey-Peak and Rathong Glacier. The bacterial diversity analysis reveals the prevalence of various phyla, including Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, Bacillota, and Bacteroidota. The random forest model reveals the significant contributions of various elements, including Na, Mg, K, Ca, and Zn, to the alpha diversity of the studied glaciers. Among physicochemical parameters, pH was found to contribute the most in shaping bacterial diversity. Cluster of Orthologous Groups (COG) analysis underscored a predominance of genes associated with amino acids (23.5%), carbohydrates (18.93%), lipids (10.88%), energy (17.26%), coenzymes (9.38%), and ion transport/metabolism (14.71%). KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) Orthology (KO) analysis revealed the presence of 4,915 to 96,954 genes. Interestingly, the metagenomic analysis revealed the presence of specific species of Bradyrhizobium , Beijerinckia , Burkholderia , and Corynebacterium , which are associated with nitrogen metabolism, suggesting their potential involvement in biogeochemical processes. Additionally, a total of 59 to 419 bacterial genes related to sulphur metabolism were deduced through the KEGG functional analysis. The study detected the presence of various antibiotic resistance genes corresponding to different classes of antibiotics, including aminoglycoside, tetracycline, fluoroquinolone, macrolide, and erythromycin. Network analysis reveals that antibiotic resistance genes primarily interact with the phyla Pseudomonadota, Bacillota, and Actinomycetota. The melting of glaciers, a significant effect of climate change, may release contaminants, antibiotic resistance genes, and pathogenic bacteria into free-flowing rivers, potentially impacting human health.

Biogas production from waste materials has emerged as a promising avenue for sustainable energy generation, offering a dual benefit of waste management and renewable energy production. The selection and preparation of waste feedstocks, including agricultural residues, food waste, animal manure, and municipal solid wastes, are important for this process, while the microbial communities are majorly responsible for bioconversions. This review explores the role of complex microbial communities and their functions responsible for the anaerobic digestion of wastes. It covers the crucial physiological processes including hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis, elucidating the microbial activities and metabolic pathways involved in the prospects of improving the efficiency of biogas production. This article further discusses the influence of recent progress in molecular techniques, including genomics, metagenomics, meta-transcriptomics, and stable isotope probing. These advancements have greatly improved our understanding of microbial communities and their capabilities of biogas production from waste materials. The integration of these techniques with process monitoring and control strategies has been elaborated to offer possibilities for optimizing biogas production and ensuring process stability. Microbial additives, co-digestion of diverse feedstocks, and process optimization through microbial community engineering have been discussed as effective approaches to enhance the efficiency of biogas production. This review also outlines the emerging trends and future prospects in microbial-based biogas production, including the utilization of synthetic biology tools for engineering novel microbial strains and consortia, harnessing microbiomes from extreme environments, and integrating biogas production with other biotechnological processes. While there are several reviews regarding the technical aspects of biogas production, this article stands out by offering up-to-date insights and recommendations for leveraging the potential of microbial communities, and their physiological roles for efficient biogas production. These insights emphasize the pivotal role of microbes in enhancing biogas production, ultimately contributing to the advancement of a sustainable and carbon-neutral future.

The cellular prion protein, designated PrPC, is a membrane glycoprotein expressed abundantly in brains and to a lesser extent in other tissues. Conformational conversion of PrPC into the amyloidogenic isoform is a key pathogenic event in prion diseases. However, the physiological functions of PrPC remain largely unknown, particularly in non-neuronal tissues. Here, we show that PrPC is expressed in lung epithelial cells, including alveolar type 1 and 2 cells and bronchiolar Clara cells. Compared with wild-type (WT) mice, PrPC-null mice (Prnp0/0) were highly susceptible to influenza A viruses (IAVs), with higher mortality. Infected Prnp0/0 lungs were severely injured, with higher inflammation and higher apoptosis of epithelial cells, and contained higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) than control WT lungs. Treatment with a ROS scavenger or an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase (XO), a major ROS-generating enzyme in IAV-infected lungs, rescued Prnp0/0 mice from the lethal infection with IAV. Moreover, Prnp0/0 mice transgenic for PrP with a deletion of the Cu-binding octapeptide repeat (OR) region, Tg(PrPΔOR)/Prnp0/0 mice, were also highly susceptible to IAV infection. These results indicate that PrPC has a protective role against lethal infection with IAVs through the Cu-binding OR region by reducing ROS in infected lungs. Cu content and the activity of anti-oxidant enzyme Cu/Zn-dependent superoxide dismutase, SOD1, were lower in Prnp0/0 and Tg(PrPΔOR)/Prnp0/0 lungs than in WT lungs. It is thus conceivable that PrPC functions to maintain Cu content and regulate SOD1 through the OR region in lungs, thereby reducing ROS in IAV-infected lungs and eventually protecting them from lethal infection with IAVs. Our current results highlight the role of PrPC in protection against IAV infection, and suggest that PrPC might be a novel target molecule for anti-influenza therapeutics.

Prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by prions, which consist mainly of the abnormally folded isoform of prion protein, PrPSc. A pivotal pathogenic event in prion disease is progressive accumulation of prions, or PrPSc, in brains through constitutive conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein, PrPC, into PrPSc. However, the cellular mechanism by which PrPSc is progressively accumulated in prion-infected neurons remains unknown. Here, we show that PrPSc is progressively accumulated in prion-infected cells through degradation of the VPS10P sorting receptor sortilin. We first show that sortilin interacts with PrPC and PrPSc and sorts them to lysosomes for degradation. Consistently, sortilin-knockdown increased PrPSc accumulation in prion-infected cells. In contrast, overexpression of sortilin reduced PrPSc accumulation in prion-infected cells. These results indicate that sortilin negatively regulates PrPSc accumulation in prion-infected cells. The negative role of sortilin in PrPSc accumulation was further confirmed in sortilin-knockout mice infected with prions. The infected mice had accelerated prion disease with early accumulation of PrPSc in their brains. Interestingly, sortilin was reduced in prion-infected cells and mouse brains. Treatment of prion-infected cells with lysosomal inhibitors, but not proteasomal inhibitors, increased the levels of sortilin. Moreover, sortilin was reduced following PrPSc becoming detectable in cells after infection with prions. These results indicate that PrPSc accumulation stimulates sortilin degradation in lysosomes. Taken together, these results show that PrPSc accumulation of itself could impair the sortilin-mediated sorting of PrPC and PrPSc to lysosomes for degradation by stimulating lysosomal degradation of sortilin, eventually leading to progressive accumulation of PrPSc in prion-infected cells.

Intercropping is practiced in modern intensive agriculture considering many benefits, including additive crop yield. However, it may have competitive or facilitative interactions between pollinator-dependant crops. Here, we investigated the reproductive aspects of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan). We assessed the influence of blooming pigeonpea on pollinator’s assemblage and the yield of neighbouring non-leguminous crops (e.g., coriander, mustard). For these, we recorded floral visitors and the yield of the targeted crops from two types of fields―closely situated and distantly situated concerning pigeonpea plantation. Pigeonpea is autogamous, but pollinator’s visits enhance fruit and seed sets. Bright, nectariferous flowers emitted several volatile organic compounds and were visited by numerous insect species. The prime pollinators of pigeonpea are carpenter bees and leafcutter bees. In contrast, halictidae, honeybees and stingless bees mainly pollinate the co-blooming non-leguminous crops (coriander and mustard). The richness and abundance of pollinators on these co-blooming crops remain similar in closely situated and distantly situated fields. As a result, the yield of the neighbouring crops is not significantly influenced by the blooming pigeonpea. Therefore, it can be concluded that planting pigeonpea in ridges of agricultural fields will be an additional agricultural output without affecting the assemblage of pollinators and yields of neighbouring co-blooming crops.