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This paper introduces a novel prototype for the removal of Pseudomonas from water samples. Bacterial cells have the tendency to get attracted towards specific chemicals (chemotaxis); a ‘honey-based trap’ (henceforth, addressed as ‘honey-trap’) strip was conceptualized by integrating a combination of serine, pseudomonas-specific chemoattractant and honey to attract and inhibit the bacteria in situ. Honey, a natural antimicrobial agent, has garnered the attention as an effective inhibitor for Pseudomonal biofilms and wound infections. Dipping serine side of the strip attracted bacteria towards honey-trap, whereby the porous nature of the strip facilitated the ‘trapping’ and subsequent diffusion of the bacterial cells towards honey-adsorbed end of the strip. This ‘honey-trap’ reportedly leads to the targeted elimination of Pseudomonas, hence facilitating its removal. The percentage efficacy of this ‘honey-trap’ device is 96% with a log reduction equivalent to 1.6 within a time frame of 2 h. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, although, not a natural contaminant of potable water, enters circulation due to improperly maintained plumbing fixtures and storage facilities. Honey-trap strip is an easy to use, biodegradable and cost-effective sustainable solution, and thus a scaled-up version of this device may enable substantial improvement in quality of potable water.Graphic abstractSchematics showing the preparation and working of the Pseudomonas Honey-trap. Serine as an attractant and honey as an inhibitor was absorbed on filter strips (HT) for use. The strip was dipped in culture from serine end. After different time period of incubation, difference in bacterial load was confirmed by measuring the electrical conductivity and OD600nm of the culture. Additionally, inhibitory effect of HS was confirmed by placing the strip incubated with culture on agar plates and differences in bacterial lawn were monitored. Removal of bacterial cells from the suspension was also confirmed using absorption spectroscopy.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) afflicts 850 million people worldwide, with an estimate that it is the 5th highest cause of years of life lost (YLLs). Standard confirmatory procedures for disease are blood and urine analysis with ultrasound for confirmation. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been established as a prognostic biomarker, especially for the pre-clinical stages of CKD, thus presenting itself as a dependable predictor of the progression. With the aim of designing diagnostics, fatty acids were explored as potential biorecognition elements for the selective capture of NGAL. Three fatty acids—linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and retinoic acid—were shortlisted as plausible candidates based on their known affinity toward lipocalin family proteins. Docking followed by molecular dynamics simulations were employed to evaluate the binding affinity and stability of each complex. Among them, linoleic acid exhibited the most favorable interaction, as evidenced by the lowest binding free energy. Subsequently, fluorescence and electrochemical techniques—square-wave voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)—were systematically compared for qualitative and quantitative checking of the accuracy of NGAL detection. Amongst the electrochemical techniques, differential pulse voltammetry DPV demonstrated superior analytical performance with an LOD of 0.05 ng/mL with a sensitivity of 23.2 µA/cm2/pg. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a fatty acid-based biosensor platform for NGAL detection, presenting a novel approach for CKD diagnostics. The sensitivity obtained is comparable with available NGAL detection methods yet cost-effective and robust.

Human milk is a complex liquid that contains multifaceted compounds which provide nutrition to infants and helps to develop their immune system. The presence of secretory immunoglobulins (IgA), leucocytes, lysozyme, lactoferrin, etc., in breast milk and their role in imparting passive immunity to infants as well as modulating development of an infant's immune system is well-established. Breast milk miRNAs (microRNAs) have been found to be differentially expressed in diverse tissues and biological processes during various molecular functions. Lactation is reported to assist mothers and their offspring to adapt to an ever-changing food supply. It has been observed that certain subtypes of miRNAs exist that are codified by non-human genomes but are still present in circulation. They have been termed as xeno-miRNA (XenomiRs). XenomiRs in humans have been found from various exogenous sources. Route of entry in human systems have been mainly dietary. The possibility of miRNAs taken up into mammalian circulation through diet, and thereby effecting gene expression, is a distinct possibility. This mechanism suggests an interesting possibility that dietary foods may modulate the immune strength of infants via highly specific post-transcriptional regulatory information present in mother's milk. This serves as a major breakthrough in understanding the fundamentals of nutrition and cross-organism communication. In this review, we elaborate and understand the complex crosstalk of XenomiRs present in mother's milk and their plausible role in modulating the infant immune system against infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer remains one of the leading variants of gynecological cancer with a high mortality rate. Feasibility and technical competence for screening and detection of epithelial ovarian cancer remain a major obstacle and the development of point of care diagnostics (POCD) may offer a simple solution for monitoring its progression. Cathepsins have been implicated as biomarkers for cancer progression and metastasis; being a protease, it has an inherent tendency to interact with Cystatin C, a cysteine protease inhibitor. This interaction was assessed for designing a POCD module. Methods: A combinatorial approach encompassing computational, biophysical and electron-transfer kinetics has been used to assess this protease-inhibitor interaction. Results: Calculations predicted two cathepsin candidates, Cathepsin K and Cathepsin L based on their binding energies and structural alignment and both predictions were confirmed experimentally. Differential pulse voltammetry was used to verify the potency of Cathepsin K and Cathepsin L interaction with Cystatin C and assess the selectivity and sensitivity of their electrochemical interactions. Electrochemical measurements indicated selectivity for both the ligands, but with increasing concentrations, there was a marked difference in the sensitivity of the detection. Conclusions: This work validated the utility of dry-lab integration in the wet-lab technique to generate leads for the design of electrochemical diagnostics for epithelial ovarian cancer.

The glycosyl hydrolase 18 (GH18) family consists of active chitinases as well as chitinase like lectins/proteins (CLPs). The CLPs share significant sequence and structural similarities with active chitinases, however, do not display chitinase activity. Some of these proteins are reported to have specific functions and carbohydrate binding property. In the present study, we report a novel chitinase like lectin (TCLL) from Tamarindus indica. The crystal structures of native TCLL and its complex with N-acetyl glucosamine were determined. Similar to the other CLPs of the GH18 members, TCLL lacks chitinase activity due to mutations of key active site residues. Comparison of TCLL with chitinases and other chitin binding CLPs shows that TCLL has substitution of some chitin binding site residues and more open binding cleft due to major differences in the loop region. Interestingly, the biochemical studies suggest that TCLL is an N-acetyl glucosamine specific chi-lectin, which is further confirmed by the complex structure of TCLL with N-acetyl glucosamine complex. TCLL has two distinct N-acetyl glucosamine binding sites S1 and S2 that contain similar polar residues, although interaction pattern with N-acetyl glucosamine varies extensively among them. Moreover, TCLL structure depicts that how plants utilize existing structural scaffolds ingenuously to attain new functions. To date, this is the first structural investigation of a chi-lectin from plants that explore novel carbohydrate binding sites other than chitin binding groove observed in GH18 family members. Consequently, TCLL structure confers evidence for evolutionary link of lectins with chitinases.

Gene specific DNA based sensors have potential applications for rapid and real time monitoring of hybridization signal with the target nucleic acid of pathogens. Different types of DNA based sensors and their applications have been studied for rapid and accurate detection of pathogens causing human diseases. These sensors are based on surface plasmon resonance, quantum-dots, molecular beacons, piezoelectric and electrochemical etc. Curbing epidemics at an early stage is one of the massive challenges in healthcare systems. Timely detection of the causative organism may provide a solution to restrain mortality caused by the disease. With the advent of interdisciplinary sciences, bioelectronics has emerged as an effective alternative for disease diagnostics. Gene specific DNA sensors present themselves as cost-effective, sensitive and specific platforms for detection of disease causing pathogens. The mini review explores different transducer based sensors and their potential in diagnosis of acute and chronic diseases.

Spices have been known for their various health activities; however, they also possess the allergic potential for the respiratory system and the skin as they are fine particulate matter. Persons involved in spice agriculture and food industries are at greater risk since they are exposed to a considerable amount of combustible dust, which may be the cause of fire and explosion and adversely affect the health. These workers may experience allergy, long-term and short-term respiratory issues including occupational asthma, dermatitis, etc. Some spices induce T cell-based inflammatory reaction upon contact recognition of the antigen. Antigen Presenting Cells (APC) on binding to the causative metabolite results in activation of macrophages by allergen cytokine interleukin (IL)-12 and tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF). Cross-reactivity for protein allergens is another factor which seems to be a significant trigger for the stimulation of allergic reactions. Thus, it was imperative to perform a systematic review along with bioinformatics based representation of some evident allergens has been done to identify the overall conservation of epitopes. In the present manuscript, we have covered a multifold approach, i.e., to categorize the spice particles based on a clear understanding about nature, origin, mechanisms; to assess metabolic reactions of the particles after exposure as well as knowledge on the conditions of exposure along with associated potential health effects. Another aim of this study is to provide some suggestions to prevent and to control the exposure up to some extent.