Search

Introduction: Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) has gained a lot of focus in today’s world owing to its wide usage in several industries. The hazardous effects of TiO2 and its nanoparticles are also slowly revealing. The need for a proper cure of these toxic effects is of utmost importance. Due to its few side effects, medicinal plants can be an efficient source of remedy but are least considered compared to synthetic medicines. Cinnamomum cassia and Azadirachta indica are the most common of such medicinal plants used extensively in Pakistan and India. In this study, we carried out experiments to know the toxic effects of TiO2 nanoparticles in kidneys using a murine model and observed the ameliorating effects of Cinnamomum cassia and Azadirachta indica on the toxicity of TIO2 nanoparticles. Methods: Rats were given a subcutaneous injection of TiO2 nanoparticles at the dose of 150mg/kg body weight for 28 days along with oral administration of Cinnamomum cassia and Azadirachta indica alone and in combination. Results and Discussion: Both Cinnamomum cassia and Azadirachta indica at doses of 100 or 150mg/kg reduced the toxic effects of TiO2 nanoparticles evident from reduced alterations in kidney histopathology and also decreased DNA damage. Conclusion: It was concluded that Cinnamomum cassia and Azadirachta indica showed remedial or healing effects against nephrotoxicity in rats exposed to TiO2 sublethal doses.

Acetic acid and furfural (AF) are two major inhibitors of microorganisms during lignocellulosic ethanol production. In our previous study, we successfully engineered Zymomonas mobilis 532 (ZM532) strain by genome shuffling, but the molecular mechanisms of tolerance to inhibitors were still unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the responses of ZM532 and its wild-type Z. mobilis (ZM4) to AF using multi-omics approaches (transcriptomics, genomics, and label free quantitative proteomics). Based on RNA-Seq data, two differentially expressed genes, ZMO_RS02740 (up-regulated) and ZMO_RS06525 (down-regulated) were knocked out and over-expressed through CRISPR-Cas technology to investigate their roles in AF tolerance. Overall, we identified 1865 and 14 novel DEGs in ZM532 and wild-type ZM4. In contrast, 1532 proteins were identified in ZM532 and wild-type ZM4. Among these, we found 96 important genes in ZM532 involving acid resistance mechanisms and survival rates against stressors. Furthermore, our knockout results demonstrated that growth activity and glucose consumption of mutant strains ZM532∆ZMO_RS02740 and ZM4∆ZMO_RS02740 decreased with increased fermentation time from 42 to 55 h and ethanol production up to 58% in ZM532 than that in ZM532∆ZMO_RS02740. Hence, these findings suggest ZMO_RS02740 as a protective strategy for ZM ethanol production under stressful conditions.

Ovary development is an important determinant of the procreative capacity of female animals. Here, we performed genome-wide sequencing of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs on ovaries of 1, 3 and 8 months old Hu sheep to assess their expression profiles and roles in ovarian development. We identified 37,309 lncRNAs, 45,404 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and 330 novel micro RNAs (miRNAs) from the transcriptomic analysis. Six thousand, seven hundred and sixteen (6716) mRNAs and 1972 lncRNAs were significantly and differentially expressed in ovaries of 1 month and 3 months old Hu sheep (H1 vs H3). These mRNAs and target genes of lncRNAs were primarily enriched in the TGF-β and PI3K-Akt signalling pathways which are closely associated with ovarian follicular development and steroid hormone biosynthesis regulation. We identified MSTRG.162061.1, MSTRG.222844.7, MSTRG.335777.1, MSTRG.334059.16, MSTRG.188947.6 and MSTRG.24344.3 as vital genes in ovary development by regulating CTNNB1, CCNA2, CDK2, CDC20, CDK1 and EGFR expressions. A total of 2903 mRNAs and 636 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in 3 and 8 months old ovaries of Hu sheep (H3 vs H8); and were predominantly enriched in PI3K-Akt, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, estrogen metabolism, ovulation from the ovarian follicle and oogenesis pathways. These lncRNAs were also found to regulate FGF7, PRLR, PTK2, AMH and INHBA expressions during follicular development. Our result indicates the identified genes participate in the development of the final stages of follicles and ovary development in Hu sheep.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are the most produced nanomaterial for food additives, pigments, photocatalysis, and personal care products. These nanomaterials are at the forefront of rapidly developing indispensable nanotechnology. In all these nanomaterials, titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the most common nanomaterial which is being synthesized for many years. These nanoparticles of TiO2 are widely used at the commercial level, especially in cosmetic industries. High usage in such a way has increased the toxicological consequences of the human population. Several studies have shown that TiO2 NPs accumulated after oral exposure or inhalation in the alimentary canal, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, cardiac muscle, and kidneys. Additionally, in mice and rats, they disturb glucose and lipid homeostasis. Moreover, TiO2 nanoparticles primarily cause adverse reactions by inducing oxidative stress that leads to cell damage, inflammation, genotoxicity, and adverse immune responses. The form and level of destruction are strongly based on the physical and chemical properties of TiO2 nanoparticles, which administer their reactivity and bioavailability. Studies give indications that TiO2 NPs cause both DNA strand breaks and chromosomal damages. The effects of genotoxicity do not depend only on particle surface changes, size, and exposure route, but also relies on the duration of exposure. Most of these effects may be because of a very high dose of TiO2 NPs. Despite increased production and use, epidemiological data for TiO2 NPs is still missing. This review discusses previous research regarding the impact of TiO2 NP toxicity on human health and highlights areas that require further understanding in concern of jeopardy to the human population. This review is important to point out areas where extensive research is needed; thus, their possible impact on individual health should be investigated in more details.

Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV) is a zoonotic flavivirus that represents the most significant etiology of childhood viral neurological infections throughout the Asia. During the last 20 years, JEV genotype dominance has shifted from genotype III (GIII) to genotype I (GI). To date, the exact mechanism of this displacement is still not known. Culex (Cx.) mosquitoes are the most common species in China and play an essential role in maintaining JEV enzootic transmission cycle. In this study, we used Cx. pipiens mosquitoes from China as an in vivo mosquito model to explore if mosquitoes played a potential role in JEV genotype shift. We exposed female Cx. pipiens mosquitoes orally to either GI or GIII JEV strains. Midgut, whole mosquitoes, secondary organs, and salivary glands of JEV-infected mosquitoes were collected at 7 and 14 days of post infection (dpi) and subjected to measure the infection rate, replication kinetics, dissemination rate and transmission potential of the infected JEV strains in Cx. pipiens mosquitoes by 50% tissue culture infective dose assay. We found that Cx. pipiens mosquito was competent vector for both GI and GIII JEV infection, with similar infection rates and growth kinetics. After the establishment of infection, Cx. pipiens mosquitoes disseminated both JEV genotypes to secondary organs at similar rates of dissemination. A few GI-infected mosquito salivary glands (16.2%) were positive for GI virus, whereas GIII virus was undetectable in GIII-infected mosquito salivary glands at 7 dpi. However, 29.4% (5/17) and 36.3% (8/22) were positive for GI- and GIII-infected mosquito salivary glands at 14 dpi, respectively, showing an increase in JEV positive rate. No statistical difference in the transmission rate between GI- and GIII-infected mosquitoes was detected. Our experiment data demonstrated that GI and GIII viruses have similar infectivity in Cx. pipiens mosquitoes, suggesting that Cx. pipiens mosquitoes from China may not play a critical role in JEV genotype shift. Although the current data were obtained solely from Cx. pipiens mosquitoes, it is likely that the conclusion drawn could be extrapolated to the role of mosquitoes in JEV genotype shift., Author summary Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) causes encephalitis and reproductive disorder in humans and pigs respectively, causing a serious impact on public health and pig industry. In nature JEV life cycle include both vertebrates (birds and pigs) as well as invertebrates (mosquitoes). Phylogenetic studies confirmed that JEV has five geographically and epidemiologically distinct genotypes (GI-V). Genotype III (GIII) was an endemic strain in Asia, but recently genotype I (GI) has displaced GIII as the most frequently isolated virus genotype. It is unclear if mosquitoes play a role in this genotype shift or not. Both genotypes are endemic in China and primarily transmitted by different species of Culex (Cx.) mosquitoes. Cx. Mosquitoes are the most common species in China and their role in this genotype shift was not studied previously. In the present study, we used Cx. pipiens mosquitoes from China as an in vivo mosquito model and challenged with GI and GIII JEV strains to explore if mosquitoes played a potential role in JEV genotype shift. Our investigation showed that GI and GIII viruses had similar infectivity in Cx. pipiens mosquitoes which highlighted that Cx. pipiens mosquitoes from China may not play a critical role in the genotype shift. Although the current data were obtained solely from Cx. pipiens mosquitoes, it is likely that the conclusion drawn could be extrapolated to the role of mosquitoes in JEV genotype shift.

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of aqueous-methanolic extract of Olax acuminata and Bauhinia accuminata leaves in normoglycemic and alloxan induced diabetic mice. For hypoglycemic study, normoglycemic mice were administered with varying doses of extracts and the optimal dose was selected for glucose tolerance test (GTT). For antihyperglycemic study, the optimal dose of extract was administered to diabetic mice and GTT was also performed. In addition, elements in the leaves of plants were also analyzed to relate the presence of elements to their anti-diabetic property. At the dose of 250 mg/kg b.w., O. acuminata leaves extract showed significant reduction in the blood glucose level in normoglycemic and diabetic mice while B. acuminata leaves extract showed significant reduction at 500 mg/kg b.w. Glucose tolerance was also improved in both normal and diabetic mice on administration of the extracts. The results were compared with those of insulin and metformin which were used as standard drugs. Elements found in the leaves of O. acuminata were Cu, Cr, Mn, Zn, Fe, V, Mg, K, C, Sr and P whereas B. acuminata leaves contain all the above elements except for V and Pb. These mention elements are widely known for regulating blood glucose level. The aqueous-methanolic leaves extract of both the plants demonstrates hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect, thus, could be promising plants in the treatment of diabetes.