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Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu) is a bacterial pathogen that infects wheat and barley. Copper, with its unique redox properties, acts as an essential micronutrient, which plays important role in the bacterial physiology and virulence. The current study is based on a systematic computational approach to identify the copper-binding proteins of Xtu and propose their probable role in Xtu 's pathogenesis. We found that ∼0.9% of the Xtu proteome contains copper-binding sequence motifs. A total of 12 putative copper-binding proteins were shortlisted which could play important role in pathogen-host interactions. Out of these 12 proteins, three are considered to be putatively secretory in nature based on the in silico analysis. The identified copper-binding proteins may play imperative roles in cellular metabolism, transport, protein folding, response to oxidative stress, transcription regulation, and cell signaling. This study will further assist towards the understanding of the copper homeostasis in Xtu and the probable roles of copper-binding proteins in plant-pathogen interactions. Image 1 • Approximately 0.9% proteome of Xtu has copper binding motifs. • Cysteine, histidine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid are the commonly interacting amino acid residues with copper ion(s). • A total of 12 proteins were found to be critical for the plant-pathogen interactions. • Copper-binding proteins perform diverse range of biological and molecular functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistant starch (RS) also known as healthy starch has shown several health benefits. Enhancing the RS through genetic modification approaches has huge commercial importance. Regulatory RNA like long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays an important role in gene regulation. In this study, we mined 63 transcriptome datasets of wheat belonging to 35 genotypes representing two seed developmental stages. Contrasting expression of a subset of lncRNAs in RS mutant lines compared to parent wheat variety 'C 306' signifies their probable role in RS biosynthesis. Further, lncRNA- TCONS_00130663 showed strong positive correlation (r2 = 1) with LYPL gene and strong negative correlation with SBEIIb (r2 = −0.94). We found TCONS_00130663 as positive regulator of LYPL gene through interaction with miR1128. Based on relative expression, in silico interaction and DSC analysis we hypothesize the dual role of TCONS_00130663 in RS type 2 and type 5. The study provides a useful resource for functional mechanism of lncRNAs. • 443 lncRNA were identified in wheat grain through in-silico prediction. • Contrasting expression of lncRNAs signifies their role in resistant starch (RS) biosynthesis. • TCONS_00130663 interacting with mir-1128 possibly regulates LYPL gene for lipid biosynthesis. • Strong correlation of TCONS_00130663 with SBEIIb and LYPL suggesting its possible role in RS2 and RS5 formation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the occurrence and evolution of antibiotic and multidrug resistance in bacteria most of the existing remedies are becoming ineffective. The pan-proteome exploration of the bacterial pathogens helps to identify the wide spectrum therapeutic targets which will be effective against all strains in a species. The current study is focused on the pan-proteome profiling of zoonotic pathogen Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ott) for the identification of potential therapeutic targets. The pan-proteome of Ott is estimated to be extensive in nature that has 1429 protein clusters, out of which 694 were core, 391 were accessory, and 344 were unique. It was revealed that 622 proteins were essential, 222 proteins were virulent factors, and 42 proteins were involved in antibiotic resistance. The potential therapeutic targets were further classified into eleven broad classes among which gene expression and regulation, transport, and metabolism were dominant. The biological interactome analysis of therapeutic targets revealed that an ample amount of interactions were present among the proteins involved in DNA replication, ribosome assembly, cellwall metabolism, cell division, and antimicrobial resistance. The predicted therapeutic targets from the pan-proteome of Ott are involved in various biological processes, virulence, and antibiotic resistance; hence envisioned as potential candidates for drug discovery to combat scrub typhus. • Scrub typhus is neglected zoonotic disease which infects more than one million people across the globe. • Pan-proteome of Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ott) is estimated to be extensive in nature and rich in core proteins. • The analysis of Ott pan-proteome helps in the identification of potential therapeutic targets. • The predicted proteins envisioned as potential candidates for designing antimicrobial agents to combat scrub typhus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]