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Microscope is a device used for the visualization of tiny objects which are not visible to the naked eye. Traditional microscopes have been crucial for the advancement of contemporary science and medicine. Recent advancements in the field of microscopy have fueled its exponential growth rate. However, due to their expensive cost and complicated structure, modern microscopes remain inaccessible to the majority of the public. Nonetheless, the foldscope paper microscope has made it possible for anyone to explore and understand the world of microbes and organisms. In this review, we have listed foldscope-based research projects in various domains, as well as their key properties when compared to traditional research microscopes. In addition, we have briefly explored the impact of a foldscope microscope on public health, clinical diagnostics, forensic science, agriculture, basic science, developmental biology, and education. Moreover, the major drawbacks of paper microscopes and the current steps being taken to upgrade foldscope and its features are discussed in this review. Finally, we have concluded with our perspective that the microscope may be updated to imitate the advancement of a conventional microscope. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The foldscope, a low-cost instrument for studying the microscopic world. Foldscope applications were compared to conventional microscopes in many sectors. The foldscope microscope's existing limitations and potential prospects are highlighted.

Background: Earthworms are the most important soil invertebrate and have been used for exploring potent therapeutic agents. Perionyx excavatus (Perrier, 1872) is a tropical earthworm species widely used in vermicomposting worldwide, which has a prodigious regeneration capability. Objectives: This study was carried out to isolate fluorescence-emitting microbiota from the gut of earthworm, P. excavatus, and characterize the fluorophores along with finding the symbiotic association in regenerating worms. Methods: Gram staining was performed to selectively identify the fluorescence-emitting bacterial colonies and further confirmed using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing. Thin layer chromatography (TLC), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were carried out to separate and characterize the isolated fluorophores. Further, fluorescence microscopy was used to examine the autofluorescence property. Results: Gram staining results showed that the isolated fluorescence-emitting gut bacterium is Gram-positive and it is rod-shaped. Molecular characterization confirmed that the isolated fluorescence-emitting bacterium is Priestia filamentosa. Moreover, two fluorophores responsible for emitting fluorescence, known as unknown fluorescent compound 1 (CF1), and fluorescent compound 2 (CF2) were separated and partially characterized. Anti-inflammatory assays confirm that the fluorophores have very good anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, these fluorophores were expressed in the epithelial cell layer of earthworm, P. excavatus, during regeneration. Notably, bright, intense fluorescence was observed high in regenerating worms compared to control worms. Conclusions: Hence, these two fluorophores will be studied in-depth in the context of structural conformation, chemical composition, and functional characteristics for potential biotechnological applications.

Selenium is incorporated into the body via the selenocysteine biosynthesis pathway, which is critical in the synthesis of selenoproteins such as glutathione peroxidases and thioredoxin reductases. Selenoproteins, which play a key role in several biological processes including ferroptosis, drug resistance, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and epigenetic processes, are guided by selenium uptake. In this review, we critically analyze the molecular mechanisms of selenium metabolism and its potential as a therapeutic target for cancer. Selenocysteine ​​insertion sequence binding protein 2 (SECISBP2), which is a positive regulator for the expression of selenoproteins, would be a novel prognostic predictor and an alternate target for cancer. We highlight strategies that attempt to develop a novel selenium metabolism-based approach to uncover a new metabolic drug target for cancer therapy. Moreover, we expect extensive clinical use of SECISBP2 as a specific biomarker in cancer therapy in the near future. Of note, scientists face additional challenges in conducting successful research, including investigations on anti-cancer peptides to target SECISBP2 intracellular protein.

SARS-CoV2 is a single-stranded RNA virus, gaining much attention after it out broke in China in December 2019. The virus rapidly spread to several countries around the world and caused severe respiratory illness to humans. Since the outbreak, researchers around the world have devoted maximum resources and effort to develop a potent vaccine that would offer protection to uninfected individuals against SARS-CoV2. Reverse vaccinology is a relatively new approach that thrives faster in vaccine research. In this study, we constructed Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL)-based multi-epitope vaccine using hybrid epitope prediction methods. A total of 121 immunogenic CTL epitopes were screened by various sequence-based prediction methods and docked with their respective HLA alleles using the AutoDock Vina v1.1.2. In all, 17 epitopes were selected based on their binding affinity, followed by the construction of multi-epitope vaccine by placing the appropriate linkers between the epitopes and tuberculosis heparin-binding hemagglutinin (HBHA) adjuvant. The final vaccine construct was modeled by the I-TASSER server and the best model was further validated by ERRAT, ProSA, and PROCHECK servers. Furthermore, the molecular interaction of the constructed vaccine with TLR4 was assessed by ClusPro 2.0 and PROtein binDIng enerGY prediction (PRODIGY) server. The immune simulation analysis confirms that the constructed vaccine was capable of inducing long-lasting memory T helper (Th) and CTL responses. Finally, the nucleotide sequence was codon-optimized by the JCAT tool and cloned into the pET21a (+) vector. The current results reveal that the candidate vaccine is capable of provoking robust CTL response against the SARS-CoV2. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) is one of the deadliest diseases causing millions of deaths worldwide. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only vaccine that has been used in many countries where TB is prevalent. Despite vaccination, this disease prevails in many of the developing countries, necessitating the development of an effective vaccine against TB. Since M. tb acts as an intracellular pathogen, cell-mediated immune response plays an important role in disease control. Therefore, screening of CD8+ T cell epitopes of M. tb antigens could aid in the development of an effective vaccine against TB. In the current study, a reverse vaccinology approach was utilized to predict and map cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes in the virulent proteins that are also essential for M. tb. Materials and Methods: Database of Essential Genes and Virulence Factor Database were used for identifying the virulent proteins of M. tb and their antigenicity was assessed using VaxiJen server. Various immunoinformatics tools were used to predict MHC class I binding, MHC processing, immunogenicity, toxicity and allergenicity. Results: Twelve M. tb antigens were selected for the prediction analyses using various tools. The results indicated the presence of 20 novel CTL epitopes predicted against human HLA-A alleles. This study has also screened for multiple allele binding epitopes that could be used as a vaccine component. Conclusion: This study has yielded a few hitherto unreported CTL epitopes binding to class I HLA-A alleles. Further experimental validation is necessary for confirming their potential as vaccine candidates.

Plant viral diseases accounts for major global economic losses in modern-day agriculture. Plant viral disease management is the primary challenge for both farmers and researchers. Detection and identification of plant viruses are of paramount importance for successful management of a viral disease. Recent advancements in molecular biology have contributed to significant progress in the development of new, sensitive, and effective diagnostic methods. However, most techniques are neither time/cost-effective nor user-friendly and require sophisticated labs. Hence, the past few decades of agricultural research have mainly focused on developing farmer-friendly, point-of-care diagnostic tools that provide high-sensitive rapid diagnosis. The current trend in plant virus diagnostic tools is cheaper, easy-to-use portable devices with no compromise on sensitivity and reproducibility.

Aim: In silico approach was used to predict cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes from the proteome of all four dengue serotypes. Methods: The immune epitope database analysis resource was used to analyze the CTL epitopes of dengue serotypes. The prediction of epitopes was done against nine high frequency HLA class I alleles occurring worldwide. Results: A total of 2784 epitopes were predicted from all four dengue virus proteomes. Immune epitope database analysis resource tool predicted 202 epitopes as positive for immunogenecity. A total of 39 of 257 consensus epitopes predicted were present in all four serotypes. This study identified nine new class I-restricted epitopes. Conclusion: Mapping of these potentially immunogenic dengue epitopes paves the way for future investigation of their utility as vaccine candidates to prevent or treat dengue virus infections.

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is a widely used growth supplement in the in vitro culturing of animal and human cells, tissues and organs, notably due to the occurrence of abundant micro- and macronutrients, along with growth factors. Over the years, increasing demand, high price, batch-to-batch variability in quality and composition, increasing ethical concerns lead to the search for an alternative to FBS. Several approaches have been suggested and employed in the past, but none is implemented as widely as FBS, and each supplement has its own disadvantages. In this review, we described the importance of FBS in cell culture, discussed the issues associated with FBS use and presented the efforts made in the recent past to reduce or replace FBS. The potential of four different alternative sources to FBS, namely, bovine ocular fluid, sericin protein, human platelet lysate and earthworm heat inactivated coelomic fluid was evaluated. In the end, we present the conceptual perspective using the Human Platelet Lysate (HPL) and earthworm Heat Inactivated Coelomic Fluid (HI-CF) combination to alternate FBS and its context in scientific and economic impacts., Fetal bovine serum, Animal cell culture, Human platelet lysate, Coelomic fluid, Earthworm, Alternative to FBS

Computer tools for embodiment and detailed engineering design (computer-aided design (CAD)) evolved rapidly in the past 35 years and are now pervasive throughout the industry. But todays commercial CAD is geometry-centric, not appropriate for early stages of design when detailed geometry and dimensions are not known. This paper describes a framework and a set of interconnected tools for conceptual design. In this system, a broad range of intuitive and experiential concept generation methods have been operationalized and implemented as databases, artifact repositories, knowledge bases, and interactive procedures to promote divergent thinking. The so-called “Design Ideator” includes methods for flexible and dynamic design problem formulation, re-formulation, and restructuring in the form of hierarchical and re-configurable morphological charts. This tool has been continuously enhanced through three phases of user studies and feedback. The main contributions of this work are as follows. First, this research has created a holistic framework with interlaced knowledge bases from a wide range of methods, as opposed to past research that have relied on single experiential only method. Second, we have formulated algorithms to support several intuitive methods, such as contextual shifting, analogical reasoning, provocative stimuli, and combinatorial play.

Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is used as a major supplement in culturing animal cells under in vitro conditions. Due to ethical concern, high cost, biosafety, and geographical as well as batchwise result variations, it is important to reduce or replace the use of FBS in animal cell culture. The major objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of heat-inactivated coelomic fluid (HI-CF) of the earthworm, Perionyx excavatus as a possible alternative for FBS in animal cell culture experiments. The coelomic fluid (CF) was extruded from the earthworm using electric shock method and used for the experiments. Electric shock method is a simple non-invasive technique, which has no harmful effect on earthworms. Mouse primary fibroblast and HeLa cell lines were used in this study. Among HI-CF, autoclaved CF and crude CF, the supplement of medium with HI-CF shows positive results. The processed HI-CF (90°C for 5 min) at 10% supplement in cell culture medium promote maximum cell growth but cells need the initial support of FBS for the attachment to the culture flask. Microscopic observation and immunofluorescence assay with actin and lamin A confirm that the cellular and molecular morphology of the cells is maintained intact. The HI-CF of earthworm, P. excavatus has shown better cellular viability when compared with FBS and making it possible as an alternative supplement to minimize the use of FBS.

An immunoinformatics-based approach was used to identify potential multivalent subunit CTL vaccine candidates for SARS-CoV-2. Criteria for computational screening included antigen processing, antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity. A total of 2604 epitopes were found to be strong binders to MHC class I molecules when analyzed using IEDB tools. Further testing for antigen processing yielded 826 peptides of which 451 were 9-mers that were analyzed for potential antigenicity. Antigenic properties were predicted for 102 of the 451 peptides. Further assessment for potential allergenicity and toxicity narrowed the number of candidate CTL epitopes to 50 peptide sequences, 45 of which were present in all strains of SARS-CoV-2 that were tested. The predicted CTL epitopes were then tested to eliminate those with MHC class II binding potential, a property that could induce hyperinflammatory responses mediated by TH2 cells in immunized hosts. Eighteen of the 50 epitopes did not show class II binding potential. To our knowledge this is the first comprehensive analysis on the proteome of SARS-CoV-2 for prediction of CTL epitopes lacking binding properties that could stimulate unwanted TH2 responses. Future studies will be needed to assess these epitopes as multivalent subunit vaccine candidates which stimulate protective CTL responses against SARS-COV-2., Highlights • Immunoinformatics-based approach to identify potential CTL vaccine candidates for SARS-CoV-2 • 50 peptides predicted as CTL epitopes and to our knowledge, first comprehensive analysis of SARS-CoV-2 for CTL prediction • 18 of the 50 peptides lack predicted binding to class II MHC, property that could otherwise stimulate unwanted Th2 response

Objective: To predict the immunogenic epitopes from human papillomavirus (HPV) virus using matrix based computational tools. Methods: In the present study, three matrix based algorithms, SYFPETHI, BIMAS and RANKPEP were used to predict the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes of HPV 16 and 18. The ability of the peptides to bind HLA A_0201, a most common allele, was evaluated using these algorithms. High scoring peptides were considered as potential binders. Results: Evaluation of HPV 16 proteome resulted in the prediction of 249 peptides as potential binders. Out of these only 25 peptides were predicted as binders by all three algorithms. Analysis of HPV 18 predicted 215 peptides, as potential binders. Among the 215 peptides only 20 peptides were predicted as binders by all three algorithms. Conclusion: The efficacy of these peptides in inducing a stronger immune response needs to be tested using in vitro and in vivo assays. The identified epitopes could be used in designing a novel epitope vaccine for HPV.

In conceptual design, the ideation state of a designer changes over time. As the designer gets deeper insight, discovers hidden requirements and conflicts, finds poor fit between proto-solutions and requirements, he/she adjusts or abandons particular directions of investigation. Thus, there is a continual change in issue formulation and solution strategy. We have created an instrument which facilitates the capture of the sequence of search and solution strategies in association with ideation states. We term this history of an individual’s process in generating design concepts, the “Ideation Path”. Our instrument provides the designer access to a range of intuitive and experiential ideation methods and tools, such as TRIZ, Bio-mimetics, Physical Effects/Working Principles, Design Repositories and several others. Ideation states are characterized in terms of ideation blocks, such as fixation, and the current level of production or satisfaction with ideas generated (quantity, quality, variety, novelty). We hope to use this instrument in collecting data from large numbers of designers and problems, in order to assess the effectiveness of different methods and paths in generating creative solutions.

The long term aim of this research is to develop a framework for holistic ideation. Towards that goal, we are investigating the components of ideation (both logical and intuitive), characterization of ideation states, ideation blocks and strategies used to overcome such blocks. One of the major contributions of this research is the method by which the experiential and the intuitive ideation methods are interlaced together, to support both creativity and functional quality. Another important part of the framework is the identification of creativity blocks and investigation of matching ideation strategies most likely to facilitate progress. This framework will also be used as a research tool to collect large amount of data from designers about their choice of ideation strategies used, and their effectiveness.Copyright © 2011 by ASME