Bacterial resistance to antibiotics makes infections increasingly difficult to fight. In this context, the antimicrobial capacity of Lippia origanoides proved to be a relevant alternative. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the antibacterial activity of this essential oil against bacterial strains. This is a narrative review of the literature using the following guiding question: “Does Lippia origanoides essential oil have antimicrobial activity against bacterial strains?”. The descriptors “Lippia origanoides” and “Antimicrobial activity” were applied to the PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL) and Embase databases. The inclusion criteria were as follows: contain, whether in the title, abstract or body of the text, a relationship with the antibacterial activity of L. origanoides, and the possibility of accessing the full article. A total of 62 articles were found and 19 studies were chosen. A total of 13 bacteria were analyzed in the tests and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was as follows: Bacillus cereus (0.62 μL/mL), Bacillus subtilis (1.25 μL/mL), Staphylococcus aureus (1.25 - 60 μL/mL), Chromobacterium violaceum (0.37 μL/mL), Escherichia coli (0.15 - 60 μL/mL), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (240 μL/mL), Salmonella cholerasuis (30 μL/mL), Salmonella thypimurium (1.25 μL/mL) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (0.313 μL/mL). In Bifidobacterium breve and Lactobacillus acidophilus, the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was, respectively, 50 μL/mL and 3.135 μL/mL. In Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella enteritidis, there was only MIC₅₀ (concentration to inhibit 50% of the sample), specifically, 0.37 - 3.0 μL/mL and 0.37 μL/mL. In total, 27.3% of articles evaluated the antibiofilm capacity of L. origanoides, and the inhibition of biofilm formation reached more than 70% in E. coli and S. aureus. Lippia origanoides essential oil revealed antimicrobial activity in all studies. Ultimately, P. aeruginosa proved to be a strain that still requires further experimentation.

The development of coatings on medical-grade metallic supports, such as Titanium and 316L Stainless Steel, is crucial for enhancing biocompatibility, reducing degradation, and preventing infections in medical implants. In this sense, nanoparticles, ceramics, antibiotics, and synthetic and natural polymers have been included in the modification of implants. In this work, we present the development of hybrid coatings on medical-grade metallic substrates (Titanium II and 316L Stainless Steel) modified with a thin layer of a segmented polyurethane (Tecoflex 80A^(c)). For this, Anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles (nanotubes and spheres) as well as antibiotics (gentamicin sulphate and Nisin) are deposited via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) with water used as the solvent. Characterization of the obtained surfaces was carried out by SEM, contact angle, Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, EDX, AFM, and thermogravimetric measurements. The bio-functional properties of our samples were tested with fibroblasts and bacteria. The results demonstrate the formation of porous surfaces with embedded particles and antibiotics, both within the pores and on the surface itself. The viability assay reveals improved performance for EPD samples containing nisin and nanoparticles. Physicochemical characterization confirms the successful incorporation of antibiotics with nanoparticles. The antibacterial properties show similar inhibition for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria when gentamicin and nanoparticles are deposited compared to gentamicin alone.

Background: Mild TBI (mTBI) often presents with a cluster of cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms commonly referred to as post-concussion syndrome (PCS). As these symptoms are self-settling, they are often underestimated and left underreported, resulting in unexpected psychological disturbances in the long term. The present study aims to estimate the numerical value of biochemical marker S100B in identifying PCS symptoms and discriminating between good and bad outcomes three months later.

Methodology: The study subjects ranged between 18 and 72 years. On admission, serum concentrations of S100B were estimated by ELISA. The Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) estimated PCS symptoms on admission. The Rivermead Head Injury Follow-Up Questionnaire (RHFUQ) was used to assess the disability and recovery three months later. Correlation of S100B was analysed with every aspect of RPQ, and GOSE scores. All the statistical analyses were carried out using GraphPad Prism 9.1 and OriginPro 2024.

Results: S100B positively correlated with fatigue (r=0.41, p=0.08) and depression (r=0.33, p=0.04) symptoms in RPQ. The biomarkers exhibited significant differences in concentration concerning the presence/absence of PCS symptoms like headache, dizziness, and fatigue (Mann–Whitney p=0.001,0.04,0.02) and clinical presentations like vomiting and seizures (Mann–Whitney p=0.02, 0.01). S100B correlates with GOS-E outcome scores but not with RHFUQ scores during the 3-month follow-up.

Conclusion: The present study showed that S100B can detect PCS initially; however, its outcome prediction ability in terms of RHFUQ is limited

Halophiles are a class of extremophiles growing under salty environments. They have emerged as a valuable repository of many polyextremophilic enzymes finding diverse industrial applications. Enzymes used in industry must remain stable in challenging operating environments. In this context, the enzymes from extremophiles can be of great use because they are resistant to, and capable of catalysis under, extreme physical conditions. Halophilic enzymes show great potential for use in industrial applications that involve high salt or hypersaline conditions. Additionally, they have been optimized to function under polyextreme conditions, such as high pH and temperature, and the presence of hydrophobic solvents. Halophilic α-amylase from halophiles can find wide applications in starch processing, food industries, and saline starchy waste treatment. In this context, α-amylase from Marinobacter sp. EMB8 has been studied in detail, and its production, purification, characterization, and application in maltooligosaccharide synthesis have been carried out. Besides that, several halophilic amylases have been studied and characterized across the globe. Because of their polyextremophilicity, their use has been potentiated for maltooligosaccharide synthesis, detergent application, starch hydrolysis, and the bioremediation of starch- and solvent-containing wastes. Furthermore, halophiles are an ideal chassis for enzyme production through a cost-effective non-sterile fermentation approach. Due to their high salt demand for growth, they have been recognized as a natural option for non-sterile fermentation in recent years. Because non-sterile fermentation does not require sterilizing processes, it is easier to maintain, has a simpler bioreactor design, and is easier to operate than sterile fermentation. Salt inhibits the growth of non-halophilic/ mesophilic bacteria. Therefore, it is possible to synthesize the metabolites that are produced by halophiles using open, continuous fermentation procedures without any contamination. It turns out that producing α-amylase in non-sterile circumstances is cost-effective and a big step forward for their biotechnological application.

Introduction: Breast cancer, a prevalent global health concern, involves complex molecular mechanisms. SIRT1, a key protein involved in cellular regulation, exhibits altered expression in breast cancer. Its intricate mechanism includes influencing DNA repair, apoptosis, and cell survival pathways, contributing to breast cancer development and progression.

Objectives: We aimed to compare SIRT1 expression, assess variant patterns, and explore the association of SIRT1 polymorphisms with their expression and clinical staging of breast cancer.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study enrolled 172 breast cancer patients and 78 age-matched healthy females. Breast cancer patients were further divided into three groups based on their hormone receptor status: 76 hormone-positive patients (ER+ve, PR+ve), 20 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and 76 HER+ve cases. Blood samples were collected for DNA isolation and serum analysis. RFLP/Sequencing determined mutations, and ELISA quantified serum Sirtuin 1 levels. Ethical approval was obtained before conducting the study.

Results: Significantly elevated serum Sirtuin 1 levels were found in breast cancer patients compared to healthy females (p = 0.0027). Subgroup analyses revealed notable increases in HER-positive (p = 0.0001), hormone-positive (p = 0.0001), and TNBC groups (p = 0.0094) compared to the control group. However, no significant variations were noted across different breast cancer stages. The SIRT1 variant rs141528984 exhibited a significant association with breast cancer (p = <0.0001). The association of SIRT1 variants with clinical staging and breast cancer types did not show significant differences. Also, SIRT1 levels did not significantly vary with tumor grade, lymph node involvement, or metastasis. The proliferation marker Ki67 demonstrated a significant association (p = 0.0428) with the specific SIRT1 variants rs777323664, rs757804740, and rs1842828683. The association between SIRT1 gene polymorphisms and Sirtuin 1 levels did not show any significant difference either.

Conclusion: This study suggests that elevated Sirtuin-1 levels may serve as potential markers for breast carcinoma. The intricate relationships between SIRT1 expression, polymorphisms, and clinical staging warrant further investigation for comprehensive insights into breast cancer.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterized by neuronal degeneration and death. The appearance of aggregated forms of the Aβ42 peptide is a key biochemical marker indicating the possible initiation of the pathological cascade in Alzheimer's disease.

The goal of this study is to develop an approach for the early diagnosis of AD by detecting Aβ42 multimers in the blood and lymph.

We adapted the Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) method for the detection of Aβ42 aggregates in blood samples. One of the main challenges in using the PMCA method for detecting Aβ42 aggregates is that the synthesized or recombinant Aβ42 peptide spontaneously aggregates with high yield. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish spontaneous aggregation from aggregation induced by externally added aggregated Aβ42, e.g., from the patient’s samples.

Previously, using a yeast model, we identified mutations in human Aβ42 that reduce its aggregation propensity. In this study, we isolated and purified the wild-type Aβ42 and five recombinant Aβ42 variants with mutations that decrease Aβ42 aggregation via metal-affinity chromatography. We investigated the aggregation kinetics of these Aβ42 variants in the presence of thioflavin T using fluorometry. Currently, we are studying the aggregation kinetics of different Aβ42 variants in the presence of aggregated wild-type Aβ42.

We believe that our findings will help develop an effective system for detecting multimeric forms of the Aβ peptide in the blood at extremely low levels to be used as a biomarker for diagnosing AD before the onset of any clinical symptoms.

The authors acknowledge Saint-Petersburg State University for research project 95444727.

Actin is a key protein of the muscle contraction system. It is present in the cytoplasm, providing motor and framework function through polymerization into F-actin, as well as in the nuclei of all non-muscle cells, where most actin is present in a globular form and participates in processes related to the cell's genetic apparatus, including transcription and DNA repair. Actin interacts with a large number of proteins that form a whole class of actin-binding proteins. Since the functional role of nuclear actin differs significantly from the role of actin in the cell cytoplasm, the goal of this study was to compare the interactome of cytoplasmic and nuclear actin.

Using the BioGRID and StringDB databases, proteins that interact with actin experimentally confirmed were selected. Four groups of actin-binding proteins were identified depending on their cellular localization: only cytoplasm, only nucleus, and nucleus and cytoplasm, and others. The analysis of biological processes in the interactome showed that nuclear proteins participate in most key nuclear processes,from DNA damage response to transcription regulation, while cytoplasmic actin-binding proteins are involved in the formation, regulation, and functioning of the cytoskeleton. The analysis of the structure of actin-binding proteins showed a large proportion of internally disordered proteins, most of which are part of membraneless organelles (MLOs). It is known that proteins prone to liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) play a key role in the formation of MLOs. Interestingly, although significantly more nuclear proteins are prone to LLPS than cytoplasmic proteins (44% vs. 25%), the drivers of the formation of MLOs in the cytoplasm are significantly (four times) more than in the nucleus. From the pool of actin-binding proteins, 28 clusters were identified, within each of which proteins are capable of forming physical contacts with each other.

The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project No. 23-15-00494, IMK).

Introduction:

Depression is a very common psychological problem observed all around the world. Though various treatment modalities are available for this mental illness, further research is warranted to find novel therapeutics. Recent speculations on the role of adiponectin in animal models of depression have shown interesting results. Leptin is an adipokine that affects mood and cognition. Hence, the role of adiponectin and leptin in patients with depression needs to be probed.

Objective:

To estimate serum adiponectin and leptin concentration in depressive patients and compare them with healthy controls.

Methods:

This study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry and Psychiatry, VMMC, and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, following ethical clearance from our institution's Ethics Committee. Serum samples were taken from 30 severely depressive patients and 30 healthy controls subsequent to receiving written consent from the patients’ relatives. The samples were checked for serum adiponectin and leptin levels via QUAEE-BIO and a DBC ELISA kit. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0.

Results:

Cases and controls were age- and sex-matched. Serum adiponectin levels in the depression group were significantly higher than in the controls [Z = -2.18, p = .03]. Serum leptin levels in the depression group were not significantly different from that of the controls [Z = -.47, p = .64]. Also, there was no correlation between serum adipokine levels and the severity of depression. However, there was a significant difference in adipokine levels between sexes in the case group and in the whole study group (p=.000).

Conclusion:

The higher serum adiponectin levels in the case group are in contrast with previous studies, which found lower adiponectin levels in depression. This may be due to the effect of treatment in cases of depression; further large-scale studies should be carried out to elucidate the role of adiponectin in depression. The small study size and absence of data about pretreatment serum adiponectin levels are the major limitations of this study.

Introduction. Macrophages are cells of the innate immune system responsible for phagocytosis and antigen presentation. According to the modern concept of binary polarization, pro- (M1) and anti-inflammatory macrophages (M2) are distinguished. It is believed that M2 macrophages, by inhibiting the T-cell anti-tumor immune response and participating in tumor angiogenesis, can lead to tumor progression. On the other hand, M1 macrophages exert an anti-tumor effect through their participation in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The goal of this work was to develop a new method of cellular anti-tumor therapy based on M1 macrophages.

Methods. After analysis of M1 in vitro polarization transcriptomic data, the BIN1, Ido1, Asic1, Sosc3, Socs1, Irf4, Irf5 genes were selected for knockout. To form a stable pro-inflammatory phenotype, genetic modification of THP-1 cells based on the CRISPR/Cas system was carried out using lentiviral transduction. After transduction, infected THP-1 cells were sorted and their anti-tumor activity was tested in vivo and in vitro using various methods.

Results. Evaluation of knockout cells by real-time PCR showed a significant decrease in the expression level of the Asic1 gene. The use of infected knockout cells in a mouse model of breast cancer showed a decrease in tumor growth relative to control at one time point. Evaluation of Ki67 using immunohistochemistry analysis showed a significant decrease in Ki67+ cells in tumors treated with THP1 knockout cells. When analyzing surface markers of macrophages using flow cytometry in the group treated with knockout cells, we revealed a significant increase in marker CD45, monocyte marker CD11b, macrophage marker CD68 and the pro-inflammatory macrophage marker CD86.

Conclusions. The results obtained indicate the successful genetic modification of THP-1 to obtain a pro-inflammatory phenotype, and also suggest the effectiveness of M1-based cell therapy for tumor diseases. This work was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation [grant number 22-15-00241].

Cancer remains the leading cause of death due to a wide range of molecular mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is impaired proteostasis, which leads to the formation of amyloids, fibrillar proteins with an intermolecular cross-beta structure. Studies have shown that amyloids and amyloidogenic proteins are associated with tumor progression. For example, elevated levels of SAA amyloid in serum correlates with the development of lung, breast cancer, and melanoma. Similarly, the IAPP protein is associated with neuroendocrine tumors, and ODAM is associated with odontogenic tumors [1]. By using bioinformatics algorithms, we identified the amyloidogenic potential of five transcription factors involved in the pathogenesis of various cancers. Experimental testing of the amyloidogenic potential of these proteins in a yeast assay [2] partially confirmed the in silico data. The goal of this study was to further investigate the amyloid potential of these proteins in vitro. We employed the bacterial C-DAG production and export system [3] and/or purified recombinant proteins from E. coli with metal-affinity chromatography. For transcription factors that demonstrated amyloidogenic potential in bacteria, we analyzed their amyloid-like properties in human HEK293T cell culture. The results obtained in this study provide new insights into human proteins capable of forming amyloids and offer promising prospects for identifying potential targets for cancer therapy.

The authors acknowledge Saint-Petersburg State University for research project 95444727.

1. Kachkin еt al. Human RAD51 Protein Forms Amyloid-like Aggregates In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 23(19):11657.
2. Chernoff et al. Application of yeast to studying amyloid and prion diseases. Adv Genet. 2020;105:293-380.
3. Sivanathan, Hochschild. A bacterial export system for generating extracellular amyloid aggregates. Nat Protoc. 2013;8(7):1381-90.