Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"The significant role of IL-15, IL-22, IL-37, and caspase 9 in polycystic ovary syndrome: A case-control study in a sample of Iraqi women","authors":"Noor A. Mohammed ,&nbsp;Ghassan M. Sulaiman ,&nbsp;Hazima M. Alabassi ,&nbsp;Khalil A.A. Khalil ,&nbsp;Elsadig M. Ahmed","doi":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100462","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100462","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study aims to evaluate the significant role of interleukin 15 (IL-15), IL-22, IL-37, and Caspase 9 gene expression in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), focusing on the underlying mechanisms and potential diagnostic or therapeutic implications. Peripheral blood has been collected, and serum was separated for the evaluation of the serum IL-15, IL-22, and IL-37. The ELISA technique has been carried out to determine the serum levels of understudied factors mentioned above in Iraqi women patients diagnosed with PCOS (No. = 90) via a specialized gynecologist and healthy fertile women (No. = 48) as a control group. In addition, a genetic study on the expression of the caspase 9 gene in these patients had been performed. The data reveals statistically significant differences in interleukin levels in PCOS patients versus the control group. Specifically, the PCOS group exhibits significantly higher levels of IL-15 and IL-22 as compared to the control group<em>.</em> Conversely, the PCOS group shows significantly lower levels of IL-37 compared to the control group. The results showed no statistically significant difference in the mean expression of the Caspase 9 gene when comparing these fold graduations. However, it’s worth noting that a higher fold frequency was observed in both the PCOS and control groups, with 57.1 % and 60 %, respectively, having folds less than 1. The distribution of folds varied across other categories was also addressed. Additionally, there was a notable difference in the frequency of 11.4 % in the PCOS group compared to 2 % in the control group for folds greater than 9. The findings suggest that interleukins, particularly IL-22 and IL-37, hold promise as diagnostic markers for distinguishing PCOS from healthy conditions. However, the potential diagnostic utility of the Caspase 9 gene expression was not confirmed in this study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"Article 100462"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143128826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mitochondrial genetic markers based phylogenetic analyses of Hyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae)","authors":"Aman D. Moudgil,&nbsp;Anil K. Nehra","doi":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100460","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100460","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The hard tick <em>Hyalomma dromedarii</em>, a vector for numerous animal and human pathogens, was investigated for genetic diversity using the mitochondrial cytochrome <em>C</em> oxidase subunit I (<em>cox I</em>) and 16S ribosomal RNA (<em>16S rRNA</em>) genes. <em>Hyalomma dromedarii</em> sequences (n = 11 <em>cox I</em>; n = 7 <em>16S rRNA</em>) were deposited in GenBank (LC761179-89, LC761173-78, LC654692), showing 99.52–100 % (<em>cox I</em>) and 98.15–100 % (<em>16S rRNA</em>) similarity to existing GenBank sequences. Phylogenetic analysis revealed monophyletic clades for <em>H. dromedarii</em> sequences from this study and GenBank. Haplotype network analysis identified 34 and 11 haplotypes for the <em>cox I</em> and <em>16S rRNA</em> genes, respectively, displaying stellate configurations. The overall <em>cox I</em> dataset showed very low nucleotide diversity (0.0019 ± 0.0002) and high haplotype diversity (0.535 ± 0.052). In contrast, the <em>16S rRNA</em> gene dataset displayed low nucleotide (0.00211 ± 0.00071) and haplotype (0.351 ± 0.079) diversities. Neutrality tests showed significant negative values (Tajima’s D, Fu and Li’s D, and Fu and Li’s F), indicating recent population expansion or selective sweep. Pairwise F_<em>ST</em> values (−0.00942 to 0.02007 for <em>cox I</em>; −0.04878 to 0 for <em>16S rRNA</em>) suggested non-significant genetic differentiation between populations, supported by high gene flow (Nm) values. This study provided novel insights into <em>H. dromedarii</em> population genetics, revealing recent expansion, weak population differentiation, and high gene flow. These findings have implications for understanding the tick’s evolutionary history and epidemiological significance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"Article 100460"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143128822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and optimization of in vitro shoot regeneration in Physalis peruviana using cotyledon explants","authors":"Raúl Vargas ,&nbsp;Carmen N. Vigo ,&nbsp;Lily Juarez-Contreras ,&nbsp;Manuel Oliva-Cruz","doi":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100463","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100463","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genetic improvement of <em>Physalis peruviana</em> L. faces important challenges because it is a recalcitrant species, which limits its use in breeding and conservation programs. In the present research, the objective was to develop an effective regeneration protocol using cotyledon cultures. For this purpose, the effects of zeatin (ZT) and <em>meta</em>-topoline (mT) at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/L and the effects of several auxins, including indolbutyric acid (IBA), indolacetic acid (IAA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.4-D), on morphogenetic responses were evaluated. A maximum regeneration of 62.5 % was achieved with the combination of 2 mg/L ZT, 2 mg/L mT, and 0.5–1 mg/L IBA. For root formation, the best results were obtained with the combination of 2 mg/L ZT, 2 mg/L mT, and 1 mg/L NAA, reaching a maximum rate of 87.5 %. In conclusion, specific combinations of cytokinins and auxins can overcome the resistance of <em>P. peruviana</em> to regeneration and provide a solid basis for biotechnological applications such as genetic transformation and germplasm conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"Article 100463"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143128886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comprehensive in silico genome-wide identification and characterization of SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein (SBP) gene family in Musa acuminata","authors":"Israt Jahan Mouri ,&nbsp;Md. Shariful Islam","doi":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100461","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100461","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>One of the largest and most significant transcription factor gene families in plants is the SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein (<em>SBP</em>) gene family and they perform critical regulatory roles in floral enhancement, fruit development, and stress resistance. The <em>SBP</em> protein family (also known as <em>SPL</em>) has not yet been thoroughly studied in the staple fruit crop, banana. A perennial monocot plant, banana is essential for ensuring food and nutrition security. This work detected 41 <em>SBP</em> genes in the banana species <em>Musa acuminata</em>. The <em>MaSBPs</em> were subsequently elucidated by investigating their gene structure, chromosomal position, RNA-Seq data, along with evolutionary connections with Arabidopsis and rice. Sequence alignment of <em>MaSBPs</em> revealed that all genes included a domain of two Zn finger motifs (CCCH and CCHC motifs) with an overlapping nuclear localization signal region. The conserved motifs sequence in the inferred <em>MaSBP</em> proteins were quite comparable. According to findings, the time frame of divergence for duplicated <em>MaSBP</em> gene pairs ranged from 42.39 to 109.11 million years and the dicot Arabidopsis and monocotyledonous plant banana diverged before the division of banana and monocot rice. Moreover, <em>cis</em>-acting element and GO annotation analysis exhibited possible biological activities of <em>MaSBPs</em> in flower development, phytohormone regulation, and stress tolerance. RNA-Seq expression profiling exhibited that genes <em>MaSBP</em>-3, <em>MaSBP</em>-20, <em>MaSBP</em>-37, <em>MaSBP</em>-40 were more expressed during floral and fruit development stage. The foundation for additional investigation of <em>SBP</em> protein sequences in other plants can be laid out by this study, which will shed light on some of their crucial biological functions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"Article 100461"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143128888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comparative study on antioxidant properties, total phenolics, total flavonoid contents, and cytotoxic properties of marine green microalgae and diatoms","authors":"Umme Tamanna Ferdous ,&nbsp;Armania Nurdin ,&nbsp;Saila Ismail ,&nbsp;Khozirah Shaari ,&nbsp;Zetty Norhana Balia Yusof","doi":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100456","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100456","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite having valuable and novel metabolites, the marine microalgae species are still not thoroughly investigated for their pharmaceutical and nutraceutical importance. Therefore, this study was focused on investigating the crude extracts of marine green microalgae species, <em>Tetraselmis</em> sp., <em>Nannochloropsis</em> sp., and diatoms <em>Chaetoceros</em> sp., and <em>Thalassiosira</em> sp., isolated from the Malaysian coastal region in terms of their antioxidant activity, total phenolics, total flavonoid contents and cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cells, MCF-7. Among twenty-eight crude extracts, <em>Tetraselmis</em> ethanol and ethyl acetate extract showed the highest amount of total phenolic (19.87 mg GAE/g), and total flavonoid content (38.58 mg QE/g of extract), respectively. From the antioxidant assays, methanol and ethyl acetate extract of <em>Tetraselmis</em> sp. exhibited significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) antioxidant activities, revealed through DPPH (54.41 ± 1.18 mg Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity or TEAC/g extract) and ABTS (41.57 ± 0.83 mg TEAC/g extract) radical scavenging activities, respectively than the rest. Ethyl acetate extract of <em>Tetraselmis</em> sp. also showed high ferric reducing power (113.46 ± 4.83 mg TEAC/g extract). On the contrary, methanol and ethyl acetate extract of <em>Chaetoceros</em> sp. showed the highest cytotoxicity towards MCF-7 and reduced the cell viability to 21.26 % and 21.56 %, respectively. The data suggest that marine diatom <em>Chaetoceros</em> sp. has a good cytotoxic effect on MCF-7, while marine green microalga <em>Tetraselmis</em> sp. has good radical scavenging and ferric reduction capabilities, warranting further investigation along with their metabolic profiling, cancer cell killing mechanism and extensive <em>in vivo</em> study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"Article 100456"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143093281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Screening and genomic evaluation of keratinolytic protease producing Chryseobacterium sp. from tannery waste and its potential application in dehairing of goat skin","authors":"Taslima Akter ,&nbsp;Murshed Hasan Sarkar ,&nbsp;Shashanka Shekhar Sarker ,&nbsp;Nourin Tarannum ,&nbsp;Showti Raheel Naser ,&nbsp;Sanjana Fatema Chowdhury ,&nbsp;Sahana Parveen","doi":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lime and Na₂S, used in dehairing in the tannery industry, cause the generation of toxic wastes. Ecological security and financial issues demand a look for innovative approaches to leather dehairing free from pollution. The primary goal of this investigation was to explore keratinolytic protease producing bacteria from tannery waste, their genomic evaluation and to assess their possible use in the dehairing process. A newly isolated Gram-negative bacterium (LRI-TA6) was characterized and checked for its keratinolytic protease producing ability. The strain was identified as <em>Chryseobacterium cucumeris</em> through whole genome sequencing. The genome was 4,541,898 bp in size and contain 4,426 protein coding sequences (CDS) with 36.38 % of GC content. Twenty-five open reading frames (CDS) were found as protease producing genes notably DegQ (serine protease), DegS, and ATP-dependent protease DP (EC 3.4.21.-). The isolate revealed enzyme production throughout an extended pH range of 5.0 to 8.0, and a broad temperature range of 10 °C to 38 °C. The isolate LRI-TA6 was sensitive to all five antibiotics (amoxicillin, tetracycline, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and vancomycin) with zone diameter ranges from 17.2 ± 0.8 to 32 ± 0.0 mm. The enzyme was shown to have 29.9 ± 6.7 and 83.6 ± 0.2 U/ml of keratinolytic and proteolytic activity, respectively. By employing crude keratinase, the removal of hair from goat skin was accomplished in 18 h. This study is the first report to isolate and characterize <em>C. cucumeris</em> from tannery waste and also the amazing 18 h dehairing capabilities and thus might be utilized for further studies towards commercial synthesis of keratinase for use in leather processing sectors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"Article 100458"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143128887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Process optimization and extraction of alkaline protease from halotolerant Streptomyces sp. VITGS3 and its use as a contact lens cleaner","authors":"Gargi Sarkar,&nbsp;K. Prem Anand,&nbsp;M.A. Jayasri,&nbsp;K. Suthindhiran","doi":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100459","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100459","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Marine halotolerant actinobacteria are robust microbes poorly explored and barely cultivable in nature. They are a trove of various secondary metabolites and enzymes, especially the alkaline proteases withstanding higher temperatures, pH, and salinity, making them an ideal source with versatile commercial and therapeutic values. This study focuses on extracting and optimizing alkaline protease production from <em>Streptomyces</em> sp. VITGS3 isolated from Puthuvypeen, Kerala. The protease production was optimized by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) using the Box-Behnken model, which used rice bran, wheat bran, skim milk, and casein as substrates. The maximum protease was produced (357 U/mL) using wheat bran (5.5 % w/v) as substrate at pH 9 and incubated at 45 °C for 9 days. The Michaelis-Menten model’s enzyme kinetics exhibited a K_m value of 1.42 µM, a V_max of 201.64 µM·min⁻¹, V₀ of 5.59 µM·min⁻¹, and K_cat 70013.89 min⁻¹ suggesting a higher affinity of the enzyme for the substrate (1 % w/v casein). In addition, the protease was inhibited by the phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF), suggesting it belongs to the serine protease family. Finally, the application studies as contact lens cleaners showcased that the isolated protease effectively degraded the protein deposits present in the artificial tear solution without affecting the light transmittance. This is a milestone in the implication of protease on therapeutic applications and further studies on protein specificity, sustained releases, and combination strategies, resulting in crucial challenges in long-term studies, cross-reactivity, storage, and cost-effectiveness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"Article 100459"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143128889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the molecular activity of HIV towards the CD4: A study based on subtype C via docking and dynamics approach","authors":"Saurav Kumar Mishra ,&nbsp;Neeraj Kumar ,&nbsp;Zsolt Tóth ,&nbsp;Yousef A. Bin Jardan ,&nbsp;Shopnil Akash ,&nbsp;John J. Georrge","doi":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100457","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100457","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a critical global health issue caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It has different strains and subtypes; among these, Subtype C accounts for higher infection rates than others. Despite its high prevalence, the molecular interactions with host receptors, specifically CD4, have not yet been explored.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study investigates the molecular interactions between HIV subtype C and the CD4 receptor via docking and dynamics approach. Four HIV targets were examined, and their structure was modelled. Subsequently, these models were docked with the CD4 to analyze their binding interaction. The stability was examined over 200 simulations via Desmond software, and trajectories were analyzed, followed by Root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), and the radius of gyration (Rg), PCA (principal component analysis), etc., to assess their stability and interaction dynamics.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The four target structures were modelled, and their quality was validated. Further, the docking analysis with CD4 revealed that the Envelope glycoprotein has −13.6 kcal/mol, protease has −11.2 kcal/mol, Reverse transcriptase has −12.4 kcal/mol, and integrase has −13.1 kcal/mol binding affinity towards it, followed by the number of hydrogen bond, such as 9, 6, 11, 6. The simulation over 200 ns demonstrated that the average RMSD for each complex started stabilizing within the 0.9 Å − 3.4 Å, followed by 25–50 ns, whereas the RMSF, Rg and PCA revealed the relative compactness and flexibility varied across different viral targets.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The study successfully identified the interactive residues of HIV subtype C toward the CD4 receptor. The binding affinities and stability data provide valuable insights into Subtype C’s molecular interactions with the host, and these findings underscore the potential for developing treatments that disrupt these interactions to combat HIV more effectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"Article 100457"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143128891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Telomeric RNA quadruplexes as targets for cancer prevention: The therapeutic potential of agonodepsides","authors":"Gourav Choudhir ,&nbsp;Sushil Kumar ,&nbsp;Mohammad Shahid ,&nbsp;Anas Shamsi ,&nbsp;Asimul Islam","doi":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100454","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cancer remains an awful challenge, despite years of targeting proteins to control its relentless growth and spread. Fungal metabolites, a treasure of natural chemicals, offer a glimmer of hope. Telomeres, the cellular “caps,” are a focal point in cancer research. This study explores the potential of stabilizing Telomeric Repeats-containing RNA G-quadruplex (TERRA G4) structures within telomeres. This stabilization could block telomerase, the enzyme that repairs telomeres, and potentially trigger cancer cell death. Agonodepsides A and B, two promising fungal metabolites, were chosen to investigate this exciting possibility.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Agonodepside A and B were initially screened for drug likeness employing SwissAdme. AutoDock Vina was used for molecular docking, and ligands and TERRA G4 were prepared using PyRx and MGL tool. Discovery Studio software was utilized for the visualization of interactions between ligands and TERRA G4. For validation of docking results MD simulation for control and complexes was carried out for 250 ns and trajectories were analyzed for different parameters. MMPBSA was used to calculate binding free energy for control and complexes. To find the stable and lower energy states of complexes in comparison to control principal component analysis (PCA) and free energy landscape (FEL) were conducted.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of both agonodepsides followed Lipinski’s rule of five with zero violation. Molecular docking revealed several key interactions including hydrogen bonds, van der Waals interactions, π-alkyl and π-anion. MD simulation revealed that Agonodepside A interact with TERRA G4 and stabilize it while Agonodepside B interactions were transient. The MMPBSA binding free energy calculation, PCA and free energy landscapes supported the docking and MD simulation results.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Lichenized fungi produce agonodepsides A and B, may fight cancer by targeting telomeres. Agonodepside A binds more strongly to telomeres than B, potentially blocking enzyme telomerase. Further studies are required to validate these findings and evaluate potential safety concerns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"Article 100454"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143128892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-throughput screening of natural antiviral drug candidates against white spot syndrome virus targeting VP28 in Penaeus monodon: Computational drug design approaches","authors":"Md. Touki Tahamid Tusar ,&nbsp;Zubaer Hossen ,&nbsp;Hafizur Rahman Gazi ,&nbsp;Niamul Haq ,&nbsp;Abdullah-Al Jubayer ,&nbsp;Md Mahmudul Islam ,&nbsp;Asura Khanam Lisa ,&nbsp;Biswanath Sikdar ,&nbsp;Md. Enamul Haque","doi":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100455","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100455","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), considered the deadliest pathogen impacting Penaeid shrimp (<em>Penaeus monodon</em>), remains worrisome for the global shrimp industry due to its extreme virulence and mortality rate of up to 100%. To date, there has been no breakthrough in effective antivirals or vaccines that can mitigate the financial damage caused by the pathogen. The distinctive structure of VP28 facilitates its role as a trimer, serving as the primary envelope protein of WSSV. It anchors to the viral envelope, directly interacts with PmRab7, a membrane protein in <em>P. monodon</em>, and aids in entry into the host. This research aims to discover antiviral drug candidates targeting VP28 trimer by screening a virtual library of 187 bioactive compounds derived from the medicinal herbs <em>Azadirachta indica</em> and <em>Bacopa monnieri</em>. To evaluate the drug ability of compounds in restricting VP28 trimer interaction within the endocytic pathway, a computational strategy was employed, including virtual screening, pharmacokinetics and toxicity analysis, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The four strongest compounds, epicatechin, luteolin, kaempferol, and apigenin, exhibited binding affinities of −8.8, −8.8, −8.7, and −8.5 Kcal/mol, respectively, and demonstrated excellent pharmacokinetic properties. Furthermore, we employed 100 nanoseconds MD simulations and MM-PBSA binding free energy calculations to examine intermolecular interactions and confirmed the structural stability of the compounds at the VP28 binding site. The findings of this research suggest that these compounds hold promise in combating WSSV infection, reducing economic losses, and contributing to the sustainability of the shrimp industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"Article 100455"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143093284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}