ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND An increasing amount of research has led to the positioning of nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPK/NDK) as key metabolic enzymes among all organisms. They contribute to the maintenance the intracellular di- and tri- phosphate nucleoside homeostasis, but they also are involved in widely diverse processes such as gene regulation, apoptosis, signal transduction and many other regulatory roles. OBJETIVE Examine in depth the NDPKs of trypanosomatid parasites responsible for devastating human diseases (e.g., Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania spp.) which deserve special attention. METHODS The earliest and latest advances in the topic were explored, focusing on trypanosomatid NDPK features, multifunctionality and suitability as molecular drug targets. FINDINGS Trypanosomatid NDPKs appear to play functions different from their host counterparts. Evidences indicate that they would perform key roles in the parasite metabolism such as nucleotide homeostasis, drug resistance, DNA damage responses and gene regulation, as well as host-parasite interactions, infection, virulence and immune evasion, placing them as attractive pharmacological targets. MAIN CONCLUSIONS NDPKs are very interesting multifunctional enzymes. In the present review, the potential of trypanosomatid NDPKs was highlighted, raising awareness of their value not only with respect to parasite biology but also as molecular targets.
ABSTRACT
Nanocarriers for delivering active ingredients from Chinese materia medica play an important role in improving their solubility, membrane permeability and in vivo biological behavior, enhancing the therapeutic efficiency and reducing side effects. They are promising for extensive research and application. As novel nanocarriers, organic-inorganic hybrid nanocarriers composed of organic materials or carriers and inorganic parts possess the dual advantages of organic carriers and inorganic carriers. They may exert desirable action in drug delivery. In addition, they have been designed to improve the stability and biocompatibility, further increase the therapeutic efficiency and reduce side effects. They have also been investigated to achieve multi-functionality. In this paper, the research and application of organic-inorganic hybrid nanocarriers delivering active ingredients from Chinese materia medica were summarized and analyzed. The development and application prospect of organic-inorganic hybrid nanocarriers are prospected. The aim of this review is to provide a reference for the investigation of new drug delivery system for delivering active ingredients from Chinese materia medica efficiently and safely.
ABSTRACT
El rol monofuncional de la agricultura empresarial ha generado serios desequilibrios ambientales y socioculturales que comprometen su productividad futura. Una valoración de la multifuncionalidad de la agricultura en 18 sistemas tradicionales, ganaderos y de monocultivos, evaluados en la cuenca del río Guaguarco a partir de variables biofísicas, sociales, culturales, productivas y financieras, calificaron la agricultura tradicional como la más funcional, seguida de los sistemas ganaderos y de monocultivo. La capacidad de los agricultores para desplegar múltiples funciones en sus sistemas de finca constituye una estrategia para enfrentar las adversidades que ponen en riesgo su continuidad.
The monofunctional role of the business-oriented agriculture has generated serious environmental and socio-cultural imbalances that threaten its future productivity. An appraisal of agriculture's multifunctionality in 18 traditional farming systems, livestock farming and monoculture farming, evaluated at the Guaguarco river basin with biophysical, social, cultural, productive and financial variables, evaluated the traditional farming systems as the most functional followed by the livestock farming and monoculture farming. The farmer's capability to deploy multiple functions to their farming systems, constitute a strategy to face the adversities that put at risk continuity.