Cubosomes as versatile lipid nanocarriers for neurological disorder therapeutics: a comprehensive review.

Cubosomes are novel vesicular drug delivery systems with lipidic liquid crystal nanoparticles formed of predetermined proportions of amphiphilic lipids. They have a honeycomb-like structure and are thermodynamically stable. These bicontinuous lipid layers are separated into two water-based channels internally that can be used by various bioactive substances, including drugs, proteins, and peptides. This complex structure is responsible for its high drug-loading capacity. Cubosomes are thought to be promising vehicles for various routes of administration because of their extraordinary characteristics, including bioadhesion, the capacity to encapsulate hydrophilic, and hydrophobic, as well as amphiphilic substances, high resistance to environmental stress, and their ability to achieve controlled release through modification. One of the essential elements for improving patient compliance is the ability of these well-defined nano-drug delivery systems to boost the effectiveness of targeting while lowering the side effects/toxicities of payloads. The large internal surface area, a sufficiently uncomplicated fabrication procedure, and biodegradability make it an attractive nano lipid carrier for drug delivery. This review outlines the recent advancement of cubosomes for managing various neurological disorders, highlighting their potential in this field.

Distribution and antibiotic resistance of vibrio population in an urbanized tropical lake-the Vembanad-in the southwest coast of India.

Among the diverse Vibrio spp. autochthonous to coastal ecosystems, V. cholerae, V. fluvialis, V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus are pathogenic to humans. Increasing sea-surface temperature, sea-level rise and water-related disasters associated with climate change have been shown to influence the proliferation of these bacteria and change their geographic distribution. We investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of Vibrio spp. in a tropical lake for 1 year at a 20-day interval. The abundance of Vibrio spp. was much higher during the south-west monsoon in 2018, when the lake experienced a once-in-a-century flood. The distribution of Vibrio spp. was influenced by salinity (r = 0.3, p < 0.001), phosphate (r = 0.18, p < 0.01) and nitrite (r = 0.16, p < 0.02) in the water. We isolated 470 colonies of Vibrio-like organisms and 341 could be revived further and identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Functional annotations showed that all the 16 Vibrio spp. found in the lake could grow in association with animals. More than 60% of the isolates had multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index greater than 0.5. All isolates were resistant to erythromycin and cefepime. The proliferation of multiple antibiotic-resistant Vibrio spp. is a threat to human health. Our observations suggest that the presence of a diverse range of Vibrio spp. is favoured by the low-saline conditions brought about by heavy precipitation. Furthermore, infections caused by contact with Vibrio-contaminated waters may be difficult to cure due to their multiple antibiotic resistances. Therefore, continuous monitoring of bacterial pollution in the lakes is essential, as is the generation of risk maps of vibrio-infested waters to avoid public contact with contaminated waters and associated disease outbreaks.

Characterization of pyomelanin secreted by Shewanella sp. and their application in metal recovery.

Melanin is a biopolymer with versatile structural and functional properties and diverse applications in recovering toxic chemicals from water and wastewater, biomedical imaging, and as theragnostic agent. We report the structural characterization and biosynthetic pathway of an extracellular pyomelanin secreted by a sponge-associated bacterium, Shewanella sp. (Shewanella-melanin), and their potential application in metal recovery from liquid. Pyomelanin particles of > 50 µm size were found in the culture medium within 48 h of growth, which were formed through the self-polymerization of benzoquinone molecule produced through homogentisic acid pathway. The aspC and hppD genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of pyomelanin were detected in the whole genome sequence of Shewanella sp. The FT-IR spectra of Shewanella-melanin, at ~ 3300-3420 cm-1 corresponding to the stretching vibration of -NH and -OH, was in good agreement with that of Sepia melanin, while its elemental composition (C/N/H/S of 29.2:8.23:6.41:1.58) was unique. Shewanella-melanin showed ~ 300 and ~ 950 times increased chelation of manganese and iron from a liquid medium supplemented with 2 mM of MnSO4 and FeSO4, respectively, compared to a control. The FT-IR spectrum showed the binding of metal ions to the carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, and amine groups of Shewanella-melanin. The Shewanella-melanin, with its excellent metal biosorption, could be a potential candidate for removing toxic compounds from water, in turn contributing to the fulfillment of sustainable development goal (SDG) 6.

Draft Genome Sequence of Shewanella indica Isolated from a Marine Sponge (Callyspongia diffusa).

The draft genome sequence of Shewanella indica strain MMRF542, which was isolated from a marine sponge (Callyspongia diffusa), is reported. The genome sequence provides insight into the ecological relevance and biotechnological potential of Shewanella species.

The Influence of Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy on the Microbiome, Neuroendocrine and Immune System of Crustacean Post Larvae.

Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT), employing a combination of light and natural photosensitizer molecules such as curcumin, has been accepted as a safe modality for removing aquatic pathogens which cause diseases such as cholera in humans and vibriosis in aquatic animals. Curcumin and its photodegradation products are generally considered as safe to animals, but the impact of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by these products on the growth and survival of organisms at a cellular level has not been studied in detail. The ROS generated by curcumin on photoexcitation using blue light (λmax 405 nm, 10 mW cm-2) disinfects more than 80% of free-living Vibrio spp. in the rearing water of Penaeus monodon. However, it is less effective against Vibrio spp. colonized inside P. monodon because the carapace of the animal prevents the transmission of more than 70% of light at the 400-450 nm range and thus reduces the formation of ROS. The influence of curcumin and photoexcited curcumin on the microbiome of P. monodon were revealed by nanopore sequencing. The photoexcited curcumin induced irregular expression of genes coding the moult-inhibiting hormone (MIH), Crustacean hyperglycaemic hormone (CHH)), prophenoloxidase (ProPO), and crustin, which indicates toxic effects of ROS generated by photoexcited curcumin on the neuroendocrine and immune systems of crustaceans, which could alter their growth and survival in aquaculture settings. The study proposed the cautious use of photodynamic therapy in aquaculture systems, and care must be taken to avoid photoexcitation when animals are experiencing moulting or environmental stress.

Draft Genome Sequence of an Escherichia coli Sequence Type 155 Strain Isolated from Sewage in Kerala, India.

We report the draft genome sequence of Escherichia coli ASBT-1, a representative of E. coli sequence type 155 (ST155), obtained from India. Considering the known wide variety of pathogenic and antibiotic resistance potentials, this strain should be of great interest for detailed comparative genomic analysis.