Trichoderma hamatum and Its Benefits.

Trichoderma hamatum (Bonord.) Bainier (T. hamatum) belongs to Hypocreaceae family, Trichoderma genus. Trichoderma spp. are prominently known for their biocontrol activities and plant growth promotion. Hence, T. hamatum also possess several beneficial activities, such as antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, insecticidal activity, herbicidal activity, and plant growth promotion; in addition, it holds several other beneficial properties, such as resistance to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and degradation of DDT by certain enzymes and production of certain polysaccharide-degrading enzymes. Hence, the current review discusses the beneficial properties of T. hamatum and describes the gaps that need to be further considered in future studies, such as T. hamatum's potentiality against human pathogens and, in contrast, its role as an opportunistic human pathogen. Moreover, there is a need for substantial study on its antiviral and antioxidant activities.

Antimicrobial activity and enzymatic analysis of endophytes isolated from Codonopsis pilosula.

The roots of the medicinal plant Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf (C. pilosula) possess most medicinal supplements. In current research on C. pilosula root endophytes were isolated, identified, and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Endophytes C.P-8 and C.P-20 exhibited very significant antimicrobial activity, the secondary metabolite of C.P-8 registered at retention time 24.075 by HPLC analysis. Significant minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of C.P-8 was exhibited at 250 µg/ml against S. aureus and 500 µg/ml against B. subtilis. Qualitative, quantitative analyses, and partial purification of enzymes and purity was analysed by molecular weight determined by SDS‒PAGE of enzymes produced by C.P-20, amylase-64 kDa, protease-64 kDa, chitinase-30 kDa, and cellulase-54 kDa. Optimum pH and temperature of the partially purified enzymes, was carried out. The partially purified enzymes from C.P-20 displayed maximum activity at pH 6-7 and temperatures of 40°C-45°C. Moreover, the above endophytes will be useful tools for producing active enzymes and active bioantimicrobial agents against human pathogens.

Evolving roles of cardiac fibroblasts in cardiogenesis and immunology, electrophysiology, and aging.

Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), one of the major groups of cardiac cells, play a prominent role in the cardiac microenvironment through communicating with other cells such as cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells and immune cells. These communications are required not only during cardiac development but also during pathogenesis. CFs are also involved in developmental changes in the post-natal and pre-natal heart through depositing extra cellular matrix (ECM) and maintaining cardiac tissue structure. Furthermore, CFs show both detrimental and beneficial effects in maintenance of the electrophysiology of the heart. Senescent CFs in the cardiac microenvironment influence other cardiac cells through paracrine signaling, which would worsen or cure the diseases. Therefore, there is a need of exclusive study on CFs' role in the developmental stage of the heart, electrophysiology, and senescence. This review discusses the current research about CFs' function, especially the CFs' role in cardiac development, electrophysiology, and senescence, and proposes a certain gap filling future prospective.

Roles and Regulation of Growth differentiation factor-15 in the Immune and tumor microenvironment.

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a member of the TGF-ß superfamily, plays multiple roles in a wide variety of cellular processes. It is expressed at low levels under normal conditions but is highly expressed in tumor and tumor microenvironment (TME)-related cells, such as fibroblasts and immune cells. The TME consists of the noncancerous cells present in the tumor, including immune cells, fibroblasts, blood vessel signaling molecules and extracellular matrix, which play a key role in tumor development. GDF-15 affects both stromal cells and immune cells in the TME. It also acts on immune checkpoints, such as PD-1/PDL-1 that regulate stemness of cancer cells, indicating that GDF-15 plays a prominent role in cancer, exhibiting both protumorigenic and antitumorigenic effects, although the latter are reported much less often than the former. The present review addresses novel ideas regarding communication between GDF-15 and stromal cells, immune cells, and cancer cells in the TME. In addition, it discusses the possibility of GDF-15's clinical application as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target in cancer.