Evaluation of small-molecule modulators of the circadian clock: promising therapeutic approach to cancer.

The circadian clock is an important regulator of human homeostasis. Circadian rhythms are closely related to cell fate because they are necessary for regulating the cell cycle, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis. Clock dysfunction can result in the development of diseases such as cancer. Although certain tumors have been shown to have a malfunctioning clock, which may affect prognosis or treatment, this has been postulated but not proven in many types of cancer. Recently, important information has emerged about the basic characteristics that underpin the overt circadian rhythm and its influence on physiological outputs. This information implies that the circadian rhythm may be managed by using particular small molecules. Small-molecule clock modulators target clock components or different physiological pathways that influence the clock. Identifying new small-molecule modulators will improve our understanding of critical regulatory nodes in the circadian network and cancer. Pharmacological manipulation of the clock may be valuable for treating cancer. The discoveries of small-molecule clock modulators and their possible application in cancer treatment are examined in this review.

Bioaugmentation of the green alga to enhance biogas production in an anaerobic hollow-fiber membrane bioreactor.

Anaerobic membrane reactors (AnMBRs) offer an alternative wastewater treatment system, presenting both reclamation of value through biogas production, and efficient treatment of recalcitrant contaminants such as antibiotics from wastewater. The effects of bioaugmentation with the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis on anaerobic treatment of pharmaceutical wastewaters, alleviating membrane biofouling, biogas production and impact on the indigenous microbial communities were evaluated using AnMBRs. The outputs of the bioreactor experiments revealed that bioaugmentation strategies with the green alga increased removal of chemical oxygen demand by 12% and delayed membrane fouling by 25% and increased biogas production by 40%. Furthermore, bioaugmentation with the green alga led to a significant change in relative abundance of archaea and the main methanogenesis pathway shifted from Methanothermobacter to Methanosaeta, accompanied by their respective syntrophic bacteria.

Anthocyanin Addition to Kefir: Metagenomic Analysis of Microbial Community Structure.

The addition of anthocyanin to kefir for the production of more functional and bio-diversified kefir beverages has the potential to increase kefir's healthful activities. In the present study, anthocyanin extracts, obtained from black carrots, were added into kefir mixture during the fermentation process in different concentrations (1% and 5%, w/v). These kefir samples were then analyzed in terms of their microbiological qualities by metagenomic analysis. The results of the analyses show that the addition of anthocyanin has significant impacts on the community structure of kefir microbiome which in turn directly affects the expected health impacts of the beverage. Kefir with no anthocyanin included predominantly probiotic bacteria such as Lactococcus lactis (34%) and Lactobacillus kefiri (34%). On the other hand, kefir with 1% anthocyanin demonstrated a more balanced distribution of probiotic species like Lb. kefiri (17%), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (9%), and Lc. lactis (5%) at similar abundance rates. 5% anthocyanin kefir demonstrated the highest polarity in the community with a strong dominance of probiotic Lb. kefiri (72%), and distinctly less abundant bacteria such as Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus (3%). These findings provide that fortification with anthocyanins can be utilized to enhance the quality, composition, and beneficial functions of kefir.