Biological Studies Research Articles

Minimal Functionalization of Ruthenium Compounds with Enhanced Photoreactivity against Hard-to-Treat Cancer Cells and Resistant Bacteria.

Metallocompounds have emerged as promising new anticancer agents, which can also exhibit properties to be used in photodynamic therapy. Here, we prepared two ruthenium-based compounds with a 2,2'-bipyridine ligand conjugated to an anthracenyl moiety. These compounds coded GRBA and GRPA contain 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenathroline as auxiliary ligands, respectively, which provide quite a distinct behavior. Notably, compound GRPA exhibited remarkably high photoproduction of singlet oxygen even in water (ϕΔ = 0.96), almost twice that of GRBA (ϕΔ = 0.52). On the other hand, this latter produced twice more superoxide and hydroxyl radical species than GRPA, which may be due to the modulation of their excited state. Interestingly, GRPA exhibited a modest binding to DNA (Kb = 4.51 × 104), while GRBA did not show a measurable interaction only noticed by circular dichroism measurements. Studies with bacteria showed a great antimicrobial effect, including a synergistic effect in combination with commercial antibiotics. Besides that, GRBA showed very low or no cytotoxicity against four mammalian cells, including a hard-to-treat MDA-MB-231, triple-negative human breast cancer. Potent activities were measured for GRBA upon blue light irradiation, where IC50 of 43 and 13 nmol L-1 were seen against hard-to-treat triple-negative human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and ovarian cancer cells (A2780), respectively. These promising results are an interesting case of a simple modification with expressive enhancement of biological activity that deserves further biological studies.

The genome of Vicia sativa ssp. amphicarpa provides insights into the role of terpenoids in antimicrobial resistance within subterranean fruits.

Vicia sativa ssp. amphicarpa is a unique forage crop capable of simultaneously producing fruits above and below ground, representing a typical amphicarpic plant. In this study, we sequenced and assembled seven pseudo-chromosomes of the genome of V. sativa ssp. amphicarpa (n = 7) yielding a genome size of 1.59 Gb, with a total annotation of 48 932 protein-coding genes. Long terminal repeat (LTR) elements constituted 62.28% of the genome, significantly contributing to the expansion of genome size. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the divergence between V. sativa ssp. amphicarpa and V. sativa was around 0.88 million years ago (MYA). Comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of aerial and subterranean pod shells showed biosynthesis of terpenoids in the subterranean pod shells indicating a correlation between the antimicrobial activity of subterranean pod shells and the biosynthesis of terpenoids. Furthermore, functional validation indicates that overexpression of VsTPS5 and VsTPS16 enhances terpenoid biosynthesis for antibacterial activity. Metabolomic analysis suggests the involvement of terpenoids in the antimicrobial properties of subterranean pod shells. Deciphering the genome of V. sativa ssp. amphicarpa elucidated the molecular mechanisms behind the antimicrobial properties of subterranean fruits in amphicarpic plants, providing valuable insights for the study of amphicarpic plant biology.

Synthesis, electrochemical, biological and catalytical studies of half-sandwich Ru(II)-NSHC complexes bearing benzothiazol-2-ylidene

The half-sandwich ruthenium(II)-NSHC complexes (2a-l) bearing benzothiazol-2-ylidene were synthesized by in situ deprotonation of N-substituted benzothiazolium salts (1a-l) with Ag2O and of [(p-cymene)Cl2Ru]2, in dichloromethane under mild conditions. However, 1m and 1n under the same conditions gave N-coordinated Ru(II) complex (3). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis, HR-MS spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. In addition, the structures of 2k and 3 were studied by X-ray crystallography. The electrochemical properties of the complexes were investigated. Ru(II)-NSHC complexes have been used as catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of carbonyls to secondary alcohols in the presence i-PrOH/KOH. Additionally, the effects of structural differences arising from different alkyl groups on the nitrogen atom in the benzothiazole skeleton in Ru(II)-NSHC complexes on anticancer, antifungal and antimicrobial activity were also examined.

Analytical performance specifications for trace elements in biological fluids derived from six countries federated external quality assessment schemes over 10 years.

This article defines analytical performance specifications (APS) for evaluating laboratory proficiency through an external quality assessment scheme. Standard deviations for proficiency assessment were derived from Thompson's characteristic function applied to robust data calculated from participants' submissions in the Occupational and Environmental Laboratory Medicine (OELM) external quality assurance scheme for trace elements in serum, whole blood and urine. Characteristic function was based on two parameters: (1) β- the average coefficient of variation (CV) at high sample concentrations; (2) α- the average standard deviation (SD) at low sample concentrations. APSs weredefined as 1.65 standard deviations calculated by Thompson's approach. Comparison between OELM robust data and characteristic function were used to validate the model. Application of the characteristic function allowed calculated APS for 18 elements across three matrices. Some limitations were noted, particularly for elements (1) with no sample concentrations near analytical technique limit of detection; (2) exhibiting high robust CV at high concentration; (3) exhibiting high analytical variability such as whole blood Tl and urine Pb; (4) with an unbalanced number of robust SD above and under the characteristic function such as whole blood Mn and serum Al and Zn. The characteristic function was a useful means of deriving APS for trace elements in biological fluids where biological variation data or outcome studies were not available. However, OELM external quality assurance scheme data suggests that the characteristic functions are not appropriate for all elements.

Biological and Computational Studies of Hydrazone based Transition Metal(II) Complexes.

In the chronicles of human history, infectious diseases played a pivotal role, influencing societies, steering advancements in medicine, and significantly impacting the well-being of people worldwide. Consequently, in the pursuit of identifying effective combating agents for infectious ailments, the Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) complexes of N'-(4-nitrobenzylidene)benzohydrazide were synthesized in the current investigation. Numerous spectral and physical analysis were conducted to characterize the compounds which revealed octahedral stereochemistry of complexes. The anti-tuberculosis, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal investigations demonstrated that the compounds (1-5) have significant efficacy for these infectious ailments. The [Zn(L)2(H2O)2] complex (5) has comparable TB inhibition potency to streptomycin as shown by MIC value of 0.0196 ± 0.0003 µmol/mL. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal studies also revealed the comparable inhibiting property of (5) to standard drugs with significant IC50 (07.49 ± 0.08 µM) and MIC (0.0098 µmol/mL) values. Furthermore, pharmacophore modeling with addition of molecular docking, DFT, MESP, ADMET were employed against (1-5) to give a new insight in biological evaluations. The pharmacophore modeling suggested that (5) has a distinctive pharmacophoric features including cationic sites, hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors which provide valuable insights into drug design for pharmacological applications. Moreover, another in silico investigations authenticate the bioactivity of (5).

Functional Modification of Cyanobacterial Phycobiliprotein and Phycobilisomes through Bilin Metabolism Control.

Phycobilisomes (PBSs) are light-harvesting antenna complexes in cyanobacteria that adapt to diverse light environments through the use of phycobiliproteins within the PBS structures. Freshwater cyanobacteria, such as Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, thrive under red light because of the presence of phycocyanin (PC) and its chromophore, phycocyanobilin (PCB), in the PBS. Cyanobacteria in shorter-wavelength light environments such as green light, employ phycoerythrin paired with phycoerythrobilin (PEB) along with PC in the PBS. Synthetic biology studies have shown that PEB production can be achieved by expression of the heterologous PEB synthases 15,16-dihydrobiliverdin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PebA) and PEB:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PebB), leading to PEB accumulation and cellular browning. This approach is genetically unstable, and the properties of the resulting PEB-bound PBS complexes remain uncharacterized. In this study, we engineered a novel strain of Synechococcus 7942 PEB1 with finely tuned control of PEB biosynthesis. PEB1 exhibited a reversible change in the color of the culture from green to brown and pink based on PebA and PebB induction levels. High induction led to complete PCB-to-PEB substitution, causing the disassembly of the PBS rod complex. In contrast, low induction levels of PebA and PebB resulted in the formation of a stable chimeric PBS complex with partial PCB-to-PEB substitution. This acclimation enabled efficient light harvesting in the green spectrum and energy transfer to the photosynthetic reaction center. These findings, which improve our understanding of PBS and highlight the structural importance of the bilin composition, provide a foundation for future studies on PBS adaptation in bioengineering, synthetic biology, and renewable energy.

3,5-Dimethyl-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isochromen-6-ol Attenuates Ulcerative Colitis via Targeting NLRP3 in Mice.

3,5-Dimethyl-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isochromen-6-ol (DMD) is a polyketide compound obtained from the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. HJT-A-10 of Rhodiola tibetica. R. tibetica is a nourishing food and also used in traditional Chinese medicine and Xizang medicine. In dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) mice, DMD significantly alleviated the pathological symptom of UC. Network pharmacology studies have shown that nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing (NLRP) 3 is the primary target protein of DMD associated with anti-UC. In molecular biology studies, DMD suppressed the activation of NLRP3 and decreased the expression of downstream inflammatory proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines in UC. The finding was further verified in knockout mice. DMD lost the effect of attenuating DSS-induced UC in NLRP3-/- mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that DMD reduces inflammatory response and balances the barrier integrity to attenuate UC via targeting NLRP3, and DMD is a potential natural agent or dietary supplement for attenuating UC.

The mechanism of low molecular weight fucoidan-incorporated nanofiber scaffolds inhibiting oral leukoplakia via SR-A/Wnt signal axis

Oral leukoplakia (OLK) is the most common oral precancerous lesion, and 3%–17% of OLK patients progress to oral squamous cell carcinoma. OLK is susceptible to recurrence and has no effective treatment. However, conventional drugs have significant side effects and limitations. Therefore, it is important to identify drugs that target OLK. In this study, scavenger receptor A (SR-A) was found to be abnormally highly expressed in the oral mucosal epithelial cells of OLK patients, whereas molecular biology studies revealed that low molecular weight fucoidan (LMWF) promoted apoptosis of dysplastic oral keratinocytes (DOK) and inhibited the growth and migration of DOK, and the inhibitory effect of LMWF on OLK was achieved by regulating the SR-A/Wnt signaling axis and related genes. Based on the above results and the special situation of the oral environment, we constructed LMWF/poly(caprolactone-co-lactide) nanofiber membranes with different structures for the in-situ treatment of OLK using electrospinning technology. The results showed that the nanofiber membranes with a shell-core structure had the best physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and therapeutic effect, which optimized the LMWF drug delivery and ensured the effective concentration of the drug at the target point, thus achieving precise treatment of local lesions in the oral cavity. This has potential application value in inhibiting the development of OLK.

Primary cell cultures from the single-chromosome ant Myrmecia croslandi.

The number of chromosomes varies tremendously across species. It is not clear whether having more or fewer chromosomes could be advantageous. The probability of non-disjunction should theoretically decrease with smaller karyotypes, but too long chromosomes should enforce spatial constraint for their segregation during the mitotic anaphase. Here, we propose a new experimental cell system to acquire novel insights into the mechanisms underlying chromosome segregation. We collected the endemic Australian ant Myrmecia croslandi, the only known species with the simplest possible karyotype of a single chromosome in the haploid males (and one pair of chromosomes in the diploid females), since males are typically haploid in hymenopteran insects. Five colonies, each with a queen and a few hundreds of workers, were collected in the Canberra district (Australia), underwent karyotype analysis to confirm the presence of a single pair of chromosomes in worker pupae, and were subsequently maintained in the laboratory in Paris (France). Starting from dissociated male embryos, we successfully conducted primary cell cultures comprised of single-chromosome cells. This could be developed into a unique model that will be of great interest for future genomic and cell biology studies related to mitosis.

Development of Leptolyngbya sp. BL0902 into a model organism for synthetic biological research in filamentous cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria have great potential in CO2-based bio-manufacturing and synthetic biological studies. The filamentous cyanobacterium, Leptolyngbya sp. strain BL0902, is comparable to Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis in commercial-scale cultivation while proving to be more genetically tractable. Here, we report the analyses of the whole genome sequence, gene inactivation/overexpression in the chromosome and deletion of non-essential chromosomal regions in this strain. The genetic manipulations were performed via homologous double recombination using either an antibiotic resistance marker or the CRISPR/Cpf1 editing system for positive selection. A desD-overexpressing strain produced γ-linolenic acid in an open raceway photobioreactor with the productivity of 0.36 g·m−2·d−1. Deletion mutants of predicted patX and hetR, two genes with opposite effects on cell differentiation in heterocyst-forming species, were used to demonstrate an analysis of the relationship between regulatory genes in the non-heterocystous species. Furthermore, a 50.8-kb chromosomal region was successfully deleted in BL0902 with the Cpf1 system. These results supported that BL0902 can be developed into a stable photosynthetic cell factory for synthesizing high value-added products, or used as a model strain for investigating the functions of genes that are unique to filamentous cyanobacteria, and could be systematically modified into a genome-streamlined chassis for synthetic biological purposes.

Design, Synthesis, Biological and Docking Studies of Novel 6-fluorobenzothiazole Substituted 1,2,4-Triazole Analogues as Prospective Anti-inflammatory Agents.

Design, Synthesis, Biological and Docking Studies of Novel 6-fluorobenzothiazole Substituted 1,2,4-Triazole Analogues as Prospective Anti-inflammatory Agents.

Comparative content analysis and biological activity studies of fatty and essential oils from some garlic products sold in Turkish community pharmacies, natural, and fermented garlic

AbstractGarlic (Alliaceae), an annual herb, is renowned not only for its distinctive flavor but also for its extensive therapeutic applications in managing various ailments and health conditions. In this study, garlic products identified as the best‐selling items in Turkish pharmacies for various purposes were compared with garlic grown under standard conditions in terms of chemical composition and antidiabetic, anticholinesterase, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Three of garlic samples were prepared by researchers. According to survey results, the most commonly sold garlic‐related products in pharmacies are black garlic extract tablets (4), capsules (5), garlic oil (6), garlic oil pearls (7), and fermented garlic (8). Diallyl disulfide (DADS) was identified as a predominant compound in sampled oils, ranging from 4.9% to 48.6%. Another noteworthy finding is the identification of allyl methyl disulfide and allyl methyl trisulfide as major components in sampled oils, with concentrations spanning from 2.9% to 9.8% and 0.4% to 17.5%, respectively. In both 2,2′‐azino‐bis‐(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic) acid (ABTS·+) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) tests, Sample 1 (fermented) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Sample 3 (cultivated) was richer in total phenol–total tannin content. Sample 6 exhibited the highest α‐glucosidase inhibition among antidiabetic activities, reaching 28.93%. Sample 5 capsules demonstrated the highest α‐amylase inhibition at 51.50%. Sample 7 exhibited the most notable inhibition against both acetylcholinesterase (22.92%) and butyrylcholinesterase (13.37%). Samples 3, 6, and 8 were found to be more effective against Candida tropicalis with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 625 μg/mL. A comprehensive study on garlic products, including popular items from Turkish pharmacies and those grown under standard conditions, revealed diverse chemical compositions and multifaceted health properties.

Insecticides Cypermethrin and Chlorpyrifos Exposure: Effects on Sperm Motility and Fertility in Cyprinus carpio (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae)

The agricultural production of the Argentine Pampa is based on intensive cultures, and the most widely used insecticides correspond to cypermethrin (pyrethroid) and chlorpyrifos (organophosphate), among others. Sperm motility and fertility assessments are essential topics for biology and population dynamics studies on fish species. In this study the alterations of these endpoints after exposure to commercial formulation of both insecticides were used to analyze the effects on common carp sperm. After the in vitro exposure at nominal concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 μg/L of cypermethrin, a significant reduction in motility in 0.5 μg/L concentrations was observed respect control group. The same nominal concentrations were tested for chlorpyrifos, and the same significative effect was detected at 2.0 μg/L. Fertilization rate was significantly reduced at concentrations from 0.5 μg/L cypermethrin exposure, and from 1.0 μg/L in the case of chlorpyrifos. Eggs LC50 / 24 h (95% confidence limit) exposed to cypermethrin was 0.57 μg/L (0.36 - 0.88), and exposed to chlorpyrifos was 2.45 μg/L (1.13-5.29). However, is still debatable how these insecticides impact on fish reproduction, using this in vitro scenario we found a clear reduction in sperm motility and fertility.

Chromosome-scale genome assembly of the Hunt bumble bee, Bombus huntii Greene, 1860, a species of agricultural interest.

The Hunt bumble bee, Bombus huntii, is a widely distributed pollinator in western North America. The species produces large colony sizes in captive rearing conditions, experiences low parasite and pathogen loads, and has been demonstrated to be an effective pollinator of tomatoes grown in controlled environment agriculture systems. These desirable traits have galvanized producer efforts to develop commercial B. huntii colonies for growers to deliver pollination services to crops. To better understand B. huntii biology and support population genetic studies and breeding decisions, we sequenced and assembled the B. huntii genome from a single haploid male. High-fidelity sequencing of the entire genome using PacBio, along with HiC sequencing, led to a comprehensive contig assembly of high continuity. This assembly was further organized into a chromosomal arrangement, successfully identifying 18 chromosomes spread across the 317.4 Mb assembly with a BUSCO score indicating 97.6% completeness. Synteny analysis demonstrates shared chromosome number (n = 18) with B. terrestris, a species belonging to a different subgenus, matching the expectation that presence of 18 haploid chromosomes is an ancestral trait at least between the subgenera Pyrobombus and Bombus sensu stricto. In conclusion, the assembly outcome, alongside the minimal tissue sampled destructively, showcase efficient techniques for producing a comprehensive, highly contiguous genome.

Special Issue: Recent advances in biology and fertility studies of paddy field soil

Special Issue: Recent advances in biology and fertility studies of paddy field soil

Construction of a high-efficiency GjCCD4a mutant and its application for de novo biosynthesis of five crocins in Escherichia coli

Crocins are bioactive natural products that rarely exist in plants. High costs and resource shortage severely limit its development and application. Synthetic biology studies on crocins are of considerable global interest. However, the lack of high-efficiency genetic tools and complex cascade biocatalytic systems have substantially hindered progress in crocin biosynthesis-related research. Based on mutagenesis, a high-efficiency GjCCD4a mutant (N212m) was constructed with a catalytic efficiency that was 25.08-fold higher than that of the wild-type. Solubilized GjCCD4a was expressed via fusion with an MBP tag. Moreover, N212m and ten other genes were introduced into Escherichia coli for the de novo biosynthesis of five crocins. The engineered E57 strain produced crocins III and V with a total yield of 11.50 mg/L, and the E579 strain produced crocins I-V with a total output of 8.43 mg/L at shake-flask level. This study identified a marvelous genetic element (N212m) for crocin biosynthesis and achieved its de novo biosynthesis in E. coli using glucose. This study provides a reference for the large-scale production of five crocins using E. coli cell factories.

Formulation, preparation of niosome loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles and biological activities

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (Zn-NPs) were prepared by the green synthesis method and loaded inside niosomes as a drug release system and their physicochemical and biological properties were determined. Zn-NPs were prepared by the eco-friendly green strategy, the structure, and morphological properties were studied and loaded into niosomes. Subsequently, different formulations of niosomes containing Zn-NPs were prepared and the optimal formulation was used for biological studies. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to investigate the morphology and size of nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV–Vis were used to confirm the synthesis of Zn-NPs. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) determined the elemental analysis of the Zn-NPs synthesis solution and the crystalline structure of Zn-NPs was analysed by XRD (X-Ray diffraction). Furthermore, Zn-NPs were loaded inside the niosomes, and their structural characteristics, entrapment efficiency (EE%), the release profile of Zn-NPs, and their stability also were assessed. Moreover, its antimicrobial properties against some microbial pathogens, its effect on the expression of biofilm genes, and its anticancer activity on the breast cancer cell lines were also determined. To study the cytocompatibility, exposure of niosomes against normal HEK-293 cells was carried out. In addition, the impact of niosomes on the expression of genes involved in the apoptosis (Bcl2, Casp3, Casp9, Bax) at the mRNA level was measured. Our findings revealed that the Zn-NPs have a round shape and an average size of 27.60 nm. Meanwhile, UV–Vis, FTIR, and XRD results confirmed the synthesis of Zn-NPs. Also, the EE% and the size of the optimized niosomal formulation were 31.26% and 256.6 ± 12 nm, respectively. The release profile showed that within 24 h, 26% of Zn-NPs were released from niosomes, while in the same period, 99% of free Zn-NPs were released, which indicates the slow release of Zn-NPs from niosomes. Antimicrobial effects exhibited that niosomes containing Zn-NPs had more significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects than Zn-NPs alone, the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects increased 2 to 4 times. Cytotoxic effects indicated that when Zn-NPs are loaded into niosomes, the anticancer activity increases compared to Zn-NPs alone and has low cytotoxicity on cancer cells. Niosomes containing ZnNPs increased the apoptosis-related gene expression level and reduced the Bcl2 genes. In general, the results show that niosomes can increase the biological effects of free Zn-NPs and therefore can be a suitable carrier for targeted delivery of Zn-NPs.

Pd/Cu Dual Catalysis for The Oxidative Dearomatization of pyrroleDerivatives: Mechanistic Insights and Biological Studies

Herein we report dearomatization of pyrrole ring followed by rearomatization of cyclohexyl ring to obtain isoindolinone scaffold by a Pd/Cu dual catalysis approach in an atom economic way with moderate to high yield. The expected Pd/Cu catalyzed dual C(sp2)‐H activation via normal catalytic cycle can be override by unusual oxidative dearomatization reaction which has been established by DFT calculation. The biological importance of isoindolinone scaffold insists us to successfully investigate in vitro antileishmanial activity of L.Donovani.

Analysis of Amblyomma americanum microRNAs in response to Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection and their potential role in vectorial capacity

BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a subset of small noncoding RNAs and carry tremendous potential for regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. They play pivotal roles in distinct cellular mechanisms including inhibition of bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections via immune response pathways. Intriguingly, pathogens have developed strategies to manipulate the host’s miRNA profile, fostering environments conducive to successful infection. Therefore, changes in an arthropod host’s miRNA profile in response to pathogen invasion could be critical in understanding host-pathogen dynamics. Additionally, this area of study could provide insights into discovering new targets for disease control and prevention. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the functional role of differentially expressed miRNAs upon Ehrlichia chaffeensis, a tick-borne pathogen, infection in tick vector, Amblyomma americanum.MethodsSmall RNA libraries from uninfected and E. chaffeensis-infected Am. americanum midgut and salivary gland tissues were prepared using the Illumina Truseq kit. Small RNA sequencing data was analyzed using miRDeep2 and sRNAtoolbox to identify novel and known miRNAs. The differentially expressed miRNAs were validated using a quantitative PCR assay. Furthermore, a miRNA inhibitor approach was used to determine the functional role of selected miRNA candidates.ResultsThe sequencing of small RNA libraries generated >147 million raw reads in all four libraries and identified a total of >250 miRNAs across the four libraries. We identified 23 and 14 differentially expressed miRNAs in salivary glands, and midgut tissues infected with E. chaffeensis, respectively. Three differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-87, miR-750, and miR-275) were further characterized to determine their roles in pathogen infection. Inhibition of target miRNAs significantly decreased the E. chaffeensis load in tick tissues, which warrants more in-depth mechanistic studies.ConclusionsThe current study identified known and novel miRNAs and suggests that interfering with these miRNAs may impact the vectorial capacity of ticks to harbor Ehrlichia. This study identified several new miRNAs for future analysis of their functions in tick biology and tick-pathogen interaction studies.

Synthesis, DFT Calculations, and Biological Studies of New 2-cyano-3-(naphthalene-1-yl)acryloyl amide Analogues as Anticancer Agents.

A set of novel naphthalene derivatives was synthesized via investment of the electrophilic reaction center of the easily obtainable starting substance, 2-cyano-3-(naphthalen-1-yl)acryloyl chloride (1), with various nitrogen nucleophiles and assessed as potential antitumor agents. The chemical structures of these derivatives were completely specified using several spectral and elemental analyses. The antiproliferative efficacy of the discovered compounds against the human cancer cell lines HepG2 and MCF-7 was investigated. Compounds 12b and 9 have more potent anticancer activity versus MCF-7 breast cancer. DFT calculations for the synthesized compounds were studied to determine molecular geometry, frontier orbital analysis, and molecular electrostatic potential. Compound 2 has the lowest energy gap, the highest softness, and the lowest hardness molecule. Also, the electrophilicity values of the studied molecules provide evidence for their biological effectiveness, as compound 9 had significant antiproliferative activity and a high value of electrophilicity (ω) (0.190 eV).