Understanding the role of cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases (CRKs) in plant defense mechanisms is crucial for enhancing wheat resistance to leaf rust fungus infection. Here, we identified and verified 164 members of the CRK gene family using the Triticum aestivum reference version 2 collected from the international wheat genome sequencing consortium (IWGSC). The proteins exhibited characteristic features of CRKs, including the presence of signal peptides, cysteine-rich/stress antifungal/DUF26 domains, transmembrane domains, and Pkinase domains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed extensive diversification within the wheat CRK gene family, indicating the development of distinct specific functional roles to wheat plants. When studying the expression of the CRK gene family in near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying Lr57- and Lr14a-resistant genes, Puccinia triticina, the causal agent of leaf rust fungus, triggered temporal gene expression dynamics. The upregulation of specific CRK genes in the resistant interaction indicated their potential role in enhancing wheat resistance to leaf rust, while contrasting gene expression patterns in the susceptible interaction highlighted potential susceptibility associated CRK genes. The study uncovered certain CRK genes that exhibited expression upregulation upon leaf rust infection and the Lr14a-resistant gene. The findings suggest that targeting CRKs may present a promising strategy for improving wheat resistance to rust diseases.

The emergence of multi-drug-resistant microorganisms presents a serious threat to infection control, for which new antimicrobial strategies are urgently needed. Herein, the antimicrobial activities of copper oxide nanoparticles capped with curcumin (Cur-CuO NPs) and copper oxide nanoparticles capped with chitosan (CS-CuO NPs) were investigated. They were prepared via the co-precipitation method. A total of 180 clinical ICU patients were found to have 70% Gram-negative and 30% Gram-positive isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated resistance of these isolates to 14 among the 21 tested antibiotics. Physicochemical properties of the curcumin-capped (Cur-CuO NPs) and chitosan-capped (CS-CuO NPs) copper oxide nanoparticles were identified using UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta-potential (ζ), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Cur-CuO- and CS-CuO-NPs exhibited potent antimicrobial efficacy, wherein CS-CuO NPs were found to possess a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (3.9–15.6 μg mL⁻¹) than Cur-CuO NPs (14.5–31.2 μg mL⁻¹). Biocompatibility assay showed that Cur-CuO NPs were safer with an IC₅₀ dose of 74.17 μg mL⁻¹ than CS-CuO NPs with an IC₅₀ dose of 41.01 μg mL⁻¹. Results revealed that the Cur-CuO- and CS-CuO-NPs have the potential to be safely used as effective antimicrobial agents in clinical applications at low concentrations (6.25–12.5 μg mL⁻¹).

In the present study, an experiment was carried out on the postharvest of cucumber fruit during a 14-day shelf life. The aim was to assess the impact of calcium nanoparticles (CaNPs) blended with different concentrations of salicylic acid (SA) on the shelf life of cucumbers during the seasons of 2018 and 2019. The investigation further monitored the influences of CaNPs-SA on some physical properties of cucumber, including the percentage weight loss, color, and fruit firmness. In addition, chemical properties, such as total soluble solids (SSC%), total acidity (TA%), total soluble sugars, and chlorophyll pigmentation of the fruit skin, were assessed during a 14-day shelf lifeCell wall degradation enzymes (CWEAs) such as polygalacturonase (PG), cel-lulase (CEL), xylanase (XYL), and pectinase (PT) were also researched. In addition, the generation rates of H₂O₂ and O₂^•− were calculated, as well as the reduction of DPPH. The lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) and cell membrane permeability (IL%) of cell wall composites were also determined. CaNPs-SA at 2 mM suppressed CWEAs, preserved fruit quality, reduced weight loss throughout the shelf-life period, and reduced the percent leakage value. At this concentration, we also found the lowest levels of MDA and the highest levels of DPPH.

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are responsible for facilitating tolerance to various environmental stresses across diverse organisms. Group 3 LEA proteins are characterised by the presence of 11‐mer amino acid motifs, which inspired the design of short peptides with similar protective functions. Here, we designed a LEA peptide variant (LEA‐K) and evaluated its acid tolerance capacity in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) at pH4. Expression of LEA‐K peptide improved the bacterial viability under acidic stress, suggesting its protective functions. To explore the molecular mechanism of such tolerance, we combined the RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐Seq) technique and molecular docking simulations. Transcriptome analysis identified 283 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and revealed metabolic reprogramming and activation of stress‐related pathways, including proton pumping, biofilm formation, and stress responsive systems. Functional enrichment analysis suggested a key role of two‐component regulatory systems (TCSs) such as reactive chlorine species (RCS), sensor histidine kinase BtsS/transcriptional regulatory protein BtsR, and DNA‐binding dual transcriptional regulator OmpR/sensor histidine kinase EnvZ. Protein–peptide docking simulations indicated potential interactions between LEA‐K and these TCSs, suggesting a mechanistic basis of the observed transcriptional modulation. These findings propose previously unknown functional roles for LEA peptides, not only acting as molecular shields but also as signal‐transducing modulators. This work expands our understanding of stress tolerance mechanisms and presents a new avenue for engineering stress‐resilient bacterial systems.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents a significant global health challenge, where the efficacy of conventional treatments is often hampered by systemic toxicity, poor bioavailability, and drug resistance. Drug repurposing and nanotechnology offer promising avenues to overcome these limitations. While pH-responsive Eudragit S100–chitosan hybrid systems are established as robust pH-responsive oral delivery carriers, the present study introduces a novel therapeutic strategy by combining these platforms with the co-delivery of the repurposed drugs pentoxifylline (PTX) and simvastatin (SIM) for synergistic CRC therapy. A hybrid nanoparticle system was synthesized using ionic gelation, combining the mucoadhesive properties of chitosan with the pH-dependent release of Eudragit S100. The formulation was optimized using a Quality by Design (QbD) Box–Behnken design to yield nanoparticles with a particle size of 152 ± 5 nm, a zeta potential of +31.2 ± 1.5 mV, and high entrapment efficiency for both drugs (PTX: 85.4 ± 3.1%; SIM: 78.9 ± 2.8%). In vitro release studies in simulated gastrointestinal media demonstrated minimal drug release in acidic conditions (PTX <8.3%; SIM <5.7%) and sustained release at colonic pH (cumulative release: PTX 82.3 ± 3.7%, SIM 78.6 ± 3.2% at 24 h; plateau levels of 89.7% and 85.4% by 48 h), confirming the pH-responsive release behavior of the formulation, with preferential drug liberation at neutral-to-alkaline pH conditions mimicking the colonic environment. These in vitro findings demonstrate pH-triggered release characteristics consistent with a mechanistic rationale for preferential colonic drug exposure; however, in vivo validation is required to confirm whether site-specific delivery to the colon is achieved under physiological conditions. Molecular docking simulations revealed strong binding affinities of simvastatin against key cancer targets EGFR, CA9, and GSK3β (ΔG: −7.5 to −8.7 kcal mol⁻¹), providing a mechanistic rationale for its repurposing. The optimized nanoformulation (NP-PTX/SIM) exhibited significant synergistic anti-proliferative cytotoxic effects against HCT-116 cells (IC₅₀ = 10.21 µg mL⁻¹) compared to free drugs through caspase-3 activation and suppression of proliferative (Ki-67) and angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) markers confirming its apoptotic effects. By integrating the established Eudragit S100–chitosan carrier with the novel co-delivery of pentoxifylline and simvastatin, coupled with QbD optimization and comprehensive therapeutic evaluation, this work presents a distinct and innovative multi-targeted therapeutic strategy for CRC with improved efficacy and reduced off-target effects.