Mitochondria, the membrane-bound cell organelles that supply most of the energy needed for cell function, are highly regulated, dynamic organelles bearing the ability to alter both form and functionality rapidly to maintain normal physiological events and challenge stress to the cell. This amazingly vibrant movement and distribution of mitochondria within cells is controlled by the highly coordinated interplay between mitochondrial dynamic processes and fission and fusion events, as well as mitochondrial quality-control processes, mainly mitochondrial autophagy (also known as mitophagy). Fusion connects and unites neighboring depolarized mitochondria to derive a healthy and distinct mitochondrion. In contrast, fission segregates damaged mitochondria from intact and healthy counterparts and is followed by selective clearance of the damaged mitochondria via mitochondrial specific autophagy, i.e., mitophagy. Hence, the mitochondrial processes encompass all coordinated events of fusion, fission, mitophagy, and biogenesis for sustaining mitochondrial homeostasis. Accumulated evidence strongly suggests that mitochondrial impairment has already emerged as a core player in the pathogenesis, progression, and development of various human diseases, including cardiovascular ailments, the leading causes of death globally, which take an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. The crucial factor governing the fission process is the recruitment of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), a GTPase that regulates mitochondrial fission, from the cytosol to the outer mitochondrial membrane in a guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-dependent manner, where it is oligomerized and self-assembles into spiral structures. In this review, we first aim to describe the structural elements, functionality, and regulatory mechanisms of the key mitochondrial fission protein, Drp1, and other mitochondrial fission adaptor proteins, including mitochondrial fission 1 (Fis1), mitochondrial fission factor (Mff), mitochondrial dynamics 49 (Mid49), and mitochondrial dynamics 51 (Mid51). The core area of the review focuses on the recent advances in understanding the role of the Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission adaptor protein interactome to unravel the missing links of mitochondrial fission events. Lastly, we discuss the promising mitochondria-targeted therapeutic approaches that involve fission, as well as current evidence on Drp1-mediated fission protein interactions and their critical roles in the pathogeneses of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are both neglected tropical diseases that affect millions of people around the world. Leishmaniasis is currently the second most widespread vector-borne parasitic disease after malaria. The World Health Organization records approximately 0.7–1 million newly diagnosed leishmaniasis cases each year, resulting in approximately 20,000–30,000 deaths. Also, 25 million people worldwide are at risk of Chagas disease and an estimated 6 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, miltefosine, paromomycin, and pentamidine are currently used to treat leishmaniasis. Also, nifurtimox and benznidazole are two drugs currently used to treat Chagas disease. These drugs are associated with toxicity problems such as nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity, in addition to resistance problems. As a result, the discovery of novel therapeutic agents has emerged as a top priority and a promising alternative. Overall, there is a need for new and effective treatments for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, as the current drugs have significant limitations. Peptide-based drugs are attractive due to their high selectiveness, effectiveness, low toxicity, and ease of production. This paper reviews the potential use of peptides in the treatment of Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. Several studies have demonstrated that peptides are effective against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, suggesting their use in drug therapy for these diseases. Overall, peptides have the potential to be effective therapeutic agents against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, but more research is needed to fully investigate their potential.

Awash River water has been impaired by various types of pollution owing to waste released from different socioeconomic activities in its basin. This study aimed to evaluate the water quality of the Awash River and its tributaries in the basin used for irrigation purposes. Sampling sites were identified based on the pollution sources, accessibility, and land-use coverage. A total of 17 sampling sites were chosen along the Awash River, and samplings were collected four times a year through different seasons. The overall water quality and suitability for irrigation are explained using multiple water quality parameters such as pH, EC, SAR, RSC, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca+Mg, CO₃²⁻, HCO₃⁻, and Cl⁻. The obtained results showed that all quality parameters at Beseka Lake exceed the maximum permissible limit of suitability for irrigation. It is generally conceivable that the physicochemical characteristic of the Awash River varies in different water quality parameters at different sites. Only Beseka Lake and Meteka hot spring water exceeded pH and SAR permissible limit, and EC at Mojo, Wonji, Beseka, Melkasedi, Werer, Ambash, Meteka, and Meteka hot spring shows medium-to-high salinity scale, while RSC was very high at Beseka, Melkasedi, Meteka hot spring, Ambash, Meteka Mojo, Werer, Assayta, Wonji, Dupty, Tibila, Metehara, and Afambo, respectively. The establishment of wastewater treatment plants for industries and stormwater quality management at hotspot areas are recommended to improve the water quality, and dispatch proportion needs to be considered in the future.

Parasitic diseases are among the most serious public health problems in developing countries, causing high mortality and economic burdens. The Trypanosomatidae family includes Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi, which cause leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, respectively. Both these parasites are among the major agents of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Leishmaniasis is currently the second most widespread vector-borne parasitic disease after malaria. The World Health Organization (WHO) records approximately 0.7-1 million newly diagnosed leishmaniasis cases each year, resulting in approximately 20,000-30,000 deaths. Also, 25 million people worldwide are at risk of Chagas disease and an estimated 6 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite the similarity of the parasites, the evolution of the disease and the clinical indexes are explicitly different in African, Asian, and American forms of infection. Clinical therapies are associated with drug resistance and side effects. As a result, the discovery of novel therapeutic agents has emerged as a top priority and a promising alternative. Peptide-based drugs are an attractive class of therapeutic agents. They are recognized for being highly selective and effective, as well as safe and well tolerated. Moreover, they are now being explored in the development of novel therapeutics for a variety of health disorders, including oncology, endocrinology, metabolic, cardiovascular, and bone diseases. In addition, they are being explored in tropical diseases such as leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. We will discuss current knowledge regarding the parasite life cycle, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.

Background Sorghum is staple cereal crop in Ethiopia which is used as a food source and traditional beverage. Seven sorghum varieties were used, planted malted, and extracted under similar conditions to assess their quality for brewing. The experiment was performed and analyzed their physicochemical, malting, biochemical and wort quality parameters investigated employing standard procedures. The grain quality parameters for seven sorghum varieties such as ash, moisture, protein, tannin, starch, amylose, iron and zinc, malting, and wort quality parameters were analyzed. Data were analyzed utilizing ANOVA [at 95% significant level] and correlations using SPSS 14 software. Result Results showed the two cultivars ESH-1 an ESH-4 had a protein percentage greater than 12%. While the highest starch value was recorded in Melkam (65.39 %) variety. Debra grain recording the highest zinc (38.86 ppm) content and ESH-4 was recorded the highest iron (38.66 ppm) content. All the cultivars had good germinative capacities more than 80% and more than 90% were recorded at 24 and 48 hours respectively. The varieties Debere and Melkam have recorded the highest germinative energy values of 88 and 67 % at 12 hours respectively and while 100% of germination energy values were recorded at 24 hours. Varieties with high friability were Debere and Melkam which indicates high lautering performance. Varieties with low friability were Argity and ESH-4 indicated that under modification can lead to poor mash conversion and more high viscosity. The cross correlations between amylose, starch and protein were showed the significant difference at p<0.05. The correlations between the amylose pairs of amylose-starch (0.686) and amylose-protein (0.685) were found to be high and positive. Yield was negatively significantly correlated to amylose, starch, protein, ash and moisture content (r = -0.705, -0.590, -0.441, -0.201 and -0.0.178) respectively. However, most of the cultivars fulfilled the quality requirements and within the acceptable range of the European Brewery Convention (EBC) and Asela Malt factory standard (Ethiopia). Conclusion This study showed that the cultivars have good potentials for use as malting materials in beverage making. Some of the sorghum varieties have been identified to be useful as nutritious source of food and for use in the malting industry.