Hydroxylated polyphenols, also called flavonoids, are richly present in vegetables, fruits, cereals, nuts, herbs, seeds, stems, and flowers of numerous plants. They possess numerous medicinal properties such as antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammation. Studies show that flavonoids activate antioxidant pathways that render an anti-inflammatory effect. They inhibit the secretions of enzymes such as lysozymes and β-glucuronidase and inhibit the secretion of arachidonic acid, which reduces inflammatory reactions. Flavonoids such as quercetin, genistein, apigenin, kaempferol, and epigallocatechin 3-gallate modulate the expression and activation of a cytokine such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8); regulate the gene expression of many pro-inflammatory molecules such s nuclear factor kappa-light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), activator protein-1 (AP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM), and E-selectins; and also inhibits inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and lipoxygenase, which are pro-inflammatory enzymes. Understanding the anti-inflammatory action of flavonoids provides better treatment options, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, obstructive pulmonary disorder, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer. This review highlights the sources, biochemical activities, and role of flavonoids in enhancing human health.

The human gut has a rich and dynamic microbial population that plays an important role in many physiological activities. This review explores the complex interaction between the gut microbiota and human health, with an emphasis on its effect on neurodegenerative illnesses. The makeup of the gut microbiome and its impact on brain function through the gut–brain axis is highlighted. Dysbiosis, characterized by changes in the gut microbiota’s composition, has been linked to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A Bidirectional communication between the stomach and the brain takes place via a variety of channels, including neurotransmitters and metabolites generated by gut bacteria. We investigate the processes through which dysbiosis causes neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal damage, which drive disease development. Potential therapeutic approaches that focus on the gut microbiota, such as antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, are reviewed, with promising preclinical and clinical findings. Overall, this study emphasizes the relevance of gut microbiota to neurodegenerative illnesses, as well as the need to understand and target the gut-brain axis for future treatment options.

We report the annotated genome sequence of two clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from Kerala, India.

Biological synthesis of rhamnolipids from SDS by Pseudomonas aeruginosa S15 is found to be a cost effective mode of rhamnolipid synthesis. The current study aimed to attempt rhamnolipid synthesis by transformant Escherichia coli DH5α cells. Molecular analysis by curing experiments revealed that the properties of SDS based rhamnolipid synthesis were plasmid borne. Transformation of 10 kb plasmid to Escherichia coli DH5α cells conferred rhamnolipid synthetic ability to transformant. Various genetic elements involved in SDS based rhamnolipid synthesis were analyzed using PCR based and restriction digestion based approaches. PCR amplification using primers specific for sdsA gene encoding alkylsulfatases yielded two significant amplicons viz, 1.2 kb fragment and 422 bp fragment, coding for putative dehydratase and ABC transporter respectively. Amplicon of sdsB gene lacked ability of SDS degradation and rhamnolipid synthesis. Rhamnolipid biosynthesis by transformant E.coli DH5α containing the whole of the 10kb plasmid, was optimized to yield of 3.38 g l⁻¹ in 5 days of incubation. Plasmid encoded rhamnolipid synthesis from recombinant E.coli cells is novel and could serve as yet another promising approach among various steps adopted for safe and effective rhamnolipid synthesis. SDS based rhamnolipid synthesis by S15 attained a high substrate (SDS) to product (Rhamnolipid) conversion ratio. However, the use of Pseudomonas strains is always discouraged as they are opportunistic pathogens and could sometimes turn infectious. Thus transformation of genetic elements coding SDS based rhamnolipid synthesis to non pathogenic strains could be promising.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-degrading bacteria were isolated from soil and water samples from multiple locations using basal media with 0.05% SDS as the only carbon source. The bacteria were identified using 16S rRNA sequencing and deposited in the NCBI database with specific accession numbers and strain name. There were six bacteria iidentified as Klebsiella variicola MSK86, Klebsiella sp. MSK86, K. quasipneumoniae MSK86, and three K. pneumoniae strains, MSK86, MSK25, and NET12. The potential for decrease in SDS concentration by the bacteria was assessed using “Stains-all.” The SDS standard graph was plotted with different SDS concentration of 0 to 0.06%. The SDS-Stains-all complex exhibited a peak with maximum absorbance at 440 nm. The absorbance of the bacteria-inoculated samples was monitored at 440 nm on every 24 h until the sixth day of incubation. The decrease in concentration of SDS in the medium on day 6 of incubation by K. pneumoniae MSK86, K. variicola MSK86, and Klebsiella sp. MSK86 was found to be 86, 84, and 84%, respectively. K. pneumoniae NET12 demonstrated 76% of decrease. K. pneumoniae MSK25 and K. quasipneumoniae MSK86 were able to survive in the SDS medium, with decrease of 20 and 40%, respectively. The focus of this investigation was finding bacteria that can breakdown SDS, that may contribute to the decrease in the amount of detergent pollution in water.