Londin et al. discovered a novel group of miRNAs, referred to as LmiRNAs, whose properties had been studied little for unknown reasons. In this study, we examine fully complementary interactions between LmiRNAs and mRNAs of human genes. Using the MirTarget program, we identified a significant number of target genes showing unique interaction with LmiRNAs. Among the 3707 LmiRNAs, fully complementary binding sites (BSs) were found in the 5′UTR of 75 target genes, with their interactions exhibiting high free energy. Fully complementary LmiRNA binding sites were located within the CDS of 81 target genes, while only seven LmiRNAs were found to bind to the 3′UTR of target genes. The KIFC3, PHF15, RPL15, and SNX11 genes were found to encode both LmiRNA-5p and LmiRNA-3p, which actively bind to their respective mRNAs. While the mRNA of most genes was targeted by only a single LmiRNA, the BMP8B, FGFRL1, and SDC3 genes included mRNAs bound by the specific pair ID00121.5p and ID02992.5p. These results expand our understanding of LmiRNAs and support their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic agents for various diseases.

The rapid global spread of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic microorganisms poses a serious challenge to both human and animal health, underscoring the urgent need for new strategies to combat resistance. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), key components of the innate immune system, are promising candidates because they disrupt the membranes of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, thereby reducing the risk of resistance development. Lactoferrin (LF), a multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein abundant in mammalian milk, is a rich source of AMPs. Cationic peptide fragments such as lactoferricin and lactoferrampin exhibit more potent direct antimicrobial activity than the intact protein. Our previous studies have shown that peptides derived from Equine milk lactoferrin exhibit antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oncogenic activity in silico, highlighting their multifunctional bioactive potential. Building on these results, the present study aims to investigate the antimicrobial properties of these peptides. We used an integrated approach combining computer modeling and in vitro studies to identify and validate novel antimicrobial peptides from equine milk lactoferrin. Bioinformatics tools, including AMPScanner and CAMP, were used to predict antimicrobial domains, followed by experimental testing against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results showed that equine milk lactoferrin peptides possess potent and selective antimicrobial activity, with efficacy varying across bacterial species. These data expand the functional profile of lactoferrin-derived peptides, demonstrating their multifunctionality, and suggest that equine milk lactoferrin represents a promising natural source of antimicrobial agents, supporting alternative strategies to reduce antibiotic use in human and veterinary medicine.

Background/Objectives: piRNAs (PIWI-interacting RNAs) can significantly modify the expression of protein-coding genes by suppressing the translation process. The aim of this work was to computationally evaluate the potential interactions between piRNAs and the mRNA of the Klotho gene, as well as other genes involved in key metabolic pathways related to health and lifespan regulation. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis was conducted using the MirTarget program, which determines the quantitative characteristics of predicted nucleotide interactions between piRNAs and mRNA targets. Results: Several piRNAs (piR-44682, piR-1940042, piR-3008660, piR-3215034, piR-6885965, and piR-7980636) were predicted to bind within a single cluster of binding sites on the KL mRNA. In addition, piR-6890096 was predicted to interact with the KL mRNA through full complementarity. The mRNAs of AFF2, BCL2L11, CPT1A, DAZAP1, NDRG3, SKIDA1, WBP4, ZIC5, and ZSWIM6 were predicted to interact with piR-3215034 and piR-6885965, forming clusters of binding sites located in the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR), coding sequence (CDS), and 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR). Additionally, piR-576442, piR-1501557, piR-1845735, piR-2069834, and piR-3029987 were predicted to bind only within the 3′UTR of FGF23 mRNA. These results suggest that piRNAs are potential regulators of KL and other genes involved in key metabolic processes. Conclusions: The findings provide a basis for further experimental validation of predicted piRNA–mRNA interactions and their possible roles in gene regulation.

Londin et al. previously identified a large group of novel microRNAs, here referred to as LmiRNAs; however, their biological functions remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated fully complementary interactions between LmiRNAs and the mRNAs of human genes using the MirTarget program. Analysis of 3,707 LmiRNAs revealed numerous target genes containing fully complementary LmiRNA binding sites characterized by high interaction free energy values. Binding sites for 75 LmiRNAs were identified in the 5′ untranslated regions (5′UTRs) of target gene mRNAs, whereas 81 target genes contained binding sites within coding sequences (CDSs). Only seven LmiRNAs formed fully complementary interactions within 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs). Notably, mRNAs of several genes, including KIFC3, PHF15, RPL15, and SNX11, were identified as capable of binding to LmiRNA-5p and LmiRNA-3p. Most target gene mRNAs interacted with only a single LmiRNA. In addition, the BMP8B, FGFRL1, and SDC3 genes contained binding sites for the LmiRNA pair ID00121.5p and ID02992.5p. These findings expand current understanding of the interaction properties of LmiRNAs and suggest their potential utility as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for human diseases.

Mare's milk is a valuable source of biologically active immunoglobulins (Ig), which play a key role in passive immune defense. Unlike cow's milk, it contains a high concentration of IgG, IgA and secretory IgA, which makes it promising for functional nutrition and therapeutic use. Mare's milk immunoglobulins have a high affinity for pathogens, help neutralize viruses, bacteria and toxins, and modulate the immune response of the mucosa. Of particular interest is their association with lactoferrin, which enhances their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Modern studies confirm the effectiveness of mare's milk immunoglobulins in the prevention of gastrointestinal infections, allergic reactions and inflammatory diseases. Due to its high digestibility and low allergenicity, it is considered an alternative to cow's milk for infant and dietary nutrition. Promising directions include the creation of "immune-enriched products" based on mare's milk and the use of its immunoglobulins in biomedicine, including the creation of probiotics and drugs for correcting the microbiota. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the structure, functions, and practical applications of mare's milk immunoglobulins, emphasizing their potential in nutrition and clinical practice. Keywords: mare's milk, immunoglobulins, biologically active peptides, whey proteins

Interest in the properties of miRNAs has significantly declined in recent years, largely due to inadequate conceptualizations of their interactions with mRNA. Recent publications have shown a growing tendency to consider fully complementary miRNA interactions with mRNA of transcription factor genes. In the present study, we examined the miRNAs identified by Backes et al. which we have designated as BmiRNA to distinguish them from those in the NCBI database and other standard miRNAs. The MirTarget software was utilized to determine the quantitative physicochemical characteristics of the interactions between BmiRNAs and target mRNAs. BmiRNAs differ significantly from other miRNAs across numerous properties. We observed that BmiRNAs bind with full complementarity to the mRNAs of numerous transcription factor genes. Specifically, it is demonstrated that the mRNAs of ZNF genes and other transcription factors bind to BmiRNAs with full complementarity. Nearly all these BmiRNAs exhibited binding within the 3′UTR region. We identified BmiRNAs that interact with multiple target genes, as well as target genes that interact with multiple BmiRNAs, and defined groups of BmiRNAs that bind to the mRNAs of multiple genes. Furthermore, we identified BmiRNAs interacting with the mRNAs of transcription factor genes with high free energy. These results, regarding the interaction of BmiRNAs with the mRNAs of a significant number of genes, support the hypothesis that miRNAs serve as critical regulators of human genome expression.