In pursuit of cancer metastasis therapy by bacteria and its biofilms: History or future

Plant bioactive compounds driven microRNAs (miRNAs): A potential source and novel strategy targeting gene and cancer therapeutics

Irrespective of medical technology improvements, cancer ranks among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Although numerous cures and treatments exist, creating alternative cancer therapies with fewer adverse side effects is vital. Since ancient times, plant bioactive compounds have already been used as a remedy to heal cancer. These plant bioactive compounds and their anticancer activity can also deregulate the microRNAs (miRNAs) in the cancerous cells. Therefore, the deregulation of miRNAs in cancer cells by plant bioactive compounds and the usage of the related miRNA could be a promising approach for cancer cure, mainly to prevent cancer and overcome chemotherapeutic side effect problems. Hence, this review highlights the function of plant bioactive compounds as an anticancer agent through the underlying mechanism that alters the miRNA expression in cancer cells, ultimately leading to apoptosis. Moreover, this review provides insight into using plant bioactive compounds -driven miRNAs as an anticancer agent to develop miRNA-based cancer gene therapy. They can be the potential resource for gene therapy and novel strategies targeting cancer therapeutics.

Therapeutic bacteria and viruses to combat cancer: double-edged sword in cancer therapy: new insights for future

Cancer, ranked as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, leads to the death of approximately seven million people annually, establishing itself as one of the most significant health challenges globally. The discovery and identification of new anti-cancer drugs that kill or inactivate cancer cells without harming normal and healthy cells and reduce adverse effects on the immune system is a potential challenge in medicine and a fundamental goal in Many studies. Therapeutic bacteria and viruses have become a dual-faceted instrument in cancer therapy. They provide a promising avenue for cancer treatment, but at the same time, they also create significant obstacles and complications that contribute to cancer growth and development. This review article explores the role of bacteria and viruses in cancer treatment, examining their potential benefits and drawbacks. By amalgamating established knowledge and perspectives, this review offers an in-depth examination of the present research landscape within this domain and identifies avenues for future investigation.

Novel phytochemical inhibitors targeting monkeypox virus thymidine and serine/threonine kinase: integrating computational modeling and molecular dynamics simulation

Due to the rapid spread of the monkeypox virus and rise in the number of cases, there is an urgent need for the development of effective drugs against the infection. Serine/threonine protein kinase (Ser/Thr kinase) and Thymidine Kinase (TK) plays an imperative role in the replication and virulence of monkeypox virus and thus is deliberated as an attractive target in anti-viral drug development. In the present study, the 3D structure of monkeypox virus Ser/Thr kinase and TK was generated via molecular modeling techniques and performed their thorough structural analysis. We have screened potent anti-viral phytochemicals from the literature to inhibit Ser/Thr kinase and TK. As part of the initial screening, the physicochemical properties of the compounds were examined. Following this, a structure-based molecular docking technique was used to select compounds based on their binding affinity towards Ser/Thr kinase and TK. In order to find more potent hits against Ser/Thr kinase and TK, further examinations of ADMET properties, PAINS patterns and blood-brain barrier permeability were conducted. As a result, thalimonine and galanthamine were identified from the screening process bearing appreciable binding affinity towards Ser/Thr kinase and TK respectively, which showed a worthy set of drug-like properties. In the end, molecular dynamics simulations were performed for 100 ns, which showed decent stability of both protein-ligand complex throughout the trajectory. Due to the possibility that both monkeypox virus target proteins may be inhibited by thalimonine and galanthamine, our study highlights the need to investigate in vivo effects of thalimonine and galanthamine.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Advances in image-guided drug delivery for antibacterial therapy

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains is seriously endangering the global healthcare system. There is an urgent need for combining imaging with therapies to realize the real-time monitoring of pathological condition and treatment progress. It also provides guidance on exploring new medicines and enhance treatment strategies to overcome the antibiotic resistance of existing conventional antibiotics. In this review, we provide a thorough overview of the most advanced image-guided approaches for bacterial diagnosis (e.g., computed tomography imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic imaging, ultrasound imaging, fluorescence imaging, positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography imaging, and multiple imaging), and therapies (e.g., photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, and multiple therapies). This review focuses on how to design and fabricate photo-responsive materials for improved image-guided bacterial theranostics applications. We present a potential application of different image-guided modalities for both bacterial diagnosis and therapies with representative examples. Finally, we highlighted the current challenges and future perspectives image-guided approaches for future clinical translation of nano-theranostics in bacterial infections therapies. We envision that this review will provide for future development in image-guided systems for bacterial theranostics applications.

Recent Advances in Bacteria-Based Cancer Treatment

Simple Summary

Cancer refers to a disease involving abnormal cells that proliferate uncontrollably and can invade normal body tissue. It was estimated that at least 9 million patients are killed by cancer annually. Recent studies have demonstrated that bacteria play a significant role in cancer treatment and prevention. Owing to its unique mechanism of abundant pathogen-associated molecular patterns in antitumor immune responses and preferentially accumulating and proliferating within tumors, bacteria-based cancer immunotherapy has recently attracted wide attention. We aim to illustrate that naïve bacteria and their components can serve as robust theranostic agents for cancer eradication. In addition, we summarize the recent advances in efficient antitumor treatments by genetically engineering bacteria and bacteria-based nanoparticles. Further, possible future perspectives in bacteria-based cancer immunotherapy are also inspected.

Abstract

Owing to its unique mechanism of abundant pathogen-associated molecular patterns in antitumor immune responses, bacteria-based cancer immunotherapy has recently attracted wide attention. Compared to traditional cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and phototherapy, bacteria-based cancer immunotherapy exhibits the versatile capabilities for suppressing cancer thanks to its preferentially accumulating and proliferating within tumors. In particular, bacteria have demonstrated their anticancer effect through the toxins, and other active components from the cell membrane, cell wall, and dormant spores. More importantly, the design of engineering bacteria with detoxification and specificity is essential for the efficacy of bacteria-based cancer therapeutics. Meanwhile, bacteria can deliver the cytokines, antibody, and other anticancer theranostic nanoparticles to tumor microenvironments by regulating the expression of the bacterial genes or chemical and physical loading. In this review, we illustrate that naïve bacteria and their components can serve as robust theranostic agents for cancer eradication. In addition, we summarize the recent advances in efficient antitumor treatments by genetically engineering bacteria and bacteria-based nanoparticles. Further, possible future perspectives in bacteria-based cancer immunotherapy are also inspected.

Seafood Discards: A Potent Source of Enzymes and Biomacromolecules With Nutritional and Nutraceutical Significance

In recent times, the seafood industry is found to produce large volumes of waste products comprising shrimp shells, fish bones, fins, skins, intestines, and carcasses, along with the voluminous quantity of wastewater effluents. These seafood industry effluents contain large quantities of lipids, amino acids, proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, and carotenoids mixed with the garbage. This debris not only causes a huge wastage of various nutrients but also roots in severe environmental contamination. Hence, the problem of such seafood industry run-offs needs to be immediately managed with a commercial outlook. Microbiological treatment may lead to the valorization of seafood wastes, the trove of several useful compounds into value-added materials like enzymes, such as lipase, protease, chitinase, hyaluronidase, phosphatase, etc., and organic compounds like bioactive peptides, collagen, gelatin, chitosan, and mineral-based nutraceuticals. Such bioconversion in combination with a bio-refinery strategy possesses the potential for environment-friendly and inexpensive management of discards generated from seafood, which can sustainably maintain the production of seafood. The compounds that are being produced may act as nutritional sources or as nutraceuticals, foods with medicinal value. Determining utilization of seafood discard not only reduces the obnoxious deposition of waste but adds economy in the production of food with nutritional and medicinal importance, and, thereby meets up the long-lasting global demand of making nutrients and nutraceuticals available at a nominal cost.

Bacteria−Based Synergistic Therapy in the Backdrop of Synthetic Biology

Although the synergistic effect of traditional therapies combined with tumor targeting or immunotherapy can significantly reduce mortality, cancer remains the leading cause of disease related death to date. Limited clinical response rate, drug resistance and off-target effects, to a large extent, impede the ceilings of clinical efficiency. To get out from the dilemmas mentioned, bacterial therapy with a history of more than 150 years regained great concern in recent years. The rise of biological engineering and chemical modification strategies are able to optimize tumor bacterial therapy in highest measure, and meanwhile avoid its inherent drawbacks toward clinical application such as bacteriotoxic effects, weak controllability, and low security. Here, we give an overview of recent studies with regard to bacteria-mediated therapies combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. And more than that, we review the bacterial detoxification and targeting strategies via biological reprogramming or chemical modification, their applications, and clinical transformation prospects.

Plants in Anticancer Drug Discovery: From Molecular Mechanism to Chemoprevention

Cancer is one of the primary causes of mortality globally, and the discovery of new anticancer drugs is the most important need in recent times. Natural products have been recognized as effective in fight against various diseases including cancer for over 50 years. Plants and microbes are the primary and potential sources of natural compounds to fight against cancer. Moreover, researches in the field of plant-based natural compounds have moved towards advanced and molecular level understandings from the last few decades, leading to the development of potent anticancer agents. Also, plants have been accepted as abundant and prosperous sources for the development of novel therapeutic agents for the management and prevention of different cancer types. The high toxicity of some cancer chemotherapy drugs, as well as their unfavorable side effects and drugs resistance, drives up the demand for natural compounds as new anticancer drugs. In this detailed evidence-based mechanistic review, facts and information about various medicinal plants, their bioactive compounds with their potent anticancer activities against different cancers have been gathered, with further approach to represent the molecular mechanism behind the anticancer activity of these plants. This review will be beneficial for investigators/scientists globally involved in the development of natural, safe, effective, and economical therapeutic agents/drugs against various cancers. This might be an important contribution in the field of drug discovery, where drugs can be used alone or in combination to increase the efficacy of newly synthesized drugs.

Bugs as drugs: neglected but a promising future therapeutic strategy in cancer

Effective cancer treatment is an urgent need due to the rising incidence of cancer. One of the most promising future strategies in cancer treatment is using microorganisms as cancer indicators, prophylactic agents, immune activators, vaccines or vectors in antitumor therapy. The success of bacteria-mediated chemotherapy will be dependent on the balance of therapeutic benefit and the control of bacterial infection in the body. Additionally, protozoans and viruses have the potential to be used in cancer therapy. This review summarizes how these microorganisms interact with tumor microenvironments and the challenges of a 'bugs as drugs' approach in cancer therapy. Several standpoints are discussed, such as bacteria as vectors for gene therapy that shuttle therapeutic compounds into tumor tissues, their intrinsic antitumor activities and their combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Bug-based cancer therapy is a two-edged sword and we need to find the opportunities by overcoming the challenges.

Immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as a stand-alone and in combination therapy

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is of major concern for society as it is associated with high mortality and is one of the most commonly occurring of all cancers. Due to the number of mutational variants and general heterogeneity of this type of cancer, treatment using conventional modalities has been challenging. Therefore, it is important to have improved therapeutic treatments like immunotherapy, that can specifically treat the disease while causing minimal damage to healthy tissue and additionally provide systemic immunity. Cancer vaccines are an important element of cancer immunotherapy and have been approved for treatment of a limited number of cancers, including NSCLC. This article highlights scientific evidence for several therapeutic treatment strategies for NSCLC, alone or in combination, which offers new hope for those suffering. Although cancer vaccines have had some success as a monotherapy, their potential in a combination therapy needs to be critically analyzed for future applications.

Anti-Metastatic Effects of Lupeol via the Inhibition of MAPK/ERK Pathway in Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

ERK pathway is one of the most crucial pathways in lung cancer metastasis. Targeting its pathway is decisive in lung cancer research. Thus, this study demonstrated for the first time for significant and selective anti-metastatic effects of lupeol against lung cancer A549 cells via perturbations in the ERK signaling pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human protein targets of lupeol were predicted in silico. Migration and cytotoxicity assays were carried out in vitro. Expression levels of proteins Erk1/2 and pErk1/2 were ensured using Enzyme- Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique was used to estimate changes in crucial mesenchymal marker gene expression levels of N-cadherin and vimentin.

RESULTS

Lupeol was found to target ERK and MEK proteins effectively. Despite having no cytotoxic effects, lupeol also significantly inhibited cell migration in A549 cells with decreased expression of the pErk1/2 protein along with N-cadherin and vimentin genes.

CONCLUSION

Lupeol inhibits cell migration, showed no cytotoxic effects on A549 cells, decreased pErk1/2 and EMT gene expression. Thus, it can serve as a potential ERK pathway inhibitor in lung cancer therapeutics.

Deciphering the Molecular Mechanism Responsible for Efficiently Inhibiting Metastasis of Human Non-Small Cell Lung and Colorectal Cancer Cells Targeting the Matrix Metalloproteinases by Selaginella repanda

Selaginella species are known to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic as well as anticancer effects. However, no study has examined the cytotoxic and anti-metastatic efficacy of Selaginella repanda (S. repanda) to date. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-metastatic properties of ethanol crude extract of S. repanda in human non-small-cell lung (A-549) and colorectal cancer (HCT-116) cells with possible mechanisms. Effect of S. repanda crude extract on the growth, adhesion, migration and invasion of the A-549 and HCT-116 were investigated. We demonstrated that S. repanda crude extract inhibited cell growth of metastatic cells in a dose and time dependent manner. Incubation of A-549 and HCT-116 cells with 100-500 µg/mL of S. repanda crude extract significantly inhibited cell adhesion to gelatin coated surface. In the migration and invasion assay, S. repanda crude extract also significantly inhibited cellular migration and invasion in both A-549 and HCT-116 cells. Moreover, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that the activity and mRNA level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) were inhibited. While the activity of tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1); an inhibitor of MMPs was stimulated by S. repanda crude extract in a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, the present study not only indicated the inhibition of motility and invasion of malignant cells by S. repanda, but also revealed that such effects were likely associated with the decrease in MMP-2/-9 expression of both A-549 and HCT-116 cells. This further suggests that S. repanda could be used as a potential source of anti-metastasis agent in pharmaceutical development for cancer therapy.

Microbes as Medicines: Harnessing the Power of Bacteria in Advancing Cancer Treatment

Conventional anti-cancer therapy involves the use of chemical chemotherapeutics and radiation and are often non-specific in action. The development of drug resistance and the inability of the drug to penetrate the tumor cells has been a major pitfall in current treatment. This has led to the investigation of alternative anti-tumor therapeutics possessing greater specificity and efficacy. There is a significant interest in exploring the use of microbes as potential anti-cancer medicines. The inherent tropism of the bacteria for hypoxic tumor environment and its ability to be genetically engineered as a vector for gene and drug therapy has led to the development of bacteria as a potential weapon against cancer. In this review, we will introduce bacterial anti-cancer therapy with an emphasis on the various mechanisms involved in tumor targeting and tumor suppression. The bacteriotherapy approaches in conjunction with the conventional cancer therapy can be effective in designing novel cancer therapies. We focus on the current progress achieved in bacterial cancer therapies that show potential in advancing existing cancer treatment options and help attain positive clinical outcomes with minimal systemic side-effects.

Fish-based Bioactives as Potent Nutraceuticals: Exploring the Therapeutic Perspective of Sustainable Food from the Sea

Recent developments in nutraceuticals and functional foods have confirmed that bioactive components present in our diet play a major therapeutic role against human diseases. Moreover, there is a huge emphasis on food scientists for identifying and producing foods with better bioactive activity, which can ultimately provide wellness and well-being to human health. Among the several well-known foods with bioactive constituents, fish has always been considered important, due to its rich nutritional values and by-product application in food industries. Nutritionists, food scientists, and other scientific communities have been working jointly to uncover new bioactive molecules that could increase the potential and therapeutic benefits of these bioactive components. Despite the innumerable benefits of fish and known fish bioactive molecules, its use by food or pharmaceutical industries is scarce, and even research on fish-based nutraceuticals is not promising. Therefore, this review focuses on the current information/data available regarding fish bioactive components, its application as nutraceuticals for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of chronic diseases, ethnic issues related to consumption of fish or its by-products. Especial emphasis is given on the utilization of fish wastes and its by-products to fulfill the world demand for cheap dietary supplements specifically for underdeveloped/least developed countries.

Effect of Adiantum philippense Extract on Biofilm Formation, Adhesion With Its Antibacterial Activities Against Foodborne Pathogens, and Characterization of Bioactive Metabolites: An in vitro-in silico Approach

Adiantum philippense (A. philippense), an ethnomedicinally important fern, has become an interesting herb in the search for novel bioactive metabolites, which can also be used as therapeutic agents. Primarily, in this study, A. philippense crude extract was screened for its phytochemical constituents, antagonistic potential, and effect on bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation against common food pathogens. Phytochemical profiling of A. philippense was carried out by using High Resolution-Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy (HR-LCMS) followed by antibacterial activity via agar cup/well diffusion, broth microdilution susceptibility methods, and growth curve analysis. Antibiofilm potency and efficacy were assessed on the development, formation, and texture of biofilms through light microscopy, fluorescent microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and the assessment of exopolysaccharide production. Correspondingly, a checkerboard test was performed to evaluate the combinatorial effect of A. philippense and chloramphenicol. Lastly, molecular docking studies of identified phytochemicals with adhesin proteins of tested food pathogens, which helps the bacteria in surface attachment and leads to biofilm formation, were assessed. A. philippense crude extract was found to be active against all tested food pathogens, displaying the rapid time-dependent kinetics of bacterial killing. A. philippense crude extract also impedes the biofilm matrix by reducing the total content of exopolysaccharide, and, likewise, the microscopic images revealed a great extent of disruption in the architecture of biofilms. A synergy was observed between A. philippense crude extract and chloramphenicol for E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa, whereas an additive effect was observed for S. flexneri. Various bioactive phytochemicals were categorized from A. philippense crude extract using HR-LCMS. The molecular docking of these identified phytochemicals was interrelated with the active site residues of adhesin proteins, IcsA, Sortase A, OprD, EspA, and FimH from S. flexneri, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli, respectively. Thus, our findings represent the bioactivity and potency of A. philippense crude extract against food pathogens not only in their planktonic forms but also against/in biofilms for the first time. We have also correlated these findings with the possible mechanism of biofilm inhibition via targeting adhesin proteins, which could be explored further to design new bioactive compounds against biofilm producing foodborne bacterial pathogens.

Potential Evaluation and Health Fostering Intrinsic Traits of Novel Probiotic Strain Enterococcus durans F3 Isolated from the Gut of Fresh Water Fish Catla catla

Over the last few years, marine environment was found to be a source of surplus natural products and microorganisms with new bioactive secondary metabolites of interest which can divulge nutritional and biological impact on the host. This study aims to assess the possible, inherent and functional probiotic properties of a novel probiotic strain Enterococcus durans F3 (E. durans F3) isolated from the gut of fresh water fish Catla catla. Parameters for evaluating and describing the probiotics described in FAD/WHO guidelines were followed. E. durans F3 demonstrated affirmative results including simulated bile, acid and gastric juice tolerance with exhibited significant bactericidal effect against pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhi, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This can be due to the enterocin produced by E. durans F3 strain, which was resolute by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gel with amplification of the anticipated fragment of a structural gene; enterocin A, followed by antibiotic susceptibility assessment. Effective antioxidant potentiality against α-diphenyl-α-picrylhydrazyl free radicals including lipase, bile salt hydrolase activity with auto-aggregation and cell surface hydrophobicity was similarly observed. Results are proving the potentiality of E. durans F3, which can also be used as probiotic starter culture in dairy industries for manufacturing new products that imparts health benefits to the host. Finding the potent and novel probiotic strains will also satisfy the current developing market demand for probiotics.

Recent Findings on Nanotechnology-based Therapeutic Strategies Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background:

Nanotechnology-based therapies are emerging as a promising new anticancer approach. Early clinical studies suggest that nanoparticle-based therapeutics can show enhanced efficacy while reducing side effects minimal, owing to targeted delivery and active intracellular uptake.

Methods:

To overcome the problems of gene and drug delivery, nanotechnology based delivery system gained interest in the last two decades. Encouraging results from Nano formulation based drug delivery systems revealed that these emerging restoratives can efficiently lead to more effective, targeted, selective and efficacious delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to the affected target cells.

Results:

Nanotechnology not only inhibits targeted gene products in patients with cancer, but also taught us valuable lessons regarding appropriate dosages and route of administrations. Besides, nanotechnology based therapeutics holds remarkable potential as an effective drug delivery system. We critically highlight the recent findings on nanotechnology mediated therapeutics strategies to combat hepatocellular carcinoma and discuss how nanotechnology platform can have enhanced anticancer effects compared with the parent therapeutic agents they contain.

Conclusion:

In this review, we discussed the key challenges, recent findings and future perspective in the development of effective nanotechnology-based cancer therapeutics. The emphasis here is focused on nanotechnology-based therapies that are likely to affect clinical investigations and their implications for advancing the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Serine arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1): a moonlighting protein with theranostic ability in cancer prevention

Serine/arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1); a versatile functional moonlighting protein involved in varied cellular activities comprised of cell cycle progression, innate immune response, chromatin reorganization, negative and positive regulation of viral genome replication, protein amino acid phosphorylation, regulation of numerous mRNA-processing pathways, germ cell development as well as inflammation due to acquaintances with many transcription factors and signaling pathways. Several diseases including cancer have been associated with dysregulation of SRPK1. The function of SRPK1 in cancer is contradictory and inexplicable because it acts as both tumor suppressor and promoter based on the type of cell and locale. Over expression of SRPK1 including its role has been recently narrated and associated with several cancers, which includes, lung, glioma, prostate and breast via dysregulated signals from the Akt/eIF4E/HIF-1/VEGF, Erk or MAPK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, TGF-β, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. Therefore, SRPK1 has occurred as a promising and possible curative target in cancer. In recent years, few natural and synthetic SRPK1 inhibitors have been discovered. This review emphasizes and highlights the complicated connections between SRPK1 and oncogenic signaling circuits together with the possibility of aiming SRPK1 in the treatment of cancer.