Department of Biosciences

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://10.0.2.71:4000/handle/123456789/422

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End date: 2026

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 11
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    Genotypic characterization on the basis of chilling requirement in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers
    (Springer, 2026-06-03) Tiwari, Madhuri; Sharma, Rajnish; Sharma, Megha et al
    Molecular characterization was performed using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers among apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) cultivars categorized based on the chilling requirement in this study. In total, 191 alleles, with an average of 3.47 per locus, were revealed utilizing 55 informative polymorphic SSR primers among the 84 total SSRs initially screened. The mean per cent polymorphism was obtained to be 96.21 in the characterized cultivars, with an average number of monomorphic (0.13) and polymorphic (3.35) bands. The mean polymorphic information content, effective multiplex ratio, Shannon index, expected heterozygosity value, observed heterozygosity, observed allele number, effective allele number, marker index, and resolving power were 0.65, 3.26, 0.93, 0.61, 0.84, 2.93, 2.45, 2.19, and 4.23, respectively. The similarity coefficient range was 0.26–0.96. The population structure showed an admixture of two genetic pools in the examined cultivars. Cluster analysis divided the subjected apple cultivars into two major clusters: the first cluster of high-chilling cultivars, while the second cluster of mid-chilling and low-chilling cultivars. The present study inferred clear and distinct characterization of low, mid, and high chilling cultivars using SSR markers that confirms the standard classification in accordance with the available literature. Hence, the results so obtained will serve as a base for further research towards developing trait-specific markers and to unfold the genetic base behind varied chilling requirements in apples.
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    Enhancing the Efficacy of Paclitaxel with Nano-Activators: A Novel Approach to Mitigating the Chemotherapies Side-Effects
    (Springer, 2026-03-19) Dhasmana, Archna; Preetam, Subham et al
    In the modern era of medical science, nanotechnology plays a pivotal role in drug repurposing, remodelling, novel drug delivery design, and advanced diagnostics. Various nanomaterials including nanoparticles (NPs) and nanoconjugates are being explored as carriers, immune modulators, and targeted agents to selectively eliminate defective cells. However, conventional anticancer drugs like paclitaxel (Px) often exhibit limitations such as off-target cytotoxicity and immune suppression. Reformulating such drugs with naturally derived bio-enhancers may mitigate side effects and enhance therapeutic potential. In this study, we investigated the synergistic interaction between drug (Px) and phytogenic NPs derived from Lantana camara, a natural weed. The nanoconjugates of drug Px with phytonanoparticles (PxPNC) were synthesized using a 1 mM genipin cross-linking solution shows upto 98% drug loading efficiency and nano-crystalline nature. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the formation of NPs (198.41 ± 0.09 nm) and their conjugation with Px (PxPNC: 227 ± 0.25 nm), with stable structural integrity maintained at pH ≥ 7 for up to 96% of drug content retention. In vitro studies demonstrated that the NPs at 0.4 µg/mL exhibited significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines (HeLa cells). Importantly, concentrations < 0.5 µg/mL showed negligible cytotoxicity against fibroblast cell line (L929 cells). Notably, Half maximal Inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of drug Px for HeLa cells − 0.51 ± 0.02 µg/mL and L929 fibroblast cells- 0.48 ± 0.02 µg/mL significantly improved in PxPNC i.e., HeLa cells-0.34 ± 0.01 µg/mL and L929 cells-0.47 ± 0.01 µg/mL respectively. Our findings suggest that incorporating L. camara phyto-components enhances the therapeutic index of paclitaxel, offering a promising plant-based nanoplatform for safer, more effective anticancer treatment potentially suitable for future preclinical investigations as a generic formulation.
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    The gut microbiota-diabetes axis: mechanisms, modulation, and therapeutic perspectives
    (Biochimica Clinica, 2026) BORA ,Jutishna; Dhasmana, Archna et al
    The gut microbiota (GM) is recognized as a major regulator of the host’s metabolic processes, immune responses, and metabolic equilibrium. Recent studies have shown that changes in the composition of GM are closely related to diabetes mellitus, encompassing both type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Dysbiosis, generally marked by decreased microbial diversity, shifts in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and loss of key short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, has been shown to contribute to impaired glucose metabolism, heightened insulin resistance, and persistent low-level inflammation. Recent research has identified several microbial metabolites and components, including SCFAs, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), as potential early indicators for predicting disease and improving risk assessment. These compounds affect metabolic health through complex mechanisms, including modulation of gut barrier integrity and immune signaling. Some interventions aimed at restoring gut microbial balance have gained attention and are becoming a complementary method for managing diabetes. Approaches include supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics, dietary modifications that support beneficial taxa, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and emerging microbiome engineering techniques. Recent studies, both from experimental and clinical research, suggest that microbiota-based therapies may improve and enhance diagnostic accuracy, leading to the development of tailored treatments for diabetes. This narrative review aims to summarize the recent evidences of the literature in the topic.
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    High-resolution QTL mapping of horticultural traits in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) using genotyping-by-sequencing
    (Springer, 2026-04-16) Kaur, Anroop; Sharma, Megha et al
    Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) is an economically and nutritionally important vegetable crop with significant genetic variability. Fruit traits significantly influence consumer preference and market value, with most quality parameters governed by multiple genes and influenced by environmental factors. High-resolution quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping can elucidate the genetic basis of these traits, facilitating marker-assisted breeding. In this study, QTL mapping was performed for melon quality traits using an F2:4 population of 110 individuals derived from a cross between muskmelon variety Punjab Sunehri and Snap melon accession SM2012-1. The F4 population was phenotyped during the spring and rainy seasons of 2023. A genetic linkage map was constructed using the Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) approach, comprising 13 linkage groups and 1962 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Nine horticultural traits were evaluated: days to first male flower appearance, fruit maturity, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, flesh thickness, fruit cavity length, cavity width and total soluble solids. QTLs were identified across both seasons on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, and 12, explaining 7–71% of the phenotypic variance (PVE), with logarithm of odds (LOD) scores ranging from 2.6 to 8.7. Notably, overlapping QTLs for fruit weight, fruit length, and fruit maturity were consistently detected at the same positions on chromosomes 3 and 9 in both seasons. These results provide valuable insights for fine-mapping of QTLs and support the integration of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in melon breeding programs.
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    Genomic-microbial coevolution in human development: chromosome 2 fusion, and human accelerated regions
    (Springer, 2026-04-24) Singh, Siddharth; Md Shahadab; Sachin, Kumar et al
    Human-specific traits arise from a confluence of genomic and ecological innovations. A unique telomere-to-telomere fusion of ancestral ape chromosomes produced human chromosome 2 (HSA2), reorganizing the genome and its regulatory landscape. In parallel, hundreds of Human Accelerated Regions (HARs), conserved elements with human-specific sequence changes, became developmental enhancers, and ancient retroviral insertions, namely, endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), were co-opted into promoters and enhancers. Here, we integrate comparative genomics, epigenomics, and host-microbiome co-evolution to propose a unified framework linking these factors to human evolution. We posit that the chromosome 2 fusion reshaped 3D genome architecture and gene regulation. HAR and endogenous retroviral sequences formed composite regulatory modules that drove innovations in cortex development, limb patterning, and immune function. Moreover, host-microbiome co-evolution is woven into this framework, with examples of microbiota-responsive HAR-ERV circuits influencing mucosal immunity, gut-brain signaling, and inflammation.
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    Conservation Strategies for Plant Diversity
    (Springer, 2026-04-01) Sharma, Megha; Joshi, Samiksha et al.
    Plant diversity encompasses a wide range of plant species, from genes to ecosystems, and is primarily found in hotspots and crop diversity centres. However, different anthropogenic activities severely threatened the plant biodiversity and have a negative impact on human life as it depends on the plants up to a varying extent. The loss of biodiversity on a global, national, and regional scale is a complex problem that impacts social, economic, organizational, political, scientific, and communicational communities. Hence, there is an urgent need to preserve the plant biodiversity from extinction, thereby ensuring that the present and future generations to use plant material sustainably. The growing extinction and vulnerability of various plant species in the twenty-first century have made conservation areas such as sanctuary, parks, etc., as an essential part of the global biodiversity protection plan. To guarantee comprehensive worldwide biodiversity conservation strategies, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) emphasizes the necessity of utilizing all available resources and methods, including collaborative and indigenous forest conservation techniques. To effectively focus on both in situ and ex situ conservation, the completion of a global botanical inventory and an evaluation of the conservation status of 94% of plant species that have not yet been assessed are the most urgent demands. This chapter includes several in situ and ex situ strategies, as well as the growing trend of integrated conservation (which connects in situ and ex situ) activities, in an attempt to prevent the ongoing loss of plant diversity worldwide.
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    iPSC-Derived 3D Brain Organoids as Next-generation Platforms to Study Viral and Toxicant-associated Neurodegeneration
    (Springer, 2026-05-12) Md Shahadab; Saini, Vaishali; Singh, Siddharth; Om Prakash; Sachin, Kumar
    Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are one of the most fatal diseases that affect the majority of individuals worldwide, among which Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are the most common. In vitro 2D monolayer cell cultures and in vivo transgenic animal models have been the primary tools for investigating mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the ineffectiveness of these models in translating outcomes into human pathophysiology, necessitates innovative approaches to bridge the translational gap. In this review, we focus on the intricate pathogenic processes by which environmental toxicants and viral infections trigger neurodegeneration. The growing significance of three-dimensional (3D) brain organoids (BOs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be used as a groundbreaking platform for examining neurodegenerative pathways induced by exposure to environmental toxicants and viral infections. It also addressed how BO’s overcomes the fundamental limitations of traditional models, such as 2D cultures and animal models, thereby creating novel opportunities for the mechanistic study of multifactorial neurodegeneration and the development of therapeutic interventions.
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    Harnessing the plant microbiome: innovation towards sustainable agriculture and ecological resilience
    (Springer, 2026-05-05) Kumar, Vivek; Nautiyal, Chandra S.
    Assimilation of plant-microbiome synergism into contemporary sustainable approaches offers transformational prospective for augmenting crop production, and environment resilience. Efficient microbiome enhances nutrients acquisition, encouraging plant’s growth, and mitigate diverse stressors. Synthetic microbial communities could be another strategy to augment crop yield by improving bioinoculants activity, regulating and reinstating microbial diversity. Long-term agricultural output depends on microbiome’s intervened activities, such as nutrients acquisition, thereby lowering chemical fertilizers necessity. Microbes also contribute to climate change mitigation by endorsing soil carbon stowage and minimizing release of greenhouse gases via enhanced nutrients use efficacy. Developments in sustainable crop breeding and genomics have facilitated the recognition of plant traits and genetic loci that influence alliances of valuable microbes. Integration of plant-microbiome breeding tactics might lead to optimization of microbiome selection in plant varieties, thus improving yield and stress resilience. Such approaches will conserve biodiversity, restore ecosystem by nurturing functional microbiome population, supporting plant’s diversity and soil health. Microbiome are also able to improve degraded soils recovery, plant’s establishment, parallelly safeguarding ecosystem restoration. The integration of microbial technology in crops could enhance the nutritional value and safety of food while supporting environmental sustainability and human health. Understanding microbiome–plant–climate change interactions is critical for developing adaptive strategies that enhance resilience to environment and climate variability, ensure sustainable food systems, and promote ecological balance in a changing global environment.
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    Exploring the preservation potential of Ficus spp.: Bioactive compounds and their functional roles in food systems
    (Elsevier, 2026-01) Bhatt, Saurav Chandra; Kumar, Vijay et al.
    Food safety and shelf life are critical factors for human health and are greatly impacted by microbial spoilage. Despite the widespread use of synthetic preservatives, interest in natural alternatives has grown due to their possible health risks. The plant bioactives as natural alternatives are being explored for extending shelf life of food either via direct addition or in terms of edible coating and packaging films. The Ficus spp., having a great ethnobotanical importance, have been used for a long time in traditional medicine. Its rich phytochemical profile exhibits a strong antimicrobial and antifungal property to combat various food-spoilage microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp., Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium expansum. The latex based edible coatings from Ficus spp. have shown real-food utility by extending the shelf life and enhancing the quality of dried fruits. The packaging film incorporated with Ficus carica leaves extract preserved the quality of apple slices. The addition of its aqueous leaf extract into the milk extends shelf life of pasteurized buffalo milk from 5 to 16 days without altering its properties. Despite the potential antimicrobial effects many of the Ficus plants such as Ficus virens, Ficus palmata, Ficus auriculata, and Ficus benghalensis still have not explored in food packaging or food preservation. These challenges can be addressed via various interdisciplinary approaches such as metabolomics, pharmacology, nanotechnology, and computational biology. Additionally, compound stability, standardization, and widespread utilization are some of the research gaps that need to be discussed.
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    From hidden allies to precision symbionts: unleashing endophytes for sustainable agroecosystems
    (World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2026-03-30) Kumar, Vivek; Nautiyal, Chandra S.
    Plants, together with their resident endophytes, constitute a functional holobiont whose integrated traits enable plant growth, stress resilience, disease resistance, and ecosystem remediation. This review discusses advances across ten converging domains that are reshaping research and applications of endophytes, including the following: genomics and metagenomics that identify core genes for colonization, nitrogen fixation, hormone modulation, and stress adaptation; functional genomics and systems biology deciphering host-microbe signaling networks; synthetic biology and CRISPR-based tools for the rational improvement of beneficial traits; microbiome engineering aimed at designing and stabilizing endophytic consortia; multi-omics integration connecting genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic layers during colonization and under stress; environmental and climatic factors shaping endosphere diversity; bioinformatic platforms predicting biosynthetic gene clusters, secretomes, and metabolic potential; and agricultural and environmental applications in biocontrol and bioremediation. Remaining challenges are the uncultured majority of endophytes, context-dependent transitions between mutualism and pathogenicity, limited field validation, and evolving biosafety frameworks. Thus, the forward framework developed here emphasizes the importance of standard strain benchmarking, causal multi-omics workflows, synthetic community design, and multisite agronomic trials. For their part, endophytes form a scalable, climate-resilient platform for the dual purposes of sustainable agriculture and environmental restoration. In the process, endophytes are emerging as a tractable and scalable foundation for climate-resilient biotechnology, wherein molecular innovation connects with field-level sustainability.