Microbes use diverse defence strategies that allow them to withstand exposure to a variety of genome invaders such as bacteriophages and plasmids. One such defence strategy is the use of RNA guided endonuclease called CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9 protein. The Cas9 protein, derived from type II CRISPR/Cas system, has been adapted as a versatile tool for genome targeting and engineering due to its simplicity and high efficiency over the earlier tools such as ZFNs and TALENs. With recent advancements, CRISPR/Cas9 technology has emerged as a revolutionary tool for modulating the genome in living cells and inspires innovative translational applications in different fields. In this paper we review the developments and its potential uses in the CRISPR/Cas9 technology as well as recent advancements in genome engineering using CRISPR/Cas9.

Background: Isaria tenuipes is one of the potent species in the members of the genus Isaria, which is well reported to possess multiple bioactive substances of therapeutic importance. Therefore, an in vitro experimental study was carried to evaluate the bioactivities of the crude methanolic extract from the mycelium of this fungus. Methods: The fungus was authenticated through morphological characters and the species discrepancy was resolved using the nuclear rDNA ITS sequence. The methanolic extract was fingerprinted by FTIR. The antioxidant components in terms of total phenols and flavonoids were determined as gallic acid and quercetin equivalents respectively. Antioxidant activities of the methanolic extract was assessed using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2 /-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation (ABTS 0+), Fe 2+ chelating activity, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. Cytotoxicity of the extract was determined by [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay on three cancer cell lines: HeLa, HepG2, and PC3. Apoptosis was further studied by propidium iodide (PI) and Annexin-V/PI staining flow cytometric analysis. Anti-proliferation capacity was studied by colony-forming assay.

No abstract

No abstract

5-Nitroisatin-4-(1-(2-pyridyl)piperazinyl)-3-thiosemicarbazone (Nitistpyrdlpz) and its Cu(II) complex were synthesized and characterized by CHN and thermal analysis and spectroscopic measurements viz. UV-vis, FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, ESI-HRMS, PXRD and EPR. In the complex, copper(II) ion is coordinated by terdentate thiosemicarbazone anion and one chloride ion in a distorted square planar geometry. The synthesized compounds against breast cancer cell lines; MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and epidermoid carcinoma; A431 showed that the complex contributed to reduce the percentage of cell viability toward all the tested cell lines but remarkable contribution toward MDA-MB-231 cell line. The IC50 of the complex and free ligand was found in the range of IC50 0.85-1.24 μM and IC50 3.28-3.53 μM, respectively. Among those cell lines, the complex may be the better anticancer agent toward MDA-MB-231 because of its action at micromolar concentration (IC50 0.85 μM).