bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Not by science, but by Spirit? African Pentecostal prophets and prosperity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era
Authors: Banda Collium
Published: December 2023

Many Africans rely on the spiritualistic solutions offered by the African neo-Pentecostal prophets (ANPPs) to navigate their socioeconomic realities. This article critically evaluates the efficacy of the ANPPs’ spiritual approach within the economic landscape of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The essay delves into the extent to which these prophets’ spiritual perspectives on economic matters equip Africans to meaningfully engage in the evolving 4IR economy, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and scientific technologies. It seeks a theological framework for economic life that can guide ANPPs in offering avenues for economic engagement that empower Africans to participate effectively in the 4IR-based economy. It is argued that the ANPPs’ spiritualistic approach to economic life disempowers Africans from effectively participating in the 4IR economy. ANPPs are thus urged to incorporate science and technology into their economic worldview.
Moral injury, not only an injury of war – feminist pastoral approach
Authors: Botha Annelie
Published: December 2023

Literature about and research on moral injury most often links moral injury with war. Moral injury is usually defined as an act of transgression against moral beliefs in wartime among military personnel. This article explores moral injury as not only an injury of war but also an injury caused by the gender-biased war in our society and homes. Moral injury occurs early in life with the teaching of the gender binary as “masculine” and “feminine”. This essay will focus on patriarchy as a deeper root of the trauma of moral injury. The article will also focus on how moral injury can cause gender-based violence. A feminist pastoral approach will aim to bring awareness to the cultural attitudes and practices that create the contexts where a moral injury occurs and explore ways to transform the patriarchal gender-biased dominant narrative to facilitate freedom and healing from the internal gender identity conflict..
Comorbidity of cerebral palsy and epilepsy with autism in children
Authors: Abusueva B. A. , Askevova M. A. , Shanavazova M. D. , Nasrutdinova B. M. , Bobylova M. Yu. , Gadzhieva A. S.
Published: December 2023

Background. Cerebral palsy is often combined with epilepsy (up to about 50 % of children). The treatment of epilepsy limits the rehabilitation of cerebral palsy, and the rehabilitation of cerebral palsy often provokes epileptic seizures. Epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy is often manifested in a form of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy with spike-and-wave activation in sleep, which is characterized by epileptiform activity according to the type of benign epileptiform patterns of childhood with a high index on the electroencephalogram (up to 100 %), severe epileptic seizures of a status course, and mental disorders by type autism-like behavior (the so-called atypical autism) and disorders of speech communication. The problem of comorbidity of cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism remains relevant and needs further study.Aim. To study the features of autism spectrum disorder in a group of children with a combination of cerebral palsy and epilepsy.Materials and methods. We examined 100 patients aged 3–10 years with various forms of cerebral palsy, combined with epilepsy, to identify the clinical features of autism spectrum disorder. Criteria for inclusion in the study: age 3–10 years; verified diagnosis of epilepsy in combination with cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder; informed consent of the patient’s parents to participate in the study. Criteria for exclusion from the study: severe somatic diseases and disorders of the sense organs (in particular, kyphoscoliosis, gastrostomy and others, as well as deafness, blindness); age less than 3 or more than 10 years.Results. The average age of visiting a psychiatrist was 5.4 ± 0.5 years. The reasons for visit were: violation of the communication (76 %), decreased eye contact (75 %), lack of compassion for surrounding or adjacent animals (100 %), dysphoric disorders (77.1 %), aggression (55 %), autoaggression (40 %), phobias (90 %), impaired speech development (18 %). Perinatal brain damage was diagnosed in 100 % of cases. Epilepsy was manifested by focal motor seizures. Patients with complex treatment (drugs and pedagogical correction) have more pronounced positive dynamics compared with patients who received only drug therapy or only rehabilitation (p <0.05).Conclusion. In children with a combination of cerebral palsy and epilepsy, the cause of autism is perinatal lesions of the central nervous system, as well as the severity of motor pathology and the presence of continued epileptiform activity on the electroencephalogram. Autism in this group of children requires timely recognition and medical and pedagogical correction.
Experience of observing patients with Duchenne myopathy
Authors: Minaycheva L. I. , Petlina E. Yu. , Ravzhaeva E. G. , Seitova G. N.
Published: December 2023

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetically determined fatal disease with a steadily progressive course. It is characterized by the absence or sharp decrease (less than 3 % of the norm) of the dystrophin protein. In recent years, several drugs for pathogenetic treatment of Duchenne myodystrophy have appeared in Russia. Unfortunately, this therapy is not universal and can only be prescribed to patients with certain types and regions of mutations. Establishing an accurate diagnosis for patients will allow timely determination of observation tactics, effective implementation of preventive and rehabilitative measures, and obtaining pathogenetic treatment. Gene therapy is a perspective option. This article describes clinical cases of Duchenne myopathy in patients with different variants of mutations in the dystrophin gene against the background of pathogenetic therapy.
On the question of the features of pain syndrome in oncopediatric practice
Authors: Suetina O. A. , Kravchenko N. E.
Published: December 2023

Background. Nociceptive and neuropathic pains are characteristic of oncological diseases and can be complicated by a psychogenic component, the conditions for the formation of which in juvenile cancer patients are poorly studied.Aim. A clinical analysis of a psychogenic pain symptom complex acting in isolation or as a component of a pain disorder with somatic prerequisites.Materials and methods. Using the clinical and psychopathological method, 60 patients aged 10–17 years undergoing treatment in an oncological hospital were studied.Results and conclusion. Psychogenic pain is a component of polymorphic psychogenic education (nosogenic reaction), it develops in children with a special characterological warehouse when they get into a situation of hospital stress.
The strong base for using base editing in plants
Authors: Lebedeva Maria A. , Razhina Oksana L. , Nikanorkina Veronica V. , Taranov Vasiliy V.
Published: December 2023

The most common application of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing system is a gene knockout via indel mutations introducing. It is obvious, because this approach has minimum critical conditions in guide RNA design: available PAM sequence and conservative 19–25 nucleotides within all alleles of a target gene. Precise nucleotide changing with base editing systems has more limitations: target nucleotide should locate in editing window of adenine- or cytidine-deaminase, besides this, all undesired adenines or cytosines in editing window will be likely changed. However, there is a more fundamental issue — it is very difficult to find a single aminoacid substitution, which changes protein features in a desirable side. One of the good examples of base editing target will be considered in this work.
Nicotiana tabacumL. is a plant fromSolanaceaefamily, the same as potato, tomato and pepper. All these plants are strongly affected by potato virus Y (PVY). It is known, that PVY recruits host translation initiation factor eIF4E by the viral protein VPg in order to start synthesis its proteins. If eIF4E can’t interact with VPg, plant will be resistant.
In our work, we established an aminoacid substitution in tobacco eIF4E factor, which disrupted interaction with PVY VPg in yeast two-hybrid conditions, but didn’t influence the factor functionality. Then we designed two genetic constructions with different sgRNAs for introducing this mutation in tobacco plants using cytidine-deaminase system. These constructions were used to plant transformation and development of edited tobacco plants.
This work is supported by State Task No. 0431-2022-0004.
Distribution of the rolB/C-like natural transgene in representatives of the genus Vaccinium L.
Authors: Zhidkin Roman R. , Zhurbenko Peter M. , Matveeva Tatiana V.
Published: December 2023

Genetic colonization by agrobacteria is possible due to agrobacterial transformation, which implies interspecies transfer of genetic material (T-DNA). A transgenic tissue is formed on the whole non-transgenic plant during that process. However, it turned out that in nature there are plants containing T-DNA fragments in their genomes and they can inherit these T-DNAs sexually. Such T-DNA was called cellular, and such plants were called natural transgenic.
Examples of such organisms are plants of the genus Vaccinium. In the genomes of two species of this genus we found cT-DNA, represented by a rolB/C-like gene [1].
Previously, analyzing the natural transgenes in another genus (Camellia L.) [2], we showed the importance of reconstructing the allelic states of transgenes for phylogenetic studies. In this study, we performed analysis of the spreading of the rolB/C-like gene for its use as a molecular marker within Vaccinium.
We used molecular-genetic and bioinformatics methods for sequencing, assembly, and analysis of the rolB/C-like gene. We discovered 26 new Vaccinium species and Agapetes serpens (Wight) Sleumer as containing the rolB/C-like gene. Most of studied samples are characterized by the presence of full-size genes. This made it possible to develop approaches for alleles phasing of the rolB/C-like gene and reconstruct a Vaccinium phylogenetic relationship.
We subjected the studied species to phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of the rolB/C-like gene. The resulting phylogenetic tree of the genus Vaccinium divided the species into sections in accordance with the classical genus system based on morphological characters. At the same time, our tree did not confirm the taxa determined on the basis of ITS.
Transgenic medicinal plants as producers of bioactive substances
Authors: Yembaturova Elena Yu. , Cheryatova Yulia S.
Published: December 2023

The paper covers the questions of secondary metabolite modulation in medicinal plants by means of gene engineering. It is demonstrated that cutting-edge tools of contemporary biotechnology tools made it possible to manage the biosynthesis of important bioactive substances, modify the secondary metabolism, enabling plants to synthesize and produce new compounds, as well as eliminate metabolic pathways of synthesizing harmful substances.
Currently, large-scale production of bioactive substances (BAS) requires highly productive plants to produce them. Applying methods of gene engineering to medicinal plants is a promising way to reduce the resource consumption and increase their productivity, quality and the product’s marketability [1]. Traditional growing and collecting techniques are challenged by resource shortage, environmental damage, etc. [2]. Gene engineering helps to increase pest, disease and herbicide resistance, gain greater yields and higher BAS content [3].
Using transgenic medicinal plants (TMP) as BAS producers in the pharmaceutical industry is crucial for metabolic engineering. Current research of the secondary metabolism modulation in TMP enables to modify the key BAS biosynthesis and the secondary metabolism, so that plants can produce new substances, or, on the contrary, silence the metabolic pathways for harmful ones. This way, greater TMP biomass with higher BAS content can be obtained in bioreactors. This would require rather modest investments — an advantage for biopharmacy. Nowadays, TMP are grown in vitro as calluses or suspension cell cultures. Biotechnology can modify the secondary metabolism in TMP to produce surplus amounts of necessary BAS, reduce the content of toxic compounds or even synthesize new substances. The versatility of transcription and translation mechanisms in medicinal plants enables them to accumulate homologous substances and synthesize heterologous ones. It is known that in TMP, MYB transcription factors are involved in gene regulation in secondary metabolic pathways, regulation of genes engaged in developmental processes, etc. [4]. In conclusion, we should emphasize the relative biosafety of BAS obtained from TMP, for human use, as they are chemically pure and are not connected with biological hazards.
Identifying novel amyloid candidates using bioinformatics algorithms and a yeast model approach
Authors: Zelinsky Andrew A. , Rubel Aleksandr A. , Ryabinina Marina V.
Published: December 2023

Amyloids are protein aggregates characterized by their insolubility in detergents and ability to form fibrils. They are often associated with various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, type 2 diabetes and certain forms of cancer. Amyloids also play important roles in bacteria and different physiological processes in both lower and higher eukaryotes.
Together with the laboratory of Prof. Y.O. Chernoff we have developed a comprehensive approach for screening new potentially amyloidogenic proteins. This involves using bioinformatics algorithms to predict protein amyloidogenicity and further verifying using a yeast model. We have created a yeast test system specifically designed to study changes in phenotype in genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains [1]. This system involves the production of recombinant amyloidogenic proteins fused with reporter proteins Sup35N or YFP. Using yeast assay, we have investigated 22 human proteins that were predicted to be amyloidogenic by ArchCandy algorithm [2]. Currently, additional in vitro biochemical tests are underway with proteins that have shown the potential to form amyloids in yeast models. There are also plans to evaluate the amyloid-forming ability of specific human proteins in mammalian cell cultures. These various approaches appear to be enhancing our comprehension of the impact of amyloid formation in health and disease.
Modification of agricultural traits in cultivated varieties of barley and wheat
Authors: Timonova Ekaterina M. , Kiseleva Antonina A. , Berezhnaia Alina A. , Nesterov Mikhail A. , Adonina Irina G. , Kochetov Aleksey V. , Salina Elena A.
Published: December 2023

CRISPR/Cas technology makes it possible to induce mutations at defined positions. In breeding-oriented research, this opens up exciting opportunities for the targeted improvement of many agricultural crops. Wheat and barley are among the most important cereals in the world. However, the transformation poses a particular challenge for cereals and is strongly genotype dependent. This is because agrobacteria, which is mostly used for delivering the CRISPR/Cas system, have a limited compatibility with these non-host plants. Transformation of wheat is additionally difficult due to the large genome size and polyploidy.
Besides obtaining improved genotypes, the object of the current study was to optimize the method of genomic editing based on the CRISPR/Cas system using particle bombardment for non-model varieties of barley and wheat. In barley, we targeted theNudgene that controls hulled/naked phenotype of the grain. Since the regeneration rate remains an issue for the cultivated cultivars, we used the JD633 vector that carries theGRF4-GIF1chimera to increase the efficiency of regeneration. We obtained five T0plants, carrying mutations. In wheat, targetingPpd-1genes that control photoperiod-dependent floral induction results in Cas9-induced mutations in 52 of 210 T0plants. The developed collection of wheat plants with different new alleles ofPpd-D1andPpd-B1genes is being studied for the expression under short day conditions and the effect on the vegetation period.
Thus, we have obtained plants of the cultivated varieties of barley and wheat with edited agronomically important genes, using the improved protocols of biolistic transformation.
This work was done within the framework of State Assignment Kurchatov Genomic Center of ICG SB RAS (No. 075-15-2019-1662).
The search for inhibitors of somatic embryogenesis in Medicago truncatula
Authors: Konstantinov Zakhar S. , Tvorogova Varvara E. , Potsenkovskaia Elina A. , Lutova Ludmila A.
Published: December 2023

The success of protocols for the genetic transformation of legumes is limited by their low ability to regenerate. Plant regeneration can occur both along the path of shoot regeneration and their further rooting, and along the path of somatic embryogenesis (SE). SE is similar to zygotic embryogenesis (ZE). It is a method of asexual reproduction, in which the somatic cell, due to its totipotency, switches on the embryogenesis program.
SE and ZE involve common participants in transcriptional, hormonal, and epigenetic control. Like many processes in the plant organism, SE is controlled by the activity of various stimulants or repressors.
As a result of transcriptional analysis of embryogenic and non-embryogenic calli ofMedicago truncatulaat different stages of development, putative genes-inhibitors of SE were found. Using the Golden Gate system, we created vectors for agrobacterial transformation to overexpress genes of interest in embryogenic calli and evaluate their effect on SE. Overexpression of two genes encoding the transcription factors from WRKY and Homobox-WOX families had a significant inhibitory effect on SE (the average number of somatic embryos per callus decreased).
TheMtCLE16,a previously found SE inhibitor from the CLE peptides group, was edited and heterozygous frameshift mutants were obtained. The impact of loss of its function on the SE capacity remains to be analyzed.
This research was supported by the Sirius University of Science and Technology, project PBB-RND-2243.
Putative molecular pathways of autoregulation of nodulation activated by CLE peptides in pea
Authors: Kochetkova Liliya A. , Lebedeva Maria A. , Lutova Lyudmila A.
Published: December 2023

Legume plants are important for ecosystems due to their ability to form root nodules in symbiosis with rhizobia, where nitrogen fixation takes place. The number of symbiotic nodules is regulated by the CLE peptides inhibiting excessive nodule formation. Previously, we have identified four genes encoding CLE peptides, activated in response to rhizobia inoculation in pea. Three of them, PsCLE13, PsCLE12 and PsNIC-like, were also activated by nitrate, and, therefore, they could mediate nitrate-dependent inhibition of nodulation [1]. Overexpression of PsCLE13 and PsCLE12 inhibited nodulation on transgenic roots: however, the role of PsNIC-like and PsCLE12-like have not been investigated.
In this study, we constructed vectors for overexpression of the PsCLE12-like and PsNIC-like genes to study their possible role in nodulation, and also analyzed the expression levels of nodulation-related genes in transgenic roots overexpressing four PsCLEs genes. Moreover, vectors for CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing of the PsCLE12 and PsCLE13 genes were constructed to further explore the role of these genes in nodulation. Overexpression of PsCLE12-like, PsCLE13 and PsCLE12 resulted in increased expression levels of TOO MUCH LOVE (PsTMLs) genes known as root-acting regulators of nodule number. In addition, in the roots overexpressing four PsCLEs genes, down regulation of the PsSYM37 gene (encoding the receptor for Nod-factors) was observed, suggesting that the CLE peptides might inhibit the development of symbiotic nodules at the earliest stages of symbiosis development upon Nod-factor perception.
Characteristics of root endophytic fungi communities associated with genetically modified plants
Authors: Sokornova Sofia V. , Mandrik-Litvinkovich Maryna N. , Matveeva Tatiana V.
Published: December 2023

Root endophytic fungi (EF) spend at least parts of their life cycle inside plant tissues without apparent harm to the host. There is a hypothesis that the endophytic lifestyle is a common strategy for most fungi and they have endophytic ancestors [1]. By receiving habitat and nutrients EF can increase the solubility of nutrients in the plant rhizosphere, stimulate plant growth, and activate the plant’s systemic resistance to stress. One of the alternatives to the use of pesticides is the use of resistant transgenic plants, but the potential effects of crop modifications on their associated microorganisms are poorly studied.
The EF communities of transgenic lines of cotton, sugar cane, and maize containing the expressed Cry1 protein from Bacillus thuringiensis were compared with communities of non-transgenic plants. There were no significant differences in the composition of the EF community [2, 3]. The introduction of phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase and imazapyr herbicide resistance genes for corn and sugar cane also did not affect on EF communities but did affect the bacterial community [3, 4]. The similar effect was observed for transgenic maple plants [5]. The stage of plant development had a more significant effect on EF community than the fact of transformation itself [1].
We believe that the fungal community is more conservative and the introduction of herbicide resistance or toxin synthesis genes into the plant genome has a significantly lesser effect on EF community than on the bacterial one.
The screening vector system of morphogenic regulators in Fabaceae
Authors: Kiseleva Anna S. , Matveenko Andrew G. , Tvorogova Varvara E. , Lutova Ludmila A.
Published: December 2023

Legumes are important agricultural and food crops, however, some legume species have a low regenerative capacityin vitro, which complicates obtaining the genetically modified plants with improved properties and analysing gene function.
To search for genes that stimulate somatic embryogenesis and to increase the regeneration frequency in legumesin vitro, we designed a screening vector system that will allow faster cloning of genes encoding potential regulators of morphogenesis by preserving restriction sites in the final vector. The construction of vectors is based on the Golden Gate [1] modular cloning method. Using type II restriction endonucleases, DNA fragments form sticky ends and are combined in a given order to form multigene constructs intended forAgrobacterium-mediated transformation. In order to identify efficient variants for gene expression, we used a number of promoters: CaMV 35S(long), CaMV 35S(double), nopaline synthase (nos), actin 2 (act2), and a number of terminators: 35S CaMV, nos, act2 forMtWOX9-1overexpression.Medicago truncatulaWOX9-1 (MtWOX9-1) is a WUSCHEL- related homeobox transcription factor for which a positive effect on the formation of somatic embryos in callus culture was previously shown [2].
Based on the analysis of embryogenic tissue, the optimal combination of promoters and terminators will be selected to assemble the vector for screening of morphogenetic regulators.
The work is supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement 075-10-2021-093, Project PBB-RND-2243).
Bioengineering eggplants: a deep dive into SmHQT and phenolic acid biosynthesis
Authors: Kaushik P. , Meenakshi S. , Anil K.
Published: December 2023

Eggplants, known scientifically asSolanum melongenaL., are renowned for their health benefits, largely attributed to phenolic acids. Chlorogenic acid stands out as one of the most prevalent phenolic acids in eggplants. The enzyme hydroxycinnamoyl CoA-quinate transferase (SmHQT) plays a pivotal role in the production and concentration of this acid in the fruit. However, until this study, the exact function and influence of SmHQT on the eggplant’s composition remained elusive [1–3].
This research aimed to explore SmHQT’s role by overexpressing it in the eggplant’s flesh using agroinfiltration, a technique that transiently introduces genes into plants. This method offers insights into potential changes in the plant’s chemical makeup. Advanced techniques like quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that the chlorogenic acid content in the genetically altered eggplants was over twice that of the unaltered ones.
The study also investigated the cascading effects of this overexpression. The qRT-PCR results showed variations in the expression of genes linked to the chlorogenic acid pathway, hinting at SmHQT’s wider role in phenolic acid biosynthesis in eggplants. Comprehensive analyses of protein interactions and cis-regulating elements were undertaken to grasp SmHQT’s full impact.
Phenolic acids, like chlorogenic acid, offer therapeutic benefits against conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and arthritis in humans. In plants, they enhance natural defenses against pests and diseases. While there have been attempts to boost the phenolic acid content in eggplants using genes from wild variants, this study’s approach proved more effective.
Another notable achievement of this research was the introduction of an improved agroinfiltration protocol. This method is promising for future studies focused on transient gene expression in fruits, facilitating swift genetic modification prototyping. In essence, this research underscores the immense potential of bioengineering in augmenting the nutritional profiles of crops by enhancing their inherent phytochemicals.
Current state of research in the development of the genomic editing method: problems and prospects
Authors: Deineko Elena V.
Published: December 2023

The possibility of using the CRISPR/Cas method of genomic editing has provided researchers with a powerful tool not only for targeted modification of genes that determine economically valuable traits in plants, but also for solving fundamental problems of their functioning. The most striking examples of the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to improve various plant species by knockouts of target genes or knockins of expression cassettes, including genes that change the biosynthesis of important plant metabolites, obtained by foreign research groups, are presented. We discuss our own results on the directed change in the functioning of genes encoding photosystem II carbonic anhydrases, as well as genes involved in plant responses to stress in theArabidopsis thalianamodel. Examples of the use of the genomic editing method to improve the characteristics of plant cell cultures as bioproducers of pharmaceutically valuable recombinant proteins are given. Methodological issues related to plant genome editing are considered — the problems of chimerism, obtaining homozygotes and biallelic knockout mutations, knockout of regulatory and structural genes, as well as repair features in the regions of integration of expression cassettes in knockins. The main directions for further development and improvement of the CRISPR/Cas genomic editing method aimed at optimizing the efficiency of delivery of target genetic constructs and editing tools to the nuclear and chloroplast genomes of plants using single-walled carbon nanotubes are summarized.
Bioengineering of horticultural crops in Russia and in the world
Authors: Dolgov Sergey V.
Published: December 2023

Modern bioengineering technologies make it possible to create fruit and berry crops with signs that are unattainable by traditional breeding methods, while significantly reducing the time of breeding work. A review of more than 90 scientific publications in the period from 1989 to 2020 with research work on the creation of transgenic fruit and berry crops using various bioengineering technologies, which showed a wide variety of methods for modifying and identifying the resulting plants.
For example, the modification of the genome of an apple tree using genes that accelerate flowering, the so-called “Fast breeding” technology, allows you to speed up breeding work to create valuable varieties. The developed new varieties of transgenic apple trees are resistant to the fungi, bacteria, apple moth, and also reduced ability to browning fruits, with an increased content of sucrose, etc.
Modern methods of genetic engineering make it possible to significantly accelerate the processes of creating highly productive varieties of fruit crops with increased or complete resistance to viruses. Transgenic papaya, expressing the gene for the envelope protein of the virus, made it possible to save plantations in Hawaii. The plum varieties created with the help of bioengineering were resistant to the plum pox virus (PPV), which poses a greater danger to perennial fruit crops.
In Russia, clonal rootstocks of apple and pear trees resistant to herbicides, strawberries and pears with improved fruit taste, rootstocks and varieties of plums and cherries resistant to the Plum Pox Virus have been created and field tested, a technology for obtaining cisgenic plants has been developed and applied using the example of apple and tomato trees that do not contain viral and bacterial sequences. Methods of genomic editing and accelerated selection of fruit crops are being developed.
Microalgae as production systems of bioactive compounds. Bioengineering approaches
Authors: Chekunova Elena M. , Virolainen Pavel A.
Published: December 2023

Microalgae contain a wide range of useful substances: antioxidants, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and secondary metabolites which could be used in nutraceuticals and dietary supplements. Green microalgaeChlorellacontaining highest amount of chlorophylls of any known plant, 60% protein, 18 amino acids, 20 vitamins and minerals [1]. Microalgae are exceptionally rich source of pharmacologically active metabolites with antineoplastic, antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties and, also capable of wastewater treatment, and biomass production.
The genetic information can improve the scenario of metabolic engineering in microalgae. Green algaeC. reinhardtii, a reference organism for understanding the basic algal genetics and metabolism is usually used to work out various genetic strategies, including omics resources and mutant libraries, for the enhancement of beneficial properties of microalgae. The synergy of microalgal multi-omics datasets (genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic) offer a rapid and predictable strategic path for the strain improvement [2]. The algal nuclear or chloroplast engineering (transformation and CRISPR/CAS editing) has been carried out using synthetic biology approach for the production of recombinant proteins having therapeutic properties. More than 100 recombinant proteins have been expressed in microalgae, mainly inC. reinhardtii, including: the vaccines, antibodies, immunotoxins and therapeutic proteins (human erythropoietin, fibronectin, interferon B1, proinsulin, endothelial growth factor and others [3]. Thus, the wide taxonomic and biochemical diversity among the microalgae when using modern biotechnologies, makes them suitable resource of abundant biomolecules with industrial and biomedical importance.
Third International Conference “Genetically modified organisms: the history, achievements, social and environmental risks”
Authors: Matveeva Tatiana V.
Published: December 2023

Third international conference “GMO: history, achievements, social and environmental risks” was held on October 3–5, 2023 in Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia in mixed format (on-site and on-line). The conference was attended by researchers from Russia, China, Germany, Spain, India, Moldova, Tadjikistan, Belarus. They discussed new genetic engineering methods, promising results and their promotion in society. A lot of interest was attracted to the sections devoted to the genome editing of various organisms and genetic engineering in agriculture. A number of reports aimed to study the fundamental problems of biology and medicine using genetically modified microorganisms and animals. The whole section was traditionally devoted to environmental studies, involving transgenic organisms, natural GMOs that arose without human intervention. Discussion of society’s attitude towards GMOs concluded the conference, where the importance of improvement of GMO diagnostics, as well as closer interaction between biologists and lawyers for improving legislation in the field of GMOs was noted.
The conference was held with support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in accordance with agreement No. 075-15-2022-322 date 22.04.2022 on providing a grant in the form of subsidies from the Federal budget of Russian Federation. The grant was provided for state support for the creation and development of a World-class Scientific Center “Agrotechnologies for the Future”. The conference organizing committee expresses gratitude to the sponsors: companies Helicon and Synthol.
Human Action Recognition with Skeleton and Infrared Fusion Model
Authors: Mansouri Amine , Bakir Toufik , Femmam Smain
Published: December 2023

Skeleton-based human action recognition conveys interesting information about the dynamics of a human body. In this work, we develop a method that uses a multi-stream model with connections between the parallel streams. This work is inspired by a state-of-the-art method called FUSIONCPA that merges different modalities: infrared input and skeleton input. Because we are interested in investigating improvements related to the skeleton-branch backbone, we used the Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Networks (ST-GCN) model and an EfficientGCN attention module. We aim to provide improvements when capturing spatial and temporal features. In addition, we exploited a Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) implemented in the ST-GCN model to capture the graphic connectivity in skeletons. This paper reports interesting accuracy on a large-scale dataset (NTU-RGB+D 60), over 91% and 93% on respectively crosssubject, and cross-view benchmarks. This proposed model is lighter by 9 million training parameters compared with the model FUSION-CPA.
Antifungal activities of different plant extracts against pink mold of banana caused by Trichothecium roseum (Pers.) Link
Authors: S. BHARATH KUMAR  , MEGANA  , P. V. GOWDA  , PRAVEEN KUMAR NAGADESI
Published: December 2023

Trichothecium roseum (Pers.) Link causes pink mold rot in banana fruits across the world. Due to this infection, 30% of losses arise in poor man’s food. To control this disease, plant extracts show an alternative to fungicides. In this study, 40 plant species were screened for their antifungal activity against T. roseum. Among 40 hot and cold aqueous extracts of plant species, only 10% Allium sativum and 6% and 8% of Mansoa allicea showed 100% inhibition of T. roseum. Freezing condition (4°C) shows 100% inhibition compared to room temperature (27°C) and incubation temperature (46°C). One hundred per cent inhibition of T. roseum was observed within 5 days compared to 15, 20 and 30 days of incubation. The pink mold of banana caused by T. roseum was reported for the first time in Karnataka.
Field Efficacy of Topical Nano-Liposomal Amphotericin B (Sina Ampholeish®) Alone or in Combination with Glucantime® and Cryotherapy on Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Authors: Alizadeh Zahra , Shirzadi Mohammad Reza , Hassanpour Gholam Reza , Keshavarz Hossein , Mohebali Fatemeh , Eskandari Seyed Ebrahim , Zeinali Mohammad , Shirmohammad Sedigheh , Mohebali Mehdi
Published: December 2023

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease that presents a broad spectrum of clinical features. Treatment of CL is problematic. We aimed to compare the field therapeutic efficacy of topical nanoliposomes containing 0.4% amphotericin B (Nano Lip-AmB) alone and in combination with cryotherapy and/or Glucantime® on human CL in the endemic areas of Iran.
Methods: This retrospective study was performed based on the results of using Nano Lip-AmB alone or with Glucantime® and/or cryotherapy in the treatment of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in patients referred to health centers of Isfahan, Golestan and Ilam Provinces of Iran as endemic foci of ZCL caused by Leishmania major besides Mashhad and Bam cities as endemic foci of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) caused by with L. tropica.
Results: Two hundred and seventy-eight patients with CL were included in the current study. All of the patients (100%) who received Nano Lip-AmB alone or in combination with Glucantime® and/or cryotherapy based on guideline of Iranian national committee for the treatment of CL. Two patients with 7 skin lesions, who was resident in ACL endemic area and received Nano Lip-AmB plus Glucantime® and another patient was a resident of ZCL endemic area and received Nano Lip-AmB plus cryotherapy showed clinical relapses after treatment.
Conclusion: Sina Ampholeish® in combination with other standard protocols of treatment of CL is well tolerated and with acceptable clinical efficacy rate.
RFLP Analysis of Fragments of the 18S rRNA and Cox1 Genes to Identify Sarcocystis cruzi in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) In Guilan Province, North of Iran
Authors: Dameshghi Fatemeh , Shirali Saloomeh , Shayan Parviz , Shemshadi Bahar
Published: December 2023

Background: Sarcocystosis is a zoonotic disease worldwide caused by Sarcocystis spp., some of these species can show clinical and subclinical manifestations, resulting in financial losses. Our study was performed for identifying Sarcocystis sp., in slaughtered buffalo by PCR–RFLP based strategy with sequencing in Guilan, North of Iran.
Methods: Overall, 400 fresh muscle samples were prepared via naked-eye observation from 100 buffaloes (esophagus, diaphragm, shoulder, and thigh), followed by the digestion of samples. The PCR was done to amplify partial parts of the 18S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (Cox1) genes. Then, the PCR products were digested by endonuclease SspI, DraI, and FokI. Sequencing of all species was done to confirm the RFLP results.
Results: Five macroscopic cysts (1.25%) were visible in the sample by naked-eye examination. Furthermore, 293 samples (73.25%) were found to be Sarcocystis sp. positive through tissue digestion and microscopic observation, whereas 376 samples (94%) were positive by PCR. In addition, the findings of PCR-RFLP and nucleotide sequence samples exhibited the infection of buffaloes with S. cruzi.
Conclusion: Based on the data presented herein, Bovine sarcocystosis caused by S. cruzi is very common in buffalo in the Guilan region. Regarding the high prevalence of sarcocystosis, developing disease control and prevention policies for buffaloes is necessary, and a change of attitude in traditional farming is recommended.
Reflections on research and researcher in Darwin city: Eco-social entanglements, community and governance
Authors:   Charles Darwin University, Tumminello Rachel
Published: December 2023

How cities and the people who live in them may devise adaptive and transformative responses appropriate to their needs, causal relations and risks from anthropogenic climate change is no easy undertaking. Prioritising a social science approach, I concentrate on questions of human- nature relations and all of society governance for developing distinctive and locally relevant climate change planning and action. Focusing on the city of Darwin in Northern Australia, my qualitative, transdisciplinary doctorate explores the less well understood area of the perspectives and experiences of community volunteer groups working at the intersection of the city’s eco-social entanglements and governance processes. Contrasting three different perspectives to understanding a city, I use the case of ‘the Milkwood trees’ to explore how they intersect in a locally meaningful way. I argue that these volunteers are vital knowledge makers in reconnecting those eco-social entanglements that are rendered invisible in different perspectives. Throughout this essay I reflect on my knowing’s and learning’s on being and doing transdisciplinary research.
A DANÇA E GÊNERO NO CONTEXTO ESCOLAR:
Authors: Noronha Alexandra Aparecida dos Santos , Zanetti Fernando Luiz
Published: December 2023

Este texto pretende apresentar os resultados de uma cartografia da dança no contexto escolar. Objetiva-se problematizar questões de dança e gênero, ainda refletir sobre uma possível ascendência feminina na prática da dança e disciplina dos corpos. Adotou-se como referencial principal as reflexões dos filósofos Michel Foucault (1998) e Gilles Deleuze (2007). O método cartográfico é utilizado por meio do diário de bordo com as experimentações de uma artista-docente-cartógrafa no período compreendido entre 2017 e 2019, bem como realiza-se a análise de um arquivo de periódicos acadêmicos com qualificação CAPES A1 e A2, nas áreas das Artes, da Educação e da Educação Física. Nessa cartografia foi possível identificar que a partir da Revolução Francesa e Industrial ocorreu a inversão de valores, a dança que antes era considerada nobre é negligenciada e o corpo passou a ser objeto de produção.
MODERN METHODS OF THE PRODUCING OF CORROSIVE ANATOMICAL PREPARATIONS
Authors: Romanova Dariya G. , Aktemirov Artur S. , Burgomistrova Victoria M. , Zharikov Yury O. , Zharikova Tatiyana S.
Published: December 2023

One of the pressing modern problems of teaching morphology is to make the development and teaching of human anatomy as visual as possible. The organs demonstrated during the study of this discipline must retain their natural shape and size. The quality of the resulting preparations depends on the development of technologies for influencing biomaterial, its preservation and embalming. An accurate and visual preparation is the most important tool for demonstrating normal and pathologically altered organs and tissues. The purpose of this review is to analyze the literature data on modern methods for manufacturing corrosive anatomical preparations. The materials for the review were sources of anatomical literature devoted to the issues of anatomical technology, conservation and production of anatomical preparations for teaching students and museum affairs. The work highlights the history of the development of methods for manufacturing anatomical preparations for use in educational demonstration purposes. A detailed analysis of data on currently used methods for producing corrosive preparations was carried out. The advantages of corrosive preparations and polymerizing compositions in comparison with preparations made using wet fixation and plastination methods are shown. A comparative analysis of the characteristics of known polymerizing compositions is presented. The prospects for the development of the corrosion method and its use for the clarity of teaching in educational institutions of medical and biological profiles, as well as the study of three-dimensional configurations of organs and vessels when planning surgical interventions, are determined. The main promising directions for improving the corrosion method are the selection of polymerizing compositions that are rational in their properties, the development of technical devices to facilitate the filling of vascular beds with solutions, as well as other tubular and hollow organs and structures with a polymer solution. Taking into account the development of clinical anatomy and the growing interest in the individual characteristics of organs and their typical anatomy, this method can be used to visually study the variant anatomy and blood supply of complex parenchymal organs.
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF PROLIFERATION AND APOPTOSIS OF KERATINOCYTES AFTER A SINGLE FRACTIONAL IONIZING IRRADIATION
Authors: Shapovalova Elena Yu. , Marukyan Anna Kh. , Vadyukhin Matvey A. , Demyashkin Grigory A.
Published: December 2023

Radiation therapy for non-melanoma skin cancers is used by oncologists and radiologists in cases of ineffective surgical treatment and as adjuvant or palliative therapy. The creation of experimental models to study the proliferative-apoptotic balance of keratinocytes makes it possible to assess the degree and depth of post-radiation skin damage after exposure to electrons in order to select optimal doses in the clinic. The purpose of the study: immunohistochemical assessment of proliferation and apoptosis of keratinocytes after local electron irradiation of the skin. The experiment used male Wistar rats (n=50), which were divided into groups: I – control (n=20), which were injected with saline solution, and experimental rats, which received local electron irradiation of the skin of the outer surface of the thigh: II – 8 Gy (n=10; single), III – 40 Gy (n=10, single), IV – fractional 13 Gy for 6 days with a total focal dose of 78 Gy (n=10;). After completion of the experiment, a skin biopsy of the outer surface of the thigh was performed and an immunohistochemical study of histological preparations with antibodies to the Ki-67, caspase-3 and p53 antigens was performed. Analysis of skin fragments after irradiation showed a shift in the proliferative-apoptotic balance towards keratinocyte apoptosis: a decrease in the level of Ki-67 expression and an increase in the number of p53-positive cells. After a single irradiation with electrons at doses of 8 Gy and 40 Gy, a significant increase in keratinocytes stained positively with antibodies to caspase-3 was found - by 3.4 and 6.6 times, respectively, and with a fractional irradiation mode at a total dose of 78 Gy - by 11.6 times compared to the control group. Thus, local irradiation with electrons in single doses of 8 Gy and 40 Gy leads to a shift in the proliferative-apoptotic balance of keratinocytes towards their apoptosis, the activity of which is directly proportional to the dose of ionizing radiation, and the fractional mode (total focal dose of 78 Gy) leads to partial desquamation of the epithelium and inflammatory infiltration.
STRUCTURAL REACTIONS OF CD-1 MICE HEART AND LIVER TO A SINGLE INJECTION OF BOROCAPTATE SODIUM
Authors: Kanygin Vladimir V. , Koldysheva Elena V. , Zav’yalov Evgeny L. , Razumov Ivan A. , Solovyova Ol'ga I. , Kichigin Aleksandr I. , Butikova Ekaterina A. , Kapustina Valentina I.
Published: December 2023

Boron neutron capture therapy is considered a promising method for the treatment of malignant tumors of the head and neck. It is believed that to increase the effectiveness of this type of therapy, the use of large doses of boron is required, which may entail damaging effects on healthy tissue. One of the substances used in the clinical practice of boron neutron capture therapy is sodium boroncaptate Na2B12H11SH (BSH), enriched with the 10B boron isotope. The purpose of the study was to study the structural reactions of the myocardium and liver of CD-1 mice after administration of BSH. A light-optical and polarization-microscopic study of the myocardium and liver of male CD-1 mice (n=56) was carried out after injection of a boron-containing substance in doses of 100 and 1000 mg/kg, once, intraperitoneally. Assessment of structural changes in the myocardium and liver was carried out 1, 3 and 7 days after BSH administration. A single injection of BSH at a dose of 100 mg/kg did not lead to the death of animals, whereas 3 hours after the injection of BSH at a dose of 1000 mg/kg, 1 animal died. The body weight of the animals changed slightly during the experiment. Analysis of heart weight showed a decrease in this indicator on days 3 and 7 compared with indicators in the same groups on day 1 of the experiment. When analyzing the dynamics of changes in liver mass, no significant changes were revealed during the experiment. The main structural changes in the myocardium included lytic and contractural damage to cardiomyocytes, hemodynamic disturbances in the form of pronounced venous and capillary congestion. Liver damage was manifested in dystrophic changes in hepatocytes, the appearance after 3 days of monocellular necrosis of hepatocytes and pericentral mononuclear infiltrates. The data obtained indicate that the used doses of BSH 100 and 1000 mg/kg with a single injection cause structural changes in the myocardium and liver of varying severity, which persist for 7 days of observation.