Sovon Acharya

Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative, motile bacterium that typically colonizes the human gastrointestinal tract as a commensal organism. Under favorable conditions, particularly in hospitalized or immunocompromised individuals, as an opportunistic pathogen, causing a range of infections including catheter-associated urinary tract infections, wound infections and bacteremia. Its pathogenic potential is linked to a combination of virulence traits such as urease production, swarming motility, biofilm formation and the ability to acquire antimicrobial resistance determinants, which together facilitate persistence, tissue invasion and treatment failure. In this study we aim to understand the genomic attributes of a P. mirabilis clinical isolate from India. The bacterial isolate was recovered from a clinical sample, followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) using standard methods. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on the Illumina platform. De novo genome assembly and annotation were conducted, followed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), virulence sequence typing and analysis of the resistome, virulome and mobile genetic elements using established bioinformatics pipelines. In silico protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed to identify key functional hubs associated with pathogenicity. WGS confirmed the multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype of the isolate, revealing a diverse array of antimicrobial resistance genes, including blaTEM-1B. The virulome analysis identified multiple fimbrial adhesins, hemolysins and toxin-encoding genes, collectively supporting adhesion, biofilm formation and host tissue damage. Multilocus sequence typing assigned the isolate to a previously unreported sequence type, designated ST286 in the PubMLST database., Virulence sequence typing indicated the profile as vST-1157 by the PubMLST database. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified the hemolysin genes hpmA and hpmB, along with the fimbrial operon regulator mrpA, as major hub nodes with extensive connectivity. These hubs were strongly linked to multiple interaction partners, indicating their central role in mediating host-pathogen interactions, inflammation and tissue damage. This study provides a comprehensive genomic insight into a novel multidrug-resistant P. mirabilis strain Indica, with a unique MLST profile isolated from India. The study also reveals the presence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence associated genes. The identification of hemolysin and fimbriae-associated hub genes as central nodes within the interaction network underscores their pivotal role in driving P. mirabilis virulence and host pathogen interaction. Also underscores the importance of genomic surveillance in geographically under represented areas. These findings provide a network-level perspective on P. mirabilis pathogenic mechanisms and highlight key virulence hubs as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a high-priority pathogen due to its extensive antimicrobial resistance and persistence in clinical environments. This study describes the genomic features of AB_Varanasi, a carbapenem-resistant clinical isolate from India belonging to ST149 (Pasteur)/ST1506 (Oxford), a lineage not linked to major international clones. The isolate was resistant to almost all tested antibiotics, retaining susceptibility only to tigecycline and showing intermediate susceptibility to colistin. Whole-genome sequencing produced a 4.19 Mb circular chromosome encoding 4,039 predicted genes, with metabolism-associated functions forming the largest subsystem category.The genome carried multiple resistance determinants, including carbapenem-hydrolysing β-lactamases (OXA-23, OXA-104), extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ADC-26, PER-7), aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes, fluoroquinolone resistance–associated mutations, and several multidrug efflux systems (AdeABC, AdeIJK, AcrAB-TolC, and MFS transporters). Several of these genes were embedded within mobile genetic element–rich regions, suggesting a high potential for horizontal gene transfer. Virulence profiling identified the complete acinetobactin iron acquisition system, a functional Type VI secretion system, Type IV pilus components, and biofilm-associated operons.Variant analysis detected 30,385 high-confidence mutations with a transition-to-transversion ratio of 3.05. High-impact variants affected ribosomal protein L22 and the RNA polymerase β-subunit, while moderate-impact mutations involved metabolic and recombination-related genes. The regulatory landscape comprised 113 non-coding RNAs, including riboswitches and antisense RNAs. A total of 294 hypothetical proteins were identified, representing 192 DUF families, many predicted to encode membrane-associated or transport-related functions. Several of these uncharacterized proteins may serve as promising therapeutic or vaccine targets, given their potential surface exposure and species-specific conservation.

Edible seeds play a significant role in contributing essential nutritional needs and impart several health benefits to improve the quality of human life. Previous literature evidence has confirmed that edible seed proteins, their enzymatic hydrolysates, and bioactive peptides (BAPs) have proven and potential attributes to ameliorate numerous chronic disorders through the modulation of activities of several molecular markers. Edible seed-derived proteins and peptides have gained much interest from researchers worldwide as ingredients to formulate therapeutic functional foods and nutraceuticals. In this review, four main methods are discussed (enzymatic hydrolysis, gastrointestinal digestion, fermentation, and genetic engineering) that are used for the production of BAPs, including their purification and characterization. This article’s main aim is to provide current knowledge regarding several health-promoting properties of edible seed BAPs in terms of antihypertensive, anti-cancer, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic activities.