Bite mark analysis: A brief overview

Bite mark investigation is a vital area of expertise in forensic sciences. Bite mark represents a distinct characteristic, and it can help identify the potential culprit of a crime. Analysis of bite marks includes reviewing patterned injuries and the surrounding circumstances and integrating morphological and positional information. Based on the scientific knowledge that every human dentition is unique, this distinctiveness suggests that dental marks can be used to identify the perpetrator. Evaluation of the bite mark data includes examining and analyzing the characteristics of bite marks, comparing the data to that of the POI dentition and subsequently deciding whether or not to exclude a set of teeth as the origin of the mark. However, the field faces several challenges, including the variability in bite mark patterns due to factors such as the condition of the skin and the technique of the biter, as well as the subjective nature of interpreting bite mark impressions. Despite these challenges, the field presents opportunities for improvement through advancements in technology, such as three-dimensional imaging and computer-aided analysis, which can enhance the precision of bite mark comparisons and reduce error rates. The present review gives a brief overview of bite mark investigation discussing its process, significance, challenges, and opportunities in the field of forensic science

Liver X Receptors (LXRs) in cancer-an Eagle’s view on molecular insights and therapeutic opportunities

Cancer has become a serious health burden that results in high incidence and mortality rates every year, mainly due to various molecular alterations inside the cell. Liver X receptors (LXRs) dysregulation is one among them that plays a vital role in cholesterol metabolism, lipid metabolism and inflammation and also plays a crucial role in various diseases such as obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. Studies report that the activation of LXRs inhibits cancer growth by inhibiting cellular proliferation, inducing apoptosis and autophagy, regulating cholesterol metabolism, various signalling pathways such as Wnt, and PI3K/AKT, modulating the expression levels of cell-cycle regulators, and promoting antitumor immunity inside the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we have discussed the role, structure, and functions of LXRs and also summarized their ligands along with their mechanism of action. In addition, the role of LXRs in various cancers, tumor immunity and tumor microenvironment (TME) along with the importance of precision medicine in LXR-targeted therapies has been discussed to emphasize the LXRs as potent targets for the development of novel cancer therapeutics

Unveiling reverse vaccinology and immunoinformatics toward Saint Louis encephalitis virus: a ray of hope for vaccine development

IntroductionInfectious diseases continue to challenge human health with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Notably, the adaptability of RNA viruses, highlighted by outbreaks of SARS, MERS, and COVID-19, emphasizes the timely need for effective therapeutics. Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) belonging to the Flaviviridae family is an RNA virus that mostly affects the central nervous system (CNS) of humans. Although supportive care treatments such as antiemetics and painkillers are being used against SLEV infection, it still lacks potential therapeutics for the effective treatment.MethodsReverse vaccinology and immunoinformatics approaches help in the identification of suitable epitopes to design a vaccine construct that will activate both B- and T-cell-mediated responses. Previous studies used only the envelope protein E for the vaccine design, but we have used multiple protein targets to enhance the vaccine efficacy. Thus, in the present study, we have designed a multi-epitope subunit vaccine that specifically targets the membrane glycoprotein M, envelope protein E, and anchored capsid protein anchC of SLEV.ResultsOur results indicated that the vaccine construct is structurally stable, antigenic, non−allergic, non−toxic, and soluble. Additionally, the vaccine construct was structurally refined and indicated significant binding affinity toward the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) supported by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, it also indicated that it has the potential to induce an immune response.ConclusionIn addition, it has been cloned in the pET-28a (+) vector-6xHis-TEV-ORF9c expression vector for further experimental validation. We also recommend to evaluate the designed vaccine’s therapeutic efficacy through in vitro and in vivo studies in the near future