Biology subjects

Arshad, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Arshad, F..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

A cytochrome P450 G subfamily member, CYP4G35, is highly expressed in antennae and modulates olfactory response in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

The cytochrome P450 enzymes of the CYP4G subfamily are some of the most enigmatic insect P450s. The dipterans with sequenced genomes have two CYP4G paralogs. In Drosophila melanogaster, CYP4G1 is highly expressed in the oenocytes and catalyzes the last enzymatic step in the biosynthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons. In contrast, CYP4G15 is expressed in the brain glial cells, but its function is unknown. The Aedes aegypti genome encodes two CYP4Gs: CYP4G36 (ortholog of DmCYP4G1) and CYP4G35 (ortholog of DmCYP4G15). Here, we show that CYP4G35 is highly expressed in mosquito antennae, and the RNAi knockdown of CYP4G35 results in delayed host-seeking. Ae. aegypti CYP4G knockout lines confirmed delayed host-seeking behavior in CYP4G35 knockout females. Proteomics analysis of CYP4G35 KO females also corroborates the physiological findings and shows upregulation of proteins related to olfaction and other CYP4Gs to compensate for the lack of CYP4G35. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to localize CYP4G35 and demonstrated its expression in the sensilla lymph of the antennae and the tip of the proboscis. CYP4G35 and CYP4G36 fusion proteins with cytochrome P450 reductase demonstrated that, unlike CYP4G36, CYP4G35 lacks an oxidative decarbonylase function. Together, our data support a novel function of CYP4G35 in modulating olfactory response.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Multimodal Imaging and Logistic Weighted Cognitive Scores for Classification of MCI, AD, and FTD Subtypes

BackgroundDifferentiating between mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimers disease (AD), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) subtypes remains a clinical challenge due to overlapping cognitive symptoms, structural atrophy, and metabolic patterns, especially in the early stages. Multimodal classification approaches integrating neuroimaging and cognitive scores may offer early and accurate characterization and subsequently improved diagnostic precision. MethodsIn this study, we included 100 participants (50 AD, 30 FTD, including 14 bvFTD and 16 PPA, and 20 MCI) who underwent simultaneous structural MRI and FDG-PET imaging. Cortical thickness (CTH) from anatomical MRI and standardized uptake values from FDG-PET were extracted using FreeSurfer and PETSurfer pipelines, respectively. CTH and FDG-PET features were combined into a single vector through a logistic weighting function derived from ACE-III scores, capturing the progressive nature of cognitive decline in dementia. A Naive Bayes classifier was then trained to differentiate diagnostic groups based on the merged features. ResultsThe model achieved classification accuracies of 83% for MCI vs. dementia (AD + FTD), 85% for MCI vs. FTD, 87% for MCI vs. PPA, 71% for MCI vs. bvFTD, 64% for MCI vs. AD, and 69% for AD vs. FTD. The overall classification accuracy was 68%, with the highest discriminative performance observed in separating MCI from FTD subtypes. ConclusionsThis study presents a novel, cognition-weighted multimodal approach combining structural and metabolic imaging to enhance the classification of neurodegenerative syndromes. Findings from this study, underscore the potential of integrating ACE-III scores with neuroimaging biomarkers for accurate characterization and, early-stage differentiation of MCI, AD, and FTD variants.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

A comprehensive water buffalo pangenome reveals extensive structural variation linked to population specific signatures of selection

Water buffalo is a cornerstone livestock species in many low- and middle-income countries, yet major gaps persist in its genomic characterization--complicated by the divergent karyotypes of its two sub-species (swamp and river). Such genomic complexity makes water buffalo a particularly good candidate for the use of graph genomics, which can capture variation missed by linear reference approaches. However, the utility of this approach to improve water buffalo has been largely unexplored. We present a comprehensive pangenome that integrates four newly generated, highly contiguous assemblies of Pakistani river buffalo with available assemblies from both sub- species. This doubles the number of accessible high-quality river buffalo genomes and provides the most contiguous assemblies for the sub-species to date. Using the pangenome to assay variation across 711 global samples, we uncovered extensive genomic diversity, including thousands of large structural variants absent from the reference genome, spanning over 140 Mb of additional sequence. We demonstrate the utility of these data by identifying putative functional indels and structural variants linked to selective sweeps in key genes involved in productivity and immune response across 26 populations. This study represents one of the first successful applications of graph genomics in water buffalo and offers valuable insights into how integrating assemblies can transform analyses of water buffalo and other species with complex evolutionary histories. We anticipate that these assemblies, and the pangenome and putative functional structural variants we have released, will accelerate efforts to unlock water buffalos genetic potential, improving productivity and resilience in this economically important species.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2025

Bacteriophage-Loaded Microneedle Patches for Targeted andMinimally Disruptive Foodborne Pathogen Decontamination

Antibacterial additive use has surged due to rising incidences of food contamination, despite concerns over antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophage (bacterial viruses) represent a unique and promising opportunity as antibacterial agents, offering targeted bacterial lysis while being food safe. However, their commercial success has been limited by the significant diffusion barriers they face within food, preventing effective delivery at contamination sites. Here, we introduce bacteriophage-loaded microneedle patches that enable targeted phage delivery directly within food, eliminating internal pathogens in a minimally disruptive manner. The application of microneedles within food is first explored. The platform is then substantiated by comparing performance in raw beef and cooked chicken, where we achieved up to 3-logs reduction in Escherichia coli, thus providing complete decontamination according to regulatory limits. In contrast, conventional surface application of the same phage failed to provide significant decontamination. To ensure broad applicability, phage cocktails were also loaded into microneedles to demonstrate polymicrobial decontamination against other common food contaminants including Salmonella. This platform can also be adapted to extend food shelf-life by targeting spoilage-inducing bacteria.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis Constituents in Parkinson's Disease: Insights from Molecular Docking Studies

Cannabis, often known as marihuana, marijuana, hashish, and hash, belongs to the genus Cannabis sativa L. This plant has excellent potential for the treatment of several brain disorders. Phytochemical compounds in this plant act as antioxidants, preserving synaptic plasticity and preventing neuronal degeneration. The neurodegenerative condition Parkinsons has emerged as one of the most significant health concerns of the twenty-first century. A detailed in silico molecular docking study was carried out to assess the neuroprotective effects of cannabis compounds against four potential targets of PD, including monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), alpha-synuclein (ASN), and Adenosine A2A receptor (A2A). Physicochemical properties, drug-likeness, toxicity, and ADMET profiles were also investigated. In this docking study, the cannabis compound cannabicyclol showed a superior docking score of -10.8 kcal/mol with the MAO-B protein. Based on these results, cannabicyclol and the target protein MAO-B were used to perform MD simulations to analyze their stability at 100 ns. Furthermore, it is crucial to carry out in vitro and in vivo investigations to enhance the potency of cannabis components and understand the processes underlying the suppression of Parkinsons disease-related enzymes. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=145 SRC="FIGDIR/small/566677v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (43K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@15f455borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1c26038org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@3b32c6org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@82926b_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2023

In Silico Analysis of Drug Off-Target Effects on Diverse Isoforms of Cervical Cancer for Enhanced Therapeutic Strategies

Cervical cancer is a severe medical issue as 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer are identified in the world every year. The selection and analysis of the suitable gene target are the most crucial in the early phases of drug design. The emphasis at one protein while ignoring its several isoforms or splice variations may have unexpected therapeutic or harmful side effects. In this work, we provide a computational analysis of interactions between cervical cancer drugs and their targets that are influenced by alternative splicing. By using open-accessible databases, we targeted 45 FDA-approved cervical cancer drugs targeting various genes having more than two distinct protein-coding isoforms. Binding pocket interactions revealed that many drugs do not have possible targets at the isoform level. In terms of size, shape, electrostatic characteristics, and structural analysis have shown that various isoforms of the same gene with distinct ligand-binding pocket configurations. Our results emphasized the risks of ignoring possibly significant interactions at the isoform level by concentrating just on the canonical isoform and promoting consideration of the impacts of cervical cancer drugs on- and off-target at the isoform level to further research.

bioinformatics↗