COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, led to global health and economic crises. While vaccines have been developed, challenges remain, including multi-dose requirements, varying efficacy, and emerging variants. This highlights the urgent need for new antivirals, such as small-molecule drugs targeting essential viral proteins and nucleic acids.

The study explores the development and application of synthetic riboswitches as tools for precise gene regulation in mammalian systems. Riboswitches are RNA-based regulatory elements that respond to specific inducer molecules, enabling modular and customizable control over cellular behaviour. These synthetic constructs integrate natural RNA-mediated mechanisms and have been utilized in diverse applications such as gene therapy, bio-production, and cellular reprogramming.

Candida auris poses an urgent threat, as marked by the CDC, due to its resistance to multiple classes of antifungal drugs, making it difficult to treat. Its ability to form biofilms facilitates the establishment of infections and evasion of antifungal treatments. The biofilm form of this pathogen is very heterogeneous and exhibits high drug resistance, even against commonly used ammonium salt-based disinfectants and harsh environmental conditions. Therefore, studying biofilm formation in infection scenarios becomes crucial.

When we think of infections, we usually imagine a single type of germ, like one kind of bacterium or microbe. However, in most of the cases, multiple types of microbes are responsible. Polymicrobial infections occur when two or more than two microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses) work together to cause illness. These infections are more common than many people realize and can occur in wounds, the gut, lungs, or urinary tract. Since multiple germs are involved, they are often harder to diagnose and treat than infections caused by a single microbe.

Preterm birth (PTB) refers to the delivery of a baby before completing 37 weeks of gestation. It is a significant global health issue with implications for both mothers and neonates.
The placenta is a transient organ crucial in the sustenance of pregnancy until parturition; its dysfunction is associated with different adverse pregnancy outcomes, including PTB.

Docetaxel (DTX) is a prevalent chemotherapeutic agent, particularly efficacious against various solid tumours, including those of the breast, lung, and prostate. Despite its clinical significance, DTX is hindered by two primary limitations: inadequate water solubility and severe adverse effects, such as neutropenia (a reduction in white blood cell count), neuropathy (nerve damage), and hypersensitivity reactions. These challenges substantially diminish its therapeutic index and adversely affect patient quality of life.