Staff

Abstract:
Recent advances in single-cell technologies have revealed the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of host-pathogen interactions at the single-cell level. This review explores how cellular variability—both within clonal bacterial populations and among genetically identical host cells—gives rise to distinct infection outcomes, from pathogen clearance to persistence across multiple biological scales, from single cells to tissues and the whole organism. We highlight the conceptual and technological progress that has enabled the dissection of these interactions at single-cell resolution, including microscopy, single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, and emerging dual RNA-seq and spatial approaches. Drawing on examples from well-characterized bacterial pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, we discuss how stochastic gene expression, intrinsic and extrinsic factors, as well as tissue context shape the variable activation of the immune responses and ultimately determine the outcomes of host-pathogen interactions. We argue that the outcome of single-cell interactions is shaped by a combination of host states, bacterial-intrinsic features, and the local microenvironment. We further discuss how computational and mathematical modeling can integrate these heterogeneous single-cell events across spatial scales, linking intracellular variability with tissue-level pathogenesis and progression of infection. Gaining insight into and controlling these layers of variability holds promise for the development of more precise, context-dependent antimicrobial strategies.

Keywords:
host-pathogen interactions, single-cell biology, cellular heterogeneity, infection biology, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract:
Anthropogenic emissions, particularly from industrial and agriculture activities, have significantly elevated the concentrations of highly toxic Heavy Metals (HMs), such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As), in the soil, leading to their accumulation in plants. These HMs, when exceeding toxicity thresholds (e.g., Pb >10 mg/kg, Cd >0.5 mg/kg, As >1 mg/kg), disrupt the plant physiology and metabolism. To mitigate this toxicity, plants employ diverse detoxification and sequestration strategies, including mycorrhizal associations, root exudates, cellular compartmentalization, and the production of organic acids, phytochelatins, metallothioneins, proline, stress proteins, and plant hormones. This review aims to critically examine the molecular mechanisms by which key crop plants, such as rice, wheat, maize, and other higher plants, sequester these primary heavy metal contaminants. Additionally, it highlights the role of nanotechnology in enhancing plant resistance and facilitating nano-bioremediation under HMs stress conditions. This review provides valuable insights into innovative clean-up strategies for agriculturally important crops by exploring nanoparticle -mediated remediation mechanisms.

Keywords:
Nano-bioremediation, Heavy metals remediation, HMs ATPase, ZIP family, Phytoremediation, Phytochelatins