Proceedings of Women in Academia, Research and Management for Work-life Initiatives for Sustainable Health & Empowering Safety (WARM-WISHES 2026)

Green tea, from Camellia sinensis, is a source of bioactive polyphenols, mainly catechins with antibacterial properties. Various types of catechins include epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC) and epicatechin (EC), among which EGCG is the most abundant and bioactive. This review summarises the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of these catechins against some clinically important Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens.

Catechins have been studied for their broad - spectrum antibacterial property through multiple pathways. For example, they can interfere with DNA and RNA synthesis, block key enzymes in bacterial metabolism and replication, disrupt the bacterial cell membrane, causing loss of intracellular components that are important to maintain bacterial viability.

Studies show that catechins disrupt quorum-sensing systems, which lowers the production of virulence factors, biofilm formation, and bacterial communication. Moreover, catechins cause oxidative stress in bacterial cells by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damages bacterial cells, resulting in cell death.

Polyphenols found in green tea also demonstrate synergistic interactions with conventional antibiotics, enhancing their efficacy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. When it comes to addressing antibiotic resistance mechanisms, this synergy is especially intriguing.

Living therapeutics" is an innovative category of living organisms that can be engineered to prevent, detect, and treat human diseases. With the help of synthetic biology and genetic engineering, microbial cells with the ability to recognize disease-associated cues, synthesize drugs within the host body, and respond to complex biological environments have now been created. This review explores the fundamental approaches used for constructing engineered bacteria, such as the creation of synthetic gene circuits, selecting suitable hosts or chassis, and incorporating biosensing and biocontainment strategies. Finally, we discuss the primary applications of engineered bacteria with a focus on gastrointestinal disease treatment, cancer therapy, metabolic disease management, and infectious disease treatment. Despite all of this, however, there are numerous hurdles yet to be conquered, including issues related to safety, genetic stability, targeted delivery, and regulatory clearance. For bacterial systems to move from the lab bench to the bedside, certain parameters need to be taken care of. On the whole, genetically modified bacteria represent an exciting frontier within the field of precision medicine, with the capacity to revolutionize therapeutic strategies with highly selective interventions.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) derived from indigenous dairy sources represent a valuable and largely untapped reservoir for the development of safe, effective, and cost-efficient probiotic formulations. The present study aimed to isolate, characterize, and functionally evaluate LAB from fresh and fermented milk samples obtained from local dairy producers in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Using selective media — de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar, milk agar, and M17 agar — five phenotypically distinct isolates designated M1 through M5 were recovered and subjected to a comprehensive battery of morphological, physiological, biochemical, and functional tests. All five isolates were confirmed as Gram-positive, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming organisms consistent with the defining characteristics of LAB. Bacilli-shaped isolates (M1–M3) were provisionally identified as belonging to the Lactobacillus group, while cocci-shaped isolates (M4–M5) were consistent with Lactococcus or Leuconostoc genera. Biochemical profiling revealed differential patterns of carbohydrate fermentation, citrate utilization, and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production ranging from 95.3 mg/L (M5) to 117.3 mg/L (M2). Probiotic functional assessment demonstrated that M1, M2, and M3 exhibited robust tolerance to simulated gastric acid stress (pH 3.0, 2 h) and bile salt concentrations of 0.3%, both critical determinants of gastrointestinal survivability. Haemolytic activity testing confirmed the absence of beta-haemolysis in all isolates, indicating a favourable safety profile. Antibiotic susceptibility profiling showed general sensitivity to erythromycin, clindamycin, cephalothin, and oxytetracycline, with intrinsic resistance to ofloxacin and co-trimoxazole — a resistance pattern characteristic of and acceptable in probiotic LAB. Collectively, isolates M1, M2, and M3, with M3 being most promising overall, meet the key criteria for probiotic candidacy. These findings advocate for systematic exploitation of indigenous dairy microbiota as sustainable platforms for next-generation probiotic innovations.

Ferroptosis is defined as a non-apoptotic mechanism of regulated cell death, characterized by iron dependent accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides. Since its discovery, ferroptosis has grown as a fundamental biological process implicated in several pathological conditions including neurodegeneration, ischemia-reperfusion injury, inflammatory disorders and cancer. There are two major pathways for ferroptosis-the canonical and the non- canonical pathway. The canonical pathway involves the iron dependent accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides and is regulated by three major systems (1) the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4)–glutathione system which serves as the major antioxidant defense against ferroptosis, (2) the Xc−  transporter system that provides raw material for fueling the GPx4 antioxidant system and (3) iron metabolism pathways that provide the catalytic substrate for lipid peroxidation via Haber -Wieiss and Fenton chemistry. The non- canonical pathways or the GPx4 independent pathways include the ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1)–ubiquinol system, the GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1)–tetrahydrobiopterin system, and the DHODH mitochondrial defense. Thus, ferroptosis can be regarded as a multi-layered network affecting biology and progression of diseases. Ferroptosis is also regulated by transcriptional factors like the p53 tumor suppressor and Nrf2, heat shock proteins, and epigenetic modulators in a cell-type and context-dependent manner. The present review comprehensively delineates the molecular pathways of ferroptosis regulation, with emphasis on both traditional and emerging pathways, and discusses how this mechanistic understanding is being translated into therapeutic strategies for cancer sensitization and neuroprotection.

We are witnessing a paradigm shift in the world energy sector as the unsustainability of the fossil fuel era is becoming more evident. As the world's crude oil reserves are likely to become depleted between 10-20 years from now and the dire environmental impacts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to grow, the need for sustainable and renewable energy sources is more critical than ever for environmental and economic sustainability. Biofuels, produced from a range of biological feedstocks, hold the key to a carbon-neutral bio-economy. Our review examines the development of biofuel technologies from first-generation feedstocks (food crops) to fourth-generation genetically engineered and carbon-negative biofuels. We find that although first-generation biofuels (i.e., ethanol from corn, biodiesel from rapeseed) are currently leading the market, they are limited by the "food versus fuel" conundrum and land-use footprint. Second-generation lignocellulosic biofuels and third-generation algal biofuels offer better sustainability but are limited by cost and technical challenges. Fourth-generation fuels, incorporating carbon-capture and metabolic engineering, are the pinnacle of sustainable fuel production but are still in the early stages of development. This report identifies that "drop-in" fuels compatible with existing technologies, waste-to-energy systems (e.g., waste cooking oil), and integrated biorefineries are critical. Notwithstanding progress in technology, global-scale biofuel integration is hampered by resource constraints, regulatory complexities and market dynamics. This report concludes that a sustainable energy future will be achieved through a complex approach including advanced conversion technologies (e.g., consolidated bioprocessing), enabling policy settings (e.g., carbon taxes), and localised production to promote local economic development and environmental sustainability.

The extensive use of synthetic polymers has caused some of the most critical as well as complicated environmental issues of the 21st century. One of the major issues among them is rapid accumulation of plastic waste. Traditional methods for waste disposal like landfilling, incineration and ocean dumping are held responsible for causing several severe ecological and public health risks. The traditional methods also failed as a long-term and sustainable solution for plastic waste. In recent years, certain modern approaches like microbial and enzymatic biodegradation have shown greater efficiency in curbing issues linked to plastic waste management. Microbial biodegradation emphasizes on breaking of complex polymer chains into simpler monomers through the action of enzymes. These plastic-based compounds are utilized as carbon and energy sources by microbes. Advances in biotechnology, environmental microbiology, synthetic biology, genetic engineering and enzyme technology have enhanced the efficiency of microbes and enzymes involved in plastic degradation. PETase and MHETase are the enzymes that have previously shown capability to degrade one of the most used plastics i.e., polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The technical advancements such as molecular engineering, microbial consortia designing and CRISPR-based genome editing strategies such as PlastiCRISPR are becoming vital for developing engineered and modified microbial strains and systems that show optimized and enhanced capabilities for plastic degradation and formation of useful biochemical residues. This review aims to emphasise on greater environmental and economic causes through the application of scientific temperament. It provides an overview on plastic pollution, limitations of traditional waste management approaches and advancing biodegradation technologies. Detailed emphasis is placed on microbial biodegradation mechanisms, enzymatic degradation pathways, and advanced biotechnological methods that can help tackle plastic waste problems and convert them into other useful by-products, cycling into the circular economy.

The persistence of bacterial infections despite antibiotic susceptibility represents a major challenge in modern medicine, largely driven by phenotypic antibiotic tolerance mediated by persister cells within biofilm-forming populations. Basically, persister cells represent a temporary, non-inheritable subpopulation of bacteria whose dormancy or low metabolism makes them capable to evade the killing effect of antibiotics that normally eliminate the bacteria. By forming biofilms, bacteria not only protect persister cells through physical barriers to antibiotics but also further strengthen this tolerance, since biofilms create a nutrient-limited microenvironment with oxygen gradients and make it difficult for antibiotics to penetrate. In fact, the three factors together lead to a lifestyle of persister cells, which explains why the treatment is ineffective and the infection comes back. The pathways that lead to the production of persister cells are quite complex, as they involve several different cellular mechanisms and processes, such as toxin-antitoxin modules, generation of the stringent response through (p)ppGpp signaling, drop in the levels of ATP, and different stress-response routes. What is more, the system of quorum sensing leading to cell-cell communication and signalling inside biofilms is of utmost importance in the regulation of persistence and the survival of the community at the same time. In contrast to antibiotic resistance, which is the result of genetic mutations, the state of tolerance mediated by persisters is transient and capable of reversal, so when the antibiotic pressure is not there, cells can grow again. From a clinical perspective, persister cells cause infections that continue over a long time or keep coming back, like urinary tract infections, tuberculosis, and infections related to medical devices. They make it very difficult to treat with medicines. Unfortunately, the treatment methods we have today still fall short of eliminating these cells. However, new techniques are being researched that may improve clinical outcomes, including bacteriophage therapy, anti-persister medications, biofilm destruction, stimulation of persister cell metabolism, and nanotechnology-based treatments. Therefore, developing novel treatments for persistent bacterial infections requires a deep understanding of the biology of persister cells.