Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a well‐known neuroprotectant and a potent therapeutic candidate for neurodegenerative diseases. However, there are several clinical concerns about its therapeutic applications. In the current study, we designed and developed BDNF‐mimicking small peptides as an alternative to circumvent these problems. A phage‐displayed peptide library was screened using BDNF receptor (neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type2 [NTRK2]) and evaluated by ELISA. The peptide sequences showed similarity to loop2 of BDNF, they were recognized as discontinuous epitopes though. Interestingly, in silico molecular docking showed strong interactions between the peptide three‐dimensional models and the surface residues of the NTRK2 protein at the IgC2 domain. A consensus peptide sequence was then synthesized to generate a mimetic construct (named as RNYK). The affinity binding and function of this construct was confirmed by testing against the native structure of NTRK2 in SH‐SY5Y cells in vitro using flow‐cytometry and MTT assays, respectively. RNYK at 5 ng/mL prevented neuronal degeneration of all‐ trans‐retinoic acid‐treated SH‐SY5Y with equal efficacy to or even better than BDNF at 50 ng/mL.

Glaucoma is a collective term used to define a group of neurodegenerative processes affecting the entire visual pathway best distinguished by progressive, irreversible destruction, and death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The disease spectrum is estimated to affect more than 100 million people worldwide by the year of 2040 (Tham et al., 2014). The primary risk factor for progression and development of glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP is regulated by the balance between aqueous humor secretion into

An ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). So far, there have been various approaches for SARS-CoV-2 detection, each having its pros and cons. The current gold-standard method for SARS-CoV-2 detection, which offers acceptable specificity and sensitivity, is the quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). However, this method requires considerable cost and time to transport samples to specialized laboratories and extract, amplify, and detect the viral genome. On the other hand, antigen and antibody testing approaches that bring rapidity and affordability into play have lower sensitivity and specificity during the early stages of COVID-19. Moreover, the immune response is variable depending on the individual. Methods based on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) can be used as an alternative approach to controlling the spread of disease by a high-sensitive, specific, and low-cost molecular diagnostic system. CRISPR-based detection systems (CRISPR-Dx) target the desired sequences by specific CRISPR-RNA (crRNA)-pairing on a pre-amplified sample and a subsequent collateral cleavage. In the present article, we have reviewed different CRISPR-Dx methods and presented their benefits and drawbacks for point-of-care testing (POCT) of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infections at home or in small clinics.

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