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Coronavirus disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has emerged as a global challenge in terms of health and disease monitoring. COVID-19 infection is mainly spread through the SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to the development of mild to severe clinical manifestations. The virus binds to its cognate receptor ACE2 which is widely expressed among different tissues in the body. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 shedding in the fecal samples has been reported through the screening of sewage water across various countries. Wastewater screening for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 provides an alternative method to monitor infection threat, variant identification, and clinical evaluation to restrict the virus progression. Multiple cohort studies have reported the application of wastewater treatment approaches and epidemiological significance in terms of virus monitoring. Thus, the manuscript outlines consolidated and systematic information regarding the application of wastewater-based epidemiology in terms of monitoring and managing a viral disease outbreak like COVID-19.

Nanotechnology has facilitated unique ways of developing novel nano-composites. In that sense, polymer-based nano-composites are being extensively researched for their outstanding properties as a result of incorporating nano-fillers in the polymer matrix. They have activated enormous research interests owing to their potential in addressing environmental issues, packaging, optics, electronics, battery electrolytes, pneumatic actuation, molecular separations, sensors, biomedical applications, etc Hence, the authors intend to consolidate reported information about these polymer matrices, diverse inorganic nanofillers, and nano-filled polymer composites for improvement in properties and future advanced applications. The review exhaustively covers 15 years of literature on theoretical, experimental, and application aspects of PVA & PMMA-based nano-composites, mainly focusing on inorganic oxide-based fillers. It also summarizes the structure-property correlations that govern their performance. Hence this review is hoped to provide the readers with stimulating insights on strategies, noteworthy challenges, and future opportunities/prospects in developing polymer nano-composites that may cater to the need of our society and scientific industries as well.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial non-coding small RNAs (sRNAs) have attracted considerable attention due to their ubiquitous nature and contribution to numerous cellular processes including survival, adaptation and pathogenesis. Existing computational approaches for identifying bacterial sRNAs demonstrate varying levels of success and there remains considerable room for improvement. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we have proposed a transcriptional signal-based computational method to identify intergenic sRNA transcriptional units (TUs) in completely sequenced bacterial genomes. Our sRNAscanner tool uses position weight matrices derived from experimentally defined E. coli K-12 MG1655 sRNA promoter and rho-independent terminator signals to identify intergenic sRNA TUs through sliding window based genome scans. Analysis of genomes representative of twelve species suggested that sRNAscanner demonstrated equivalent sensitivity to sRNAPredict2, the best performing bioinformatics tool available presently. However, each algorithm yielded substantial numbers of known and uncharacterized hits that were unique to one or the other tool only. sRNAscanner identified 118 novel putative intergenic sRNA genes in Salmonella enterica Typhimurium LT2, none of which were flagged by sRNAPredict2. Candidate sRNA locations were compared with available deep sequencing libraries derived from Hfq-co-immunoprecipitated RNA purified from a second Typhimurium strain (Sittka et al. (2008) PLoS Genetics 4: e1000163). Sixteen potential novel sRNAs computationally predicted and detected in deep sequencing libraries were selected for experimental validation by Northern analysis using total RNA isolated from bacteria grown under eleven different growth conditions. RNA bands of expected sizes were detected in Northern blots for six of the examined candidates. Furthermore, the 5'-ends of these six Northern-supported sRNA candidates were successfully mapped using 5'-RACE analysis. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We have developed, computationally examined and experimentally validated the sRNAscanner algorithm. Data derived from this study has successfully identified six novel S. Typhimurium sRNA genes. In addition, the computational specificity analysis we have undertaken suggests that approximately 40% of sRNAscanner hits with high cumulative sum of scores represent genuine, undiscovered sRNA genes. Collectively, these data strongly support the utility of sRNAscanner and offer a glimpse of its potential to reveal large numbers of sRNA genes that have to date defied identification. sRNAscanner is available from: http://bicmku.in:8081/sRNAscanner or http://cluster.physics.iisc.ernet.in/sRNAscanner/.

Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania parasite which resides in the infected sand flies. Control of Leishmaniasis remains a source of grave concern worldwide. Studies on Leishmaniasis triggered because of its outbreak in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, East Africa and South America. There is an urgent need for new therapeutic interventions such as vaccine and new drug targets as it develops resistance towards the available drugs. Quercetin, a derivative of polyphenolic flavonoid exhibits various biological activities by interacting with proteins and nucleic acids. In this study, computational analysis was performed to identify the potential drug target of Quercetin in Leishmania species by molecular docking. The newly predicted targets were subjected for subcellular localization prediction and determined the protein-protein interaction networks that would aid in the development of anti-Leishmanial drugs. This study helps in the identification of targets and development of anti-Leishmanial drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The QTL mapping for gynoecy in cucmber (Cucumis sativus L.)was carried out by using backcross populations (BC1F2 & BC1F3) of a cross using two inbred lines; one monoecious with multiple (≥ 5) lateral branching habit cv. Pusa Uday (Indian slicing type) and gynoecious exotic line Gy14 (American pickling type) with few lateral branches (1–2). QTL detection was performed by employing QTL Ici mapping software (version 4.1) of the two mapping populations. We detected seven gynoecious QTLs in two genomic regions (chromosome 5 and 6), on which three significant QTLs (qGyn 5.1, qGyn 6.5 and qGyn 6.6) had higher LOD score (10.5, 26.2, and 24.5) and phenotypic variance (5.9, 14.5 and 14.5%) in BC1F2 population. However, two significant QTLs (qGyn 5.1 and qGyn 6.1) accounted for gynoecism which could explain 22.90 and 12.88% of the phenotypic variation with the LOD score of 15.86 and 11.82 in linkage group 5 and 6, respectively in BC1F3 population. Out of 82 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers, three (SSR00233, SSR15516 and SSR13251) was found tightly linked and flanked to gynoecious trait QTLs (qGyn6.5 and qGyn6.6) in BC1F2 population at <1.5 cM, which could be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in cucumber improvement programmes. In order to increase the productivity of Indian cucumber, the introgressed Indian gynoecious cucumber lines derived from an exotic genetic background using MAS may be directly used as a variety or parent of hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled drug delivery technology represents one of the most rapidly advancing areas of science. They offer numerous advantages compared to conventional dosage forms including improved efficacy, reduced toxicity, improved patient compliance and convenience. Over the past several decades, many delivery tools or methods were developed such as viral vector, liposome-based delivery system, polymer-based delivery system, and intelligent delivery system. Recently, nonviral vectors, especially those based on biodegradable polymers, have been widely investigated as vectors. Unlike the other polymers tested, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been intensively investigated as a family of biodegradable and biocompatible materials for in vivo applications as implantable tissue engineering material as well as release vectors for various drugs. On the other hand, the direct use of these polyesters has been hampered by their hydrophobic character and some physical shortcomings, while its random copolymers fulfilled the expectation of biomedical researchers by exhibiting significant mechanical and thermal properties. This paper reviews the strategies adapted to make functional polymer to be utilized as delivery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSmall RNAs are bacterial counterparts of noncoding RNAs. Increasing evidence being added in the literature indicates that these small RNAs play major roles in prokaryotes both at the transcriptome and proteome levels. Based on comparative genomic studies, we present manually curated small RNA regions in 25 recently completed genomes from Enterobacteriaceae. The study is a continuation of our earlier work that uses the presence of small RNAs sandwiched between specific conserved flanking genes retaining genomic backbone and gene synteny. Based on this study, a total of 931 identified sRNA/sRNA regions are reported. This data contains 498 small RNA homologs, 80 putative small RNA regions containing partial stretches of homologous sequences, and 353 putative nonhomologous sRNA regions. This homologs/partial homologs includes, 84 putative small RNA homologous regions retaining at least one of the conserved flanking genes pair which may possibly act as hotspots for genetic pool insertion/deletion in genomes. Nonhomologous CsrBsRNA region reported by us in Yersinia pseudotuberculosisIP32953 has been experimentally confirmed by Kulkarni's group and sraHand ryeEsRNAs from Erwinia carotovorasubsp. atroseptica SCRI1043 recently added to the Rfam database are indicative proof of our positive approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral endosymbionts act as a bio-indicator of coral ecosystem under extreme environmental conditions. The health of the coral ecosystem depends on the endosymbiont cell density of the coral hosts. Therefore, it is of interest to analyze ten coral fragments found to be under the genera Acropora, Favites, Favia, and Porites collected at various locations from Veedhalai to Mandapam, southeast coast of India during January 2019 to March 2019. The zooxanthellae cell count ranged between 4.08 (Porites sp.9) and 13.75x105 cells cm2 -1 (Favites sp.3). This indicates the health of the corals in the region. The genus (clade) level identification of endosymbionts was detected using the host excluding primers of small subunit DNA (nssrDNA). Bidirectional sequencing of 18S nrDNA gene (SSU) of all ten coral fragments show that the Veedhalai corals is associated with the genus Durusdinium (Clade D) but the corals of Mandapam is associated with the genera, Cladocopium (Clade C) and Durusdinium (Clade D). It is known that the thermal stress has negative impact on coral reef ecosystem of the world. The dominance of the genus Durusdinium in the scleractinian corals of Palk Bay may be due to frequent exposure to thermal stress. This thermotolerant endosymbionts is opportunistic. Thus, the corals of Veedhalai and Mandapam coasts, Palk Bay, India are necessarily packed with thermotolerant endosymbionts enabling conservation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of Interest, (© 2022 Biomedical Informatics.)

Planococcus maritimus MKU009 is a Gram positive cocci and a moderate halophilic bacterium isolated from marine water of Pichavaram, South East Coast of India. Here we report the draft genome of Planococcus maritimus MKU009 with a total size of 3,251,644 bp with N50 value of 1681571 bp. The overall G+C content of the genome was 47.27%. The carotenoid producing crtN, crtB, crtP and crtI genes were located within the first contig of the genome assembly. This genome source will provide insights into functional genomics of carotenoid production and metabolic engineering.