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The chitooligosaccharide (COS) and chlorella polysaccharide (CPS) have been used as feed supplements in the poultry industry for improving growth performance and immunity. However, the benefits of these prebiotics on the gut health of chickens when used in early nutrition are unknown. This study evaluated the effects of in ovo feeding of COS and CPS on the cecal microbiome, metabolic pathways, and fermentation metabolites of chickens. A total of 240 fertile eggs were divided into 6 groups (n =4; 10 eggs/replicate): 1) noinjection control, 2) normal saline control, 3) COS 5 mg, 4) COS 20 mg, 5) CPS 5 mg, and 6) CPS 20 mg injection. On day 12.5 of egg incubation, test substrate was injected into the amniotic sac of eggs in respective treatments. The hatched chicks were raised for 21 D under standard husbandry practices. On day 3 and 21, cecal digesta were collected to determine microbiota by shotgun metagenomic sequencing and short-chain fatty acids by gas chromatography. The cecal microbial composition was not different (P > 0.05) among the treatment groups on day 3 but was different (P < 0.05) on day 21. At the species level, the polysaccharide-utilizing bacteria including Lactobacillus johnsonii, Bacteroides coprocola, and Bacteroides salanitronis were higher in the COS group, whereas the relative abundance of some opportunistic pathogenic bacteria were lower than those in the CPS and control groups. At the functional level, the pathways of gluconeogenesis, L-isoleucine degradation, Lhistidine biosynthesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis were enriched in the COS group. In addition, propionic acid content was higher (P < 0.05) in the COS group. A network based on the correlation between the COS and other factors was constructed to illuminate the potential action mechanism of the COS in chicken early nutrition. In conclusion, in ovo inoculation of COS 5 mg showed positive effects on the cecal microbiota, metabolic pathways, and propionic acid, thus can be used as in ovo feeding to modulate the gut health of chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the particle number concentrations and size distributions in the ultrafine and fine-sized regimes over a polluted megacity, New Delhi (28.75° N, 77.12° E), India. The experiments were conducted during the periods (April–May 2020) of strict social and travel restrictions (lockdown) imposed by the Government of India aiming to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. The different phases of the COVID-19 lockdown witnessed restrictions of varying magnitudes with the significant cessation of anthropogenic sources, viz. , industrial, road, railways, and air traffic emissions. Using this unique opportunity, the impact of varying urban emissions on particle number size distributions and new particle formation events were examined. The mean total number concentrations were in the range of ~ (2–3.5) x 104 cm−3 and depicted a gradual increase (~26%) with progressive unlock of the anthropogenic activities. At the same time, accumulation particle concentrations were doubled. However, ultrafine particles (UFP) (diameter < 100 nm) dominated (50–88%) the total number concentrations during most of the days and several new particle formation (NPF) events resulting in elevated (2–5 fold) UFP concentrations were observed. Subsequently, the particles grew to larger sizes with rates ~3.31–8.37 nm h−1. The NPF events occurred during the daytime, and during the events, a clear enhancement in the concentrations of [H 2 SO 4 ] proxy (2–3.5 × 107 molecules cm−3; 2–3 orders higher than the non-event values) suggesting the role of strong gas-phase photochemistry. Also, some of the NPF events were associated with increased odd oxygen concentrations [O x = O 3 +NO 2 ], indicating the regional nature of the precursors and participation of VOC precursors in nucleation/growth. Interestingly, different classes of NPF events were seen during the strictest lockdown period, whereas more frequent and well-defined NPF events were witnessed when anthropogenic activities were opened up with conditional relaxations. These events demonstrated the competition between source strengths of precursor vapors from anthropogenic activities and primary particles acting as condensation sink restricting NPF. This study highlighted that urban pollution mitigation policies need to consider ultrafine particles emanating from the secondary aerosol formation process from traffic emissions. Temporal variation of particle number size distribution (PNSD) during the study. The arrows on the bottom indicate the new particle formation events. [Display omitted] • The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on fine and ultrafine particle concentrations is examined over the megacity, New Delhi. • Several new particle formation (NPF) events during the lockdown period were noticed. • NPF events highlighted the balance between precursor vapor sources and condensation sink. • Notable contribution from traffic emissions to UFP bursts with progressive relaxation of lockdown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal or herbal plants are widely used for their many favourable properties and are generally safe without any side effects. Saponins are sugar conjugated natural compounds which possess a multitude of biological activities such as medicinal properties, antimicrobial activity, antiviral activity, etc. Saponin production is a part of the normal growth and development process in a lot of plants and plant extracts such as liquorice and ginseng which are exploited as potential drug sources. Herbal compounds have shown a great potential against a wide variety of infectious agents, including viruses such as the SARS-CoV; these are all-natural products and do not show any adverse side effects. This article reviews the various aspects of saponin biosynthesis and extraction, the need for their integration into more mainstream medicinal therapies and how they could be potentially useful in treating viral diseases such as COVID-19, HIV, HSV, rotavirus etc. The literature presents a close review on the saponin efficacy in targeting mentioned viral diseases that occupy a high mortality rate worldwide. This manuscript indicates the role of saponins as a source of dynamic plant based anti-viral remedies and their various methods for extraction from different sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]