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The world is currently faced with a pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several genome-wide and exome-wide studies (GWAS and EWAS) have been performed to identify the variability in the host genetic constitution that likely underlines the inter-individual variabilities in COVID-19 severity and clinical manifestation. Due to the magnitude of the articles available, creating a list of host-specific genetic variants and genes associated with COVID-19 can be both time-consuming and extremely challenging for COVID-19 researchers. To this end, the COVID-19 Host Genome database was built. This is currently the only dedicated, free-to-use database that deals solely with COVID-19 host-specific genetic variants and genes. HyperText Markup language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), and My Structured Query Language (MySQL) server (version 5.7.38) were used to develop the website, storage, and extraction of the data. So far, 787 genetic variants from 63 previously published articles were collected. The tabular data are hyperlinked to the original articles and the users can download all data from the database. COVID-19 Host GenomeDB is being revised constantly every month, and can benefit the research community studying the genetic variants to improve COVID-19 treatment and prevention strategies.

In this investigation, new composites of cerium oxide were incorporated in the copper-based metal–organic framework using trimesic acid by the precipitation method. Synthesized Cu-MOF/CeO2 nanocomposite is characterized by numerous analytical methods to interpret their structure, morphology, and thermal behaviour. Surface micrograph analysis revealed that spherical particles and cerium oxide nanoparticles are embedded in the Cu-MOF matrix. The prepared nanocomposite shows a lesser onset potential and overpotential with a high current density (18.6 mA cm−2). The Cu-MOF/CeO2 composite exhibits a small Tafel slope of 54.6 mV dec-1 and suggests that the hydrogen evolution reaction follows the Heyrovsky mechanism. On the other hand, five different MOF/CeO2 nanocomposite concentrations were tested on a human osteosarcoma cell line (MG63). The 50% cell mortality was observed at 97.9 μg/ml and it proved less cytotoxicity effect with better biocompatibility. Thus, overall results showed that the nanocomposite as an efficient electrocatalyst towards hydrogen evolution reaction and targeted drug delivery applications.

The antifungal effects of Citrullus colocynthis extract (Hexane, chloroform, methanol, and water) were tested in vitro on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Sacc.) W. C. Snyder & H. N. Hans (FOL), the causal agent of Fusarium wilt. Of these, methanol and water extract at 10% showed the highest inhibition of mycelial growth of FOL by 12.32 and 23.61 mm respectively. The antifungal compounds were identified through Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The methanol extract was compatible with the biocontrol agent Trichoderma viride. The antagonistic fungi were mass-cultured under laboratory conditions using sorghum seeds. Both T. viride and C. colocynthis methanol extract was also tested alone and together against FOL under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. The combination of T. viride and C. colocynthis showed the highest percentage of antifungal activity (82.92%) against FOL under in vitro conditions. This study revealed that induced systemic resistance (ISR) in enhancing the disease resistance in tomato plants against Fusarium wilt disease. The combined treatment of T. viride and C. colocynthis significantly reduced the disease incidence and index by 21.92 and 27.02% in greenhouse conditions, respectively. Further, the induction of defense enzymes, such as peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), β-1,3-glucanase, and chitinase were studied. The accumulation of defense enzyme was greater in plants treated with a combination of T. viride and C. colocynthis compared to the control. Reduction of wilt disease in tomato plants due to the involvement of defense-related enzymes is presumed through this experiment.

Heavy metal contamination harms soil and plant growth, making it a serious global environmental issue. Due to the scarcity of canal water, people have become more reliant on groundwater, but aquifers are expensive and of poor quality. Therefore, wastewater has become one of the essential sources of irrigation in developing countries and rural areas. In rural areas, sanitary, sewage, and municipal wastewater are the most common sources of irrigation. The objective was to analyze and compare the concentration of heavy metals in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) collected from two different sites, i.e., one field irrigated using sanitary wastewater and another by tube well water through drainage ditches in a rural area of Faisalabad. AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry) analyzed heavy metals from plants through irrigated water, soil, and the collected edible parts of plant samples. The samples were digested by using acids and AAS-analyzed metals. The concentration of Cd (0.051 ± 0.029) mg/l found higher than the recommended values by WHO (0.01 mg/l) in sanitary wastewater, as well as Cd concentration (0.478 ± 0.276) mg/kg in edible parts of spinach, also detected beyond the permissible limits (0.2) mg/kg of WHO (2007). These exceeding values of Cd in edible parts of spinach may cause serious human health risks.

Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) is an agriculturally significant polyphagous insect pest that has evolved a high level of resistance to conventional insecticides. A dietary assay was used in this work to assess the resilience of field populations of S. litura to λ-cyhalothrin. Analysis of the function and expression of the cytochrome P450 gene was used to test the sensitivity of S. litura larvae to sub-lethal concentrations of the insecticidal plant chemical Precocene 1, both by itself and in combination with λ-cyhalothrin. The activity of esterase enzymes (α and β) was found to decrease 48 h post treatment with Precocene 1. The activity of GST enzyme and cytochrome P450 increased with Precocene 1 treatment post 48 h, however. Expression studies revealed the modulation by Precocene 1 of cytochrome P450 genes, CYP4M16, CYP4M15, CYP4S8V4, CYP4G31, and CYP4L10. While CYP4M16 expression was stimulated the most by the synergistic Precocene 1 + λ–cyhalothrin treatment, expression of CYP4G31 was the most down-regulated by Precocene 1 exposure. Hence, it is evident that λ–cyhalothrin-resistant pest populations are still sensitive to Precocene 1 at a sublethal concentration that is nevertheless capable of hindering their development. Precocene 1 can therefore be considered a potent candidate for the effective management of insecticide-resilient S. litura.

Methotrexate (MTX) is commonly used as a chemotherapeutic drug against cancer but its efficacy is limited due to its side effects. Baicalin is a flavonoid that has potent antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate baicalin’s protective effect on MTX-induced mitochondrial damage in testicular tissues of rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: control, MTX, MTX + baicalin, and baicalin alone. The activities of enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase was significantly lowered in the MTX treated group, compared to the other groups. Concomitantly, MTX group also showed elevated the levels of reactive oxygen species and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the testicular mitochondria. Furthermore, MTX group also showed reduced the activities of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes, i.e., succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. The actions of electron transport chain (ETC) complexes (I-IV), as well as mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), were also reduced the MTX group. However, baicalin treatment reversed the damaging effect of MTX in the mitochondria of testicular tissues. The baicalin treatment potentially reduced the damaging impact of MTX in isolated mitochondria from testicular tissues. Thus, the current study revealed that the baicalin has conspicuous potential to attenuate the MTX induced mitochondrial damage in rat’s testicular tissues.

The current research work was planned to investigate genotoxicity in fish to screen and monitor the aquatic ecosystem. Epinephalus chlorostigma (Hamour) was collected from the contaminated areas of “Tarut Island” (26.571°N 50.056°E) in the Arabian Gulf near Dammam, Saudi Arabia. DNA fragmentation was detected by Comet assay and Micronucleus assay. Heavy metals' water quality parameters and concentrations (Pb, Cr, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cd, Sn, and Hg) were extensively higher than the WHO permissible limits. They were more than enough to have adverse effects on fish health. The highest DNA fragmentation was observed in E. chlorostigma, indicating its most heightened sensitivity to pollution. E. chlorostigma showed comet head diameters 63.33 ± 2.2, 83.59 ± 3.38, and 66.28 ± 2.13px from S1-S3, respectively. E. chlorostigma erythrocytes showed comet tail lengths as 16.66 ± 1.65, 16.20 ± 1.63, and 19.07 ± 1.81px from S1-S3. DNA damage was found to be 19.14 ± 1.38, 16.38 ± 1.26, and 19.95 ± 1.33 % from S1-S3, respectively. The tail moment was observed as 6.46 ± 0.79, 4.72 ± 0.69, and 7.14 ± 1.08, while the olive moment was recorded as 5.31 ± 0.51, 5.14 ± 0.52, and 6.01 ± 0.49, respectively from S1-S3. The highest frequency for single micronucleus induction, double micronucleus induction, and nuclear abnormalities was observed in E. chlorostigma collected from the polluted site of the study area. This study proposes that this fish species and novel DNA damage assays could be the best tools for toxicity screening and monitoring water bodies.

Introduction: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a medicine used for the treatment of fever, pain, and inflammation during pneumococcal infection. Objectives: To see how paracetamol affects the transcriptional profile of Streptococcus pneumonia across the genome. Methods: In this study, microarray analysis was performed for transcriptional profiling. Results: Transcriptome data showed differential expression of several genes in S. pneumoniae D39 wild-type incorporated with paracetamol in the growth medium. Furthermore, these genes were categorized using Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) functional categorization on the basis of the suspected functions of the respective proteins. The majority of differentially expressed genes are in COG categories E (Amino acid transport and metabolism) and I (Lipid transport and metabolism). Analysis of protein–protein interaction networks exhibited compactly connected networks between fatty acid transport/biosynthesis and antibiotic biosynthesis genes. Moreover, pathways enrichment analysis revealed that fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis genes were significantly affected under the criteria we've established. Conclusion: These results suggest the fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism genes to be potential target of paracetamol in S. pneumoniae D39 wild-type.

Chikungunya, Zika, Dengue Viruses, and now Novel Coronavirus are global health challenges that cause human diseases ranging from febrile illnesses to death. Most of these viruses are mainly vectored by Aedes mosquitoes worldwide. Molecular detection of arboviruses was made in female Aedes mosquito pools caught from all the seven districts by using a reliable molecular technique, “RT-PCR.” From 216 collections of Aedes species, arboviruses were detected in 27, including only Alphavirus genus to determine mosquito abundance and evaluate the potential role of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes in arboviruses and nvel Coronavirus transmission. 5322 mosquitoes were collected using aspirators; 35.31% (n = 2049) were identified as female Aedes using morphological keys, pooled into 216 pools, and tested for arboviruses and coronaviruses by using RT-PCR with the help of specific primers. Novel Coronavirus was not detected in this study. Only the Flavivirus genus was detected in twenty-seven pools giving an infection rate of 62.96% (n = 17) for DENV2, while DENV3 was 37.03% (n = 10). Furthermore, our results indicated no role of mosquitoes in the spread of Covid-19. Results showed a higher infection rate in urban sites than in rural ones. The detection of arboviruses indicates possible human health risk due to active role of these mosquitoes in spreading of arbovirus in the study area.

Polyethylene microplastic (PE-MP) is amongst the most manufactured plastics globally. However, emerging studies report its adverse effects on wildlife and humans. Luteolin (LUT) is a flavonoid compound known for its potent antioxidant properties. The present study was designed to estimate the toxic effect of PE-MP on testicles of adult male rats. The therapeutic potential of LUT was also determined in alleviating PE-MP instigated testicular dysfunctions. An experiment was carried on 48 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, which were randomly classified into four groups: control, PE-MP (1.5 mg/kg), PE-MP + LUT (1.5 mg/kg + 50 mg/kg respectively), and LUT (50 mg/kg). The biochemical, spermatogenic, hormonal, and histopathological parameters were studied after 56 days of treatment. PE-MP exposure disrupted the biochemical profile by reducing catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GSR) activities. In comparison, the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased. PE-MP-intoxication also reduced the sperm motility, viability, the number of hypo-osmotic tails swelled spermatozoa, and epididymal sperm count; additionally, it increased the sperm morphological (head–tail and mid-piece) abnormalities. Furthermore, it lowered luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and plasma testosterone. PE-MP exposure led to histopathological damages in testicular tissues. However, LUT inverted all the illustrated impairments in testes. Our results demonstrate that PE-MP could cause testicular damage in male rats, effectively mitigated by LUT treatment.

Small epipelagic and migratory, Euthynnus affinis (kawakawa) is one of the commercially significant tunas of Indo-Pacific tropical and subtropical waters. Unfortunately, the management and stock structure of certain migratory species in the area is not clear. The current study aimed to discriminate the E. affinis through shape and body size variations and to evaluate the variations among seven populations of E. affinis. A total of 114 individuals of E. affinis were collected from two main geographic areas; the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Multivariate analyses, such as discriminant function analyses (DFA) and principal component analyses (PCA) of 11 homologous landmarks and seven morphometric variables were carried out to discriminate seven populations of E. affinis. The results revealed a significant variations among the body shape of the seven populations of E. affinis. Morphological homogenous occurred between populations obtained from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Terengganu, Kelantan, and Johor). However, populations found on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Selangor) were separated and formed another cluster. The variations in the body shape of E. affinis occurred in the body depth and the overall body shape. The percentage of overall correct classification for all seven populations of E. affinis is 88.6%. This present study is the first report using a geometric morphometric method performed on the E. affinis from Peninsular Malaysian waters.

The high spread rate, severe symptoms, psychological and neurological problems, and unavailability of effective medicines are the major factors making Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a massive threat to the world. It is thought that COVID-19 causes mild symptoms or mild infectious illness in children. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of serious complications such as the multisystem inflammatory syndrome. COVID-19 induces mild to severe neurological problems in children, such as stroke, encephalopathy, mild shortness of breath, and myalgia. The development of these conditions is associated with pro-inflammatory responses and cytokine storms, which alter the physiology of the blood–brain barrier and allow the virus to enter the brain. Despite the viral entry into the brain, these neurological conditions can also be caused indirectly by severe immune responses. In this article, we describe COVID-19 and the associated neurological and immunological complications in children.

Cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) is one of the mitochondrial genes, an excellent marker used for the DNA barcoding of various organisms. The COI was isolated from twelve different species of waterbirds using the Gene Elute DNA miniprep Kit. The relationship among the waterbirds was assessed by making a phylogenetic tree with the software MEGA-X. The phylogenetic tree's dendrogram showed two main branches in which seven species of water birds aligned one group with four subgroups and the remaining five species aligned with two subgroups based on their similar COI sequences. The Little egret showed 96% similarity with the Cattle egret, Purple heron and Oriental Darter produced 94% similarity with the Grey heron, pond heron shared 90% similarity with the Black-crowned night heron, Asian openbill shared 89% with Pheasant-tailed Jacana and the Common coot 94% similarity with White-breasted waterhen. The pond heron and the Black-crowned night heron showed zero % pairwise distance, but the Cattle egret, Little egret, Oriental Darter, Purple heron and Grey heron showed 12% of the pairwise distance. Twenty-one conserved haplotypes have been shown in their COI sequences based on the multiple sequences alignment. DNA barcoding identifies the species with their genetic property rather than based on their ecology and behvaviour.

Unambiguous and precise identifications of a species are crucial for managing and conserving the species across their dispersal regions. This study analyzed the molecular signatures and phylogenetic relationship of 84 specimens of lutjanids obtained from Malaysia, which covers three marine regions; Straits of Malacca (SM), west South China Sea (west SCS), and east South China Sea (east SCS). The assessment of 613 bp mtDNA COI has markedly classified the samples into five distinct species namely Lutjanus malabaricus, L. argentimaculatus, L. erythtropterus, L. sebae and L. bohar. The intraspecific and interspecific genetic distance ranged between 0.1% − 0.7% and 8.2% − 19.6%, respectively. While genetic homogeneity occurred among population and species across SM and west SCS, significant genetic structuring was detected among species between west and east SCS as evidenced by the occurrence of a single species, L. bohar that can be found only in Sabah (east SCS). The divulged potential loss of gene flow among the regions and was probably caused by oceanic currents. This study detected an ambiguous sequence (from Genbank) probably due to hybridization between species or simply because of an unidentified node. This study proposed that COI is the valid and reliable genetic marker for identifying lutjanids distributed across Malaysian waters. Future revision in distribution pattern and diversity exploration on a large scale with a higher number of samples and different genetic markers is needed to fill this current study's gaps.

The current study was aimed to investigate the alleviative effect of Artemisia brevifolia (A. brevifolia) plant extract against CCl4-induced testicular damage in male albino rats. Forty-eight male albino rats were categorized into eight equal experimental groups i.e., control, vehicle control, CCl4 (1 ml/kg), CCl4 + silymarin, CCl4 + A. brevifolia (150 mg/kg), CCl4 + A. brevifolia (300 mg/kg), A. brevifolia (150 mg/kg) and A. brevifolia (300 mg/kg). After 56 days, blood and testicular samples were collected, and antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation, hormonal concentration, daily sperm production (DSP), and histomorphometry were analyzed. The animals treated with the A. brevifolia extract exhibited a significant (p

This research aimed to evaluate the curative impact of nobiletin (NOB) on paraquat (PQ) induced mitochondrial impairment in rats' hepatic tissues. Twenty-four male rats were divided into control, PQ, PQ + NOB, and NOB treated groups. The alanine aminotransferase levels, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were increased in the experimental animals after exposure with PQ. A significant decrease in the level of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and reactive oxygen species were recorded in rats exposed to PQ. The mitochondrial TCA cycle enzyme activities, including isocitrate-dehydrogenase, succinate-dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and malate-dehydrogenase, were reduced in PQ exposed rats. The activities of mitochondrial enzymes including NADH dehydrogenase, coenzyme Q-cytochrome reductase, succinic-coenzyme Q and cytochrome c-oxidase were significantly decreased after the PQ-exposure. PQ administration also reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential. However, the administration of mitochondria with NOB can decrease the toxic effect of the PQ in isolated mitochondria. NOB treatment potentially reduced the damaging effects of the PQ in the mitochondria isolated from hepatic tissues. Thus, the current study revealed that the NOB could attenuate PQ-induced mitochondrial damage in rats' hepatic tissues.

Anthropogenic activities, urban and industrial wastewaters, and the usual disintegration of rock from physical, chemical, and biological stresses are the main cause of heavy metals in seawater and sediments worldwide. Five different sampling locations were selected after an initial survey of the Dammam region Seawater study area, and sediment samples were procured in triplicate from each location to assess the level of selected heavy metals pollutions in the Arabian Gulf, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Be, Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Pb, Hg, Co, Zn, Fe, Mn, Sr, and Mo were detected using “inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).” The pH ranges from 7.91 ± 0.26–8.22 ± 0.38 in stations 4 and 3, respectively. Surface seawater's electrical conductivity values ranged from 71788 ± 28.52 to 75680 ± 42.92 µS/cm at stations 4 and 3. The minimum and maximum concentration of total dissolved solid was observed as 49524 ± 50.25 and 54786 ± 66.95 mgL-1 in sites 4 and 3, respectively. The level of these metals fluctuated among the sampling sites. The highest concentration of these heavy metals was recorded from sampling site 4 and minimum in location 1. The average level of these metals in water samples were recorded Sr > Cu > Se > Zn > As > Mn > Fe > Ni > Mo > Hg > Co > Cr > Ag > Cd > Pb and Be, respectively. The average level of these metals in sediment samples were recorded Fe > Sr > Ni > Mn > Cu > Cr > Zn > Pb > Ag > As > Mo > Co > Se > Hg > Be and Cd, respectively. It has been concluded that the concentration of As, Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Sr was high, which is alarming, particularly in the Dammam area.

Arsenic (As) is a toxic contaminant present in organic and inorganic forms in the environment. Nobiletin (NOB) is a polymethoxy flavone that has recently gained substantial consideration due to its curative impacts. The present experiment was conducted to assess the hepatoprotective efficiency of NOB on As-generated hepatotoxicity. Twenty-four adult rats were equally distributed into four groups and designated as control, As (50 mg/kg)-treated, As + NOB (50 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg, respectively), and NOB (25 mg/kg)-treated groups. After 30 days, experimental animals were decapitated, then blood and tissue samples were collected for further analysis. The group treated with As showed a significant decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GSR), and total antioxidant status (TAS), and a substantial increase in the accumulation of As in liver tissues, levels of total oxidant status (TOS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS). Significant increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were observed in As-treated rats. Moreover, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, interleukin (IL)-6, and cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 activity, as well as the levels of pro-apoptotic markers (Bax, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9) were increased on exposure to As. In contrast, the anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl-2) level was significantly decreased. As administration showed a significant disturbance in hepatic tissue histology. However, cotreatment of NOB with As considerably increased the antioxidant enzyme activity, with a noteworthy reduction in the deposition of As in hepatic tissues, TBARS, and H2O2 levels. NOB-administrated rats showed considerable recovery in terms of inflammation, apoptosis, and histological damage. Hence, NOB can be considered a useful curative compound due to its medicinal properties against As-prompted hepatotoxicity.

Heavy metal discharge is the primary cause of freshwater pollution, harming fish health. This research was planned to calculate the seasonal variations in metal (Pb, Cu, and Ni) bioaccumulation in different tissues of Gills, Liver, Kidney, and Muscle from Cirrhinus mrigala sampled from River Chenab from an area of high-intensity pollution near Thatta Muhammad Shah. The results revealed significant (P ≤ 0.5) variations in metals bioaccumulation in different seasons. The lowest level of selected metals was observed in winter, whereas the maximum level was noted in the summer. The concentration of selected heavy metals differed seasonally. During winter Pb concentration distribution in descending order was observed in liver (0.823 ± 0.009 ppm) > kidney(0.817 ± 0.011 ppm) > muscle(0.758 ± 0.009 ppm) > gills(0.742 ± 0.011 ppm). Whereas, in summer it was noted as liver (1.726 ± 0.066 ppm) > gills (1.633 ± 0.060 ppm) > kidney (1.575 ± 0.051 ppm) > muscle (1.532 ± 0.050 ppm). While during winter, the bioaccumulation of Cu in organs was noted with descending order of kidney (1.88 ± 0.038) > liver(1.75 ± 0.037) > gills (1.67 ± 0.043) > muscle (1.45 ± 0.031)ppm, while in summer, it was gills (2.85 ± 0.071) > kidney (2.84 ± 0.082) > liver (2.83 ± 0.068) > muscle (2.72 ± 0.065) ppm. In winter, the Ni bioaccumulation with descending order was in the kidney (7.83 ± 0.139) > liver (7.68 ± 0.159) > muscle (7.63 ± 0.162) > gills (7.61 ± 0.129)ppm and in a season of summer, it was detected as in kidney (8.71 ± 0.129) > muscle (8.59 ± 0.131) > liver (8.56 ± 0.141) > gills (8.56 ± 0.131) ppm. All studied heavy metals were found to be above the WHO permissible limits. Histopathological evaluation of fish tissues has been considered an important indicator of environmental pollution monitoring. Histology of kidney and liver tissues showed congestion, necrosis, dilation in Bowman capsule space, while liver showed necrosis, cytoplasmic vacuolation, and sinusoid dilation. This study revealed that the Chenab River is being polluted due to the untreated discharge of industrial effluents and sewage runoff from the city, and these heavy metals from anthropogenic pollution load have adverse effects on the fish population in the river system.

Cisplatin (CP) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat different tumors. Vitexin (VIT) is a natural flavonoid having various pharmacological activities along with its curative effects. The present research was planned to evaluate the therapeutic potential of VIT on cisplatin-induced renal damage in male albino rats. Twenty-four male albino rats were divided into four equal groups. These groups were treated with CP (10 mg/kg injection on the first day of trial) administered group, cotreated (CP; 10 mg/kg + VIT; 10 mg/kg) and only VIT (10 mg/kg orally till the end of the trial) treated group and a control. CP administration significantly decreased the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione reductase (GSR). The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were increased. CP-treatment significantly increased the levels of urea, creatinine, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) while considerably reducing the creatinine clearance. The results demonstrated that CP significantly increased the inflammation markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activities and histopathological damages. However, co-treatment with VIT efficiently minimized the CP-induced biochemical, inflammatory, and histopathological impairments in rat kidneys. The study's outcomes indicated the significant curative efficacy of VIT to overcome CP-induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats.

The cyto-nephrotoxicity in fishes induced by dyes is a global issue. Fluorescein dye has a wide range of applications in industry and biological laboratories. In vivo experiment was planned to assess the sublethal effects of Fluorescein dye, Eosin Y, and Eosin B in Labeo rohita. This freshwater fish was exposed to increasing concentrations (0.0011, 0.0023, and 0.0047 mg/L) of both dyes in the aquarium for definite time intervals. A dye-free trial was set as a control. Fish was anesthetized and dissected by cutting on the ventral side to remove a kidney. Cyto-nephrotoxicity was detected through histopathology. The fish's significant mortality was observed when exposed to 0.0023 mg/L (LC50) and 0.0047 mg/L concentration of Eosin Y dye. These trial groups showed many kidney tissues alterations such as glomerular, tubular epithelial cell's degeneration, a reduced lumen of tubules, vacuolation, absence of bowmen's space, necrosis, glomerulonephritis with increased per tubular space, shrinking of the glomerulus, congestion, clogging, and degeneration of tubules. Eosin B showed less mortality and tissue damage, including glomerular contraction and increased space between glomerulus and capsule. ANOVA showed a highly significant reduction in weight gain of fish at different treatments levels of Eosin Y, but less or none in the case of Eosin B. Increase in fish weight was found to be 66.3 ± 0.38 g when exposed to Eosin Y at 0.0047 mg/L, but it was 69.05 ± 0.63 g when exposed to Eosin B while it was almost identical 69.2 ± 0.23 g for both dye-free trial groups. The pair-wise comparison showed that exposure of the Eosin Y at treatment level 0.0047 mg/L was found to be highly toxic for the kidneys of Labeo rohita. Although both classes of dye are cytotoxic at small concentrations, Eosin Y is acute cyto-nephrotoxic and was found to be involved in growth retardation. To prevent society from fatal consequences, usage of dyes having acute toxicity must be banned or switched to alternates having no effects.

Microplastic pollution is becoming an increasingly severe environmental problem. As compared to the marine ecosystem, freshwater ecosystems at high-altitude, remote regions are less studied and lag far behind. Thus, the present study aims to highlight this issue and fill the gap in this regard. The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the surface water and the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from Lake Mahodand, Kalam Swat, Pakistan, at a high altitude of 2865 m above sea level was investigated. For microplastic extraction, samples were digested with H2O2, NaCl solution was added for density separation, and then samples were filtered with a cellulose nitrate filter (pore size 0.45 µ). After this, visual observation and polymer detection with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, microplastics were characterized by their shapes, sizes, colors, and polymer types. In the surface water sample, MP particles were found in the range of 0–5 MPs/L, where the mean concentration of MPs was 2.3 ± 1.52 MPs/L and 1.7 ± 1.05 MPs/gastrointestinal tract (GIT) isolated from the GIT of brown trout. Particles of relatively larger size (500–300 µm) were more abundant than other ranges of particles (300–150 and 150–50 µm) in the surface water and fish samples. The fiber was the most abundant shape of MP particles, followed by sheets and fragments in surface water and fish samples (fibers > sheets > fragments). Four types of polymer viz. low-density polyethylene (LDPE) (44.4%), polypropylene homopolymer (PPH) (19.4%), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (30.5%), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (5.5%) were detected by FTIR spectroscopy. The findings of the present study showed that MPs reached into higher altitudes in remote areas due to tourism activities.

Abstract The present research was planned to analyze the toxic effects of thimerosal on rat liver. Mercury and mercury compounds are universally known toxicants for animals and humans. Thimerosal is widely used in the vaccines as a preservative which contains 49.6% mercury. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were distributed into four groups (n=6). The first group was considered as a control group. While, second, third and fourth groups were intoxicated with 0.5, 10 and 50 µg/kg thimerosal (i.m.) respectively. After 30 days, rats were slaughtered to analyze the liver tissues. The results of the experiment exposed that thimerosal instigated significant (p

The purpose of this research was to investigate the possible antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer effects of nickel (Ni2+)-doped hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized using the sol–gel approach. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and elemental analysis were used to characterize the Ni2+-doped HApNPs. X-ray diffraction investigation showed that the nanoscale structure of Ni2+-doped HApNPs was hexagonal, with an average crystallite size of 39.91 nm. Ni2+-doped HApNPs were found to be almost spherical in form and 40–50 nm in size, as determined by FESEM analysis. According to EDAX, the atomic percentages of Ca, O, P, and Ni were 20.93, 65.21, 13.32, and 0.55, respectively. Ni2+-doped HApNPs exhibited substantial antibacterial properties when tested in vitro against several pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibacterial activity, at 50 mg tested concentration, demonstrated superior effects on G-ve bacteria than G+ve pathogens. The antifungal activity of Oidium caricae, Aspergillus flavus, and A. niger revealed a zone of inhibition of 23, 11, and 5 mm, respectively. These actions rely on the organism’s cell wall structure, size, and shape. Incorporating Ni2+ into HApNPs allows them to function as powerful antioxidants. Ni2+-doped HApNPs had a good cytotoxic impact against the HeLa cell line, which improved with increasing concentration and was detected at a 68.81 µg/mL dosage. According to the findings of this study, the Ni2+-doped HApNPs are extremely promising biologically active candidates owing to their improved functional features.

Here, we report on the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and selenium nanowires (Se NWs) using microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS) as a mediator and then examine their antibacterial and ecotoxicity effects in vitro and in vivo, respectively. At 100 µg/mL, EPS, EPS-ZnO NPs, and EPS-Se NWs all exhibited potent in vitro antibacterial properties, drastically inhibiting the development of aquatic Gram(-) pathogens. In addition, antibiofilm studies using a microscope revealed that EPS, EPS-ZnO NPs, and EPS-Se NWs at 75 µg/mL prevented biofilm development. Furthermore, the in vivo toxicity was carried out via Danio rerio embryos and Ceriodaphnia cornuta. Danio rerio embryos were determined at different time intervals (6 hpf, 12 hpf, 24 hpf and 48 hpf). The maximum survival rate (100%) was obtained in a control group. Correspondingly, EPS, EPS-ZnO NPs and EPS-Se NWs treated embryos showed a considerable survival rate with 93.3%, 86.7% and 77.2%, respectively, at 100 µg/mL for 48 hpf. The total mortality of C. cornuta was seen at 100 µg/mL, with 56.7% in EPS, 60.0% in EPS-ZnO NPs, and 70.0% in EPS-Se NWs. For C. cornuta, the LC50 values for EPS, EPS-ZnO NPs, and EPS-Se NWs were 90.32, 81.99, and 62.99 µg/mL, respectively. Under a microscope, morphological alterations in C. cornuta were analyzed. After 24 h, an amount of dark substance was seen in the guts of C. cornuta exposed to 100 µg/mL, but in the control group, all of the living C. cornuta were swimming as usual. Our results show that EPS and EPS-ZnO NPs were less harmful than EPS-Se NWs, and that they were successfully employed to shield freshwater crustaceans from the toxins in aquatic environments.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has gained greater interest among chemists and researchers in this current scenario. The present research investigates the larvicidal and anti-proliferation activity of AgNPs derived from Knoxia sumatrensis aqueous leaf extract (K. sumatrensis-ALE) as a potential capping and reducing candidate. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized through-UV-spectra absorption peak at 425 nm. The XRD and FT-IR studied displayed the crystalline nature and presence of functional groups in prepared samples. FE-SEM showed the hexagonal shape of NPs with the size of 7.73 to 32.84 nm. The synthesized AgNPs displayed superior antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity (IC50 53.29 µg/mL) of breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Additionally, larvicidal activity against mosquito vector Culex quinquefasciatus larvae delivered (LC50-0.40, mg/L, and LC90-15.83) significant mortality rate post treatment with synthesized AgNPs. Overall, the present research illustrates that the synthesized AgNPs have high biological potential and present a perfect contender in the pharmacological and mosquitocidal arena.

Massive quantities of unadvisable synthetic pesticides are used in modern agricultural industries in order to increase productivity to convene food demands. Wild birds are an excellent bio-indicator of environmental contaminations as pesticides and heavy metals are intentionally highly hazardous pollutants. Considerably, raptorial birds (owls) attract consumers in the food chain and food web because they have wider forager and foraging grounds. In the current investigation, owl pellets were used as a viable tool and novel approach to detecting environmental contaminants. In total, 30 pellets comprising five species were collected from selected farmlands, and 11 metals (Cr, Mn, Co, Mo, Se, V, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Fe) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Undeniably, the Brown Fish Owl showed more metal accumulation than the Barn Owl, Spotted Owl, Indian Eagle Owl, and Mottled Wood Owl. Among the species, the levels of metals such as Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Vanadium (V), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) varied significantly (p < 0.05). Nonetheless, the research revealed that the agroecosystem was contaminated with heavy metals. The present outcome highlights that the management of the environment, especially the agroecosystem, must be examined with a careful assessment of contaminants, and it is a vital resource for human and other related wildlife faunal communities.

Waterbirds may be a good indicator of harmful metal levels in aquatic environments. Waterbirds’ organs and tissues were tested for the presence of pollutants, such as metals. However, very few reports describe the use of bird feathers and their prey in metal analysis. In the present research, seven metals were measured in the tissue, kidney, liver, and feathers of the Indian pond heron, the black-crowned night heron, and their prey species, including crabs, prawns, molluscs, and fishes from a freshwater lake. Metals were examined using an ECIL-4141-double beam atomic absorption spectrophotometer (DB-AAS). Metal concentrations differed considerably in the tissue, kidney, liver, and feathers of the Indian pond heron and black-crowned night heron (p < 0.001). Indeed, this research discovered a good correlation between the metals of prey species and the tissues, kidneys, liver, and feathers of waterbirds that were tested. The regression model explained that the Cyprinus carpio influence the accumulation of metals about 98.2% in tissues, Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Cyprinus carpio around 86.3% in the kidney, the Labeo rohita almost 47.2% in the liver and Labeo rohita nearly 93.2% on the feathers of the Indian pond heron. On the other hand, the Mystus vittatus, Cyprinus carpio, Labeo rohita influence about 98.8% in tissue, the Claris batrachus and Tilapia mossambica around 93.3% in kidney, the Mystus vittatus, Cyprinus carpio, about 93.2% in liver and the freshwater crab (Travancoriana schirnerae), freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and a fish (Cyprinus carpio) nearly 93.2% in feathers in the black-crowned night heron. This research evaluated metals in the dead carcasses of waterbirds, a non-invasive biomonitoring technique for pollution. Overall, the investigation revealed that the lake is severely contaminated with metals. Therefore, the management and protection of aquatic habitats, particularly freshwater lakes, should be enhanced to rescue wild species that rely on aquatic ecosystems and to ensure that people have access to clean drinking water.

The present study aimed to determine the degree of changes in the histological architecture of the liver, gills, kidneys, and muscles of fish Oreochromis niloticus collected from different polluted river sites. Fish samples collected from the Faisalabad Fish Hatchery and upstream of Chakbandi drain acted as a control. Necrosis, hemorrhage, and epithelial hyperplasia were observed in the gills of fish inhabiting the river downstream of the Chakbandi drain entrance. Liver tissues were found to be affected by vacuolated cytoplasm, bile duct proliferation, melanomacrophages, and necrosis. In kidney tissues, shrinkage of the renal cortex, necrosis, and destructive renal tubules were observed. Histopathology of muscles indicates the presence of hypertrophy and swollen myofibers. In contrast, upstream specimens of fish exhibited mild tissue alterations. Histopathology of gills tissue showed vacuolization. Liver tissues indicated the presence of hypertrophy and more frequent Kupffer cells than usual. The vacuolation was also observed in kidney tissues. Muscle tissues expressed splitting of muscle fibres and degeneration in muscle bundles. However, sections of tissues collected from farmed fish have normal morphology and no anomalies. The histopathological assessment indicated various cellular, biochemical, and histological changes in response to the contamination in the vicinity of the fish.

Host genetic variability plays a pivotal role in modulating COVID-19 clinical outcomes. Despite the functional relevance of protein-coding regions, rare variants located here are less likely to completely explain the considerable numbers of acutely affected COVID-19 patients worldwide. Using an exome-wide association approach, with individuals of European descent, we sought to identify common coding variants linked with variation in COVID-19 severity. Herein, cohort 1 compared non-hospitalized (controls) and hospitalized (cases) individuals, and in cohort 2, hospitalized subjects requiring respiratory support (cases) were compared to those not requiring it (controls). 229 and 111 variants differed significantly between cases and controls in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. This included FBXO34, CNTN2, and TMCC2 previously linked with COVID-19 severity using association studies. Overall, we report SNPs in 26 known and 12 novel candidate genes with strong molecular evidence implicating them in the pathophysiology of life-threatening COVID-19 and post-recovery sequelae. Of these few notable known genes include, HLA-DQB1, AHSG, ALOX5AP, MUC5AC, SMPD1, SPG7, SPEG,GAS6, and SERPINA12. These results enhance our understanding of the pathomechanisms underlying the COVID-19 clinical spectrum and may be exploited to prioritize biomarkers for predicting disease severity, as well as to improve treatment strategies in individuals of European ancestry.