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The vast surface area of the respiratory system acts as an initial site of contact for microbes and foreign particles. The whole respiratory epithelium is covered with a thin layer of the airway and alveolar secretions. Respiratory secretions contain host defense peptides (HDPs), such as defensins and cathelicidins, which are the best-studied antimicrobial components expressed in the respiratory tract. HDPs have an important role in the human body’s initial line of defense against pathogenic microbes. Epithelial and immunological cells produce HDPs in the surface fluids of the lungs, which act as endogenous antibiotics in the respiratory tract. The production and action of these antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are critical in the host’s defense against respiratory infections. In this study, we have described all the HDPs secreted in the respiratory tract as well as how their expression is regulated during respiratory disorders. We focused on the transcriptional expression and regulation mechanisms of respiratory tract HDPs. Understanding how HDPs are controlled throughout infections might provide an alternative to relying on the host’s innate immunity to combat respiratory viral infections.

The eco-friendly, cost-effective, and green fabrication of nanoparticles is considered a promising area of nanotechnology. Here, we report on the green synthesis and characterization of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-decorated chlorogenic acid silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-CGA-BSA) and the studies undertaken to verify their plausible antioxidant and antineoplastic effects. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared analyses depict an average mean particle size of ∼96 nm, spherical morphology, and nanocrystalline structure of AgNPs-CGA-BSA. DPPH scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation signify the noticeable

Bio-cycling of polyphenols in estuarine ecosystem have not been documented adequately among the floraand fauna thereof. Total phenolic contents, antioxidative potential and free-radical scavenging activityhave been analysed from three types of structural components (leaves of Acanthus illicifolius, and detritusloaded estuarine soil and a benthic fauna, Uca lactea annulipes), of the estuarine mangrove ecosystem of theNorth Eastern coastal belt of India. HPLC and MALDI-TOF Mass spectrometry analysis were performed toidentify and quantify the phenolic compounds. Results reveal that all the three samples contain Polyphenols that can be related through the process and pathways of eco-biological transformation. Though quantitativelyless, the presence of deprotonated polyphenols enriches the detritus laden soil. Interestingly, very fewparent ions of phenolic acids from leaf sample show up in the crab hemolymph. It contained new metabolitesconsisting of fragmented ions. This establishes the role of the fiddler crabs as agents participating in thebio-cycling of polyphenols and also depicts the interdependence of plants, animals, and soil for the exchangeof essential life supporting ingredients as an outcome of coevolutionary process.

Background: COVID-19 is a worldwide threat because of the incessant spread of SARS-CoV-2 which urges the development of suitable antiviral drug to secure our society. Already, a group of peptides have been recommended for SARS-CoV-2, but not yet established. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped virus with hydrophobic fusion protein and spike glycoproteins. Methods: Here, we have summarized several reported amphiphilic peptides and their in-silico docking analysis with spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2. Result: The result revealed the complex formation of spike protein and amphiphilic peptides with higher binding affinity. It was also observed that PalL1 (ARLPRTMVHPKPAQP), 10AN1 (FWFTLIKTQAKQPARYRRFC), THETA defensin (RCICGRGICRLL) and mucroporin M1 (LFRLIKSLIKRLVSAFK) showed the binding free energy more than -1000 kcal/mol. Molecular pI and hydrophobicity are also important factors of peptides to enhance the binding affinity with spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Conclusion: In the light of these findings, it is necessary to check the real efficacy of amphiphilic peptides in-vitro to in-vivo experimental set up to develop an effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 peptide drug, which might help to control the current pandemic situation.

There are various factors which affect the success rate of tympanic membrane (perforation) closure, including age of the patient, size of the perforation, duration of the ear discharge, the presence or absence of infective discharge at the time of surgery. Our aim was to observe the effect of presence of discharge from the ear on the success (outcome) of tympanoplasty. This is prospective study which was conducted on 300 cases with 150 patients each in dry and wet ear group. The study was conducted on patients of age 12–65 years and of either sex presenting with chronic otitis media. Ear discharge for less than 10 years, 78% in dry ear group and 81% in wet ear group. Around 64% had complaint of decreased hearing for

Salivary gland lesions comprise for about 2–6.5% of all head and neck neoplasms in adults. They are accessible for FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology). The risk of fistula formation and/or tumour implantation are low compared to surgical biopsy. FNAC can also provide a distinction between asalivary and non-salivary lesion, benign and malignant lesions. 67 patients were studied prospectively over 5 years. FNAC was performed pre-operatively and histopathological examination post-operatively in patients who underwent surgery and were willing to participate in the study. 59.7% of the lesions were non-neoplastic and 58.2% were neoplastic (37.3% benign and 20.8% malignant). Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common benign neoplasm while mucoepidermoidand adenoid cystic carcinoma both were the most frequent malignant lesion. Among the non-neoplastic lesions, the most number of cases were of chronic sialadentis. In our study, FNAC has a sensitivity of 94.54% specificity of 80.95% for neoplastic lesions. It was seen that FNAC was a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of salivary gland lesions because of its simplicity, excellent patient compliance and rapid diagnosis. This cost effective tool is invaluable in planning the surgical management of the patient.

Many studies, reports, books, narratives, and surveys have focused on the disputable picture of the sustainable development of victims of the Bhopal Gas Disaster to understand the trauma, faced by the victims and survivors before and during the COVID-19 period. Traumatic accidents fundamentally shatter the time-based experience of humans between the present and the past. The poisonous night not only had an intense effect on their way of life, but also had an acute impact on their understanding of how to deal with problems. However, another whammy COVID-19 makes their lives more traumatized, unsustainable, and also the victims of another catastrophe. The researchers of the present study have attempted to focus on the traumatic conditions and lessons faced by the Bhopal Gas Victims. In short, the present study puts the focus on the disputable record of sustainable development of the Bhopal Gas Victims in duration, from 1984 to the COVID-19 period, through an analysis of different studies.

Background: COVID-19 is a life-threatening novel corona viral infection to our civilization and spreading rapidly. Tremendousefforts have been made by the researchers to search for a drug to control SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Here, a series of arsenical derivatives were optimized and analyzed with in silico study to search the inhibitor of RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), the major replication factor of SARS-CoV-2. All the optimized derivatives were blindly docked with RdRp of SARS-CoV-2 using iGEMDOCK v2.1. Results: Based on the lower idock score in the catalytic pocket of RdRp, darinaparsin (-82.52 kcal/- mol) was revealed to be the most effective among them. Darinaparsin strongly binds with both Nsp9 replicase protein (-8.77 kcal/mol) and Nsp15 endoribonuclease (-8.3 kcal/mol) of SARS-- CoV-2 as confirmed from the AutoDock analysis. During infection, the ssRNA of SARS-CoV-2 is translated into large polyproteins forming viral replication complex by specific proteases like 3CL protease and papain protease. This is also another target to control the virus infection where darinaparsin also performs the inhibitory role to proteases of 3CL protease (-7.69 kcal/mol) and papain protease (-8.43 kcal/mol). Conclusion: In the host cell, the furin protease serves as a gateway to the viral entry and darinaparsin docked with furin protease, which revealed a strong binding affinity. Thus, screening of potential arsenic drugs would help in providing the fast in-vitro to in-vivo analysis towards the development of therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2.

In the lungs of infected individuals, the downstream molecular signaling pathways induced by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are incompletely understood. Here, we describe and examine predictions of a model in which NOTCH may represent a central signaling axis in lung infection in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). A pathway involving NOTCH signaling, furin, ADAM17, and ACE2 may be capable of increasing SARS-CoV-2 viral entry and infection. NOTCH signaling can also upregulate IL-6 and pro-inflammatory mediators induced to hyperactivation in COVID-19. Furthermore, if NOTCH signaling fails to turn down properly and stays elevated, airway regeneration during lung healing can be inhibited—a process that may be at play in COVID-19. With specific NOTCH inhibitor drugs in development and clinical trials for other diseases being conducted, the roles of NOTCH in all of these processes central to both infection and healing merit contemplation if such drugs might be applied to COVID-19 patients.

Dichloroacetic acid (DCA), an organohalide that present in environmental sample and biological systems, got high attention for its therapeutic potential as the inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), elevated in obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Herein, we developed a Cobalt conjugated carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs/Co) that selectively detect DCA by fluorescence “turn-on” mechanism. Utilizing TEM, DLS, UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, the mechanism has been thoroughly elucidated and is attributed to disaggregation induced enhancement (DIE). The limit of detection of the N-CQDs/Co complex is 8.7 µM. The structural characteristics and size of the N-CQDs and N-CQDS/Co complex have been verified using FT-IR, XPS, HRTEM, DLS, EDX have been performed. Additionally, the complex is used to specifically find DCA in the human cell line and in zebrafish.Journal instruction requires a city for affiliations; however, these are missing in affiliation [4]. Please verify if the provided city is correct and amend if necessary.Kharagpur is the city. The address is okay.

Super-Kamiokande has been searching for neutrino bursts characteristic of core-collapse supernovae continuously, in real time, since the start of operations in 1996. The present work focuses on detecting more distant supernovae whose event rate may be too small to trigger in real time, but may be identified using an offline approach. The analysis of data collected from 2008 to 2018 found no evidence of distant supernovae bursts. This establishes an upper limit of 0.29 yr−1 on the rate of core-collapse supernovae out to 100 kpc at 90% C.L. For supernovae that fail to explode and collapse directly to black holes the limit reaches to 300 kpc.

Introduction: Nowadays, the co-infection of different classes of pathogens is a major concern. The objective of this study was to develop a successful therapy for keratitis caused by the co-infection of Candida sp. with Pseudomonas sp, which is difficult to cure. The study is based on a 47 years old male farmer showing redness and watering in the right eye for 15-days. Materilas and Methods: The microbiological examination was performed to isolate the causative organisms, i.e. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. They were cultured separately along with their co-culture and treated with ciprofloxacin and amphotericin B during the growing stage to predict a definite cure. Results: Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results confirmed the inter-specific interaction between the two different types of microorganisms. Amphotericin-B and Ciprofloxacin showed the least MIC value for both organisms in co-culture. Conclusion: Treatment with Amphotericin-B and 5% ciprofloxacin effectively hindered the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, the co-infection of which caused keratitis. This therapy may be successfully implied for such cases of co-infection in the future.

Members of lactic acid bacteria group are known to produce various antimicrobial substances. Cyclic lipopeptides are one such potent class of amphipathic natural biosurfactants that exhibit bactericidal and immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities of a lipopeptide secreted by a LAB isolate strain M31 identified as a member of the genus Lactobacillus. The lipopeptide that was purified using a combination of chromatographic techniques and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight of pure lipopeptide displayed a molecular weight of 1002 Da. MS/MS analysis confirmed the presence of 7 amino acids (Asp-Tyr-Asp-Val-Pro-Asp-Ser) and a C13 beta-hydroxy fatty acid. The amino acid composition assigned lipopeptide to iturin class. However, the replacement of Gln with Val revealed it to represent a novel iturin named as iturin V. Iturin V showed antibacterial activity and did not cause hemolysis or cytotoxicity upto 125 µg/mL. It induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-12 in murine dendritic cells. Probiotic features of strain M31 coupled with notable activity of iturin V against species of the genera Pseudomonas and Vibrio suggest that strain M31 has potential application for pathogen intervention treatments in processing of aquatic food products.

Mass transport losses in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) cells have gained increased focus in recent years, however two-phase flow within the anode catalyst layer (ACL) has not been extensively studied. This work uses 2-D, finite element simulations with a capillary pressure based model to study two-phase flow in the ACL. The porous media are characterised using a pore size distribution (PSD), allowing for the impact of structural changes to be analysed. The results show the reaction distribution heavily influences gas accumulation within the ACL: bubbles produced close to the membrane induce high gas pressures in the ACL, while bubbles produced close to the porous transport layer (PTL) allow for an easy escape to the PTL. Very high gas saturations are required in the ACL to have an appreciable impact on performance, which is difficult to achieve given the hydrophilic nature of the anode electrode. Therefore, it is likely that sections of the ACL need to be screened by large bubbles to induce significant losses. The PTL saturation had a minimal effect on ACL saturation, as each layer has a very different intrusion curve. As such, characterization of the ACL microstructure is crucial to understanding PEMWE mass transport limitations.

Infectious diseases caused by viruses have become a serious public health issue in the recent past, including the current pandemic situation of COVID-19. Enveloped viruses are most commonly known to cause emerging and recurring infectious diseases. Viral and cell membrane fusion is the major key event in the case of enveloped viruses that is required for their entry into the cell. Viral fusion proteins play an important role in the fusion process and in infection establishment. Because of this, the fusion process targeting antivirals become an interest to fight against viral diseases caused by the enveloped virus. Lower respiratory tract infections casing viruses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) are examples of such enveloped viruses that are at the top in public health issues. Here, we summarized the viral fusion protein targeted antiviral peptides along with their mechanism and specific design to combat the viral fusion process. The pandemic COVID-19, severe respiratory syndrome disease is an outbreak worldwide. There are no definitive drugs yet, but few are in on-going trials. Here, an approach of fragmentbased drug design (FBDD) methodology is used to identify the broad spectrum agent target to the conserved region of fusion protein of SARS CoV-2. Three dipeptides (DL, LQ and ID) were chosen from the library and designed by the systematic combination along with their possible modifications of amino acids to the target sites. Designed peptides were docked with targeted fusion protein after energy minimization. Results show strong and significant binding affinity (DL = -60.1 kcal/mol; LQ = - 62.8 kcal/mol; ID= -71.5 kcal/mol) during interaction. Anyone of the active peptides from the developed libraries may help to block the target sites competitively to successfully control COVID-19.

Since the birth of Christ, in these 2019 years, the man on earth has never experienced a survival challenge from any acellular protist compared to SARS-CoV-2. No specific drugs yet been approved. The host immunity is the only alternative to prevent and or reduce the infection and mortality rate as well. Here, a novel mechanism of melanin mediated host immunity is proposed having potent biotechnological prospects in health care management of COVID-19. Vitamin D is known to enhance the rate of melanin synthesis; and this may concurrently regulate the expression of furin expression. In silico analyses have revealed that the intermediates of melanin are capable of binding strongly with the active site of furin protease. On the other hand, furin expression is negatively regulated via 1-α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), that belongs to vitamin-D pathway and controls cellular calcium levels. Here, we have envisaged the availability of biological melanin and elucidated the bio-medical potential. Thus, we propose a possible synergistic application of melanin and the enzyme CYP27B1 (regulates vitamin D biosynthesis) as a novel strategy to prevent viral entry through the inactivation of furin protease and aid in boosting our immunity at the cellular and humoral levels.

Secondary bacterial infections are commonly associated with prior or concomitant respiratory viral infections. Viral infections damage respiratory airways and simultaneously defects both innate and acquired immune response that provides a favorable environment for bacterial growth, adherence, and facilitates invasion into healthy sites of the respiratory tract. Understanding the molecular mechanism of viral-induced secondary bacterial infections will provide us a chance to develop novel and effective therapeutic approaches for disease prevention. The present study describes details about the secondary bacterial infection during viral infections and their immunological changes.The outcome of discussion avails an opportunity to understand possible secondary bacterial infections associated with novel SARS-CoV-2, presently causing pandemic outbreak COVID-19.

The objective of the study was to study the outcomes of interlay type 1 tympanoplasty in large central perforations in terms of graft uptake, hearing improvement and complications. Study included 150 symptomatic patients having large central perforation in tympanic membrane willing for surgery who later underwent tympanoplasty with or without cortical mastoidectomy. All the patients selected for study, were assessed for subjective and objective evaluation pre-operatively and then post-operatively after 4 months. The study was conducted at tertiary health care hospital. Type I tympanoplasty with Interlay technique for large central perforations is superior. The Interlay technique in Type I tympanoplasty has high success both in terms of graft uptake as well as ABG closure. In the view of the advantages it offers, it should be preferred over the other conventional techniques in patients with large central perforations for better results.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) characterized by immuno-pathological host responses including pneumonia, lymphopenia, and cytokine storm that leads to severe lung inflammation, developed in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In the absence of an effective vaccine or any definitive cure, the use of host-directed therapies is an effective alternative and demanding treatment option in the current pandemic outbreak of COVID-19.

Antheraea mylitta, a tropical non-mulberry silkworm, is cultivated for tasar silk production in India. Several defense molecules including few antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and proteins have been identified from this insect. Here, we have isolated and purified an antimicrobial tri-peptide by sequential chromatographic separation procedures. The amino acid sequence of the peptide was determined as NH2-Gln-Ala-Lys-COOH (QAK) using MALDI MS/MS fragmentation analysis. Further, the peptide was synthesized in vitro following solid phase chemistry of peptide synthesis and acetylated by acetic anhydride reaction. Antimicrobial activities of non-acetylated and acetylated QAK were tested against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Acetylated peptide inhibited bacterial growth more effectively and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) was found lower than non-acetylated peptide. SEM studies revealed more membrane damage and release of intracellular materials like β-galactosidase enzyme from acetylated peptide treated bacteria in comparison to non-acetylated QAK. At MIC, acetylated peptide did not show any significant hemolytic activity against rabbit erythrocytes. The results suggest that acetylated-QAK is a promising new antimicrobial peptide and can be used for therapeutic purpose.

Background: The need for suitable antibacterial agents effective against Multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria is acknowledged globally. The present study was designed to evaluate the possible antibacterial potential of an extracted compound from edible flowers of Moringa oleifera. Methods: Five different solvents were used for preparing dried flower extracts. The most effective extract was subjected to fractionation and further isolation of the active compound with the highest antibacterial effect was obtained using TLC, Column Chromatography and reverse phase- HPLC. Approaches were made for characterization of the isolated compound using FTIR, NMR and Mass spectrometry. Antibacterial activity was evaluated according to the CLSI guidelines. Results: One fraction of aqueous acetic acid extract of M. oleifera flower was found highly effective and more potent than conventional antibiotics of different classes against Multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MDR-GNB) when compared. The phytochemical analysis of the isolated compound revealed the presence of hydrogen-bonded amine and hydroxyl groups attributable to unsaturated amides. Conclusion: The present study provided data indicating a potential for use of the flowers extract of M. oleifera in the fight against infections caused by lethal MDR-GNB. Recommendations: Aqueous acetic acid flower extract of M. oleifera is effective, in-vitro, against Gram-negative bacilli. This finding may open a scope in pharmaceutics for the development of new classes of antibiotics.

The present numerical study is an effort to examine the hydrodynamics characteristics of two immiscible liquids (oil and water) flowing in different tubes. i.e., straight, coiled and Coiled Flow Inverter (CFI) tube of equal dimensions. CFI is a novel device in which fluid flow inversion takes place at uniform interval length of tube. The effect of oil-water viscosity ratio (µoil/µwater = 1.6 and 30) on velocity contours, phase distribution and pressure drop in the different tubes were investigated. The present work show that flow pattern of oil–water flows was changed from stratified to annular flows at higher water volume fraction for µoil/µwater = 1.6 in CFI. Phase inversion of oil–water flow was observed in CFI at higher viscosity ratio (µoil/µwater = 30). There was remarkable reduction in pressure drop with the increment in volume fraction of water flowing in coiled as well as CFI. CFI being more compact can be efficiently used in industries as chemical reactor, heat exchanger, mixer, etc.

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 bears peptide sequence alterations that correlate with a higher infectivity than was observed in the original SARS-CoV-2 isolated from Wuhan, China. We analyzed the CendR motif of spike protein and performed in silico molecular docking with neuropilin-1 (Nrp1), a receptor–ligand interaction known to support infection by the original variant. Our analysis predicts conserved and slightly increased energetic favorability of binding for Omicron CendR:Nrp1. We propose that the viral spike:Nrp1 coreceptor pathway may contribute to the infectivity of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 pandemic is continue with thousands of new cases every day around the world, even then different vaccines have been developed and proven efficacious against SARS-CoV-2. Several know antivirals drugs have been repurposed or tested against SARS-CoV-2 but we still don’t have an effective therapeutic strategy to control this viral infection. Moreover, in the race of finding out an efficient antiviral, excess uses of antiviral drugs developed a selective pressure on the virus that results in the high frequency of mutations and the possible emergence of antiviral drug resistance against SARS-CoV-2. Omicron is a recently emerged, highly mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2, reported for high infectivity. In the present study, we performed molecular docking analysis between available potential antiviral drugs (remdesivir, nirmatrelvir, molnupiravir, EIDD-1931, GS-441524, and favipiravir) and omicron S protein including S protein/ACE2 complex. Our results suggest high infectivity of omicron, however, the known antiviral drugs were found efficacious against omicron variant. Further, to investigate the high infectivity of omicron, we performed a docking experiment between omicron S protein and neuropilin1 (NRP1). Surprisingly, results suggest high affinities with NRP1 than ACE2. Overall, results suggest that omicron favors NRP1 binding over ACE2, the possible reason behind improved infectivity of omicron variant.