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The latest global outbreak of 2019 respiratory coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is triggered by the inception of novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2. If recent events are of any indicators of the epidemics of past, it is undeniable to state a fact that the SARS-CoV2 viral infection is highly transmissible with respect to its previously related SARS-CoV’s. Papain-like protease (PLpro) is an enzyme that is required by the virus itself for replicating into the host system; and it does so by processing its polyproteins into a functional replicase complex. PLpro is also known for downregulating the genes responsible for producing interferons, an essential family of molecules produced in response to viral infection, thus making this protein an indispensable drug target. In this study, PLpro inhibitors were identified through high throughput structure-based virtual screening approach from NPASS natural product library possessing ~ 35,000 compounds. Top five hits were scrutinised based on structural aromaticity and ability to interact with a key active site residue of PLpro, Tyr268. For second level of screening, the MM-GBSA End-Point Binding Free Energy Calculation of the docked complexes was performed, which identified Caesalpiniaphenol A as the best hit. Caesalpiniaphenol A not only possess a double ring aromatic moiety but also has lowest minimum binding energy, which is at par with the control GRL0617, the only known inhibitor of SARS-CoV2 PLpro. Details of the Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation and ADMET analysis helped to conclusively determine Caesalpiniaphenol A as potentially an inhibitor of SARS-CoV2 PLpro.Graphic abstract

There persists a constant threat from multidrug resistance being acquired by all human pathogens that challenges the well-being of humans. This phenomenon is predominantly led by Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is already resistant to the current generations of antibiotic by altering its metabolic pathways to survive. Specifically for this microbe the phenomenon of quorum sensing (QS) plays a crucial role in acquiring virulence and pathogenicity. QS is simply the cross talk between the bacterial community driven by signals that bind to receptors, enabling the entire bacterial microcosm to function as a single unit which has led to control P. aeruginosa cumbersome even in presence of antibiotics. Inhibition of QS can, therefore, be of a significant importance to curb such virulent and pathogenic strains of P. aeruginosa . Natural compounds are well known for their antimicrobial properties, of which, information on their mode of action is scarce. There can be many antimicrobial phytochemicals that act by hindering QS-pathways. The rationale of the current study is to identify such natural compounds that can inhibit QS in P. aeruginosa driven by LasR, PhzR, and RhlR dependent pathways. To achieve this rationale, in silico studies were first performed to identify such natural compounds which were then validated by in vitro experiments. Gingerol and Curcumin were identified as QS-antagonists (QSA) which could further suppress the production of biofilm, EPS, pyocyanin, and rhamnolipid along with improving the susceptibility to antibiotics.

It is the acquisition of unique traits that adds to the enigma of microbial capabilities to carry out extraordinary processes. One such ecosystem is the soil exposed to radionuclides, in the vicinity of atomic power stations. With the aim to study thorium (Th) tolerance in the indigenous bacteria of such soil, the bacteria were isolated and screened for maximum thorium tolerance. Out of all, only one strain AM3, found to tolerate extraordinary levels of Th (1500 mg L −1 ), was identified to be belonging to genus Providencia and showed maximum genetic similarity with the type strain P. vermicola OP1T. This is the first report suggesting any bacteria to tolerate such high Th and we propose to term such microbes as ‘ thoriotolerant ’. The medium composition for cultivating AM3 was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) which also led to an improvement in its Th-tolerance capabilities by 23%. AM3 was found to be a good producer of EPS and hence one component study was also employed for its optimization. Moreover, the EPS produced by the strain showed interaction with Th, which was deduced by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

Background: Poor medication adherence is a major public health concern. Patients living with a serious mental illness (SMI) commonly present with non-adherence to their medication regimen, which can lead to relapse and hospitalizations. The high rates of antipsychotic non-adherence continue to persist despite several interventions and medication advances. This review evaluates the possible role of the ingestible sensor technology for medication adherence in different conditions, with a focus on use in the SMI schizophrenia. Methods: Literature searches were conducted in July 2019 in the PubMed database. Results: In small studies of ingestible sensor use, the average adherence ranged from 73.9% to 88.6% for SMI and ≥ 80% for cardiac and transplant (99.4%) patients. In SMI studies, patients were clinically stable, and the majority had a clinical global impression severity of “mild disease”. Patients generally experienced relatively minor dermatological adverse effects related to wearable sensor use. Conclusions: A medication with an ingestible sensor may help provide real-time objective medication-taking adherence information for clinicians. However, further studies are needed to understand the impact of use on adherence and improvement on treatment outcomes with the ingestible sensor technology.

Rapid technological advancement can have a substantial impact on the process of digital forensic investigation and presents numerous challenges to the investigator. With these challenges, it is imperative to have a standard framework for the digital forensic investigation to be implemented within most incidents. This induces a great stride to formulate a nonspecific framework that may be applied to most digital investigation procedures. The Next Generation Digital Forensic Investigation Model (NGDFIM) formalizes the framework to facilitates the practitioners in the investigation process. This framework could potentially generate more evidence during the incidence response through on-site triage as compared to conventional investigations process. Moreover, the framework diminishes the analysis time and provides the suspect with privacy protection by incorporating custom content imaging.

A novel Enterobacter cancerogenus MSA2 is a plant growth promoting gamma-proteobacterium that was isolated from the rhizosphere of Jatropha cucas a potentially important biofuel feed stock plant. Based on phenotypic, physiological, biochemical and phylogenetic studies, strain MSA2 could be classified as a member of E. cancerogenus . However, comparisons of characteristics with other known species of the genus Enterobacter suggested that strain MSA2 could be a novel PGPB strain. In vitro studies were carried for the plant growth promoting attribute of this culture. It tested positive for ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase production, phytase, phosphate solubilization, IAA (Indole acetic acid) production, siderophore, and ammonia production. The isolate was then used as a inoculant for the vegetative study of Jatropha curcas plant. Enterobacter cancerogenus MSA2 supplemented with 1% carboxymethylcellulose showed overall plant growth promotion effect resulting in enhanced root length (124.14%), fresh root mass (81%), fresh shoot mass (120.02%), dry root mass (124%), dry shoot mass (105.54%), number of leaf (30.72%), chlorophyll content (50.41%), and biomass (87.20%) over control under the days of experimental observation. This study was designed for 120 days and was in triplicate and the data was collected at every 30 days.

Microbes possess a tremendous potential to interact with their surroundings and have continued to shape the future of all life forms existing on earth. Of all the groups of microbes, viruses are the most nefarious creatures which cannot be solely classified as living or non-living but still pose the greatest threats to the biosphere. Viruses are minuscule, diverse and are probably the only entities that exhibit non-mutualistic association with other lifeforms while retaining their ability to infect and hijack any of the existing living being on the planet. The latest global devastation, caused by novel SARS-CoV-2, is unparalleled in the last century. This review encompasses the mysterious origin of this virus by tracking its lineage, which may help to decode the conundrum of SARS-CoV-2 and shed more light on its epidemiology. The implications and the challenge posed by this virus to the scientific community to the medical community and the economy at large are reflected. Also discussed is the paradigm shift brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic on the human psyche and their behaviour.Graphic Abstract

Microbial siderophores confiscate the available ferric ions around the roots and trigger a reaction resulting in plant growth promotion. In our study, a high level of siderophore production was observed from a newly isolated Pseudomonas sp. from the rhizosphere of Chickpea plants. Under an iron depleted condition in Standard Succinic acid medium a 1000 μgmL(-1) of siderophore production was achieved. Increasing the concentration of iron showed an inverse relationship between growth and siderophore production. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the purified crystals, its UV spectral analysis and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) revealed the identity of the siderophore as similar to that of pyoverdin with distinctive characters. Electron spray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESIMS) shows presence of abundance of A1 ions (419 m/z) and branching of amino acids from B1-B5. This pyoverdin contains a cyclic tetra peptide but Serine and Arginine are missing. Based on our analysis and deviations from the reported structure of pyoverdin it is suggested that this pseudomonas produces distinctly characterized pyoverdin siderophore.

The bioluminescent bacteria have been widely used for detecting toxic compounds present in aqueous systems where the light output declines due to the presence of toxic chemicals. In the present study, bioluminescent Vibrio alginolyticus PBR1 was used as a test organism. Optimum environmental conditions and amount of ingredients of luminescence medium were investigated to obtain maximum luminescence and growth by one-factor-at-a-time method and response surface methodology (RSM). The optimized environmental conditions such as incubation state, temperature and pH were found to be 120 rpm, 25 ℃ and 7.0 respectively. The RSM derived composition of optimized luminescence medium (g % w/v) was: NaCl, 1.22; yeast extract, 0.13 and peptone, 1.50. To measure the cytotoxic effect of heavy metals on PBR1, bioluminescence inhibition assay was carried out using optimized luminescence broth. The strain PBR1 showed highest sensitivity to chromium and lowest to arsenic with EC 50 values of 9.06 mg L −1 and 34.43 mg L −1 respectively. The detection sensitivity was improved by using optimized luminescence medium since it comprised of less organic content that reduced the precipitation and complexation of heavy metals compared to other reported media with higher organic content. The study demonstrated that V. alginolyticus PBR1 can be used as a promising candidate for commercial toxicity testing kits for the detection and monitoring of toxic heavy metals.

Radionuclides are present in minute concentrations in soils, especially around atomic power stations. Several microorganisms have been reported to grow in presence of radionuclides and even extreme gamma-radiation. Deinococcus radiodurans serves as the model radioresistant bacterium owing to its tolerance to extreme levels of gamma-radiation. In the present study, the soil sample was randomly collected from the area around Kakrapar Atomic Power Station, Surat (India) and was characterized physico-chemically. Based on the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis, the soil was found to be rich in iron, titanium and magnesium. The nutrient medium was used for the cultivation and isolation of indigenous bacterial flora which were then characterized for their biochemical and metabolic potential. Twenty-five isolates were isolated which were sequentially screened to five. Furthermore, the five screened-in isolates exhibited the ability to produce exopolysaccharide (EPS) and biofilm, serving as one of the criteria for secondary screening of two isolates. The two screened bacteria were then identified as Providencia vermicola AM3 and Ochrobactrum sp. AM7 by 16S partial rRNA sequencing and their nucleotide sequences have been submitted to GenBank (NCBI). Additional optimization of medium components supporting the growth as well as facilitating the production of EPS by isolates P. vermicola AM3 and Ochrobactrum sp. AM7 is required for their potential application in bioremediation of radionuclide containing waste.