Engineering carbon nanotubes for sensitive viral detection.

Viral infections have been proven a severe threat to human beings, and the pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a societal health concern, including mental distress and morbidity. Therefore, the early diagnosis and differentiation of viral infections are the prerequisite for curbing the local and global spread of viruses. To this end, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based virus detection strategies are developed that provide feasible alternatives to conventional diagnostic techniques. Here in this review, an overview of the design and engineering of CNTs-based sensors for virus detection is summarized, followed by the nano-bio interactions used in developing biosensors. Then, we classify the viral sensors into covalently engineered CNTs, non-covalently engineered CNTs, and size-tunable CNTs arrays for viral detection, based on the type of CNTs-based nano-bio interfaces. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of CNTs-based sensors for virus detection are discussed.

ROLE OF REAL TIME PCR (RT-PCR) IN CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS FOR COVID-19 REVIEW

The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) has compelled scientists to create highly reliable diagnostic tools quickly in order to successfully and properly diagnose this pathology and thereby prevent infection transmission. Even though structural and molecular properties of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV2) were previously unknown, private research institutes and biomedical firms quickly developed numerous diagnostic procedures beneficial for making a correct detection of COVID19. Rapid antigen or antibody testing, immunoenzymatic serological tests, and RT-PCR based molecular assays are the most frequently used and validated procedures now available. The PCR has grown in popularity in molecular diagnostics to the point where it is still considered the gold standard for finding nucleotides from a variety of sources becoming an indispensable tool in the research lab. Because of its improved speed, sensitivity, reproducibility, and lower likelihood of carry-over contamination, real-time PCR has gained greater popularity. Currently, five different chemistries are employed to detect PCR product during real-time PCR. The selffluorescing amplicons, DNA binding fluorophores, 5' endonuclease, neighbouring linear and hairpin oligoprobes, and self-fluorescing amplicons are all detailed in depth. We also go through the problems that have hampered the development of multiplex real-time PCR and the importance of real-time PCR in nucleic acid quantification.

A PATH TO EFFECTIVE E-LEARNING IN MEDICAL EDUCATION: BARRIERS AND THEIR SOLUTION

Online learning in medical education is a relatively new concept and one which is rapidly expanding. Recently, due to the global widespread of COVID-19 pandemic, e-learning became the mainstreaming mode of teaching all over the world. Thus, it is critical to assess and work upon the potential challenges, drawbacks and barriers of effective implementation of successful e-learning. The general barriers to e-learning are often encountered as institutional or teaching method norms and technological drawbacks and behavior change in both the learner and the instructor is essential for successful implementation of e-learning in medical education. Although online course delivery has probably eliminated certain barriers that exist in face-to-face classrooms, such as geographic location, transportation issues, architectural and physical impediments, and social contexts which lead to inaccessible learning environments. Thus, it is the responsibility of the medical educators and administrators to look into these challenges and incorporate the solutions which can make begin a new era of better teaching-learning mode of education in medical education in the future This review article analyzes the prominent barriers to e-learning and solutions amongst medical educators to the implementation of online learning in medical education.

Interaction of Bioactive Compounds of Moringa oleifera Leaves with SARS-CoV-2 Proteins to Combat COVID-19 Pathogenesis: a Phytochemical and In Silico Analysis.

Novel SARS-CoV-2 claimed a large number of human lives. The main proteins for viral entry into host cells are SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (PDB ID: 6VYB) and spike receptor-binding domain bound with ACE2 (spike RBD-ACE2; PDB ID: 6M0J). Currently, specific therapies are lacking globally. This study was designed to investigate the bioactive components from Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL) extract by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and their binding interactions with spike glycoprotein and spike RBD-ACE2 protein through computational analysis. GC-MS-based analysis unveiled the presence of thirty-seven bioactive components in MOL extract, viz. polyphenols, fatty acids, terpenes/triterpenes, phytosterols/steroids, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. These bioactive phytoconstituents showed potential binding with SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and spike RBD-ACE2 protein through the AutoDock 4.2 tool. Further by using AutoDock 4.2 and AutoDock Vina, the top sixteen hits (binding energy ≥ - 6.0 kcal/mol) were selected, and these might be considered as active biomolecules. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulation was determined by the Desmond module. Interestingly two biomolecules, namely ß-tocopherol with spike glycoprotein and ß-sitosterol with spike RBD-ACE2, displayed the best interacting complexes and low deviations during 100-ns simulation, implying their strong stability and compactness. Remarkably, both ß-tocopherol and ß-sitosterol also showed the drug- likeness with no predicted toxicity. In conclusion, these findings suggested that both compounds ß-tocopherol and ß-sitosterol may be developed as anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. The current findings of in silico approach need to be optimized using in vitro and clinical studies to prove the effectiveness of phytomolecules against SARS-CoV-2.

Pandemic or Environmental Socio-Economic Stressors Which Have Greater Impact on Food Security in the Barishal Division of Bangladesh: Initial Perspectives from Agricultural Officers and Farmers

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent protectionary lockdowns have had a dramatic impact on agricultural production globally. Barishal division is the ‘grain-basket’ of Bangladesh and a main rice cultivation centre within the country. This study captures perspectives on the environmental socioeconomic stressors impacting primary production in the coastal region of Barishal, and the impact of the first wave of the global pandemic. In our methodology, a cross-sectional survey is carried out amongst agriculture officers and farmers focusing on land management practices, environmental stressors, and the consequences of the pandemic on winter crop harvests and wet season production. A total number of 234 people participated, of which 31 were agriculture officers and 203 were farmers. Government officers completed an online questionnaire, while farmer responses were collected through Focus Group Discussion. The results show that despite the lockdown, 76% of responders claimed that they had harvested more than 80% of the cultivated winter rice. Other crops, such as fruits and vegetables, were less successfully returned. Despite food production pressures, land capacity was not fully utilised, with a significant/notable proportion of fields left fallow, principally due to periodic flooding events that sufferer concurrently from soil organic matter depletion. Upazila, not severely waterlogged, had salinity problems to contend with. While transportation restrictions and labour shortages were key constraints arising from the impact of COVID-19 on both agricultural production and post harvesting (processing, distribution, and utilisation). Current storage facilities for perishable produce, such as fruit, were found to be lacking, which further compounded access to such food items. The COVID-19 pandemic shocked agricultural productivity and food supply within the Barishal division. However, despite managing to return a successful rice harvest during the lockdown, it was found that the pre-existing environmental stressors arising from cyclones and flooding continued to be the primary threat to agriculture, even during a global pandemic. Our findings have been used to inform management options to increase resilience in the region.