Effectiveness of Quercetin and Its Derivatives Against SARS CoV2-In silico Approach

The COVID-19 pandemic that erupted in November 2019 is continuing, with no effective antiviral agent to date. Synthetic antiviral agents have limitations such as a narrow range of therapeutic effectiveness of the activity, toxicity, and resistant viral strains and traditional antiviral medicines at large seem not to have these limitations. Here, some of the existing phytochemicals are cherry-picked for repurposing against the enzyme or protein targets of SARS CoV2, by the principles of structure-based drug design based on molecular docking studies. The most important drug targets of SARS CoV2 namely, Mpro protease (6LU7), RdRp polymerase (7BTF), and Spike glycoprotein of SARS CoV2(6VSB) were employed for docking analysis with chosen phytochemicals and binding affinity was calculated using PRODIGY software and docking sites determined using Chimera software. For docking studies, 160 phytochemicals were selected from a large pool of phytochemicals. Based on the binding affinity values, 61 phytoconstituents were selected for further in-silico screening which resulted in 15 phytochemicals, with higher binding affinity to spike glycoprotein of SARS CoV2. Moreover, Guaijaverin, Quercetin, Quercitrin, Quinic acid, and spiraeoside binds both to the spike glycoprotein of SARS Cov2 and the host receptor of human ACE2. Hence these compounds may serve as two-pronged drug candidates for SARS CoV2. In nutshell, we present a few phytochemical candidates with higher binding affinity to the Spike protein of SARS CoV2, which needs to be further optimized by in vitro studies to minimize the cytotoxicity and increase or retain the binding affinity, towards an effective antiviral drug against COVID 19. © 2022, Editorial board of Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences. All rights reserved.

Teaching, Learning, and Assessment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An African Perspective

The COVID pandemic raises several questions in terms of the adaptability of the higher education sector and its readiness to act, while providing the same quality of delivery as face-to-face classes. This mixed method study investigated academic perceptions of the forced change of delivery and the effects on the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment. This study identified that many African academics, though not having formal training in digital pedagogy, rated themselves as more than average in their ability to adopt technology for the online environment. The most effective online tools adopted during this crisis was Zoom and WhatsApp with the LMS tools mostly adopted for assessment purposes. The major factors that affected African students' ability to engage online included lack of access to connectivity and devices, technological competency, and emotional and social factors. The study reinforced the need to consider all the pillars proposed by the Khan framework.

Academic Voices: A Conversation on New Approaches to Teaching and Learning in the post-COVID World

Academia's Digital Voice: A Conversation on 21st Century Higher Education provides critical information on an area that needs particular attention given the rapid introduction and immersion into digital technologies that took place during the pandemic, including quality assurance and assessment. Sections discuss the rapid changes called into question as student mobility, pedagogical readiness of academics, technological readiness of institutions, student readiness to adopt online learning, the value of higher education, the value of distance learning, and the changing role of administration and faculty were thrust upon institutions. The unprecedented speed of international lockdowns caused by the pandemic necessitated HEIs to make rapid changes in both teaching and assessment approaches. The quality of these and sacrosanctity of the academic voice has long been the central tenet of higher education. While history is replete with challenges to this, the current, rapid shift to online education may represent the greatest threat and opportunity so far. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Experiences of female academics in Australia during COVID-19: Opportunities and challenges

An online survey collected data on a range of female academic experiences globally gaining 260 responses with 144 Australian specific academics' responses (55% of total responses). The pandemic has highlighted positive opportunities such as online teaching and skill development, flexibility, time efficiency, increased collaboration, and time for research. In terms of challenges identified responses indicate an increased workload, less motivation for career progression, and perceptions of greater and obvious gender disparity and bias against female academics. Australia is often referred to as a 'lucky country' which can further be enriched though fostering its rich and diverse female academic community into the future. Rapid measures to support women immediately and with a longer-term solutions that address gender equity is critical for female academics to ensure future engagement of female academics for positive economic and social growth as a nation.