ABSTRACT
Background: Recent studies on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reveal that Omicron variant BA.1 and sub-lineages have revived the concern over resistance to antiviral drugs and vaccine-induced immunity. The present study aims to analyze the clinical profile and genome characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 variant in eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP), North India. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was conducted for 146 SARS-CoV-2 samples obtained from individuals who tested coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive between the period of 1 January 2022 and 24 February 2022, from three districts of eastern UP. The details regarding clinical and hospitalized status were captured through telephonic interviews after obtaining verbal informed consent. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree was created for evolutionary analysis using MEGA7. Results: The mean age of study participants was 33.9 ± 13.1 years, with 73.5% accounting for male patients. Of the 98 cases contacted by telephone, 30 (30.6%) had a travel history (domestic/international), 16 (16.3%) reported having been infected with COVID-19 in past, 79 (80.6%) had symptoms, and seven had at least one comorbidity. Most of the sequences belonged to the Omicron variant, with BA.1 (6.2%), BA.1.1 (2.7%), BA.1.1.1 (0.7%), BA.1.1.7 (5.5%), BA.1.17.2 (0.7%), BA.1.18 (0.7%), BA.2 (30.8%), BA.2.10 (50.7%), BA.2.12 (0.7%), and B.1.617.2 (1.3%) lineages. BA.1 and BA.1.1 strains possess signature spike mutations S:A67V, S:T95I, S:R346K, S:S371L, S:G446S, S:G496S, S:T547K, S:N856K, and S:L981F, and BA.2 contains S:V213G, S:T376A, and S:D405N. Notably, ins214EPE (S1- N-Terminal domain) mutation was found in a significant number of Omicron BA.1 and sub-lineages. The overall Omicron BA.2 lineage was observed in 79.5% of women and 83.2% of men. Conclusion: The current study showed a predominance of the Omicron BA.2 variant outcompeting the BA.1 over a period in eastern UP. Most of the cases had a breakthrough infection following the recommended two doses of vaccine with four in five cases being symptomatic. There is a need to further explore the immune evasion properties of the Omicron variant.
ABSTRACT
Until 31 May 2020, more than six million confirm COVID-19 cases had been reported worldwide. Lockdown has resulted in significant air quality improvement, especially in urban regions. The lockdown has acted as a natural experiment empowering researchers, policymakers, and governing bodies. The present study focuses on quantifying and analysing the effect of lockdown on India’s metropolitan cities, namely New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bangalore. The study analyses the phase-wise and diurnal variations in the air quality from 24 March 2020 to 31 May 2020 while focussing on-peak and off-peak duration concentrations. To investigate the reason behind pollutant reduction, correlation of drop percentages in pollutant concentrations with vehicle population, extent of construction activity, and meteorological parameters are analysed. The 24-h drop in PM10 and PM2.5 showed a high correlation (R2 = 0.97 and 0.72, respectively) with the city’s vehicle population. During peak hours, the inland cities (Delhi and Bangalore), with a more extensive vehicle fleet, recorded a higher drop in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations than coastal cities (Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata). With respect to 2019 concentration, the maximum decrease in pollutant concentrations averaged across the five study locations was recorded in NO2 (46%), followed by PM2.5 (40%), PM10 (37%), and CO (19%). SO2 and O3 contrarily recorded an overall increase of 40% and 41%. These results wherein vehicular pollutants recorded the maximum drop indicate that reduced vehicular traffic primarily influenced air quality improvement during the lockdown.
ABSTRACT
The present study investigates the particle number concentrations and size distributions in the ultrafine and fine-sized regimes over a polluted megacity, New Delhi (28.75° N, 77.12° E), India. The experiments were conducted during the periods (April-May 2020) of strict social and travel restrictions (lockdown) imposed by the Government of India aiming to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. The different phases of the COVID-19 lockdown witnessed restrictions of varying magnitudes with the significant cessation of anthropogenic sources, viz., industrial, road, railways, and air traffic emissions. Using this unique opportunity, the impact of varying urban emissions on particle number size distributions and new particle formation events were examined. The mean total number concentrations were in the range of ∼ (2 to 3.5) x 104 cm-3 and depicted a gradual increase (∼26%) with progressive unlock of the anthropogenic activities. At the same time, accumulation particle concentrations were doubled. However, ultrafine particles (UFP) (diameter < 100 nm) dominated (50-88%) the total number concentrations during most of the days and several new particle formation (NPF) events resulting in elevated (2 - 5 fold) UFP concentrations were observed. Subsequently, the particles grew to larger sizes with rates ∼3.31- 8.37 nm hr-1. The NPF events occurred during the daytime, and during the events, a clear enhancement in the concentrations of [H2SO4] proxy (2 to 3.5 x 107 molecules cm-3;2-3 orders higher than the non-event values) suggesting the role of strong gas-phase photochemistry. Also, some of the NPF events were associated with increased odd oxygen concentrations [Ox = O3+NO2], indicating the regional nature of the precursors and participation of VOC precursors in nucleation/growth. Interestingly, different classes of NPF events were seen during the strictest lockdown period, whereas more frequent and well-defined NPF events were witnessed when anthropogenic activities were opened up with conditional relaxations. These events demonstrated the competition between source strengths of precursor vapors from anthropogenic activities and primary particles acting as condensation sink restricting NPF. This study highlighted that urban pollution mitigation policies need to consider ultrafine particles emanating from the secondary aerosol formation process from traffic emissions.
ABSTRACT
The Covid-19 pandemic is a major catastrophe in recent times that has taken a toll over the global scale in terms of the casualties, economic impact, and human beings' lifestyle. Scientists and researchers worldwide are dedicated to counter this issue using large-scale drug discovery and analysis to explore both the vaccination and the cure for Covid-19. However, almost all of the tested medicinal options cover allopathic medicines. A major issue associated with the above approach is the side effects that present a lacuna in arriving at an agreeable solution. To date, there are a total of >150,000,000 Covid-19 cases have been reported. However, to date, there is no report available on the scope and application of natural medicines in the treatment of the Covid-19. This review aims to target this area while covering the economic and other impacts of the Covid-19 on human life, the significance of greener solutions in countering drug development, and the possible solutions of the Covid-19 using herbal drug treatment.