In silico prediction of the inhibitory effect of phytochemical components extracted from Knautia sarajevensis on the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 virus

Essential role in replication and transcription of coronavirus makes the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 a great traget for drug design. The aim of this study was to predict structural interactions of compounds isolated from the Bosnian-Herzegovinian endemic plant Knautia sarajevensis (G. Beck) Szabo against the 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The three-dimensional crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 main protease was retrieved from the RCSB Protein Data Bank and the three-dimensional structures of isolated compounds were obtained from the PubChem database. Active site was predicted using PrankWeb, while the preparation of protease and compounds was performed using AutoDock Tools and OpenBabel. Molecular docking was carried out using AutoDock Vina. Structural interactions are visualised and analyzed using PyMOL, LigPlus and UCSF Chimera. Apigenin, kaempferol, myricetin and quercetin showed the highest binding affinity for SARS-CoV-2 main protease and formed significant hydrogen bonds with the given protein. Results obtained in this study are in accordance with previous studies and showed that these compounds could potentially have antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2. These findings indicate that K. sarajevensis could be potentially utilized as an adjuvant in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019, but further pharmacological studies are required in order to prove the potential medicinal use of the plant.

Conservation and cultural intersections within Hong Kong's snake soup industry

Snake soup continues to be an iconic tradition in Cantonese culture. Yet little is known about the relationship between snake soup consumption in Hong Kong, wild snake populations, and the communities depending on this tradition for their livelihoods. We applied an interdisciplinary approach including interviews with shopkeepers and genetic analyses of snake meat samples to determine the species consumed in Hong Kong, their source locations, and shopkeepers' views on the future of the industry. We genetically identified the common rat snake Ptyas mucosa, widely distributed throughout East and Southeast Asia, and the Javan spitting cobra Naja sputatrix, endemic to Indonesia, as the species most commonly consumed, which was consistent with interview responses. According to interviews, snakes had mostly been imported from mainland China in the past, but now tend to be sourced from Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia. Interviews also revealed a pessimistic outlook on the continuation of this tradition because of various factors, including a lasting yet misinformed association of snakes with the 2002–2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Given the COVID-19 pandemic and China's ensuing ban on the consumption of terrestrial wildlife, Hong Kong's snake soup industry will probably continue to rely on Southeast Asian sources to persist. Given the cultural and conservation issues surrounding this tradition, further research on the economic, ecological and social consequences of snake consumption is needed to examine the broader implications of snake soup and similar industries in the region.

Fisherman Community Development Model with Disaster Mitigation Perspective in Meranti Islands Regency

Meranti Islands Regency has coastal natural resources. On the other hand, this area also has the potential for natural disasters (coastal) and non-natural disasters that threaten the sustainability of resources and community welfare, so disaster mitigation efforts are needed. This study aims to formulate a model for developing Fisherman communities with a disaster mitigation perspective. This study uses MPE analysis and prospective analysis. The strategic basis for developing fisherman communities is increasing food security through the developing coastal based green industries, capacity building for local competitiveness and conservation of endemic species, and allocating budget proportionally to create local-based economic infrastructure and facilities development. The potential natural disasters that are more dominant in Meranti Islands Regency are abrasion, landslides, high waves and tidal flooding. A non-natural disaster is Covid-19 pandemic. Mitigation must be done is planting mangroves, building sheet piles, social engineering policies must be done by planting mangroves, building sheet piles, social engineering policies, and planting mangroves, building sheet piles, social engineering policies, and alternative livelihoods. The model for developing Fisherman communities with a disaster mitigation perspective in Meranti Islands Regency is optimizing coastal areas’ productivity and livelihood support systems.