Genomics-led insight into the coronavirus evolution, pathogenicity and management

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has so far been the most devastating pandemic ever faced by mankind. Caused by the highly transmissible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the disease is becoming deadly due to frequent emergence of variants. The virus belongs to the group, Betacoronaviruses, and shares more than 90% amino acid identity with SARS-CoV. The SARSCoV-2 possess a single-stranded positive-sense RNA which is the largest known viral RNA genome consisting of 25,000-30,000 nucleotides with 14 ORFs. The 3'-region of the genome harbours four structural proteins, namely;the spike, nucleocapsid, envelope and the membrane proteins;the S protein plays the most important role during infection. Genomics-led studies are pre-requisites to understand the pathogenicity of any pathogen and for devising its management strategies. The availability of SARS-CoV-2 sequence data and suitable bioinformatics platforms have allowed researchers to identify potential therapeutic targets and to predict immune response for accelerating therapeutics and vaccine development. A plethora of such options are available that includes repurposing existing drugs, monoclonal antibodies, anti-inflammatory agents, etc. Moreover, different types of vaccines such as mRNA-based, viral vector, inactivated virus, etc., with different efficacy levels have been approved. However, their efficacy might get compromised with time, particularly due to frequent mutations in the viral genomes. Here, we provide a comprehensive insight into the genome structure, evolution, pathogenicity as well as the achieved success and limitations in management of this notorious virus.

Evaluation of the multifunctional activity of silver bionanocomposites in environmental remediation and inhibition of the growth of multidrug-resistant pathogens

Synthesis of bio-based environmental remedial and antimicrobial products is an urgent need of the 21st century in the COVID-19 pandemic world. Keeping this in mind, cellulose-supported Ag bionanocomposites (AGC NCs) were synthesized by using cellulose as a reducing and stabilizing agent. AGC NCs showed potential antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus subtilis with a MIC of 15, 15, 35, 15, and 30 mu g ml(-1) respectively. AGC NCs efficiently degraded harmful dyes, Orange G, Phenol red, Brilliant blue FCF, Giemsa stain, Neutral red, and 2-nitro aniline in the presence of sunlight with a rate constant of 0.229 x 10(-2) min(-1), 1.147 x 10(-2) L mol(-1) min(-1), 0.447 x 10(-2) L mol(-1) min(-1), 4.144 x 10(-2) mol L-1 min(-1), 0.317 x 10(-2) L mol(-1) min(-1), and 0.785 x 10(-2) L mol(-1) min(-1) in 60 min respectively. AGC NCs also showed efficient antioxidant activity in DPPH assay with an IC50 value of 52.67 mu g ml(-1). Formation of Ag NPs was confirmed by observing the UV-Visible absorption peak at 418 nm. The FCC structure of AGC NCs was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern with well-defined peaks at angles 38.24 degrees, 44.40 degrees, 64.64 degrees, and 77.28 degrees corresponding to the planes 111, 200, 220, and 311, with a d-spacing of 2.35, 2.04, 1.44, and 1.23 (JCPDS no. 00-001-1164). The presence of cellulose in AGC NCs was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with bands at 3421.90 cm(-1) and 2899.3 cm(-1) due to O-H stretching and the methylene (-CH2-) group respectively and at 1076-1023 cm(-1) and 903 cm(-1) due to -C-O-C- pyranose ring skeletal vibration and beta-glycosidic linkages. The morphology, shape and size (13.21 nm), and elemental composition of the nanocomposites were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) respectively. The thermal properties (exothermic peaks appear at 335 degrees C and 440 degrees C due to the thermal degradation of Ag NPs and cellulose respectively), surface area (13.892 m(2) g(-1)), stability (-18.43 +/- 0.850 mV), and hydrodynamic diameter (399.10 +/- 30.49 nm) and polydispersity index (PDI) value (0.565 +/- 0.193) of the composites were determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, Zeta potential studies, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) respectively.

Case Report on a Young Patient with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adult (MIS-A)

Background: A healthy 22 year old man presented with clinical and laboratory characteristics of multisystem inflammatory syndrome resembling MIS-C with cardiac dysfunction requiring intensive care support that included mechanical ventilation and vasopressor support. Aim: To present a rare case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adult (MIS-A). Case Report: The patient presented with 5 days of fever, profuse sweating, vomiting and loose stools. Patient was otherwise healthy with no prior medical illness and was never a diagnosed case of COVID 19. At the time of admission, patient was found to be in shock with leukocytosis, conjunctivitis, acute kidney injury, cardiac dysfunction, acute hepatitis with both COVID antigen and RTPCR negative. The patient required ICU admission with ventilatory and vasopressor support. MIS-A secondary to COVID19 was suspected on the basis of his clinical presentation and a positive COVID Antibody report. Patient improved clinically with IV steroids, IVIG, heparin, and Critical Care management and support. Conclusion: A small portion of patients present with late onset complications following asymptomatic COVID 19 infection. This Stage includes Multiorgan dysfunction in the setting of severe inflammation. MIS-C has become a recognized syndrome whereas a parallel syndrome in adults has not been well defined. So MIS-A should be considered in adults presenting with features compatible with MIS-C like illness, including shock and cardiac dysfunction.Y