Decoding the photoprotection strategies and manipulating cyanobacterial photoprotective metabolites, mycosporine-like amino acids, for next-generation sunscreens.

The most recent evaluation of the impacts of UV-B radiation and depletion of stratospheric ozone points out the need for effective photoprotection strategies for both biological and nonbiological components. To mitigate the disruptive consequences of artificial sunscreens, photoprotective compounds synthesized from gram-negative, oxygenic, and photoautotrophic prokaryote, cyanobacteria have been studied. In a quest to counteract the harmful UV radiation, cyanobacterial species biosynthesize photoprotective metabolites named as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). The investigation of MAAs as potential substitutes for commercial sunscreen compounds is motivated by their inherent characteristics, such as antioxidative properties, water solubility, low molecular weight, and high molar extinction coefficients. These attributes contribute to the stability of MAAs and make them promising candidates for natural alternatives in sunscreen formulations. They are effective at reducing direct damage caused by UV radiation and do not lead to the production of reactive oxygen radicals. In order to better understand the role, ecology, and its application at a commercial scale, tools like genome mining, heterologous expression, and synthetic biology have been explored in this review to develop next-generation sunscreens. Utilizing tactical concepts of bio-nanoconjugate formation for the development of an efficient MAA-nanoparticle conjugate structure would not only give the sunscreen complex stability but would also serve as a promising tool for the production of analogues. This review would provide insight on efforts to produce MAAs by diversifying the biosynthetic pathways, modulating the precursors and stress conditions, and comprehending the gene cluster arrangement for MAA biosynthesis and its application in developing effective sunscreen.

Cyanobacteria as a Promising Alternative for Sustainable Environment: Synthesis of Biofuel and Biodegradable Plastics.

With the aim to alleviate the increasing plastic burden and carbon footprint on Earth, the role of certain microbes that are capable of capturing and sequestering excess carbon dioxide (CO2) generated by various anthropogenic means was studied. Cyanobacteria, which are photosynthetic prokaryotes, are promising alternative for carbon sequestration as well as biofuel and bioplastic production because of their minimal growth requirements, higher efficiency of photosynthesis and growth rates, presence of considerable amounts of lipids in thylakoid membranes, and cosmopolitan nature. These microbes could prove beneficial to future generations in achieving sustainable environmental goals. Their role in the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) as a source of intracellular energy and carbon sink is being utilized for bioplastic production. PHAs have emerged as well-suited alternatives for conventional plastics and are a parallel competitor to petrochemical-based plastics. Although a lot of studies have been conducted where plants and crops are used as sources of energy and bioplastics, cyanobacteria have been reported to have a more efficient photosynthetic process strongly responsible for increased production with limited land input along with an acceptable cost. The biodiesel production from cyanobacteria is an unconventional choice for a sustainable future as it curtails toxic sulfur release and checks the addition of aromatic hydrocarbons having efficient oxygen content, with promising combustion potential, thus making them a better choice. Here, we aim at reporting the application of cyanobacteria for biofuel production and their competent biotechnological potential, along with achievements and constraints in its pathway toward commercial benefits. This review article also highlights the role of various cyanobacterial species that are a source of green and clean energy along with their high potential in the production of biodegradable plastics.

Obesity as an Important Marker of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: In December 2019, the emergence of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) began in Wuhan, China. Thereafter, the disease has been spreading rapidly across the world, with about 300 million registered cases worldwide, and the numbers are also exponentially increasing in India, with about 34 million registered cases by the end of 2021. Among the comorbidities, obesity may increase the risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection as it is related to immune system dysfunction. Since the epidemiological picture of COVID-19 is changing very rapidly. Therefore, it is very important to discuss the pattern of clinical manifestation and association with comorbidities. Hence, we have conducted this observational study in one of the tertiary care centers in North India.  Methods and Materials: We conducted a hospital-based prospective observational study in dedicated COVID-19 wards and ICU of a tertiary care center in North India with a sample size of 400 positive patients (males: 260, females: 140). We divided the patients in this study into three different age groups (less than 40 years, 40-60 years, and more than 60 years). The patients with age ≤ 18 years and BMI 18.5 kg/m2 were excluded from the study.  Results: Out of these 400 patients, 55 (13.8%) developed severe COVID-19. There was a fewer number of patients who developed severe COVID-19 in the normal and over-weight group. Moreover, obese patients progressed to more severe cases (34.5%). This also shows that after adjusting for age, compared to the normal-weight group, those who were overweight had a 1.48-fold chance of developing severe COVID-19 (OR 1.48, P 0.0455), while those who were obese had a 1.73-fold chance of developing the disease (ORs 1.73, P 5 0.0652). Regarding gender distribution, the association appeared to be stronger in men than in women. After similar adjustment, the ORs for overweight and obese patients compared to normal-weight patients were 1.39 (p 0.5870) and 3.55 (p 0.0113) in females and 1.36 (0.5115) and 6.19 (0.0001) in males, respectively.  Conclusion: Our study shows that obese patients with a BMI of greater than or equal to 27.5 are at higher risk of developing COVID-19 severity, especially in the male population. Moreover, severity may be related to other comorbid conditions. However, in our study, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and GI/liver diseases were less obese, and severity was relatively low. So, the conclusion is that obese male patients with comorbidities are more likely to develop severe COVID-19 infection.