Pangenomic and immunoinformatics based analysis of Nipah virus revealed CD4+ and CD8+ T-Cell epitopes as potential vaccine candidates.

Introduction: Nipah (NiV) is the zoonotic deadly bat-borne virus that causes neurological and respiratory infections which ultimately lead to death. There are 706 infected cases reported up till now especially in Asia, out of which 409 patients died. There is no vaccine and effective treatment available for NiV infections and we have to timely design such strategies as world could not bear another pandemic situation. Methods: In this study, we screened viral proteins of NiV strains based on pangenomics analysis, antigenicity, molecular weight, and sub-cellular localization. The immunoproteomics based approach was used to predict T-cell epitopes of MHC class-I and II as potential vaccine candidates. These epitopes are capable to activate CD4+, CD8+, and T-cell dependent B-lymphocytes. Results: The two surface proteins including fusion glycoprotein (F) and attachment glycoprotein (G) are antigenic with molecular weights of 60 kDa and 67 kDa respectively. Three epitopes of F protein (VNYNSEGIA, PNFILVRNT, and IKMIPNVSN) were ranked and selected based on the binding affinity with MHC class-I, and 3 epitopes (VILNKRYYS, ILVRNTLIS, and VKLQETAEK) with MHC-II molecules. Similarly, for G protein, 3 epitopes each for MHC-I (GKYDKVMPY, ILKPKLISY, and KNKIWCISL) and MHC-II (LRNIEKGKY, FLIDRINWI, and FLLKNKIWC) with substantial binding energies were predicted. Based on the physicochemical properties, all these epitopes are non-toxic, hydrophilic, and stable. Conclusion: Our vaccinomics and system-level investigation could help to trigger the host immune system to prevent NiV infection.

Determination of chemical composition and investigation of potential of triphala powder in hypercholesterolemia in men in controlled randomized trial.

Hypercholesterolemia is a condition with elevated cholesterol and lipid profile. It is the leading reason behind myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease. It is observed in young people as well due to a sedentary lifestyle. Triphala powder has a hypolipidemic and anti-hypercholesterolemia effect. This study was designed to investigate the effect of triphala powder against hypercholesterolemia. This study also examined Triphala powder's chemical composition. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were examined. Encapsulated 400 mg and 600 mg Triphala powder were given to treatment groups I and II. Lipid profile parameters were measured and compared at 0 weeks and 10th weeks in all groups. All results were analyzed using ANOVA in IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Results of proximate analyses have shown that Okra pod powder contains moisture 12.27%, ash 11.25%, nitrogen-free extract 45.93%, crude protein 13.37%, crude fat 2.95% and crude fiber 14.23%. Mineral analysis showed that iron and manganese are major minerals in triphala powder. Triphala powder showed a significant reduction in lipid profile parameters in hypercholesterolemia. All results are taken significantly at p<0.05.

Correction: An ab initio investigation of the structural, mechanical, electronic, optical, and thermoelectric characteristics of novel double perovskite halides Cs2CaSnX6 (X = Cl, Br, I) for optically influenced RRAM devices.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D3RA00078H.].

An ab initio investigation of the structural, mechanical, electronic, optical, and thermoelectric characteristics of novel double perovskite halides Cs2CaSnX6 (X = Cl, Br, I) for optically influenced RRAM devices.

Hybrid lead halide perovskites have been considered as promising candidates for a large variety of optoelectronic applications. By exploring novel combinations of lead-free double perovskite halides, it is possible to find a suitable replacement for poisonous lead halide perovskites, enhancing electronic and optical response for their application as optically-influenced resistive switching random access memory (RRAM). In this work, the structural, mechanical, elastic, electronic, optical, and thermoelectric characteristics of lead-free double halide perovskites were investigated by Vienna ab initio simulation package (VASP) to explore their role in RRAM. From the analysis of mechanical constraints, it is clear that all three composites of Cs2CaSnX6 (X = Cl, Br, I) are mechanically stable and ductile in nature. The electronic bandgap with and without spin-orbit coupling (SOC), and total and sub-total density of states (TDOS, sub-TDOS) have been calculated using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation (PBE-GGA) potentials. The observed direct band gaps of 3.58 eV, 3.09 eV, and 2.60 eV for Cs2CaSnCl6, Cs2CaSnBr6, and Cs2CaSnI6, respectively, reveal the suitability of these specified composites as resistive switching material for RRAM devices. Additionally, the optical characteristics, such as complex refractive index, absorption coefficient, and reflectivity of the compounds under consideration have been calculated under the action of incident photons of 0 to 14 eV energy. The thermoelectric properties of Cs2CaSnX6 (X = Cl, Br, I) double perovskite halide were computed and analyzed with the help of the BoltzTraP Code.