Human life has been significantly impacted by the creation and spread of novel species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and virus strains that are difficult to manage. Scientists and researchers have ...recently been motivated to seek out alternatives and other sources of safe and ecologically friendly active chemicals that have a powerful and effective effect against a wide variety of pathogenic bacteria as a result of all these hazards and problems. In this review, endophytic fungi and their bioactive compounds and biomedical applications were discussed. Endophytes, a new category of microbial source that can produce a variety of biological components, have major values for study and broad prospects for development. Recently, endophytic fungi have received much attention as a source for new bioactive compounds. In addition, the variety of natural active compounds generated by endophytes is due to the close biological relationship between endophytes and their host plants. The bioactive compounds separated from endophytes are usually classified as steroids, xanthones, terpenoids, isocoumarins, phenols, tetralones, benzopyranones and enniatines. Moreover, this review discusses enhancement methods of secondary metabolites production by fungal endophytes which include optimization methods, co-culture method, chemical epigenetic modification and molecular-based approaches. Furthermore, this review deals with different medical applications of bioactive compounds such as antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant and anticancer activities in the last 3 years.
Several neurological symptoms and complications have been described in association with COVID-19, such as anosmia, ageusia, encephalitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Here, we review the literature ...describing SARS-CoV-2-induced neurological manifestations and provide a comprehensive discussion of proposed mechanisms underlying the neurological pathophysiology. First, we analyse the neuroinvasiveness potential of the coronavirus family based on previous SARS-CoV-1 studies. Then, we describe the current evidence on COVID-19-induced nervous tissue damage, including processes behind brain vasculopathy and cytokine storm. We also discuss in detail anosmia and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Finally, we provide a summarised timeline of the main findings in the field. Future perspectives are presented, and suggestions of further investigations to clarify how SARS-COV-2 can affect the CNS.
Microbial bioactive moleculesHuman cells are outnumbered by the microbial cells of our commensals by an order of magnitude. All of these organisms are metabolically active and secrete multiple ...bioactive molecules. Genomics has unveiled a remarkable array of biosynthetic gene clusters in the human microbiota, which encode diverse metabolites. Donia et al. review how molecules ranging from lantibiotics and microcins to indoxyl sulfate and immunemodulatory oligosaccharides and lipids could affect the health and physiology of the whole organism, depending on the composition of an individual's microbial community.Science, this issue p. 10.1126/science.1254766 Developments in the use of genomics to guide natural product discovery and a recent emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms of microbiota-host interactions have converged on the discovery of small molecules from the human microbiome. Here, we review what is known about small molecules produced by the human microbiota. Numerous molecules representing each of the major metabolite classes have been found that have a variety of biological activities, including immune modulation and antibiosis. We discuss technologies that will affect how microbiota-derived molecules are discovered in the future and consider the challenges inherent in finding specific molecules that are critical for driving microbe-host and microbe-microbe interactions and understanding their biological relevance.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the beneficial effects of coconut essential oil on growth performance, carcass criteria, antioxidant status, and immune response of broiler chicks. A total of 192 ...un-sexed 7-days broiler chicks were divided into six treatment sets with four copies of 8 chicks per set. The groups were as follows: (1) basal diet (without additive), (2) basal diet plus 0.5 ml coconut essential oil/kg, (3) basal diet plus 1 ml coconut essential oil/kg, (4) basal diet plus 1.5 ml coconut essential oil/kg, (5) basal diet plus 2 ml coconut essential oil/kg and (6) basal diet plus 2.5 ml coconut essential oil/kg. The results showed that the most prevalent compound in coconut oil is 6-Octadecenoic acid (oleic acid) representing 46.44% followed 2(3H)-Furanone, dihydro-5-pentyl- (CAS) (11.36%), Hexadecanoic acid (CAS) (4.71%), and vanillin (2.53%). Dietary 1 and 1.5 ml of coconut oil improved significantly the body weight and gain of broiler chickens. Dietary supplementation of 1 ml of coconut oil improved significantly liver function compared to control and other treatment groups. The supplementation with 1 ml coconut oil significantly reduced TG and VLDL compared to control and other treatment groups, while no significant differences in TC, HDL, and LDL due to dietary coconut oil. The present findings showed that dietary coconut oil with 1 and 1.5 ml/kg feed improved significantly antioxidants status through increased antioxidant enzymes like SOD and GSH while decreasing significantly MDA levels compared to control and other treatment groups. Therefore, it was concluded that the diets of broiler chickens could be fortified with coconut oil with 1 or 1.5 ml to improve the growth, feed utilization, and antioxidant status of broiler chickens.
Display omitted
•Overcome the high BC production cost and decrease the waste of resources and environmental pollution.•Demonstrated the PPW has great possibility produce BC and mild nitric acid is an ...effective pre-treatment tool in biomass pre-treatment technology.•Produce nitric acid PPW-hydrolysate is encouraging for the cost-effective industrial production of BC.•Produce BC from PPW media has excellent characters.
Potato peel waste (PPW) is employed as the first report on bacterial cellulose (BC) production by Gluconacetobacter xylinus. Scharification of PPW was performed by 2 M different mineral acids individually. The suitable pre-treatment conditions were determined by reducing sugar release. Although all acid PPW-hydrolysates culture media are studied to produce BCs. Nitric acid hydrolysate gives the high productivity value The influence of nitric acid PPW-hydrolysate culture condition parameters were applied throughout the Taguchi method and the optimum conditions for the highest BC yield (4.7 g/L) was observed after 6 days at 35 °C, pH 9, medium volume 55 ml and with 8% inoculum size. The instrumental analysis of PPW-BC, included FT-IR, Particle size distribution, BET, DSC, XRD and SEM are cleared that the PPW-BC recorded high crystalliny82.5%, excellent PDI. In general, this study revealed that nitric acid PPW-hydrolysate could be used as cost effective alternative medium for production of BC with sustainable processes that can overcome the environmental pollution.
•Daily freshwater yield of cases 1, 2, 3, and 4 are 3.26, 3.572, 3.81, and 3.685 kg/m2, respectively.•Using PCM in cases 2, 3 and 4 extended the time of freshwater yield by about 5 h, 7 h, and 4 h, ...respectively.•Daily evaporative exergy of case 4 is greater than that of cases 1, 2, and 3 by 13%, 8%, and 2%, respectively.•Cases 2, 3, and 4 exhibit an increment of exergy efficiency 5%, 12%, and 16%, respectively compared to case 1.
In this experimental work, the energetic and exergetic performance enhancement of solar distillation system (solar still incorporated with PCM storage unit) is performed by using two techniques. First, pin fins heat sink (PF) is embedded inside the PCM to act as a thermal conductivity enhancer. Second, black steel mesh fibers (SWF) are employed in the solar still basin with PCM. In this regard, four cases of the solar stills are studied and compared conventional still: conventional solar still (without PCM), still with PCM (With PCM), still with PCM and pin fins heat sink embedded in the PCM (With PCM-PF) and still with PCM and SWF in the basin (With PCM-SWF). The energetic and exergetic performance of the four cases is evaluated and compared under the meteorological conditions of New Borg El-Arab City, Egypt. The results show that the total daily cumulative yield of distilled water of still with PCM, still with PCM-PF, and still with PCM-SWF are greater than of conventional still by 9.5%, 16.8%, and 13%, respectively. Additionally, the inclusion of the fins heat sink in the PCM increases the average daily energy and exergy efficiencies by 17.9, and 13.2%, respectively compared to conventional one. Likewise, the energy and exergy efficiencies of still with PCM-PF are higher than those of solar still with PCM by 7.7 and, 6.8%, respectively. Furthermore, placing SWF in the basin of still with PCM significantly enhances the daytime energy and exergy efficiencies with a considerable reduction of these values in the nighttime. The total daily evaporative exergy for still with PCM-SWF is greater than those of conventional still, still with PCM, and still with PCM-PF by 13, 8, and 2%, respectively. Also, still with PCM, still with PCM-PF, and still with PCM-SWF exhibit an increment of the daily exergy efficiency 5.9, 13.2, and 17.3%, respectively compared to still without PCM. Still with PCM-PF achieved the highest accumulated daily water productivity and energy efficiency but still with PCM-SWF attained the highest daily exergy efficiency with nearly no additional cost.
Purpose
Throughout the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, multiple reports show higher percentages of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality among men than women, indicating that men are more affected by ...COVID-19. The pathophysiology of this difference is yet not established, but recent studies suggest that sex hormones may influence the viral infectivity process. Here, we review the current evidence of androgen sensitivity as a decisive factor for COVID-19 disease severity.
Methods
Relevant literature investigating the role of androgens in COVID-19 was assessed. Further, we describe several drugs suggested as beneficial for COVID-19 treatment related to androgen pathways. Lastly, we looked at androgen sensitivity as a predictor for COVID-19 progression and ongoing clinical trials on androgen suppression therapies as a line of treatment.
Results
SARS-COV2 virus spike proteins utilize Transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) for host entry. Androgen receptors are transcription promoters for TMPRSS2 and can, therefore, facilitate SARS-COV2 entry. Variants in the androgen receptor gene correlate with androgen sensitivity and are implicated in diseases like androgenetic alopecia and prostate cancer, conditions that have been associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes and hospitalization.
Conclusion
Androgen’s TMPRSS2-mediated actions might explain both the low fatalities observed in prepubertal children and the differences between sexes regarding SARS-COV2 infection. Androgen sensitivity may be a critical factor in determining COVID-19 disease severity, and sensitivity tests can, therefore, help in predicting patient outcomes.
This paper investigates the analytical solutions of the perturbed nonlinear Schrödinger equation through the modified Khater method. This method is considered one of the most recent accurate ...analytical schemes in nonlinear evolution equations where it obtained many distinct forms of solutions of the considered model. The investigated model in this paper is an icon in quantum fields where it describes the wave function or state function of a quantum-mechanical system. The physical characterization of some obtained solutions in our study is explained through sketching them in two- and three-dimensional contour plots. The novelty of our study is clear by showing the matching between our solutions and those that have been constructed in previously published papers.
Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum parasite is still known to be one of the most significant public health problems in sub-Saharan Africa. Genetic diversity of the Sudanese P. falciparum based ...on the diversity in the circumsporozoite surface protein (PfCSP) has not been previously studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of the N-terminal region of the pfcsp gene.
A cross-sectional molecular study was conducted; 50 blood samples have been analysed from different regions in Sudan. Patients were recruited from the health facilities of Khartoum, New Halfa, Red Sea, White Nile, Al Qadarif, Gezira, River Nile, and Ad Damazin during malaria transmission seasons between June to October and December to February 2017-2018. Microscopic and nested PCR was performed for detection of P. falciparum. Merozoite surface protein-1 was performed to differentiate single and multiple clonal infections. The N-terminal of the pfcsp gene has been sequenced using PCR-Sanger dideoxy method and analysed to sequences polymorphism including the numbers of haplotypes (H), segregating sites (S), haplotypes diversity (Hd) and the average number of nucleotide differences between two sequences (Pi) were obtained using the software DnaSP v5.10. As well as neutrality testing, Tajima's D test, Fu and Li's D and F statistics.
PCR amplification resulted in 1200 bp of the pfcsp gene. Only 21 PCR products were successfully sequenced while 29 were presenting multiple clonal P. falciparum parasite were not sequenced. The analysis of the N-terminal region of the PfCSP amino acids sequence compared to the reference strains showed five different haplotypes. H1 consisted of 3D7, NF54, HB3 and 13 isolates of the Sudanese pfcsp. H2 comprised of 7G8, Dd2, MAD20, RO33, Wellcome strain, and 5 isolates of the Sudanese pfcsp. H3, H4, and H5 were found in 3 distinct isolates. Hd was 0.594 ± 0.065, and S was 12. The most common polymorphic site was A98G; other sites were D82Y, N83H, N83M, K85L, L86F, R87L, R87F, and A98S. Fu and Li's D* test value was - 2.70818, Fu and Li's F* test value was - 2.83907, indicating a role of negative balancing selection in the pfcsp N-terminal region. Analysis with the global pfcsp N-terminal regions showed the presence of 13 haplotypes. Haplotypes frequencies were 79.4%, 17.0%, 1.6% and 1.0% for H1, H2, H3 and H4, respectively. Remaining haplotypes frequency was 0.1% for each. Hd was 0.340 ± 0.017 with a Pi of 0.00485, S was 18 sites, and Pi was 0.00030. Amino acid polymorphisms identified in the N-terminal region of global pfcsp were present at eight positions (D82Y, N83H/M, K85L/T/N, L86F, R87L/F, A98G/V/S, D99G, and G100D).
Sudanese pfcsp N-terminal region was well-conserved with only a few polymorphic sites. Geographical distribution of genetic diversity showed high similarity to the African isolates, and this will help and contribute in the deployment of RTS,S, a PfCSP-based vaccine, in Sudan.
•Performance of six systems of passive solar still are assessed and compared.•PCM-based solar stills performed poor based on exergoeconomic approach.•Solar still with SWF and PF exhibited promising ...results based on exergy approaches.•Solar still with SWF achieved the highest performance among all tested systems.•EPBT based on energy concept for still with PCM is 1.3 and with SWF is 0.87 year.
In this study, comparative performance assessment of different passive solar stills systems based on energy matrices, exergy, economic, exergoeconomic, environmental, exergoenvironmental, enviroeconomic, and exergoenviroeconomic viewpoints is performed. Six systems of passive solar stills are considered namely, traditional solar still (TRD still), solar still with phase change materials (PCM), solar still with PCM embedded in a pin fin heat sink (PCM-PF), solar still with PCM incorporated with steel wool fibers in the basin (PCM-SWF), solar still with SWF only in the basin (with SWF) and finally solar still with pin fined heat sink in the basin (with PF). The performance of the six systems is experimentally evaluated and compared to each other under the same meteorological conditions of New Borg El-Arab City, Egypt (Longitude/Latitude: E 029°42′/N 30°55′). The results indicated that PCM-based solar stills systems performed poor performance based on energy matrices, freshwater production cost, exergoeconomic, exergoenvironmental and exergoenviroeconomic parameters. Whereas, solar still with SWF gives the highest performance among all studied systems by employing these enhanced (exergy/economic/environmental) approaches. The daily energy and exergy outputs for conventional still are the minimum at 2.5 and 0.1528 kWh/day, respectively and still with SWF are the maximum at 2.856 and 0.1869 kWh/day, respectively. The annual amount of CO2 emission mitigated for conventional still, still with PCM, still with PCM-PF, still with PCM-SWF, still with SWF and still with PF are 33.02, 35.88, 38.26, 37.05, 41.6 and 38.35 tons, respectively based on energy approach. Whereas, the corresponding values based on exergy are 0.961, 0.6652, 0.6217, 0.756, 1.56 and 1.189 tons, respectively.
PDF
