Search

Background: Aerobic bacteria were found as contaminants in mung bean sprouts (Vigna radiate L). They are also well-known for their excellent nutritional value as well as their ease of digestion. They are rich in calories, total carbohydrates, dietary fiber, protein, macronutrients, and vitamins. Aim: To evaluate bacterial isolates and parameters of nutritional content of native mung bean sprouts and finally to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial isolates to decide which antimicrobial agent should be utilized against certain bacterial strains. Methodology: Total viable bacterial isolates were enumerated by the spread plate method, and bacterial species were determined from the selected culture media with biochemical analysis. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were performed by the Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion Method and minimum inhibitory concentrations were measured using the VITEK®-2 Compact system. The nutritional composition of the sprouts was assessed using procedures suggested by the AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists). Results: The contaminated bacterial levels were relatively lower and the higher level of total aerobic plate counts was 7.60 log10 CFU/g and 8.46 log10 CFU/g, respectively. In this study, 20 (40.8%) of mung bean sprout bacteria were lactose fermenters, such as E. cloacae complex 9 (18.4%), E. coli 8 (16.3%), and K. pneumonie 3 (6.1%), which fermented lactose to produce acidic environments that appeared as pink colonies, and 15 (30.6%) of non-lactose fermenters, namely A. baumannii 7 (14.43%) and P. aeruginosa 8 (16.3%), produced normally colorless colonies, but the rest of 14 (28.6%) were late lactose fomenters of S. marcescens grown in red-pigmented colonies in culture media. Thirteen commercially available antibiotics were used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial isolates. Eighteen nutritional parameters were evaluated for both raw and dry sprouts. Conclusion: Mung bean sprouts have numerous health benefits. Because of the high number of outbreaks associated with the presence of hazardous organisms, strict safety standards must be followed.

Since ancient times, plants have been used as green bioresources to ensure a healthier life by recovering from different diseases. Kattosh (Lasia spinosa L. Thwaites) is a local plant with various traditional uses, especially for arthritis, constipation and coughs. This research investigated the effect of Kattosh stem extract (LSES) on streptozotocin-induced damage to the pancreas, kidney, and liver using in vitro, in vivo and in silico methods. In vitro phytochemical, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of LSES were accomplished by established methods followed by antidiabetic actions in in vivo randomized controlled intervention in STZ-induced animal models for four weeks. In an in silico study, LSES phytocompounds interacted with antidiabetic receptors of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR, PDB ID: 3G9E), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK, PDB ID: 4CFH) and α-amylase enzyme (PDB ID: 1PPI) to verify the in vivo results. In addition, LSES showed promising in vitro antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. In contrast, it showed a decrease in weekly blood glucose level, normalized lipid profile, ameliorated liver and cardiac markers, managed serum AST and ALT levels, and increased glucose tolerance ability in the animal model study. Restoration of pancreatic and kidney damage was reflected by improving histopathological images. In ligand-receptor interaction, ethyl α-d-glucopyranoside of Kattosh showed the highest affinity for the α-amylase enzyme, PPAR, and AMPK receptors. Results demonstrate that the affinity of Kattosh phytocompounds potentially attenuates pancreatic and kidney lesions and could be approached as an alternative antidiabetic source with further clarification.

Lactobacillus spp. is the most commonly found probiotics strain in dairy products. In the present study, Lactobacillus spp. were isolated from four commercially available fermented yoghurt drinks, which were identified based on observing their morphological characteristics and through some biochemical tests such as, gram staining, MIU (Motility Indole Urease), catalase, citrate, TSI (Tripplr Sugar Iron), gas from glucose, milk coagulation activities, starch hydrolysis and bile esculin test.It was observed that isolated Lactobacillus spp. growth rate decreased with the increasing concentration of inhibitory substances like NaCl (2,4,8%) and phenol (0.1-0.8%). Additionally, good growth were observed in the presence of 2% NaCl and 0.1% phenol. The isolated Lactobacillus spp. did show good survival abilities in acidic (pH 2) and alkaline (pH 8) conditions, while their maximum growth was observed at pH 8.0. Isolated Lactobacilli were able to coagulate skim milk and produce gas from glucose.All of the isolates showed negative results in hemolytic activity, indicating that lactic acid bacteria are safe for use by humans. All isolates were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcusspp, Bacillus spp, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiellaspp, Pseudomonas spp, Serratia spp, Candida albicans, Trichodermaresseii, Aspergillus spp. The majority of the isolates showed significant antimicrobial effectiveness against the targeted pathogens.Their susceptibility to selected eight antibiotics was determined in terms of zone of inhibition (mm). In conclusion, most of the results from the present experiments showed that, there were very few variations in probiotics properties of the isolated Lactobacillus spp. from different fermented yoghurt drinks.

Background: Arsenic (As) and its species are major pollutants in ecological bodied including groundwater in Bangladesh rendering serious public health concern. Bacteria with arsenotrophic genes have been found in the aquifer, converting toxic arsenite [As (III)] to less toxic arsenate [As (V)] that is easily removed using chemical and biological trappers. In this study, genomic and metagenomic approaches parallel to culture-based assay (Graphical abstract) have made it possible to decipher phylogenetic diversity of groundwater arsenotrophic microbiomes along with elucidation of their genetic determinants. Results: Seventy-two isolates were retrieved from six As-contaminated (average As concentration of 0.23 mg/L) groundwater samples from Munshiganj and Chandpur districts of Bangladesh. Twenty-three isolates harbored arsenite efflux pump (arsB) gene with high abundance, and ten isolates possessing arsenite oxidase (aioA) gene, with a wide range of minimum inhibitory concentration, MICAs (2 to 32 mM), confirming their role in arsenite metabolism. Shotgun metagenomic analysis revealed considerable parallels with the culture-dependent method proving their complementarity in detecting native population bacteria in As containing aquifers. There was considerable heterogeneity in species richness and microbial community structure. Microbial taxa from Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Acidobacteria dominated these diversities. Through these combinatorial approaches, we have identified potential candidates such as, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Achromobacter, Paraburkholderia, Comamonas and Klebsiella and associated functional genes (arsB, acr3, arsD, arsH, arsR) that could significantly contribute to arsenite detoxification, accumulation, and immobilization. Conclusions: Culture-dependent and -independent shotgun metagenomic investigation elucidated arsenotrophic microbiomes and their functions in As biogeochemical transformation. These findings provide scientific basis for mitigating arsenic pollution in the groundwater of Bangladesh and beyond.

Bentonite has been modified using H2SO4 at various concentrations to alter Si/Al ratio that is responsible for catalytic pyrolysis of single-use waste polyethylene (SUWP). The XRF analysis confirmed a gradual decrease of Al2O3 content with an increasing concentration of H2SO4. The highest liquid hydrocarbon yield (87.48%) was obtained at Si/Al ratio of 34.24. To further activate acid-modified bentonite, bimetals (Cu/Ni, Fe/Ni, and Co/Ni) impregnation was conducted. The catalytic performance was compared with monometals (Ru, Co, Ni, Cu, and Fe) impregnated bentonite counterparts. The Co, Ni, or Cu impregnated bentonite catalysts (with 86, 83, and 86% yield) outperformed Fe and Ru impregnated bentonite catalysts (with 68% and 79% yield). However, bimetallic (Cu/Ni, Fe/Ni and Co/Ni) catalysts enhanced severe cracking leading to the formation of more gaseous hydrocarbons and thus less amount of liquid (70–80%) is obtained. Incorporation of iron into bentonite or Ni/bentonite increased the amount of 2-Octene, 3,7-dimethyl-, (Z)- compared to acid-treated bentonite and Ni/ bentonite catalysts. Moreover, Fe/Ni/bentonite has also increased the amount of 2-Octene, 2,6-dimethyl- compounds. The BET analysis shows that both surface area and pore diameter increased due to acid treatment resulting in an increase in the percent yield of liquid compared to raw bentonite. The FTIR and GC-MS analysis confirmed that the liquid hydrocarbon consists of linear and branched alkanes and alkenes with some cyclic hydrocarbons. The NMR analysis showed the liquid hydrocarbon is free from the aromatic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

A Viral Transport Medium (VTM) was developed following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, standard operating procedure (SOP) DSR-052-05 with necessary improvisation, was used for storing COVID-19 swab specimens. Considering Bangladesh's present supply chain and storage condition, improvisation was essential for extending sample storage time while retaining efficiency. In-house VTM was produced using Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) supplemented with 1% Bovine serum albumin V (BSA), 0.5 µg /ml of Gentamicin Sulfate, and 100 µg/ml of Fluconazole. The produced VTM composition, quality, sterility, specificity, and efficiency were verified in-house and through an independent contract research organization (CRO). An accelerated stability study projected that under the recommended temperature (4°C), it would remain stable for one year and preserve samples for over a month. The Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) test detected the targeted N gene and ORF1ab gene from VTM stored sample. Our VTM is equally effective as Sansure Biotech VTM in keeping SARS-CoV-2 RNA specimen detectable in rRT-PCR (100% sensitivity and specificity in random and blinded samples). In an import-dependent developing country like Bangladesh, this VTM will ease the fight against pandemics and the supply chain bottleneck of medical and diagnostic equipment caused by it.

Catalytic pyrolysis of waste plastics into liquid hydrocarbon was conducted in a locally-made stainless steel reactor. Mesoporous kaolin clay treated with sulfuric acid in the concentration range of 3-7 M was used as a catalyst and waste polyethylene was the plastic feed. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern showed that the raw kaolin clay is crystalline. However, XRPD patterns of H2SO4 acid treated kaolin and Ni and Ru metal impregnated H2SO4 treated kaolin did not exhibit any characteristic diffraction peaks of kaolin. The acid treatment of kaolin causes leaching of Al3+ and results in disintegration of layered structure of kaolin, leading to the formation of Al2(SO4)3, SiO2, and amorphous phase. After 5 M H2SO4 acid treatment, the content of Al2O3 decreased significantly to 18.62%. The Si/Al ratio and specific surface area were found to increase after 5 M sulfuric acid treatment from 1.79 to 3.48 and 6.85 m2/g to 17.92 m2/g, respectively. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of the 5 M H2SO4 acid treated kaolin clay showed the isotherm to be of type IV typical for mesoporous structure. Among 3, 5, and 7 M H2SO4 treated kaolin catalysts, the 3 M H2SO4 treated kaolin (at a catalyst to plastic feed ratio of 1:5) exhibited the highest activity with the yield of 83% liquid hydrocarbon. The Ru- and Ni-impregnated 5 M H2SO4 treated kaolin catalyst provided 76% and 79% yield, respectively of liquid hydrocarbon at a catalyst to plastic ratio of 1:5. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 1H NMR, and FTIR spectral analysis confirmed the presence of linear and branched alkanes and alkenes (C9-C20) in the end product obtained with 5 M H2SO4 treated kaolin catalyst. The produced liquid hydrocarbon was found to be free from aromatic compounds importantly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which are potent mutagenic and carcinogenic. Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 44, No. 1, 1-12, 2020

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary nano-nutrients on the growth, physiological and amino acid responses in tilapia fish. Vitamins were incorporated with chemically synthesized nanoparticles (Fe, Zn, Cu and Se) to form a nano-nutrient complex (NNC). Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were performed to confirm the structure and morphology of the as-prepared nutrients. A commercial basal diet without the addition of any NNC was used as a control and compared with the other two diets formulated with different levels of NNC. In a 60 day feeding trial, the fish fed with a diet of NNC60 showed significant differences in final weight and length compared with the basal diet. Furthermore, a high value of nutrient content was observed in the muscles of fish fed with nano diets. In addition, protein, total fat, vitamin C, and essential amino acid levels were significantly higher in the NNC60-treated fish compared with the other groups. The present study suggests that the addition of NNC to a commercial diet has the potential to enhance the growth performance and biochemical parameters in tilapia fish.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection can be an effective complementary tool to the reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test in estimating the true burden of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) and can serve as baseline data, especially after the roll-out of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we aim to determine the seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2 IgG among people in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Volunteers, mostly asymptomatic people from Dhaka, were enrolled between October 2020 and February 2021. After obtaining participants’ signed consents, blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody, following the standard protocol of testing within 72 hours of collection. SARS-CoV-2 IgG was positive in 42% (101/239) of the cases. No difference was observed in terms of IgG positivity and IgG levels when stratified by age, gender, and blood group. However, RT-PCR-positive cases presented higher IgG levels compared to RT-PCR-negative/RT-PCR-not performed cases. SARS-CoV-2 IgG was found in 31% (32/102) and 28% (19/67) of RT-PCR-negative and RT-PCR-not performed cases, respectively. For RT-PCR-positive but SARS-CoV-2 IgG-negative cases ( n = 13 ), the average time gap between the RT-PCR and SARS-CoV-2 IgG tests of six months indicates a gradual reduction of IgG. Eight cases for which samples were tested at two time points, three months apart, showed presented a decline in IgG levels with time (median IgG index of 2.55 in the first sample versus 1.22 in the second sample). Our findings reveal that several mild/asymptomatic cases that were RT-PCR-negative/not tested exist in the community, and IgG levels reduce in the human body over time.

The goal of this study was to identify the genomic variants and determine molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 virus during the early pandemic stage in Bangladesh. Viral RNA was extracted, converted to cDNA, and amplified using Ion AmpliSeq™ SARS-CoV-2 Research Panel. 413 unique mutants from 151 viral isolates were identified. 80% of cases belongs to 8 mutants: 241C toT, 1163A toT, 3037C toT, 14408C toT, 23403A toG, 28881G toA, 28,882 G toA, and 28883G toC. Observed dominance of GR clade variants that have strong presence in Europe, suggesting European channel a possible entry route. Among 37 genomic mutants significantly associated with clinical symptoms, 3916CtoT (associated with sore-throat), 14408C to T (associated with cough-protection), 28881G to A, 28882G to A, and 28883G to C (associated with chest pain) were notable. These findings may inform future research platforms for disease management and epidemiological study.

The present study attempted to scrutinize the protective effect of the methanolic extract of P. chaba stem bark against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats, along with the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to identify phytochemicals, which were further docked in the catalytic site of CYP2E1 and the MD simulation for system that plays a major role in the bio-activation of toxic substances that produce reactive metabolites, leading to hepatotoxicity. P. chaba stem methanol extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) were treated orally with the negative control and the negative control silymarin (50 mg/kg) groups. Phytochemical profiling was conducted using GC-MS. In in-silico studies, PyRx software was used for docking analysis and the stability of the binding mode in the target active sites was evaluated through a set of standard MD-simulation protocols using the Charmm 27 force field and Swiss PARAM. Co-administration of P. chaba at both doses with APAP significantly reduced the APAP-augmented liver marker enzymes ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH, along with serum albumin, globulin, hepatic enzymes, histopathological architecture, lipid profiles, total protein, and total bilirubin, and elevated the levels of MDA. The GC-MS analysis indicated that P. chaba extract is enriched in fatty acid methyl esters (46.23 %) and alkaloids (10.91 %) and piperine is represented as a main phytochemical. Among all the identified phytochemicals, piperine (-8.0 kcal/mol) was found to be more interacting and stable with the binding site of CYP2E1. Therefore, all of our findings may conclude that the P. chaba stem extract and its main compound, piperine, are able to neutralize APAP-induced hepatic damage.

To assess the virucidal effect of povidone iodine (PVP-I) on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) located in the nasopharynx and suitable dose-formulation for nasal application were the purpose of this clinical trial. This single-center, open-label randomized clinical trial with a 7-arm parallel-group design was conducted in Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Hospital. A total of 189 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed SARS CoV-2 positive cases aged 12-90 years with symptoms was sequentially enrolled following randomization. Nasopharyngeal clearance of SARS-CoV-2 was tested against PVP-I nasal irrigation (NI) at diluted concentrations of 0.4%, 0.5% and 0.6%, and PVP-I nasal spray (NS) at diluted concentrations of 0.5% and 0.6%. All groups were compared to the corresponding controls (distilled water). Written informed consent was ensured before participation. All procedures were conducted in after ethical clearance from the Ethical Review Board and in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Viral clearance in a repeat RT-PCR (qualitative) was the primary outcome, and occurrence of any adverse event following administration of testing drug was considered as the secondary outcome. Analysis was performed using SPSS (Version 26). All cases were randomized into seven groups and each group consists of 27-patient. Mean age of the cases 43.98 ± 12.67 years (SD). All strength of NI were effective in nasopharyngeal clearance compared to the control (0.4%,The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03106-0.

Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R.Parker, locally known as Pithraj, is a medicinal herb having enormous traditional applications. However, the scientific rationale underlying the ethnomedicinal claims was not well-founded. The current investigation aimed to explore the mechanistic insights of protective effects of ethanol extract of A. polystachya leaf (PT), given orally, on the chemical-intoxicated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in Long-Evans female overiectomized rats. The GC-MS and HPLC-DAD analysis of PT revealed the presence of several bioactive metabolites, including polyphenolic compounds. Catechin hydrate, caffeic acid, syringic acid, epicatechin and p-coumaric acid have been identified and quantified in the ethanol extract of PT leaf. Intoxication with CCl4 developed the oxidative stress, fibrosis and inflammation in liver of rats. Moreover, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitric oxide (NO), advanced protein oxidation product (APOP) level were found increased; whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities in the plasma and liver were decreased in CCl4 administered rats. Treatment with PT prominently mitigated the oxidative stress (TBARS, NO, APOP), and inflammatory (MPO) markers and improved the endogenous antioxidant enzymes (catalase and SOD) activities in CCl4-intoxicated rats. Additionally, histological assessment confirmed the clear manifestation of inflammation and fibrosis in the liver of CCl4-intoxicated rats, which was prevented by PT and silymarin treatment. In conclusion, PT treatment may protect the liver in CCl4-administered rats, probably by mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis, and also augmenting the function of the antioxidant enzymes.

Fatty acid composition in chicken fast food was analyzed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been found in various amounts in the fast food samples. None of the fast food samples contain trans fatty acid. Chicken Winglet (A) and Chicken Hot Wings (B) have higher amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA) which are 28.73% and 25.92% respectively. The amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in Chicken Drumst (C), Chicken Botik (D), Fiery Grilled Chicken (E), Chicken Meatballs (F), and Chicken Nuggets (G) are in between 10.94-19.38%. The saturated fatty acids found in the fast food samples are palmitic acid, stearic acid, and myristic acid. Highest amount of linoleic acid (omega-6, 18.90%) was found in Chicken Meatballs (F). The ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 in sample D was 2.32:1 which is in the acceptable range. Although trans fatty acid was not found in the samples, presence of more than 10% saturated fatty acids in chicken fast food is still harmful for health as it may increase risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 43, No. 1, 39-45, 2019

This study investigated the restorative effect of Leea macrophylla ethanol root extract (LMERE) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic injury. It also tried to unfold the underlying mechanism through ligand-receptor interactions. Prior to conduct the CCl4 induced animal model study, the in vitro antioxidative capacities of LMERE were investigated. Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) was accomplished to identify the prevalent bioactive compounds. The molecular docking was performed using Schrodinger Suites 2017-1. Results showed the promising antioxidative potentials of LMERE in in vitro models. Upon treatment of CCl4 intoxicated animals with LMERE, serum ALT and AST were found to be significantly (p

A sensitive, precise, accurate and simple in house validated Liquid Chromatography and Tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analytical method was developed for the quantification of acrylamide in potato chips, a probable carcinogenic and neurotoxic compound in fried food items. Acrylamide was extracted and cleaned up by QuEChERS method, then analyzed by triple quadrupole mass spectrophotometer using positive electrospray-ionization mode and d3-Acrylamide internal standard. The analyte and internal standard were separated on a reversed-phase C18 column (100 × 2.0 mm, 2.5 μm) by gradient elution with water and methanol containing 0.1% formic acid as mobile phase. The analytical method was fully validated by assessment of linearity, specificity, precision, accuracy, selectivity and robustness with relative standard deviation of less than 4%. The calibration curves were found linear with correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.9997 over the concentration range 5 - 500 μg/L. The recoveries of Acrylamide in the concentration of 250, 400, and 500 μg/L were 97% to 104%. Based on the signal to noise ratio, the lower limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LOQ) were achieved 2.0 μg/L and 4.0 μg/L respectively. The proposed method was also applied to other available most popular 24 types of food (265 number of sample) first time in Bangladesh. The highest level of acrylamide has been found in fried products with the range of 197.04 μg/L to 114.63 μg/L, protein-rich food lies between 79.76 to 89.14 μg/L whereas baked food products exhibited less content in the range of 35.23 to 51.17 μg/L.

Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) is a time-tested antiseptic agent with excellent virucidal (99.99%) properties. Repurposing it against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a relatively newer concept and has been sparsely tested in vivo. The most common route of entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) is the nasopharynx. Averting colonization of the virus could be one of the best options to reduce the incidence of infection. PVP-I gargle and mouthwash were found to be effective in vitro rapid inactivation against SARS-CoV-2 on a smaller scale (Hassandarvish et al. in BDJ 1–4, 2020, Pelletier et al. in ENTJ 1–5, 2020). However, efficacy in humans is lacking. To assess the virucidal effect of PVP-I against SARS-CoV-2 located in the nasopharynx was the objective of this parallel armed randomized clinical trial. We screened all RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases aged 18 years and above with symptoms. Written informed consent was obtained before randomization. Nasopharyngeal clearance of SARS-CoV-2 was tested after single time application of PVP-I nasal irrigation (NI) at diluted concentrations of .4%, .5% and .6% and PVP-I nasal spray (NS) at diluted concentrations of .5% and .6%. All groups were compared to the corresponding controls (distilled water). The primary outcome was viral clearance in a repeat RT-PCR (qualitative), and the secondary outcome was the number of adverse events. Final data analysis was performed using the statistical software SPSS (Version 20). A total of 189 confirmed COVID-19 cases were randomized into seven groups: 27 patients in each group. Of all, 159 (84.1%) were male, and 30 (15.9%) were female. We observed a statistically significant proportion of nasopharyngeal clearance with all strengths of PVP-I NI and PVP-I NS compared to the corresponding controls. Additionally, 0.5% NI was significantly better than 0.5% NS for viral clearance (p = 0.018) and had the highest nasopharyngeal clearance among all strengths (n = 25, 92.6%). 0.6% NS is better than CNS and 0.5%NS in viral clearance. The only adverse event was nasal irritation recorded in two patients each in the 0.4% and 0.6% PVP-I NI groups (Tables 1 and 2). PVP-I NI and NS are proved as effective virucidal agent against SARS-CoV-2 in human body. Our recommendation is to use PVP-I in naopharynx (as well as oropharynx) to prevent COVID-19.

The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global threat for healthcare management and the economic system, and effective treatments against the pathogenic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus responsible for this disease have not yet progressed beyond the developmental phases. As drug refinement and vaccine progression require enormously broad investments of time, alternative strategies are urgently needed. In this study, we examined phytochemicals extracted from Avicennia officinalis and evaluated their potential effects against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. The antioxidant activities of A. officinalis leaf and fruit extracts at 150 µg/mL were 95.97% and 92.48%, respectively. Furthermore, both extracts displayed low cytotoxicity levels against Artemia salina. The gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy analysis confirmed the identifies of 75 phytochemicals from both extracts, and four potent compounds, triacontane, hexacosane, methyl linoleate, and methyl palminoleate, had binding free energy values of −6.75, −6.7, −6.3, and −6.3 Kcal/mol, respectively, in complexes with the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. The active residues Cys145, Met165, Glu166, Gln189, and Arg188 in the main protease formed non-bonded interactions with the screened compounds. The root-mean-square difference (RMSD), root-mean-square fluctuations (RMSF), radius of gyration (Rg), solvent-accessible surface area (SASA), and hydrogen bond data from a molecular dynamics simulation study confirmed the docked complexes′ binding rigidity in the atomistic simulated environment. However, this study′s findings require in vitro and in vivo validation to ensure the possible inhibitory effects and pharmacological efficacy of the identified compounds.

RationaleThe global public health is in serious crisis due to emergence of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Studies are ongoing to reveal the genomic variants of the virus circulating in various parts of the world. However, data generated from low- and middle-income countries are scarce due to resource limitation. This study was focused to perform whole genome sequencing of 151 SARS-CoV-2 isolates from COVID-19 positive Bangladeshi patients. The goal of this study was to identify the genomic variants among the SARS-CoV-2 virus isolates in Bangladesh, to determine the molecular epidemiology and to develop a relationship between host clinical trait with the virus genomic variants.MethodSuspected patients were tested for COVID-19 using one step commercial qPCR kit for SARS-CoV-2 Virus. Viral RNA was extracted from positive patients, converted to cDNA which was amplified using Ion AmpliSeq™ SARS-CoV-2 Research Panel. Massive parallel sequencing was carried out using Ion AmpliSeq™ Library Kit Plus. Assembly of raw data is done by aligning the reads to a pre-defined reference genome (NC_045512.2) while retaining the unique variations of the input raw data by creating a consensus genome. A random forest-based association analysis was carried out to correlate the viral genomic variants with the clinical traits present in the host.ResultAmong the 151 viral isolates, we observed the 413 unique variants. Among these 8 variants occurred in more than 80 % of cases which include 241C to T, 1163A to T, 3037C to T,14408C to T, 23403A to G, 28881G to A, 28882 G to A, and finally the 28883G to C. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a predominance of variants belonging to GR clade, which have a strong geographical presence in Europe, indicating possible introduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into Bangladesh through a European channel. However, other possibilities like a route of entry from China cannot be ruled out as viral isolate belonging to L clade with a close relationship to Wuhan reference genome was also detected. We observed a total of 37 genomic variants to be strongly associated with clinical symptoms such as fever, sore throat, overall symptomatic status, etc. (Fisher’s Exact Test p-valueConclusionTo our knowledge, this study is the first large scale phylogenomic studies of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating in Bangladesh. The observed epidemiological and genomic features may inform future research platform for disease management, vaccine development and epidemiological study.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary nano-nutrients on the growth, physiological and amino acid responses in tilapia fish. Vitamins were incorporated with chemically synthesized nanoparticles (Fe, Zn, Cu and Se) to form a nano-nutrient complex (NNC). Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were performed to confirm the structure and morphology of the as-prepared nutrients. A commercial basal diet without the addition of any NNC was used as a control and compared with the other two diets formulated with different levels of NNC. In a 60 day feeding trial, the fish fed with a diet of NNC60 showed significant differences in final weight and length compared with the basal diet. Furthermore, a high value of nutrient content was observed in the muscles of fish fed with nano diets. In addition, protein, total fat, vitamin C, and essential amino acid levels were significantly higher in the NNC60-treated fish compared with the other groups. The present study suggests that the addition of NNC to a commercial diet has the potential to enhance the growth performance and biochemical parameters in tilapia fish.

This study determined five coding-complete genome sequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains isolated from oropharyngeal swab specimens of Bangladeshi patients who were diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and had no travel history.