Cellulose-containing waste recycling using fungi

Accumulation of plant waste is a serious environmental problem. Mushrooms with high cellulolytic activity can process it into valuable products that will be useful in solving various industries and agriculture problems. The enzymes of the cellulolytic complex include 1,4-β-D-glucan-4-glucanohydrolase, exo-1,4-β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, β-glucosidase. 1,4-β-D-glucan-4-glucanohydrolases destroy β-1,4-glycosidic bonds within the chain of cellulose and lichenin polysaccharides. Exoglucanases destroy β-1,3- and β-1,4-glycosidic bonds at the end of the molecule. Cellobiohydrolases cleave β-1,4-glycosidic bonds to form cellobiose and glucose. β-glucosidase complete the process of destruction. Fungi with high cellulolytic activity include both representatives of the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota divisions. Ascomycete Chaetomium globosum produces endoglucanases of two families and 8 cellobiohydrolases. Myceliophthora thermophila also produces endoglucanases and cellobiohydrolases, the most abundant of which is Mt Cel7A. The fungus is a promising producer of thermostable enzymes. Trichoderma reesei has a long history of safe use as a source of highly active cellulolytic enzymes and other valuable metabolites. LPMOs of the cellulolytic fungus Thielavia terrestris are considered auxiliary enzymes, but can negatively affect the main enzymes of the complex. Irpex lacteus also produces LPMO and a complete cellulolytic enzyme complex. The cellulolytic activity of fungi and their ability to grow on cheap substrates can be used to bioconvert plant waste into valuable products. One of the ways to utilize them is to convert into compound feed with a high protein content through the use of starter cultures. The use of mushrooms will increase the content of protein and simple carbohydrates, enrich the feed with fats. Another method is to obtain cellulases, which are widely used in many industries. Thanks to the production of biodiesel and bioethanol from cellulose-containing raw materials it is possible to solve the problem of lack of fuel by replacing energy carriers from non-renewable energy sources with their environmentally friendly counterparts. They are less toxic than diesel and gasoline and are also made from renewable resources

The rs11385942 and rs657152 variants are not associated with COVID-19 severity and outcomes in patients treated with favipiravir and remdesivir

Background. There is a mounting evidence in the scientific literature that susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection could vary. The severity of COVID-19 symptoms can  range from asymptomatic to severe respiratory failure, requiring prolonged artificial ventilation. The underlying causes of this range of clinical manifestations remain unclear. Identification of the risk factors that may cause this variation in clinical symptoms is important for identifying the most susceptible populations at highest risk. This should help improve prevention measures, reduce hospitalizations, and decrease the mortality rate of the disease. Previously, an association has been found between the severity of COVID-19 and the genetic markers rs11385942 G>GA and rs657152 A>C.The aim. To assess the impact of carrying polymorphic markers rs11385942 G>GA and rs657152 A>C on the severity of COVID-19 in patients undergoing specific therapy. Materials and methods. A total of 240 patients hospitalized with a coronavirus infection were included in the study. All patients received therapy with favipiravir or remdesivir. The presence of the rs11385942 G>GA and rs657152 A>C variants was determined in all patients. The study compared the length of hospital stays, frequency of patient transfers to the intensive care unit (ICU), and frequency of clinical outcomes (recovery or death) among carriers of allelic variants of the markers under investigation.Results. There were no significant associations between the carriage of variants rs11385942 G>GA and rs657152 A>C and the duration of patients’ hospitalization, frequency of patient transfers to the ICU, and patient outcomes.Conclusion. The carriage of rs11385942 G>GA and rs657152 A>C variants did not affect the severity or type of clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19