25 research outputs found
The prevalence, preventive measures and economic impact of pandemic COVID-19 in India : the initial phase
The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is posing a serious threat to the mankind with its massive infection rate and potentially fatality. A total of 212 countries have been infected within the 112 days of fi rst report causing 2 314 621 confi rmed cases and 157 847 deaths worldwide. India, the country which is already battling with poverty, malnutrition and high population density is also at the second stage of coronavirus transmission. The situation is worsening and the attention has focused on the prevalence and preventive measures to be taken to protect 1.35 billion people of the largest democratic country of the world. In this review, a study has been designed to evaluate the prevalence, transmission, clinical symptoms, and preventive measures to control the community transmission of this fatal disease. The initial impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak on Indian economy has also been dealt with. This study reviews and summarizes the main points of the epidemic in India until the end of April 2020
Naturally Occurring Anthraquinones as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease: A Molecular Docking Study
Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has quickly spread
throughout the globe, affecting millions of people. The World Health Organization
(WHO) has recently declared this infectious disease as a pandemic. At present, several
clinical trials are going on to identify possible drugs for treating this
infection. SARS-CoV-2 Mpro is one of the most critical drug targets
for the blockage of viral replication.
Method: The blind molecular docking
analyses of natural anthraquinones with SARS-CoV-2 Mpro were carried
out in an online server, SWISSDOCK, which is based on EADock DSS docking
software.
Results: Blind molecular docking studies
indicated that several natural antiviral anthraquinones
could prove to be effective inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 Mpro of
COVID-19 as they bind near the active site having the catalytic dyad, HIS41 and
CYS145 through non-covalent forces. The anthraquinones showed less inhibitory
potential as compared to the FDA approved drug, remdesivir.
Conclusion: Among the natural anthraquinones, alterporriol Q could be the most potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro
among the natural anthraquinones studied here, as its ∆G value differed from that of remdesivir only by 0.51 kcal/ mol. The
uses of these alternate compounds might be favorable for the treatment of the
COVID-19.</p
Spin alignment measurement of vector mesons produced in high energy collisions
This paper covers the recent experimental development on spin alignment measurements of K∗0 and ϕ vector mesons in heavy-ion and pp collisions at RHIC and LHC energies. Measurements in e+e− collisions at LEP energies are also discussed. Spin alignment of vector mesons is studied by measuring the second diagonal element ρ00 of spin density matrix. The spin density matrix element ρ00 is obtained by measuring the angular distribution of vector meson decay daughter with respect to the quantization axis in vector meson rest frame. Measured ρ00 values for vector mesons are found to be larger than 1/3 at high momentum in e+e− collisions at LEP energies, suggesting the preferential production of vector meson with helicity zero state from the fragmentation process. The ρ00 values are found to be smaller than 1/3 (ρ00 = 1/3 implies no spin alignment) for K∗0 and ϕ vector mesons at low transverse momentum in Pb–Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV. These observations are qualitatively consistent with the expectation from models which attribute the spin alignment effect due to polarization of quarks in the presence of large initial angular momentum in noncentral heavy-ion collisions and its subsequent hadronization by the process of recombination. No significant spin alignment effect is observed for KS0 (spin = 0) in mid-central Pb–Pb collisions and for vector mesons in pp collisions. However, the preliminary results of ρ00 for ϕ mesons are larger than 1/3 at intermediate pT in Au–Au collisions at RHIC energies and can be attributed to the presence of ϕ meson field. Although there is evidence of spin alignment effect of vector mesons in heavy-ion collisions but the measured effect is surprisingly larger in context of hyperon polarization. Therefore, these results will trigger further theoretical study.This review covers the recent experimental development on spin alignment measurements of and vector mesons in heavy-ion and pp collisions at RHIC and LHC energies. Measurements in collisions at LEP energies are also discussed. Spin alignment of vector mesons are studied by measuring the second diagonal element of spin density matrix. The is obtained by measuring the angular distribution of vector meson decay daughter with respect to the quantization axis in vector meson rest frame. Measured values for vector mesons are found to be larger than 1/3 at high momentum in collisions at LEP energies, suggesting the preferential production of vector meson with helicity zero state from the fragmentation process. The values are found to be smaller than 1/3 ( = 1/3 implies no spin alignment) for and vector mesons at low transverse momentum in Pb--Pb collisions at = 2.76 TeV. This observations are qualitatively consistent with the expectation from models which attribute the spin alignment effect due to polarization of quarks in the presence of large initial angular momentum in non-central heavy-ion collisions and its subsequent hadronization by the process of recombination. No significant spin alignment effect is observed for (spin = 0) in mid-central Pb--Pb collisions and for vector mesons in pp collisions. However, the preliminary results of for mesons are larger than 1/3 at intermediate in Au--Au collisions at RHIC energies and can be attributed to the presence of meson field. Although there is evidence of spin alignment effect of vector mesons in heavy-ion collisions but the measured effect is surprisingly larger in context of hyperon polarization. Therefore these results will trigger further theoretical study
A Ratiometric, Two-Photon Fluorescent Probe for Endogenous Hypochlorous Acid Detection in Live Cells and Tissues
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In Silico Screening of Naturally Occurring Coumarin Derivatives for the Inhibition of the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2
The dissemination of a novel corona
virus, SARS-CoV-2, through rapid human to human transmission has led to a
global health emergency. The lack of a vaccine or medication for effective treatment
of this disease has made it imperative for developing novel drug discovery
approaches. Repurposing of drugs is one such method currently being used to
tackle the viral infection. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 replicates due to the
functioning of a main protease called Mpro. By targeting the active
site of Mpro with potential inhibitors, this could prevent viral
replication from taking place. Blind docking technique was used to investigate
the interactions between 29 naturally occurring coumarin compounds and
SARS-CoV-2 main protease, Mpro, out of which 17 coumarin compounds
were seen to bind to the active site through the interaction with the catalytic
dyad, His41 and Cys145, along with other neighbouring residues. On comparing
the ΔG values of the coumarins bound to the active site of Mpro,
corymbocoumarin belonging to the class pyranocoumarins, methylgalbanate
belonging to the class simple coumarins and heraclenol belonging to the class
furanocoumarins, displayed best binding efficiency and could be considered as
potential Mpro protease inhibitors. Preliminary screening of these
naturally occurring coumarin compounds as potential SARS-CoV-2 replication
inhibitors acts as a stepping stone for further in vitro and in vivo
experimental investigation and analytical validation. </p
An Investigation into the Identification of Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Using Molecular Docking Study
A new strain
of a novel infectious disease affecting millions of people, caused by severe
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has recently been
declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Currently,
several clinical trials are underway to identify specific drugs for the
treatment of this novel virus. The inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease
is necessary for the blockage of the viral replication. Here, in this study, we
have utilized a blind molecular docking approach to identify the possible
inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, by screening a total of 33
molecules which includes natural products, anti-virals, anti-fungals,
anti-nematodes and anti-protozoals. All the studied molecules could bind to the
active site of the SARS-CoV-2 protease (PDB: 6Y84), out of which rutin (a
natural compound) has the highest inhibitor efficiency among the 33 molecules
studied, followed by ritonavir (control drug), emetine (anti-protozoal),
hesperidin (a natural compound), lopinavir (control drug) and indinavir
(anti-viral drug). All the molecules, studied out here could bind near the
crucial catalytic residues, HIS41 and CYS145 of the main protease, and the
molecules were surrounded by other active site residues like MET49, GLY143,
HIS163, HIS164, GLU166, PRO168, and GLN189. As this study is based on molecular
docking, hence being particular about the results obtained, requires extensive
wet-lab experimentation and clinical trials under in vitro as well as in vivo conditions
Proton-Induced Switching of an Intrinsically Disordered Domain of a Melanosomal Protein into a Polymorphic Functional Amyloid
Two-photon Absorbing 8-hydroxy-benzocoumarins: Environment Insensitive Dye with Large Stroke Shift
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