Antiviral potential of plant polysaccharide nanoparticles actuating non-specific immunity

The development of high-end targeted drugs and vaccines against modern pandemic infections, such as COVID-19, can take a too long time that lets the epidemic spin up and harms society. However, the countermeasures must be applied against the infection in this period until the targeted drugs became available. In this regard, the non-specific, broad-spectrum anti-viral means could be considered as a compromise allowing overcoming the period of trial. One way to enhance the ability to resist the infection is to activate the nonspecific immunity using a suitable driving-up agent, such as plant polysaccharides, particularly our drug Panavir isolated from the potato shoots. Earlier, we have shown the noticeable anti-viral and anti-bacterial activity of Panavir. Here we demonstrate the pro-inflammation activity of Panavir, which four-to-eight times intensified the ATP and MIF secretion by HL-60 cells. This effect was mediated by the active phagocytosis of the Panavir particles by the cells. We hypothesized the physiological basis of the Panavir proinflammatory activity is mediated by the indol-containing compounds (auxins) present in Panavir and acting as a plant analog of serotonin

Rivision of Pelagic Ostracods of the Subfamily Archiconchoecinae

Pelagic ostracods of the subfamily Archiconchoecinae have been revised. Their single genus Archiconchoecia Mi.iller, 1894 has been divided into seven genera and two subgenera: Archiconchoecia (Archiconchoecia) Mi.iller, 1894, Archiconchoecia (Archiconchoecidia) subgen. nov., Archiconchoecilla gen. nov., Archiconchoecissa gen. nov., Archiconchoecemma gen. nov., Archiconchoecinna gen. nov., Archiconchoecetta gen. nov. and Archiconchoecerra gen. nov. Six new genera, a new subgenus and seven new species have been described in detail. A redescription was made for the additional known taxa, Archiconchoecilla maculata (Chavtur, 1977) and Archiconchoecemma orientalis (Chavtur, 1987). A detailed synonymy and data on distribution are given for all species, and for some species morphological comments also have been added. Keys were elaborated for all taxa. The distribution of ostracods of the subfamily Archiconchoecinae has been discussed