Bioactivity Potential of Marine Natural Products from Scleractinia-Associated Microbes and In Silico Anti-SARS-COV-2 Evaluation

Marine organisms and their associated microbes are rich in diverse chemical leads. With the development of marine biotechnology, a considerable number of research activities are focused on marine bacteria and fungi-derived bioactive compounds. Marine bacteria and fungi are ranked on the top of the hierarchy of all organisms, as they are responsible for producing a wide range of bioactive secondary metabolites with possible pharmaceutical applications. Thus, they have the potential to provide future drugs against challenging diseases, such as cancer, a range of viral diseases, malaria, and inflammation. This review aims at describing the literature on secondary metabolites that have been obtained from Scleractinian-associated organisms including bacteria, fungi, and zooxanthellae, with full coverage of the period from 1982 to 2020, as well as illustrating their biological activities and structure activity relationship (SAR). Moreover, all these compounds were filtered based on ADME analysis to determine their physicochemical properties, and 15 compounds were selected. The selected compounds were virtually investigated for potential inhibition for SARS-CoV-2 targets using molecular docking studies. Promising potential results against SARS-CoV-2 RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and methyltransferase (nsp16) are presented.     

Dry Atmospheric Contribution to the Plant–Soil System Around a Cement Factory: Spatial Variations and Sources—a Case Study from Oman

The present study determines the source of dust particles and investigates their impact on the chemical compositions of plants and soils around a cement factory in Oman within a radius of 10 km of this disturbed ecosystem. A total number of nine samples of the species of plants (Rhazya stricta), nine samples of soils, and nine samples of dust were collected and analyzed for major ions and trace elements including rare earth elements (REEs). Principal component analysis applied to the major and trace element concentrations in the dust indicated the input of at least two sources to the dust in the study area: ophiolites and cement. The REE distribution in the plants and soils revealed that the most available elements to plants originated dominantly from ophiolites rather than from cement. The contribution of cement industry is significant only in the zone located at about 0.500 to 2 km around the cement factory, whereas the contribution of ophiolites increases with distance from the cement factory.     

Risk analysis of non-native three-spot cichlid,Amphilophus trimaculatus, in the River Cauvery (India)

The three-spot cichlid Amphilophus trimaculatus (Günther) is an ornamental fish known to be invasive but has not been assessed for India. The present study confirmed this non-native species’ identity using conventional and molecular methods, as well as its occurrence in the River Cauvery, the first for this species in a lotic environment outside its native range. Gut content analysis indicated a diet of predominantly insects. The river's water quality and habitat were conducive for the species’ growth and reproduction. Using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit, A. trimaculatus was ranked as posing a “high” risk of being invasive in the River Cauvery, with climate match analysis showing 58% similarity with the species’ native range. Vector and pathway analysis found that A. trimaculatus was introduced to India via the aquarium trade, although consignment origin remains unknown, and the most likely means of entry into the river and its tributaries was the species’ escaping from holding facilities. Subsequent dispersal and impact of the species on native fauna are discussed. The study's outcomes demonstrate the importance of using risk analysis protocols to inform management of non-native species in India, with suggestions provided for immediate and long-term measures for the species’ management.     

Mining the biodiversity of plants: a revolution in the making

Only a small fraction of the immense diversity of plant metabolism has been explored for the production of new medicines and other products important to human well-being. The availability of inexpensive high-throughput sequencing is rapidly expanding the number of species that can be investigated for the speedy discovery of previously unknown enzymes and pathways. Exploitation of these resources is being carried out through interdisciplinary synthetic and chemical biology to engineer pathways in plant and microbial systems for improving the production of existing medicines and to create libraries of biologically active products that can be screened for new drug applications.     

Observations on bud burst phenology in a field trial established with Poplar (Populus spp.)

Bud flushing is very important for the survival and growth of trees, a phenomenon matched each year with the annual course of temperature and the timing of bud flushing in the spring. Essentially it represents a serious ecological and evolutionary tradeoff between survival and growth. The most suitable timing of bud burst permits trees to begin growth sufficiently early to take advantage of favorable spring conditions, but late enough to decrease the risks of tissue damage from late frost. In the present study bud burst spring phenology of poplar (Populus tremula and P. tremuloides) from eight different provenances, originating from Europe and the USA, was observed during March and April, 2009. The experimental plot was located at Solling, Germany (51°44′0″ N, 9°36′0″ E). A six stage subjective scoring system of bud burst phenology was used to identify the phenological stages of the seedlings, where each plant was observed twice a week. The aim of the study was to predict phenotypic variation in poplar, originating from regions between 42° and 60° N latitude, growing in similar environments. Timing of bud flushing of poplar was recorded. It was found that seedlings of provenance 3, which originated from 42.35° N latitude, started and completed flushing significantly earlier than those of other provenances, while seedlings of provenance 5, originating from 54.29° N latitude, started flushing very late and only a few plants reached top scoring at the end of the experimental period. Analysis of variance showed statistically highly significant differences (p < 0.05) in bud flushing among the provenances. The correlation between scoring and flushing periods was very strong within provenances although the flushing pattern differed among provenances (origin of the planted seedlings). Bud flushing showed a negative correlation with the origin of the planted seedlings. Given the field experience gained with this experiment, it is recommended that seedlings from provenances 5 and 8 could be used for future plantations where late frost may be a problem for the young shoots of seedlings.     

HLA and NK cell inhibitory receptor genes in resolving hepatitis C virus infection

Natural killer (NK) cells provide a central defense against viral infection by using inhibitory and activation receptors for major histocompatibility complex class I molecules as a means of controlling their activity. We show that genes encoding the inhibitory NK cell receptor KIR2DL3 and its human leukocyte antigen C group 1 (HLA-C1) ligand directly influence resolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This effect was observed in Caucasians and African Americans with expected low infectious doses of HCV but not in those with high-dose exposure, in whom the innate immune response is likely overwhelmed. The data strongly suggest that inhibitory NK cell interactions are important in determining antiviral immunity and that diminished inhibitory responses confer protection against HCV.     

The structure of a retinal-forming carotenoid oxygenase

Enzymes that produce retinal and related apocarotenoids constitute a sequence- and thus structure-related family, a member of which was analyzed by x-ray diffraction. This member is an oxygenase and contains an Fe2+-4-His arrangement at the axis of a seven-bladed beta-propeller chain fold covered by a dome formed by six large loops. The Fe2+ is accessible through a long nonpolar tunnel that holds a carotenoid derivative in one of the crystals. On binding, three consecutive double bonds of this carotenoid changed from a straight all-trans to a cranked cis-trans-cis conformation. The remaining trans bond is located at the dioxygen-ligated Fe2+ and cleaved by oxygen.     

Trace metal analysis of sewage sludge and soils in Bahrain

Trace metals such as Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd and Fe were determined in sewage sludge produced at a sewage treatment plant in Bahrain (Tubli) and soils. The soils, both untreated and treated with the sludge, are used for agricultural purposes in Bahrain. The Trace-metals level showed the following range (μg g^?1 dry weight); Pb, 242 to 609; Zn, 704 to 836, Cu, 329 to 512; Ni, 23 to 41; Cd, 1.8 to 3.9 and Fe, 1867 to 4284. The data show the degree to which untreated soils have already been contaminated with trace elements. The level of trace-elements found in sludge showed the following range (μg g^?1 dry weight); Pb, 140 to 186; Zn, 597 to 836; Cu, 348 to 449; Ni, 47 to 53; Cd 5.7 to 9.2 and Fe, 5950 to 8520. Mean levels were generally close or lower than mean concentration reported in the United Kingdom and the United States for sludge. They were also lower than the suggested concentration limits for application of sludge on agricultural land, which is one of the most cost effective and attractive techniques for sludge disposal. Soils treated with this sludge (after 1 yr) were also analyzed and showed substantial enhancement of the available level of trace elements in the soil. This eventually will lead to an increase in the trace-element level in plants grown for human or animal consumption. This could have phytotoxic effects, and the possibility of toxic effects on live-stocks and human beings.     

Effects of Salinity and Mixed Ammonium and Nitrate Nutrition on the Growth and Nitrogen Utilization of Barley

The absorption and utilization of nitrogen (N) by plants are affected by salinity and the form of N in the root medium. A hydroponic study was conducted under controlled conditions to investigate growth and N uptake by barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) supplied with five different NH₄⁺-N/NO₃⁻-N ratios at electrical conductivity of 0 and 8 dS m⁻¹. The five NH₄⁺-N/NO₃-N ratios were 0/100, 25/75, 50/50, 75/25 and 100/0, each giving a total N supply of 100 mg N l⁻¹ in the root medium. A mixed N supply of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ resulted in greater accumulation of N in plants than either NO₃⁻ or NH₄⁺ as the sole N source. Plants produced a significantly higher dry matter yield when grown with mixed N nutrition than with NH₄⁺ or NO₃⁻ alone. Total dry matter production and root and shoot N contents decreased with increasing salinity in the root medium. The interaction between salinity and N nutrition was found to be significant for all the variables. A significant positive correlation (r=0.97) was found between nitrogen level in the plant shoot and its dry matter yield.     

Salinity Effects on Growth and Ionic Relations of two Triticale Varieties Differing in Salt Tolerance

Two varieties of triticale possessing differential tolerance to salinity were grown in a glass-house in nutrient solution with or without the addition of 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl. Plants were harvested after 20, 30, 37 and 44 days of vegetative growth. Relatively salt sensitive variety had slightly better growth in nutrient solution without salt throughout the study period but it could not survive at 150 mM NaCl treatment upto the final harvest. Better relative growth rates of the salt tolerant variety were observed at all salt levels during the four harvests. A significant negative correlation between Cl in shoot tissue water and the growth depression was observed for the salt sensitive variety. Better salt tolerance of the relatively salt tolerant variety seemed to be due to its ability to avoid salt build-up in plant body which was confirmed by short term Na and Cl uptake from labelled solution of 100 mM NaCl.