Monali Priyadarsini Mishra

Introduction: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the gender disparity in COVID-19 prevalence and the potential protective impact of female sex hormones against the virus. Methods: A literature review was conducted to correlate previously reported molecular mechanisms of estrogen and their possible implications for minimizing risks associated with new coronaviruses. Discussion: Estrogen may contribute to improved immune regulation and reduced viral pathogenesis, helping explain sex-based differences in COVID-19 outcomes. Conclusion: Both natural and synthesised oestrogen have immune-modulatory properties that may help prevent viral pathogenesis and provide a solid basis for future COVID-19 antiviral treatments.

In this study, iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized using two approaches namely a conventional chemical co-precipitation method and a green synthesis route utilizing Azadirachta indica leaf extract, which simultaneously functions as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Following synthesis, the nanoparticles underwent characterization to assess their optical behaviour along with structural and morphological features. Through XRD characterization, Fe2O3 was identified in its rhombohedral crystalline configuration, with average particle sizes measured as 42 nm for co-precipitation-derived samples and 35 nm for those synthesized via the green route. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed size variations between the two synthesis routes, with the green method producing relatively smaller and more uniformly dispersed nanoparticles. UV-Vis absorption spectra indicated the characteristic optical transitions with slight band gap variations, attributed to particle size and surface modifications by phytochemicals present in the neem extract. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed characteristic Fe–O bond vibrations together with biomolecular groups in Fe2O3 nanoparticles produced via the neem-assisted route. Antimicrobial testing performed using the agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli showed that the green-synthesized particles achieved greater inhibition zones. This enhancement is associated with their nanoscale size, enlarged surface-to-volume ratio and the functional bioactive molecules originating from neem extract. Overall, the study underscores the potential of green synthesis for designing effective and biocompatible antibacterial nanomaterials.

The emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis and limitations of existing treatment regimens have underscored the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. This chapter explores recent advancements in TB treatment, focusing on novel and repurposed drugs such as bedaquiline, delamanid, and pretomanid, along with the development of shorter, all-oral regimens. It reviews key clinical trials that have shaped current treatment guidelines and examines innovative drug delivery systems, including nanotechnology and inhaled therapies. The role of host-directed therapies, and supportive diagnostic innovations are also discussed. Challenges such as drug resistance and equitable access to new treatments are critically analysed. By highlighting ongoing research and global initiatives, the chapter emphasizes the potential of a multifaceted approach to transform TB care and contribute to global TB elimination efforts.

Background: Anogeissus acuminata leaf extract is utilized in the different purposes. Objective: Antibacterial activity of organic solvent fractions of crude leaf extract of Anogeissus acuminata was used against multidrug-resistant strains of 9 pathogenic bacteria isolated from urine samples of patients with urinary tract infections. Methodology: The n-butanol fraction revealed effective control over pathogens, and the zone size was 21 mm as a measure of antibacterial activity against Proteus mirabilis. The gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis indicated the presence of 15 phyto-compounds with docking score values -5 to -7 kcal/mol in a molecular docking attempt against β-lactamase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results: The isolated chemicals, conocarpan and dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol, had comparatively effective docking scores, -10.908 and -10.081 kcal/mol, respectively. In toxicity testing, the experimental minimum inhibitory concentration value was 600 mg/L, and the computed lethal concentration25 value was 1698.24 mg/L during cytotoxicity assay; it was observed that comet was not found in the cells treated leaf extract. Conclusion: The isolated compounds conocarpan and dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol achieved successful docking scores against -lactamase in the molecular docking attempt. When the leaf extract was seen using lymphocytes grown from UCB, it was determined that it had no host toxicity. Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases, December 2024;11(2):93-101

Natural regimens have long-held ethnomedicinal values, serving as primary sources for mainstream medicine. Therefore, scientists are paying more attention to studying the biological activity of existing plant species in organized ways to select potent bioactive metabolites to use for specific therapeutic purposes. This study used the same approach to find potent antibacterial phytoconstituents in three well-known Indian medicinal plants: Psidium guajava L., Syzygium cumini L. and Punica granatum L. In the earlier study, methanolic leaf extracts of the above plant extracts were more effective than n-hexane extracts against biofilm and drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Accordingly, we selected methanolic crude extracts for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the phytoconstituents presented. In addition, we added a few reported candidates from the above plant extracts for molecular docking studies against four bacterial targets. For molecular docking studies, we retrieved all phytoconstituents or ligands from the PubChem database and bacterial target proteins from the protein data bank using PyRx 0.8-AutoDock 4.2 software. Furthermore, we used various bioinformatics and chemoinformatics tools to examine the investigated phytoconstituents physicochemical properties, toxicity, and drug-ability profiles. Out of the 30 GC-MS report-derived candidates from three plants, P5 from P. guajava, P18 from S. cumini, and P21 from P. granatum had the potent binding ability with bacterial targets. In the same way, out of the 30 reported candidates, P39, P43, and P56 from three plants, along with amikacin, showed strong binding against the same bacterial target. Both sets of candidates showed favorable physicochemical and toxicity profiles; however, all GC-MS-derived and few reported candidates exhibited negative drug-likeness. The study reveals that these crude extracts have antibacterial properties because they contain both GC-MS and existing phytoconstituents. The study starts with a crude extraction and then uses bioinformatics to choose two possible antibacterial candidates, ursolic acid and punicacortein A. This platform could be useful for finding an antibacterial agent that works specifically on a specific target. To sum up, the study encourages the isolation of more bioactive candidates from different Indian medicinal plants and uses bioinformatics tools to speed up the selection of strong leads that can speed up the process of making antibacterial drugs within limited resources.

Organic farmers use nitrogen-fixing cover crops, herbicides, and biological fertilizers derived chiefly from animal and plant wastes. Curcumin levels are higher in this turmeric variety than in other types with differing pharmacological effects. Growing concerns about the safety of chemical fertilizers have heightened the need to identify locally adapted microbial strains that can be employed as a growth-promoting inoculum. Although research on the microbial diversity of the soil in Kandhamal and Koraput, India, was published, there is still a lack of information about the microbial community of the turmeric that is indigenous to these regions. This research compares and contrasts organically grown turmeric's growth-promoting and antibacterial activities with normally developed turmeric. This is a preliminary study that focuses on the microbiota communities of the study region. In vitro results showed that these properties have been shown to positively affect the development and nutritional content of studied turmeric plants; hence, they are regarded as key plant growth promoters. Using conventional and organic soil, both Kandhamal and Koraput rhizome sample was planted. The aqueous and methanolic rhizome extracts from both soil conditions were extracted. The Agar well diffusion method examined the rhizome extract's antibacterial activity. Bacteria were isolated and characterized from the rhizosphere and conducted various biochemical experiments. When tested against nine human pathogenic microorganisms, rhizomes harvested with vermicompost showed significantly increased antibacterial activity. The rhizospheric bacteria isolated from the organic soil region also help promote plant growth and development and provide adequate nutrients for growth and development. In every single experiment, the organically produced rhizome yielded superior results. The present study concludes that organic turmeric showed better and more effective results in increasing nutrient content, antibacterial activity and yield. Potential field applications necessitate more study into these rhizobacteria's molecular and functional characterization. Future improvements to biocontrol methods may come from studies examining the viability of deploying integrative, long-term bio-formulations in the field. The present research can potentially be used to investigate antibiotic synthesis by microbial communities in turmeric soil.

In every age group, urinary tract infection (UTI) is found as a major recurrence infectious disorder. Bio-films produced by bacteria perform a vital role in causing infection in the tract of the urinary system, leading to recurrences and relapses. The purpose of this review is to present the role and mechanism of bio-film producing MDR Gram-negative bacteria causing UTI, their significance, additionally the challenges for remedy and prevention of catheter-associated UTI. This work appreciates a new understanding of bio-film producers which are having multi-drug resistance capability and focuses on the effect and control of bio-film producing uropathogenic bacteria related to catheterization. We have tried to analyze approaches to target bio-film and reported phytochemicals with anti-bio-film activity also updated on anti-bio-film therapy.

Objective: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains have emerged independently in diverse geographic zones and MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa cause surgical site infections. Nosocomial surveillance in orthopedic surgery wards of the hospital for 16 months is presented.Methods: A total of 621 wound swabs were cultured on blood and MacConkey agar plates for bacteria and Sabouraud dextrose agar for fungi.Results: From 468 bacterial colonies, 98 MRSA and 74 P. aeruginosa strains and 41 fungal strains were isolated, and fungal strains were 13 strains of Aspergillus niger, and 28 strains of Candida albicans. P. aeruginosa and S. aureus strains were susceptible to antibiotics tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin, vancomycin, levofloxacin, and amoxyclav. Similarly, A. niger and C. albicans were susceptible to antifungals, amphotericin B (AMB), liposomal AMB, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and caspofungin.Conclusion: Isolated MRSA strains were resistant to presently used common antibiotics, which attribute to the leading causatives of post-operative infection in orthopedic wounds, specifically.