Comparative genomics and evolutionary analysis of dengue virus strains circulating in Pakistan.

Dengue fever virus (DENV) poses a significant public health risk in tropical and subtropical regions across the world. Although the dengue fever virus (DENV) exhibits significant genetic diversity and has the potential to evolve, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the comparative genomics and evolutionary dynamics of the virus in Pakistan. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the circulation of all four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1, - 2, - 3, and - 4) with prevalent genotypes III and V within DENV-1, cosmopolitan genotype within DENV-2, genotype III within DENV-3, and genotype I within DENV-4 during 2006-2014.

Repurposing of Plant-based Antiviral Molecules for the Treatment of COVID-19.

COVID-19, stemming from SARS-CoV-2, poses a formidable threat to global healthcare, with a staggering 77 million confirmed cases and 690,067 deaths recorded till December 24, 2023. Given the absence of specific drugs for this viral infection, the exploration of novel antiviral compounds becomes imperative. High-throughput technologies are actively engaged in drug discovery, and there is a parallel effort to repurpose plant-based molecules with established antiviral properties.