A multiplex SNaPshot assay for the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism associated with clinical severity of enterovirus infections.

Non-polio enterovirus infections are known to cause a variety of diseases and neurological complications. It is also known that the severity of these diseases largely differs among individuals with different genotypes and alleles. The Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) within specific genes have a considerable effect on the immune response to enteroviruses and on the outcome of disease, leading to variations in complications and infection susceptibility.

Common laboratory organic solvents are better medium for molecular detection of RNA viruses using PCR.

Purpose: The unavailability of recommended viral transport medium during epidemics of respiratory viral infections is a substantial healthcare concern. It may prompt the use of alternatives, which may give rise to results with questionable validity. The present study was carried out to assess and validate the utility of commonly available solvents in the hospital/healthcare set-ups which may be used as ready and economical alternatives to commercial VTMs.

Current landscape of long COVID clinical trials.

Long COVID was reported as a multi-systemic condition after the infection of SARS-CoV-2, and more than 65 million people are suffering from this disease. It has been noted that around 10% of severe SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals are suffering from the enduring effects of long COVID. The symptoms of long COVID have also been noted in several mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.

A novel thermoresponsive nano carrier matrix of hyaluronic acid, methotrexate and chitosan to target the cluster of differentiation 44 receptors in tumors.

Major challenges in current cancer chemotherapy include drug resistance, low efficacy and non-selectivity, resulting in undesirable side effects. In this study, we demonstrate a solution to these challenges that involves a dual targeting approach for tumors that overexpress CD44 receptors. The approach employs a nano-formulation (tHAC-MTX nano assembly), fabricated from hyaluronic acid (HA), the natural ligand for CD44, conjugated with methotrexate (MTX) and complexed with the thermoresponsive polymer 6-O-carboxymethylchitosan (6-OCMC) graft poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) [6-OCMC-g-PNIPAAm].

Poliovirus surveillance in patients with primary immunodeficiencies, India.

Individuals with primary immunodeficiencies who are infected with vaccine-derived polioviruses may continue to shed poliovirus for months and go undetected by surveillance programmes of acute flaccid paralysis. These patients therefore pose a risk of initiating poliovirus outbreaks that jeopardize efforts towards global polio eradication. To identify these individuals, we designed a study protocol for the establishment of a network for surveillance of immunodeficiency-related vaccine-derived poliovirus in India.

Safety and Evaluation of the Immune Response of Coronavirus Nosode (BiosimCovex) in Healthy Volunteers: A Preliminary Study Extending the Homeopathic Pathogenetic Trial.

: Regulatory clinical Phase I studies are aimed at establishing the human safety of an active pharmaceutical agent to be later marketed as a drug. Since homeopathic medicines are prepared by a potentizing method using alcohol, past a certain dilution, their toxicity/infectivity is assumed to be unlikely. We aimed to develop a bridge study between homeopathic pathogenetic trials and clinical trials.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among frontline police personnel in Mumbai, India.

Introduction: A serosurvey was designed to ascertain the extent of infection among police personnel in Mumbai, India, during the last week of January 2021, at the end of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and just before the introduction of vaccination.

Methods: The survey was carried out to screen for SARS-CoV-2 among 3232 police personnel. Of the 3176 participants willing for blood sample collection, 3077 personnel were found to be eligible for testing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus using the Roche Diagnostics' Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay.

Poliovirus nonpermissive CD155 knockout cells derived from RD cell line for handling poliovirus potentially infectious materials in virology laboratories.

Destruction of all poliovirus containing materials, safe and secure handling of retained polioviruses for vaccine production, and research will be obligatory to eliminate facility-associated risks. Polioviruses and poliovirus potentially infectious materials (PIM) including fecal or respiratory samples requiring containment have been defined in World Health Organization-Global Action Plan (GAP III) documents. Non-polio laboratories culturing viruses from PIM are most affected as cell cultures of human and monkey origin are also poliovirus permissive.

Antiviral Activity of Rosmarinic Acid Against Four Serotypes of Dengue Virus.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the putative antiviral activity of Rosmarinic acid (RA) against four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV). Our previous in silico binding analysis revealed that RA binds strongly to the envelope domain III (EDIII) protein of all four DENV serotypes. We employed an in vitro Biolayer Interferometry-based OCTET™ platform to study the binding interaction of RA with EDIII protein of the four DENV serotypes.

Comparative genomics, evolutionary epidemiology, and RBD-hACE2 receptor binding pattern in B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) related to their pandemic response in UK and India.

Background: The massive increase in COVID-19 infection had generated a second wave in India during May-June 2021 with a critical pandemic situation. The Delta variant (B.1.

Development of a RT-LAMP assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Background & Objectives: The pandemic of SARS-COV-2 began in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has caused more than 101 million cases worldwide. Diagnostic technologies possessing sensitivity and specificity equivalent to real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assays are needed to ramp up testing capacity in most countries. Newer platforms need to be technically less demanding, require minimum equipment and reduce turn-around time for reporting results.

binding analysis of lutein and rosmarinic acid against envelope domain III protein of dengue virus.

Objective: The study was performed to evaluate in silico binding ability of lutein and rosmarinic acid (RA) with the envelope domain III (EDIII) proteins of the four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV), enlightening potential antiviral activity of the two compounds.

Materials And Methods: EDIII protein structures for the four DENV serotypes were retrieved from RCSB Protein data bank (PDB) and used as receptors. Four ligands of lutein and four of RA were selected from the ZINC database and used for computational molecular docking and ligand interaction analysis with the four receptors using bioinformatics tools like AutoDock Vina and Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software.

Towards Integrated Management of Dengue in Mumbai.

With increasing urbanisation, the dengue disease burden is on the rise in India, especially in large cities such as Mumbai. Current dengue surveillance in Mumbai includes municipal corporation carrying out specific activities to reduce mosquito breeding sites and the use of insecticides to suppress the adult mosquito populations. Clinical cases remain either underreported or misreported due to the restriction to government clinics, missing the large private health care sector.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel antipyrine based α-aminophosphonates as anti-Alzheimer and anti-inflammatory agent.

Herein, a series of novel antipyrine based α-aminophosphonates derivatives were synthesized and characterized. The synthesized derivatives were subjected for cholinesterase inhibition, enzyme kinetic studies, protein denaturation assay, proteinase inhibitory assay and cell viability assay. For cholinesterase inhibition, the results inferred that the test compounds possess better AChE activity (0.

A rapid point of care CC16 kit for screening of occupational silica dust exposed workers for early detection of silicosis/silico-tuberculosis.

Silicosis is an irreversible, incurable and progressive occupational disease caused by prolonged exposure to crystalline-silica dust while working in the relevant industries. Conventionally diagnosis is done by chest radiology, often in an advanced stage as early symptoms often go unnoticed. Early detection and necessary intervention (secondary prevention) could be a realistic possible control strategy for controlling silicosis as no effective treatment is available to stop and/or reverse the pathological process.

Synthesis, characterization, in vitro cholinesterase and hRBCs hemolysis assay and computational evaluation of novel 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzothiazepine appended α-aminophosphonates.

A series of novel 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzothiazepine appended α-aminophosphonate derivatives were synthesized by subjecting 2,3-dihydrobenzothiazepine to Pudovik reaction using diethyl phosphite. Tested derivatives exhibited better AChE inhibition (0.86-12.

Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Feasibility Study, Evaluating the Efficacy of Homeopathic Medicines in the Prevention of COVID-19 in a Quarantined Population.

Introduction: Exploring preventive therapeutic measures has been among the biggest challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We explored the feasibility and methods of recruitment, retention, and potential signal of efficacy, of selected homeopathic medicines as preventive measure for developing COVID-19 in a multi-group study.

Methods: A six-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prophylaxis study was conducted in a COVID-19 exposed population in a quarantine facility in Mumbai, India.

Expression of innate immune response genes in upper airway samples of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients: A preliminary study.

Background & Objectives: Upper respiratory mucosa is the entryway for SARS-CoV-2, and cells at this site form the first line of resistance against the pathogens. Innate immune response at this point is crucial for managing the replication and early stage symptoms of virus infection. This study was aimed to evaluate the expression of pattern recognition receptors and cytokines in upper airway cells of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

CD155: A Key Receptor Playing Diversified Roles.

Cluster of differentiation (CD155), formerly identified as poliovirus receptor (PVR) and later as immunoglobulin molecule, is involved in cell adhesion, proliferation, invasion and migration. It is a surface protein expressed mostly on normal and transformed malignant cells. The expression of the receptor varies based on the origin of tissue.

Susceptibility and cytokine responses of human neuronal cells to multiple circulating EV-A71 genotypes in India.

Enterovirus-A71 (EV-A71) associated Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral infection affecting children in Asia-Pacific region and has become a major threat to public health. Although several EV-A71 genotypes (C, D, and G) were isolated in India in recent years, no recognizable outbreak of EV-A71 caused HFMD, Acute Flaccid paralysis (AFP) or encephalitis have been reported so far. It is essential to study the pathogenicity or cell tropism of these Indian isolates in order to understand their tendency to cause disease.