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Fulltext Isolation and Identification of Inter-Species Enterovirus Recombinant Genomes

Bentley K, Tee HK, Pearson A, Lowry K, Waugh S, Jones S, et al.

Viruses, 2021 11 29;13(12).
PMID: 34960659 DOI: 10.3390/v13122390

Positive-strand RNA virus evolution is partly attributed to the process of recombination. Although common between closely genetically related viruses, such as within species of the Enterovirus genus of the Picornaviridae family, inter-species recombination is rarely observed in nature. Recent studies have shown recombination is a ubiquitous process, resulting in a wide range of recombinant genomes and progeny viruses. While not all recombinant genomes yield infectious progeny virus, their existence and continued evolution during replication have critical implications for the evolution of the virus population. In this study, we utilised an in vitro recombination assay to demonstrate inter-species recombination events between viruses from four enterovirus species, A-D. We show that inter-species recombinant genomes are generated in vitro with polymerase template-switching events occurring within the virus polyprotein coding region. However, these genomes did not yield infectious progeny virus. Analysis and attempted recovery of a constructed recombinant cDNA revealed a restriction in positive-strand but not negative-strand RNA synthesis, indicating a significant block in replication. This study demonstrates the propensity for inter-species recombination at the genome level but suggests that significant sequence plasticity would be required in order to overcome blocks in the virus life cycle and allow for the production of infectious viruses.
Manasamitra Vatakam on Scopolamine-Induced Amnesia in Female Wistar Rats

Sankar A, Kandasamy D, Jones S, Radhakrishan A, Janaki CS, Sheriff D, et al.

J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2024 Apr;16(Suppl 2):S1824-S1828.
PMID: 38882815 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_9_24

BACKGROUND: Neurodegenerative diseases induce amnesia, and effective treatment is still elusive. Aims and Objectives: The present study highlights the ameliorating effects of Manasa Mitra Vatakam (MMV) using behavioral parameters on scopolamine-induced memory loss in female Wistar rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: MMV was compared with DPZ as a standard in the present study to determine the behavioral parameters through elevated plus maze (Hebb William maze/rectangular maze)and locomotor activity in scopolamine-induced memory loss in female Wistar rats.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results of the study illustrate the effectiveness of MMV in reversing memory dysfunction and memory-enhancing effects.
CONCLUSION: The study paves the way for exploring research in CNS disorders and its potential application in drug-induced neurotoxicity.
Deleterious effect of gestagens from wastewater effluent on fish reproduction in aquatic environment: A review

Jenila JS, Issac PK, Lam SS, Oviya JC, Jones S, Munusamy-Ramanujam G, et al.

Environ Res, 2023 Nov 01;236(Pt 2):116810.
PMID: 37532209 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116810

Gestagens are common pollutants accumulated in the aquatic ecosystem. Gestagens are comprised of natural gestagens (i.e. progesterone) and synthetic gestagens (i.e. progestins). The major contributors of gestagens in the environment are paper plant mill effluent, wastewater treatment plants, discharge from pharmaceutical manufacturing, and livestock farming. Gestagens present in the aquatic environment interact with progesterone receptors and other steroid hormone receptors, negatively influencing fish reproduction, development, and behavior. In fish, the gonadotropin induces 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) production, an important steroid hormone involved in gametogenesis. DHP interacts with the membrane progestin receptor (mPR), which regulates sperm motility and oocyte maturation. Gestagens also interfere with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which results in altered hormone levels in fish. Moreover, recent studies showed that even at low concentrations exposure to gestagens can have detrimental effects on fish reproduction, including reduced egg production, masculinization, feminization in males, and altered sex ratio, raising concerns about their impact on the fish population. This review highlights the hormonal regulation of sperm motility, oocyte maturation, the concentration of environmental gestagens in the aquatic environment, and their detrimental effects on fish reproduction. However, the long-term and combined impacts of multiple gestagens, including their interactions with other pollutants on fish populations and ecosystems are not well understood. The lack of standardized regulations and monitoring protocols for gestagens pollution in wastewater effluent hampers effective control and management. Nonetheless, advancements in analytical techniques and biomonitoring methods provide potential solutions by enabling better detection and quantification of gestagens in aquatic ecosystems.
Seasonal influence on physicochemical properties of the sediments from Bay of Bengal coast with statistical approach

Pandion K, Dowlath MJH, Arunachalam KD, Abd-Elkader OH, Yadav KK, Nazir N, et al.

Environ Res, 2023 Oct 15;235:116611.
PMID: 37437863 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116611

The current study aims to investigate the influence of seasonal changes on the pollution loads of the sediment of a coastal area in terms of its physicochemical features. The research will focus on analyzing the nutrients, organic carbon and particle size of the sediment samples collected from 12 different sampling stations in 3 different seasons along the coastal area. Additionally, the study discusses about the impact of anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and urbanization and natural activities such as monsoon on the sediment quality of the coastal area. The nutrient changes in the sediment were found to be: pH (7.96-9.45), EC (2.89-5.23 dS/m), nitrogen (23.98-57.23 mg/kg), phosphorus (7.75-11.36 mg/kg), potassium (217-398 mg/kg), overall organic carbon (0.35-0.99%), and sediment proportions (8.91-9.3%). Several statistical methods were used to investigate changes in sediment quality. According to the three-way ANOVA test, the mean value of the sediments differs significantly with each season. It correlates significantly with principal factor analysis and cluster analysis across seasons, implying contamination from both natural and man-made sources. This study will contribute to developing effective management strategies for the protection and restoration of degraded coastal ecosystem.