Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Experimental Therapeutics

115-125.

Authors: Md. Mirajul Islam, Md. Fahim Israk, Md. Shoykot Jahan

Many countries have been seen two wave patterns of reported cases of coronavirus diseases. Still, a limited number of studies compared the epidemiological attributes of the first wave and second wave of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. This study was carried out to compare the epidemics of two waves in Bangladesh. This observational study data of suspected cases was collected from June 2020 to April 2021 from a local authorized diagnostic center. From June 27, 2020, to July 27, 2020, was considered as the first wave and from March 20, 2021, to April 20, 2021, was considered a second wave. This period was determined because of observing the highest number of positive cases during that period. Out of 21,359 cases, including 2429 (11.37%) individuals in the first wave and 4989 (23.36%) individuals in the second wave had RT-PCR test for disease confirmation. Among them, 315 people in the first wave and 630 in the second wave were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Male were more vernalized to the positive case, including 204 (64.8%) and 421 (66.8%) during the first and second waves, respectively. People under 41 found 56.2% positive cases during the first wave while it was 65.6% in the second wave. We also found 128 positive cases among international travelers. In conclusion, a large extent of different epidemiological attributes was found in the second wave compared to the first wave of the outbreaks.

136-147

Authors: Utari Satiman, Max Tulung, Jantje Pelealu, Christina Salaki, Beivy Jonathan Kolondam, Trina Ekawati Tallei, Talha Bin Emran, Arthur Pinaria

Spodoptera exigua (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a significant agricultural crop pest in Indonesia, causing significant economic losses in recent years. This species’ ability to survive on a wide variety of host plants provides an adaptive advantage for survival in the environment, which is facilitated by its high mobility, fecundity, and capability to acquire resistance to a broad spectrum of chemical pesticides. It is well-established that knowledge of diversity and evolutionary origins facilitate the development of pest management strategies. In the present study, we report the morphology, diversity and phylogeny analysis of S. exigua from North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The specimen from Rurukan have a body size and other segments that are longer than in Langowan and Modoinding. Dendrogram analysis shows that the similarity distance based on morphology ranges from 1-25%, which forms four clusters, where the specimen from Rurukan is separated from the rest of the specimens. The phylogeny of S. exigua from North Sulawesi, Indonesia, based on CO1 (Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) gene fragment, which is juxtaposed with CO1 data of the allied species from many geographical locations. A total of twenty-five isolates representing Indonesia, Japan, Germany, Thailand, India, UK, USA, Spain and Australia were compared. Nineteen sequences of S. exigua retrieved from GenBank were selected as references based on previous published phylogenic trees. The twenty-four isolates were scattered in two distinct clades indicating S. exigua is polyphyletic, but S. exigua from North Sulawesi, Indonesia is monophyletic.

163-175

Authors: Goutam Ghosh, Rabi Prasad Bodroth, Basabjit Dutta

Production of therapeutic proteins like Biosimilars uses a complex cell based fermentation and purification process. There are chances of errors in these complex production processes due to complexities in the molecular pathway that every protein follows. Therefore to produce a desired therapeutic protein that elicit the correct immunological response in the patient, one need to ensure that it must have correct sequence, size, structure so that they are recognized by the specific receptors. The quality of these therapeutic proteins is characterized through standard assays and methods such as SDS PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), IEF (Isoelectric focusing), Western Blot and other methods those are based on HPLC, Mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis to conform the desired molecular size, purity and identity of proteins. Thus in the process of validation of a method, equipment plays a critical role in ensuring the quality and safety of a biopharmaceutical product. It is always necessary to generate scientific data and information such as IQ (Installation qualification), OQ (Operational qualification) and PQ (Performance qualification) protocol and reports for each instrument employed in the process at the beginning and before the actual testing of the desired product. It is only after the completion of these activities, the product under different manufacturing steps can be characterized. Involvement of a software in conjunction to an equipment is also common and it is important that the software is in use with the equipment also meets the requirements of the CFR 21 FDA (Code of Federal Regulations, 21 Part 11 of US Food and Drug Administration), which is a legal requirement in a modern manufacturing process and hence it is important to comply with these rules as set of guidelines that will help to ensure the integrity and safety of data.

189-197

Authors: Trina Ekawati Tallei, Siti Marfuah, Abdul Hawil Abas, Andi Amelia Dwi Putri Abram, Nelsyani Pasappa, Putri Sri Anggini, Agus Supandi Soegoto, Fatima Wali, Talha Bin Emran

In recent years, the general public’s perception of modern diets and human health has shifted dramatically. Changes in lifestyle make people prefer fast food that is poor in nutrients, especially dietary fiber. Lack of dietary fiber is one of the contributions to the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, such as hypercholesterolemia and cancer, among the public. For this reason, efforts to introduce fiber-rich functional foods need to be encouraged. Nata, which is a high-fiber food made from organic plant sources, can be used as an alternative source of fiber for the community. It is hoped that this article will provide some insight into alternative sources of dietary fiber that can be produced by members of the community on their own.

218-228

Authors: Md. Chayan Ali, Anjumana Jannati Nur, Rizone Al Hasib, Rubaeit All Rakib, Mst. Shanzeda Khatun, Md Mafizur Rahman, Md. Shahedur Rahman, Md. Khasrul Alam, Md. Abdullah Al Mashud, Mohammad Abu Hena Mostofa Jamal

SARS-CoV-2, a new and fast circulating coronavirus strain, infected over 214 countries and territories worldwide and caused global health emergencies. The absence of appropriate medicines and vaccinations has further complicated the condition. SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is crucial for its propagation, and it is considered a striking target. This study used several computational approaches to determine the probable antagonist of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro from bioactive phytochemicals of Syzygium aromaticum. A total of 20 compounds were screened through in silico approach. The molecular dynamics simulation studies were then carried out for further insights. We found crategolic acid, oleanolic acid, and kaempferol have considerable binding affinity and important molecular contacts with catalytic pocket residues, His41-Cys145. The pharmacological properties through ADMET analysis also showed that these compounds could be used as safe drug candidates. The molecular dynamics simulation study further confirmed these compound’s stability with Mpro. However, further detailed in-vitro and in-vivo analyses are compulsory to evaluate the real potentiality of identified compounds.

241-246

Authors: Dinh-Toi chu, Nhat Le Bui, Yen-Vy Nguyen Thi, Suong-Mai Vu Ngoc

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly and caused significant damage to global public health as well as the economy. While the race of vaccine development witnessed a spectacular breakthrough with the introduction of highly effective vaccines such as BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, or AZD1222, no specific drug for COVID-19 treatment has been discovered yet. Recently, repurposing drugs classified into three main groups of mechanisms, including antivirus, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and immunomodulators, are investigated. As a result, Remdesivir and six other drugs are authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat patients infected by the SARS-CoV-2. This work aims to highlight that, besides vaccines, COVID-19 drugs should get more attention and be considered as one of the most promising strategies to safely coexist with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the new normal status and for the mutations of the virus, such as the omicron variant.