https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=covid19

SARS-CoV-2

Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds

Highly efficient extraction of thorium from aqueous solution by fungal mycelium-based microspheres fabricated via immobilization

Dynamic proteome responses to sequential reduction of Cr(VI) and adsorption of Pb(II) by Pannonibacter phragmitetus BB.

Effects of micro-/nano-hydroxyapatite and phytoremediation on fungal community structure in copper contaminated soil

The present study has been undertaken to find out the potential of soil inhabiting fungi within freshwater ecosystem for the bioaccumulation to ensure the removal of such toxic heavy metals from the aquatic system. Several species of soil inhabiting fungi have been isolated from different stretches of Subarnarekha River (upstream, middle part and extreme downstream) at the confluence of the river with sea. Aspergillus penicillioides has been found to exhibit maximum heavy metal tolerance ability up to 1000 ppm of Cd(II), and Pb(II). The strain was identified with amplification and sequencing of ITS genetic system. A. penicillioides has also been observed to produce huge amount of exopolysaccharide that helps in maximum heavy metals immobilization. In such context, it can be inferred that both biomass and exopolysaccharides are supposed to be responsible for heavy metal bioremediation from riverian flow.

Simultaneous Removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II) Using a Fungal Isolate, Aspergillus penicillioides (F12) from Subarnarekha Estuary

Optimization of heavy metal (lead) remedial activities of fungi Aspergillus penicillioides (F12) through extra cellular polymeric substances.

A total of 112 soil-inhabiting fungal isolates were recorded from different stretches of Subarnarekha river basin (21° 33′ to 23° 32′ north latitude and 85° 9′ to 87° 27′ east longitude), mainly its stretch within the state of West Bengal, India. All isolated fungal groups were grown into potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Fungal extracts were collected from the grown-up fungus colony after incubation of fungal culture in a liquid medium. Tests for estimation of coliform bacteria were conducted by MPN and MFT methods. Heavy metals were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and experimental designs were made following standard literature to observe antibacterial activity as well as to assess heavy metals removing potential of isolated fungal strains. The highest coliform count in MPN test (> 2400 MPN/100 ml) was recorded at S-II followed by S-I and S-III during monsoon season. Out of five identified fungal species (Fusarium sp., Rhizopus sp., Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp. Pythium sp.), the fungal strain, Aspergillus penicillioides F12 (MN210327) has exhibited the highest heavy metal tolerance activity. It showed resistance against Pb(II) and Cd(II) up to 1000 ppm and Hg(II) up to 200 ppm. Alongside, the specific fungal extracts of this species have also revealed antibacterial activity by proving their effectiveness as potential inhibitor against human pathogenic gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae, and gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.

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Eco-potential of Aspergillus penicillioides (F12): bioremediation and antibacterial activity

The increasing trend of eco-degradation of the different landscapes of the world, mostly because of human-mediated pollution has emerged as a burning environmental issue across the globe. This has necessitated to undertake sustainable eco-management in order not only to achieve proper eco-restoration of the disturbed and degraded ecosystems but also to ensure a continuous supply of ecosystem services. The embedded complexity and dynamism of the ecological problems of the riverine ecosystem require an in-depth analysis to achieve flexible, transparent, and viable environmental planning and management approaches incorporating and integrating a diversity of knowledge and values. Both the biomonitoring (an important component of eco-monitoring) and bioremediation (an integral part of any eco-restoration effort) help achieving the goal of sustainability of the functioning of the river ecosystem. This chapter of the book has dealt with the different merits and demits of such recent developments in the arena of aquatic ecosystem management practices citing case studies emphasizing on the functional roles of benthic mollusks and fungi from a transboundary river, named as Subarnarekha, India. In dealing with such studies, meticulous and detailed analyses of the ecology of these major groups of the organisms, both from the field-based and experimental studies have been made in order to justify their contribution to the biomonitoring and bioremediation process. Deduction of Water Quality Index (WQI), Biotic Community Indices, Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Bio-Concentration Factor (BCF) based on the major prevailing water quality parameters such as Dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), temperature, pH, turbidity, Total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, chloride, total hardness, etc.; geo-chemical parameters of soils such as moisture content, pH, texture (sand, silt, and clay), organic matter, available nitrogen, and toxic substances such as heavy metals alongside documenting the diversity, distribution, and abundance of studied species across the studied stretch of the riverine flows, have been correlated with the biomonitoring and bioremediation of the riverine ecosystem, alongside citing an update on the recent literature concerning the strategies available for biomonitoring and bioremediation focusing mainly on the metal-contaminated water bodies using aquatic biota with a critical discussion on their main advantages and limitations.

Biomonitoring and Bioremediation of a Transboundary River in India: Functional Roles of Benthic Mollusks and Fungi

Since the birth of Christ, in these 2019 years, the man on earth has never experienced a survival challenge from any acellular protist compared to SARS-CoV-2. No specific drugs yet been approved. The host immunity is the only alternative to prevent and or reduce the infection and mortality rate as well. Here, a novel mechanism of melanin mediated host immunity is proposed having potent biotechnological prospects in health care management of COVID-19. Vitamin D is known to enhance the rate of melanin synthesis; and this may concurrently regulate the expression of furin expression. In silico analyses have revealed that the intermediates of melanin are capable of binding strongly with the active site of furin protease. On the other hand, furin expression is negatively regulated via 1-α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), that belongs to vitamin-D pathway and controls cellular calcium levels. Here, we have envisaged the availability of biological melanin and elucidated the bio-medical potential. Thus, we propose a possible synergistic application of melanin and the enzyme CYP27B1 (regulates vitamin D biosynthesis) as a novel strategy to prevent viral entry through the inactivation of furin protease and aid in boosting our immunity at the cellular and humoral levels.

/pdf/synergy-of-melanin-and-vitamin-d-may-play-a-fundamental-role-3durarm81o.pdf

Kishalay Paria

Papers

Simultaneous Removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II) Using a Fungal Isolate, Aspergillus penicillioides (F12) from Subarnarekha Estuary

Optimization of heavy metal (lead) remedial activities of fungi Aspergillus penicillioides (F12) through extra cellular polymeric substances.

Eco-potential of Aspergillus penicillioides (F12): bioremediation and antibacterial activity

Biomonitoring and Bioremediation of a Transboundary River in India: Functional Roles of Benthic Mollusks and Fungi

Synergy of melanin and vitamin-D may play a fundamental role in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections and halt COVID-19 by inactivating furin protease