INTRODUCTION:This study aimed to investigate the potential of LQPN-05, a compound derived from Fridericia platyphylla flowers, as a novel antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2. METHODS:Molecular modeling and dynamics simulations were used to analyze the interaction between LQPN-05 and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. In vitro assays assessed spike protein thermal stability and antiviral activity in infected cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in cell lines, and efficacy was further tested in an animal model of SARS-CoV- -2 infection. RESULTS:Simulations revealed favorable binding of LQPN-05 to the spike protein, particularly protomer C. In vitro, LQPN-05 modified the spike protein's melting temperature and inhibited viral replication. The compound showed minimal cytotoxicity and, in vivo, helped maintain animal weight and cellular lung organization per fractal analysis. DISCUSSION:The results signify LQPN-05's potential as a spike protein inhibitor from a natural source. Its efficacy amid concerns of drug resistance is notable. Study limitations include the preliminary nature of the in vivo findings. CONCLUSION:LQPN-05 demonstrates promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, underscoring the value of exploring natural compounds for antiviral therapy against emerging pathogens.
Conversion of biogas into syngas expands its application scope from fuel for power generation to industrial feedstock for the synthesis of value-added chemicals; however, it is restricted to the limited CH4 conversion due to the mismatch between CH4/CO2 feeding ratios of biogas and the stoichiometry of the CH4 dry reforming reaction. Herein, we proposed a novel calcium-looping biogas dry reforming process (CaL-BR) to supplement exogenous CO2 into biogas in situ by the introduction of a CaO-based carbon-carrying cycle. Using the facilely prepared composite material CaO-Ni/Al2O3_1 for CaL-BR at 750 degrees C, the CH4 conversion was over 65% and 16.4% higher than that of conventional biogas reforming, enabling the syngas yield to reach as high as 136.7 mmol/g. Importantly, the proposed process exhibited superior cyclic stability with a decay in the biogas reforming performance below 3% over 20 CaL-BR cycles under typical biogas CH4/CO2 feeding ratios, which was confirmed to be a consequence of the suppressed sintering of Ni particles and carbon deposition. The proposed CaL-BR process offered a promising option to make the best of the CH4 resource in biogas with the simultaneous capture and conversion of CO2.
In Western Ethiopia, acidic soils containing high levels of aluminium significantly reduce maize crop yields. The present study was conducted to evaluate how well seven maize parent lines, which had previously been screened for aluminium tolerance under hydroponic conditions. Using a half-diallel mating design (Griffing’s Method 4, Model 1), 21 single-cross hybrids were developed. These hybrids were then grown and tested in naturally acidic field conditions at Migna Kersa in the Leka Dulecha district during the 2023 main growing season. Statistical analysis showed that most measured traits had highly significant genetic variations (P < 0.01), indicating substantial genetic diversity among the tested plant materials. The study found that both general combining ability and specific combining ability were statistically significant, proving that trait inheritance in acidic soil conditions involves both simple additive genetic effects and more complex non-additive interactions. Three specific parent lines, VL144091, VL153179, and VL144011, demonstrated significant positive general combining ability for most traits, making them valuable candidates for developing acid-tolerant hybrid varieties. Particular hybrid combinations, especially VL144091 × VL153179 and VL144091 × VL144011, achieved superior yield performance and showed positive specific combining ability effects. These findings highlight the effectiveness of diallel mating design and combining ability analysis in identifying key traits and parent lines for improving maize performance under acidic soil conditions. Multi-environment trials are recommended to validate the stability and adaptability of the superior hybrids.
Determination of morphological and mineral composition of blood of calves on the basis of serum analysis is one of the modern diagnostic indicators of physiological state of the organism. On the basis of experimental data the changes in morphological and mineral composition of blood of six-month-old calves of Simmental breed were analyzed when phytobiotic, probiotic “SBT-Lacto” and their complex were included in the feed ration. Within the framework of the performed research the change of morphological indicators (hemoglobin, erythrocytes, leukocytes content) and mineral indicators (magnesium, iron, copper, zinc content) was studied. In the course of the study it was revealed that the greatest influence on the morphological composition of blood of calves had the inclusion in the feed ration of a complex of phyto-additives in the form of thyme extract and probiotic “SBT-Lacto”. Thus, the complex of probiotic and phytobiotic increased hemoglobin content by 8.4%, erythrocytes by 17.9% and leukocytes by 13.6% in relation to the control group with traditional feed ration. The results of the study showed that the inclusion of phytobiotic in the feed ration increased the level of iron in the blood: 43.72 ± 0.41 mg/%, which is 5.7% higher compared to the index of calves of the control group. The addition of probiotic to the feed ration of calves increased the content of magnesium, copper, manganese and zinc in relation to mineral indices of other experimental groups and control group. In turn, the inclusion of probiotic and phytobiotic complex in the feed ration increased such indicators as hemoglobin, erythrocyte and leukocyte content by 9.2 g/%, 21.8 × 1012/l and 15.8 × 109/l, respectively, compared to the control
Avena sativa L. is the most typical cultivated oat species, highly valued as a good source of essential nutrients. Its genome stores a great mass of repetitive elements (86,95%) including Ty1-copia LTR-retrotransposons. Their activation in a stress environment was characterized in tobacco as a defence response. The genomic activity of OARE-1 was studied by PBS, IRAP DNA-based marker techniques and transcriptomic activity of OARE-1 was measured by qPCR in three varieties of oat including analysis of five morphological parts. Both DNA marker techniques were able to describe various profiles, PBS with 49 loci and PIC value of 0,303, IRAP with 218 loci and average PIC value of 0,291. A very variable fingerprint profiles were obtained, and no variety specificity was confirmed. The highest expression level of OARE-1 showed samples of root and the lowest levels of OARE-1 were expressed by chaff samples.
