Natural Substances in the Fight of SARS-CoV-2: A Critical Evaluation Resulting from the Cross-Fertilization of Molecular Modeling Data with the Pharmacological Aspects

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Gentile ◽  
Vincenzo Patamia ◽  
Virginia Fuochi ◽  
Pio M. Furneri ◽  
Antonio Rescifina

: The recent pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2, the last isolated human beta-coronavirus, has revolutionized modern knowledge of the pathogenesis of viral pneumonia. The lack of specific antiviral drugs and the need to develop adequate research for new antiviral drugs capable of treating this new form of the disease undertook three different research paths quickly. The first one is aimed to test antiviral molecules already present in therapeutic use, with a mechanism of an action directed towards viral proteins functional to replication or adsorption; the second one, it is the repositioning of molecules with known pharmacological activity for which various chemistry studies have been prepared in an attempt to find new and specific viral targets; the third, it is the search for molecules of natural origin for which to demonstrate a specific anti-coronavirus activity. Many databases of natural and synthetic substances have been used for the identification of potent inhibitors of various viral targets. The field of computer-aided drug design seems to be promising and useful for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors; hence, different structure- and ligand-based computational approaches have been used for their identification. This review analyzes in-depth and critically the most recent publications in the field of applied computational chemistry to find out molecules of natural origin with potent antiviral activity. Furthermore, a critical and functional selection of some molecules with the best hypothetical anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity is made for further studies by biological tests.

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 5014
Author(s):  
Giovanni Benelli

The Editorial outlines recent research advances in green insecticide research. Particular attention is devoted to studies shedding light on the modes of action and non-target toxicity of natural substances of plant origin. Research focusing on the development of new formulations (including those relating to nano-objects) to magnify the effectiveness and stability of green insecticides in the field represents key advances. Herein, a carefully reviewed selection of cutting edge articles about green pesticide development recently published in Molecules is presented. The impact of sub-lethal doses of green insecticides on insect behavioral traits is still overlooked, representing a timely challenge for further research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludwig Van Den Hauwe

AbstractAlthough Minsky’s interpretation of Keynes’s macroeconomics and essential message clashes with authoritative alternative interpretations, it has become increasingly influential during the years following the Global Financial Crisis, even in mainstream circles. This paper offers a critical evaluation of Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis from the perspective of the alternative Austro-Wicksellian paradigm. Although some of the similarities and/or analogies between Minsky’s approach and that of the Austrian School suggest a more than merely superficial affinity between the two theoretical frameworks and although some scope for cross-fertilization between both approaches can be found, both theoretically and empirically, at a fundamental conceptual level both theories remain incompatible and difficult if not impossible to reconcile, in particular in terms of fundamental causality and in terms of policy conclusions and prescriptions. Despite the fact that Minsky’s policy conclusions are multifaceted and somewhat eclectic, they manifest a lack of familiarity with the conclusions of the Austrian analysis of the problems of central planning by Big Players such as Big Bank and Big Government. Both approaches also offer contrasting interpretations of the historical experience of the Global Financial Crisis.


Author(s):  
Davide Gabellini ◽  
Antonio Musarò

The 16th Meeting of the Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), October 17-20, 2019, Assisi, Italy brought together scientists, pharma and patient organization representatives discussing new results on muscle research. Internationally renowned Keynote speakers presented advances on muscle development, homeostasis, metabolism, and disease. Speakers selected among submitted abstracts presented their new, unpublished data in seven scientific sessions. The remaining abstracts were showcased in two poster sessions. Young trainees where directly involved in the selection of keynote speakers, the organizing scientific sessions and roundtables discussions tailored to the interests of their peers. A broad Italian, European and North-American audience participated to the different initiatives. The meeting allowed muscle biology researchers to discuss ideas and scientific collaborations aimed at better understanding the mechanisms underlaying muscle diseases in order to develop better therapeutic strategies. The active participation of young trainees was facilitated by the friendly and inclusive atmosphere, which fostered lively discussions identifying emerging areas of myology research and stimulated scientific cross-fertilization. The meeting was a success and the IIM community will continue to bring forward significant contributions to the understanding of muscle development and function, the pathogenesis of muscular diseases and the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Here, we report abstracts of the meeting illustrating novel results of basic, translational, and clinical research, which confirms that the Myology field is strong and healthy.


Author(s):  
Zachary VerGow ◽  
Bert Bras

Abstract A growing concern about the environment, and especially about waste and landfill, has spurred research into the design of more environmentally benign products. A dramatic reduction in environmental impact can be made by recycling. A critical issue in recycling is the separation of joints in the disassembly process. In product recycling (also referred to as reuse) non-destructive disassembly is desired, whereas in material recycling destructive disassembly is allowed (e.g., shredding). This has an impact on the selection of fasteners. In this paper, we provide an overview of the issues involved and specifically we evaluate the selection of fasteners in the context of product recycling, material recycling, and technical aspects as documented in the new German standard VDI 2243, “Designing Technical Products for Ease of Recycling – Fundamentals and Rules for Design”. The results of this evaluation provide insight in future areas of research and fastener selection models for life cycle design.


Author(s):  
César Camisón

The key premise of economics, which views people as utilitarian individuals who make completely rational economic decisions, has influenced other disciplines as Strategy. However, the developments in behavioural neuroscience have opened a major understanding of the mental processes that explain managers's behaviour and effectiveness.This article presents a review of the contributions from behavioural neuroscience to the study of managerial decision-making and offers a critical evaluation of its implications for management and organization studies, especially in the field of strategy. The paper reviews the most recent literature on neurostrategy and maps out the main strands of the debate and their implications for understanding the behaviour of strategy-makers. The study of neuronal and psicological foundations for strategy-makers behaviours and decision-making has identified the problems of the general model of the rational problem-solving process in information, perception, and selection of strategies, and how behavioural strategy can help us to identify them and prevent them.


Author(s):  
Aleksey N. Vasiliev ◽  
V.P. Goryachkina ◽  
Dmitry Budnikov

Studying the effect of microwave fields on the intensification of heat and moisture exchange processes in a granular layer is a rather complicated task, which cannot be effectively solved without an adequate research methodology. In presented materials, a system of principles and approaches for studying processes of microwave-convective grain treatment has been discussed. Based on the explicitly defined process target, functional-physical analysis has been performed that made it possible to specify the most essential factors of process. Morphological analysis of processes shall be performed in several stages. At each stage, targets of process have to be set by excluding combinations of factors that have no reason to be considered at this particular stage of process development. Application of mathematical simulation methods is advisable for selection of optimal options.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Amanda Brolly ◽  
Liza Bergin ◽  
Paudie McQuinn ◽  
Shinann Buckley O’Sullivan ◽  
Corina Naughton

Abstract Background The Variable Indicative of Placement risk (VIP) is a tool that was developed in Belgium to identify older people at risk of adverse health outcomes at the time of hospital admission (Vandewoude et al 2008). VIP is a simple 3-item screening tool for the selection of hospitalized patients aged 70 and older who are at increased risk of problems at discharge. It asks three simple questions about frailty factors already existing before admission. This tool has been validated to select patients who would benefit from a geriatric assessment (Vandewoude et al 2008). As part of the implementation process, it is important to critically review VIP as a frailty screening and selection tool for the Frailty Intervention Therapy Team (FITT) service compared to age criteria alone. There is a risk that patients screening negative on VIP could be inappropriately excluded from the FITT review. Methods All patients over 75 were screened using the VIP tool over a 6 week period by nursing staff in triage The “Think Frail” tool was also used to screen all patients reviewed by FITT- both positive & negative VIP Data was retrospectively gathered and VIP positive/negative patients reviewed by FITT were analysed Results 55% were VIP positive 45% were VIP negative 16.5% of VIP negative patients were screened positive for frailty using the “Think Frail” tool We found VIP under-recognised patients presenting with reduced mobility (5.5%, n=20), acute confusion (2.7%, n=10) and polypharmacy (8.1%, n=29), all potentially modifiable frailty Conclusion The VIP tool is not sensitive to identifying the presence of pre-frailty markers including falls, polypharmacy and acute confusion. Further research is needed into the use of the VIP tool in Ireland. It is recommended that this tool is not used independently to identify frailty in the ED.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakesh Joshi ◽  
Ashok P. Giri ◽  
Mahesh J. Kulkarni ◽  
mahesh gupta ◽  
Savita Verma ◽  
...  

<div>Infection with SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in COVID-19 pandemic and infected more than 5</div><div>million individuals with around 0.35 million deaths worldwide till May 2020 end. Several</div><div>efforts are on in search of therapeutic interventions, but the preferred way is drug</div><div>repurposing due to the feasibility and urgency of the situation. To select and prioritize</div><div>approved antiviral drugs and drug combinations for COVID-19, 61 antiviral drugs having</div><div>proven safety profile in humans were subjected to virtual screening for binding to three</div><div>select targets namely human angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor-2 receptor-binding</div><div>domain (hACE-2) involved in virus entry, SARS-CoV-2 RNA dependent RNA polymerase</div><div>(RdRp) responsible for viral RNA replication and SARS-CoV-2 main protease (MPro) causing</div><div>proteolytic processing of viral polyprotein slab. Targeting multiple ‘disease pathogenesis</div><div>specific proteins’ within a close network of interaction or having dependent functionality can</div><div>provide effective intervention. Ledipasvir, Daclatasvir, Elbasvir, Paritaprevir, Rilpivirine and</div><div>Indinavir were identified as candidate drugs of interest for COVID-19 based on a derived</div><div>combined activity score, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters. Ledipasvir and</div><div>Daclatasvir and their approved marketed combination with Sofosbuvir emerged as leading</div><div>candidate drugs/drug combinations for SARS-CoV-2. These candidates have the potential</div><div>for the antiviral activity for SARS-CoV-2 infection better than the investigational drug</div><div>Remdesivir and other antiviral drugs/drug combinations being evaluated. These</div><div>drugs/combinations merit systematic fast track preclinical and clinical evaluation for COVID-</div><div>19 management. The present work brings back attention to the potential usefulness of</div><div>approved antiviral drugs/drug combinations, commonly available with established safety</div><div>profile, currently not in focus for COVID-19. It provides a rationale based approach for the</div><div>selection of drugs with potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 highlighting the</div><div>desired properties.</div>


2004 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 673-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Jończyk ◽  
Natasza Borodynko ◽  
Henryk Pospieszny

Several different isolates of Tomato black ring virus (TBRV) have been collected in Poland from cucumber, tomato, potato and black locust plants. Biological tests showed some differences in the range of infected plants and the type of symptoms, which was the basis for selection of seven the most biologically different TBRV isolates. According to the sequence of TBRV-MJ, several primer pairs were designed and almost the entire sequence of both genomic RNAs was amplified. The RT-PCR products derived from all tested TBRV isolates were digested by restriction enzymes. On the basis of the restriction patterns, the variable and the conserved regions of the TBRV genome were defined and the relationships between the Polish TBRV isolates established.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakesh Joshi ◽  
Ashok P. Giri ◽  
Mahesh J. Kulkarni ◽  
mahesh gupta ◽  
Savita Verma ◽  
...  

<div>Infection with SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in COVID-19 pandemic and infected more than 5</div><div>million individuals with around 0.35 million deaths worldwide till May 2020 end. Several</div><div>efforts are on in search of therapeutic interventions, but the preferred way is drug</div><div>repurposing due to the feasibility and urgency of the situation. To select and prioritize</div><div>approved antiviral drugs and drug combinations for COVID-19, 61 antiviral drugs having</div><div>proven safety profile in humans were subjected to virtual screening for binding to three</div><div>select targets namely human angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor-2 receptor-binding</div><div>domain (hACE-2) involved in virus entry, SARS-CoV-2 RNA dependent RNA polymerase</div><div>(RdRp) responsible for viral RNA replication and SARS-CoV-2 main protease (MPro) causing</div><div>proteolytic processing of viral polyprotein slab. Targeting multiple ‘disease pathogenesis</div><div>specific proteins’ within a close network of interaction or having dependent functionality can</div><div>provide effective intervention. Ledipasvir, Daclatasvir, Elbasvir, Paritaprevir, Rilpivirine and</div><div>Indinavir were identified as candidate drugs of interest for COVID-19 based on a derived</div><div>combined activity score, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters. Ledipasvir and</div><div>Daclatasvir and their approved marketed combination with Sofosbuvir emerged as leading</div><div>candidate drugs/drug combinations for SARS-CoV-2. These candidates have the potential</div><div>for the antiviral activity for SARS-CoV-2 infection better than the investigational drug</div><div>Remdesivir and other antiviral drugs/drug combinations being evaluated. These</div><div>drugs/combinations merit systematic fast track preclinical and clinical evaluation for COVID-</div><div>19 management. The present work brings back attention to the potential usefulness of</div><div>approved antiviral drugs/drug combinations, commonly available with established safety</div><div>profile, currently not in focus for COVID-19. It provides a rationale based approach for the</div><div>selection of drugs with potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 highlighting the</div><div>desired properties.</div>


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