Targeting CoV-2 Spike RBD and ACE-2 Interaction with Flavonoids of Anatolian Propolis by in silico and in vitro Studies in terms of possible COVID-19 therapeutics

Propolis is a multi-functional bee product with a rich in polyphenols. In this study, the inhibition effect of Anatolian propolis against SARS coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) was investigated as in vitro and in silico. Raw and commercial of propolis samples were used in the study and it was found that both of were rich in caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, t-cinnamic acid, hesperetin, chrysin, pinocembrin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) by HPLC-UV analysis. The ethanolic propolis extracts (EPE) were used in the screening ELISA test against the spike S1 protein (SARS Cov-2): ACE-2 inhibition KIT for in vitro study. Binding energy constants of these polyphenols to the CoV-2 Spike S1 RBD and ACE-2proteinwere calculated separately as molecular docking study using AutoDock 4.2 molecular docking software. In addition, pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness properties of these eight polyphenols were calculated according to the SwissADME tool. Binding energy constant of pinocembrin was the highest for both of the receptors, followed by chrysin, CAPE and hesperetin. In silico ADME behavior of the eight polyphenols were found potential ability to work effectively as novel drugs. The findings of both studies showed that propolis has a high inhibitory potential against Covid-19 virus. However, further studies are needed.

Brevibacillus gelatini sp. nov., isolated from a hot spring.

Two Gram-stain-positive, moderately thermophilic, endospore-forming, rod-shaped, motile bacteria designated PDF4T and PDF10, were isolated from Camkoy hot spring in the provinces of Aydin, Turkey and were characterized in order to determine their phylogenetic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the two strains belonged to the genus Brevibacillus. Strain PDF4T showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to strain PDF10 (99.5 %), Brevibacillus brevis DSM 30T (98.9 %), Brevibacillus parabrevis DSM 8376T (98.6 %) and Brevibacillus formosus DSM 9885T (98.5 %); similarities to other species of the genus Brevibacillus were less than 98.5 %. The predominant fatty acids of strain PDF4T were anteiso-C15 : 0 (60.0 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (22.3 %). The polar lipids of strain PDF4T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, an unknown phospholipid, two unknown lipid, an unknown aminophospholipid and two unknown aminolipids. MK-7 was detected as a sole respiratory quinone, and the cell wall of strain PDF4T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content of strain PDF4T was 51.7 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization showed less than 60 % relatedness between strain PDF4T and type strains of the most closely related species given above. Based on these data, the two strains are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Brevibacillus, for which the name Brevibacillus gelatini sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PDF4T ( = NCCB 100559T = DSM 100115T).

Two vascular variations in one patient of the hepatogastric trunk and retro-aortic left renal vein.

This study reports the case of a 61-year-old man with right upper quadrant pain who underwent abdominal computed tomography examination. A solid lesion originating from the biliary tract was detected on the images. While evaluating the vascular structures, the splenic artery was seen to directly originate from the abdominal aorta. Retro-aortic left renal vein was also seen on computerised tomography. Splenic artery originating from the abdominal aorta is a rare variation. The retro-aortic left renal vein is a malformation characterized by the presence of a vessel that drains the left renal blood up to the inferior vena cava crossing behind the aortic artery. Such anatomical variations are important for surgeons to be aware of.