Browsing by Author "Sah, Ranjit"

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Japanese encephalitis prevalence and outbreaks in Nepal and mitigation strategies: an update on this mosquito-borne zoonotic disease posing public health concerns
(2023-03-03) Sah, Ranjit; Mohanty, Aroop; Rohilla, Ranjana; Asija, Ankush; Sedhai, Yub Raj; Chandran, Deepak; B Emran, Talha; R Hussein, Nawfal; Sharma, Anil K; Dhama, Kuldeep
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus, is a mosquito-borne flavivirus causing encephalitis, and one of the principal causes of ‘Acute encephalitis syndrome’ worldwide, especially in Asian countries1–3. This vector-borne disease is of high public health concern because of its propensity to cause epidemics and high mortality rate. The first Japanese encephalitis (JE) outbreak was reported in Japan in the year 18711. Since then, the epidemiological trend in Asia, and particularly South East Asia, has been upward. The WHO estimates that around 68 000 JE cases occur worldwide annually, with 75% of the cases in the pediatric age group especially children aged less than 14 years, and ∼10 000–20 000 people die annually. JE is of major public health concern in Nepal. The present correspondence article focuses on the JE prevalence and outbreaks in Nepal presents an overview on risk factors associated with JEV transmission and spread, advances in diagnosis and developing vaccines, and salient prevention and control strategies to counter this important disease.
Modified Coptisine Derivatives as an Inhibitor Against Pathogenic Rhizomucor miehei, Mycolicibacterium smegmatis (Black Fungus), Monkeypox, and Marburg Virus by Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation-Based Drug Design Approach
(Frontier Scientific Publishing, 2023-04-19) Akash, Shopnil; Hossain, Arafat; Mukerjee, Nobendu; Sarker, Md. Moklesur Rahman; Khan, Mohammad Firoz; Hossain, Md. Jamal; Rashid, Mohammad A.; Kumer, Ajoy; Ghosh, Arabinda; León-Figueroa, Darwin A.; Barboza, Joshuan J.; Padhi, Bijaya Kumar; Sah, Ranjit
"During the second phase of SARS-CoV-2, an unknown fungal infection, identified as black fungus, was transmitted to numerous people among the hospitalized COVID-19 patients and increased the death rate. The black fungus is associated with the Mycolicibacterium smegmatis, Mucor lusitanicus, and Rhizomucor miehei microorganisms. At the same time, other pathogenic diseases, such as the Monkeypox virus and Marburg virus, impacted global health. Policymakers are concerned about these pathogens due to their severe pathogenic capabilities and rapid spread. However, no standard therapies are available to manage and treat those conditions. Since the coptisine has significant antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties; therefore, the current investigation has been designed by modifying coptisine to identify an effective drug molecule against Black fungus, Monkeypox, and Marburg virus. After designing the derivatives of coptisine, they have been optimized to get a stable molecular structure. These ligands were then subjected to molecular docking study against two vital proteins obtained from black fungal pathogens: Rhizomucor miehei (PDB ID: 4WTP) and Mycolicibacterium smegmatis (PDB ID 7D6X), and proteins found in Monkeypox virus (PDB ID: 4QWO) and Marburg virus (PDB ID 4OR8). Following molecular docking, other computational investigations, such as ADMET, QSAR, drug-likeness, quantum calculation and molecular dynamics, were also performed to determine their potentiality as antifungal and antiviral inhibitors. The docking score reported that they have strong affinities against Black fungus, Monkeypox virus, and Marburg virus. Then, the molecular dynamic simulation was conducted to determine their stability and durability in the physiological system with water at 100 ns, which documented that the mentioned drugs were stable over the simulated time. Thus, our in silico investigation provides a preliminary report that coptisine derivatives are safe and potentially effective against Black fungus, Monkeypox virus, and Marburg virus. Hence, coptisine derivatives may be a prospective candidate for developing drugs against Black fungus, Monkeypox and Marburg viruses."
Target Specific Inhibition of West Nile Virus Envelope Glycoprotein and Methyltransferase Using Phytocompounds
(Frontier Scientific Publishing, 2023-06-28) Akash, Shopnil; Bayıl, Imren; Rahman, Md. Anisur; Mukerjee, Nobendu; Maitra, Swastika; Islam, Md. Rezaul; Rajkhowa, Sanchaita; Ghosh, Arabinda; Al-Hussain, Sami A.; Zaki, Magdi E. A.; Jaiswal, Vikash; Sah, Sanjit; Barboza, Joshuan J.; Sah, Ranjit
"Mosquitoes are the primary vector for West Nile virus, a flavivirus. The virus’s ability to infiltrate and establish itself in increasing numbers of nations has made it a persistent threat to public health worldwide. Despite the widespread occurrence of this potentially fatal disease, no effective treatment options are currently on the market. As a result, there is an immediate need for the research and development of novel pharmaceuticals. To begin, molecular docking was performed on two possible West Nile virus target proteins using a panel of twelve natural chemicals, including Apigenin, Resveratrol, Hesperetin, Fungisterol, Lucidone, Ganoderic acid, Curcumin, Kaempferol, Cholic acid, Chlorogenic acid, Pinocembrin, and Sanguinarine. West Nile virus methyltransferase (PDB ID: 2OY0) binding affinities varied from −7.4 to −8.3 kcal/mol, whereas West Nile virus envelope glycoprotein affinities ranged from −6.2 to −8.1 kcal/mol (PDB ID: 2I69). Second, substances with larger molecular weights are less likely to be unhappy with the Lipinski rule. Hence, additional research was carried out without regard to molecular weight. In addition, compounds 01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 and 11 are more soluble in water than compound 04 is. Besides, based on maximum binding affinity, best three compounds (Apigenin, Curcumin, and Ganoderic Acid) has been carried out molecular dynamic simulation (MDs) at 100 ns to determine their stability. The MDs data is also reported that these mentioned molecules are highly stable. Finally, advanced principal component analysis (PCA), dynamics cross-correlation matrices (DCCM) analysis, binding free energy and dynamic cross correlation matrix (DCCM) theoretical study is also included to established mentioned phytochemical as a potential drug candidate. Research has indicated that the aforementioned natural substances may be an effective tool in the battle against the dangerous West Nile virus. This study aims to locate a bioactive natural component that might be used as a pharmaceutical. "