SARS-CoV-2 infection

Indole-Based Compounds as Potential Drug Candidates for SARS-CoV-2

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Scientists are searching for new treatments for COVID-19 by studying indole-containing compounds, which are found in many plants and can be made in laboratories. Some approved drugs with indole structures, like the antiviral drug Arbidol, have been repurposed to fight COVID-19. Researchers are also designing new indole compounds and using computer simulations to predict which ones might work best against the virus’s key proteins.

Screening and identifying natural products with SARS-CoV-2 infection inhibitory activity from medicinal fungi

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Researchers screened 167 extracts from 36 medicinal fungi to find natural compounds that could fight COVID-19. They discovered that certain fungi, particularly Inonotus obliquus and Pholiota adiposa, contain polysaccharides that effectively block the virus from infecting cells. These natural compounds showed promise as potential safe alternatives for developing new COVID-19 treatments and may have applications against other viral diseases.

Sarocladium implicatum: an unusual agent of opportunistic infection in a COVID-19 patient

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A patient hospitalized with severe COVID-19 developed an unusual infection caused by a mold called Sarocladium implicatum, which typically affects plants. Due to weakened immune system from his illness and medications, the fungus spread to his bloodstream and lungs, causing persistent fever and a cavity in his lung. After molecular testing identified the fungus, he was treated with an antifungal medication called voriconazole, which successfully cured the infection.

Beta-Glucans from Fungi: Biological and Health-Promoting Potential in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era

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This article reviews how beta-glucans, natural compounds found in mushrooms, can boost your immune system and help fight diseases including COVID-19. These compounds work by activating immune cells and reducing dangerous inflammatory responses in the body. Mushroom beta-glucans are safe, easy to take by mouth, and available in many edible mushroom varieties like shiitake and oyster mushrooms.

Targeting SARS-CoV-2 with Chaga mushroom: An in silico study toward developing a natural antiviral compound

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This study used computer modeling to investigate whether Chaga mushroom components can bind to and potentially block the coronavirus spike protein that SARS-CoV-2 uses to infect cells. The researchers found that three active compounds in Chaga—beta glycan, betulinic acid, and galactomannan—attached strongly to the virus’s binding sites in ways similar to known antiviral molecules. Beyond blocking viral entry, Chaga also has immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties that could help prevent the dangerous cytokine storm associated with severe COVID-19.

Comment on Subhadra et al. Significant Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Activity of Bi121 against Different Variants of SARS-CoV-2

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This is a scientific critique of a recent study claiming that a plant extract called Bi121 has antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2. The author raises important concerns about how the plant material was prepared and characterized, noting that the chemical fingerprint appears suspiciously identical to a previously published extract, and that the identification of the active ingredient relies on incomplete evidence. The critique calls for more rigorous scientific methods to verify the original study’s findings.

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Modulates Shiraia Hypocrellin A Biosynthesis Through ROS/NO Signaling in Response to Bamboo Polysaccharide Elicitation

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Researchers discovered that a naturally derived compound from bamboo boosts the production of hypocrellin A, a promising cancer-fighting and antimicrobial agent made by a special fungus. By studying a key enzyme called G6PDH, they found that it acts as a molecular switch controlling hypocrellin production when the fungus senses bamboo components. This discovery enables cost-effective large-scale production of this powerful medicine through simple fermentation, potentially making novel cancer treatments and antibiotics more accessible.

Sarocladium implicatum: an unusual agent of opportunistic infection in a COVID-19 patient

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A 64-year-old man hospitalized with COVID-19 developed a serious fungal infection from Sarocladium implicatum, an unusual fungus rarely found in humans. The infection appeared in his bloodstream and lungs while his immune system was severely weakened by the virus and medications. Doctors identified the fungus using genetic testing and successfully treated him with voriconazole antifungal medication. This case highlights how COVID-19 patients in intensive care are vulnerable to rare opportunistic infections that require specialized laboratory testing to identify and treat.

Quest for Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antiviral therapeutics: in-silico and in-vitro analysis of edible mushroom- Cordyceps militaris

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Researchers tested an edible mushroom called Cordyceps militaris to see if it could fight SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Using computer modeling and laboratory experiments, they found that a compound in the mushroom called cordycepin strongly attached to the virus’s spike protein and reduced viral numbers by about 50% in cell cultures. The study supports traditional uses of this mushroom and suggests it could be helpful in managing COVID-19 as the disease becomes endemic.

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Modulates Shiraia Hypocrellin A Biosynthesis Through ROS/NO Signaling in Response to Bamboo Polysaccharide Elicitation

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Researchers discovered that a specific enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) controls the production of hypocrellin A, a powerful therapeutic compound found in Shiraia fungi. When bamboo polysaccharides are added to fungal cultures, they trigger G6PDH activity, which then increases the production of signaling molecules that boost hypocrellin A biosynthesis. This finding could lead to better ways to produce this promising cancer-fighting photosensitizer at industrial scales using simple, cost-effective methods.

Disease: SARS-CoV-2 infection