Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifests as extreme acute respiratory conditions caused by a novel beta coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is reported to be the seventh coronavirus to infect humans . Like other SARS-CoVs it has a large positive-stranded RNA genome. But, specific furin site in the spike protein, mutation prone and phylogenetically mess open reading frame1ab (Orf1ab) separates SARS-CoV-2 from other RNA viruses. Since the outbreak (February - March 2020), researchers, scientists, and medical professionals are inspecting all possible facts from every possible aspect including its replication, detection, and prevention strategies. This led to the prompt identification of its basic biology, genome characterization, structural and expression based functional information of proteins, and utilization of this information in optimizing strategies to prevent its spread. This review summarizes the recent updates on the basic molecular biology of SARS-CoV-2 and prevention strategies undertaken worldwide to tackle COVID-19. This recent information can be implemented for the development and designing of therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2.

P450 superfamily (CYPs) has been known as contributors to the metabolites's diversity and their promiscuous nature has led to the flexibility in substrate specificity and functional diversity. Current study was designed to investigate CYPs in the genome of an agarwood producing plant species named Aquilaria agallocha. Agarwood, the resinous fragrant wood with numerous phytochemicals, produced when an Aquilaria plant respond to wound and microbial infection. These chemicals are of great interest to industries ascribing it a high economic value. However, the pathways for the biosynthesis of these metabolites have not been studied in context of Aquilaria CYPs. We identified 136 A. agallocha CYP proteins from the genome, characterized and classified them into 8 clans and 38 families. Functional analysis unveiled their participation in terpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids and other valuable metabolites biosynthesis. Conserved motifs were detected and evolutionary analysis revealed duplicated and orthologous pairs. Potential members for the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenoids and phenylpropanoids reported in Aquilaria and agarwood were elucidated and validated through expression profiles in stress induced callus tissues and infected Aquilaria tress. This study provides a strong foundation for biochemical characterization of Aquilaria CYPs which will aid heterologous production of valuable phytochemicals and untangle molecular mechanism of agarwood formation.

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