The novel coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) has caused large‐scale global outbreaks and mainly mediates host cell entry through the interaction of its spike (S) protein with the human angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐2 (ACE‐2) receptor. As there is no effective treatment for SARS‐CoV‐2 to date, it is imperative to explore the efficacy of new compounds that possess potential antiviral activity. In this study, we assessed the potential binding interaction of the beneficial components of Chaga mushroom, a natural anti‐inflammatory and immune booster with that of the SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor‐binding domain (RBD) using molecular docking, MD simulation, and phylogenetic analysis. Beta glycan, betulinic acid, and galactomannan constituents of Chaga mushroom exhibited strong binding interaction (−7.4 to −8.6 kcal/mol) forming multivalent hydrogen and non‐polar bonds with the viral S1‐carboxy‐terminal domain of the RBD. Specifically, the best interacting sites for beta glycan comprised ASN‐440, SER 373, TRP‐436, ASN‐343, and ARG 509 with average binding energy of −8.4 kcal/mol. The best interacting sites of galactomannan included ASN‐437, SER 373, TRP‐436, ASN‐343, and ALA 344 with a mean binding energy of −7.4 kcal/mol; and the best interacting sites of betulinic acid were ASN‐437, SER 373, TRP‐436, PHE 342, ARG 509, and ALA 344 that strongly interacted with the S‐protein (ΔG = −8.1 kcal/mol). The docking results were also compared with an S‐protein binding analog, NAG and depicted similar binding affinities compared with that of the ligands (−8.67 kcal/mol). In addition, phylogenetic analysis using global isolates depicted that the current SARS‐CoV‐2 isolates possessed a furin cleavage site (NSPRRA) in the RBD, which was absent in the previous isolates that indicated increased efficacy of the present virus for enhanced infection through increased interaction with ACE‐2. The results showed that Chaga could be an effective natural antiviral that can supplement the current anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 drugs.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have many advantages for nano-biotechnologists due to their intense biomedical applications. ZnO-NPs are used as antibacterial agents, which influence bacterial cells through the rupture of the cell membrane and the generation of reactive free radicals. Alginate is a polysaccharide of natural origin due to its excellent properties that are used in various biomedical applications. Brown algae are good sources of alginate and are used as a reducing agent in the synthesis of nanoparticles. This study aims to synthesize ZnO-NPs by using brown alga Fucus vesiculosus (Fu/ZnO-NPs) and also to extract alginate from the same alga, which is used in coating the ZnO-NPs (Fu/ZnO-Alg-NCMs). The characterizations of Fu/ZnO-NPs and Fu/ZnO-Alg-NCMs were determined by FTIR, TEM, XRD, and zeta potential. The antibacterial activities were applied against multidrug resistance bacteria of both gram-positive and negative. The results obtained in FT-TR showed there are some shifts in the peak positions of Fu/ZnO-NPs and Fu/ZnO-Alg-NCMs. The peak at 1655 cm−1, which assigned amide I-III, is present in both Fu/ZnO-NPs and Fu-Alg-ZnO-NCMs; this band is responsible for bio-reductions and stabilization of both nanoparticles. The TEM images proved the Fu/ZnO-NPs have rod shapes with sizes ranging from 12.68 to 17.66 and are aggregated, but Fu/ZnO/Alg-NCMs are spherical in shape with sizes ranging from 12.13 to 19.77. XRD-cleared Fu/ZnO-NPs have nine sharp peaks that are considered good crystalline, but Fu/ZnO-Alg-NCMs have four broad and sharp peaks that are considered semi-crystalline. Both Fu/ZnO-NPs and Fu/ZnO-Alg-NCMs have negative charges (−1.74 and −3.56, respectively). Fu/ZnO-NPs have more antibacterial activities than Fu/ZnO/Alg-NCMs in all tested multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. Fu/ZnO/Alg-NCMs had no effect on Acinetobacter KY856930, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Enterobacter aerogenes, whereas there was an apparent effect of ZnO-NPs against the same strains.

Over the last few years and with increasing global climatic change, the international energy crisis and shortage of freshwater resources have raised many inquiries about global water security and energy. Therefore, finding out alternative and sustainable energy sources has become an important universal requirement. Here, we assessed the viability of exploiting municipal wastewater (WW) as a nutrient-rich growth medium for cultivating the pollution-tolerant coccoid green microalga Chlorococcum sp. (Chlorophyceae) to simultaneously remove nutrients and produce biodiesel. Chlorococcum sp. was isolated from municipal wastewater sampled from Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Under the standard growth conditions and until reaching the late exponential growth phase, it was cultivated at different concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of the secondary treated WW, and the findings were compared to the control (grown in BBM). The study results revealed that the 50% WW treatment was the most suitable approach for removing NO3−, NH4+, and TP with percentages of 96.9%, 98.4%, and 90.1%, respectively. Moreover, the 50% WW treatment produced the highest algal biomass (1.97 g L−1) and productivity (82 mg L−1 day−1). In addition, it showed the highest lipid production (600 mg L−1), with 25 mg L−1 day−1 lipid productivity and lipid yield with 30.5% of the cell dry weight (CDW). The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique was applied to characterize fatty acid profiling, and it was found that oleic (C18:1) and palmitic (C16:0) fatty acids were present in much higher concentrations in Chlorococcum sp. cells grown in 50% WW as compared to the control, i.e., 44.43% and 27.38% vs. 36.75% and 21.36%, respectively. No big difference was present in linoleic (C18:2) fatty acid concentrations. Importantly, the biodiesel properties of our Chlorococcum sp. grown in 50% WW were consistent with the international biodiesel standards. In light of our findings, Chlorococcum sp. has a great potential for utilization as a biodiesel feedstock and for bioremediation of wastewater.

U LVA selenium nanoparticles (USeNPs) were synthesized and characterized, then examined for their wound healing capacity through in vitro assay showing promising healing (82.27%) with USeNPs concentration (500µg/mL). We also determined the antifungal potential via agar well diffusion technique, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), which was evaluated by a micro-dilution assay. The synergistic effect of the USeNPs individually or in combination with standard antifungal antibiotic (ketoconazole;100μg/mL) was studied against Cryptococcus neoformans RCMB 0049001 and Candida lipolytica RCMB 005007(1). Geotrichum candidum RCMB 041001 was also checked by agar well diffusion assay, followed by transmission electron microscopy to assess different changes in the most sensitive fungal yeast cells. The results indicated that USeNPs have a promising antifungal effect against C. neoformans RCMB 0049001 and C. lipolytica RCMB 005007(1) by achieving remarkable inhibition zones. In comparison, no effect was detected on G. candidum RCMB 041001. The MIC was found to be 78.1μg and 312.5μg for C. neoformans RCMB 0049001 and C. lipolytica RCMB 005007(1), respectively. The biosynthetic USeNPs have a strong antifungal potential and can elevate and strengthen the action of ketoconazole antibiotic towards different fungal pathogens, and this was obvious In the experiment of synergism carried out in the present study based on combining ketoconazole;100μg/mL with USeNPs, which resulted in a detached C. neoformas RCMB 0049001 cells with a severe dramatic change.

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) has been used for a long time as a folk medicine for treating multiple diseases in several parts of the world without rendering any undesired toxicity. In this study, I. obliquus polysaccharides (IOP) were extracted and assessed to determine their anti-tumorigenic potential in human lung cancer cell lines NCI-H23 and A549 using cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays. MTT assay revealed a significant reduction in the cell viability (p < 0.05) for NCI-H23 and A549 cell lines exposed to IOP (5-200 µg/mL) in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 of 100 µg/mL for both cell lines. Cell lines exposed to 50 and 100 µg/mL of IOP were further analyzed. IOP arrested the cancer cell growth at G0/G1 stage that can further implicate an antiproliferative effect in cancer cells. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was detected using DCFH-DA dye demonstrated increased levels of ROS generation (p < 0.05). Assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential using JC-1 dye exhibited decreased membrane potential, characterized by the low dye-intake, as shown by flow cytometry. In addition, Annexin-V/FITC analysis using flow cytometry demonstrated a significantly increased number of apoptotic cells (p < 0.05) in both cancer cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. These results showed that IOP can induce apoptosis in both tumor cell lines, and therefore might be considered as an effective anti-tumor agent that could be further exploited in clinical settings.