The manner in which fungal endophytes activate host stress response systems is unknown; the occurrence of additional mechanisms involved in symbiotically-conferred stress tolerance in mangrove plants (the primary producers of estuarine food chain) is also an unresolved issue. Here, we report antioxidant potentials of four different mangroves and their endophytic fungi. We elucidated the possible roles of antioxidants in symbiotic association between mangroves and their endophytic fungi. Four different mangrove species and the predominant endophytic fungus Aspergillus flavus were analyzed using various in vitro assay systems (such as iron chelating capacity, reducing power, and hydroxyl radicals/hydrogen peroxide/l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation using the β-carotene–linoleate model system). In vitro models clearly established the antioxidant potency of extracts of mangrove plants and their respective endophytic fungi, which aids in understanding the mutualistic associations of plant and endophyte against various biotic and abiotic stresses. Re-infection analysis of endophytic A. flavus in tobacco plants confirmed the endophytic status of the fungus and its enhancement effect on plant growth.

The Covid-19 pandemic is highly contagious and has spread rapidly across the globe. To date there have been no specific treatment options available for this life-threatening disease. During this medical emergency, target-based drug repositioning/repurposing with a continuous monitoring and recording of results is an effective method for the treatment and drug discovery. This review summarizes the recent findings on COVID-19, its genomic organization, molecular evolution through phylogenetic analysis and has recapitulated the drug targets by analyzing the viral molecular machinery as drug targets and repurposing of most frequently used drugs worldwide and their therapeutic applications in COVID-19. Data from solidarity trials have shown that the treatment with Chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir-ritonavir had no effect in reducing the mortality rate and also had adverse side effects. Remdesivir, Favipiravir and Ribavirin might be a safer therapeutic option for COVID-19. Recent clinical trial has revealed that dexamethasone and convalescent plasma treatment can reduce mortality in patients with severe forms of COVID-19.

A novel, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped yellow bacterium, designated VBW088 T was isolated from a shallow water hydrothermal vent in Espalamaca in the Azores. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain VBW088 T clustered with three type strains of species of the genus Vitellibacter and exhibited a sequence similarity of 97.3 % with Vitellibacter soesokkakensis RSSK-12 T . However, strain VBW088 T and V. soesokkakensis RSSK-12 T exhibited low DNA-DNA relatedness (12.7±3.5 %). Strain VBW088 T was positive for catalase and oxidase. Growth occurred at 10-37 6C, with the optimum at 30 6C, and at pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum pH 6.0) and in up to 5 % (w/v) NaCl with optimum growth at 1-2 % (w/v) NaCl. The major fatty acids (.10 %) were iso-C 15 : 0 (33.5 %) and iso-C 17 : 0 3-OH (32.0 %). The polar lipids detected in strain VBW088 T consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and three unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content of strain VBW088 T was 36.7 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic inference, DNA-DNA relatedness, chemotaxonomic analysis and physiological data, the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Vitellibacter, for which the name Vitellibacter nionensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain as VBW088 T (5KCTC 32420 T 5MCC 2354 T ).

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