A natural bacterial isolate that shows multiple plant growth-promoting activities was isolated from fermented panchagavya (a mixture of five indigenous cow products). It is a gram-positive, endospore-forming bacteria identified as Bacillus sp. PG-8 by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The Bacillus sp. PG-8 have shown multiple plant growth-promoting activities as indole acetic acid (2.78 μg/ml), gibberellic acid (0.7 mg/ml), ammonia (6.51 μmol/ml), exopolysaccharide (2.6% w/v) production, and phosphate solubilization (198.27 μg/ml). The Bacillus sp. PG-8 has ability to survive under the abiotic stress conditions such as temperature (28–46°C), pH (5.0–12.0), salt (0.5–20.0% w/v NaCl), and osmotic resistance (1–10% w/v PEG-6000). Due to its diverse characteristics, the effect of Bacillus sp. PG-8 was tested on Arachis hypogea (groundnut). The seeds treated with Bacillus sp. PG-8 demonstrated a 70% germination rate with seedling vigor indexes of 154. In pot study, Arachis hypogea growth showed 1.38, 1.38, 1.32, 1.39, and 1.52 times increase in root hair number, leaf numbers, leaf width, leaf length, and leaf area, respectively. The addition of Bacillus sp. PG-8 culture to the Arachis hypogea plant resulted in a significant improvement in plant growth. Bacillus sp. PG-8 is a spore producer with stress tolerance and multiple plant growth-promoting properties, which makes it a potential liquid biofertilizer candidate.

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Background: COVIDTrach is a UK multi-centre prospective cohort study project evaluating the outcomes of tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation. It also examines the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers involved in the procedure. Method: An invitation to participate was sent to all UK NHS departments involved in tracheostomy in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19. Data was entered prospectively and clinical outcomes updated over time via an online database (REDCap). Clinical variables were compared with clinical outcomes using multivariable regression analysis, with logistic regression used to develop a prediction model for mortality. Participants recorded whether any of the operators tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within two weeks of the procedure. Findings: The cohort comprised 1605 tracheostomy cases from 126 UK hospitals. The median time from intubation to tracheostomy was 15 days (IQR 11, 21). 285 (18%) patients died following the procedure. 1229 (93%) of the survivors had been successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation at censoring and 1049 (81%) had been discharged from hospital. Age, inspired oxygen concentration requirement on the day of tracheostomy, PEEP setting, pyrexia, number of days of ventilation before tracheostomy, C-reactive protein and the use of anticoagulation and inotropic support independently predicticted mortality. Six reports were received of operators testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 within two weeks following the procedure. Interpretation: Tracheostomy appears to be safe in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 and to operators performing the procedure and we identified clinical indicators that are predictive of mortality. Optimal timing of the procedure remains to be determined. Funding: The COVIDTrach project is supported by the Wellcome Trust UCL COVID-19 Rapid Response Award and the National Institute for Health Research.

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A corona virus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) become the first pandemic of 21st century across the world. The novel SARS CoV-2 shares the high similarities with SARS Co-V reported in 2003. SARS-CoV-2 genome is having good homology to the Chinese horseshoe bat SARS-related coronaviruses and have been transmitted from bats to unknown wild animals. SARS CoV-2 is an encapsulated virus belongs to Coronaviridae family contain positive sense ~32KB single-strand RNA genome. It comprises with four different structural proteins; E, N, M and S that requires ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptor proteins for the host cell attachment. Total 16 non-structural proteins are necessary for synthesis and release the mature SARS CoV-2 viral particles. SARS CoV-2 may produce three fold virus particles within 48 h and frequency of transmission from one person to another person is higher compared to SARS Co-V. This review helps to understand the evolution of SARS CoV-2 with its taxonomy, structure, genome and life cycle in humans.