In the 2020, COVID-19 pandemic disease created an havoc situation world widely and mainly caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has been challenging task for researchers, scientists and medico-pharmaceutical organisations to find out rapid and reliable diagnosis methods. Among the all testing services, a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is the more accurate, rapid and authenticated molecular technique used for most of the diagnosis of major diseases. It has been a global priority to fix the rapid diagnosis method to combat against the pandemic COVID-19. Thus, the present chapter mainly focussing on the progress of RT-PCR method development though various processes of data collection on isolation of whole genome sequence, its primer and method designing. In this scenario, India suddenly become the global leader for vaccine development and hence the challenges and RT-PCR kit development in India and rest of the world has been be discussed. World wide many Government and private agencies and industries have taken an initiative for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 hence this chapter also summarised the scope of RT-PCR to combat pandemic situation in future.

Biodiesel is a biodegradable, renewable, and carbon-neutral alternative to petroleum diesel that can contribute to the global effort of minimizing the use of fossil fuels and meeting the ever-growing energy demands and stringent environmental constraints. The aim of this work was to 1) review the recent progress in feedstock development, including first, second, third, and fourth-generation feedstocks for biodiesel production; 2) discuss recent progress in lipase research and development as one of the key factors for establishing a cost-competitive biodiesel process in terms of enzyme sources, properties, immobilization, and transesterification efficiency; and 3) provide an update of the current challenges and opportunities for biodiesel commercialization from techno-economic and social perspectives. Related biodiesel producers, markets, challenges, and opportunities for biodiesel commercialization, including environmental considerations, are critically discussed.

The current study was carried out to isolate and identify marine fungi from the coastal region of Mumbai and assess their antibacterial potential. Aspergillus fumigatus, Histoplasma capsulatum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladosporium pseudocladosporioides, Trichophyton rubrum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Alternaria alternate, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and Aspergillus terreus were isolated and identified. The metabolite extraction was carried out by broth fermentation and extraction of dry mycelium using organic solvents like chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. Antibacterial potential of fungal metabolites was assessed by well diffusion method. Different concentrations (2-150 µg/ml) of extracts of broth and dry mycelia were tested against organisms like Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Results revealed that chloroform and ethanolic extracts (2 µg/ml) from C. cladosporioides broth fermentation exhibit 100% growth inhibition of test organisms. Mycelium ethanolic extract of A. fumigatus, ethyl acetate extract of C. cladosporioides and chloroform extract of C. pseudocladosporioides exhibited maximum (100%) growth inhibition against all test organisms at 2 µg/ml. The study confirms the antibacterial potential of fungal metabolites and therefore paves a way for further identification of the active principles.

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