IAV H1N1 HA blocking peptide

H1N1 flu has been a widespread catastrophe emerging notoriously the past decade. This study is focused on evaluating the possible role of natural antioxidants as sialic acid adding moeities which could help in alleviating the flu attack. Ten different natural antioxidant compounds were the focus of the study. Molecular docking was performed to understand the binding interactions. Further validation was done by fast simulation to predict the protein structure fluctuations. From the fluctuation plots of chain A, B, C and D, we observe that India HA has predominant interactions. The small molecules that could help lessen the incidence of H1N1 flu are cathecin, andrographolide, biacalin, curcumin and eugenol. Andrographolide is the most important one. Further animal studies would help validate these findings further.

In early 2020, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) began to trickle through global communities, resulting in a pandemic of proportions not seen since 1918. In the US, while the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, initially affected international travelers and their close contacts, it is now ravaging many disadvantaged communities. As in past pandemics, social and economic determinants will strongly influence susceptibility to and health outcomes of COVID-19; thus, it is predictable that low-income and vulnerable US populations will be disproportionately affected. Certain "hot spots" have already demonstrated high rates of COVID19-related mortality in minority populations, particularly those of impoverished communities, likely due to increased prevalence of comorbid conditions as a result of unequal socioeconomic factors and inadequate access to timely healthcare [1-5]. We can anticipate similar outcomes in other vulnerable populations, particularly in immigrant communities, which have similar socioeconomic status and rates of comorbidities. With over 46.7 million immigrants currently living in the US, of which 11 million are undocumented [6], a socioeconomic perspective of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic within the US immigrant community is necessary. Here, we will focus on the potential impact of COVID-19 on immigrant communities in the US, particularly those in Texas.