Globalization has resulted in an increase in food demand, which requires advancements in farming techniques to meet the demands. Green revolution based agriculture has made our country self-sufficient in food production. However, the excessive use of agrochemicals has led to degradation of soil, water, environment and human health besides, reduction in biodiversity. This necessitates an alternative of agro-chemicals which are environmentally safe and free from pesticide residues. Under such situation, Natural Farming as promoted by Padam Shri Awardee, Sh. Subhash Palekar has been proving as a viable option to address current farmers’ distress, other soil and water issues to sustain farmer’s incomes. Natural farming has inbuilt mechanisms to regenerate soil, reduce water usage, use of local available natural resources and enhance crop diversity to maintain crop quality. Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP, India initiated natural farming based planned principles research to establish scientific logics. The farming claims to be environmental-friendly approach than conventional agriculture, capable of attaining sustainable development objectives by using on-farm resources and reduced tillage. Introducing natural production measures to produce chemical free soils towards implementation of more resilient cropping systems through reduction in greenhouse gas emission, restoration of soil fertility and enhanced carbon sequestration. It also holds promise in reducing serious agrarian crises raised due to increase in rural indebtedness as a result of chemical-based farming. This article proposes an ecosystem-mediated farming practices to maintain a balance between social, environmental and economic pillars of sustainability.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognised as a major healthcare problem rapidly spreading across the world. The global rise of highly resistant bacteria is well documented and closely linked to the increasing mobility of people, animals, and goods. Indeed, World Health Organization published its first-ever list of antibiotic-resistant “priority pathogens” which consists of 12 bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health. If we do not find proactive strategies to slow down the spread of drug resistance, it is estimated that by 2050, 10 million lives per year and a cumulative 100 trillion USD of economic output will be at risk due to the rise of drug-resistant infections. The major drivers of AMR are the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial agents in both humans and animals, plus environmental pollution. Moreover, over the past three decades, it has become increasingly obvious that the majority of the novel, emerging zoonotic infectious diseases originate in animals, particularly wildlife, and that human activities, such as changes to ecosystems and land use, intensification of agriculture, urbanization, and international travel and trade, are the main drivers of their emergence. In this regard, combating AMR and emerging infections requires a One Health approach because it depends on the interrelationship between animals, people, and the environment. Recently, a novel concept to tackle AMR named “One health genomics“, was proposed. Accordingly, the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System established by the World Health Organization strongly suggests using whole-genome sequencing for surveillance of AMR to add important, policy- relevant information for AMR surveillance, to better inform strategies to tackle AMR, and to enhance the overall surveillance capacity. Implementation of the “One health genomics“ could provide an in- depth insight into the AMR landscape of a region, microbial composition across different sample sources, the genetic relatedness of the circulating multidrug-resistant bacteria, and differences in resistome profiles of interconnected sectors. In conclusion, the implementation of the One Health concept, as an integrated and unifying approach against AMR is of utmost importance at both national and global levels.

Fungal infestation is considered to be one of the main causes of decay of all types of historic works of art and source of occupational hazard for conservators, restorers and other personnel responsible for cultural heritage upkeep. Nowadays, adequate control method for suppression of fungal infestation, with minimal environmental impact, is still a considerable problem which requires a solution. Use of highly efficient inorganic and organic biocides to eradicate fungal growth, in heritage repositories and outdoor environment, is increasingly discouraged due to their toxicity, non- selective mode of action, abrasiveness, low long-term effectiveness and promotion of resistance. The need for environmentally friendly alternatives to toxic biocides has directed the research in last decade towards potential application of natural products, with new focus on beneficial bacteria due to possibility of implementing biotechnological approaches to obtain sufficient amounts of bioactive compounds. Although very limited in scope, up to date literature overview has clearly pointed out bacteria of Bacillus genus as promising green alternative for sustainable and long-term cultural heritage conservation due to their non-pathogenic nature, great physiological diversity, intensive sporulation, easy cultivation and manipulation, high metabolite yield, and ability to produce multitude of bioactive secondary metabolites, including antibacterial ribosomally synthesized lanthipeptides and antifungal non- ribosomally synthesized peptides and lipopeptides. This makes production of Bacillus-biocompounds in industrial bioreactors ideal solution for large scale in situ application on infested works of art. Conducted research has demonstrated great potential of these biocompounds to suppress growth of biodeteriogenic fungi, isolated from multitude of works of art, in in vitro experiments, with activity sometimes being comparable or even higher than commercial biocides.Several studies performed on laboratory models in simulated conditions have confirmed antifungal activity as well as absence of any form of negative impact applied bacteria-based bioformulation might have on a structural or aesthetic integrity of treated models. Additional studies are, however, necessary to determine the most adequate method of application, evaluate the long-term effectiveness, potential recolonization, and determine the costs of its production and application, before usage of bacterial biocompounds becomes groundbreaking new norm in conservation practice that replaces commercial biocides.

The aetiology of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) in tumorigenesis is still a matter of debate. Mounting evidence suggests that the pathogen may offer a degree of protection against various malig- nancies. The association between CMV and brain/ central nervous system (CNS) tumours has yet to be fully elucidated, and studies inquiring into this issue from a global standpoint are lacking. We have investigated the relationship between CMV and CNS tumours the world-over and reviewed relevant litera- ture published so far. Works inquiring into the inter- play between CMV and CNS neoplasia published by November 2022 were reviewed through the PubMed® database. We also analysed the correlation between available country-specific CMV seroprevalence and the age-standardized CNS tumour incidence rates for the year 2020 for 73 countries using the data pro- vided by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization. Statistical assessment was done using Spearman’s correlation. The survey of literature yielded con- flicting opinions on the aetiology of CMV in CNS malignancies. Oncomodulation as a mechanism of pathogenesis would seem to prevail over frank on- cogenesis. On the contrary, analysis of global data revealed a significant negative correlation (p=0.001, Spearman’s ρ=-0.541) between CMV seroprevalence and the age-standardized incidence of brain tumours. Interestingly, the inverse association holds for inci- dence rates of all cancers combined as well (p=0.001, Spearman’s ρ=-0.732). A number of studies speak in favour of an immune-mediated anti-oncogenic effect against brain tumours in CMV-infected individuals. This is supported by recent success of CMV-derived therapies against gliomas. Our study offers novel data hinting at an oncoprotective capacity of CMV the world-over, which corroborates experimental re- search done so far. Extensive exploration of the mo- lecular arsenal of CMV, host-pathogen interactions and CMV seroepidemiology are warranted in order to fully clarify this pathogen’s role in CNS tumour dynamics.

Beneficial Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. are ubiquitous in soils and colonize the plant microbiome, including the rhizosphere, phyllo- sphere, and endosphere. Their beneficial effects on host plants are due to a wide range of secondary metabolites that act through several mechanisms, including direct antibiosis (antifungal, antibacteri- al, antiviral, and antinematicidal), competition for nutrients, promotion of plant growth and the in- duction of systemic resistance (ISR) in host plants. The genus Pseudomonas includes a variety of species with beneficial effects on plant health that play an important role in sustainable agriculture. The ma- jor secondary metabolites involved in biocontrol are phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, phenazine-1-carbox- amide, pyrrolnitrin, pyoluteorin, 2,4-diacetylphloro- glucinol, nunamycin, nunapeptin, brasmycin, bras- peptin, sessilins, orfamides, HCN and various vola- tile organic compounds. Competition for nutrients, such as iron uptake, is based on siderophores such as pyoverdine and pyochelin. Plant-growth promotion is mediated by 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, indoleacetic acid, abscisic acid, gibberel- lic acid, and cytokinins, as well as vitamins niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, and biotin. Endospore-forming Bacillus species also inhibit phytopathogens, including all of the above mecha- nisms underlined by a wide range of structurally di- verse compounds. Direct inhibition of vast variety of phytopathogens is achieved by compounds such as volatiles, bacteriocins, and lipopeptides, i.e., iturins, surfactins, fengycins, and kurstakins. Indirect effects are performed by phytostimulating compounds such as auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins and abscisic acid, which positively influence plant growth and devel- opment. They also induce systemic resistance in the host plant through the production of volatiles. Ex- pression of defense-related proteins is induced in plants by lipopeptides, polyketides, and volatiles that activate the jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, or ethylene signaling pathways. They also have the ability to in- hibit quorum sensing of various phytopathogens. As a result, higher biomass and nutritional quality, im- proved nutrient mobilization and uptake, enhanced tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and shaping of the microbiota are all positive effects that healthy plants acquire from Pseudomonas and Bacillus bene- ficial strains. This review aims to highlight the most important aspects of Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. secondary metabolites in the control of phyto- pathogens and their beneficial properties for the host plant. Bioformulations based on their metabolites could replace synthetic pesticides and enable sustain- able agricultural practices.

Since it was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the novel coronavirus has caused devastating severe respiratory infections in the human population worldwide. A new coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from a cluster of pneumonia patients and spread rapidly throughout the planet, establishing the global epidemic COVID-19, making it one of the most serious health disasters in modern public health history. Despite the slow evolutionary rate, SARS-CoV-2 increased transmissibility, virulence and/or immune evasion. Its long-persisting among humans has enabled it to acquire significant genetic diversity. For little, over three years, COVID-19 has driven through five global waves caused by several SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC). From 2020 until now, we identified Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and the last-fifth SARS- CoV-2 VOC, Omicron. Several reasons make the last VOC so concerning: many mutations, especially in the viral spike protein, and accumulating evidence for increased transmission efficiency and escape from neutralising antibodies. Omicron has outcompeted the previously dominating Delta VOC in an unbelievably short time. It is highly transmissible but seems less pathogenic than pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Increasing population immunity (whether through vaccination and/or previous infections) raises hopes that severe COVID-19 will become rare and present in risk groups of patients, such as older adults with comorbidities. Hopefully, SARS-CoV-2 will become endemic, similar to seasonal coronaviruses. Because Omicron probably isn’t the last SARS-CoV-2, we should learn to live with this coronavirus in the present and future.