May 28, 2020 | Page 2 of 2 | Adamas University

FinTech is the future: Career opportunities for Computing in Finance Sector

Wondering about the title? Is it’s a new programming language? Is it new technology? According to a study, more than 50% of tech students are more interested in financial sector jobs than regular IT jobs. One of the key reasons is the requirement of less programming and more of a tech service knowledge. We often see many of our consanguine people are working for some bank or financial sectors and we intend to fascinate ourselves for those jobs. But we are confused as the current trend is leaning towards computer science, especially post COVID-19 world. So at ADAMAS UNIVERSITY, we merged them with your dream with the trend in our Bachelor of Computer Application Specialization in Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance domain. This is a unique course that feeds your tech-savvy part of the brain in-lining with your dream. With this course, you will be a strong challenger in the IT services market along with your specialty in FinTech.

Let’s see what FinTech has in arsenal for you:

Cybersecurity

The financial sector mostly operates on digital platforms and dome times cloud platforms. These financial applications grow on internal process and customer service, but as the day goes it also exposes many vulnerabilities and attracts many malicious cyber actors.

65 out of 100 cyberattacks target only financial sectors than any other institutes.

Cybercrime is always on the rise and finding new vulnerabilities as we speak. Cybersecurity institutes estimates that cybercrimes will increase 300% over coming five years only.

In this circumstances the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals will always be touching the sky. The FinTech sector is in serious need of experts and specialists to develop security measures that prevent any malicious actions in consideration their business and client base.

Blockchain developer

Due to legalization of crypto currency and bitcoin in many parts of the world blockchain technology is growing with in the FinTech.

30% of FinTech companies expect to incorporate blockchain technologies into their strategy by 2020, according to PwC.

Although this distributed ledger technology was initially developed to account for the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, the FinTech sector has found other uses. For instance, one solution includes the elimination of business intermediaries to make transactions less costly, faster and more efficient. Some authorities also foresee its potential to provide more secure methods for records management.

As such, the demand for blockchain developers has grown rapidly.

The recent peak in cryptocurrency and blockchain interest continues to fuel job demand, as more companies require platforms and programs to improve efficiencies and speed-to-market.

Risk and compliance

FinTech emerged on the scene as an alternative hybrid solution to financial institutions. However, the lines have almost disappeared in recent years considering new developments.

There is a growing trend of FinTech businesses pursuing bank charters, and in turn, banks are nurturing relationships with FinTech companies to full fill consumer demand—a total transformation of both the FinTech and traditional financial services domain.

Both fields have been affected by new rules and regulations amid the evolution of technology. As a result, the risk of regulatory scrutiny and obligations have increased simultaneously, causing the need for compliance experts to rise.

In addition to compliance, risk control managers are also in demand. More financial companies need specialists to analyse, prevent and mitigate risks, including regulations, operations and crime.

Apps Developer

The FinTech apps market has seen spectacular growth over the last several years. Global app downloads and consumer spending have been hitting record levels, according to recent reports. The demand for mobile payment solutions and personal finance is only growing, as it is being driven by an appetite from younger generations of tech-savvy consumers.

Millennials also are more likely to use their increased ability to make payments securely on their phones.

Visa has reported more than 33% of users made a peer to peer digital payment over a mobile device, and 60% have sent money to family with a mobile device.

There will be a stronger need in future years for financial technology app developers to serve this booming market.

Financial Analyst

A financial analyst is responsible for managing budgets against incoming income forecasts. Depending upon the size of the firm, you could be an analyst for a single division or the entire company. Financial analysts assemble financial reports and do forecasts of incoming revenue, as well as run business studies. See full financial analyst salary outlook.

Financial analyst jobs in FinTech are in great demand as startups continue to grow.

These new financial services businesses need financial analysts with computer expertise to manage their revenue, but they also need tech-nerds to work with clients and develop tools to analyze the data.

Quantitative Analyst

‘Quants’ are the smart people who write the big, complex financial models. They are the ones behind the data-driving trading technology that large investment banks and hedge funds use to trade securities and analyse risk. As big data continues to rise, quants are becoming more important in FinTech to devise models that can sort through the massive amount of data and automate them so that trading can be a mostly automatic process.

Artificial intelligence

Digital transformation is a hot topic in the FinTech space, making technology adoption a top priority for organizations today.

The financial services industry flourishes on informed decision-making, from extending credit to consumers to evaluating risks.

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have helped businesses make fast and critical decisions with data and insight. Across the industry, organizations have turned to these technologies to transform their business through AML pattern detection, chatbots, risk management, fraud prevention, network security and investment predictions.

Data Specialist

Deloitte recently highlighted the important strategic role of data in a report with the World Economic Forum about trends affecting the financial services industry. Innovation that emerges will allow financial companies to have access to new sets of data, including social data, and allow new ways to understand markets and customers.

As clients are more empowered by the Internet and digital technologies, clients are becoming more proactive and want new financial services companies to give them more individual services tailored to their needs. So, there will be a need for data scientists, chief data officers, financial data analysts and data analytics managers needed to sift through information that can provide more insights into their markets.

Adamas University is taking all possible steps to make you FinTech ready through its advanced curriculum and highly skilled faculties.

Mechanical Engineering in Vedic Age!!!

“We owe a lot to the ancient Indians, teaching us how to count. Without which most modern scientific discoveries would have been impossible.” – Albert Einstein.

Indian tradition is one of the primeval traditions in the globe which explores science and technology from the very beginning of civilization. The habit of boring the natural things and trying to go into the root of the fact made them unique. The Vedic age lasted from around 1500 BCE through to 500 BCE. The age is known as ‘Heroic Age’ of Indian civilization as this period helped to reform the structure of basic foundation of India and rescued the tradition from suffering for the existence. Vedic age is called the age of researchers and scientists as well. Vedic texts are so much valuable that it can be applied to the modern technology and texts contain some moral stories; Veda means Knowledge and the texts must contain some relevant knowledge otherwise it would not have survived till now. There are many instances which prove that Mechanical Engineering was pursued during the Vedic period.

Numerical notations in Vedic text.

Chakravala method of solving indeterminate quadratic equations

In this era, many books were published in Sanskrit based on the science and technology like Yantra Sarvaswa, Samarangana Sutradhara, Silptantra Rahasya, Yukti Kalpataru etc. Here, key innovations are mentioned based on the application of Mechanical Engineering in that period.

Ceramic Technology:

First ever mechanical device that was invented in this era was wheel and potter was supposed to be the first engineer. The mechanism of the wheel is still used in lathes, in Veda, Kulla (Potter) was compared with the creator of the universe. We came to know about brunt pots and other forms of clay materials in Indus-Valley studies, generally the shapes were peer shaped, conical and cylindrical. Bricks were made by black and red clay, mica, sand and lime stones in this period. Even the pots were glazed and painted to make attractive by using Manganese for maroon shade, Copper oxide for blue shade and Iron oxide for bluish-green shade. The chemicals what they used for controlling the surface were 25.2% FeO, 46.55% SiO₂, 15.53% Al₂O₃, 4.74% CaCO₃, these have been confirmed by Dwarka Excavations which took place recently. According to Kasyapa Samhita, it can be said that wooden moulds are used to make the bricks. The dimensions of the bricks were 11.72″ x 5.25″x 7.5″; 11.55″ x 7.75″; 10.5″ x 5.5″ x 7.5″, the steadiness of dimensions shows the accuracy level of the masterminds.

Various finding in Keezhadi

Various finding in Dharampuri

Metallurgy & Metal Casting:

From Surmyam Suiramiva, we came to know that the metals like Fe, Cu, Ag, Au etc were know to the Vedic people. The technique of making alloys and preparation of mining were also known to them in the Atharvan period. Quintus Curtis appreciated the gold and other metal alloys which were given to Alexander by Pourava. Pliny and Herodotus talked about the superior quality of iron and steel products of India. Romans used to import Indian metal to make weapons, shield and other military equipments during Vedic period. Usage of irons has been confirmed by archaeological excavations in Delhi, Taxila, Odissa, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh where large numbers of bars, spikes, tongs, chisels, anvils etc were found. From early Vedic time, the developments of metal casting were traced. In Rigveda, some equipments used for castings are mentioned like Dhamatri (Cupola), Bhastri (Blower), Titau (Seives), Sh£rpa (Trays), Gharma Ayanmaya (Crucible) etc. In Rig-Vedic period copper, iron, gold and silver were used for metal casting purposes. Many idols of goddesses were found in South India those were made in Vedic period by metal casting process. The accuracy and precision of this process were controlled by the laws laid down by Viswa Karma, Maya, Viswaroopa etc.

Meal casted coins

Meal casted Idols

Material Science:

Many terms can be found in Panchabuta and Suddha like –

Gurutva (gravity)
Dravatva (fluidity)
Snigdhatva (viscosity)
Sthitisth¡pakatva (elasticity)
Samyoga – Viyoga (Conjunction and disjunction)
Pluakava(Springing capacity)
Vakrbhvanam (Refraction or bending)
Virpam (deformation)
Draghanam (tension)
Pranam (compression)

This indicates the knowledge about the material properties, they knew about the prevention technique of rusting and corrosion also. Forging was termed as Eyohata, the renowned blacksmith Tatwa was recognized as god of sacrifice. Agriculture and military equipments were made by forging as there was existence of anvil, hammer and tongs. Hot working and cold working techniques were there and it is confirmed by the metallographic testing done in Harappa. Plastic deformation, annealing and grain growth were observed in Indus metal pieces.

Aerodynamics:

Very few people know about Tritala, Jalayan, Karaa, Vayurathaa and Vidyutrathaa which are mentioned in Rigveda. This signifies about the knowledge of aerodynamics in that era which is way before the invention of the Wright brothers. CFD analysis is being on the designs which are in the Vimana Shastra and the abilities and structural rigidity are being investigated to see the depth of the knowledge in that period. After exploring the Vimana Shastra slokas, it has been analyzed that eco friendly manufacturing, defense system, propulsion and space travel theories were explained well in those slokas. ISRO and DRDO are working on making the prototypes of the designs of the aircrafts for testing which are there in Vimana Shastra by giving the importance in Reverse Engineering. It has been also observed that there was a clear indication of the metals by which Viyans(aircraft) were made, alloy of Soumaka, Soundalika and Mourtwika lohas was used to make the structure of an aircraft.. Few technical terms were there in Vimana Shastra which can be evidences regarding the pursuit of aerodynamics studies in Vedic age, like –

Dayana (coming down)
Uddayana (flying above)
Sundhna (hitting the target with high speed)
Kinda (raising suddenly)
Vyinda(coming down quickly)
Kirpostika (flying still)
Keelaka (Gear Mechanism and other handles of levers),
OuÀmaka Yantrika (Drying machine),
Vatanala ( air duct )
Jalavarana nala ( cooling water circulating circuit ),
Tailap¡tra ( oil tank )
V¡ta-p¡caka-tantre-nala ( air filter or air fuel mixer ),
Agnisthana (Engine)
Vidyut yantra ( Batteries)
Vata-codana-yantra(Propellers)
Disapracodakayantra ( steering wheel type direction changer )
Suryasaktya-Karsanadarpana and Souramani ( Solar mirror and solar cell )
Dhumanirgamanala ( Exhaust outlet )

Advanced Flying Machines are described in Vedic Age

Metrology:

Weight Scales:
Gunja
Suvarna Karsa.
KarÀa
Palam.
Rajata MiÀa.
Dharana
Tandula

Time Scale:
Truti
Lava
KiÀta
Kala
Nalika
Muhurta
Day or Night

Volume Scales:
Palam
Ëdaka
Prastha
Kudumba
Khare
Kumbha
Vaha

Distance Scales:
Paramanu
Kana
Yava
Angula
Dhanugraha,
Angula
DhanurmuÀti

Some measuring scales in Vedic period are mentioned here.

Samarbhatta, Parimani, Vyavaharike and Kautilya described the mechanism of calibration of weight and other metrological parameters to have accuracy in measuring.

The advancement of technologies in that era touched the summit and that helped the civilization to be recognized as the best across the globe.

“Desire links non-being to being.”- Quotes from Rigveda

Remdesivir – A ray of hope for the COVID-19 patients

Student Contributor: Kushal Das

Introduction

The world is racing towards development of a novel vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for causing COVID-19. However, development of a vaccine and its eventual availability might take several years and even under extraordinary circumstances of current pandemic, it might still take about 12-18 months for a potential vaccine to be available. The ongoing pandemic necessitates immediate treatment against SARS-CoV-2 which is why several potential antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 are currently being investigated and or undergoing clinical trials worldwide. A typical antiviral agent against a pathogen would also go through various phases of clinical trials and approvals from regulatory agencies might take several years to bring a drug into the market. In order to provide urgent treatment for COVID-19 patients, several preexisting drugs with known safety profile in animals and humans are tested first. As these drugs have a known human safety profile, it would take less time to receive approvals from regulatory agencies to develop a potential drug for COVID-19 patients. One such previously used antiviral drug, Remdesivir has shown promising results in controlled trials in US, Europe and Asia. Multiple randomized clinical trials of Remdesivir are being conducted to determine the safety and effectiveness.

Rational for use of Remdesivir

Remdesivir (GS-5734) is an investigational nucleotide analog that has a broad-spectrum antiviral drug against RNA viruses such as filoviruses, paramyxoviruses, pneumoviruses and coronaviruses including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Studies have demonstrated that it effectively inhibits human and zoonotic coronavirus in cell culture, mouse and in non-human primate model of infection. The drug was first used by Gilead Science Inc. (USA) to treat Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus infections. Even though drug has not been that effective against Ebola, it was found to be safe in clinical trials. Importantly, Remdesivir showed antiviral activity against many betacoronaviruses including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV better than Ebola for which it was developed initially. Since SARS-CoV-2 has 80% sequence similarity with SARS-COV and MERS-CoV, particularly in the RNA dependent RNA polymerase, a drug that targets RNA dependent polymerase of SARS-COV would be potentially effective against SARS-CoV-2 as well. The drug was allowed to enter into clinical trials for treatment against SARS-CoV-2 based on the availability of human-safety profile of the drug and also approved for emergency use in COVID-19 patients in the US.

Mechanism of action of Remdesivir

Remdesivir inhibits RNA dependent RNA polymerase and impedes viral replication. Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral prodrug that resembles RNA base, adenosine. During viral replication, Remdesivir can be incorporated in a nascent RNA chain instead of adenine, causing premature chain termination and abrupt stoppage of viral replication. The drug is more effective in the initial phases of infection during which the drug targets viral replication in the upper respiratory tracts of the human body. The drug is thought to evade proof reading by viral exoribonuclease as it does not cause immediate chain termination. This is in sharp contrast to nucleotide analogs that have been shown to be less efficacious against coronaviruses due to the proof-reading ability of virus exonuclease.

Efficacy and ongoing trials of Remdesivir

Compassionate use of drugs refers to the use of a new unapproved drug for treatment in patients in absence of any available treatment on a case by case basis. Remdesivir has been approved only for compassionate use in severe COVID-19 patients by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The first compassionate use of Remdesivir in a US patient after hospitalization exhibited a significant increase in oxygen saturation and decrease in fever and other symptoms of COVID-19 without any observable adverse effect. In a relatively larger study of compassionate use of Remdesivir on COVID-19 patients, 68 % of patients have increased oxygen saturation and were extubated from mechanical ventilation. Mortality rate in these patients was 13% which was well below to that of World Health Organizations reports of 50% in severe COVID-19 patients. Administration of the drug in US, UK and Japan also resulted in acceptable recovery rate in severe COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir has shown superior therapeutic efficacy relative to Lopinavir and Ritonavir against MERS-CoV both in terms of reducing viral load and pathology in a mouse transgenic model. Other studies indicated that Remdesivir is effective both as prophylactic and therapeutic treatments against SARS-CoV-2. The patients are also less likely to develop resistance to this drug. Gilead Sciences is currently testing safety and efficacy of Remdesivir in two phase III clinical trials with a dosing regimen for 5 and 10 days respectively for treatment of patients with severely and moderate symptoms of COVID-19. Initial data from Gilead Sciences released on April 29, 2020 suggested that a 10-day treatment exhibited similar improvement relative to a five-day treatment. It remains to be seen that in how the drug performs in other randomized clinical trials conducted by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), World Health Organization (WHO) and Inserm in France.

Precautions

The drug is most potent when given early during acute infection and would not be an ideal choice for patients with mild infections. Besides the drug has to administered intravenously and is expensive. The drug is also contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any ingredient of Remdesivir.

Conclusions

Overall, Remdesivir has shown promise in the treatment of moderate to severe COVID-19 patients. The ongoing randomized clinical trials will provide more insight on its safety and efficacy and eventual approval of Remdesivir. Remdesivir could be a potential first treatment for the COVID-19 patients.

References

Huang, J., Song, W., Huang, H., and Sun, Q. (2020). Pharmacological Therapeutics Targeting RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase, Proteinase and Spike Protein: From Mechanistic Studies to Clinical Trials for COVID-19. J Clin Med 9 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9041131.

Jean, S.S., Lee, P.I., and Hsueh, P.R. (2020). Treatment options for COVID-19: The reality and challenges. J Microbiol Immunol Infect DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2020.03.034.

Ko, W.C., Rolain, J.M., Lee, N.Y., Chen, P.L., Huang, C.T., Lee, P.I., and Hsueh, P.R. (2020). Arguments in favour of remdesivir for treating SARS-CoV-2 infections. Int J Antimicrob Agents 55, 105933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.105933.

Kupferschmidt, K., and Cohen, J. (2020). Race to find COVID-19 treatments accelerates. Science 367, 1412-1413 DOI: 10.1126/science.367.6485.1412.

Martinez, M.A. (2020). Compounds with Therapeutic Potential against Novel Respiratory 2019 Coronavirus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 64 DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00399-20.

The Significance of Thespian Bijon Bhattacharya and IPTA in the international context

আন্তর্জাতিক প্রেক্ষাপটে নাট্যকার বিজন ভট্টাচার্য ও ভারতীয় গণনাট্য সংঘ

নিছক প্রমোদসর্বস্বতা থেকে জীবন সচেতনতার দিকে, রোমান্সের আড়ম্বর ও ভাবালুতা থেকে বাস্তব জীবনচেতনা সমৃদ্ধ শিল্পীত নাটকের দিকে প্রথম দিক নির্দেশ করে চল্লিশের দশকের ভারতীয় গণনাট্য আন্দোলন। সেই গণনাট্য সংঘেরই পতাকাতলে দাঁড়িয়ে একসময়ে বাংলা নাট্যসাহিত্য ও রঙ্গমঞ্চে আত্মনিয়োগ করেন নাট্যকার বিজন ভট্টাচার্য। যে সময়ে বাংলার বুকে দাঁড়িয়ে বিজন ভট্টাচার্য নাটক লিখতে শুরু করলেন, সেই সময় শুধু ভারতে নয়, সমগ্র আন্তর্জাতিক প্রেক্ষাপটেই এক চাঞ্চল্যকর অবস্থার সৃষ্টি হয়েছিল। ১৯৩১-১৯৪৭ খ্রিস্টাব্দ পর্যন্ত একদিকে বিশ্বযুদ্ধের সর্বগ্রাসী প্রভাব ও অন্যদিকে আভ্যন্তরীণ রাষ্ট্রবিপ্লবে বাংলাদেশ সামাজিক ও অর্থনৈতিক দিক থেকে চরম বিপর্যয়ের সম্মুখীন হয়েছিল। পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মানুষদের এই ভয়াবহ পরিস্থিতির সঙ্গে পরিচিত করাতে এবং এর থেকে উত্তরণের পন্থা জানানোর জন্য গণনাট্য সংঘ বিভিন্ন কর্মসূচি গ্রহণ করে। ফলে বিজন ভট্টাচার্যের নাটকগুলি আবর্তিত হয়েছিল জীবনের বাস্তব সমস্যাকে কেন্দ্র করে।

১৯৪৩ সালের মে মাসে গঠিত হয় ‘ভারতীয় গণনাট্য সংঘ’। বিজন ভট্টাচার্য সূচনার দিন থেকেই এই সংগঠনের সদস্য ছিলেন। সেই সময়, কমিউনিস্ট পার্টির সর্বক্ষণের সদস্যপদ গ্রহণের কিছু আগে তিনি রচনা করেন তাঁর প্রথম নাটক ‘আগুন’ (১৯৪৩)। এই নাটক সাফল্যের সঙ্গে অভিনীত হওয়ার পরে রচনা করেন ‘জবানবন্দী’ (১৯৪৩) এবং বিখ্যাত ‘নবান্ন’ (১৯৪৪) নাটক। এরপর সাম্প্রদায়িক দাঙ্গার পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে লিখলেন গীতিনাট্য ‘জীয়নকন্যা’ (১৯৪৭), শ্রমিক আন্দোলনের প্রেক্ষাপটে ‘অবরোধ’ (১৯৪৭), সংগ্রামী শিল্পীর শপথের কাহিনি নিয়ে ‘মরাচাঁদ’ (১৯৪৬)। গণনাট্য সংঘের সঙ্গে দৃষ্টিভঙ্গিগত মতবিরোধ বাড়তে থাকায় তিনি ১৯৫০ সালে গঠন করেন নিজস্ব নাট্য সংস্থা ‘ক্যালকাটা থিয়েটার’। এরপর দীর্ঘ ২০ বছর ধরে তিনি সুনিপুণ ভাবে রচনা ও প্রযোজনা করেন ‘গোত্রান্তর’ (১৯৫৭), ছায়াপথ (১৯৬১), ‘দেবীগর্জন’ (১৯৬৬), ‘গর্ভবতী জননী’ (১৯৬৭) ইত্যাদি নাটক। ১৯৭০ সালে ক্যালকাটা থিয়েটার থেকে বেরিয়ে এসে তিনি গঠন করলেন নতুন নাট্যদল ‘কবচকুণ্ডল’। প্রযোজনা করলেন ‘আজ বসন্ত (১৯৭০), ‘চলো সাগরে’ (১৯৭৭) ইত্যাদি নাটক। জীবন-প্রত্যয়ী নাটক রচনা ও উপস্থাপনার সংকল্পে আমৃত্যু অনমনীয় বিজন ভট্টাচার্য ১৯৭৮ সালের ১৯ জানুয়ারি শেষ নিঃশ্বাস ত্যাগ করেন।

চল্লিশের দশকে দুর্ভিক্ষ , মহামারী, বন্যা বিপর্যস্ত বাংলাদেশে গণনাট্য সংঘের কর্মধারার বিস্তার ঘটে। এই প্রেক্ষাপটেই রচিত হয় বিজন ভট্টাচার্যের প্রথম নাটক ‘আগুন’। এই নাটকটি পাঁচটি বিভিন্ন দৃশ্যের সমবায়ে গড়া স্কেচধর্মী রচনা। খাদ্যাভাব, রেশন ব্যবস্থায় দুর্নীতি, সাধারণ মানুষের মধ্যে ক্রমাগত বেড়ে চলা অসহিষ্ণুতা এবং আসন্ন বিদ্রোহের সম্ভাবনাকে এই নাটকে রূপ দিয়েছেন নাট্যকার। নাটকটি প্রথম অভিনীত হয় ১৯৪৩ সালের মে মাসে তৎকালীন নাট্যভারতী মঞ্চে।

এর মধ্যে সামাজিক পরিস্থিতির আরও অবনতি ঘটলে গণনাট্য সংঘের কাছে তৎকালীন কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি পরিস্থিতির আরও তৎপর নাট্য-রূপায়ণ চাইলেন। এর প্রতিক্রিয়া হিসাবে রচিত হল তাঁর দ্বিতীয় একাঙ্ক নাটক ‘জবাননন্দী’। এই নাটকটিকে বিখ্যাত নবান্ন নাটকের প্রাক-খসড়া বলা যেতে পারে। এই নাটকে গ্রাম থেকে উৎপাটিত কৃষক জীবনের যে যন্ত্রণা রূপায়িত হয়েছে, নবান্ন নাটকে তারই বিস্তৃত প্রকাশ দেখা যায়। জবানবন্দী চারটি দৃশ্যে বিভক্ত। মহামারীতে বিপর্যস্ত, ক্ষুধার তাড়নায় গৃহহীন মানুষেরা শহরে এসে সেখানকার মানুষের নিস্পৃহতা, লোভ ও লালসার শিকার হয়। এই নাটকটি প্রথম অভিনীত হয় গণনাট্য সংঘের প্রযোজনায়।

বিজন ভট্টাচার্যের পরবর্তী যে পূর্ণাঙ্গ নাটকটি বাংলা নাটক ও নাট্য-অভিনয়ের ইতিহাসে এক পর্বান্তরের সৃষ্টি করেছিল, তা হল ‘নবান্ন’। তৎকালীন দুর্ভিক্ষ পরিস্থিতির প্রত্যক্ষ অভিজ্ঞতায় এই নাটকটি রচনা করেন তিনি। ১৯৭৬ সালে অ্যাকাডেমি পুরস্কার লাভের সময় বিজন ভট্টাচার্য বলেছিলে, তিনি যদি কমিউনিস্ট পার্টির হয়ে কাজ না করতেন এবং ৪৪-এর মন্বন্তর না দেখতেন, তা হলে তিনি নবান্ন নাটক লিখতে পারতেন না। নবান্ন চার অঙ্কে বিন্যস্ত। প্রতিটি অঙ্ক আবার কয়েকটি করে দৃশ্যে বিভক্ত। প্রথম অঙ্কের প্রথম দৃশ্যটি বর্ণিত হয়েছে আমিনপুর গ্রামের পটভূমিকায়, ৪২-এর আগস্ট আন্দোলনের পুলিশি সন্ত্রাস, মহামারী, সাইক্লোন ইত্যাদির ছবি দিয়ে। দ্বিতীয় দৃশ্যে দেখা যায় গ্রামীণ কৃষক প্রধান সমাদ্দার ও তার পরিবার অভাবের তাড়নায় শহরে এসে হাজির হয়েছে। এই ভাবে বিভিন্ন অঙ্কের বিভিন্ন দৃশ্যে তৎকালীন সাধারণ মানুষের নিদারুণ দুর্গতির ছবি বিজন ভট্টাচার্য ফুটিয়ে তুলেছেন। কিন্তু বিপর্যয়ই শেষ কথা নয়। মন্বন্তরের শেষে গ্রামে ফিরে এসে নতুন ধানের উৎসব নবান্নের মাধ্যমে নাটকটির সমাপ্তি। চতুর্থ অঙ্কের দ্বিতীয় দৃশ্য থেকেই নবান্ন উৎসব শুরু হয়ে গেছে। শেষ দৃশ্যটি সম্পূর্ণই নবান্ন উৎসবের আনন্দে ভরা। সব হারিয়ে ফেলা মানুষগুলি গ্রামে ফিরে এসে কৃষক-শত্রুদের বিরুদ্ধে ‘জোর প্রতিরোধ’এর সংকল্প গ্রহণ করেছে। নাটকটিতে এই তিমিরবিনাশী প্রত্যয় থাকার কারণেই এর নাম ‘নবান্ন’।

সেকালে এবং সর্বকালের বাংলা নাট্যজগতে ‘নবান্ন’ একটা ইতিহাস। কবিশেখর কালিদাস রায় বলেছিলেন, ‘নাটকটি হয়ে উঠেছে জীবন্ত, জ্বলন্ত কতকগুলি প্রাণস্পর্শী দৃশ্যের একত্র গ্রন্থন’। সামগ্রিকভাবে দুর্ভিক্ষের প্রেক্ষাপটকে আত্মস্থ করে নবান্ন যে কালোত্তীর্ণতা অর্জন করেছিল, বিজন ভট্টাচার্যের অন্যান্য নাটকগুলির পক্ষে তা সম্ভব হয়নি। নাট্যকার শম্ভু মিত্র মন্তব্য করেছিলেন, ‘শ্রী বিজন ভট্টাচার্যের নবান্ন নাটক যেন শ্মশানচারী ভৈরব শিবের মূর্তি। কোনও মিথ্যে নেই, কোনও ছলাকলা নেই’।

এরপর ১৯৪৬ সালে বিজন ভট্টাচার্য গণনাট্য সংঘ থেকে পদত্যাগ করেন এবং ১৯৫০ সালে গড়ে তোলেন ‘ক্যালকাটা থিয়েটার’। রচিত হয় ‘মরাচাঁদ’, ‘কলঙ্ক’, ‘জীয়নকন্যা’, ‘গর্ভবতী জননী’, ‘অবরোধ’, দেবীগর্জন’ ইত্যাদি নাটক। ‘কলঙ্ক’ নামক একাঙ্ক নাটকটি বাঁকুড়ার প্রত্যন্ত অঞ্চলের আদিবাসী সাঁওতালদের আশানিরাশা-তাড়িত জীবনের পটভূমিতে রচিত। নাটকটির সমাপ্তি নেতিবাচক ধ্বংসে নয়, ইতিবাচক প্রতিরোধের সংকল্পে। ‘মরাচাঁদ’ নাটকটি একজন সঙ্গীত শিল্পীর সঠিক পথদর্শনের কাহিনি। অন্ধ সঙ্গীত শিল্পী পবনের গান যেভাবে অগণিত শোষিত মানুষের জীবনের গান হয়ে উঠলো তাই বর্ণনা করা হয়েছে এই নাটকে। ‘অবরোধ’ নাটকের মূল বিষয় মালিকপক্ষের ক্ষমতার দ্বন্দ্ব, নির্বিচার শ্রমিক শোষণ এবং প্রতিবাদী শ্রমিক আন্দোলনের প্রয়াস। দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধকালীন বাংলাদেশ এই নাটকের পটভূমি। একাঙ্ক নাটক ‘কলঙ্ক’-কে অনুসরণ করে বিজন ভট্টাচার্য ১৯৬৬ সালে লেখেন পূর্ণাঙ্গ নাটক ‘দেবীগর্জন’। কলঙ্ক নাটকের কাহিনিকে অনুপঙ্ক্ষ বিস্তৃতিতে বর্ণনা করা হয়েছে এখানে।

মূল্যায়ন :

বিজন ভট্টাচার্যের আবির্ভাব গতানুগতিক বাংলা নাট্যজগতে মুক্তি সংবাদের মতো তুমুল আলোড়ন এনেছিল।
গণনাট্য সংঘের প্রতিরোধের আদর্শ তাঁর বেশিরভাগ নাটকের মূল সুর। মানুষের ঐক্যবদ্ধ সংগ্রামকেই তিনি নাটকে রূপ দিতে চেয়েছিলেন।
তাঁর বেশিরভাগ নাটকেই উঠে এসেছে মন্বন্তর-পীড়িত বাংলার বেদনা ও জীবন সংগ্রাম এবং অধিকার অর্জনের লড়াই। নাট্যকার স্বয়ং বলেছিলেন, ‘নাটক রচনার পিছনে তাগিদ যেটা ছিল, সেটা হল এক জীবনযন্ত্রণা’।
তাঁর নাটকের সংলাপ সাধারণত মানুষের মৌখিক ভাষা অবল্মবনে রচিত। যে অঙচলের পটভূমিতে নাটকের কাহিনি সংস্থাপিত হত, সেই অঞ্চলের উপভাষা তিনি সংলাপ রচনায় ব্যবহার করতেন।
বাংলা নাটককে বাস্তবধর্মী করে তোলাই ছিল বিজন ভট্টাচার্যের সবচেয়ে বড় অবদান। তিনি নাটকের কাঠামো ধরে জীবনের দিকে এগোননি, জীবন থেকে নাটকের দিকে এগিয়েছেন। মঞ্চসত্য ও জীবনসত্যের মধ্যে এই সেতুবন্ধনেই নাট্যকার বিজন ভট্টাচার্যের কৃতিত্ব ও অনন্যতা।

গণনাট্য :
ভারতবর্ষে দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধের সমকালে(১৯৪৩) কমিউনিস্ট পার্টির শাখা সংগঠন হিসাবে ‘ভারতীয় গণনাট্য সংঘ’ প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয়। ফ্রান্সের দার্শনিক রমাঁ রলাঁর পিপলস থিয়েটারের প্রভাব গণনাট্যের আদর্শে প্রভাব ফেলেছিল। তিনি এই ধরনের থিয়েটারের বিশিষ্টতায় তিনটি বিষয়ের উপর জোর দিয়েছিলেন। প্রথমত, সাধারণ দর্শকের প্রাণের কথা তাঁদের সহজবোধ্য প্রমোদের মাধ্যমেই বলতে হবে। এই সাধারণ দর্শক হচ্ছে সর্বব্যাপক জনসাধারণ, শ্রমিক, কৃষক, সাধারণ মানুষ। দ্বিতীয়ত, শুধু আনন্দ দেওয়া নয়, দর্শকদের উজ্জীবিত করে তাদের নতুন জীবনভাবনায় প্রাণীত করতে হবে। তাদের জীবন সমস্যা, তার কারণ এবং তা থেকে মুক্তির চিন্তা ও উপায় –সেগুলি বুঝিয়ে দেওয়ার দায়িত্ব পিপলস থিয়েটারকে নিতে হবে। তৃতীয়ত, এই থিয়েটারকে উদ্দেশ্যমূলক হতে হবে। জীবনের আনন্দের মাধ্যমে দর্শককে সামাজিক, রাজনৈতিক ও অর্থনৈতিক চেতনাসম্পন্ন করার মধ্য দিয়েই এই থিয়েটারের সাফল্য।
ভারতীয় গণনাট্য সঙ্ঘের নাট্যভাবনার মধ্যে এই চিন্তা সূত্রগুলি কাজ করেছিল। সেখান থেকে যে ভাবনাগুলি তৈরি হল তা মোটামুটি নিম্নরূপ:

১। গণনাট্যের নাটকে কাহিনি আবর্তিত হবে জীবনের বাস্তব সমস্যাকে কেন্দ্র করে।

২। সেখানে থাকবে সে সমস্যা থেকে উত্তরণের পথ।

৩। গণনাট্য প্রথাসিদ্ধ নাটকের নায়ক-মহিমাকে স্বীকৃতি দেয় না। একক নায়ক প্রাধান্যের পরিবর্তে এ নাটকে গোষ্ঠীর মূল্য অনেক বেশি।

৪। এ নাটকে নাট্যচরিত্রকে শ্রেণির প্রতিনিধি হিসাবে দাঁড় করানো হয়।

৫। কৃষক, শ্রমিক, মেহনতি মানুষদের সমাজ সচেতন করে তোলা এবং তাদের জমিদার ও মালিক শ্রেণির আসল স্বরূপ চিনিয়ে দেওয়া এই নাটকের অন্যতম প্রধান উদ্দেশ্য।

৬। গণনাট্যে লোকায়ত মানুষের লোকাচরণ, লোকসংস্কৃতি, লোক্ক্রীড়া, লোকসংগীত, লোকাচার, লোকশিল্পের নানা দিক যত্নের সঙ্গে তুলে ধরা হয়।

৭। মঞ্চ ব্যবস্থাপনার মধ্যে বহু অর্থ ব্যয়ে পেশাদারী মঞ্চ নির্মাণ কৌশলকে পরিত্যাগ করা হয়। অনেকসময় সাধারণ মানুষদের মাঝখানে গিয়ে এই নাটক অভিনয় করতে হয় বলে সামান্য উঁচু একটি সাধারণ মঞ্চ নির্মাণ করা হয়। মঞ্চের পিছনে অনেক সময় শুধু মাত্র একটি পর্দা থাকে।

নাট্যকার বিজন ভট্টাচার্য কমিউনিস্ট পার্টির কর্মী ছিলেন। গণনাট্য সংঘের জন্ম লগ্ন থেকেই তিনি এই সংগঠনের সঙ্গে যুক্ত। তাঁর নাট্যভাবনায় গণনাট্যের বিপুল প্রভাবের কথা সর্বজনবিদিত।

PROTEIN COMMUNICATION VIA RNA TRANSLATION IN CORONAVIRUS INFECTED CELLS: ROLE OF ACE-2 PROTEIN and MRNA VACCINES

Student Contributor: Anusuya Patra (B.Sc Biotechnology IV sem)

Coronavirus was recognized in mid-1960 and later known to affect humans and a variety of mammals. Since, 2002 two types of coronavirus infecting animals and give risen into humans: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) recognized in South China in 2003, & Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

The Novel Coronavirus has been identified as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-2 (SARS-CoV-2) identified in Wuhan & responsible for Pneumonia outbreak throughout the world. This outbreak was started in China in 2019; during December & became worldwide in a timeframe of a few months. World Health Organization recognized it as a pandemic on 11th March 2020. So far, more than 200, countries that resulted in above 160,000 deaths as of 19th April 2020. This highly infectious virus spread via respiratory droplets and aerosols when an uninfected person comes with contact with an infected person. Viruses play a crucial role in Covid19 though it’s important to understand the mechanisms of viral mRNA translation via Protein Synthesis.

PROTEIN STRUCTURE: SCARs-CoV-2 has spherical particles and has proteins called spikes. The viruses are to blame morvic envelope particle (virion) & the RNA in this virus has a single-stranded, positive sense. These viruses are the largest members of the RNA virus with a diameter of around 80-160 nanometer in diameter and genomes range from 21-34 kbs. Coronavirus consists of 5 structural proteins.

S (spike)
N (nucleocapsid)
E (envelop)
M(membrane)
HE (Hemagglutinin Esterase).

The most important and specific proteins are Spike Protein (S) & Hemagglutinin Esterase Protein (HE) and they have covered the outer side of the virus. Both are significantly responsible for attaching, infusing, infecting the particular cells of the body.

S protein binds with HE protein assists in viral entry to the human cells, and this protein attaches to the receptor protein ACE2, this gives a crown-like appearance, and comes up with a name “Corona”. N protein is a ribonucleoprotein that forms the complex with ribonucleic acid to assists the viral assembly. E protein forms the viral envelope. There are two types of “E protein.”

E1: is a type of glycoprotein transmembrane protein matrix.

E2: is a protein that helps in the fusion in human cells. M protein: protein forms a viral envelope. HE protein is a peplomer which has a role in hemagglutination. Communication between viruses and infected lung cells: Once, the virus gets into the respiratory system it loves to attack alveoli. In alveoli, there are two types of pneumocytes. Type 1 pneumocytes: is for gastric exchange.

Type 2 pneumocytes: culture and expressed the surfactant protein (SP-A, SP-B, & pro-sp-C) at mRNA and protein level it decreases the surfactants in alveoli and collapsed in pressure. S protein binds to a specific receptor on Type 2 pneumocytes, this receptor is known as Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2). When RNA virus enters into the cell binds enlarge the virus action and engulf the virus taken into the cell, then positive sense RNA comes inside the cytoplasm if the Type 2 pneumocytes, it produces host cell ribosomes and it comes to known as mRNA through the translation process.

In general virus protein has two receptor binding domain ORBDs, facing downward, and another one facing upwards. These receptor binding domains help viruses to bind and invade human cells. The virus targets human ACE-2 receptor binds with amino acid transporter. The rearrangement of spike proteins that cover the viral surface helps to penetrate the virus cells & these viruses dissolve in the own protein shell & RNA releases bellowed inside the cell.

Coronavirus hijacks the structure of the cell to reproduce the RNA of the virus takes help the host cells an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in replicating self and magnification the protein part to make a new virus. Once the hijacked cells go to the Golgi bodies the viral RNA & the proteins in a viral protein shell start packaging.

Cell death is a result when the infection function homeostasis. Single-stranded RNA enhances the production of another enzyme called RNA dependent RNA polymerase; it takes RNA and synthesized RNA and coverts into more copies of single-stranded RNA. There are different types of specific polyproteins also included in the virus cells.

To make the whole virus structure (like nucleocapsid, specific enzymes, spike proteins), there is a specific enzyme that proteolyzes these polyproteins to individual points to need to make a whole virus structure. So, we have enzymes here specific type of proteinases proteolytically cleave this polyprotein into the different viral components that involved for making into the nucleocapsid, specific enzymes, and spike proteins.

The cells use RNA dependent RNA polymerase and ribosomes to make a protein, to make the components of the viral protein structure. If we combined all nucleocapsid enzyme spike proteins with single-stranded RNA, it comes out with a whole structure virus. Significance of ACE-2 Protein: Angiotensin released from the liver and this is converted into Angiotensin 1 when it comes to the bloodstream, it gets the lungs to release something known as ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) this allows the conversion of ACE-1 to ACE-2.

ACE-2 stimulates sympathetic activity and also stimulates Na2+/Cl- re-absorption and K+ excretion & H2O retention virus from ACE which converts into ACE-2. And in hypertension ACE inhibitors are the first-line drugs. In SCARS-CoV-2 ACE-2 (Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) is a door from where the cells enter the human body and ACE2 protein have important enzymatic functions influencing blood pressure to the organ. The spike protein interacts with the ACE2 receptor and gets entered into the interior of the human cell and the virus can replicate. Simultaneously the spike protein undergoes in the process of unfolding or refolding. This transformation occurs via coiled-spring that start buried at the core of the spike & the spike hooks reconfigured into the cell and helps to crash virus particles. In this way, the viral genetic material can mediate its way into the unsuspecting cell.

If ACE-2 is decreased then the lungs will be more prone to many viral injuries because the ACE-2 protects the lungs. If ACE-2 inhibitor is activated then there will be more number of dying people from heart failure and the chances of death become two-three folds. Though the tough point is that the ACE-2 protein is very controversial but inhibition of the progression of ACE-1 might be helpful to decrease the level of COVID 19.

Prevention via ACE-2 and some mRNA vaccines: Human recombinant soluble ACE-2 drug is newly synthesized for the treatment of coronavirus, this drug decodes receptor and connects with the spike proteins envelop of the virus to prevent it from connecting and entering in human cells. Another vaccine is known as the mRNA1273 vaccine stabilizes the mRNA and also encodes for a stable form of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. mRNA’s vaccines carry the molecular instruction to make protein. The host body uses to produce viral protein provided via the mRNA vaccine, the mRNA vaccine comes out from synthetic mRNA of the virus & the mRNA vaccines mimic as the natural infection of the virus.

Advantages of mRNA vaccine: The significant advantage of mRNA vaccines that they can produce pure viral proteins & sometimes saving months or years to standardize and ramp up mass production.

References:

Sarah A. Kopecky-Bromberg, Luis Martinez-Sobrido, and Peter Palese, “7a Protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Inhibits Cellular Protein Synthesis and Activates p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase”, J Virol. 2006 Jan; 80(2): 785–793.
The Conversation “What the coronavirus does make to your body that makes it so deadly” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH Benjamin Neuman Texas A&M University. Published by April 2 2020.
Sanjay Mishra, Robert Carnahan, Coronavirus: A new type of vaccine using RNA could heplp defeat Covid 19 NIAID-RML Vanderbilt University Published by March 26.
Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Zhao J, Hu Y, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. The Lancet. 2020 Feb 15,395(10223):497-506.
Peter & Jack, Coronavirus-Covid 19 | Viral Structure and Pathogenesis Anatomy Zone Published April 3 2020.

Psychobiome and the microbe-mind interface

(Student Contributor: Prapam Nandi, UGIV-Biochemistry, Adamas University).

Despite various assumptions indicating deviations on the number of microbial cells in a healthy human body, it seems a fact that the number of bacteria easily outnumber the total number of human cells (Sender et al., 2016). Better known as the microbiome, trillions of microbes representing thousands of species including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea inhabit the human body. If we consider the gene pool, its more than 20 million genes among them compared to a mere 20,000 genes that human genome harbors. The advent of high throughput and deep sequencing empowered metagenomic analysis enabled us to explore the compositions, organization, and multitudinous role of microbiome linked to health. Dysbiosis (loss of a specific member of normal microflora) has been associated with a cluster of chronic diseases (Wilkins et al., 2019). Gut microbiome, the major hub of microbes we host in our system, is regulating various response cascades including immune function, energy metabolism, and aging, to mention a few. Exploration of such regulation rendered us to perceive maneuvering microbiome as a therapeutic strategy. Microbiome grafting including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has become a considerably successful bacterio-therapy for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (Kachlíková et al., 2020). Revealing the factors influencing the composition of the microbiota and studying the dynamics are blossoming areas of microbiology research.

The gut microbiome, (~ 2 kilograms in mass, weighs more than most of the human organs) has been linked to several physiological responses. Whether it can affect behavior, cognition and mental health remained elusive until a decade ago, albeit various observations hinted toward such association for long. For example, persons with irritable bowel syndrome tend to be depressed, and on the flip side people on the autism and Parkinsons’s spectrum tend to have digestive problems. The gut-brain axis has been explored quite recently with Evans et al. reporting a direct correlation between the severity of the bipolar disorder and gut microbiome composition, particularly the lower abundance of Faecalibacterium in affected individuals (Evans et al., 2016). Earlier, a strong variance of gut microbiome composition between individuals with a major depressive disorder to those of healthy controls was reported with emulation of depression-like features by microbiome grafting in mice (Li et al., 2018). The same group linked the glucocorticoid receptor pathway and glycerophospholipid metabolism with behavior in nonhuman primate models (Luo et al., 2018). Lowry et al., reported that immunization with Mycobacterium vaccae reduced inflammatory response in the brain and curbed anxiety. In a similar study, they also observed that immunization after fear conditioning enhances fear extinction and ameliorate postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD, a common problem for older adults after surgery) (Hassel et al., 2019). With their consistent effort to characterize microbiome induced metabolic modulation, Cryan et al., have strengthened the relationship between gut microbes and brain. Murine models with fecal transplants from individuals with Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, autism, or depression recorded to develop rodent equivalents of such ailments (Golubeva et al., 2017). Microbe mediated tryptophan metabolism leads to the generation of serotonin (neurotransmitter) or kynurenine (pro-toxic product). The impact of dysbiosis on social brain function as evidenced by an association study that showed that autism-like condition had lower levels of Bifidobacterium and Blautia gut bacteria, their guts made less tryptophan and bile acid(needed for producing serotonin). Moreover in children with autism altered levels of Veillonellaceae, Coprococcus, and Prevotella gut bacteria were enumerated compared to individuals without such conditions (Golubeva et al., 2017).

Mechanistic understanding of the gut-brain axis remained obscure until very recently when Valles-Colomer et al. reported the outcome of a robust sequencing project comprising a fecal microbiome analysis of more than 1000 individuals (microbiome population cohort)which suggested the robust correlation with gut microbial activity and depression. Interestingly, with a higher quality of life, butyrate-producing bacteria Faecalibacterium and Coprococcuscould be associated while in depression condition, depletion of bacteria like Dialister, Coprococcus spp. were detected. Implementing a module-based framework for analysis, they assembled neuro-active potential of gut prokaryotes, which indicated microbial synthesis potential of the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (a metabolite for the neurotransmitter dopamine) with mental health and the potential role of microbial γ-aminobutyric acid production (GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter) in depression (Valles-Colomer et al., 2019).

In one of their recent works, Simpson et al. established the link between the presence of specific microbes with neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. Using α-syncluin overexpressing mice (mimicking synucleinopathies exemplified by Parkinson’s disease) they established the gut bacteria-neuro-degeneration link elegantly. The study indicated that alteration of the human microbiome represents an elevated risk of neurodegeneration (Sampson et al., 2020).

Based on such concepts, entrepreneurship endeavors are already underway. Phil Strandwitz, CEO of Holobiome, and his team are actively engaged in identifying microbes with psychobiont potential. Primarily they have identified Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Escherichia species as bacteria with GABA producing pathways through transcriptome analysis of human stool samples (Strandwitz et al., 2019). At Holobiome they have identified and ranked 30 promising GABA-producing bacteria and also discovered that the bacterially produce GABA in the gut increases its levels in the brain. The group is trying to develop a consortium of bacteria that would comprise a broader range of species and will be able to target various psychological conditions like depression (https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/meet-psychobiome-gut-bacteria-may-alter-how-you-think-feel-and-act#). Barring such consortia approach, prebiotic trials are also being attempted with the gross aim to enrich a good psychobiome. In one such trial Grimaldi et al. report Bimuno^® galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS^®) prebiotic intervention driving, enrichment of Lachnospiraceae family, and improvements in anti-social behavior (Grimaldi et al., 2018).

Despite its tremendous potential, optimizing microbiome therapy is not at all a smooth sail. Microbe-metal health interface research is still at a sprouting stage, primarily deciphering microbial metabolism linked to neurotransmitter generation/ stability. There are dimensions yet to be explored to have a systemic understanding. It would require a robust association study comprising substantial population and individual data. Individual microbiomes frequently expel the bacteria in standard probiotics, preventing the probiotic species from becoming established in gut microbiome (Suez et al., 2018). In this context, adopting parameters similar to precision medicine development while grafting microbiomes might accentuate the successful development of psychobiome therapy.

References:

Evans SJ, Bassis CM, Hein R, et al. The gut microbiome composition associates with bipolar disorder and illness severity. J Psychiatr Res. 2017;87:23‐29. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.12.007

Golubeva AV, Joyce SA, Moloney G, et al. Microbiota-related Changes in Bile Acid & Tryptophan Metabolism are Associated with Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Autism. EBioMedicine. 2017;24:166‐178. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.09.020

Grimaldi R, Gibson GR, Vulevic J, et al. A prebiotic intervention study in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Microbiome. 2018;6(1):133. Published 2018 Aug 2. doi:10.1186/s40168-018-0523-3

Hassell JE Jr, Fox JH, Arnold MR, et al. Treatment with a heat-killed preparation of Mycobacterium vaccae after fear conditioning enhances fear extinction in the fear-potentiated startle paradigm. Brain Behav Immun. 2019;81:151‐160. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2019.06.008

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/meet-psychobiome-gut-bacteria-may-alter-how-you-think-feel-and-act#

Kachlíková M, Sabaka P, Koščálová A, Bendžala M, Dovalová Z, Stankovič I. Comorbid status and the faecal microbial transplantation failure in treatment of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection – pilot prospective observational cohort study. BMC Infect Dis. 2020;20(1):52. Published 2020 Jan 16. doi:10.1186/s12879-020-4773-x

Li B, Guo K, Zeng L, et al. Metabolite identification in fecal microbiota transplantation mouse livers and combined proteomics with chronic unpredictive mild stress mouse livers. Transl Psychiatry. 2018;8(1):34. Published 2018 Jan 31. doi:10.1038/s41398-017-0078-2

Luo Y, Zeng B, Zeng L, et al. Gut microbiota regulates mouse behaviors through glucocorticoid receptor pathway genes in the hippocampus. Transl Psychiatry. 2018;8(1):187. Published 2018 Sep 7. doi:10.1038/s41398-018-0240-5

Sampson TR, Challis C, Jain N, et al. A gut bacterial amyloid promotes α-synuclein aggregation and motor impairment in mice. Elife. 2020;9:e53111. Published 2020 Feb 11. doi:10.7554/eLife.53111

Sender R, Fuchs S, Milo R. Revised Estimates for the Number of Human and Bacteria Cells in the Body. PLoS Biol. 2016;14(8):e1002533. Published 2016 Aug 19. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002533

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