Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a crucial crop contributing to global food security; however, its production is susceptible to salinity, a significant abiotic stressor that negatively impacts plant germination, vigour, and yield, degrading crop production. Due to the presence of exchangeable sodium ions (Na⁺), the affected plants sustain two-way damage resulting in initial osmotic stress and subsequent ion toxicity in the plants, which alters the cell’s ionic homeostasis and physiological status. To adapt to salt stress, plants sense and transfer osmotic and ionic signals into their respective cells, which results in alterations of their cellular properties. No specific Na⁺ sensor or receptor has been identified in plants for salt stress other than the SOS pathway. Increasing productivity under salt-affected soils necessitates conventional breeding supplemented with biotechnological interventions. However, knowledge of the genetic basis of salinity stress tolerance in the breeding pool is somewhat limited because of the complicated architecture of salinity stress tolerance, which needs to be expanded to create salt-tolerant variants with better adaptability. A comprehensive study that emphasizes the QTLs, genes and governing mechanisms for salt stress tolerance is discussed in the present study for future research in crop improvement.

The COVID-19 pandemic in India has resulted in mass destruction in the form of second wave that hit the country during March-June months of this year. Indian citizens and government were affected by economic, social, and psychological consequences and were left constrained with basic medical facilities in treating the heavy load of patients. The possibility of re-emergence of virulent strains of SARS-CoV-2 still exists. In this article, we tend to discuss why India is at high risk to be to be affected by the third wave and what strategies could be implemented to contain the viral spread. It provides these insights with reference to the gaps and the lessons learnt from the second wave along with the possible solutions to tackle the problems which were not effectively handled during the previous episodes of viral spread. We propose strategies for implementing effective vaccination programs, focus on different ways and speeding up of diagnosis, management of essential hospital aids, prevention from vaccine escape mutant strains like δ and δ + variants and implementation of COVID-appropriate behaviour in rural areas of India. The literature of this article was extracted from the Google Scholar and PubMed databases up to the month of September 2021 using the keywords like Coronavirus, second wave in India, viral positivity rate, emerging Coronavirus strains, COVID vaccination rate in India etc. Many points discussed in this article were also the result of close observation during the preceding waves. This article has significance to the researchers and government officials in understanding the gaps that led to COVID-19 second wave in India and provides an opportunity to improve on certain areas for handling the future waves with more vigilance.

Glutaredoxin (GRXs) protein plays a vital role inside the cell, including redox control of transcription to the cell's antioxidant defense, apoptosis, and cellular differentiation regulation. In this study, we have investigated the energy landscape and characterized the pattern of local frustration in different forms and states of the GRX protein ofE. coli.Analysis was done on the conformational alterations, significant changes in the frustration pattern, and different GRXs such as GRX-II, GRX-III, GRX-II-GSH, and GRX-III-GSH complex. We have found the practice of frustration, and structure was quite similar in the same isoform having different states of protein; however, a significant difference was observed between different isoforms. Moreover, oxidation of GRX-I introduced an extra α-helix increasing the destabilizing interactions within the protein. The study of frustrated contacts on oxidized and reduced GRX and with bound and unbound Glutathione indicates its potential application in activating and regulating the behavior of GRXs.