Microplastic (MP) pollution is a serious global issue affecting freshwater systems, coastal regions, and oceans. These non-biodegradable materials have a detrimental impact on marine species and ecosystems, disrupting their feeding, breathing, and reproduction. In this study, 120 samples of two species of shrimp, Penaus monodon and Penaus indicus, from ten locations in the Negombo lagoon in Sri Lanka were analyzed. MPs were extracted from gastrointestinal tracts (GI) and gills (GL) by alkali digestion followed by vacuum filtering. Stereomicroscopy coupled with advanced micro-imaging and analysis software was employed for analyzing the isolated MPs. A total of 415 items were identified as MPs with an average of 8.29 ± 4.63 items per gram of GI and GL in Penaus monodon and 5.52 ± 3.78 items per gram of GI and GL in Penaus indicus. The majority of MPs identified were fibers (93%), and the remaining ones were fragments. Most of the MPs were >1000 μm, and the most prevalent color was blue (61%), followed by red (15%), black (9%), and others, comprising polystyrene, polyamide, polyester, polypropylene, and rayon, as revealed by FTIR spectroscopy. This study highlights the prevalence of MPs in shrimps harvested from the Negombo lagoon and displays missing baseline data before the effects of fragmented nurdles from the X-Press Pearl incident.

The escalating global concern over antibiotic resistance has led to an intensified exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies, including the utilization of plant-derived secondary metabolites. In this in-silico study, we investigated the structural inhibition of bacterial DNA Topoisomerase IV complex by major secondary metabolites extracted from the medicinal plant Hygrophila schulli. The plant is renowned for its rich phytochemical composition, possessing bioactive compounds with diverse pharmacological properties. Using computational approaches, we conducted molecular docking simulations to explore the binding affinities and interactions between the identified secondary metabolites from Hygrophila schulli and the target bacterial DNA Topoisomerase IV complex. Our results unveil promising interactions, suggesting a potential inhibitory effect on the targeted protein. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to examine the dynamic behavior of the ligand-protein complexes, providing insights into the stability and conformational changes over time. This in-silico exploration contributes valuable information to the understanding of the molecular interactions between plant-derived secondary metabolites and Bacterial DNA Topoisomerase IV, laying the groundwork for future experimental validations. The findings from this study may pave the way for the development of novel antimicrobial agents derived from natural sources, offering a sustainable and effective approach in the ongoing battle against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

In the early 20th century, during the era of investigating and identifying essential “vitamins”, scientific research focused on grape seed extracts and their bioactive components, particularly polyphenols. Extensive studies have demonstrated that grape seed extract, rich in proanthocyanidins, offers protection against a wide spectrum of diseases, encompassing inflammation, cardiac ailments, peptic ulcers, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and microbial infections. To explore potential secondary metabolites within grape seed extract that could serve as structural inhibitors of bacterial DNA Gyrase, molecular docking studies were performed. The docking results revealed that two phytochemicals, namely (-)-catechin and Procyanidin-B2, exhibited the highest potency in inhibiting DNA gyrase subunit B. Subsequent in silico physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameter predictions were conducted using specialized web servers for the examined phytochemicals. Notably, (-)-catechin displayed superior inhibitory and ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) characteristics, suggesting its potential for utilization in synthesizing novel antibacterial compounds.

Microplastic pollution is a serious global issue affecting freshwater systems, coastal regions, and oceans. These non-biodegradable materials have a detrimental impact on marine species and ecosystems, causing disruption to their feeding, breathing, and reproduction. In this study, 120 samples of two species of shrimp, P. monodon and P. indicus, from ten locations in the Negombo lagoon in Sri Lanka were analyzed. A total of 415 items were identified as microplastic with an average of 8.29 ± 4.63 items per gram in P. monodon and 5.52 ± 3.78 items per gram in P. indicus. The majority of microplastics identified were fibers (93%), and the remaining being fragments. Most of the microplastics were >1000 μm, and the most prevalent color was blue (61%), followed by red (15%), black (9%), and others. These comprised of polystyrene, polyamide, polyester, polypropylene, and rayon, as identified by FTIR spectroscopy. This study highlights the prevalence of microplastics in shrimps harvested from the Negombo lagoon and the potential impact on marine life.