Herein, we report the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (OE-Ag NPs) by ecofriendly green processes using biological molecules of Olea europaea leaf extract. Green synthesized OE-Ag NPs were successfully characterized using different spectroscopic techniques. Antibacterial activity of OE-Ag NPs was assessed against four different bacteriological strains using the dilution serial method. The cytotoxic potential was determined against MCF-7 carcinoma cells using MTT assay in terms of cell viability percentage. Antioxidant properties were evaluated in terms of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging. Biocompatibility was further examined by incubating the synthesized NPs with hMSC cells for 24 h. The results were demonstrated that synthesized OE-Ag NPs presented excellent log₁₀ reduction in the growth of all the tested bacterial strains, which as statistically equivalent (p > 0.05) to the standard antibiotic drug. Moreover, they also demonstrated excellent cytotoxic efficacy against the MCF-7 carcinoma cells compared to plant lead extract and Com-Ag NPs. Green synthesized OE-Ag NPs appeared more biocompatible to hMSC and 293T cells compared to Com-Ag NPs. Excellent biological results of the OE-Ag NPs might be attributed to the synergetic effect of NPs’ properties and the adsorbed secondary metabolites of plant leaf extract. Hence, this study suggests that synthesized OE-Ag NPs can be a potential contender for their various biological and nutraceutical applications. Moreover, this study will open a new avenue to produce biocompatible nanoparticles with additional biological functionalities from the plants.

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein enables viral entry by binding to the human ACE2 receptor, making it a critical target for antiviral intervention. In this study, five small molecules derived from 1,3,4-thiadiazole scaffolds were identified as potential inhibitors of the spike-ACE2 interaction using structure-based virtual screening and experimental validation. All five compounds were predicted to bind within the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein and disrupted ACE2 attachment. Simulations confirmed stable binding for all compounds without structural destabilization of the spike protein. Binding reduced the flexibility of key receptor-binding loops, maintained overall compactness of the spike structure, and restricted large-scale conformational shifts compared to the unbound protein. Energy analysis showed that hydrophobic contacts and electrostatic interactions contributed to stable complex formation. Of the five compounds, NS1 and NS2 demonstrated the strongest binding affinities (− 49.17 and − 47.74 kcal mol⁻¹), stable binding behavior over extended simulations, and consistent structural stabilization of the spike protein. In vitro, NS1 and NS2 inhibited the spike-ACE2 interaction with IC₅₀ values of 2162.77 nM and 2946.28 nM, respectively. Both compounds exhibited low cytotoxicity in human BJ fibroblast cells and predicted oral bioavailability based on pharmacokinetic modeling. We identified NS1 and NS2 as promising lead compounds capable of directly targeting the spike-ACE2 interface. Our results support small-molecule inhibition of spike-ACE2 binding as a viable antiviral approach and highlight the identified thiadiazole scaffold as a starting point for future optimization and preclinical development.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a complex inflammatory lung condition characterized by oxidative stress, changes in airway structure, and gradually worsening airflow blockage. Existing treatments offer only symptomatic management, emphasizing the need for multi-target therapeutic interventions. This study employed a combined approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking to investigate the therapeutic effects of bioactive compounds derived from Cladophora glomerata on COPD. Disease-associated genes were collected from GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), while compounds from C. glomerata and their predicted molecular targets were obtained from SwissTargetPrediction. A cross-comparison of targets related to compounds and diseases revealed nine common genes, among which three central genes TP53, CASP8, and EGFR were identified using protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Analysis of gene–disease interactions highlighted Tumor Protein p53 (TP53) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) as major regulatory targets. GeneMANIA-based functional and co-expression analysis revealed predominant physical interactions (77.64%) and co-expression relationships (8.01%), highlighting strong functional connectivity among the identified genes. Molecular docking further confirmed that C. glomerata derived compounds, particularly Quinoline, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-((2-phenylcyclopropyl)sulfonyl)-, trans- (Pubchem ID: 91709903) (−7.5 kcal/mol) and1,2,4-Oxadiazole, 3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-5-[(4-iodo-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl]- (Pubchem ID: 5301194) (−7.3 kcal/mol), exhibit favorable predicted binding affinities toward EGFR and TP53 in molecular docking analysis. Overall, these insights suggest that Cladophora glomerata compounds may modulate key COPD-related pathways through multi-target interactions, providing a scientific basis for future experimental studies and the development of marine-derived therapeutic agents for COPD management.

Neosulcatispora is a poorly known coelomycetous genus of Phaeosphaeriaceae , previously represented by two species. During a survey of microfungi associated with dead leaves of Agave vera-cruz in the dry-hot valley of Honghe County, Yunnan Province, China, five isolates representing two unknown lineages were obtained. Morphology, culture characteristics and a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of concatenated SSU, LSU, ITS, tef1-α and rpb2 sequence data support their recognition as two new species viz. Neosulcatispora agavicola sp. nov . and N. hongheensis sp. nov . Neosulcatispora agavicola is characterized by relatively large, semi-immersed to erumpent conidiomata and golden-brown to dark brown, 1-septate, longitudinally striate conidia. Neosulcatispora hongheensis has smaller conidiomata and mature, 3–4-septate conidia. The new taxa form independent lineages within the clade containing the type species, N. agaves . In contrast, the ex-type strain of N. strelitziae is recovered elsewhere in Phaeosphaeriaceae in the present analysis, indicating that the generic placement of N. strelitziae requires reassessment using broader taxon and locus sampling. These findings increase the known diversity of Neosulcatispora sensu stricto and emphasize the dry-hot valleys of southwestern China as an understudied niche of undescribed plant-associated microfungi.