The microbiota of the nasopharyngeal tract (NT) play a role in host immunity against respiratory infectious diseases. However, scant information is available on interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with the nasopharyngeal microbiome. This study characterizes the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on human nasopharyngeal microbiomes and their relevant metabolic functions. Twenty-two (n = 22) nasopharyngeal swab samples (including COVID-19 patients = 8, recovered humans = 7, and healthy people = 7) were collected, and underwent to RNAseq-based metagenomic investigation. Our RNAseq data mapped to 2281 bacterial species (including 1477, 919 and 676 in healthy, COVID-19 and recovered metagenomes, respectively) indicating a distinct microbiome dysbiosis. The COVID-19 and recovered samples included 67% and 77% opportunistic bacterial species, respectively compared to healthy controls. Notably, 79% commensal bacterial species found in healthy controls were not detected in COVID-19 and recovered people. Similar dysbiosis was also found in viral and archaeal fraction of the nasopharyngeal microbiomes. We also detected several altered metabolic pathways and functional genes in the progression and pathophysiology of COVID-19. The nasopharyngeal microbiome dysbiosis and their genomic features determined by our RNAseq analyses shed light on early interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with the nasopharyngeal resident microbiota that might be helpful for developing microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics for this novel pandemic disease.

A study has been conducted to evaluate some heavy metals concentration of spicy from local market of Chittagong metropolitan city, Bangladesh. Total 30 spicy samples of red chili or chili red, coriander, turmeric were collected from five different spots (Khatungonj, Chakbazar, Muradpur, Baluchora, Amanbazar) under Chittagong metropolitan city and metals as Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe concentration were measured. Metal concentration in red chili, coriander, turmeric were found as increasing order as CuKhatungonj >Muradpur >Baluchora >Amanbazar, Khatungonj >Chakbazar >Amanbazar >Muradpur >Baluchora, Khatungonj >Chakbazar >Baluchora >Amanbazar >Muradpur, Khatungonj >Chakbazar >Muradpur >Amanbazar >Baluchora, Khatungonj >Chakbazar > Baluchora >Amanbazar >Muradpur respectively. So, spicy of Khatungonj was the highly contaminated with metal followed by chakbazar spicy and least metal concentrated spicy was in Amanbazar at Chittagong city. According to WHO (World Health Organization), Cr and Fe concentrations exceeded the permissible limit of heavy metals in spicy but other metal concentrations was within tolerable limit. The current research's findings will convey a strong message for the government body, policy maker to establish rules and regulation in order to protect food chain contamination, environment pollution and will be helpful for public awareness. An immediate attention from the concerned authorities is required in order to protect food chain contamination and environment pollution.

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We report the sequencing of three severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes from Bangladesh. We have identified a unique mutation (NSP2_V480I) in one of the sequenced genomes (isolate hCoV-19/Bangladesh/BCSIR-NILMRC-006/2020) compared to the sequences available in the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database. The data from this analysis will contribute to advancing our understanding of the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh as well as worldwide at the molecular level and will identify potential new targets for interventions.

This study reports the coding-complete genome sequence, with variant identifications and phylogenetic analysis, of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) P.1 variant (20J/501Y.V3), obtained from an oropharyngeal swab specimen from a female Bangladeshi patient diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with no travel history.