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Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. The disease can result in flu‐like symptoms, fever, and a persistent rash. The disease is currently spreading throughout the world and prevention and treatment efforts are being intensified. Although there is no treatment that has been specifically approved for monkeypox virus infection, infected patients may benefit from using certain antiviral medications that are typically prescribed for the treatment of smallpox. The drugs are tecovirimat, brincidofovir, and cidofovir, all of which are currently in short supply due to the spread of the monkeypox virus. Resistance is also a concern, as widespread replication of the monkeypox virus can lead to mutations that produce monkeypox viruses that are resistant to the currently available treatments. This article discusses monkeypox disease, potential drug targets, and management strategies to overcome monkeypox disease. With the discovery of new drugs, it is hoped that the problem of insufficient drugs will be resolved, and it is not anticipated that drug resistance will become a major issue in the near future.

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Before entering the cell, the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein receptor-binding domain (RBD) binds to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor. Hence, this RBD is a critical target for the development of antiviral agents. Recent studies have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations in the RBD have spread globally. The purpose of this in silico study was to determine the potential of a fruit bromelain-derived peptide. DYGAVNEVK. to inhibit the entry of various SARS-CoV-2 variants into human cells by targeting the hACE binding site within the RBD. Molecular docking analysis revealed that DYGAVNEVK interacts with several critical RBD binding residues responsible for the adhesion of the RBD to hACE2. Moreover, 100 ns MD simulations revealed stable interactions between DYGAVNEVK and RBD variants derived from the trajectory of root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), radius of gyration (Rg), and root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF) analysis, as well as free binding energy calculations. Overall, our computational results indicate that DYGAVNEVK warrants further investigation as a candidate for preventing SARS-CoV-2 due to its interaction with the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Endophytic bacteria colonizing the internal tissues of plants are being studied for its potential beneficial properties including antibacterial activity. The aims of this study were to identify the endophytic bacteria residing in the leaf of Ficus minahassae, a native plant of North Sulawesi, as well as their antibacterial activities against laboratory-adapted reference bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The isolate identification was conducted using the 16S rRNA gene marker and the antibacterial activity test was done using a well diffusion method. A yellow-pigmented (designated as YL1) and a beige-pigmented (designated as YL2) bacteria were isolated from the internal tissue of langusei. Using the BLAST search, the isolate YL1 had a 100% identity with Brachybacterium muris, while YL2 has 99% identity with Pseudacidovorax intermedius. Ez-Taxon database confirmed that YL1 was B. muris with 99.81% similarity, while YL2 was P. intermedius with 99.80% similarity. Isolate YL2 was able to inhibit the growth of S. aureus but not E. coli. Isolate YL1 did not inhibit both reference bacteria. This study represents the first investigation of endophytic bacteria isolated from langusei leaf and their antibacterial activity.