Streptophyte algae are considered the ancestors of land plants who shared habitats with primitive microbes. However, scientists have been intrigued by how the algae developed mechanisms to evolve as land plants and survive the soil conditions below the ground. In this exciting study, a team of researchers reveal the crucial role primitive microbes could have played in the evolutionary process of land plants.

As the world focused on developing coronavirus vaccines, a team of researchers from the National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar, delved into finding a therapeutic route for COVID-19. They tapped into the rich repository of Ayurvedic herbs and found Mulethi to be a promising candidate. The herb contains an active ingredient that shows potential in alleviating aggressive symptoms of COVID-19. Here is a report on their findings.

Emerging dominant strains of the coronavirus are a cause of concern as they impact the course of the pandemic, prompting scientists to track the mutation patterns of the virus closely. In this collaborative study, an analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 global genomic database revealed the trends of point-mutations occurring in the virus.

The India Research Management Initiative (IRMI) of DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance aims to "strengthen research ecosystems in India by building capacity for research management and creating a community of practice that support knowledge creation and innovation for addressing global challenges." Its first annual conference brought together various stakeholders on a virtual platform.

The tuberculosis bacteria is notorious for its ability to stay dormant for years within the human body, evading the immune system and always one step away from causing aggressive infection. Now, a study from researchers at Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, and Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTech), Chandigarh, has investigated a novel molecular pathway that helps the bacteria avoid the notice of the immune system.

The 3rd National Post-Doc Symposium was held from 10 - 13 December 2019 at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, and was attended by over 70 postdocs and late-stage PhD students from around the country. The proceedings and key take-home points emerging from the meeting are discussed below. Registration is currently open for the 4th National Post-Doc Symposium, to be held on 3-4 April 2021 in a virtual format.

The need for more transparent, comprehensive, and practical guidelines for carrying out quality research has been recognized time and again in the Indian scientific ecosystem. To address this lacuna, the University Grants Commission (UGC) recently released a document titled “Good Academic Research Practices (GARP)”, which lists best practices for researchers and institutions to maintain excellent standards of ethical research.