Project description:Rhizopus arrhizus is the predominant causative agent of mucormycosis worldwide. During COVID-19 pandemic, an upsurge of this disease was noted in many countries including India. Many clinical/epidemiological studies reported that the excessive intake of nutritional supplements, especially that of zinc, owing to self-medication and over-prescription, was one of the risk factors for the emergence of Covid-19 associated mucormycosis. However, the experimental evidence remains limited. This study evaluates the changes in gene expression of Rhizopus arrhizus upon culturing under zinc-enriched conditions.