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Hijazi G, Dakroub F, Khoueiry P, El-Kurdi A, Ezzeddine A, Alkalamouni H, Alansari K, Althani AA, Mathew S, AlKhatib HA, Yassine HM, Zaraket H. Viral metagenomics analysis of stool specimens from children with unresolved gastroenteritis in Qatar. Infect Genet Evol 2022; 105:105367. [PMID: 36115643 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is associated with significant global morbidity and mortality, especially among children under five years of age. Viruses are well established as etiologic agents of gastroenteritis since they are the most common pathogens that contribute to the disease burden in developing countries. Despite the advances in molecular diagnosis, a substantial proportion of AGE etiology remain unresolved. We implemented a viral metagenomics pipeline to determine the potential viral etiology associated with AGE among children under the age of five years in Qatar with undiagnosed etiology. Following enriching for the viral genome, ∼1.3 billion sequences were generated from 89 stool specimens using the Illumina HiSeq platform, of which 7% were mapped to viral genomes. Human viruses were detected in 34 specimens (38.2%); 14 were adenovirus, nine coxsackievirus A16, five rotavirus (G9P[8] and G4P[8]), four norovirus (GII), one influenza A virus (H3), and one respiratory syncytial virus A (RSVA). In conclusion, the viral metagenomics approach is useful for determining AGE's etiology when routine molecular diagnostic assays fail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghina Hijazi
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Fatima Dakroub
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Pierre Khoueiry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; Pillar Genomics Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Abdullah El-Kurdi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; Pillar Genomics Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Amani Ezzeddine
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Habib Alkalamouni
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | | | - Asmaa A Althani
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Shilu Mathew
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | | | - Hadi M Yassine
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar.
| | - Hassan Zaraket
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
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Audi A, AlIbrahim M, Kaddoura M, Hijazi G, Yassine HM, Zaraket H. Seasonality of Respiratory Viral Infections: Will COVID-19 Follow Suit? Front Public Health 2020; 8:567184. [PMID: 33042956 PMCID: PMC7522168 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.567184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory viruses, including coronaviruses, are known to have a high incidence of infection during winter, especially in temperate regions. Dry and cold conditions during winter are the major drivers for increased respiratory tract infections as they increase virus stability and transmission and weaken the host immune system. The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China in December 2020 and swiftly spread across the globe causing substantial health and economic burdens. Several countries are battling with the second wave of the virus after a devastating first wave of spread, while some are still in the midst of their first wave. It remains unclear whether SARS-CoV-2 will eventually become seasonal or will continue to circulate year-round. In an attempt to address this question, we review the current knowledge regarding the seasonality of respiratory viruses including coronaviruses and the viral and host factors that govern their seasonal pattern. Moreover, we discuss the properties of SARS-CoV-2 and the potential impact of meteorological factors on its spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amani Audi
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Disease Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Malak AlIbrahim
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Disease Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Malak Kaddoura
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Disease Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ghina Hijazi
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Disease Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hadi M. Yassine
- Biomedical Research Center and College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hassan Zaraket
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Infectious Disease Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Kaddoura M, AlIbrahim M, Hijazi G, Soudani N, Audi A, Alkalamouni H, Haddad S, Eid A, Zaraket H. COVID-19 Therapeutic Options Under Investigation. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1196. [PMID: 32848795 PMCID: PMC7424051 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its emergence in China in December 2019, COVID-19 has quickly spread around the globe causing a pandemic. Vaccination or the development of herd immunity seems the only way to slow down the spread of the virus; however, both are not achievable in the near future. Therefore, effective treatments to mitigate the burden of this pandemic and reduce mortality rates are urgently needed. Preclinical and clinical studies of potential antiviral and immunomodulatory compounds and molecules to identify safe and efficacious therapeutics for COVID-19 are ongoing. Two compounds, remdesivir, and dexamethasone have been so far shown to reduce COVID-19-associated death. Here, we provide a review of the potential therapeutic agents being considered for the treatment and management of COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malak Kaddoura
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Malak AlIbrahim
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ghina Hijazi
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nadia Soudani
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Amani Audi
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Habib Alkalamouni
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Salame Haddad
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali Eid
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hassan Zaraket
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Albergo S, Bellwied R, Bennett M, Boemi D, Bonner B, Caines H, Christie W, Costa S, Crawford HJ, Cronqvist M, Debbe R, Engelage J, Flores I, Greiner L, Hallman T, Hijazi G, Hoffmann G, Huang HZ, Humanic TJ, Insolia A, Jensen P, Judd EG, Kainz K, Kaplan M, Kelly S, Kotov I, Kunde G, Lindstrom PJ, Ljubicic T, Llope W, LoCurto G, Longacre R, Lynn D, Madansky L, Mahzeh N, Milosevich Z, Mitchell JM, Mitchell JW, Nehmeh S, Nociforo C, Paganis S, Pandey SU, Potenza R, Russ DE, Saulys A, Schambach J, Sheen J, Sugarbaker E, Takahashi J, Tang J, Trattner AL, Trentalange S, Tricomi A, Tuvè C, Whitfield JP, Wilson K. Lambda spectra in 11.6A GeV/c Au-Au collisions. Phys Rev Lett 2002; 88:062301. [PMID: 11863798 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.88.062301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2001] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
E896 has measured Lambda production in 11.6A GeV/c Au-Au collisions over virtually the whole rapidity phase space. The midrapidity p(t) distributions have been measured for the first time at this energy and appear to indicate that the Lambda hyperons have different freeze-out conditions than protons. A comparison with the relativistic quantum molecular dynamics model shows that while there is good shape agreement at high rapidity the model predicts significantly different slopes of the m(t) spectra at midrapidity. The data, where overlap occurs, are consistent with previously reported measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Albergo
- Università di Catania and INFN-Sezione di Catania, Catania, Italy
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