Identification of Novel Quinolone and Quinazoline Alkaloids as Phosphodiesterase 10A Inhibitors for Parkinson's Disease through a Computational Approach

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are vital in signal transduction, specifically by hydrolyzing cAMP and cGMP. Within the PDE family, PDE10A is notable for its prominence in the striatum and its regulatory function over neurotransmitters in medium-spiny neurons. Given the dopamine deficiency in Parkinson's disease (PD) that affects striatal pathways, PDE10A inhibitors could offer therapeutic benefits by modulating D1 and D2 receptor signaling. This study was motivated by the successful history of quinazoline/quinazoline scaffolds in the inhibition of PDE10A. This study involved detailed in silico evaluations through docking followed by pharmacological, pharmacophoric, and pharmacokinetic analyses, prioritizing central nervous system (CNS)-active drug criteria. Seven cyclic peptides, those featuring the quinazoline/quinazoline moiety at both termini, exhibited notably enhanced docking scores compared to those of the remaining alkaloids within the screened library. We identified 7 quinolines and 1 quinazoline including Lepadin G, Aspernigerin, CJ-13536, Aurachin A, 2-Undecyl-4(1H)-quinolone, Huajiaosimuline 3-Prenyl-4-prenyloxyquinolin-2-one, and Isaindigotone that followed the standard CNS active drug criteria. The dominant quinoline ring in our study and its related quinazoline were central to our evaluations; therefore, the pharmacophoric features of these scaffolds were highlighted. The top alkaloids met all CNS-active drug properties; while nonmutagenic and without PAINS alerts, many indicated potential hepatotoxicity. Among the compounds, Huajiaosimuline was particularly significant due to its alignment with lead-likeness and CNS-active criteria. Aspernigerin demonstrated its affinity for numerous dopamine receptors, which signifies its potential to alter dopaminergic neurotransmission that is directly related to PD. Interestingly, the majority of these alkaloids had biological targets primarily associated with G protein-coupled receptors, critical in PD pathophysiology. They exhibit superior excretion parameters and toxicity end-points compared to the standard. Notably, selected alkaloids demonstrated stability in the binding pocket of PDE10A according to the molecular dynamic simulation results. Our findings emphasize the potential of these alkaloids as PDE10A inhibitors. Further experimental studies may be necessary to confirm their actual potency in inhibiting PDE10A before exploring their therapeutic potential in PD.

Synthesis, Characterizations, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis, DFT, and NLO Study of a Schiff Base Derived from Trifluoromethyl Amine

We synthesized an imine-based (Schiff base) crystalline organic chromophore, i.e., (E)-2-ethoxy-6-(((3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)imino)methyl)phenol (ETPMP), and explored its nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. The crystalline structure of ETPMP was determined by the XRD technique and equated with the associated structures utilizing a Cambridge Structural Database search. The supramolecular assembly of ETPMP was investigated regarding intermolecular interactions and short contacts by Hirshfeld surface analysis. Void analysis was performed to check the mechanical response of the crystal. Supramolecular assembly was further inspected by interaction energy calculations that were performed with the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) functional. Besides this, the NLO properties of ETPMP and other already reported crystal TFMOS were explored utilizing the M06/6-31G(d,p) functional of the DFT approach. An excellent agreement was observed between XRD and DFT results of geometric parameters of the above-mentioned crystals. Narrow band gap along with bathochromic shift (3.489 eV and 317.225 nm, respectively) were investigated in TFMOS than that of ETPMP. Owing to these unique properties, TFMOS possesses higher linear (⟨a⟩ = 3.835 × 10-23 esu) and nonlinear (γtot. = 1.346 × 10-34 esu) response as compared to ETPMP. The outcomes explicitly show the higher nonlinearity in TFMOS, highlighting its importance in potential NLO applications.

Corrigendum: Structural informatics approach for designing an epitope-based vaccine against the brain-eating Naegleria fowleri

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1284621.].

Paracetamol-Mediated Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Functionalization with Ionic Liquid for the Colorimetric Biosensing of Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic acid is a vital biomolecule for human beings. When the body's level of ascorbic acid is abnormal, it can lead to a number of illnesses. Its appropriate concentration is necessary for the oxidation of prostaglandins and cyclic adenosine monophosphate, the production of dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and carnitine, and the expansion and durability of the collagen triple helix in humans. In the present work, silver nanoparticle synthesis was performed through a paracetamol-mediated approach. Different characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffractometry (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were used to confirm the prepared nanoparticles. Subsequently, the prepared Ag NPs functionalized with an ionic liquid were used as a sensing platform for ascorbic acid in blood serum samples. To achieve the best possible results, the proposed biosensor was optimized with different parameters such as TMB concentration, time, amount of capped nanoparticles (NPs), and pH. The proposed biosensor offers a sensitive and straightforward method for ascorbic acid with a linear range from 2 × 10-9 to 3.22 × 10-7 M, an LOD of 1.3 × 10-8 M, an LOQ of 4.3 × 10-8 M, and an R2 of 0.9996, Moreover, applications of the proposed biosensor were successfully used for the detection of ascorbic acid in samples of human plasma, suggesting that Ag NPs with high peroxidase-like activity, high stability, and facile synthesis exhibited promising applications in biomedical fields.

Deciphering the Immunogenicity of Monkeypox Proteins for Designing the Potential mRNA Vaccine

The Monkeypox virus (MPXV), an orthopox virus, is responsible for monkeypox in humans, a zoonotic disease similar to smallpox. This infection first appeared in the 1970s in humans and then in 2003, after which it kept on spreading all around the world. To date, various antivirals have been used to cure this disease, but now, MPXV has developed resistance against these, thus increasing the need for an alternative cure for this deadly disease. In this study, we devised a reverse vaccinology approach against MPXV using a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine by pinning down the antigenic proteins of this virus. By using bioinformatic tools, we predicted prospective immunogenic B and T lymphocyte epitopes. Based on cytokine inducibility score, nonallergenicity, nontoxicity, antigenicity, and conservancy, the final epitopes were selected. Our analysis revealed the stable structure of the mRNA vaccine and its efficient expression in host cells. Furthermore, strong interactions were demonstrated with toll-like receptors 2 (TLR2) and 4 (TLR4) according to the molecular dynamic simulation studies. The in silico immune simulation analyses revealed an overall increase in the immune responses following repeated exposure to the designed vaccine. Based on our findings, the vaccine candidate designed in this study has the potential to be tested as a promising novel mRNA therapeutic vaccine against MPXV infection.

Structural informatics approach for designing an epitope-based vaccine against the brain-eating Naegleria fowleri

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a severe lethal brain disease, is caused by a parasite, Naegleria fowleri, also known as the "brain-eating amoeba". The chances of a patient's recovery after being affected by this parasite are very low. Only 5% of people are known to survive this life-threatening infection. Despite the fact that N. fowleri causes a severe, fatal infection, there is no proper treatment available to prevent or cure it. In this context, it is necessary to formulate a potential vaccine that could be able to combat N. fowleri infection. The current study aimed at developing a multi-epitope subunit vaccine against N. fowleri by utilizing immunoinformatics techniques and reverse vaccinology approaches. The T- and B-cell epitopes were predicted by various tools. In order to choose epitopes with the ability to trigger both T- and B-cell-mediated immune responses, the epitopes were put through a screening pipeline including toxicity, antigenicity, cytokine-inductivity, and allergenicity analysis. Three vaccine constructs were designed from the generated epitopes linked with linkers and adjuvants. The modeled vaccines were docked with the immune receptors, where vaccine-1 showed the highest binding affinity. Binding affinity and stability of the docked complex were confirmed through normal mode analysis and molecular dynamic simulations. Immune simulations developed the immune profile, and in silico cloning affirmed the expression probability of the vaccine construct in Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain K12. This study demonstrates an innovative preventative strategy for the brain-eating amoeba by developing a potential vaccine through immunoinformatics and reverse vaccinology approaches. This study has great preventive potential for Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, and further research is required to assess the efficacy of the designed vaccine.

Antimicrobial peptidase lysostaphin at subinhibitory concentrations modulates staphylococcal adherence, biofilm formation, and toxin production

BACKGROUND

The ability of antimicrobial agents to affect microbial adherence to eukaryotic cell surfaces is a promising antivirulence strategy for combating the global threat of antimicrobial resistance. Inadequate use of antimicrobials has led to widespread instances of suboptimal antibiotic concentrations around infection sites. Therefore, we aimed to examine the varying effect of an antimicrobial peptidase lysostaphin (APLss) on staphylococcal adherence to host cells, biofilm biomass formation, and toxin production as a probable method for mitigating staphylococcal virulence.

RESULTS

Initially, soluble expression in E. coli and subsequent purification by immobilized-Ni2+ affinity chromatography (IMAC) enabled us to successfully produce a large quantity of highly pure ~ 28-kDa His-tagged mature APLss. The purified protein exhibited potent inhibitory effects against both methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant staphylococcal strains, with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 1 to 2 µg/mL, and ultrastructural analysis revealed that APLss-induced concentration-specific changes in the morphological architecture of staphylococcal surface membranes. Furthermore, spectrophotometric and fluorescence microscopy revealed that incubating staphylococcal strains with sub-MIC and MIC of APLss significantly inhibited staphylococcal adherence to human vaginal epithelial cells and biofilm biomass formation. Ultimately, transcriptional investigations revealed that APLss inhibited the expression of agrA (quorum sensing effector) and other virulence genes related to toxin synthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, APLss dose-dependently inhibited adhesion to host cell surfaces and staphylococcal-associated virulence factors, warranting further investigation as a potential anti-staphylococcal agent with an antiadhesive mechanism of action using in vivo models of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome.

Theoretical Perspective toward Designing of 5-Methylbenzo [1,2-b:3,4-b':6,5-b″] trithiophene-Based Nonlinear Optical Compounds with Extended Acceptors

A series of benzotrithiophene-based compounds (DCTM1-DCTM6) having D1-π1-D2-π2-A configuration were designed using a reference molecule (DCTMR) via incorporating pyrrole rings (n = 1-5) as the π-spacer (π2). Quantum chemical calculations were performed to determine the impact of the pyrrole ring on the nonlinear optical (NLO) behavior of the above-mentioned chromophores. The optoelectronic properties of the compounds were determined at the MW1PW91/6-311G(d,p) functional. Among all of the derivatives, DCTM5 exhibited the least highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) band gap (Eg) 0.968 eV with a high softness of 0.562 eV-1, and hence possessed the highest polarizability. Interestingly, transition density matrix (TDM) findings demonstrated that DCTM5 with an effective diagonal charge transmission proportion at the acceptor group supports the frontier molecular orbital (FMO) results. Additionally, the exciton binding energy values for DCTM1-DCTM6 were found to be less than that for DCTMR and thus, the effective charge transfer was examined in the derivatives. All of the derivatives exhibited effective NLO outcomes with the highest magnitude of linear polarizability ⟨α⟩, and first (βtot) and second (γtot) hyperpolarizabilities relative to the parent compound. Nevertheless, the highest βtot and γtot were obtained for DTCM1 and DTCM6, 7.0440 × 10-27 and 22.260 × 10-34 esu, respectively. Hence, through this structural tailoring with a pyrrole spacer, effective NLO materials can be obtained for optoelectronic applications.

Proteome level analysis of drug-resistant Prevotella melaninogenica for the identification of novel therapeutic candidates

The management of infectious diseases has become more critical due to the development of novel pathogenic strains with enhanced resistance. Prevotella melaninogenica, a gram-negative bacterium, was found to be involved in various infections of the respiratory tract, aerodigestive tract, and gastrointestinal tract. The need to explore novel drug and vaccine targets against this pathogen was triggered by the emergence of antimicrobial resistance against reported antibiotics to combat P. melaninogenica infections. The study involves core genes acquired from 14 complete P. melaninogenica strain genome sequences, where promiscuous drug and vaccine candidates were explored by state-of-the-art subtractive proteomics and reverse vaccinology approaches. A stringent bioinformatics analysis enlisted 18 targets as novel, essential, and non-homologous to humans and having druggability potential. Moreover, the extracellular and outer membrane proteins were subjected to antigenicity, allergenicity, and physicochemical analysis for the identification of the candidate proteins to design multi-epitope vaccines. Two candidate proteins (ADK95685.1 and ADK97014.1) were selected as the best target for the designing of a vaccine construct. Lead B- and T-cell overlapped epitopes were joined to generate potential chimeric vaccine constructs in combination with adjuvants and linkers. Finally, a prioritized vaccine construct was found to have stable interactions with the human immune cell receptors as confirmed by molecular docking and MD simulation studies. The vaccine construct was found to have cloning and expression ability in the bacterial cloning system. Immune simulation ensured the elicitation of significant immune responses against the designed vaccine. In conclusion, our study reported novel drug and vaccine targets and designed a multi-epitope vaccine against the P. melaninogenica infection. Further experimental validation will help open new avenues in the treatment of this multi-drug-resistant pathogen.

Exploration of nonlinear optical enhancement in acceptor-π-donor indacenodithiophene based derivatives via structural variations: a DFT approach

Herein, a series of indacenodithiophene-based derivatives (TNPD1-TNPD6) were designed having D-π-A architecture via end capped acceptor modulation of a reference molecule (TNPR) to investigate nonlinear optical (NLO) behavior. Quantum chemical calculations were accomplished to examine electronic, structural and optical properties utilizing a density functional theory (DFT) approach at M06 functional with 6-311G(d,p) basis set. For this, natural bond orbitals (NBOs), density of states (DOS), frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), transition density matrix (TDM) and non-linear optical (NLO) analyses were performed for TNPR and TNPD1-TNPD6. The structural modifications revealed a significant electronic contribution in tuning the HOMOs and LUMOs of the derivatives with lowered energy gaps and wider absorption spectra. FMOs findings revealed that compound TNPD5 was found with the lowest energy gap (1.692 eV) and with the highest softness (0.591 eV-1) among the derivatives. Furthermore, a UV-Vis study also disclosed that maximum absorption (λmax = 852.242 nm) was exhibited by TNPD5 in chloroform solvent. All the derivatives exhibited significant NLO results; in particular, TNPD5 showed the highest first hyper-polarizability (βtot = 4.653 × 10-27 esu) and second hyper-polarizability (γtot = 9.472 × 10-32 esu). These DFT findings revealed that the end-capped substituents play a key role in enhancing the NLO response of these push-pull chromophores and the studied derivatives can be utilized as efficient NLO materials.

Synthesis and Antioxidant Studies of 2,4-Dioxothiazolidine-5-acetic Acid Based Organic Salts: SC-XRD and DFT Approach

In the current study, two organic salts (1 and 2) are synthesized, and then crystalline structures are characterized by FTIR, UV spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallographic studies. The organic salts 1 and 2 are optimized at the M06/6-311G(d,p)level of theory and further utilized for analysis of natural bond orbitals (NBOs), natural population, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), and global reactivity parameters, which confirmed the stability of the studied compounds and charge transfer phenomenon in the studied compounds. The studies further revealed that 1 and 2 are more stable than 3. The lowest energy merged monomer-coformer conformations were docked as flexible ligands with rigid fungal proteins and DNA receptors. The stagnant binding of the monomer through two H bonds with protein was observed for ligands 1 and 3 while different pattern was found with 2. The coformers formed a single H bond with the active site in 2 and 3 and a single pi-arene H interaction in 1. The two-point ligand-receptor interactions hooked the monomer between DNA base pairs for partial intercalation; pi stacking with additive hydrogen bonding with the base pair led to a strong benzimidazole interaction in 1 and 2, whereas ethylene diamine formed weak H bonding. Thus, the molecular docking predicted that the coformer exhibited DNA intercalation reinforced by its salt formation with benzimidazole 1 and methyl benzimidazole 2. Antioxidant studies depicted that 3 has a higher IC50 value than that of 2,4-D and also the largest value among the studied compounds, whereas 2 showed the lowest value among the studied compounds.

Facile Synthesis and DFT Analysis of Novel Thiazole-Based Hydrazones: An Experimental and Theoretical Perspective

Hydrazone compounds with remarkable nonlinear optical (NLO) properties were found with vast applications due to their cost-effective synthesis and greater stability. Therefore, we synthesized hydrazone scaffolds (TCAH1-TCAH8) by condensation reaction, and their structural confirmation was accomplished with spectroscopic methods (1H-, 13C-NMR, and HRMS). Quantum chemical calculations were also performed at B3PW91/6-311G(d,p) functional of DFT to explore electronic, structural, and chemical properties. To understand the NLO responses of afore-said chromophores, various kinds of analyses such as natural bonding orbitals (NBOs), frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), UV-vis analysis, and density of states (DOS) were performed. Findings showed that the HOMO-LUMO energy gap in TCAH8 (3.595 eV) was found to be lower than the TCAH1-TCAH7 (4.123-3.932 eV) with a large red shift which leads to a substantial NLO response. Furthermore, strong intramolecular interactions showed the highest stabilization energy (24.1 kcal mol-1) for TCAH8 in the NBO transitions, combined with the least binding energy. The significant NLO response of TCAH4 was explored with ⟨α⟩, βtot, and ⟨γ⟩ values as 5.157 × 10-23, and 2.185 × 10-29, and 2.753 × 10-34 esu, respectively, among the entitled compounds. The recent findings may inspire scientists to develop extremely effective NLO materials for forthcoming hi-tech applications.

Computer-aided genomic data analysis of drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae for the Identification of alternative therapeutic targets

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an emerging multidrug resistance pathogen that causes sexually transmitted infections in men and women. The N. gonorrhoeae has demonstrated an emerging antimicrobial resistance against reported antibiotics, hence fetching the attention of researchers to address this problem. The present in-silico study aimed to find putative novel drug and vaccine targets against N. gonorrhoeae infection by the application of bioinformatics approaches. Core genes set of 69 N. gonorrhoeae strains was acquired from complete genome sequences. The essential and non-homologous metabolic pathway proteins of N. gonorrhoeae were identified. Moreover, different bioinformatics databases were used for the downstream analysis. The DrugBank database scanning identified 12 novel drug targets in the prioritized list. They were preferred as drug targets against this bacterium. A viable vaccine is unavailable so far against N. gonorrhoeae infection. In the current study, two outer-membrane proteins were prioritized as vaccine candidates via reverse vaccinology approach. The top lead B and T-cells overlapped epitopes were utilized to generate a chimeric vaccine construct combined with immune-modulating adjuvants, linkers, and PADRE sequences. The top ranked prioritized vaccine construct (V7) showed stable molecular interaction with human immune cell receptors as inferred during the molecular docking and MD simulation analyses. Considerable response for immune cells was interpreted by in-silico immune studies. Additional tentative validation is required to ensure the effectiveness of the prioritized vaccine construct against N. gonorrhoeae infection. The identified proteins can be used for further rational drug and vaccine designing to develop potential therapeutic entities against the multi-drug resistant N. gonorrhoeae.

Gliclazide in Binary and Ternary Systems Improves Physicochemical Properties, Bioactivity, and Antioxidant Activity

The poor solubility of the antidiabetic drug gliclazide (Glc) is due to its hydrophobic nature. This research is aimed at improving Glc's solubility and drug release profile, as well as at investigating additional benefits such as bioactivity and antioxidant activity, by forming binary complexes with HPβCD at different w/w ratios (1 : 1, 1 : 2.5, 1 : 4, and 1 : 9) and ternary complexes with HPβCD and Tryp at 1 : 1 : 1, 1 : 1 : 0.27, 1 : 2.5 : 0.27, 1 : 3.6 : 3.6, 1 : 4 : 1, and 1 : 9 : 1, respectively. Complexes were prepared by the physical mixing (PM) and solvent evaporation (SE) methods. The prepared inclusion complexes were meticulously characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra. To verify our findings, the inclusion complexes were evaluated by equilibrium solubility, in vitro drug release profile, kinetic models, and antidiabetic and antioxidant activities in animal models. Our results demonstrated that the solubility and drug release profile were found to be enhanced through binary as well as ternary complexes. Notably, ternary complexes with a ratio of 1 : 9 : 1 showed the highest solubility and drug release profile compared to all other preparations. Data on antioxidant activity indicated that the ternary complex had the higher total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity than the binary complex and Glc alone, in contrast to the diabetic group. In vivo antidiabetic activity data revealed a high percentage reduction in the blood glucose level by ternary complexes (49-52%) compared to the binary complexes (45-46%; p ≤ 0.05). HPβCD and Tryp provide a new platform for overcoming the challenges associated with poorly soluble Glc by providing greater complexing and solubilizing capabilities and imparting ancillary benefits to improve the drug's antidiabetic and antioxidant activities.

Phytochemical profiling, in vitro biological activity, docking studies, and cytotoxicity assessments of Rondeletia odorata Jacquin: An unexplored plant of the coffee family

Rondeletia odorata Jacquin is a flowering plant that belongs to the coffee family. As a rich source of polyphenols with significant antioxidant potential, R. odorata may have health benefits. Therefore, in the current work, ethanolic extract of aerial parts and its n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol soluble fractions were analyzed for their antioxidant potential and various enzyme inhibition properties. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the crude ethanol extract (ROE) and its n-hexane (ROH), ethyl acetate (ROEA), and n-butanol (ROB) fractions were determined spectrophotometrically, while metabolic profiling was established through UHPLC-MS analysis, which revealed the presence of 58 phytochemicals. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of ROE extract were measured as 51.92 mg GA.Eq./g of dry extract and 52.35 mg Qu.Eq./g of the dry extract, respectively. In the DPPH radical scavenging activity assay, ROE and ROEA showed the highest potential with values of 62.13 ± 0.62 and 76.31% ± 1.86%, respectively, comparable to quercetin (80.89% ± 0.54%). Similarly, in the FRAP assay, the same pattern of the activity was observed with ROE and ROEA, which displayed absorbance values of 1.32 ± 0.01 and 0.80 ± 0.02 at 700 nm, respectively, which are comparable (1.76 ± 0.02) with the reference compound quercetin, whereas the ROH showed maximum metal-chelating capacity (62.61% ± 1.01%) among all extracts and fractions. Antibacterial activity assay indicated that the ROEA fraction was the most active against Serratia marcescens, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus, while the rest of the fractions showed good to moderate activity. Enzyme inhibition assays showed that ROEA fraction exhibited the highest activity with IC50 values of 2.78 ± 0.42 and 3.95 ± 0.13 mg/mL against urease and carbonic anhydrase (CA), respectively. Furthermore, the docking studies of some of the major compounds identified in the extract revealed a strong correlation with their inhibitory activity. All extracts and fractions were also tested for their thrombolytic activity, and the ROB fraction showed a notable potential. Antiviral assay led to remarkable outcomes. Thus, it can be inferred that aerial parts of R. odorata are potential sources of bioactive components with several significant pharmacological activities.

Multi-epitope chimeric vaccine designing and novel drug targets prioritization against multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius

Biofilm synthesizing multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius bacteria has been recognized as the human infectious agent. It has been detected in the diseases of skin, ear, and postoperative infections. Its infections are becoming a major health problem due to its multi-drug resistance capabilities. However, no commercial vaccine for the treatment of its infections is currently available in the market. Here we employed the subtractive proteomics and reverse vaccinology approach to determine the potential novel drug and vaccine targets against S. pseudintermedius infections in humans. After screening the core-proteome of the 39 complete genomes of S. pseudintermedius, 2 metabolic pathways dependent and 34 independent proteins were determined as novel potential drug targets. Two proteins were found and used as potential candidates for designing the chimeric vaccine constructs. Depending on the properties such as antigenicity, toxicity and solubility, multi-epitope based vaccines constructs were designed. For immunogenicity enhancement, different specific sequences like linkers, PADRE sequences and molecular adjuvants were added. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation analyses were performed to evaluate the prioritized vaccine construct’s interactions with human immune cells HLA and TLR4. Finally, the cloning and expression ability of the vaccine construct was determined in the bacterial cloning system and human body immune response was predicted through immune simulation analysis. In conclusion, this study proposed the potential drug and vaccine targets and also designed a chimera vaccine to be tested and validated against infectious S. pseudintermedius species.

Clinical relevance of molecular testing methods in the diagnosis and guidance of therapy in patients with staphylococcal empyema: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Efficient detection tools for determining staphylococcal pleural infection are critical for its eradication. The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the diagnostic utility of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) in suspected empyema cases to identify staphylococcal strains and avoid unnecessary empiric methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) therapy.

Methods

From inception to July 24, 2021, relevant records were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. The quality of studies was determined using the QUADAS-2 tool. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curve for NAAT’s diagnostic performance were evaluated using an HSROC model.

Results

Eight studies comprising 424 samples evaluated NAAT accuracy for Staphylococcus aureus (SA) identification, while four studies comprising 317 samples evaluated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) identification. The pooled NAAT summary estimates for detection of both SA (sensitivity: 0.35 (95% CI 0.19–0.55), specificity: 0.95 (95% CI 0.92–0.97), PLR: 7.92 (95% CI 4.98–12.59), NLR: 0.44 (95% CI 0.14–1.46), and DOR: 24.0 (95% CI 6.59–87.61) ) and MRSA (sensitivity: 0.45 (95% CI 0.15–0.78), specificity: 0.93 (95% CI 0.89–0.95), PLR: 10.06 (95% CI 1.49–67.69), NLR: 0.69 (95% CI 0.41–1.15), and DOR: 27.18 (95% CI 2.97–248.6) ) were comparable. The I2 statistical scores for MRSA and SA identification sensitivity were 13.7% and 74.9%, respectively, indicating mild to substantial heterogeneity. PCR was frequently used among NAA tests, and its diagnostic accuracy coincided well with the overall summary estimates. A meta-regression and subgroup analysis of country, setting, study design, patient selection, and sample condition could not explain the heterogeneity (meta-regression P = 0.66, P = 0.46, P = 0.98, P = 0.68, and P = 0.79, respectively) in diagnostic effectiveness.

Conclusions

Our study suggested that the diagnostic accuracy of NAA tests is currently inadequate to substitute culture as a principal screening test. NAAT could be used in conjunction with microbiological culture due to the advantage of faster results and in situations where culture tests are not doable.

Clinical Relevance of Xpert MRSA/SA in Guiding Therapeutic Decisions for Staphylococcal Infections: A Diagnostic Test Accuracy Analysis

Introduction

Rapid identification of the causal organism and antibiotic resistance is crucial for guiding targeted therapy in patients with suspected staphylococcal infection. A meta-analysis was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic relevance of Xpert™ MRSA/SA (Xpert) from clinical samples of various origins for limiting the use of unnecessary empirical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) therapy.

Methods

Five databases, including the Cochrane Library, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, were comprehensively inspected from inception to October 12, 2021. The pooled summary estimates were evaluated using a bivariate random-effects model.

Results

Our inclusion criteria were met by 49 publications containing 68 datasets out of 735 citations. A total of 21 studies (n = 4996) examined the accuracy of Xpert in detecting methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), while 47 studies (n = 45,430) examined the accuracy of Xpert in detecting MRSA. As compared to MRSA, Xpert’s diagnostic performance for MSSA detection was markedly higher [sensitivity: 0.97 (0.96–0.98), specificity: 0.97 (0.97–0.98), area under curve (AUC): 0.99 (0.99–1.0)]. Xpert’s pooled sensitivity and specificity differed marginally across sample types, including screening of colonization, lower respiratory tract (LRT), osteoarticular, and bloodstream samples. Notably, the Xpert pooled specificity was consistently ≥ 92% against microbiological culture across all sample types. The diagnostic efficiency heterogeneity was not explained by a meta-regression and subgroup analysis of research design, sample conditions, and sampling methods (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that Xpert could be used as the favoured screening test for the early detection of staphylococcal infection in a variety of sample types, with the goal of guiding therapeutic decisions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40121-022-00632-w.

THRSP identified as a potential hepatocellular carcinoma marker by integrated bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common malignant liver tumor with high mortality and poor prognosis worldwide. This study aimed to identify hub genes and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms in HCC progression by integrated bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), 12 critical differential co-expression genes were identified between tumor and normal tissues. Via survival analysis, we found higher expression of LCAT, ACSM3, IGF1, SRD5A2, THRSP and ACADS was associated with better prognoses in HCC patients. Among which, THRSP was selected for the next investigations. We found that THRSP mRNA expression was negatively correlated with its methylation and closely associated with clinical characteristics in HCC patients. Moreover, THRSP expression had a negative correlation with the infiltration levels of several immune cells (e.g., B cells and CD4+ T cells). qRT-PCR verified that THRSP was lower expressed in HCC tissues and cell lines compared with control. Silencing of THRSP promoted the migration, invasion, proliferation, and inhibited cell apoptosis of HCCLM and Huh7 cell lines. Decreased expression of THRSP promoted HCC progression by NF-κB, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. In conclusion, THRSP might serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target of HCC.

Molecular Tools for Guiding Therapy in Patients With Staphylococcal Bone and Joint Infections: A Diagnostic Test Accuracy Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Timely detection of causative pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance are essential for guiding targeted therapies in bone and joint infections (BJI) patients. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic value of testing osteoarticular samples with the nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for effective staphylococcal strain identification and the administration of appropriately targeted antimicrobial agents in BJI patients.

METHODS

Five databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, were searched for related publications from inception to July 24, 2021. Studies comparing the diagnostic accuracy of NAAT to a microbiological culture reference standard of osteoarticular specimens were eligible. Pooled summary values of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of NAAT compared to the microbiological culture reference standard were calculated using bivariate random-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS

From 906 citations, 11 studies were included. Eleven studies comprising 13 datasets (n = 1047) evaluated NAAT accuracy for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) identification, while seven studies comprising nine datasets (n = 727) evaluated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) identification. Against the microbiological culture reference standard, the pooled summary estimates for detection of both MSSA [sensitivity: 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84-0.93), specificity: 0.99 (95% CI 0.97-0.99), PLR: 34.13 (95% CI 20.54-56.73), NLR: 0.19 (95% CI 0.12-0.3), and DOR: 283.37 (95% CI 129.49-620.1)] and MRSA [sensitivity: 0.81 (95% CI 0.67-0.91), specificity: 1.0 (95% CI 0.99-1.0), PLR: 62.1 (95% CI 24.5-157.6), NLR: 0.33 (95% CI 0.16-0.69), and DOR: 300.25 (95% CI 85.01-1060.5)] were comparable. Heterogeneity was moderate. GeneXpert was frequently used among NAA tests, and its diagnostic accuracy was in line with the overall pooled summary estimates. The heterogeneity in diagnostic efficacy (P >0.05) could not be explained by a meta-regression and subgroup analysis of the research design, sample condition, and patient selection technique.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggested that NAAT can be applied as the preferred prescreening test for the timely diagnosis of staphylococcal strains associated with BJI in osteoarticular samples for successful antimicrobial therapy.

AC093797.1 as a Potential Biomarker to Indicate the Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Inhibits Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration by Reprogramming Cell Metabolism and Extracellular Matrix Dynamics

Purpose: The risk signature composed of four lncRNA (AC093797.1, POLR2J4, AL121748.1, and AL162231.4.) can be used to predict the overall survival (OS) of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the clinical significance and biological function of AC093797.1 are still unexplored in HCC or other malignant tumors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biological function of AC093797.1 in HCC and screen the candidate hub genes and pathways related to hepatocarcinogenesis.

Methods: RT-qPCR was employed to detect AC093797.1 in HCC tissues and cell lines. The role of AC093797.1 in HCC was evaluated via the cell-counting kit-8, transwell, and wound healing assays. The effects of AC093797.1 on tumor growth in vivo were clarified by nude mice tumor formation experiments. Then, RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis based on subcutaneous tumor tissue was performed to identify the hub genes and pathways associated with HCC.

Results: The expression of AC093797.1 decreased in HCC tissues and cell lines, and patients with low expressed AC093797.1 had poor overall survival (OS). AC093797.1 overexpression impeded HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Compared with the control group, 710 differentially expressed genes (243 upregulated genes and 467 downregulated genes) were filtered via RNA-sequencing, which mainly enriched in amino acid metabolism, extracellular matrix structure constituents, cell adhesion molecules cams, signaling to Ras, and signaling to ERKs.

Conclusion: AC093797.1 may inhibit cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in HCC by reprograming cell metabolism or regulating several pathways, suggesting that AC093797.1 might be a potential therapeutic and prognostic marker for HCC patients.

ABCpred: a webserver for the discovery of acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase inhibitors

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of dementia and is associated with a decline in cognitive function and language ability. The deficiency of the cholinergic neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine (ACh) is associated with AD. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) hydrolyses ACh and inhibits the cholinergic transmission. Furthermore, both AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) plays important roles in early and late stages of AD. Therefore, the inhibition of either or both cholinesterase enzymes represent a promising therapeutic route for treating AD. In this study, a large-scale classification structure-activity relationship model was developed to predict cholinesterase inhibitory activities as well as revealing important substructures governing their activities. Herein, a non-redundant dataset constituting 985 and 1056 compounds for AChE and BChE, respectively, was obtained from the ChEMBL database. These inhibitors were described by 12 sets of molecular fingerprints and predictive models were developed using the random forest algorithm. Evaluation of the model performance by means of Matthews correlation coefficient and consideration of the model's interpretability indicated that the SubstructureCount fingerprint was the most robust with five-fold cross-validated MCC of [0.76, 0.82] for AChE and BChE, respectively, and test MCC of [0.73, 0.97]. Feature interpretation revealed that the aromatic ring system, heterocyclic nitrogen containing compounds and amines are important for cholinesterase inhibition. Finally, the model was deployed as a publicly available webserver called the ABCpred at http://codes.bio/abcpred/ .

The effect of CYP2C19 gene polymorphism on the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori by proton pump inhibitors-containing regimens in Asian populations: a meta-analysis

Premise: The effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) depend on metabolic enzyme CYP2C19 that has different activity due to gene polymorphism. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to determine the potential effects of CYP2C19 polymorphism on the efficiency of PPI-based treatment. Materials & methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, etc. were searched for relevant articles published in English or Chinese from inception to 31 May 2020. Finally, 26 randomized controlled trials and 15 cohort studies met the inclusion criteria and used for the meta-analysis via STATA version 15. Results: Poor metabolizer (PM) genotype Helicobacter pylori eradication rates were highest for Asian individuals receiving triple or quadruple first-line therapy based on PPIs (p < 0.05). CYP2C19 polymorphism could influence H. pylori eradication rate only in Mainland China and Japan (p < 0.05). Conclusion: PM genotype facilitates the elimination of H. pylori in Asian populations. Rabeprazole-, esomeprazole- and pantoprazole-based eradication program was less affected by the CYP2C19 polymorphism.

Teicoplanin Suppresses Vegetative Clostridioides difficile and Spore Outgrowth

In recent decades, the incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has remained high in both community and health-care settings. With the increasing rate of treatment failures and its ability to form spores, an alternative treatment for CDI has become a global priority. We used the microdilution assay to determine minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of vancomycin and teicoplanin against 30 distinct C. difficile strains isolated from various host origins. We also examined the effect of drugs on spore germination and outgrowth by following the development of OD₆₀₀. Finally, we confirmed the spore germination and cell stages by microscopy. We showed that teicoplanin exhibited lower MICs compared to vancomycin in all tested isolates. MICs of teicoplanin ranged from 0.03-0.25 µg/mL, while vancomycin ranged from 0.5-4 µg/mL. Exposure of C. difficile spores to broth supplemented with various concentrations of antimicrobial agents did not affect the initiation of germination, but the outgrowth to vegetative cells was inhibited by all test compounds. This finding was concordant with aberrant vegetative cells after antibiotic treatment observed by light microscopy. This work highlights the efficiency of teicoplanin for treatment of C. difficile through prevention of vegetative cell outgrowth.

Clinical Utility of Molecular Tests for Guiding Therapeutic Decisions in Bloodstream Staphylococcal Infections: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Treatment of bloodstream staphylococcal infections (BSI) necessitates the prompt initiation of appropriate antimicrobial agents and the rapid de-escalation of excessive broad-spectrum coverage to reduce the risk of mortality. We, therefore, aimed to demonstrate the diagnostic accuracy of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for the identification of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) in clinically suspected patients. Methods: Until November 23, 2020, databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were scanned for eligible studies. A bivariate random-effects model was used for meta-analysis of the 33 included studies obtained from 1606 citations, and pooled summary estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were generated. Results: Twenty-three studies (n = 8,547) assessed NAAT accuracy for MSSA detection, while three studies (n = 479) evaluated MRSA detection in adults. The pooled NAAT sensitivity and specificity for MRSA in adults was higher [sensitivity: 0.83 (95% CI 0.59-0.96), specificity: 0.99 (95% CI 0.98-1.0)] as compared to MSSA [sensitivity: 0.76 (95% CI 0.69-0.82), specificity: 0.98 (95% CI 0.98-0.99)]. Similarly, eight studies (n = 4,089) investigating MSSA in pediatric population reported higher NAAT accuracy [sensitivity: 0.89 (95% CI 0.76-0.96), specificity: 0.98 (95% CI 0.97-0.98)] compared to adults. Among NAA tests, SeptiFast (real-time PCR, commercial) was frequently applied, and its diagnostic accuracy corresponded well to the overall summary estimates. A meta-regression and subgroup analysis of study design, sample condition, and patient selection method could not explain the heterogeneity (P > 0.05) in the diagnostic efficiency. Conclusions: NAAT could be applied as the preferred initial tests for timely diagnosis and BSI management.

Molecular Insights into Zn2+ Inhibition of the Antibacterial Endopeptidase Lysostaphin from Staphylococcus simulans

BACKGROUND

Mature lysostaphin (~28-kDa Lss) from Staphylococcus simulans proves effective in killing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which is endemic in hospitals worldwide. Lss is Zn²⁺-dependent endopeptidase, but its bacteriolytic activity could be affected by exogenously added Zn²⁺.

OBJECTIVE

To gain greater insights into structural and functional impacts of Zn²⁺and Ni²⁺on Lss-induced bioactivity.

METHODS

Lss purified via immobilized metal ion-affinity chromatography was assessed for bioactivity using turbidity reduction assays. Conformational change of metal ion-treated Lss was examined by circular dichroism and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy. Co-sedimentation assay was performed to study interactions between Zn²⁺-treated Lss and S. aureus peptidoglycans. Metal ionbinding prediction and intermolecular docking were used to locate an extraneous Zn²⁺-binding site.

RESULTS

A drastic decrease in Lss bioactivity against S. aureus and MRSA was revealed only when treated with Zn²⁺, but not Ni²⁺, albeit no negative effect of diethyldithiocarbamate-Zn²⁺-chelator on Lss-induced bioactivity. No severe conformational change was observed for Lss incubated with exogenous Zn²⁺ or Ni²⁺. Lss pre-treated with Zn²⁺ efficiently bound to S. aureus cell-wall peptidoglycans, suggesting non-interfering effect of exogenous metal ions on cell-wall targeting (CWT) activity. In silico analysis revealed that exogenous Zn²⁺, but not Ni²⁺, preferably interacted with a potential extraneous Zn²⁺-binding site (His253, Glu318 and His323) placed near the Zn²⁺-coordinating Lssactive site within the catalytic (CAT) domain.

CONCLUSION

Our present data signify the adverse influence of exogenous Zn²⁺ ions on Lss-induced staphylolytic activity through the exclusive presence within the CAT domain of an extraneous inhibitory Zn²⁺-binding site, without affecting the CWT activity.

A Spellbinding Interplay Between Biological Barcoding and Nanotechnology

Great scientific research with improved potential in probing biological locales has remained a giant stride. The use of bio-barcodes with the potential use of nanotechnology is a hallmark being developed among recent advanced techniques. Biobarcoding is a novel method used for screening biomolecules to identify and divulge ragbag biodiversity. It establishes successful barcoding projects in the field of nanomedical technology for massively testing disease diagnosis and treatment. Biobarcoding and nanotechnology are recently developed technologies that provide unique opportunities and challenges for multiplex detection such as DNAs, proteins and nucleic acids of animals, plants, viruses, and various other species. These technologies also clump drug delivery, gene delivery, and DNA sequencing. Bio-barcode amplification assay (BCA) is used at large for the detection and identification of proteins and DNAs. DNA barcoding combined with nanotechnology has been proven highly sensitive rendering fast uniplex and multiplex detection of pathogens in food, blood, and other specimens. This review takes a panoramic view of current advances in nano bio-barcodes which have been summarized to explore additional applications such as detection of cytokines, neurotransmitters, cancer markers, prostate-specific antigens, and allergens. In the future, it will also be possible to detect some fungi, algae, protozoa, and other pollutants in food, agriculture, and clinical samples. Using these technologies, specific and efficient sensors would possibly be developed that can perform swift detections of antigens, allergens, and other specimens.

Clinical validation of urine-based Xpert® MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of urogenital tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Effective methods for diagnosing urogenital tuberculosis (UGTB) are important for its clinical management. Therefore, we undertook a systematic review to assess the performance of the urine-based Xpert MTB/RIF assay for UGTB.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane library, and Scopus were systematically searched up to July 30, 2019. A hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) was applied to calculate the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and odds ratio (OR) for the diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert test.

RESULTS

Our search identified 858 unique articles from which 69 studies were selected for full-text revision, with 12 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Eleven studies comprising 1202 samples compared Xpert with mycobacterial culture, while 924 samples from eight studies compared it with a composite reference standard (CRS). The values for pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and OR were 0.89, 0.95, 20.1, 0.18, and 159.53, respectively, when compared with the mycobacterial culture. Likewise, when compared with a CRS, the respective pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and OR values were 0.55, 0.99, 40.67, 0.43, and 166.17, thereby suggesting a high level of accuracy for diagnosing UGTB. A meta-regression and sub-group analysis of TB-burden countries, study design, decontamination, concentration, and reference standard could not explain the heterogeneity (p > 0.05) in the diagnostic efficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that Xpert is a promising diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of UGTB via urine specimen.

Association of IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms with brucellosis: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Brucellosis is one of the major public health problems worldwide. Several current studies have provided data that polymorphisms in the interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta1(TGF-β1) gene were associated with the susceptibility to human brucellosis, but the results remain inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of present study was to investigate the relationship between IL-6 (-174 G/C), IL-10 (-1082 A/G, -819C/T) and TGF-β1 (codon 10, codon 25) gene polymorphisms and brucellosis.

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive search of the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, OVID-EBMR, and the Cochrane Library up to Oct. 30, 2018. The search was designed using the following key words: "brucellosis" or" "brucella melitensis", "IL-10" or "interleukin10" or "interleukin-10", "IL-6" or "interleukin6" or "interleukin-6", "TGF-β1" or "TGF-beta1" or "transforming growth factor β1", "polymorphism" and "single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)". Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to measure the strength of association between TGF-β1, IL-10 and IL-6 polymorphisms and brucellosis risk. All the statistical analyses were conducted by Review manager 5.3 software.

RESULTS

A total of 8 studies involving 1308 cases and 902 controls met the inclusion criteria for IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β1 polymorphisms and brucellosis risk. There was a slightly trend of increasing risk of brucellosis in individuals with the G allele compared with individuals with the C allele (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.85-1.33, P = 0.57) in IL-6 polymorphism. However, statistical analysis showed that these differences are not significant. Our results suggested TGF-β1 (codon 25 G/C) GG genotype may be considered as a risk factor for brucellosis (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.12-2.50, P = 0.01). Herein, we failed to find any significant association between IL-10 (-1082 A/G, -819C/T), TGF-β1 (codon 10C/T) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to brucellosis in all gene models.

CONCLUSION

IL-6 (-174 G/C), IL-10 (-1082 A/G, -819C/T), and TGF-β1 (codon 10C/T) polymorphisms is not a risk factor for brucellosis infection. TGF-β1 codon 25 GG genotype may be considered as a risk factor for brucellosis.

Geohelminths: public health significance

The worldwide prevalence of geohelminths and their unique place in evolutionary biology have attracted research focus. These major soil-transmitted intestinal nematodes that cause human diseases are the nematode roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and the two hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), often collectively referred as geohelminths. Studies of geohelminthiasis in poorly nourished children in developing regions report that geohelminths contribute to stunted growth and cognitive impairment. Insights into immunology have shed light on the modulatory role of the parasite on the host immune system and have defined the role of T cells in controlling geohelminthic infection. Recent molecular biological techniques have created an opportunity to analyse the interaction between parasites and their hosts at the molecular level. This paper is a review of the recent literature that examined the prevalence of geohelminthiasis in developing countries, the association between geohelminths in relation to public health, parasitological/diagnostic features, and therapeutic and preventive aspects of these major soil-transmitted helminth (STH) pathogens in humans.

Mental and behavioral effects of parasitic infections: a review

Whether parasitic diseases-and in particular helminth infections because they are extensive and widespread--have an effect on mental functions and educational attainment is by no mean a new question. Concern about the possibility was evident in the early decades of the century, and the results of investigations designed to discover whether the effects of parasite infections had consequences on school children. Many species of helminth have been reported as causing infections in humans. Of the nematode infections, both soil transmitted helminthiasis and lymphatic filariasis are public health problem in the country. Any of these infections may result in morbidity, malnutrition, and iron-deficiency anaemia. Their possible contribution to impaired cognitive function and educational achievement is by the association between iron deficiency anaemia and malnutrition. Research on the effects of parasitic infection has focused on school-age children. Not only are these children the most vulnerable to parasitic infections--they are also the population group most likely to experience the impact of infection on cognitive function. This review paper discusses the mental and behavioral effects of parasitic infection on child's health. Infected children are less active; their behavior is said to be sluggish and both mental and physical activities and processes appear dulled and slow. A reduction in available energy is likely to cause a cascade of effects running through most aspects of the host's daily mental life and behavior.