Effect of Nk-lysin peptides on bacterial growth, MIC, antimicrobial resistance, and viral activities

NK-lysins from chicken, bovine and human are used as antiviral and antibacterial agents. Gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms, including Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella oxytoca, Shigella sonnei, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhimurium, are susceptible to NK-lysin treatment. The presence of dominant TEM-1 gene was noted in all untreated and treated bacteria, while TOHO-1 gene was absent in all bacteria. Importantly, β-lactamase genes CTX-M-1, CTX-M-8, and CTX-M-9 genes were detected in untreated bacterial strains; however, none of these were found in any bacterial strains following treatment with NK-lysin peptides. NK-lysin peptides are also used to test for inhibition of infectivity, which ranged from 50 to 90% depending on NK-lysin species. Chicken, bo vine and human NK-lysin peptides are demonstrated herein to have antibacterial activity and antiviral activity against Rotavirus (strain SA-11). On the basis of the comparison between these peptides, potent antiviral activity of bovine NK-lysin against Rotavirus (strain SA-11) is particularly evident, inhibiting infection by up to 90%. However, growth was also significantly inhibited by chicken and human NK-lysin peptides, restricted by 80 and 50%, respectively. This study provided a novel treatment using NK-lysin peptides to inhibit expression of β-lactamase genes in β-lactam antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

Unraveling the Endocannabinoid System: Exploring Its Therapeutic Potential in Autism Spectrum Disorder

The salient features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompass persistent difficulties in social communication, as well as the presence of restricted and repetitive facets of behavior, hobbies, or pursuits, which are often accompanied with cognitive limitations. Over the past few decades, a sizable number of studies have been conducted to enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of ASD. Preclinical rat models have proven to be extremely valuable in simulating and analyzing the roles of a wide range of established environmental and genetic factors. Recent research has also demonstrated the significant involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the pathogenesis of several neuropsychiatric diseases, including ASD. In fact, the ECS has the potential to regulate a multitude of metabolic and cellular pathways associated with autism, including the immune system. Moreover, the ECS has emerged as a promising target for intervention with high predictive validity. Particularly noteworthy are resent preclinical studies in rodents, which describe the onset of ASD-like symptoms after various genetic or pharmacological interventions targeting the ECS, providing encouraging evidence for further exploration in this area.

Integrated Network Pharmacology Approach to Evaluate Bioactive Phytochemicals of Acalypha indica and Their Mechanistic Actions to Suppress Target Genes of Tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for tuberculosis (TB) all over the world. Despite tremendous advancements in biomedical research, new treatment approaches, and preventive measures, TB incidence rates continue to ascend. The herbaceous plant Acalypha indica, also known as Indian Nettle, belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family and is known as one of the most important sources of medicines and pharmaceuticals for the medical therapy for a range of ailments. However, the precise molecular mechanism of its therapeutic action is still unknown. In this study, an integrated network pharmacology approach was employed to explore the potential mechanism of A. indica phytochemicals against TB. The active chemical components of A. indica were collected from two independent databases and published sources, whereas SwissTargetPrediction was used to identify the target genes of these phytochemicals. GeneCards and DisGeNET databases were employed to retrieve tuberculosis-related genes and variants. Following the evaluation of overlapped genes, gene enrichment analysis and PPI network analysis were performed using the DAVID and STRING databases, respectively. Later, to identify the potential target(s) for the disease, molecular docking was performed. A. indica revealed 9 active components with 259 potential therapeutic targets; TB attributed 694 intersecting genes from the two data sets; and both TB and A. indica overlapped 44 potential targets. The in-depth analysis based on the degree revealed that AKT1 and EGFR formed the foundation of the PPI network. Moreover, docking analysis followed by molecular dynamics simulations revealed that phytosterol and stigmasterol have higher binding affinities to AKT1 and EGFR to suppress tuberculosis. This study provides a convincing proof that A. indica can be exploited to target TB after experimental endorsement; further, it lays the framework for more experimental research on A. indica's anti-TB activity.

Extracellular matrix detached cancer cells resist oxidative stress by increasing histone demethylase KDM6 activity

Epithelial cancer cells rely on the extracellular matrix (ECM) attachment in order to spread to other organs. Detachment from the ECM is necessary for these cells to seed in other locations. When the attachment to the ECM is lost, cellular metabolism undergoes a significant shift from oxidative metabolism to glycolysis. Additionally, the cancer cells become more dependent on glutaminolysis to avoid a specific type of cell death known as anoikis, which is associated with ECM detachment. In our recent study, we observed increased expression of H3K27me3 demethylases, specifically KDM6A/B, in cancer cells that were resistant to anoikis. Since KDM6A/B is known to regulate cellular metabolism, we investigated the effects of suppressing KDM6A/B with GSK-J4 on the metabolic processes in these anoikis-resistant cancer cells. Our results from untargeted metabolomics revealed a profound impact of KDM6A/B inhibition on various metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, methyl histidine, spermine, and glutamate metabolism. Inhibition of KDM6A/B led to elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and depolarization of mitochondria, while reducing the levels of glutathione, an important antioxidant, by diminishing the intermediates of the glutamate pathway. Glutamate is crucial for maintaining a pool of reduced glutathione. Furthermore, we discovered that KDM6A/B regulates the key glycolytic genes expression like hexokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and GLUT-1, which are essential for sustaining glycolysis in anoikis-resistant cancer cells. Overall, our findings demonstrated the critical role of KDM6A/B in maintaining glycolysis, glutamate metabolism, and glutathione levels. Inhibition of KDM6A/B disrupts these metabolic processes, leading to increased ROS levels and triggering cell death in anoikis-resistant cancer cells.

ACE2-Fc and DPP4-Fc decoy receptors against SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV variants: a quick therapeutic option for current and future coronaviruses outbreaks

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are highly pathogenic human coronaviruses (CoVs). Anti-CoVs mAbs and vaccines may be effective, but the emergence of neutralization escape variants is inevitable. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 enzyme are the getaway receptors for SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV, respectively. Thus, we reformatted these receptors as Fc-fusion decoy receptors. Then, we tested them in parallel with anti-SARS-CoV (ab1-IgG) and anti-MERS-CoV (M336-IgG) mAbs against several variants using pseudovirus neutralization assay. The generated Fc-based decoy receptors exhibited a strong inhibitory effect against all pseudotyped CoVs. Results showed that although mAbs can be effective antiviral drugs, they might rapidly lose their efficacy against highly mutated viruses. We suggest that receptor traps can be engineered as Fc-fusion proteins for highly mutating viruses with known entry receptors, for a faster and effective therapeutic response even against virus harboring antibodies escape mutations.

Chicken -defensin-1 peptide as a candidate anticoccidial agent in broiler chickens

The current study aimed to investigate the potentiality of using avian β-defensin-1 peptide as a candidate agent against coccidiosis infection in broiler chicken.We employed an in-silico analysis to study the primary structure of β-defensin-1 peptide as well as its 3-D and molecular dynamic structures. This will also enable obtaining adequate information about the mode of action of these peptides and the intra-cellular transduction pathways. The results revealed no significant difference among groups of broiler chicken in terms of body weight before the Eimeria challenge.The results of our study indicated a significant reduction in oocyst count in birds administered β-defensin-1 peptide treatment, vis-a-vis healthy birds. The treated group showed a 2-3 times reduction in oocyst count, compared to the positive control group. The Eimeria oocysts count evaluated for birds administered with β-defensin-1 after the Eimeria challenge showed a significant difference. The study indicated significant reduction and down-regulation in the level of expression of β-defensin 1 and 4 in the control and treatment groups.This electrostatic profile and hydrophobicity regulate the functioning of this peptide. The results may help in the development of novel approaches that could be used as alternatives or adjunct to the existing means of coccidiosis control in broilers.

Prevalence and molecular determinants of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Jazan, Saudi Arabia

INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organization (WHO) designated Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), formerly Enterobacteriaceae, among the global priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The rate of CRE in Arabian countries, including Saudi Arabia has increased. Here, we report the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) in the Jazan region, a southern coastal province of Saudi Arabia.

METHODOLOGY

Eighty-six non-repetitive clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae that showed resistance to at least one of the carbapenem drugs were collected from three tertiary hospitals in the Jazan region from March 2020 to April 2021. The identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of isolates were performed using various automated systems. Molecular detection of carbapenemase genes was conducted using a multiplex PCR.

RESULTS

Out of the 86 tested CRKP isolates, 64 (74.4%) were carbapenemase-producing isolates. The blaOXA-48 gene was the most predominant carbapenemase gene, detected in 65.1% (n = 56) of isolates. The blaNDM gene was detected in only 9.3% (n = 8) of isolates; three were found to be co-harbored with blaVIM. Interestingly, one isolate of CRKP was found to have carbapenemase genes (blaNDM, blaVIM and blaKPC), which was associated with COVID-19 patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae in Jazan hospitals seemed to be high, confirming the continued prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Saudi Hospitals. We report K. pneumoniae strain with triple carbapenemase genes in southern Saudi Arabia. The emergence of such an isolate could threaten patients and healthcare workers and requires great attention to rapid interventions to avoid further dissemination, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Identification of Gut Microbiota Profile Associated with Colorectal Cancer in Saudi Population

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health concern. Microbial dysbiosis and associated metabolites have been associated with CRC occurrence and progression. This study aims to analyze the gut microbiota composition and the enriched metabolic pathways in patients with late-stage CRC. In this study, a cohort of 25 CRC patients diagnosed at late stage III and IV and 25 healthy participants were enrolled. The fecal bacterial composition was investigated using V3-V4 ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, followed by clustering and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analyses. A cluster of ortholog genes' (COG) functional annotations and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were employed to identify enrichment pathways between the two groups. The findings showed that the fecal microbiota between the two groups varied significantly in alpha and beta diversities. CRC patients' fecal samples had significantly enriched populations of Streptococcus salivarius, S. parasanguins, S. anginosus, Lactobacillus mucosae, L. gasseri, Peptostreptococcus, Eubacterium, Aerococcus, Family XIII_AD3001 Group, Erysipelatoclostridium, Escherichia-Shigella, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Alistipes, Ralstonia, and Pseudomonas (Q < 0.05). The enriched pathways identified in the CRC group were amino acid transport, signaling and metabolism, membrane biogenesis, DNA replication and mismatch repair system, and protease activity (Q < 0.05). These results suggested that the imbalance between intestinal bacteria and the elevated level of the predicated functions and pathways may contribute to the development of advanced CRC tumors. Further research is warranted to elucidate the exact role of the gut microbiome in CRC and its potential implications for use in diagnostic, prevention, and treatment strategies.

Construction of VSVΔ51M oncolytic virus expressing human interleukin-12

The use of oncolytic viruses (OVs) in combination with cytokines, such as IL-12, is a promising approach for cancer treatment that addresses the limitations of current standard treatments and traditional cancer immunotherapies. IL-12, a proinflammatory cytokine, triggers intracellular signaling pathways that lead to increased apoptosis of tumor cells and enhanced antitumor activity of immune cells via IFN-γ induction, making this cytokine a promising candidate for cancer therapy. Targeted expression of IL-12 within tumors has been shown to play a crucial role in tumor eradication. The recent development of oncolytic viruses enables targeted delivery and expression of IL-12 at the tumor site, thereby addressing the systemic toxicities associated with traditional cancer therapy. In this study, we constructed an oncolytic virus, VSVΔ51M, based on the commercially available VSV wild-type backbone and further modified it to express human IL-12. Our preclinical data confirmed the safety and limited toxicity of the modified virus, VSV-Δ51M-hIL-12, supporting its potential use for clinical development.

A Novel Homozygous Nonsense Variant in the DYM Underlies Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen Syndrome in Large Consanguineous Family

(1) Background: Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen Syndrome is a skeletal dysplasia caused by a defect in the DYM gene (OMIM number 607461). Pathogenic variants in the gene have been reported to cause Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen (DMC; OMIM 223800) dysplasia and Smith-McCort (SMC; OMIM 607326) dysplasia. (2) Methods: In the present study, large consanguineous families with five affected individuals with osteochondrodysplasia phenotypes were recruited. The family members were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction for homozygosity mapping using highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. Subsequent to linkage analysis, the coding exons and exon intron border of the DYM gene were amplified. The amplified products were then sent for Sanger sequencing. The structural effect of the pathogenic variant was analyzed by different bioinformatics tools. (3) Results: Homozygosity mapping revealed a 9 Mb homozygous region on chromosome 18q21.1 harboring DYM shared by all available affected individuals. Sanger sequencing of the coding exons and exon intron borders of the DYM gene revealed a novel homozygous nonsense variant [DYM (NM_017653.6):c.1205T>A, p.(Leu402Ter)] in affected individuals. All the available unaffected individuals were either heterozygous or wild type for the identified variant. The identified mutation results in loss of protein stability and weekend interactions with other proteins making them pathogenic (4) Conclusions: This is the second nonsense mutation reported in a Pakistani population causing DMC. The study presented would be helpful in prenatal screening, genetic counseling, and carrier testing of other members in the Pakistani community.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Quinoxaline Derivative Compound Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Background

While the frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) continues to rise globally, there is a fear regarding an increase in vancomycin resistance among S. aureus strains. As far back as the 1960s, MRSA was one of the world's most prevalent antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Among hospitalized patients and community members, MRSA is the cause of a significant number of infections. As a result of its resistance to classical beta-lactam and, in some cases, vancomycin antibiotics, efforts must be made as soon as feasible to find a new approach to fighting MRSA.

Purpose

This study is designed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of quinoxaline derivative compound against MRSA in comparison with vancomycin as a reference drug.

Methods

Sixty MRSA isolates were subjected to susceptibility testing by broth microdilution method for quinoxaline derivative compound and vancomycin. Each drug's minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined and compared.

Results

Among the sixty MRSA isolates, most of the quinoxaline derivative compound MIC findings (56.7%) were 4 µg/mL compared to vancomycin MIC values (63.3%) of 4 µg/mL. In comparison, 20% of quinoxaline derivative compound MIC readings were 2 µg/mL, while the vancomycin MIC results were 6.7%. However, the overall proportion of MIC readings at ≤2 µg/mL for both antibacterial agents was equal (23.3%). None of the isolates were resistant to vancomycin.

Conclusion

This experiment revealed that most MRSA isolates were associated with low MICs (1-4 μg/mL) for quinoxaline derivative compound. Overall, the susceptibility of the quinoxaline derivative compound signifies a promising efficacy against MRSA and may set a novel treatment approach.

Mouth rinses efficacy on salivary SARS-CoV-2 viral load: A randomized clinical trial

Considering the global trend to confine the COVID-19 pandemic by applying various preventive health measures, preprocedural mouth rinsing has been proposed to mitigate the transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 in dental clinics. The study aimed to investigate the effect of different mouth rinses on salivary viral load in COVID-19 patients. This study was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, six-parallel-group, placebo-controlled clinical trial that investigated the effect of four mouth rinses (1% povidone-iodine, 1.5% hydrogen peroxide, 0.075% cetylpyridinium chloride, and 80 ppm hypochlorous acid) on salivary SARS-CoV-2 viral load relative to the distilled water and no-rinse control groups. The viral load was measured by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) at baseline and 5, 30, and 60 min post rinsing. The viral load pattern within each mouth rinse group showed a reduction overtime; however, this reduction was only statistically significant in the hydrogen peroxide group. Further, a significant reduction in the viral load was observed between povidone-iodine, hydrogen peroxide, and cetylpyridinium chloride compared to the no-rinse group at 60 min, indicating their late antiviral potential. Interestingly, a similar statistically significant reduction was also observed in the distilled water control group compared to the no-rinse group at 60 min, proposing mechanical washing of the viral particles through the rinsing procedure. Therefore, results suggest using preprocedural mouth rinses, particularly hydrogen peroxide, as a risk-mitigation step before dental procedures, along with strict adherence to other infection control measures.

Growth factors in relation to obesity, food habits, and microbiota among healthy Saudis: preliminary results

OBJECTIVE

 Obesity is a serious problem among Saudis because of the country's affluent lifestyle. Obesity is associated with various metabolic disorders and characterized by low-grade inflammation that leads to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, human growth factors (GFs), lipids, aberrant adipokines, and other chemokines from adipose tissue. The objective of this study is to delineate the effects of GFs on microbiota and their relationship to body mass index (BMI) and food habits.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 32 randomly selected participants (16 males and 16 females) were enrolled in a survey covering their sociodemographic information, medical history, lifestyle, and dietary practices. The information on diet, health condition, food and drink intake habits were examined under four distinct BMI categories: normal, underweight, overweight, and obese. The participants' serum samples were analyzed for the various GFs using a human magnetic 30-plex panel multiplex assay. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to investigate which bacterial taxa are enriched and to predict the functional profiles of the samples.

RESULTS

Correlational studies revealed sex-based differences between GFs and microbiota. Females exhibited a significant correlation between epidermal GF (EGF) and Proteobacteria, whereas males showed a significant correlation between fibroblast GF-basic and Actinobacteria. Interestingly, a combined analysis of both sexes showed a significant correlation between EGF and vascular endothelial GF with Firmicutes. The data in the underweight group revealed a correlation between granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and hepatocyte GF with Firmicutes. In the obese group, a correlation was found between G-CSF and Actinobacteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results identified links between GFs, microbiota, and BMI in a Saudi cohort. The insights from this preliminary study will contribute to the predictive diagnosis of obesity. However, further research involving a larger cohort will be necessary to understand the mechanistic aspects of these GFs to provide biomarkers of potential obesity.

Recent Update on anaerobic digestion of paddy straw for biogas production: Advancement, limitation and recommendations

At present, development and production of advanced green energy sources are highly demanded, and this may offer a clean and sustainable environment to our modern society. In this reference, biogas is emerging as a promising green energy source and seems to have high potential to replace fossil-fuel based energy sources in the coming future. Further, lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) based biogas production technology has been found to be highly promising owing to several advantages associated therewith. Rich inorganic content, renewable nature, huge availability and low-cost are the key beneficial factors of LCB-based feedstock l to produce biogas. Among the varieties of LCB, paddy straw is one of the most demanding feedstocks and is highly rich in organic compounds that are imperative to producing biogas. Nevertheless, it is noticed that paddy straw as a waste material is usually disposed-off by direct burning, whereas it exhibits low natural digestibility due to the presence of high lignin and silica content which causes severe environmental pollution. On the other hand, paddy straw can be a potential feedstock to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion. Therefore, based on the current ongoing research studies worldwide, this review evaluates the advancements made in the AD process. Meanwhile, existing limitations and future recommendations to improve the yield and productivity of the biogas using paddy straw have been discussed. The emphasis has also been given to various operational parameters developments, related shortcomings, and strategies to improve biogas production at pilot scale.

Green Synthesis of Zn(OH)2/ZnO-Based Bionanocomposite using Pomegranate Peels and Its Application in the Degradation of Bacterial Biofilm

The ability and potency of bacterial species to form biofilms, which show antibiotic resistance thereby avoiding antibiotic surfaces, is a major cause of prolonged infections. Various advanced approaches have been employed to prevent or damage bacterial biofilms, formed by a variety of bacterial strains, to help prevent the associated infectious disease. In this context, zinc-based nanostructures have been recognized as a potential antibiotic agent against a broad spectrum of bacterial communities. As a result, a sustainable and green synthesis method was adapted in the present study to synthesize a Zn(OH)₂/ZnO-based bionanocomposite, in which aqueous extracts of waste pomegranate peels (Punica granatum) were employed as a natural bioreducing agent to prepare the bionanocomposite at room temperature. Furthermore, FT-IR, XRD, DLS, UV-Visible, PL spectroscopy, FE-SEM, and TEM were used to characterize the green route synthesized a Zn(OH)₂/ZnO bionanocomposite. The average crystallite size was determined using the Scherrer relation to be 38 nm, and the DLS results indicated that the Zn(OH)₂/ZnO bionanocomposite had a hydrodynamic size of 170 nm. On the other hand, optical properties investigated through UV-Vis and PL spectroscopy explored the energy bandgap between 2.80 and 4.46 eV, corresponding to the three absorption edges, and it covered the blue spectrum when the sample was excited at 370 nm. Furthermore, the impact of this green route synthesized a Zn(OH)₂/ZnO bionanocomposite on the biofilm degradation efficiency of the pathogenic bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis PF_1 using the Congored method was investigated. The Congored assay clearly explored the biofilm degradation efficiency in the presence of a 50 mg/mL and 75 mg/mL concentration of the Zn(OH)₂/ZnO bionanocomposite against the bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis PF_1 grown for 24 h. This study can be further applied to the preparation of bionanocomposites following a low-cost green synthesis approach, and thus prepared nanostructures can be exploited as advanced antimicrobial agents, which could be of great interest to prevent various infectious diseases.

Bacterial co-infections and antimicrobial resistance associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 infection

Bacterial co-infections are typically associated with viral respiratory tract infections and pose a significant public health problem around the world. COVID-19 infection damages tissues lining the respiratory track and regulates immune cells/cytokines leading to microbiome dysbiosis and facilitating the area to be colonized by pathogenic bacterial agents. There have been reports of different types of bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 patients. Some of these reports showed despite geographical differences and differences in hospital settings, bacterial co-infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. The inappropriate use of antibiotics for bacterial infections, particularly broad-spectrum antibiotics, can also further complicate the infection process, often leading to multi drug resistance, clinical deterioration, poor prognosis, and eventually death. To this end, researchers must establish a new therapeutic approach to control SARS-CoV-2 and the associated microbial coinfections. Hence, the aim of this review is to highlight the bacterial co-infection that has been recorded in COVID-19 patients and the status of antimicrobial resistance associated with the dual infections.

Apigenin Loaded Lipoid-PLGA-TPGS Nanoparticles for Colon Cancer Therapy: Characterization, Sustained Release, Cytotoxicity, and Apoptosis Pathways

Colon cancer (CC) is one of major causes of mortality and affects the socio-economic status world-wide. Therefore, developing a novel and efficient delivery system is needed for CC management. Thus, in the present study, lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles of apigenin (LPHyNPs) was prepared and characterized on various parameters such as particle size (234.80 ± 12.28 nm), PDI (0.11 ± 0.04), zeta potential (−5.15 ± 0.70 mV), EE (55.18 ± 3.61%), etc. Additionally, the DSC, XRD, and FT-IR analysis determined drug entrapment and affinity with the selected excipient, demonstrating a promising drug affinity with the lipid polymer. Morphological analysis via SEM and TEM exhibited spherical NPs with a dark color core, which indicated drug entrapment inside the core. In vitro release study showed significant (p < 0.05) sustained release of AGN from LPHyNPs than AGN suspension. Further, the therapeutic efficacy in terms of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of developed LPHyNPs against CC was estimated by performing flow cytometry and comparing its effectiveness with blank LPHyNPs and AGN suspension, which exhibited remarkable outcomes in favor of LPHyNPs. Moreover, the mechanism behind the anticancer attribute was further explored by estimating gene expression of various signaling molecules such as Bcl-2, BAX, NF-κB, and mTOR that were involved in carcinogenic pathways, which indicated significant (p < 0.05) results for LPHyNPs. Moreover, to strengthen the anticancer potential of LPHyNPs against chemoresistance, the expression of JNK and MDR-1 genes was estimated. Outcomes showed that their expression level reduced appreciably when compared to blank LPHyNPs and AGN suspension. Hence, it can be concluded that developed LPHyNPs could be an efficient therapeutic system for managing CC.

Improved biohydrogen production via graphene oxide supported granular system based on algal hydrolyzate, secondary sewage sludge and bacterial consortia

Biohydrogen production using renewable sources has been regarded as one of the most sustainable ways to develop low-cost and green production technology. In order to achieve this objective, herein biohydrogen production has been conducted using the combination of untreated secondary sewage sludge (Sss), algal biomass hydrolyzate (Abh), graphene oxide (GO) and bacterial consortia that forms a granular system. Thus, naturally formed granular system produced cumulative H₂ of 1520mL/L in 168h with the maximum production rate of 13.4mL/L/h in 96h at initial pH 7.0, and optimum temperature of 37^oC. It is noticed that the combination of Abh, Sss and GO governed medium showed 42.05% higher cumulative H₂ production along with 22.71% higher production rate as compared to Abh and Sss based H₂ production medium. The strategy presented herein may find potential applications for the low-cost biohydrogen production using waste biomasses including Sss and Abh.

Different Alterations in Gut Microbiota between Bifidobacterium longum and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Treatments in Propionic Acid Rat Model of Autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) consist of a range of neurodevelopmental conditions accompanied by dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Therefore, a number of microbiota manipulation strategies were developed to restore their balance. However, a comprehensive comparison of the various methods on gut microbiota is still lacking. Here, we evaluated the effect of Bifidobacterium (BF) treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation (FT) on gut microbiota in a propionic acid (PPA) rat model of autism using 16S rRNA sequencing. Following PPA treatment, gut microbiota showed depletion of Bacteroidia and Akkermansia accompanied by a concomitant increase of Streptococcus, Lachnospiraceae, and Paraeggerthella. The dysbiosis was predicted to cause increased levels of porphyrin metabolism and impairments of acyl-CoA thioesterase and ubiquinone biosynthesis. On the contrary, BF and FT treatments resulted in a distinct increase of Clostridium, Bifidobacterium, Marvinbryantia, Butyricicoccus, and Dorea. The taxa in BF group positively correlated with vitamin B12 and flagella biosynthesis, while FT mainly enriched flagella biosynthesis. In contrast, BF and FT treatments negatively correlated with succinate biosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, beta-Lactam resistance, and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that BF and FT treatments restored the PPA-induced dysbiosis in a treatment-specific manner.

The Efficacy of Fecal Transplantation and Bifidobacterium Supplementation in Ameliorating Propionic Acid-Induced Behavioral and Biochemical Autistic Features in Juvenile Male Rats

Gut microbiota plays a major role in neurological disorders, including autism. Modulation of the gut microbiota through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) or probiotic administration, such as Bifidobacteria, is suggested to alleviate autistic symptoms; however, their effects on the brain are not fully examined. We tested both approaches in a propionic acid (PPA) rodent model of autism as treatment strategies. Autism was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by administering PPA orally (250 mg/kg) for 3 days. Animals were later treated with either saline, FMT, or Bifidobacteria for 22 days. Control animals were treated with saline throughout the study. Social behavior and selected brain biochemical markers related to stress hormones, inflammation, and oxidative stress were assessed. PPA treatment induced social impairments, which was rescued by the treatments. In the brain, Bifidobacteria treatment increased oxytocin relative to control and PPA groups. Moreover, Bifidobacteria treatment rescued the PPA-induced increase in IFN-γ levels. Both treatments increased GST levels, which was diminished by the PPA treatment. These findings indicate the potential of gut microbiota-targeted therapeutics in ameliorating behavioral deficit and underlying neural biochemistry.

Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 Spike-Based DNA Vaccine Elicits Robust and Long-Lasting Th1 Humoral and Cellular Immunity in Mice

The ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) calls for an urgent development of effective and safe prophylactic and therapeutic measures. The spike (S) glycoprotein of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a major immunogenic and protective protein and plays a crucial role in viral pathogenesis. In this study, we successfully constructed a synthetic codon-optimized DNA-based vaccine as a countermeasure against SARS-CoV-2, denoted VIU-1005. The design was based on a codon-optimized coding sequence of a consensus full-length S glycoprotein. The immunogenicity of the vaccine was tested in two mouse models (BALB/c and C57BL/6J). Th1-skewed systemic S-specific IgG antibodies and neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) were significantly induced in both models 4 weeks after three injections with 100 μg of the VIU-1005 vaccine via intramuscular needle injection but not intradermal or subcutaneous routes. Such immunization induced long-lasting IgG and memory T cell responses in mice that lasted for at least 6 months. Interestingly, using a needle-free system, we showed an enhanced immunogenicity of VIU-1005 in which lower or fewer doses were able to elicit significantly high levels of Th1-biased systemic S-specific immune responses, as demonstrated by the significant levels of binding IgG antibodies, nAbs and IFN-γ, TNF and IL-2 cytokine production from memory CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells in BALB/c mice. Furthermore, compared to intradermal needle injection, which failed to induce any significant immune response, intradermal needle-free immunization elicited a robust Th1-biased humoral response similar to that observed with intramuscular immunization. Together, our results demonstrate that the synthetic VIU-1005 candidate DNA vaccine is highly immunogenic and capable of inducing long-lasting Th1-skewed humoral and cellular immunity in mice. Furthermore, we show that the use of a needle-free system could enhance the immunogenicity and minimize doses needed to induce protective immunity in mice, supporting further preclinical and clinical testing of this candidate vaccine.

The role of sex-differentiated variations in stress hormones, antioxidants, and neuroimmune responses in relation to social interaction impairment in a rodent model of autism

Males are more likely to develop autism as a neurodevelopmental disorder than females, but the mechanisms underlying male susceptibility are not fully understood. In this paper, we used a well-characterized propionic acid (PPA) rodent model of autism to study sex differences in stress hormones, antioxidants' status, and the neuroimmune response that may contribute to the preponderance of autism in males. Sprague Dawley rats of both sexes were divided into a saline-treated group as controls and PPA-treated groups, receiving 250 mg/kg of PPA per day for three days. Animals' social behavior was examined using the three-chamber social test. Hormones (ACTH, corticosterone, melatonin, and oxytocin), oxidative stress biomarkers (glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase, and ascorbic acid), and cytokines (IL-6, IL-1α, IL-10, and IFNγ) were measured in the brain tissue of all the animals. The results showed a sex dimorphic social response to PPA treatment, where males were more susceptible to the PPA treatment and exhibited a significant reduction in social behavior with no effects observed in females. Also, sex differences were observed in the levels of hormones, antioxidants, and cytokines. Female rats showed significantly higher corticosterone and lower oxytocin, antioxidants, and cytokine levels than males. The PPA treatment later modulated these baseline differences. Our study indicates that the behavioral manifestation of autism in PPA-treated males and not females could be linked to neural biochemical differences between the sexes at baseline, which might play a protective role in females. Our results can contribute to early intervention strategies and treatments used to control autism, an increasingly prevalent disorder.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Binding and Neutralizing Antibodies in Healthcare Workers during the Epidemic Peak in Referral Hospitals and Quarantine Sites: Saudi Arabia

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the general population. Here, we aimed to evaluate and characterize the SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity rate in randomly collected samples among HCWs from the largest referral hospitals and quarantine sites during the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in the city of Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, using a cross-sectional analytic study design. Out of 693 participants recruited from 29 June to 10 August 2020, 223 (32.2%, 95% CI: 28.8–35.8) were found to be confirmed seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and among those 197 (88.3%) had never been diagnosed with COVID-19. Seropositivity was not significantly associated with participants reporting COVID-19 compatible symptoms as most seropositive HCW participants 140 (62.8%) were asymptomatic. The large proportion of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cases detected in our study demands periodic testing as a general hospital policy.

Optimizing the catalytic activities of methanol and thermotolerant Kocuria flava lipases for biodiesel production from cooking oil wastes

In this study, two highly thermotolerant and methanol-tolerant lipase-producing bacteria were isolated from cooking oil and they exhibited a high number of catalytic lipase activities recording 18.65 ± 0.68 U/mL and 13.14 ± 0.03 U/mL, respectively. Bacterial isolates were identified according to phenotypic and genotypic 16S rRNA characterization as Kocuria flava ASU5 (MT919305) and Bacillus circulans ASU11 (MT919306). Lipases produced from Kocuria flava ASU5 showed the highest methanol tolerance, recording 98.4% relative activity as well as exhibited high thermostability and alkaline stability. Under the optimum conditions obtained from 3D plots of response surface methodology design, the Kocuria flava ASU5 biocatalyst exhibited an 83.08% yield of biodiesel at optimized reaction variables of, 60 ○C, pH value 8 and 1:2 oil/alcohol molar ratios in the reaction mixture. As well as, the obtained results showed the interactions of temperature/methanol were significant effects, whereas this was not noted in the case of temperature/pH and pH/methanol interactions. The obtained amount of biodiesel from cooking oil was 83.08%, which was analyzed by a GC/Ms profile. The produced biodiesel was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) approaches showing an absorption band at 1743 cm-1, which is recognized for its absorption in the carbonyl group (C=O) which is characteristic of ester absorption. The energy content generated from biodiesel synthesized was estimated as 12,628.5 kJ/mol. Consequently, Kocuria flava MT919305 may provide promising thermostable, methanol-tolerant lipases, which may improve the economic feasibility and biotechnology of enzyme biocatalysis in the synthesis of value-added green chemicals.

Enhancement of β-Glucan Biological Activity Using a Modified Acid-Base Extraction Method from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Beta glucan (β-glucan) has promising bioactive properties. Consequently, the use of β-glucan as a food additive is favored with the dual-purpose potential of increasing the fiber content of food products and enhancing their health properties. Our aim was to evaluate the biological activity of β-glucan (antimicrobial, antitoxic, immunostimulatory, and anticancer) extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a modified acid-base extraction method. The results demonstrated that a modified acid-base extraction method gives a higher biological efficacy of β-glucan than in the water extraction method. Using 0.5 mg dry weight of acid-base extracted β-glucan (AB extracted) not only succeeded in removing 100% of aflatoxins, but also had a promising antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, fungi, and yeast, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 0.39 and 0.19 mg/mL in the case of resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. In addition, AB extract exhibited a positive immunomodulatory effect, mediated through the high induction of TNFα, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-2. Moreover, AB extract showed a greater anticancer effect against A549, MDA-MB-232, and HepG-2 cells compared to WI-38 cells, at high concentrations. By studying the cell death mechanism using flow-cytometry, AB extract was shown to induce apoptotic cell death at higher concentrations, as in the case of MDA-MB-231 and HePG-2 cells. In conclusion, the use of a modified AB for β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae exerted a promising antimicrobial, immunomodulatory efficacy, and anti-cancer potential. Future research should focus on evaluating β-glucan in various biological systems and elucidating the underlying mechanism of action.

Performance of Commercially Available Rapid Serological Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), continues to spread globally. Although several rapid commercial serological assays have been developed, little is known about their performance and accuracy in detecting SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in COVID-19 patient samples. Here, we have evaluated the performance of seven commercially available rapid lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA) obtained from different manufacturers, and compared them to in-house developed and validated ELISA assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgM and IgG antibodies in RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients. While all evaluated LFIA assays showed high specificity, our data showed a significant variation in sensitivity of these assays, which ranged from 0% to 54% for samples collected early during infection (3–7 days post symptoms onset) and from 54% to 88% for samples collected at later time points during infection (8–27 days post symptoms onset). Therefore, we recommend prior evaluation and validation of these assays before being routinely used to detect IgM and IgG in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, our findings suggest the use of LFIA assays in combination with other standard methods, and not as an alternative.

Early Humoral Response Correlates with Disease Severity and Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, continues to spread globally with significantly high morbidity and mortality rates. Antigen-specific responses are of unquestionable value for clinical management of COVID-19 patients. Here, we investigated the kinetics of IgM, IgG against the spike (S) and nucleoproteins (N) proteins and their neutralizing capabilities in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with different disease presentations (i.e., mild, moderate or severe), need for intensive care units (ICU) admission or outcomes (i.e., survival vs death). We show that SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG, IgM and neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) were readily detectable in almost all COVID-19 patients with various clinical presentations. Interestingly, significantly higher levels of nAbs as well as anti-S1 and -N IgG and IgM antibodies were found in patients with more severe symptoms, patients requiring admission to ICU or those with fatal outcomes. More importantly, early after symptoms onset, we found that the levels of anti-N antibodies correlated strongly with disease severity. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into the kinetics of antibody responses in COVID-19 patients with different disease severity.

Early Humoral Response Correlates with Disease Severity and Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, continues to spread globally with significantly high morbidity and mortality rates. Antigen-specific responses are of unquestionable value for clinical management of COVID-19 patients. Here, we investigated the kinetics of IgM, IgG against the spike (S) and nucleoproteins (N) proteins and their neutralizing capabilities in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with different disease presentations (i.e., mild, moderate or severe), need for intensive care units (ICU) admission or outcomes (i.e., survival vs death). We show that SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG, IgM and neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) were readily detectable in almost all COVID-19 patients with various clinical presentations. Interestingly, significantly higher levels of nAbs as well as anti-S1 and -N IgG and IgM antibodies were found in patients with more severe symptoms, patients requiring admission to ICU or those with fatal outcomes. More importantly, early after symptoms onset, we found that the levels of anti-N antibodies correlated strongly with disease severity. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into the kinetics of antibody responses in COVID-19 patients with different disease severity.

SARS-CoV-2 S1 and N-based serological assays reveal rapid seroconversion and induction of specific antibody response in COVID-19 patients

As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2, continues to spread rapidly around the world, there is a need for well validated serological assays that allow the detection of viral specific antibody responses in COVID-19 patients or recovered individuals. In this study, we established and used multiple indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)-based serological assays to study the antibody response in COVID-19 patients. In order to validate the assays we determined the cut off values, sensitivity and specificity of the assays using sera collected from pre-pandemic healthy controls, COVID-19 patients at different time points after disease-onset, and seropositive sera to other human coronaviruses (CoVs). The developed SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit of the spike glycoprotein and nucleocapsid (N)-based ELISAs not only showed high specificity and sensitivity but also did not show any cross-reactivity with other CoVs. We also show that all RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients tested in our study developed both virus specific IgM and IgG antibodies as early as week one after disease onset. Our data also suggest that the inclusion of both S1 and N in serological testing would capture as many potential SARS-CoV-2 positive cases as possible than using any of them alone. This is specifically important for tracing contacts and cases and conducting large-scale epidemiological studies to understand the true extent of virus spread in populations.

Molecular Evidence of Influenza A Virus Circulation in African Dromedary Camels Imported to Saudi Arabia, 2017-2018

Little is known about influenza A viruses in dromedaries. Here, we detected influenza A viral RNA in 11 specimens (1.7 %) out of 665 nasal swabs collected from dromedaries between 2017 and 2018 in Saudi Arabia. Positive samples were detected only in imported camels from Sudan and Djibouti but not local ones. Partial genome sequencing indicates a close relationship to 2009–2019 human/swine influenza A H1N1 isolates from different countries, suggesting possible interspecies transmission. Taken together, dromedaries could represent a potentially unrecognized permissive host for these viruses, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance in animals to aid implementation of one-health strategies.

Taxonomic diversity of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and genes in the Red Sea coast

Despite development of a record number of recreational sites and industrial zones on the Red Sea coast in the last decade, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in this environment remain largely unexplored. In this study, 16S rDNA sequencing was used to identify bacteria isolated from 12 sediment samples collected from the Red Sea coastal, offshore, and mangroves sites. Quantitative PCR was used to estimate the quantity of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in genomic DNA in the samples. A total of 470 bacteria were isolated and classified into 137 distinct species, including 10 candidate novel species. Site-specific bacterial communities inhabiting the Red Sea were apparent. Relatively, more resistant isolates were recovered from the coast, and samples from offshore locations contained the most multidrug-resistant bacteria. Eighteen ARGs were detected in this study encoding resistance to aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, sulfonamide, macrolide, quinolone, and tetracycline antibiotics. The qnrS, aacC2, ermC, and bla_TEM-1 genes were commonly found in coastal and offshore sites. Relatively higher abundance of ARGs, including aacC2 and aacC3, were found in the apparently anthropogenically contaminated (beach) samples from coast compared to other collected samples. In conclusion, a relative increase in antimicrobial-resistant isolates was found in sediment samples from the Red Sea, compared to other studies. Anthropogenic activities likely contribute to this increase in bacterial diversity and ARGs.

Genetic characterization and diversity of circulating influenza A/H1N1pdm09 viruses isolated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between 2014 and 2015

The emerged influenza A/H1N1pdm09 viruses have replaced the previously circulating seasonal H1N1 viruses. The close antigenic properties of these viruses to the 1918 H1N1 pandemic viruses and their post-pandemic evolution pattern could further enhance their adaptation and pathogenicity in humans representing a major public health threat. Given that data on the dynamics and evolution of these viruses in Saudi Arabia is sparse we investigated the genetic diversity of circulating influenza A/H1N1pdm09 viruses from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by analyzing 39 full genomes from isolates obtained between 2014-2015, from patients with varying symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis of all gene segments and concatenated genomes showed similar topologies and co-circulation of clades 6b, 6b.1 and 6b.2, with clade 6b.1 being the most predominate since 2015. Most viruses were more closely related to the vaccine strain (Michigan/45/2015) recommended for the 2017/2018 season, than to the California/07/2009 strain. Low sequence variability was observed in the haemagglutinin protein compared to the neuraminidase protein. Resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors was limited as only one isolate had the H275Y substitution. Interestingly, two isolates had short PA-X proteins of 206 amino acids compared to the 232 amino acid protein found in most influenza A/H1N1pdm09 viruses. Together, the co-circulation of several clades and the predominance of clade 6b.1, despite its low circulation in Asia in 2015, suggests multiple introductions most probably during the mass gathering events of Hajj and Umrah. Jeddah represents the main port of entry to the holy cities of Makkah and Al-Madinah, emphasizing the need for vigilant surveillance in the kingdom.