Abstract: Favipiravir is a potential antiviral drug undergoing clinical trials to manage various viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Favipiravir possesses
viruses do not have vaccines or authorized antiviral drugs for the management of diseases resulting from their infection, hence the dire need to accentuate the discovery of antiviral drugs that are effi- cacious and have a broad spectrum. Favipiravir acts primarily by blocking inward and outward movements of the virus from cells. Favipiravir is a prodrug undergoing intracellular phosphoryla- tion and ribosylation to form an active form, favipiravir-RTP, which binds viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Considering the novel mechanism of favipiravir action, especially in managing viral infections, it is vital to pay more attention to the promised favipiravir hold in the management of SARS-CoV-2, its efficacy, and dosage regimen, and interactions with other drugs.

In conclusion, favipiravir possesses antiviral properties against RNA viruses, including COVID-19. Favipiravir is effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection through inhibition of RdRp. Pre-clinical and large-scalp prospective studies are recommended for efficacy and long-term safety of favipiravir in COVID-19.

Viral hepatitis is caused by a heterogenous group of viral agents representing a wide range of phylogenetic groups. Many viruses can involve the liver and cause liver injury but only a subset are delineated as ‘hepatitis viruses’ based upon their primary site of replication and tropism for hepatocytes which make up the bulk of the liver cell popu- lation. Since their discovery, beginning with the agent that caused serum hepatitis in the 1960s, the alphabetic designations have been utilized. To date, we have five hepa- titis viruses, A through E, though it is postulated that others may exist. This chapter will focus on those viruses. Note that hepatitis D is included as a subset of hepatitis B, as it cannot exist without concurrent hepatitis B infection. Pregnancy has the po- tential to affect all aspects of these viral agents due to the unique immunologic and physiologic changes that occur during and after the gestational period. In this review, we will discuss the most common viral hepatitis and their effects during pregnancy

Tenacibaculosis occurs due to the marine bacterial pathogen Tenacibaculum maritimum. This ulcerative disease causes high mortalities for various marine fish species worldwide. Several external clinical signs can arise, including mouth erosion, epidermal ulcers, fin necrosis, and tail rot. Research in the last 15 years has advanced knowledge on the traits and pathogenesis mechanisms of T. maritimum. Consequently, significant progress has been made in defining the complex host-pathogen relationship. Nevertheless, tenacibaculosis pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. Continued research is urgently needed, as demonstrated by recent reports on the re-emerging nature of tenacibaculosis in salmon farms globally. Current sanitary conditions compromise the development of effective alternatives to antibiotics, in addition to hindering potential preventive measures against tenacibaculosis. The present review compiles knowledge of T. maritimum reported after the 2006 review by Avendaño-Herrera and colleagues. Essential aspects are emphasized, including antigenic and genomic characterizations and molecular diagnostic procedures. Further summarized are the epidemiological foundations of the T. maritimum population structure and elucidations as to the virulence mechanisms of pathogenic isolates, as found using biological, microbiological, and genomic techniques. This comprehensive source of reference will undoubtable serve in tenacibaculosis prevention and control within the marine fish farming industry. Lastly, knowledge gaps and valuable research areas are indicated as potential guidance for future studies.

Background: Meningitis is one of the most dangerous infection affecting children. The need for rapid and accurate diagnosis is mandatory for improving the outcome. Aim of the work: to evaluate the role of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)–C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum procalcitonin (PCT) in diagnosis of meningitis and to detect its accuracy.

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in University Children hospital, Faculty of Medicine, between November 2019 and September 2020. The study was approved by the Ethics Review Board of Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, and informed written consent was obtained. The committee's reference number is 17200161. Clinicaltrials. gov ID: NCT03387969. 48 Children aged 2 to 18 years with meningitis were included. Detailed history and examination. Blood glucose level at time of admission prior to lumbar puncture, serum CRP level, serum PCT, CSF-CRP level and Multiplex PCR were evaluated.

Introduction: Tuberculosis has been a concern of healthcare professionals due to the serious threats it poses on public health safety. However, regardless all the efforts, no appropriate goals for immunological diagnosis or tuberculosis treatment were established. Toll-like receptor 2 is one of the toll-like receptors, which plays a fundamental role in recognizing and hosting defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Toll-like receptor 2’s genetic polymorphism (arginine-to-glutamine substitution at residue 753 (Arg753Gln)) was linked to negative effects on the function of Toll-like receptor 2 which, in turn, impacts the body’s resistance or susceptibility to tuberculosis. The current study aimed at investigating the single Arg753Gln nucleotide polymorphism of the Toll-like receptor 2 gene in patients with tuberculosis infection versus a sample of healthy subjects as controls.

Methodology: A comparative study was conducted to investigate Toll-like receptor 2 polymorphism of the single nucleotide gene Arg753Gln in 30 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and compare their results with other 20 healthy controls matched by age and sex.
Results: TLR-2-Arg polymorphism allele A occurred in 36.7% of the patient group. Homozygous carriers of allele A/A polymorphism occurred in 13.4% compared to 5% among controls, while GA genotype was found in 23.3% among the study group and 10% among controls. The association between GA genotype and pulmonary tuberculosis was found statistically significant (p = 0.002) than other genotypes. Allele frequency for both G and A were (p =0.002) in patient groups and (p =0.000) among the control group.

Conclusions: TLR-2 Arg753Gln polymorphisms may have a crucial role in pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility among Egyptian patients.

The purpose of this study was to assess the bacteriological quality in some domestic bottled waters marketed in Al Anbar Province of Iraq. In total, 120 samples were collected from 20 different domestic bottled water companies. The current study findings demonstrated that the positive total bacterial count for aerobic bacteria was 20 CFU/ml (16.6%) out of 120 samples. From 120 tested samples, coliform bacteria had a much lower count of 13 CFU/ml (10.8%). The bacteriological analysis tests of this study showed that the brand bottled water of Alhilwa had the highest mean of total bacterial count at 485 CFU/ml, followed by Alwafi and Araco, which found at mean of 283 and 196 CFU/ml, respectively. The other brands of bottled waters included Sawa and Izmir, which had given lower mean of bacterial count at 87 and 58 CFU/ml, respectively, while all other tested brands of bottled waters had zero content of total bacterial count. According to the biomedical tests and Vitek2 system employed for this study, the isolated bacte- rial species as contaminants in bottled waters were Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeru- ginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The results of this study showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was sensitive to all tested antibiotics, but the Escherichia coli was resistance to amoxicillin, azithromycin, ceftazidime, and cefixime. The Klebsiella pneumonia dem- onstrated sensitivity to all tested antibiotics except the cefixime. Therefore, antibiotics belonging to the types of penicillin, carbapenem, and quinolones can be considered the best medicine for treating infections caused by the bacteria diagnosed in this study. In conclusion, the findings of this study showed that some domestic bottled waters sold in markets and shops in Al Anbar Province have bacteriological contents that are within permitted ranges for Iraqi and WHO standards.

IMPORTANCE Researchers analyzed how lifestyle factors affect the overall health of people with bacterial infections from the water. The article describes significance of the research because many people do not have access to clean, safe drinking water where this water is essential to life, and many die of waterborne bacterial infections. So, the purpose of the article is to draw attention to the major factors of the most dangerous bacteria transmitted through water marketed in Al Anbar Province of Iraq: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumo- niae. Furthermore, our specific significant contribution has been to show the most important treatments for treating infections caused by the bacteria diagnosed in this study.

Informed antibiotic prescription offers a practical solution to antibiotic resistance problem. With the increasing affordability of different sequencing technologies, molecular-based resistance prediction would direct proper antibiotic selection and preserve available agents. Amikacin is a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside exhibiting higher clinical efficacy and less resistance rates in Ps. aeruginosa due to its structural nature and its ability to achieve higher serum concentrations at lower therapeutic doses. This study examines the predictive poten- tial of molecular markers underlying amikacin susceptibility phenotypes in order to provide improved diagnostic panels. Using a predictive model, genes and variants underlying ami- kacin resistance have been statistically and functionally explored in a large comprehensive and diverse set of Ps. aeruginosa completely sequenced genomes. Different genes and var- iants have been examined for their predictive potential and functional correlation to amikacin susceptibility phenotypes. Three predictive sets of molecular markers have been identified and can be used in a complementary manner, offering promising molecular diagnostics. armR, nalC, nalD, mexR, mexZ, ampR, rmtD, nalDSer32Asn, fusA1Y552C, fusA1D588G, arnAA170T, and arnDG206C have been identified as the best amikacin resistance predic- tors in Ps. aeruginosa while faoAT385A, nuoGA890T, nuoGA574T, lptAT55A, lptAR62S, pstBR87C, gidBE126G, gidBQ28K, amgSE108Q, and rplYQ41L have been identified as the best amikacin susceptibility predictors. Combining different measures of predictive per- formance together with further functional analysis can help design new and more informa- tive molecular diagnostic panels. This would greatly inform and direct point of care diagnosis and prescription, which would consequently preserve amikacin functionality and usefulness.

Background

Meningitis is one of the most dangerous infection affecting children. The need for rapid and accurate diagnosis is mandatory for improving the outcome.

Aim of the work

To evaluate the role of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in diagnosis of meningitis either bacterial or viral and to detect its accuracy.

Patients and methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out in University Children Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, between November 2019 and September 2020. The study was approved by the Ethics Review Board of Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, and informed written consent was obtained. The committee’s reference number is 17200161. Clinicaltrails.gov ID: NCT03387969. Forty-eight children aged 2 to 18 years with meningitis were included. Detailed history and examination, blood glucose level at time of admission prior to lumbar puncture, and multiplex PCR in cerebrospinal fluid …