Antiviral activity of chitosan nanoparticles for controlling plant-infecting viruses

Chitosan nanoparticles (ChiNPs) are a potentially effective means for controlling numerous plant diseases. This study firstly describes the antiviral capabilities of ChiNPs to control plant viral diseases compared to its bulk form. Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) was used as a model plant virus affecting faba bean plants and many other legumes. The antiviral effectiveness of ChiNPs and chitosan were evaluated as a curative application method, using six dosage rates (50, 100, 200, 250, 300 and 400 mg/L). Results indicated that ChiNPs curatively applied 48 h post virus inoculation entirely inhibit the disease infectivity and viral accumulation content at 300 mg/L and 400 mg/L. The virus titre was greatly alleviated within the plant tissues by 7.71% up to100% depending on ChiNP dosage rates. However, chitosan used in its bulk-based material form revealed a relatively low to an intermediate reduction in virus infectivity by 6.67% up to 48.86%. Interestingly, ChiNPs affect the virus particle’s integrity by producing defective and incomplete BYMV viral particles, defeating their replication and accumulation content within the plant tissues. Simultaneously, ChiNP applications were appreciably shown to promote the pathogenesis-related (PR-1) gene and other defence-related factors. The mRNA of the PR-1 gene was markedly accumulated in treated plants, reaching its maximum at 400 mg/L with 16.22-fold relative expression change over the untreated control. Further, the total phenol dynamic curve was remarkably promoted for 30 days in response to ChiNP application, as compared to the untreated control. Our results provide the first report that chitosan-based nanomaterials have a superior effect in controlling plant viruses as an antiviral curing agent, suggesting that they may feasibly be involved in viral disease management strategies under field conditions without serious health concerns and environmental costs. Significance: • Our findings show that chitosan nanoparticles have a powerful curing antiviral activity against BYMV disease. These findings open the door for the use of eco-friendly nano-based tools in controlling numerous plant viruses. The use of eco-friendly nano-based materials could result in a successful integrative control strategy for plant viruses under field conditions, negating the need for the conventional measure used to control most of the insect-transmitted plant viruses, that is insecticide application against vector insects

Sectoral Transformations in Neo-Patrimonial Rentier States: Tourism Development and State Policy in Egypt

This article challenges claims that liberalising state regulated markets in developing countries may induce lasting economic development. The analysis of the rise of tourism in Egypt during the last three decades suggests that the effects of liberalisation and structural adjustment are constrained by the neo-patrimonial character of the Egyptian political system. Since the decline of oil rent revenues during the 1980s tourism development was the optimal strategy to compensate for the resulting fiscal losses. Increasing tourism revenues have helped in coping with macroeconomic imbalances and in avoiding more costly adjustment of traditional economic sectors. Additionally, they provided the private elite with opportunities to generate large profits. Therefore, sectoral transformations due to economic liberalisation in neo-patrimonial Rentier states should be described as a process, which has led to the diversification of external rent revenues, rather than to a general downsizing of the Rentier character of the economy

Short-term evaluation of motor and sensory nerve conduction parameters in COVID-19-associated peripheral neuropathy patients

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐COV‐2) is mostly associated with upper and lower respiratory tract manifestations. However, coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) can result in a wide range of other systemic symptomatology, including neuropsychiatric, psychological, and psychosocial impairments. Literature regarding neurological compromise, including neuropathy and sensory and motor affection associated with COVID-19, is still limited. This study aims to evaluate the sensory, motor neuropathy, and secondary neurological impairment among patients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease associated with peripheral neuropathy within 1 month. Methods Forty participants, including 20 mild to moderate COVID-19 patients with peripheral neuropathy and 20 age and gender-matched healthy volunteers, were recruited in this case/control study. Laboratory evaluation focused on C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer levels. Oxygen saturation for all participants was recorded. The neurophysiological study included motor nerve study, sensory nerve study, and F wave study for upper and lower limbs were done. Results The two groups were similar regarding baseline data. Neurological symptoms’ onset in the COVID-19 group ranged from 4 to 24 days. Levels of CRP and D-dimer levels were significantly higher in patients versus the control group. Motor nerve conduction (MNC) amplitude and latency for the median nerve were significantly compromised among the COVID-19 group. The MNC latency and F wave latency for the posterior tibial nerve were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group. The CRP and D-dimer levels were associated with a significant positive correlation with a latency of median nerve MNC, sensory nerve conduction (SNC), and f-wave; latency of MNC and F wave of the posterior tibial nerve; and SNC latency for sural nerve. Conclusion neurological involvement can occur in mild to moderate cases of SARS-COV-2 infection and add to the burden of the disease. Neurological symptoms in the course of COVID-19 disease should be interpreted cautiously, and appropriate diagnosis, including nerve conduction studies and management, should be considered. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT05721040

Antiviral activity of chitosan nanoparticles for controlling plant-infecting viruses

Chitosan nanoparticles (ChiNPs) are a potentially effective means for controlling numerous plant diseases. This study firstly describes the antiviral capabilities of ChiNPs to control plant viral diseases compared to its bulk form. Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) was used as a model plant virus affecting faba bean plants and many other legumes. The antiviral effectiveness of ChiNPs and chitosan were evaluated as a curative application method, using six dosage rates (50, 100, 200, 250, 300 and 400 mg/L). Results indicated that ChiNPs curatively applied 48 h post virus inoculation entirely inhibit the disease infectivity and viral accumulation content at 300 mg/L and 400 mg/L. The virus titre was greatly alleviated within the plant tissues by 7.71% up to100% depending on ChiNP dosage rates. However, chitosan used in its bulk-based material form revealed a relatively low to an intermediate reduction in virus infectivity by 6.67% up to 48.86%. Interestingly, ChiNPs affect the virus particle’s integrity by producing defective and incomplete BYMV viral particles, defeating their replication and accumulation content within the plant tissues. Simultaneously, ChiNP applications were appreciably shown to promote the pathogenesis-related (PR-1) gene and other defence-related factors. The mRNA of the PR-1 gene was markedly accumulated in treated plants, reaching its maximum at 400 mg/L with 16.22-fold relative expression change over the untreated control. Further, the total phenol dynamic curve was remarkably promoted for 30 days in response to ChiNP application, as compared to the untreated control. Our results provide the first report that chitosan-based nanomaterials have a superior effect in controlling plant viruses as an antiviral curing agent, suggesting that they may feasibly be involved in viral disease management strategies under field conditions without serious health concerns and environmental costs.Significance: Our findings show that chitosan nanoparticles have a powerful curing antiviral activity against BYMV disease. These findings open the door for the use of eco-friendly nano-based tools in controlling numerous plant viruses. The use of eco-friendly nano-based materials could result in a successful integrative control strategy for plant viruses under field conditions, negating the need for the conventional measure used to control most of the insect-transmitted plant viruses, that is insecticide application against vector insects

Neuroprotective Effects of Some Nutraceuticals against Manganese-Induced Parkinson’s Disease in Rats: Possible Modulatory Effects on TLR4/NLRP3/NF-κB, GSK-3β, Nrf2/HO-1, and Apoptotic Pathways

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting the substantia nigra where functions controlling body movement take place. Manganese (Mn) overexposure is linked to a neurologic syndrome resembling PD. Sesamol, thymol, wheat grass (WG), and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) are potent antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic nutraceuticals. We investigated the potential protective effects of these nutraceuticals alone or in combinations against MnCl2-induced PD in rats. Seven groups of adult male Sprague Dawley rats were categorized as follows: group (I) was the control, while groups 2–7 received MnCl2 either alone (Group II) or in conjunction with oral doses of sesamol (Group III), thymol (Group IV), CoQ10 (Group V), WG (Group VI), or their combination (Group VII). All rats were subjected to four behavioral tests (open-field, swimming, Y-maze, and catalepsy tests). Biochemical changes in brain levels of monoamines, ACHE, BDNF, GSK-3β, GABA/glutamate, as well as oxidative stress, and apoptotic and neuroinflammatory biomarkers were evaluated, together with histopathological examinations of different brain regions. Mn increased catalepsy scores, while decreasing neuromuscular co-ordination, and locomotor and exploratory activity. It also impaired vigilance, spatial memory, and decision making. Most behavioral impairments induced by Mn were improved by sesamol, thymol, WG, or CoQ10, with prominent effect by sesamol and thymol. Notably, the combination group showed more pronounced improvements, which were confirmed by biochemical, molecular, as well as histopathological findings. Sesamol or thymol showed better protection against neuronal degeneration and some behavioral impairments induced by Mn than WG or CoQ10, partly via interplay between Nrf2/HO-1, TLR4/NLRP3/NF-κB, GSK-3β and Bax/Bcl2 pathways

Relationship between breast feeding duration and risk of overweight/obesity among Egyptian children

Background and aim: Breast feeding (BF); as risk factor for/or protective against childhood overweight/obesity; remains matter of debate. This study assesses relationship between BF duration, and development of overweight/obesity among Egyptian children, with respect for wide range of potentially confounding variables. Subjects and methods: Cross sectional-retrospective study included 154 children of both sexes; aged 6–18 years. Data was collected about child birth weight, breast feeding duration, and start of weaning, family size, parental ages, education, occupation and place of residence. Anthropometric measurements and body composition were conducted. Children were classified into 3 age groups (6–9, 9.1–12 and 12.1–18 years) and 4 groups according to BF duration (Never BF, BF for 6, 7–12, and more than 12 months). Results: Children who never BF were12.8%, while those BF for more than 12 months were 59.7%. Start of weaning was more common at 5–6 months of age (58.4%). Overweight/Obesity was detected among 30.5% of children. It was more prominent among children who BF for more than 12 months in ages 6–12 years (64.3% and 71.4%), while in those aged 12–18 years it was equivalent in those never BF (33.3%) and who BF for more than 12 months (38.9%). BF duration had insignificant correlations with parental education or occupation, or with any of the child's anthropometric measurements. Conclusion: Childhood overweight/obesity were less prominent among children who Bf for <12 months; However, there was no effect of breast feeding duration on any of the child anthropometric measures