Toxic effects of four biopesticides (Mycotal, Vertalec, Vertemic and Neem Azal-T/S) on Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and Aphis gossypii (Glover) on cucumber and tomato plants in greenhouses in Egypt

Laboratory bioassays and field trials were performed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of 4 biopesticides, Mycotal, Vertalec, Vertemic and NeemAzal-T/S, against Bemisia tabaci (immature stages and adults) and Aphis gossypii on cucumber and tomato plants in greenhouses in Egypt. All these biopesticides reduced significantly whitefly and aphid populations. In laboratory bioassays Vertemic caused the highest toxic effect against whitefly and aphid, while in field experiments good results were obtained with all the compounds especially at high concentrations. The higher the concentration of these products the more severe was the effect. The data of this study suggest that these biopesticides are really useful alternative products to be used in IPM of tomato and cucumber crops. Key words: whitefly, aphid, Verticillium lecanii, Abamectin, Azadirachtin. TOSSICITÀ DI QUATTRO BIOINSETTICIDI (MYCOTAL, VERTALEC, VERTEMIC E NEEM AZAL-T/S) SU BEMISIA TABACI (GENNADIUS) E APHIS GOSSYPII (GLOVER) IN COLTURE PROTETTE DI ZUCCHINO E POMODORO IN EGITTO Effetti tossici di 4 biopesticidi, Mycotal, Vertalec, Vertemic e Neem Azal–T/S su Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) e Aphis gossypii (Glover) in coltivazioni sotto serra di cetriolo e pomodoro in Egitto. In questo studio sono stati effettuati esperimenti di laboratorio e di campo per valutare l’efficacia di 4 bioinsetticidi, Mycotal, Vertalec, Vertemic e NeemAzal-T/S9, nei confronti di Bemisia tabaci (stadi giovanili e adulti) e Aphis gossypii su coltivazioni in serra di cetriolo e pomodoro in Egitto. Tutti i prodotti testati hanno avuto un effetto tossico su B. tabaci e Aphis gossypii riducendone le popolazioni in maniera significativa. Nei biosaggi di laboratorio il Vertimec ha evidenziato l’effetto tossico maggiore, mentre negli esperimenti di campo sono stati ottenuti buoni risultati (% di mortalità) da tutti i prodotti, soprattutto quando utilizzati alle dosi più elevate. Più alte le concentrazioni delle sospensioni bioinsetticide, maggiore l’effetto tossico ottenuto. Questi dati mostrano l’efficacia di questi prodotti e confermano il loro potenziale utilizzo nelle strategie di controllo integrato delle coltivazione di cetriolo e pomodoro in serra. Parole chiave: aleirodidi, afidi, Verticillium lecanii, Abamectina, Azadiractina

Predictor factors of sustained virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with current direct-acting antiviral drugs

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and predictors of treatment response of chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 Egyptian patients with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, with or without ribavirin.Methods: This prospective study enrolled 200 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 infection who received sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir for 12 weeks, with the addition of ribavirin for treating cirrhotic patients. Immunological parameters such as natural killer (NK) cell percentage, phenotype, and serum C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) were evaluated prior to treatment and at the end of the treatment.Results: Overall, 92.5 % of the patients achieved sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12), where the non-cirrhotic group had 96.29 % SVR12, while the cirrhotic group had 84.61 % SVR12. Nonresponders had lower pretreatment platelet count, higher CXCL10 levels, and lower baseline frequencies of NK cells and NK subgroup CD56- CD16+.Conclusion: Based on these results, the use of sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir with or without ribavirin for 12 weeks, is an effective regimen in the treatment of Egyptian patients infected with genotype 4 HCV. The predictors of non-response are advanced age, liver cirrhosis, lower pretreatment platelet count, higher level of CXCL10, lower baseline NK cells frequency and percentage of the dysfunctional subset CD56- CD16+. Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, Genotype 4, Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir, Sustained virological respons

IN VITRO CULTURE AND STUDYING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS EXTRACTED FROM THREE SAMPLES OF ERIOCEPHALUS AFRICANUS L. PLANT IN EGYPT

The present study aimed to establish new protocol for propagation via tissue culture techniques to observe the effect of plant growth regulators especially cytokinins, gibberellic acid and auxins with different concentrations on in vitro growth of Eriocephalus africanus L. for improving the potentiality of regeneration and secondary metabolites production and identification of the main active constituents of volatile oil by GC/MS. The results showed that, the best sterilization treatment was the shoot tip explants rinsed in a solution of clorox at 15% for 15 min was gave the highest values for survival percentage and plant strength 100% and 4.58, respectively also B5 medium at full strength gave the best results in the both growth measurements. BAP at 2.00 mg/l recorded the highest values in survival percentage (93.33%), shootlet number/cluster (16.50) and shootlet strength (4.50), respectively. Using the high level from GA3 (4.00 mg/l) in medium was more effective in the elongation of shootlets. In rooting stage B5 medium supplemented with 0.50 mg/l IBA and 0.15% active charcoal was more effective for increasing root number/explant to 8.67 and root length to 5.78 cm. The chemical analysis for the volatile oils extracted from three samples (field, in vivo and in vitro) of Eriocephalus africanus L. by using GC/MS confirmed that, the total number of the constituents identified ranged from 30-34 compounds representing 79.67-99.41% of the total oil contents. Artemisia ketone (17.10-30.62%), bicyclogermacrene (4.14-15.56%), globulol (2.17-8.30%), allo-aromadendrene epoxide (0.51-9.00%), caryophyllene oxide (2.85-6.76%) and α-pinene (3.10-4.25%) were the main compounds

THE IMPACT OF THE PROBIOTIC BACTERIA ON THE CONTAMINATED MICROBIAL OF THE FEMALE GENITAL TRACT AND ITS EFFECT ON THE IVF OUTCOME

The microbial contamination of the female genital tract has effect on the ivf outcome and negatively effect on fertility, fertilization and implantation rate. Lactobacillus sp. is the dominant organism of the vaginal flora that have an important role in the inhibition of pathogen. 48 patients were selected for this study aged between 20-40 years, During embryo transfer, 3 samples were collected from each patient from vagina, end cervical canal and the tip of the catheter. The samples were assayed microbiology. The microbial culture contained natural flora and pathogen organism .The isolated pathogens were identified as Klebsilla pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. famata, C. parapsilosis, C. catenulate according to Bergeyˊs manual and confirmed by VITEK System. Candida sp found to be the most frequent infemale genital tract. The probiotic (Lactobacillus. acidophilus) and its metabolites (bacteriocin) were inhibited growth of isolated pathogenic microbial  in vitro.The result showed that L. acidophilus and their metabolite bacteriocin have antagonistic activity against pathogenic microbes.                 Recommendation: Oral or transvaginal administration of Lactobacillus or bacteriocin antiseptics; disinfected; maintain a health vagina and prevent the infection of the reproductive tract

Identifying demographic, social and clinical predictors of biologic therapy effectiveness in psoriasis: a multicentre longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Biologic therapies have revolutionized the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. However, for reasons largely unknown, many patients do not respond or lose response to these drugs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate demographic, social and clinical factors that could be used to predict effectiveness and stratify response to biologic therapies in psoriasis. METHODS: Using a multicentre, observational, prospective pharmacovigilance study (BADBIR), we identified biologic-naive patients starting biologics with outcome data at 6 (n = 3079) and 12 (n = 3110) months. Associations between 31 putative predictors and outcomes were investigated in univariate and multivariable regression analyses. Potential stratifiers of treatment response were investigated with statistical interactions. RESULTS: Eight factors associated with reduced odds of achieving = 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 90) at 6 months were identified (described as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval): demographic (female sex, 0·78, 0·66-0·93); social (unemployment, 0·67, 0·45-0·99); unemployment due to ill health (0·62, 0·48-0·82); ex- and current smoking (0·81, 0·66-0·99 and 0·79, 0·63-0·99, respectively); clinical factors (high weight, 0·99, 0·99-0·99); psoriasis of the palms and/or soles (0·75, 0·61-0·91); and presence of small plaques only compared with small and large plaques (0·78, 0·62-0·96). White ethnicity (1·48, 1·12-1·97) and higher baseline PASI (1·04, 1·03-1·04) were associated with increased odds of achieving PASI 90. The findings were largely consistent at 12 months. There was little evidence for predictors of differential treatment response. CONCLUSIONS: Psoriasis phenotype and potentially modifiable factors are associated with poor outcomes with biologics, underscoring the need for lifestyle management. Effect sizes suggest that these factors alone cannot inform treatment selection

Clinical impact and 'natural' course of uncorrected tricuspid regurgitation after implantation of a left ventricular assist device: an analysis of the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS)

OBJECTIVES: Data on the impact and course of uncorrected tricuspid regurgitation (TR) during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation are scarce and inconsistent. This study explores the clinical impact and natural course of uncorrected TR in patients after LVAD implantation. METHODS: The European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support was used to identify adult patients with LVAD implants without concomitant tricuspid valve surgery. A mediation model was developed to assess the association of TR with 30-day mortality via other risk factors. Generalized mixed models were used to model the course of post-LVAD TR. Joint models were used to perform sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: A total of 2496 procedures were included (median age: 56 years; men: 83%). TR was not directly associated with higher 30-day mortality, but mediation analyses suggested an indirect association via preoperative elevated right atrial pressure and creatinine (P = 0.035) and bilirubin (P = 0.027) levels. Post-LVAD TR was also associated with increased late mortality [hazard ratio 1.16 (1.06-1.3); P = 0.001]. On average, uncorrected TR diminished after LVAD implantation. The probability of having moderate-to-severe TR immediately after an implant in patients with none-to-mild TR pre-LVAD was 10%; in patients with moderate-to-severe TR pre-LVAD, it was 35% and continued to decrease in patients with moderate-to-severe TR pre-LVAD, regardless of pre-LVAD right ventricular failure or pulmonary hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Uncorrected TR pre-LVAD and post-LVAD is associated with increased early and late mortality. Nevertheless, on average, TR diminishes progr

Comparison of traditional and DNA metabarcoding samples for monitoring tropical soil arthropods (Formicidae, Collembola and Isoptera)

The soil fauna of the tropics remains one of the least known components of the biosphere. Long-term monitoring of this fauna is hampered by the lack of taxonomic expertise and funding. These obstacles may potentially be lifted with DNA metabarcoding. To validate this approach, we studied the ants, springtails and termites of 100 paired soil samples from Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The fauna was extracted with Berlese-Tullgren funnels and then either sorted with traditional taxonomy and known, individual DNA barcodes (“traditional samples”) or processed with metabarcoding (“metabarcoding samples”). We detected 49 ant, 37 springtail and 34 termite species with 3.46 million reads of the COI gene, at a mean sequence length of 233 bp. Traditional identification yielded 80, 111 and 15 species of ants, springtails and termites, respectively; 98%, 37% and 100% of these species had a Barcode Index Number (BIN) allowing for direct comparison with metabarcoding. Ants were best surveyed through traditional methods, termites were better detected by metabarcoding, and springtails were equally well detected by both techniques. Species richness was underestimated, and faunal composition was different in metabarcoding samples, mostly because 37% of ant species were not detected. The prevalence of species in metabarcoding samples increased with their abundance in traditional samples, and seasonal shifts in species prevalence and faunal composition were similar between traditional and metabarcoding samples. Probable false positive and negative species records were reasonably low (13–18% of common species). We conclude that metabarcoding of samples extracted with Berlese-Tullgren funnels appear suitable for the long-term monitoring of termites and springtails in tropical rainforests. For ants, metabarcoding schemes should be complemented by additional samples of alates from Malaise or light traps

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Prevalence and site preferences of heterophyid metacercariae in Tilapia zilli from Ismalia fresh water canal, Egypt

Factors affecting prevalence and site preferences of heterophyid metacercariae (MC) were investigated in this study. A total of 173 specimens of a freshwater fish, Tilapia zilli were collected during autumn 2008, winter 2009 and summer 2009, from Ismailia fresh water canal, Egypt. Results showed that the total prevalence of heterophyid MC was 95.37 %. The heterophyid MC consisted of Haplorchis yokogawi (47.4 %), Pygidiopsis genata (21.4 %), and Phagicola ascolonga (93.64 %). H. yokogawi MC was detected in striated muscles, P. ascolonga in liver and kidney while, P. genata was detected in muscles, liver and kidney. The aggregation indices showed that all MC were aggregated and the P. genata was the most highly aggregated followed by H. yokogawi and then P. ascolonga. Responses of the heterophyid MC to host sex, weight and season greatly varied according to species of MC. Different responses of interaction for heterophyid MC intensity were found by GLIM analysis and this variation dependant on the type of infection (single or mixed infections). Factors affecting site preference of heterophid MC infection were discussed and further studies in other locations are required to examine the factors affecting site preference