Correlation Between Vicia ervilia L. Willd. Antibacterial Activity and Its Phenolic Content

Context: Plants are important in devising new antibacterial drugs. Unlike several fabaceae seeds, Vicia ervilia L. Willd., is not used up till now for human consumption. Objective: evaluate antibacterial potential of the seeds and correlate it, if any, with its phenolics. Methods: Seeds ethanol (SEE), aqueous (SAE), and methanol (SME) extracts were prepared. Their total phenolic content (TPC) was determined spectrophotometrically. Antibacterial activity against ten pathogenic bacteria (Mycobacterium africanum, M. bovis, M. caprae, M. microti, M. orygis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus  pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium) was evaluated using agar well diffusion assay. Also the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC & MBC) were also determined.  Results: Total phenolic content of SME is significantly (p<0.001) higher than that of SEE (4.8 and 2.5µg/mg gallic acid equivalent respectively). SME and SEE significantly inhibit the growth of all tested strains except M. caprae and P. aeruginosa. V. ervilia L. Conclusion: The seeds significant antibacterial activity was attributed to its phenolics. Keywords: phenolics, antibacterial activit

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

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 of Charles Bonnet syndrome in patients with glaucoma : a systematic review with meta-analyses

Glaucoma is a widespread sight-threatening condition often only recognized when very pronounced. It is initially characterized by peripheral visual field losses, while advanced stages also affect the central vision. Some of these patients may experience visual hallucinations, the Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we provide an overview of the literature dealing with the prevalence of CBS in patients with glaucoma. We searched the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central and PsycInfo on 22 March 2020. Eight studies (n = 827 patients) were identified and included for a qualitative and quantitative analysis. No studies included a representative sample of patients with only glaucoma. In patients with glaucoma in different stages and with ocular comorbidities, prevalence of CBS was 2.8% (CI95%: 0.7–6.1%). Among patients with glaucoma where all had bilateral low visual acuity, prevalence of CBS was 13.5% (CI95%: 8.4–19.6%). In patients with glaucoma who visited vision rehabilitation clinics, presumably due to an extensive vision impairment, prevalence of CBS was 20.1% (CI95%: 16.8–23.6%). Risk factors of CBS besides low vision were high age, female gender, reduced contrast sensitivity and not living alone. Taken together, we find that CBS may not be rare in patients with advanced glaucoma with and without ocular comorbidities. However, limitations of the current literature should be highlighted and careful approach towards conclusions is important. More studies are needed to better understand the prevalence and risk factors among different populations of patients with glaucoma

Bioactivities, phenolic compounds and in-vitro propagation of Lippia citriodora Kunth cultivated in Egypt

The aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the fresh aerial parts of Lippia citriodora Kunth, family Verbenaceae, cultivated in Egypt, exhibited variable antiinflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and antioxidant properties. Three phenolic compounds; two phenolic acids, dihydrocaffeic acid (1) and 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3) and a flavonoid glycoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside (2), were isolated and identified from the ethyl acetate fraction of the plant. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. The effects of explant type, method of sterilization and growth regulators on the in-vitro callus formation of L. citriodora were studied. Shoot tips and leaf explants (cut in the midrib region) sterilized by soaking in 0.2% mercuric chloride for 5 min, then washed twice with sterilized distilled water gave callus, on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium impregnated with 4 mg/L 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP). Spectrophotometric estimation of the total flavonoids showed that the fresh in-vitro formed callus contained 68.4% of the total flavonoids of the fresh aerial parts of the conventional plant

Impact of Altitudinal Variation on the Phytochemical Profile, Anthelmintic and Antimicrobial Activity of Two Pinus Species

Active components from natural sources are the current focus in most pharmacological research to provide new therapeutic agents for clinical use. Essential oils from the Pinus species have been traditionally used in medicine. This study aimed to investigate the chemical profile of two Pinus species, Pinus halepensis L. and Pinus pinea Mill, from different altitudes in Libya and study the effect of environmental conditions on the biological activities of essential oils. A clevenger apparatus was used to prepare the essential oils by hydrodistillation. Analyses were done using GC/MS. Anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities were tested against the earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa, gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. Different chemical profiles were observed among all tested essential oils, and terpenes were the most dominant class. All studied essential oils from the Pinus species exhibited a remarkable anthelmintic activity compared to the standard piperazine citrate drug. Pinus halepensis from both altitudes showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms, while Pinus pinea was effective against only Escherichia coli. From these findings, one can conclude that there are variations between studied species. The essential oil compositions are affected by environmental factors, which consequently affect the anthelmintic and antimicrobial activity

Prevalence of Charles Bonnet syndrome in patients with glaucoma: a systematic review with meta‐analyses

Glaucoma is a widespread sight-threatening condition often only recognized when very pronounced. It is initially characterized by peripheral visual field losses, while advanced stages also affect the central vision. Some of these patients may experience visual hallucinations, the Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we provide an overview of the literature dealing with the prevalence of CBS in patients with glaucoma. We searched the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central and PsycInfo on 22 March 2020. Eight studies (n = 827 patients) were identified and included for a qualitative and quantitative analysis. No studies included a representative sample of patients with only glaucoma. In patients with glaucoma in different stages and with ocular comorbidities, prevalence of CBS was 2.8% (CI95%: 0.7–6.1%). Among patients with glaucoma where all had bilateral low visual acuity, prevalence of CBS was 13.5% (CI95%: 8.4–19.6%). In patients with glaucoma who visited vision rehabilitation clinics, presumably due to an extensive vision impairment, prevalence of CBS was 20.1% (CI95%: 16.8–23.6%). Risk factors of CBS besides low vision were high age, female gender, reduced contrast sensitivity and not living alone. Taken together, we find that CBS may not be rare in patients with advanced glaucoma with and without ocular comorbidities. However, limitations of the current literature should be highlighted and careful approach towards conclusions is important. More studies are needed to better understand the prevalence and risk factors among different populations of patients with glaucoma