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

Treatments for improving tree growth, yield and fruit quality and for reducing double fruit and deep suture incidence in “Desert red” peach trees

Five years old “Desert red” peach trees budded on Nemaguard rootstock and grown in sandy soil at commercial orchard Al-Nubaria city, El-Behira Governorate-Egypt were treated with some agricultural treatments involving thinning out pruning, fruit thinning and foliar application of potassium silicate (25% S +10% K2O) at 0.1% and super grow (20% N, 20% P2O5 and 20% K2O) at 0.3% in 2014 and 2015 seasons, to study their effects on yield and fruit quality and the relationship between nutrient balance and yield of “Desert red” peach trees. Beside, testing the influence of used treatments on two physiological disorder, double fruit and deep suture %. Also, economic evaluation of different treatments was done. All obtained data were statistically analyzed using a randomized complete block design. Depending on the obtained results in this study, it could be concluded that application of thinning out pruning 35%, fruit thinning by leaving 15 cm between fruits on one-year old shoot at 20 days after full bloom and foliar application of potassium silicate which sprayed five times during each growing season at fruit set, the second fruit development stage, the beginning of the fruit color change and twice after month from harvest, most profitable treatment for peach trees grown under conditions of this investigation. This treatment gave the best vegetative growth, yield, fruit quality, higher crop value with high net income /fed. from “Desert red” peach trees, in addition, reduced the percentage of double fruit and deep suture by more than 50% in both seasons, therefore, the study recommends this treatment for “Desert red” peach growers

Treatments for improving tree growth, yield and fruit quality and for reducing double fruit and deep suture incidence in “Desert red” peach trees

Five years old “Desert red” peach trees budded on Nemaguard rootstock and grown in sandy soil at commercial orchard Al-Nubariacity, El-Behira Governorate-Egypt were treated with some agricultural treatments involving thinning out pruning, fruit thinning and foliarapplication of potassium silicate (25% S +10% K2O) at 0.1% and super grow (20% N, 20% P2O5 and 20% K2O) at 0.3% in 2014 and 2015seasons, to study their effects on yield and fruit quality and the relationship between nutrient balance and yield of “Desert red” peach trees.Beside, testing the influence of used treatments on two physiological disorder, double fruit and deep suture %. Also, economic evaluationof different treatments was done. All obtained data were statistically analyzed using a randomized complete block design. Depending on theobtained results in this study, it could be concluded that application of thinning out pruning 35%, fruit thinning by leaving 15 cm betweenfruits on one-year old shoot at 20 days after full bloom and foliar application of potassium silicate which sprayed five times during eachgrowing season at fruit set, the second fruit development stage, the beginning of the fruit color change and twice after month from harvest,most profitable treatment for peach trees grown under conditions of this investigation. This treatment gave the best vegetative growth, yield,fruit quality, higher crop value with high net income /fed. from “Desert red” peach trees, in addition, reduced the percentage of double fruitand deep suture by more than 50% in both seasons, therefore, the study recommends this treatment for “Desert red” peach growers

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Seropositive Camel Handlers in Kenya

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease caused by a zoonotic coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Camel handlers, including slaughterhouse workers and herders, are at risk of acquiring MERS-CoV infections. However, there is limited evidence of infections among camel handlers in Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of antibodies to MERS-CoV in high-risk groups in Kenya. Sera collected from 93 camel handlers, 58 slaughterhouse workers and 35 camel herders, were screened for MERS-CoV antibodies using ELISA and PRNT. We found four seropositive slaughterhouse workers by PRNT. Risk factors amongst the slaughterhouse workers included being the slaughterman (the person who cuts the throat of the camel) and drinking camel blood. Further research is required to understand the epidemiology of MERS-CoV in Africa in relation to occupational risk, with a need for additional studies on the transmission of MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans, seroprevalence and associated risk factors

Unraveling the Complex Solid-State Phase Transition Behavior of 1-Iodoadamantane, a Material for Which Ostensibly Identical Crystals Undergo Different Transformation Pathways

Phase transitions in crystalline molecular solids have important implications in the fundamental understanding of materials properties and in the development of materials applications. Herein, we report the solid-state phase transition behavior of 1-iodoadamantane (1-IA) investigated using a multi-technique strategy [synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), single-crystal XRD, solid-state NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)], which reveals complex phase transition behavior on cooling from ambient temperature to ca. 123 K and on subsequent heating to the melting temperature (348 K). Starting from the known phase of 1-IA at ambient temperature (phase A), three low-temperature phases are identified (phases B, C, and D); the crystal structures of phases B and C are reported, together with a re-determination of the structure of phase A. Remarkably, single-crystal XRD shows that some individual crystals of phase A transform to phase B, while other crystals of phase A transform instead to phase C. Results (from powder XRD and DSC) on cooling a powder sample of phase A are fully consistent with this behavior while also revealing an additional transformation pathway from phase A to phase D. Thus, on cooling, a powder sample of phase A transforms partially to phase C (at 229 K), partially to phase D (at 226 K) and partially to phase B (at 211 K). During the cooling process, each of the phases B, C, and D is formed directly from phase A, and no transformations are observed between phases B, C, and D. On heating the resulting triphasic powder sample of phases B, C, and D from 123 K, phase B transforms to phase D (at 211 K), followed by the transformation of phase D to phase C (at 255 K), and finally, phase C transforms to phase A (at 284 K). From these observations, it is apparent that different crystals of phase A, which are ostensibly identical at the level of information revealed by XRD, must actually differ in other aspects that significantly influence their low-temperature phase transition pathways. This unusual behavior will stimulate future studies to gain deeper insights into the specific properties that control the phase transition pathways in individual crystals of this material

Do CRP levels predict severity in COVID-19 hospitalized Egyptian patients?

Background:  Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapidly spreading virus with a wide range of clinical manifestations. To manage treatment programs and promptly assess patient severity, prognostic factors must be identified early. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate if there was a link between the severity of COVID-19 and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level on admission. Methods: On admission clinical and laboratory data from 323 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were gathered from an Isolation Hospital records from April 10, 2020 to July 30, 2020. CRP was determined in all participants using an automated analyzer and a commercially available latex-enhanced immuno-turbidimetric assay. Results: The most prevalent presenting symptom was fever (39.3%), followed by cough (38.4%).  Coronavirus disease 2019 severity and ICU admission were both predicted by high CRP levels (p < /em><0.001).  C-reactive protein levels were also greater in those who had more chest discomfort, as indicated by CT chest abnormalities (p < /em><0.001). Conclusion: Serum CRP is a simple and effective prognosticator for early prediction of COVID-19 severity

Blocking transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in llamas by vaccination with a recombinant spike protein

The ongoing Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreaks pose a worldwide public health threat. Blocking MERS-CoV zoonotic transmission from dromedary camels, the animal reservoir, could potentially reduce the number of primary human cases. Here we report MERS-CoV transmission from experimentally infected llamas to naïve animals. Directly inoculated llamas shed virus for at least 6 days and could infect all in-contact naïve animals 4-5 days after exposure. With the aim to block virus transmission, we examined the efficacy of a recombinant spike S1-protein vaccine. In contrast to naïve animals, in-contact vaccinated llamas did not shed infectious virus upon exposure to directly inoculated llamas, consistent with the induction of strong virus neutralizing antibody responses. Our data provide further evidence that vaccination of the reservoir host may impede MERS-CoV zoonotic transmission to humans

Blocking transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in llamas by vaccination with a recombinant spike protein

The ongoing Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreaks pose a worldwide public health threat. Blocking MERS-CoV zoonotic transmission from dromedary camels, the animal reservoir, could potentially reduce the number of primary human cases. Here we report MERS-CoV transmission from experimentally infected llamas to naïve animals. Directly inoculated llamas shed virus for at least 6 days and could infect all in-contact naïve animals 4-5 days after exposure. With the aim to block virus transmission, we examined the efficacy of a recombinant spike S1-protein vaccine. In contrast to naïve animals, in-contact vaccinated llamas did not shed infectious virus upon exposure to directly inoculated llamas, consistent with the induction of strong virus neutralizing antibody responses. Our data provide further evidence that vaccination of the reservoir host may impede MERS-CoV zoonotic transmission to humans.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Extended Viral Shedding of MERS-CoV Clade B Virus in Llamas Compared with African Clade C Strain

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) clade B viruses are found in camelids and humans in the Middle East, but clade C viruses are not. We provide experimental evidence for extended shedding of MERS-CoV clade B viruses in llamas, which might explain why they outcompete clade C strains in the Arabian Peninsula.This study was performed as part of the Zoonotic Anticipation and Preparedness Initiative (ZAPI project) (Innovative Medicines initiative [IMI] grant 115760), with assistance and financial support from IMI and the European Commission and contributions from EFPIA partners. J.R. was partially supported by the VetBioNet project (EU Grant Agreement INFRA-2016-1 Nº731014) and the crowdfunding initiative #Yomecorono, available online at https://www.yomecorono.com (accessed on June 16, 2022). IRTA is supported by CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Increased neutralization and IgG epitope identification after MVA-MERS-S booster vaccination against Middle East respiratory syndrome

Vaccine development is essential for pandemic preparedness. We previously conducted a Phase 1 clinical trial of the vector vaccine candidate MVA-MERS-S against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), expressing its full spike glycoprotein (MERS-CoV-S), as a homologous two-dose regimen (Days 0 and 28). Here, we evaluate a third vaccination with MVA-MERS-S in a subgroup of trial participants one year after primary immunization. A booster vaccination with MVA-MERS-S is safe and well-tolerated. Both binding and neutralizing anti-MERS-CoV antibody titers increase substantially in all participants and exceed maximum titers observed after primary immunization more than 10-fold. We identify four immunogenic IgG epitopes, located in the receptor-binding domain (RBD, n=1) and the S2 subunit (n=3) of MERS-CoV-S. The level of baseline anti-human coronavirus antibody titers does not impact the generation of anti-MERS-CoV antibody responses. Our data support the rationale of a booster vaccination with MVA-MERS-S and encourage further investigation in larger trials