Computational genomics-proteomics and Phylogeny analysis of twenty one mycobacterial genomes (Tuberculosis & non Tuberculosis strains)

The genus Mycobacterium comprises different species, among them the most contagious and infectious bacteria. The members of the complex Mycobacterium tuberculosis are the most virulent microorganisms that have killed human and other mammals since millennia. Additionally, with the many different mycobacterial sequences available, there is a crucial need for the visualization and the simplification of their data. In this present study, we aim to highlight a comparative genome, proteome and phylogeny analysis between twenty-one mycobacterial (Tuberculosis and non tuberculosis) strains using a set of computational and bioinformatics tools (Pan and Core genome plotting, BLAST matrix and phylogeny analysis).Results Considerably the result of pan and core genome Plotting demonstrated that less than 1250 Mycobacterium gene families are conserved across all species, and a total set of about 20,000 gene families within the Mycobacterium pan-genome of twenty one mycobacterial genomes.Viewing the BLAST matrix a high similarity was found among the species of the complex Mycobacterium tuberculosis and less conservation is found with other slow growing pathogenic mycobacteria. Phylogeny analysis based on both protein conservation, as well as rRNA clearly resolve known relationships between slow growing mycobacteria.Conclusion Mycobacteria include important pathogenic species for human and animals and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is the most cause of death of the humankind. The comparative genome analysis could provide a new insight for better controlling and preventing these diseases

Computational genomics-proteomics and Phylogeny analysis of twenty one mycobacterial genomes (Tuberculosis & non Tuberculosis strains)

The genus Mycobacterium comprises different species, among them the most contagious and infectious bacteria. The members of the complex Mycobacterium tuberculosis are the most virulent microorganisms that have killed human and other mammals since millennia. Additionally, with the many different mycobacterial sequences available, there is a crucial need for the visualization and the simplification of their data. In this present study, we aim to highlight a comparative genome, proteome and phylogeny analysis between twenty-one mycobacterial (Tuberculosis and non tuberculosis) strains using a set of computational and bioinformatics tools (Pan and Core genome plotting, BLAST matrix and phylogeny analysis).Results Considerably the result of pan and core genome Plotting demonstrated that less than 1250 Mycobacterium gene families are conserved across all species, and a total set of about 20,000 gene families within the Mycobacterium pan-genome of twenty one mycobacterial genomes.Viewing the BLAST matrix a high similarity was found among the species of the complex Mycobacterium tuberculosis and less conservation is found with other slow growing pathogenic mycobacteria. Phylogeny analysis based on both protein conservation, as well as rRNA clearly resolve known relationships between slow growing mycobacteria.Conclusion Mycobacteria include important pathogenic species for human and animals and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is the most cause of death of the humankind. The comparative genome analysis could provide a new insight for better controlling and preventing these diseases

Spatial-temporal assessment of Norovirus contamination in mussels from Cherrat estuary, Morocco, by real-time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction

Mussels filter large amounts of water to extract nutrients; therefore, they can concentrate and accumulate in their tissues infectious agents, and vectors of enteric diseases. The aim of this study was to assess mussel contamination by Norovirus genogroups I and II  in the Cherrat estuary to determine the public health risk linked to their consumption. Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were collected (n=52 samples; 12 mussels/sample) at four sites (S1 and S2 located on the right rocky bank / S3 and S4, located on the rocky left bank) in the Cherrat estuary (Casa-Settat region), Morocco, during 13 months, from March 2019 to March 2020. Norovirus was detected and quantified by real-time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Norovirus genogroups I and II were detected in 17.30% and 94.23% of mussel samples, respectively. Contamination by Norovirus (genogroups I and II) was not correlated with seasonal factors (month and rainfall), and Norovirus prevalence was comparable among the four sampling sites. Consumption of raw or undercooked mussels contaminated with Norovirus can cause gastroenteritis, which represents a potential risk to human health. The present study would be helpful to control and manage the potential risk to the public health of the Moroccan population due to the degradation of water quality continuously impacted by runoff, the urban wastewater treatment system malfunctions, and overflows from nearby sewage systems.

Serological, molecular characterization and epidemiological situation of equine influenza in the Arabic Maghreb countries between 1972 to 2010

AbstractEquine influenza is an infectious and contagious disease of horses. Studies on this topic are rare in the Maghreb countries. Therefore, the aim of this work is to present the various studies conducted on serological and molecular equine influenza virus since 1972 in the Maghreb region in particular in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.A total of four equine influenza strains were isolated in the Maghreb Arab region. A/equine/Nador/1/1997(H3N8), A/equine/Essaouira/2/2004(H3N8), A/equine/Essaouira/3/2004(H3N8) and A/equine/Algiers/1/1972(H3N8).The highest homology of HA nucleotide sequences of A/equine/Nador/1/1997(H3N8) with European strains: A/equine/Italy/1199/1992(H3N8) and A/equine/Brescia/1999(H3N8) clearly clustered A/equine/Nador/1/1997(H3N8) with the strains belonging to the European lineage. However, A/equine/Algiers/1/1972(H3N8), A/equine/Essaouira/2/2004(H3N8) and A/equine/Essaouira/3/2004(H3N8) were placed in the predivergent lineage indicating that like-Miami/63 strains infected equids in Morocco in 2004.This finding does not corroborate the recent studies of the H3N8 subtype of equine influenza viruses which have demonstrated that the oldest equine H3N8 strains, circulating before 1990 apparently went extinct

Prevalence and antibiotic-resistance of <i>Salmonella</i> isolated from food in Morocco

Background: Salmonellosis remains one of the most frequent food-borne diseases worldwide, especially in developing countries. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella isolates from food can potentially compromise the treatment of these infections. This investigation was conducted for the first time in Morocco both to detect the occurrence of Salmonella in foods as well as to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of the Salmonella isolates. Methodology: In total, 11,516 food samples collected from 2002 to 2005 were investigated. Isolated Salmonella were characterized by serotyping and susceptibilities were determined for 15 antimicrobial drugs using the disc diffusion assay. Results: The overall percentage of Salmonella prevalence (n=105) was 0.91% with rates of 71% for slaughterhouses and 9% for seafood. Sixteen different serotypes were identified among 104 Salmonella enterica isolates including serotypes Infantis (n=25), Bredeney (n=13), Blokley (n=11), Typhimurium (n=9), Mbandaka (n=8), Branderup II (n=7), and Kiambu (n=6); 1 isolate of Salmonella enterica belonged to subspecies II salamae. Twenty-nine percent of isolates (n=30/105) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial. Resistance to tetracycline was the most common finding (21%), followed by resistance to ampicillin (13%), amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (9%), streptomycin (7%), chloramphenicol (4%) and nalidixic acid (3,8%). None of the isolates was resistant to 3rd-cephalosporin and fluoroquinolones (i.e. ciprofloxacin). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was seen in 9.5% of the isolates, mainly in S. Typhimurium DT104 with R-type ACSSuT and S. Hadar. Conclusions: Despite a low frequency of Salmonella isolation, S. Typhimurium DT104 was identified in the first step of the food chain. The study points out the need control antibiotic resistance in Salmonella isolated from food in Morocco to avoid the spread of MDR

Ceftazidime-Resistant Salmonella enterica, Morocco

International audienceTo the Editor: Many thanks for your interesting and informative special section on infectious diseases in the Amazon Region (1). Your readers should also be interested in a little known, but extremely successful, sustainable health program that had its start in the Amazon. In 1942, the governments of Brazil and the United States agreed to establish a special service for public health (called the Serviço Especial de Saúde Pública). The purpose of this program was to improve health conditions in key areas in the Amazon, expedite the collection and export of native rubber, and counteract the growing influence of Nazi Germany in Latin America (2). The program spread to the Vale do Rio Doce, where there were resources of iron ore, mica, and optical quartz, which were important for the war effort. Although the program eventually moved to all states of Brazil, the Amazon program remained an important activity for ≈50 years before it was integrated into the Brazilian Ministry of Health (3). The program in the Amazon fo-cused primarily on infectious disease. It comprised programs of immunization , provision of small sustainable water systems, development of privy programs (sewer systems in the larger centers of population), malaria control , improvement of residences and living conditions for Chagas disease control, epidemiologic intelligence, and extensive training for auxiliary and professional personnel. The effects of this program are shown by the increase in life expectancy for all age groups, with an increase of >10 years for those childhood age groups for whom infectious disease control would have the greatest effect from 1939–1941 to 1950–1951 (4). This program contains many lessons for the planners of health and disease control projects in tropical, low-income countries

Etude de la diversité de Pectobacterium spp et des effets induits par les lipopolysaccharides chez les plantes

Les bactéries Pectobacterium sont classées parmi les agents pathogènes les plus importants économiquement pour la culture de la pomme de terre. Au cours des dernières années, une augmentation des maladies dues à ces bactéries a pu être observée. Le but de ce travail de thèse était d analyser certains aspects de la diversité liés aux Pectobacterium sp à savoir : (i) la diversité génétique liée aux régulateurs du pouvoir pathogène de la bactérie (ii) la diversité de virulence et d agressivité des souches de Pectobacterium vis-à-vis de leurs hôtes et (iii). Le rôle et la diversité des effets induits par le lipopolysaccharides (LPS), composants de la surface bactérienne de bactéries phytopathogène ou non phytopathogène. Ce travail de thèse souligne également le rôle potentiel que pourrait jouer ces molécules LPS dans le biocontrôledes Pectobacterium sp. Différentes expérimentations cellulaires et moléculaires allant de l identification de la bactérie à la compréhension des voies de signalisation ont été utilisées. Les résultats obtenus nous ont permis de montré, en premier lieu que, le séquençage du gène pmrA, gène connu pour être impliqué dans la régulation du pouvoir pathogène desPectobacterium, est un outil moléculaire complémentaire d identification de sous espèces de Pcc et pourrait être aussi un moyen efficace d évaluation de la diversité génétique intraspécifique. Dans un second temps, nous avons montré que les cultures cellulaires d Arabidopsis thaliana pourraient être un modèle végétal d évaluation de l agressivité des Pectobacterium. Ceci a été obtenu par quantification des cinétiques de trois paramètres associés à la pathogénie de ces bactéries à savoir : l activité des pectate-lyases, déterminant majeur du pouvoir pathogène des Pcc, la fuite des électrolytes, considérée comme un marqueur précoce de la mort cellulaire, et la mort cellulaire des cultures elle-même. Enfin nous avons également montré que les effets induits par les LPS chez les cellules d Arabidopsis thaliana sont dépendant du type bactérien. En effet Les résultats obtenus nous ont permis de mettre en évidence trois types de réponses différentes aux LPS en fonction de leur origine: les réponses identiques (régulation des flux d ions), des réponses communes mais présentant des intensités et de cinétiques différentes (production de ROS, induction de gènes de défense) et des réponses spécifiques (induction d une PCD, alcalinisation du milieu). Ces résultats indiquent que différentes voies de signalisation pourraient être activées chez Arabidopsis thaliana. Ils nous ont permis également de mieux comprendre l implication des LPS dans le biocontrôle contre les Pectobacterium sp.Pectobacterium are classified among the most economically important pathogens of culture of potato. Recently, an increase in diseases caused by these bacteria was observed. The work presented in this thesis has allowed highlighting some aspects on diversity associated with Pectobacterium sp namely: (i) genetic diversity related with the pathogenicity of thebacterium (ii) the diversity in virulence and aggressiveness of Pectobacterium strains on its hosts and (iii) the role and the diversity of effects induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), bacterial surface components of phytopathogenic and non- phytopathogenic bacteria. First, we have demonstrated that sequencing the pmrA gene, known to be involved in the regulation of pathogenicity of Pectobacterium, is an additional molecular tool for identification of Pectobacterium subspecies. Moreover, pmrA gene could be an effective tool for evaluation of genetic diversity within species. In a second time, we have showed that cell cultures of Arabidopsis thaliana, could be used as an alternative system to evaluate rapidly and efficiently the virulence of different Pectobacterium strains. This was achieved by quantification of different parameters associated to the pathogenesis of these bacteria namely, the activity of pectate lyases, major determinant of the pathogenicity of Pcc, the electrolyte leakage, considered an early marker of cell death and the cell death itself. Finally, our data further suggest the effects induced by LPS from different origin on Arabidopsis thaliana cells, could be different. Indeed, three different types of responses to LPS have been shown: the identical responses (regulation of ion flux), the common responses but having different intensities and kinetics (ROS production, induction defense genes) and specific responses (induction of PCD, alkalinization of the medium). These results indicate that different signaling pathways could be involved in Arabidopsis thaliana in response to LPS and allowed us to highlight the potential role of LPS in the biocontrol of Pectobacterium sp.PARIS11-SCD-Bib. électronique (914719901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Cervical cancer and HPV: Awareness and vaccine acceptability among parents in Morocco.

Cervical cancer is a major public health concern in Morocco where it represents the second most common and lethal cancer in women. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines have been licensed in Morocco since 2008 but there are no available data on their acceptability. This study aimed to assess awareness of HPV and the vaccine, and to identify factors associated with acceptability of the vaccine among parents in Morocco. We carried out a questionnaire-based survey using face-to-face interviews in a sample of 852 parents (670 mothers and 182 fathers) with at least one unmarried daughter </=26 years. We collected data within public and private health centres and clinics in four regions in Morocco between July and August 2012. The main outcome measure was parental acceptability of the HPV vaccine for their daughter(s). Responses revealed very low awareness of HPV infection (4.7%) and the HPV vaccine (14.3%). None of the participants had vaccinated their daughter(s) against HPV and vaccine acceptability was low among mothers (32%) and fathers (45%). Higher education and income, previous awareness of the HPV vaccine and endorsement of the belief that a recommendation from the Ministry of Health or a doctor to have the vaccine would be encouraging, were associated with mothers' HPV vaccine acceptability. Non-acceptability among mothers was associated with having more than two daughters, believing the vaccine was expensive, lack of information and believing that whatever happens to an individual's health is God's will. The only factor associated with the fathers' acceptability of the vaccine was the cost of the vaccine. Increasing HPV and HPV vaccine awareness through educational campaigns, along with active recommendation by physicians and a publically funded vaccination programme could increase parental acceptability of the HPV vaccine in Morocco

Original Article Prevalence and antibiotic-resistance of Salmonella isolated from food in

Background: Salmonellosis remains one of the most frequent food-borne diseases worldwide, especially in developing countries. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella isolates from food can potentially compromise the treatment of these infections. This investigation was conducted for the first time in Morocco both to detect the occurrence of Salmonella in foods as well as to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of the Salmonella isolates. Methodology: In total, 11,516 food samples collected from 2002 to 2005 were investigated. Isolated Salmonella were characterized by serotyping and susceptibilities were determined for 15 antimicrobial drugs using the disc diffusion assay. Results: The overall percentage of Salmonella prevalence (n=105) was 0.91 % with rates of 71 % for slaughterhouses and 9 % for seafood. Sixteen different serotypes were identified among 104 Salmonella enterica isolates including serotypes Infantis (n=25), Bredeney (n=13), Blokley (n=11), Typhimurium (n=9), Mbandaka (n=8), Branderup II (n=7), and Kiambu (n=6); 1 isolate of Salmonella enterica belonged to subspecies II salamae. Twenty-nine percent of isolates (n=30/105) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial. Resistance to tetracycline was the most common finding (21%), followed by resistance to ampicillin (13%), amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (9%), streptomycin (7%), chloramphenicol (4%) and nalidixic acid (3,8%). None of the isolates was resistant to 3rd-cephalosporin and fluoroquinolones (i.e. ciprofloxacin). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was seen in 9.5 % of the isolates, mainly in S. Typhimurium DT104 with R-type ACSSuT and S. Hadar