Effects of Seasonal Conditions on Abundance of Malaria Vector Anopheles stephensi Mosquitoes, Djibouti, 2018-2021.

We describe the influence of seasonal meteorologic variations and rainfall events on Anopheles stephensi mosquito populations during a 40-month surveillance study at a US military base in Djibouti. Focusing surveillance and risk mitigation for An. stephensi mosquitoes when climatic conditions are optimal presents an opportunity for malaria prevention and control in eastern Africa.

Binding sites of miRNA on the overexpressed genes of oral cancer using 7mer-seed match.

The microRNAs having a length of ~ 19-22 nucleotides are the small, non-coding RNAs. The evolution of microRNAs in many disorders may hold the key to tackle complex challenges. Oral cancer belongs to the group of head and neck cancer. It occurs in the mouth region that appears as an ulcer. In this study, we collected information on the overexpressed genes of oral cancer. The coding sequences of the genes were derived from NCBI and the entire set of human microRNAs present in miRBASE 21 was retrieved. The human microRNAs that can target the overexpressed genes of oral cancer were determined with the aid of our in-house software. The interaction between microRNAs and the overexpressed genes was evaluated with 7mer-m8 model of microRNA targeting. The genes DKK1 and APLN paired with only one miRNA i.e., miR-447 and miR-6087, respectively. But the genes INHBA and MMP1 were found to be targeted by 2 miRNAs, while the genes FN1, FAP, TGFPI, COL4A1, COL4A2, and LOXL2 were found to be targeted by 16, 5, 9, 18, 29, and 11 miRNAs. Subsequently, several measures such as free energy, translation efficiency, and cosine similarity metric were used to estimate the binding process. It was found that the target region's stability was higher than the upstream and downstream zones. The overexpressed genes' GC contents were calculated, revealing that the codons in target miRNA region were overall GC rich as well as GC3 rich. Lastly, gene ontology was performed to better understand each gene's involvement in biological processes, molecular function, and cellular component. Our study showed the role of microRNAs in gene repression, which could possibly aid in the prognosis and diagnosis of oral cancer.

Hotel clinic-based diarrheal and respiratory disease surveillance in U.S. service members participating in Operation Bright Star in Egypt, 2009.

We conducted clinic-based, influenza-like illness and diarrheal disease surveillance among U.S. service members participating in Operation Bright Star 2009. Epidemiologic data and samples were collected. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were tested for viruses, and feces was tested for microbiologic, immunologic, and molecular diagnostics. A survey was used to collect self-reported data. From 1,529 surveys, 41% reported diarrheal disease and 25% reported respiratory illness (incidence rate = 62 of 100 versus 37 of 100 person-months; incidence rate ratio = 1.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.5-1.9). Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was identified in 74% (69 of 93) of fecal samples. In the influenza-like illness case series, 17% (9 of 52) were positive for influenza A; all were positive for pandemic (pH1N1) 2009 virus. Rates of decreased work performance reported by patients with diarrhea and influenza-like illness were similar (46% versus 48%; P = 0.8). Diarrheal diseases and respiratory illness remain common among deployed military personnel, with important operational impact. Despite an ongoing influenza pandemic, diarrheal disease incidence was higher than that of respiratory illness.

Increase in the detection rate of viral and parasitic enteric pathogens among Egyptian children with acute diarrhea.

INTRODUCTION: Acute diarrhea continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children from developing countries. Determination of the frequency of diarrhea in an area, along with the proportion of disease caused by specific enteric agents of different origins, is considered the first step in controlling diarrheal diseases. METHODOLOGY: From 2005 to 2007, a hospital-based surveillance was conducted in two locations in Egypt to determine the causes of acute diarrhea in children younger than 5-years seeking treatment. Five additional enteric viral and parasitic pathogens were tested using commercially-available enzyme immunoassays (EIA) to re-evaluate the prevalence of diarrheal pathogens in undiagnosed cases. RESULTS: Adenovirus, astrovirus, norovirus and G. lamblia were detected as the sole pathogen in 2% (n=34), 3% (n=56), 9% (n=191) and 7% (n=146) of the cases, respectively. E. histolytica was never detected as the sole pathogen. The percentage of diarrheal cases with a known cause increased significantly, from 48% (n=1,006) to 74% (n=1,568) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In our study, the incorporation of immunoassays yielded useful data in identifying pathogens in previously pathogen-negative diarrhea cases.

Enteric disease surveillance under the AFHSC-GEIS: current efforts, landscape analysis and vision forward.

The mission of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, Division of Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (AFHSC-GEIS) is to support global public health and to counter infectious disease threats to the United States Armed Forces, including newly identified agents or those increasing in incidence. Enteric diseases are a growing threat to U.S. forces, which must be ready to deploy to austere environments where the risk of exposure to enteropathogens may be significant and where routine prevention efforts may be impractical. In this report, the authors review the recent activities of AFHSC-GEIS partner laboratories in regards to enteric disease surveillance, prevention and response. Each partner identified recent accomplishments, including support for regional networks. AFHSC/GEIS partners also completed a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) survey as part of a landscape analysis of global enteric surveillance efforts. The current strengths of this network include excellent laboratory infrastructure, equipment and personnel that provide the opportunity for high-quality epidemiological studies and test platforms for point-of-care diagnostics. Weaknesses include inconsistent guidance and a splintered reporting system that hampers the comparison of data across regions or longitudinally. The newly chartered Enterics Surveillance Steering Committee (ESSC) is intended to provide clear mission guidance, a structured project review process, and central data management and analysis in support of rationally directed enteric disease surveillance efforts.

Effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on cardiovascular complications in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on cardiovascular complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in rats. MATERIAL/METHODS: MSCs were derived from the bone marrow of male albino rats. The MSCs were characterized morphologically and by RT-PCR for CD29 expression. They were then infused into female rats which were made diabetic by IP injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were divided into control, STZ, and STZ plus MSC groups. Serum insulin, glucose, and fibrinogen were estimated in all groups and the Y-chromosome gene sry was detected by PCR in pancreatic and cardiac tissues. Physiological cardiovascular functions (heart rate, systolic blood pressure) were assessed by a Langendorff apparatus. RESULTS: Diabetic rats which received MSCs showed significantly lower serum glucose and increased serum insulin levels compared with the STZ group. Improvement of cardiovascular performance was also observed in the STZ/MSC group compared with the STZ group. The sry gene was detected by PCR in the pancreatic and cardiac tissues of the STZ/MSC group. CONCLUSIONS: Rat bone marrow harbors cells that have the capacity to differentiate into functional insulin-producing cells capable of controlling blood glucose level in diabetic rats. This may provide a source of cell-based therapy for DM. Furthermore, MSC transplantation can improve cardiac function in DM.<

Incidence, etiology, and impact of diarrhea among deployed US military personnel in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

A health assessment survey was collected from US military personnel deployed to the Middle East taking part in the "Rest and Recuperation" program or on temporary assignment to Camp As Sayliyah Doha, Qatar, from January to December 2004. In addition, a concurrent clinic-based observational study was conducted to determine pathogen etiology and potential risk factors. From 28,322 health assessment surveys, overall self-reported incidence of diarrhea was 4.9 cases per 100 person-months. Disease incidence increased with rank and was higher in Iraq compared with Afghanistan. During this period, 109 US military personnel with acute diarrhea and 85 asymptomatic personnel were enrolled in the observational study. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) was the predominant pathogen (32%), followed by enteroaggregative E. coli (12%) and Salmonella spp. (6%). These data are consistent with previous reports implicating ETEC as the primary cause of acute diarrhea for military personnel deployed to this region.

Molecular characterization of Egyptian Giardia lamblia isolates.

Six Giardia lamblia strains (4 from Egypt, one from the USA and one from Sudan) were used to study the phenotypic and genotypic variation in some Egyptian G. lamblia strains compared to other G. lamblia strains, which may be responsible for the difference in their behavioral characteristics. By using SDS-PAGE for antigenic study, E1 strain appeared different from the rest of the strains with two bands; one at 121 Kda and the other at 34 Kda which were not present in other strains, while bands at 130 and 43 Kda were present in all strains but absent in E1 strain. Another difference between E1 strain and the rest of the strains was obtained by CAE, using PGM enzyme where E1 strain gave a different zymodeme than the other strains. Based on the computerized RAPD- PCR analysis, 4 rapdemes were identified; rapdeme 1 contained E1 strain, rapdeme 2 contained E2, E3 and E4 isolates, rapdeme 3 contained Sudan strain and rapdeme 4 contained USA strain. In conclusion this study revealed diversity between G. lamblia strains especially E1 strain which showed unique characters.

Cystatin capture-dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for immunodiagnosis and assessment of cure of experimental trichinellosis in mice.

Cystatin capture dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CC-dot ELISA) was evaluated as a new version of ELISA for diagnosis of trichinellosis by the detection of anti-Trichinella spiralis cysteine proteinase (CyP) IgG, using nitrocellulose membrane sensitized with cystatin as a capture reagent for CyP from T. spiralis muscle larvae excretory secretory products (ESP) without purification, compared to the detection of anti-T. spiralis IgG by conventional (conv.) ELISA, using whole ESP. Experimentally infected mice with light (100 larvae/mouse) and heavy (300 larvae/mouse) infections by T. spiralis larvae at 7, 14, 21 and 56 days post infection, and after flubendazole treatment were examined. As early as one week post infection CC-dot ELISA gave high positive rates of 86.6% and 100% in light and heavy infections, respectively, in contrast to negative results by conv. ELISA. CC-dot ELISA showed in light and heavy trichinellosis a higher efficiency in comparison to conv. ELISA (97.7% versus 67.7% and 98.8% versus 80%, respectively) and a higher overall sensitivity (96.6% versus 55% and 98.3% versus 73.3%, respectively). No cross reactions with sera of other parasitic infected or non infected control mice were recorded by CC-dot ELISA giving 100% specificity compared to 93.3% by conv. ELISA. After treatment, CC-dot ELISA gave positive results only in uncured mice with remaining muscle larvae, while conv. ELISA was positive in mice with and without remaining muscle larvae. CC-dot ELISA used lower quantities of antigen, was performed at room temperature, and read by naked eye in less than 2.5 hours.

Role of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) in treatment of experimental cryptosporidiosis.

The therapeutic effect of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) as a lectin molecule either alone or with Nitazoxanide (NTZ) was evaluated experimentally on cryptosporidial infection using immunosuppressed mice. A total of 100 suckling albino mice were immunosuppressed and infected with 106 purified Cryptosporidium oocysts. The oocyst count in stool using modified Ziehl Neelsen technique on the days post infection (p.i), the histopathological examination of ileum sections and the IFN-Y serum level were assessed for the drug evaluation. The use of WGA alone or with NTZ showed significant reduction of excreted oocyst count started on day 7 (p.i) (p < 0.05) & (p < 0.01) respectively while the use of NTZ showed significant reduction (p < 0.05) started on day 10 (p.i) in comparison to control group. The combined therapy showed significant reduction (p < 0.01) in comparison to NTZ received group on days 7 and 10. The histopathological examination of mice received WGA alone or with NTZ showed increased inflammatory reaction and infiltrating inflammatory cells with multiple foci of enterocyte exfoliation along the villi. The IF N-Y serum level was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than control and NTZ received groups. In conclusior the combined therapy of NTZ and WGA showed earlier and better therapeutic effect against cryptosporidial infection. The results were critically discussed.