The Battle between Bacteria and Bacteriophages: A Conundrum to Their Immune System.

Bacteria and their predators, bacteriophages, or phages are continuously engaged in an arms race for their survival using various defense strategies. Several studies indicated that the bacterial immune arsenal towards phage is quite diverse and uses different components of the host machinery. Most studied antiphage systems are associated with phages, whose genomic matter is double-stranded-DNA. These defense mechanisms are mainly related to either the host or phage-derived proteins and other associated structures and biomolecules. Some of these strategies include DNA restriction-modification (R-M), spontaneous mutations, blocking of phage receptors, production of competitive inhibitors and extracellular matrix which prevent the entry of phage DNA into the host cytoplasm, assembly interference, abortive infection, toxin-antitoxin systems, bacterial retrons, and secondary metabolite-based replication interference. On the contrary, phages develop anti-phage resistance defense mechanisms in consortium with each of these bacterial phage resistance strategies with small fitness cost. These mechanisms allow phages to undergo their replication safely inside their bacterial host's cytoplasm and be able to produce viable, competent, and immunologically endured progeny virions for the next generation. In this review, we highlight the major bacterial defense systems developed against their predators and some of the phage counterstrategies and suggest potential research directions.

Association of body dysmorphic disorder with anxiety, depression, and stress among university students.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and identify its association with depression, anxiety, and stress. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Jeddah, KSA. In 2019, a validated questionnaire with items on sociodemographic characteristics and body dysmorphic disorder, as well as the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 items (DASS 21) was distributed to 1,112 students of King Abdulaziz University. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis, which included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression models. The association was presented as an odds ratio (OR) along with its 95% confidence Interval (CI). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of BDD was 13.9% (95% CI of 11.8-16.2.) with the highest reported sites being the skin (81.6%) and waist (68.8%). BDD was found to be a significant predictor of depression with an OR of 4.2 (95% CI 2.9-6.1), anxiety OR of 2.2 (95%1.6-3.2), and stress OR of 3.2 (2.2-4.7). Females were significantly associated with anxiety, OR of 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.9) and stress, OR of 1.5 (1.1-2). Affiliation to the administration, arts, humanities, and social colleges was also a significant predictor of anxiety as reflected by an OR of 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.8). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that BDD is relatively common among university students in Jeddah and associated with depression, anxiety, and stress.

Hepatitis C virus infection in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia: Seroprevalence and knowledge.

The infection rate of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Saudi Arabia is among the lowest in the world. However, it is likely that poor knowledge and awareness of HCV infection could minimize the effectiveness of prevention and control programs in the kingdom. Thus, the study objective was to estimate the prevalence of HCV infection, and to assess current knowledge about it, in the targeted population. Data on 5482 Saudi people attending primary healthcare centers in Jeddah City in 2014/2015 were analyzed in this cross-sectional study. Questions that covered the natural history, risk behavior, and prevention, and treatment of HCV were collected using a predesigned questionnaire. HCV seroprevalence was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HCV prevalence of 0.38% (95% confidence interval: 0.22-0.54) was found. The level of knowledge of the natural history, risk behavior, and prevention and treatment of HCV was poor among the participants. The lowest level of knowledge for all participants pertained to its prevention and treatment. The prevalence of HCV was low in Saudi Arabia (0.38%). However, adequate knowledge of HCV was lacking. Thus, the need to increase knowledge and awareness of HCV in the Saudi population is warranted.

Prevalence and predictors of hepatitis B in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia: a population-based seroprevalence study.

INTRODUCTION: Despite solid preventive strategies to reduce the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, recent reports about its prevalence and predictors are lacking in several Saudi cities at the community level. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of HBV and to identify the most important predictors among the Saudi population in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5,584 Saudi people attending primary health-care centers in Jeddah city during 2012/2013. Sociodemographic and hepatitis-related data were collected. HBV was diagnosed by ELISA test. The seroprevalence of HBV was estimated, and appropriate statistical analyses were performed, including univariate and multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of HBV was 2.2% (95% CI = 1.82-2.58) in the studied participants. The prevalence was higher among non-governmental workers (3.5%), male participants (3.4%) and those aged ≥ 25 years (2.4%). The most important predictors for increasing the risk of HBV in this study were HBV contacts, male sex, history of dental procedures and blood transfusion. The significant positive risks associated with these predictors were 3.3, 2.5, 2.0 and 1.65, respectively. HBV vaccination, on the other hand, was associated with a significant risk reduction of 88% (OR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.03-0.51). CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of HBV was relatively low among the Saudi population in Jeddah city reflecting the actions taken by health authorities to control HBV infection. However, more efforts, particularly in relation to health education programmes, strict control of blood banks and dental clinics, are still needed.