Developing Wolbachia-based disease interventions for an extreme environment.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying self-spreading, virus-blocking Wolbachia bacteria are being deployed to suppress dengue transmission. However, there are challenges in applying this technology in extreme environments. We introduced two Wolbachia strains into Ae. aegypti from Saudi Arabia for a release program in the hot coastal city of Jeddah. Wolbachia reduced infection and dissemination of dengue virus (DENV2) in Saudi Arabian mosquitoes and showed complete maternal transmission and cytoplasmic incompatibility. Wolbachia reduced egg hatch under a range of environmental conditions, with the Wolbachia strains showing differential thermal stability. Wolbachia effects were similar across mosquito genetic backgrounds but we found evidence of local adaptation, with Saudi Arabian mosquitoes having lower egg viability but higher adult desiccation tolerance than Australian mosquitoes. Genetic background effects will influence Wolbachia invasion dynamics, reinforcing the need to use local genotypes for mosquito release programs, particularly in extreme environments like Jeddah. Our comprehensive characterization of Wolbachia strains provides a foundation for Wolbachia-based disease interventions in harsh climates.

Epidemiologic and clinical updates on viral infections in Saudi Arabia.

In the past two decades, the world has witnessed devastating pandemics affecting the global healthcare infrastructure and disrupting society and the economy worldwide. Among all pathogens, viruses play a critical role that is associated with outbreaks due to their wide range of species, involvement of animal hosts, easily transmitted to humans, and increased rates of infectivity. Viral disease outbreaks threaten public health globally due to the challenges associated with controlling and eradicating them. Implementing effective viral disease control programs starts with ongoing surveillance data collection and analyses to detect infectious disease trends and patterns, which is critical for maintaining public health. Viral disease control strategies include improved hygiene and sanitation facilities, eliminating arthropod vectors, vaccinations, and quarantine. The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Public Health Authority (also known as Weqayah) in Saudi Arabia are responsible for public health surveillance to control and prevent infectious diseases. The notifiable viral diseases based on the Saudi MOH include hepatitis diseases, viral hemorrhagic fevers, respiratory viral diseases, exanthematous viral diseases, neurological viral diseases, and conjunctivitis. Monitoring trends and detecting changes in these viral diseases is essential to provide proper interventions, evaluate the established prevention programs, and develop better prevention strategies. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the epidemiological updates of the recently reported viral infections in Saudi Arabia and to provide insights into the recent clinical treatment and prevention strategies.

Encapsulation of Ibuprofen in CD-MOF and Related Bioavailability Studies.

Although ibuprofen is one of the most widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), it exhibits poor solubility in aqueous and physiological environments as a free acid. In order to improve its oral bioavailability and rate of uptake, extensive research into the development of new formulations of ibuprofen has been undertaken, including the use of excipients as well as ibuprofen salts, such as ibuprofen lysinate and ibuprofen, sodium salt. The ultimate goals of these studies are to reduce the time required for maximum uptake of ibuprofen, as this period of time is directly proportional to the rate of onset of analgesic/anti-inflammatory effects, and to increase the half-life of the drug within the body; that is, the duration of action of the effects of the drug. Herein, we present a pharmaceutical cocrystal of ibuprofen and the biocompatible metal-organic framework called CD-MOF. This metal-organic framework (MOF) is based upon γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) tori that are coordinated to alkali metal cations (e.g., K+ ions) on both their primary and secondary faces in an alternating manner to form a porous framework built up from (γ-CD)6 cubes. We show that ibuprofen can be incorporated within CD-MOF-1 either by (i) a crystallization process using the potassium salt of ibuprofen as the alkali cation source for production of the MOF or by (ii) absorption and deprotonation of the free-acid, leading to an uptake of 23-26 wt % of ibuprofen within the CD-MOF. In vitro viability studies revealed that the CD-MOF is inherently not affecting the viability of the cells with no IC50 value determined up to a concentration of 100 µM. Bioavailability investigations were conducted on mice, and the ibuprofen/CD-MOF pharmaceutical cocrystal was compared to control samples of the potassium salt of ibuprofen in the presence and absence of γ-CD. From these animal studies, we observed that the ibuprofen/CD-MOF-1 cocrystal exhibits the same rapid uptake of ibuprofen as the ibuprofen potassium salt control sample with a peak plasma concentration observed within 20 min, and the cocrystal has the added benefit of a 100% longer half-life in blood plasma samples and is intrinsically less hygroscopic than the pure salt form.

CD-MOF: A Versatile Separation Medium.

Porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been studied in the context of a wide variety of applications, particularly in relation to molecular storage and separation sciences. Recently, we reported a green, renewable framework material composed of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) and alkali metal salts--namely, CD-MOF. This porous material has been shown to facilitate the separation of mixtures of alkylaromatic compounds, including the BTEX mixture (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the regioisomers of xylene), into their pure components, in both the liquid and gas phases, in an energy-efficient manner which could have implications for the petrochemical industry. Here, we report the ability of CD-MOF to separate a wide variety of mixtures, including ethylbenzene from styrene, haloaromatics, terpinenes, pinenes and other chiral compounds. CD-MOF retains saturated compounds to a greater extent than their unsaturated analogues. Also, the location of a double bond within a molecule influences its retention within the extended framework, as revealed in the case of the structural isomers of pinene and terpinine, where the isomers with exocyclic double bonds are more highly retained than those with endocyclic double bonds. The ability of CD-MOF to separate various mono- and disubstituted haloaromatic compounds appears to be controlled by both the size of the halogen substituents and the strength of the noncovalent bonding interactions between the analyte and the framework, an observation which has been confirmed by molecular simulations. Since CD-MOF is a homochiral framework, it is also able to resolve the enantiomers of chiral analytes, including those of limonene and 1-phenylethanol. These findings could lead to cheaper and easier-to-prepare stationary phases for HPLC separations when compared with other chiral stationary phases, such as CD-bonded silica particles.

Concurrent Covalent and Supramolecular Polymerization.

Covalent and supramolecular polymerizations, both of which offer their own unique advantages, have emerged as popular strategies for making artificial materials. Herein, we describe a concurrent covalent and supramolecular polymerization strategy-namely, one which utilizes 1) a bis-azide-functionalized diazaperopyrenium dication that undergoes polymeriation covalently with a bis-alkyne-functionalized biphenyl derivative in one dimension as a result of a rapid and efficient ß-cyclodextrin(CD)-accelerated, cucurbit[6]uril(CB)-templated azide-alkyne cycloaddition, while 2) the aromatic core of the dication is able to dimerize in a criss-cross fashion by dint of π-π interactions, enabling simultaneous supramolecular assembly, resulting in an extended polymer network in an orthogonal dimension.

Symbiotic Control in Mechanical Bond Formation.

Since the advent of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs), many approaches to templating their formation using various different noncovalent bonding interactions have been introduced and explored. In particular, employing radical-pairing interactions between BIPY(.+) units, the radical cationic state of 4,4'-bipyridinium (BIPY(2+) ) units, in syntheses is not only a convenient but also an attractive source of templation because of the unique properties residing in the resulting catenanes and rotaxanes. Herein, we report a copper-mediated procedure that enables the generation, in the MIM-precursors, of BIPY(.+) radical cations, while the metal itself, which is oxidized to Cu(I) , catalyzes the azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions that result in the efficient syntheses of two catenanes and one rotaxane, assisted by radical-pairing interactions between the BIPY(.+) radical cations. This procedure not only provides a fillip for making and investigating the properties of Coulombically challenged catenanes and rotaxanes, but it also opens up the possibility of synthesizing artificial molecular machines which operate away from equilibrium.

Allosteric Modulation of Substrate Binding within a Tetracationic Molecular Receptor.

The synthesis and recognition phenomena of a tetracationic molecular receptor that possesses a nanometer-sized molecular cavity are described. The host-guest properties of the molecular receptor can be tuned and modulated allosterically, where the association of a heterotropic effector at the periphery of the molecule serves to modulate its affinity for the globular, electron-rich guest that resides within its molecular cavity. This stimuli-responsive host-guest behavior was observed in both the solution phase and the crystalline solid state, and can be reversed with high fidelity by sequestration of the effector molecule.

Folding of oligoviologens induced by radical-radical interactions.

We report the synthesis of a series of homologous oligoviologens in which different numbers of 4,4'-bipyridinium (BIPY(2+)) subunits are linked by p-xylylene bridges, as a prelude to investigating how their radical cationic forms self-assemble both in solution and in the solid state. The strong radical-radical interactions between the radical cationic forms of the BIPY(2+) units-namely, BIPY(•+)-in these oligoviologens induce intra- or intermolecular folding of these homologues. UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopic studies and DFT quantum mechanics indicate that the folding of the shorter oligoviologens is dominated by intermolecular radical-radical interactions. In addition to intermolecular interactions, strong intramolecular radical-radical interactions, which give rise to an NIR absorption band at 900 nm, tend to play a crucial role in governing the folding of the longer oligoviologens. The solid-state superstructure of the oligoviologen with three BIPY(2+) units reveals that two intertwining chains fold together to form a dimer, stabilized by intermolecular radical-radical interactions. These dimers continue to stack in an infinite column through intermolecular radical-radical interactions between them. This research features an artificial biomimetic system which sustains delicate secondary and tertiary structures, reminiscent of those present in nucleic acids and proteins.

Carbohydrate-mediated purification of petrochemicals.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are known to facilitate energy-efficient separations of important industrial chemical feedstocks. Here, we report how a class of green MOFs-namely CD-MOFs-exhibits high shape selectivity toward aromatic hydrocarbons. CD-MOFs, which consist of an extended porous network of γ-cyclodextrins (γ-CDs) and alkali metal cations, can separate a wide range of benzenoid compounds as a result of their relative orientation and packing within the transverse channels formed from linking (γ-CD)6 body-centered cuboids in three dimensions. Adsorption isotherms and liquid-phase chromatographic measurements indicate a retention order of ortho- > meta- > para-xylene. The persistence of this regioselectivity is also observed during the liquid-phase chromatography of the ethyltoluene and cymene regioisomers. In addition, molecular shape-sorting within CD-MOFs facilitates the separation of the industrially relevant BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers) mixture. The high resolution and large separation factors exhibited by CD-MOFs for benzene and these alkylaromatics provide an efficient, reliable, and green alternative to current isolation protocols. Furthermore, the isolation of the regioisomers of (i) ethyltoluene and (ii) cymene, together with the purification of (iii) cumene from its major impurities (benzene, n-propylbenzene, and diisopropylbenzene) highlight the specificity of the shape selectivity exhibited by CD-MOFs. Grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations and single component static vapor adsorption isotherms and kinetics reveal the origin of the shape selectivity and provide insight into the capability of CD-MOFs to serve as versatile separation platforms derived from renewable sources.

Assembly of supramolecular nanotubes from molecular triangles and 1,2-dihalohydrocarbons.

Precise control of molecular assembly is a challenging goal facing supramolecular chemists. Herein, we report the highly specific assembly of a range of supramolecular nanotubes from the enantiomeric triangular naphthalenediimide-based macrocycles (RRRRRR)- and (SSSSSS)-NDI-Δ and a class of similar solvents, namely, the 1,2-dihalo-ethanes and -ethenes (DXEs). Three kinds of supramolecular nanotubes are formed from the columnar stacking of NDI-Δ units with a 60° mutual rotation angle as a result of cooperative [C-H···O] interactions, directing interactions of the [X···X]-bonded DXE chains inside the nanotubes and lateral [X···π] or [π···π] interactions. They include (i) semiflexible infinite nanotubes formed in the gel state from NDI-Δ and (E)-1,2-dichloroethene, (ii) rigid infinite nonhelical nanotubes produced in the solid state from NDI-Δ and BrCH2CH2Br, ClCH2CH2Br, and ClCH2CH2I, and (iii) a pair of rigid tetrameric, enantiomeric single-handed (P)- and (M)-helical nanotubes formed in the solid state from the corresponding (RRRRRR)- and (SSSSSS)-NDI-Δ with ClCH2CH2Cl. In case (i), only the electron-rich C═C double bond of (E)-1,2-dichloroethene facilitates the gelation of NDI-Δ. In cases (ii) and (iii), the lengths of anti-DXEs determine the translation of the chirality of NDI-Δ into the helicity of nanotubes. Only ClCH2CH2Cl induces single-handed helicity into the nanotubes. The subtle interplay of noncovalent bonding interactions, resulting from the tiny structural variations involving the DXE guests, is responsible for the diverse and highly specific assembly of NDI-Δ. This research highlights the critical role that guests play in constructing assembled superstructures of hosts and offers a novel approach to creating supramolecular nanotubes.

Lock-arm supramolecular ordering: a molecular construction set for cocrystallizing organic charge transfer complexes.

Organic charge transfer cocrystals are inexpensive, modular, and solution-processable materials that are able, in some instances, to exhibit properties such as optical nonlinearity, (semi)conductivity, ferroelectricity, and magnetism. Although the properties of these cocrystals have been investigated for decades, the principal challenge that researchers face currently is to devise an efficient approach which allows for the growth of high-quality crystalline materials, in anticipation of a host of different technological applications. The research reported here introduces an innovative design, termed LASO-lock-arm supramolecular ordering-in the form of a modular approach for the development of responsive organic cocrystals. The strategy relies on the use of aromatic electronic donor and acceptor building blocks, carrying complementary rigid and flexible arms, capable of forming hydrogen bonds to amplify the cocrystallization processes. The cooperativity of charge transfer and hydrogen-bonding interactions between the building blocks leads to binary cocrystals that have alternating donors and acceptors extending in one and two dimensions sustained by an intricate network of hydrogen bonds. A variety of air-stable, mechanically robust, centimeter-long, organic charge transfer cocrystals have been grown by liquid-liquid diffusion under ambient conditions inside 72 h. These cocrystals are of considerable interest because of their remarkable size and stability and the promise they hold when it comes to fabricating the next generation of innovative electronic and photonic devices.

Mitochondrial DNA variation in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Wolbachia (Hertig 1936) (Rickettsiales: Ehrlichiaceae) has emerged as a valuable biocontrol tool in the fight against dengue by suppressing the transmission of the virus through mosquitoes. Monitoring the dynamics of Wolbachia is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of release programs. Mitochondrial (mtDNA) markers serve as important tools for molecular tracking of infected mitochondrial backgrounds over time but require an understanding of the variation in release sites. In this study, we investigated the mitochondrial lineages of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus 1762) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which is a prospective release site for the "wAlbBQ" Wolbachia-infected strain of this mosquito species. We employed a combination of comprehensive mitogenomic analysis (including all protein-coding genes) and mtDNA marker analysis (cox1 and nad5) using data collected from Jeddah. We combined our mitogenome and mtDNA marker data with those from previous studies to place mitochondrial variation in Saudi Arabia into a broader global context. Our findings revealed the presence of 4 subclades that can be broadly categorized into 2 major mitochondrial lineages. Ae. aegypti mosquitoes from Jeddah belonged to both major lineages. Whilst mitogenomic data offered a higher resolution for distinguishing Jeddah mosquitoes from the wAlbBQ strain, the combination of cox1 and nad5 mtDNA markers alone proved to be sufficient. This study provides the first important characterization of Ae. aegypti mitochondrial lineages in Saudi Arabia and offers essential baseline information for planning future molecular monitoring efforts during the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes.

Epidemiology of Viral Infectious Diseases Reported in Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Efficient epidemiological monitoring of virus diseases is crucial in evaluating general public health, the prevalence of specific diseases, the pattern of spread, and implementing preventative and control strategies into action. METHODS: This study analyzed data obtained from the Field Epidemiology Program (FETP) which is part of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia, which contained reported cases of infectious diseases over four years, from January 2018 to December 2021, to investigate and highlight the significant trend and incidence rate for each viral infectious disease. RESULTS: Of the reported viral infectious diseases, hepatitis B and C, dengue fever (DF), influenza, chickenpox, and measles were the highest reported viral cases over four years. For the aforementioned diseases, males were often more susceptible to viral infections than females. Except for DF, this viral infection was more common in Saudi citizens. Viral illnesses like hand, foot, and mouth disease were less prevalent, while neurological viral disorders such as acute flaccid paralysis were rarely detected. There was an overall reduction in viral cases recorded during 2020-2021, which may be attributed to the implementation of preventive measures during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic or an underreporting of cases during the lockdown of that time. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of these common viral infections in the Saudi population suggests that understanding the mechanisms influencing changes in these viruses, methods of transmission, and the burden of these diseases is a priority for health policy. This understanding is necessary to develop effective intervention and preventive strategies.

Epidemiology of Reportable Bacterial Infectious Diseases in Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Bacterial infections have a significant impact on human health; they can cause severe morbidity and mortality, particularly in susceptible populations. Epidemiological surveillance is a critical tool for monitoring the population's health and facilitate the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks. Knowing the burden of bacterial communicable diseases is an initial core step toward public health goals. METHODS: Saudi epidemiology surveillance data were utilized to depict the changing epidemiology of bacterial infectious diseases in Saudi Arabia from 2018 to 2021. The cumulative numbers of cases, demographics, and incidence rates were analyzed and visualized. Parametric tests were used to compare the difference in the mean values between categorical variables. Regression analysis was employed to estimate trends in disease rates over time. Statistical significance was set at p value ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The results revealed that brucellosis, tuberculosis, and salmonellosis were the most frequently reported bacterial infectious diseases in Saudi Arabia. Males were more significantly affected by brucellosis and tuberculosis infections than females. Salmonellosis infections were more significant among Saudi citizens, while pulmonary tuberculosis was more significant in non-Saudis. Interestingly, there was a decline in the incidence rates of numerous bacterial infectious diseases during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions. Some bacterial infectious diseases were rarely reported in Saudi Arabia, including syphilis and diphtheria. CONCLUSIONS: The future perspective of this research is to enhance disease surveillance reporting by including different variables, such as the source of infection, travel history, hospitalization, and mortality rates. The aim is to improve the sensitivity and specificity of surveillance data and focus on the mortality associated with bacterial pathogens to identify the most significant threats and set a public health priority.

Recent Advancement in mRNA Vaccine Development and Applications.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine development for preventive and therapeutic applications has evolved rapidly over the last decade. The mRVNA vaccine has proven therapeutic efficacy in various applications, including infectious disease, immunotherapy, genetic disorders, regenerative medicine, and cancer. Many mRNA vaccines have made it to clinical trials, and a couple have obtained FDA approval. This emerging therapeutic approach has several advantages over conventional methods: safety; efficacy; adaptability; bulk production; and cost-effectiveness. However, it is worth mentioning that the delivery to the target site and in vivo degradation and thermal stability are boundaries that can alter their efficacy and outcomes. In this review, we shed light on different types of mRNA vaccines, their mode of action, and the process to optimize their development and overcome their limitations. We also have explored various delivery systems focusing on the nanoparticle-mediated delivery of the mRNA vaccine. Generally, the delivery system plays a vital role in enhancing mRNA vaccine stability, biocompatibility, and homing to the desired cells and tissues. In addition to their function as a delivery vehicle, they serve as a compartment that shields and protects the mRNA molecules against physical, chemical, and biological activities that can alter their efficiency. Finally, we focused on the future considerations that should be attained for safer and more efficient mRNA application underlining the advantages and disadvantages of the current mRNA vaccines.

Assessment of Proinflammatory Cytokines Among Patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study was performed to assess the proinflammatory cytokines profile among MERS-CoV patients. A total of 46 MERS-CoV-infected patients (27 symptomatic and 19 asymptomatic) were assessed and compared with 52 normal healthy controls for plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-17, IL-7, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-α, and IL-15 using a customized luminex kit. Whereas asymptomatic MERS-CoV patients and controls were no different; the mean plasma levels among MERS-CoV symptomatic patients were significantly higher than the normal controls: IL-1ß (16.89 ± 1.23 vs. 12.80 ± 0.59 pg/mL; p < 0.001), TNF-α (14.04 ± 0.93 vs. 10.35 ± 0.29 pg/mL; p < 0.0001), IL-17 (14.3 ± 0.89 vs. 11.47 ± 0.61 pg/mL; p < 0.001), IL-7 (21.56 ± 1.00 vs. 16.31 ± 0.30 pg/mL; p < 0.0001), IL-6 (156.5 ± 37.90 vs. 18.60 ± 1.59 pg/mL; p < 0.0001), and IFN-α (68.73 ± 13.06 vs. 23.57 ± 1.05 pg/mL; p < 0.0001). The mean plasma levels of IL-7 (24.81 ± 1.63 vs. 19.79 ± 0.94 pg/mL; p < 0.01), IL-6 (312.7 ± 94.67 vs. 101.2 ± 25.67 pg/mL; p < 0.01), and IFN-α (89.00 ± 18.97 vs. 51.05 ± 8.68 pg/mL; p < 0.05) were significantly elevated among MERS-CoV symptomatic patients with fatal outcome compared with MERS-CoV symptomatic patients who survived. Only IL-7 was found to have a higher risk ratio of mortality (4.76, 95% confidence interval: 1.5-14.94; p < 0.01). No differences were observed in IL-15 levels among the groups. Significantly elevated proinflammatory cytokines among symptomatic MERS-CoV-infected patients may contribute to manifestations of cytokine storm frequently observed among critically ill MERS-CoV patients and IL-7 may serve as a marker for disease activity.

Application of CRISPR/Cas9 Technology in Cancer Treatment: A Future Direction.

Gene editing, especially with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9), has advanced gene function science. Gene editing's rapid advancement has increased its medical/clinical value. Due to its great specificity and efficiency, CRISPR/Cas9 can accurately and swiftly screen the whole genome. This simplifies disease-specific gene therapy. To study tumor origins, development, and metastasis, CRISPR/Cas9 can change genomes. In recent years, tumor treatment research has increasingly employed this method. CRISPR/Cas9 can treat cancer by removing genes or correcting mutations. Numerous preliminary tumor treatment studies have been conducted in relevant fields. CRISPR/Cas9 may treat gene-level tumors. CRISPR/Cas9-based personalized and targeted medicines may shape tumor treatment. This review examines CRISPR/Cas9 for tumor therapy research, which will be helpful in providing references for future studies on the pathogenesis of malignancy and its treatment.

Insights from the molecular docking analysis of SGLT2 and FIMH to combat uropathogenicity.

SGLT2 inhibitors are a novel class of FDA approved anti-diabetes drugs. They act by blocking the SGLT2 protein, which prevents glucose reabsorption, leading in enhance glucose excretion and lower blood glucose levels. In diabetic patients, SGLT2 inhibitors have been linked to urinary tract infections (UTIs). Therefore, the development of novel SGLT2 inhibitors with no adverse effects is a need of time. With this purpose, in this study, 48164natural compounds from ZINC database were screened targeting both the SGLT2 and FimH protein using insilico approaches. FimH has been discovered as a promising target for preventing and treating UTIs. The hit compounds ZINC69481892, ZINC1612996, and ZINC4039265 exhibited strong binding with both SGLT2 and FimH with binding energies values of -9.88, -8.96, and -10.57 kcal/mol for SGLT2, and -7.86, -7.01, and -8.92 kcal/mol for FimH, which is higher than that of controls (-6.78 kcal/mol (Empaglifozolin for SGLT2) and -5.14 kcal/mol (Heptyl α-d-mannopyranoside for FimH)). Hits were found to bind with key residues of both SGLT2 and FimH protein. In addition, physiochemical properties showed that these compounds have good drug-likeness properties. Therefore, we anticipate that if these compounds are investigated further, might be potential SGLT2 inhibitors with less uropathogenic adverse effects.

The short-term effect of different chlorhexidine forms versus povidone iodine mouth rinse in minimizing the oral SARS-CoV-2 viral load: An open label randomized controlled clinical trial study.

Several investigations evaluated the possibility of different types of mouth wash rinse in minimizing the SARS-CoV-2 load. However, results still controversial. The study aim is to assess the short-term efficiency of several over-the-counter mouth rinses and lozenges in minimizing the salivary viral load for SARS-CoV-2 in patients with confirmed COVID-19 in comparison to saline. This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with 4 arms. The recruited cases were randomized using a simple randomization technique and were assigned to chlorhexidine digluconate mouth rinse (CHX mouth rinse), 2 mg of chlorhexidine digluconate lozenges (CHX lozenges), povidone iodine mouth rinse (PVP-I mouth rinse) or saline as a control group. Saliva were collected from all study subjects by passive drool technique at two time points. First, prior to intervention with mouth rinse or the lozenges, the baseline saliva sample was collected. Second saliva samples were collected immediately after the mouth rinse. Real time PCR was conducted and the value threshold cycle (Ct) for each sample was recorded. Majority of the participants had an education level of high school or less (60%), were married (68.3), males (58.3%), and non-smokers (58.5%). No statistically significant differences between groups at the two times test (P > .05). However, a significant decrease of salivary viral load in all four groups combined (P-value for E genes = .027, and for S genes = .006), and in PVP-I mouth rinse specifically (P = .003 and P = .045, respectively). Povidone iodine mouth rinse showed a potential influence on the reduction of the viral load on a short-term basis. However, longer-term studies of the effect of these products should be conducted.

Spatio-Temporal Modelling Informing Wolbachia Replacement Releases in a Low Rainfall Climate.

Releases of Aedes aegypti carrying Wolbachia bacteria are known to suppress arbovirus transmission and reduce the incidence of vector-borne diseases. In planning for Wolbachia releases in the arid environment of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, we collected entomological data with ovitraps across a 7-month period in four locations. Herein, we show that mosquito presence in basements does not differ from that of non-basement areas of buildings. In modelling mosquito presence across the study sites, we found the spatial structure to be statistically significant in one of the four sites, while a significant spatial structure was found for egg production data across three of the four sites. The length scales of the spatial covariance functions fitted to the egg production data ranged from 143 m to 574 m, indicating that high productivity regions can be extensive in size. Rank-correlation analyses indicated that mosquito presence tended to persist from the dry to wet season, but that egg production ranks at locations could reverse. The data suggest that, in Jeddah, the quality of the local environment for breeding can vary over time. The data support the feasibility of dry season releases but with release numbers needing to be flexible depending on local rates of invasion.