Pepticinnamins N, O, and P, Nonribosomal Peptides from the Soil-Derived Streptomyces mirabilis P8-A2.

Cinnamoyl moiety containing nonribosomal peptides represented by pepticinnamin E are a growing family of natural products isolated from different Streptomyces species and possess diverse bioactivities. The soil bacterium Streptomyces mirabilis P8-A2 harbors a cryptic pepticinnamin biosynthetic gene cluster, producing azodyrecins as major products. Inactivation of the azodyrecin biosynthetic gene cluster by CRISPR-BEST base editing led to the activation and production of pepticinnamin E (1) and its analogues, pepticinnamins N, O, and P (2-4), the structures of which were determined by detailed NMR spectroscopy, HRMS data, and Marfey's reactions. These new compounds did not show a growth inhibitory effect against the LNCaP and C4-2B prostate cancer lines, respectively.

aroF and cm2: potential molecular markers for the detection of stone-inhabiting Actinobacteria on cultural heritage sites.

Tangible archeological sites and stone monuments are naturally decayed and deteriorated over time, providing substances that can sustain life, although they provide a complicated ecosystem characterized by low nutrition and desiccation. Stone-inhabiting bacteria (SIB) and especially members of the phylum Actinobacteria dominate such environments, particularly the members of the family Geodermatophilaceae. We used the published data of two confirmed SIB species to mine their genomes for specific molecular markers to rapidly survey the presence of SIB in cultural heritage material prior to further analysis. The search focused on the mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) synthesis pathway. MAAs are intracellular compounds biosynthesized by the shikimic acid pathway to synthesize aromatic amino acids and were found related to abiotic resistance features in microorganisms. Based on genome mining, the DAHP II (aroF) and a homolog of the Chorismate mutase gene (cm2) were found mostly in Actinobacteria and few other species. After calibration on five stone-inhabiting Actinobacteria (SIAb) species using conventional PCR, newly designed primers were successfully applied to environmental DNA extracted from two Egyptian pyramidal sites using a qPCR approach. This is the first report of aroF and cm2 as qPCR markers to detect SIAb from cultural heritage material prior to proceeding with further analysis (e.g., metagenomics and meta-barcoding analyses).

Real-world safety and effectiveness of retreatment of Egyptian chronic hepatitis C patients not responding to NS5A inhibitor-based therapies.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of two protocols for retreatment of a cohort of Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) who relapsed after NS5A inhibitor-based therapy. We conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the safety and efficacy of 12 weeks' retreatment with either combination of sofosbuvir/daclatasvir/simeprevir plus ribavirin (SOF/DCV/SMV/RBV, n = 45) or sofosbuvir/ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus ribavirin (SOF/OBV/PTV/r/RBV, n = 163) in patients who had previously failed NS5A inhibitors-based regimens. The primary end point was SVR 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12). Safety follow-up data were recorded for 60 weeks after the end of treatment. Two hundred-eight patients were included in the study. Of them, 53.4% of patients were females and 40.4% had liver cirrhosis. The most common prior drug combinations were sofosbuvir/daclatasvir (n = 94) and sofosbuvir/daclatasvir plus ribavirin (n = 109). The overall SVR12 rates were 98.1%. In SOF/DCV/SMV/RBV group, 95.6% achieved SVR12, while in SOF/OBV/PTV/r/RBV group, the SVR12 rates were 98.8%. SVR12 was higher in cirrhotic patients (84/84) than noncirrhotic (120/124), P value = .0149. Regarding the safety outcomes, anaemia and fatigue were significantly higher in SOF/OBV/PTV/r/RBV group. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was reported in eight (3.8%) patients (four in each group). Of them, death was confirmed in four patients. Retreatment of Egyptian CHC relapsed patients with either sofosbuvir/daclatasvir/simeprevir plus ribavirin or sofosbuvir/ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus ribavirin is highly effective and well-tolerated for both noncirrhotic and compensated cirrhotic patients. Incidental de novo HCC and hepatic decompensation are comparable in the two groups.

Determination of liver fibrosis stages in Egyptian chronic hepatitis B patients by a noninvasive tool

Background/aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of liver fibrosis (LF). The prognosis and management of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus depend on the amount and progression of liver fibrosis. Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2) is not only a chronic inflammatory mediator, but also a tissue-remodeling factor. The aim of this study is to explore the predictive value of Angptl2 in different fibrosis stages in patients chronically infected with HBV. Materials and methods: Eighty patients with chronic HBV infection undergoing Fibroscan were included. Serum concentrations of Angptl2 were detected using a commercial ELISA kit. Results: Angptl2 levels were significantly associated with liver fibrosis stages (P = 0.02). The area under the curve (AUC) of Angptl2 for distinguishing patients who showed significant fibrosis (F2­F4) was70.2%. Angptl2 with fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and Angptl2 with AST/platelets ratio (APRI) performed best with an AUC of 92.5%. Conclusion: In patients with chronic HBV infection, Angptl2 level represents a potential biomarker independently associated with fibrosis stages. The combination of Angptl2 with FIB-4 or Angptl2 with APRI performed better than the existing models for diagnosing significant fibrosis.

Elevational patterns of genetic variation in the cosmopolitan moss Bryum argenteum (Bryaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The Baas Becking tenet posits that 'everything is everywhere, but the environment selects' to explain cosmopolitan distributions in highly vagile taxa. Bryophyte species show wider distributions than vascular plants and include examples of truly cosmopolitan ranges, which have been interpreted as a result of high dispersal capacities and ecological plasticity. In the current study, we documented patterns of genetic structure and diversity in the cosmopolitan moss Bryum argenteum along an elevational gradient to determine if genetic diversity and structure is homogenized by intense migrations in the lack of ecological differentiation. • METHODS: 60 specimens were collected in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (Spain) between 100 and 2870 m and sequenced for ITS and rps4. Comparative analyses, genetic diversity estimators, and Mantel's tests were employed to determine the relationship between genetic variation, elevation, and geographic distance and to look for signs of demographic shifts. • KEY RESULTS: Genetic diversity peaked above 1900 m and no signs of demographic shifts were detected at any elevation. There was a strong phylogenetic component in elevational variation. Genetic variation was significantly correlated with elevation, but not with geographic distance. • CONCLUSIONS: The results point to the long-term persistence of Bryum argenteum in a range that was glaciated during the Late Pleistocene. Evidence for an environmentally driven pattern of genetic differentiation suggests adaptive divergence. This supports the Baas Becking tenet and indicates that ecological specialization might play a key role in explaining patterns of genetic structure in cosmopolitan mosses.

Comparative Evaluation of Wild and Farmed Rainbow Trout Fish Based on Representative Chemosensory and Microbial Indicators of Their Habitats.

Wild and farmed rainbow trout were compared with chemical profiling, chemosensory properties, carbon concentration and isotope analyses, 1- and 2-GC/O-MS, GC-FID, and aroma profile analyses. Results were linked with the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbiological profile of the fish sources using multivariate statistical analysis. Fish from natural environments proved to have better sensory properties in terms of fruity, sweet, and citrusy attributes, compared to farmed fish. However, the farmed fish were found to have higher nutritional value based on their lipid contents. These differences might relate to the introduction of feed extrudates, which could influence the overall quality of fish products. Thereby, malodor episodes linked to musty/earthy off-odor notes related to odorants including geosmin, ß-caryophyllene, (E,Z)-2,4-nonadienal, and (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal. These compounds, in turn, correlated with Asticcacaulis benevestitus, Curvibacter sp., Albidiferax sp., Aquabacterium commune, and Aquabacterium citratiphilum abundance and were further affected by oxygen levels in the water column.

Culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the Memphis necropolis, Egypt.

A large percentage of the world's tangible cultural heritage is made from stone; thus, it deteriorates due to physical, chemical, and/or biological factors. The current study explored the microbial community inhabiting two prehistoric sites with high cultural value in the Memphis necropolis of Egypt (Djoser and Lahun Pyramids) using amplicon-based metabarcoding and culture-dependent isolation methods. Samples were examined by epifluorescent microscopy for biological signs before environmental DNA extraction and in vitro cultivation. The metabarcoding analysis identified 644 bacterial species (452 genera) using the 16S rRNA and 204 fungal species (146 genera) using ITS. In comparison with the isolation approach, an additional 28 bacterial species (13 genera) and 34 fungal species (20 genera) were identified. A total of 19 bacterial and 16 fungal species were exclusively culture-dependent, while 92 bacterial and 122 fungal species were culture-independent. The most abundant stone-inhabiting bacteria in the current study were Blastococcus aggregatus, Blastococcus saxobsidens, and Blastococcus sp., among others. The most abundant rock-inhabiting fungi were Knufia karalitana and Pseudotaeniolina globosa, besides abundant unknown Sporormiaceae species. Based on previous reports, microorganisms associated with biodeterioration were detected on color-altered sites at both pyramids. These microorganisms are potentially dangerous as physical and chemical deterioration factors and require proper conservation plans from a microbiological perspective.

Genomic assembly, characterization, and quantification of DICER-like gene family in Okra plants under dehydration conditions.

Background: Okra is a plant farmed for its pods, leaves, and stems all of which are edible. It is famous for its ability to tolerate long desiccation periods. It belongs to the Malvaceae family and is a sister species to hibiscus, cotton, and cacao plants. Methods: In the current study, okra plants were used as a model to sequence, assemble, and analyze the evolutionary and functional characteristics of the Dicer-like protein gene family (DCL) based on DNAseq and qPCR techniques. Results: Four Dicer-like (DCL) single-copy genes of the okra plant Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (AeDCL) were successfully assembled. The lengths of the AeDCL copies were 8,494, 5,214, 4,731, and 9,329 bp. The detected exons in these samples ranged from a single exon in AeDCL3 to 24 exons in AeDCL4. AeDCLs had five functional domains of two DEAD-like helicase superfamilies, N and C; one Dicer domain; one ribonuclease III domain (a and b); and one double-stranded RNA-binding domain. The PAZ domain was completely annotated only for AeDCL1 and AeDCL3. All AeDCLs were up-regulated under drought conditions, with leaves showing more extensive fold changes than roots. The study focused on a comprehensive genome-wide identification and analysis of the DCL gene family in naturally drought-tolerant okra plants, an orphan crop that can be used as a model for further genomic and transcriptomic studies on drought-tolerance mechanisms in plants.

Evolutionary insights and expression dynamics of the CaNFYB transcription factor gene family in pepper (Capsicum annuum) under salinity stress.

Introduction: The Capsicum annuum nuclear factor Y subunit B (CaNFYB) gene family plays a significant role in diverse biological processes, including plant responses to abiotic stressors such as salinity. Methods: In this study, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the CaNFYB gene family in pepper, encompassing their identification, structural details, evolutionary relationships, regulatory elements in promoter regions, and expression profiles under salinity stress. Results and discussion: A total of 19 CaNFYB genes were identified and subsequently characterized based on their secondary protein structures, revealing conserved domains essential for their functionality. Chromosomal distribution showed a non-random localization of these genes, suggesting potential clusters or hotspots for NFYB genes on specific chromosomes. The evolutionary analysis focused on pepper and comparison with other plant species indicated a complex tapestry of relationships with distinct evolutionary events, including gene duplication. Moreover, promoter cis-element analysis highlighted potential regulatory intricacies, with notable occurrences of light-responsive and stress-responsive binding sites. In response to salinity stress, several CaNFYB genes demonstrated significant temporal expression variations, particularly in the roots, elucidating their role in stress adaptation. Particularly CaNFYB01, CaNFYB18, and CaNFYB19, play a pivotal role in early salinity stress response, potentially through specific regulatory mechanisms elucidated by their cis-elements. Their evolutionary clustering with other Solanaceae family members suggests conserved ancestral functions vital for the family's survival under stress. This study provides foundational knowledge on the CaNFYB gene family in C. annuum, paving the way for further research to understand their functional implications in pepper plants and relative species and their potential utilization in breeding programs to enhance salinity tolerance.

An indigenous inland genotype of the black yeast Hortaea werneckii inhabiting the great pyramid of Giza, Egypt.

Within the context of cultural heritage conservation, the biological study of tangible archeological sites is an important task to extend their existence and strengthen the transmission of their cultural value to future generations. In Egypt, a hyper-arid region, a microcolonial fungus with inky black growth was observed on a stone surface in the royal corridor of the Great Pyramid of Giza (King Khufu's pyramid). The isolate was studied and characterized by microscopic morphometric measurements, evaluation of enzymatic activities, and genotyping techniques. The isolate was identified as Hortaea werneckii, a pleomorphic black yeast that naturally inhabits hypersaline environments and infects human skin. It has been reported from humid temperate, subtropical, and tropical zones, mainly from marine habitats and adjacent areas, and is associated with marine life. Since it was observed in an unusual habitat, it raises the question of its type and origin, whether environmental or clinical. The Egyptian Hortaea werneckii GPS5 isolate was profiled and characterized by adaptive extremophilic tolerance to arid salt stress, low portability to infect human skin, and the capability of solubilizing calcite; besides it was phylogenetically clustered with previous recorded environmental accessions. A profile that matches the biodeterioration fungal agents known as rock-inhabiting fungi, a potential threat to cultural heritage sites that requires attention and prevention plans.

The Evolutionary Dynamics of the Mitochondrial tRNA in the Cichlid Fish Family.

The mitochondrial transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) attract more attention due to their highly dynamic and rapidly evolving nature. The current study aimed to detect and evaluate the dynamics, characteristic patterns, and variations of mitochondrial tRNAs. The study was conducted in two main parts: first, the published mitogenomic sequences of cichlids mt tRNAs have been filtered. Second, the filtered mitochondrial tRNA and additional new mitogenomes representing the most prevalent Egyptian tilapiine were compared and analyzed. Our results revealed that all 22 tRNAs of cichlids folded into a classical cloverleaf secondary structure with four domains, except for trnSGCU, missing the D domain in all cichlids. When consensus tRNAs were compared, most of the mutations were observed in the trnP at nucleotide levels (substitutions and indels), in contrast to trnLUAA. From a structural perspective, the anticodon loop and T-loop formations were the most conserved structures among all parts of the tRNA in contrast to the A-stem and D-loop formations. The trnW was the lowest polymorphic unneutral tRNA among all cichlids (both the family and the haplotilapiine lineage), in contrast with the neutral trnD that was extremely polymorphic among and within the haplotilapiine lineage species compared to other cichlids species. From a phylogenetic perspective, the trnC was extremely hypervariable and neutral tRNA in both haplotilapiine lineage and cichlids but was unable to report correct phylogenetic signal for the cichlids. In contrast to trnI and trnY, less variable neutral tRNAs that were able to cluster the haplotilapiine lineage and cichlids species as previously reported. By observing the DNA polymorphism in the coding DNA sequences (CDS), the highest affected amino acid by non-synonymous mutations was isoleucine and was equally mutated to valine and vice versa; no correlation between mutations in CDS and tRNAs was statistically found. The current study provides an insight into the mitochondrial tRNA evolution and its effect on the cichlid diversity and speciation model at the maternal level.

The complete chloroplast genome of the Egyptian henbane (Hyoscyamus muticus L., Solanaceae).

Egyptian henbane (Hyoscyamus muticus L. Mant. Pl. 1767) is an important medicinal plant of the family Solanaceae. Its complete chloroplast (cp) genome was assembled using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology to contribute to its conservation genetics studies. Here, we report the complete sequence of the chloroplast genome of H. muticus. The cp genome was 156,271 bp in length with an asymmetric base composition (30.9% A, 18.9% C, 18.6% G and 31.6% T). It encodes 132 genes comprising 87 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the H. muticus chloroplast genome was 37.5%, and the corresponding values in the large single-copy (LSC), the small single-copy (SSC), and the inverted repeat (IR) regions were 35.5%, 31.5%, and 43.0%, respectively. The complete chloroplast genome sequence was deposited to the GenBank (NCBI, Accession number: MZ450974). The maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis showed that the H. muticus and H. niger were clustered into one clade with strong support values, indicating their closer relationship.

Security of medical images for telemedicine: a systematic review.

Recently, there has been a rapid growth in the utilization of medical images in telemedicine applications. The authors in this paper presented a detailed discussion of different types of medical images and the attacks that may affect medical image transmission. This survey paper summarizes existing medical data security approaches and the different challenges associated with them. An in-depth overview of security techniques, such as cryptography, steganography, and watermarking are introduced with a full survey of recent research. The objective of the paper is to summarize and assess the different algorithms of each approach based on different parameters such as PSNR, MSE, BER, and NC.

Space deformation based path planning for Mobile Robots.

An excellent path planning algorithm of a robot should compromise three major criteria; low computational time, high level of smoothness and optimal length. In this work, a hybrid algorithm is developed to enable the robot to navigate smoothly in a partially known environment with a low computation time. The proposed method takes as input a global path connecting a start and a target point, then an initial optimal smoothed path is generated which is accordingly updated due to unexpected changes in the workspace. This is achieved by assuming that the robot exits on a thin metal plate which can be deformed to guarantee a convenient path for the robot. This deformation of the space continues as long as changes are detected in the environment. Numerical simulations and experimental analysis showed the high performance of the proposed algorithm, where it showed superiority in terms of smoothness and execution time.

Microbial Profiling of Potato-Associated Rhizosphere Bacteria under Bacteriophage Therapy.

Potato soft rot and wilt are economically problematic diseases due to the lack of effective bactericides. Bacteriophages have been studied as a novel and environment-friendly alternative to control plant diseases. However, few experiments have been conducted to study the changes in plants and soil microbiomes after bacteriophage therapy. In this study, rhizosphere microbiomes were examined after potatoes were separately infected with three bacteria (Ralstonia solanacearum, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Pectobacterium atrosepticum) and subsequently treated with a single phage or a phage cocktail consisting of three phages each. Results showed that using the phage cocktails had better efficacy in reducing the disease incidence and disease symptoms' levels when compared to the application of a single phage under greenhouse conditions. At the same time, the rhizosphere microbiota in the soil was affected by the changes in micro-organisms' richness and counts. In conclusion, the explicit phage mixers have the potential to control plant pathogenic bacteria and cause changes in the rhizosphere bacteria, but not affect the beneficial rhizosphere microbes.

Comparative 16S Metabarcoding of Nile Tilapia Gut Microbiota from the Northern Lakes of Egypt.

Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is the principal fish bred in Egypt. A pilot study was designed to analyze the bacterial composition of the Nile tilapia fish guts from two saltwater lakes in Northern Egypt. Fish samples were obtained from two Delta lakes: Manzala (ML) and Borollus (BL). DNA was extracted, and the bacterial communities in the stomach content were classified (down to the species level) using the 16S rRNA-based analysis. From the two metagenomics libraries in this study, 1,426,740 reads of the amplicon sequence corresponding to 508 total taxonomic operational units were recorded. The most prevalent bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Synergistetes in all samples. Some of the strains identified belong to classes of pathogenic zoonotic bacteria. A notable difference was observed between gut bacteria of Nile tilapia fish obtained from BL and ML. There is a remarkable indication that Nile tilapia fish living in BL is heavily burdened with pathogenic microbes most remarkably those involved with methylation of mercury and its accumulation in fish organs. These pathogenic microbes could have clinical implications and correlated with many diseases. This result was also consistent with the metagenomic data's functional prediction that indicated that Nile tilapia species harboring these two Egyptian northern lakes may be exposed to numerous anthropogenic pollutants. The findings show that the host environment has a significant impact on the composition of its microbiota. The first step towards exploring the better management of this profit-making fish is recognizing the structure of the microbiome.

Mitogenomic Features and Evolution of the Nile River Dominant Tilapiine Species (Perciformes: Cichlidae).

To better understand the diversity and evolution of cichlids, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the complete mitochondrial genomes of three Nile tilapiine species (Coptodon zillii, Oreochromis niloticus, and Sarotherodon galilaeus) dominating the Nile River waters. Our results showed that the general mitogenomic features were conserved among the Nile tilapiine species. The genome length ranged from 16,436 to 16,631 bp and a total of 37 genes were identified (two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 1 control region). The ND6 was the only CDS that presented a negative AT skew and a positive GC skew. The most extended repeat sequences were in the D-loop followed by the pseudogenes (trnSGCU). The ND5 showed relatively high substitution rates whereas ATP8 had the lowest substitution rate. The codon usage bias displayed a greater quantity of NNA and NNC at the third position and anti-bias against NNG. The phylogenetic relationship based on the complete mitogenomes and CDS was able to differentiate the three species as previously reported. This study provides new insight into the evolutionary connections between various subfamilies within cichlids while providing new molecular data that can be applied to discriminate between Nile tilapiine species and their populations.

Susceptibility of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales isolates to new antibiotics from a tertiary care hospital, Egypt: A matter of hope.

INTRODUCTION: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are particularly worrisome pathogens because of their resistance to last-resort antibiotics, significant morbidity, and mortality. With limited treatment options, new therapeutic choices have become available for the management of CRE infections. Data regarding the efficacy of these novel agents are still limited particularly in a low-middle-income country like Egypt. This study aims to assess the prevalence of different carbapenemase genes among CRE isolates and the susceptibility of these isolates to novel antibiotics for improving antibiotic policy and infection control strategies in Egypt. METHODOLOGY: In this cross-sectional study, 260 Enterobacterales were recovered from patients admitted to intensive care units between January and June 2021. Susceptibility testing was conducted using Kirby-Bauer method. Molecular detection of five carbapenemase genes, namely blaKPC, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaNDM, blaOXA-48 was done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Of the 260 Enterobacterales, 34.6% were found to be carbapenems resistant. All of the CRE isolates were multi-drug resistant exhibiting resistance to most antibiotics. All isolates harbored one or more carbapenemases genes. The most prevalent was blaNDM (84.4%), followed by blaOXA-48 (73.3%), blaKPC (13.3%), blaIMP (2.2%), while blaVIM gene wasn't detected. Among 62.2% of the CRE isolates, two or more carbapenemase genes co-existed. For the new antibiotics tested, 100% of CRE resisted ceftolozane/tazobactam, 86.7% resisted ceftazidime/avibactam, 51.1% were resistant to eravacyclin, and 42.2% were resistant to cefiderocol. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of resistance to carbapenems among Enterobacterales isolates was revealed. blaNDM was found to be the most predominant carbapenemase gene. A high rate of CRE resistance to novel agents signifies a major threat.

Gut Microbiota, Intestinal Morphometric Characteristics, and Gene Expression in Relation to the Growth Performance of Chickens.

this study aimed to investigate the growth mechanism in a local breed of chickens by comparing the highest weight (HW) and the lowest weight in their microbiota, histological characteristics, and gene expression. Golden Montazah chickens, an Egyptian breed, were reared until they were 49 days old. All of the birds were fed ad libitum by a starter diet from day 1 until day 21, followed by a grower diet from day 21 to the end of the study. At 49 days old, the forty-eight birds with the heaviest body weight (HW) and the lightest body weight (LW) were chosen. Blood biochemical and histological morphometric parameters, electron microscopy, and intestinal nutrient transporter gene expression were studied in the sampled jejunum. The microbial composition and functions of the content and mucosa in HW and LW chickens were studied using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The histological morphometric parameters were all more significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the HW chickens than in the LW chickens. Total protein, albumin, and triglycerides in serum were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the HW chickens than in the LW chickens. The microbiome profile in the gut showed that Microbacterium and Sphingomonas were positively correlated with the body weights. In the local breed, there were significant differences in the intestinal microstructure which could enhance the growth mechanism and body weight. Our findings showed that some microbial components were significantly associated with body weight and their interactions with the host could be inferred to explain why these interactions might alter the host's metabolic responses. Further investigation into combining bioinformatics with lab experiments in chickens will help us to understand how gut bacteria can change the host's metabolism by special metabolic features in the gastrointestinal system.

Effect of Zinc Supplementation in Children Less Than 5 Years on Diarrhea Attacks: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Recurrent infections and weak immunity were found to be linked with zinc deficiency especially in children. The goal of this study is to measure the level of blood zinc in children aged 6 months to less than 5 years old, and to assess the effect of 4 months of daily zinc supplements on the incidence and the severity of diarrheal morbidity. A randomized controlled trial study was conducted in Pediatric Outpatient Clinic in Ain Shams University Hospital on 140 children less than 5 years old who are apparently healthy. Random assignment of the sampled children to group receiving zinc (70 children) or group receiving placebo (70 children) was done. A questionnaire containing questions about occurrence of diarrhea was used during follow up. Serum zinc at baseline was measured. The mean age was 25.26 ± 15.7 months. Mean of serum zinc was 51.08 µg/dL, with 70% had low baseline serum zinc level. Cumulative incidence of diarrhea, number of diarrhea episodes per child and frequency of stools/day decreased significantly in zinc group (P < .05). Risk ratio was found to be 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64 to 0.97. we concluded that incidence of diarrhea and its severity reduced in children received zinc daily for 4 months. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05002101.