Secondary metabolites of Santolina africana: chemical profiles and assessment of biological activities

Chemicals and antibiotics are serious problems that cause the resistance of bacteria and the persistence of chemical residues in food. These chemical products affect human health and promote diseases. Therefore, the use of natural resources, especially plants, appears as an alternative to avoid the harmful impacts of such products. Plant active substances such as essential oils, alkaloids and phenols are of great interest to scientists and have been studied for their biological activities. Essential oils (Eos) from the stems of Santolina africana were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gaz Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity of crude extracts and Eos was evaluated by the DPPH assay and the antibacterial activity was evaluated by the disc diffusion method and the broth microdilution method against Gram-positive strains (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). S.africana Eos from Morocco and Tunisia were found to be rich in artemisia ketone (35.4% and 44.3%, respectively), santolina alcohol (16.2%and 3.2%, respectively) and isoborneol (6.1% and 26.6%, respectively). Methanol extracts were rich in phenolic and flavonoids contents and showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity. Results exhibited the sensitivity of the strains to essential oils from S. africana especially against Gram-positive bacteria. This current research will provide new information about this plant that can be used as a natural antioxidant and antibacterial for industrial purposes

Higher insulin resistance is associated with decreased expression of the vitamin D receptor gene in obese type II diabetic patients with vitamin D deficiency

The Background: The etiology of numerous medical conditions, such as metabolic irregularities, is interconnected with the insufficiency of vitamin D. Furthermore, a theoretical association between the resistance to insulin and the insufficiency of vitamin D has been postulated. This concept is substantiated by empirical evidence obtained through various investigations. The objective of this investigation is to analyze and investigate the significance and influence of vitamin D and the expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene in the progression of insulin resistance in individuals with T2DM. Methods: The study was carried out 100 type II diabetic patients and 100 healthy controls. Both groups had anthropometry examinations to determine their weights, heights, hip and waist circumferences. Fasting glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and vitamin D levels were all measured. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to analyze the expression of VDR genes in both groups. The folding change was computed using the conventional 2-(∆∆ct) technique. Results: T2DM patients had higher levels of all anthropological measurements, and biochemical parameters compared to controls. Patients had lower levels VDR folding change and vitamin D levels. The diagnostic accuracy of anthropological assessments and biochemical parameters in prediction disease showed significant results. VDR gene expression has a highly significant negative linear association with insulin resistance in obese with vitamin D deficiency patients. Also, negative linear correlation noted between insulin resistance and serum vitamin D levels without significant variation. Conclusion: VDR gene expression and insulin resistance were connected in obese patients T2DM with vitamin D insufficiency.

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance.

Investment in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences that have been generated and used to track the pandemic on the continent, a number that now exceeds 100,000 genomes. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries that are able to sequence domestically and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround times and more-regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and illuminate the distinct dispersal dynamics of variants of concern-particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron-on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve while the continent faces many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Bacterioplankton Community Profiling of the Surface Waters of Kuwait

The marine waters of Kuwait are highly dynamic and strongly influenced by extreme environmental conditions and high levels of anthropogenic activities. This study explored the bacterioplankton community composition and diversity in Kuwait Bay and at four offshore sites close to urbanized coastal areas during two seasons, autumn (October) and spring (April). 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing detected higher bacterial diversity and richness in spring than in autumn. Also, bacterial community beta diversity revealed a significant seasonal partitioning between the two sampling periods but no clear spatial variation could be depicted. Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Flavobacteriia, and Acidimicrobiia dominated the seasonal samples, and SARII clade Ia, SARII clade II, Synechococcus, and SUP05 cluster were among the most abundant taxa in the seasonal samples. However, the strong temporal shift in bacterial community composition was related to Synechococcus abundance. The prevailing physicochemical parameters displayed a significant influence on the bacterioplankton community composition, which was mainly driven by shifts in temperature and nutrient inputs. Furthermore, functional prediction by PICRUSt analysis revealed a relatively stable conserved functional profile in Kuwait’s waters. However, functional genes related to membrane transport were enriched in eutrophic spring waters, while photosynthetic genes were enriched in autumn. Our results provide in-depth insights into the temporal and spatial variations of bacterioplankton dynamics in Kuwait waters and highlight the strong seasonal influence of natural and anthropogenic stressors on their composition and predicted functional capabilities.</jats:p

DataSheet_1_Bacterioplankton Community Profiling of the Surface Waters of Kuwait.pdf

The marine waters of Kuwait are highly dynamic and strongly influenced by extreme environmental conditions and high levels of anthropogenic activities. This study explored the bacterioplankton community composition and diversity in Kuwait Bay and at four offshore sites close to urbanized coastal areas during two seasons, autumn (October) and spring (April). 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing detected higher bacterial diversity and richness in spring than in autumn. Also, bacterial community beta diversity revealed a significant seasonal partitioning between the two sampling periods but no clear spatial variation could be depicted. Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Flavobacteriia, and Acidimicrobiia dominated the seasonal samples, and SARII clade Ia, SARII clade II, Synechococcus, and SUP05 cluster were among the most abundant taxa in the seasonal samples. However, the strong temporal shift in bacterial community composition was related to Synechococcus abundance. The prevailing physicochemical parameters displayed a significant influence on the bacterioplankton community composition, which was mainly driven by shifts in temperature and nutrient inputs. Furthermore, functional prediction by PICRUSt analysis revealed a relatively stable conserved functional profile in Kuwait’s waters. However, functional genes related to membrane transport were enriched in eutrophic spring waters, while photosynthetic genes were enriched in autumn. Our results provide in-depth insights into the temporal and spatial variations of bacterioplankton dynamics in Kuwait waters and highlight the strong seasonal influence of natural and anthropogenic stressors on their composition and predicted functional capabilities.</p