Development of a cost-effective quantitative in-house ELISA assay for screening anti-S1 IgG antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2.

The RBD, S, and N proteins, the three main antigens of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, activate the host immune system and cause the formation of IgM and IgG antibodies. While IgM indicates an early, acute infection stage, IgG shows a past infection or persistent sickness. This study used an indirect ELISA assay that targets the S1 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein to create an in-house, qualitative serological test specific to COVID-19.

Effect of NLRP3 inflammasome genes polymorphism on disease susceptibility and response to TNF-α inhibitors in Iraqi patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a genetically predisposed, systemic, chronic, inflammatory disease. Immune system dysregulation and inherited susceptibility polymorphisms suggest that this type of variation is functional and may help predict disease susceptibility and develop new therapeutic strategies. Anti-TNF-alpha (TNF-α) drugs are highly effective RA treatments, but not all patients respond the same way.

Novel recombinant endolysin ointment with broad antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from wounds and burns.

The major problem in the management of burn wounds is infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the major causes of infection in burn wounds. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria around the world have become a major therapeutic challenge.

A STUDY OF THE NOVEL WU AND KI POLYOMAVIRUSES, BOCAVIRUS ADENOVIRUS IN CHILDREN WITH UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS.

Objective: The aim: To find out the frequency of WU and KI polyomaviruses, and Human Boca and Adenoviruses infections among children with different types of acute upper respiratory tract infections and to compare the frequency of these viruses among immune-competent and immune compromised patients.

Patients And Methods: Materials and methods: A case-control study conducted in children aged 3-18 years with acute upper respiratory tract infections. The samples were taken from: Group 1: 100 immuno competent children with acute upper respiratory tract infections.

Randomized controlled trial of colchicine add on to the standard therapy in moderate and severe corona virus Disease-19 infection.

Background: COVID19 complications cause inflammatory storm. Colchicine is a potent anti-inflammatory medication that has been proposed as a possible treatment option for COVID-19.

Objective: to assess effectiveness and safety of add on use of colchicine to the standard treatment in moderate and severe COVID-19.

A randomised controlled trial of effectiveness and safety of Niclosamide as add on therapy to the standard of care measures in COVID-19 management.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has ignited the urge for repurposing old drugs as candidate antiviral medicines to treat novel challenges of viral infections. Niclosamide (NCS) is an anti-parasitic drug of known antiviral potential. Therefore, this study attempts to investigate the antiviral effect and safety of NCS on SARS-CoV-2 caused COVID-19 patients.

The therapeutic potential of convalescent plasma therapy on treating critically-ill COVID-19 patients residing in respiratory care units in hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq.

The current COVID-19 pandemic needs unconventional therapies to tackle the resulted high morbidity and mortality. Convalescent plasma is one of the therapeutic approaches that might be of benefit. Forty nine early-stage critically-ill COVID-19 patients residing in Respiratory Care Units (RCU) of three hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq, were included: 21 received convalescent plasma while 28, namely control group, did not receive it.

Formation of therapeutic phage cocktail and endolysin to highly multi-drug resistant : and study.

Objectives: Phage therapy is a potential alternative treatment for infections caused by , a significant nosocomial pathogen, which has evolved resistance to almost all conventional antimicrobial drugs in poor hygiene and conflicts areas such as Iraq.

Materials And Methods: Bacteriophages were isolated to highly resistant isolates of to form therapeutic phage cocktail, and to extract and evaluate native endolysin activity. Bacterial samples were collected in Al-Imamein Al-kadhimein Medical City Hospital.

A High-throughput Quantitative Expression Analysis of Cancer-related Genes in Human HepG2 Cells in Response to Limonene, a Potential Anticancer Agent.

Background: Citrus bioactive compounds, as active anticancer agents, have been under focus by several studies worldwide. However, the underlying genes responsible for the anticancer potential have not been sufficiently highlighted.

Objectives: The current study investigated the gene expression profile of hepatocellular carcinoma, HepG2, cells after treatment with Limonene.

The potential of bacteriophage cocktail in eliminating Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in terms of different extracellular matrices expressed by PIA, ciaA-D and FnBPA genes.

Background: This study assessed novel approach of using highly lytic phages against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms with and without biofilm extracellular matrix- disrupting chemical.

Method: The resultant phage-based control was assessed in relation to the type of biofilm extracellular matrix namely, polysaccharide intercellular adhesion (PIA) or proteinacious fibronectin-binding protein A (FnBPA). The biofilms were formed in vitro by 24 h incubation of bacteria in 96 wells microtiter plates at room temperature.

Novel antiviral activity of mung bean sprouts against respiratory syncytial virus and herpes simplex virus -1: an in vitro study on virally infected Vero and MRC-5 cell lines.

Background: New sources for discovering novel antiviral agents are desperately needed. The current antiviral products are both expensive and not very effective.

Methods: The antiviral activity of methanol extract of mung bean sprouts (MBS), compared to Ribavarin and Acyclovir, on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Herpes Simplex virus -1 (HSV-1) was investigated using cytotoxicity, virus yield reduction, virucidal activity, and prophylactic activity assays on Vero and MRC-5 cell lines.

Novel approach of using a cocktail of designed bacteriophages against gut pathogenic E. coli for bacterial load biocontrol.

Background: This study was conducted to explore new approaches of animal biocontrol via biological control feed.

Method: White rats were subjected to 140 highly lytic designed phages specific against E. coli.

Soluble Flt-1 gene delivery in acute myeloid leukemic cells mediating a nonviral gene carrier.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor involved in angiogenesis-mediated progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Studies have reported the role of soluble form of fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlT-1) delivery as an antitumor agent by inhibiting VEGF. This study investigates the outcome of delivery of a VEGF165 antagonist, soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, namely sFLT-1, mediating lipofectamine 2000 in acute myeloid leukemic cells.

Novel molecular, cytotoxical, and immunological study on promising and selective anticancer activity of mung bean sprouts.

Background: The anticancer and immunomodulatory activity of mung bean sprouts (MBS) and the underlying mechanisms against human cervical and hepatocarcinoma cancer cells were explored.

Methods: MBS cytotoxicity and MBS-induced anticancer cytokines, TNF-α and IFN-β from cancer cells, and immunological cytokines, IL-4, IFN-γ, and IL-10 from peripheral mononuclear cells (PMNC) were assessed by MTS and ELISA assays. Apoptotic cells were investigated by flow cytometry.

Inhibition of growth of highly resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens by a natural product.

The continuous escalation of resistant bacteria against a wide range of antibiotics necessitates discovering novel unconventional sources of antibiotics. B. oleracea L (red cabbage) is health-promoting food with proven anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities.

The association of Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus with colorectal tumors: the nature and the underlying mechanisms of its etiological role.

Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) bacteria are associated with colorectal cancer and adenoma. S.

Molecular detection, quantification, and isolation of Streptococcus gallolyticus bacteria colonizing colorectal tumors: inflammation-driven potential of carcinogenesis via IL-1, COX-2, and IL-8.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has long been associated with bacteremia and/or endocarditis by Streptococcus gallolyticus member bacteria (SGMB) but the direct colonization of SGMB along with its molecular carcinogenic role, if any, has not been investigated. We assessed the colonization of SGMB in CRC patients with history of bacteremia (CRC-w/bac) and without history of bacteremia (CRC-wo/bac) by isolating SGMB from feces, mucosal surfaces of colorectum, and colorectal tissues and detecting SGMB DNA, via PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays targeting SodA gene in colorectal tissues. Moreover, mRNA of IL1, IL-8, COX-2, IFN-γ, c-Myc, and Bcl-2 in colorectal tissues of studied groups was assessed via ISH and RT-PCR.

In vitro immunogenic and immunostimulatory effects of zwitterionized 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine compared with nonzwitterionized vaccine.

Background: It was hypothesized that the observed slight immunostimulatory effect of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide (pneumo-23) vaccine might be due to the presence of low levels of zwitterionic motifs. Therefore, it was hypothesized further that introducing zwitterionic motifs experimentally into polysaccharides of pneumo-23 vaccine might render it an effective immunostimulatory agent.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the in vitro immunostimulatory effect of zwitterionized pneumo-23 (Z-P23) vaccine compared with the nonzwitterionized commercial pneumo-23 (C-P23) vaccine.

Novel Epstein-Barr virus immunoglobulin G-based approach for the specific detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: This study was designed to find a reliable Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immunoglobulin (Ig) G-based diagnostic/screening test for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) able to demarcate between the NPC-related seropositivity of EBV IgG antibodies and that of other head and neck cancer (HNCA) and control groups. The NPC-associated immunosuppression affects EBV IgA much more than IgG, leading to inconsistent detection of NPC using EBV IgA antibodies.

Materials And Methods: One hundred twenty-two HNCA patients, 42 NPC, 66 laryngeal carcinoma, and 14 hypopharyngeal carcinoma and 3 groups of 100 control subjects were enrolled in this study.

Investigation into the controversial association of Streptococcus gallolyticus with colorectal cancer and adenoma.

Background: The seroprevalence of IgG antibodies of Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies gallolyticus, CIP 105428, was evaluated to investigate the controversial association of S. gallolyticus with colorectal carcinoma and adenoma in attempt to investigate the nature of such association if any, by exploring the mRNA expression of NF-kappaB and IL-8. Moreover, the serological behavior of S.

Tumor markers of bladder cancer: the schistosomal bladder tumors versus non-schistosomal bladder tumors.

Background: The aim of this study is to comparatively elucidate the underlying molecular pathways and clinicopathological criteria in schistosomal bladder tumor (SBT) versus non-schistosomal bladder tumor (NSBT).

Methods: This study explored the role of p53, p16, bcl-2, ki-67, c-myc, Rb and EGFR, by using Immunohistochemistry assay, in 45 SBT and 39 NSBT patients in comparison with 16 schistosomal chronic cystitis (SC), 28 non-schistosomal chronic cystitis (NSC), and 20 normal control (CTL) subjects. The studied markers in SBT and NSBT were correlated with different clinicopathological criteria namely, tumor histopathology, grading, invasiveness, stage, and presentation of the disease.