Genetic Polymorphisms of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 1 (ACE1) and ACE2 Associated With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome COVID-19 in the Palestinian Population.

As a key enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a validated receptor for SARS-CoV-2, linking RAS to COVID-19. Functional ACE1/ACE2 gene polymorphisms likely cause an imbalance in the ACE1/ACE2 ratio, triggering RAS imbalance and may contribute to COVID-19 complications. This study aimed to investigate four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ACE1 and ACE2 genes, three for ACE1 (rs4343, rs4342, rs4341) and one for ACE2 (rs2285666), in patients with COVID-19 among the Palestinian population.

Association of rs2236757 and rs10735079 Polymorphisms with Susceptibility to COVID-19 Infection and Severity in Palestine.

The clinical course and severity of COVID-19 vary among patients. This study aimed to investigate the potential correlation between the gene polymorphisms of the interferon receptor () rs2236757 and oligoadenylate synthetase 3 () rs10735079 with the risk of COVID-19 infection and its severity among Palestinian patients. The study was conducted between April and May 2021 on 154 participants who were divided into three groups: the control group (RT-PCR-negative,  = 52), the community cases group (RT-PCR-positive,  = 70), and the critically ill cases (ICU group;  = 32).

Tracking the geographical origin of Plasmodium falciparum causing a rare severe case of malaria imported into Palestine, a zero-indigenous case area.

Background: Malaria cases in non-endemic zero-indigenous case areas are most likely to have been imported whatever of the route of importation. In countries recently declared malaria-free and now without local transmission, imported cases remain a threat to re-introduction of the disease and a burden on the health system.

Case Presentation: Three days after returning from a long trip to malaria- endemic countries; Abyei-Sudan, Chad and Uganda, a 41-year-old male resident from Jericho, Palestine, suffered paroxysms of fever, general fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, headache, and a strong desire to vomit.

Genetic diversity and haplotype analysis of Leishmania tropica identified in sand fly vectors of the genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia using next-generation sequencing technology.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to investigate the genetic diversity of Leishmania tropica in the sand fly vector, targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of the genus Leishmania. Bioinformatics analyses were conducted using Galaxy, MEGA version X, DnaSP ver. 6.

Effectiveness of insecticide thermal fogging in hyrax dens in the control of leishmaniasis vectors in rural Palestine: A prospective study.

Background: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is endemic in Palestine and transmitted by Phlebotomus sand flies. They inhabit dens of hyraxes, the reservoir animal. Control measures were implemented since 1996 but cases still occur.

Concurrent molecular characterization of sand flies and Leishmania parasites by amplicon-based next-generation sequencing.

Background: Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania parasites, which are the causative agents of leishmaniasis. Herein, we developed an amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (Amp-NGS) to characterize sand flies and Leishmania parasites simultaneously targeting partial fragments of 18S rDNA and ITS1 genes, respectively.

Methods: Our assay was optimized using reference sand fly (n = 8) and Leishmania spp.

Tracking of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) in Palestine.

As surges of the COVID-19 pandemic continue globally, including in Palestine, several new SARS-CoV-2 variants have been introduced. This expansion has impacted transmission, disease severity, virulence, diagnosis, therapy, and natural and vaccine-induced immunity. Here, 183 whole genome sequences (WGS) were analyzed, of which 129 were from Palestinian cases, 62 of which were collected in 11 Palestinian districts between October 2020 and April 2021 and sequenced completely.

First Report of the HEV Seroprevalence and the Risk Factor Assessment in the West Bank, Palestine, during the Period of 2015-2017.

Hepatitis E virus is emerging viral hepatitis with hyperendemicity in many countries. Data on the burden of disease is not available in Palestine. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence and the risk factors of the HEV among the general population of the West Bank, Palestine.

Complete genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 strains: A pilot survey in Palestine reveals spike mutation H245N.

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2, severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, is an RNA virus that emerged from China sweeping the globe in the form of a pandemic that became an international public health concern. This pilot study aimed to describe the genetic variation and molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Palestine in fall 2020.

Results: To achieve these aims, whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2, phylogenetic analysis, haplotype networking and genetic diversity analysis were performed.

Genetic diversity, haplotype analysis, and risk factor assessment of hepatitis A virus isolates from the West Bank, Palestine during the period between 2014 and 2016.

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is one of the major causes of acute viral hepatitis. HAV genotypes and its genetic diversity is rarely investigated in our region as well as worldwide.

Aims: The aims of the present study were to determine the HAV genotypes and its risk factors and to investigate the genetic diversity of the HAV isolates in the West Bank, Palestine.

Case Report: Autochthonous Case of Human Visceral Leishmaniasis in the West Bank, Palestine.

Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) is a parasitic disease infecting children in the Mediterranean region. Here, we portray a case of a 2-year-old child with an epidemiological description of the situation surrounding the case. The patient was suffering from recurrent fever, weakness, and abdominal discomfort associated with loss of appetite.

Author Correction: Molecular Detection of Theileria ovis and Theleiria equi in Livestock from Palestine.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi in livestock in Palestine.

Background: Trypanosoma evansi is the causative agent of surra, a disease that occurs in many animal species. The disease is responsible for substantial losses in global production and can be fatal if not diagnosed early. This study aims to determine the prevalence of T.

Prevalence of selected intestinal protozoan infections in marginalized rural communities in Palestine.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are common in rural areas with poor infrastructure and low socioeconomic status. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of selected parasitic infections in marginalized rural areas in the northern part of the Palestinian West Bank Region, using conventional and PCR-based methods, and also to assess risk predictors of infection.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 104 individuals from three rural villages in the Jordan Valley.

Molecular Detection of Theileria ovis and Theleiria equi in Livestock from Palestine.

Theileria and Babesia are intracellular protozoan parasites infecting a wide range of animals. In Palestine, there is limited information on the prevalence of Theileria and Babesia spp. in livestock.

Molecular characterization of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in ixodid ticks and reservoir hosts from Palestine: a pilot survey.

Tick-borne anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are clinically important emerging zoonoses usually overlooked by veterinarians and physicians alike. This study aimed at detecting and genetically characterizing Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in ixodid ticks and their animal hosts from the West Bank, Palestine. A total of 723 ixodid ticks belonging to three genera (Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis) were collected from dogs, sheep, goats and camels.

Metagenomic profiling of ticks: Identification of novel rickettsial genomes and detection of tick-borne canine parvovirus.

Background: Across the world, ticks act as vectors of human and animal pathogens. Ticks rely on bacterial endosymbionts, which often share close and complex evolutionary links with tick-borne pathogens. As the prevalence, diversity and virulence potential of tick-borne agents remain poorly understood, there is a pressing need for microbial surveillance of ticks as potential disease vectors.

Genetic diversity of the enteroviruses detected from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with suspected aseptic meningitis in northern West Bank, Palestine in 2017.

Background: Human enterovirus genus showed a wide range of genetic diversity.

Objectives: To investigate the genetic diversity of the enteroviruses isolated in 2017 in northern West Bank, Palestine.

Study Design: 249 CSF samples from aseptic meningitis cases were investigated for HEV using two RT-PCR protocols targeting the 5' NCR and the VP1 region of the HEV genome.

Prevalence of Sero-Molecular Markers of Hepatitis C and B Viruses among Patients with -Thalassemia Major in Northern West Bank, Palestine.

Background: HCV and HBV present a great challenge in the management of -thalassemia patients.

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of both HBV and HCV in multitransfused-dependent -thalassemia patients in northern West Bank, Palestine, using sero-molecular markers.

Methods: Serum sample from 139 multitransfused -thalassemia patients were tested for HBV and HCV markers including HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, HBV-DNA, and anti-HCV and HCV-RNA.

The Prevalence of PCR-Confirmed Pertussis Cases in Palestine From Archived Nasopharyngeal Samples.

Background: Pertussis caused by Bordetella pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease causing whooping cough in humans of all ages. This study reports infection rate of pertussis in Palestine between the years 2004-2008 from archived nasopharyngeal samples collected from clinically- suspected cases.

Methods: A convenience archived DNA samples collected from 267 clinically-suspected pertussis cases were investigated for B.

A comparison of the efficiency of three sampling methods for use in the molecular and conventional diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

In human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), the success of positive diagnoses and species identifications depends, primarily, on how biopsies are taken and then processed and examined. The efficiency of three methods of taking skin biopsies from suspect cases of CL was compared using the classical methods of microscopy of stained smears, in vitro culture of tissue aspirate, and internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1)-polymerase chain reaction in diagnosing positive cases and identifying the species of Leishmania causing them. From 1994-2014, biopsy samples from the skin lesions of 2232 CL-suspected patients were collected as unstained smears, as smears stained with Giemsa's stain and on filter paper, and compared in the diagnostic tests employed.

Isolation and characterization of phenol degrading bacterium strain Bacillus thuringiensis J20 from olive waste in Palestine.

This study aimed at isolation of phenol degrading bacteria from olive mill wastes in Palestine. The efficiency of phenol removal and factors affecting phenol degradation were investigated. A bacterial strain (J20) was isolated from solid olive mill waste and identified as Bacillus thuringiensis based on standard morphological, biochemical characteristics and 16SrRNA sequence analysis.

The clinical burden of human cystic echinococcosis in Palestine, 2010-2015.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is classified by the WHO as a neglected disease inflicting economic losses on the health systems of many countries worldwide. The aim of this case-series study was to investigate the burden of human CE in Palestine during the period between 2010 and 2015.

Methodology/principal Findings: Records of surgically confirmed CE patients from 13 public and private hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were reviewed.