Alkaline keratinase from sp. DRS4 efficiently biodegrades chicken feathers to synthesize improved keratin/bacterial nanocellulose-based bioplastics.

Chicken feathers represent an abundant and sustainable resource that can be harnessed for multiple value-added products. Bioplastic reinforced with bacterial nanocellulose was synthesized using enzymatically digested chicken feathers. A highly efficient keratinolytic bacterium, identified as sp.

Affects Protein and Lipid Content of Circulating Exosomes in Infected Patients Depending on Tuberculosis Disease State.

Tuberculosis (TB), which is caused by the bacterium (), is still one of the deadliest infectious diseases. Understanding how the host and pathogen interact in active TB will have a significant impact on global TB control efforts. Exosomes are increasingly recognized as a means of cell-to-cell contact and exchange of soluble mediators.

Exosomes in serum‑free cultures of THP‑1 macrophages infected with .

It has been shown from the isolation and characterization of exosomes from cell culture media supplemented with fetal bovine serum that both their quality and purity are affected. The high abundance of serum proteins, including bovine cell derived exosomes, is also a potential source of contaminants, which may result in appreciable yields of impure exosomes, thereby leading to artifacts. Isolation and characterization of exosomes from cells maintained under serum‑free conditions should therefore ensure the high quality necessary for medical applications.

Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-infections among Lymphadenitis Patients in Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are among the major health problems in Ethiopia. This study assessed the proportion of tuberculosis lymphadenitis (TBLN), HIV infection and their co-infection among TBLN presumptive individuals at the selected hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: Institution based cross sectional study was carried out.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Factors Associated With It Among Adults of West Gojjam: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, indicating great clinical attention. However, much less attention has been given to metabolic syndrome in the study area.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its associated factors in the adult population of West Gojjam zone, Ethiopia.

Common bacterial causes of external ocular infections, associated risk factors and antibiotic resistance among patients at ophthalmology unit of Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Ocular infections are a serious public health problem in Ethiopia with increased incidence of morbidity and blindness. Empirical therapy with topical ophthalmic broad spectrum antibiotic formulations is also a prevailing practice. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial causes of external ocular infections (EOIs), antimicrobial resistance and its associated risk factors among patients at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Composition and Clinical Significance of Exosomes in Tuberculosis: A Systematic Literature Review.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health issue worldwide. In order to contain TB infections, improved vaccines as well as accurate and reliable diagnostic tools are desirable. Exosomes are employed for the diagnosis of various diseases.

Genomic diversity and transmission dynamics of in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

complex (MTBC) and its human host are the most competent organisms with co-evolutionary trajectory. This review determined the phylogeography, clinical phenotype-related genotype and transmission dynamics of MTBC in Africa. Spoligotyping and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) based articles from Africa published in the English language were included.

Nutritional status of tuberculosis patients, a comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: Each year, more than 13.7 million people became an active case of tuberculosis and more than 1.5 million cases of TB patient will die.

Molecular epidemiology of M. tuberculosis in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis, Mtb) is poorly documented in Ethiopia. The data that exists has not yet been collected in an overview metadata form.

Bacteriology of community acquired pneumonia in adult patients at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is reported as a common cause of lower respiratory tract infection worldwide. Bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) associated with this infection varied between geographical regions. Knowledge of the pathogens in a given area and their up-to-date AMR profile is essential for optimal management of patients.

Human papillomavirus in Ethiopia.

Over 99% of cervical cancer cases are associated with genital infection by certain types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs). To outline optimal vaccination strategies and HPV based cervical cancer screening, synthesized data on the genotype distribution of HPV is fundamental that is otherwise missed in Ethiopia. The aim of this study is to compile the findings on HPV genotyping in Ethiopia.

Epidemiology of tuberculous lymphadenitis in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Tuberculous lymphadenitis is the most frequent form of extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) and accounts for a considerable proportion of all EPTB cases. We conducted a systematic review of articles that described the epidemiological features of TBLN in Africa.

Methods: Any article that characterized TBLN cases with respect to demographic, exposure and clinical features were included.

Treatment outcomes of tuberculosis patients under directly observed treatment short-course at Debre Tabor General Hospital, northwest Ethiopia: nine-years retrospective study.

Background: Data regarding tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes, proportion of TB/HIV co-infection and associated factors have been released at different TB treatment facilities in Ethiopia and elsewhere in the world as part of the auditing and surveillance service. However, these data are missing for the TB clinic offering directly observed treatment short-course (DOTs) at Debre Tabor General Hospital (DTGH).

Methods: The authors analysed the records of 985 TB patients registered at the DTGH from September 2008 to December 2016.

BURDEN AND DETERMINANT FACTORS OF ANEMIA AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA: A COMPARATIVE CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background: Anemia is an indicator of both poor nutrition and health. In low-income countries like Ethiopia, the prevalence of anemia remains high due to several determinant factors. There is a lack of regular surveillance system to determine the magnitude of anemia among school age children.

Prevalence of Bacteriuria and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns among Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients Attending at Debre Tabor Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

. Urinary tract infection is a major health problem especially in developing countries. Information about bacterial pathogens isolated from urinary tract infection in diabetic patients and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns is limited in Ethiopia.

Erratum to: Clinical profile of tetanus patients attended at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective cross sectional study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40064-016-2592-8.].

Profile of tuberculosis and its response to anti-TB drugs among tuberculosis patients treated under the TB control programme at Felege-Hiwot Referral Hospital, Ethiopia.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global concern for both developing and developed countries. Currently it becomes more complex due to increasing levels of drug resistance and HIV co-infection. Delayed diagnosis and high case load are major factors contributing to continued transmission and failure to the treatment outcome.

Clinical profile of tetanus patients attended at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective cross sectional study.

Background: Tetanus is an acute, often fatal, disease caused by an exotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. It is characterized by generalized rigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal muscles. Tetanus remains a major public health problem in Ethiopia like other developed nations.

Evaluation of the efficacy of bleach routinely used in health facilities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Ethiopia.

Introduction: In Ethiopia, the most widely used disinfectant is 5% Hypochlorites. However, Ethiopian national health safety and infection prevention guideline recommendation on the use of bleach is not consistent and varying from 0.1%-4%.

Tuberculous Lymphadenitis in Ethiopia Predominantly Caused by Strains Belonging to the Delhi/CAS Lineage and Newly Identified Ethiopian Clades of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex.

Background: Recently, newly defined clades of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) strains, namely Ethiopia 1-3 and Ethiopia H37Rv-like strains, and other clades associated with pulmonary TB (PTB) were identified in Ethiopia. In this study, we investigated whether these new strain types exhibit an increased ability to cause TB lymphadenitis (TBLN) and raised the question, if particular MTBC strains derived from TBLN patients in northern Ethiopia are genetically adapted to their local hosts and/or to the TBLN.

Methods: Genotyping of 196 MTBC strains isolated from TBLN patients was performed by spoligotyping and 24-loci mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) typing.

Multidrug-resistant and heteroresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and associated gene mutations in Ethiopia.

Background: The prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) among new and retreatment cases in 2011 in Ethiopia was 2.7% and 17.9%, respectively.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Ethiopia: efforts to expand diagnostic services, treatment and care.

The emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), particularly multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB, is a major public health problem. The purpose of this review is to describe the current status of MDR-TB and factors that increase the risk of this infection. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on MDR-TB in Ethiopia.