A Novel Application of Virus Like Particles in the Hemagglutination Inhibition Assay.

The hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay is a traditional laboratory procedure for detection and quantitation of serum antibodies of hemagglutinating viruses containing the hemagglutinin (HA) gene. The current study aimed to investigate the novel use of virus like particles (VLP) as an antigen for the HI assay. VLPs were prepared from a strain of H5N1 using a baculovirus expression system.

Advancing IBDV diagnostics: a one-step multiplex real-time qRT-PCR for discriminating between vvIBDV and non-vvIBDV viruses, including the newly emerged IBDV variant.

The very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) induces an acute, highly contagious and immunosuppressive disease in younger chicken causing massive economic losses globally. A major challenge in the field's clinical diagnosis is distinguishing gross lesions caused by vvIBDV from those induced by classic IBDV (cIBDV), commonly used as live attenuated vaccines. This study introduces a one-step multiplex real-time PCR assay designed to distinguish between vvIBDV and non-vvIBDV viruses.

A case of a twin surviving to term following the abortion of its co-twin at 9 months in an Arabian mare.

Twin pregnancy in mares is one of the leading causes of abortions. Abortion invariably impacts both fetuses. This report describes an unusual case of a twin surviving to term following the abortion of its co-twin at 9 months in a 7-year-old Egyptian Arabian mare.

Emergence of the novel infectious bursal disease virus variant in vaccinated poultry flocks in Egypt.

Since the detection of antigenically atypical very virulent Infectious bursal disease viruses (vvIBDV) in Egypt in 1999, the country has been experiencing recurrent outbreaks with high mortality rates and typical gross lesions associated with typical vvIBDV. However, a significant change occurred in 2023, marked by a notable increase in reported subclinical IBDV cases. To evaluate the field situation, samples from 21 farms in 2023 and 18 farms from 2021 and 2022, all of which had experienced IBD outbreaks based on clinical diagnosis, were collected, and subjected to VP2-HVR sequencing.

BCMA-CD19 compound CAR T cells for systemic lupus erythematosus: a phase 1 open-label clinical trial.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BCMA-CD19 compound chimeric antigen receptor T cells (cCAR) to dual reset the humoral and B cell immune system in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: This is a single-arm open-label multicentre phase 1 study of BCMA and CD19-directed cCAR in patients suffering from SLE/LN with autoantibodies produced by B cells and plasma/long-lived plasma cells. In this clinical trial, we sequentially assigned biopsy-confirmed (classes III-V) LN patients to receive 3×10 cCAR cells/kg postcessation of all SLE medications and conditioning.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence determination in pets and camels in Egypt using multispecies enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has translated into a worldwide economic recession and public health crisis. Bats have been incriminated as the main natural host for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the reservoir and carrier hosts of the virus remain unknown.

A longitudinal study of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in dromedary camels.

Background: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was identified in humans in 2012. Since then, 2605 cases and 937 associated deaths have been reported globally. Camels are the natural host for MERS-CoV and camel to human transmission has been documented.

Immunogenicity and Cross-Protective Efficacy Induced by an Inactivated Recombinant Avian Influenza A/H5N1 (Clade 2.3.4.4b) Vaccine against Co-Circulating Influenza A/H5Nx Viruses.

Controlling avian influenza viruses (AIVs) is mainly based on culling of the infected bird flocks or via the implementation of inactivated vaccines in countries where AIVs are considered to be endemic. Over the last decade, several avian influenza virus subtypes, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.2.

Circulating foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype A African-genotype IV in Egypt during 2022.

Background And Aim: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus causes continuous outbreaks, leading to serious economic consequences that affect animal productivity and restrict trade movement. The potential influence of the disease was due to the emergence of new strains or re-emergence of local strains with major antigenic variations due to genetic mutations. This study aims to evaluate circulating virus in samples collected from infected animals during an outbreak using antigenic characterization and identify whether there is an emergence of a new strain or mutation.

Interspecies transmission of SARS CoV-2 with special emphasis on viral mutations and ACE-2 receptor homology roles.

COVID-19 outbreak was first reported in 2019, Wuhan, China. The spillover of the disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), to a wide range of pet, zoo, wild, and farm animals has emphasized potential zoonotic and reverse zoonotic viral transmission. Furthermore, it has evoked inquiries about susceptibility of different animal species to SARS-CoV-2 infection and role of these animals as viral reservoirs.

Emergence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A Virus (H5N1) of Clade 2.3.4.4b in Egypt, 2021-2022.

Wild migratory birds have the capability to spread avian influenza virus (AIV) over long distances as well as transmit the virus to domestic birds. In this study, swab and tissue samples were obtained from 190 migratory birds during close surveillance in Egypt in response to the recent outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus. The collected samples were tested for a variety of AIV subtypes (H5N1, H9N2, H5N8, and H6N2) as well as other pathogens such as NDV, IBV, ILT, IBDV, and WNV.

SARS-CoV-2 infection of companion animals in Egypt and its risk of spillover.

Background: Reverse zoonoses occur because of interactions between humans and animals. Homology of ACE-2 cell receptors in different hosts and high mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 enhance viral transmission among species.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate spillover of SARS-CoV-2 between humans and companion animals.

Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Analysis of Avian Influenza A(H5) Viruses Circulating in Egypt, 2019-2021.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 virus was first detected in Egypt in late 2016. Since then, the virus has spread rapidly among different poultry sectors, becoming the dominant HPAI H5 subtype reported in Egypt. Different genotypes of the HPAI H5N8 virus were reported in Egypt; however, the geographic patterns and molecular evolution of the Egyptian HPAI H5N8 viruses are still unclear.

Mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Detected in Cats and Their Effect on Its Structure and Function.

The high frequency of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutations and homology of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE2) cell receptors in various hosts help the virus transcend species barriers. In this study, we investigated the mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein detected in cats and their effect on its structure and function. Interestingly, some of these mutations are reported here in cats for the first time.

Evidence for origin of lavender foal syndrome among Egyptian Arabian horses in Egypt.

Background: Lavender foal syndrome (LFS) is a fatal hereditary condition that is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. This detrimental mutation is more common in Arabian foals of Egyptian origin than foals from other bloodlines. Heterozygous horses are carriers of the LFS trait and appear normal, while recessive homozygous foals died shortly after birth due to serious complications.

Genetic Variations among Different Variants of G1-like Avian Influenza H9N2 Viruses and Their Pathogenicity in Chickens.

Since it was first discovered, the low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H9N2 subtype has established linages infecting the poultry population globally and has become one of the most prevalent influenza subtypes in domestic poultry. Several different variants and genotypes of LPAI H9N2 viruses have been reported in Egypt, but little is known about their pathogenicity and how they have evolved. In this study, four different Egyptian LPAI H9N2 viruses were genetically and antigenically characterized and compared to representative H9N2 viruses from G1 lineage.

Application of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) in Sex Identification of Parrots Bred in Egypt.

Over 400 of the 3800 tropical avian species are endangered or threatened. One of many solutions to conserve animal biodiversity is breeding animals in zoos or private animal farms. Animal breeding programs are difficult to implement in species with sexual monomorphism, such as parrots.

Development and evaluation of one-step real-time RT-PCR assay for improved detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotypes circulating in Egypt.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an extremely contagious and economically important viral disease affecting livestock. Rapid and precise diagnosis of FMD is of critical importance for efficient control and surveillance strategies of the disease. In this study, one-step real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays were developed using newly designed primers/probe sets in the conserved regions within the VP1 coding sequence for specific detection of FMDV serotypes SAT 2 and O with their different lineage circulating in Egypt.

Regulatory Effect of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and/ or Acitretin on Adam10 Gene in Alzheimer's Disease Rat Model.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration. All recent therapeutic strategies tend to inhibit the generation of the Aβ peptide. These approaches tend to mediate both α - and γ -secretases to undergo the nonamyloidogenic pathway.

Assessment of plasmablast cells in immune thrombocytopenic purpura in children.

Primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder with platelet destruction due to B- and T-cell dysregulation and antiplatelet autoantibodies production. Flow cytometry can be used to further characterize the B- and T-cell compartments involved in platelet destruction. This case-control study was to enumerate plasmablast cells in pediatric ITP patients and to correlate their levels with disease course.

Multidrug-Resistant and Genetic Characterization of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Recovered from Chickens and Humans in Egypt.

Colonization of food chain animals such as chickens with extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) poses a major health threat to human. The current study aimed to determine the phenotypic and genotypic relationship between ESBL-producing from diseased human and chickens in Egypt. A total of 56 out of 120 chicken farms (46.

Molecular detection, phylogenetic analysis and genetic diversity of recently isolated foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype A African topotype, Genotype IV.

Background: Surveillance for circulating emerging diseases of economic importance has a major role in the rapid response to major pathogen outbreaks. Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is one of the significant endemic viruses in Egypt. FMDV is periodically investigated for monitoring evolution and emergence of new variants.

Epidemiological and molecular analysis of circulating fowl adenoviruses and emerging of serotypes 1, 3, and 8b in Egypt.

Fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) are a large group of viruses of different serotypes. They are responsible for inclusion body hepatitis, adenoviral gizzard erosion, and hepatitis hydropericardium syndrome. The present study presents a comprehensive overview of FAdVs in Egypt, with a focus on the epidemiological features of virus serotypes across the country.