A new class of natural anthelmintics targeting lipid metabolism.

Parasitic helminths are a major global health threat, infecting nearly one-fifth of the human population and causing significant losses in livestock and crops. Resistance to the few anthelmintic drugs is increasing. Here, we report a set of avocado fatty alcohols/acetates (AFAs) that exhibit nematocidal activity against four veterinary parasitic nematode species: Brugia pahangi, Teladorsagia circumcincta and Heligmosomoides polygyrus, as well as a multidrug resistant strain (UGA) of Haemonchus contortus.

Association between diabetes distress and sociodemographic and/or socioeconomic factors among adults: A cross-sectional study.

Diabetes-related distress (DRD) is a psychological syndrome with worsened prognosis in uncontrolled diabetic patients. The current study aimed to assess the factors contributing to DRD among the Lebanese population using the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS-17) score and its sub-scores. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted between March and September 2021 enrolling.

The socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics associated with quality of life among diabetic patients in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic non-communicable endocrine disease that has a considerable impact on both the health and quality of life (QoL) of patients. This study aimed to investigate the sociodemographic factors associated with the quality of life among the Lebanese population with DM.

Methods: A cross-sectional study that enrolled 125 diabetic patients aged ≥18, was conducted between January and June of 2021.

A statistical framework for high-content phenotypic profiling using cellular feature distributions.

High-content screening (HCS) uses microscopy images to generate phenotypic profiles of cell morphological data in high-dimensional feature space. While HCS provides detailed cytological information at single-cell resolution, these complex datasets are usually aggregated into summary statistics that do not leverage patterns of biological variability within cell populations. Here we present a broad-spectrum HCS analysis system that measures image-based cell features from 10 cellular compartments across multiple assay panels.

Novel LOTUS-domain proteins are organizational hubs that recruit Vasa to germ granules.

We describe MIP-1 and MIP-2, novel paralogous germ granule components that interact with the intrinsically disordered MEG-3 protein. These proteins promote P granule condensation, form granules independently of MEG-3 in the postembryonic germ line, and balance each other in regulating P granule growth and localization. MIP-1 and MIP-2 each contain two LOTUS domains and intrinsically disordered regions and form homo- and heterodimers.

FRET-Based Probe for High-Throughput DNA Intercalator Drug Discovery and Imaging.

Molecules that bind DNA by intercalating its bases remain among the most potent cancer therapies and antimicrobials due to their interference with DNA-processing proteins. To accelerate the discovery of novel intercalating drugs, we designed a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based probe that reports on DNA intercalation, allowing rapid and sensitive screening of chemical libraries in a high-throughput format. We demonstrate that the method correctly identifies known DNA intercalators in approved drug libraries and discover previously unreported intercalating compounds.

The Microbiome of the Lebanese Wild Apple, Malus trilobata, is a Rich Source of Potential Biocontrol Agents for Fungal Post-harvest Pathogens of Apples.

The widespread use of harmful fungicides in the agricultural sector has led to a demand for safer alternatives to protect against crop pathogens. The domestic apple is the second most highly consumed fruit in the world and encounters several pre- and post-harvest fungal and bacterial phytopathogens. The goal of this study was to explore the uncharacterized microbiome of a wild apple, Malus trilobata, as a potential source of novel biocontrol agents for two post-harvest fungi that affect commercial apples: Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum.

Phenotyping of the thrashing forces exerted by partially immobilized C. elegans using elastomeric micropillar arrays.

As a simple model organism, C. elegans plays an important role in gaining insight into the relationship between bodily thrashing forces and biological effects, such as disease and aging, or physical stimuli, like touch and light. Due to their similar length scale, microfluidic chips have been extensively explored for use in various biological studies involving C.