α- and β-Globin Gene Mutations in Individuals with Hemoglobinopathies in the Chattogram and Sylhet Regions of Bangladesh.

Hemoglobinopathies, including α- and β-thalassemias and sickle cell disease, are among the most widely disseminated hereditary blood disorders worldwide. Bangladesh is considered a hotspot for hemoglobinopathies, and these diseases cause a significant health concern in the country. However, the country has a dearth of knowledge on the molecular etiology and carrier frequency of thalassemias, primarily due to a lack of diagnostic facilities, limited access to information, and the absence of efficient screening programs.

Understanding Bacteriophage Tail Fiber Interaction with Host Surface Receptor: The Key "Blueprint" for Reprogramming Phage Host Range.

Bacteriophages (phages), as natural antibacterial agents, are being rediscovered because of the growing threat of multi- and pan-drug-resistant bacterial pathogens globally. However, with an estimated 10 phages on the planet, finding the right phage to recognize a specific bacterial host is like looking for a needle in a trillion haystacks. The host range of a phage is primarily determined by phage tail fibers (or spikes), which initially mediate reversible and specific recognition and adsorption by susceptible bacteria.

The sex and gender dimensions of COVID-19: A narrative review of the potential underlying factors.

Multiple lines of evidence indicate that the male sex is a significant risk factor for severe disease and mortality due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the precise explanation for the discrepancy is currently unclear. Immunologically, the female-biased protection against COVID-19 could presumably be due to a more rapid and robust immune response to viruses exhibited by males.

Nucleic Acid Vaccine Platform for DENGUE and ZIKA Flaviviruses.

Dengue virus and Zika virus are mosquito-borne, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that belong to the Flaviviridae family. Both the viruses are closely related and have similarities with other flaviviruses. Dengue virus (DENV) causes a severe febrile illness with fever, joint pain, and rash leading to a life-threatening condition in severe cases.

Genetic counseling in the context of Bangladesh: current scenario, challenges, and a framework for genetic service implementation.

With the advancements in genetics and genomics in the twenty-first century, genetic services have become an integral part of medical practices in high-income and upper-middle-income countries. However, people living in low and lower-middle-income countries (LICs and LIMCs), including Bangladesh, are rather underprivileged in receiving genetic services. Consequently, genetic disorders are emerging as a significant public health concern in these countries.

Genetic and reproductive consequences of consanguineous marriage in Bangladesh.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, sociodemographic factors, reproductive consequences, and heritable disease burdens associated with consanguineous marriage (CM) in Bangladesh.

Methods: A total of 7,312 families, including 3,694 CM-families, were recruited from 102 locales of 58 districts of Bangladesh. Using a standard questionnaire, we collected medical history and background sociodemographic data of these families.

Umbilical Cord Blood Screening for the Detection of Common Deletional Mutations of α-Thalassemia in Bangladesh.

α-Thalassemia (α-thal) is assumed to be very prevalent in Bangladesh. We aimed to assess the prevalence of the disease in the country and provide a model for α-thal newborn screening in Bangladesh. We collected umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples from 413 unrelated newborns in Bangladesh.

Chikungunya outbreak in Bangladesh (2017): Clinical and hematological findings.

Introduction: A massive outbreak of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) occurred in Bangladesh during the period of April-September 2017, and over two million people were at risk of getting infected by the virus. A prospective cohort of viremic patients was constituted and analyzed to define the clinical, hematological, and long-term aspects of this outbreak.

Methods: A 35-day long comprehensive survey was conducted in two major, neighboring cities, Dhaka and Mymensingh.

Arsenic hampered embryonic development: An study using local Bangladeshi model.

Zebrafish () has appeared as a valuable and popular model species to study the developmental and toxicological impact of environmental pollutants. To get insights on the toxicological effect of arsenic on early embryonic development, a controlled breeding of local Bangladeshi zebrafish followed by comprehensive microscopic analysis was conducted to study the embryonic development after exposure to different concentrations of arsenic ranges from 4-120 h post-fertilization. Zebrafish embryos exposed to 2 mM of arsenic displayed distinguishable developmental delay compared to control.