Exploring Mycolactone-The Unique Causative Toxin of Buruli Ulcer: Biosynthetic, Synthetic Pathways, Biomarker for Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Potential.

Mycolactone is a complex macrolide toxin produced by , the causative agent of Buruli ulcer. The aim of this paper is to review the chemistry, biosynthetic, and synthetic pathways of mycolactone A/B to help develop an understanding of the mode of action of these polyketides as well as their therapeutic potential. The synthetic work has largely been driven by the desire to afford researchers enough (≥100 mg) of the pure toxins for systematic biological studies toward understanding their very high biological activities.

Burden of scabies in a Ghanaian penitentiary.

Background: There is a dearth of information concerning the epidemiology of human scabies in prisons. Therefore, we aimed to assess the burden of scabies and ascertain if prevalence was high enough to warrant mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin in a medium security prison in central Ghana.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in December 2022 and recruited inmates at the Kumasi central prison in Ghana.

Assessing the integration of skin screening into a mass drug administration campaign against neglected tropical diseases: A cross-sectional observational study from two districts in Côte d'Ivoire, 2023.

Background: The World Health Organization advocates integrating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) into common delivery platforms to combat them in resource-constrained settings. However, limited literature exists on the benefits of integration. This study examines the feasibility and impact of adding skin screening to a mass drug administration (MDA) campaign in Côte d'Ivoire.