Optimization of Sugar Extraction Process from Date Waste Using Full Factorial Design Toward Its Use for New Biotechnological Applications.

In Tunisia, the date industry generates a large quantity of waste, raising environmental concerns. However, dates are rich in sugars, which offer a renewable source of nutrients for various applications. In this study, sugar extraction from two low-grade pitted date fruits (Alig and Kentichi) under ultrasound, was optimized using full factorial design.

Virus-like particles as powerful vaccination strategy against human viruses.

Nowadays, viruses are not only seen as causative agents of viral infectious diseases but also as valuable research materials for various biomedical purposes, including recombinant protein production. When expressed in living or cell-free expression systems, viral structural proteins self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs). Mimicking the native form and size of viruses and lacking the genetic material, VLPs are safe and highly immunogenic and thus can be exploited to develop antiviral vaccines.

Cloning and Molecular Characterization of the Recombinant CVB4E2 Immunogenic Viral Protein (rVP1), as a Potential Subunit Protein for Vaccine and Immunodiagnostic Reagent Candidate.

The aim of the present study was, first, to clone the VP1 gene of the human coxsackievirus B4 strain E2 (CVB4E2) in the prokaryotic pUC19 plasmid expression vector then to compare it with the structural capsid proteins of the same strain using bioinformatic tools. PCR colony amplification followed through a restriction digestion analysis and sequencing process which affirmed the success of the cloning process. SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting were used to characterize the purified recombinant viral protein expressed in bacteria cells.

Viral Protein VP1 Virus-like Particles (VLP) of CVB4 Induces Protective Immunity against Lethal Challenges with Diabetogenic E2 and Wild Type JBV Strains in Mice Model.

Several epidemiological studies demonstrated that coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4) causes viral pancreatitis and can ultimately result in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Prevention of CVB4 infection is therefore highly desirable. There is currently no vaccine or antiviral therapeutic reagent in clinical use.

Effect of Flavoring with Rosemary, Lemon and Orange on the Quality, Composition and Biological Properties of Olive Oil: Comparative Study of Extraction Processes.

The goal of this work was to investigate the impact of the flavoring of some aromatic plants/spices, including rosemary (R), lemon (L) and orange (O) at the concentration of 5% and 35% (/) added by 2 methods (conventional maceration and direct flavoring), on quality attributes, chemical changes and oxidative stability of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Six flavored oils were obtained (EVOO + O, O + O, EVOO + R, O + R, EVOO + L and O + L). The physicochemical parameters (water content, refractive index, acidity and peroxide value, extinction coefficient, fatty acids, volatile aroma profiles, Rancimat test, phenols and pigments composition) of the flavored oils were investigated.

The introduction of mutations in the wild type coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) IRES RNA leads to different levels of in vitro reduced replicative and translation efficiencies.

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a principal causative agent of viral myocarditis, meningitis and pancreatitis. There is no vaccine available for clinical use. It has been demonstrated that the primary molecular determinant of virulence phenotype is located in the 5' UTR of the viral genome.

A Single Mutation in the Cryptic AUG (cAUG) Affects In Vitro Translation and Replication Efficiencies and In Vivo Virulence of Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3).

The 5'UTR of the genomic RNA of CVB3, unusually long and rich on highly structured secondary structure, contains a conserved cis acting RNA element named the cryptic AUG (cAUG), where the cellular 48S complex is formed. In this study, we investigate the role of this cAUG in CVB3 translation, replication, and virulence. Mutant viral sub-genomic replicon RNA was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis.

Lethal Mutagenesis of RNA Viruses and Approved Drugs with Antiviral Mutagenic Activity.

In RNA viruses, a small increase in their mutation rates can be sufficient to exceed their threshold of viability. Lethal mutagenesis is a therapeutic strategy based on the use of mutagens, driving viral populations to extinction. Extinction catastrophe can be experimentally induced by promutagenic nucleosides in cell culture models.

Phylogenetic analysis of the neuraminidase segment gene of Influenza A/H1N1 strains isolated from Monastir Region (Tunisia) during the 2017-2018 outbreak.

Unlabelled: Influenza A/H1N1 is widely considered to be a very evolutionary virus causing major public health problems. Since the pandemic of 2009, there has been a rapid rise in human Influenza virus characterization. However, little data is available in Tunisia regarding its genetic evolution.

Characterization of Coxsackievirus B4 virus-like particles VLP produced by the recombinant baculovirus-insect cell system expressing the major capsid protein.

Coxsackievirus B4 (CV-B4) is suspected to be an environmental factor that has the intrinsic capacity to damage the pancreatic beta cells and therefore causes insulitis and type 1 diabetes (T1D). Although vaccination against CV-B4 could reduce the incidence of this chronic auto-immune disease, there is currently no therapeutic reagent or vaccine in clinical use. By the employment of the Bac-to-Bac® vector system to express the major viral capsid protein, we contributed towards the development of a CV-B4 vaccine by producing CV-B4 virus-like particles (VLPs) from recombinant baculovirus in infected insect cells.

In vitro-reduced translation efficiency of coxsackievirus B3 Sabin3-like strain is correlated to impaired binding of cellular initiation factors to viral IRES RNA.

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) causes viral myocarditis and can ultimately result in dilated cardiomyopathy. There is no vaccine available for clinical use. Translation initiation of CVB3 RNA is directed by an internal ribosome entry site within the 5'-untranslated region.

Multiplex RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence assays for detection and subtyping of human influenza virus in Tunisia.

Influenza viruses are negative stranded segmented RNA viruses belonging to Orthomyxoviridae family. They are classified into three types A, B, and C. Type A influenza viruses are classified into subtypes according to the antigenic characters of the surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N).

Prolonged viral RNA detection in blood and lymphoid tissues from coxsackievirus B4 E2 orally-inoculated Swiss mice.

The spreading of viral RNA within Swiss Albino mice orally inoculated with coxsackievirus B4 E2 strain (CVB4 E2) was studied by using RT-PCR and semi-nested-RT-PCR methods. Viral RNA was detected in various organs: pancreas, heart, small intestine, spleen, thymus, and blood at various postinfectious (p.i.

Nucleotide sequences of IRES domains IV and V of natural ECHO virus type 11 isolates with different replicative capacity phenotypes.

ECHO viruses (ECV) belong to the enterovirus genus of the Picornaviridae family and are the most frequently isolated from clinical and environmental samples. They are responsible for a wide variety of clinical syndromes involving most organs of the human body. We previously postulated that some of the variations in the recognition of ECHO virus type 11 (ECV 11) strains by a group specific monoclonal antibody (Mab) which we have studied could be explained by variations in their replicative capacity in cell culture and variations within the 5' nontranslated region (5' NTR) of their genomes.

Epidemiological study of non-polio enterovirus neurological infections in children in the region of Monastir, Tunisia.

The epidemiological, virological, and clinical syndromes of 86 children younger than 13 years suspected of having neurological diseases and admitted to Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital of Monastir from January 2002 to November 2003 were analyzed. The presence of enterovirus was studied in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and by isolation on cell culture. Sixty-one (71%) specimens were positive by RT-PCR, whereas 45 (52.