Feeding Behavior and Detection in , a Malaria Vector in District Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Background: is a significant malaria vector in Pakistan, and understanding its feeding behavior is necessary to control the spread of malaria. However, limited information is available on the host preferences of in Pakistan. Therefore, we aimed to explore the feeding behavior of , a malaria vector, in the District Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Molecular identification of Leishmania tropica in mammals occurring in human-inhabited areas of a cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic focus in North-West Pakistan.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is endemic in the tribal district of Khyber near the Pak-Afghan border and is caused by Leishmania tropica. In Pakistan, cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. tropica is considered anthroponotic and is thought to be maintained by a human-sand fly-human transmission cycle.

South Asian medical cohorts reveal strong founder effects and high rates of homozygosity.

The benefits of large-scale genetic studies for healthcare of the populations studied are well documented, but these genetic studies have traditionally ignored people from some parts of the world, such as South Asia. Here we describe whole genome sequence (WGS) data from 4806 individuals recruited from the healthcare delivery systems of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, combined with WGS from 927 individuals from isolated South Asian populations. We characterize population structure in South Asia and describe a genotyping array (SARGAM) and imputation reference panel that are optimized for South Asian genomes.

Insecticide susceptibility and detection of kdr-gene mutations in Aedes aegypti of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Dengue is an endemic disease in Peshawar, Pakistan and its primary vector is Aedes aegypti mosquito. Due to absence of vaccines and proper treatment for dengue, vector control becomes a necessary tool for disease management. Reported insecticide resistance in vectors is a serious threat to the control of dengue.

Interactive Effect of Biological Agents Chitosan, Lentinan and Ningnanmycin on Papaya Ringspot Virus Resistance in Papaya ( L.).

The papaya industry is mainly impacted by viral diseases, especially papaya ringspot disease (PRSD) caused by papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). So far, research on the interaction between Chitosan, Lentinan and Ningnanmycin on PRSD has not been reported. This research studied the controlled and interactive effect of three biological agents, namely, Chitosan (C), Lentinan (L) and Ningnanmycin (N), on PRSV in papaya, individually and collectively.

Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization Mapping of Anthrax Vaccine Publications from 1991 through 2021.

Purpose: This study aims to analyze and characterize anthrax vaccine-related research, key developments, global research trends, and mapping of published scientific research articles during the last three decades (1991-2021).

Methods: A bibliometric and visualized study was conducted. The Web of Science Core Collection database (WoSCC) was searched using relevant keywords ("Anthrax" OR "Anthrax bacterium" OR "" OR "Bacteridium anthracis" OR "Bacillus cereus var.

Enhancing the Activity of Carboxymethyl Cellulase Enzyme Using Highly Stable Selenium Nanoparticles Biosynthesized by Y4.

The inorganic selenium is absorbed and utilized inefficiently, and the range between toxicity and demand is narrow, so the application is strictly limited. Selenium nanoparticles have higher bioactivity and biosafety properties, including increased antioxidant and anticancer properties. Thus, producing and applying eco-friendly, non-toxic selenium nanoparticles in feed additives is crucial.

Genome-wide analysis of blood lipid metabolites in over 5000 South Asians reveals biological insights at cardiometabolic disease loci.

Background: Genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors can lead to perturbations in circulating lipid levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, how changes in individual lipid species contribute to disease risk is often unclear. Moreover, little is known about the role of lipids on cardiovascular disease in Pakistan, a population historically underrepresented in cardiovascular studies.

Development of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing system in Talaromyces marneffei.

Talaromyces marneffei is an important pathogenic thermally dimorphic fungus causing systemic talaromycosis mainly prevalent in Southeast Asia. The dimorphic transition between mycelium and yeast is considered crucial for the pathogenicity of T. marneffei.

An Unbiased Lipid Phenotyping Approach To Study the Genetic Determinants of Lipids and Their Association with Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors.

Direct infusion high-resolution mass spectrometry (DIHRMS) is a novel, high-throughput approach to rapidly and accurately profile hundreds of lipids in human serum without prior chromatography, facilitating in-depth lipid phenotyping for large epidemiological studies to reveal the detailed associations of individual lipids with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. Intact lipid profiling by DIHRMS was performed on 5662 serum samples from healthy participants in the Pakistan Risk of Myocardial Infarction Study (PROMIS). We developed a novel semi-targeted peak-picking algorithm to detect mass-to-charge ratios in positive and negative ionization modes.

Identification of new susceptibility loci for type 2 diabetes and shared etiological pathways with coronary heart disease.

To evaluate the shared genetic etiology of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coronary heart disease (CHD), we conducted a genome-wide, multi-ancestry study of genetic variation for both diseases in up to 265,678 subjects for T2D and 260,365 subjects for CHD. We identify 16 previously unreported loci for T2D and 1 locus for CHD, including a new T2D association at a missense variant in HLA-DRB5 (odds ratio (OR) = 1.29).

Environmental risk modelling and potential sand fly vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Chitral district: a leishmanial focal point of mount Tirich Mir, Pakistan.

Objective: To provide baseline information about suspected vectors and the incidence, distribution and an active zone of transmission for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Chitral, Pakistan, using GIS tools; and to investigate the role of environmental factors in the disease dynamics.

Method: Two surveys in 2014 and 2016 as a basis for choropleth and environmental risk mapping.

Results: A total of 769 captured specimens yielded 14 Phlebotomus and six Sergentomyia species including two potential vectors of CL, i.

Apolipoprotein(a) isoform size, lipoprotein(a) concentration, and coronary artery disease: a mendelian randomisation analysis.

Background: The lipoprotein(a) pathway is a causal factor in coronary heart disease. We used a genetic approach to distinguish the relevance of two distinct components of this pathway, apolipoprotein(a) isoform size and circulating lipoprotein(a) concentration, to coronary heart disease.

Methods: In this mendelian randomisation study, we measured lipoprotein(a) concentration and determined apolipoprotein(a) isoform size with a genetic method (kringle IV type 2 [KIV2] repeats in the LPA gene) and a serum-based electrophoretic assay in patients and controls (frequency matched for age and sex) from the Pakistan Risk of Myocardial Infarction Study (PROMIS).

Global genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti.

Mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti, are becoming important models for studying invasion biology. We characterized genetic variation at 12 microsatellite loci in 79 populations of Ae. aegypti from 30 countries in six continents, and used them to infer historical and modern patterns of invasion.

Causal Assessment of Serum Urate Levels in Cardiometabolic Diseases Through a Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Although epidemiological studies have reported positive associations between circulating urate levels and cardiometabolic diseases, causality remains uncertain.

Objectives: Through a Mendelian randomization approach, we assessed whether serum urate levels are causally relevant in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic stroke, and heart failure (HF).

Methods: This study investigated 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms known to regulate serum urate levels in association with various vascular and nonvascular risk factors to assess pleiotropy.

Species Distribution Modelling of Aedes aegypti in two dengue-endemic regions of Pakistan.

Objectives: Statistical tools are effectively used to determine the distribution of mosquitoes and to make ecological inferences about the vector-borne disease dynamics. In this study, we utilised species distribution models to understand spatial patterns of Aedes aegypti in two dengue-prevalent regions of Pakistan, Lahore and Swat. Species distribution models can potentially indicate the probability of suitability of Ae.

Physical activity, smoking, and genetic predisposition to obesity in people from Pakistan: the PROMIS study.

Background: Multiple genetic variants have been reliably associated with obesity-related traits in Europeans, but little is known about their associations and interactions with lifestyle factors in South Asians.

Methods: In 16,157 Pakistani adults (8232 controls; 7925 diagnosed with myocardial infarction [MI]) enrolled in the PROMIS Study, we tested whether: a) BMI-associated loci, individually or in aggregate (as a genetic risk score--GRS), are associated with BMI; b) physical activity and smoking modify the association of these loci with BMI. Analyses were adjusted for age, age(2), sex, MI (yes/no), and population substructure.

Impact of human mobility on the emergence of dengue epidemics in Pakistan.

The recent emergence of dengue viruses into new susceptible human populations throughout Asia and the Middle East, driven in part by human travel on both local and global scales, represents a significant global health risk, particularly in areas with changing climatic suitability for the mosquito vector. In Pakistan, dengue has been endemic for decades in the southern port city of Karachi, but large epidemics in the northeast have emerged only since 2011. Pakistan is therefore representative of many countries on the verge of countrywide endemic dengue transmission, where prevention, surveillance, and preparedness are key priorities in previously dengue-free regions.

Comet assay based DNA evaluation of fuel filling stations and automobile workshops workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

Background: Fuel filling stations workers and automobile workshops mechanics are consistently exposed to gasoline hydrocarbons during their occupation, this may cause DNA damage. Objective of this study was to evaluate the level of DNA damage in subjects occupationally exposed to these hydrocarbons.

Methods: Comet assay was performed on blood lymphocytes of exposed subjects to assess the probable DNA damage.

Evaluation of DNA damage in lymphocytes of radiology personnel by comet assay.

Objectives: The importance of X-rays as a diagnostic medical tool cannot be denied. However, continuous exposure to X-rays can cause DNA damage. This study aimed to use the comet assay technique to investigate the level of DNA damage in lymphocytes due to X-rays in occupationally exposed personnel.

Design, Synthesis, and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Novel Quinolone Imidazoles and Interactions with MRSA DNA.

A novel series of quinolone imidazoles as new type of antimicrobial agents were synthesized. Most compounds exhibited good bioactivities especially against MRSA even superior to reference drugs. They induced bacterial resistance more slowly than clinical drugs and gave low cytotoxicity to human cells.

Novel heteroaryl phosphonicdiamides PTPs inhibitors as anti-hyperglycemic agents.

Background: Chronic and oral administration of benzylamine improves glucose tolerance. Picolylamine is a selective functional antagonist of the human adenosine A2B receptor. Phosphonic diamide derivatives enhance the cellular permeability and in turn their biological activities.

Novel hybrids of metronidazole and quinolones: synthesis, bioactive evaluation, cytotoxicity, preliminary antimicrobial mechanism and effect of metal ions on their transportation by human serum albumin.

A novel series of hybrids of metronidazole and quinolones as antimicrobial agents were designed and synthesized. Most prepared compounds exhibited good or even stronger antimicrobial activities in comparison with reference drugs. Furthermore, these highly active metronidazole-quinolone hybrids showed appropriate ranges of pKa, log P and aqueous solubility to pharmacokinetic behaviors and no obvious toxicity to A549 and human hepatocyte LO2 cells.