Development and comparative evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD and N based ELISA tests in various African endemic settings.

Management of the COVID-19 pandemic relies on molecular diagnostic methods supported by serological tools. Herein, we developed S-RBD- and N- based ELISA assays useful for infection rate surveillance as well as the follow-up of acquired protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. ELISA assays were optimized using COVID-19 Tunisian patients' sera and prepandemic controls.

ABO blood groups and risk of covid-19.

Introduction: Coronavirus pandemic has been the subject of a large number of publications, some of which have shown an increased risk of contracting Covid-19 in carriers of blood group A.

Aims: In this study we looked at the profile of blood group phenotype of a series of Tunisian patients with covid-19 admitted to Abderrahman Mami hospital in Ariana .

Methods: Our study included 51 Tunisian patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to Abderrahmane Mami hospital between late march 2020 and early May 2020.

Antinuclear antibodies in interstitial lung disease: Prevalence and clinical significance.

Introduction: The diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) requires elimination of underlying connective tissue disease. Consequently, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are routinely screened in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. However the clinical usefulness of this practice is not well clear.

Computer-Assisted Classification Patterns in Autoimmune Diagnostics: The AIDA Project.

Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are significant biomarkers in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases in humans, done by mean of Indirect ImmunoFluorescence (IIF) method, and performed by analyzing patterns and fluorescence intensity. This paper introduces the AIDA Project (autoimmunity: diagnosis assisted by computer) developed in the framework of an Italy-Tunisia cross-border cooperation and its preliminary results. A database of interpreted IIF images is being collected through the exchange of images and double reporting and a Gold Standard database, containing around 1000 double reported images, has been settled.

Novel and recurrent AID mutations underlie prevalent autosomal recessive form of HIGM in consanguineous patients.

Immunoglobulin class switch recombination deficiencies (Ig-CSR-D) are characterized by normal or elevated serum IgM level and absence of IgG, IgA, and IgE. Most reported cases are due to X-linked CD40L deficiency. Activation-induced cytidine deaminase deficiency is the most frequent autosomal recessive form, whereas CD40 deficiency is more rare.

Multispecific anti neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies: a case report.

Aim: To report the presence af ANCA with an unusual polyreactivity.

Case Report: 50 year-old woman with pulmonary fibrosis whose immunological investigations showed the presence of ANCA with an unusual polyreactivity against several neutrophil proteins (PR3,MPO, BPI, lysozyme, elastase and cathepsine G) which could be related to a polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia occurring in this patient.

Conclusion: The international consensus on the testing of ANCA recommends seeking major specificities like MPO and PR3 which are good markers of ANCA-associated vasculitides.

Molecular characterization of a discrete hemoglobinopathy upon investigation for a lung hydatic cyst in an old Tunisian patient.

We report the case of an old Tunisian patient hospitalized for a complicated hydatic cyst of the right lung. Primary laboratory investigation showed a microcytic hypochromic anemia with an abnormal hemoglobin pattern. Hemoglobin analysis and DNA sequencing of the β-globin gene revealed a compound heterozygote, HbO-Arab/cd 39 β°-thalassemia.

[Diagnosis of type I hypersensitivity by laboratory test].

Type I hypersensitivity is a major problem in public health, often requiring numerous investigations which aim to diagnose atopy and identify the causative allergen. Among these investigations, several blood tests, mostly using immunoenzymatic methods, can be performed to measure total and specific IgE levels. Type I hypersensitivity can also be investigated with assays which quantitate several mediators released after cellular activation induced by allergens.