Rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using a one-step fast multiplex RT-PCR coupled to lateral flow immunoassay.

Background: The COVID-19 has put emphasis on pivotal needs for diagnosis and surveillance worldwide, with the subsequent shortage of diagnostic reagents and kits. Therefore, it has become strategic for the countries to access diagnostics, expand testing capacity, and develop their own diagnostic capabilities and alternative rapid accurate nucleic acid diagnostics that are at lower costs. Here, we propose a visual SARS-CoV-2 detection using a one-step fast multiplex reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) amplification coupled to lateral flow immunoassay detection on a PCRD device (Abingdon Health, UK).

Profile of Cytokines and T Cell Subsets Transcription Factors in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Viral Encephalitis.

This study investigates the demographic, clinical characteristics, virological profiles, and immunological responses of patients with viral encephalitis (VE) compared with a control group. The VE group displayed a wide range of neurological symptoms. Virological analysis revealed the predominance of Herpesviridae family viruses.

Case Study: Contribution of Extended Sequencing and Phylogeographic Analysis in the Investigation of Measles Outbreaks in Tunisia in 2019.

Despite the availability of an effective vaccine for several decades, the measles virus continues to spread worldwide. From 2018 to 2019, several countries experienced large measles outbreaks with genotype B3, including Tunisia. We analyzed 66 samples collected from serologically confirmed measles cases during this outbreak.

Recombination Events Among SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariants: Impact on Spike Interaction With ACE2 Receptor and Neutralizing Antibodies.

The recombination plays a key role in promoting evolution of RNA viruses and emergence of potentially epidemic variants. Some studies investigated the recombination occurrence among SARS-CoV-2, without exploring its impact on virus-host interaction. In the aim to investigate the burden of recombination in terms of frequency and distribution, the occurrence of recombination was first explored in 44 230 Omicron sequences among BQ subvariants and the under investigation "ML" (Multiple Lineages) denoted sequences, using 3seq software.

Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Disease Outcomes in Children and Adolescents Hospitalized Due to COVID-19 Infection in Tunisia.

Due to low susceptibility of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) in children, limited studies are available regarding COVID-19 in the pediatric population in Tunisia. The current study evaluated the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among children hospitalized at Béchir Hamza Children's Hospital. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using the hospital database between March 2020 and February 2022 with children aged ≤15 years with SARS-CoV-2 infection (confirmed by RT-PCR).

Immunogenicity and Tolerance of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) induces acquired immunodeficiency, potentially altering vaccine response. Herein, we aimed to explore the clinical tolerance and the humoral and cellular immune responses following anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in ASCT recipients.

Methods: A prospective, non-randomized, controlled study that involved 43 ASCT subjects and 31 healthy controls.

Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2: Data Analysis and Assessment of Tunisian Strategy from January 2021 to February 2022.

Due to the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.

Optical nondegenerate solitons in a birefringent fiber with a 35 degree elliptical angle.

In this paper, we investigate the optical nondegenerate solitons in a birefringent fiber with a 35 degree elliptical angle. We derive the nondegenerate bright one- and two-soliton solutions by solving the coupled Schrödinger equation. The formation of nondegenerate solitons is related to the wave numbers of the solitons, and we further demonstrate that it is caused by the incoherent addition of different components.

Development and evaluation of an easy to use real-time reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for clinical diagnosis of West Nile virus.

West Nile Virus (WNV) causes a serious public health concern in many countries around the world. Virus detection in pathological samples is a key component of WNV infection diagnostic, classically performed by real-time PCR. In outbreak situation, rapid detection of the virus, in peripheral laboratories or at point of care, is crucial to guide decision makers and for the establishment of adequate action plans to prevent virus dissemination.

Immunogenicity of Mix-and-Match CoronaVac/BNT162b2 Regimen versus Homologous CoronaVac/CoronaVac Vaccination: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Parallel Group Superiority Trial.

(1) Background: This study aimed to compare the immunogenicity of the mix-and-match CoronaVac/BNT162b2 vaccination to the homologous CoronaVac/CoronaVac regimen. (2) Methods: We conducted a simple-blinded randomized superiority trial to measure SARS-CoV-2 neutralization antibodies and anti-spike receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG concentrations in blood samples of participants who had received the first dose of CoronaVac vaccine followed by a dose of BNT162b2 or CoronaVac vaccine. The primary endpoint for immunogenicity was the serum-neutralizing antibody level with a percentage of inhibition at 90% at 21-35 days after the boost.

Coupling Plant Growth Models and Pest and Disease Models: An Interaction Structure Proposal, MIMIC.

Coupling plant growth model with pests and diseases (P&D) models, with consideration for the long-term feedback that occurs after the interaction, is still a challenging task nowadays. While a number of studies have examined various methodologies, none of them provides a generic frame able to host existing models and their codes without updating deeply their architecture. We developed MIMIC (Mediation Interface for Model Inner Coupling), an open-access framework/tool for this objective.

The Delta variant wave in Tunisia: Genetic diversity, spatio-temporal distribution and evidence of the spread of a divergent AY.122 sub-lineage.

Introduction: The Delta variant posed an increased risk to global public health and rapidly replaced the pre-existent variants worldwide. In this study, the genetic diversity and the spatio-temporal dynamics of 662 SARS-CoV2 genomes obtained during the Delta wave across Tunisia were investigated.

Methods: Viral whole genome and partial S-segment sequencing was performed using Illumina and Sanger platforms, respectively and lineage assignemnt was assessed using Pangolin version 1.

SARS-CoV-2 Serology: Utility and Limits of Different Antigen-Based Tests through the Evaluation and the Comparison of Four Commercial Tests.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 serology have several indications. Currently, as there are various types available, it is important to master their performance in order to choose the best test for the indication. We evaluated and compared four different commercial serology tests, three of them had the Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization (FDA-EUA).

Periodic and localized waves in parabolic-law media with third- and fourth-order dispersions.

Considering the higher-order nonlinearity is essential in a broad range of real physical media as it significantly influences the wave dynamics in these systems. We study the propagation of femtosecond light pulses inside an optical fiber medium exhibiting higher-order dispersion and cubic-quintic nonlinearities. Pulse evolution in such a system is governed by a higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger equation incorporating second-, third-, and fourth-order dispersions as well as cubic and quintic nonlinearities.

Whole genome analysis of hepatitis B virus before and during long-term therapy in chronic infected patients: Molecular characterization, impact on treatment and liver disease progression.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a serious public health concern worldwide despite the availability of an efficient vaccine and the major improvements in antiviral treatments. The aim of the present study is to analyze the mutational profile of the HBV whole genome in ETV non-responder chronic HBV patients, in order to investigate antiviral drug resistance, immune escape, and liver disease progression to Liver Cirrhosis (LC) or Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Blood samples were collected from five chronic hepatitis B patients.

Interaction dynamics of optical dark bound solitons for a defocusing Lakshmanan-Porsezian-Daniel equation.

We investigate the propagation and interaction dynamics of the optical dark bound solitons for the defocusing Lakshmanan-Porsezian-Daniel equation, which is a physically relevant generalization of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation involving the higher-order effects. Explicit N-dark soliton solutions in the compact determinant form are constructed via the binary Darboux transformation method. Bound states of the dark solitons are discussed when the incoherent solitons have the same velocity.

Overview of the epidemic history of Hepatitis C uncommon subtypes 2i and 4d in Tunisia and in the world.

The impressive improvements in qua therapy efficacy alone are not sufficient to substantially reduce the Hepatitis C Virus burden because of the usually very long asymptomatic phase of the infection. In turn, this renders prevention of infection of great importance. The value of learning how the virus has spread in the past is that this can provide clues as to what routes the virus likely spreads through today, which can feedback into prevention policy.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric population before and during the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants era.

Background: COVID-19, the coronavirus disease that emerged in December 2019, caused drastic damage worldwide. At the beginning of the pandemic, available data suggested that the infection occurs more frequently in adults than in infants. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children before and after B.

Humoral and Cellular Immunogenicity of Six Different Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in Adults: A Comparative Study in Tunisia (North Africa).

Background: The mass vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2 was started in Tunisia on 13 March 2021 by using progressively seven different vaccines approved for emergency use. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the humoral and cellular immunity in subjects aged 40 years and over who received one of the following two-dose regimen vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, namely mRNA-1273 or Spikevax (Moderna), BNT162B2 or Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech), Gam-COVID-Vac or Sputnik V (Gamaleya Research Institute), ChAdOx1-S or Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), BIBP (Sinopharm), and Coronavac (Sinovac).

Material And Methods: For each type of vaccine, a sample of subjects aged 40 and over was randomly selected from the national platform for monitoring COVID-19 vaccination and contacted to participate to this study.

Presumed Protective Role for Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Antibodies Against COVID-19 Severe Cases: A Clinical Study Confirming Hypothesis.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for COVID-19 disease which is known to have a broad clinical spectrum, from asymptomatic to critical presentation leading to death. Many researchers have investigated the factors impacting the course of the disease. Our previous study suggested a possible protective effect of Hepatitis B, Tetanus and Measles vaccines against COVID-19.