Identification of Tick-Borne Pathogens and Genotyping of in in Yunnan Province, China.

, a vector that can transmit many pathogens to humans and domestic animals, is widely distributed in Yunnan province, China. However, few reports on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in in Yunnan are available. The aim of this study was to detect TBPs in in Yunnan and to analyze the phylogenetic characterization of TBPs detected in these ticks.

Emergence of the invasive malaria vector Anopheles stephensi in Khartoum State, Central Sudan.

The emergence of the Asian invasive malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi, has been identified in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan. This is the first report that confirms the geographical expansion of this urban mosquito into Central Sudan. We urgently recommend the launch of a national entomological survey to determine the distribution of this invasive disease vector and to generate essential information about its bionomics and susceptibility to available malaria control measures.

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 border restrictions on dengue transmission in Yunnan Province, China: an observational epidemiological and phylogenetic analysis.

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, China implemented strict restrictions on cross-border travel to prevent disease importation. Yunnan, a Chinese province that borders dengue-endemic countries in Southeast Asia, experienced unprecedented reduction in dengue, from 6840 recorded cases in 2019 to 260 in 2020.

Methods: Using a combination of epidemiological and virus genomic data, collected from 2013 to 2020 in Yunnan and neighbouring countries, we conduct a series of analyses to characterise the role of virus importation in driving dengue dynamics in Yunnan and assess the association between recent international travel restrictions and the decline in dengue reported in Yunnan in 2020.

Gene and prognostic value of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification regulatory factors in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, and its incidence continues to increase. The treatment of lung cancer is related to the subtypes and stages of cancer, but the therapeutic effect is still unsatisfactory. We found that 10 of the 13 genes were differentially expressed in lung cancer, YTHDF1, RBM15, HNRNPC, KIAA1429, METTL3 and YTHDF2 are high expression while METTL14, ZC3H13, FTO and WTAP are low expression.

Novel variants causing megalencephalic leukodystrophy in Sudanese families.

Mutations in MLC1 cause megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC), a rare form of leukodystrophy characterized by macrocephaly, epilepsy, spasticity, and slow mental deterioration. Genetic studies of MLC are lacking from many parts of the world, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Genomic DNA was extracted for 67 leukodystrophic patients from 43 Sudanese families.

Pathogenic Variants in Cause a Novel Psychomotor Developmental Disorder With Spastic Paraplegia.

Hereditary spastic paraplegia is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous neurological entity that includes more than 80 disorders which share lower limb spasticity as a common feature. Abnormalities in multiple cellular processes are implicated in their pathogenesis, including lipid metabolism; but still 40% of the patients are undiagnosed. Our goal was to identify the disease-causing variants in Sudanese families excluded for known genetic causes and describe a novel clinico-genetic entity.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of chikungunya, dengue, and Zika in eight districts in Tanzania.

Background: This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of chikungunya (CHIKV), dengue (DENV), and Zika (ZIKV) viruses in Tanzania.

Methods: The study covered the districts of Buhigwe, Kalambo, Kilindi, Kinondoni, Kondoa, Kyela, Mvomero, and Ukerewe in Tanzania. Blood samples were collected from individuals recruited from households and healthcare facilities.

Differential Association of Viral Dynamics With Disease Severity Depending on Patients' Age Group in COVID-19.

Despite a clear association of patient's age with COVID-19 severity, there has been conflicting data on the association of viral load with disease severity. Here, we investigated the association of viral load dynamics with patient's age and severity of COVID-19 using a set of respiratory specimens longitudinally collected (mean: 4.8 times/patient) from 64 patients with broad distribution of clinical severity and age during acute phase.

The role of integrated programs in the prevention of COVID-19 in a humanitarian setting.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a severe depletion to health systems worldwide. In the South Kordofan state, a war-torn humanitarian region in Sudan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the WHO Emergencies Programme have led the development of integrated programs for health, peace and rehabilitation by training rapid response teams to strengthen both surveillance system and response capacities, engaging the communities at risk with health education and promotion activities, as well as following proper infection, prevention and control measures during case investigation. Also, Early Help Assessment coordinators met with health services managers and recruited 14 teams who were trained to ensure a rapid response to COVID-19.

The Emergence of Rift Valley Fever in Gedaref State Urges the Need for a Cross-Border One Health Strategy and Enforcement of the International Health Regulations.

This study investigated the causative agent of a haemorrhagic fever epidemic in Gedaref state, south-east Sudan. Six cases of febrile illness with haemorrhagic manifestations presented at outpatient health-clinics. Blood samples were collected from the patients and shipped to Khartoum where they were tested for dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) using real-time qPCR.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Zoonotic Risk in Wildlife Trade, Southern China.

Current wildlife trade practices in China lead to significant interactions between humans and animals and drive the emergence of zoonotic diseases. The at-risk behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes that influence health-related behaviors in relation to animal contact and safety measures in the trade remain poorly understood. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among 947 adult Internet users in three provinces in southern China to assess knowledge, perceived disease risks, at-risk behaviors, and the association of these factors with other demographic factors among the target population.

Circ_0003972 Promotes the Proliferation and Inflammation of Fibroblast-like Synovial Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis through Regulation of the miR-654-5p/FZD4 Axis.

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to play an important role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression. This study aims to explore the role and mechanism of circ_0003972 in RA progression.

Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine gene expression.

The Pan African Vivax and Ovale Network (PAVON): Refocusing on Plasmodium vivax, ovale and asymptomatic malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.

The recent World Malaria report shows that progress in malaria elimination has stalled. Current data acquisition by NMCPs depend on passive case detection and clinical reports focused mainly on Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). In recent times, several countries in sub-Saharan Africa have reported cases of Plasmodium vivax (Pv) with a considerable number being Duffy negative.

Dysregulation of Transcription Profile of Selenoprotein in Patients with Kashin-Beck Disease and Its Effect on Se Deficiency-Induced Chondrocyte Apoptosis.

Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is a chronic, degenerative osteoarthropathy related to selenium (Se) deficiency. Se participates in the synthesis of selenoprotein in the form of selenocysteine. In total, 25 selenoproteins, encoded by 25 genes, are currently found in humans; however, the effects of selenoprotein genes on chondrocyte apoptosis, particularly in apoptosis-related genes, remain poorly elucidated.

An identical-by-descent novel splice-donor variant in PRUNE1 causes a neurodevelopmental syndrome with prominent dystonia in two consanguineous Sudanese families.

PRUNE1 is linked to a wide range of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative phenotypes. Multiple pathogenic missense and stop-gain PRUNE1 variants were identified in its DHH and DHHA2 phosphodiesterase domains. Conversely, a single splice alteration was previously reported.

Of mitochondrion and COVID-19.

COVID-19, a pandemic disease caused by a viral infection, is associated with a high mortality rate. Most of the signs and symptoms, e.g.

Geographical Variability in Paromomycin Pharmacokinetics Does Not Explain Efficacy Differences between Eastern African and Indian Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients.

Introduction: Intramuscular paromomycin monotherapy to treat visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been shown to be effective for Indian patients, while a similar regimen resulted in lower efficacy in Eastern Africa, which could be related to differences in paromomycin pharmacokinetics.

Methods: Pharmacokinetic data were available from two randomized controlled trials in VL patients from Eastern Africa and India. African patients received intramuscular paromomycin monotherapy (20 mg/kg for 21 days) or combination therapy (15 mg/kg for 17 days) with sodium stibogluconate.

Single-cell RNA sequencing of human nail unit defines RSPO4 onychofibroblasts and SPINK6 nail epithelium.

Research on human nail tissue has been limited by the restricted access to fresh specimen. Here, we studied transcriptome profiles of human nail units using polydactyly specimens. Single-cell RNAseq with 11,541 cells from 4 extra digits revealed nail-specific mesenchymal and epithelial cell populations, characterized by RSPO4 (major gene in congenital anonychia) and SPINK6, respectively.

Pathogenesis and Management of COVID-19.

COVID-19, occurring due to SARS-COV-2 infection, is the most recent pandemic disease that has led to three million deaths at the time of writing. A great deal of effort has been directed towards altering the virus trajectory and/or managing the interactions of the virus with its subsequent targets in the human body; these interactions can lead to a chain reaction-like state manifested by a cytokine storm and progress to multiple organ failure. During cytokine storms the ratio of pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory mediators is generally increased, which contributes to the instigation of hyper-inflammation and confers advantages to the virus.

First report of epidemic dengue fever and malaria co-infections among internally displaced persons in humanitarian camps of North Darfur, Sudan.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate an outbreak of a non-malaria, undifferentiated febrile illness, among internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in humanitarian camps in North Darfur, Sudan, in 2019.

Methods: An investigation team was deployed to North Darfur to identify suspected cases and collect blood samples, and clinical and demographical data. Blood samples were examined microscopically for Plasmodium spp and tested for dengue (DENV) and yellow fever viruses by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1/2 blockade locks dendritic cells in the semimature state associated with FA deprivation by favoring FAO.

Immunometabolism is rising as an intriguing topic that reveals the connection between immune cell function and metabolic processes. Especially, fatty acid metabolism plays an essential role in the dendritic cells (DCs) during the differentiation and maturation period. We questioned whether regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylases 1 and 2-(ACC1/2), the core enzymes of fatty acid synthesis (FAS), would control DC function.

Intratracheal inoculation of human varicella zoster virus (VZV; MAV strain) vaccine successfully induced VZV IgG antibodies in rhesus monkeys.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate whether the use of live attenuated varicella zoster virus (VZV) MAV vaccination can efficiently induce VZV antibody production in naive rhesus monkeys as an approach to prevent simian varicella virus (SVV) reactivation in animals immunosuppressed for transplantation studies.

Results: Clinically available human VZV vaccine was used to induce the production of anti-VZV antibodies in rhesus monkeys. A vial of the vaccine was subcutaneously injected at 0 week, and the second and third vaccination was performed at 5 and 6 weeks by intratracheal inoculation.