Genotype D occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections (OBIs) have a high frequency of amino acid substitutions in the major hydrophilic region small surface protein (S protein). This possibly reflects an escape mutation mechanism to evade detection by host immune system. Mutations may also impact antigen (HBsAg) commercial assays. To test these hypotheses, 20 recombinant HBV genotype proteins from OBI carriers with or without antibody (anti-HBs) were expressed yeast. Recombinant (rS protein)...

Vaginal candidiasis is frequent in pregnant women and associated with sepsis adverse neonatal outcomes. This study determined the prevalence of candida species symptomatic evaluated antifungal susceptibility profile isolated Candida strains. It also aimed to explore whether predicts gestational complications outcomes.A total 258 vaginal discharge at 35 37 week gestation participated this study. swabs from these patients were collected various obstetrics gynecology clinics Lebanon for a...

Acute respiratory tract viral infections occur worldwide and are one of the major global burdens diseases in children. The aim this study was to determine etiology hospitalized children, understand seasonality a Lebanese hospital, correlate disease severity presence virus. Over 1-year period, nasal throat swabs were collected from 236 pediatric patients, aged 16-year old or less for acute illness. Samples tested 17 viruses using multiplex real-time RT-PCR. Pathogens identified 165 children...

Abstract Background Syndromic surveillance of acute gastroenteritis plays a significant role in the diagnosis and management gastrointestinal infections that are responsible for substantial number deaths globally, especially developing countries. In Lebanon, there is lack national gastroenteritis, limited data exists regarding prevalence pathogens causing diarrhea. The one-year study aims to investigate epidemiology common compare our findings with causative agents diarrhea reported by...

Background Malaria parasites are frequently transmitted by unscreened blood transfusions in A frica. Pathogen reduction methods whole would thus greatly improve safety. We aimed to determine the efficacy of riboflavin plus irradiation for treatment infected with P lasmodium falciparum . Study Design and Methods Blood was inoculated 10 4 or 5 parasites/ mL treated without ultraviolet ( UV ) (40‐160 J/ red cells [ RBCs ]). Parasite genome integrity assessed quantitative amplification...

Carbapenems are among the few effective antibiotics against multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. This study aimed at characterizing plasmid content and resistome of clinical carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) recovered from 2016 to 2019 hospitalized patients in Lebanon.Plasmid typing whole-genome sequencing were used genomic characteristics 65 CREs including 27 Escherichia coli, 24 Klebsiella pneumoniae, one quasipneumoniae, three Morganella morganii, Citrobacter freundii, five...

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major viruses transmissible by blood that causes chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals. The study 61 HBV carrier donors from Lebanon revealed multiple patterns spliced DNA. DNA splicing was examined and quantified samples five genotypes seroconversion panels. Lebanese sample median viral load 1.5 ×10 2 IU/ml. All strains were genotype D, serotype ayw; 35 clustered as subgenotype D1 7 D2. Three splice variants (SP1, SP1A, Pol/S)...

Abstract Background: Vaginal candidiasis is frequently prevalent in pregnant women and associated with sepsis adverse neonatal outcomes. This study determined the presence of Candida species symptomatic evaluated antifungal susceptibility profile isolated strains. It also aimed to explore whether predicts gestational complications Methods: A total 258 at 35 37 week gestation participated this study. swabs from these patients were collected various obstetrics gynecology clinics Lebanon for a...

Introduction. Infections caused by extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria continue to be a challenge for choosing the appropriate therapy since they may exhibit coresistance many other classes of antibiotics. The aim study was screen pregnant women ESBL in Beirut, Lebanon, examine their phenotypic and genotypic characterization association between colonization with adverse neonatal outcomes. Method. In this cross-sectional study, vaginal samples from 308 at 35–37 weeks...

We correlated genotypes, virulence factors and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of nosocomially identified Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from clinical specimens to those environmental encountered in the same units a medical center. Antibiotic testing, RAPD analysis detection enzymatic activities extracellular factors, were done on these isolates.Data showed that most susceptible tested agents. determined presence 31 with genotype 1 detected 42% 43% isolates. Enzymatic activity testing...

Multi-transfused patients often receive treatments inducing various levels of immunodeficiency. Acute viral infections may then be attributed either to transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) or reactivation a past infection.A patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who had >250 blood donor exposures developed acute Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Routine testing for HB core antibodies (anti-HBc) was in place the relevant period and investigations undertaken on donors were...

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cause a major public health problem that affect both men and women in developing developed countries. The aim of the study was to estimate prevalence 11 STIs among who voluntarily participated study, while seeking gynecological checkup. existence an association between presence pathogens symptoms various sociodemographic risk factors assessed.

Immune control of various infectious diseases, particularly viral, was shown to be more efficient for females than males. Response viral vaccines (HAV, HBV) higher in females. Data on hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers accumulated over 15 years blood donors stratified according sex, including HBsAg, HBV load and levels anti-HBs areas where genotypes C (China), genotype D (Iran, Lebanon, Tunisia) E (Ghana, Burkina Faso, Gabon) were prevalent. HBsAg screened by either ELISA or rapid tests,...

Background Despite continuous technical improvement in blood donation testing, hepatitis B infection remains a major risk of transfusion‐transmitted viral infection. The residual virus (HBV) transmission is related to the pre‐seroconversion window period (WP), with immunovariant viruses, and occult carriage HBV (OBI). Results discussion Reduction achieved by developing more sensitive HBsAg test, adopting anti‐HBc screening when appropriate, recently implementing nucleic acid testing (NAT),...

Multiplex molecular panels are replacing conventional methods for the detection of sexually transmitted infections. In current study, we evaluated performance two commercial multiplex assays, EUROArray STI and Allplex essential detecting six infections.The diagnostic assays was against a panel 105 positive DNA samples identified by in-house real-time PCR including Ureaplasma parvum, urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea. Samples...

The occurrence of carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections has increased significantly over the years with Gram-negative bacteria exhibiting broadest resistance range. In this study we aimed to investigate genomic characteristics clinical Enterobacterales (CRE). Seventeen representative multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolates from a hospital setting showing high level carbapenems (ertapenem, meropenem and imipenem) were chosen for further characterization through whole-genome sequencing....

ABSTRACT Colonization with multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli strains causes a substantial health burden in hospitalized patients. We performed longitudinal genomics study to investigate the colonization of resistant E. critically ill patients and identify evolutionary changes strain replacement events within Patients were admitted intensive care unit hematology wards at major hospital Lebanon. Perianal swabs collected from participants on admission during hospitalization, which screened...

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the gastrointestinal tract and nasopharynx with many being linked to nosocomial infections. Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-producing carbapenem-resistant K. recognized by World Health Organization (WHO) as critical public health concern. In this study, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) – based analysis was performed understand molecular epidemiology of multi-drug resistant spp. clinical isolates. Genome comparison,...

<title>Abstract</title> Background Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, an application utilizing Geographic Information Systems technology was launched to monitor virus's spread Lebanon. Initiated response first reported case, this initiative tracked infection levels, evaluated public health measures, and explored interaction between demographic factors. Methods The relied heavily on survey data gathered from users, enabling a crowd-sourced approach trace virus during early stages of pandemic....

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains one of the major infectious threats to human health. Since implementation highly sensitive HBV nucleic acid testing, occult (OBI) has been detected. Occult is characterized by a positive DNA test with undetectable HBsAg (Hepatits surface antigen). The prevalence OBI varies significantly between geographic areas, genotypes, and population depending on sensitivity detection assays used. Objectives: This project aimed at determining in blood...

The increase in the prevalence of carbapenem-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) is a major threat, with New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) enzyme-producing CPEs being one causative agents healthcare settings infections. In this study, we characterized an IncX3 plasmid harboring

Introduction In the battle against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, ceftazidime- avibactam (CZA) stands as a pivotal defense, particularly carbapenemresistant (CR) Gram-negative pathogens. However, rise in resistance this drug poses significant threat to its effectiveness, highlighting critical need for in-depth studies about mechanisms. Methods This research focuses on genomic characterization of CR- and CZA-resistant Escherichia coli (n=26) Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=34) strains,...