The progression of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in Africa has so far been heterogeneous, and the full impact is not yet well understood. In this study, we describe the genomic epidemiology using a dataset of 8746 genomes from 33 African countries and two overseas territories. We show that the epidemics in most countries were initiated by importations predominantly from Europe, which diminished after the early introduction of international travel restrictions. As the pandemic progressed, ongoing transmission in many countries and increasing mobility led to the emergence and spread within the continent of many variants of concern and interest, such as B.1.351, B.1.525, A.23.1, and C.1.1. Although distorted by low sampling numbers and blind spots, the findings highlight that Africa must not be left behind in the global pandemic response, otherwise it could become a source for new variants.

This paper proposes a new image super-resolution restoration algorithm.The development of the algorithm is based on the improvement of the classical projection onto convex set (POCS) algorithm and the stationary wavelet transform (SWT) to restore a super-resolution image from Egyptsat-1 low resolution (LR) images.Egyptsat-1 bands have inconsistent sub-pixel shift.this inconsistent shift between the bands is changed into reliable shift by adaptive interpolation.Then, decomposition of high frequency sub-bands is generated using (SWT).The POCS iteration is used to restore high-resolution (HR) image from every LR wavelet decomposed images.The HR image is reconstructed by inverse wavelet transform.The result showed that the proposed method achieved significant spatial resolution improvements from 7.8 m to 4 m by using (POCS).The reconstructed image is evaluated by several quantitative measures: the peak signal-noise ratio(PSNR), root main square error(RMSE), entropy, and Objective Fusion Measure.These measures of the proposed method were also assessed and tested with some implemented commonly used SR methods.The experimental results of the processed Egyptsat-1 images showed that the proposed method can improve the ability of fusing different image information, and the visual and quantitative evaluations verify its usefulness and effectiveness.

Spontaneous gastric perforation is a rare entity in neonates. We report a case of spontaneous gastric perforation in a neonate operated for in-utero rupture of omphalocele.

This cohort study aimed to assess the effect of the mode of delivery on female sexual function (FSF) after childbirth. Out of 256 primiparous women, 200 subjects that completed the study were divided into two groups; women that delivered vaginally and women that had elective cesarean section (CS). They were subjected to a translated version of female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire evaluating desire, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, pain both antenatally and 12 weeks postpartum. The mean FSFI total score of the two investigated groups demonstrated nonsignificant difference 12 weeks after delivery compared with these scores antenatally. Women that delivered vaginally demonstrated significant decreases in the scores of desire, arousal and lubrication domains 12 weeks after delivery compared with these scores antenatally where other scores demonstrated nonsignificant differences. Women that delivered by CS demonstrated a significant difference in desire domain 12 weeks after delivery compared with these scores antenatally where other scores demonstrated nonsignificant differences. It is concluded that the mode of delivery has nonsignificant effect on the FSF 12 weeks after childbirth. Specifically, vaginal delivery is associated with significant decrease in the desire, arousal and lubrication domains where elective CS is associated with significant decrease in the desire domain.

A unique combination of physicochemical conditions prevails in the lower convective layer (LCL) of the brine pool at Atlantis II (ATII) Deep in the Red Sea. With a maximum depth of over 2000 m, the pool is characterized by acidic pH (5.3), high temperature (68 °C), salinity (26%), low light levels, anoxia, and high concentrations of heavy metals. We have established a metagenomic dataset derived from the microbial community in the LCL, and here we describe a gene for a novel mercuric reductase, a key component of the bacterial detoxification system for mercuric and organomercurial species. The metagenome-derived gene and an ortholog from an uncultured soil bacterium were synthesized and expressed in Escherichia coli. The properties of their products show that, in contrast to the soil enzyme, the ATII-LCL mercuric reductase is functional in high salt, stable at high temperatures, resistant to high concentrations of Hg(2+), and efficiently detoxifies Hg(2+) in vivo. Interestingly, despite the marked functional differences between the orthologs, their amino acid sequences differ by less than 10%. Site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic analysis of the mutant enzymes, in conjunction with three-dimensional modeling, have identified distinct structural features that contribute to extreme halophilicity, thermostability, and high detoxification capacity, suggesting that these were acquired independently during the evolution of this enzyme. Thus, our work provides fundamental structural insights into a novel protein that has undergone multiple biochemical and biophysical adaptations to promote the survival of microorganisms that reside in the extremely demanding environment of the ATII-LCL.

Metagenomics-based functional profiling analysis is an effective means of gaining deeper insight into the composition of marine microbial populations and developing a better understanding of the interplay between the functional genome content of microbial communities and abiotic factors. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of 24 datasets covering surface and depth-related environments at 11 sites around the world's oceans. The complete datasets comprises approximately 12 million sequences, totaling 5,358 Mb. Based on profiling patterns of Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COGs) of proteins, a core set of reference photic and aphotic depth-related COGs, and a collection of COGs that are associated with extreme oxygen limitation were defined. Their inferred functions were utilized as indicators to characterize the distribution of light- and oxygen-related biological activities in marine environments. The results reveal that, while light level in the water column is a major determinant of phenotypic adaptation in marine microorganisms, oxygen concentration in the aphotic zone has a significant impact only in extremely hypoxic waters. Phylogenetic profiling of the reference photic/aphotic gene sets revealed a greater variety of source organisms in the aphotic zone, although the majority of individual photic and aphotic depth-related COGs are assigned to the same taxa across the different sites. This increase in phylogenetic and functional diversity of the core aphotic related COGs most probably reflects selection for the utilization of a broad range of alternate energy sources in the absence of light.

The central rift of the Red Sea contains 25 brine pools with different physicochemical conditions, dictating the diversity and abundance of the microbial community. Three of these pools, the Atlantis II, Kebrit and Discovery Deeps, are uniquely characterized by a high concentration of hydrocarbons. The brine-seawater interface, described as an anoxic-oxic (brine-seawater) boundary, is characterized by a high methane concentration, thus favoring aerobic methane oxidation. The current study analyzed the aerobic free living methane-oxidizing bacterial communities that potentially contribute to methane oxidation at the brine-seawater interfaces of the three aforementioned brine pools, using metagenomic pyrosequencing, 16S rRNA pyrotags and pmoA library constructs. The sequencing of 16S rRNA pyrotags revealed that these interfaces are characterized by high microbial community diversity. Signatures of aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria were detected in the Atlantis II Interface (ATII-I) and the Kebrit Deep Upper (KB-U) and Lower (KB-L) brine-seawater interfaces. Through phylogenetic analysis of pmoA, we further demonstrated that the ATII-I aerobic methanotroph community is highly diverse. We propose four ATII-I pmoA clusters. Most importantly, cluster 2 groups with marine methane seep methanotrophs, and cluster 4 represent a unique lineage of an uncultured bacterium with divergent alkane monooxygenases. Moreover, non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) based on the ordination of putative enzymes involved in methane metabolism showed that the Kebrit interface layers were distinct from the ATII-I and DD-I brine-seawater interfaces.

The Red Sea Atlantis II brine pool is an extreme environment that displays multiple harsh conditions such as high temperature, high salinity and high concentrations of multiple, toxic heavy metals. The survival of microbes in such an environment by utilizing resistant enzymes makes them an excellent source of extremophilic enzymes. We constructed a fosmid metagenomic library using DNA isolated from the deepest and most secluded layer of this pool. We report the isolation and biochemical characterization of an unusual esterase: EstATII. EstATII is thermophilic (optimum temperature, 65°C), halotolerant (maintains its activity in up to 4.5 M NaCl) and maintains at least 60% of its activity in the presence of a wide spectrum of heavy metals. The combination of biochemical characteristics of the Red Sea Atlantis II brine pool esterase, i.e., halotolerance, thermophilicity and resistance to heavy metals, makes it a potentially useful biocatalyst.

Aims: This study aims to determine the antioxidant enzyme EC -SOD polymorphisms in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabe tes mellitus with and without retinopathy, and its association with other biochemical changes to assess whether decreased SOD activity is associated with the development of diabetic complications . Study Design:Cross-sectional study.

Seven different insect control regimes comprised of three green insecticides were employed to combat two date pests; the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick and the almond moth Cadra (Ephestia) spp. on date palm fruit in 2006-07. The chemicals tested were the two spinosyns, spinosad (Tracer (R) 240SC) and spinetoram (Radiant (R) 120SC), and the insect growth regulator (moulting hormone agonist) methoxyfenozide (Runner (R) 240SC). Each spray regime consisted of two applications per season applied 2 to 3 weeks apart.Batrachedra amydraula fruit infestation ranged from 17.2 to 24.2% after six weeks and the spray regime of two applications at a 14 day interval per season showed that spinosad at 4.8 g ai/100 L was equivalent to spinetoram at 1.8 g ai/100 L in both years of the study. This indicated that spinetoram was close to 2.7-fold more active than spinosad against this pest based on a grams active equivalence. Alternating spinosad with methoxyfenozide as a second spray showed similar efficacy regardless of the rate of methoxyfenozide (3.6 to 6.0 g ai/100 L).Fruit infestation was lower for Cadra spp. at harvest time (7.7 to 14%), but the results showed that spinetoram at 1.2 g ai/100 L was equivalent to spinosad at 4.8 g ai/100 L, indicating that spinetoram was 4-fold more active than spinosad on a gram active basis when sprayed twice per season at a 21 day interval. For the almond moth, a similar spray regime can be recommended as with the lesser date moth, applying spinosad at 4.8 g ai/100 L then methoxyfenozide at 3.6 g ai/100 L.For both lepidopterous date pests, it is clear that both spinosyns are very effective applied alone, and spinetoram is 2.7- to 4-fold more active than spinosad. The application of Tracer followed with Runner is an excellent example of a functional date palm integrated pest management program.All products performed well under dry conditions with high temperatures reaching 51 degrees C without any phytotoxicity symptoms either on the fruit or the tree foliage.

Seven different insect control regimes comprising of three green chemicals: two spinosyns, spinosad (Tracer (R) 24 SC) and spinetoram (Radiant (R) 12 SC), and the insect growth regulator (moulting hormone agonist) methoxyfenozide (Runner (R) 24 SC) were employed to control the pomegranate butterfly Viracola livia on date palm fruit in 2006/7. Each spray regime consisted of two applications per season applied at a 3 week interval.The damage was very severe with larvae penetration reaching 99 and 85% in the untreated in 2006 and 2007, respectively, two weeks prior to harvest. At this assessment, the results illustrated that spinetoram at 2.4 g ai/100 L sprayed twice/season was equivalent to spinosad at 4.8 g ai/100 L with the same spray frequency, and was also on par when spinosad was followed with different rates of methoxyfenozide. However, at harvest time, the spinetoram rate showed significantly better results than spinosad, indicating that there is at least a two-fold better activity of spinetoram than spinosad on a rate to rate comparison. Alternation of spinosad at 4.8 g ai/100 L followed by methoxyfenozide at 3.6-6.0 g ai/100 L was equivalent with spinetoram. It is clear that both spinosyns, applied alone, are very effective to control the pomegranate butterfly, with spinetoram exhibiting a 2-fold greater activity than spinosad. The application of spinosad in rotation with methoxyfenozide is in line with the IPM strategy for management of date pests. All products proved to perform well under dry conditions and high temperatures (reaching 51 degrees C) without any phytotoxicity symptoms either on the fruit or the tree foliage.

Fragestellung: Der direkte Einfluss einer Hyperglykämie auf das Nervensystem und seine Funktionen, sowie die Lebenserwartung kann in Säugetieren nur schwer untersucht werden. Der Fadenwurm Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) mit einer Lebensspanne von c.a. 30 Tagen und einem morphologisch und funktional genau definiertem Nervensystem wird daher in dieser Studie als Modellsystem verwendet.

A new terpnacarid mite, Terpnacarus zaheri sp. n., is described and illustrated. The new species was found in debris under date-palm at Badr town in New Valley, Egypt.

Peroxiredoxins are a large family of peroxidases that have important antioxidant and cell signaling functions. Genes encoding two novel 2-cysteine peroxiredoxin proteins were identified in the expressed sequence tag data base of the helminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni, a causative agent of schistosomiasis. The recombinant proteins showed peroxidase activity in vitro with a variety of hydroperoxides and used both the thioredoxin and the glutathione systems as electron donors. Steady-state kinetic analysis indicated that the new peroxiredoxins had saturable kinetics, whereas a previously identified schistosome peroxiredoxin was found to function with more typical unsaturable (ping-pong) kinetics. The catalytic efficiencies S. mansoni peroxiredoxins were similar to those for other peroxiredoxins studied (10(4)-10(5) m(-1) s(-1)). Mutagenesis of S. mansoni peroxiredoxins indicated that glutathione dependence and kinetic differences were conferred by the C-terminal alpha-helix forming 22 amino acids. This is the first report of 2-cysteine peroxiredoxins efficiently utilizing reducing equivalents from both the thioredoxin and glutathione systems. Studies to determine the resistance to oxidative inactivation, important in regulating cell signaling pathways, showed that S. mansoni possess both bacterial-like resistant and mammalian-like sensitive peroxiredoxins. The susceptibility to oxidative inactivation was conferred by the C-terminal tail containing a tyrosine-phenylalanine motif. S. mansoni is the first organism shown to possess both robust and sensitive peroxiredoxins. The ability of schistosome peroxiredoxins to use alternative electron donors, and their variable resistance to overoxidation may reflect their presence in different cellular sites and emphasizes the significant differences in overall redox balance mechanisms between the parasite and its mammalian host.

Rosiglitazone (RG) belongs to he group of thiazolidindiones which are widely used in the treatment of type-2 diabetes. Beside blood-sugar lowering effects, RG has further biological properties, including antitumor effects. As recently shown in an animal model of ACTH-producing adenoma, RG suppressed ACTH secretion in human and murine corticotroph tumor cells and prevented development of corticotroph tumors. Aim of our study was to investigate possible effects of RG-treatment in humans with central cushing-syndrome.