Characterization of the Trypanosoma brucei Pteridine Reductase Active- Site using Computational Docking and Virtual Screening Techniques

Estimation and Characterization of Dengue Serotypes in Patients Presenting with Dengue Fever at Makkah Hospitals

Dengue fever is caused by four common serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). Patients infected with one serotype may develop lifelong serotype-specific protective immunity. However, they remain susceptible to reinfection with the other serotypes, often increasing the risk of severe forms of dengue. This cross-sectional study investigates the prevalence of the four dengue serotypes in patients who presented with dengue fever at Makkah hospitals between April 2023 and May 2024. Data were collected from the medical records of the Regional Laboratory in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The 238 positive dengue samples included 185 samples (77.73%) from male patients. The average age of the patients was 37.65 years (SD = 15.05). Dengue type 2 was the most common serotype, followed by type 1, type 3, and type 4. Most of the dengue patients were Saudi nationals, followed by Egyptians. There were 11 dengue-positive samples that were not diagnosed with any of the four dengue serotypes. Since Makkah receives numerous international travelers, these samples might contain novel dengue serotypes circulating in different parts of the world. This study underscores the need for the continuous monitoring of dengue serotypes to predict potential outbreaks and mitigate the risk of severe dengue in susceptible populations.

Novel flavonoid derivatives containing 1,2,4-triazole Schiff bases as potential antifungal agents: design, synthesis, and biological evaluation

A series of flavonol derivatives containing 1,2,4-triazole Schiff base was designed, synthesized and tested for their biological activities. The results of the biological activity test showed that compounds exhibited the obvious antifungal activities against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (S.s), Rhizoctonia solani (R.s), Botrytis cinerea (B.c) and Phomopsis sp (P.s). Among them, K14 showed excellent antimicrobial activity against B.c with the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 7.6 µg/mL as compared to azoxystrobin (18.0 µg/mL). Additionally, the in vivo protective and therapeutic activities of K14 on blueberry leaves were 94.1 and 88.7 % respectively, surpassing than that of the control drug azoxystrobin (91.6 and 74.4 %) at 200 µg/mL. The results of SEM showed that the mycelium appeared wrinkled, folded and changed in morphology after being treated with K14. In addition, fluorescence microscopy (FM) and cytoplasmic leakage assays showed that the cell membrane of B.c was disrupted. Further study of malondialdehyde (MDA) and relative conductivity measurements indicated that the normal function of cells is affected by K14 by increasing cell membrane permeability and promoting membrane lipid peroxidation. These results indicate that flavonol derivatives containing 1,2,4-triazole Schiff bases are expected to provide a new prospect for the development of novel fungicides.

Small molecules containing chalcogen elements (S, Se, Te) as new warhead to fight neglected tropical diseases

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) encompass a group of infectious diseases with a protozoan etiology, high incidence, and prevalence in developing countries. As a result, economic factors constitute one of the main obstacles to their management. Endemic countries have high levels of poverty, deprivation and marginalization which affect patients and limit their access to proper medical care. As a matter of fact, statistics remain uncollected in some affected areas due to non-reporting cases. World Health Organization and other organizations proposed a plan for the eradication and control of the vector, although many of these plans were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite of the available drugs to treat these pathologies, it exists a lack of effectiveness against several parasite strains. Treatment protocols for diseases such as American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), leishmaniasis, and human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) have not achieved the desired results. Unfortunately, these drugs present limitations such as side effects, toxicity, teratogenicity, renal, and hepatic impairment, as well as high costs that have hindered the control and eradication of these diseases. This review focuses on the analysis of a collection of scientific shreds of evidence with the aim of identifying novel chalcogen-derived molecules with biological activity against Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and HAT. Compounds illustrated in each figure share the distinction of containing at least one chalcogen element. Sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te) have been grouped and analyzed in accordance with their design strategy, chemical synthesis process and biological activity. After an exhaustive revision of the related literature on S, Se, and Te compounds, 183 compounds presenting excellent biological performance were gathered against the different causative agents of CD, leishmaniasis and HAT.

Insight into Recent Drug Discoveries against Trypanosomatids and Plasmodium spp Parasites: New Metal-based Compounds

Scaffolds of metal-based compounds can act as pharmacophore groups in several ligands to treat various diseases, including tropical infectious diseases (TID). In this review article, we investigate the contribution of these moieties to medicinal inorganic chemistry in the last seven years against TID, including American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), human African trypanosomiasis (HAT, sleeping sickness), leishmania, and malaria. The most potent metal-based complexes are displayed and highlighted in figures, tables and graphics; according to their pharmacological activities (IC50 > 10µM) against Trypanosomatids and Plasmodium spp parasites. We highlight the current progresses and viewpoints of these metal-based complexes, with a specific focus on drug discovery.

An overview of viruses discovered over the last decades and drug development for the current pandemic

Since the discovery of the yellow fever virus in 1901, thus far, two hundred nineteen viral species are recognized as human pathogens. Each year, the number of viruses causing infections in humans increases, triggering epidemics and pandemics, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Pointing to bats as the natural host, in 2019, a genome highly identical to a bat coronavirus (COVID-19) spread all over the world, and the World Health Organization (WHO) officially confirmed it as a pandemic. The virus mainly spreads through the respiratory tract, uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor, and is characterized by symptoms of fever, cough, and fatigue. Antivirals and vaccines have provided improvements in some cases, but the discovery of a new and diverse variety of viruses with outbreaks has posed a challenge in timely treatments for medical scientists. Currently, few specific antiviral strategies are being used, and many of the effective antiviral drugs and reported active molecules are under vital exploration. In this review, with the details of viral diseases, we summarize the current attempts in drug development, epidemiology, and the latest treatments and scientific advancements to combat the COVID-19 epidemic. Moreover, we discuss ways to reduce epidemics and pandemics in the near future.