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Covid-19 is a viral disease that affects humans caused by a type of virus belonging to the family Coronaviridae called the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The parasitic infection associated with this disease affects the host's immune response regulation. The levels of IgG and IgM of Toxoplasma gondii in the serum of patients with COVID-19 were measured by immunoassay of the patient's sera by ELISA. Also, the level of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in a covid-19 patient with or without Toxoplasmosis was evaluated. 120 samples were collected, 60 were positive for COVID-19, confirmed by clinically and radiographic examination, and 30 were in the control group. The results showed a significant difference between the infection with Covid-19 and T. gondii during the chronic phase of Toxoplasmosis compared to the negative relationship in the acute phase. The results of INF-gamma levels among Covid-19 patients were positive for all samples included in the test (30 Covid-19 patients and 30 patients COVID-19(+)/T. gondii IgG) compared to the control group. The chronic form of Toxoplasma disease, due to change in the production of this interferon, the COVID-19 infection has changed.Copyright © 2023 by Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute.
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Background: SARS-CoV-2 highlighted worldwide, the need of enhance testing capacity. Government of India, under Atmanirbhar Bharat provided platform to private/public companies to develop and manufacture diagnostic reagents /kits for SARS CoV 2 testing. Objective(s): * Performance evaluation of commercial kits. * Handholding of private/public companies to improve the kits quality for its diagnostic accuracy to use for Covid 19 diagnosis Material(s) and Method(s): The SOP for the validation of diagnostic kits were prepared and approved by ICMR technical committee. The ICMR NIV single tube assay was used as gold slandered. The panels of known positives and negatives were prepared. Validation of commercially developed RT-PCRs, RNA extraction kits and virus transport medium were undertaken. The sensitivity and specificity of the kit were calculated and reported as per ICMR's acceptance. Result(s): Real time RT-PCR kits evaluation: Total 165 kits were evaluated, which includes 12 LAMP assay. Among domestic kits, 31 kits were satisfactory while 83 were not satisfactory. Among the imported kits, 25 kits were satisfactory while 26 were not satisfactory. RNA extraction kits evaluation:- Total 157 kits were evaluated, Among domestic kits, 57 kits were satisfactory while 53 were not satisfactory. Among the imported kits, 31 kits were satisfactory and 17 were not satisfactory. VTM kits evaluated = Total 89 kits were evaluated among which nine kits were imported while 80 kits were of domestic origin. Performance of 10 kits was not satisfactory. Conclusion(s): Kit validation is important to access the quality of commercial kits and to enhanced the testing capacity exponentially in country.
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The present paper elucidates the conceivable application of two key molecules in SARS-CoV-2 detection of suspected infected persons. These molecules were selected on the basis of the strong interaction between ACE-2 and S protein that allows virus attachment to its host cells;on the other hand, specific immunocompetant effectors are generated by the human immune system during the infection. Several testing procedures are already being used to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly the RT-PCR technique. ELISA and LFIA are possible assays for the employment of shACE-2/ hAc-anti-S (the molecules of interest) as the main agents of the test that confer dual principal functions (capture and detection). The future diagnostic kits involving shACE-2 and hAc-anti-S will possibly be highly sensitive with rapid detection in addition to their advantage of relatively easy conception. They could be largely considered as technically advanced kits in regards to the current SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic immunoassays.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.
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Objective: To analyze data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infected population whose samples were received from Medical Research Institute, Sri Lanka. Method(s): Laboratory based retrospective study was done on patient samples which were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by National Reference Virology Laboratory at the Medical Research Institute, Sri Lanka, from November, 2020 to November, 2021. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and clinical presentation of 13 126 patients were examined. Result(s): The mean age of the study population was (36.0+/-7.2) years and the majority were men (64.0%). The highest number of positive cases were found in the 21-30 years-of-age group. Two distinct peaks were noted in the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals. In addition, 42.5% of the positive samples tested positive (42.5%) were from Medical Officer of Health collection centres. Furthermore, 60.6% (7 951) of the infected subjects were asymptomatic whereas the remaining were symptomatic. The highest percentage of symptomatic patients were observed in the 91-100 years-of-age group while the highest asymptomatic subjects were found in the 31-40 years-of-age group. The percentage of asymptomatic children (65.3%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of adults (43.4%). Conclusion(s): The findings of this study aid decision makers to focus on the vulnerable groups, and geographic and temporal distribution of patients in the public health strategies that aim at preventing the spread of the disease and reducinig its mortalities.Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
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Objective: To describe the burden of COVID-19 in a children's multidisciplinary hospital for two years of the pandemic, taking into account of age, severity of the disease, the spectrum of underlying conditions and the intensive care need. Method(s): An assessment of 6048 cases of COVID-19 in patients under 18 years of age hospitalized from March 26, 2020 to December 31, 2021 was carried out. The diagnosis was confirmed by PCR on an outpatient basis or after hospitalization with the help of diagnostic kits registered in the Russian Federation. The features of the work of a children's multidisciplinary hospital in new conditions, the dynamics of hospitalization, age characteristics and new coronavirus (CV) infection severity in the pandemic development process are presented. The analysis of the underlying condition's structure depending on the severity of the disease, as well as the need and volume of therapy in the intensive care unit. The frequency and main characteristics of children's multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in hospital conditions, long-term PCR positivity and its effect on the duration of inpatient treatment of children have been established. Result(s): The spread of SARS-COV-2 in St. Petersburg required a radical change in the work of the children's multidisciplinary hospital. During the two years of the pandemic, four waves of hospitalization of children with new CV were revealed, differing in duration, intensity, and frequency of lung damage, but having no significant differences in the proportion of severe forms of the disease (1.7-2.8% of cases). Intensive therapy was required in 3.6% of cases, of which only 1/3 was due to the severe course of COVID-19 with a lung lesion volume of up to 100%. In 1/3 of cases, patients had risks of developing severe forms and in 1/3 - other pathology. Severe course of new CV was significantly more often accompanied by the need for respiratory support, anticoagulants and anti-inflammatory therapy. Contributing factors of severe forms and unfavorable outcomes were: pathology of the central nervous system, genetic diseases and malformations, obesity, as well as chronic bronchopulmonary pathology. Mortality in the hospital was recorded only among children with severe underlying conditions (0.1% of cases). D-MVS was registered significantly more often in boys (7 out of every 10 patients), accounting for 1.2% of cases of hospitalization of children with new CV over the entire period. Convalescent PCR-positivity in the outcome of COVID-19 was detected in 1/3 of children, significantly more often during the autumn-winter waves of the pandemic and among patients of high school age. Conclusion(s): New CV is gradually strengthening its position in the structure of acute respiratory pathology in children. Some of SARS-COV-2 infection cases is accompanied by extensive lung damage, as well as severe systemic inflammation independently or in the other infectious diseases structure, induction of the debut of various somatic pathology is not excluded. The presented data confirm the need for increased attention at high risk of adverse respiratory diseases outcomes children. All severe cases of COVID-19 in children require a personalized approach, taking into account the existing background diseases and possible options for the progression of the process. MIS-C should be considered as a systemic inflammatory response syndrome within the framework of an infectious disease of various etiologies, differentiated with Kawasaki disease and the debut of systemic diseases. The long-term PCR-positivity in the outcome of COVID-19 requires further study to address the need and nature of therapy in order to prevent further spread of infection in the population.Copyright © 2022 Interregional public organization Association of infectious disease specialists of Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region (IPO AIDSSPbR). All rights reserved.
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Objective: To describe the burden of COVID-19 in a children's multidisciplinary hospital for two years of the pandemic, taking into account of age, severity of the disease, the spectrum of underlying conditions and the intensive care need. Method(s): An assessment of 6048 cases of COVID-19 in patients under 18 years of age hospitalized from March 26, 2020 to December 31, 2021 was carried out. The diagnosis was confirmed by PCR on an outpatient basis or after hospitalization with the help of diagnostic kits registered in the Russian Federation. The features of the work of a children's multidisciplinary hospital in new conditions, the dynamics of hospitalization, age characteristics and new coronavirus (CV) infection severity in the pandemic development process are presented. The analysis of the underlying condition's structure depending on the severity of the disease, as well as the need and volume of therapy in the intensive care unit. The frequency and main characteristics of children's multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in hospital conditions, long-term PCR positivity and its effect on the duration of inpatient treatment of children have been established. Result(s): The spread of SARS-COV-2 in St. Petersburg required a radical change in the work of the children's multidisciplinary hospital. During the two years of the pandemic, four waves of hospitalization of children with new CV were revealed, differing in duration, intensity, and frequency of lung damage, but having no significant differences in the proportion of severe forms of the disease (1.7-2.8% of cases). Intensive therapy was required in 3.6% of cases, of which only 1/3 was due to the severe course of COVID-19 with a lung lesion volume of up to 100%. In 1/3 of cases, patients had risks of developing severe forms and in 1/3 - other pathology. Severe course of new CV was significantly more often accompanied by the need for respiratory support, anticoagulants and anti-inflammatory therapy. Contributing factors of severe forms and unfavorable outcomes were: pathology of the central nervous system, genetic diseases and malformations, obesity, as well as chronic bronchopulmonary pathology. Mortality in the hospital was recorded only among children with severe underlying conditions (0.1% of cases). D-MVS was registered significantly more often in boys (7 out of every 10 patients), accounting for 1.2% of cases of hospitalization of children with new CV over the entire period. Convalescent PCR-positivity in the outcome of COVID-19 was detected in 1/3 of children, significantly more often during the autumn-winter waves of the pandemic and among patients of high school age. Conclusion(s): New CV is gradually strengthening its position in the structure of acute respiratory pathology in children. Some of SARS-COV-2 infection cases is accompanied by extensive lung damage, as well as severe systemic inflammation independently or in the other infectious diseases structure, induction of the debut of various somatic pathology is not excluded. The presented data confirm the need for increased attention at high risk of adverse respiratory diseases outcomes children. All severe cases of COVID-19 in children require a personalized approach, taking into account the existing background diseases and possible options for the progression of the process. MIS-C should be considered as a systemic inflammatory response syndrome within the framework of an infectious disease of various etiologies, differentiated with Kawasaki disease and the debut of systemic diseases. The long-term PCR-positivity in the outcome of COVID-19 requires further study to address the need and nature of therapy in order to prevent further spread of infection in the population.Copyright © 2022 Interregional public organization Association of infectious disease specialists of Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region (IPO AIDSSPbR). All rights reserved.
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A more focused approach is needed to understand the SARS-CoV-2 virulence, structure, and genomics to devise more effective diagnostic and treatment interventions as this virus can evade the immune attack and causes life-threatening complications such as cytokine storm. The spread of the virus is still amplifying and causing thousands of new cases worldwide. It is essential to review current diagnostics and treatment approaches to pave the way to correct or modify our current practices to make more effective interventions against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccine development has moved at a breakneck pace since the outbreak began, utilizing practically all possible platforms or tactics to ensure the success of vaccines. A total of 42 vaccine candidates have already entered clinical trials, including promising results from numerous vaccine candidates in phase 1 or phase 2 trials. Further, many existing drugs are being explored on broad-spectrum antiviral medications for their use in clinical recovery against COVID-19. The present review attempts to re-examine the SARS-CoV-2 structure, its viral life cycle, clinical symptoms and pathogenesis, mode of transmission, diagnostics, and treatment strategies that may be useful for resorting to more effective approaches for controlling COVID-19. Various antiviral drugs and vaccination strategies with their strengths and weaknesses are also discussed in the paper to augment our understanding of COVID-19 management.Copyright © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers.
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The Novel Coronavirus Illness 2019 (COVID-19) was found in Wuhan, Hubei, China, in December 2019 and has since spread globally. When the patient's corona sickness worsened, his life was in danger. Coronavirus assaults the lungs. Diagnostic kits today only search for viral illnesses, which deceives doctors. All patients receiving the same treatment harm patients with less infection. This publication describes non-invasive treatment for infected people. Dissecting chest X-ray pictures to examine the coronavirus helps investigate and predict COVID-19 patients. We offer a hybrid method for detecting Covid. CNN and SVM identify Covid. Because X-ray pictures are inconsistent, CNN is used for feature extraction. To construct a training dataset before CNN, we used data augmentation. Data augmentation increases the training dataset's amount and quality. SVM is used for classification since it tolerates feature differences. The main goal is to help clinical doctors determine the severity of a chest infection so they can administer life-saving treatment. Deep learning and machine learning-based techniques will determine the degree of chest infection and lead to optimal medication, avoiding expensive treatment for all patients. © 2022 IEEE.
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Significant risks to human health are posed by the 2019 coronavirus illness (COVID-19). SARS coronavirus type 2 receptor, also known as the major enzyme in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), connects COVID-19 and RAS. This study was conducted with the intention of determining whether or not RAS gene polymorphisms and ACE-2 (G8790A) play a part in the process of predicting susceptibility to infection with COVID-19. In this study 127 participants, 67 of whom were deemed by a physician to be in a severe state of illness, and 60 of whom were categorized as "healthy controls".The genetic study included an extraction of genomic DNA from blood samples of each covid 19 patients and healthy controls, then amplification the site of SNP (rs2285666) Within the ACE2 gene by using specific primers, sequencing PCR products, and genotyping to detect the role of the ACE-2 gene (rs2285666) in the incidence of COVID-19. ACE-2 (rs2285666) is statistically associated to COVID-19. The COVID-19 group had 65.67 %of individuals with the wild-type homozygous genotype (GG) and 20% in the control group, while the control group had 63.33% of individuals with the mutant genotype (AA). Consequently, the wild-type homozygous (GG) and allele (G) may be considered a risk factor (etiological fraction E. F) for COVID-19 in Iraqi patients, whereas the mutant homozygous (AA) and allele (A) may be considered a protective factor (preventive fraction). The findings of the present study reveal that carriers of the GG genotype of ACE2 (rs2285666) are substantially more susceptible to COVID-19.Copyright © 2023 Allami et al.
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Objectives: Studies have shown that fibrinolysis activity is insufficient in COVID-19 patients. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is an important antifibrinolytic molecule that plays a key role in the fibrinolytic system. In our study;we aimed to evaluate serum PAI-1 and other biochemical parameters of COVID-19 patients in terms of disease course and mortality. Method(s): A total of 40 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in the service and intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital from October to December 2020 and 20 healthy volunteers were included in our study. The patients were grouped as those who transferred to the ICU from the service and transferred to service from the ICU. The first and second values of the same patients in both the service and the ICU were analyzed by SPSS. Result(s): The PAI-1 levels of the patients in the ICU were significantly higher than the levels of the same patients in the service and the healthy control group (p<0.001). IL-6, ferritin, and D-dimer levels in the ICU of the same patients were significantly higher than the levels of service and healthy control group (p<0.001). A positive correlation was found between initial serum PAI-1 and D-dimer levels in patients hospitalized in the service (p=0.039) and initial serum ferritin and IL-6 levels in the ICU (p=0.031). Conclusion(s): In our study, we found that PAI-1 levels increased significantly with the increase in mortality in COVID-19 patients. Copyright © 2022 the author(s), published by De Gruyter.
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Infectious diseases show a great impact on public health and productivity, particularly in low-income countries. Proper diagnosis access can make a great difference in reducing both human and economic losses. Currently, there is a vacancy in diagnostic methods adapted to the field possibilities of the user, the beneficiary, and the system in which they are immersed (infrastructure, equipment, etc.). Ten years ago, we have started to work to develop and transfer tests -and associated know-how- for the detection of infectious agents (in human, veterinary, and plant health), which were fast, affordable, and simple to use in any field conditions. The first development done by this group arose from the call of FITS CHAGAS, FONARSEC-National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (today "Agencia I+D+i"), to develop a simplified molecular diagnostic test for vertical Chagas. The grant required us, as CONICET researchers, to form a Public-Private Partnership Consortium (CAPP) with companies. The two signatory companies were national SMEs. That developed kit, namely Chagas NeoKit, has shown adequate sensitivity and specificity, but also has resulted very easy to perform, from a blood sample in the liquid state, from purified DNA, or directly from a dry blood drop on a card from the Neonatal Screening Program (PPN). It only requires the use of a simple thermal device, since the reaction is based on a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and no pipettes, centrifuges, or other laboratory equipment are necessary. This kit has been the 1st ARGENTINE MOLECULAR DETECTION REAGENT APPROVED by ANMAT (Resol. 1-47-3110-1994/17-5). This experience has been the beginning of a great learning process to turn a molecular reaction into a tangible good, adding capabilities from the scientific, health, and industrial systems. The work team grew and received other funds from the Agency that allowed us to increase and consolidate this knowledge, systematizing it in a technological platform where the LAMP technique is combined with tools focused on simplifying both the processing of the sample. as well as the reading out method, to obtain effective, robust, fast and simple to apply kits to detect different infectious agents. With the advent of the pandemic, the NEOKIT COVID-19 was developed and clinically and analytically validated (with 2 presentations: TecnoAMI and Plus), in record time, obtaining the approval of ANMAT in May 2020. This pandemic scenario has driven the installation of production capacities of approx. 1 million reactions/month and generated more than 10 job positions. Currently, in addition to accompanying the production process of the kit for COVID-19, work is being done on the development of kits for the detection of other infections, including vertical syphilis, dengue, zika, and chikungunya, among others. This is an example of the convergence of researchers from CONICET, the Pablo Cassara Foundation, and the Pablo Cassara SRL Laboratory, accompanied by state policies of the MINCyT, for transforming science and technology into diagnostic kits.
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In this paper, using Covid-19 diagnostic data provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), we examine the probability of confirmed cases and the probability of actually being confirmed when the rapid test is negative according to the sensitivity and specificity of the rapid diagnostic kit. When we know the conditional probability of confirmation given a positive test, we induce the relationship between sensitivity and specificity, and compute the actual sensitivity of the rapid diagnosis kit based on the data of KDCA.
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Accurate diagnosis to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for the clinical management of this lethal infection. Recently, many low-cost and easy-to-use rapid test kits (RTK) have been developed in many countries for the massive screening of SARS-CoV-2. Thus, evaluating the accuracy and reliability of an RTK is critical. The current study was conducted on 157 individuals to evaluate the performance accuracy of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection kits using different clinical samples compared with qRT-PCR results. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from patients for qRT-PCR and RTK tests, and then buccal and nasal, and nasal swabs were collected for RTK tests separately. The nasal and buccal swabs showed high sensitivity (98%) and specificity (100%) compared with the qRT-PCR results. Meanwhile, for nasal, the sensitivity was 96% with 98% specificity, and nasopharyngeal swabs showed 98% sensitivity and 94% specificity. Fisher's exact test revealed statistical significance (p < 0.05) between nasopharyngeal, nasal and buccal, and nasal swabs compared with qRT-PCR results. The study concludes that different clinical samples used for the rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 showed high sensitivities and specificities compared with qRT-PCR. The RTKs using nasal and buccal, nasopharyngeal, and nasal swabs are valuable tools for the early detection of SARS-CoV-2, especially when molecular detections are available with limited access and a high infectivity rate, when the timely detection of virus cases is urgently needed. These types of clinical samples are effective to be used by RTKs for surveillance among community and healthcare workers.
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The current COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARSCoV-2 virus, has made it necessary to identify positive, symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, in a timely manner to activate appropriate containment measures, in order to limiting the spread of infection. The standard test for the diagnosis of COVID-19 is based on the detection of the viral RNA in respiratory specimens using the Real Time reverse-transcription PCR (rtRT-qPCR). In our Molecular Medicine Laboratory, from November 2020 to May 2021, we tested 98.540 respiratory samples collected in UTM swabs (Copan Diagnostics). Viral RNA were extracted with Nextractor magnetic automated system NX48S (Genolution) and they were tested for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 with two different rtRTqPCR kits: i) NeoPlex kit COVID-19 Detection Kit (GeneMatrix, Eurospital), whose gene targets are RdRp and N (N=68.951), and ii) KHB Diagnostic kit for Sars-CoV-2 (KHB), whose gene targets are ORF1ab region, N and E (N=29.589). About 30% of the total analyzed samples, in the mentioned period, were found to be positive to SARS-CoV-2 RNA. However, 1.538 samples found to be positive to only ORF1ab region with KHB Diagnostic kit for Sars-CoV-2, resulting then negative to both N and RdRP genes after being re-tested, within the same working day, with NeoPlex kit COVID-19 Detection Kit, as confirmed by further clinical/diagnostic and followup insights. This indicated a false positive rate of about 5% by using ORF1ab region as target gene in SARS-CoV-2 detection. In conclusion, our preliminary data strongly suggest to use a kit for RdRp gene, whose detection has a greater clinical specificity, particularly, in the late phase of infection. From May 2021, we introduced in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 routine a new kit, 1copy COVID-19 qPCR 4plex (1drop, Eurospital), which not only amplifies three genes in a single tube (i.e., RdRp, N and E), but allows to obtain results after 50 minutes from the extraction, thereby improving the TAT. These results suggest the need of use more than one diagnostic kit, with different targets, in order to obtain more reliable diagnostic data.
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Background: External Quality Assessment (EQA) is a valuable tool to monitor and improve the analytical performances of clinical laboratories. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of kits to detect the infection and the number of tested samples intensified to satisfy the test request. To guarantee suitable results, EQA scheme providers have implemented specific schemes assessing different SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic systems. This study aims to describe the results collected in an experimental EQA scheme for molecular diagnostic of SARS-CoV-2 managed by INSTAND e.V with the collaboration of the Centre of Biomedical Research for Quality in Laboratory Medicine for Veneto Region Laboratories. Methods: The qualitative EQA results collected, two surveys in 2020 and one in 2021, for 18 samples total, have been summarized to identify the percentage of laboratory results per sample. Control samples included SARS-CoV-2 or other seasonal coronaviruses (MERSCoV, HCoV 229E, HCoV OC43) provided by Nationales Konsiliarlaboratorium fur Coronaviren of Berlin. SARSCoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) were included only in the 2021 survey. Results: The average of the participating laboratories strongly decreased between the first survey of 2020 (927) and the last analysed survey, March 2021 (594). The main analytical procedures used, in the first, second and third survey respectively were CEPHAID kits (11.6%, 12% and 11.7%), in-house produced assays (10.4, 6.2 and 5%), SEEGENE kits (8.5%, 8.1% and 7.9%), ROCHE Diagnostics (8.3%, 8.5% and 6.9%) and ALTONA Diagnostics kits (6.1, 6.2 and 4.5%). A good agreement was found among laboratories results, with an overall range from 95% to 99.8%. Furthermore, generally from 0.2% to 2.9% of incorrect results and 0% to 1.1% of indeterminate results were reported. Conclusions: The EQA programs are a fundamental quality assurance tool to evaluate the laboratory performance and know the State-of-the-Art diagnostic systems used by participating laboratories. The need for an EQA scheme for every test performed in the laboratory is mandatory to guarantee patient safety.
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The wetlands and salt flats of the Central Andes region are unique extreme environments as they are located in high-altitude saline deserts, largely influenced by volcanic activity. Environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, arsenic content, high salinity, low dissolved oxygen content, extreme daily temperature fluctuation, and oligotrophic conditions, resemble the early Earth and potentially extraterrestrial conditions. The discovery of modern microbialites and microbial mats in the Central Andes during the past decade has increased the interest in this area as an early Earth analog. Along 10 years of prospection of these microbial ecosystems, we have reported, for first time for science, around 35 new systems along wetlands, lakes, volcanoes, and salt flats of Central Andes region of Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia. Microbial biodiversity and metagenomic characterization, together with ancestral biogeochemical cycles, including arsenic and carbon together with bacterial rhodopsin systems, photoreceptors characterization and plasmid biology were studied in these systems. This production of knowledge was accompanied by involvement of Andean ancestral communities, mining industries and governments in order to promote the preservation of these ancestral ecosystems. Finally, the last year, during pandemic, two stories of biotech applications based on basic knowledge of Andean extremophiles became in two Start Ups invested by the GRID X incubator program https://gridexponential.com: 1- CASPR-BIOTECH https://caspr.bio develops diagnostic kits that apply to COVID19, Hanta virus and Dengue and is based on new CRISPR-Cas systems that we discovered in the Puna salt flats and patented in the USA. 2- We founded CKAPUR https://Ckapur.com, a company that develops sustainable biotechnology applied to agriculture based on Extremophilic microorganisms: "ancestral stardust recyclers" isolated from salt flats. In this moment this Start Up is being part on Indiebio program in San Francisco USA https://indiebio.co/ In that way, studying and preserving microbial extreme biodiversity from salt pads can generate economic development in local communities through NAGOYA treaty as much as it does in mining development, only without any type of environmental impact.
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Objective: To explore the risk factors for early clinical recurrence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) after fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 192 patients with IBD who received FMT treatment in the Colorectal Disease Specialty/Intestinal Microecology Treatment Center of the Tenth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University from February 2017 to June 2020. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors for early recurrence of inflammation. Feces from all participants were collected to extract the total bacterial genomic DNA. The V6-8 regions of the bacterial 16S rDNA gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the PCR products were detected by the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method, and the intestinal flora was analyzed by DNA fingerprinting. Stool samples from all patients were tested for 9 bacteria, white blood cells (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts, as well as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level. Results: Of the 192 patients, 15 cases had inflammation recurrence during FMT and within one week after treatment, including 11 cases of ulcerative colitis (UC) and 4 cases of Crohn’s disease (CD), with a total recurrence rate of 7.8%. High Mayo inflammatory activity score, Mayo endoscopic sub-item score (MES) =3 points, CRP>10 mg/L, anemia, albumin <30 g/L, absolute value of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) <500/mm3, and intolerance to enteral full nutrition were independent risk factors for recurrence during and after FMT in UC patients (P<0.05). Albumin <30 g/L and simultaneous use of immunosuppressive agents were associated with disease recurrence during and after FMT in CD patients. WBC, PLT, and CRP were all negatively correlated with Enterococcus (EC), and ESR was positively correlated with Saccharomyces boulardii (SB) (P<0.01). Conclusion: The low recurrence rate of IBD after FMT indicates the safety of FMT, but this procedure should be cautiously used in patients with severe intestinal barrier dysfunction and/or severe intestinal dysfunction.