Fragment-Based De Novo Design of Antimycobacterial Agents and In Vitro Potency Evaluation.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection with global impact that over time demonstrates enormously high mortality rates. The vital need for improving novel and efficient anti-TB drugs is caused by the rising rate of appearance of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) strains to the frequently utilized drugs.In addition, the longer periods of therapy and healing, mainly in the immune compromised patients aggrevates the situation. Recent studies indicate that computer-based techniques have been used successfully in the antibacterial research. In our current approach, utilizing combined pattern of computer-based methods as fragment-based de novo design, structure-based docking and scoring, in addition to similaritybased compound searching, led to introduce seven in silico designed compounds with probable antimycobacterial properties. Then, we investigated their potency against sensitive and resistant strains of Mycobacterium sp. in vitro. Findings resulted from antimycobacterial tests and MTT assay indicated that two compounds, 1-amino-4-(phenylamino) anthracene-9,10-dione and 5-fluoroindoline-2,3-dione have useful profile and maybe good candidates for developing novel antimycobacterial drugs.

Prevalence and risk factors for giardiasis among primary school children in Damascus, Syria.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of giardiasis in primary school children in Damascus city and the countryside, and to investigate the possible risk factors for giardiasis infection. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on school children from 23 primary schools in Damascus, between March and June 2006. Data were collected from 1469 children of both genders from urban and rural regions using structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory analysis of fecal samples. The parasites were detected using a single-stool sample by direct wet examination under light microscope. RESULTS: Two hundred and six (14%) of 1469 children were infected with Giardia lamblia, while 119 (8.1%) were found infected with other sorts of intestinal parasites. No correlation was found between giardiasis and age, gender, residence in urban or rural areas, availability of piped water or sewage system. In contrast, both mother's (p=0.003) and father's (p=0.018) levels of education, and the number of siblings in-home (p=0.014) were found significant predictors of giardiasis. As for children's nutritional status, 6.6% were found to have significant stunting, 1.8% had underweight, and 4.7% had wasting. Giardiasis, however, was not found a predictor of these conditions. CONCLUSION: The Damascus region could be classified as medium-prevalence area for Giardia infections. Thus, the local administrators need to pay more attention to the prevention of parasitic infections along with improvement in education, environmental, and sanitary conditions.