Defective SARS-CoV-2 immune responses in an immunocompromised individual with prolonged viral replication

We describe SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses in a patient with lymphoma and recent PD-1 inhibitor therapy with late onset of severe COVID-19 disease and prolonged SARS-CoV-2 replication, in comparison to age-matched and immunocompromised controls. High levels of HLA-DR +/CD38 +-activation, IL-6 and IL-18 in the absence of B cells and PD-1 expression was observed. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses were absent and SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells were minimally detected. This case highlights challenges in managing immunocompromised hosts who may fail to mount effective virus-specific immune responses.

Prevalence of Toxoplasmosis antibodies in blood donors in Tripoli area

Toxoplasma gondii is the organism that is responsible for toxoplasmosis disease. Toxoplasma gondii: is a crucial obligate intracellular parasite of humans and animals worldwide and infects nearly one-third of humanity; the disease can be severe and can lead to abortion or neonate’s death. In addition, an immunocompromised individual may develop several syndromes such as encephalitis, chorioretinitis, congenital infection and neonatal mortality. In this study, our objective is to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies through blood transfusion. Therefore, our study was conducted from 1 May 2010 to 31 of May 2010 among Libyan donors. We tested 164 blood donors from different ages for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Tripoli, a capital city of Libya. The results showed that 33.5% of blood donors had positive IgG antibodies. Therefore, this study suggest blood screening with high-performance techniques for Toxoplasma gondii before blood transfusion should be routinely done to avoid severe complications.

Neonatal Listeria innocua sepsis

Neonatal listeriosis is a potentially life-threatening infection, usually caused by Listeria monocytogenes. It has a high case fatality rate and can cause severe neurological sequelae among survivors. Early-onset listeriosis is caused by vertical transmission through transplacental route, inhalation of infected amniotic fluid or through ascending infection from the vaginal colonization. We report fatal neonatal listeriosis in a 5 day old female infant caused by L. innocua. L. innocua is considered as non-pathogen and only few cases were reported in an immunocompromised individual.

Rothia mucilaginosa bacteremia, meningitis leading to diffuse cerebritis in an adolescent patient undergoing acute myeloid leukemia chemotherapy causing significant morbidity

Infections with Rothia mucilaginosa are rare. We present an unusual case of Rothia mucilaginosa in an immunocompromised host, which is usually considered a low virulence pathogen. The objective of this report is to highlight spectrum of clinical presentations in an immunocompromised individual and discuss various antimicrobial treatment options in the light of lack of definitive treatment guidelines for this organism.

SCREENING, IDENTIFICATION AND ISOLATION OF SOME FUNGAL SPECIES AGAINST OPPORTUNISTIC FUNGAL PATHOGEN CANDIDA ALBICANS

Candida albicans or Monilia albicans is an opportunistic fungus, it is basically present on the skin and mucous membranes such like vaginal area, mouth, or rectum part. Candida albicans can travel through the blood and affects intestines, throat, and heart valves of healthy as well as immunocompromised individual. When is there is any change in body temperature Candida albicans becomes an infectious agent and it starting grow out of control it also cause life threating infections to patients with weak immunity (AIDS), patients in ICU and undergoing Chemotherapy. Some of the Candida infections could be treated with home remedies, topical creams or with prescription medication such as clotrimazole, miconazole, nystatin, tioconazole, or oral administration of drugs such as fluconazole and amphotericin B. Although all this antifungal drug helps in getting cure the trouble, but the infection can recur. As per the ongoing research on all over the globe, it has been proven that Candida albicans become resistant over most the drug, so it is necessary to find an alternative drug to cure this life-threatening organism. In the present study we evaluated and screened the secondary metabolites of fungi for the control of Candida albicans by evaluating the potential of fungal bioactive compounds, its purification and characterization.