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Introduction: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a positive-sense enveloped single-stranded Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) virus. Structural proteins help the virus package its RNA, while other proteins enable viral replication by facilitating host entry. Through constant mutation, the virus changes its emergence profile, and combinations of mutations can lead to increased transmissibility and receptor binding capacity, altering its surface structure. Whole genome sequencing is an important tool for studying these changes. In this study, the authors report on the genome sequencing of patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using real-time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests. Aim: To identify the different lineages circulating in specific districts of West Bengal, India, and perform an epidemiological analysis of the patients to control disease severity during the second wave of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Materials and Methods: This retrospective hospital-based study was conducted at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India from January 2021 to October 2021. Data collection started in January 2021 and was analysed in October 2021. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were taken from patients with SARS-CoV-2, and the samples were tested using RT-PCR. Positive samples were sent to the Regional Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) for sequencing. Samples were collected from patients in different districts of West Bengal who were reported to the VRDL of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. A total of 172,550 samples were tested for SARSCoV-2, and out of 13,764 positive samples, 230 were sent for genome sequencing. The primary inclusion criteria were SARSCoV-2 positive patients with CT values between 25 and 30 who were vaccinated. Patient information, address, gene variant, and gene mutation of the samples were analysed. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results: Whole-genome sequencing helped identify new trends and their prevalence in specific areas, aiding in prevention efforts. The most common type of mutation observed after double vaccination was the delta variant (B.1.617.2), followed by the kappa variant (B.1.617.1) and the alpha variant (B.1.1.7). Conclusion: Epidemiological genome sequencing studies help to identify emerging and changing viral trends, contributing to the mitigation of the spread of new variants. The delta, kappa, and alpha variants were the three primary sequences discovered in this study. The identification of these lineages facilitates the design of novel vaccines and diagnostic medications. Continuous monitoring and analysis of sequences from new cases in India and other affected countries are crucial for understanding the genetic evolution and substitution rates of SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abscess, an infection with viable infecting organisms and polymorphonuclear cells, contained within a fibrous capsule, limiting the infection, and preventing its further spread. It may be monomicrobial or polymicrobial. Aims and Objectives: The aims of the study were to determine microbiological profile of abscesses of different body sites and associated complications. Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted in our department with 35 pus samples from abscesses of different body sites between August 2022 and December 2022. Gram stain, Z-N stain, fungal stain, aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal culture were performed. Statistical analysis was done by statistical tool R. Results: Out of 35 sampleslimb, liver, paraspinal, psoas, appendicular, breast, perineal, ear, brain and lung abscesses were 11,4,2,3,1,7,2,2,2,1 respectively. Most common organisms from limb, ear, paraspinal and breast abscesses was MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcal aureus). Also most common organisms were - Escherichia coli from liver abscess, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from psoas and appendicular abscess, Enterobacter aerogenes from perineal, Escherichia coli and Actinomyces species from brain and Candida auris from lung abcesses. No growth were also found in few samples. Their susceptibility testing showed-MRSA strains susceptible to both Vancomycin and Linezolid, gram negative bacteria were susceptible to Cephalosporins, Piperacillin-tazobactam, Carbapenems, polymixins, etc. C.auris was resistant to all antifungals. Their blood samples were also collected - ten patients showed fever with bacteremia and one with candidemia. They were treated with systemic antimicrobials along with drainage and/or surgical resection. Conclusion: Abscesses must be suspected in cases with non-resolving fever with/without septicemia and treated promptly with appropriate antimicrobials based on susceptibility report and with drainage and/or surgical resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Omicron is subdivided into BA.1 and BA.2. BA.2 appears to be more transmissible by nature. The new BA.2 sub variant is 30% easier to spread than the original omicron variant. Among those who are infected, headache, sore/itchy throat, sneezing, runny nose, and general body soreness are the most prevalent symptoms. Dizziness and fatigue are two more Omicron BA.2 sub variant symptoms. The aim of the study to evaluate the clinical variability of the BA. 2 sub-variants. Material and methods: A retrospective study was conducted from December 2021 - March 2022 at VRDL, department of microbiology, R. G Kar medical college and hospital. Clinical features, demographic status, comorbidity status was evaluated. Result: Common symptoms of BA.2 variants are headache, sore throat, fever, muscle pain shortness of breath, runny nose, fatigue, loss of taste, chest pain, diarrhea. The risk of severe disease was remained high for older persons and middle-aged men with comorbidities. Hospitalization was rare for this variant but affected more the unvaccinated infant group. Conclusion: The future evolution of the BA.2 sub variant, as well as potential emergent sub variants, should be properly monitored. Omicron BA.2 will infect populations and become another common concerned variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of sulfur metabolism. Clinical features generally include devastating neurologic dysfunction, ectopia lentis, and increased urinary excretion of sulfite, thiosulfate, and S-sulfocysteine. Missed diagnosis is not unusual because of variability in the sensitivity of the urinary sulfite and thiosulfate screening test. We present clinical, biochemical, and molecular data on two unrelated patients with isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency. The two patients belong to an Indigenous genetic isolate in Manitoba, Canada. Both patients (one male and one female, both now deceased) developed neonatal seizures and demonstrated progressive neurodevelopmental delay. Based on increased urinary excretion of sulfite, thiosulfate, and S-sulfocysteine and normal serum uric acid levels, sulfite oxidase deficiency was suspected. Both patients have a homozygous 4-bp deletion, 1347-1350delTTGT in the sulfite oxidase gene (SUOX), predicting a premature termination of the sulfite oxidase protein leading to absence of the carboxy-terminal third portion of the protein. This domain contains most of the contact sites essential for enzyme dimerization. This deletion mutation resulted in sulfite oxidase deficiency with early-onset severe clinical phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicans is found frequently as a commensal organism in the gastrointestinal tract. Despite this, it is rarely found in pancreatic abscesses, there being only a few cases in the literature and in most of these cases the significance of Candida spp. as a pathogen was not initially recognized at the time of diagnosis. In most of the earlier reported pancreatitis associated with candida, C. albicans was the commonest isolate. We report the case of a patient in whom computed tomography was used initially to diagnose a pancreatic abscess, aspiration of which showed growth of Candida tropicalis and Escherichia coli on culture. The patient was started on amphotericin B and imipenem, but the condition of the patient deteriorated, for which the patient underwent surgical necrosectomy and continued treatment with imipenem and amphotericin B led to the satisfactory recovery of the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]