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The COVID-19 pandemic-related measures in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region have resulted in many lifestyle modifications, including changes in diet and food buying patterns among adults. However, the pandemic has impacted women and men differently and exacerbated existing socio-economic and gender inequalities. Indeed, numerous studies conducted worldwide have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionately negative impact on women compared to males. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the effects of COVID-19 on women's food behaviors in three countries of the North Africa sub-region, namely, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. The study was based on an online poll conducted by SurveyMonkey from 15 September to 5 November 2020, with 995 participants. The outcomes of the research found that when compared to men, (1) women tend to consume more food out of fear, anxiety, or boredom; (2) women prefer to eat more unhealthy food; (3) women tend to stockpile a greater amount of food; and (4) women tend to modify their shopping habits more often. The findings should inform gender-sensitive strategies and policies to address the negative impacts of the pandemic and foster transition towards healthier diets and resilient food systems during the recovery period.

Pyrenophora tritici-repentis causes tan spot, an important foliar disease of wheat. A collection of P . tritici-repentis isolates from Tunisia, located in one of the main secondary centers of diversification of durum wheat, was tested for phenotypic race classification based on virulence on a host differential set and for the presence of the necrotrophic effector (NE) genes ToxA , ToxB , and toxb by PCR analysis. While races 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 were identified according to their virulence phenotypes, PCR testing indicated the presence of "atypical" isolates that induced necrosis on the wheat differential 'Glenlea,' but lacked the expected ToxA gene, suggesting the involvement of other NEs in the P . tritici-repentis /wheat interaction. Genetic diversity and the P . tritici-repentis population structure were explored further by examining 59 Tunisian isolates and 35 isolates from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Canada, Iran, and Syria using 24 simple sequence repeat markers. Average genetic diversity, overall gene flow, and percentage polymorphic loci were estimated as 0.58, 2.09, and 87%, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance showed that 81% of the genetic variance occurred within populations and 19% occurred between populations. Cluster analysis by the unweighted pair group method indicated that ToxB - isolates grouped together and were distantly related to ToxB + isolates. Based on Nei's analysis, the global collection clustered into two distinct groups according to their region of origin. The results suggest that geographic origin and the host specificity imposed by different NEs can lead to differentiation among P . tritici-repentis populations.

Background - The infections associated with care (IAS) constitute a major public health problem by the morbi- mortality than they generate as well as by their cost to support. The prevention of these infections has become a priority for several years everywhere in the world and in the occurrence in Tunisia. Aim - The purpose of our study is to assess the prevalence of nosocomial infections as well as develop their microbiologic  profiles in the different departments of  the hospital of FSI  Marsa Tunisia and try to highlight the risk factors that can influence these infections Methods - It was a retrospective study about  patients with noscomila infection who were admitted in the different care unit of the Hospital of FSI  Marsa and this on a period of 6 years from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2014 Results - We have identified seventy(70) patients having contracted a nososcomial infection during the period of study for 24600 hospital admission, with a prevalence rate of 0.28%. The unit of intensive care   had the highest prevalence rate (30%), followed by the general surgery unit (17.1%) and orthopaedics (15.7%). Four bacterial species accounted for almost ¾ of germs isolated: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.86%), Staphylococcus  ( 15.71%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (15,71 %) and Escherichia coli in 8.75% of the helth care associated infections. Conclusion - Nosocomial infections represent an important indicator of the quality of care. Serious efforts but simple, especially as regards the respect of the rules of aseptic and hand hygiene are effective to significantly reduce the occurrence of infections in hospital.