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This study focused on testing manufactured silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against the malaria pathogen Plasmodium falciparum and the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi using the plant filtrate from Madhuca longifolia. The M. longifolia leaf extracts were used to synthesize the AgNPs, which were then subjected to several physicochemical methods to determine their characteristics. To evaluate the effectiveness of the green produced AgNP therapy, the mosquitocidal activity of A. stephensi, cytotoxicity assay in Vero cells, and antiplasmodial activity assay were performed. The larval and pupal toxicity of biosynthesized AgNPs against the malarial vector A. stephensi is 90% promising in laboratory settings at low dosages (10 ppm). When tested on African green monkey kidney cells, the cytotoxic effect of biosynthesized materials was found to be inappropriately damaging up to 100 g·mL−1. The antimalarial efficacy of AgNPs was evaluated against P. falciparum strains. The parasites that were restrained by AgNPs at 100 ppm had the highest parasitemia restraint rate (80.4%). AgNPs then showed significant in vitro antimalarial activity against P. falciparum. Our findings suggested that the biosynthesized AgNPs might function as a novel antimalarial agent that is both safer for the environment and a barrier to infections spread by mosquitoes.

Background Livelihood activities and human movements participate in the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases and influence malaria risk in elimination settings. In Saudi Arabia, where malaria transmission intensity varies geographically, it is vital to understand the components driving transmission within specific areas. In addition, shared social, behavioral, and occupational characteristics within communities may provoke the risk of malaria infection. This study aims to understand the relationship between human mobility, livelihood activities, and the risk of malaria infection in the border region of Jazan to facilitate further strategic malaria interventions. In addition, the study will complement and reinforce the existing efforts to eliminate malaria on the Saudi and Yemen border by providing a deeper understanding of human movement and livelihood activities. Methods: An unmatched case-control study was conducted. A total of 261 participants were recruited for the study, including 81 cases of confirmed malaria through rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and microscopy and 180 controls in the Baish Governorate in Jazan Provinces, Saudi Arabia. Individuals who received malaria tests were interviewed regarding their livelihood activities and recent movement (travel history). A questionnaire was administered, and the data was captured electronically. STATA software version 16 was used to analyze the data. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine if engaging in agricultural activities such as farming and animal husbandry, recent travel history outside of the home village within the last 30 days and participating in spiritual gatherings were related to malaria infection status. Results A logistical regression model was used to investigate components associated with malaria infection. After adjusting several confounding factors, individuals who reported traveling away from their home village in the last 30 days OR 11.5 (95% CI 4.43 - 29.9), and those who attended a seasonal night spiritual gathering OR 3.04 (95% CI 1.10 - 8.42), involved in animal husbandry OR 2.52 (95% CI 1.10 - 5.82), and identified as male OR 4.57 (95% CI 1.43 -14.7), were more likely to test positive for malaria infection. Conclusion: Human movement and livelihood activities, especially at nighttime, should be considered malaria risk factors in malaria elimination settings, mainly when the targeted area is limited to a confined borderland area.

Background: Human movement along the Saudi/Yemen border is thought to play a strong role in malaria transmission in Saudi Arabia. Although mobile populations and migrant workers are a key population to containing malaria transmission on border areas, there is a limited representation of migrants in routine surveillance data. Understanding migrant’s malaria–related knowledge, risk perceptions, prevention protocols and treatment seeking behavior could increase the elimination programs success and increase access to healthcare and preventive measures. Methods: A survey of migrant workers in the rural agricultural area took place in Abu Arish region at the southern border of Saudi Arabia, using peer navigators a form of snowball sampling. A structured questionnaire was administered, and the data was captured electronically. STATA software version 16 was used to analyses the data. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was used to determine which factors are associated with correct malaria knowledge, health perception, the use of preventive measurement and malaria infection. A total of 227 participants were included in the study. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with correct malaria knowledge and health perceptions. Results: 79% of migrant workers have been residents for more than six months. They have 94% accuracy level of knowledge about malaria which is considered high (214/227 = 94.27%). Overall, 65.2% of the participants had a positive attitude toward malaria. Although only 19% of the participants had received health message or malaria information in the preceding six months. Bed net ownership was extremely low among participants 5%, Interestingly more than two–thirds of the participants reported never visiting a health facility if they had fever around 68%. Conclusion: Most of migrant’s agricultural border in Abu Arish do not receive health messages nor do they benefit from the available malaria prevention tools and service available in the area. Which puts them at greater risk of malaria infection.

Chlamydia pneumonia, a species of the family Chlamydiacea, is a leading cause of pneumonia. Failure to eradicate C. pneumoniae can lead to chronic infection, which is why it is also considered responsible for chronic inflammatory disorders such as asthma, arthritis, etc. There is an urgent need to tackle the major concerns arising due to persistent infections caused by C. pneumoniae as no FDA-approved drug is available against this chronic infection. In the present study, an approach named subtractive proteomics was employed to the core proteomes of five strains of C. pneumonia using various bioinformatic tools, servers, and software. However, 958 non-redundant proteins were predicted from the 4754 core proteins of the core proteome. BLASTp was used to analyze the non-redundant genes against the proteome of humans, and the number of potential genes was reduced to 681. Furthermore, based on subcellular localization prediction, 313 proteins with cytoplasmic localization were selected for metabolic pathway analysis. Upon subsequent analysis, only three cytoplasmic proteins, namely 30S ribosomal protein S4, 4-hydroxybenzoate decarboxylase subunit C, and oligopeptide binding protein, were identified, which have the potential to be novel drug target candidates. The Swiss Model server was used to predict the target proteins’ three-dimensional (3D) structure. The molecular docking technique was employed using MOE software for the virtual screening of a library of 15,000 phytochemicals against the interacting residues of the target proteins. Molecular docking experiments were also evaluated using molecular dynamics simulations and the widely used MM-GBSA and MM-PBSA binding free energy techniques. The findings revealed a promising candidate as a novel target against C. pneumonia infections.

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged late 2019 and has become a global pandemic. There is an urgent need for identification of biomarkers to predict severity of the disease for early treatment and to avoid mortality especially in high-risk population. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate laboratory results in COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia to identify potential biomarkers correlated with disease severity.Clinical records of 200 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from July to August 2020 at Jeddah East Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Laboratory tests including coagulation parameters, D-dimer, kidney, cardiac, and liver enzymes were statistically investigated in patients admitted to wards and intensive care units (ICU).The majority of patients admitted to ward (156/200) were young (mean 47 years old) compared to those admitted to ICU (mean 60 years old), 14/44 passed away in the ICU. Magnesium was significantly (p0.05) elevated in the ICU group while blood urea nitrogen and creatinine level was significantly higher in deceased patients (p0.05). Lactate dehydrogenase results were high among all groups, compared to normal range, although its level significantly increased (p0.05) in ICU and death groups.Elevated lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels may increase the risk of ICU admission and death from COVID-19, which can be used as potential biomarkers for disease severity. Using these markers could help physicians choose the optimal therapeutical option and provide patients with better treatment.

Treatment of wounds, especially chronic ones, is a major challenge in healthcare, with serious clinical and economic burdens. Multiple treatment approaches, including the usage of silver and iodine, have dramatically improved wound healing and reduced the incidence of infection. However, once infected by drug-resistant bacteria, treatment of wounds becomes a serious complication, with limited availability of effective antibiotic drugs, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, alternative therapeutic agents are required to address this gap in wound management. The introduction of manuka honey as a therapeutic agent against infected wounds was the result of extensive research about its activity against both planktonic and biofilm bacterial growth. Likewise, several types of Saudi honey (e.g., Sidr and Talh) showed promising in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity against wound pathogens. This short review summarizes literature that investigated the activity of common types of Saudi honey in relation to wound infections and explores their clinical utility.

COVID-19 crisis had a huge impact on education and academics. Besides, it might have generated public fear and worry. All these factors might affect students’ performance and wellbeing and might increase stress levels especially during exams. Therefore, this study will investigate the impact of COVID-19 crisis on student’s exam anxiety and its relationship with other factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing exam anxiety survey electronically to Saudi universities bachelor students, two hundred and seventy-two students have responded to the survey. The results have shown that both female and male student have high anxiety levels. And no significant correlation was found between any demographic data and anxiety level, except the gender, as female students have a higher anxiety level than male students. In conclusion, COVID-19 might had generated a high exam anxiety level, especially in female students. Therefore, facilitating initiatives might be considered to improve students’ performance during this crisis.