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Purpose Identifying the factors influencing the preventive practices of the healthcare workers (HCWs) is crucial during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) because the HCWs are exposed to unparalleled levels of risks. Such concern is starting to be explored worldwide although there is only a single study available in Bangladesh with a limited scope of explorations of the domain. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the factors determining better preventive practices of HCWs toward COVID‐19. Materials and methods A cross‐sectional one‐to‐one survey was carried out using a validated questionnaire from December 15, 2020 to March 15, 2021 among a sample of 640 HCWs from Khulna, a southwestern division of Bangladesh, consisting of ten districts. The measures included socio‐demographics, knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices related information. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors determining preventive practices of HCWs toward COVID‐19. Results More than half of the respondents (62%) were following better preventive practices. Besides, around 70% of them had better knowledge and attitudes toward the disease. Regression analysis showed a number of major determining factors of the HCWs' better preventive practices including being a nurse or other professionals (ie, radiologists and pathologists), being graduates, working in coronavirus isolation units, managing COVID‐19 patients, having previous training, and having better attitudes toward COVID‐19. Conclusion The findings confirmed that the HCWs were generally practicing preventive manners although these trends followed were not at the standard level. So, providing guidance and information from authentic sources and organizing proper training could possibly enhance the preventive behavior in managing COVID‐19 patients.

Medical report of the male patient Blood group ABO B Rh Positive Hematological report HGB (Hemoglobin) (cyanomethanoglobin method) 13.0 g/dL ESR (westergren) 35 mm Differential count WBC Total count of WBC 5300/cmm Neutrophils 43% Lymphocytes 48% Eosinophils 3% Monocytes 6% Basophils 0% Total count of platelet 210 000/cmm Biochemical analysis report Random plasma glucose 5.8 mmol/L S. Creatinine 0.9 mg/dL SGPT (ALT) 32 U/L Immunology report D-Dimer 0.21 Case 2: Medical report of the female patient Hematological report HGB (hemoglobin) (cyanomethanoglobin method) 11.5 g/dL ESR (westergren) 20 mm Differential count WBC Total count of WBC 8200/cmm Neutrophils 57% Lymphocytes 35% Eosinophils 6% Monocytes 2% Basophils 0% Total count of platelet 1,86 000/cmm Biochemical analysis report S. Bilirubin 0.8 mg/dL SGPT (ALT) 32 U/L SGOT (AST) 45 Immunology report D-Dimer Not done Partial sequencing of the RBD portion of the spike protein revealed two featured mutations (L452R and T478K) of the B.1.617.2 PANGO lineage for both samples. 14 Whole-genome sequences revealed 38 mutations and 29 aa substitutions for the sample JUST1 (Collected from the female patient, GISAID accession ID—EPI_ISL_ 2 036 272) and 33 mutations and 26 aa substitutions for sample JUST2 (Collected from the male patient, GISAID accession ID—EPI_ISL_1942249). [...]the Nextstrain server (https://nextstrain.org/sars-cov-2/) for SARS-CoV-2 phylodynamics also bolstered our interpretation based on the mutation pattern of the strains. The Delta variants were 50% more transmissible and 60% more lethal (For every one death 1.6 death in ratio compared with the previous version of the virus) with reduced affinity for neutralizing antibody (The L452R mutation confers a reduction of the recognition capability of the immune system) as demonstrated by other studies. 15,16 Transmission of these new variants may cause a similar impact among Bangladeshi population, which introduced the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine.

The presence of trace elements in the environment can contaminate a food chain of an agro farm in various ways. Integrated chicken-fish farms (i.e., where poultry chicken and fish are cultivated in same places) are getting popular nowadays to meet the demands of a balanced diet. The present study conducted a health risk assessment on the basis of selected heavy metal (i.e., Cr and Pb) and metalloid (i.e., As) contamination in this type of farm in Bangladesh. Samples of various types were collected from different farms between September 2019 and March 2020. The concentrations of the elements were checked by Flame-AAS and HG-AAS. Our findings demonstrated that the elements’ concentrations in fishes were simultaneously induced by the habitation and bioaccumulation through the food chain of the farm. The concentrations of As and Pb in the chicken parts and Cr and As in some fishes were greater than the highest limits set by different permissible standards. Overall, the metal concentration obtained in different samples was in descending order: sediment > droppings > different fish parts > various species of chicken > pond water. Among the pollutants, As gave target hazard quotient (THQ) values higher than 1 for all the species, suggesting health risks from the intake of fishes and chicken. However, there was non-target cancer risk present while considering all the elements together. Notably, the study found carcinogenic risks of As, Pb, and Cr for humans due to poultry and/or fish consumption; the identified health risks associated with the integrated farming setting will be crucial in further tackling strategies. Investigation of the possible sources of heavy metals in commercial chicken feeds and regular monitoring of groundwater used for agro-farming are highly recommended to reduce the burden.

Many marine organisms have a biphasic life cycle that transitions between a swimming larva with a more sedentary adult form. At the end of the first phase, larvae must identify suitable sites to settle and undergo a dramatic morphological change. Environmental factors, including photic and chemical cues, appear to influence settlement, but the sensory receptors involved are largely unknown. We targeted the protein receptor, opsin, which belongs to large superfamily of transmembrane receptors that detects environmental stimuli, hormones, and neurotransmitters. While opsins are well-known for light-sensing, including vision, a growing number of studies have demonstrated light-independent functions. We therefore examined opsin expression in the Pteriomorphia, a large, diverse clade of marine bivalves, that includes commercially important species, such as oysters, mussels, and scallops. Genomic annotations combined with phylogenetic analysis show great variation of opsin abundance among pteriomorphian bivalves, including surprisingly high genomic abundance in many species that are eyeless as adults, such as mussels. Therefore, we investigated the diversity of opsin expression from the perspective of larval development. We collected opsin gene expression in four families of Pteriomorphia, across three distinct larval stages, i.e., trochophore, veliger, and pediveliger, and compared those to adult tissues. We found larvae express all opsin types in these bivalves, but opsin expression patterns are largely species-specific across development. Few opsins are expressed in the adult mantle, but many are highly expressed in adult eyes. Intriguingly, opsin genes such as retinochrome, xenopsins, and Go-opsins have higher levels of expression in the later larval stages when substrates for settlement are being tested, such as the pediveliger. Investigating opsin gene expression during larval development provides crucial insights into their intricate interactions with the surroundings, which may shed light on how opsin receptors of these organisms respond to various environmental cues that play a pivotal role in their settlement process.

Purpose Cellulase, due to its massive applicability, has been used in various industrial processes such as biofuels (bioethanol, triphasic biomethanation), agricultural and plant waste management, chiral separation, and ligand binding studies. The finding of a novel cellulase-producing bacterium will benefit the industries, which rely on yeast to produce cellulase in fermentation technology, because bacteria can easily be manipulated and fermented cost-effectively. Methods Cellulase enzyme-secreting bacteria were isolated from different regions of the world’s largest mangrove forests, Sundarbans in Bangladesh. Biochemical, morphological, and 16S rRNA identification protocol was followed to precisely characterize the bacterial strains. Result We have determined that the strain T2-D2 ( Bacillus sp.), E1-PT ( Pseudomonas sp.), and D1-PT ( Pseudomonas sp.) showed maximum endoglycolytic and strain C1-BT ( Bacillus sp.), E1-BT ( Bacillus sp.), and T-4 (E) showed relatively higher exoglycolytic activity during the test. So, it can be easily cultured at a normal temperature (97.7–99.5 °F). On the one hand, T2-D2 ( Bacillus sp.) and E1-PT ( Pseudomonas sp.) have shown the highest growth rate at pH 7 as it was neither acidic nor basic. Conclusion It was concluded that the strain T2-D2 ( Bacillus sp.) and E1-PT ( Pseudomonas sp.) would be our target cellulolytic strains wherein the experimental isolates belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae, Psuedomonacea, Bacillacea, and Morganellacea family.

Background: The most common cause of death among children is pediatric pneumonia. The increase of antibiotic abuse to treat pediatric pneumonia patients in Bangladesh is alarming for the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. However, there is a dearth of research available regarding this. Hence, the current study was conducted on a pilot scale to identify the MDR bacteria from pediatric pneumonia patients by molecular approaches. Methods: Saliva  and  nasal  swab  samples  were  collected  for  3  months  (July- September  2019)  from  3children  with  suspected  pneumonia  at  two different  hospitals  in  Jashore  city,  Bangladesh.  Routine  biochemical tests were performed to identify the isolates presumptively. All isolates were  tested  for  antimicrobial  resistance  according  to  CLSI  guidelines using  17  antibiotics.  Finally,  amplified  ribosomal  DNA  restriction analysis  (ARDRA)  and  16S  rRNA  sequencing  with  phylogeny  were performed to confirm the bacteria at the species level. Results: From the samples collected from the patients, 47 isolates were obtained. The  biochemical  tests  presumptively  identified  Acinetobacter spp., as the most prevalent type, which was followed by Staphylococcus spp., and Enterobacter spp. Surprisingly, every isolate was MDR, resistant to at least four antibiotics. Cefepime and Cefotaxime showed the highest (i.e.,  100%  and  87%,  respectively)  resistance  pattern.  In  addition,  the isolates showed elevated resistance towards Amoxicillin, Vancomycin, Streptomycin,  Azithromycin,  Erythromycin,  Norfloxacin,  and Tetracycline. On the contrary, they were susceptible to Imipenem and Meropenem. Subsequently, the isolates were typed into three different groups by ARDRA; the strains Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter hormaechei, and Staphylococcus pasteuri were confirmed. Conclusion: The  rapid  revolution  of  multidrug  resistant  organisms  has  an  impact on morbidity, mortality and healthcare associated cost. Unrestricted use  of  antibiotics  should  be  stopped  and  surveillance  is  necessary  for controlling the emergence of resistant bacteria Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 23 No. 03 July’24 Page : 729-738

Background: Nowadays, Health Care Professionals’ (HCPs) are increasingly using mobile phones which may act as reservoirs and vector for transmission of pathogens. The presence of multidrug resistant nosocomial microbes on the surface of mobile phones used by HCPs in hospitals can pose a great public health threat. So, this research was conducted to identify the concerned multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria and also to explore the recent status of bacterial contamination on mobile phones of HCPs in the Jashore region of Bangladesh and determine their antibiotic resistance pattern. Methods: Swab samples of mobile phones were collected between June and September 2019 from 24 different users (i.e., manager, worker, doctor and nurse) associated to four distinct hospitals of Jashore region, Bangladesh. After suitable morphological and biochemical identification, we determined their antimicrobial susceptibility by Kirby- Bauer disc diffusion method by using 18 antibiotics for Gram positive bacteria and 19 antibiotics for Gram negative bacteria. Later, the MDR isolates were grouped by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and 16S rRNA sequencing with phylogeny were performed to confirm the bacteria at species level. Results: A total of 38 bacterial isolates were obtained from the sample. Enterobacter spp. isolates showed maximum resistance against Amoxicillin, followed by Ampicillin and Aztreonam (80% each) and one isolate showed highest antibiotic resistance (15 out of 19) among all the isolates. In addition, Staphylococcus spp. and Exiguobacterium spp. isolates showed 100% resistance against Penicillin, Ampicillin, Oxacillin, Erythromycin, Lincomycin and Cefotaxime. On the contrary, all of the isolates of Escherichia spp., Bacillus spp., Proteus spp. were sensitive to all tested antibiotics. Surprisingly, 20 MDR isolates were showing resistance to at least 2 antibiotics. Subsequently, three distinct genera of these MDR isolates were identified by ARDRA; the strains Enterobacter cloacae (75%), Staphylococcus warneri (15%) and Exiguobacterium aurantiacum (10%) were confirmed by the 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis. Conclusion: We found that cell phones can act as reservoirs of multidrug-resistant pathogens, causative agents for Hospital-acquired infections. An effective hygiene practice for health care personnel should be introduced to prevent the cross-contamination by their cell phone Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 22 No. 03 July’23 Page : 643-656

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged in late 2019 has accumulated a series of point mutations and evolved into several variants of concern (VOCs), some of which are more transmissible and potentially more severe than the original strain. The most notable VOCs are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron, which have spread to various parts of the world. This study conducted surveillance in Jashore, Bangladesh to identify the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 coinfected with dengue virus and their genomic effect on the emergence of VOCs. A hospital-based COVID-19 surveillance from June to August, 2021 identified 9 453 positive patients in the surveillance area. The study enrolled 572 randomly selected COVID-19-positive patients, of which 11 (2%) had dengue viral coinfection. Whole genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed and compared between coinfection positive and negative group. In addition, we extracted 185 genome sequences from GISAID to investigate the cross-correlation function between SARS-CoV-2 mutations and VOC; multiple ARIMAX(p,d,q) models were developed to estimate the average number of amino acid (aa) substitution among different SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. The results of the study showed that the coinfection group had an average of 30.6 (±1.7) aa substitutions in SARS-CoV-2, whereas the dengue-negative COVID-19 group had that average of 25.6 (±1.8; P < .01). The coinfection group showed a significant difference of aa substitutions in open reading frame (ORF) and N-protein when compared to dengue-negative group (P = .03). Our ARIMAX models estimated that the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants Delta required additional 9 to 12 aa substitutions than Alpha, Beta, or Gamma variant. The emergence of Omicron accumulated additional 19 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.74, 21.95) aa substitution than Delta. Increased number of point mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genome identified from coinfected cases could be due to the compromised immune function of host and induced adaptability of pathogens during coinfections. As a result, new variants might be emerged when series of coinfection events occur during concurrent two epidemics.

Cellulase, due to its massive applicability, has been used in various industrial processes such as biofuels (bioethanol, triphasic biomethanation), agricultural and plant waste management, chiral separation, and ligand binding studies. The finding of a novel cellulase-producing bacterium will benefit the industries, which rely on yeast to produce cellulase in fermentation technology, because bacteria can easily be manipulated and fermented cost-effectively. Cellulase enzyme-secreting bacteria were isolated from different regions of the world's largest mangrove forests, Sundarbans in Bangladesh. Biochemical, morphological, and 16S rRNA identification protocol was followed to precisely characterize the bacterial strains. We have determined that the strain T2-D2 (Bacillus sp.), E1-PT (Pseudomonas sp.), and D1-PT (Pseudomonas sp.) showed maximum endoglycolytic and strain C1-BT (Bacillus sp.), E1-BT (Bacillus sp.), and T-4 (E) showed relatively higher exoglycolytic activity during the test. So, it can be easily cultured at a normal temperature (97.7-99.5 [degrees]F). On the one hand, T2-D2 (Bacillus sp.) and E1-PT (Pseudomonas sp.) have shown the highest growth rate at pH 7 as it was neither acidic nor basic. It was concluded that the strain T2-D2 (Bacillus sp.) and E1-PT (Pseudomonas sp.) would be our target cellulolytic strains wherein the experimental isolates belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae, Psuedomonacea, Bacillacea, and Morganellacea family.

Abstract Background The mortality of COVID-19 disease is very high among males or elderly or individuals having comorbidities with obesity, cardiovascular diseases, lung infections, hypertension, and/or diabetes. Our study characterizes SARS-CoV-2 infected patients’ metagenomic features with or without type 2 diabetes to identify the microbial interactions associated with its fatal consequences. Method This study compared the baseline nasopharyngeal microbiome of SARS-CoV-2 infected diabetic and non-diabetic patients with controls adjusted with age and gender. The mNGS were performed using Ion GeneStudio S5 Series and the data were analyzed by the Vegan-package in R. Results All three groups possessed significant bacterial diversity and dissimilarity indexes (p<0.05). Spearman’s correlation coefficient network analysis illustrated 183 significant positive correlations and 13 negative correlations of pathogenic bacteria (r=0.6-1.0, p<0.05), and 109 positive correlations among normal-flora and probiotic bacteria (r>0.6, p<0.05). The SARS-CoV-2 diabetic group exhibited a significant increase of pathogens (p<0.05) and opportunistic pathogens (p<0.05) with a simultaneous decrease of normal-flora (p<0.05). The molecular docking analysis of Salivaricin, KLD4 (alpha), and enterocin produced by several enriched probiotic strains presented strong binding affinity with Shiga toxin, outer membrane proteins (ompA, omp33) or hemolysin. Conclusion The dysbiosis of the bacterial community might be linked with severe consequences of COVID-19 infected diabetic patients, although few probiotic strains inhibited numerous pathogens in the same pathological niches. This study suggested that the promotion of normal-flora and probiotics through dietary changes and reduction of excessive pro-inflammatory states by preventing pathogenic environment might lead to a better outcome for those co-morbid patients. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.