Agrobacterium tumefaciens was used to facilitate genetic transformation of Coccidioides immitis. A gene cassette containing the gene encoding hygromycin phosphotransferase (hph) was cloned into a T-DNA vector plasmid and introduced into A. tumefaciens, and the resultant strain was used for cocultivation with germinated arthroconidia. This procedure produced numerous colonies 60- to >500-fold more resistant to hygromycin than untransformed mycelia. Both polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis of the transformants indicated that all contained hph, usually as a single genomic copy. A transformation frequency of 1 per 10⁵ arthroconidia was obtained by varying the germination time prior to cocultivation and altering the bacterium : fungus ratio. This approach requires no special equipment that might complicate biocontainment. Furthermore, transformation does not require digestion of fungal cell walls, further simplifying this procedure. A. tumefaciens-facilitated transformation should make possible the development of tagged mutagenesis and targeted gene disruption technology for C. immitis and perhaps other fungi of medical importance.

The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis. EBV is highly prevalent lymphotropic herpesvirus and has been linked to several malignancies. Transmission is generally by oral secretions, but can be through blood transfusions and organ transplantations. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence, viremia rates, and circulating genotypes of EBV in healthy blood donors in Qatar. Blood samples from 673 blood donors of different nationalities residing in Qatar (mainly Qatar, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Pakistan, and India) were collected and tested for anti-EBV capsid (VCA; IgG & IgM), nuclear (EBNA; IgG), and early (EA-D; IgG) antigens. Avidity testing was determined when active infection was suspected. DNA was extracted from the buffy coat and subjected to EBV-DNA quantification using qRT-PCR. Genotyping was performed using nested-PCR targeting EBV-EBNA2 gene, and phylogeny by sequence analysis of the LMP-1 gene. 97.9% (673/659) of the samples were seropositive as indicated by the presence VCA-IgG, while 52.6% (354/673) had detectible EBV-DNA. EBV seroprevalence and viremia rates increased significantly with age. Genotyping of 51 randomly selected samples showed predominance of Genotype 1 (72.5%, 37/51) as compared to genotype 2 (3.5%), and mixed infections were detected in 4% of the samples. Sub-genotyping for these samples revealed that the Mediterranean strain was predominant (65.3%), followed by B95.8 prototype and North Carolina strains (12.2% each), and China1 strain (6%). As a first study to evaluate EBV infection in highly diverse population in Qatar, where expatriates represent more than 85% of the population, our results indicated high seroprevalence and viremia rate of EBV in different nationalities, with genotype 1 and Mediterranean strain being predominant. Clinical significance of these finding have not been investigated and shall be evaluated in future studies.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have gained increasing attention as novel drug-delivery nanostructures for the treatment of cancers, infections, inflammations, and other diseases and disorders. They are versatile in design, synthesis, modification, and functionalization. This has many advantages in terms of gene editing and gene silencing, and their application in genetic illnesses. The development of several techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9, TALEN, and ZFNs has raised hopes for the treatment of genetic abnormalities, although more focused experimentation is still needed. AuNPs, however, have been much more effective in trending research on this subject. In this review, we highlight recently well-developed advancements that are relevant to cutting-edge gene therapies, namely gene editing and gene silencing in diseases caused by a single gene in humans by taking an edge of the unique properties of the AuNPs, which will be an important outlook for future research.

Anelloviruses (TTV, TTMV, and TTMDV) have been associated with non A-G hepatitis. The goal of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of these anelloviruses in Qatar. A total of 607 blood samples (500 healthy donors, and 53 HBV-and 54 HCV-positive patients) representing different nationalities were tested for the presence of TTV, TTMV, and TTMDV DNA by nested PCR. Prevalence rates for the three viruses were high in all studied groups, and exceeding 95% in the HBV group (for TTV and TTMDV). Infection with more than one type of viruses was common and significant in most of the positive patients (p < 0.05) and ranging from 55.4% for TTV/TTMV and TTMV/TTMDV co-infections in the healthy group, to 96.3% for TTV/TTMV co-infections in the HBV group. Further, and as with most previous studies, no significant association was found between anelloviruses infections and age, nationality, or gender (p > 0.05) albeit the detection of higher infection rates among females and Qatari subjects. This was the first published study to look at prevalence of Anellowviruses in the Middle East. High prevalence rates of the three viruses in all studied groups was noted. Further studies are needed to explore and compare the different genotypes of these viruses in the region.