Researchers worldwide have been looking forward to using novel ways to purify fresh water containing pollutants and disease vectors. In the current work, nanoparticles were introduced as a promising technique for cleaning water and saving human health and living organisms. The nanocomposites, MnCoO and MnCoO/CNTs, were fabricated by a cost-effective co-precipitation method. Phase and molecular structures were investigated by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The samples exhibited polycrystalline nature of binary phase and weak crystallinity. The elemental composition was recorded by EDX spectra, revealing the purity of the nanoparticles. The surface morphology and particle distribution were described using SEM and TEM micrographs, indicating that MnCoO/CNTs are nanoflakes with a large surface area. The optical parameters include α, E_g, n, k, which were identified from T% and R% measurements, suggesting that MnCoO has a direct band gap that reduced with the CNT support. The photocatalytic activity of MnCoO/CNTs was examined for the degradation of methyl orange dye with an efficiency of ∼90.97% over 0.6 g L⁻¹ within 50 min under UV irradiation. In the larvicidal activity, the micrograph images revealed the impact of the nanoflake particles on the 4th instar larvae, where the enzymatic activity of esterases acetylcholinesterase, α- and β-carboxylesterase, and transaminases drastically decreased with the MnCoO/CNT ratio.

The spread of many infectious diseases by vectors is a globally severe issue. Climate change and the increase of vector resistance are the primary sources of rising mosquito populations. Therefore, advanced approaches are needed to prevent the dispersal of life-threatening diseases. Herein, Mn₂O₃ NPs and MnCoO nanocomposites were presented as mosquitocidal agents. The synthesized samples were prepared by a co-precipitation route and characterized using different techniques indicating the change of host Mn₂O₃ structure to 2D MnCoO nanoflakes with Co³⁺ integration. The thermal decomposition of the nanoparticles was examined by TGA analysis, showing high stability. The energy gap (${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{g}}$) of Mn₂O₃ was estimated within the visible spectrum of the value 2.95 eV, which reduced to 2.80 eV with doping support. The impact of Mn₂O₃ and MnCoO on immature stages was investigated by semithin photomicrographs exhibiting significant changes in the midgut, fat tissue and muscles of the third larval instar. Moreover, the external deformations in pupae were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Herein, we report the synthesis of spinel cobalt oxide nanorods (Co₃O₄ NRs) by a modified co-precipitation approach and examine their larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared Co₃O₄ NRs were emphasized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that Co₃O₄ nanostructures have a face-centered spinel cubic crystal structure with a mean crystallite size of 38 nm. These nanostructures have a rod like shape with a mean diameter of 30 nm and an average length of 60 nm. The TGA measurements revealed the high stability of the formed spinel cubic structure at 400 °C. The optical behavior indicates the direct transition of electrons through an optical band gap in the range of 2.92–3.08 eV. These unique chemical and physical properties of Co₃O₄ NRs enabled them to be employed as a strong agent for killing the C. pipiens. A comparison study was employed between the as-prepared Co₃O₄ and the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum as a control agent of C. pipiens larvae. The results revealed that the as-prepared nanorods have higher mortality against C. pipiens larvae compared with the well-known M. brunneum.

House dust mite aeroallergens are predominant triggers of frequent asthma attacks among adults and children. The intensity of asthma and immune reaction necessitates treatment alternatives based on adjusting chosen immunity biomarkers to control the exacerbation of symptoms and establish long-term immune tolerance. In this study, we selected CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs), FOXP3, and Sirtuin -1 as they are known to have a potential role in the immune reaction in different allergic diseases. We investigated their interplay during HDM allergic asthma and its respective immunotherapy. Eighty-four subjects were divided into 3 groups; healthy controls (CT), HDM asthma patients without immunotherapy (WOIT), and HDM asthma patients treated with subcutaneous immunotherapy for 6 months before recruitment (WIT). They were enrolled according to the pulmonary function, skin prick tests, and HDM-specific IgE. CD4⁺ CD25⁺ and CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FOXP3^+hi T cells Cell percentages, FOXP3 gene expression, and Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) serum level were analyzed. We found that there is a significant difference between WOIT and WIT groups in the CD4⁺ CD25⁺ and CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FOXP3^+hi T cell percentages. While there is no statistically significant difference between WOIT and WIT groups in FOXP3 level. On the controversy, the SIRT1 level in the CT group (4.53 ± 3.880) significantly decreased in the WOIT and WIT groups. This study revealed that both CD4 CD25 and CD4 CD25 high FOXP3 cell percentages increased in the WIT group and declined in the WOIT group. While, FOXP3 gene expression increased in both groups. In addition, the Sirt1 serum level showed some improvement in WIT group after a serious drop in the WOIT group comparing with the CT group. The modulation of these biomarkers for the remission and control of allergic asthma can be a prognostic outcome of immunotherapy which needs to be confirmed by larger scale studies.

House dust mite (HDM)-allergic asthma is an abnormal immune response to extrinsic aeroallergens found in human vicinities. Studying the role of the associated immunity biomarkers and their interplay helps in discovering novel therapeutic strategies that can be used in adjunct with effective long-term immunotherapy. This study investigates the total serum IgE, FoxO1, and Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) gene expressions in HDM-allergic asthma patients. We enrolled 40 patients for each of the following three groups: an HV group of healthy volunteers and HDM/AA and HDM/SCIT groups of HDM-allergic asthma patients who did not and who did receive immunotherapy before recruitment in this study, respectively. The results elucidated that total IgE was strikingly elevated in the HDM/AA group and showed little decline in the HDM/SCIT group. Both FoxO1 and SIRT1 gene expressions showed the highest levels in the HDM/SCIT group. There was a negative correlation between total IgE and both FoxO1 and SIRT1 in the HDM/AA group while there was a positive correlation with SIRT1 in the HDM/SCIT group. In conclusion, the interplay of the three immunity biomarkers related to HDM-allergic asthma after the course of immunotherapy treatment suggests further, broader studies on the feasibility of their role as immunity biomarkers in the control and remission of HDM-allergic asthma.

Background: Toxoplasmosis is zoonotic protozoal disease that poses a significant risk to human health, with a high incidence rate observed globally. This study aimed to investigate the association between NLRP1 gene polymorphisms (rs8081261 and rs11652907) and susceptibility to Toxoplasma gondii infection by establishment of the groundwork for broader-scale investigations using a novel PCR-RFLP technique. The RFLP findings were confirmed through Sanger sequencing of representative samples, reinforcing the reliability of the RFLP technique. NALP1 or NLRP1 serves as an inflammatory sensor of the innate immune response to intracellular pathogens, such as Toxoplasma gondii. Methods: Ninety subjects from Sharkia governorate, Egypt were tested for Toxoplasma IgG and genotyped for the rs8081261 and rs11652907 Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which have been previously linked to congenital toxoplasmosis. Results: The overall seropositivity rate in the study population was 72.2%. The detected genotypes for rs8081261 were GG and AG, with percentages of 88.89% and 11.11%, respectively, while for rs11652907, the detected genotypes were TT and CT alleles, with percentages of 85.55% and 14.45%, respectively. The results showed that the (A) allele of rs8081261 increased the risk of past infection by approximately 3.64, while the (C) allele of rs11652907 increased the risk by 1.31 folds. Conclusion: A significant association was found between the level of IgG and both alleles. These findings provide insight into the potential role of these SNPs in different intracellular infections and their mechanisms. Further research is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms associated with the effects of these SNPs.