Hepatitis virus infection remains a serious public health concern worldwide. Percutaneous, mucosal, or non-intact skin exposure to infectious blood, semen, and other body fluids are the major routes of infection in endemic areas, including Ethiopia, where little is known about the community’s knowledge, attitudes, and practice toward hepatitis infection. Thus, this study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards hepatitis infection among adults in Gondar town. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2021 on a total of 390 participants. Proportional sample allocation was used in 3 randomly selected sub-cities. Then, study participants from randomly selected households were recruited by using a systematic random sampling technique. Socio-demographic data and questions regarding KAP were collected via a self-administered and interviewer-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the associated factors and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age of the study participants was 30 ± 8.43 years and more than half ½ (53.3%) ranged from 26 to 40 years old. In this study, 335 (85.9%) of study participants had poor knowledge about hepatitis infection. About 344 (88.2%) had a negative attitude toward hepatitis infections, and 344 (88.2%) of the participants had a poor practice to prevent hepatitis infections. Multivariate analysis affirmed that having vaccination for hepatitis infection was significantly associated with a positive attitude (AOR, with 95% CI: 2.135 (1.006–4.532) and good practice levels (AOR, with 95% CI: 22.623 (0.032–0.156). In this study majority of the participants have poor knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward hepatitis infection. Therefore, targeted community-based interventions are necessary. However, this study revealed that having vaccination for hepatitis infection was significantly associated with a positive attitude and good practice levels among the study participants.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy representing a very rapid, uncontrolled growth of myeloid precursors in the BM and peripheral circulation. Studies on AML have highlighted the crucial role of IFN-γ therapy in immune surveillance, both promotive and inhibitory effects on leukemic cells, and regulation of the tumor microenvironment. However, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the dual effects of IFN-γ in AML. Thus, this review aimed to assess the dual effects of IFN-γ in AML. Literature searches were conducted in Pub Med, Google Scholar, and direct Google Search. The data was presented in tables and figures, with findings summarized through a narrative synthesis. Depending on the circumstances and stage of the disease IFN-γ shows two different activities in AML patients. First, IFN-γ enhances NK cells and CD8⁺T lymphocyte functions, which collectively evoke antileukemic immunity. Another promising effect of IFN-γ includes the differentiation of myeloid cells, thereby possibly reducing the severity of leukemia. However, prolonged exposure to IFN-γ can activate Treg cells and inhibitory immunological checkpoints, which can help leukemia evade immune surveillance and encounter an immunosuppressive environment. Our review highlights IFN-γ's critical role in the complex interplay between the immune system and AML pathogenesis. Its dual role in both inhibiting and promoting leukemic processes has been highlighted. However, future pre-clinical and clinical studies should focus on the specific mechanisms by which IFN-γ impacts AML progression and treatment outcomes, with the goal of achieving curative results for patients.

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) remain a significant public health issue, especially among young children in developing countries, and they contribu

Background/Objectives: Next to malaria, respiratory viruses, particularly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are responsible for the hospitalization and death of thousands of young children each year in sub-Saharan Africa. During peak seasons, conducting separate tests is time-consuming and distressing. This underscores the need for efficient, rapid multiplexed diagnostic tools. This study evaluated the clinical performance of a lateral flow assay (LFA) based antigen combo rapid diagnostic test (ML Ag Combo RDT, manufactured by MobiLab) that detects RSV, influenza A and B, and SARS-COV-2. Methods: The Allplex rRT-qPCR assay was used as a reference assay to evaluate the clinical performance of the LFA Ag Combo RDT in pediatric hospital settings and performed using 470 nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) specimens from hospitalized children under two with respiratory symptoms. Results: Based on the comparative analysis of the testing results for 470 NPS, the ML Ag Combo RDT demonstrated high sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 90.06%, 98.33%, 93.45%, and 97.38% for RSV, and 71.43%, 100%, 100%, and 92.94% for influenza A/B, respectively. Agreement with the Allplex rRT-qPCR was strong (κ = 0.90 for RSV and 0.82 for Flu A/B), with overall accuracies of 96.60% for RSV and 94.47% for Flu A/B. This was further supported by ROC analysis for aggregated data (RSV and Flu) with an AUC value of 0.925. As expected, in samples with high viral loads (Ct < 20), the Ag Combo RDT achieved 100% sensitivity for RSV and Flu A/B. Sensitivity declined slightly at lower viral loads (Ct > 35). Conclusions: The ML Ag Combo RDT demonstrates high specificity and strong diagnostic accuracy for the detection of RSV and Flu A/B in pediatric hospital settings, where timely diagnosis is critical.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common clinical form of leishmaniasis that causes skin disease. Currently, there is no licensed prophylactic vaccine for CL, as the mechanisms of healing and memory T-cell responses that develop after infection with CL are far from fully understood. A review of the published articles identifying CL vaccine candidates, immuno-dominant antigens, and potent vaccine adjuvants is needed to provide comprehensive information. Therefore, we aimed to review vaccine candidates, immuno-dominant antigens, and potent vaccine adjuvants for preventing cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods: A systematic search of published studies before December 2023 was identified using electronic databases; PubMed/MEDLINE, Hinari Research4Life, Google Scholar, and direct Google search. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Data were extracted using a Microsoft Excel 2010 spreadsheet and data obtained were then reported using tables and figures and synthesized qualitatively. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI) quality appraisal tool for experimental studies. Results: The electronic databases search yielded 661 articles of which 32 articles met the inclusion criteria. The included articles were conducted in various animal and human models and included vaccine candidates, immuno-dominant antigens, and potent vaccine adjuvants. Some of the first-generation vaccine candidates showed complete protection of the specified animal model. They induced strong T-cell mediated and antibody-mediated humoral immune responses (e.g. Curdlan dectin-1, total Leishmania antigen (TLA), and L. infantum heat shock proteins ( LiΔHSP70-II )). Almost all second and third-generation vaccine candidates, and the immuno-dominant antigens of the parasite and the host enhance T cell-mediated and antibody-mediated immune responses. We also reviewed potent vaccine adjuvants such as myrrh silver nanoparticles (MSNPs), and Imiquimod, which play an important role in enhancing immune responses against Leishmania antigens. Conclusion and recommendations: The T-cell mediated immune response was significantly induced in various experimental models (e.g. IFN-γ and TNF-α response) and also the humoral arm in some instances (e.g. IgG2). This review thus provides comprehensive information on the efficacy and induction of protective immunity of vaccine candidates, antigenic molecules, and vaccine adjuvants against CL. However, there is still a need for a comprehensive understanding of the immuno-pathogenesis of the disease upon vaccination.