The integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are an important class in the arsenal of antiretroviral drugs designed to block the integration of HIV-1 cDNA into the host DNA through the inhibition of DNA strand transfer. In this study for the first time in Morocco, the complete HIV-1 integrase gene was analysed from newly diagnosed patients to evaluate the prevalence of natural polymorphisms and INSTIs resistance-associated mutations in the integrase gene. The 864pb IN coding region was successfully sequenced from plasma sample for 77 among 80 antiretroviral naïve patients. The sequences were interpreted for drug resistance according to the Stanford algorithm. Sixty samples were HIV-1 subtype B (78%), fourteen CRF02_AG (18%), two subtype C and one subtype A. Overall 81 of 288 (28%) amino acid IN positions presented at least one polymorphism each. We found 18 (36.73%), 42 (25.76%) and 21 (27.27%) of polymorphic residues assigned to the N-Terminal Domain, Catalytic Core Domaine and the C-Terminal Domain positions respectively. Primary INSTIs resistance mutation were absent, however secondary mutations L74IM, T97A were detected in four samples (5.2%). These results demonstrate that untreated HIV-1 infected Moroccans will be susceptible to INSTIs.

Fusarium equiseti as One of the Main Fusarium Species Causing Wilt and Root Rot of Chickpeas in Morocco

It is of interest to elucidate the binding mode analysis of 18 sulphonated flavones in the non nucleoside inhibitory binding pocket of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (PDB ID: 1RTD).We further compared them with the known Non Nucleosidic Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTI) drug molecules such as delaviridine, nevirapine and etravirine. Molecular docking studies of sulphonated flavones were performed in the binding pocket of reverse transcriptase using the PatchDock server. The flavones have different binding energies with RT and the atomic contact energy (ACE) value of sulfonated flavones range from -389 to -231 Kcal/mol while docking of the commercialized NNRTI showed the ACE value range from -486 to -224 Kcal/mol. This shows that most sulfonated flavones have ACE similar to the known NNRTI. Thus, seven compounds (FS-6, FS-7, FS-8, FS-9, FS-14, FS-15, FS-17) were reported as potent, selective, orally bio available, and nontoxic lead based on ADMET screening and effective binding analysis in the active site of the reverse transcriptase (PDB ID: 1RTD) for further consideration. We further document that compounds (FS-1, FS-10, FS-4 and FS-12) have unfavorable binding features to be considered as leads.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in fungi are less studied compared to those produced by bacteria. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the volatile compounds for the first time in four Moroccan Trichoderma strains. T. orientale, T. asperellum (1), Trichoderma sp. (3), and T. asperellum (2), which were isolated from saffron bulbs and compost, the observed fungal VOCs were identified using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library. According on the NIST database, sixty-six (66) VOCs were identified, belonging to various chemical families: monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, furans, terpenic alcohols, naphthalenes and aromatic hydrocarbons. In our study we found that, T. asperellum (2) produced the most VOCs with 45%, followed by Trichoderma sp. (3) 39%, T. orientale 30%, and T. asperellum (1) 29%. In addition to common VOCs produced like ethanol; 1-propanol, 2-methyl and 1-butanol, 3-methyl, the four strains produced a variety of other VOCs. T. asperellum (2) produced eighteen, T. orientale twelve, Trichoderma sp. (3) ten, and T. asperellum (1) eight. Further comparison with bibliographic databases revealed that 14 VOCs were not previously identified in any fungus and are novel to the studied Trichoderma species. Additionally, 05 VOCs were mentioned in previous studies without specifying their applications, and 11 VOCs were found in organisms other than Trichoderma spp. This research provides valuable insights into the VOCs production by different Trichoderma strains and highlights the diversity and novelty of compounds produced by these fungi.