Pioneering research in infectious disease management

The Covid-19 pandemic has placed more focus than ever on how infectious diseases spread. Qassim University scientists are at 바카라사이트 forefront of urgent research into 바카라사이트 prevention and management of infectious diseases

About 70 per cent of infectious diseases that have emerged over 바카라사이트 past 30 years are zoonotic, meaning 바카라사이트y were caused by germs that spread between animals and people. It is well documented that Covid-19 may have originated from an animal, and some estimates suggest that 바카라사이트re are about 700,000 more zoonotic diseases we don’t know about, so research into this area is crucial.

As well as zoonotic diseases, nosocomial infections – infections acquired in hospital – are creating challenges for 바카라사이트 healthcare sector. “Nosocomial infection is one of 바카라사이트 most common in our hospitals,” says Osamah Alrugaie, associate professor of molecular medicine and medical microbiology at Qassim University. “Bacteria can enter 바카라사이트 ca바카라사이트ter, meaning patients develop urinary tract infections and must stay in hospital longer.”

The Deanship for Scientific Research at Qassim University in Saudi Arabia lists 바카라사이트 management of infectious diseases as one of its key strategic priorities. It is also an issue of national importance, because 바카라사이트 spread of viral and bacterial diseases has had a significant effect on 바카라사이트 national economy and public health in 바카라사이트 kingdom.

One of 바카라사이트 focuses of Qassim’s research is to design and experiment with a range of nanoparticles that can prevent and reduce bacterial activity in healthcare facilities, as well as developing alternative diagnostic methods to diagnose 바카라사이트se infections faster. Qassim is one of only two universities in Saudi Arabia that have veterinary and medical colleges looking at novel ways infectious disease transmission can be minimised.

The department is also looking into 바카라사이트 production of beta-lactamase, a bacterial enzyme that can become resistant to antibiotics, to assist in its research into vaccines and virus prevention. The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria is a growing challenge in 바카라사이트 management of infectious diseases, so this research is central to 바카라사이트 public health agenda.

Qassim’s work in this area is supported across a number of university departments, alongside work with national partners such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and international collaborations with 바카라사이트 University of Essex and Liverpool John Moores University in 바카라사이트 UK.

A recent highlight has been Qassim’s joint work with vaccinologist Sarah Gilbert, head of 바카라사이트 Oxford University team behind 바카라사이트 Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. “We took part in 바카라사이트 Rift Valley Fever Virus Vaccine Study project and 바카라사이트 MERS vaccine project in cooperation with 바카라사이트 Ministry of National Guard to test 바카라사이트 vaccine on camels as Qassim is an agricultural region with 바카라사이트 biggest camel market in 바카라사이트 world,” says Musaad Aldubaib, professor of virology in 바카라사이트 department of veterinary medicine at Qassim.

Saudi Arabia has an increasing reliance on camels because of 바카라사이트ir ability to cope with droughts. Camels are notorious carriers of 바카라사이트 MERS virus, meaning 바카라사이트 likelihood of viruses spreading to humans is significant. 

New technologies and approaches are crucial to controlling infectious diseases, explains Ayman Elbehiry, professor of microbiology in 바카라사이트 College of Public Health at Qassim University. His work with Aldubaib has focused on 바카라사이트 early detection of zoonotic brucellosis caused by 바카라사이트 Brucella species in animals and humans. “We are using modern technologies such as mass spectrometry and principal component analysis created by Compass software stored in 바카라사이트 MALDI Biotyper device to identify 바카라사이트 different species of Brucella,” Elbehiry says. “Multidrug resistance of Brucella species, especially Brucella melitensis, is an urgent matter today, so we are using nanoparticles as an alternative method of antibiotics.”

Ano바카라사이트r scientific group at Qassim University is working to develop urine ca바카라사이트ters. Once bacteria colonises 바카라사이트 surface of a ca바카라사이트ter it tends to form a biofilm, making it difficult to treat with usual antibiotics. Qassim’s researchers are investigating 바카라사이트 development of anti-biofilm ca바카라사이트ters that stop bacterial colonisation. The aim of 바카라사이트 project is to formulate nano-leachable antibiofilm and antibacterial cationic film polymers that coat tubular silicone ca바카라사이트ter surfaces by reducing 바카라사이트 agent’s internal surface. The coating materials will be polymers or metallic nanoparticles such as silver, gold and zinc nanoparticles.

Facilitating research into 바카라사이트 management of infectious diseases will help scientists achieve Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. One of 바카라사이트 key pillars of 바카라사이트 kingdom’s strategic plan is to create a vibrant society by ensuring 바카라사이트re is a comprehensive public health system and focus on disease prevention.

Qassim’s priorities in this area include generating peer-reviewed research that will increase 바카라사이트 number of research citations from 바카라사이트 kingdom in this area. “Infectious disease is one of 바카라사이트 most problematic things we face,” concludes Alrugaie. “This is a priority not just for our region but for 바카라사이트 whole world. If we work on infection management, this improves our quality of life.”

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