Braira Wahid

Global expansion of chikungunya virus: mapping the 64-year history

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that is emerging as a global threat because of the highly debilitating nature of the associated disease and unprecedented magnitude of its spread. Chikungunya originated in Africa and has since spread across the entire globe causing large numbers of epidemics that have infected millions of people in Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Europe, the Americas, and Pacific Islands. Phylogenetic analysis has identified four different genotypes of CHIKV: Asian, West African, East/Central/South African (ECSA), and Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL). In the absence of well-designed epidemiological studies, the aim of this review article was to summarize the global epidemiology of CHIKV and to provide baseline data for future research on the treatment, prevention, and control of this life-threatening disease.

New Insights into the Epigenetics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most predominant malignancies with high fatality rate. This deadly cancer is rising at an alarming rate because it is quite resistant to radio- and chemotherapy. Different epigenetic mechanisms such as histone modifications, DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, and expression of noncoding RNAs drive the cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, initiation, progression, and development of HCC. These epigenetic alterations because of potential reversibility open way towards the development of biomarkers and therapeutics. The contribution of these epigenetic changes to HCC development has not been thoroughly explored yet. Further research on HCC epigenetics is necessary to better understand novel molecular-targeted HCC treatment and prevention. This review highlights latest research progress and current updates regarding epigenetics of HCC, biomarker discovery, and future preventive and therapeutic strategies to combat the increasing risk of HCC.

Current status of therapeutic and vaccine approaches against Zika virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a global threat because it is spreading at an alarming rate because of its wider range of transmission routes. The neuroteratogenic nature of ZIKV infection is posing serious threats to unborn lives therefore, it is necessary to develop an ideal ZIKV prophylactic or therapeutic agent urgently. Researchers are having tough time finding a treatment for ZIKV in part because of serious consequences of vaccines and drugs to unborn lives and pregnant women. However, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of DNA vaccine, recombinant subunit vaccine, and ZIKV purified inactivated vaccine offers hope for human protection. Large number of food and drug administration (FDA) approved drugs as wells as compounds with anti-ZIKV activity offer valuable opportunity to control the massive bio-burden of this catastrophic epidemic. Some evidences suggest that immunotherapeutics might prove to be winning strategy in pregnant females. Here, we review the recent advances and current knowledge regarding therapeutic interventions against ZIKV infection. This article will provide baseline data and roadmap to prosecute further research for the development of novel therapeutic strategy to curb the explosive rise in ZIKV.

Zika: As an emergent epidemic.

Zika virus is a new global threat for 2016 that has been swept to almost all Americas and is now posing serious threats to the entire globe. This deadly virus is playing havoc to unborn lives because of its reported association with upsurge of fetal deformation called microcephaly and neuropathic disorders including Guillain-Barré syndrome. Till today, there is no vaccine prospect, antiviral therapy or licensed medical countermeasures to curb the teratogenic outcomes of this destructive viral infection. Diagnosis, treatment, chronicity and pathogenesis are still vague and unsettled. Therefore, this review article addresses all the aspects related to this disease to mitigate the explosive rise in Zika virus infection.

Expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 Genes in Interferon-Treated and Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs-Treated Hepatitis C Patients

Genetics of host plays a significant role in susceptibility and pathogenesis of disease. During hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, HCV proteins interfere with interferon (IFN) signaling pathways and upregulate transcription of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 and 3 genes (SOCS1 and SOCS3), which results in impaired immune response. In this study, we evaluated relative expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in untreated HCV patients and patients treated with 2 different treatment strategies that are, (IFN therapy and direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drug regimen. To study gene expression, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by using Histopaque. Total RNA was extracted from PBMCs by using BIOzol. Nine microgram of total RNA from each sample was used and reverse transcribed into single-stranded complementary DNA (cDNA) by using M-MLV reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen). The synthesized cDNA was diluted to a final concentration of 500 ng/μL. This diluted cDNA was further used for expression analysis of SOCS1and SOCS3 genes using Rotor Gene Q Real-Time PCR Detection System (QIAGEN). Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was amplified as a housekeeping gene. We found that the SOCS1 expression in IFN and DAA-treated patient groups was 5.4 fold and 1.2 fold, respectively, high compared with the healthy controls (IFN versus healthy, P = 0.019 and DAA versus healthy, P = 0.91), whereas the SOCS3 expression in IFN and DAA-treated patient groups was 3.7 fold and 2 fold, respectively, high in comparison with the expression in healthy controls (IFN versus healthy, P = 0.025 and DAA versus healthy, P = 0.03). We also found a significant difference in the relative expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in DAAs-treated and IFN/ribavirin (RBV)-treated and untreated individual. We concluded that by targeting HCV proteins with DAAs, SOCS1, and SOCS3 transcription can be more effectively normalized compared to the treatment with IFN/RBV therapy.

An overview of cancer immunotherapeutic strategies

Artificially boosting bodys immune response is one of the most exciting, effective and promising advancements in the treatment of cancers. Cancer immunotherapeutics consist of variety of treatment approaches such as cytokine therapy, adoptive T-cell transfer therapy, and antibodies that stimulate innate and adoptive immune responses. In addition to this, development of HPV vaccine has paved way toward the development of other cancer vaccines. Checkpoint blockade inhibitors, for example, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy and monoclonal antibodies are emerging as other major breakthroughs that are highly effective against cancer. This review addresses the current status of immunotherapeutic strategies against cancer and provides baseline data for future research.

Immunotherapeutic strategies for sexually transmitted viral infections: HIV, HSV and HPV

Abstract More than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired each day globally. Etiotropic drugs cannot effectively control infectious diseases therefore, there is a dire need to explore alternative strategies especially those based on the regulation of immune system. The review discusses all rational approaches to develop better understanding towards immunotherapeutic strategies based on modulation of immune system in an attempt to curb the elevating risk of infectious diseases such as HIV, HPV and HSV because of their high prevalence. Development of monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and several other immune based treatments are promising alternative strategies that are offering new opportunities to eradicate pathogens.

Role of altered immune cells in liver diseases: a review

Immune cells play an important role in controlling liver tumorigenesis, viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis and contribute to pathogenesis of liver inflammation and injury. Accumulating evidence suggests the effectiveness of natural killer (NK) cells and Kupffer cells (KCs) against viral hepatitis, hepatocellular damage, liver fibrosis, and carcinogenesis. Activation of natural killer cells provides a novel therapeutic strategy to cure liver related diseases. This review discusses the emerging roles of immune cells in liver disorders and it will provide baseline data to scientists to design better therapies for treatment.

An updated systematic review of Zika virus-linked complications

Objective: To determine the breadth of Zika virus (ZIKV)-associated brain anomalies in neonates and adults. Methods: Systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement using electronic databases ScienceDirect, Pubmed, Medline, Scopus, and Global Health Library. Only those research articles, case studies, case-control studies, case-cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and organizational survey reports were included in the study that reported any fetal outcomes for pregnant women who had infected with ZIKV during the gestational period and ZIKV-related neurological complications in adults as well. Results: Out of total 72 retrieved articles, 50 met the inclusion criteria. We estimated a significant increase in incidence of neural abnormalities such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and microcephaly in the regions that are experiencing ZIKV outbreaks. Other neurological malformations found in ZIKV patients include hydrancephaly/hydrops fetalis, myasthenia gravis, meningoencephalitis and myelitis. Conclusion: Our systematic analysis provides the broad spectrum of neurological malformations in ZIKV infected patients and these data further support the causal link of ZIKV with neurological disorders.

Developing a deeper insight into reproductive biomarkers

The development of biomarkers of reproductive medicine is still in its infancy because many black boxes are still present in reproductive medicine. Novel approaches to human infertility diagnostics and treatment must be developed because reproductive medicine has lagged behind in the implementation of biomarkers in clinical medicine. Despite the dearth of the available literature, the current rapid pace of publications suggests that this gap will soon be filled therefore; this review is a précis of the research that has been done so far and will provide a basis for the development of biomarkers in reproductive medicine.