Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a constantly evolving virus, resulting in an increased burden on the existing COVID-19 vaccines. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are the first line of defense against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and have been prioritized among the risk categories receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This work aimed to investigate the maintenance of antibody response of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine (ChAdOx1/nCoV-19). Methods: Anti-spike immunoglobulin G (IgG) was measured at baseline point (immediately prior to vaccination) and 12- and 24-week (w) points following vaccination. Adverse reactions to the vaccine were reported. Participants were followed up for the incidence of COVID-19 during the 12 w interval between vaccination doses for 24 w after the second dose. Results: A total of 255 HCWs participated in the study. Prior to vaccination, 54.1% experienced COVID-19, 88.2% were seropositive after the first dose, while seropositivity reached 95.7% after the second dose. Following the first and second doses, the anti-spike IgG serum level was significantly higher in subjects with past COVID-19 than in others (p < 0.001 and =0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine is generally safe and provides a highly effective long-term humoral immune response against the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.

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Background Acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) is the leading cause of child mortality, especially in the developing world. Polymorphisms in the interleukin 4 (IL‐4) gene have been linked to a variety of human diseases. Objectives To investigate whether the IL‐4 ‐590C/T (rs2243250) polymorphism could be a genetic marker for susceptibility to ALRIs in young Egyptian children. Methods This was a multicenter study conducted on 480 children diagnosed with pneumonia or bronchiolitis, and 480 well‐matched healthy control children. Using PCR‐RFLP analysis, we genotyped a ‐590C/T (rs2243250) single nucleotide polymorphism of the IL‐4 gene promoter, meanwhile the serum IL‐4concentration was measured by ELISA. Results The frequency of the IL‐4 ‐590 T/T genotype and T allele were overrepresented in patients with ALRIs in comparison to the control group (OR = 2.0; [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38‐2.96]; for the T/T genotype) and (OR: 1.3; [95%CI: 1.07‐1.56]; for the T allele; P < 0.01). The IL‐4 ‐590 T/T genotype was associated with significantly higher mean serum IL‐4 concentration (58.7 ± 13.4 pg/mL) compared to the C/T genotype (47.6 ± 11 pg/mL) and the C/C genotype (34.8 ± 9.6 pg/mL); P < 0.01. Conclusion The IL‐4 −590C/T (rs2243250) polymorphism may contribute to susceptibility to ALRIs in young Egyptian children.

Background Pediatric-onset SLE (pSLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease. Recently, the ficolin-2 (FCN2) gene has emerged as a potential candidate gene for susceptibility to SLE. Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of the FCN2 gene polymorphisms at positions −986 (G/A), −602 (G/A), −4 (A/G) and SNP C/T (rs3124954) located in intron 1, with susceptibility to pSLE in Egyptian children and adolescents. Methods This was a multicenter study of 280 patients diagnosed with pSLE, and 280 well-matched healthy controls. The FCN2 promoter polymorphisms at –986 G/A (rs3124952), −602 G/A (rs3124953), −4 A/G (rs17514136) and SNP C/T (rs3124954) located in intron 1 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction, while serum ficolin-2 levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The frequencies of the FCN2 GG genotype and G allele at −986 and −602 positions were significantly more represented in patients with pSLE than in controls ( p < 0.001). Conversely, the FCN2 AA genotype and A allele at position −4 were more common in patients than in controls ( p < 0.001). Moreover, patients carrying the FCN2 GG genotype in −986 position were more likely to develop lupus nephritis (odds ratio: 2.6 (95% confidence interval: 1.4–4.78); p = 0.006). The FCN2 AA genotype at position −4 was also identified as a possible risk factor for lupus nephritis (odds ratio: 3.12 (95% confidence interval: 1.25–7.84); p = 0.024). Conclusion The FCN2 promoter polymorphisms may contribute to susceptibility to pSLE in Egyptian children and adolescents. Moreover, the FCN2 GG genotype at position −986 and AA genotype at position −4 were associated with low serum ficolin-2 levels and may constitute risk factors for lupus nephritis in pSLE.

Background: Gram negative bacilli (GNB) are the most common causes of urinary tract infections (UTIs). There is a worrying level of antimicrobial resistance emerging in UTIs pathogens. Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) are rapidly spreading β-lactamases with no available FDA approved inhibitor conferring resistance to most β-lactam antibiotics including carbapenems. We aimed to determine prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Gram-negative uropathogens in our tertiary care hospital, and to characterize MBLs production among them. Methods: A hundred and forty-three urine samples were collected from the Urology Department. Uropathogens were isolated on cystiene lactose electrolyte deficient agar and Mac-Conkey's agar. Gram negative bacilli were identified by conventional methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated by disc diffusion method. Carbapenems resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CRGNB) were tested for MBLs production both phenotypically and genotypically. Results: Eighty-five GNB (75.9%) were isolated from 112 positive cultures. Escherichia coli (49.4%) was the most prevalent isolate. Most of GNB showed high resistance patterns to various antimicrobials. Twenty-nine GNB isolates were resistant to at least one carbapenem (28.2% for imipenem, 30.6% for meropenem). Twenty-three isolates (79.3%) were phenotypically positive for MBL activity by combined disc test (CDT). Twenty-two isolates (75.9%) were positive for one or more of MBL genes (blaIMP, blaVIM and/or blaNDM). Conclusions: Our study emphasized on the alarming rates of resistance to most of the common antimicrobials particularly carbapenems among GNB uropathogens, which represent a public health threat. CRGNB isolates in our hospital are phenotypically and genotypically associated with MBLs production so an effective strategy to combat these strains is mandatory.