Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders) - Volume 25, Issue 6, 2025

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is a traditional herb that is currently commercially available for treating a variety of illnesses. By evaluating and verifying docking affinity scores, it is possible to explore the potential of the plant for treating leprosy and lepra-reaction as off-label use.

The sitoindosides were used as ligands along with thalidomide in docking against targets, such as M. leprae, TNF-Alpha, and Interleukin-6 in order to determine the potential for inhibitory concentration and docking affinity.

According to the study, good binding energy values varied from -7 to -11 Kcal/mol. Sitoindoside IX had the highest binding affinity and important binding interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, when compared to Thalidomide and Sitoindoside X against all three receptors.

The present study confirmed that the Sitoindoside IX and X are a better fit for treating patients with leprosy. These findings are highly intriguing and suggest that this herb should be investigated further to validate these findings in leprosy.

Spinal schwannomas are benign intradural extramedullary tumors of Schwann cells, while hemangiomas are common benign vascular tumors found in the vertebral column.

This case study presents a 32-year-old male who developed both a spinal schwannoma and multiple thoracic vertebral haemangiomas following a COVID-19 infection and subsequent vaccination. The patient reported intermittent lumbar and thigh pain over 6-8 months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed an intradural extramedullary schwannoma at the L5 vertebra and multiple thoracic haemangiomas at the T6-T7 levels. The schwannoma was surgically resected, and pathology confirmed the diagnosis. Postoperatively, the patient’s symptoms improved significantly, with no complications.

This case raises questions about a possible link between COVID-19 and these spinal conditions. Further research is warranted to explore the potential association between viral infection, vaccination, and tumor development.

Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) is a life-threatening condition caused by bacterial toxins. The STSS triad encompasses high fever, hypotensive shock, and a “sunburn-like” rash with desquamation. STSS, like Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), is a rare complication of streptococcal infections caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS), Streptococcal pyogenes (S. pyogenes). Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently isolated bacterial species associated with TSS. Risk factors for STSS include older age, skin wounds, recent viral infection with open sores, recent surgery, nasal packing, use of tampons or other devices, such as menstrual cups/contraceptive sponges/diaphragms, or any other chronic illness, like diabetes or alcohol/drug abuse. Our case presents a patient who did not have any of these risk factors.

A 25-year-old male was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after requiring intubation with mechanical ventilation and pressor support in the setting of septic shock. Septic arthritis was suspected, and blood and bone cultures were positive for S. pyogenes. Arthrocentesis of the affected knee (with fluid analysis and cytology) was positive for Streptococcal pyogenes. Infectious disease was consulted and the patient was empirically started on antibiotics. Kidney function continued to worsen, requiring hemodialysis. He no longer demonstrated brainstem reflexes, which prompted neurology consultation to rule out central nervous system dissemination.

Superantigens are pyrogenic exotoxins secreted by different strains of S. pyogenes and are responsible for the many symptoms of STSS that patients present with. Throat infections by the bacteria, leading to streptococcal pharyngitis, are mediated by toxin release and known to cause scarlet fever and, very rarely, STSS. The post-infectious non-pyogenic, non-suppurative syndromes of GAS are autoimmune in nature, which include rheumatic fever, acute glomerulonephritis, and very rarely, reactive arthritis. This cross-reactivity of antibodies with body tissue via a mechanism of molecular mimicry can follow streptococcal infections, like streptococcal pharyngitis. Renal disease can also occur after a localized skin infection, also known as streptococcal impetigo.

Despite the relationship of STSS with throat infections, there seem to be no reported cases of STSS secondary to septic arthritis in adult patients with no pertinent past medical history or other risk factors that could contribute to the condition.

Streptococcal septic arthritis is an uncommon orthopedic emergency with high morbidity and mortality that requires emergent medical management. Septic arthritis needs to be treated with systemic antibiotics and joint aspiration, also known as arthrocentesis, which may be required more than once for complete recovery and avoidance of joint destruction. STSS is a very rare complication of streptococcal septic arthritis and monitoring of organ failure and hemodynamic instability is paramount for patient’s management and survival.

In this article, we present the results of a multicenter clinical trial of IFN-γ in patients with drug-susceptible and drug-resistant pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) in routine clinical practice.

This study aimed to confirm the efficacy and safety of IFN-γ administered to patients with TB.

All patients were diagnosed with TB after being tested by bacterioscopic and molecular genetic methods and had no contraindications to standard chemotherapy.

Recombinant human IFN-γ proved high efficacy in multi-center clinical trial in routine TB practice.

The results show that IFN-γ is efficient and safe in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

NCT06118619.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) can cause acute and chronic viral infections. Due to their higher costs, potential side effects and drug interactions, and associated risks, some patients with HCV and HBV infections may not be able to afford conventional antiviral medications.

The goal of this review paper is to highlight the advantages of Nigella sativa, or black seeds, in the treatment of patients with HCV and HBV infections.

Medline/Pubmed/PMC, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Ebsco, Embase, and reference lists were searched to locate the research studies that assessed the effects of different black seed (N. sativa) preparations on the telltale signs and symptoms of HCV and HBV infections.

Numerous preclinical and clinical investigations have suggested that black seeds (N. sativa) may be effective against HCV and HBV infections. Furthermore, N. sativa, or black seeds, have demonstrated a range of pleiotropic effects, such as antiviral activity against multiple other viruses and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties that can lessen the symptoms and indicators of HCV and HBV infections.

Patients with HCV and HBV infections may benefit from using black seeds (N. sativa) as an adjuvant therapy in addition to conventional therapy. Additional randomized controlled clinical trials would confirm the safety and effectiveness of Nigella sativa (black seeds) in treating HCV and HBV infections.

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is one of the deadliest viral diseases in history, rapidly spreading to other parts of the world. Due to frequent travel, the popularity of tourism, public international contacts, and imported goods, Ebola is considered a threat to people around the world. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the status of epidemiology, pathophysiology, virology, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and classification of EVD.

This systematic review was conducted in the spring of 2024 by searching English articles using desired keywords in PubMed, Google Scholar, ISC, Scopus, and Web of Science databases without time limits. The search strategy was based on the PRISMA 2020 statement.

Frequent outbreaks of EVD have caused numerous deaths and complications. Since the virus may lead to a pandemic, its prevention is of great importance due to its high potential to cause a significant physical and economic burden.

Hence, there is an urgent need to conduct clinical trials on EVD to develop possible treatments and strategies to prevent any further outbreaks of the disease.

Both tuberculosis and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are known to be notorious for causing fistulas due to their characteristics of persistent, difficult-to-treat infections that lead to chronic inflammation, abscess formation, and tissue necrosis. There are several case reports highlighting the invasiveness and potential for fistula formation associated with both tuberculosis and MRSA infections independently, but to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a utero-cutaneous fistula caused by chronic infection due to MRSA, superadded on genital tuberculosis.

A 35-year-old female, P3L3, visited the gynaecology outpatient department nine months after her last caesarean section with the complaint of severe pain and blood discharge from the transverse supra-pubic scar during menstruation. On evaluation, she was found to be chronically infected with MRSA and have genital tuberculosis only after histopathologic examination of the fistulous tract and tubo-ovarian abscess.

This case highlights the importance of considering genital tuberculosis in patients with atypical or refractory post-surgical complications and emphasizes the need for a thorough and multidisciplinary approach to its management.