Research Article
Uncovering Gene Targets Modulated by Withania somnifera Phytochemicals for Alzheimer’s Disease Intervention Using Network Pharmacology Approaches
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
44-57
Received:
5 August 2026
Accepted:
20 August 2026
Published:
22 September 2026
Abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological disorder characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and neuronal degeneration. The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves amyloid-beta buildup, tau hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress, making the development of effective therapies challenging. This highlights the need for multi-target neuroprotective medicines. As a result, it is very important to quickly find natural bioactive compounds. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), has exhibited notable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. We collected 65 phytochemicals and examined 49 of them based on ADMET characteristics. We collected gene targets for these chemicals (8,964) and AD-related genes (15,293) from separate databases. A comparison investigation revealed 920 overlapping genes. We detected 13 hub genes using Cytoscape for topological analysis: TP53, SRC, AKT1, HSP90AA1, EGFR, IL6, MAPK1, MAPK3, JUN, ESR1, BCL2, HSP90AB1, and GNAI1. After then, STRING was used to create networks of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Network pharmacology demonstrated that the 13 hub genes are significantly associated with the regulation of apoptosis, MAPK signaling, PI3K-AKT signaling, and neuroinflammation. Docking studies revealed that significant phytochemicals like as Somniferine, Withaferin A, and Withanolide O have considerable binding affinity to hub proteins including AKT1, JUN, and HSP90AA1. This research on integrative network pharmacology and molecular docking demonstrates the potential application of W. Somnifera phytochemicals for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological disorder characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and neuronal degeneration. The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves amyloid-beta buildup, tau hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress, making the development of effective therapies challenging. This highlights the need for...
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Research Article
Surveillance of Multidrug-resistant Bacteria at a Tunisian University Hospital in 2022
Zied Fehri*,
Farah Azouzi,
Hela Ghali
,
Sameh Boughattas,
Lamia Tilouche,
Soumaya Ketata,
Yomna Ben Lamine,
Abdelhalim Trabelsi
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
58-79
Received:
10 July 2026
Accepted:
25 July 2026
Published:
11 November 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.bs.20261203.12
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Views:
Abstract: The development of antibiotics has significantly reduced mortality from bacterial infections; however, the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria poses a global threat. In response, an international action plan was launched, and Tunisia has participated by implementing a national program to monitor bacterial resistance to antibiotics. This study aimed to identify multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria isolated at Sahloul University Hospital in 2022, determine their prevalence and annual incidence, and describe their epidemiological and microbiological profiles. This cross-sectional study included all bacterial strains isolated from clinical specimens collected from patients at Sahloul University Hospital, Sousse, between January 1 and December 31, 2022. Among 3,207 clinical specimens analyzed, 865 MDR strains were identified, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 27%. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii accounted for 32.8% and 23.1% of the isolates, respectively. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) represented 37.3% of MDR isolates, followed by carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB, 23.1%) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE, 18.6%). The most affected departments were the surgical intensive care unit (22.5%), urology (13.4%), and nephrology (11.9%). MDR strains were mainly isolated from urine (44.2%), blood cultures (13.1%), and protected specimen brush samples (12.1%). Monthly trends showed fluctuations, with ESBL-E ranging from 16 to 37 cases per month and CRAB from 5 to 32 cases per month. Annual incidence rates were 0.67 per 100 admissions for CRAB, 0.47 per 100 admissions for CRE, and 0.26 per 100 admissions for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). All CRAB strains were resistant to ciprofloxacin, and 95.2% were resistant to gentamicin. Among the 33 CRE isolates tested for colistin susceptibility, 3 were resistant. In our hospital, the main MDR pathogens were ESBL-E, CRAB, and CRE, with the surgical intensive care unit, urology, and nephrology departments being the most affected. These findings highlight the need for urgent and targeted interventions to control the spread of MDR bacteria and strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance and infection prevention and control measures.
Abstract: The development of antibiotics has significantly reduced mortality from bacterial infections; however, the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria poses a global threat. In response, an international action plan was launched, and Tunisia has participated by implementing a national program to monitor bacterial resistance to antibiotics. This s...
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