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Undergraduate research (UGR) is a valuable experience that can potentially enhance the quality of graduates, and raise awareness of the importance of research and its impact on career development. These outcomes, however, depend on the environment under which students conduct research. The present study assessed the staff and students’ perspective of UGR in an intensive teaching setting at the college of Medicine and Health Sciences (COMHS), Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Oman. We assessed the perception of supervisors (n = 90) and students (n = 314) of UGR and factors that hinder the research experience. Satisfaction towards UGR among supervisors and students was good (mean = 72.4 ± 13.0) and moderate (mean = 57.8 ±14.2), respectively. The students reported a good satisfaction towards the relevance of UGR (mean = 71.34 ± 20.0), the research skills acquired (63.43 ± 18.9), and interaction with research supervisors (68.47 ± 23.5). Female students were more positive towards UGR than males. The students’ grade in the UGR module was the only independent factor influencing their satisfaction. Similar to the students, supervisors were highly satisfied with the relevance of UGR (mean = 84.4% ± 20.7), the module structure (mean = 73.3 ± 14.6), workload (mean = 73.3 ± 14.6) and the students’ performance (71.8% ± 18). However, supervisors were less positive about the students’ acquired skills (mean = 69.0% ±12.8) and available logistics to support UGR (mean = 67.8% ± 16.3). In summary, supervisors and students in COMHS, Oman, (SQU) regard UGR as valuable and recognize its relevance. Supervisors were more likely than students to report a lack of resources to run UGR. Thus, resources should be maintained to inspire supervisors and sustain an active research environment to inspire students.

Study aim. Effective Tuberculosis (TB) control measures in Oman have reduced the annual incidence of tuberculosis cases by 92% between 1981 and 2016. However, the current incidence remains above the program control target of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection dynamics among nationals and foreigners over a period of 10 years. Methods. The study examined TB cases reported between 2009 and 2018 and examined the spatial heterogeneity of TB cases and the distribution of M. tuberculosis genotypes defined by spoligotypes and MIRU-VNTR among Omanis and foreigners. Results. A total of 484 spoligoprofiles were detected among the examined isolates (n = 1295). These include 943 (72.8%) clustered and 352 (27.2%) unique isolates. Diverse M. tuberculosis lineages exist in all provinces in Oman, with most lineages shared between Omanis and foreigners. The most frequent spoligotypes were found to belong to EAI (318, 30.9%), CAS (310, 30.1%), T (154, 14.9%), and Beijing (88, 8.5%) lineages. However, the frequencies of these lineages differed between Omanis and foreigners. Of the clustered strains, 192 MTB isolates were further analysed via MIRU-VNTR. Each isolate exhibited a unique MIRU-VNTR profile, indicative of absence of ongoing transmission. Conclusions. TB incidence exhibits spatial heterogeneity across Oman, with high levels of diversity of M. tuberculosis lineages among Omanis and foreigners and sub-lineages shared between the two groups. However, MIRU-VNTR analysis ruled out ongoing transmission.

Background: Theileria annulata is a tick-borne protozoan parasite responsible for bovine theileriosis, a disease that impacts cattle population in many developing countries. Development and deployment of effective control strategies, based on vaccine or therapy, should consider the extent of diversity of the parasite and its population structure in different endemic areas. In this study, we examined T. annulata in Pakistan and carried out a comparative analysis with similar data garneted in other areas, to provide further information on the level of parasite diversity and parasite genetic structure in different endemic areas. Methods: The present study examined a set of 10 microsatellites/minisatellites and analyzed the genetic structure of T. annulata in cattle breeds from Pakistan (Indian sub-continent) and compared these with those in Oman (Middle East), Tunisia (Africa), and Turkey (Europe). Result: A high level of genetic diversity was observed among T. annulata detected in cattle from Pakistan, comparable to that in Oman, Tunisia, and Turkey. The genotypes of T. annulata in these four countries form genetically distinct groups that are geographically sub-structured. The T. annulata population in Oman overlapped with that in the Indian Subcontinent (Pakistan) and that in Africa (Tunisia). Conclusions: The T. annulata parasite in Pakistan is highly diverse, and genetically differentiated. This pattern accords well and complements that seen among T. annulata representing the global endemic site. The parasite population in the Arabian Peninsula overlapped with that in the Indian-Subcontinent (India) and that in Africa (Tunisia), which shared some genotypes with that in the Near East and Europe (Turkey). This suggests some level of parasite gene flow, indicative of limited movement between neighboring countries.