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Objectives: We retrospectively analyzed the next-generation sequencing (NGS) results from diagnosed NSCLC patients to identify and compare genomic alterations of NSCLC between Moroccan patients and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We also aimed to investigate the distribution and frequency of concurrent genomic alterations., Methods: From December 2022 to December 2023, a retrospective study of 76 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples have been profiled using the Oncomine™ Precision Assay on the Ion Torrent™ Genexus™ Integrated Sequencer across the panel of 50 key genes that are applicable for the selection of targeted therapy., Results: Seventy of the 76 FFPE sequenced samples carried at least one genetic alteration in the tested genes. The study identified 234 genetic alterations in 18 genes. Targetable genetic alterations in EGFR , KRAS , MET , BRAF , ALK , RET and ROS1 were identified in 84.3% of tumors. EGFR and KRAS mutations were frequently reported, occurring in 24.3% and 22.9% of cases, respectively. The untargetable genetic alterations were found in 74.3% of the specimens in FGFR3 , TP53 , ERBB2 , PIK3CA , CDKN2A , PDL1 , FGFR1 , PTEN , CHEK2 and ERBB3 . There were additional uncommon/rare mutations in EGFR , BRAF , RET and ROS1 . Comparing the prevalence of selected mutated genes in the NSCLC patients from the TCGA database identified substantial differences in EGFR (24.3%, vs 14.97%), KRAS (22.9%, vs 25.99%), and TP53 (34.3%, vs 50.94%). ALK , ROS1 , and RET gene rearrangements were detected in 4.3% of the 70 tumors tested. The ALK / RET / MET / ROS1 / EML4 fusions were detected in 11.4% of samples. Co-alterations occurred in 67.1% of specimens. Co-occurring driver gene mutations were observed in 44.3%. TP53 mutations co-occurred driver gene mutations in 30% of tumors. Three cases (4.3%) harbored concurrent FGFR3 , TP53 , and PIK3CA alterations., Conclusion: Our results regarding the proportion of samples with actionable mutations demonstrate the value of NGS testing for NSCLC patients in a real-world clinical diagnostic setting., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the frequencies of KRAS , NRAS, and BRAF mutations and their possible associations with clinicopathological features in 249 Moroccan patients with colorectal cancer (CRC)., Methods: A retrospective investigation of a cohort of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of 249 patients with CRC was screened for KRAS / NRAS / BRAF mutations using Idylla™ technology and pyrosequencing., Results: KRAS , NRAS, and BRAF mutations were revealed in 46.6% (116/249), 5.6% (14/249), and 2.4% (6/249) of patients. KRAS exon 2 mutations were identified in 87.9% of patients (102/116). KRAS G12D and G12 C were the most frequent, at 32.8% and 12.93%, respectively. Among the patients with KRAS exon 2 wild-type (wt), 27.6% (32/116) harbored additional KRAS mutations. Concurrent KRAS mutations were identified in 9.5% (11/116); including six in codon 146 (A146P/T/V), three in codon 61 (Q61H/L/R), one in codon 12 (G12 A and Q61H), and one in codon 13 (G13D and Q61 L). Among the NRAS exon 2 wt patients, 64.3% (9/14) harbored additional NRAS mutations. Concurrent NRAS mutations were identified in 28.6% (4/14) of NRAS -mutant patients. Since 3.2% wt KRAS were identified with NRAS mutations, concomitant KRAS and NRAS mutations were identified in 2.4% (6/249) of patients. KRAS mutations were higher in the >50-year-old age-group ( P = .031), and the tumor location was revealed to be significantly associated with KRAS mutations ( P = .028) predominantly in left colon (27.5%) and colon (42.2%) locations. NRAS mutations were most prevalent in the left colon (42.8%) and in well-differentiated tumors (64.2%)., Conclusion: Detection of KRAS mutations, particularly the G12 C subtype, may be significant for patients with CRC and has possible therapeutic implications. However, rare KRAS concomitant mutations in CRC patients suggest that each individual may present distinct therapeutic responses. KRAS testing alongside the identification of other affected genes in the same patient will make the treatments even more personalized by contributing more accurately to the clinical decision process. Overall, early diagnosis using novel molecular techniques may improve the management of CRC by providing the most efficient therapies for Moroccan patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 is an extremely contagious and acute viral disease mainly affecting humans., Objective: To estimate seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) for illegible armed force individuals living in Rabat, Morocco., Method: A convenience sample (N = 2662) was conducted from May 2020 to February 2021. We used the standard neutralization assay to quantify the NAbs titers. A serum was positive when the titer was 1:4. High positive NAbs titers were defined when ≥ 1:32., Results: Demographic and socioeconomic status did not affect seroprevalence data. An overall seroprevalence of 24,9% was found. Sera from blood donors, young recruits and auto-immune population had lower NAbs titers. However, titers were above 1:16 in 9% of the population with high risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Seropositivity increased over time with values reaching peaks after the epidemic waves (2.4% in May 2020; 16.2% in August 2020; 22.7% in December 2020 and 37% in February 2021)., Conclusion: And increase of NAbs was observed over time and correlated with the post-epidemic waves of COVID-19 in Morocco., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.The authors declare that there are no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work described in this paper., (© 2023 Touil N et al.)

Background: We aimed to analyze for the first time in Morocco the integrase (IN) sequence variability among highly experienced HIV-1-infected patients with no prior IN strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) exposure who failed on reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors., Methods: The HIV-1 IN region was sequenced from plasma samples of all 78 recruited patients. The amino acid IN sequences were HIV-1 subtyped and screened for the presence of polymorphisms against the HxB2 clade B consensus sequence by the geno2pheno subtyping tool and interpreted for drug resistance according to the Stanford algorithm., Results: The viral subtypes were subtype B (88.4%), CRF02_AG (8.9%), CRF01_AE (1.28%), and subtype C (1.28%). The major INSTI resistance mutations at positions 66, 92, 118, 138, 140, 143, 147, 148, 155, and 263 were absent, while two accessory mutations, L74M/I, known to have no clinical impact to INSTIs in the absence of the major resistance mutations, were detected in three samples (3.84%; two CRF02_AG and one CRF01_AE). Others specific substitutions with an uncertain role on the HIV-1 susceptibility to INSTIs at positions 72, 101, 119, 124, 156, 165, 193, 201, 203, 206, 230, 232, and 249 were found to be relatively common., Conclusion: This study demonstrated that INSTIs should be an excellent alternative for salvage therapy in highly experienced patients with multidrug resistant viruses in Morocco., (© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: The integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are an important class in the arsenal of antiretroviral drugs designed to block the integration of HIV-1 cDNA into the host DNA through the inhibition of DNA strand transfer. In this study for the first time in Morocco, the complete HIV-1 integrase gene was analysed from newly diagnosed patients to evaluate the prevalence of natural polymorphisms and INSTIs resistance-associated mutations in the integrase gene., Results: The 864pb IN coding region was successfully sequenced from plasma sample for 77 among 80 antiretroviral naïve patients. The sequences were interpreted for drug resistance according to the Stanford algorithm. Sixty samples were HIV-1 subtype B (78%), fourteen CRF02_AG (18%), two subtype C and one subtype A. Overall 81 of 288 (28%) amino acid IN positions presented at least one polymorphism each. We found 18 (36.73%), 42 (25.76%) and 21 (27.27%) of polymorphic residues assigned to the N-Terminal Domain, Catalytic Core Domaine and the C-Terminal Domain positions respectively. Primary INSTIs resistance mutation were absent, however secondary mutations L74IM, T97A were detected in four samples (5.2%). These results demonstrate that untreated HIV-1 infected Moroccans will be susceptible to INSTIs.

The emergence of viral-resistant strains is a major problem for the medical management of HIV-infected individuals. The aim of this study was to characterize viral subtypes and drug-resistance mutations (DRMs) in HIV-1 isolates from patients failing antiretroviral therapy (ART). A total of 45 HIV-1-infected patients failing ART were enrolled. The viral RT and Prot genes were amplified and sequenced to determine subtypes and potential DRMs. The subtype distribution was 74% subtype B, 11% subtype A, 9% CRF02-AG, 4% subtype G, and 2% subtype C. Virus samples from 34% of the patients had no DRM while 53%, 27%, and 2% of samples carried at least one DRM conferring resistance to drugs of one, two, or three classes, respectively. DRMs were observed in 50% of the patients infected with non-B strains. The prevalence of nucleoside transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) mutations was 48%, M184V being largely predominant. The prevalence of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) mutations was 13%, with K103N present in 57% of samples from NNRTIs-exposed patients. The prevalence of protease inhibitor (PI) mutations was 22%, with major mutations V82A and M46I seen in 16% and 11% of viruses from PI-exposed individuals, respectively. Our study shows the emergence of DRMs in HIV-1 isolates from Moroccan patients failing ART. Although not surprising, the data plead for longitudinal surveys of the dynamics of emergence of DRMs (with a focus on multidrug resistance) in treated patients and circulation of resistant HIV-1 strains in this country.

Background: Vaccination of health-care workers (HCWs) against seasonal influenza has been consistently recommended worldwide in order to prevent nosocomial transmission and ensure delivery of health-care services during outbreaks. Overall, immunization rates were low across all nation, including among HCWs. Little is known about the acceptability and compliance with seasonal influenza vaccine among HCWs after the A(H1N1) 2009 pandemic., Participants and Setting: Between 1st and 31 January 2011, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey at the Ibn Sina regional center (Rabat, Morocco). Seven hundred twenty one HCWs have answered about their influenza immunization during the 2010/2011 season, as well as the reasons for accepting or declining this vaccine. Finally, we compare our results with previous moroccan survey., Results: A total of 122 HCWs (17%) reported having received the 2010/2011 seasonal vaccine; "self-protection" and "protection of the patient" were the most frequently adduced reasons for acceptance of the influenza vaccination, whereas media controversy during the pandemic was the main argument for refusal., Discussion: The post pandemic seasonal influenza vaccination coverage among the HCWs in our institution was very low. The role of media, specific attitudinal barriers and misconceptions about immunization in a global pandemic scenario is clear. The nearly constant media coverage of the A (H1N1) 2009 pandemic, reported with varying degrees of accuracy, and sometimes portraying dramatic scenarios caused some to question whether unnecessary alarm and public panic resulted. We suggest that international or national health authorities have a clear speech over looked media and to own these institutions, which will air fair and real time information about the disease.

It has been well established that the host genetic background is an important modulator of tuberculosis susceptibility. The NRAMP1 (alias SLC11A1) gene has been associated with tuberculosis susceptibility in several ethnic groups. Here we studied the association and linkage of NRAMP1 with tuberculosis in 116 nuclear families, comprising 211 affected offspring, from Casablanca, Morocco. All enrolled tuberculosis cases were culture-positive. No evidence was found of linkage or association of NRAMP1 with tuberculosis. These findings suggest heterogeneity in the genetic control of tuberculosis susceptibility.