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Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of aPLAs among Tunisian critically-ill covid19 and non-covid19 patients and to investigate the clinical significance of aPLAs by determining the SOFA score and their respiratory failure during their ICU stay. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study including critically ill COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 patients with pulmonary origin sepsis, admitted to the intensive care unit. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10 of hospitalization in order to measure titers of anti-cardiolipin (aCL), anti-phosphatidylserine (aPS) by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: We enrolled 43 COVID-19 patients and 31 non COVID-19 with pulmonary origin sepsis. In-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher (p=0.026) in COVID-19 patients (79%). 58.8% of COVID-19 patients were aPLA positive; however, only 22.5% of the non-COVID-19 were positive for aPLA (p=0.002). A significant positive correlation existed between respiratory SOFA component at days 3, 5, 8 and 10 and anti-phospholipid antibodies concentrations. Conclusion: Based on our results, for the first time, anti-phospholipid antibodies may be used as an independent indicator of respiratory organ failure in critically ill patients, to stratify and assess the prognosis of pulmonary origin sepsis and COVID-19.

Prunus L. (Rosaceae), a genus of over 230 species, exhibits gametophytic self-incompatibility system (GSI). In this study, we explored the patterns of variability in Plum genotypes carrying different reproductive systems, using 36 microsatellite markers (SSRs) and the S-locus. The analysis of genetic diversity showed a rich genetic variability of the studied genotypes. Linkage Disequilibrium decayed rapidly in analyzed plums reaching the significant value (r² = 0.1) at 7.5 cM. Also, we examined the patterns of variability at the end of the sixth linkage group to emphasize the effect of the S-locus on the surrounding region. The genetic diversity in the genomic neighborhood of the S-locus is related to the negative frequency dependent selection (NFDS) which can extend the high polymorphism at the selected locus to closely linked neutral sites. We conducted a drought stress on Tunisian plum to test their response. The analysis of five morphological parameters tested under drought conditions allowed selecting five plum genotypes (one hexploid and four diploid) characterized by their important tolerance to drought stress. These genotypes may be selected as important rootstock for varietal improvement.