Prokaryotic and archaeal chromosomes encode a diversity of toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems that contribute to a variety of stress-induced cellular processes in addition to stability and maintenance of mobile elements. Here, we find DinJ-YafQ family TA systems to be broadly distributed amongst diverse phyla, consistent with other ParE/RelE superfamily TAs, but more unusually occurring as a multiplicity of species-specific subtypes. In the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori we identify six distinct subtypes, of which three are predominantly associated with the mobilome, including the disease-associated integrative and conjugative element (ICE), tfs4. Whereas, the ICE-encoded proteins have characteristic features of DinJ-YafQ family Type II TA systems in general, the toxin component is distinguished by a broad metal-ion-dependent endonuclease activity with specificity for both RNA and DNA. We show that the remarkably rapid growth inhibitory activity of the ICE toxin is a correlate of a C-terminal lysine doublet which likely augments catalytic activity by increasing the positive electrostatic potential in the vicinity of the conserved active site. Our collective results reveal a structural feature of an ICE TA toxin that influences substrate catalysis and toxin function which may be relevant to specific TA-mediated responses in diverse genera of bacteria.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has stretched the medical resources of both developed and developing countries. The global focus on COVID-19 may lead to the neglect of other infectious diseases such as malaria which is still endemic in many African countries. Some similarities in malaria and COVID-19 disease presentations may also lead to late diagnosis of either disease which could complicate the effects. Here, we present two cases of a 6-year-old child and a 17-year-old female who presented to a primary care facility in Ghana with a clinical and microscopy-confirmed diagnosis of severe malaria complicated by thrombocytopenia. As their symptoms worsened with associated respiratory complications, nasopharyngeal samples were taken for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Clinicians, policymakers, and public health practitioners should be alert to the variety of presenting symptoms of COVID-19 and its similarity to malaria to mitigate the risk of mortality from either disease.

The identification of intestinal parasite of baboons (Papio anubis) and warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) was undertaken at the Mole National Park, Ghana. The main objective of the study was to determine the types and prevalence of intestinal parasites in baboons and warthogs in the Mole National Park. A total of nineteen (19) and twenty‐three (23) samples were collected from the baboons and warthogs, respectively, and examined using the direct saline smear and formol‐ether concentration technique for the identification of cysts, eggs and larvae of parasites. The survey showed that 94.74% of the baboon samples examined was infected with at least one parasite, whereas that of the warthogs showed 95.65% prevalence. A total of seven (7) and eight (8) different parasites were identified in baboon and warthog faecal samples, respectively. Strongyloides sp. had the highest prevalence in baboons (84.21%) and warthogs (78.26%). The second prevalent parasite identified was Ascaris sp. in the baboons (31.58%) and warthogs (30.43%). The results showed a high level of multiparasitism in these wild animals and an increased risk of zoonotic transmission which may result from interaction with inhabitants of the park community.