wenty isolates of Streptomyces scabies were isolated from scab lesions on potato tubers collected from three different regions in Behera Governorate during the 2009-2010 growing season. The isolates of S. scabies recovered were totally monomorphic for the morphological and the biochemical characteristics investigated. All isolates were non motile, gram positive, exhibited grey colonies, spiral spore chain and were melanin producers. Meantime the isolates showed positive reaction for catalase activity, starch hydrolysis, casein hydrolysis and gelatine liquefaction. Also, all isolates were tolerant and exhibited growth at NaCl 5, 6 & 7% and at 20, 25 & 30°C at pH 7 & 9. None of the tested isolates were able to grow at pH 5. More variations, however, were revealed for the pathogenicity of twenty isolates. Five out of twenty investigated isolates were found to be highly virulent. The rest of tested isolates were moderately virulent. Spunta was the most tolerant potato cultivar, while cvs. Mondial and Hermis were more susceptible. The highly virulent S. scabies (isolate ST5) was a highly producer of Thaxtomin A, while the moderately virulent isolate (ST10) was poorly toxin producer (1.26 mg/ml medium). The optimal conditions for Thaxtomin A production were 28ºC, pH 8 and 1% cellobiose in medium. The amino acids, i.e. tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine exhibited an in vitro inhibitory effect on the toxin production in the amended oatmeal bran broth medium with highest inhibitory effect was recorded for tryptophan.

Background: Hepatitis B is a serious chronic infection of the liver and caused by hepatitis B virus. It is an endemic disease in Sudan. Healthcare workers are occupationally[MS1]  more prone to acquire the disease. Evaluation of their knowledge, attitude and practice, and their vaccination status, are very important in the control of the disease. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare workers towards hepatitis B and their vaccination status.

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Background: Research is one of the crucial factors in the advancement of health. Undergraduate medical research training is a cornerstone in medical students’ education. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of medical students toward medical research. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 200 medical students in their fifth and sixth years at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, assessing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward medical research, which were scored out of 100. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software. Results: Of the 200 students, 69% were females and 31% males; 81% of them held a Sudanese secondary school diploma and reported future clinical career choice. Their mean academic score was 16 out of 32  6.6 points. Students’ mean knowledge score was 36 out of 100, which was considered low. Their mean attitude score toward medical research was 48.2 out of 100, which was considered moderate.   Conclusions: This study concluded that the knowledge of fifth- and sixth-year medical students about medical research was low. However, moderately positive attitude was reported among them. It is recommended that students’ engagement in active research ought to be started early in their medical school. Additionally, more engaging and interactive methods of teaching research are endorsed to be implemented. Keywords: attitude; knowledge; medical research; medical students; University of Khartoum