Abdulgafar Olayiwola Jimoh

Mining environments are extreme subsurface ecosystems characterized by elevated concentrations of metals and minerals, limited light, and high particulate loads. Occupational health research in mining has traditionally emphasized physical and chemical hazards, whereas biological exposures remain less well-characterized. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on mining-associated microbial communities, bioaerosols, occupational exposure, respiratory health, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The literature search covered PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science from database inception through August 2026. Evidence from coal, uranium, metal mining, acid mine drainage, and mine dust environments indicates that geochemical conditions and mining activities shape microbial communities. Drilling, blasting, excavation, and ore transport can aerosolize microbial cells, spores, and dust-associated microbial components, creating plausible inhalation pathways. Metal-rich environments may also favor persistence and co-selection of metal- and antibiotic-resistance determinants within environmental microbial communities. Metagenomic sequencing and environmental DNA approaches have expanded detection of microbial diversity, functional genes, and environmental resistomes. However, environmental detection does not establish microbial viability, effective worker exposure, transmission, or disease causation. Future research should integrate standardized environmental and personal microbial exposure measurements with respirable dust and chemical monitoring, longitudinal occupational epidemiology, and functional validation of resistance determinants to determine the actual occupational-health significance of mining-associated microbiomes.

Tuberculosis (TB), which is caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), continues to be a major global public health concern, with approximately 10.6 million new cases and 1.3 million ...

Vector-borne neglected tropical diseases are still an underrecognized public health problem in the Arabian Peninsula. Of these, leishmaniasis is endemic in

Candidiasis is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by Candida species that normally colonise human microbiota but can cause invasive disease when host immunity is compromised. Among these are ...

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly recognized as an environmental and One Health problem driven by interconnected ecological, infrastructural, and anthropogenic processes. However, hyper-arid ecosystems remain underrepresented in most AMR research globally, despite rapid urbanization, widespread use of reclaimed water, and large-scale seawater desalination in the Arabian Gulf. This review examines the roles of ecological reservoirs and engineered water systems in the emergence and spread of AMR within hyper-arid Gulf ecosystems. Methods: Studies published from 2005 to 2025 in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were reviewed using a structured narrative process. The search terms encompassed concepts related to antimicrobial resistance, resistomes, dryland ecosystem(s), wastewater reuse and desalination, aerosols, livestock, wildlife, and One Health in the Arabian Gulf. Eligible studies included environmental surveillance studies, metagenomic analyses, and reports on AMR reservoirs or transmission routes relevant to arid environments. Results: Evidence suggests that hyper-arid Gulf environments harbor interconnected AMR reservoirs in desert soils, wastewater treatment plants, reclaimed irrigation systems, wildlife-livestock interfaces, atmospheric dust, and coastal waters. Engineered water infrastructure, especially wastewater reuse and desalination, is a focal point for multispecies microbial interactions and horizontal gene transfer. Climatic stressors such as extreme aridity, high salinity, and dust storms, further promote the persistence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and resistant microorganisms. Conclusion: AMR transmission in hyper-arid Gulf ecosystems is driven by the interplay between climatic stress, engineered water infrastructure and human–animal–environment interfaces. We propose a Gulf-specific One Health Transmission framework to guide environmental surveillance and mitigation efforts. Monitoring of soils, wastewater reuse systems, aerosols, wildlife, and coastal ecosystems should be strengthened and integrated into regional AMR control strategies.

Background: Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have emerged as a versatile platform beyond SARS-CoV-2, with expanding applications in infectious diseases and oncology. However, comprehensive evidence synthesis of non-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines remains limited. Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261323500). MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP were systematically searched for studies published between 1 January 2000 and 28 February 2026. Eligible studies included phase I–III clinical trials and in vivo preclinical studies evaluating non-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and SYRCLE tools. Findings were synthesized narratively because of substantial heterogeneity. Results: A total of 40 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review, comprising 20 clinical studies and 20 preclinical studies. Advanced clinical programs targeted influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with phase III trials displaying seroconversion rates above 70% with good safety profiles. Preliminary phase I studies for HIV, cytomegalovirus, rabies, and personalized cancer mRNA vaccines showed promising humoral and cellular immune responses. Preclinical studies showed strong antibody and T-cell responses against malaria, tuberculosis, Group B Streptococcus, and Zika virus. Most adverse events were mild to moderate, while serious vaccine-related adverse events were uncommon. Conclusions: Non-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines demonstrate substantial translational potential across infectious disease and oncology applications. Although the vaccine candidates have demonstrated promising immunogenicity and safety, most are in the early stages of development. This highlights the need for large trials, long-term safety follow-up and better global representation.

Arboviral diseases are emerging as important public health threats in Saudi Arabia, driven by rapid urbanization, climate variability, the expansion of Aedes aegypti populations, international travel, and large-scale religious mass gatherings. Dengue virus remains the most established arboviral infection in the Kingdom, particularly in the southwestern regions such as Jazan and the western urban centers of Makkah and Jeddah, where ecological and climatic conditions are conducive to sustained vector survival and transmission. This review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, vector ecology, climatic determinants, diagnostics, and prevention strategies of arboviral diseases in Saudi Arabia. Particular attention is paid to the impacts of rising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, urban heat island effects, population mobility, and cross-border movement on vector expansion and disease emergence. The review also identifies gaps in surveillance, diagnostics, insecticide resistance monitoring, and integrated vector management programs. Emerging preparedness strategies include climate-informed early warning systems, Geographic Information System-based risk mapping, multiplex molecular diagnostics, genomic surveillance, and community-based vector control. The review emphasizes the importance of implementing a One Health approach that combines data on humans, the environment, entomology, and climate. Currently, sustained endemic transmission of chikungunya and Zika viruses has not been conclusively demonstrated in Saudi Arabia, but increased environmental suitability and connectivity with other areas highlight the need for proactive surveillance and preparedness.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat that continues to concern scientists because it can be driven not only by antibiotic misuse but also by environmental factors. Mining-related heavy metal pollution can apply strong selective pressure on microbial communities, leading to a significant increase and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environmental ecosystems. Here, we critically review the emerging role of mining environments as hotspots of environmental resistomes and the mechanisms by which heavy metal contamination drives co-selection of antibiotic resistance. There is also evidence that mining environments, such as AMD systems, mine tailings, contaminated sediments, and mining-impacted soils, harbor highly diverse microbiomes enriched with different resistance determinants. Heavy metals such as copper, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic promote ARG co-selection through co-resistance, cross-resistance, and co-regulation mechanisms. Widespread co-occurrence of metal- and antibiotic-resistance genes on mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, integrons, and transposons has been demonstrated in metagenomic studies. Environmental dissemination pathways, such as water systems, agricultural soils, wildlife interactions, and occupational exposure, may promote the spread of resistance genes outside mining sites. Mining ecosystems are underrecognized and potentially important reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance. This review highlights the importance of integrating environmental resistome surveillance into existing global AMR monitoring frameworks to understand underlying ecological drivers of resistance evolution. Tackling metal-driven antibiotic resistance requires innovative, solution-based interdisciplinary research, enhanced environmental screening and soil and water testing practices, and sustainable mining practices within the One Health paradigm.