Abstract Candida albicans is a commensal fungal pathogen that grows in yeast and hyphal forms in the human gut. C. albicans causes mucosal and cutaneous diseases that can result in significant mortality following systematic infections and it also exhibits drug resistance. Zebrafish have been an excellent model to investigate C. albicans infections because of their transparency and the availability of many transgenic lines. However, there is a limitation in using zebrafish as a model because the fish embryos cannot survive at 37°C therefore it is not suitable for studying Candida infections at physiological relevant human body temperature. In this thesis, the normal embryonic development of Arabian killifish (A. dispar) is investigated, revealing that embryogenesis was divided into 32 stages based on diagnostic patterns of development. A. dispar can also found to tolerate a wide range of temperatures and salinities. This suggests that A. dispar could be developed as a novel model to investigate host-pathogen interactions. The tolerance of A. dispar to high temperatures may in part be attributable to brown pigment cells with a highly fluorescent character that may have developed to allow the fish to adapt to live within extreme environmental conditions with strong sunlight and a wide range of temperatures (Chapter 3). In terms of Candida infections, this study examined A. dispar as a model to test C. albicans pathogenicity. The survival of A. dispar embryos following Candida infection showed a dose dependent relationship. We also found that A. dispar can survive longer than zebrafish after infection. Furthermore, C. albicans cells were observed to undergo a transition from yeast to hyphae at 37°C. An investigation of the ability of mutant strains of C. albicans with defects in cell wall mannosylation revealed a significant impact on virulence, host mortality, and the fishes’ immune response. The present study found that although the deletion of O- and N-mannan from the cell wall of C. albicans, affected fungal burden (attenuation), and the survival of the infected embryos per se was significantly decreased in the infections of the mutant strains compared to the WT. This data confirms the importance of the mannosylation state of the cell wall in triggering an immune recognition event (Chapter 4). A. dispar is also shown to be suitable for studying the effectiveness of 3 | P a g e antifungals. Fluconazole treatment of infected embryos and eggs promoted greater rates of survival at high doses, alongside a significant reduction of C. albicans CFUs (Chapter 4). When looking at the Candida-host interaction, we directly observed phagocytosed yeast cells within macrophages. Various detection methods were used to follow macrophages and neutrophils including Western blotting, immunostaining and histological staining (Sudan black and FITC-tyramide) allowing the monitoring of the time course of the immune cells. A biphasic response of macrophages was detected by L-plastin Western blotting, suggesting activation of two different type of macrophage: activated macrophage (M1) and alternative macrophage (M2). We also assayed reactive oxygen species (ROS) within infected embryos using a fluorescent probe (H2DCFDA), revealing the accumulation of the fluorescent probe at the sites of infection. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the oxidative and immune response using the H2DCFDA and qPCR were also accomplished within A. dispar embryos after infection with both the WT and mutant strains of Candida albicans (WT, pmr1∆, mnt1-mnt2∆, and och1∆). The results confirmed that the mutant strains did not activate a host oxidative stress response nor immune cell accumulation when compared to WT, suggesting that the immune response is less activated against these mutants. Finally, a new transgenic line of A. dispar fish was developed using Betaactin-DsR-LoxP-GFP. The new transgenic A. dispar is suggested to be an ideal model for real time observation of host-pathogen interactions and for investigation of molecular functions of the immune response. Overall these results improve our understanding of the use of a new transparent fish model to study fungal pathogenesis and demonstrates the potential advantages of using this species in future studies of bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens at a physiologically relevant temperature for human infection. Such a model could lead us to investigate in more depth the key interactions between pathogens and their host and permit the screening and development of new antifungal therapies (that might target the pathogens directly or target the host immune system). View full metadata
يتطلب نظام الحماية الكاثودية للتيار القسري (ICCP) قياسات كميات منخفضة للغاية من الخصائص الكهربائية. استخدم العمل التجريبي الحالي وحدة مستشعر Adafruit INA219 للحصول على قيم الجهد والتيار وقدرة الحمل الافتراضي الذي يستهلك طاقة منخفضة جدًا تحاكي نظام ICCP. تكمن المشكلة الرئيسية في تكييف مستشعر INA219 مع بيئة LabVIEW بسبب عدم وجود مكتبة المستشعر هذا. تم تخصيص هذا العمل لتكييف وحدة استشعار Adafruit INA219 في بيئة LabVIEW من خلال إنشاء
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Sn(II) complex of the type, [Sn(SMZ)2]Cl2 was synthesized by the interaction of Sulfamethoxazole ligand and Tin Chloride, the complex was confirmed on the basis of results of elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV-Vis, molar conductance (Ëm). The elemental analysis data, suggests the stoichiometry to be 1:2 (metal: ligand) and determination of the formula of a coordination a complex formed between the Sn(II) ion and the SMZ using Job’s method of continuous variations. The study of (Ëm), indicated the electrolytic nature type 1:2. The [Sn(SMZ)2]Cl2 was screened for antibacterial activity against Gram-ve (Escherichia coli and Gram+ve (Staphylococcus aureus) and (Candida albicans) antifungal. The IR spectral data suggested that the coordination sit
... Show MoreThe present report depicts a convenient route for the synthesis of new N-Mannich bases from Ciprofloxacin (CP) drug. The synthetic route started from the reaction CP drug with 2-mercaptobenzimidazole to give compound [A], the N-Mannich bases analogs of CP [A1-A8] were prepared by the reaction of CP derivative [A] with primary and secondary amine derivatives. The structure of the analogs was confirmed by spectral (1 HNMR and FTIR) and analytical data. This study also includes calculations of total energy and electrostatic potential. In addition, this research aimed to determine the effects of CP derivatives on the activity of various transferase enzymes in sera, such as serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and Glutamate Pyruvate Tra
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Cyprinidae species are the most abundant and widely distributed fish species in the inland waters of Iraq. Cyprinids are complex species, and it is difficult to identify them on the basis of morphology. Thus, the morphological characteristics must be achieved and confirmed by molecular analysis. Twenty specimens of Cyprinion kais Heckel, 1843 (Piscies, Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) were collected from two localities at Tigris River in the middle of Iraq: five specimens from Al-Tharthar Lake, Saladin Province, and 15 specimens from Al- Zubaydiyah sub-district, Wasit Province
The new complexes including Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Pt(IV), and Pd(II) metals with 4,4'-(((1E,1'E)-1,4-phenylenebis(methaneylylidene))bis(azaneylylidene))bis(5-(4-chlorophenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione) have been synthesized of utilizing us polystyrene (PS) photostability. The supplement (0,5 w / v%) was for the production of polystyrene ( PS) in the form of tetrahydrofuran (THF). Polystyrene films were exposing irradiation (250 – 380 nm) absorption light intensity of 6.02 x 10-9 ein dm-3 s-1 at room temperature, through the changes that occur to each of viscosity average molecular weight (Mv), main chain scission (S), degree of polymerization (DPn), weight loss %, hydroxyl index (lOH), carbonyl index (ICo) determined the photo stabiliz
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Species of genus Chrotogonus (surface grasshoppers) are phytophagous and damaging to various economical important plants in their seedling stages. In order to know the biodiversity of surface grasshoppers, the detailed study has been conducted from four provinces of Pakistan. During this study, biodiversity, taxonomy, diagnosis, morphometric analysis, habitat, global distribution, and remarks of each species have been described. Total of 826 specimens were collected and sorted out into three species and three subspecies: C. (Chrotogonus) homalodemus homalodemus (Blanchard, 1836), C. (Chrotogonus) homalodemus (Blanchard, 1836), C. (Chrotogonus) trachypter
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Cyprinidae species are the most abundant and widely distributed fish species in the inland waters of Iraq. Cyprinids are complex species, and it is difficult to identify them on the basis of morphology. Thus, the morphological characteristics must be achieved and confirmed by molecular analysis. Twenty specimens of Cyprinion kais Heckel, 1843 (Piscies, Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) were collected from two localities at Tigris River in the middle of Iraq: five specimens from Al-Tharthar Lake, Saladin Province, and 15 specimens from Al- Zubaydiyah sub-district, Wasit Province. The DNA sequences of C. kais were done using the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b (cytb) gene. After analysis, the sequences were compared with sequences of ot
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The objectives of this paper was the development of a novel ligand, L, which was achieved in two stages: ligand is synthesised by reducing the result of the reaction between cyclohexane-1,2-diamine and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxycy clohexane-1-carbaldehyde, followed by the production of the 4,4’-((1E,1’E)-(1,2 phenylenebis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(2,6-dimethoxyphenol) precursor (P). While studying corrosion inhibition (copper alloy) in acid solution by weight loss, compounds were characterised using 1H, 13CNMR (for ligand (L) and (P)), FT-IR and UV spectra, melting point, molar conductivity, %C, %H and %N, %M, and magnetic susceptibility. The complex’s octahedral structure is inferred from the bidentate coordination
... Show MoreThe study focuses on the problem that Iraq is approaching an increasing rate of literacy;the available data refers to a rate of (18% -19%). In addition to the fact that the generalcurrent role of the programs directed to literacy is not actually effective enough to limit the expansion of this rate.
The importance of this study highlights the fact that the Iraqi universities are an important tributary among the tributaries of human development, especially in spreading the education of the voluntary work in literacy field and confirming the connection between the students and their society and their role in solving one of the prominent challenges that face the development, i.e., literacy.
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... Show MoreColorectal cancer (CRC), the second most fatal cancer and the 3rd most common cancer is expected to cause 0.9 million deaths globally in 2025. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is currently used in the follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer, and in this study, we are trying to find a better marker than CEA in following up on patients' health and knowing the effectiveness of the treatment used and as a diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer. To determine the significance of Cancer antigen 72-4 (CA72-4) as a prognosis predictor in patients with colorectal cancer, compare its prognostic validity to the CEA biomarker. this case-control study includes (150) participants, 100 patients (59 males and 41 females), and 50 healthy controls
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