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
Kinetics and mechanism studies of oxidation of some α-amino acids (Proline, Arginine, Alanine) (AA) by N-Bromosuccinimide (NBS) by using conductivity method was carried out. The kinetic study showed that the reaction was first order with respect to NBS and AA. The effect of addition of HClO4 to the reaction was negative on the rate of reaction. The reaction was carried out at different temperatures in which * * * , S , G were calculated. The rate of reaction of AA was as follows: Proline > Arginine > Alanine
The study was conducted to determine the effect Toxoplasma gondii and the efficacy of azithromycin and garlic tablets on the treatment of acute murine toxoplasmosis and observe the histopathological changes due to infection. 60 Albino mice were divided into six groups, and their survival rate, pathology, bioassay trial and immunofluorescence were observed. Results revealed that azithromycin (250 mg/kg/day) given to infected mice increased the survival rate (90% on day 7 PI) and decreased the histopathological changes when compared with the control groups. Garlic tablets (500 mg/kg/day) had lesser effect on infected mice, and the survival rate (40% at days 6 and 7 PI) was lower than the groups treated with azithromycin. The group treated wit
... Show MoreThis research aims to study the morphological anatomical characteristics and geographical distribution of the species Horwoodia dicksoniae (Turrill) belong to Brassicaceae family in Iraq. The results were revealed the morphological characteristics of the root, stem, leaves, fruits and seeds, abaxial surface of the leaf characterized by covered with simple hairs. The fruits were circular in shape with wide wing and have one seed. The seeds were conical shape and pustular surface configuration. The anatomical characteristics of the root, stem, and leaf were studied and the cross-section of the root was characterized by thick periderm layer and cortex layer consisting primarily of parenchyma cells, stem cross section was characterize
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2-(2-amino-5-nitro-phenylazo),-phenol was ready by grouping the diazonium salt of 2-aminophenol with 4-nitroaniline.Thegeometry of azo ligand(HL)was resolved on the origin of (C.H.N) analysis,1H and 13CNMR spectra, infrared spectra and UV–vis electronic absorption spectra. Dealing with the azo ligand produced with Rh+3 and La+3ataqueous ethanol for a 1:3 metal: ligand rate, and in perfect ph. The formation for compounds have been described by utilizing flame atomic, absorption,(C.H.N),Analyses, conductivity, infrared spectra and UV–vis spectral procedures. Nature in the produced compounds, have been studied, obey the ratio of mole and continuous, variance, manners, Beer's law, yielded up a concentration, rate (1×10-4- 3×10-4M),. High
... Show MoreOrtho amino hydrazobenzene (L) has been prepared from the reaction of ortho amino phenyl thiol with phenyl hyrazan in mole ratio(1:1). It has been characterized by elemental analysis (C, H, N), IR, UV–Vis. The complexes of the bivalent ions (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pd, Cd, Hg and Pb) and the trivalent (Cr) have been prepared and characterized too. The structural have been established by elemental analysis(C,H,N), IR , UV – Vis spectra , conductivity measurements , atomic absorption and magnetic susceptibility . The complexes showed characteristic behaviour of octahedral geometry around the metal ion and the( N,N) ligand coordinated in bidentate modeexcept with pd showed square planer. ? ,kf , ?max for the complexes were estimated too .
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2-(2-amino-5-nitro-phenylazo) -phenol was ready by grouping the diazonium salt of 2-aminophenol with 4-nitroaniline.Thegeometry of azo ligand(HL)was resolved on the origin of (C.H.N) analysis, 1H and 13CNMR spectra, infrared spectra and UV–vis electronic absorption spectra. Dealing with the azo ligand produced with Nd+3,Cd+3,Dy+3 and Er+3at aqueous ethanol for a 1:2 metal: ligand rate, and in perfect ph. The formation for compounds have been described by utilizing flame atomic absorption,(C.H.N) Analyses, conductivity, infrared spectra and UV–vis spectral procedures. Nature in the produced compounds have been studied obey the ratio of mole and continuous variance manners, Beer's law yielded up a concentration rate (1×10-4 - 3×10-4M) .
... Show MoreOrtho amino hydrazobenzene (L) has been prepared from the reaction of ortho amino phenyl thiol with phenyl hyrazan in mole ratio(1:1). It has been characterized by elemental analysis (C, H, N), IR, UV–Vis. The complexes of the bivalent ions (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pd, Cd, Hg and Pb) and the trivalent (Cr) have been prepared and characterized too. The structural have been established by elemental analysis(C,H,N), IR , UV – Vis spectra , conductivity measurements , atomic absorption and magnetic susceptibility . The complexes showed characteristic behaviour of octahedral geometry around the metal ion and the( N,N) ligand coordinated in bidentate modeexcept with pd showed square planer. ? ,kf , ?max for the complexes were estimated too . ? for Co
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The ligand Schiff base [(E)-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzylideneamino)- 1- phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H) –one] with some metals ion as Mn(II); Co(II); Ni(II); Cu(II); Cd(II) and Hg(II) complexes have been preparation and characterized on the basic of mass spectrum for L, elemental analyses, FTIR, electronic spectral, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity measurement and functions thermodynamic data study (∆H°, ∆S° and ∆G°). Results of conductivity indicated that all complexes were non electrolytes. Spectroscopy and other analytical studies reveal distorted octahedral geometry for all complexes. The antibacterial activity of the ligand and preparers metal complexes was also studied against gram and negative bacteria.
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