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
ABSTRACT Background:Hydrogen absorption and related degradation in the mechanical properties of Ni-Ti based orthodontic wires has been demonstrated following exposure to fluoride prophylactic agents. This study was designed to investigate the effects of three fluoride containing agents on the load deflection characteristics of heat activated nickel titanium arch wires during unloading phase. Material and method: Eighty specimens of heat activated nickel titanium arch wires were obtained from Ortho Technology Company, half of which had a 0.016 inch round and 0.019x0.025 rectangular. Ten specimens from both wire size were immersed in one of the tested fluoride prophylactic agents (neutral sodium fluoride gel, stannous fluoride gel or phos-flu
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Background : The dermatophytesare taxonomically related fungi causing different skin infections referred to as tineas in man or ringworm in man and animals . Objective:This study was established to investigate theof effect of yellow sap and gel of Aloe vera on skin of the rabbits which infected with T.verrucosum. Methods : Twelveskin biopsy were taken from rabbits for histopathological study to know the the effects of the T.verrucosumand treated with yellow sap and gel. Results : the results of histopathological study of effect of yellow sap and gel of Aloe vera on skin of the rabbits which infected with T.verrucosum showed the concentration of the gel of aloe vera at 75% was more effected to treat the infective area of skin with T.verrucos
... Show MoreThe aim of this work is to produce samples from Iraqi raw materials like Husyniat Bauxite (raw and burnt) and to study the effect of some additives like white Doekhla kaolin clays and alumina on that material properties were using sodium silica as a binding material. Five mixtures were prepared from Bauxite (raw and burnt) and kaolin clays, with an additive of (40) ml from sodium silica and alumina of (2.5, 5, 7.5,10 wt %) percentage as a binding material. the size grading was through sieving. The formation of all specimens was conducted by a measured gradually semi-dry pressing method under a compression force of (10) Tons and humidity ratio ranging from (5-10) % from mixture weight. Drying all specimens was done and then they were burn
... Show MoreFisetin is a plant flavonoid found in strawberries and other fruits and vegetables such as apples, persimmons, and onions. It has many pharmacological effects like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-carcinogenicity which are attributed to its ability to reduce oxidative stress which considers the main reason for different disease conditions. Genotoxicity refers to the genetic material destruction within the cell which can be caused by different chemicals as well as radiation. The present study evaluates the effect of orally-administered fisetin daily for seven constitutive days on genotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide in rats’ bone marrow and spleen cells. Results showed that fisetin exh
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The current research aims at: - Identifying the role played by the leadership in empowerment and organizational learning abilities and their reflection on the knowledge capital, and the extent to which these concepts can be applied effectively at Wasit University. The problem of research .... In a series of questions: The most important is that the dimensions leadership empowerment and distance learning organizational capacity correlation relationship and impact and significant statistical significance with the capital knowledge.
To understand the nature of the relationship and the impact between the variables, leadership was adopted by empowerment as the fir
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In this research the change in the distance of the two stars in two binary star systems (13.6+8)M8and (13+10)M8 was studied, through the calculations the value (rate of mass transfer) of the two phases of dynamical stages of mass which are mass loss and mass transfer has been extracted in its own way ,by extracting the value of the value of (the distance variation between the two stars) has been found only in the mass transfer stage by using mathematical model ,in mass loss stage and were calculated from the change and the difference between the values of each at different times of binary star system evolution ,it was found that the maximum values of and are in ma
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In this research a new compounds were synthesized started from compound 1 which was synthesized from two moll of piperidine (secondary cyclic amine) with dichloro acetic acid, compound 1 reacted by condensation reaction with methanol and H 2 SO 4 as a catalyst to give the ester compound 2. Compound 2 was reacted with hydrazine hydrate 80 % to give compound 3 , then the compounds 4-13 were synthesized from refluxing of compound 3 with the selected aldehydes and ketones via using few drops of glacial acetic acid, finely step the compounds 4-13 were reacted with phtalic anhydride to give compounds 14-23.. All these compounds were characterized by using of melting point, FTIR, 1 HNMR and mass spectroscopy. Scheme 1 and Scheme 2 shown the all re
... Show MoreAbstract The current study is a theoretical study that aims to underline the role of picture books as a serious genre of children's literature in raising children's understanding of English literature and life concepts; especially for non-English speakers. Unfortunately, most Iraqi people have developed a social phobia of learning English since childhood. This phobia is resulted from the heavy traditional reading and writing assignments as well as hard exams. Therefore, this study suggests incorporating more interesting literary material like picture books that would bring pleasure and help in raising children's love and cognition of English Language. More significantly, it calls to replace the old curriculum with a more vital
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Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) became the most prevalent health problem. Almost half of the world's people are ignorant that have diabetes. Menopause occurs as an important alteration in women through which take place the change in sex hormones, distribution in fat،s body, and metabolism, altogether which participate in the metabolism disease such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. Several studies have appeared the association between the TCF7L2 gene and different diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to detect the relation of the genetic variation polymorphism for the TCF7L2 gene (rs12255372 G/T) in Iraqi women menopausal with T2DM. The outcomes indicated the increased levels of biochemical characteristics including H
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