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
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Coupling reaction of m-and p- amino acetop henone and p-amino benzoic acid with (LHistidine) gave the new bidentate azo ligands (L1, L2 and L3). The prepared ligands were identified by FT-IR, UV-Vis, 1HNMR and GC- mass sp ectroscopic technique. Treatment of the prepared ligands with the following metal ions (CoII, NiII, CuII, ZnII, CdII and HgII) in aqueous ethanol with a 1:2 M:L ratio and at optimum pH, yielded a series of neutral complexes of the general formula [M (L)2 Cl2]. The prepared complexes were characterized by using flame atomic absorption, FT-IR, UV-Vis and 1HNMR spectroscopic methods as well as magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements. Chloride ion content was also evaluated by (Mohr method). The nature of the com
... Show MoreThe ligand 2-Hydroxy-N-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-acetamide(L) has been prepared from reaction of 2-(aminomethyl)pyridin with chloroacetic acid (1:1).It has been characterized by elemental analysis (C,H,N) ,'H, 13 C-NMR, IR and electronic spectra. The complexes of divalent (Co,Ni,Cu,Zn,Cd and Hg) ions and trivalent(Cr) ion have been synthesized and characterized by IR, electronic spectra, molar conductivity, atomic absorption and molar ratio (Ni 2+) complex. The analytical studies for the complexes show; octahedral for (Cr 3+),square planar for (Cu 2+) and (Co,Ni Zn, Cd and Hg) tetrahedral geometries. The study of biological activity of the ligand (L) and its complexes (Co,Ni,Cu,Cd,Hg) in two deferent concentration (1and5) mg/ml showed various acti
... Show Moreالوصف Mixed ligand complexes of Cu (II), Co (II) and Zn (II) with 2-((4-(1-(4-chlorophenylimino) ethyl) phenylimino) methyl) phenol (L) and histidine (His) have been prepared and diagnosed by ¹H and13 C NMR, FT-IR and electronic spectral data, thermal gravimetric, molar conductance and metal analysis measurements. The ligand (L) shows a bidentate nature and the coordination occurs through N and O atoms of imine group and phenol group respectively whereas (His) behave as tridentate ligand, coordinating through the-NH2 group and carboxylate oxygen group and N atoms of imidazole ring. The analytical studies for three complexes have shown octahedral structure. The anticancer activity was screened against human cancer cell such Follicular
... Show MoreBackground :Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was a widely used marker for skeletal and hepatobiliary disorders, but its activity was also increased in atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease. Several study has showed that ALP activity was increased in the sera of diabetic patients. The current study was conducted to evaluate ALP activity in type 2 diabetic patients and optimum conditions for enzyme activity in their sera.Methods: This study was carried out at in AL-Yarmok hospital(diabetic center) between February /2009 and April /2009. Fifty two patients with type 2 diabetes have been enrolled. Besides BMI, WHR, serum fasting blood glucose, ALP, HbA1C,uric acid and lipid profile levels have been performed .The relationship bet
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New Azo ligands HL1 [2-Hydroxy-3-((5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)diazenyl)-1-naphth aldehyde] and HL2 [3-((1,5-Dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)diazenyl)-2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde] have been synthesized from reaction (2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde) and (5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol) for HL1 and (4-amino-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-one) for HL2. Then, its metal ions complexes are synthesized with the general formula; [CrHL1Cl3(H2O)], [VOHL1(SO4)] [ML1Cl(H2O)] where M = Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II), and general formula; [Cr(L2)2 ]Cl and [M(L2)2] where M = VO(II), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) are reported. The ligands and their metal complexes are characterized by phisco- chemical spectroscopic
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A new ligand N-((4-(phenylamino) phenyl) carbamothioyl) acetamide (PCA) was synthesized by reaction of (4-amino di phenyl amine) with (acetyl isothiocyante) by using acetone as a solvent. The prepared ligand(PCA) has been characterization by elemental analysis (CHNS), infrared(FT-IR),electronic spectral (UV-Vis)&1H,13C- NMR spectra. Some Divalent Metal ion complexes of ligand (PCA) were prepared and spectroscopic studies by infrared(FT-IR), electronic spectral (UV-Vis), molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility and atomic absorption. The results measured showed the formula ofFall prepared complexes were [M (PCA)2 Cl2] (M+2 = Mn, Co, Ni, CU, Zn, Cd &Hg),the proposed geometrical structure for all complexes wereeoctahedral.