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
The tax revenues achieved through projects of transition to private sector are regarded as an important source for using in achieving political, economic and social objectives. Since Iraq is heading towards free market economy, new strategies should be adopted to reform the taxation system from by a qualified taxation management office and to activate the taxation policy and to reconsider legislation in relation to the aware of the legible to the importance of disclosure of their taxable real income in order to arrive at contribution of privatization in the taxation revenues for the important role effect on economic activities. In the light of the above, the research is based upon a hypothesis which stipulates that privatization contribu
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Lafutidine (LAF) a newly developed histamine H2-receptor antagonist with absorption window makes it a good candidate to be prepared as floating drug delivery system. The current study involves formulation and in- Vitro evaluation of lafutidine as floating microspheres. Different formulation variables that affect the physicochemical properties of the prepared microspheres besides to the drug release behavior were investigated. Fourteen formulas were prepared by emulsion (o/w) solvent evaporation method using Ethyl cellulose (EC) as the polymeric matrix and tween 80 (TW80) as an emulsifying agent. The prepared formulas were evaluated for their percentage buoyancy (%), Percentage yield (%) and Entrapment efficiency (EE %). The results obt
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Basic Orientation and search path in determining the impact of creative thinking in cultural intelligence field research on the doctors competence, as is a theme of creative thinking great importance in spite of being a old , but his role at the individual level and / or organizational a sustainable effect toward developing a fact uncommon , any sense that one of the pillars of modernity and provide a unique future, as is the competitive weapon of the organizations in an environment dubbed fundamental change and provide all that is unfamiliar, and in the center of the field of research and objective measurement of creative thinking on doctors specialists at the construction of a state of the preference and
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Background: Little is known about asymmetry of children's dental arches, the purpose of this study was to verify the presence of asymmetry of dental arches among Iraqi children in the mixed dentition stage. Materials and methods: The sample included 52 pairs of dental casts, 27 pairs belong to males and 25 pairs for females. Three linear distances were utilized on each side on the dental arch: Incisal-canine distance, canine-molar distance and incisal-molar distance, which represent the dental arch segmental measurements using the digital sliding calipers, which is accurate up to 0.02 mm. Results: No significant sides' differences with high correlation coefficient were found between the right and left incisal-canine, canine-molar and in
... Show MoreNutrient enrichment of Sawa lake water was made using different nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations during autumn and spring at three stations. Different concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and N: P ratios were used to test variations in phytoplankton population dynamics. Nitrogen at a concentration of 25 µmole.l-1 and N: P ratio of 10:1 gave highest phytoplankton cell number at all stations and seasons. A total of 64 algal taxa dominated by Bacillariophyceae followed by Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae were identified. The values of Shannon index of diversity were more than one in the studied stations.
The magnetic properties of a pure Nickel metal and Nickel-Zinc-Manganese ferrites having the chemical formula Ni0.1(Zn0.4Mn0.6)0.9Fe2O4 were studied. The phase formation and crystal structure was studied by using x-ray diffraction which confirmed the formation of pure single spinel cubic phase with space group (Fd3m) in the ferrite. The samples microstructure was studied with scanning electron microstructure and EDX. The magnetic properties of the ferrite and nickel metal were characterized by using a laboratory setup with a magnetic field in the range from 0-500 G. The ferrite showed perfect soft spinel phase behavior while the nickel sample showed higher magnetic loss an
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The purpose of this paper is to investigate Religious Human Rights Violations. Religious liberty is essential for everyone, everywhere. Because religion is significant to everyone, everywhere. Humans are religious by nature. Our nature drives us to seek answers to deep questions about ultimate things. We cannot live a fully human life unless we are free to seek those answers and live according to the truths we discover. In this study, the researcher used Marsh and White model for analysis A sample of an offensive image of an Islamic concept from the book "Mohammad believes it or else." this book is a comic book written by pseudonym Abdullah Aziz and published by Crescent Moon Publishing company. The book is marked with anti- Mohammad, preju
... Show MoreThis research evaluated the effect of (UV)(400-320A)Hz(320-220B)Hz on the patient with vitiligo , using it with our new combing therapy that include the oral (Psorlene ) topical , meladinine solution applied on the Vitiligiousns Lesions , In edition to the instralesnional injection in the Vitiligiousns Lesions by long acting steroid (kenacort-A ) by aprecentage of (5%) , after that we expose the patient to UV . The ruslets of this way of treatment more effective by using of the UV rays in the treatment of vitiligo , while the previous treatment that used the UV ray with or with out the psorlene , the results were not effective on controlling of the Vitiligio diseases comparing by the treatment used in this research as it stop’s the sp
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