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
Sovereign wealth funds have attracted the attention of the governments of the oil and non-oil countries alike, with a variation of the size of those funds to those states, based on the size of the financial surpluses resulting from Alriadat oil or foreign reserves, or state revenues for other sovereign assets. Raj use these funds remarkably during the financial crises the world has seen, including the crisis of 2008-2007., And Iraq is a oil-producing countries, which has the third largest reserves of crude oil (Crude Oil) at the level of the Arab world and of 140 300)) million barrels after Saudi Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the fourth reserves of crude oil in the world after issued Venezuela to the reserve
... Show More
The aim of the research is to evaluate the response of the researched leaders towards practicing the concept of the lens, which is its dimensions with (stakeholders, resource mobilization, knowledge development, culture management) and the nature of its relationship to tax pioneer performance represented in its dimensions (strategic direction, leadership indicators, growth, renewal and modernization, efficiency, Effectiveness) The questionnaire was approved as a main tool in collecting data and information from the sample members in the General Authority of Taxes, which number (91) Who are on (M. General Manager, Division Director, Deputy Director, Senior Division Director, Deputy Director, Second Division, Division Officer, M. D
... Show MoreThis research introduces a developed analytical method to determine the nominal and maximum tensile stress and investigate the stress concentration factor. The required tooth fillets parametric equations and gears dimensions have been reformulated to take into account the asymmetric fillets radiuses, asymmetric pressure angle, and profile shifting non-standard modifications. An analytical technique has been developed for the determination of tooth weakest section location for standard, asymmetric fillet radiuses, asymmetric pressure angle and profile shifted involute helical and spur gears. Moreover, an analytical equation to evaluate gear tooth-loading angle at any radial distance on the involute profile of spur and hel
... Show More
(2)
The research aims to explain the role of huge data analyzes in measuring quality costs in the Iraqi company for the production of seed, and the research problem was diagnosed with the weakness of the approved method to measure quality costs, and the weak traditional systems of data analyzes, the researcher in the theoretical aspect relied on collecting sources and previous studies, as well as Adoption of the applied analytical approach in the practical aspect, as a set of financial analyzes were applied within the measurement of quality costs and a statement of the role of data analyzes in the practical side, the research concluded to a set of conc
... Show MoreAO Dr. Ali Jihad, Journal of Physical Education, 2021
Accounting changes have taken place in either the local or international level has led to more disclosure from companies, and that many of the economic units in order to attract investors to negotiate on its shares price in the stock market require amendments with respect to the information disclosed, Thus, the objective of this research is to analyze whether companies were research sample disclose contingent assets and liabilities and provisions in their annual financial reports with what brought him International Accounting Standards. It has been used descriptive analysis of annual financial reports for a sample of (50) listed company on the Iraq Stock Exchange were identified companies that disclose contingent assets and liabi
... Show More
The city of Karbala is one of the most important holy places for visitors and pilgrims from the Islamic faith, especially through the Arabian visit, when crowds of millions gather to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. Offering services and medical treatments during this time is very important, especially when the crowds head to their destination (the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (a.s)). In recent years, the Arba'in visit has witnessed an obvious growth in the number of participants. The biggest challenge is the health risks, and the preventive measures for both organizers and visitors. Researchers identified various challenges and factors to facilitating the Arba'in visit. The purpose of this research is to deal with the religious an
... Show More
(5)
A revolution called information revolution has recently invaded the world. It is Currently considered one of the most important properties of development to the countries of the world The criteria provided by computers such as accuracy, speed, time saving Storage and restore have led them to be widely used in economy, industry, agriculture, communications, etc., as well as being the major finder of reengineering the operations of innovation. The use of computers in the preparation of budgets will lead to achieve accuracy. Since, the operation draws upon the statistic and quantity estimations about budget items, the computerized balance sheet may save time and effort of preparing mathematical equations annually. According to the problem o
... Show More