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
Background: Postoperative pain is one of the main complications following impacted mandibular third molar (IMTM) surgery. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the local application of bupivacaine on reducing early postoperative pain following IMTM surgery. Material and methods: A prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled study was conducted on 40 patients who had undergone the surgical removal of an IMTM under local anesthesia. In the study group (n = 20), absorbable gelatin sponge (AGS) soaked in 3 mL of 0.5% plain bupivacaine hydrochloride was locally applied in the post-extraction socket. In the control group (n = 20), AGS soaked in 3 mL of normal saline was used. Pain intensity was assessed using a pa
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In this work, we have developed a model that describes the relationships between top predators (such as tigers, hyenas, and others), crop raiders (such as baboons, warthogs, and deer), and prey (such as deer) in the coffee forests of southwest Ethiopia. Various potential equilibrium points are identified. Additionally, the model's stability in the vicinity of these equilibrium points is examined. An investigation of the model's Hopf bifurcation is conducted concerning several significant parameters. It is found that prey species may be extinct due to a lower growth rate and consumption by top predators in the absence of human interference in the carrying capacity of prey. It is observed that top predators may be extinct due to human interfe
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The current study aims to develop a proposed educational program based on augmented reality (AR) technology, in addition to assessing its effectiveness in developing research and historical imagination skills of the Humanities Track's female students at the secondary stage, as well as assessing the correlative and predictive relationships between the amount of growth for the two dependent variables. To achieve this, a secondary school in the city of Makkah Al-Mukarramah was chosen, and an available random sample of (30) female students from the study population was selected. The quasi-experimental approach was followed by this study, particularly one group design. In addition, two tools were used to collect study data, namely: a test of
... Show MoreThe research aims to identify small and medium enterprises in accounting thought in terms of definition and concept, and this international financial reporting standard for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the theoretical aspect. As for the practical aspect, the small and medium-sized enterprises standard has been applied to the financial statements of the company in question, the preparation of the opening entry on the date of the transition, the requirements of measurement and the accounting disclosure on the date following the application of the standard, and the preparation of the company's financial statements and the accompanying explanations according to the standard of small and medium-sized enterprises. The r
... Show MoreThe aim of the research is to identify the problems of teaching computer material concerning fourth grade students’ point of view in the computer department in the College of Education for Women by identifying the statistically significant differences between the answers of female students to problems in the field of school administration and in the field of teaching computer subject included the sample of research On (39) of (50) students and (78%) From the fourth grade students in the department of computer who had achieved the theoretical part in the first semester and the assembly application in the second semester in the schools of Baghdad city for the aca
... Show MoreBackground: The skull offers a high resistance of adverse environmental conditions over time, resulting in the greater stability of the dimorphic features as compared to other skeletal bony pieces. Sex determination of human skeletal considered an initial step in its identification. The present study is undertaken to evaluate the validity of 3D reconstructed computed tomographic images in sex differentiation by using craniometrical measurements at various parts of the skull. Materials and Method: 3D reconstructed computed tomographic scanning of 100 Iraqi subject, (50 males and 50 females) were analyzed with their age range from20-70 years old. Craniometrical linear measurements were located and marked on both side of the 3D skull images.
... Show MoreIt has been an increase concern of scientific and professional accounting sides on disclosure especially after appearance of business firms and accounting development with its relationship to financial statements which are considered to be outputs of the activity results. The preparing of financial statements and auditing of those accounts according to normal principles and standards of accounting on both local and international levels. Accounting disclosure can be seen an importance through discover all fundamental and necessary information for proper supply. Therefore, the research will highlight on public companies commitment in Iraq for basis and standards which have taken disclosure in financial data. The conceptual frame of t
... Show MoreFlexible pavements are subjected to three main distress types: fatigue crack, thermal crack, and permanent deformation. Under severe climate conditions, thermal cracking particularly contributes largely to a considerable scale of premature deterioration of pavement infrastructure worldwide. This challenge is especially relevant for Europe, as weather conditions vary significantly throughout the year. Hydrated lime (HL) has been recognized as an effective additive to improve the mechanical properties of asphalt concrete for pavement applications. Previous research has found that a replacement of conventional limestone dust filler using hydrated lime at 2.5% of the total weight of aggregates generated an optimum improvement in the mec
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