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 research seeks to find out the extent of the coverage of the Mosul press to the issues of psychological and social effects of the organization "IS" on the community of Mosul, by analyzing the content of the newspapers “Economic City” and “Mosul News”. As well as to stand at the types of psychological and social effects and their repercussions on the Mosul community including figures, statistics and evidence that were covered in the theoretical study of these topics.
This study is the first scientific diagnosis to reveal the size and types of psychological and social effects of the “ISIS” organization through what was monitored by the Mosul press. The study seeks to draw the attention of officials, decision-m
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The present work aims to study the efficiency of coagulation/ flocculation as 1st stage, natural gravity water filter or microfiltration (MF) as 2nd stage and nanofiltration (NF) technology as final stage for treatment of water of main outfall drain (MOD) for injection in Nasiriyah oil field. Effects of operating parameters such as coagulant dosage, speed and time of slow mixing step and settling time in the 1st stage were studied. Also feed turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS) in the 2
... Show MoreThe test considers from important methods and tools when we using the evaluation because it is a basic role in diagnosis & classification & motive & selection &guiding &prediction and the problem was formatted in some questions like ( what is physical variables that tall players needs n the game and effect on the game ? what is the tests that measures these variables also the defense rebound variable and is there a references standard specialized in that ?) , the aims of research represented by knowing to some physical abilities for tall players in basketball school and their tests and putting new tests to measure defense rebound to one player and tow tall players also limiting the standards degrees ( modified un following method ) to resul
... Show MoreStatistical methods and statistical decisions making were used to arrange and analyze the primary data to get norms which are used with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis programs to identify the animals production and poultry units in strategic nutrition channels, also the priorities of food insecurity through the local production and import when there is no capacity for production. The poultry production is one of the most important commodities that satisfy human body protein requirements, also the most important criteria to measure the development and prosperity of nations. The poultry fields of Babylon Governorate are located in Abi Ghareg and Al_Kifil centers according to many criteria or factors such as the popu
... Show MoreA numerical model for Polypropylene 575 polymer melts flow along the solid conveying screw of a single screw extruder under constant heat flux using ANSYS-FLUENT 17.2 software has been conducted. The model uses the thermophysical properties such as Viscosity, thermal conductivity, Specific heat and density of polypropylene 575 that measured as a function of temperature, and residence time data for process simulation. The numerical simulation using CFD models for single screw extruder and the polymer extrusion was analysed for parameters such as (thermal conductivity, specific heat, density and viscosity) reveals a high degree of similarity to experimental data measured. The most important outcome of this study is that geometrical, parame
... Show MoreThe simulation study has been conducted for the harmonics of Nd: YAG laser, namely the second harmonic generation SHG, the third harmonic generation THG, and the fourth harmonic generation FHG. Determination of beam expander's expansion ratio for specific wavelength and given detection range is the key in beam expander design for determining minimum laser spot size at the target. Knowing optimum expansion ratio decreases receiving unit dimensions and increases its performance efficiency. Simulation of the above mentioned parameters is conducted for the two types of refractive beam expander, Keplerian and Galilean. Ideal refractive indices for the lenses are chosen adequately for Nd: YAG laser harmonics wavelengths, so that increasing transm
... Show MoreThe economic units always sought to maintain its market position and Trchinh the technology management and modern methods that will support success factors .vdila about it has become a customer and one profitability analysis of the most practical way benefit of economic units as modern management focus their attention on achieving this satisfaction, as the customers make up the axis of the success of every organization and that there are many government units aiming to profit directs attention to customers and the number of these units increased continuously. The administration used the customer profitability analysis in order to obtain information to assist in making and decision-making process. How to use modern tec
... Show MoreThe extracted oil from the Chia seeds white and black were used in the manufacture of certain foods such as mayonnaise. The results of the sensory evaluation showed that the product was acceptable except for the flavor of white chia seed oil. The seeds were fully used in the manufacture of the nutella. The results of the sensory evaluation were encouraging the use of the extracted oil from the black chia seeds in the production of the nutella except the spread property. Chia seeds were also used in the manufacture of pudding. The results of the sensory evaluation showed an excellent and acceptable product of black chia seeds oil can be obtained, while the white seeds did not receive the acceptance in terms of color and flavor.
Unconfined Compressive Strength is considered the most important parameter of rock strength properties affecting the rock failure criteria. Various research have developed rock strength for specific lithology to estimate high-accuracy value without a core. Previous analyses did not account for the formation's numerous lithologies and interbedded layers. The main aim of the present study is to select the suitable correlation to predict the UCS for hole depth of formation without separating the lithology. Furthermore, the second aim is to detect an adequate input parameter among set wireline to determine the UCS by using data of three wells along ten formations (Tanuma, Khasib, Mishrif, Rumaila, Ahmady, Maudud, Nahr Um
... Show MoreThe main objective of this study is to determine whether the use of He-Ne Laser (632.8 nm wavelength and power 0.5 mW) is an eligible and effective tool to kill or reduce the cell viability of Candida albicans isolated from complete upper dentures. Twenty one swabs were taken from the complete upper dentures. Only six swabs showed positive cultures for C. albicans. The isolate was divided into two groups, group I was not irradiated (control), and group II was irradiated by He-Ne Laser for different periods (10, 15, 20, and 30) min. After irradiation, the results showed a significant reduction in the viable cell count and colonies diameters especially at exposure periods 10 and 15 min. Although the low power He-Ne Laser was not eradicating t
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