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The potential of microalgae to produce valuable compounds has garnered considerable attention. However, there are various challenges that hinder their large-scale industrial utilization, such as high production costs and the complexities associated with achieving optimal growth conditions. Therefore, we investigated the effects of glycine at different concentrations on the growth and bioactive compounds production of Synechocystis sp. PAK13 and Chlorella variabilis cultivated under nitrogen availability. Glycine supplementation resulted in increased biomass and bioactive primary metabolites accumulation in both species. Sugar production, particularly glucose content, significantly improved in Synechocystis at 3.33 mM glycine (1.4 mg/g). This led to enhanced organic acid, particularly malic acid, and amino acids production. Glycine stress also influenced the concentration of indole-3-acetic acid, which was significantly higher in both species compared to the control. Furthermore, fatty acids content increased by 2.5-fold in Synechocystis and by 1.36-fold in Chlorella. Overall, the exogenous application of glycine is a cheap, safe, and effective approach to enhancing sustainable microalgal biomass and bioproducts production.

Cakile maritima ssp. aegyptiaca (Wild.) Nyman is growing with dimorphic leaf forms (entire or pinnatifid lamina) along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. The cytotoxic activities of dried shoot systems of the two morphological forms were evaluated by testing and comparing the effects of ethanolic and aqueous extracts on the viability of five human cell lines. GC-MS analysis was performed to identify the bioactive and anticancer compounds present in the most active extracts. MTT assay indicated that both aqueous and ethanolic extracts have selective cytotoxic activities against cancer cell lines with no inhibitory activities against normal Wi38 or Vero cell lines. The underlying mechanism of cytotoxicity involved the induction of G2/M phase arrest in targeted cells MCF-7 and HCT-116 associated with inducing apoptosis in both cell lines, as indicated by Annexin-V assay. Apoptosis investigation in MCF-7 and HCT-116 cells treated with ethanolic extracts, was further investigated through RT-PCR, which exhibited elevation of proapoptotic genes of P53, BAX, Capase-3,6,7,8,9, and downregulation of antiapoptotic gene (BCL-2) upon treatment. The GC-MS analysis of ethanolic extracts of pinnatifid and entire forms revealed the existence of 18 and 13 compounds, respectively, with eleven compounds that were detected in pinnatifid form only and seven compounds were identified exclusively in the entire form. Molecular Docking study revealed that the identified compounds exhibited good binding affinity towards BCL-2 inhibition, and this agreed with the suggested apoptotic mechanism. To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first scientific evidence underline the variability in the chemical composition associated with variable anticancer activities of dimorphic forms of C. maritima.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an international health concern. The C-X-C chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16) functions as a scavenging cell surface receptor. Vitamin D3 has vital effects on inflammat...

Objective: Turner syndrome (TS) patients are at high risk of cardiometabolic disorders. Cardiometabolic risk factors are more commonly related to visceral rather than total body adiposity. Adipocytokines have been explored as a potential link between obesity and obesity-related cardiometabolic dysfunction. This study explored the validity of epicardial fat-thickness (EFT) and perihepatic fat-thickness (PHFT) measurement as cardiometabolic-risk predictors in TS-girls in relation to standard obesity-indices and metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. Methods: Forty-six TS girls and twenty-five controls (10-16 years) were subdivided into two age-groups (10 to less than 13 and 13-16). Participants were assessed for body mass index (BMI) Z-scores, waist circumference (WC), total-fat mass (FM) and trunk-FM by bioimpedance-technique, EFT and PHFT by cardiovascular magnetic resonance, lipid-profile, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and serum chemerin. MetS was defined according to International Diabetes Federation criteria. Results: Overweight/obesity and MetS were detected in 45.7% and 37% of TS-girls respectively. BMI Z-score, WC, total-FM, trunk-FM, EFT and PHFT values were significantly higher in TS-age groups compared to age-matched control groups, being more pronounced in the older group when TS-girls had been exposed to estrogen. Dyslipidemia, higher HOMA-IR, chemerin, EFT and PHFT values were observed in lean-Turner compared to BMI-Z-matched controls. EFT and PHFT were significantly correlated with chemerin and several components of MetS. EFT at a cut-off-value of 6.20 mm (area under the curve=0.814) can predict MetS in TS-girls. Conclusion: TS-girls displayed an adverse cardiometabolic profile during late childhood and adolescence. EFT and PHFT are emerging cardiometabolic risk predictors in TS-patients. Excess EFT rather than total body adiposity may contribute to altered metabolic profile among lean-Turner patients.

This design case details a data science summer learning experience designed by University of Memphis faculty for HBCU students (NSF #: 1918751) with recruiting assistance provided by LeMoyne-Owen College. The summer learning experience included elements of didactic and collaborative problem-solving during the first five weeks of the internship, followed by a three-week, team-based, problem-solving project using real-world data. While the course was originally designed as a face-to-face learning experience, the impact of COVID-19 necessitated a shift toward online digital spaces. The design case details the opportunities and challenges of STEM online learning and especially underscores the limitations of (a) existing data science technologies for instruction, (b) the shift toward instructional design of materials that supported more self-directed learning, and (c) collaborative problem-solving. Implications for design and practice are also considered.

Phytoplankton are key components of the oceanic carbon and sulfur cycles1. During bloom events, some species can emit large amounts of the organosulfur volatile dimethyl sulfide (DMS) into the ocean and consequently the atmosphere, where it can modulate aerosol formation and affect climate2,3. In aquatic environments, DMS plays an important role as a chemical signal mediating diverse trophic interactions. Yet, its role in microbial predator–prey interactions remains elusive with contradicting evidence for its role in either algal chemical defence or in the chemo-attraction of grazers to prey cells4,5. Here we investigated the signalling role of DMS during zooplankton–algae interactions by genetic and biochemical manipulation of the algal DMS-generating enzyme dimethylsulfoniopropionate lyase (DL) in the bloom-forming alga Emiliania huxleyi6. We inhibited DL activity in E. huxleyi cells in vivo using the selective DL-inhibitor 2-bromo-3-(dimethylsulfonio)-propionate7 and overexpressed the DL-encoding gene in the model diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. We showed that algal DL activity did not serve as an anti-grazing chemical defence but paradoxically enhanced predation by the grazer Oxyrrhis marina and other microzooplankton and mesozooplankton, including ciliates and copepods. Consumption of algal prey with induced DL activity also promoted O. marina growth. Overall, our results demonstrate that DMS-mediated grazing may be ecologically important and prevalent during prey–predator dynamics in aquatic ecosystems. The role of algal DMS revealed here, acting as an eat-me signal for grazers, raises fundamental questions regarding the retention of its biosynthetic enzyme through the evolution of dominant bloom-forming phytoplankton in the ocean. Algal production of dimethyl sulfide plays a role in attracting predators and enhancing predation by zooplankton, thus mediating predator–prey relationships in the ocean.

Lepidium sativum is an edible medicinal plant from the family Brassicaceae. It holds many uses in folk medicine, and the bioactivities activities originate from its constituents. So, it is essential to estimate the different physiological compounds in this plant. It is also essential to determine which organ in the plant could contain these active compounds. So, it is necessary to evaluate the growth conditions of this plant. In this study, L. sativum is grown in different conditions (with water only in Petri-dish, in pots with peat-moss soil and on jars with Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with tissue culture technique). From the results obtained, it was clear that cultivation in peat-moss soil supplement the plant with more pigmentation concentration (but not for a long time) and much protein content. In comparison, cultivation on MS media provides much protein content. In all parameters, seeds germinated with water only have the lowest value. Genetically, RAPD-PCR molecular marker illustrates that there is no genetic stability in L. sativum grew on different cultivation conditions. The polymorphism percentage was 54.71%. So, there is genetic variation in response to different cultivation conditions.

Ten Egyptian barley cultivars (Giza 129, 132, 123, 127, 2000, 130, 126, 135, 128 and 133) were assessed under 0, 100 and 200 mM NaCl. The cultivars performance under salinity was measured in open field conditions using the Fv/Fm and Performance Index. Measurements of growth parameters as well as other chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (RC/CS, TFm, RC/ABS and ABS/RC) were also included. Giza 129 is considered salt-tolerant, and Giza 123 is salt sensitive cultivar. Both cultivars, along with Giza 132 (moderately salt tolerant), were used to evaluate the relative expression of the B2 and shmt genes at 0,100 and 200 mM NaCl. The expression of both genes increased in the tested cultivars upon salinity treatment. At 200 mM NaCl, B2 and shmt genes relative expression reached 1.9- and 1.5-folds in the salt-tolerant cultivar (Giza 129); while getting 1.6 and 1.2 folds in the sensitive cultivar (Giza 123). Repeating the same experiment for Giza 129, 132, and 123 under the growth chamber conditions revealed that the effect of salinity was more vigorous at the physiological and morphological levels. In addition, the gene expression was generally higher than that of the open field conditions, although exhibiting a similar trend of results. Our results under the present study indicate that Giza 129 is a candidate for further salinity-breeding studies. Furthermore, a comparison between growth chamber and open field conditions revealed a kind of adaptation of barley PSII to the continuous salt stress in the open field conditions.

Cryptosporidiosis has been considered as a serious diarrheal disease, especially in immunodeficient patients, where they failed to clear the infection leading to several consequences of infection (i.e death). The role of cell mediated immunity in clearing the infection was demonstrated by the increased susceptibility of HIV/AIDS patients to infection. To date, no specific treatment has been proven for cryptosporidiosis in immunodeficient patients. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Aloe vera gel for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in immunocompetent and dexamethasone immunosuppressed mice in comparison to that of nitazoxanide. Mice were orally administrated with Aloe vera gel, in a daily dose of 250 mg/L in drinking water, for 14 consecutive days post infection. Parasitological, molecular and immunological measurements were recorded on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 32nd days post infection. Our in vitro results showed that 250 mg/L of prepared gel achieved the highest parasitic reduction. The body weights of Aloe vera treated mice on the 21st and 32nd day post infection, either in immunocompetent or immunosuppressed groups, were nearly the same as those of their corresponding control groups. Aloe vera gel succeeded in clearing cryptosporidiosis with a percent reduction of 100% in immunocompetent mice and 99.67% in immunosuppressed mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of Aloe vera reduced the levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, -6 and -17. The success of Aloe vera gel, in clearing cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed mice, was obvious either from the reduction of Cryptosporidium DNA or the oocysts in stool samples; and from the improvement of histopathological sections., Graphical abstract Image 1

Currently, the human being faces a contagious virus called SARS-CoV-2 with a high transmission ability, infection, and a relatively high mortality rate, especially for the elderly. All research interest is directed to finding a drug or vaccine to save millions of people’s lives; some have succeeded and applied now in some countries. Medicinal plants represent a green treasure that renders plentiful primary and secondary metabolites characterized by potent biological activities. Interestingly, the secondary metabolites, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids, own a broad antiviral history. The plant antiviral capabilities may be due to inhibition of viral attachment to/penetration of the host cell; inhibition of the virus replication; suppressing RNA replication; downregulation of viral proteins translation; interfering with virus non-structural/structural protein; downregulation of virus-induced pro-inflammatory/inflammatory signaling pathways in the host cell, and antioxidant activity thus abating the virus-induced oxidative stress effect. Presently, as we are trapped with a surly virus, there are attempts to exploit the power of nature. Therefore, this review’s main objective is to refer to some medicinal plants or their derivatives that limit the virus’s virulence or alleviate the symptoms associated with this virus. Key words: SARS-CoV-2, medicinal plants, natural extracts, flavonoids, alkaloids, antiviral.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a consequence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and is associated with early changes in renal angiotensin II (ANG II). These changes were evaluated using ANG II blocker valsartan early from week two of diabetes (experiment I, renoprotective) and late from week nine of diabetes (experiment II, renotherapeutic) to the end of both experiments at week twelve. In both experiments, adult male Wister rats were divided into (i) vehicle group; (ii) valsartan received oral 30 mg/Kg/day; (iii) diabetic received single 50 mg/Kg intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection; (iv) renoprotection, diabetic rats received valsartan treated in experiments I and II. DM effects on urine albumin excretion, blood pressure, and renal ANG II were measured. Urinary nephrin, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), renal angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2), and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR 4) mRNA expression were tested. DM-initiated fibrotic markers integrin, α-smooth muscle actin expression, and collagen IV and apoptotic protein caspase 3 were tested. DM induced early changes starting from week four in the tested variables. At week twelve, in both experiments, valsartan intervention showed a significant reduction in ANG II, ANGPTL2, TLR 4 and integrin expression and improvement in albuminuria, blood pressure, urinary biomarkers, fibrotic and apoptotic markers. Changes leading to DN starts early in the disease course and ANG II reduction decreased the expression of ANGPTL2 and integrin which preserve the glomerular barrier. Blocking ANG II was able to decrease TLR 4 and inflammatory cytokines leading to decreasing DN.

Lettuce (Lactuca spp.) is an annual and self-pollinating crop that belongs to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. It is one of the most globally essential commercial vegetable crops, used in salads and sandwiches. The lettuce leaves are used to make a cigarette without nicotine. Seeds and stems contain edible oil and dried latex. Gene banks have conserved a large pool of lettuce's genetic resources, including wild Lactuca species with the same chromosome numbers 2n = 2x = 18. Lactuca species vary greatly in terms of geographical distribution and morpho-agronomic characteristics. By crossing commercial varieties with locally adapted varieties, novel alleles can be introduced, increasing genetic diversity and making preselection for desirable traits easier. Lettuce breeders and geneticists' main objectives are to improve lettuce for various desirable traits, including tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress and high yield. These targets accomplished with modern genomics tools together with traditional breeding methods. This chapter discusses lettuce conservation and biodiversity, stages of lettuce breeding, agriculture practices, and conventional breeding techniques and their restrictions. It also includes modern plant breeding tools and marker-assisted breeding, editing of genome, and genetic engineering.

There has been a concentrated attempt to introduce bacteria with oxalate degrading activity into the mammalian gut microbiota to enhance ecosystem function towards more effective oxalate degradation and prevent diseases. A few reports have studied Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as promising intestinal oxalate degrading probiotic to treat kidney stone disease. In the present study, a total of 495 LAB isolates from different dairy products samples were primary characterized. Eighty-eight of the isolates belonged to genus Lactobacillus and were screened for their ability to degrade oxalate. Twenty-three of isolated lactobacilli showed oxalate degradation ability. According to the diameter of clear zone and the viable count, ten isolates were the most potent isolates for oxalate degradation. After the genotypic identification using 16s rDNA sequencing for these potent isolates, only seven strains were belonging to genus Lactobacillus spp. Lactobacillus fermentum (5 strains) and Lactobacillus gastricus (2 strains). These isolates were assessed for potential probiotic properties in vitro for further in vivo assessment. In conclusion, they exhibited good probiotic characters that suggested them to serve as good probiotic candidates for managing hyperoxaluria.

A laboratory experiment was conducted using some essential oils, i.e., Eucalyptus globulus, Eugenia caryophyllata, Cinnamomum cassia and Zingiber officinale to study their effects at different concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4% v/v) on the radial growth and spore germinations of, Ulocladium chartarum, Aspargillus niger , Fusarium semitectum and Geotrichum candidum , which were Isolated and identified of postharvest rots pepper fruits obtained from local markets using potato dextrose agar. The obtained results generally indicated that the tested essential oils significantly inhibit growth of the tested fungi. Eugenia caryophyllata oil was the most effective one, followed by Eucalyptus globulus of all tested concentrations, flowed by Cinnamomum cassia and Zingiber officinale oils at high concentrations. Moreover, some of the tested fungi were affected by all used essential oils, while Aspargillus niger was the most resistant fungi. Conclusively; it could be concluded that the tested essential oils were effectively inhibited the growth of the tested fungi that cause postharvest fruit rot diseases of sweet pepper at different concentrations tested (1, 2, 3, 4%). The paper aimed to inhibit evaluate the effects of some salts as natural products on postharvest diseases of sweet pepper fruits under the laboratory conditions and evaluate their effects on the development and suppression of these diseases. To achieve these aims, four different salts i.e. sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium nitrate and calcium chloride was applied at four concentrations, 1, 2, 3 and 4% (w/v). Salt solutions were tested on the mycelial growth and spore germination of Ulocladium chartarum, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium semitectum and Geotrichum candidum. Seven days post incubation, mycelial growth of the tested fungi were completely inhibited by the used salt solutions. Generally, the obtained results indicate a clear impact for most used salts solutions especially sodium salts. Finally, the optimum concentrations of salts under the experiments study conditions for inhibiting of growth of Ulocladium chartarum, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium semitectum, and its spores. Geotrichum candidum were 4, 3, 3, 3% (w/v) for sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium nitrate and calcium chloride, respectively. Conclusively, the optimum concentrations of salts in this study for inhibiting growth of some fungi were 4, 3, 3, 3% (w/v) for sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium nitrate and calcium chloride, respectively.

The paper aimed to inhibit evaluate the effects of some salts as natural products on postharvest diseases of sweet pepper fruits under the laboratory conditions and evaluate their effects on the development and suppression of these diseases. To achieve these aims, four different salts i.e. sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium nitrate and calcium chloride was applied at four concentrations, 1, 2, 3 and 4% (w/v). Salt solutions were tested on the mycelial growth and spore germination of Ulocladium chartarum, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium semitectum and Geotrichum candidum. Seven days post incubation, mycelial growth of the tested fungi were completely inhibited by the used salt solutions. Generally, the obtained results indicate a clear impact for most used salts solutions especially sodium salts. Finally, the optimum concentrations of salts under the experiments study conditions for inhibiting of growth of Ulocladium chartarum, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium semitectum, and its spores. Geotrichum candidum were 4, 3, 3, 3% (w/v) for sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium nitrate and calcium chloride, respectively. Conclusively, the optimum concentrations of salts in this study for inhibiting growth of some fungi were 4, 3, 3, 3% (w/v) for sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium nitrate and calcium chloride, respectively.

Mammary cancer is the second most common tumor worldwide. Small animal mammary neoplasms provide an outstanding model to study cancer in humans, as tumors in both share a similar environment, histopathologic features, and biological behavior. This study aims to investigate the percentage and microscopy of breast tumors in affected dogs and cats; its relationship to breed, age, and sex; and the immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), Ki-67, and cytokeratin 8. Twenty-four females (12 dogs and 12 cats) and one male were examined from February 2018 to February 2020. The highest percentage of mammary neoplasia from the highest to the lowest manifested as tubular carcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, fibroadenoma, and cystic papillary carcinoma. The current study reported the second micropapillary invasive carcinoma in a male cat and the third lipid-rich carcinoma in a female cat. Although tubular carcinoma was the most common mammary neoplasm in cats, leiomyosarcoma was the most common in dogs. The immunohistochemical staining revealed diffuse and intense cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for cytokeratin 8 in lipid-rich carcinomas. However, moderate expression of ER in benign tumors and slight to moderate ER expression in malignant mammary lesions were reported. On the contrary, there was a negative PR expression in benign lesion. It could be concluded that a close relationship between ER expression and nuclear antigen Ki-67 was found.

Mutations to the sarcomere-localized cochaperone protein Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) are associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and display greater penetrance in male patients. Decreased protein expression of BAG3 is also associated with nongenetic heart failure; however, the factors regulating cardiac BAG3 expression are unknown. Using left ventricular (LV) tissue from nonfailing and DCM human samples, we found that whole LV BAG3 expression was not significantly impacted by DCM or sex; however, myofilament localized BAG3 was significantly decreased in males with DCM. Females with DCM displayed no changes in BAG3 compared with nonfailing. This sex difference appears to be estrogen independent, as estrogen treatment in ovariectomized female rats had no impact on BAG3 expression. BAG3 gene expression in noncardiac cells is primarily regulated by the heat shock transcription factor-1 (HSF-1). We show whole LV HSF-1 expression and nuclear localized/active HSF-1 each displayed a striking positive correlation with whole LV BAG3 expression. We further found that HSF-1 localizes to the sarcomere Z-disc in cardiomyocytes and that this myofilament-associated HSF-1 pool decreases in heart failure. The decrease of HSF-1 was more pronounced in male patients and tightly correlated with myofilament BAG3 expression. Together our findings indicate that cardiac BAG3 expression and myofilament localization are differentially impacted by sex and disease and are linked to HSF-1. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Myofilament BAG3 expression decreases in male patients with nonischemic DCM but is preserved in female patients with DCM. BAG3 expression in the human heart is tightly linked to HSF-1 expression and nuclear translocation. HSF-1 localizes to the sarcomere Z-disc in the human heart. HSF-1 expression in the myofilament fraction decreases in male patients with DCM and positively correlates with myofilament BAG3.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections in the world, and it is currently estimated that approximately half of the world's population is infected with the bacterium. The correct diagnosis and effective treatment of H. pylori gastric infection are essential in controlling this condition. The available diagnostic methods have advantages and limitations related to factors such as age of patients, technical difficulty level, costs and extensive accessibility in hospitals. The eradication therapy of H. pylori infection is still a challenge for gastroenterologists. One of the main causes of failure in H. pylori eradication is antibiotic resistance. Biopsy cultures are the most widely used methods among the antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Aim of Study: The aim of this work was to determine the proper regiment of H. Pylori treatment according to gastro-duodenal tissue culture and antibiotic sensitivity. Patients and Methods: This study included 50 patients with Helicobacter Pylori Ag positive stools and positive occult blood in stool. Their age ranged from 1.5 to 17 years old, 60% of them were female. 37 patients showed positive gastric and duodenal cultures and received treatment according to results of cultures. Results: Antibiotic sensitivity of gastric culture shows that Levofloxacin had the highest antibiotic sensitivity (93.5%), followed by clarithromycin and amoxicillin in (77%) and (67.7%) respectively. But, 100% of cases were resistant to the Metronidazole. In duodenal culture, Levofloxacin had the highest antibiotic sensitivity (96.4%), followed by, clarithro-mycin and amoxicillin in (71.4%) for each. But, 100% of cases were resistant to the Metronidazole. All patientsreceived PPI and Levofloxacin, while about 59% and 30% of patients received Amoxacillin and Clarithromycin respectively. Conclusion: Treatment of Helicobacter Pylori should be tailored according to tissue culture and sensitivity.

This study aimed to evaluate kareish cheese sold in two cities in Egypt (New Valley and Cairo). A total of 105 kareish cheese samples were collected from New Valley, Cairo and different cheese factories (35 samples for each). The samples were examined for the occurrence of some food poisoning microorganisms as well as their quality. All samples were submitted for physical, chemical, and microbiological examination. The physical examination revealed that 100% of the examined samples were normal in color, odor, and consistency. The mean values of salinity and pH were 2.0±0.26 and 4.4±0.04, respectively. The positive % of coliforms, E. coli, and molds & yeasts were 42.8, 30.5, and 89.5%, respectively with the mean count 3.45±0.22, 1.92±0.22, and 4.62±0.13 cfu/g, respectively. Moreover, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes could not be detected in the examined kareish cheese samples. The results clarified that the high risk for humans that may be occurred by consumption of contaminated kareish cheese. Hygienic measures must be taken during the manufacture of this type of cheese.

Background: Tinea capitis is an infection caused by dermatophyte fungi of scalp hair follicles and the neighboring skin. Antifungal drugs as terbinafine that are used to treat dermatophytosis direct the ergosterol synthesis pathway. Aim of the work: The current study aimed to identify species and in vitro antifungal susceptibility profile of terbinafine on dermatophytes clinical isolates accompanied by sequencing of the highest minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) isolates. Patients and methods: The present study is a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Azhar Hospital outpatient clinic, in the period from the 1st of July 2019 to the 15th of July 2020. Samples from 50 patients diagnosed clinically as tinea capitis were taken for microscopic examination by KOH and lactophenol cotton blue and culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar followed by in vitro susceptibility testing to terbinafine then sequencing of the highest MIC isolates. Results: The isolated dermatophyte species were 16 (32%) isolates of M. canis and 23(46%) isolates of T.violaceum. The MIC varied from 0.003-.092 μg/ml for M.canis and from 0.005-0.116 μg/ml for T.violaceum. It was found in M. canis strain has two base variations with type strain from GenBank whereas T.violaceum strain has ten base variations in the two representative isolates with the highest MIC. Conclusion: T. violaceum was detected as the most common fun‌gal species followed by M. canis. The MIC results to terbinafine showed sensitivity to the antifungal agents. By comparing the M. canis and T. violaceum isolates with type strain on GenBank, some base-pair substitutions were found.

Background Several coronavirus vaccine have been fast-tracked to halt the pandemic, the usage of immune adjuvants that can boost immunological memory has come up to the surface. This is particularly of importance in view of the rates of failure of seroconversion and re-infection after COVID-19 infection, which could make the vaccine role and response debatable. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) have an established immune-modulatory role, but their effects as adjuvants to vaccination have not been explored to date. Main body of the abstract It is increasingly recognized that PPAR agonists can upregulate the levels of anti-apoptotic factors such as MCL-1. Such effect can improve the results of vaccination by enhancing the longevity of long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). The interaction between PPAR agonists and the immune system does not halt here, as T cell memory is also stimulated through enhanced T regulatory cells, antagonizing PD-L1 and switching the metabolism of T cells to fatty acid oxidation, which has a remarkable effect on the persistence of T memory cells. What is even of a more significant value is the effect of PPAR gamma on ensuring a profound secretion of antibodies upon re-exposure to the offending antigen through upregulating lipoxin B4, therefore potentially assisting the vaccine response and deterring re-infection. Short conclusion In view of the above, we suggest the use of PPAR as adjuvants to vaccines in general especially the emerging COVID-19 vaccine due to their role in enhancing immunologic memory through DNA-dependent mechanisms.

Predaceous insects and mites are important biological control agents of the two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch. Biology and life table parameters of Stethorus gilvifrons Mulsant, Phytoseiulus persimilis A.-H., Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oud.), Typhlodromips swirskii (A.-H.) and Euseius scutalis A.-H. fed on T. urticae immature was studied at 28 ±1°C. Their female life cycle and life span averaged 17.66, 5.80, 4.40, 6.26 & 6.26 days and 47.60, 19.13, 38.00, l3.20 & 23.93 days, respectively. During its life span, average female fed on 1647. I 3, 343.53, 353.53, 345.66 & 200.33 with a daily rate 34.60, I 7.96, 9.30, 8.00 and 8.37 T. urticae immature respectively. The net rate of natural increase (rm) and the finite rate of increase (λ) of the aforementioned predators were 0.139, 0.294, 0.349, 0.26 I & 0.229; and 1.15, 1.34, 1.41, 1.29 & 1.25, respectively. These of T. urticae were 0.222 and 1.24, respectively.

The objective of this study was to determine the functional response of the predator Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot fed on Tetranychus urticae Koch larvae, nymphs and adults at different densities. A logistic regression of the proportion of prey consumed as a function of initial prey density was conducted to identify functional response types, and used nonlinear least-squares regression and the random predator equation to estimate attack rates and handling times. Overall, adult females P. persimilis exhibited a type 2 functional response to T. urticae. Whereas, attack rate (a) and handling time (Th) of P. persimilis recorded 0.1722, 0.5034 and 0.4776 and 1.4699, 2.1133 and 3.051 when offering larvae, nymphs and adults of T. urticae respectively.

Background Caviar, salt-cured unfertilized roe of sturgeon fish, is a food delicacy associated with royalty and nutritive properties since prehistoric times. The drastic decline in wild sturgeon populations has led to an increased aquaculture production of caviar roe and its substitutes from other species i.e. lumpfish, herring, tobiko, cod, shad and mullet. Fish roes are highly nutritive foods comprising a myriad of biochemical components with several health benefits viz. high quality protein, polyunsaturated fats, vitamins and minerals which are influenced by its biodiversity, fish farming and industrial processing. Scope and approach We provided in this review extensive knowledge regarding interspecies compositional variability among roe produced by different fish species, with respect to the impact of fish farming, different processing methods and storage conditions on caviar/roe quality. Different quality control methods viz. biochemical, analytical and molecular methods, for evaluating caviar authenticity and biodiversity of roe products are summarized as essential tools to assess roe counterfeiting and/or mislabeling. Key findings and conclusions Biochemical markers for discriminating the roe origin (wild vs. domesticated fish) are highlighted with lipid profiles being more efficient than protein analysis. Molecular genetic techniques were also posed as competent species-discriminatory tools. Other underexploited tools were introduced as future perspectives viz. color measurements and computer vision, as rapid non-destructive methods. Intelligent packaging should be sought as a valuable method for monitoring roe freshness. The full health benefits of roe, as a promising functional food, are not yet fully capitalized upon which warrants future research to prove its efficacy using mechanistic and clinical studies.

Graphene-based nanomaterials have great potential to improve cut flower production, including the production of high-quality corms of gladiolus locally to compensate for the shortage in imported corms mostly from the Netherlands due to the recent unprecedented global spread of COVID-19. In this study, we investigated the response of the cultivar ‘White Prosperity’ to various doses of nano-carbon as graphene oxide nanomaterials (0, 3, 5 and 7 g/l) in combination with BA (0, 50, 75 and 100 mg/l). The results demonstrated that the combination of the medium or the high BA concentrations (50 and 75 mg/l), with these of nano-carbon (5 and 7 g/l) promoted good vegetative and flowering growth. Pearson’s product correlation showed positive relationships between all the tested parameters except for the number of days to flowering, which negatively correlated with all the traits. These results were further confirmed by PCA results. Our findings provide evidence that nano-carbon can render positive effects on flowering and corm production of gladiolus that may be applicable for other important flower bulb species.

Production of molecular oxygen was a turning point in the Earth’s history. The geological record indicates the Great Oxidation Event, which marked a permanent transition to an oxidizing atmosphere around 2.4 Ga. However, the degree to which oxygen was available to life before oxygenation of the atmosphere remains unknown. Here, phylogenetic analysis of all known oxygen-utilizing and -producing enzymes (O2-enzymes) indicates that oxygen became widely available to living organisms well before the Great Oxidation Event. About 60% of the O2-enzyme families whose birth can be dated appear to have emerged at the separation of terrestrial and marine bacteria (22 families, compared to two families assigned to the last universal common ancestor). This node, dubbed the last universal oxygen ancestor, coincides with a burst of emergence of both oxygenases and other oxidoreductases, thus suggesting a wider availability of oxygen around 3.1 Ga. Phylogenetic dating of O2-utilizing enzymes indicates a burst of emergence several hundred million years before the Great Oxidation Event.

Laboratory studies were undertaken to assess the initial and persistence of lambada –Cyhalothrin insecticide on some porous and some non-porous surfaces. Formulation of insecticide was applied to polyethelyne and cement surfaces which are materials commonly used for grain storage facilities (packages) and in the construction of silos or storage. Lambada –Cyhalothrin insecticide was applied at concentrations 15.7, 7.8, 3.93, 1.9, 0.949 to 0.479g/m2 to test surfaces to determine Lc 95 to study their persistence against Rhyzopertha dominica and Callosobruchus maculates adults. Insects were exposed on treated surfaces Initial and residual efficacy was determined after 24 hrs. of insects contact with 7, 14, 30, 60, 90 , 120, 150, 180days of exposure deposits on each surface. Results indicated that; mortality rates were positively correlated with the concentration and negatively correlated with the time of application. Results indicated that: -Polyethylene was the most persistent surface which gave 100% mortality up to 6 months in Callosobruchus maculates and up to 5 months in Rhyzopertha dominica at the highest concentration in both tested insects. - In cement surface lambada cyhalothrin deteriorated very rapidly starting from the first month on both tested insects.

A well-designed flow-through biofilm reactor (FTBR) serving as both a biofilter and a biofilm carrier was developed to effectively retain anammox bacteria within three-dimensional honeycomb-like te...

Mentha species are medicinally used worldwide and remain attractive for research due to the diversity of their phytoconstituents and large therapeutic indices for various ailments. This study used the metabolomics examination of five Mentha species (M. suaveolens, M. sylvestris, M. piperita, M. longifolia, and M. viridis) to justify their cytotoxicity and their anti-Helicobacter effects. The activities of species were correlated with their phytochemical profiles by orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Tentatively characterized phytoconstituents using liquid chromatography high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-HR-ESI-MS) included 49 compounds: 14 flavonoids, 10 caffeic acid esters, 7 phenolic acids, and other constituents. M. piperita showed the highest cytotoxicity to HepG2 (human hepatoma), MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma), and CACO2 (human colon adenocarcinoma) cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. OPLS-DA and dereplication studies predicted that the cytotoxic activity was related to benzyl glucopyranoside-sulfate, a lignin glycoside. Furthermore, M. viridis was effective in suppressing the growth of Helicobacter pylori at a concentration of 50 mg mL−1. OPLS-DA predicted that this activity was related to a dihydroxytrimethoxyflavone. M. viridis extract was formulated with Pluronic® F127 to develop polymeric micelles as a nanocarrier that enhanced the anti-Helicobacter activity of the extract and provided minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations of 6.5 and 50 mg mL−1, respectively. This activity was also correlated to tentatively identified constituents, including rosmarinic acid, catechins, carvone, and piperitone oxide.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare between the clinical and radiographic effects of three medicaments (Salvadora Persica "SP", Formocresol and Calcium hydroxide) on non-vital pulpotomy of primary and young permanent molars. Subjects and Methods: The present study was a randomized controlled study comprised of 24 children. These teeth were classified into two equal groups. The patients were with age from 4-8 years old. In (Group 1) the radicular pulp of the primary teeth was capped with formocresol in (subgroup 1A) and SP in (subgroup 1B) after pulpotomy procedures. In (Group 2) the radicular pulp of young permanenet molar was capped with calclium hydroxide in (subgroup 2A) and SP in (subgroup 2B) after pulpotomy procedures. The teeth were assessed clinically and radiographically after 3 months. Result: The present study revealed that, in (Group1) the clinical and radiographic success rate of salvadora persica was 83.3%, while the success rate of formocresol was 100% . In (Group2) SP showed no success as a pulpotomy medicament for vital pulpotomy of young permanenet molars. Conclusion: Based on the present finding, it may be concluded that, - Salvadora Persica proved good clinical and radiographic result as a pulp medicament for non-vital pulpotomy of primary molars. - Salvadora Persica showed no success as a pulpotomy medicament for vital pulpotomy of young permanenet molars.

The chemical mutagens, namely sodium azide and guanidine hydrochloride (30, 40 and 50 mM) for each were applied for the in vitro culture of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. Eight morphological traits were evaluated to calculate the result of different concentrations of mutagens compared to control. In sodium azide, all morphological traits decreased compared to control, except the number of branches and leaves and leaf length, which increases compared to control. Unlike guanidine hydrochloride, all the morphological traits are enhanced in mutants rather than control. The polymorphism percentage resulted from genetic variation varied (57.71% in the case of sodium azide and 67.59% in guanidine hydrochloride). Hence, guanidine hydrochloride is a more powerful mutagen and causes more genetic variations and instability than sodium azide, as was reflected in morphological parameters (i.e., fresh weight, shoot length, root length, number of lateral roots, number of leaves, numbers of branches, leaf length, and leaf width) and physiological traits (i.e., chlorophyll pigmentation and carotenoids). Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 30(2): 209-218, 2020 (December)

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of different six host plants namely, Cabbage, alfalfa, Jaw’s mallow, lettuce, turnip, and castor leaves on the total haemocyte count (THC), percentage of haemocyte viability, and the percentage of each type of haemocyte (differential haemocyte count, DHC) in Spodoptera littoralis and Agrotis ipsilon fourth instar larvae. There are five types of haemocytes in A. ipsilon and S. littoralis larvae; Prohaemocyte, Plasmatocyte, Granulocyte, Spherocytes, and Oenocyte. Results recorded the highest value 13.3±0.68 of Prohaemocyte at lettuce and the lowest value 9.3 for Cabbage, alfalfa and turnip. On the other hand, Prohaemocyte recorded the highest value 12.6 ± 0.9 in the case of castor feeding and 8.7 ± 0.3 for turnip for S. littoralis. Plasmatocyte recorded 45.3 ± 2.9 cells/mm3for A. ipsilon feed on turnip and 47.3 ± 1.8 cells/mm3for S. littoralis feed on lettuce as the highest value while Granulocyte recorded 33 ± 4.1 and 35 ± 0.7 for A. ipsilon feed on Jaw’s mallow, respectively. Spherocytes recoded 15.3 ± 0.9 and 12.3 ± 0.9 for A. ipsilon and S. littoralis feed on alfalfa. Finally, Oenocyte recorded 7.7 ± 1.5 and 7.3 ± 1.4 for A. ipsilon and S. littoralis feed on castor. Total haemocytic count recorded 29 ± 0.3 and 36 ± 0.75 cells/mm3 as the highest value when both A. ipsilon and S. littoralis feed on Alfalfa. Also, the haemocyte viability % recorded the highest value 91.5 ± 2.6 and 96.2 ± 0.8 % for A. ipsilon and S. littoralis feed on feed on Alfalfa. The result recorded increasing DHC level after feeding of the fourth larval instar of S. littoralis and A. ipsilon on different plant hosts such an increase in DHC gives an impression that blood cells may share in detoxifying. The most obvious activity of haemocyte is phagocytosis. In this context, the most active phagocytes are the Plasmatocyte, Plasmatocyte which was implicated in the encapsulation of necrotic tissues.

A total methanolic extract and its sub-extracts of Orobanche crenata (Forssk.) aerial parts were subjected to acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective investigations. The methanolic extract was safe upto 3 g/kg on mice. The EtOAc fraction reduced the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema better than indomethacin. It also demonstrated a drop in the elevated ALT, AST, and TB at 300 mg/kg, better than silymarin. Histopathological examination of liver cells of rats given the EtOAc fraction showed a complete absence of the CCl4-induced cloudy swelling. A phytochemical investigation of the n-hexane and EtOAc fractions yielded 11 compounds [indole-3-carboxylic acid (1), n-butyl palmitate (2), tyrosol (3), L-rhamnonic acid-1,4-lactone (4), β-sitosterol/stigmasterol mixture (5/5'), β-sitosterol/stigmasterol glycosides mixture (6/6'), chrysoeriol (7), luteolin (8), apigenin (9), crenatoside (10), and verbascoside (11)] as identified by UV, 1D & 2D NMR and ESIMS techniques. Their reported biological actions were in relation to and supported our herein detected pharmacological findings.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, multidrug-resistance traits, PCR-detection of virulence, and antibiotic-resistance genes of E. coli isolated from secondary infections following FMD-outbreak in cattle. A total of 160 random samples were gathered from private dairy farms in Damietta Province, Egypt. The specimens were subjected to bacteriological examination, serotyping, congo-red binding assay, antibiogram-testing, and PCR-monitoring of virulence-determinant genes (tsh, phoA, hly, eaeA, sta, and lt) as well as the antibiotic-resistance genes (blaTEM, blaKPC, and blaCTX). The prevalence of E. coli was 30% (n = 48) distributed in 8 serogroups (40/48, 83.3%), while 8 isolates (8/48, 16.6%) were untypable. Besides, 83.3% of the examined isolates were positive for CR-binding. The tested strains harbored the virulence genes phoA, hly, tsh, eaeA, sta, and lt with a prevalence of 100% and 50%, 45.8%, 25%, 8.4%, and 6.2%, respectively. Furthermore, 50% of the recovered strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR) to penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems, and are harboring the blaTEM, blaCTX, and blaKPC genes. Moreover, 25% of the examined strains are resistant to penicillins, and cephalosporins, and are harboring the blaTEM and blaCTX genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the E. coli secondary bacterial infections following the FMD-outbreak. The emergence of MDR strains is considered a public health threat and indicates complicated treatment and bad prognosis of infections caused by such strains. Colistin sulfate and levofloxacin have a promising in vitro activity against MDR-E. coli.

Background: 3-Cyanopyridine analogues are significant moieties with a variety of biological effects such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic agents. In addition, they could be applied in the treatment of several diseases. Objective: The study conducted cyclo-addition of 3a-e derivatives with malononitrile to yield the corresponding 6-(4-((3-cyano-pyridinyl) amino) phenyl)-4-phenylnicotinonitriles 4a-e. Materials and Methods: Physical and spectral analyses were performed to demonstrate the proper structures of all incorporated analogues. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the preps derivatives was investigated by testing them with a panel of pathogenic strains of bacteria and fungi. The anti-tuberculosis activity was observed against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. When examining cytotoxic agents for four different cell lines, researchers found that their activity was persuasive compared with that of standard antibiotics. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the synthesized analogues was evaluated using the DPPH method. Results and Discussions: The synthesized analogues were examined to determine their activity against the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Derivatives 2c, 2e, 3d and 3e had good inhibition. Further screening was done for the highest potency against M. tuberculosis to determine the MICs. The antioxidant efficacy was evaluated via the DPPH technique matched with vitamin C as a positive control. The prospective results showed that the derivatives did not display scavenging efficacies in comparison with the standard. Conclusion: Some synthesized derivatives displayed good potency against bacterial activity and M. Tuberculosis. However, the antioxidant performance of these derivatives did not display scavenging efficacies compared to vitamin C. The cytotoxic activity of the synthesized derivatives was examined against various cell lines to display good cytotoxic activity in the order 4a-e > 2a-e > 3a-b.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the pathological effects of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) on chicken trachea and kidney tissues and also desired to diagnose the virus genome using a molecular tool. Materials and Methods: Twenty trachea and kidney samples collected from one broiler farm contain 10,000 chickens at Tikrit city. The chickens showed signs of gasping and mortality (20%) at early ages (20 days old), the presence of IBV investigated using conventional reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique with routine histopathological study to tracheal and renal tissue. Results: Postmortem lesion showed severe respiratory inflammation with abscesses at tracheal bifurcation lead to airway blog. Molecular results showed two genotypes of IBV, one of them not included in primer designer research. The histological study showed different stages of inflammation, degeneration, and necrosis to the renal and tracheal tissues. Conclusion: The respiratory and renal pathological effect of the virus responsible for the symptoms appeared on the affected chicks that caused mortality, with a high probability of presence of a new viral genotype added to the untranslated region.

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate immediate implant placement combined with sticky bone and enriched fibrin membrane for teeth exhibiting periapical pathosis clinically, radiographically and resonance frequency analysis. Subjects and methods: Thirteen immediate implant combined with sticky bone and CGF membrane were inserted in 13 patients suffering from teeth with periapical pathosis indicated for extraction. Preoperative cone beam CT (CBCT were taken for every patient to determine alveolar bone height, width and bone defects The change in the implant stability and bone density readings were measured using ostel device and (CBCT) immediatly, and after 6 months of healing. Results: the mean values of ISQ was 48, 02 1ry stability . After 6 months, the mean value was increased to 72. Increasing of ISQ was observed with the time with significant statistical difference in the value of ISQ in whole time of evaluation and There was statistically significant increase of bone density readings after 6 months. Conclusion: The Immediate implant placement combined with sticky bone and enriched fibrin membrane for teeth exhibiting periapical pathosis is a successful technique

Sargassum is a common macroalgae found across the world, especially in the warm temperate regions. It is also known as brown seaweed. Sargassum is known for its medicinal and industrial applications. In the present study Sargassam samples were collected from three different coastal regions of Egypt in the Northern coast, Marsa Matrough and Hurghada. In addition to morphological parameters of identification, the collected species were differentiated and further characterized by Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR), and 18 S rDNA techniques. This led to the identification of four different species, namely Sargassum subrepandum var. rueppellii, S. platycarpum, S. latifolium, S. subrepandum var. massauense from the areas of collection. Four different ISSR primers used enabled differentiation of total polymorphism to the order of 33.24% among them. The phylogenetic relationship resulted in similarity between Sargassum subrepandum var. rueppellii and S. subrepandum var. massauense.

The incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) is rising in developed countries. This is driven by an increase in HNSCCs caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections or HPV + HNSCCs. Compared to HNSCCs not caused by HPV (HPV– HNSCCs), HPV + HNSCCs are more responsive to therapy and associated with better oncologic outcomes. As a result, the HPV status of an HNSCC is an important determinant in medical management. One method to determine the HPV status of an HNSCC is increased expression of p16 caused by the HPV E7 oncogene. We identified novel expression changes in HPV + HNSCCs. A comparison of gene expression among HPV+ and HPV- HNSCCs in The Cancer Genome Atlas demonstrated increased DNA repair gene expression in HPV + HNSCCs. Further, DNA repair gene expression correlated with HNSCC survival. Immunohistochemical analysis of a novel HNSCC microarray confirmed that DNA repair protein abundance is elevated in HPV + HNSCCs.

Some laboratory studies revealed that predators can readily attack and consume virus-infected prey with no detrimental effects on their biological parameters. Most tested predacious species did not discriminate between healthy and virus-infected prey. In addition, such predators were found to excrete detectable amounts of polyhedral inclusion bodies for few days that might infect healthy prey. Field studies demonstrated that the population densities and dispersal of the predators were not affected in fields sprayed with entomopathogenic virus formulations. Some laboratory studies stated that egg and larval parasitoids did not discriminate between healthy and virus surface-contaminated or virus-infected hosts. However, some parasitoids did not lay or laid few eggs in virus-infected hosts. Parasitoid adults that laid eggs in virus-infected host larvae could transmit the virus to healthy hosts through the ovipositor. Also, adult parasitoids emerged from virus-infected hosts transmitted the virus to healthy hosts whereas other parasitoids did not transmit the virus.

Graphical abstract, The impact of various industrial pollutants on anaerobes and the biodegradation potentials need much emphasis. This study aims to investigate the response of anaerobic microbial systems to cyanuric acid (CA) exposure; CA is toxic and possible carcinogen. First, the long-term exposure of mixed culture bacteria (i.e., municipal sludge) to low-strength wastewater containing 20 mg/L CA was conducted in an up-flow anaerobic staged reactor. Stable performance and sludge granulation were observed, and the microbial community structure showed the progression of genus Acinetobacter known as CA degrader. Second, batch-mode experiment was performed to examine the CA biodegradability at higher doses (up to 250 mg/L of CA) in the absence and presence of glucose as a co-substrate; response surface-based optimization was used to design this experiment and to estimate the optimum CA-glucose combination. CA removal of 77–98% was achieved when CA was co-digested with glucose (250–1,000 mg/L), after 7 days-incubation at temperature of 37 °C, compared to 34% when CA was solely digested. Further, the obtained methane yield dropped when CA exceeded over 125 mg/L, though the deterioration was mitigated by addition of higher concentration of glucose. Overall, we conclude that CA is efficiently degraded under anaerobic conditions when being co-digested with readily assimilable substrate.

Patients that suffer from sepsis exhibit an early hyper-inflammatory immune response which can lead to organ failure and death. In our study, we assessed the immune modulation in the human in vivo endotoxemia model and compared it to ex vivo LPS stimulation using 38 transcriptomic markers. Blood was collected before and after 4 hours of LPS challenge and tested with the Immune Profiling Panel (IPP) using the FilmArray system. The use of IPP showed that markers from the innate immunity dominated the response to LPS in vivo, mainly markers related to monocytes and neutrophils. Comparing the two models, in vivo and ex vivo, revealed that most of the markers were modulated in a similar pattern (68%). Some cytokine markers such as TNF, IFN-γ and IL-1β were under-expressed ex vivo compared to in vivo. T-cell markers were either unchanged or up-modulated ex vivo, compared to a down-modulation in vivo. Interestingly, markers related to neutrophils were expressed in opposite directions, which might be due to the presence of cell recruitment and feedback loops in vivo. The IPP tool was able to capture the early immune response in both the human in vivo endotoxemia model, a translational model mimicking the immune response observed in septic patients.

The effects of supplementary feeding (artificial diet cake + sucrose syrup supplemented with vitamin C) for different periods (feeding for 12, 15 and 18 weeks) on colony development, protein conten...

Background: Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) is known to be a regulatory enzyme of homocysteine metabolism. In many ethnic groups point mutations in MTHFR gene are implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and other complications of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Aim of the work: The aim of this study was to assess if MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism was one of the risk factors for the development of diabetic nephropathy as well as other complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Subjects and methods: The MTHFR C6777T polymorphisms were detected in 50 persons by PCR-RFLP. Subjects were divided into 2 groups; 30 patients with type II DM and 20 persons who were non-diabetic healthy controls. Results: The presence of MTHFR 677T allele did not increase the risk of complications in T2DM patients. The presence of mutant genotypes CT and TT did not increase the risk of nephropathy or other complications in the subjects having a C677T mutation. Conclusion: Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene mutation was neither associated with an increased risk of diabetic nephropathy nor other complications of type II diabetes mellitus.