The present study carried out in order to enhance the production of L-asparaginase by bacteria isolated from cultivated farms and saline water in Saudi Arabia and their abilities to produce L- asparaginase. Optimum conditions of the enzyme production were achieved. A total of thirteen samples collected from some areas at Saudi Arabia were isolated using M9 agar medium. Only five out 13 isolates were selected and screened according to higher yield of enzyme productivity. The strains were identified according to their morphological and cultural characteristics, phylogenetic analysis as well as 16S rRNA Gene Amplification and Sequencing. Optimization of fermentation parameters for L-asparaginase production were achieved after three days incubation periods, incubation temperature ranging from 30-40 o C, pH 9.0 and less commonly 8.0. The enzyme production was enhanced by maltose (carbon source), peptone and ammonium sulphate (nitrogen sources) and divalent iron (F+2) as a source of metal ions
The present investigation was carried out on Wadi Al-Afreet, North Western Coast of Egypt. The study area lies between Buqbuq and Sidi Barrani on the Egyptian-Libyan frontier. It is included in the semi-desert vegetation zone with an attenuated desert climate. An analysis of vegetation along environmental gradients that prevail in the study area using the importance values of 44 perennials and 1 biennial in 16 stands, followed by multivariate data analysis was presented. Altogether, 73 species belonging to 68 genera and 23 families of the flowering plants were recorded. Asteraceae had the highest contribution, followed by Chenopodiaceae and Fabaceae. Therophytes and chamaephytes were the most frequent, denoting a typical desert life-form spectrum. Phytochorological analysis revealed that 49.32% of the studied species were bioregional. Seven groups were resulted after the application of TWINSPAN, each of definite floristic composition and environmental characteristics, and could be linked to a specific habitat. Ordination technique (CCA) was used to examine the relationship between the vegetation and the studied ʺenvironmental parametersʺ. The most important environmental variables correlated with vegetational groups in Wadi Al-Afreet were very fine sand, fine sand, coarse sand, silt & clay, HCO3ˉ, Ca+², pH, Mg+², and Clˉ.
Domestic wastewater is considered a favorable environment for the survival of broad arrays of microorganisms. The current study aimed to characterize the bacteria isolated from two domestic wastewater treatment plants in Jazan, KSA. Morphological and biochemical tests were used to identify the bacterial isolates. Moreover, the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the bacteria isolates was studied using disc diffusion method. The enteric Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae were identified as Citrobacter freundii, Pantoea sp., Serratia liquefaciens, Serratia odorifera, Proteus vulgaris, Rahnella aquatilis, Enterobacter sp., Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter cloacae. Simultaneously, non-enteric Gram-negative bacilli were identified as Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas sobria, Chryseomonas luteola, and Pasteurella aerogenes. Also, the Gram-positive isolates were identified as Staphylococcus xylosus, Kocuria kristinae and Staphylococcus epidermidis. At the same time, a high level of resistance against Ampicillin/Sulbactam (94.5%) was observed while the recorded percentage of resistance against trimethoprime/sulphamethoxoazole, ticarcillin, imipenen, piperacillin, colistin, cefoxitin and cefepime were 67%, 62%, 22.2%, 33.3%, 22.2%, 83.3% and 38.9% respectively. This study highlighted the existence of multiple antibiotic resistant strains in the tested sewage wastewater that could be attributed to the disproportionate use of antibiotics for human and animal diseases.
Fissidens bryoides Hedw., is recorded for the first time from Libya on the basis of collection from Zawya Al –Qadima in Beida, north-east of Libya. This record raises the number of moss taxa recorded from Libya to 106 and the number of Fissidentaceae taxa to six. Moreover, the present work adds 3 moss taxa to Beida area which raises mosses known from it to 33 taxa. A description and illustrations of the new record together with geographic distribution of all identified taxa are given. This new record is also compared with the related taxa.
Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella salina were successively cultivated in sewage and different mixtures of water samples for 10 days to investigate the changes in growth and some physiological parameters. Optical density, dry mass, photosynthetic pigments (Chl.a, Chl.b, and Carotenoid) and organic solutes (soluble sugars, soluble proteins and total free amino acids) of both algal species were significantly decreased in response to sewage and different mixtures of water samples. The cultivation of the two investigated Chlorella in different types of water stimulated the biosynthesis of some different amino acids, whereas caused inhibition of others within the cells. On the other hand, there was marked increase in the activity of catalase (CAT), Peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of C. vulgaris and C. salina cells under these treatments. The data showed that C. salina was more sensitive to sewage and different mixtures of water than C. vulgaris.
Heavy metal as Cd can antagonise uptake and transport of other metal elements such as Mn, Zn, and Fe in leaves of Vicia faba L. concentrations of Cd or Zn up to 100 µM remarkably decreased chlorophyll content compared to control. The degradation in Chl. b under such stress was slower than that of Chl. a. and Cd had more inhibitory effect on both pigments than Zn even under low concentration (50 µM). The results cleared that Zn can strongly antagonise this toxic effect of Cd especially with high Zn concentrations and where full protection and restoration of chlorophyll levels was recorded. Measurements of Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Cu, Al, Mn, and Zn bounded to the cell membrane, revealed a significant decrease of Ca, K and Mg in the presence of Cd or Zn, also the disappearance of Fe peak was observed at 100 µM Cd. This could be due to Cd ions interaction with the manganese cluster which is present in the evolving complex on the donor side of PSΠ. The effect of metal toxicity for Zn and or Cd, in this study, could be observed in many damages to the cell organelle ultrastructure. Changes in chloroplast ultrastructure and lipid composition of the thylakoid membranes alter the operability of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. The chloroplast treated with 100 µM Cd has a reduced number of intact grana, as well as reduced chloroplast size. Combined treatment of cadmium and zinc led to more changes in the shape of cellular components, such as, the shape of chloroplasts was almost spherical, the grana were completely damaged and a large part of chloroplast appeared with disturbed envelopes. Increasing Zn over Cd concentration treatment acquired beneficial effect as it can successfully antagonize the harmful effect of Cd.
Using leaves or cotyledon as explants, we have developed a method for somatic embryogenesis in Moringa oleifera. Sections about 0.5 cm in length were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D or TDZ for inducing embryonic calli. The best embryogenic calli produced on media Hg5 and Hg7 containing 3 and 5 TDZ mg/l, respectively, with 30-gram sucrose. Callus was then transferred to differentiation medium supplemented with BA, NAA and/or ABA. Rooting occurred on medium containing 40 µg/l NAA. Cell suspension culture was initiated from leaf-derived callus on MS liquid medium supplemented with 3 mg/l TDZ. Callus showed globular and torpedo stages after 4-6 weeks incubation. This regeneration method is expected to facilitate the development of a more efficient transformation system for Moringa oleifera. In our study, we also estimated phenolic compounds and flavonoid content in seeds, leaves, and contyledon and leaf-derived callus. The highest content of phenolic compounds was observed in seeds but flavonoids highest content was observed in leaves followed by leaf derived-callus. The production of callus and cell suspension cultures in the present study can be also used in the future in the mass production of Moringa oleifera secondary compounds.
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of the commonly used honeybee product (propolis) and herbal product (myrrah) in curing the hazardous complications on liver and kidney of diabetic group. The experiment was designed into six groups of adult albino Swiss mice; Control group (C), Diabetic group (D), Propolis (PE) and Myrrha (ME) treated groups (100 mg/kg BW, orally administered for 7 days), and Diabetic group treated with Propolis (DPE) or Myrrha (DME) groups. The study investigated liver and kidneys functions along with histopathological studies, markers for anaemia, tissue interleukins, antioxidants and end product of lipid peroxidation. The present data showed that plasma aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, urea and creatinine levels along with conspicuous curing effects in liver and kidneys sections decreased in DPE compared to diabetic group. Modulation of the normocytic/ normochromic anaemia, elevating the tissues Catalase and reducing the superoxide dismutase and malondialdhyde in DPE group. In addition, decrement of IL-6 and increment of IL-10 were detected. Results about treatment with myrrah revealed no improvement in either the liver or the kidneys complications of diabetic mice. The present findings could be considered as a message for diabetic patients to raise their awareness concerning the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of some folk medicine products.
The present study aimed at evaluating the protective role of daily (chronic) oral treatment of adult male rats with either alprazolam, ALZ, drug (0.3 mg/kg b.wt) or the herb valerian ,VAL, extract (300 mg/kg b.wt) against immune modulatory effect of daily (chronic) exposure of animals to restraint (RST) stress (2.5 h /day) for 4 weeks. Rats were divided into 6 groups (10 rats each); group 1: Unstressed control animals; group 2: RST rats; group 3: non-RST + ALZ treated rats; group 4: non- RST + VAL extract treated rats; group 5: RST + ALZ treated rats; group 6: RST + VAL extract treated rats. Blood samples were withdrawn from the retro- orbital venous plexus of each rat under slight ether anesthesia into EDTA and plain glass tubes for measuring total count and proportions of WBCs and separating sera samples, respectively. RST exposed rats showed significant decreases in WBCs count, lymphocyte, monocyte, granulocyte proportions and serum TNF-α, and a significant increase in serum cortisol level as compared to control group. While exposure of rats to VAL extract only did not cause any significant change in all measured parameters, ALZ exposed rats showed significant decreases in WBCs count, granulocyte proportion, serum cortisol and TNF-α levels, but had no significant change in lymphocyte and monocyte proportions. Oral administration of the herb extract to stressed rats revealed its ability to markedly and significantly reverse the immunosuppressive actions of RST stress on all immune parameters measured except serum cortisol level which was not affected. On the contrary, oral administration of ALZ to stressed rats was not able to alleviate the actions of RST stress on all immune parameters measured except monocyte proportion which was reversed by the drug. It could be concluded that VAL extract was found to be more safe and effective than ALZ drug in alleviating the immunosuppression induced in restraint stress exposed rats.
Knowledge of biotechnology dates back to the start of human civilization. In present day world, ever increasing demand of food due to rapid increase in population is among one of the big challenges for human race. Biotechnology is playing a key role in Agriculture, Food technology, Livestock by introducing genetically improved organisms that has high production, disease resistance and improved nutritious value. Modern industrialization has increasing requirement of energy and waste treatment. Biofuels and bioremediation are the most focused areas to meet these demands as it provides environment friendly, renewable and economical solutions. Health industry is being revolutionized by the introduction of improved vaccines, better diagnostic techniques, gene therapy and bioinformatics tools. Future biotechnology has wider scope and will lead certain fields of science and technology.
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are Gram-positive, catalase-negative, oxidase negative, non-sporulating, microaerophilic bacteria, referred as probiotics as there are many species from this bacterial group produce several antibacterial compounds including bacteriocins. Various bacteriocins differ in their activity range where they are either effect only on related species and genera (narrow activity range) or effect on other unrelated genera (wide activity rang). Bacteriocin production was found to be dependent on different factors environmental and cultural conditions as well as the producer strain itself. This study determined the activity range of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 and Lactobacillus plantarum atcc 8014, optimized the different conditions for the maximum bacteriocin production and finally, characterized the produced bacteriocins partially.
Sixty-one of Nile perch, Lates niloticus collected from Damietta branch of River Nile at Dakahlia Province from January 2012 to February 2013 were macro–and microscopically examined for the presence of ectoparasitic protozoa. Fifty-two fish specimens (85.2%) were found to be natural hosts of nine ciliates: six species of scyphidians; Ambiphyra ameiuri, Ambiphyra sp., Scyphidia globularis, S. doliaris, Scyphidia mansouriensis n. sp. and Scyphidia sp.; two of amphileptids; Amphileptus niloticus n. sp. and Amphileptus sp. and only one tetrahymenid; Tetrahymena sp. All parasites were recorded for the first time from the host Lates niloticus in Egypt. Scyphidia globularis and S. doliaris were not recorded before from any fish kind in Egypt. Furthermore, Amphileptus niloticus and Scyphidia mansouriensis were described as two new species. Detailed descriptions of all parasites were presented.
Biocontrol methods have become a common practice in horticulture and crop husbandry due to the attendant negative impact of fungicides and other chemical agents in the soil, vegetation and environment. Most fungicides accumulate in plant tissues and subsequently trigger toxic effects in animals. The efficacy of Moringa oleifera seed oil (2.5,5,10,15, and 20%) and leave extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Azadirachta indica (25,50,100,150, and 200 mg/ml) on tar leaf spot fungus Phyllachora bonariensis were studied invitro on culture media. All the botanicals showed activity and concentration-dependent growth inhibition against the tar spot fungus with percentage range from 69-100% at various concentrations. The tar spot pathogen was more sensitive to M. oleifera seed oil than leave extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Azadirachta indica. Also the botanicals reduced the growth of Phyllachora bonariensis at lower concentration range of 25-200 mg/ml more than the benlate (standard fungicide) at 1000 mg/100 ml. These botanicals can thus be recommended as potent bio- fungicides since they are environmentally friendly and have potential for control of Phyllachora bonariensis.
This study aimed to evaluate the iron status in a sample of Egyptian children with autism, depending on serum ferritin and transferrin saturation as major biomarkers in addition to blood haemoglobin. A sample of 30 children with autism and 30 normal children have participated in the study, and subdivided according to the age ranges. Generally, blood haemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in autistics than in normally-developed children and was below the cut-off points as well. Also, the iron concentrations were highly reduced by ≈ 36 - 37% of the controls concentrations; while the total iron binding capacity was significantly higher in autistics (p ˂ 0.001). Ferritin exhibited significant lower values in serum of children with autism (p ˂ 0.001) than in the corresponding controls. Transferrin saturation, compared to the normally developed children, was significantly lower and below the cut-off point (˂ 16%). Interestingly, there was a significant positive correlation between ferritin and age, haemoglobin, iron and transferrin saturation values. Additionally, the chi-square analysis of transferrin saturation indicated the significant association of transferrin saturation in prevalence of iron deficiency. Therefore, iron deficiency was prevailed in children with autism than in control (83.3%) to (16.7%). Similarly, the chi-square analysis of haemoglobin showed that the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in children with autism (96.3%) was more than in normally–developed children (3.7%). The study suggests that frequent tracking of ferritin and transferrin saturation levels could protect the autistics from iron depletion and iron deficiency anaemia, as well as its consequences of mental and physical impairments.
Twenty-five filamentous fungal isolates obtained from soil samples from different regions, were identified and screened for their ability to produce L-asparaginase. Aspergillus tamarii showed the highest activity of L-asparaginase so selected to study the optimal conditions for the maximum production of L-asparaginase. The selected fungus exhibited significant variations in the production of L-asparaginase under the influence of incubation period, temperature, pH, carbon sources, and nitrogen sources.
Four hundred specimens of Chrysicthtys nigrodigitatus from Lagos Lagoon were examined for food and feeding habits. Duration and water samples were collected and analysed for four months. The total length of fish ranged from 11.0 cm to 39.0 cm while the standard length ranged from 8.0 cm to 31.9 cm, with a corresponding weight range from 17.0 g to 668.0 g. The length-frequency distribution followed the expected normal distribution with the small, medium, and large specimen being the lowest size range of (1.25%). The length-weight relationship showed the usual increase of weight with increasing length, and the species exhibit a positive allometric growth pattern. There was high correlation between the length and weight of the fish with regression coefficient (r) ranging between 0.87 and 0.94. The mean K-values were 1.86, 1.50 and 1.86 for males, females and combined sexes, respectively. The result of physico-chemical parameter showed that DO value ranged from 2.45 to 6.7 mg/L, BOD value ranged from 10.6 to 150.1 ml/L, COD value ranged from 65.1 to 256 mg/L, TDS value ranged from 156-545 mg/L, Nitrate value ranged from 1.02 to 4.11 mg/L, Phosphate value ranged from 0.51 to 2.11 mg/L, Copper value ranged from 0.1 to 1.71, Zinc value ranged from 0.01 to 0.71, Lead value ranged from 0.001 to 0.04, pH value ranged from 6.8 to 8.22, Conductivity value ranged from 8.72 to 71.4, Salinity value ranged from10.1 to 19.52. Physico-chemical parameter varies for different months and this is influence by rain fall, run off from the surrounding land and other factors in the Lagos lagoon. Physicochemical parameters however do not influence the food and feeding of C. nigrodigitatus in the Lagos lagoon.
The effect of dietary inclusion of Jatropha curcas on the growth performance of Afr ican Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was evaluated. Juveniles of Clarias gariepinus 225 in numbers were acclimatized for a week, weighed and allotted into five dietary treatments where soybean meal was replaced by cooked Jatropha curcas seed meal at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. The diets (40% crude protein and 12% crude l ip id) were isonitrogenous and isolip idic. Each treatment was replicated three times with fi fteen fish per repl icate. Fish were fed 5% body weight on two equal proportions per day for 56 days. Growth data were collected on two-week interval basis . Growth performance was evaluated using weight gain (g); specific growth rate (%/day); feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio as indices. The results from the study indicated that there was significant difference (p>0.05) in the weight gain, percentage weight gain, and other growth performance parameters among the fish exposed to different dietary treatments. Growth of Clarias gariepinus reduced with increasing inclusion of cooked Jatropha curcas.
The present study includes survey and identification of the wild plants in Alaqan region (Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia). Fifteen sites representing different habitats were regularly examined from 2012 to 2014 and its vegetation types were identified. A total of 102 species belonging to 75 genera and 34 families were recorded. The most species rich family was Fabaceae (16 species) followed by the Asteraceae (10 species) and Brassicaceae (eight species); the three families Caryophyllaceae, Poacea and Zygophyllaceae (six species); Resedaceae (five species); both Lamiaceae and Chenopodiaceae (four species) whereas, sixteen families were represented by a single species for each. With respect to the life form, therophytes and chamaephytes are the dominating life forms. Therophytes exhibited the maximum number of species with a percentage of 43.14%, followed by chamaephytes (35.35%); hemicrytophyte (9.8%); Phanerophyte and Geophytes (5.88%), while the least frequent life form was Parasites which represented by three species (2.9%). Saharo-Arabian have the highest share of species (22 species) followed by Saharo-Sindian and Sudano-Zambezian (20 species) while Mediterranean, Saharo-Arabian, Irano –Turanian were represented by 5 species.
Dietary toxicity of Sunset Yellow (SY) (E 110), a synthetic food coloring additive, was evaluated in male S.D. rats, to examine the possible modulating effects of SY on the liver, kidney functions and lipid profile. Twenty-four male S.D. rats were divided into four groups with six rats in each. The control (Group 1) was fed a basal diet without any treatment. Group (2, 3, and 4) received SY by intragastric gavage (i.g.) daily for 13 weeks (161.4, 80.7, and 40.35 mg/kg/day BW, respectively). The doses were chosen below the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of the WHO/FAO guidelines. After 13 weeks, a significant elevation in the biochemical parameters of total protein, albumin, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, urea and in the lipid profile was found in group (2) as compared with the normal control. Histopathological examinations showed no changes in all body organs except in the livers of groups (2) and (3) which displayed dose-dependent histopathological alterations such as necrosis, interlobular fibrosis, edema and inflammation. The liver's histological architecture of rats in group (4) was almost similar to the normal control. Long term exposure or high daily intake of synthetic colorants such as SY may be considered for risk to human health.
Ribulose 1, 5Bisphosphate Carboxylase/ Oxygenase (RuBisCO) is one of the most important photosynthetic enzymes in determining the photosynthetic efficiencies in plants. It plays a crucial role in carbon fixation. Disassembly of large and small subunits of RuBisCO enzyme results in significant decrease in carbon fixation and photosynthetic performance. This work aims to investigate the impact of temperature (heat and chill ing) stress on the accumulation of RuBisCO large subunit and the complex assembly. Hereby, pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings, grown at 20°C, were subjected to low (10°C) and high (40°C) temperatures. The effect of these temperature extremes was evaluated in relation to protein banding profile patterns for total cellular and chloroplast proteins using SDS-PAGE technique. The assembly of RuBisCO complex (~ 680 kDa) using Histidine Deoxycholate Native (HDN)PAGE technique was appeared. In conclusion, this study may give some insights about the mechanism by which temperature stress can affect the assembly/disassembly of RuBisCO complex. This will increase our awareness to come up with new ways to protect RuBisCO enzyme during extreme climates and consequently save many crop losses worldwide.
