Iraqi Journal of Biotechnology

Hepatitis is an inflammation in the liver. The hepatitis can be self-limiting or can progress to
fibrosis, cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis in the world
but other infections, toxic substances (e.g., alcohol, certain drugs), bacteria and autoimmune diseases can
also cause hepatitis. Liver function tests are useful in determining the severity and prognosis of some liver
illnesses, such as viral hepatitis. HBV infection can alter blood levels of various hepatic enzymes and
chemicals, such as ALT, AST, and a rise in these enzymes above normal. It is considered that their top
reference limits are unusual. Once there is a hepatitis infection, the enzymes AST and ALT are often
released into the circulation. ALT serum level elevation corresponds more with hepatic damage, hence
ALT serum level elevation correlates more with hepatic damage. The aim of the research is to know the
level of liver enzymes for different stages of the disease in patients in groups with the hepatitis virus
Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus group, Advance Chronic hepatitis B Patients with cirrhosis group,
Recovered patients with undetected virus group, and apparently healthy subjects group. Levels of serum
ALP and TSB were significantly higher among those with chronic hepatitis B compared with healthy
individuals. The total number of samples is two hundred (200). The study population consisted of 50
patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (HBsAg seropositive), and 50 apparently healthy (HBsAg
seronegative) participants as controls. Fifty patients with cirrhosis (HBsAg seropositive) and 50 patients
with undetected virus (HBsAg seronegative). Biochemical markers of liver disease were evaluated by
routine methods. Difference at AST, ALT, TSB and ALP levels, compared to healthy controls. The study
concluded that deranged AST, ALT, TSB and ALP values correlate with HBV infection and may be a
potential tool for disease diagnosis and progression.

Infertility is a multifactorial condition in which genetic factors such as chromosomal and single
gene alterations account for 20-30% of the cases. It can be classified as mild (between 10-15 million
sperm per ml), The total number of samples is one hundred samples (100) divided as follows in fifty (50)
Iraqi infertility patients and fifty (50) apparently healthy subjects. Blood samples were collected from Al
Ansja Laboratory. The percentage of sperm concentration was significantly (p≤0.01) lower in
oligozoospermic patients than in apparently healthy subjects. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels
significantly (p≤0.01) increased fifty folds in infertility patients when compared with apparently healthy
subjects. It was concluded anti-sperm antibody levels in seminal plasma were significantly (p≤0.01)
increased in oligozoospermic patients when compared with apparently healthy subjects.

This study was planned to evaluate the incidence of Staphylococcus aureus in cases of atopic
dermatitis in Iraq. This study included taking 150 samples of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) instances in total.
Patients Suspected infected with Staphylococcus aureus, all isolates were subjected to primary
identification tests by using various methods (cultural characteristic, gram staining, biochemical tests,
vitek2 system, and molecular methods (PCR). Only 54 sample (36% isolates) were given the typical
biochemical tests and characteristics of morphology that is specific to staphylococcus aureus, while the
other 96 clinical (64 % isolates) belong to other species of staphylococci or other pathogenic bacteria and
fungi. As these (54) samples contained the (mecA) gene, which is the diagnostic gene for the staph aureus
bacteria in this study. It was concluded Staphylococcus aureus infection is positively correlated with
atopic dermatitis cases.

This study aimed to phenotypically detection of efflux pump in Escherichia coli isolated from
urinary tract infections of Iraqi women and their relationship with antibiotic resistance. This study
included taking 100 samples of urinary tract infection in Iraqi women. All samples were subjected to
primary identification test by using various methods (cultural characteristics, biochemical test, VITEK
device 2, molecular method). Only 53 sample (58.09%) were specific for Escherichia coli while other
bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus 20 isolates (22.2%), Klebsiella Pneumonia 9 isolates (10
%), Proteus mirabilis 6 isolates (6.66%), Pseudomonas aurogenosa 2 isolates (2.22%) and 10 sample did
not have any growth on culture media. The phenotype of the efflux pump in Escherichia coli was
detected using ethidium bromide (EtBr-CW) method, and the results showed that 25 isolates (47.2%)
were contained efflux pump. The antibiotic sensitivity test used to detect the sensitivity of bacteria to nine
antibiotics showed that E. coli isolates were more resistant to the antibiotic Erythromycin with a
percentage of (100%), while the bacteria were sensitive to both antibiotics Nitrofurantoin, Ceftriaxone
with a percentage of (52.83%), (50.94%) respectively. The EtBr- agar Cartwheel method is a good
screening marker for efflux activity. It is easy to perform, less time-consuming and can be used to screen
large numbers of bacterial strains, thereby facilitating the rapid identification of isolates displaying an
MDR phenotype.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most prevalent opportunistic bacteria, with a high
activities rate in patients with burns and weakened immune systems. This study aimed to determine the
inhibitory activity of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in combination with the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin
against multidrug resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients with burn
infections. In this study, the checkerboard broth microdilution method was used to examine the
antibacterial properties of the combination of LL-37 and Ciprofloxacin to determine the fractional
inhibitory concentrations (FICs) at the concentrations (7.8-0.060 µg/ml) for selected eight multidrug
resistant isolates. The results of synergism revealed that the concentrations with inhibitory activity for
antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and ciprofloxacin were reduced to very low concentrations with FIC ranging
from (0.0024-0.26 µg /ml). According to the synergistic effect, the MIC of LL-37 was reduced from 250
to 0.97 µg/ml for the isolate P1, while for the isolate P32 the MIC OF Ciprofloxacin was reduced from
1000 to 0.12 µg/ml. In conclusion, the current findings indicated that LL-37 and Ciprofloxacin
combination was effective against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and suggested a
new alternative option for burn infection treatment.

One hindered fifty swabs and whole blood were collected from mild, moderate and sever
Covid-19 patients (as well as apparently Healthy control) who admitted to Anbar Hospital and Anbar
Health department from the period of August, 2020 to March, 2021 to identify the strain of viruses using
two regions from N and M genes and the role of ACE-2 SNP rs 228666 and gene expression of ACE-1
and ACE-2 genes in disease severity. The locations of the coronavirus M and N genes were screened by
direct sequencing from 15 patients with mild Covid-19 disease and 15 patients with severed Covid-19
disease for each gene. The sequences of that detected in patients were directly compared with virus
reference sequences (http:NCBI Reference Sequences: (MZ397170.1 , ON406016.1 and OV237507.1).
The comparison between subjects, reference sequence and Sequence analysis of the M and N gene
locations were summarized in table (2). It was concluded that there were five novel deletions of the gene
N in two severed Covid-19 patients and two deletions of the M gene in one severed Covid-19 patient.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease affecting 1–2% of the
population worldwide. It is more common in women than in men, predominately aged 40-60 years.
Interleukin 1 receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) gene related with the susceptibility to autoimmune
diseases and might be one of the important risk factors of RA. The objective of this study is to identify the
association of single nucleotide polymorphism SNP of IRAK1 (rs3027898 C>A) gene with Rheumatoid
arthritis susceptibility in a sample of Iraqi patients and to examine whether this polymorphism can
influence the severity and activity of the disease. study consists of two groups: sixty RA patients (53
females and 7 males, mean age 46.35 ±1.43) were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis clinically and
conformed by rheumatologist examination and laboratory tests according to the 1987 American College
of Rheumatology criteria for RA revised principles for the classification of RA while other sixty healthy
individuals (36 females and 24 males. mean age 34.15 ±1.54) set as control group. Polymorphisms were
genotyped by using High Resolution Method (HRM) real time PCR for genotyping assay. The mean age
of RA patients was (46.35 ±1.43) years, females’ ratio was higher than the males. No significant effect of
family history seen between the healthy and RA patient groups. The observed genotype frequencies for
the polymorphism IRAK1 (rs3027898 C>A) in RA patients and control subjects show no Significant
differences in the frequency of IRAK1 rs3027898 alleles (CC, CA, AA) and genotypes were observed
between RA patients and controls P-value (0.317, 0.594, and 0.071) respectively. The C allele frequency
values were (0.52 and 0.45) for apparently healthy subjects and RA patients, respectively, the values of
allele frequency of the A allele were (0.48 and 0.55) of apparently healthy with RA patients, respectively.
The CC percentage in RA patients and healthy controls (35%, 30%), the CA percentage (33.33%, 30%)
while AA percentage (31.67%, 40%) respectively. In conclusions, the three genotypes (CC, CA, AA) of
the Interleukin 1 receptor associated kinase 1(IRAK1) Gene in the (rs3027898 SNP) all seem do not have
risk factor for RA in the studied samples of Iraqi population.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder noticed by the decreasing of
immunological tolerance to the auto antigens such as the nuclear antigen and the production of
autoantibodies and others immune complexes, leading to tissue inflammation and organ deterioration.
Many genetic and environmental variables combine to create SLE, more than 90% of SLE affects
females. This study aimed to evaluate the serum Interleukin-12 (IL-12) levels in SLE patients as well as
their possible association with the Pathogenesis of disease. This study applied to a sample of Iraqi
females, the sample was collected from Baghdad Teaching Hospital, including 100 patients and 50
healthy controls with an age range of (16-65) years old, and mean ages of (35.72 ±1.65 and 34.05 ±1.74)
respectively. The current study used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the automated
Fujifilm to estimate the serum levels of (Anti-Nuclear Antibody, Anti-dsDNA, IL-12, vitamin D3, Urea,
and creatinine) as well as a laboratory examination for ESR, hemoglobin, and white blood cells. ANA,
Anti-dsDNA, urea, creatinine, and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate were significantly higher, at the same
time the Vitamin D3, hemoglobin, and special component of blood cells (white blood cells) were
remarked lower (p< 0.01) patients that are suffered from SLE as compared to control. Also, levels of IL
12 serum were increased unhealthy people compared to control, and a significant difference has been
observed (p< 0.01) between patients and control. Additionally, significant relation observed between IL
12 serum levels with ANA and hemoglobin, and a positive non-significant correlation was noticed
between IL12 and V.D3, while other laboratory parameters show a negative non-significant correlation
with IL-12.

The prevalence of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing every day. In
addition to hepatic morbidity and mortality, also it is linked with an increased cardiovascular risk.
NAFLD and Coronary artery disease (CAD) have a number of common risk factors. This study aimed to
evaluate glycemic parameter, liver enzymes and lipid profile serum levels and its abilities to indicate the
prognosis of CAD in patients with NAFLD. Serum from 180 Individuals were collected from both
genders, and divided into three groups, blood samples were collected from participants and sent for
biochemical tests in the laboratory. Data from the current study showed a significant increase in glycemic
parameter and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Also, the lipids profile included Total Cholesterol (TC),
Triglyceride (TG), Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), Very Low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), shows a
significant increase in serum level with the exception of High-density lipoproteins (HDL) in CAD group
compared to NALD and control groups. Obesity and metabolic syndrome patients that suffers from
NAFLD along with CAD have a higher serum level of fasting blood glucose (FBS), (TC, TG, LDL,
VLDL) and AST when compared to NAFLD patients and healthy individuals, Therefore obesity and
metabolic syndrome is considered a risk factor for CAD.

The main objective of this investigation were to analyses the chemical component evaluate the
antibacterial activities of Ginger Essential Oil (GEO) against blaTEM gene positive Extended Spectrum
Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from urine samples of patients with
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). Secondary metabolites of GEO were analyzed using Gas
Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) techniques, then in vitro antibacterial activity was studied.
Fresh ginger rhizomes contain (0.168) of Essential Oil (EOs) by weight. The main GEO constituents are
Zingiberene (18.61%), α-Curcumene (9.91%), β-Sesquiphellandrene (9.25%), Naphthalene (9.09%), 2
Oxabicyclo،octane,1,3,3-trimethyl (7.17%). The ESBL producing E. coli strains can lead to various
infections particularly UTI. The inhibition zone of (100%, 50%, 25% and 12.5%) GEO concentration was
(14.51, 9.72, 9.18 and 7.95 mm respectively).