Iraqi Journal of Biotechnology

The role of interferons in modulating immune responses following infections or various danger signals is a crucial one, as they belong to a class of powerful antiviral cytokines. The first description of Type III interferons, known as IFNλs, was that they are a distinct mechanism that prevents viral replication at epithelial barrier sites and reduces inflammation.type III interferons have a complicated impact on both the innate and adjustive immune systems and mayalso have a detrimental impact on systemic autoimmune disorders. Respective autoimmune conditions such as arsenic general lupus erythematosus bear been associated with elevated levels of IFNλs in the blood and tissues ofindividuals and those levels are connected to particular clinical manifestations and lab findings. This reviewaims to difficultly assess the existing literature on the biology of IFNλs and explore their potential contribution to immune dysregulation and tissue injury in SLE diseases. Thisarticle reviewthe new advances of the literature along the orderly look of interferons lambda and their receptor in association SLE.

Abstract: Burn injuries cause the skin's defenses against opportunistic infections to be compromised. One of the primary pathogens that colonize burn wounds and cause serious infections is pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appropriate treatment options and time are limited byantibiotic resistance, biofilm production, and other virulence factors. The study samples, which comprised 150 clinical specimens in the form of burn swabs from patients with burn infections, admitted to four hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq, were collected between November 2022 and the end of February 2023. Of all the bacterial cultures that were collected, 45 isolates (30%) were identified as P. aeruginosabased on the results of selective media, biochemical tests, and the VITEK2 system. The results of the disc diffusion method's antimicrobial susceptibility test for the isolates under investigation showed that P. aeruginosaclinical isolates had moderate resistance to most of the tested antibiotics. Most P. aeruginosaisolates exhibited high resistance to Tetracycline, Piperacillin, and Piperacillin-tazobactam, as well as to Ceftazidime (84.44%) and Cefepime (75.55%). Also, the highest sensitivity was recorded for Colistin,Tigecycline.All P. aeruginosaisolates that showed resistance to imipenem and meropenem antibiotics (n = 14) as well as ten isolates that were sensitive to these antibioticswere used for molecular study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used for evaluate the presence of the identification gene (16S rRNA) and efflux pump genes (qacE, qacE-Δ1, andsug E1).The results of the efflux pump gene detection showed that all carbapenem-resistant isolates with high resistance to antibacterial agents (chlorohexidine, dettol, and EDTA) hadtheefflux pumpgenes, with the exception of the isolates P11, P13, and P14, where the isolates P11 and P14 did not have the gene sug E1, and isolate P12 showed the absence of the gene qacE. The findings showed that all of the resistant isolates had the gene qacE-Δ1. Also, it was found that the majority of the isolates which sensitive to carbapenems did not have the efflux pump genes.In conclusion, there is a significant correlation betweenthe presence of efflux pump gene and the resistance of carbapenems and biocides (chlorohexidine, Dettol, and EDTA), where the high MICs values were related with isolates that have the efflux pump genes.

Abstract: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders in reproductive-age women, with prevalence 10 –18 % according to diagnostic criteria. Women'slifeare impacted by polycystic ovary syndrome, particularly while trying to conceive. The focus of this research is to establish a connection between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the aforementioned variables (LH, FSH, and AMH) and to quantify the impact of transforming growth factor gene expression on PCOS. Eighty women, ranging in age from nineteen to forty-five, were part of the study; thirty of these women had polycystic ovarian syndrome, and thirty of these women had delayed childbearing. The other twenty women were healthy.The hormone levels was analyzed after separating the serum. To determine gene expression, blood samples were collected using a Trizol tube and RT PCR was used for analysis.Inconclusionfrom the results in comparison to control women, those with delayed childbearing had lower levels of TGF-β expression, and the results demonstrated a rise in AMH and LH levels without a change in FSH levels

Abstract: Beta thalassemia major (βTM) is a hereditary condition that has previously been connected to blood-borne virus infections due to repeated transfusions of blood, Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) viral infection was proposed as a risk factor due to recurrent hemotherapy. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence, genotyping, and phylogenetic analysisof B19V in βTM patients. The study included 60 control volunteers and 120 βTMpatients throughout November 2023 and March 2024. Blood samples were subjected to genomic DNA extraction, then nested PCR (nPCR) targeting fragments (VP1-VP2 region, 288 nt) was followed. Furthermore, genotyping and phylogenetic analysiswere performed on DNA-positive samples by direct sequencing method. The study findings revealed that age was a risk factor, meanwhile, sexwas not. The B19Vwas detected by nPCR represented 4.1% (5 out of 120), while none were found in the control group. B19Vgenotyping showed a predominance of Genotype 1a (100%). A unique accession number PP747257 has been deposited in GenBank to represent B19Vfor this study. It deserves to be noted that theinvestigated isolate was suited in the vicinity of three reference sequences deposited from the Netherlands (GenBank acc. no. JN211139.1, JN211160.1, and JN211182.1). In conclusion, despite the low rate of B19Vprevalenceamong the βTM patients,this does not eliminate its potential risk in such a vulnerable group which may lead to severe consequences as a transient plastic crisis. Therefore, blood banks in Baghdad might need to consider screening for B19Vespecially when transfusion is intended for high-risk populations.

Abstract:Many of warm-blooded birds and mammals, including human, are susceptible to infect with toxoplasmosis that caused by the ubiquitous intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii(T. gondii), which is present across the planet. The nested PCR techniquehas proven to have a good capacity and sensitivity for toxoplasmosis detection when compared to other PCR procedures. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated to be far more economical. Type IIdiabetes is primarily caused by a gradual decline in insulin production and insulin resistance. This study is objected to detect the gene B1of T. gondiiin blood samples of Iraqi diabetic type II patients by using the molecular assay nested-PCR. One hundred-nine of blood samples from Iraqi type IIdiabetes patients and 80 blood samples from non-diabetic control volunteers were compared in the study. All of the samples were collected in March and June of 2022 from a private laboratory in Baghdad, Iraq. According to the findings of the diabetic diagnostic tests, the group of patients with diabetes had the highest mean of glycated haemoglobin 7.9. Moreover, 30/80 (15.87%) cases of non-diabetic control were sera-positive that had 32.7 ± 8.45 UI/mL for the anti-ToxoplasmaIgG antibody in the CMIA assay, whereas 51/109 (26.98%) samples of the group of diabetic patients were sera-positive to toxoplasmosis with a titer of 34.95 ± 7.5 UI/mL for the same antibody in the same assay. While, all samples were sera-negative in CMIA for acute toxoplasmosis IgM antibody. Additionally, 11/25 (44%) of diabetic patients infected with toxoplasmosis were positive for gene B1detection in the nested PCR. As well as, 7/20 (35%) of toxoplasmosis asymptomatic considered control positive were also positive for the same detection. This indicate thatthe B1gene of T. gondiiwas detected by nested PCR technique in a small percentage of the studied samples

Escherichia colihas been recognized worldwide as the most common causative agent for severe infections of the urinary tract. Colibactin is a genotoxin produced through a gene cluster called polyketide synthase (pks) island by members of Enterobacteriaceae. Limited information is available about the frequency of colibactin in E. coliisolates in Iraq. Hence, this study aimed to examine the frequency of some colibactin genes (CIbAand CIbQ) in clinical isolates of E. coliobtained from urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Iraq. Between October 2023 and January 2024, 120 urine samples were collected from females diagnosed with UTIs in Iraqi hospitals. 70 E. coliisolates were isolated after identification by biochemical methods and confirmed by molecular technique. In particular, the 16S rRNAgene was targeted using specific primers to confirm their identity. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect the CIbAand CIbQgenes and confirm the presence of colibactin. The findings of this study revealed a high prevalence of colibactin-producing isolates (40%, 28/70) compared to colibactin-non-producing isolates (60%, 42/70) with non-significant differences (p>0.05). In conclusion, the frequency of colibactin genes is high in E. colistrains isolated from UTIsin Iraq. The presence of pks-positive isolates at a high frequency is concerning, as it suggests the spread of a highly genotoxic strain in urinary tract infections in Iraq that could potentially lead to the development of urinary tract cancer diseases.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by T gondii, is a parasitic disease affecting various mammalian hosts. Thalassemia, an inherited microcytic hemolytic anemia, is characterized by abnormal hemoglobin production. This study aimed to establish a molecular detection method using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the B1 and RE genes of T. gondiiin thalassemic Iraqi patients. The study samples comprised 165 thalassemic patients and 80 healthy individuals, aged from 2 to 45 years (mean age 15.387 ± 0.627 years). Samples were collected from Al-Karma Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, between March and June 2022. Two diagnostic tests were used for toxoplasmosis IgM/IgG antibodies immunochromotography rapid test which found 44(26.67%) for IgG and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). Key findings include: Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were found in 36.4% (60/165) of thalassemic patients, with an average titer of 41.475 ± 9.193 IU/mL.T. gondii DNA was detected in 60% of thalassemic patients using the B1 gene, compared to a 30% positivity rate in the control group. For the RE gene, only 5% of thalassemic patients tested positive, while the control group showed no positive results. These results highlight the significant presence of T. gondiiDNA in thalassemic patients and demonstrate the effectiveness of nested PCR in detecting toxoplasmosis. The higher prevalence of toxoplasmosis in thalassemic patients compared to healthy individuals underscores the need for vigilant screening and management in this vulnerable population.