Al-Mustansiriyah Journal of Science

Infectious diseases caused by infected tools in the environments are threaten to the safety and public health. Transmission sources of these infectious diseases are unknown, but it is thought that non-living materials called fomites, are the major source of acquired infections. Three hundred and one swabs were taken from different sources and cultured on blood agar to study heamolysis ability of isolated bacteria. In this study, MacConkey agar was used to isolate Gram-negative bacteria and Sabouraud agar (SDA) to isolate fungi. The biofilm formation test was done by Congo red plate assay. 41 (13.6%) bacterial isolates were obtained and (18.27%) of fungi were isolated on Sabouraud agar (SDA). Staphylococcus aureus was the more frequent bacterial species that isolated in this study. 29% of samples showed hemolysin activity on blood agar and 32%of the isolates were biofilm- producer. Results revealed that (7.9%) of Gram-negative bacteria harbored the fimH gene, (9%) harbored the icaA were Gram-positive and 6.3 % of fungal samples had HWP1 gene. Furthermore, (9.3%) from the total samples are bacterial samples harbored hla gene belong to Staphylococcus spp. Furthermore, (5.07%) of tested samples possessed hlyA gene were Gram-negative bacteria. We found in our study that infectious organisms can be transmitted from one individual to another by fomites responsible for acquired infection.

The current study intends to characterize the respiratory tract infections that have an association with gram positive bacterial pathogens, emmtyping, the pattern of antibacterial resistance in isolated pathogens, phenotyping of virulence factor and molecular detection of Macrolide resistance gene. Various samples from patients with respiratory tract infections were collected and identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of clinical isolates was performed as per standard laboratory procedure. Macrolides (Eruthromycin, Clindamycin)-resistant isolates were again subjected to MIC method. Macrolide-inducible resistance to clindamycin(D test) was conducted upon Erythromycin and Clindamycin discs. Multiplex PCR was used to detect the resistance genes in all the three types of macrolide resistance strains. Serum Opacity Factor (SOF) was detected for all the isolates of GAS. Every isolate was checked to produce biofilm through micro titre plate method. Bacterial growth got registered in 156 (36.28%) samples. The most common isolate from URI samples was GAS i.e., 64 (14.9%), only to be followed by GGS 38(8.8%), GCS 29 (6.7%) and Staphylococcus aureus 18 (4.2%). Among GAS, only one isolate was recorded from blood, whereas 8.50% from sputum and the rest. All 71 GAS isolates were found to exhibit sensitivity towards Penicillin and Ceftriazone. GAS exhibited 55% Mtype of resistance whereas 40% were resistant to cMLS and 5% to iMLS. GCS showcased an equal number of cMLS and M type too. GGS portrayed 54.54% resistance to cMLS followed by 36.36% to Mtype and 9.09% to iMLS. The current study found iMLS type with least resistance. The current study identified that Streptococcus pyogenesis the most common bacteria that cause and recur the infection. The prevalence of resistance tends to change geographically and periodically. For this purpose and to achieve a sound public health outcome, periodical screening ofantibiotic-resistance pattern becomes inevitable.

Infertility considered as a multifactorial condition; the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide N (SNRPN) gene is an imprinted gene. However, abnormal imprinting of this gene due to the methylation may result in abnormal function or silencing of the gene. Main aim of this study is to investigate the methylation present at the promoter of (SNRPN) gene and itsrole as a risk factor for male infertility. Sixty-three infertile males with age mean (32.28 ± 6.88 years) and 13 fertile males as a control age mean (34.07 ± 6.52 years) were investigated. Whole genomic DNA was extracted, DNA integrity was checked usingβ-globin gene as an internal control. The targeted region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. In addition, the SNRPN gene's promoter methylation was qualitatively detected using Real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) utilizing two sets of primers: methylated and un-methylated. Results reveled that all of the 63 infertile males were experiencing decrease in sperm concentration 9.42 ± 8.70 million/ml, reduced progressive motility 2.89 ± 5.45% as well as strange sperm morphology 27.06 ± 16.50%, while the values in the control group are normal. The results of the current investigation showed that the promoter of SNRPNwas hypermethylated in some samples 22.7%, somewhat methylated in others 20.4%, and unmethylated in other samples 56.8% from infertile samples, while none of the 13 control samples had any methylation. These findings suggest that SNRPNgene may be associated with the negative changes in semen parameters, which could lead to male infertility.

Platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) have structural properties that differ from their bulk forms, such as physical and chemical properties. The cost and toxicity problems caused by the synthesis of Pt NPs, which are widely used in biomedical fields, by laser ablation, aerosol, sol-gel, co-precipitation, and chemical reduction techniques are eliminated by the biological synthesis method. In this study, the biosynthesis of Cetraria islandica extract based Pt NPs was performed in PBS buffer (pH 7.4) and their antioxant activity was evaluated. With FE-SEM images, it was observed that Pt NPs had a spherical structure, aggregation tendency and an average diameter of 62 nm. The presence of Pt in the structure of NPs was observed by EDX analysis. With the peaks obtainedby FT-IR analysis, the presence of C=O (amide), C-O (aliphatic ether), CO-O-CO (anhydride), C=C (alkene) and Pt were recorded and biomolecular groups that play a role in the synthesis were revealed. It was determined that Pt NPs synthesized via C. islandica extract had antioxidant activity (92.4 ug/ml, R2=0.8727). As a conclusion, biosynthesis of Pt NPs with C. islandica extract was carried out as an alternative to physical and chemical methods, and its antioxidant activity was revealed. It is thought thatthe obtained data can be used in biomedical fields.

This study was conducted in the College of Agriculture -University of Basra from 1/9/2020 to 15/1/2021 by collecting 120 blood samples from males and females of the Arabi sheep breed, as well as taking samples from reproductive organs (testes and ovaries) to evaluate the effect of age, weight and sex of animals on sexual hormonelevels.Samples were divided into three age groups (5-8 months, 9-12 months and 1-1.5 years) and three body weight groups (15-25, 26-36, 37-47) kg. The results showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in the concentration of gonadotropin hormones (FSH, LH) and steroidal hormones (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) in animals older than 9 months. The concentration of FSH and LH hormones were higher females compared to males. All levels of sex hormones significantly (P<0.05) increased when the body weight increased to more than 26 kg in both sexes. Reproductive organs in both sexes (testes and ovaries) developed when the animal age and weight increased.

Vitamin D has been considered as a key player in various autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, due to its immunological modulatory effect.Together with Anti-double stranded DNA (Anti-dsDNA), Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (Anti-CCP) is considered among the indicators of the severity of the disease in rheumatoid arthritis. The present study aimed to measure the level of vitamin D in RA patients besides measuring anti-dsDNA, anti-CCP, RF,complete blood count (CBC) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) for comparing it with its corresponding level in the healthy control group.This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving sequential RA patients who visited the Rheumatology clinic for outpatients during a three-monthperiod starting from July 2018, at the Baghdad Teaching Hospital. Sixty individuals (30 RA patients and 30 age and gender matched healthy control) were enrolled in this study.Blood samples were collected and serum levels of anti-dsDNA, 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]), anti-CCP and RF besides C3, C4, CBC and ESR were measured.A highly significant decrease was displayed in the mean level of vitamin D in RA patients (18.67±17.70 ng/mL) when compared to its level in the control group (35.07 ±3.71 ng/mL), (normal value: 20 and 40 ng/mL), whereas, anti-dsDNA level normal value: (<30.0 IU/mL) was significantly increased in RA patients (122.27±65.89 IU/ml) as compared to its mean level in the control group (17.77±3.56 IU/ml) with an inverse relationship between anti-dsDNA levels vitamin D levels in RA patients. No statistical difference was noted in C3 and C4 levels between patients and control groups. Rheumatoid arthritis patients with positive RF had statistically higher anti-CCP (normal value: less than 20 U/ml) than those with negative RF (39.83±11.449 vs 21.67±4.658 u/ml).As expected, a highly significant increase was observed in ESR of patients when compared to that of the control. In addition, an alteration was noted in some circulating blood cells count.

The study included 70 Surface swabs collected from patientsin different agesof both genders suffering from burns infections. All the specimens were diagnosed by subculturing in differential and selective media, microscopically and by following the biochemical tests to confirm identifications. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done to all the bacterial isolates.Theidentification of theclinical isolates showed that the 16(22.9%) were belonged to Staphylococcus aureusand 6(8.6%) of Staphylococcus epidermidis , whereas 23(32.8%),20(28.6%) isolates were for Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Acinetobacter baumanniirespectively. Copper oxide nanoparticles were biosynthesized by Lantana camaraflower extracts which acted as a reducing agent for copper nitrate salts,characterization of the metal oxide was done by using Ultra violate visible light Spectroscopy,Fourier transforms Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy. The biological activity of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles was screened toward three clinicalisolates that showed multiple drug resistance isolated from burnsby following agar wells diffusion method which proved the ability of copper oxide nanoparticles to inhibit growth of the clinical bacterial isolates.The minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined toward thetested bacteriaby using themicrodilution method

This study is considered the first in this sector of Tigris River after 2003, to evaluate the effect of Tharthar Canal on the composition and diversity of zooplankton in Tigris River. Six sampling sites were selected; two on the Tharthar canal and four sites along the Tigris River, one before the confluence as a control site and the others downstream the confluence. One hundred thirty-four taxa of zooplankton were recorded in this study, 129 taxa in Tigris River ,76 taxa in Tharthar Canal as well and 96 taxa shared between river and canal. The high value of zooplankton density in Tharthar Canal increased the density of Tigris River from 307989 Ind./m3in site 1 upstream the confluence to 371427 Ind./m3in site 4 immediately downstream the confluence. Also, themean values of richness index, evenness index and diversity index decreased from 7.46, 0.69 and 2.40 bit/Ind. before the confluence to 6.46, 0.61 and 2.08bit/Ind. after the confluence, respectively. Furthermore, the highest similarity percentage was between sites 1 and 6 reached 84.28% while, the lowest percentage was between sites 1 and 2 reached 65.97%. The highest value for the constancy index was 24 in site 6.

Klebsiella pneumoniaehas considered as a relevant healthcare-associated pathogen, its risk of infections is increasing in the presence of medical devices. K. pneumoniaeis known for its ability to form biofilm on biotic and abiotic surfaces. Biofilm of K. pneumoniaeassists in bacterial protection from host immune responses and antibiotics. Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae(hvKp)emerges as a new pathotype, which first appeared in Asian Pacific Rim but spread globally. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the ability of K.pneumoniaeincluding hvKp and potential hvKp isolates to form biofilm. One hundred isolates of K. pneumoniaewere collected from different hospitals in Baghdad city. These isolates were identified by phenotypic characterization on selective agar plates, biochemical tests, VITEK II, and molecular identification. Biofilm formation was tested in these isolates by two methods, congo red andTissue Culture Plate method.In congo red method, 33% of the isolates were biofilm producer and (63%) can form biofilm byTCP method divided as: 14% strong, 15 moderate, 34% weak, and 37% non-biofilm producer. The hvKp and potential hvKp isolates showed a variable ability to form biofilm as classical K. pneumoniae

One of the most commonly health problems are Respiratory tract infections,almost (5-10) % of death cases reported in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the community and this increased over the years regardless of the country. As a substitute source of electricity many developing countries use electrical generators, but gases and materials rising from them will be inhaled from surrounding people especially for who work on them. This study aimed to detect and identify bacteria isolated from persons sputum suspected with Respiratory tract infections and collect blood to perform hematological, biochemical study and detection of some heavy metal for both workers and non-workers in electrical generators. Sputum samples were collected from electrical generators workers by 184 samples and from non-workers in electric generators by 50 samples, both were suspected had respiratory tract infection from the symptoms. All samples were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey and bacterial identification by utilizing a Vitek 2 system was done. Blood samples were also collected in order to perform biochemical,Hematological study and detection the level of some heavy metals in blood. Out of 184 samples, 27 samples (14.67 %) produced a significant growth of microbes, thepredominant bacteria wereKlebsiellaspp. Statically, there were significant difference between workers and non-workers in Electrical generators at (p<0.05) for: Hematological parameters (WBC, Basophil and Eosinophil),all the liver enzymes,the Four heavy metals(Lead, Cadmium, Zinc and Copper). This study showed that Electrical generators had caused changes in blood parameters (WBC, Basophil and Eosinophil),all the liver enzymes and the Four heavy metals (Lead, Cadmium, Zinc and Copper). This effect most more studied and evaluated in generators workers.

Acinetobacter baumannii isa common ca use of nosocomia l infections. This ba cterium is a ble to survive in hostile environments (desicca tion, a ntimicrobia l thera pies, nutrient una va ila bility) beside coloniza tion biotic a nd a biotic surfa ces a nd form biofilm in hospita ls a nd long-term ca re institutions. Biofilm is a three-dimensiona l structure of a multicellula r complex in which the cells a re embedded in a n Extra cellula r Polymeric Substa nce(EPS) tha t wa s produced by the orga nism itself. Biofilm ma trix conta ins proteins, ions, nucleic acids, a nd polysa ccha ride polymers. The ma in fa ctor tha t lea ds tobiofilm forma tion in A. baumanniiis the crea tion of the exopolysa ccha ride poly-1,6-N-a cetylglucosa mine (PNAG), which is avirulence fa ctor required for a dhesion a nd a ggrega tion by ma ny Gra m-nega tive ba cteria . Ma ny studies indica ted that PNAG is a n importa nt fa ctor to keepthe integrity ofA. baumanniibiofilms in a more dynamic a nd stressful environment. A cluster of four genes (pgaA, pgaB, pgaC, a ndpgaD) a re responsible for PNAG, which is encoded by pga ABCDlocus. Therefore, the a im of this work wa s to detect proteins encoded by this locus using SDS-PAGE gel in A.baumannii isola tes.Using PCR a na lysis to detect 16S rRNAconcluded tha t a ll 24 isola tes showed a positive a mplifica tion with 242bp. Acinetobacterbaumannii clinica l isola tes showedhigh resista nce percenta getoa mpicillin-sulba cta m (AMS) a nd cefta zidime (CAZ)with100% a nd 91% respectively. Furthermore, the isola tes showed 83.3% for cefepime (FEP) a nd 70.8% for a mika cin (AK), while the isola tes showed a va ria ble resista nce percenta ge towa rd other a ntibiotics. By using Congo red method indica ted tha t 66.7% were positive to produce biofilm a nd 33.3 were non-forming biofilm. Protein sequences alignment showed 99%, 99%, 100% a nd 99% identity for Pga A, Pga B, Pga C a nd Pga D respectively with protein GenBa nk da ta ba se.

Many studies suggest that noise stress could damage many body systems such as nervous and endocrine systems, so the goal of this study was to demonstrate how the levels of neurotransmitters and sex hormones in mature male and female mice are affected by different noise stress exposure durations? In this study, 60 Balb/C mice (males and females) were used. Fifty mice were exposed to 90dB noise stress for 4h/daily and were scarified in different time points; 1,7,14,21, and 28 days while the rest 10mice were not exposed to noise stress and they serve as control. After the end of the experiment, the blood was collected and the serum samples were used to determine neurotransmitters levels, serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NA), and hormones levels included testosterone, estrogen and cortisol levels. The findings showed that neurotransmitters levels were significantly higher in mice exposed to noise stress for 1,8,14, and 21days which was non-significant decrease compared to the control in the 28-day stress group. While the levels of cortisone were continuously rising in the exposed noise stress mice groups with the length of duration, the levels of estrogen in female and testosterone in male were continuously decreasing. Interestingly, the levels of neurotransmitters and cortisol were significantly higher in females than males in all noise stress groups. Additionally, these effects completely differ after 28 days of noise exposure, which needs more future studies to prove the risk of exposure to this type of stress on the body systems.

The whitefly Bemisia tabaciis considered one of the most destructive insect pests that can attack several vegetable crops worldwide. The behavior of choosing a host plant by whitefly can be significantly influenced by volatile organic compounds. The aim of this investigation is to identify and bioassay the volatile organic compounds emitted from uninfested and infested eggplant leaves with B. tabaci. The current study focuses on the interaction between whitefly and eggplant with the identification of volatile organic compounds emitted from leaves that were collected by headspace solid phase microextraction fiber and gas chromatography mass spectrum analyzed. Both uninfested and infested eggplant leaves released a total of 11 compounds. The amount of volatile organic compounds emittedfrom affected eggplant leaves by whitefly was higher than from uninfested eggplant leaves. Using a Y-shaped olfactometer bioassay, whitefly preferred to attract toward volatile emitted by eggplant leaves in both uninfested and infested eggplant leaves. Our results suggest these chemical compounds can play a key mediator in host finding behavior. The exploitation of one or more of these compounds can apply in an integrated management program of this pest as a lure in the sticky trap or manipulating insect behavior

Contamination feedstuffs with fungi or their metabolites toxins poses considerable hazard to public health and animal welfare. The information on mycotoxins identified from a variety of feedstuff in 2021 (soyabean, maize, fish meals, and poultry pellets) was retrieved from archive papers documented in the Centre of Standardization and Quality Control/Department of Agriculture. A total of 1325 samples feedstuff were examined by this Centre using the direct ELISA test to detect aflatoxins, ochratoxin, and trichothecene. The aflatoxin was identified in 67 (5.05%) samples followed by ochratoxin in 52 (3.92%) samples and Trichothecene (T2) in 50 (3.77) samples. Additionally, the results were showed the co-infection/co-occurrence of mycotoxins from positive samples of soyabean, fish meals, and poultry pellet, although this contamination within acceptable level. Only two samples of poultry feed were determined to have contamination levels above the acceptable limit, as 21ppb with aflatoxins and 19ppb with ochratoxin contamination. The moisture levels were also measured for these commodities by NIR apparatus. From statistics outputs, the squared correlation coefficient (R2) did not share too much variability between moisture and degree of contamination with three mycotoxins identified. The study concluded that mycotoxins remain to be a concern for global health, and their residues inanimal feed are important in terms of health safety standards that propose adhering to food chain regulations in commercial markets.

Remote sensing techniques are very important for the identification of land cover patterns and monitoring changes occurred, thus three different periods were taken for Al-Razazalake region. The Summer and spring months were chosen by mean of climate changes were observed and their effect on land covers were monitored. According to the applied supervised classification, the study area was divided into four land covers, nearly closed Al –Razaza Lake was deeper in its western portions, thick vegetation cover was found. The eastern and southern portion of the lake was bounded by desertic and semi-desertic land. The water level in the lake was fluctuating with different seasons. During the period 2000 and 2015 the area of the lake was height decreased around 320 Km2. Climate changes led to increasing of drying out water areas and a high increase in the amount of saline areas in 2015.This study shows a significant decrease of water cover In terms of depth and area of the lake due to the large decline in the value of the NDWI index.

The sun is the main source of energy that reaches the surface of the earth in the form of electromagnetic radiation called solar radiation and when it reaches the outer surface of the glass hood of the solar distillation, the process of energy transferring as the heat begins. The energy transfer process between parts of solar distillates greatly controls its performance, so the greater amount of energy gained and the less energy lost, leads to higher productivity and efficiency of the solar distillery. In this paper, a mathematical model was constructed to calculate the amount of thermal energy in each part of a monoclinic solar distiller equipped with an additional capacitor during its operation. as a result of this model showed that the temperature, after a series of heat energy exchanges between the glass cover and all the internal parts of the distillate, with the absorbent part at the base of the distillate, exhibited the same behavior, which is increasing in its temperature steadily during the first hours of the day from (32.5-41.7 ) at (08:30 am) in the morning down to its top value (61.4-76.7) at (02:30 pm) and decline after this hour in the same bullish pattern. this is due to the greater difference between the amount of energy lost and acquired by the absorbent portion during the same daylight hours, as the amount of energy gained increases and the amount of lost energy decreases, leading to the highest energy gain and the least energy lost by the absorbent part at (02:30 pm), except the outer part of the additional condenser, which followed a similar behavior of air temperature, with its temperature gradually increasing slightly during the first hours of the day from (27 ) at (08:30 am) until it reached its peak (36.2 ) at (01:30 pm), then itdecreases after this time slightly. This slight rise and slight decrease are due to the constant state of thermal balance between the two ends of the additional condenser by the heat exchange process between the outer part of the additional condenser and the cooling water