Background
The phylogenetic relationships and phylogeny of twenty-six
Trichoderma
species collected from various Egyptian locations were investigated. The genetic diversity among the examined ...isolates was tested using the rep-PCR marker.
Trichoderma
species were screened for their cellulase activities.
Results
Three isolates demonstrated highly significant FPase activities, namely MNF-MAS-Tricho 1, MNF-MAS-Tricho 2, and MNF-MAS-Tricho 3 (0.50, 0.39, and 0.49 IU ml
−1
, respectively). MNF-MAS-Tricho1 showed the highest significant CMCase activity (0.80 IU ml
−1
). Concerning β-glucosidase, MNF-MAS-Tricho 1 was the highest (0.78 IU ml
−1
), while MNF-MSH-Trich 11 and MNF-MAS-Tricho 15 were the lowest (0.36 IU mL
−1
). The percentage of polymorphism ranged from 46.15 to 83.33%. (GTG)5 marker produced the greatest number of polymorphic loci (13 loci out of 18 loci) with about 83.33% polymorphism, followed by rep-10 with 69.2% polymorphism. Furthermore, the polymorphism information content (PIC) estimates ranged between 0.285 for Rep-10 and 0.340 for (GTG) 5 with an average of 0.306. The tested primers exhibited high discriminating and resolving powers.
Conclusion
The findings of this investigation were used to classify
Trichoderma
species, evaluate their genetic variability using ITS sequencing, rep-PCR, and measure their cellulase activities. These markers can facilitate more rapid and less complicated studies of
Trichoderma
population dynamics and evaluate their establishment after release into agricultural environments. The results will help to evaluate the genetic diversity of
Trichoderma
in future research.
Hydrodistilled essential oils (HD) of dried aerial parts of Achillea fragrantissima cultivated in Egypt and Madinah Monawara, Saudi Arabia, and their volatiles extracted by solid phase ...microextraction (SPME) were analyzed using Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry. Thirty - four constituents of the essential oil of Egyptian A. fragrantissima were identified, representing 90.15% of the total oil constituents, while SPME revealed 15 components constituting 94.72% of the volatile material. Santolina alcohol, artemisia ketone, α-thujone, 4(10)-thujen-3-ol, β-thujone, yomogi alcohol and trans-sabinyl acetate were the predominant components in both extracts, with quantities varying with extraction method. Many terpenes e.g. β-pinene, sabinene, α-terpinene, p-cymene, linalool, p-menth-2-en-1-ol, 4(10)-thujen-3-ol, borneol, carvone, p-menth-1-en-3-one, bornyl acetate and germacrene D, were identified for the first time. α-Thujone, 4-terpineol, trans-pinocarveol, and spathulenol were the major components among 42 identified components accounting for 93.65% of the total identified volatiles of Madinah hydrodistillate. Monoterpenes concentration was higher in Madinah SPME volatile extract than in HD essential oil. A. fragrantissima essential oil of Madinah exhibited higher antioxidant activity (IC
50
1.09 mg/ml) than did Egyptian oil (IC
50
1.72 mg/ml), consistent with the differences in phenolic content and volatile constituents identified in both oils.
Beyond neutralization, antibodies binding to their Fc receptors elicit several innate immune functions including antibody-dependent complement deposition (ADCD), antibody-dependent cell-mediated ...phagocytosis (ADCP), and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). These functions are beneficial, as they contribute to pathogen clearance; however, they also can induce inflammation. We tested the possibility that qualitative differences in SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody-mediated innate immune functions contribute to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. We found that anti-S1 and anti-RBD antibodies from hospitalized COVID-19 patients elicited higher ADCD but lower ADCP compared to antibodies from nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients. Consistently, higher ADCD was associated with higher systemic inflammation, whereas higher ADCP was associated with lower systemic inflammation during COVID-19. Our study points to qualitative, differential features of anti-SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies as potential contributors to COVID-19 severity. Understanding these qualitative features of natural and vaccine-induced antibodies will be important in achieving optimal efficacy and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and/or COVID-19 therapeutics.
A state of hyperinflammation and increased complement activation has been associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms that contribute to this phenomenon remain mostly unknown. Our data point to a qualitative, rather than quantitative, difference in SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies' ability to elicit Fc-mediated innate immune functions as a potential contributor to COVID-19 severity and associated inflammation. These data highlight the need for further studies to understand these qualitative features and their potential contribution to COVID-19 severity. This understanding could be essential to develop antibody-based COVID-19 therapeutics and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines with an optimal balance between efficacy and safety.
Stress echocardiography (SE) is based on the detection of regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) mirroring a physiologically critical epicardial artery stenosis which determines subendocardial ...under perfusion. Recently, the core protocol of SE has been enriched by the addition of left ventricular contractile reserve (LVCR) based on force. Changes in force can be caused by microvascular and/or epicardial coronary artery disease, but also by myocardial scar, necrosis, and/or sub-epicardial layer disease. Left ventricular contractile reserve is calculated as the stress-to-rest ratio of force (systolic arterial pressure measured by cuff sphygmomanometer to end-systolic volume determined by twodimensional echocardiography). In contrast to the ejection fraction, force is not dependent on changes in preload and afterload. Cut-off values for a preserved LVCR are > 2.0 for dobutamine or exercise stress and > 1.1 for vasodilators, which are weaker inotropic stimuli. Patients with a “strong” heart (normal LVCR values) have a better outcome than patients with a “weak” heart (reduced LVCR values), and this is the prognostic “bright side of the force,” meaning that the prognostic value of force-based contractile reserve is higher than that of ejection fraction-based contractile reserve or RWMA. The addition of force to standard SE based on RWMA detection increases the spectrum of risk stratification without any significant increase in imaging time and only a slight increase in analysis time. In both ischemic (with RWMA) and non-ischemic (without RWMA) hearts, the preserved force is associated with a more benign prognosis. The prospective multicenterinternational Stress Echo 2020 trial which started in September 2016 has already recruited > 5000 patients with dual RWMA-force imaging and will systematically test the impact of force on the prognosis within and beyond coronary artery disease, including heart failure and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Sickle cell disease (SCD) impacts the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of life. We aimed to study the quality of life (QoL) in Egyptian children and adolescents with SCD using the ...sickle cell module in relations to social, psychological and disease variables. A cross sectional study included 40 patients with SCD between 5 and 18 years. Details of diagnosis, SCD related complications, socioeconomic status were revised. Psychological assessment was done using children depression inventory, revised Children's Manifest anxiety scale and Health related QoL for both patients and parents using a validated Arabic age specific version of sickle cell module. Significant better scores for communication problems in mothers with college degree was found compared with other academic levels with no significant difference in QoL in relation to father education and significant higher communication problems with high rate of hospitalization (
P
= .021). Pain score was higher in 8–13 years compared with 13–18 years age groups. Significant worse scores for worrying was found in females,
P
= 0.033; Depression was found in 90% of studied patients. The main determinants of QoL in patients with SCD were maternal education and frequency of hospitalization. Depression is of alarming frequency for intervention.
Siglecs are a family of emerging glyco-immune checkpoints. Inhibiting them can enhance the functions of several types of immune cells, whereas engaging them can reduce hyper-inflammation and ...hyper-activation of immune functions. Siglec-sialoglycan interactions play an important role in modulating immunological functions during cancer, however, their roles in regulating immunological equilibrium during viral infections is less clear. In this review, we discuss the documented and potential roles of inhibitory Siglecs in balancing immune activation and tolerance during viral infections and consider how this balance could affect both the desired anti-viral immunological functions and the unwanted hyper- or chronic inflammation. Finally, we discuss the opportunities to target the Siglec immunological switches to reach an immunological balance during viral infections: inhibiting specific Siglec-sialoglycan interactions when maximum anti-viral immune responses are needed, or inducing other interactions when preventing excessive inflammation or reducing chronic immune activation are the goals.
► Sulfur is a potential candidate for binding cement kiln dust (CKD). Solidified CKD articles exhibit homogenous and compact internal microstructure with excellent mechanical properties. Inclusion of ...glass fiber increases the strength and reduces volume change. Addition of anhydrous sodium sulfide reduces heavy metal leachability from solidified articles.
The present study aims to offer a new methodology for consuming two industrial wastes; sulfur, from petroleum and natural gas industries, and cement kiln dust (CKD), from Portland cement industries, in construction industry. Sulfur solidified cement kiln dust material (SSCKDM) was manufactured by mixing molten sulfur, treated sulfur, CKD and sand at a controlled temperature in excess of 120
°C. The hot mixture was subsequently cast and shaped into the desired mold and was then allowed to solidify at a specified cooling rate. Solidified materials were immersed for time periods up to 28 days in distilled water at different temperatures of 25 and 60
°C, sea water, and acidic and basic universal buffer solutions of pH4 and pH9, respectively. Solidified material performance as function of time and type of aqueous solution exposed to was evaluated in view of compressive strength variations and leachability of metal and heavy metal ions.
The results indicated that the solidified articles exhibit homogenous and compact internal microstructure with excellent mechanical properties. However, it showed durability problem upon exposure to aqueous solution environments due to the initial chemical composition of the CKD, whose leached test showed release of relatively high amounts of sulfates and alkali metals. Durability of SSCKDM articles in relation to strength reduction and crack formations control was improved by addition of glass fiber while, the use of anti-leaching agent such as anhydrous sodium sulfide resulted in reduction of leached heavy metals without any measurable decrease in leached amounts of alkali metals and anions from the solidified matrix. Furthermore, based on leachability index method of calculation, potential chemical mobility of metal and heavy metal ions from the solidified matrix was characterized as medium.
Abstract
Non-invasive biomarkers that predict HIV remission after antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption are urgently needed. Such biomarkers can improve the safety of analytic treatment ...interruption (ATI) and provide mechanistic insights into the host pathways involved in post-ART HIV control. Here we report plasma glycomic and metabolic signatures of time-to-viral-rebound and probability-of-viral-remission using samples from two independent cohorts. These samples include a large number of post-treatment controllers, a rare population demonstrating sustained virologic suppression after ART-cessation. These signatures remain significant after adjusting for key demographic and clinical confounders. We also report mechanistic links between some of these biomarkers and HIV latency reactivation and/or myeloid inflammation in vitro. Finally, machine learning algorithms, based on selected sets of these biomarkers, predict time-to-viral-rebound with 74% capacity and probability-of-viral-remission with 97.5% capacity. In summary, we report non-invasive plasma biomarkers, with potential functional significance, that predict both the duration and probability of HIV remission after treatment interruption.
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