Colibactin is a genotoxin produced by Enterobacteriaceae via a polyketide synthase (pks) island cluster. There is less knowledge regarding the distribution of colibactin genes in E. coli isolates in Iraq and its correlation with biofilm and antibiotic susceptibility. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the frequency of some colibactin genes (CIbA and CIbQ) in uropathogenic E. coli in Iraq and evaluate the correlation with biofilm and antimicrobial resistance. Between October 2023 and January 2024, 70 E. coli isolates were isolated from 120 females diagnosed with UTIs. Isolates were identified first by biochemical methods and confirmed molecularly by amplification of 16S rRNA gene with specific primers. PCR was employed to detect the CIbA and CIbQ genes. Biofilm production was assessed by the microtiter plates method, and antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the disc diffusion method. Results indicate a high prevalence of pks+ E. coli (40%, 28/70) compared to pks-E. coli (60%, 42/70) with non-significant differences (p > 0.05). E. coli produce different levels of biofilm with significant differences (p < 0.05). However, a statistically significant correlation has been found between E. coli (pks+) and a moderate biofilm formation with a significant difference (p < 0.05). pks+ E. coli isolates are more sensitive to all antibiotics under investigation, with a significant relation to fluoroquinolone group. Interestingly, current and previous results show that pks+ E. coli prevalence in Iraq has gradually increased over the last five years.
The immune infertility caused by anti-sperm antibodies (ASAs) represented about 10–20% of infertility among the couples. The ASAs interfere with sperm parameters such as sperm motility and sperm ability to penetrate cervical mucus, sperm-oocyte binding, and fertilization and embryo development. Objectives: The present study designed to assess semen analysis, presence of ASAs and DNA fragmentation index as well as correlation within these parameters in normzoospermic Iraqi subjects Patients, Materials, and Methods: A total number of Iraqi subjects (116) with range of age (20-51) years and their mean duration of infertility (4.70 ± 2.77). Seminal fluid for macroscopic and microscopic assessments done according to WHO 2010 criteria. The
... Show MoreToxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic parasite in immune-compromised persons. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in psoriasis patients is investigated. In addition, the treatment effect on psoriasis patients infected with toxoplasmosis through evaluating Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) cytokine levels is studied. Blood samples were collected from 130 individuals who involved 60 control samples and 70 samples with psoriasis. They attended Medical City Hospital in Baghdad province from October 2017 - February 2018. Then, the anti- T. gondii antibodies (IgM and IgG) and TNF- α in the sera were determined via the enzyme linked immune-sorbent assay. The highe
... Show MoreNon-thermal (low-temperature) plasma may act as an alternative approach to control superficial wound and skin infections when the effectiveness of chemical agents is weak due to natural pathogen or biofilm resistance. In this paper an atmospheric pressure plasma needle jet device which generates a cold plasma jet is used to measure the effectiveness of plasma treatment against different pathogenic bacteria and to test the individual susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria to non-thermal argon plasma. It is found that, Gram-negative bacteria were more susceptible to plasma treatment than Gram-positive bacteria. For the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, there were no survivors among the initial 1x108C.F.U (Co
... Show MoreMicrobial antibiotics resistance is considered a serious health issue in the Middle East and developing countries. In this study, the Fe2O3 nanoparticles was prepared chemically, and the particles size and shape were analyzed by using Scan electron microscope (SEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). Different concentration of Fe2O3 nanoparticles were used and examined on E.coli and S. aureus. Using liquid dilution and in vitro cytotoxicity assay by microplate toxicity test (MTT). The microbial cell metabolic activity was measured on gram-negative, gram-positive bacteria and fungi after treating with different concentrations of Fe2O3 nanoparticl
... Show MoreIn this study 100 samples were collected from infected children with acute and chronic tonsillitis who attended to Al-Yarmook Teaching Hospital (ENT consultation clinic) from 5/12/2013 to 1/3/2014. The result of laboratory culture was positive in 67 samples. Depending on their cultural, morphological and biochemical characterization of bacterial isolate of them were identified as (37.31%) belonged to Streptococcus pyogenes and the diagnosis is confirmed by the use of Remel Rapid STR System, (34.32%) belonged to S.parasanguinis, (11.94%) S.mitis, (11.94%) S.oralis and (4.47%) S.thoraltensis . Results confirmed that cup assay gave highest inhibition zone after 24 hrs compare with well diffusion methods for suspension of L.
... Show MoreA study of some mite species of alfalfa. wheat, and barley was conducted in central Iraq.
The mites were extracted using a tullgren funnel method. Twelve species were recorded. 10 of
them belong to suborder Trombidiformes and 2 belong to suborder Sarcoptiforms. Three
mites, Irnpar(pes hystricinus, Scutacarus longitarsus, and Rhizoglyphus echin opus are new
records for Iraqi mite fauna, and 11 are new host records in alfalfa soil.
Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary significance that causes gastroenteritis in a number of vertebrate hosts. Several studies have recorded different degrees of pathogenicity and virulence among Cryptosporidium species and isolates of the same species as well as evidence of variation in host susceptibility to infection. Nevertheless, important progress has been made in determining Cryptosporidium's putative virulence factors. Since the publication of C parvum and C. Hominis this development has been accelerated genomes, identified by a range of immunological and molecular techniques with the characterization of over 25 putative virulence factors, which are proposed to be involved in aspects of host-pat
... Show MoreThe main objectives of present study are to evaluate the trace elements pollution in the sediment of the Tigris River and drainage canals in Wasit Governorate, Iraq. Assessment of trace elements pollutants were conducted for 18 sediment samples collected in March 2017. Trace elements were analyzed in sediment Tigris River samples in Wasit Governorate. This metal pollution was evaluated using geo-accumulation (I-geo) index, Contamination Factor (CF) and Pollution Load Index (PLI). According to these statistical indices, the sediments collected from Tigris River in the study area are highly polluted with Titanium (71.9 ppm), Nickel (226.6 ppm) Chromium (425.2 ppm), Cadmium (2ppm) and Molybdenum (15.8 ppm) while the sediments&nb
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