Dual-species biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus generate difficult-to-treat illnesses. Nutrition stress in biofilms affects physiology, microbial metabolism, and species interactions, impacting bacteria growth and survival. Furthermore, the function of alginate, which is encoded by the algD gene, in the production of biofilms has been established. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of starvation on algD gene expression in single-species biofilm of P. aeruginosa and dual-species biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus from hospital sewage. A total of six P. aeruginosa and six S. aureus isolates were obtained from the microbiology laboratory at the Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Iraq. These isolates are multidrug-resistant and were obtained from various hospital sewage stations in Baghdad city. P. aeruginosa and S. aureus isolates were co-cultured as single- and dual-species biofilms in full-strength brain heart infusion broth (BHIB) and 1000-fold diluted BHIB. In order to evaluate the level of expression of the algD gene in P. aeruginosa that had been treated to starvation, the quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized. The results demonstrated that starvation stress significantly (P< 0.05) up regulated the expression of algD in single-species biofilm (3.117 to 4.532-fold). However, starvation stress down regulated the algD expression in dual-species biofilm (0.001 and 0.901-fold). In conclusion, malnutrition up regulated algD expression in single-species P. aeruginosa biofilms but down regulated it in dual-biofilms. This work helps create biofilm-related disease treatments.
Social isolation and quarantine have been implemented globally during outbreaks of a highly transmissible microbe. For instance, they were employed during the plague outbreak in 1894 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. While these methods have proven effective against highly transmissible infections, they have also had significant negative consequences. In specific regions like Anbar, Diyala, Salahaddin, and Kirkuk, social isolation occurred during the period of ISIS occupation. After their liberation, these regions experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, and quarantine measures were put in place. This study aimed to investigate the effect of social isolation and quarantine on tuberculosis. Patients from Anbar, Diyala, Salahaddin, and Kirkuk distri
... Show MoreMorphometric traits or body conformation traits also called linear body measurements are important in predicting marketing body weight especially for commercial breeders and producers. The total number of reared Domyati ducklings are 168 hatched, at marketing age (8 wks.) 44 brown and 14 white Domyati ducks were used to estimate the body weight and body measurements such as shank length (ShL), keel length (KL), body circumference (BC), breast length (BrL), breast width (BrW), beak width (BL), and body length (BL). Our results showed that there is no significant difference between both white and brown Domyati ducks for body measurements. There was high positive correlation among body weight and body measurements on both white and bro
... Show MoreIn this study, a factorial experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates to investigate the effects of silicon at four concentrations: 0, 2, 4, and 6 ml/L, designated as S0, S1, S2, and S3, respectively and a calcium-boron combination at three concentrations: 0, (0.5 g/L Ca-EDTA, + 10 mg/L B), and (1 g/L Ca-EDTA, + 20 mg/L B), designated as C0, C1, and C2, respectively. on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and some qualitative traits of fruits. The results indicated that the studied traits were significantly influenced by the factors. Silicon application notably increased enzyme activity, treatment S3 showed the highest activity levels for peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) rea
... Show MoreOpportunistic fungal infections due to the immune- compromised status of renal transplant patients are related to high rates of morbidity and mortality regardless of their minor incidence. Delayed in identification of invasive fungal infections (IFIs), will lead to delayed treatment and results in high mortality in those populations. The study aimed to assess the frequency of invasive fungal infection in kidney transplant recipients by conventional and molecular methods. This study included 100 kidney transplant recipients (KTR) (75 males, and 25 females), collected from the Centre of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation in the Medical City of Baghdad. Blood samples were collected during the period from June 2018 to April 2019. Twent
... Show MoreExpressions of Gratitude in American English and Iraqi Arabic (). Expressing gratitude is one of the most frequently occurring communicative acts in...