Search

The present study aimed to isolate and identification of Aspergillus spp. from patients in the respiratory system in Basra city, Iraq by traditional and molecular methods. According to Morphological and microscopic examinations, among 162 sputum samples, the percentage of occurrence for fungi recorded was 48.3% yeast followed by 43.54% Aspergillus spp, and 8.16% other hyphomycetes, respectively. The highest %occurrence of Aspergillus spp was recorded by A. fumigatus (35.93%), followed by A. niger (32.81%), A. flavus, (21.88%), and A. terreus (9.38%) respectively. the sensitivity of the direct microscopy reached 15.78%, while the specificity examination recorded 86.66%. Molecular diagnosis was used to certificated the morphological and microscopic identification, which included positive results for the PEX gene (250 bp) of A. fumigatus, gene PEPI (150 bp) for A. niger, gene PEPO (200 bp) for A. flavus and ATE gene (450 bp) for A.terreus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxin contamination has caused significant economic losses to the food and feed industry and seriously threatened human health. Aflatoxins (AFs) are one of the most harmful mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus. and other fungi commonly found in the production and preservation of grain and animal feed. Due to its toxic (carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic) effects, AF can cause harm to human and animal health. In this study, microbial samples were collected from local crops and diagnosed in the laboratory to understand the most common and common types, followed by molecular diagnostics to confirm the diagnosis and identify the most prevalent type in Karbala province. The study found that, in most of the grains studied, Aspergillus flavus was the most common, and the fungus was the most common. Based on this result, the phenotypic and genetically most common species are examined to confirm the diagnosis and genetic testing is performed. Two highly virulent isolates were diagnosed. The isolates were recorded in the gene bank and a genetic tree was created for each isolate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demodex folliculorum It is one of the most types of microscopic external parasites that infect humans, which feeds on the fat of the skin, around the hair follicles and causes many diseases, including Perioral dermatitis, Demodectic Blepharitis, Pityriasis folliculorum, Rosacea and leads to the induction of allergic and inflammatory reactions against its antigens.The current study aimed to detect Demodex folliculorum parasite in humans by using the PCR technique and using the primers of the (18S rRNA) genes responsible for diagnosing the parasite. Where DNA was extracted from samples collected from those infected with the parasite, the reactions were performed using a PCR machine to clone the DNA. Then, the nucleotide sequence of the gene was studied, and the path length of the PCR products was 802 base pairs, and they were sent to the NCBI website, and all the generated sequences were recorded in the GenBank database (entry number: MW186179.1, MW186180.1), A phylogenetic tree was established using the Neighbor joining method in the MEGA X version of two isolates from human skin, and the links were genetically compared in NCBI-BLAST with respect to D. folliculorum isolate from Iraq. 18SrRNA from parasite D. folliculorum was used for confirmed genetic identification. Iraqi 18SrRNA isolates are 100% identical to the parasite isolates recorded in Hungary (entry number: KC894848.1), but less similar to other isolates from Spain, China, and Thailand (entry number: Am905316.1, HQ7280000.1, KY305348.1) respectively [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present century, Nanotechnology is gaining tremendous importance due to its capability of modulating metals into their nanosize, which drastically changes the physical, chemical and optical properties of metals. These properties can be used to overcome some of the limitations found in traditional therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Functionalized Gold (Au) nanoparticles represent highly attractive and promising applications in drug delivery in special context to their unique dimensions, tunable functionalities on the surface and controllable drug release. Gold nanoparticles have unique properties which help in molecular diagnostics, therapies and as well as in devices that are used in several medical procedures. Continuing improvement in the pharmacological and therapeutic properties of drugs is driving the revolution in novel drug delivery systems. This article will review recent developments in the use of Gold nanoparticles as drug delivery systems to treat a wide variety of diseases. The purpose of this paper is to focus on therapeutic applications of gold nanoparticles while exploring their various prospectives like cancer therapy, gold nanospheres, gold nanoshells, gold nanorods, gold nanocages and photothermal therapy. The ultimate aim of this research is to open some new aspects of nanomedicine to fight and prevent diseases using atomic scale materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combined module for in-situ diagnostics of local plasma parameters and ion mass spectrum in the linear plasma device PR-2 is presented. The module consists of a stationary mass-spectrometer and a probe system containing several Langmuir probes. The mass-spectrometer is based on a classical scheme of static magnetic ion separator with 180° deflection using the background magnetic field of the plasma device, which allows us to measure both positive and negative relative ion fluxes simultaneously during the experiment. An example of a mass spectrum obtained with the device for a plasma of mixed hydrogen and air is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have created an intense molecular source based on microchannel plates. The source forms a helium beam with divergence angle of 50 mrad, current (equivalent) density on the axis 100 mA/cm² with an average particle beam energy 0.025 eV. The paper shows experimental measurements of the molecular source current density profile. The result was compared with the theoretical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of laboratory medicine is advancing towards the use of molecular techniques and molecular diagnostics for the detection of genetic disorders, infectious diseases and cancers. These same techniques are greatly enhancing pre-transplantation screening as well. In addition, the introduction of personalized medicine promises an increase in genetic testing. There is an increasing demand for professionally educated and technically competent individuals to work in this growing area of laboratory medicine. Across the United States, specialists trained in molecular techniques are being sought by hospitals, reference laboratories, private genetic labs and pharmaceutical research laboratories. Ferris State University's (Ferris) College of Health Professions (CHP) has developed a Bachelor of Science degree program that provides students the opportunity to learn how to aid in the diagnoses of cancer, infectious diseases, pharmacogenomics, and the predisposition to disease by performing and interpreting laboratory results using molecular diagnostic assays. The CHP is collaborating with local community colleges in preparation of prequalification course work such that prospective students may complete foundational courses at their local community college and are granted credit toward Ferris' Molecular Diagnostics degree. Medical laboratories and research institutes are partnering with Ferris as well by providing opportunities for clinical experiences in the final semester of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant magnetoresistive biochips based on spin valve sensor arrays and magnetic nanoparticle labels have been successfully applied to the detection of biological events in the form of both protein and DNA assays with great speed, sensitivity, selectivity and economy. The technology is highly scalable to deep multiplex detection of biomarkers in a complex disease, and amenable to integration of microfluidics and CMOS electronics for portable applications. The results suggest that a magneto-nano biochip holds great promises in biomedicine, particularly for point of care molecular diagnostics of cancer, infectious diseases, radiation injury, cardiac and other diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ante-mortem diagnosis of ophidian gastric cryptosporidiosis can be elusive if the proper diagnostic test is not performed on the proper sample. Molecular diagnostics (e.g., PCR) have been shown to be superior to other diagnostic tests (e.g., acid-fast stain, IFA, and ELISA) in detecting the presence of Cryptosporidium in a sample. Samples collected from the stomach three days after a meal have been shown to have a higher likelihood of detecting the presence of Cryptosporidium than other samples (e.g., cloacal swab). A probe-hybridization quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay specific for C. serpentis (qPCR) has been developed and shown to be extremely sensitive, but clinical sensitivity and specificity for this test is lacking. To approximate the sensitivity and specificity of the C. serpentis qPCR, the medical records from the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation were reviewed. Between November 2015 and June 2021, 63 eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi) were necropsied. Of these 63 snakes, 11 had qPCR performed on gastric biopsies collected at the time of necropsy, 8 had qPCR performed on samples collected by gastric swab within 35 days prior to necropsy, and 44 had qPCR performed on samples collected by cloacal swab within 100 days prior to necropsy. The qPCR results were then compared to the post-mortem histological findings, where all three sampling techniques had a 100% specificity. The sensitivity was highest in samples collected at necropsy (100%, CI: 63.06-100%) followed by the antemortem testing: gastric swab (87.50%, CI: 42.13-99.64%) and cloacal swab (65.38%, CI: 44.33-82.79%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]