Redox homeostasis and respiratory metabolism in camels (Camelus dromedaries): comparisons with domestic goats and laboratory rats and mice

We have previously reported the occurrence of multiple forms of drug-metabolizing enzymes in camel tissues. Here, we investigate glutathione (GSH)-dependent redox homeostasis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial respiratory functions in camel tissues and compare them with imported domestic goats and laboratory rats and mice. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP 2E1) and GSH-metabolizing enzymes were differentially expressed in the liver and kidney of these animals. Camel liver has significantly lower GSH pool than that in goats, rats and mice. Mitochondria isolated from the tissues of these animals showed a comparable ability to metabolize specific substrates for respiratory enzyme complexes I, II/III and IV. These complexes were metabolically more active in the kidney than in the liver of all the species. Furthermore, the activity of complex IV in camel tissues was significantly lower than in other species. On the other hand, complex II/III activity in camel kidney was higher compared to the other species. In addition, as expected, we observed that inhibitors of these enzyme complexes augment the production of mitochondrial ROS in camel and goat tissues. These results help to better understand the metabolic ability and adaptation in desert camels in comparison with domestic goats and laboratory rats and mice since they are exposed to different environmental and dietary conditions. Our study may also have implications in the pharmacology and toxicology of drugs and pollutants in these species.     

Correlation of -475 IL-2 Promoter Gene Polymorphisms and the Levels of Serum IL-2 on the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Background:The aim of present study is to asset the IL-2 promoter gene (SNP -475) as a candidate gene for multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility.Methods:This study included 70 patients with relapsing – remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and 50 healthy controls. Following the extraction of genomic DNA from peripheral blood, frequency of genotypes and alleles of SNP -475 was calculated using Restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymer chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) and then the results were analyzed statistically.Results:The results revealed the unusual ratio for the heterozygous (AT) was 1.6972 indicating that heterozygous patients were at higher risk of multiple sclerosis than wild homozygous (AA), and homomutant (TT). The results show protective role for - 475 IL-2 promoter among individuals with multiple sclerosis, (O.R: 0.4872; C.I. 95%: 0.1617- 1.4680) and (O.R: 0.9275; C.I. 95%: 0.2476 - 3.4745) for both AA and TT genotypes, respectively.Conclusion:Our results showed that in this population of Iraqi patients, the AT genotype / A allele of -475 IL-2 promoter gene SNP may include attributed factors for MS predisposition.Key Words: IL-2, Multiple sclerosis, PCR-RFLP SNP     

Molecular determination of van genes among clinical isolates of enterococci at a hospital setting

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) poses a formidable challenge to public health due to its inherent resistance to multiple antibiotics coupled with the ability to transfer genetic determinants to dangerous pathogens like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of vancomycin resistance in enterococci among clinical isolates at a tertiary care military hospital in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia and to detect van genes using multiplex-PCR. Overall, 246 isolates of enterococci were collected from various clinical specimens. The isolates were identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done using the Vitek 2 system. Multiplex PCR was performed on the VRE isolates, thus identified to determine the van genes harbored. A total of 15 VRE were identified, of which 14 (93.3%) were Enterococcus faecium, and 1(6.7%) was Enterococcus casseliflavus with intrinsic vanC resistance. Of the 14 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, 8 (57.1%) harbored vanB genes, while 6 (42.8%) harbored vanA genes. All the VRE were susceptible to linezolid and tigecycline. Our study detected a low prevalence (6.1%) of VRE among clinical isolates of enterococci and that the vanB gene predominates in such strains. Susceptibility profiles indicated that linezolid and tigecycline are still effective against these multidrug-resistant pathogens. Pus specimens yielded the highest percentage (53.3%) of isolates from which VRE was obtained, and this finding is novel among studies done in Saudi Arabia.