this study aimed to evaluate the effect of altitude on some male fertility related traits in saudi sheep and goats. testicular tissues were collected from a slaughterhouse in taif governorate (1800 m above sea level) and makkah governorate (sea level). sperm characteristics (1 -individual motility, 2 -percent live sperm 3 -percent abnormal sperm) were examined. semi-quantitative rt-pcr assay was used to evaluate the expression of iGf-ii, star, ldlr and cyp11a genes. no significant effect of altitude on tested sperm parameters was revealed. Expression of IGF-II gene in both sheep and goats was significantly (P<0.05) higher at sea level compared to high altitude. A similar effect of altitude on star gene expression was only observed in goats, while in sheep the level of effect did not reach the significance threshold. Moreover, LDLr gene expression was significantly (P<0.05) higher for both sheep and goats at high altitude than at sea level. The CYP11A gene expression was significantly (P<0.05) higher in high altitude sheep than in those raised at sea level, while the opposite trend was observed for goats. in conclusion, high altitude had an effect on the expression of some studied male fertility related genes, but sperm parameters were not significantly affected.

Twenty seven potential hydrocarbon degrader bacterial isolates were isolated from soil that has been exposed to crude petroleum oil. The hydrocarbon degradation potentialities of these isolates were assessed against n-tetradecane. Four isolates (AT3, AT5, AT11 and AT15) were the most potent isolates. These isolates were identified via morphological, biochemical and 16S-rRNA gene sequencing techniques as (Pseudomonas stutzeri, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus cereus), respectively. AT3 isolate was the highest n-tetradecane degrader. This isolate exhibited specific growth rate in Bushnell-Hass medium amended with hydrocarbon, n-tetradecane of 1.213 h -1 and growth yield of 1.311 g cells g hydrocarbon -1. An efficient biodegradation up to 90% was performed by AT3 bacterial isolate. Genetic fingerprinting was carried out using RAPD-PCR and SDS-PAGE methods to characterize and conduct phylogenetic relationship among the four most potent isolates. Thirty six specific markers were obtained and used to characterize the four studied isolates. Different specific markers for AT3 isolate were generated. The closest genetic distance was found between isolate AT11 and AT15 (0.55), while the lowest genetic similarity was between AT3 and AT5 (0.41). The introduced markers could be used for tracking the most potent isolates.

Taif region is situated in the central foothills of the Sarawat mountains at an altitude of 2200 to 2500 m above the sea level. Special type of pomegranate is cultivated there and called taify pomegranate. Therefore, exploring the types of microorganisms tolerant to root exudates is important. The objective of this study was to identify bacteria, actinomycetes and potential bacterial pathogens of pomegranate roots and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns as well as effect of fruit parts extract on isolated bacteria. A total of 102 isolate were isolated and identified by morphological, physiological, APi profiles and 16S-rRNA techniques. Out of 102 isolated bacteria, from free soil 38 (37.3%), rhizosphere 55(53.9%) and inside roots 9(8.8%). Isolated Actinomycetes represent 23 (22.5%), Streptomyces21 (20.6%) and Sacchromyces cerevieace 5(4.9%) of all isolated microorganisms. Isolates were identified as B. subtilis, S. cerevieace, S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aerogenosa, A. chroococum, H. seropedicae, A. lipoferumand E.aerogenes. Susceptibility testing was done according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline. Tetracycline was effective against 75.5% of isolated pathogens. In general, Gram positive isolates were more susceptible to all antibiotic tested, whereas Gram negative isolates were less susceptible to all antibiotic tested. Antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of rind, fruit, and juice ofpomegranate fruitswere evaluated against 18Grampositiveand 35 Gram-negative bacteria. Crude alcoholic extracts of rind, seeds extract (juice) and whole fruit were evaluated against isolated Gram-positive and Gram-negative by agar disc diffusion method. All fruit parts were active against all tested bacteria (B. subtilis, E. aerogenes, K. pneumonia and P. aerogenosa), and moreover, against N 2 -Fixing bacteria (A. chroococcum, A.lipoferum and H. seropedicae). Rind extract was less active against P. aeruginosa, juice against E. aerogenes, whole fruit extract against B. subtilis. In general, juice (seed extract) was relatively more active than extracts of other parts of the fruit. The descending order of activity of the extracted parts of the plant fruit was juice, rind and whole fruit, respectively. On the other hand, Gram-positive bacteria, B. subtilis S. pneumoniae and A. chroococcum were more sensitive than Gram-negative and their inhibition zones. Therefore, it may be concluded that fruits of pomegranate extracts have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and their activity could be attributed, to a great extent, to their contents of alkaloids and flavonoids.