No abstract

?-LG gene polymorphism at the DNA level has been analyzed by PCR-RFLP and reported two novel genetic variants of the ?-LG gene in Indian goats. However, no study has been reported in Barki Egyptian local goat breed, Damascus and their crossbred goats regarding ?-LG polymorphism at DNA level. The association of ?-LG polymorphism with milk yield has been reported in cows, sheep and Indian goats. However, this relation has not clarified yet in local or foreign goat breeds raised in Egypt. This study aimed to fingerprint ?-LG gene in the Barki, Damascus and their crossbred goats in an attempt to have clear image about genotypes of ?-LG gene in these breeds in relation to their milk yield. A total of 120 adult female does belonging to these three different genetic groups were analyzed by the PCR-RFLP method. The goats are raised by farmers in North West coast (Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt) in which goats are living in natural habitats. The amplified product was observed as 426 bp and the restriction digestion with SacII revealed three genotypes, namely AA, AB and BB at the ?-LG locus. The frequencies of AA, AB and BB genotypes were 0.1, 0.8, 0.1; 0.85, 0.1, 0.05; 0.41, 0.51, 0.08 in the Barki and Damascus and their crossbred goats, respectively. The frequency of (AA)genotype was higher in Damascus breed than Barki and Damascus x Barki crossbred and according to reference milk production was associated with significantly higher milk production in this goat breed as compared by the two other goat breeds.

A total of 15 fungal isolates were obtained from oil-contaminated sites near the Red Sea in the Yanbu region. Based on the preliminary DCPIP (2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol) assay, three isolates showed promising oil degrading ability. The next-generation sequencing of the ITS-I and ITS-II internal transcribed spacer regions assigned the isolates to Aspergillus and Penicillium. Among these three strains, Y2 (Aspergillus oryzae) was the most efficient, degrading about 99% of the crude oil. The degradation rates were corroborated using spectrophotometric and gas chromatographymass spectrometry analyses after two weeks of cultivation in Bushnell-Haas medium. All the three strains proved to be potent oil-degrading strains and, hence, can be utilized to degrade oil contaminants.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Cisplatin (CIS) is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in current use and it has proven efficacy against various human malignancies. However, its clinical usefulness has been restricted by detrimental side effects, including nephrotoxicity and myelosuppression. The aim of the present study was to attempt to decrease the required dose of CIS, in order to minimize its side effects, and increase its capability to arrest, delay or reverse carcinogenesis. In addition, the present study aimed to ameliorate CIS-resistance in CRC cells, using the natural compound resveratrol (RSVL). RSVL (3,4', 5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a naturally occurring polyphenol present in the roots of white hellebore (Veratrum grandiflorum O. Loes) and extracted from >70 other plant species. RSVL can exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and it has been shown to be active in the regulation of numerous cellular events associated with carcinogenesis. The present study evaluated the effects of RSVL on sensitization of both parent and CIS-resistant HCT-116 CRC cells to the action of cisplatin. The CIS was administered at a dose of 5 and 20 µg/ml, and CIS cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell cycle and cisplatin cellular uptake were examined in the presence and absence of RSVL (15 µg/ml). RSVL treatment showed anti-proliferative effects and enhanced the cytotoxic effects of cis against the growth of both parent and CIS-resistant HCT-116 CRC cells, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 4.20 µg/ml and 4.72 µg/ml respectively. RSVL also induced a significant increase in the early apoptosis fraction and enhanced the subsequent apoptotic effects of CIS. The cellular uptake of CIS was significantly increased in the presence of RSVL, as compared with CIS treatment alone, and RSVL treatment sensitized the CIS-resistant HCT-116 cells. In conclusion, RSVL treatment increased the cytotoxic activity of CIS against the growth of both parent and CIS-resistant HCT-116 CRC cells.