Browsing by Author "Ageez, Amr"

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DIFFERENTIAL GLUT1 EXPRESSION IN HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA AND PERI-MALIGNANT CHRONIC VIRUS C HEPATITIS
(2016-12) Helal, Noha; Ageez, Amr; Hirzi, Halima; Aboushousha, Tarek
Background: Hepatitis C virus [HCV] is a major public health concern. Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is one of the most fatal cancers in humans with rising incidence in many regions around the world. Glucose is the major source of energy for cells. Cancer cells are known to have increased glucose uptake and enhanced glycolytic metabolism. Glucose transporter 1 [GLUT1] is a ratelimiting transporter for glucose uptake, and its expression correlates with glycolysis. GLUT1 is over expressed in many human cancers including HCC. Results: GLUT1 expression was detected in 85.7%, 83.3% and 50% of HCC, dysplasia and peri- malignant groups respectively. GLUT1 expression was mainly expressed as membranous staining in all studied groups; however cytoplasmic and nuclear expression were also detected. Marked intensity staining was detected only in HCC group while mild intensity predominated in peri- malignant group. Mean percentage of GLUT1 positive hepatocytes increased significantly in HCC group than in other groups and increased with rising in HCC grade. Patchy pattern of GLUT1 expression predominates in all groups. Conclusion: GLUT1 lower expression in peri-malignant tissue and its higher expression in dysplastic lesions and sustained expression in hepatocellular carcinoma indicates that changes in GLUT1 levels represent early events during the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. So GLUT1 can be a reliable marker in the diagnosis of premalignant lesions associated with HCV infection, and usage of antagonists to GLUT1 can regulate tumor metabolism and inhibit the progression of chronic liver disease to hepatocellular carcinoma.
Diverse Rhizobium strains isolated from root nodules of Trifoliumalexandrinum in Egypt and symbiovars
(Elsevier GmbH, 2021-01) Youseif, Sameh H.; Abd El-Megeed, Fayrouz H.; Mohamed, Akram H.; Ageez, Amr; Veliz, Esteban; Esperanza, Martínez-Romero
Berseem clover (T. alexandrinum) is the main forage legume crop used as animal feed in Egypt. Here, eighty rhizobial isolates were isolated from root nodules of berseem clover grown in different regions in Egypt and were grouped by RFLP-16S rRNA ribotyping. Representative isolates were characterized using phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA, rpoB, glnA, pgi, and nodC genes. We also investigated the performance of these isolates using phenotypic tests and nitrogen fixation efficiency assays. The majority of strains (<90%) were closely related to Rhizobium aegyptiacum and Rhizobium aethiopicum and of the remaining strains, six belonged to the Rhizobium leguminosarum genospecies complex and only one strain was assigned to Agrobacterium fabacearum. Despite their heterogeneous chromosomal background, most of the strains shared nodC gene alleles corresponding to symbiovar trifolii. Some of the strains closely affiliated to R. aegyptiacum and R. aethiopicum had superior nodulation and nitrogen fixation capabilities in berseem clover, compared to the commercial inoculant (Okadein®) and N-added treatments. R. leguminosarum strain NGB-CR 17 that harbored a nodC allele typical of symbiovar viciae, was also able to form an effective symbiosis with clover. Two strains with nodC alleles of symbiovar trifolii, R. aegyptiacum strains NGB-CR 129 and 136, were capable of forming effective nodules in Phaseolus vulgaris in axenic greenhouse conditions. This adds the symbiovar trifolii which is well-established in the Egyptian soils to the list of symbiovars that form nodules in P. vulgaris. © 2020 Elsevier GmbH
Genome sequencing reveals existence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 variant in Egypt
(Springer, 2022-05) Ismail, Ghada; Abdelghafar, Hossam; Seadawy, Mohamed G; Gad, Ahmed F; Ageez, Amr; ElShafei, Ahmed; Mohammed, Shereen Saeed; Ali, Marym Saied; El‑Ashry, Marwa abd El‑Rasoul
Background: Several SARS-CoV-2 variants with increased transmissibility and/or potential immune escape have emerged and rapidly spread worldwide. Ongoing surveillance analyses are performed worldwide to designate new variants of concern (VOC) of coronavirus. Main text: This report identifes the frst Egyptian patient with a confrmed SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant. The patient showed positivity on reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and full genome sequencing was performed to confrm the variant. The mutations found in the variant were compared with the GISAID reference strain hCoV-19/ Wuhan/WIV04/2019. Genome BLAST showed the highest similarity to omicron variants isolated in South Africa. Phylo‑ genetic analysis revealed that the variant belongs to the 21K clade. Conclusions: The study indicates the importance of information-sharing among global public health partners. Moreover the importance of implementation of full genome sequencing to rapidly identify and track the new SARS- CoV-2 variants
Molecular phylogeny and identification of the Egyptian wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) based on COI mitochondrial gene sequences
(Springer, 2018-04) Abd-Ei-Samie, Emtithal M; Elkafrawy, Israa; Osama, Mai; Ageez, Amr
The Hymenoptera is one of the vital and biggest insect orders comprising the bees, wasps, sawflies, and ants. Wasps are important to natural and biological pest control because they are predators or parasitoids of pest arthropods. This study investigated the genetic diversity among the three wasps, Vespa orientalis Linnaeus, Polistes bucharensis Erichson, and Polistes mongolicus du Buysson, collected from three different governorates in Egypt, using cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA barcoding. PCR was performed to amplify COI fragment. The amplified COI regions (710 bp) were sequenced and analyzed. All novel nucleotide sequences of COI gene were deposited into the GenBank database. The genetic distances were estimated using Kimura two-parameter model. In spite of the wide geographical range, minor genetic diversity was observed between some populations of the three wasp species, revealing unrestricted gene flow between them. Phylogenetic relationship analysis was performed, using maximum likelihood (ML) method. The results of the phylogenetic analyses recovered P. bucharensis more closely related to P. dominula and P. gallicus. P. mongolicus collected from Menofia Governorate formed a distinct branch with 99% support. V. orientalis was sister to the yellowjacket Dolichovespula adulterine, with 84% support. It can be concluded that DNA barcode is a powerful tool for rapid and accurate identification of Egyptian wasp species.
Plant–microbe–microbe interactions influence the faba bean nodule colonization by diverse endophytic bacteria
(Oxford University Press, 05/10/2021) Youseif, Sameh H; Abd El-Megeed, Fayrouz H; Abdelaal, Ali S; Ageez, Amr; Martínez-Romero, Esperanza
Legume root nodules harbor rhizobia and other non-nodulating endophytes known as nodule-associated bacteria (NAB) whose role in the legume symbiosis is still unknown. We analysed the genetic diversity of 34 NAB isolates obtained from the root nodules of faba bean grown under various soil conditions in Egypt using 16S rRNA and concatenated sequences of three housekeeping genes. All isolates were identified as members of the family Enterobacteriaceae belonging to the genera Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Raoultella. We identified nine enterobacterial genospecies, most of which have not been previously reported as NAB. All isolated strains harbored nifH gene sequences and most of them possessed plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. Upon co-inoculation with an N2 fixing rhizobium (Rlv NGB-FR128), two strains (Enterobacter sichanensis NGB-FR97 and Klebsiella variicola NGB-FR116) significantly increased nodulation, growth and N-uptake of faba bean plants over the single treatments or the uninoculated control. The presence of these enterobacteria in nodules was significantly affected by the host plant genotype, symbiotic rhizobium genotype and endophyte genotype, indicating that the nodule colonization process is regulated by plant-microbe-microbe interactions. This study emphasizes the importance of nodule-associated enterobacteria and suggests their potential role in improving the effectiveness of rhizobial inoculants. © 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS. All rights reserved.
Sequencing and assembly of the Egyptian buffalo genome
(NLM (Medline), 8/19/2020) El-Khishin, Dina A; Ageez, Amr; Saad, Mohamed E; Ibrahim, Amr; Shokrof, Moustafa; Hassan, Laila R; Abouelhoda, Mohamed I
Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is an important source of meat and milk in countries with relatively warm weather. Compared to the cattle genome, a little has been done to reveal its genome structure and genomic traits. This is due to the complications stemming from the large genome size, the complexity of the genome, and the high repetitive content. In this paper, we introduce a high-quality draft assembly of the Egyptian water buffalo genome. The Egyptian breed is used as a dual purpose animal (milk/meat). It is distinguished by its adaptability to the local environment, quality of feed changes, as well as its high resistance to diseases. The genome assembly of the Egyptian water buffalo has been achieved using a reference-based assembly workflow. Our workflow significantly reduced the computational complexity of the assembly process, and improved the assembly quality by integrating different public resources. We also compared our assembly to the currently available draft assemblies of water buffalo breeds. A total of 21,128 genes were identified in the produced assembly. A list of milk virgin-related genes; milk pregnancy-related genes; milk lactation-related genes; milk involution-related genes; and milk mastitis-related genes were identified in the assembly. Our results will significantly contribute to a better understanding of the genetics of the Egyptian water buffalo which will eventually support the ongoing breeding efforts and facilitate the future discovery of genes responsible for complex processes of dairy, meat production and disease resistance among other significant traits.
Serratia marcescens P25, A New Strain Isolated From The Phycoplane of the Red Marine Alga Punctaria sp Produced Potent Biosurfactant Used for Enhancing the Bioremediation of Spent Motor Oil-Polluted Soil
(International Journal of Science and Research, 2015) Diab, Ali; Ageez, Amr; Gardoh, Iman
Samples of marine algae were collected from a coastal area at Abokir, Alexandria, and identified as: Punactraia sp (brown alga), Colpomenia sp (brown alga), Jania sp (red alga) and Ulva sp (green alga). 25 bacterial strains were isolated and purified from the phycoplane of Punctaria sp and were screened for the production of biosurfactants using cheap substrate (waste frying oil). The production of biosurfactants was tested by the plug agar and the ODA method. 60% and 80% of the tested strains were biosurfactant producers when the plug agar and the ODA method respectively used. Five red pigmented strains were very active biosurfactant producers (158-167.6 Cm2 ODA) were selected and studied for their emulsification activity and their stability at wide range of temperature (0-121°C), pH values (2-12) and salinity (5-25% NaCl-W/V). The selected five bacterial strains were identified as members of Serratia marcescens. Strain P25 was characterized by producing a biosurfactant of more stability at wide range of temperature, pH and salinity, this is in addition to its ability to produce high emulsion activity against spent motor oil. The produced emulsion was stable at 7-30 days. The above characters give this Serratia marcescens P25 strain a potential application in petroleum industry such as cleaning oil storage tanks, recovery of oil from oily sludge, microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR),washing oil- contaminated soil and enhancing the bioremediation of hydrocarbon- contaminated sites. The cell free culture broth (supernatant) containing the biosurfactant that was produced by strain P25 was sterilized and applied for the bioremediation of spent motor oil- contaminated soil. The result show that the addition of the sterilized supernatant alone increased the biodegradation of the oil to 65.0±5.2%. Addition of NP fertilizer alone failed to increase the biodegradation more than 46.0±2.0%, while in the presence of a mixture of biosurfactant and NP (BRNP) the biodegradation increased to 60.0±5.0%. Statistically, no significant difference between the result in presence of BR in the presence of BRNP (P>0.05). It can be concluded that the promising factor in the biodegradation of spent motor oil is the addition of BR alone or in combination with NP.
Waste Plastic Nanomagnetite Pour Point Depressants for Heavy and Light Egyptian Crude Oil
(American Chemical Society, 2023-01) Kamal, Rasha S; Michel, George; Ageez, Amr; Farag, Reem K
One of the most widely used plastics in the world’s rapidly urbanizing population is polyethylene (PE). Globally, there is a growing demand for plastics. Polyethylene plastics do pollute and harm the environment. Although polyethylene is said to be nonbiodegradable, any chemical deterioration can take hundreds of years. This study intends to improve the crude oil property, precisely its pour point, by using polyethylene derived from waste products with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and applying it to heavy and light crude oils. Forty crude oil samples were prepared by changing the PE additive concentration from 0.25 to 2% with 0−2.0% MNP concentration. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), gas chromatography, and photomicrographic techniques were employed during the study. DLS results revealed that nanoparticles of heavy (B) crude oil have bigger particle sizes than light (A) crude oil samples, and the overall distribution of the added nanoparticles was much better in light crude oil than in heavy crude oil. The photomicrographic results revealed that the treated samples using additives provided a significant wax crystal reduction compatible with the provided pour point results. The prepared sample of the treated light (A) crude oil provided a more extraordinary rheology performance than the heavy (B) crude oil. Moreover, prepared crude oil samples with PE additives and MNPs are effective as pour point depressants.