Khalid O. Abulnaja

Utilization of Saudi date sugars in production of baker's yeast

Abstract Six different yeasts: Saccharomyces cerevisiae (I); S. dastorianus NRRL Y-12693; S. cerevisiae (II); S. dayanus NRRL Y-12624; S. cerevisiae NRRL Y-12632 and S. lodgwii were cultivated in different fermentation media. The results showed that S. cerevisiae (I) gave the highest biomass production. Sefry Beesha dates contained 60% total reducing sugars. When blackstrap molasses, the carbon source of the fermentation medium, was replaced by an equivalent amount of Sefry Beesha date sugars, they were as suitable as the molasses in the production of yeast. The best datesugar concentration was 50·0 mg/ml. Ammonium sulphate was a good nitrogen source, at a concentration of 2·0 mg/ml, for the production of yeast biomass. Biotin, at a concentration of 50 μg/l, was a good growth stimulator for S. cerevisiae (I). The ash of S. cerevisiae (I) contained Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu. Cobalt and Ni were not detected. The concentrations of these metals in the bakers yeast are non-toxic.

Proteome Analysis for Understanding Abiotic Stress (Salinity and Drought) Tolerance in Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

This study was carried out to study the proteome of date palm under salinity and drought stress conditions to possibly identify proteins involved in stress tolerance. For this purpose, three-month-old seedlings of date palm cultivar “Sagie” were subjected to drought (27.5 g/L polyethylene glycol 6000) and salinity stress conditions (16 g/L NaCl) for one month. DIGE analysis of protein extracts identified 47 differentially expressed proteins in leaves of salt- and drought-treated palm seedlings. Mass spectrometric analysis identified 12 proteins; three out of them were significantly changed under both salt and drought stress, while the other nine were significantly changed only in salt-stressed plants. The levels of ATP synthase alpha and beta subunits, an unknown protein and some of RubisCO fragments were significantly changed under both salt and drought stress conditions. Changes in abundance of superoxide dismutase, chlorophyll A-B binding protein, light-harvesting complex1 protein Lhca1, RubisCO activase, phosphoglycerate kinase, chloroplast light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding protein, phosphoribulokinase, transketolase, RubisCO, and some of RubisCO fragments were significant only for salt stress.

Two-stage PCR assay for detection of human brucellosis in endemic areas.

BackgroundBrucellosis is a common zoonosis that can cause a severe febrile illness in humans. It constitutes a persistent health problem in many developing countries around the world. It is one of the most frequently reported diseases in Saudi Arabia and incidence is particularly high in the Central region, and around the city of Riyadh. The aim of this study was to evaluate a two-stage PCR assay for detection of human brucellosis particularly in endemic areas.MethodsA total of 101 serum samples were collected from patients with acute febrile illness (AFI) of unknown cause from two different locations in the Western region of Saudi Arabia. The first location (Northern) is characterized by a nomadic rural population while the second (Central) is a modern urban city. All samples were subjected to DNA extraction and Brucella genus-specific PCR amplification using B4/B5 primers of the bcsp31 gene. Positive B4/B5 samples were subjected to multiplex species-specific Brucella PCR amplification.ResultsIn the Northern location, 81.9% of the AFI samples were confirmed Brucella positive, while all the samples collected from the Central region proved to be Brucella negative. Samples positive for Brucella were subjected to multiplex species-specific Brucella amplification. B. abortus was detected in 10% and B. melitensis in 8% of the samples, while the majority (82%) of samples showed both B. abortus and B. melitensis. As expected, B. suis was not detected in any of the samples.ConclusionsThis study concluded that a two-stage PCR assay could be useful as a rapid diagnostic tool to allow the consideration of brucellosis as a possible cause of AFI, particularly in non-urban locations. It also recommends the collection of epidemiological data for such patients to obtain further information that may help in rapid diagnosis.

Oxidant/antioxidant status in obese adolescent females with acne vulgaris.

Background and Objectives: Acne vulgaris is a distressing skin condition, which can carry with it significant psychological disability. Oxidant/antioxidant imbalance leads to increased production of free radicals, that cause many diseases. Some nutrients, along with systemic oxidative stress, have been implicated in acne vulgaris. The goal of the present study was to assess oxidant and antioxidant status in correlation with the incidence of acne vulgaris in adolescent obese females. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 adolescent females (age 16-22 years) were divided into four groups (15 each) as follows: The first included obese females with acne; the second included obese females without acne; the third included non obese with acne and the fourth included non obese without acne. Fasting serum Malondialdehyde (MDA), β-carotene, and Vitamins A, E, and C were measured. In addition, platelet monoamineoxidase (MAO), and erythrocyte catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) activities were determined. Results: It was found that serum MDA was statistically significantly decreased in obese and non obese subjects with acne, as compared to those without acne (P<0.05, P<0.001) respectively. In contrast, the levels of β-carotene, vitamins A, E and C and the activity of MAO were significantly decreased in the obese and non obese with acne, as against the obese and non obese without acne. Interpretation: In obese subjects, increased fat content facilitates free radical production and lipid peroxidation, as indicated by increased MDA level, which is scavenged by the antioxidant vitamins. The decreased activity of MAO may be inhibited by free radicals and this causes psychological depression in adolescents. However there were non significant changes in the activity of COMT among the studied groups. Conclusion: The nutritional factors and a weakened antioxidant defense system may interplay, to increase the risk of psychological sequelae in acne vulgaris.

The Efficiency of Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Bran in Ameliorating Blood and Treating Fatty Heart and Liver of Male Rats.

The current study focused on testing the hypolipidemic activity of two doses of barley bran on hypercholesterolemic male rats. Twenty-four male albino rats weighing 180–200 gm were divided into four groups. The first group (G1) was the negative control, the second group (G2) was the positive control group fed 2% cholesterol in the diet, and rats of the third and the fourth groups were fed 2% cholesterol and were cosupplemented with 5% and 10% barley bran, respectively, for 8 weeks. The hypercholesterolemic rats of (G2) showed an increase in lipid profile, liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-MB, and lipid peroxide and a decrease in antioxidant enzymes, whereas kidney function, fasting blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin total protein, and total bilirubin were not significantly affected compared with the negative control group in G1. Moreover, histology of heart, liver, and kidney of G2 rats showed histopathological changes compared with the negative control. Administration of the two doses of barley bran in G3 and G4 to the hypercholesterolemic rats ameliorated the level of lipids, liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase-MB. In addition, the histology of heart, liver, and kidney tissues nearly restored the normal state as in G1.

Urinary levels of triclosan and triclocarban in several Asian countries, Greece and the USA: Association with oxidative stress

Abstract Triclosan (TCS) and Triclocarban (TCC) are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in personal care products (PCPs). Because of their potential for endocrine disrupting effects, human exposure to these chemicals is a concern. Biomonitoring studies of human exposure to TCS and TCC have shown widespread exposure of populations in western European countries and the USA. However, exposure to TCC and TCS by populations in Asian countries is less well known. In this study, concentrations of TCS and TCC were determined in human urine collected from seven Asian countries (China, India, Korea, Kuwait, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam), and Greece and the USA. A total of 430 urine samples were analyzed for TCS and TCC, of which 355 (83%) and 82 (19%), respectively, contained measurable levels of these chemicals. The overall geometric mean [GM] concentrations of TCS and TCC, were 1.36 and 0.03 ng/mL, respectively. The highest mean concentration of TCS was found in urine from China (100 ng/mL) and the lowest concentration was found in urine from Vietnam (2.34 ng/mL). We also analyzed urinary 8‐OHdG, a marker of oxidative stress, to elucidate the association with TCS and TCC levels for samples from Saudi Arabia (n=130) and a positive correlation between Ln‐transformed TCC levels and 8‐OHdG was found, although this was not statistically significant. This is the first study to report urinary levels of TCS and TCC in several Asian countries, especially for Vietnam, Kuwait, and Japan. Graphical abstract Figure. No Caption available. HighlightsTriclosan and triclocarban were analyzed in 430 urine samples collected from 9 countries.Triclosan concentrations as high as 1600 ng/mL were found in urine.Age and gender related differences in triclosan levels were minimal.TCC levels were marginally correlated with the oxidative stress marker, 8OHdG.

On methods for reduction of nucleic acids content in a single-cell protein from gas oil

Abstract Single-cell protein (SCP) was produced by utilization of Morgan gas-oil as the carbon source by Canadida lipolytica YB-423. The chemical constitutents of the gas oil SCP were compared with SCP produced by C. lipolytica YB-423 grown on yeast extract and malt extract (YM), Saccharomyces carlsbergensis grown on malt (obtained from the Al-Ahram Beer Company) and Sac. cerevisiae on molasses (obtained from the Egyptian Sugar and Distillation Company). The whole cells produced on gas-oil contained more crude protein (42%) and crude fat (6.98%) than the other SCP. The gas-oil cells were treated by different techniques to reduce the nucleic acid content. The most suitable technique was extraction of protein from yeast cells with sodium hydroxide, which increased the total protein (about 1.68 fold) in the product and removed about 75% of the RNA and 81% of the DNA. The protein-extract solubility was higher than that of the crude yeast cell, except at the highest pH values.

Proteome Analysis of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) under Severe Drought and Salt Stress

Date palm cultivars differently tolerate salinity and drought stress. This study was carried out to study the response of date palm to severe salinity and drought based on leaf proteome analysis. Eighteen-month-old date palm plants were subjected to severe salt (48 g/L NaCl) and drought (82.5 g/L PEG or no irrigation) conditions for one month. Using a protein 2D electrophoresis method, 55 protein spots were analyzed using mass spectrometry. ATP synthase CF1 alpha chains were significantly upregulated under all three stress conditions. Changes in the abundance of RubisCO activase and one of the RubisCO fragments were significant in the same spots only for salt stress and drought stress with no irrigation, and oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 2 was changed in different spots. Transketolase was significantly changed only in drought stress with PEG. The expression of salt and drought stress genes of the chosen protein spots was either overexpressed or downexpressed as revealed by the high or low protein abundance, respectively. In addition, all drought tolerance genes due to no irrigation were downregulated. In conclusion, the proteome analysis of date palm under salinity and drought conditions indicated that both salinity and drought tolerance genes were differentially expressed resulting in high or low protein abundance of the chosen protein spots as a result of exposure to drought and salinity stress condition.

Influence of defatted flaxseed diet on insulin sensitivity, vascular permeability and lipid profile in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus

The impact of flaxseed (FSD) intake, a rich source of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), fiber and lignans, on the cardiovascular system is well documented. However, mechanisms by which flaxseed improve cardiovascular health are not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary flaxseed on vascular permeability and endothelial function in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes in rats. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight) after short term feeding of high fructose diet. Diabetic rats were divided into three groups, one group fed standard diet, second group fed standard diet supplemented with defatted flaxseed powder (FSD), and third group received Metformin (200 mg/kg BW (body weight)) for 8 weeks. Fasting serum concentrations of glucose (FPG), insulin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nitric oxide (NO), uric acid (UA) and lipid profile were measured. Vascular permeability index (VPI) was assessed at the end of experiment by quantifying the extravasation of albumin-bound Evans blue (EB) dye in the heart. Dietary FSD supplementation is comparable to Metformin in modulating blood lipid profiles, insulin and FPG levels. FSD intake was associated with significant reductions in serum insulin (-66%), glucose (-68%), VEGF levels (-66.8%) and UA (-63%), and NO (-37.5%) as compared to diabetic group without FSD supplementation. There were also improvements in lipid profile, vascular permeability index (VPI), insulin resistance and atherogenic indices in diabetic rats supplemented with flaxseed. These results suggest that dietary FSD supplementation may reduce the incidence of diabetic vascular complications through improvement of insulin sensitivity, vascular permeability and lipid profile. Key words:

Phylogeny of ten species of the genus Hordeum L. as revealed by AFLP markers and seed storage protein electrophoresis

The phylogenetic relationships of 60 accessions representing ten species of the genus Hordeum were investigated based on AFLP markers and seed storage protein SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. A total of 339 AFLP polymorphic markers were scored as a result of fingerprinting the studied taxa using seven AFLP primer combinations, whereas 46 polymorphic protein bands resulted from the water soluble and water non-soluble seed storage protein electrophoresis. The phylogenetic tree deduced from AFLP analysis is concordant in a large extent with that deduced from seed storage protein electrophoresis. The studied taxa were clustered according to their genome type into two main groups representing the Old and New World’s species. Inside each group the species were clustered according to their genome type. Highly significant cophenetic correlation coefficient was obtained between both AFLP (0.96) and seed storage protein (0.89) indicating the reliability of the results.