Boosting Solanum tuberosum resistance to Alternaria solani through green synthesized ferric oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is the third crucial global crop facing threats from Alternaria solani, a necrotrophic fungal pathogen causing early blight disease. Beyond crop impact, it leads to substantial production reduction and economic losses worldwide. This study introduces a green synthesis method for producing Ferric Oxide nanoparticles (FNPs) using dried Guava (Psidium guajava) leaves. Guava leaf extract acts as a reducing agent, with iron (III) chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3·6H2O) as the oxidizing agent. This study employed various characterization techniques for Ferric Oxide nanoparticles (FNPs). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed peaks at 877 cm-1, 1180 cm-1, 1630 cm-1, 1833 cm-1, 2344 cm-1, and 3614 cm-1, associated with Maghemite vibrations, polyphenol compounds, and amino acids. UV-Vis spectroscopy exhibited a characteristic absorbance peak at 252 nm for FNPs. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images illustrated particle sizes of 29-41 nm, and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) indicated elemental composition. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed crystalline FNPs with peaks at 26.78, 30.64, 36.06, 38.21, 43.64, 53.52, 57.42, 63.14 and 78.32. Disease resistance assays demonstrated FNPs' effectiveness against A. solani, reducing disease incidence and severity. In the leaf detach assay, concentrations of 15, 10 and 5 mg/L showed a dose-dependent reduction in disease severity and incidence. The Greenhouse Assay confirmed FNPs' concentration-dependent effect on disease incidence and severity. The study also explored FNPs' potential as biocontrol agents showing no adverse effects on overall plant development. Additionally, the study highlighted the agronomic potential of FNPs in enhancing plant growth and development emphasizing their role as micronutrients in biofortification. The findings suggest the promising application of FNPs in plant protection and biofortification strategies.

The correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor and breast cancer in a cohort of female patients in Saudi Arabia.

The current study aimed to examine thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR) genetic variation and breast cancer (BC) susceptibility in women in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, 127 blood samples from female patients diagnosed with BC and 116 blood samples from healthy female controls were studied using a genotyping assay to determine the association between three TSLPR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)-P196L, X201W, and A238V-and the risk of BC progression. In addition, gene expression was evaluated in 20 matching BC and normal tissues using immunohistochemistry. TSLPR protein levels were higher among BC patients than those with matching normal breast tissue. In addition, TSLPR SNP P196L was found to have a significant protective effect on BC progression (OR = 0.4427), although only the T allele for TSLPR P196L had this protective effect against BC progression in participants who were younger than 48 years old. In contrast, no association was found between the T allele and risk of BC in participants who were older than 48 years old, and the CT and TT genotypes were significantly associated with BC risk protection in the older group. The effects of the TT genotype and the T allele were closely associated with a decreased risk of BC in participants with estrogen receptors (ER+) and without them (ER-). Overall, the findings revealed a significant correlation between SNPs in the TSLPR genes and BC progression among women in Saudi Arabia.

Association between tobacco substance usage and a missense mutation in the tumor suppressor gene P53 in the Saudi Arabian population.

The tumor suppressor gene TP53 and its downstream genes P21 and MDM2 play crucial roles in combating DNA damage at the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint. Polymorphisms in these genes can lead to the development of various diseases. This study was conducted to examine a potential association between tobacco substance usage (TSU) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the exon regions of the P53, P21, and MDM2 genes by comparing populations of smokers and non-smokers from Saudi Arabia. P53 rs1042522 (C/G), P21 rs1801270 (A/C), and MDM2 rs769412 (A/G) were investigated by genotyping 568 blood specimens: 283 from male/female smokers and 285 from male/female non-smokers. The results obtained from the smokers and their control non-smokers were compared according to age, sex, duration of smoking, and type of TSU. Heterozygous CG, homozygous GG, and CG+GG genotypes, as well as the G allele of rs1042522 were significantly associated with TSU in Saudi smokers compared with non-smokers. The C allele frequency of rs1801270 was also associated with TSU in smokers (OR = 1.33, p = 0.049) in comparison with non-smokers, in younger smokers (≤29 years) (OR = 1.556, p = 0.03280) in comparison with non-smokers of the same age, in smokers who had smoked cigarettes for seven years or less (OR = 1.596, p = 0.00882), and in smokers who had consumed shisha (OR = 1.608, p = 0.04104) in comparison with the controls. However, the genotypic and allelic frequencies for rs769412 did not show significant associations with TSU in Saudis. The selected SNP of P53 was strongly associated with TSU and may be linked to TSU-induced diseases in the Saudi Arabian population.

Molecular Characterization, Bioinformatic Analysis, and Expression Profile of Lin-28 Gene and Its Protein from Arabian Camel (Camelus dromedarius).

Lin-28 is an RNA-binding protein that is known for its role in promoting the pluripotency of stem cells. In the present study, Arabian camel Lin-28 (cLin-28) cDNA was identified and analyzed. Full length cLin-28 mRNA was obtained using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It was shown to be 715 bp in length, and the open reading frame (ORF) encoded 205 amino acids. The molecular weight and theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of the cLin-28 protein were predicted to be 22.389 kDa and 8.50, respectively. Results from the bioinformatics analysis revealed that cLin-28 has two main domains: an N-terminal cold-shock domain (CSD) and a C-terminal pair of retroviral-type Cysteine3Histidine (CCHC) zinc fingers. Sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis showed that the cLin-28 protein is grouped together Camelus bactrianus and Bos taurus. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis showed that cLin-28 mRNA is highly expressed in the lung, heart, liver, and esophageal tissues. Peptide mass fingerprint-mass spectrometry (PMF-MS) analysis of the purified cLin-28 protein confirmed the identity of this protein. Comparing the modeled 3D structure of cLin-28 protein with the available protein 3D structure of the human Lin-28 protein confirmed the presence of CSD and retroviral-type CCHC zinc fingers, and high similarities were noted between the two structures by using super secondary structure prediction.

In vitro induction of human embryonal carcinoma differentiation by a crude extract of Rhazya stricta.

BACKGROUND: Rhazya stricta Decne. is a medicinal plant that is widespread in Saudi Arabia and desert areas of the Arabian Peninsula. Its extract contains alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids that are involved in different biological activities. The study aim was to evaluate the effects of Rhazya stricta plant extracts on the proliferation and differentiation of NTERA-2 (NT2) pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cells. METHODS: Soxhlet extraction was carried out using different solvents to extract stems, leaves and fruit parts of this plant. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by an MTS cell viability assay. The ability of the plant extract to induce cell differentiation was examined phenotypically using an inverted light microscope. The expression of pluripotency markers was investigated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry. Phytochemical screening of chloroform stem extracts was carried out and a chromatographic fingerprint was generated using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: Chloroform stem extract induced differentiation of NT2 cells at 5 µg/ml, and the differentiated cells exhibited neurite formation. Following induction of differentiation, there was significant down-regulation of the pluripotency marker genes Oct4 and Sox2. In addition, the surface antigen pluripotency marker, TRA-1-60, was strongly down-regulated. Phytochemical analysis of the extract showed the presence of alkaloids and saponins. The chromatogram revealed the presence of fifteen compounds with different retention times. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate for the first time that chloroform stem extract of R. stricta can induce neuronal differentiation of stem cells at an early stage and may contain potential therapeutic agent that can be used in neurodegenerative diseases.