Effects of aflatoxin B1 on human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells: cytotoxicity, oxidative damage, metabolic, and immune-modulatory transcriptomic changes.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent mycotoxin that is commonly produced by molds such as Aspergillus (A.) flavus and A. parasiticus. AFB1 is associated with several health adverse effects in humans including mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. Aflatoxin is commonly secreted in the milk leading to deleterious effects on breast tissue and potential nursing infants. However, the effects of aflatoxins, particularly AFB1, on the breast cells are less investigated. In this study, AFB1-associated effects on human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) were investigated. AFB1 caused significant cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells. Such cytotoxicity had a positive correlation with the induction of oxidative stress. In addition, AFB1 caused significant transcriptomic alterations in xenobiotics and drug-metabolizing enzymes, transporters, and antioxidant enzymes. Besides, AFB1 upregulated pro-inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-α and cyclooxygenase-2 with a significant reduction of mRNA expressions of the immunity-related genes including interleukins 8 and 10.

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Campylobacter Species with Particular Focus on the Growth Promoting, Immunostimulant and Anti-Campylobacter jejuni Activities of Eugenol and Trans-Cinnamaldehyde Mixture in Broiler Chickens.

Campylobacter species (spp.) are one of the most important causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis in foods of animal origin. Recently, with the spread of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Campylobacter spp., natural alternative therapeutic methods are urgently required. Phytogenic active principles have gained considerable attention due to their proficiency to enhance gut health and, thereby, performance of broiler chickens. Thus, the current study aims to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. of different chicken sources in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, and to assess the growth-promoting, immunostimulant and antimicrobial effects of a mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde in an in vivo approach. A total of 101 (67.3%) campylobacter isolates was identified, according to both phenotypic and genotypic techniques. Moreover, all of the campylobacter isolates were resistant to erythromycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin (100% each). Of note, a dietary supplementation of the mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde led to a significant improvement of the feed conversion ratio and body weight gain and a decrease in the cecal C. jejuni loads in the broilers challenged with XDR C. jejuni. Additionally, eugenol and the trans-cinnamaldehyde mixture had protective activities via the down-regulation of XDR C. jejuni (flaA, virB11 and wlaN) virulence genes and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8), and the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Thus, we recommend the usage of a mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde as an alternative to antimicrobials for the control and treatment of campylobacter infections.

Content of total aflatoxin, lead, and cadmium in the bovine meat and edible offal: study of their human dietary intake, health risk assessment, and molecular biomarkers.

The objectives of the present study were first to determine the residual contents of total aflatoxins (AFTs), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in the edible tissues of the cattle reared in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Al-Ahsa is the largest governorate in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The two main economic activities of Al-Ahsa are oil production (industrial) and agriculture. Besides, dietary intake and possible health risks for Saudi population were further calculated. In order to establish potential molecular biomarkers for xenobiotic exposure in cattle, the mRNA expression of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) including cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (NQO1), metallothionein (MT) 1A, and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 was investigated in the different tissues of the cattle. The tested XMEs were selected because of their specific roles in the metabolism and detoxification of AFTs, Pb, and Cd. The obtained results revealed that the liver had significantly the highest AFT content, while all examined muscle samples had no AFT residues. Consumption of the bovine liver and kidneys represents the highest source for the dietary exposure to total AFTs (0.05-0.98 µg/kg/day), Pb (0.06-0.19 mg/kg/day), and Cd (0.08-0.19 mg/kg/day) among the examined tissues. Therefore, excessive intake of such organs might pose a public health concern, particularly among children. Significant upregulation of mRNA expressions of CYP1A1, NQO1, MT1A, and HSP70 was observed in the different tissues of the cattle in comparison with the muscle. This upregulation had significant positive correlation with the accumulated AFTs, Pb, and Cd. This indicates the possible use of CYP1A1, NQO1, MT1A, and HSP70 as potential biomarkers for the exposure of the cattle to AFTs, Pb, and Cd.

Three species of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato infect camels on the Arabian Peninsula.

We report on the genetic identity of 36 Echinococcus cysts that were collected during a recent slaughterhouse survey of 810 locally bred camels (dromedaries) in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Analysis of a partial nad1 gene sequence showed that the majority (n = 29) belonged to E. granulosus sensu stricto, four to E. canadensis G6/7, and three to E. ortleppi. Eight of the 29 E. granulosus s.s. cysts contained protoscoleces; all other cysts were calcified and non-viable. This is the first report of the presence E. ortleppi from the Arabian Peninsula, a parasite that is typically transmitted via cattle. The results indicate widespread infection of camels with CE in eastern Saudi Arabia and an active role of camels in the lifecycles of at least E. granulosus s.s.. Complete cox1 haplotype analysis of 21 E. granulosus s.s. isolates shows that the majority of variants circulating in eastern Saudi Arabia is distinct from but closely related to haplotypes from neighboring countries in the Middle East, which indicates the presence of this parasite in KSA for a longer period of time. All isolates of E. granulosus s.s. in this study belonged to the G1 cluster, although the G3 genotype has previously also been reported from the Middle East.

Molecular characterization of fowl aviadenoviruses species D and E associated with inclusion body hepatitis in chickens and falcons indicates possible cross-species transmission.

During the period from 2015 to 2017, frequent outbreaks of inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) were observed in broiler chickens and falcons in Saudi Arabia. Fifty samples were collected from both species. The histopathological examination and polymerase chain reaction confirmed the IBH infection in eight samples (five samples from chickens and three samples from falcons). The genomic sequence and phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide and amino acid sequences of Saudi strains, reference fowl aviadenoviruses (FAdVs) and field viruses available in Genbank revealed that all investigated FAdVs clustered into FAdV-2 (species D) and FAdV-6 (species E). The host-dependent characterization revealed that falcon origin strains showed low identity (∼35%) with falcon adenoviruses isolated from USA, which clustered into a separate group. The identification of FAdV-D and FAdV-E in diseased falcons and chickens indicates cross-species transmission although falcons and chickens are phylogenetically different. The control of IBH infection in falcons and chickens should be based on the separation of carriers and susceptible chickens as well as falcons to prevent cross-species contact. Vaccination is an important method for prevention of IBH. The characterization of newly emerging FAdV strains provides valuable information for the development of an efficacious control strategy based on the molecular structure of current circulating FAdV strains in different species of birds.