Exploring the taxonomic and functional diversity of marine benthic micro-Eukaryotes along the Red Sea coast of Jeddah city.

Backgrounds: Diverse marine habitats along Jeddah's Red Sea coast support rich biodiversity. Few studies have been done on its diverse communities, especially its microbial counterparts. Metagenomic analysis of marine benthic micro-eukaryotic communities was performed for the first time on the Red Sea coast of Jeddah. This research looks into their community structure and metabolic potential. Methods: Next-generation sequencing was used to examine the micro-eukaryotic communities of seven sedimentary soil samples from four Jeddah coast locations. After isolating DNA from seven benthic sedimentary soil samples, the 18S rDNA V4 regions were amplified and sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq. It was also verified using an Agilent Technologies 2100 Bioanalyzer with a DNA 1000 chip (Agilent Technologies, Fisher Scientific). A standard curve of fluorescence readings generated by qPCR quantification using the Illumina library was achieved using the GS FLX library. Metagenomic data analysis was used to evaluate the microbial communities' biochemical and enzymatic allocations in studied samples. Results: Blast analysis showed that the top ten phyla were Annelida, Eukaryota, Diatomea, Porifera, Phragmoplastophyta, Arthropoda, Dinoflagellata, Xenacoelomorpha Nematoda, and uncultured. Annelida was also found in the highest percentage (93%), in the sample M followed by Porifera (64%), the most abundant in the control sample then Eukaryotes (61%), Phragmatoplastophyta (55%), Arthropoda, and Diatomea (the least common) (32%). community diversity analysis: using Shannon and inverse Simpson indices showed sediment composition to be effective. Also, PICRUST2 indicated that the most abundant pathways were pyruvate fermentation to isobutanol, pyrimidine deoxyribonucleotide phosphorylation, adenosine ribonucleotide de novo biosynthesis, guanosine ribonucleotide de novo biosynthesis, NAD salvage pathway I, the super pathway of glyoxylate bypass and aerobic respiration I (cytochrome c). Conclusion: Results showed that high throughput metagenomics could reveal species diversity and estimate gene profiles. Environmental factors appear to be more important than geographic variation in determining the structure of these microbial communities. This study provides the first report of marine benthic micro-eukaryotic communities found on the Red Sea coast of Jeddah and will serve as a good platform for future research.

Hormonal and molecular alterations induced by sub-lethal toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles on Oreochromis niloticus.

This study was carried out to determine the biochemical and molecular potential effects of Zn-ONPs sub-lethal toxicity on the hormonal profile of Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus). One hundred and fifty O. niloticus juvenile female were used in this experiment; Ninety for determination of LC50 and other 60 fish were divided into 3 groups with 20 fish each (two replicate in each group). Group I used as control group whereas other groups treated with 1/20 and 1/30 of LC50 respectively for 4 days. Serum, pituitary gland, hepatic, pancreatic and muscular tissues were obtained for hormonal and molecular evaluation. Serum growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine (T4), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone and insulin hormones were significantly decreased with a significant increase in both Adrenocorticosteroid hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels with no change in serum glucagon levels. On molecular levels there were a significant down regulation in transcriptional levels of GH, Insulin like growth factor I (IGF-I), insulin and Insulin receptor-A (IRA genes. These results suggested that, hormonal and molecular alterations can be used as an early biomarkers for Zn-ONPs toxicity in fish.

Nanocurcumin improved glucose metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: a comparison study with Gliclazide.

In the present study, the biochemical effect of nanocurcumin (nanoCUR) compared with Gliclazide (GLZ) on the diabetic rats was studied. Forty male albino rats (Sprague Dawley) weighted 110 ± 20 g were used. Rats were randomly separated into two groups. Control, received no treatment. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic groups take 5 ml/kg of STZ in normal saline daily for 30 days, further divided into diabetic non-treated group, did not receive any treatment: diabetic group treated by nanoCUR, received 15 mg/kg/day of nanoCUR orally for 30 days; diabetic group treated by GLZ, received 2 mg/kg/day of GLZ for 30 days. The mean body weights of all rats were registered and serum samples were collected for determination of fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin concentration, liver glucokinase (GK), and glycogen synthase (GS) activities. Liver tissues were collected for determination of mRNA expression of insulin (INS), insulin receptor A (IRA), glucokinase (GK), and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2). The results revealed a significant reduction of body weight in diabetic rats, with no significant differences in nanoCUR and GLZ groups. There was a decline in FBG levels and significant elevation of INS levels, GK, and GS activities in diabetic rats received nanoCUR and GLZ. mRNA expression of INS, IRA, GK, and GLUT2 significantly upregulated in diabetic rats received nanoCUR and GLZ. The amazing observation was a non-significant difference in all measured parameters between nanoCUR and GLZ groups. In conclusion, nanoCUR is able to improve cellular uptake of glucose, the hepatic insulin signaling, and insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats. Its effect was similar to standard hypoglycemic drug (GLZ).

Raspberry ketone attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity by improving metabolic homeostasis in rats

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the anti-obese effect of raspberry ketone against high-fat diet fed rats. Methods: Fifty adult male rats were randomly assigned to receive a standard diet, a high fat diet, and the high-fat diet and 0.5％, 1％or 2％ raspberry ketone. Body weight, biochemical parameters and gene expression of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-δ, fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 A (CPT1A) were investigated. Results: Body weight, blood glucose, insulin, total lipids, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were increased in high-fat diet fed rats. These high fat diet-induced changes were attenuated by treatment with raspberry ketone. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was decreased in high-fat diet fed rats but increased in rats treated with raspberry ketone. Molecular investigations showed induction of gene expression of C/EBP-δ, FAS, ACC, CPT1A and inhibition of gene expression of PPAR-α and HSL in high-fat diet fed rats as compared with control. Raspberry ketone treament reversed these changes except CPT1A. Conclusions: Raspberry ketone can prevent obesity induced by a high-fat diet in rats by induction of the expression of enzymes, controlling lipolysis and fatty acids β oxidation as well as inhibition of gene expressions of adipogenic factors.

Panax ginseng improves glucose metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats through 5' adenosine monophosphate kinase up-regulation.

5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), insulin receptors and transporters are distorted in diabetes mellitus. In this study, the effect of Panax ginseng was assessed on glucose manipulating enzymes activities and gene expression of AMPK, IRA and GLUT2 in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats. Forty male albino rats were randomly divided to four groups 10 rats of each, group I, normal control group (received saline orally); group II, normal rats received 200 mg/kg of Panax ginseng orally; group III, Streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic rats and group IV, STZ-induced diabetic rats received 200 mg/kg of Panax ginseng orally. The duration of experiment was 30 days. Results showed the ability of Panax ginseng to induce a significant decrease in the blood glucose and increase in the serum insulin levels, hepatic glucokinase (GK), and glycogen synthase (GS) activities with a modulation of lipid profile besides high expression levels of AMPK, insulin receptor A (IRA), glucose transporting protein-2 (GLUT-2) in liver of diabetic rats. In conclusion, the obtained results point to the ability of Panax ginseng to improve the glucose metabolism in diabetic models.

Vitamins E and C ameliorate the oxidative stresses induced by zinc oxide nanoparticles on liver and gills of Oreochromis niloticus.

The current study evaluated the hazards of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on Nile Tilapia liver and gill antioxidants enzymes activities and antioxidants genes expressions. The ameliorative action of vitamins E and C mixture was investigated. Two hundred males of Nile Tilapia were exposed to one and two mg L-1 of ZnONPs either with or without vitamin C and E mixture for 7 and 15 days. Glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and gene expression as well glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxide (LPO) levels were investigated. The results revealed that the exposure to ZnONPs could induce alterations in the liver and gills antioxidants and LPO of Nile Tilapia. Moreover, the mixture of vitamin E and C highly effective in alleviation the toxic effect of ZnONPs.

Oxidative Stress in the Muscles of the Fish Nile Tilapia Caused by Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Its Modulation by Vitamins C and E.

The effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on antioxidants in Nile tilapia muscles and the protective role of vitamins C and E were examined. Two hundred males of Nile tilapia were held in aquaria (10 fishes/aquarium). Fishes were divided into 5 groups: 40 fishes in each group; the first group was the control; the 2nd and 3rd groups were exposed to 1 and 2 mg/L of ZnONPs, respectively; and the 4th and 5th group were exposed to 1 and 2 mg/L of ZnONPs and treated with a (500 mg/kg diet) mixture of vitamin C and E mixture (250 mg/kg diet of each). Muscles were collected on the 7th and 15th day of treatments. Muscle malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were measured after treatments. Relative quantification of SOD, CAT, GR, GPx, and GST mRNA transcripts was detected in the muscles. Results showed that MDA and GSH concentration; SOD, CAT, GR, GPx, and GST activities; and mRNA expression were significantly decreased in groups exposed to ZnONPs. Vitamins C and E significantly ameliorated the toxic effects of ZnONPs. In conclusion, vitamins C and E have the ability to ameliorate ZnONP oxidative stress toxicity in Nile tilapia.

Alteration in antioxidant genes expression in some fish caught from Jeddah and Yanbu coast as a bio-indicator of oil hydrocarbons pollution.

The mRNA expression profile of some antioxidant genes in skin, gills, livers, and muscles of Siganus canaliculatus and Epinephelus morio was used as an indicator of petroleum hydrocarbons pollution in six areas at Jeddah and Yanbu coasts in KSA. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) were determined in both sea water and sediments collected from the studied areas. The mRNA expression levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were determined. The highest level of total petroleum hydrocarbons was observed in front of the petromine refinery at Jeddah and in S. canaliculatus when compared to E. morio. There was a significant high expression level of studied antioxidant enzymes genes in the polluted areas and the level of the expression profile tended to correlate with the degree of pollution and fish species feed habit. This was confirmed by the level of MDA which in the same way increased with an increase in the level of total hydrocarbons. In conclusion; the expression profile of antioxidant enzymes of S. canaliculatus and E. morio tissues can be used as a strong bio-indicator of total hydrocarbons pollution especially in S. canaliculatus.

Hematological and biochemical investigations on the effect of vitamin E and C on Oreochromis niloticus exposed to zinc oxide nanoparticles.

This study was carried out to determine the LC50 of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on Oreochromis niloticus and to investigate the effect of vitamin E and C on hematological and biochemical alterations induced by two sublethal concentrations (1 and 2 mg/L) of ZnONPs. One hundred and eighty fish were used for studying the lethal concentrations of ZnONPs. For sublethal study two hundred and twenty-five males of O. niloticus were equally divided into five groups, control, the second and the third were treated with 1 and 2 mg/L ZnONPs respectively. The fourth and fifth were exposed to the same concentrations of ZnONPs plus vitamins E and C. The results revealed that the 96 h LC50 of ZnONPs was 3.1 ± 0.4 mg/L. The sublethal study revealed the presence of normocytic normochromic anemia in groups (2, 3 and 5) along the experiment period. The 4th group showed normocytic normochromic anemia at the 7th day and microcytic hypochromic anemia at the 15th day. Leukocytosis, heterophilia, lymphopenia and monocytopenia were recorded at the 7th day in all treated groups compared with the normal control. At the 15th day heteropenia, lymphopenia and monocytopenia were reported in all treated groups. A significant increase in the serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, aminotransferases, urea, creatinine and erythrocytic nuclear and morphological abnormalities along the experimental periods in all treated groups compared with the normal control. Serum total protein and albumin levels were significantly decreased at the same period in the same groups. Addition of vitamin E and C to the diet (groups 4 and 5) significantly improved all measured parameters compared with groups (2 and 3) which treated with ZnONPs only.

Antidiabetic activity of zinc oxide and silver nanoparticles on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The use of nanoparticles in medicine is an attractive proposition. In the present study, zinc oxide and silver nanoparticles were evaluated for their antidiabetic activity. Fifty male albino rats with weight 120 ± 20 and age 6 months were used. Animals were grouped as follows: control; did not receive any type of treatment, diabetic; received a single intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin (100 mg/kg), diabetic + zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), received single daily oral dose of 10 mg/kg ZnONPs in suspension, diabetic + silver nanoparticles (SNPs); received a single daily oral dose of SNP of 10 mg/kg in suspension and diabetic + insulin; received a single subcutaneous dose of 0.6 units/50 g body weight. Zinc oxide and silver nanoparticles induce a significant reduced blood glucose, higher serum insulin, higher glucokinase activity higher expression level of insulin, insulin receptor, GLUT-2 and glucokinase genes in diabetic rats treated with zinc oxide, silver nanoparticles and insulin. In conclusion, zinc oxide and sliver nanoparticles act as potent antidiabetic agents.

Functional anatomy of the fiddler crab compound eye (Uca vomeris: Ocypodidae, Brachyura, Decapoda).

We describe the structural organization of the ommatidium in the compound eye of the fiddler crab, Uca vomeris, at both the light- and the electron-microscopy levels. We pay particular attention to the organization of the optical system, the retinular cells, the rhabdom, and of pigment cells. Although the fiddler crab compound eye is of the apposition type, typical for Brachyuran crabs, we identify a number of novel, functionally relevant aspects of ommatidial organization that have not previously been described. The flat corneal facet lenses provide the main focusing power and therefore must contain a gradient of refractive index. Each ommatidium has the typical set of eight retinular cells, with a distal retinular cell R8 lying close to the proximal tip of the crystalline cone. R8 is shaped into four lobes, which are separated by proximal extensions of the four crystalline cone cells and of distal extensions of retinular cells R1-R7. The microvilli in the R8 rhabdom are not aligned in a uniform direction, while the microvilli of the main rhabdom show the typical crustacean pattern of alternating bands of horizontally (R3, R4, R7) and vertically aligned microvilli (R1, R2, R5, R6). We describe in detail the distribution and structural properties of screening pigment granules in the two types of pigment cells and in the retinular cells in the equatorial eye. We discuss the functional significance of this fine-structural organization of the fiddler crab compound eye in relation to visual processing and visual ecology.

Compound eye adaptations for diurnal and nocturnal lifestyle in the intertidal ant, Polyrhachis sokolova.

The Australian intertidal ant, Polyrhachis sokolova lives in mudflat habitats and nests at the base of mangroves. They are solitary foraging ants that rely on visual cues. The ants are active during low tides at both day and night and thus experience a wide range of light intensities. We here ask the extent to which the compound eyes of P. sokolova reflect the fact that they operate during both day and night. The ants have typical apposition compound eyes with 596 ommatidia per eye and an interommatidial angle of 6.0°. We find the ants have developed large lenses (33 µm in diameter) and wide rhabdoms (5 µm in diameter) to make their eyes highly sensitive to low light conditions. To be active at bright light conditions, the ants have developed an extreme pupillary mechanism during which the primary pigment cells constrict the crystalline cone to form a narrow tract of 0.5 µm wide and 16 µm long. This pupillary mechanism protects the photoreceptors from bright light, making the eyes less sensitive during the day. The dorsal rim area of their compound eye has specialised photoreceptors that could aid in detecting the orientation of the pattern of polarised skylight, which would assist the animals to determine compass directions required while navigating between nest and food sources.

Scale characteristics of two fish species, Acanthopagrus bifasciatus (Forsskål, 1775) and Rhabdosargus sarba (Forsskål, 1775) from the Red Sea at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The present work aimed to screening and documenting the diversity of scale characteristics of two species belonging to two different genera of the family Sparidae: Acanthopagrus bifasciatus and Rhabdosargus sarba from the Red Sea. The valid useful scale characters for systematic purposes were determined in the term of morphometry and Scanning Electron Microscopic techniques. A wide spectrum of size-free intraspecific variations between different body regions was recorded in each species in terms of morphometric indices. The scale characters included the overall form of the scales and their morphometrics, radii counts, shape of interradial tongues, the first circuli, form of interradial circuli and their denticles, the outer lateral and inner lateral circuli and the form of their denticles, granulation of the caudal field and the shape of ctenii. Moreover, the form of the lateral line canal, the relative position of their anterior and posterior openings and the cantilevered anterior extension of the canal were valid in differentiation between species.

Systematic variations in microvilli banding patterns along fiddler crab rhabdoms.

Polarisation sensitivity is based on the regular alignment of dichroic photopigment molecules within photoreceptor cells. In crustaceans, this is achieved by regularly stacking photopigment-rich microvilli in alternating orthogonal bands within fused rhabdoms. Despite being critical for the efficient detection of polarised light, very little research has focused on the detailed arrangement of these microvilli bands. We report here a number of hitherto undescribed, but functionally relevant changes in the organisation of microvilli banding patterns, both within receptors, and across the compound eye of fiddler crabs. In all ommatidia, microvilli bands increase in length from the distal to the proximal ends of the rhabdom. In equatorial rhabdoms, horizontal bands increase gradually from 3 rows of microvilli distally to 20 rows proximally. In contrast, vertical equatorial microvilli bands contain 15-20 rows of microvilli in the distal 30 µm of the rhabdom, shortening to 10 rows over the next 30 µm and then increase in length to 20 rows in parallel with horizontal bands. In the dorsal eye, horizontal microvilli occupy only half the cross-sectional area as vertical microvilli bands. Modelling absorption along the length of fiddler crab rhabdoms suggests that (1) increasing band length assures that photon absorption probability per band remains constant along the length of photoreceptors, indicating that individual bands may act as units of transduction or adaptation; (2) the different organisation of microvilli bands in equatorial and dorsal rhabdoms tune receptors to the degree and the information content of polarised light in the environment.

Homozygous deletion of the FHIT gene, p21WAF1 protein expression and apoptosis in bilharzial bladder cancer.

The FHIT gene alterations may occur as early consequences for the urinary bladder cancer. The present study aimed to identify and analyze the role of homozygous deletion (HZD) and transcriptional alterations of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene in the development and progression of bilharzial bladder cancer in Egyptian patients. The possible associations between FHIT abnormalities and some clinical variables that have prognostic impact in bilharzial bladder cancer patients were determined. In addition, the relations between homozygous deletion (HZD) of FHIT gene, FHIT protein, p21WAF1 expression and apoptosis were demonstrated. We investigated 42 human bladder cancer and 10 normal adjacent tissues as a control group. HZD of the FHIT gene, FHIT protein, p21 protein and apoptosis were assessed by PCR, immunohistochemistry and DNA ladder method, respectively. FHIT HZD deletions have expressed a significant correlation with FHIT protein (p< or =0.04), p21WAF1 protein expression (p< or =0.005) and apoptosis (p< or =0.03). On the other side, no correlations were detected between FHIT homozygous deletions and tumor type, tumor grade and gender. Therefore, the FHIT gene deletions could be important in the development and/or progression of urinary bladder cancers and may be used as an independent prognostic indicator for the clinical outcome in patients with these tumors.