Genetic Evidence of Functional Ficolin-2 Haplotype as Susceptibility Factor in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Background: Ficolin-2 coded by FCN2 gene is a soluble serum protein that plays an important role in innate immunity. In this study, we analyzed five functional polymorphisms of the FCN2 gene for their possible association with cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods: Initially we screened 40 Syrian Arabs for the entire FCN2 gene. We investigated the contribution of FCN2 functional variants in 226 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis and 286 healthy controls from Syria. Polymorphisms in the promoter regions (2986G/A, 2602G/A, 24A/G) of the FCN2 gene were assessed by TaqMan real time PCR, whereas polymorphisms in exon8 (+6359C/T and +6424G/T) were assessed by DNA sequencing. We also measured serum ficolin-2 levels in 70 control Syrian Arabs and correlated the serum concentrations to FCN2 genotypes and haplotypes respectively. Results: Nine new FCN2 variants including two with non synonymous substitutions in exon6 and exon8 were observed. The homozygous genotypes +6424T/T were distributed more in controls and none in patients (P = 0.04). The AGACG haplotype were observed more in patients than in controls (OR = 2.0, 95%CI 1.2–3.4, P = 0.006). The serum ficolin-2 levels were significantly distributed among the reconstructed ficolin-2 haplotypes (P,0.008) and the haplotype AGACG was observed with higher ficolin-2 levels in 70 control individuals. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate a significant association of FCN2 AGACG haplotype with cutaneous leishmaniasis in a Syrian Arab population. These first results provide a basis for a future study that could confirm or disprove possibl

A Review of Social Media Roles in E-Government

The fact showed that social media is a potential and profitable platform to increase public interest in adopting e-government by conducting open interactions with societies. However, despite the many benefits of social media, the risk of using social media still exists if the government cannot control it properly, such as misuse of information by irresponsible people. So, an effective strategy is needed to maximize the advantages and minimize the disadvantages/risks of using social media in e-government. In addition, the success factors of social media in e-government for success in implementation. By taking a systematic review technically in journals published in 2017-2021. The study looks for positive and negative impacts, strategies, and success factors of social media in e-government. The results are obtained from the role, positive and negative impacts, strategies, and success factors of using social media in e-government. Next, it is necessary to carry out the same research based on country/region segmentation by considering economic, political, social, security, and cultural conditions so that the results are even more specific

Quality of Life, Knowledge and Access to Treatment in Times of Economic Crisis Among Lebanese Multiple Sclerosis Patients

International audienc

Haploview plot illustrating the linkage disequilibrium of the <i>FCN2</i> functional variants in controls (2A) and patients (2B).

<p>At the top the SNPs are shown according to their succession from the start of translation of the <i>FCN2</i> gene. <i>Empty squares</i> indicate a high degree of LD (LD coefficient D′ = 1) between pairs of markers. Numbers indicate the D′ value expressed as a percentile. <i>Red squares</i> indicate pairs in strong LD with LOD scores for LD ≥70; purple squares, D′ = 1 with LOD >1; <i>white squares</i>, D′ <1.0 and LOD ≤2.</p

Primer pairs utilized for characterization of the entire <i>FCN2</i> gene in 40 Syrian Arabs.

*<p>used only for sequencing.</p

Haploview plot illustrating the linkage disequilibrium of the <i>FCN2</i> promoter region from 40 healthy Syrian individuals.

<p>At the top the SNPs are shown according to their succession from the start of translation of the <i>FCN2</i> gene. <i>Empty squares</i> indicate a high degree of LD (LD coefficient D′ = 1) between pairs of markers. Numbers indicate the D′ value expressed as a percentile. <i>Red squares</i> indicate pairs in strong LD with LOD scores for LD ≥2; purple squares, D′ = 1 with LOD = 2; <i>white squares</i>, D′ <1.0 and LOD ≤2.</p

Primers and probes employed for genotyping three promoter SNPs in the <i>FCN2</i> gene.

<p>YAK and FAM are the reporter fluorophores Yakima Yellow and Fluorescein, respectively.</p><p>Each probe carries at the 3′-end the dark BBQ (BlackBerry Quencher).</p

Distribution of serum ficolin levels to five major haplotypes (−986/−602/−4/+6359/+6424) in 70 control individuals.

<p>Distribution of serum ficolin levels to five major haplotypes (−986/−602/−4/+6359/+6424) in 70 control individuals.</p

<i>FCN2</i> haplotypes in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis patients and healthy controls.

<p><i>FCN2</i> haplotypes in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis patients and healthy controls.</p