Seminal fluid; the Natural Guard of Seminal DNA

The ability of foreign DNA to be introduced into the sperm cells faces many problems. These problems have been emerged from the existence of some inhibitory factors available in the seminal fluid. Add to that, other several factors are involved in this internalization. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the protective or interactive roles of these seminal fluid proteins in the process of foreign DNA internalization into the head of the sperm. The ability of foreign DNA to be internalized inside sperm cell is become obvious before more than four decades (Brackett et al., 1971). But, the mechanism by which this foreign DNA has the ability to do so is still under debate. However, several papers described certain factors involved in this process. Thus, in order to describe the mechanism of sperm transfection by exogenous DNA, it is necessary to understand the following natural factors that are playing main roles in this scene and they include; inhibitory factor I (IF1), seminal fluid DNase, DNA binding proteins (DBPs), CD4, major histoincompatibility complex class II (MHCII), topoisomerase type II (TOPO II) and reverse transcriptase (RT). They can be further classified into three main groups. The First group is represented by two factors found in seminal plasma; IF1 and DNase, this group is responsible about inhibiting the internalization process of exogenous DNA.  The fact which refers to the existence of one or more factors in seminal plasma that able to block sperm permeability must be taken into account. This means, extensive washing steps of ejaculate to remove seminal plasma is necessary and should be made before incubating sperm with exogenous DNA. Lauria and Gandolfi reviewed that seminal fluid inhibitors have two ways of inhibition to exogenous DNA, either directly or indirectly (Lauria and Gandolfi, 1993). These seminal plasma inhibitory factors may prevent transfection of intact sperm by foreign DNA (Camaioni et al., 1992).  Gandolfi showed that there is a consensus on the experiments made on seminal fluid of the ejaculated spermatozoa of mammals in the impermeability of sperm cell to the aggression of foreign DNA as long as seminal plasma is not removed (Gandolfi, 2000). Thus, seminal fluid prevents any foreign DNA from binding with its receptor on the sperm cell

Correlation between Leptin Encoding Gene and Some Haematological and Biochemical Parameters in Awassi Sheep

The present study was scanned 104 of different genotypic Iraqi Awassi sheep to determine the relation of genetic polymorphism for leptin gene with several biochemical and haematological features. The results of this study were revealed that most of blood characters were homologous for the genotypes AA, AB, AH, AM, AR, and AS except for RBCs and WBCs count since there were significant differences (P< 0.05) between them, and the following genotypes AH and AB were surpassed on the two genotypes AM and AB concerning the number of RBCs, and the two genotypes AB and AH were surpassed on the genotype AM concerning the number of WBCs. Most of biochemical characters were nonhomologous except for the concentration of urea, since significant differences (P< 0.05) among the genotypes were observed with respect to glucose, protein, cholesterol, and triglycerides. The AH genotype was surpassed the two genotypes AB and AR concerning the glucose ratio. The AB genotype was surpassed the two genotypes AM and AS, the two genotypes AA and AH were surpassed the AB genotype concerning cholesterol ratio, and the AB genotype was surpassed the AH genotype concerning the level of triglyceride. In conclusion, the leptin gene diagnostic tool could be used for selection process to enhance the production levels in Awassi sheep through eliminating the animals that were correlated with the genotypes of some undesired characters in early breeding times. Keywords; leptin, gene, Awassi, parameter, blood, biochemistr

Hematological Parameters as Indicators for Litter size and Pregnancy Stage in Awassi ‎Ewes

Physiological status and litter size can indeed have a significant impact on ewes' ‎hematological parameters, which are essential indicators of their health. Therefore, this study ‎examined the hematological profiles of ewes during pregnancy with single and twins in the ‎Awassi ewes. The present study involved 232 ewes in good health and at sexual maturity. ‎Among them, 123 ewes had single pregnancies, while 109 ewes had twin pregnancies. The age ‎range of the ewes included in the study was between 3.5 and 4.5 years. Hematological tests ‎were conducted on the sheep's blood samples promptly following collection. The findings ‎demonstrated variations in hematological parameters among pregnant ewes, with differences ‎based on litter size. Ewes carrying twin pregnancies exhibited significantly higher levels of ‎red blood corpuscular, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin ‎concentration during pregnancy. In comparison to single-pregnant ewes, Awassi ewes with ‎twin pregnancies displayed elevated counts of white blood cells, lymphocytes, granulocytes, ‎and granulocyte percentage compared to ewes with single pregnancies. Awassi ewes with twin ‎pregnancies also exhibited a strong positive correlation with the leukocytes and erythrocytes ‎constituents. In conclusion, these findings indicate that litter size significantly influences ‎hematological parameters, highlighting the importance of considering the physiological status ‎and litter size as indicators of ewes' health. The findings have practical implications in sheep ‎breeding and reproduction, as they can be utilized to enhance the diagnosis, prognosis, and ‎treatment of related conditions‎

Detection Some Trace Elements in Human Milk and Effect of Some Factors on its Concentrations

Study aim to determination some trace elements in lactating mothers human milk and study effect different factors on its concentration, Age , Body mass index, Home and Smoking habitat, atomic absorption flame less used to measured (Mn, Cd, Co and Zn) in 70 sample of lactating mothers milk which digested using tricolor acetic acid 24%. Result show that concentration of these elements increasing than normal value of these elements,Mn was 1801.40, Cd was 114.64, Co was 288.52 and Zn was 212.10.Also factors were studied effect on minerals concentration,  increasing age was  non effected on minerals concentration, over weight causes increasing it, urban resident causesincreasing in Mn concentration while rural residence causes increasing in others minerals, negative smoking habitat causes increasing in Cd and Co concentrations. Key words: trace element, lactating mother’s human milk, atomic absorptio

A missense SNP in the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene is associated with growth traits in Awassi and Karakul sheep

This study was conducted to assess the association between proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene and growth traits in Awassi and Karakul sheep. PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) method was utilized to assess the polymorphism of POMC PCR amplicons with body weight and length, wither and rump height, chest and abdominal circumference measured at birth, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months intervals. Only one missense SNP (rs424417456:C > A) was detected in exon-2, in which glycine was converted to cysteine in the 65th position in POMC (p.65Gly > Cys). rs424417456 SNP showed significant associations with all growth traits in the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth months. At the age of 3 months onward, lambs with CC genotype showed higher body weight, body length, wither and rump heights, and chest and abdominal circumferences than lambs with CA and AA genotypes, respectively. Prediction analyses indicated a deleterious effect of p.65Gly > Cys on POMC structure, function, and stability. Owing to the strong correlation between rs424417456:CC and better growth characteristics, this genotype is proposed as a promising marker to enhance growth traits in Awassi and Karakul sheep. The predicted damaging effects caused by rs424417456:CA and rs424417456:AA genotypes may entail a putative mechanism through which lambs with these genotypes exhibit lower growth traits.</p

The Gly152Val mutation possibly confers resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in ovine Staphylococcus aureus isolates

Background: The mecA gene is a key factor that allows bacterial cells to resist several antibiotics. Aim: This study was conducted to detect the mecA gene polymorphism in ovine wounds and its possible association with the structure and function of penicillin binding protein A2 (PBP2A). Methods: One genetic locus of 1967 bp that covered the majority of the coding regions of the mecA gene within methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) DNA sequences was designed. Results: In addition to standard microbiological tests, PCR-sequencing reactions and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the identity of the targeted MRSA bacteria. Seven novel missense SNPs, including N57T, N115Y, D120N, D139N, G152V, E189K, and F211V, were observed in the mecA amplicons. Multiple state-of-the-art in silico tools were utilized to assess the consequences of each observed SNP in terms of its effect on the corresponding PBP2A protein structure and function. It was shown that some MRSA isolates exhibited a highly PBP2A-damaging SNP, G152V, which showed an entirely deleterious effect on the PBP2A. Furthermore, G152V induced an alteration in the PBP2A interaction with its receptor, which presumably reduced its affinity to bind with the beta-lactams. Conclusion: The present report indicated a possible role for the observed deleterious G152V SNP in the reduction of PBP2A binding with beta-lactams, which has led to a remarkable increase in MRSA’s resistance to antibiotics

A Missense p.Q>R234 Mutation in the Osteopontin Gene Is Associated With the Prolificacy of Iraqi Awassi Ewes

One of the most valuable traits in production and breeding is a sheep’s prolificacy which is influenced by several genes, one of which is the osteopontin ( OPN ) gene. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effect of genetic variation within the OPN gene on Awassi ewe prolificacy. Genomic DNA was extracted from 123 single-progeny ewes and 109 twin ewes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify 4 sequence fragments (289, 275, 338, and 372 bp), representing exons 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the OPN gene. A 372 bp amplicon was identified with 3 different genotypes: TT, TC, and CC. Sequence analysis revealed a novel mutation in TC genotypes p.Q>R234. Statistical analysis revealed that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) p.Q>R234 was associated with prolificacy. Ewes carrying the p.Q>R234 SNP had significantly ( P  ⩽ .01) lower litter sizes, twinning rates, and lambing rates, and more days to lambing than those with the TC and TT genotypes. The p.Q>R234 SNP was confirmed to be responsible for lower litter size through logistic regression analysis. From these results, we can conclude that the missense variant p.Q>R234 adversely affects the traits of interest and shows that the p.Q>R234 SNP negatively influences the prolificacy of Awassi sheep. Based on this study, it is evident that ewes in this population carrying the p.Q>R234 SNP have a lower litter size and are less prolific

The In Silico Predicton of the Chloroplast Maturase K Gene Polymorphism in Several Barley Varieties

This study was conducted to describe the role of the chloroplast maturase K (matK) genetic polymorphism in the reciprocal crossing between five barley varieties using several in vitro / in silico tools. Besides, the final consequences of the matK gene polymorphism on its protein structure, function, and interactions were predicted computationally. Five parental varieties were crossed to each other by full reciprocal crossing design, DNA was extracted from seeds and two different primers’ pairs were designed to scan matK gene. Then, polymerase chain reaction - single-stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) were performed. Two distinct haplotypes in both parents and artificial F1 hybrids in the matK gene were observed in both amplified fragments. This finding indicated that the studied gene had no participation in the reciprocal crossing performed. Three SNPs were identified; two of them are non-synonymous (nsSNPs), namely G387V and L459M. The effect of these missense mutations on the matK protein was analyzed by several in silico tools. It was shown that the coding SNP, L459M was predicted to have much more effective consequences on matK protein structure and function. While the I-Mutant 2.0 prediction tool showed a decrease in stability for these two nsSNPs, which may destabilize the protein interactions to some extent. In conclusion, though the observed missense mutations in the matK gene have no suggestive role in the reciprocally crossed barley varieties, they caused dramatic alterations in several matK protein moieties, which may lead to potential subsequent changes in the matK protein-mediated RNA splicing mechanisms

A novel deleterious oxytocin variant is associated with the lower twinning ratio in Awassi ewes

This study aimed to assess the possible association of oxytocin (OXT) gene with reproductive traits in two groups of Awassi ewes that differ in their reproductive potentials. Sheep were genotyped using PCR—single-stranded conformation polymorphism approach. Three genotypes were detected in exon 2, CC, CA, and AA, and a novel SNP was identified with a missense effect on oxytocin (c.188C > A → p.Arg55Leu). A significant (p in silico tools that were utilized to assess the effect of this variant on the structure, function, and stability of oxytocin. Molecular docking showed that p.Arg55Leu caused a dramatic alteration in the binding of oxytocin with its receptor and reduced the number of interacted amino acids between them. Our study suggests that ewes with AA and CA genotypes showed a lower reproductive performance due to the presence of p.Arg55Leu, which caused damaging impacts on oxytocin and is binding with the OXT receptor. The utilization of the p.Arg55Leu could be useful for improving Awassi reproductive potential.</p