Extraction and purification of L-Asparaginase II from local isolate of Proteus vulgaris

Forty one isolates of genus Proteus were collected from 140 clinical specimens such as urine, stool, wound, burn, and ear swabs from patients of both sex. These isolates were identified to three Proteus spp. P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris and P. penneri .The ability of these bacteria to produce L-asparaginase II by using semi quantitative and quantitative methods was determined. P. vulgaris Pv.U.92 was distinguished for high level of L-asparaginase II production with specific activity 1.97 U/mg. Optimum conditions for enzyme production were determined; D medium with 0.3% of L-asparagine at pH 7.5 with temperature degree 35°C for incubation. Ultrasonication was used to destroy the P. vulgaris Pv.U.92 cells then ASNase II was extracted and purified throughout several purification steps including precipitation with (NH4)2SO4(60-80%), DEAE-cellulose ion exchanger chromatography followed by Sephacryl S-300 filtration. The specific activity was 155.6 U/ mg and the purification fold was 27.3 with 10.4% yield

Functional mechanisms underlying pleiotropic risk alleles at the 19p13.1 breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility locus

A locus at 19p13 is associated with breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) risk. Here we analyse 438 SNPs in this region in 46,451 BC and 15,438 OC cases, 15,252 BRCA1 mutation carriers and 73,444 controls and identify 13 candidate causal SNPs associated with serous OC (P=9.2 × 10-20), ER-negative BC (P=1.1 × 10-13), BRCA1-associated BC (P=7.7 × 10-16) and triple negative BC (P-diff=2 × 10-5). Genotype-gene expression associations are identified for candidate target genes ANKLE1 (P=2 × 10-3) and ABHD8 (P<2 × 10-3). Chromosome conformation capture identifies interactions between four candidate SNPs and ABHD8, and luciferase assays indicate six risk alleles increased transactivation of the ADHD8 promoter. Targeted deletion of a region containing risk SNP rs56069439 in a putative enhancer induces ANKLE1 downregulation; and mRNA stability assays indicate functional effects for an ANKLE1 3′-UTR SNP. Altogether, these data suggest that multiple SNPs at 19p13 regulate ABHD8 and perhaps ANKLE1 expression, and indicate common mechanisms underlying breast and ovarian cancer risk

The FANCM:p.Arg658* truncating variant is associated with risk of triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract: Breast cancer is a common disease partially caused by genetic risk factors. Germline pathogenic variants in DNA repair genes BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, ATM, and CHEK2 are associated with breast cancer risk. FANCM, which encodes for a DNA translocase, has been proposed as a breast cancer predisposition gene, with greater effects for the ER-negative and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes. We tested the three recurrent protein-truncating variants FANCM:p.Arg658*, p.Gln1701*, and p.Arg1931* for association with breast cancer risk in 67,112 cases, 53,766 controls, and 26,662 carriers of pathogenic variants of BRCA1 or BRCA2. These three variants were also studied functionally by measuring survival and chromosome fragility in FANCM−/− patient-derived immortalized fibroblasts treated with diepoxybutane or olaparib. We observed that FANCM:p.Arg658* was associated with increased risk of ER-negative disease and TNBC (OR = 2.44, P = 0.034 and OR = 3.79; P = 0.009, respectively). In a country-restricted analysis, we confirmed the associations detected for FANCM:p.Arg658* and found that also FANCM:p.Arg1931* was associated with ER-negative breast cancer risk (OR = 1.96; P = 0.006). The functional results indicated that all three variants were deleterious affecting cell survival and chromosome stability with FANCM:p.Arg658* causing more severe phenotypes. In conclusion, we confirmed that the two rare FANCM deleterious variants p.Arg658* and p.Arg1931* are risk factors for ER-negative and TNBC subtypes. Overall our data suggest that the effect of truncating variants on breast cancer risk may depend on their position in the gene. Cell sensitivity to olaparib exposure, identifies a possible therapeutic option to treat FANCM-associated tumors

A case-only study to identify genetic modifiers of breast cancer risk for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers

Breast cancer (BC) risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers varies by genetic and familial factors. About 50 common variants have been shown to modify BC risk for mutation carriers. All but three, were identified in general population studies. Other mutation carrier-specific susceptibility variants may exist but studies of mutation carriers have so far been underpowered. We conduct a novel case-only genome-wide association study comparing genotype frequencies between 60,212 general population BC cases and 13,007 cases with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. We identify robust novel associations for 2 variants with BC for BRCA1 and 3 for BRCA2 mutation carriers, P < 10−8, at 5 loci, which are not associated with risk in the general population. They include rs60882887 at 11p11.2 where MADD, SP11 and EIF1, genes previously implicated in BC biology, are predicted as potential targets. These findings will contribute towards customising BC polygenic risk scores for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Functional mechanisms underlying pleiotropic risk alleles at the 19p13.1 breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility locus

A locus at 19p13 is associated with breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) risk. Here we analyse 438 SNPs in this region in 46,451 BC and 15,438 OC cases, 15,252 BRCA1 mutation carriers and 73,444 controls and identify 13 candidate causal SNPs associated with serous OC (P = 9.2 x 10(-20)), ER-negative BC (P = 1.1 x 10(-13)), BRCA1-associated BC (P = 7.7 x 10(-16)) and triple negative BC (P-diff = 2 x 10(-5)). Genotype-gene expression associations are identified for candidate target genes ANKLE1 (P = 2 x 10(-3)) and ABHD8 (PPeer reviewe

A case-only study to identify genetic modifiers of breast cancer risk for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers

Abstract: Breast cancer (BC) risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers varies by genetic and familial factors. About 50 common variants have been shown to modify BC risk for mutation carriers. All but three, were identified in general population studies. Other mutation carrier-specific susceptibility variants may exist but studies of mutation carriers have so far been underpowered. We conduct a novel case-only genome-wide association study comparing genotype frequencies between 60,212 general population BC cases and 13,007 cases with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. We identify robust novel associations for 2 variants with BC for BRCA1 and 3 for BRCA2 mutation carriers, P < 10−8, at 5 loci, which are not associated with risk in the general population. They include rs60882887 at 11p11.2 where MADD, SP11 and EIF1, genes previously implicated in BC biology, are predicted as potential targets. These findings will contribute towards customising BC polygenic risk scores for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

A 2–40 GHz Probe Station Based Setup for On-Wafer Antenna Measurements

A probe station based setup for on-wafer antenna measurements is presented The setup allows for measurement of return loss and radiation patterns of an on-wafer antenna-henceforth referred to as the antenna under test (AUT), radiating at broadside and fed through a coplanar waveguide (CPW). It eliminates the need for wafer dicing and custom-built test fixtures with coaxial connectors or waveguide flanges by contacting the AUT with a coplanar microwave probe. In addition, the AUT is probed exactly where it will be connected to a transceiver IC later on, obviating de-embedding of the measured data. Sources of measurement errors are related to calibration, insufficient dynamic range, misalignment, forward scattering from nearby objects, and vibrations. The performance of the setup is demonstrated from 2 to 40 GHz through measurement of an on-wafer electrically small slot antenna (lambda(0)/35 x lambda(0)/35,3.5 x 3.5 mm(2)) radiating at 2.45 GHz and an aperture coupled microstrip antenna (2.4 X 1.7 mm(2)) radiating at 38 GHz.11612sciescopu

Onychomycosis Caused by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in a Young Immunocompetent Woman in Iran: A Case Report

Background and Aim: Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (R. mucilaginosa) has emerged as a potential pathogen in immunosuppressed hosts. This fungal agent rarely causes onychomycosis in immunocompetent hosts. In this study, onychomycosis caused by this strain on different fingernails and toenails in an Immunocompetent young adult is reported. Case Report: The patient was an 18-year-old woman with clinical symptoms of powdery, hyperkeratosis brief around erythema in the distal part of a toenail and deformity with a groove on surface of a fingernail who was referred to the Medical Mycology Laboratory of Hazrat Ghaem therapeutic center. After diagnostic procedures, he was treated with oral itraconazole 200 mg/day for 2 months along with topical clotrimazole and sulfacetamide ointment and was cured. The nails responded satisfactorily to the treatment. After two months of stopping the drug, the absence of fungus elements in the clinical samples was confirmed. Diagnosis and identification of the fungus was confirmed by morphological characteristics, culture, and DNA molecular method, and R. mucilaginosa was reported as the etiological agent of onychomycosis. Antifungal drug susceptibility was determined in laboratory using the disk diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines. Conclusion: The isolated species was reported as an unusual species of onychomycosis, which needs to be considered by mycology laboratory and clinical specialists for its sensitivity to ketoconazole, itraconazole, and econazole and its resistance to amphotericin B and nystatin. © 2023 Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved