Wahidah Hazzaa Al-Qahtani

This study comprehensively investigated the role of FAM3 family genes (FAM3A, FAM3B, FAM3C, and FAM3D) in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC) using an integrative multi-dimensional approach. Analyses included mRNA expression profiling, promoter methylation assessment, genetic alteration evaluation, prognostic modeling, immune and molecular subtype correlations, gene enrichment analysis, in vitro functional validation, and drug sensitivity evaluation based on TCGA datasets and experimental data. Expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of FAM3A and FAM3D and downregulation of FAM3B and FAM3C in KIRC tissues compared with normal kidney samples. ROC curve analysis demonstrated their diagnostic potential. Promoter methylation analysis indicated hypomethylation of FAM3A and FAM3D and hypermethylation of FAM3B and FAM3C, consistent with their expression profiles. Minimal genetic alterations were observed, suggesting that epigenetic regulation may primarily contribute to their dysregulation. Prognostic modeling associated FAM3 gene expression with overall survival, indicating their potential as predictive biomarkers. Immune infiltration and subtype analyses suggested that FAM3 genes are involved in the modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Functional validation demonstrated that knockdown of FAM3A and FAM3D suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation, while enhancing migratory and wound-healing abilities in KIRC cell lines. Drug sensitivity analysis identified correlations between FAM3 expression and responsiveness to anticancer compounds. These findings highlight the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance of FAM3 family genes in KIRC, providing valuable insights for future clinical translation and potential targeted therapy development.

Background: Viral infections represent a major challenge in modern medicine, including diseases caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and rotavirus, which are among the most prevalent viral pathogens. The rapid transmission and high mutation rates of these viruses contribute to substantial health burdens and socio economic consequences. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs) are effective antiviral agents. The major objective of this investigation was to measure the antiviral activity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs) and green-produced silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) against rotavirus, HPV, and CMV. Methods: UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity and antiviral activity were evaluated using a crystal violet assay in infected cell cultures. Results: The main findings indicate that both Ag NPs and TiO₂-NPs exhibited pronounced antiviral activity against HPV, CMV, and rotavirus. Ag NPs exhibited strong antiviral activity, with lower IC₅₀ values against HPV and CMV; however, this effect was associated with lower cytotoxic concentration (CC₅₀) and selectivity index (SI) values, indicating higher cytotoxicity. In contrast, TiO₂-NPs demonstrated a favorable safety profile, as indicated by higher CC₅₀ value particularly against CMV (863.90 µg/mL) and rotavirus (386.84 µg/mL)—and low cytotoxicity toward host cells—highlighting their strong antiviral selectivity and therapeutic potential. Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest that, while Ag-NPs possess strong antiviral efficacy, TiO₂ NPs offer a more balanced combination of antiviral effectiveness and biosafety and may therefore be more promising candidates for antiviral applications.

Background Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, characterized by complex genetic and molecular alterations. The Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-Receptor Type 6 (PTPN6), also known as SHP-1, plays a critical role in regulating immune responses and cellular signaling pathways, with emerging evidence suggesting its involvement in cancer progression. Previous studies have linked aberrant PTPN6 expression to tumorigenesis in specific cancers, such as lymphoma and leukemia, where it acts as a tumor suppressor. However, the comprehensive role of PTPN6 across pan-cancer, particularly its prognostic significance and molecular functions, has not been fully elucidated. Methodology This study aimed to provide a pan-cancer analysis of PTPN6, utilizing data from multiple public databases with molecular in vitro experiments. Results Our findings showed notable differences in PTPN6 expression among different cancer types. Prognostic analyses indicated that higher PTPN6 expression is associated with poorer overall survival in with notable upregulation in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), and rectum adenocarcinoma (READ). Further, promoter methylation and mutation analyses highlighted alterations in PTPN6 expression across different cancer stages, with a particular reduction in methylation observed in tumor tissues. Functional assays in cell lines demonstrated that PTPN6 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation, supporting its role in cancer progression. Conclusion This comprehensive analysis emphasizes the potential of PTPN6 as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target in cancer. However, further research is required to fully elucidate its role in cancer progression and to assess its clinical applicability.

Newcastle disease (ND) is a serious menace to poultry production and requires stringent measures to enhance growth and improve resistance against viral challenges in infected flocks. In the present study, the immunostimulatory and growth-promoting effects of olive (Olea europaea) leaf extract (OLE) in velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-infected broilers were evaluated. A total of 150-day-old broilers (Cobb strain) were randomly allotted to five groups: Blank Control (BC), Negative Control (NC), OLE-1, OLE-2, and OLE-Only. OLE-1 and OLE-2 groups were given 10 mL and 20 mL/L of OLE-supplemented drinking water on day 3, and ND vaccinations on days 0, 3, and 14. The NC, OLE-1, and OLE-2 groups were given an intraperitoneal challenge of NDV on day 21. Weekly inspections comprised clinical signs, survival, antibody levels, weight gain, and hematological indices. Body weight gain and leukocyte number (p<0.05) were significantly enhanced with OLE supplementation, whereas mortality was lowered to 30%. Proventriculus hemorrhage and intestinal ulcers were more severe in the NC group but less severe in the OLE-treated groups. OLE also attenuated ND-caused tissue injury and increased erythrocyte number, hemoglobin content, and packed cell volume. In conclusion, OLE boosts broiler immunity and growth performance without causing any unfavorable physiological effects, hence being a possible natural additive to improve disease resistance and poultry production.

The brown wheat mite, Petrobia tritici, poses a significant threat to wheat fields. While fertilizers can increase crop productivity, imbalanced application may exacerbate plant susceptibility to pests. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of various NPK fertilization programs on P. tritici infestations over two consecutive cropping seasons. The results revealed significant differences in mite infestation among the treatment groups (p < 0.001). The lowest populations (1.1 and 3.0 mites/leaf) were observed in the treatments sprayed with phosphoric acid (at 0.75 and 1.00 cm/L), where the infestation appeared approximately 120 days after sowing; in contrast, it appeared early at 75 days in the other treatments. Conversely, treatments lacking potassium fertilizer presented the greatest degree of mite injury levels (49.5–57.7 mites/leaf). Although these treatments provided moderate leaf nutrition and crop yield, the highest nutritional content and total yield (10.49 and 9.71 1 t/ha for the two years) were observed in the treatment that received 224:70:100 kg fad⁻¹ commercial fertilizers (=178:25:114 kg ha⁻¹ NPK units) as soil fertilization, which was followed by the treatment with a foliar application of phosphoric acid (1.00 cm/L) with a total yield of 9.34 and 8.53 1 t/ha for the two years. In this treatment, the P. tritici density was moderately high at 9.40 and 6.32 mites/leaf over the two years, respectively. The consistency of P. tritici density and total yield ranking across both years indicated reliable estimates of the impact of fertilization. This study suggests that potassium sulfate application is crucial for reducing P. tritici density and that foliar phosphoric acid application instead of soil application reduces the number of P. tritici and delays its occurrence.

Refine current agricultural practices considering environmental changes are crucial for finding tolerant rice varieties that can meet the demands of human consumption. To this end, stability analysis assesses a crop genotype’s ability to adapt to various conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to (1) examine the interaction between rice genotypes and environmental conditions; (2) evaluate the stability of twelve rice genotypes using various stability methods; (3) identify representative environments for multi-environment testing; and (4) determine superior genotypes for specific environments. The evaluated rice cultivars were Sakha 101, Sakha 104, Sakha 105, Sakha 106, Sakha 107, Sakha 108, Giza 177, Giza 178, Giza 179, Giza 182, Egyptian Yasmine, and Sakha super 300. The experiment followed a strip-plot design, with three replications. The findings revealed significant differences among the rice varieties across various environments for the majority of the assessed characteristics. The joint regression analysis of variance demonstrated highly significant differences among rice cultivars for all the studied traits in terms of genotype-by-environment interaction (G × E). The statistical significance of the interaction between genetic and environmental factors was evident for all variables demonstrating heritable variation among the rice cultivars, specifically Sakha 108, Sakha 104, Giza 177, and Giza 178, concerning grain yield per feddan. These rice cultivars exhibited stability parameters that were not significantly different from unity for the regression coefficient (b_i) and from zero for the deviations from regression (S²d_i) for those traits. Overall, stability criteria are essential for ensuring reliable rice production, meeting human consumption, advancing genetic improvement, and promoting environmental sustainability in agriculture.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) seeds have various nutritional and therapeutic benefits and are thus considered a valuable addition to animal and human health. Hence, in this study, we aimed to induce the nutritive and biological value of anise seeds. To this end, the potential biofortification effect of the endophytic Actinomycetota sp. JW0824 strain, isolated during the fall of 2023 from the medicinal plant Achyranthes aspera, exhibiting natural distribution in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia, was investigated in four varieties of anise seeds from Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, and Morocco. Results revealed significant increments (p < 0.05) in the seed dry weight percentage (DW%) and oil yields. In line with increased biomass accumulation, the metabolism of the primary and secondary metabolites was increased. There were differential increases in proteins, sugars, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, vitamins (e.g., β-carotene, ascorbic acid), and essential oil components (e.g., phenylpropanoids and monoterpenes), along with their precursor phenylalanine. Consistently, the activity of L-phenylalanine aminolyase (PAL) was increased in the Egyptian and Tunisian varieties at 83.88% and 77.19%, respectively, while 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (DAHPS) activity increased in all varieties, with a significant 179.31% rise in the Egyptian variety. These findings highlight the beneficial effects of Actinomycetota sp. JW0824 as a bioinoculant for anise seeds, suggesting its potential application in agricultural practices to improve seed yield and quality. Further field trials are recommended to assess the commercial viability of this endophyte for enhancing anise seed production and potentially benefiting other plant species.