The Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori {Formerly Campylobacter pyloridis} infection in Jordanian Patients Suffering From Gastroduodenal Disorders: A Methodology Based Comparative Approach

Khaled Abu AL Teen*

Ali AL Karmi

Ma’aweya Hamad

Kasem Abu Shakra

    Total Funding: 3930                                        Funded by :Hashemite University

    Acceptance Date: 4/12/2002                             Duration of Project : 18 months

ABSTRACT

The main objective of this project is to study the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Jordanian patients attending the gastroenterology unit for upper endoscopic examination in the Zarqa Governorate- Jordan. The second goal of this project is to evaluate various bacteriological, serological and histological methods used for detection of H. pylori infection in such patients.     

The results of this  project should provide insight into the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms in the Zarqa Governorate. In addition, we expect to gain new knowledge about the sensitivity of routine noninvasive and invasive   diagnostic assays for H. pylori such as culture, rapid urease test, various serological tests and histological examination of gastric biopsy sections. This should add to existing  data concerning Helicobacter pylori in Jordan and may clarify certain aspects of the complex  relationship between infection with Helicobacter pylori and high risk groups, age and  sex of the patients.    

I- Findings from this study will help in establishing of the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infections in dyspeptic Jordanian patients living in the Zarqa Governorate.

II- The study should provide information pertinent to the sensitivity and accuracy of Helicobacter pylori infection diagnostic assays. Such assays include , but not limited to, culture, rapid urease test, various serological tests and histological examination of gastric biopsy sections.

III- The study should provide some  insight in the possible relationship between the rate of infection by Helicobacter pylori and the socioeconomic status of the various social clusters of the Jordanian population .   

IV- Results to be obtained from this study may answer the question as to  whether age, sex, occupation and other factors of relevance increase the  risk factor for infection.

             Funded Projects by HU:

          Other Projects:

     * Faculty: Science and Arts / Biology.

     * Specific Specialization :Medical Mycology..

              Candida albicans Strain Differentiation in Relation to Pathogenicity Determinants ( Proteinase Production and Adherence).

Khaled Abu AL Teen*

    Total Funding:10518                                      Funded by:Hashemite University

    Acceptance Date: 3/1999                                Duration of Project : 14 months

ABSTRACT

      Strain differentiation of 66 clinical isolates of Candida albicans obtained from healthy dentate and complete denture wearers was performed. Resistogram method based on differences in the resistance of C. albicans isolates to sodium selenite, boric acid, certified, sodium periodate and silver nitrate was used for  strain differentiation. Of the 32 potential strains that can be distinguished, 14 different resistogram strains of C. albicns were found among the 66 isolates tested. Strain - -C- - was the most predominant (24.3% of total isolates), while strain ACDE was the least predominant (1.5%). The result showed no particular association of certain strains with Candida infections in complete denture wearers. Sensitivity to antifungal agents showed tat isolates from different strains were most sensitive to amphotericin B and nystatin and least sensitive to miconazole.

         Sixty – six clinical isolates of Candida albicans representing 14 different strain types were tested for their phospholipase and proteinase activities in correlation with adherence to buccal epithelial cells (BECs) and lethality to mice. Variations in phospholipase and proteinase production as well as adherence to BECs were observed both among isolates of the same strain type and between isolates of different strain types. All isolates tested, irrespective of strain type, produced low levels of phospholipase (0.5 mm for strain – BCD – and 2.7 mm for strain ABC - -) and acid proteinase ((0.6 mm for strain A --- E and 2.2 mm fro strain --C--). A correlation was noted between adherence, phospholipase and proteinase production, and lethality to mice. C. albicans isolates, which adhered most strongly to BECs, exhibited higher levels of phospholipase and proteinase activities as well as higher pathogenicity. This was most evident in strain type --C--, which exhibited higher adherence ability (mean 717+21 yeasts/100BEC), and proteinase activity (mean 2.2 mm), and relatively higher phospholipase activity (mean 2.4 mm) compared with those of other strains. Additionally, this type was more prevalent and showed significantly higher levels of tissue colonization in the liver, kidneys, and spleen compared with most other strain types in both subjects with healthy dentates and complete denture wearers. These results clearly demonstrate the significant role of phospholipase and proteinase activities on the adherence of C. albicans and their overall influence on the pathogenesis of Candida species.

              Funded Projects by HU:

            Other Projects:

        * Faculty: Science and Arts / Biology.

       * Specific Specialization: Medical Mycology.     

Genetic Variation of Various Short Tandem Repeats (STR) Loci Among Jordanian Population

Salem AL Malol*

  Ali AL Karmi

        Ma’aweya Hamad

    Total Funding:5400                                        Funded by:Hashemite University

    Acceptance Date: 10/2001                               Duration of Project : 12 months

ABSTRACT

             Nine tetranucleotide short tandem repeat (STR) loci, D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317 and D7S820 were analyzed in a Jordanian sample population consisting of unrelated individuals using the PCR-based fluorescent labeled PowerPlex^® 16 System. Genotypic and allelic frequencies for the nine genetic loci were calculated and statistically analyzed. The observed heterozygosities were 0.840, 0.810, 0.840, 0.760, 0.800, 0.880, 0.720, 0.790 and 0.800, respectively, and the combined power of discrimination (P_D) of the nineplex was 0.999999999954. All loci were in agreement with the Hardy-weinberg Equilibrium expectations. Allelic frequencies at the D5S818 genetic loci were significantly different from those observed in blacks of Central West Afric. Data presented here provide useful information applicable to forensic investigations and ethnogenetic studies.

             Funded Projects by HU:

          Other Projects:

       * Faculty: Science and Arts / Biology.

      * Specific Specialization: Molecular Biology.

Genetic Variation of Various Short Tandem Repeats (STR) Loci Among Jordanian Minority Population

Salem AL Malol*

  Ali AL Karmi

        Ma’aweya Hamad

    Total Funding:5800                                         Funded by:Hashemite University

    Acceptance Date: 20/1/2003                             Duration of Project : 15 months

ABSTRACT

       Sixteen short tandem repeat (STR) loci (fifteen STR loci and Amelogenin), vWA, FGA, TPOX, TH01, CSF1PO, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D3S1358, D7S820, D16S539, Penta E and Penta D Will be analyzed in a Jordanian sample population consisting of unrelated individuals using the PCR-based fluorescent labeled PowerPlex^® 16 System. Genotypic and allelic frequencies for the Fifteen genetic loci will be calculated and statistically analyzed. The observed heterozygosities and the combined power of discrimination (P_D) of the fifteen loci will be determined. Ethnogenetic studies and Forensic importance will be  highlighted.

         Funded Projects by HU:

         Other Projects:

        * Faculty: Science and Arts / Biology.

      * Specific Specialization: Molecular Biology.

Genetic Variation of Various Y-Chromosome Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Loci in Jordanians

Salem AL Malol*

  Ali AL Karmi

    Total Funding:10000                                         Funded by:Hashemite University

    Acceptance Date: 20/1/2003                             Duration of Project : 15 months

ABSTRACT

                The aim of this project is to establish a genotype and allele frequencies of some short  tandem repeat loci existing on the Y-chromosome in male Jordanians. This will facilitate human identification in various forensic and juricidal settings.

         Funded Projects by HU:

         Other Projects:

        * Faculty: Science and Arts / Biology.

      * Specific Specialization: Molecular Biology.

Community structure and habitat selection of birds in the Dead Sea Basin and Wadi Araba, Jordan.

Fares Kouri*

Younis Abu Galyoon

    Total Funding:3480                                             Funded by:Hashemite University

    Acceptance Date: 5/5/2003                                  Duration of Project : 30 months

ABSTRACT

      The main objective of this project is to study the bird community structure of birds resident and breeding in the Dead Sea Basin and Wadi Araba. This area includes  variety of habitats ranging from arid rocky slopes and sand dunes to oasis, salt marshes and Acacia pseudo-savannas. Community studies will be carried out in all natural and agricultural landscapes to study the impact of rural expansion on the distribution of some species and diversity in general. The project aims at revealing the distributional patterns of birds characteristic of that area and factors affecting their distribution. Species-habitat relationships will be determined by relating the abundance of individual bird species and species clusters with habitat variables by means of multivariate statistical analysis. Classification of guilds will be established in every distinct community. This will increase knowledge about the structure and biological complexity of bird communities in arid environments.

      Funded Projects by HU:

       Other Projects

        * Faculty: Science and Arts / Biology.

* Specific Specialization: Animal Ecology

Effect of Temperature, pH and NaCl Concentration on Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase and 6- Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase Activities of Thermophilic Bacillus Strains Isolated from Hot Spings”

Farouq AL Qa’dan *

Hazim AL Rimawi

    Total Funding:3427                                          Funded by:Hashemite University

    Acceptance Date: 17/9/2003                              Duration of Project: 12 months

ABSTRACT

        The subject of this study is to evaluate G6PDH and 6PGDH activities of thermophilic Bacillus isolated from Ma'ine and Zara hot-springs.

The purposes of this study are  to:

(a) Evaluate the effect of temperature, pH and NaCl concentration on G6PDH and 6PGDH activities.

(b) Determine the number and types of isoenzymes for G6PDH and 6PGDH present in these thermophilic Bacillus strains.

(c) Evaluate total activity and residual activity of G6PDH and 6PGDH enzymes. This will contribute to the effort of isolating very stable G6PDH and 6PGDH enzymes. Enzymes that can maintain their activities without the need for cold storage and work under harsh condition, both are of utmost importance in diagnostics industry.

         Funded Projects by HU:

        Other Projects

        * Faculty: Science and Arts / Biology.

       * Specific Specialization : Organic Chemistry. 

Biological activity of seed endogenous chemical constituent of some Asteraceae and Chenopodiaceae plant species on germination, growth and mutagenecity

Fawsia AL Gorgofgi *

Manar AL Otom

    Total Funding:4050                                             Funded by:Hashemite University

    Acceptance Date: 15/12/2002                               Duration of Project: 12 months

ABSTRACT

دراسة- الفعالية البايولوجية لمستخلص بعض النباتات التي تعود الى العائلة المركبة و العلئلة البنجرية وكما يلي:

1-      تاثير المستخلص المائي على الانبات و نمو البادرات لنوعين من النباتات التي تعود الى العلئلتين اعلاه

2-      اختبار المستخلص المائي كمطفر