Research Title: Expression of a corn bifunctional inhibitor of serine proteinase and insect alpha-amylase in transgenic tobacco plants.

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 1996

Plant Science , 115

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Corn seed endosperm contains a putative defense protein (14K-CI) that inhibits both trypsin-like serine proteinases and insect α-amylases. A cDNA clone encoding 14K-CI under control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter and the nopaline synthase polyadenylation region was introduced into tobacco plants by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The presence and expression of the chimeric gene in regenerated (R0) and progeny (R1) plants was confirmed by Southern, polymerase chain reaction, and Northern analyses. Protein extracts of selected transformed plants, but not control plants, reacted positively to corn seed 14K-CI antiserum. Comparison of 14K-CI mobilities from transgenic leaves and corn seeds after denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that recognition and cleavage of the 14K-CI signal peptide sequence occurred in tobacco leaves. Immunological assays showed that the inhibitor was expressed in amounts up to 0.05% of the total protein in young leaves of R1 plants. Lesser accumulation was generally detected in older leaves. Protein extracts from transgenic plants were more inhibitory than were control plant extracts to bovine trypsin activity. Four tobacco plants with a gene lacking the 14K-CI signal peptide region accumulated 3– 5-fold less inhibitor than did the highest-expressing plant with the full cDNA clone. Use of a double 35S promoter did not enhance 14K-CI accumulation. Post-transcriptional events appear to be a major factor in the low accumulation of 14K-CI in tobacco.

Keywords: transgenic plants, corn inhibitor

Research Title: Constitutive expression of an inducible -1,3-glucanase in alfalfa reduces disease severity caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytopthora megasperma f. sp. medicaginis, but does not reduce disease severity of chitin-containing fungi.

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 1996

Transgenic Research , 5

Faculty: Science

Abstract: cDNA sequences coding for an acidic glucanase (Aglul) that is expressed in elicited alfalfa cell suspension cultures, and a rice basic chitinase (RCH10) that is induced by elicitor and wounding, were placed into constitutive expression cassettes under control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter or 35S enhancer sequences, and introduced in alfalfa plants of the regenerable cultivar Regen SY byAgrobacterium-mediated transformation. Southern and northern blot analysis confirmed stable incorporation and transcription, respectively, of the chimaeric genes in the transgenic plants. Active rice chitinase was expressed in alfalfa leaves, and leaves of plants transformed with theAglul sequence exhibited increased glucanase activity and the appearance of an additional glucanase band on activity gels. A glucanase of similar native electrophoretic mobility was constitutively present in root extracts of non-transformed alfalfa plants, and was induced in pathogen-infected leaves, presumably reflecting the expression pattern of the endogenousAglul gene. Thus, expression of the chimaericAglul transgene increased the amount, and broadened the tissue-type constitutive expression, of theAglul protein compared to control plants. Transgenic alfalfa plants containing a binary vector with both chimaeric genes in tandem expressed each gene to a much lesser extent than transgenic plants containing a single chimaeric gene. Expression of RCH10 in transgenic alfalfa did not appear to affect negatively theRhizobium/alfalfa interaction. Analysis of primary transformants for response to several fungal pathogens of alfalfa indicated statistically significant symptom reduction only in the case ofPhytophthora megasperma f. sp.medicaginis (Pmm), and only in plants overexpressingAglul. Resistance against Pmm segregated with glucanase expression in a cross between transgenic Regen SY and the commercial alfalfa cultivar Apollo.

Keywords: Transgenic alfalfa, Phytophthora megasperma

Research Title: Enhanced protection against fungal attack by constitutive co-expression of chitinase and glucanase genes in transgenic tobacco

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 1994

Bio/technology (Nature Biotechnology), 12

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Plants respond to pathogen attack by the induction of a battery of defenses, suggesting that different protective mechanisms may have complementary roles in the overall expression of disease resistance. We have investigated possible functional interactions between two different hydrolytic enzymes, chitinase and glucanase, by constitutive coexpression in transgenic tobacco of genes encoding the rice RCH10 basic chitinase and the alfalfa AGLU1 acidic glucanase. Hybrid plants were generated by crossing transgenic parental lines exhibiting strong constitutive expression of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S enhancer / RCH10 and CaMV 35S double promoter / AGLU1 gene fusions, respectively. Evaluation of disease development in these hybrids, heterozygous for each transgene, and in homozygous selfed progeny, showed that combination of the two transgenes gave substantially greater protection against the fungal pathogen Cercospora nicotianae, causal agent of frogeye, than either transgene alone. Productive interactions between chitinase and glucanase transgenes in vivo point to combinatorial expression of antimicrobial genes as an effective approach to engineering enhanced crop protection against fungal disease.

Keywords: hydrolytic enzymes, antimicrobial, engineering crop protection

Research Title: Expression of a cysteine proteinase inhibitor (oryzacystatin-I) in transgenic tobacco plants.

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 1993

Plant Molecular Biology, 21

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Expression of cysteine proteinase inhibitors (cystatins) in tobacco or other plants has the potential for improving resistance against pathogens and insects that possess cysteine proteinases. A chimeric gene containing a cDNA clone of rice cystatin (oryzacystatin-I; OC-I), the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, and the nopaline synthase 3 region was introduced into tobacco plants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The presence of the chimeric gene in transgenic plants was detected by a polymerase chain reaction-amplified assay, and transcriptional activity was shown by RNA blot analysis. Heated extracts from transgenic tobacco plants, as well as from progeny which were obtained by selfing a primary transformant, contained protein bands that corresponded in molecular mass to OC-I and reacted with antibodies raised against rOC, a recombinant OC-I protein produced by Escherichia coli. Similar bands were absent in extracts from untransformed control plants. OC-I levels reached 0.5% and 0.6% of the total soluble proteins in leaves and roots, respectively, of some progeny. On a fresh weight basis, the OC-I content was higher in leaves (50 microg/g) than in roots (30microg/g). OC-I was partially purified from protein extracts of rice seeds and from transgenic tobacco leaves by affinity to antirOC antibodies. OC-I from both sources was active against papain.

Keywords: Agrobacterium tumefaciens, 35S promoter, transgenic tobacco

Research Title: The sequence within two primers influences the optimum concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide in the PCR

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 1992

PCR Methods and Applications , 2

Faculty: Science

Abstract: We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to examine extracts of transgenic tobacco plants for the presence of foreign DNA sequences. During this work, information regarding the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the PCR was obtained.

Keywords: DMSO, PCR

Research Title: C-banding of alfalfa chromosomes: standard karyotype and analysis of a somaclonal variant.

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 1991

Journal of Heredity , 82

Faculty: Science

Abstract: C-banding was used to identify diploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. CADL; 2n = 2x = 16) somatic chromosomes and to construct a karyogram. CADL is “cultivated alfalfa at the diploid level” and was derived from cultivated tetraplolds. All chromosomes were differentially C-banded and were differentially C-banded and were identified individually based on position, number, and/or staining intensity of bands. All chromosomes showed centromeric band(s). Six of eight chromosomes—1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8—had telomeric bands but differed in number (0–2) and position of intercalary bands. Chromosomes 3 and 7, which lacked telomeric bands, were also distinguishable. Chromosome 3 exhibited an intercalary band, whereas chromosome 7 was smaller and possessed only a centromeric band. C-banding polymorphism was observed for CADL within some homologous chromosome pairs. The usefulness and reproducibility of the C-banding technique was demonstrated by the analysis of a plant regenerated from tissue culture. Chromosomal rearrangements were documented, including an apparent deletion and an isochromosome derived from chromosome 8. It should now be feasible to use C-banding to gain basic cytogenetic information and to monitor chromosome transfers from other Medicago species into alfalfa.

Keywords: C-banding, alfalfa, Chromosomal rearrangements ,

Research Title: High transmission of paternal plastid DNA in alfalfa plants demonstrated by restriction fragment length polymorphic analysis

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 1990

Theoretical and Applied Genetics , 79:49-55

Faculty: Science

Abstract: A high frequency of paternal plastid transmission occurred in progeny from crosses among normal green alfalfa plants. Plastid transmission was analyzed by hybridization of radiolabeled alfalfa plastid DNA (cpDNA) probes to Southern blots of restriction digests of the progeny DNA. Each probe revealed a specific polymorphism differentiating the parental plastid genomes. Of 212 progeny, 34 were heteroplastidic, with their cpDNAs ranging from predominantly paternal to predominantly maternal. Regrowth of shoots from heteroplasmic plants following removal of top growth revealed the persistence of mixed plastids in a given plant. However, different shoots within a green heteroplasmic plant exhibited paternal, maternal, or mixed cpDNAs. Evidence of maternal nuclear genomic influence on the frequency of paternal plastid transmission was observed in some reciprocal crosses. A few tetraploid F1 progeny were obtained from tetraploid (2n=4x=32) Medicago sativa ssp. sativa x diploid (2n=2x=16) M. sativa ssp. falcata crosses, and resulted from unreduced gametes. Here more than the maternal genome alone apparently functioned in controlling plastid transmission. Considering all crosses, only 5 of 212 progeny cpDNAs lacked evidence of a definitive paternal plastid fragment.

Keywords: Plastid transmission, plastid DNA, parental plastid

Research Title: Assessing physical activity levels in people living with a stoma.

Author: Eman Ahmed Alsaleh, Published Year: 2019

Nursing Standard,

Faculty: Nursing

Abstract: Abstract Physical activity is important for physical and mental health; however, people with a stoma commonly experience a reduction in physical activity following stoma formation. Further research into physical activity levels in people living with a stoma is necessary to determine which factors are associated with engagement in regular physical activity, and with inactivity. AIM: The primary aim of this study was to assess physical activity levels in adults living with a stoma in the community. The secondary aim was to investigate the relationship between activity levels, self-efficacy for exercise, perceived benefits and barriers to exercise, depression, body image and stoma-related quality of life. METHOD: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was sent to healthy individuals living with a urostomy, ileostomy or colostomy, recruited from six stoma support groups in the East Midlands. The primary measure was physical activity levels; secondary measures were self-efficacy for exercise, perceived barriers and benefits to physical activity, depression, body image and stoma-related quality of life. Descriptive analysis of the data was undertaken using a computer analysis package. RESULTS: The questionnaire was sent to 116 adults and completed by 94 adults, giving a response rate of 81%. Of the participants who answered the questions on levels of physical activity, 83% ( n =71/86) did not achieve government-recommended levels of physical activity. Less active participants perceived greater barriers to physical activity and had lower self-efficacy for exercise than participants who were more active. Reported physical activity was not associated with body image, depression or stoma-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: Most participants were physically inactive. Interventions that reduce barriers to exercise and support self-efficacy in people with a stoma can assist them to increase their physical activity levels, as well as reducing the risk of chronic disease associated with sedentary lifestyles.

Keywords: physical activity, stoma, self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers

Research Title: الشعور بالسعادة للعاملين الاداريين بجامعة فيلادلفيا وعلاقتها بالتكيف النفسي والرضا الوظيفي

Author: Sanaa Nasser Alkhawaldeh, Published Year: 2018

مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي, 38

Faculty: Arts

Abstract: هدفت الدراسة الحالية الكشف عن العلاقة بين السعادة والتكيف النفسي والرضا الوظيفي لدى العاملين في جامعة فيلادلفيا. وتكون مجتمع ا الدراسة من جميع العاملين الاداريين في جامعة فيلادلفيا للعام الد ا رسي 2015 - 2016 والبالغ عددهم 339 عامل، ولأغراض جمع المعلومات قامت الباحثة باستخدام كل من مقياس السعادة صالح، 2013 ومقياس التكيف النفسي جبريل، 1996 ( ومقياس الرضا الوظيفي )الخصاونة، 2000 وللإجابة عن أسئلة الدراسة تم إجراء المعالجات الإحصائية التالية: النسب المئوية لخصائص عينة الدراسة ، وتحليل التباين المتعدد (MANOVA ) وتحليل التباين الأحادي واختبار شيفيه، ومعامل ارتباط بيرسون .وأشارت النتائج إلى وجود علاقة قوية بين كل من السعادة ودرجة والتكيف النفسي والرضا الوظيفي لدى العاملين في جامعة فيلادلفيا. أوصت ا الدراسة بعمل ب ا رمج ارشادية توضح أثر السعادة على التكيف النفسي والرضا الوظيفي لمؤسسات المجتمع المحلي، وتدريب العاملين على اكتساب مها ا رت تساعدهم على رفع مستوى الشعور بالسعادة، وحل المشكلات وتحمل الضغوط وطرق التعامل بإيجابية.

Keywords: الشعور بالسعادة، التكيف النفسي، الرضا الوظيفي، العاملين في جامعة فيلادلفيا

Research Title: أثر أنماط التنشئة الاجتماعية على مفهوم الذات والكفاءة الاجتماعية لدى طلبة جامعة فيلادلفيا

Author: Sanaa Nasser Alkhawaldeh, Published Year: 2019

دراسات العلوم التربوية, 46

Faculty: Arts

Abstract: تهدف هذه الدراسة الى الكشف عن أثر التنشئة الاجتماعية على كل من مفهوم الذات والكفاءة الاجتماعية لدى طلبة جامعة فيلادلفيا. وتكون مجتمع الدراسة من جميع طلبة جامعة فيلادلفيا في العام الدراسي 2015-2016. أما عينة الدراسة فقد تم اختيارها باستخدام طريقة العينة القصدية، حيث قامت الباحثة بتوزيع كل من مقياس أنماط التنشئة الاجتماعية، ومقياس مفهوم الذات، ومقياس الكفاءة الاجتماعية على جميع شعب طلبة مادتي علم النفس، وفكر وحضارة في العام الدراسي 2015-2016، إذ تضم هذه المواد طلبة من مختلف كليات الجامعة. وللإجابة عن أسئلة الدراسة تم إجراء المعالجات الإحصائية الآتية: النسب المئوية لخصائص عينة الدراسة، وتحليل التباين الأحادي واختبار شيفيه، ومعامل ارتباط بيرسون. وقد أشارت النتائج إلى وجود علاقة قوية للنمط الديمقراطي للتنشئة الأسرية وبين حصول الطلبة على علامة مرتفعة على مقياس كل من مفهوم الذات، والكفاءة الاجتماعية لدى طلبة جامعة فيلادلفيا، ووجود علاقة قوية بين نمط التنشئة الاجتماعية السلبية (التسلط والاهمال) ومفهوم الذات المتدني لدى طلبة جامعة فيلادلفيا وعدم الكفاءة الاجتماعية، كما وتوصلت النتائج الى وجود فروق ذات دلالة احصائية في مستوى مفهوم الذات، والكفاءة الاجتماعية يعزى الى نمط التنشئة الاجتماعية وأوصت الدراسة بعمل برامج إرشاد أسري وإرشاد زواجي للمقبلين على الزواج والأسر التي تنتظر مولود جدد إذ تتطلع هذه البرامج بأثر التنشئة الاجتماعية واسلوب التربية على الابناء