Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in gene regulation and show greater tissue specificity and complexity of biological functions. There is on-going research in their contribution in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). Our study aimed at the evaluation of serum levels of lncRNAs, MALAT1 and lnc-DC in MS patients and the investigation of the association between these lncRNAs and the disease activity. Serum from 45 MS patients and 45 healthy controls was separated. MALAT1 and lnc-DC expression levels were assayed by qRT-PCR. MALAT1 and lnc-DC were significantly increased in MS patients (P=0.004 and P=0.006, respectively) in comparison with controls. There was a significant increase in expression of MALAT1 in secondary progressive MS (SPMS) subgroup compared with controls (P<0.0001); however, significant elevation of lnc-DC was demonstrated in relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) subtype (P=0.003) compared with normal controls. A positive association between the expression levels of MALAT1 and lnc-DC (r = 0.513, P < 0.0001) in MS patients was detected. Moreover, positive correlation was observed between MALAT1and lnc-DC in RRMS (r = 0.569, P = 0.001). Serum levels of MALAT1 and lnc-DC may serve as potential novel molecular biomarkers for MS diagnosis and may provide a new direction for its treatment.

The subterranean termite Psammotermes hypostoma Desneux is considered as an important pest that could cause severe damage to buildings, furniture, silos of grain and crops or any material containing cellulose. This species of termites is widespread in Egypt and Africa. The lower termite’s ability to digest cellulose depends on the association of symbiotic organisms gut that digest cellulose (flagellates and bacteria). In this study, 33 different bacterial isolates were obtained from the gut of the termite P. hypostoma which were collected using cellulose traps. Strains were grown on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as a sole source of carbon. Cellulolytic strains were isolated in two different cellulose medium (mineral salt medium containing carboxymethylcellulose as the sole carbon source and agar cellulose medium). Five isolates showed significant cellulolytic activity identified by a Congo red assay which gives clear zone. Based on biochemical tests and sequencing of 16s rRNA genes these isolates were identified as Paenibacillus lactis , Lysinibacillus macrolides , Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , Lysinibacillus fusiformis and Bacillus cereus , that deposited in GenBank with accession numbers MG991563, MG991564, MG991565, MG991566 and MG991567, respectively.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represented the second cause of mortality among cancer patients. Long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) serve as noninvasive biomarkers for CRC surveillance and introduce new therapeutic approaches. LINC00657 and miR‐106a expression levels play a pivotal role in CRC. This study included 190 Egyptian subjects, and the expression levels of LINC00657 and miR‐106a in serum were measured by using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. We found that upregulation of LINC00657 and downregulation of miR‐106a are significantly associated with the development of CRC. Also, a positive correlation was detected between their serum levels. In addition, serum LINC00657 can distinguish adenomatous polyposis (AP) patients and/or ulcerative colitis (UC) patients from controls. Also the miRNA‐106a expression level discriminates AP but not UC from healthy individuals. Our study cited new diagnostic biomarkers for CRC, AP, and UC among Egyptians in addition to be noninvasive screening tools for CRC in both healthy subjects and those having precancerous lesions. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(9):1322–1335, 2019

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The present investigation was carried out using 51 diverse bitter gourd accessions as material for studying genetic diversity and relatedness using morphological and SSR markers. A wide variation was observed for morphological traits like the number of days to the first female flower anthesis (37.33–60.67), the number of days to the first fruit harvest (47.67–72.00), the number of fruits/plant (12.00–46.67), fruit length (5.00–22.23 cm), fruit diameter (1.05–6.38 cm), average fruit weight (20.71–77.67 g) and yield per plant (513.3–1976 g). Cluster analysis for 10 quantitative traits grouped the 51 accessions into 6 clusters. Out of 61 SSR primers screened, 30 were polymorphic and highly informative as a means to differentiate these accessions. Based on genotyping, a high level of genetic diversity was observed, with a total of 99 alleles. The polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.038 for marker BG_SSR-8 to 0.721 for S-24, with an average of 0.429. The numbers of alleles ranged from 2 to 5, with an average of 3.3 alleles per locus. Gene diversity ranged from 0.04 for BG_SSR-8 to 0.76 for S-24, showing a wide variation among 51 accessions. The UPGMA cluster analysis grouped these accessions into 3 major clusters. Cluster I comprised 4 small, fruited accessions that are commercially cultivated in central and eastern India. Cluster II comprised 35 medium- to long-sized fruited accessions, which made up an abundant and diverse group. Cluster III comprised 11 long and extra-long fruited accessions. The polymorphic SSR markers of the study will be highly useful in genetic fingerprinting and mapping, and for association analysis in Momordica regarding several economic traits.