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Biodiversity of Chaetomium-like genera in the Nile River, at Assiut, Egypt

Research Abstract
One of the most significant rivers in the world is the River Nile. It is the source of 96% of the country’s renewable freshwater. The study of freshwater fungi is important because it reveals the hidden diversity and ecological significance of these organisms in aquatic ecosystems. It deepens our understanding of biodiversity, nutrient cycling, ecological interactions,  and water quality, while also offering practical applications for environmental and biotechnological purposes. During surveys for freshwater ascomycetes in the Nile River as well as Ibrahimia and Fayama Canals at Assiut region, Egypt, ten species belonging to six genera of families: Chaetomiaceae, Podosporaceae, and Lasiosphaeriaceae, were isolated and identified. Among them, Botryotrichum geniculatum, B. trichorobustum, Pseudorhypophila marina, Pseudothielavia terricola, Zopfiella indica, and Z. udagawae were reported in the current study for the first time from Egypt. These species were isolated in pure cultures and identified based mainly on their morphological features. The identification of one species was confirmed genetically and identified as Pseudothielavia terricola AUMC 16038 (OQ581575). The treated species were described, and photographic illustrations were captured. The frequency, distribution, and hosts for each listed species were recorded. Seven out of ten fungal species have been recovered from Phragmites australis, which is considered in this study to be the ideal submerged plant for isolating freshwater ascomycetous fungi. Continued research on freshwater fungi is of paramount importance, and it is crucial to prioritize conservation efforts to protect rare and endangered species.
Research Authors
Amira Kamal Eldeen Hussien 1 Nemmat Abdel-Gawad Hussein 2 Mohamed Alaa El-Nagdy 3
Research Date
Research Member

Corrigendum to" Long-term correction of hemophilia B through CRISPR/Cas9 induced homology-independent targeted integration

Research Abstract

Corrigendum to "Long-term correction of hemophilia B through CRISPR/Cas9 induced homology-independent targeted integration" [Journal of Genetics and Genomics (2022) 49, 1114-1126] Corrigendum to "Long-term correction of hemophilia B through CRISPR/Cas9 induced homology-independent targeted integration" [Journal of Genetics and Genomics (2022) 49, 1114-1126] J Genet Genomics. 2024 May;51(5):578. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.04.009. Authors Xi Chen 1 , Xuran Niu 1 , Yang Liu 2 , Rui Zheng 3 , Lei Yang 1 , Jian Lu 1 , Shuming Yin 1 , Yu Wei 1 , Jiahao Pan 1 , Ahmed Sayed 4 , Xueyun Ma 1 , Meizhen Liu 1 , Fengxiang Jing 5 , Mingyao Liu 1 , Jiazhi Hu 6 , Liren Wang 7 , Dali Li 8 Affiliations 1 Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal …

Research Authors
Xi Chen, Xuran Niu, Yang Liu, Rui Zheng, Lei Yang, Jian Lu, Shuming Yin, Yu Wei, Jiahao Pan, Ahmed Sayed, Xueyun Ma, Meizhen Liu, Fengxiang Jing, Mingyao Liu, Jiazhi Hu, Liren Wang, Dali Li
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Journal of genetics and genomics= Yi chuan xue bao
Research Pages
578
Research Rank
International
Research Vol
51(5)
Research Year
2024

Nuclear lipids in chromatin regulation: Biological roles, experimental approaches and existing challenges

Research Abstract

Lipids are crucial for various cellular functions. Besides the storage of energy equivalents, these include forming membrane bilayers and serving as signaling molecules. While significant progress has been made in the comprehension of the molecular and cellular biology of lipids, their functions in the cell nucleus remain poorly understood. The main role of the eukaryotic cell nucleus is to provide an environment for the storage and regulation of chromatin which is a complex of DNA, histones, and associated proteins. Recent studies suggest that nuclear lipids play a role in chromatin regulation and epigenetics. Here, we discuss various experimental methods in lipid‐chromatin research, including biophysical, structural, and cell biology approaches, pointing out their strengths and weaknesses. We take the view that nuclear lipids have a far more widespread impact on chromatin than is currently acknowledged. This

Research Authors
Ahmed Sayed, Karthik Eswara, Kaian Teles, Ahlem Boudellioua, Wolfgang Fischle
Research Date
Research Department

Nb-Ta-Sn oxides as markers of magmatic fractionation and magmatic-hydrothermal evolution: The example of the Nuweibi granite intrusion, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Research Authors
Simon Goldmann, Julie Anne-Sophie Michaud, Torge Krummacker, Chao Zhang, François Holtz, Ali A Khudeir, Sadeq Hamid, Mohamed Abu El-Rus
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Geochemistry
Research Year
2024

Design of Chirality-Controlled Ketorolac–Peptide Conjugates for Selective COX-2 Inhibition and Localized Drug Release

Research Abstract

Ketorolac (Ket), a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), alleviates pain and inflammation in chronic diseases by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. However, its non-selectivity for COX-1 and COX-2 often leads to adverse effects. In this study, a series of Ket-tripeptide conjugates with controlled chirality were synthesized and systematically analyzed to enhance COX-2 selectivity. These amphiphilic Ket-capped peptides self-assemble in water, forming supramolecular hydrogels at pH 7.0 that showed drug-release properties. Among them, Ket-Gly-D-Phe-D-Phe demonstrated significantly higher selectivity for COX-2, an enzyme upregulated during inflammation. While Ketorolac and most Ket-peptides in this study exhibited a COX-2/COX-1 ratio below 1, Ket-Gly-D-Phe-D-Phe achieved a remarkable COX-2/COX-1 ratio of 5.8. This result underscores the critical role of chirality control in improving COX-2 selectivity, offering a promising strategy to develop safer and more effective anti-inflammatory therapeutics. The findings suggest that supramolecular hydrogels of Ket-Gly-D-Phe-D-Phe could serve as potential candidates for topical and drug-release applications, minimizing systemic toxicity while maximizing therapeutic efficacy.

Research Authors
Srinivasa Rao Nelli, Yue-Ming Xing, Satish Kumar Talloj, Abdelreheem Abdelfatah Saddik, Mohiuddin Mohammed, Mei-Yu Yeh, Hsin-Chieh Lin
Research Date
Research Department
Research Pages
e00189
Research Publisher
Wiley
Research Website
https://aces.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/asia.202500189
Research Year
2025

Synthesis, photoluminescence, antimicrobial evaluation, molecular docking, and pharmacokinetic prediction of new pyrimidoselenolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives

Research Abstract

Selenopyrimidine compounds, though less explored than their thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine counterparts, exhibit significant potential as multifunctional agents. In this study, a series of novel pyrimidoselenolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine compounds was synthesized using a straightforward methodology. The structural characterization of the compounds was performed using elemental analyses, FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Their antimicrobial activities were evaluated using the agar well diffusion method against various fungal and bacterial strains, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) compared to ciprofloxacin and ketoconazole as standards. Compounds with phenyl substituents displayed superior antibacterial and antifungal activities, while amino carboxamide derivatives showed comparatively lower efficacy. Additionally, the luminescence of selected molecules was explored in DMSO solutions and the solid state. Compounds exhibited strong absorption up to 450 nm and concentration-dependent emission behavior, with a clear red shift in emission spectra owing to the molecular aggregation. DFT calculations revealed significant changes in the structure of the ground and excited states, providing insights into the observed luminescence behavior. Molecular docking studies revealed a high affinity of target compounds to topoisomerase II enzyme. All target compounds were predicted to have acceptable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters. Our findings feature the dual potential of selenopyrimidine derivatives as effective antimicrobial agents and promising candidates for luminescent applications. Thanks to combining biocompatibility and emission properties to present these compounds as possible candidates for biological applications such as bioimaging and bioprobes.

Research Authors
Mahmoud S. Tolba, Mostafa Ahmed, Ahmed A.K. Mohammed, Abdelreheem Abdelfatah Saddik, Mostafa Sayed, Reda Hassanien, Adel M. Kamal El-Dean, Abdelfattah Hassan, Osama Younis
Research Date
Research Department
Research Pages
142097
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Vol
1336
Research Website
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022286025007823
Research Year
2025

Molecular design and performance of emissive amide-containing compounds as corrosion inhibitors: synthesis, electrochemical evaluation, DFT calculations and molecular dynamics simulations

Research Abstract

Corrosion presents a significant challenge across various industries, resulting in considerable economic losses and safety risks. Organic compounds that contain aryl moieties and hetero atoms like nitrogen and oxygen have potential applications as efficient inhibitors and coating layers for the surface of metals. Herein, we investigate the corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 1.0 M H2SO4 using newly synthesized amide-containing compounds with naphthalene (naphthamide 6C–9C) or benzene (benzamide 6C–9C) structures. Characterization of these inhibitors via IR and NMR spectroscopy confirmed their chemical structures. Electrochemical analyses, including open circuit potential and potentiodynamic polarization tests, showed that these compounds significantly reduce the corrosion rate of mild steel. They achieved inhibition efficiencies up to 80% at optimal concentrations. The enhanced performance of these inhibitors is linked to their greater molecular weight and longer alkyl chains, which improve adsorption and surface coverage. Photophysical investigations revealed notable solvatochromic effects and red shifts in polar solvents, indicating strong interactions with the environment. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations provided further insights into the molecular structure, electronic distributions, and adsorption behavior, confirming the higher efficiency of series naphthamide 6C–9C compared to benzamide 6C–9C. Moreover, molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations corroborated the formation of stable protective layers on the metal surface. From the DFT calculations it is evidently that naphthamide 9C exhibited a smaller HOMO–LUMO energy gap compared to compound benzamide 9C, indicating higher reactivity and greater inhibitory efficiency. The integration of experimental and theoretical findings confirms that amide-containing naphthalene and benzene derivatives are highly effective corrosion inhibitors, suitable for industrial applications.

Research Authors
Abdelreheem A. Saddik, Mostafa Sayed, Ahmed A. K. Mohammed, Mohamed Abdel-Hakim, Mostafa Ahmed
Research Date
Research Department
Research Pages
15384-15396
Research Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Research Vol
15
Research Website
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2025/ra/d5ra00978b
Research Year
2025

The first example of white-light emission based on pyrimido[4′,5′:4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine moiety: Synthesis, photophysical, and antimicrobial studies

Research Abstract

A series of new AIE systems based on the pyrimidothienopyrimidine skeleton were efficiently synthesized and fully characterized. These compounds exhibited weak emission in solution but strong solid-state fluorescence with a red shift. Notably, compound 16 displayed unique white-light emission from a single-component system and tunable emission colors in DMF/water mixtures. This dual emission behavior, arising from AIE and excimer formation, is unprecedented for pyrimidothienopyrimidine derivatives. Although compounds 9a and 9b exhibited AIEE behavior, compounds 15c and 18 demonstrated AIE behavior, with significantly enhanced fluorescence intensity upon water addition. Moreover, most synthesized compounds exhibited moderate to strong antimicrobial activity against various bacterial and fungal strains, suggesting their potential for biological applications.

Research Authors
Mohammed G. Sayed, Mohamed A.M. Gad-Elkareem, Esam A. Ishak, Adel M. Kamal El-Dean, Abdelreheem A. Saddik
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy
Research Pages
125897
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Rank
Q1
Research Vol
333
Research Website
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1386142525002033#da005
Research Year
2025

Synthesis, DFT Calculations, and Molecular Docking Study of New Aggregation-Induced Emission Lumiogens Based on Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine Moiety

Research Abstract

The discovery of novel Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) systems based on heterocyclic compounds holds significant potential. In this study, a series of new AIE systems based on thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine moiety synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic analyses. These compounds exhibited weak emission in DMSO solution but displayed strong solid-state fluorescence at λmax=556, 527, 527, and 515 nm for compounds 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, and 7 e respectively. Additionally, compound 10 exhibited emission at 480 nm in DMSO, which was red-shifted to 490 nm in the solid state. Furthermore, the AIE behavior for these compounds was investigated in different DMSO/H2O fractions. Compounds 7 ac, 7 e, and 10 exhibits a typical AIE behavior since these compounds showed weak fluorescence intensity in pure DMSO but sharply increased while the water content reached 80 % in the case of compounds 7 ac, and 7 e, and 90 % in compound 10. Moreover, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations supported the role of molecular packing and intermolecular interactions in modulating the luminescence properties. Molecular docking studies suggested the potential of these AIE compounds as anticancer agents. Compound 7 a exhibits a strong binding affinity of −9.6 kcal/mol for CDK-2 compared with abemaciclib, palbociclib, and ribociclib drugs, indicating its potential as a potent CDK-2 inhibitor.

Research Authors
Manar Kh. Mohamed, Ahmed A. K. Mohammed, Morsy M. M. Aly, Abdel-Aal M. Gaber, Abdelreheem A. Saddik
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry
Research Pages
e202400670
Research Publisher
Wiley
Research Vol
14
Research Website
https://aces.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajoc.202400670
Research Year
2025

Conjugated tetraphenylethene-based polymers for supercapacitor

Research Abstract

The synthesis of two conjugated polymers (P1 and P2) for supercapacitor application was reported. The materials were prepared using a condensation reaction between tetraphenylethene (TPE) with di-(TPE-2CHO) or tetra-carboxaldehyde (TPE-4CHO) derivatives and 1,5-diaminonaphthalene (1,5-DAN). The polymers were characterized using Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR), solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). P1 and P2 polymers displayed a spherical shape, with particle sizes of 6.8 ± 1 μm and 0.97 ± 0.1 μm, respectively. In addition, P1 and P2 exhibited wide light absorption (200–466 nm), accompanied by a relatively low bandgap of 2.3 eV and 2.4 eV for P1 and P2 respectively. Electrochemical investigations of P1 and P2 revealed redox behavior observed in the cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves suggesting a faradaic charge storage mechanism. At a scan rate of 1 mV/s, P1 and P2 demonstrated specific capacitances of 274.8 F/g and 207.9 F/g, respectively. The electrochemical performance of both polymers was further analyzed using galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) using Nyquist plots. The observed decrease in charge transfer resistance for P1 and P2 can be ascribed to the conjugation within their chemical structures. The polymer can be recycled for 5000 cycles with <10 % loss of the polymer's efficiency.

Research Authors
Abdelreheem Abdelfatah Saddik, Hani Nasser Abdelhamid
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Polymer
Research Pages
127778
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Vol
315
Research Website
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032386124011145
Research Year
2024
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