PCR-based detection of Epstein-Barr virus in brain tumors of Iraqi patients with grade I–IV astrocytomas Saad Hasan Mohammed Ali, Heba Fadhil Hassan, Shakir H Mohammed Al-Alwany, Athraa Y Al-hijazi, Basim Mohammed Khashman Human Antibodies, 2025 Background Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has recently been implicated in the development of various astrocytic proliferations. Objective to assess the prevalence of neurotropic EBV infection in brain tissue samples from astrocytoma patients classified into grades I, II, III, and IV, using a prospective case-control approach. Methods In this study, 100 brain tissue specimens were obtained from 75 patients who had astrocytoma grades1, 2, 3 and 4. In contrast, the rest of the brain tissues were enrolled as a control group. The technique of polymerase chain reaction was utilized to amplify and detect the neurotropic DNA sequence of EBV in the examined brain tissues. Results The most infected brain tumor tissues with DNA-EBV are related to the age (41–60 years), which accounted for 10.6%. The overall percentage of positive-PCR detection results for neurotropic EBV genomic DNA sequence in the examined brain tissues from astrocytomas grade 1–4 tissues was 28% (21 out of 75). The difference between the percentage of positivity of PCR detection results of neurotropic EBV genomic DNA sequence in the astrocytoma group and control group was statistically significant (P = 0.04). Conclusion and cancer policy the present results are shedding light on the importance of the studied neurotropic EBV infection in the tumorigenesis and carcinogenesis processes of the astrocytoma cases, possibly either as initiators in the induction of these brain tumors.
Immunohistochemical-Based Detection of Human Cytomegalovirus in Brain Tissues from a Group of Iraqi Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme and WHO Grade II Astrocytoma Tamara Amer Taha, Ali Al-Shalchy, Maysaa Awadh Bahaaldeen, Saad Hasan Mohammed Ali, Shakir H. Mohammed Al-Alwany, Athraa Y. Al-Hijazi, Omar Layth Qassid, Mohammed Alkurtas Al Kindy College Medical Journal, 2025 Background: Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) nucleic acids and proteins are frequently detected in brain tumors, especially high-grade gliomas in adults and children. Despite conflicting data, further investigation into HCMV's role in gliomas is warranted.Objective: This study aimed to determine the frequency of HCMV proteins in tissues from patients at the Specialized Surgeries Hospital in Baghdad diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and grade 2 astrocytoma. Subjects and Methods: Ninety-three (93) tissue samples were collected from patients aged 8-75 years: 46 samples from GBM surgeries and 27 from astrocytoma surgeries. An additional 20 samples collected from non-tumor neurosurgical patients such as (Eosinophilic granuloma and reactive gliosis) aged 21-71 years were included as a control group. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect immediate early and early HCMV proteins. Results: Of the 73 glioma tissues, 38 (52.1%) showed positive IHC signals for HCMV. In GBM tissues, 28 out of 46 (59.9%) were positive, while in astrocytoma tissues, 10 out of 27 (38.4%) were positive. Only 1 out of 20 control tissues (5%) showed HCMV positivity. Within the GBM group, low, moderate, and high IHC scores were observed in 57.1%, 28.6%, and 14.3% of cases, respectively. In the astrocytoma group, scores were low in 60%, moderate in 30%, and high in 10%. Significant statistical differences were noted when comparing GBM and astrocytoma to the control group and comparing GBM to astrocytoma Conclusions: The study revealed a high prevalence of HCMV in glioma samples, supporting its potential role in glioma development, particularly in GBM pathogenesis and possibly carcinogenesis.
Molecular-based Implication of Epstein–Barr Virus in Gliomatous tissues from a group of Iraqi Patients: A PCR Study and Maryam S Ibrahim Journal of Communicable Diseases, 2025 Background: Gliomas account for around 60% of all primary brain tumours. Gliomas' aetiology is unknown, yet neurotropic viruses, including an oncogenic Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), have been implicated recently in the pathogenesis of various brain tumours, including primary CNS lymphoma and glioma. Objective: To analyze the rate of neurotropic EBV infection in cerebral gliomas from a group of Iraqi patients with primary gliomas. Patients and methods: This prospective study was conducted on 65 brain tissues, 40 of them from gliomas, while the rest 25 brain tissues showed unremarkable pathological changes (and used as an apparently healthy control group). The Polymerase chain reaction was done for detecting EBV- DNA sequence, and the main clinicopathological features were recorded. Results: 32% (8 out of 25) of the examined brain tissues were positive for EBV genome detection. The most infected brain tumour tissues with EBV- DNA is related to the age stratum (41-60 years), which accounted for 7.5 percent, while the age strata of (2- 20 years), (21-40 years), and (61-82 years) accounted for 2.5%, 5% and 5%, respectively. The brain tumour tissues with positive EBV-PCR results (and as based on the gender of patients) have revealed that the males accounted for 62.5% while females accounted for 37.5%. Positive EBV-PCR detection results from patients with various types of brain tumors were found as 20%, 8%, and 4% in glioblastoma, astrocytoma, and anaplastic astrocytoma, respectively. Conclusion: Altogether, the apparently too high rate of EBV detection in the studied glioma samples can considered, in respective parts, in brain tumor induction. We recommend the use of advanced molecular studies to be done to confirm the currently obtained data to unravel further the importance of this viral infection in such tumors. How to cite this article:Badran S A, Ibrahim M S, Jusmani A, Al-Alwany S H M, Mahdy A S, Al-Sudani I M, Ali S H M. Molecular-based Implication of Epstein–Barr Virus in Gliomatous tissues from a group of Iraqi Patients: A PCR Study J Commun Dis. 2025;57(2):88-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202542
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the IFNG rs1861494 Gene among a Subset of Iraqi Pediatric Patients with Gastroenteritis Co-infected with Cryptosporidium and Adenovirus Maryam Sabri Ibrahim, Fatima Hashim Abbas, Shakir Hammad Al-Alwany, Saad Hasan Mohammed Ali, Ghassan Ali Fatal Al Rafidain Journal of Medical Sciences, 2024 Background: Research identifies enteric adenoviruses as the third most common cause of infantile gastroenteritis, while Cryptosporidium causes parasitic gastroenteritis. Many studies have revealed the role of IFN-γ in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Objective: To investigate the IFNG rs1861494 gene polymorphism among Iraqi pediatric patients with gastroenteritis co-infected with cryptosporidium and adenovirus. Method: This case-control study enrolled 75 pediatric patients with severe gastroenteritis, whose ages ranged from 3–120 months and had a mean age of 30.64 months. The apparently healthy control (AHC) in this study included 25 pediatric individuals with a mean age of 27.64 months. We extracted DNA from stool specimens to further extract total genomic DNA, extract the human adenovirus (HADV) viral genome via PCR, and detect the IFNG rs1861494 polymorphism using the ARMS PCR technique. Results: The male gender percentage in patients and AHC groups was 54%, while the female counterpart was 46%. The positive PCR result for HADV7 was 28%, whereas the positive result for Cryptosporidium was 6%. In the studied groups, the GG genotype increased at a rate OR=2.67 as compared to the AG and AA genotypes. HADV7 and Cryptosporidium showed a strong correlation with the SNP IFNG rs1861494 results in gastroenteritis (r=0.968, p=0.007 and r=0.984, p=0.008). Conclusions: The identified enteric co-infection of Cryptosporidium and HADV-7, as well as the IFNG rs1861494 polymorphism, may shed light on possible pathogenic roles in gastroenteritis.
Distribution of HPV Genotypes 16 and 18 among Resected Tonsillar Tissues from Pediatric Patients Operated for Non- Oncologic Nasopharyngeal and Palatine Tonsillar Hypertrophies Tahseen Mezher Hashim, Shamil Abbood Hilal, Zainab Khalid Shehab Almukhtar, Saad Hasan Mohammed Ali, Shakir H. Mohammed Al-Alwany, et al. International Tinnitus Journal, 2024 Background: Recent advancements in molecular techniques have identified over 450 genotypes of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), classified into low-and high-oncogenic risk categories.The rise in high-oncogenic risk HPV genotypes has been linked to various cancers, including those affecting the oral, oropharyngeal, and nasopharyngeal regions in both pediatric and adult populations. Methods:In this study, a cohort of 102 tonsillar tissue samples was included.This comprised 40 specimens from pediatric patients aged 4 to 9 years with nasopharyngeal adenoid hypertrophies, and 42 specimens from pediatric patients aged 5 to 12 years with palatine tonsillar hypertrophies.Among the 82 tonsillar tissue samples analyzed, 38 were from pediatric patients who underwent single-tonsillar type operations, while 22 were from pediatric patients who underwent dual-tonsillar type operations, resulting in a total of 44 tissues.Additionally, 20 control tissue samples were obtained from apparently healthy pediatric patients aged 5 to 12 years, following trimming operations of their inferior nasal turbinate tissues, which exhibited no notable pathological changes.For the detection of HPV 16/18 DNA, a recent iteration of Chromogenic in Situ Hybridization (CISH) technique employing specific DNA probes was utilized. Results:In the analysis, among the 40 nasopharyngeal tonsillar hypertrophied tissues, 35.0%exhibited positive CISH reactions for HPV 16/18 DNA detection.Similarly, within the palatine tonsillar hypertrophied tissue group, 30.1% displayed positive CISH signals for HPV 16/18 DNA.For the 22 specimens obtained from dual-tonsillar type operations in the same pediatric patients (totaling 44 tissues), 45.5% showed positive-CISH signals for HPV 16/18 DNA at both sites.Notably, none of the control nasal tissues demonstrated positive-CISH reactions.Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (P Value <0.05) when comparing the results of tonsillar hypertrophied tissues to those of the control group. Conclusions:The notable presence of human papillomaviruses 16 and 18, particularly in their integrated forms of HPV-DNA, within pediatric groups exhibiting nasopharyngeal and palatine tonsillar non-oncologic hypertrophies, raises critical concerns regarding the potential spread of these high-oncogenic risk genotypes.These findings suggest that these sites may serve as reservoirs for the transmission of such viruses to adjacent mucosal tissues in the head and neck region.Furthermore, this presence of HPV could be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis, tumorigenesis, and carcinogenesis processes, constituting a significant step in this chain of events.Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing effective strategies to prevent and manage the associated health risks in affected populations.
Expression of Heat Shock Protein 70 in thyroid gland tumors Haider A. Hassan, Saad Hasan Mohammed Ali, Athraa Y. Al-hijazi Asia Pacific Journal of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 2024 Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a crucial protein with vital biological tasks in cell continuation of life. The variation of HSP70 activation occurs as a consequence of stress that includes temperature states, toxicity, poisoning with heavy metals, and tumor-related conditions. One of the master jobs of the HSP family is the suppression of caspase-mediated apoptosis signals. A high level of the expression of HSP70 is accountable for tumorigenesis and resistance against chemotherapeutic drugs. For this reason, the detection of HSP70 may help to diagnose cancerous diseases. From the other side, targeting this chaperone might help in treatment by maintaining late caspase-dependent events. This study was conducted to detect the presence and the location of HSP70 in Iraqi thyroid tumor tissue specimens (25 samples), in addition to 10 samples of normal thyroid tissue. Using the immunohistochemical study (paraffin method), the protein was detected in 100% of follicular carcinoma or follicular adenoma (benign) in addition to 77.7 % of papillary thyroid carcinoma while, in normal thyroid tissue, the presence of protein was in 10 % of cases. Regarding protein location in the cells, it appeared in the nuclei and the cytoplasm of follicular carcinoma cases in comparison with just in the cytoplasm of other sections.
Immunohistochemical Study of the Expressed Cluster Differentiation Markers Proteins Type 20 And 56 in Breast Tissues from a Group of Iraqi Patients with Breast Cancers Sarmad Zeiny, Saad Mohammed Ali Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2023 BACKGROUND Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are important immunological components in response to cancers. Patients with higher numbers of TIL in breast cancerous tissues, comprising T- cytotoxic and T - helper cells along with B- and rare natural killer (NK) cells, have more favorable clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE To analyze the rate of the expressed surface biomarker proteins of CD20-B cells and CD56- NK cells on the infiltrative lymphocytic subpopulations in a group of breast tumorous tissues (invasive and benign) from female patients in Iraq and explore the relations to the grade of the invasive breast cancerous tissues. PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred and 75 archived breast tissues were enrolled in this retrospective research: 100 archived breast from female patients with invasive breast cancers (BC) [20 well differentiated BC tissues; 48 moderately differentiated BC and 32 poorly differentiated BC tissues]; 50 tissue biopsies from female patients with benign breast tumors and 25 apparently normal individuals with healthy breast tissues (included as the control group for this study). Immunohistochemistry was achieved for the detection of the expressed surface biomarker proteins related to B cell CD20 and NK cell CD56 present on the infiltrative lymphocytic subpopulations in breast tissues by using specific primary antibodies for these proteins via utilizing an immune-enzymatic antigen detection system. RESULTS The detection of IHC reactions for the expressed B cell CD20 - cell surface ( CD) biomarker proteins were observed in 53 out of 100 (53.0%) BC tissues, and in 24 out of 50 (48.0%) benign breast tumorous tissues, while CD20- positive cell surface markers was detected in apparently healthy breast tissues of the control group in a percentage of 32.0% (8 out of 25 tissues). Statistical significant differences (P<0.05) between both groups of malignant and benign breast tumors and the control group were found. However, between breast malignant and benign tumor groups, no significant difference was found ( p >0.05). Detection of CD56- IHC reactions revealed in 14% (14 out of 100 BC tissues), in 16% (8 out of 50 benign breast tissues) and none of control breast tissues revealed CD56- IHC reactions. Among all the enrolled groups, no significant differences (P>0.05) were detected. CONCLUSIONS The observed significant rates that showed highly significant differences between both studied groups of breast malignant and benign tumor in comparison to the control group indicate that the CD20- positive infiltrative B cell- lymphocytic subpopulations might contributed in the defense against these subsets of benign and malignant breast tumors. However, the observed rates of NK cell CD56 present on the lymphocytic subpopulations infiltrating the examined malignant and benign breast tumorous tissues seeming to play irrelevant roles in the defense against these studied breast tumor groups.
Immunohistochemical Detection of the Expressed BRCA1 and BRCA2 Proteins in Microenvironment of Malignant Breast Cancerous Tissues Infected with Human Mammary Tumor Virus Saad Hasan Mohammed Ali, Khalil Ismail Abid Mohammed, Wifaq M Ali, Suha AL-Fakhar, Shakir H. Mohammed Al-Alwany, Jinan M. Mousa Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2023 OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to examine the prevalence of HMTV infection, its associations with breast malignant tissues, and the expression of BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins. METHODS One hundred archival breast tissues, 40 biopsies from female patients with breast cancer (BC), and 20 healthy breast tissues from the control group were used in the study. Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to detect the expressed BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins. Digoxigenin-labeled HMTV probes were used in chromogenic in situ hybridization for the identification of HMTV in breast tumor tissues. The complementary sequence sites of the HMTV probe sequences were stained by NBT/BCIP as blue signals. RESULTS There were 12 out of 40 (30%) benign breast tumorous tissues and 14 out of 40 (35%) BC tissues, while healthy control breast tissues were 10% (2 out of 20 tissues). Positive immunohistochemical (IHC) reactions for BRCA2 protein were observed in 12 out of 40 BC tissues (30.0%), 25% of benign breast tumorous tissues, and 5% of the control group. A significant (p < 0.05) statistical difference in the percentages of HMTV in the studied groups was found. CONCLUSION HMTV might contribute to the development of subsets of benign and malignant breast tumors. The observed rates of defective or mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in healthy tissues indicate a role in the development of breast tumors.
Immunohistochemical Study of the Over-Expressed Protein of P57-Gene Related withHPV31/33 Infections in a Group of Thyroid Carcinomatous Tissues Nihaya Kadhim Salim, SaadHasan Mohammed Ali, Israa Mahdi Al-Sudani Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 2022 Background: The incidence of thyroid cancer has increased during the last three decades. Many studies have been conducted to determine whether there is a link between viral infections and thyroid carcinogenesis. Human Papilloma viruses (HPV) are related to a variety of benign and malignant tumors. P57 is a member of the Cip/Kip family that binds and inhibits all cyclin/CDK complexes, resulting in cell-cycle arrest as well as cell growth. Objective: This retrospective study designed to investigate histopathological expression of thyroid cancer tissues in relation to the concordant HPV31/33 infection and p57 protein over-expressions. Patients and Methods: HPV31/33 DNA and P57-gene protein expression were evaluated in 116 thyroid tissues. The samples related to 36 patients with thyroid carcinoma, 40 thyroid adenoma, and 40 normal thyroid tissues. In situ hybridization (ISH) used to identify HPV31/33-DNA, whereas immunohistochemistry (IHC) used to assess P57-gene expression. Results: Regarding thyroid carcinoma group, HPV31/33DNA-ISH are responses observed in 77.8%, in 30 % of thyroid adenomas group, and in 22.5 %of normal thyroid tissues group. The difference between HPV31/33 in thyroid malignancies and the control group was statistically significant. The p57 protein detected in 75% thyroid cancer tissues and in 52.5 % adenoma thyroid tissues, whereas 35% of the investigated normal thyroid tissues showed IHC-reactions. The difference in the detected percentages of P57 protein was statistically significant in thyroid tissues between the study groupsin relations to the control group. Conclusions: The significant detection of HPV31/33 along with over-expressed P57-gene in thyroid cancer patients could support a possible role for both HPV 31/33 along with this p57 protein in thyroid pathogenesis and for carcinogenesis.
IN SITU LOCALIZATION OF JOHN CUNNINGHAM VIRUS (JCV) ASSOCIATED CDK2 EXPRESSION IN TISSUES FROM IRAQI PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL TUMORS Biochemical and Cellular Archives, 2020
DNA-IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION OF HUMAN BK POLYOMAVIRUS IN PROSTATIC ADENOCARCINOMAS AND BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA Biochemical and Cellular Archives, 2020
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE EXPRESSED LATENT MEMBRANE PROTEIN 1 OF EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS IN RELATION TO THE CLUSTER DIFFERENTIATION MARKERS 8 AND 16 PROTEINS IN A GROUP OF BREAST CARCINOMATOUS TISSUES Biochemical and Cellular Archives, 2020
Impact of salmonellosis on antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, alkaline phosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 2020
DNA- in situ localization of human cytomegalovirus and immunohistochemical targeting of protein expression of p21 gene sequence in tissues from a group of Iraqi patients with non-hodgkin’s lymphoma Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 2018
Immunohistochemical localization of human cytomegalovirus proteins in pancreatic carcinomatous tissues from a group of Iraqi patients sustained whipples surgery Biochemical and Cellular Archives, 2018
Molecular Tracing of Abundances of Latent Epstein – Barr Virus Early Repeats in Laryngeal Carcinomatous Tissues from a Group of Iraqi Patients: A Possibility of an Early Event in Laryngeal Carcinogenesis Biochemical and Cellular Archives, 2018
Nuclear in situ hybridization of high -risk and low-risk human papilloma virus DNA in tissues from a group of iraqi patients with sino nasal and nasopharyngeal benign and malignant Tumors Journal of Global Pharma Technology, 2017
Molecular detection of cytomegalo, CDK2 and P27 in tissues from patients with thyroid carcinoma Journal of Global Pharma Technology, 2017
DNA-in situ hybridization for molecular localization of human cytomegalovirus in cervical tissues from Iraqi patients with cervical adenocarcinoma Journal of Global Pharma Technology, 2017
Molecular targeting of EBERs, EBV- LMP-1 and cyclin-dependent kinases products in colorectal carcinoma tissues of Iraqi patients International Journal of Chemtech Research, 2016
Molecular detection of human papillomavirus genotype-31 in tissues from patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia International Journal of Pharmtech Research, 2016
Epstein barr virus-encoded small untranslated RNAs (EBERs) in relation to translational expression of P27 tumor suppressor gene in patients with bladder tumors/mid-euphrates-iraq International Journal of Pharmtech Research, 2016
