2Background: Antibiotic resistance represents a critical global concern within the medical community, posing significant challenges in the treatment of infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Over the years, broad-spectrum fluoroquinolones have been extensively used to treat infections caused by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study, we decided to assess the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance mechanisms among clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa in Ardabil hospitals. Methods: We analyzed a total of 200 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, collected between June 2019 and May 2023. The antibiotic resistance profiles of these strains against various fluoroquinolone antibiotics were determined using the disk diffusion method. Additionally, we investigated the presence of qnrA, qnrB, qnrC, qnrD, and qnrS genes through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Furthermore, we assessed the expression levels of efflux pump genes and outer membrane porin genes using the quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) in fluoroquinolone-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. Results: Our findings revealed that 69% of P. aeruginosa strains were resistant to fluoroquinolones. The resistance rates for different fluoroquinolones were as follows: ciprofloxacin 55.5%, ofloxacin 62%, norfloxacin 53.5%, lomefloxacin 55.3%, and levofloxacin 55.5%. Notably, 78.9% of these strains exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). Among the qnr genes, qnrB was the most prevalent (2.9%). No other qnr genes were identified. Interestingly, 75% of P. aeruginosa strains carrying the qnrB gene showed overexpression of efflux pump genes, while 100% exhibited down-regulation of the oprD gene. Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of fluoroquinolone-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical isolates in Ardabil hospitals and the multifactorial nature of resistance, continuous monitoring of antibiotic resistance trends and understanding the underlying resistance mechanisms are crucial for selecting appropriate treatment strategies.

Resistance is one of the fundamental Quranic values in the cause of the development of the Islamic society and the formation of the Islamic civilization, which means standing and resisting against something has upset the balance in internal and external dimensions. The formation of this value in the society as one of the methods of the conventional model of human life in the fields of human life; So that its manifestation can be observed in the totality of social behaviors, it is called the culture of resistance (Problem statement). The purpose of this article is the achievement of the engineering process of this value in a society based on the growth-oriented thought (ideological) system of the Holy Quran (Purpose). Now the question is what process does the Holy Quran propose in order to engineer the culture of resistance in the society? (Question). The necessity of examining this issue is clear considering the emphasis of religious teachings on this value and the need for Islamic societies, especially considering the current conditions of Islam and the need for convergence and coordination between the resistance front (Necessity). The research method in stating the engineering process and its components is qualitative content analysis with an analogy approach (Method). The findings of the research show that the engineering process of resistance culture is based on a self-awareness and purposefulness, according to the idea of Quranic growth, in a three-stage process that leads to the happiness of man and human society (Conclusion).

Because the mutant mlo allele causes a non-race specific and broad-spectrum resistance to powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei, the Mlo gene was taken into consideration in barley. Mlo genes also play important roles in plant growth and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The Mlo gene family has been studied in several plant species. In this study, we used bioinformatics tools and searches in genomic databases to reveal the genetic characteristics and protein structure of the Mlo family in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and apple (Malus domestica ). We employed Mlo proteins sequences of Arabidopsis thaliana as a template for tBLASTn, which eventually identified 29 MdMlo (M. domestica Mlo) proteins and 11 TaMlo proteins (T. aestivum Mlo). The comparative phylogenetic analysis classified MdMlo and TaMlo proteins into three main clades and showed that, regardless of plant species, Mlo1s (the first member of the Mlo protein family in wheat, apple and Arabidopsis), Mlo2s, Mlo3s, and so on up to Mlo12s, are closely related. This indicates that after the separation of these species, no further expansion has been occurred in the Mlo gene family. The functionally conserved motifs present in the Mlo proteins were investigated using MEME tool, which showed a maximum of 15 and minimum 10 conserved motifs. The genes TaMlo6, MdMlo8, MdMlo11, TaMlo2, and TaMlo1 are predicted to participate in powdery mildew resistance because of having E/D-F-S-F motif. Analysis of gene organization, protein properties, and conserved domains revealed that the M. domestica and T. aestivum Mlo gene paralogs are more divergent from each other than from their orthologous pairs.

Wheat yellow rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. titici, is one of the most important and most destructive diseases of wheat in many parts of Iran, which decreases crop yield in epidemic years. Host resistance is the most economical method for the management of yellow rust and partial resistance (a type of quantitative resistance), proven to be more durable than other types of resistances. In this study, partial resistance parameters including coefficient of infection (CI), final disease severity (FDS), relative area under disease progress curve (rAUDPC) and apparent infection rate (r) were evaluated in a set of twenty-four wheat genotypes along with susceptible control during two crop years from 2015 to 2016. The research was conducted at Allarough Agricultural Research Station in Ardabil, under natural and artificial inoculation conditions. Artificial infection of genotypes was performed using the yellow rust race population having virulence for Yr2, Yr6, Yr7, Yr9, Yr17, Yr22, Yr22, Yr23, Yr24, Yr25, Yr26, Yr27, Yr26, Yr27, Yr21, Yr21, Yr31, Yr32 and YrSU resistance genes. Seedling response was also evaluated under field conditions. The evaluation of resistance parameters showed that six lines were resistant at both seedling and adult plant stages. Eleven lines showed resistance reaction at seedling stage, but moderate or susceptible reactions at adult plant stage. Seven lines (entries; 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 16, 22) were susceptible at the seedling and had moderate (MR, M or MS) reactions at adult plant stages. Therefore, these lines having low values of different resistance parameters are likely to have varying degrees of partial resistance or high temperature adult plant resistance (a type of non-specific or durable resistance). Cluster analysis based on the reaction of seedling and adult plant, divided the lines into different groups, which also indicated a high diversity of lines in response to yellow rust disease.

To achieve favorable outcomes in breeding programs, selection of parents based on General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA) is so important. In order to study the genetic parameters, general and specific combining abilities and the type of disease resistance genes action against take-all disease in bread wheat, 6 wheat genotypes (729, 1622, 2109, 1528, 1546 and 1526) were crossed in one-way diallel cross. Seeds of F1 generations (F1s) and parents were planted in the research greenhouse of Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Iran and take-all disease tolerance, stem and root dry weights, tiller number and elements such as manganese (Mn), zink (Zn), potassium (K) and iron (Fe) concentrations in plant tissue were measured. The results of Griffing analysis showed that general and specific combining abilities were significant for all traits except tiller number and K element. In terms of Take-all disease resistance, the best general combiners were 1622 and 729 genotypes, respectively. The best resistant hybrids were 2109×1546, 546×1528 and 1622×1526 that had the highest specific combining ability. Evaluation of genetic parameters by Hayman method for disease index and disease score confirmed the results of Griffing analysis and showed that the dominance and over dominance of gene actions had the greatest importance in genetic control of the resistance to take-all disease (T-41 isolation). Finally, due to low narrow sense heritability and low genetic ratio in resistance to take-all disease, it can be concluded that selection for resistance to take-all disease does not respond well in early generations, so selection after purity, that done by bulk, single-seed descent and double haploid methods can be effective in wheat breeding.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common causes of mortality in the world. Increased blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Decreasing blood pressure due to exercise can reduce the risk of cardiovascular incidents. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of exercise on blood pressure, heart rate and rate pressure product.materials and methods: To evaluate the effects of intensity and volume of resistance exercises on the post-exercise cardiovascular responses, 10 young untrained non-athletic men (age: 22±0.8 years; height: 173.05±2.4 cms and weight: 67.2±3.4 kgs) participated in this study as the subjects. The subjects performed four exercise bouts in a randomized order. Each bout consisted of five exercises: arm curl, hamstring curl, squat, seated lat pull-down and bench press. The exercises were determined to be performed at three sets: SHORT volume of LOW 40% 1RM (SL) and HIGH intensity 80%1RM (SH) and at six sets: LONG volume of LOW 40% 1RM (LL) and HIGH intensity 80% 1RM (LH). Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and rate pressure product (RPP) (product of HR and systolic BP) were measured before the exercise (baseline) and at the ten-minute intervals within 90 minutes after each exercise. Then, the data were analyzed using two way ANOVA repeated measures and LSD post-hoc tests.results: Systolic BP was found to be Affected by the volume and intensity of exercise and became lower during 10 to 60 minutes after the exercises (P<0.05). However, Diastolic BP was not altered after the exercise bouts. HR was increased in 30 minutes after LL and SL, and within 60 minutes after SH and LH exercises (P<0.05). In contrast, after SH and LH, RPP was increased over a period of 50 minutes.Conclusion: The intensity and volume of resistance exercises do not influence the magnitude and duration of post-exercise hypotension. Also, HR and RPP post-exercise are not affected by the resistance exercise volume.

For development of parental pollinators of sugar beet resistant to powdery mildew disease, a rather resistant 14442 population was used. Based on the resistance index, 50 resistant plants were selected to produce half sib families (H.S.F). After open pollinating between these 50 plants, seeds of H.S.F were harvesed. Among these 50 plants, 39 plants produced enough seed. This H.S.F were planted in one raw plot with six replications and evaluated for disease resistance in the next year. Three H.S.Fs (H.S.F13, H.S.F24 and H.S.F35) with high level of resistance were selected. These three families were expressed to selection 150 roots were selected to produce next half sib families. Among these 150 families, 88 roots produced enough seed. In the next cycle, 88 new H.S.F were evaluated for disease resistance and three H.S.Fs (H.S.F5, H.S.F17 and H.S.F22) with high level of resistance were selected. From each H.S.F, 35 roots were selected to produce S1 lines. In the cage, among 105 roots, only 13 plants produced enough seed. 13 S1 were evaluated again for disease resistance in the next year. Low level of infection (12.9 %) was observed in the S1 lines. Therefore, selection in the 14442 population for powdery mildew resistance was very effective, and the plants selected in this method showed 72.6 % selection progress. Because of the high resistance of the S1 lines, they could be used to develop powdery mildew resistancte varieties.

2Background and Aim:  Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a prominent pathogen in hospital-related infections, exhibiting high antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to investigate antibiotic sensitivity, biofilm formation, and the presence of virulence-associated genes in S. haemolyticus isolated from pregnant women with urinary tract infections. Materials and Methods:  Clinical samples were collected from pregnant women with urinary tract infections between October 2021 and December 2022. S. haemolyticus isolates were identified using cultural, biochemical, and molecular methods. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the VITEK-2 system. Biofilm formation was assessed, and virulence-associated genes (hla, hlb, fnbA, and fnbB) were detected using PCR. Results: Among 260 clinical samples, 36 S. haemolyticus isolates were identified. The isolates exhibited high resistance to Benzylpencillin, Erythromycin, oxacillin, Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, Levofloxacin, and Gentamicin. Resistance was lower to Tigecycline, linezolid, tobramycin, Rifampin, vancomycin, Moxifloxacin, Tetracycline, and Ticoplanin. Biofilm formation was negative in 69. 4% and weak in 30. 6% of isolates. The hla gene was present in all isolates, while hlb was detected in 77. 7%. Detection rates of fnbA and fnbB were 88. 8% and 38. 8%, respectively. Conclusion:  This study highlights the high antibiotic resistance, limited biofilm formation ability, and prevalence of virulence-associated genes in S. haemolyticus isolates from pregnant women with urinary tract infections. These findings underscore the clinical significance of this bacterium and the need for infection control measures