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Page 57
Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography | ISSN: 2157-7625 | Volume: 8
June 28-29, 2018 | Alexandria, Egypt
International Pre Conference Workshop on
Microbial Ecology & Eco Systems
buildings thinking they could fly.
Plant viruses and subviral pathogens (e.g. viroids and virusoids) could highly likely represent potential pathogens to animals and
humans (Gibbs and Weiller, 1999), particularly those suffering from immunodeficiency (Balique et al., 2015). In a recent study (Colson
et al., 2010) it was reported that Pepper mild mottle virus reacted with the immune system of humans and induced clinical symptoms
including fever, abdominal pains, and pruritus. But one has to admit that no clear evidence on the pathogenic role of this plant virus
in humans was provided.
The discovery of drug-resistant aspergillosis in patients who have never before taken antifungal medications suggests that drug
resistance in some cases could be coming from the environment and not from previous use of antifungals. we should limit use of
agricultural fungicides that are structurally similar to medically important antifungal medications. More research is needed too, she
says, on the basic life cycle of fungal plant pathogens. Such knowledge could lead to more judicious use by helping farmers to better
plan when in the growth cycle to apply fungicides to their crops. Indeed, fungal diseases have become a “silent” epidemic among
immunocompromised individuals and the problem seems to only be exacerbating with time: Over the past year, reports have emerged
of yet another frequently drug resistant hospital-associated fungal threat, Candida auris , in at least 16 countries around the world. As
the environment around us changes and our natural defenses become more tenuous, it is warned that we need to take steps to protect
ourselves, especially the most vulnerable among us (Konkel, 2017).
Although most plant pathogens do not naturally infect humans, it is a good practice to avoid eating rotted vegetables and fruits or
plant produce contaminated by toxin-producing bacteria and fungi. Removing diseased parts of leaves and fruits with some apparently
healthy tissues surrounding them may help reduce pathogen inoculum and amount of toxins ingested. However, this may not ensure
that all toxic substances has been excluded as some may have diffused into apparently healthy parts of fruits. While cooking may result
in the destruction of some mycotoxins, some are not destroyed by high heating. The effects of some mycotoxins can be minimised or
eliminated by adding some mycotoxin-binding agents or through deactivation.
More research is needed on the direct effects of plant pathogens and diseases on humans. Special attention should be given to
mycotoxin-producing fungi and their presence in human food and animal feed. Efforts should be directed towards avoiding plant
disease epidemics similar to the late blight disease of potatoes in Ireland through food diversification and the development of effective
plant disease management strategies. Awareness of community about the ways by which plant diseases can affect human health is also
important.
Biography
Elasayed Elsayed Wagih (Ph.D, DIC, CIDTT) is an Egyptian Professor of Virology and Biotechnology and Acting President of the Arab Society for Biotechnology. He received
a . in Plant Pathology from University of Alexandria and in 1970. He obtained an . degree in Plant Bacterial Diseases from the same university. In 1981, he gained
a PhD degree in Virology from the Imperial College of Science (Technology and Medicine), University of London and was awarded in the same year a DIC from the Royal
College of Science. In March 2008, he earned The Cambridge International Diploma for Teaching and Training (CIDTT) from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Since
June 26, 1992, Prof. Wagih has been working as Professor of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology in the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University
of Alexandria, Egypt. He is the former Head of the Department and former Vice Director of research of the Biotechnology Centre of the College. He harvested a number of
local and international awards, prizes and certificates of appreciation, the last most important of which was the "Highest National Award for Scientific Research Achievement"
awarded by The Egyptian Academy of Science and Technology in 1998. Prof. Wagih has served as a member of the National Committee for Promoting University Faculty,
a position granted through a national merit-based competitive procedure conducted by the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities for more than five years. He is also
the former Representative of North Africa and a Board Member of the Governing Council of the African Crop Science Society (ACSS) for three successive election periods.
He was invited as a visiting scientist to carry out collaborative research at several world famous institutes including: Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine,
University of London, Oklahoma State University, USA, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK and PNG-Unitech., North of Australia. His research involved different aspects
of molecular plant pathology with particular emphasis on viral replication, sub-genomic messages in protoplasts, gene expression, protein synthesis, probing and cDNA
technology for pathological studies, gene silencing and genetic engineering to generate virus-resistant transgenic plants. He discovered two plant viruses, "Peanut Chlorotic
Ringspot Virus" and “Peanut Top Paralysis" and invented two new techniques, “Zymoblot” and “Mirror Image in vivo electroblotting technique” for the detection of gene
expression in terms of enzyme activity and self/non-self proteins.Prof. Wagih has over 40 years of teaching experience and is the author of a series of the first and most
popular and comprehensive books on Biotechnology in Egypt and the rest of the Arabic–speaking countries. He established the field of Modern Biotechnology at the College
of Agriculture, University of Alexandria and was the first to design the syllabi and teach the relevant courses for both under and postgraduate students. His web page entitled
“Biotech. Knowledge Capsules” has been designed to serve an educational purpose and for this it included a series of recorded episodes on the YouTube explaining different
topics and concepts of biotechnology.