DIGITAL LITERACY AS A FOUNDATION FOR RELIGIOUS MODERATION LEARNING AT SALATIGA'S AL-HIJRAH TINGKIR ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL

The current millennial generation, includes santri, who have digital literacy skills, but unfortunately it has not been matched by ability to use digital media to obtain information and self development. The purpose of the research was to determine the extent to which students’ digital literacy skills, how to use digital literacy as a basis for religious moderation learning, and the obstacles faced during the training on the use of digital literacy at the Al-Hijrah Islamic Boarding School Tingkir Salatiga. This research is a qualitative and participatory action research. Data collection techniques used are participant observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis technique uses Mile and Hubermen in the form of reduction, presentation, and conclusions. The research procedure includes planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. The result of the studi show that digital literacy can be used as a basis for learning religious moderation. The students at the Al-Hijrah Islamic Boarding School can get digital content in the form of religious moderation material from website, social media, and others. The students also take advantage of digital literacy to create religious moderation content.

Plasmid Vector Based Dna Vaccines Against Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a pre-historic disease and it is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in human and cattle, in many parts of world, particularly in developing nations such as Pakistan, where this disease is uncontrolled and accounts for substantial human and economic losses. The problem has further exacerbated due to emergence of increasingly more resistant strains of M. tb to antibiotics and failure of BCG vaccine. Therefore, new and state of the art strategies like DNA vaccination which is more efficacious and cost effective vaccine to protect against TB must be sought. In this study six genes belonging to M. tb (hspx, cfp10, ag85a, ag85b, ag85c and esat6) were selected and used as a potential candidate for DNA vaccination. Each gene was cloned in pTZR57 cloning vector (Fermentas, USA) with out Kozak sequences upstream the gene and in pcDNA3.1 Topo (Invitrogen, USA) vector with Kozak sequences. Finally the genes were sub-cloned in pND-a mammalian expression vector to get transgene expression under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Almost all of the conscructs without Kozak sequences were unable to produce detectable protein in animal cell lines as checked by Western blots except hspx-pND, which has a natural Kozak in its sequence. The pND having M. tb genes constructs with Kozak sequence gave significantly high expressions. The expression comparison of M. tb genes with Kozak sequences cloned in pcDNA3.1 and pND was also done under in vitro cell line conditions and constructs in pND were found the best. On the basis of in vitro cell line expressions, the endotoxin free pND-M. tb gene constructs preparations were made and subjected to eight weeks old female Balb/c mice’s quadriceps muscles and intradermas @ of 50 μg DNA/leg and 25 μg interdermally at the base of tail. In this way total 125 μg DNA solubilized in normal saline was used for inoculation of an animal. No booster injections were given. The animals were divided into six groups including positive and negative control groups. Eight animals were used for hspx-pND vaccine, eight for cfp10-pND vaccine, two for esat6-pND vaccine and two for equally mixed ag85a, b and c in pND vaccines. Four animals were used as positive control group and injected with Np-pND constructs, similarly four animals were used for negative control (normal saline) group. The animals were bled after nine weeks of post vaccination through tail and finally with cardiac puncture technique. The antibodies were confirmed by Western blot analyses and their level was monitored by indigenously standardized Multiplex Microbead Assay. The best humoral response was shown by hspx-pND vaccinated animals both on Western blots and Multiplex Microbead Assay. Fairly positive response was obtained in animals vaccinated with esat6-pND14 and ag85 a, b and c genes in pND by Western blots and Multiplex Microbead Assay. Whereas undetectable level of antibodies from cfp10-pND vaccinated animals was noted. It is therefore, concluded based on results that all of the M. tb gene constructs in pND gave good expression under in vitro conditions except esat6 gene and under in vivo conditions except cfp10-pND constructs. Therefore, in general the results are promising and need more animal studies before these constructs go to clinical trials.