Islam and Society: Role of the Departments of Islamic Studies, an Analytical Study

This study elaborates the connection between Islam and society and the role of Islam in the formulation and reformation of a society. This research highlights the need and the significance of the concept of developing a linkage between the religious and otherwise classes of society. The study primarily focuses on the role and the influence of the departments of Islamic studies in Pakistani universities in defusing tensions and promoting peace and hormony among various classes of society. The study includes an analysis of the visions, mission statements and the objectives of the various departments of Islamic studies in leading universities of the country. The article highlights the system of education in Islam and the problems in the system of education of Pakistan which play a part in the role of the departments of Islamic studies. The research also focuses on the role of the students and the teachers of the departments of Islamic studies in the light of Islamic teachings.

Molecular Characterization of Local Human Extraintestinal Escherichia Coli Isolates

Extraintestinal pathogenic E.coli are major pathogens responsible for causing urinary tract infections. These are associated with multiple drug resistance (MDR) and high virulence. A triplex PCR was employed to segregate each isolate into different phylogenetic groups. Among fifty nine uropathogenic E.coli isolates majority belonged to phylogenetic group B2 (50%) where as 19% each belonged to groups A and B1, and 12% to group D. Phylogenetic group D isolates were found to be less frequent but harbored multiple drug resistance and virulence related genes to a greater extent. Drug resistance was evaluated by disc diffusion method and relevant drug resistance gene detection. It was found that most effective drugs were gentamicin and amikacin among aminoglycosides; aztreonam, ceftriaxone, cefoperazone and cefixime among β lactams, and ciprofloxacin among quinolones. Streptomycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline and nalidixic acid were relatively ineffective. Chloramphenicol was found to be very effective for urinary tract infections. Highly prevalent drug resistance gene was mutated gyrA (83%) followed by tem (46%), bltTEM (41%), tetB (34%), catP (31%), and tem β lactamase (15%); blaSHV and tetA were not detected. Among virulence related genes most prevalent was hlyA (37%) followed by sfaDE (27%), papC (24%), cnf1 (20%), eae A (19%) and afaBC3 (14%). Some of isolates were highly hemolytic to human erythrocytes and some were highly cytotoxic to Vero cells. Highly hemolytic isolates mainly belonged to group D, where as highly verotoxic isolates belonged to group B2 followed by group D. It was also noted that in cnf1 negative isolates cytotoxicity was related to papC, sfaDE, afaBC3, eae A and hlyA genes.