College of Education for Pure Science

In fulfillment of the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (Quality Education), a doctoral dissertation entitled “Extraction and Identification of Some Active Compounds from Local Fungal Isolates and a Study of Some of Their Cosmetic Applications” was defended at the College of Education for Pure Sciences at the University of Mosul on Monday, August 18, 2025.
Part of the dissertation defense was attended by the Dean of the College of Education for Humanities, Professor Dr. Saad Ramadan Muhammad Al-Jubouri; the Assistant Dean for Administrative Affairs, Assistant Professor Dr. Younis Saadi Saeed; the Head of the Department of Biology, Professor Dr. Yousif Jabbar Ismail; and a number of faculty members from the department.
The study, presented by the student Wisam Jihad Hassyan from the Department of Biology, examined large fungi over a five-month period. Surveys of various areas of Mosul, including its districts and sub-districts, revealed a unique diversity despite the scarcity of rain. A total of 46 different types of fruiting bodies were obtained. Initial screening results of the fungal isolates revealed variations in their ability to produce kojic acid. Therefore, three of the most acid-producing isolates were selected and their taxonomic affiliation was revealed after amplifying the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The nucleotide sequences were obtained and matched with reference nucleotide sequences on the NCBI website. They belonged to the species Morchella importuna, registered under the serial number PP8716.1, the isolate Laetioporus cremeiporus under the serial number PQ084579.1, and the isolate Fomitopsis pinicola under the serial number PQ084576.1.
The discussion committee was chaired by Professor Dr. Majed Sakhi Jaber, and Professor Dr. Ameer Mahmoud Taha, Professor Dr. Jassim Fatehi Ali, Assistant Professor Dr. Raad Hassani Sultan, and Professor Dr. Najwa Ibrahim Khalil as members, and Professor Dr. Shemal Younis Abdul-Hadi as both member and supervisor.
The esteemed Dean of the College presented a letter of thanks and appreciation to Professor Dr. Majed Sakhi Jaber from the College of Applied Sciences/University of Technology for his participation in the student’s discussion.
The doctoral thesis was accepted. Congratulations to the student and his supervisor on this scientific achievement.

Division of Media and Government Communication
College of Education for Pure Sciences
Monday, August 18, 2025