ABSTRACT
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is rated as the second cause of cancer death. Genetic determinants are considered as driving forces in the development of sporadic CRC. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), due to their abundance in the human genome with collectively huge effect on cellular signaling pathways, are attributed as the main genetic factor in disease susceptibility including cancers. MicroRNAs are contributing to posttranslational gene regulation. They exert their regulatory function by binding to their specific recognition sequences located at 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs. In the present study, we have elucidated the role of rs12904, a naturally occurring SNP, in the recognition site of miR200c in the 3'UTR of ephrin A1 ligand gene, in the development of sporadic CRC in the Iranian population. Materials and Methods: A case–control study using 152 CRC patients and 160 noncancerous counterparts was conducted to determine the rs12904 genotypes using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results: The results revealed no significant association between the rs12904 and sporadic CRC (odds ratio = 0.97, 95% confidence interval = 0.70–1.34). The frequency of genotypes and also alleles of the mentioned polymorphism were not significantly different between case and control groups (P = 0.765 and P = 0.847, respectively). Conclusion: The results suggest that this polymorphism probably has not a crucial role in the Iranian CRC risk and is not an important potential risk factor in molecular diagnostics of mentioned disease among the Iranian population.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Leishmaniasis is a geographically widespread severe disease which includes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). There are 350 million people at risk in over 80 countries. In the Old World, CL is usually caused by Leishmania major, L. tropica, and L. aetiopica complex of which 90% of cases occur in Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Brazil and Peru. Recently, Eslami et al (2011) reported a novel TRYP6 gene encoding tryparedoxin peroxidase from an Iranian L. major strain exhibiting homology with the related gene in a divergent genus of Kinetoplastida, the Crithidia. This prompted us to analyze the mentioned gene in 100 isolates obtained from patients with suspected CL. Consequently, we analyzed internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region, RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPOIILS) and the mitochondrial DNA polymerase beta (DPOLB). Methods: After obtaining samples from 100 patients, DNA extraction was performed and TRYP6 was analyzed using conventional PCR. All samples harbouring TRYP6 with smaller size (555 bp) were analysed based on three other regions: ITS1, RPOIILS and DPOLB genes. Results: Results showed that 10% of the isolates have the same character as observed in our previous study. The ITS1-RFLP-PCR of this 10% isolates showed their similarity to the one from Crithidia fasciculata. RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPOIILS) showed genetic diversity but the mitochondrial DNA polymerase beta (DPOLB) did not show any genetic diversity. Conclusion: This study might also help in solving the problems concerning Leishmaniasis outbreaks currently reported in Iran and some other endemic regions of the world.
ABSTRACT
Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), harboring biofilm formation, considered as a main aetiological factor of dental caries. Gtf genes play an important role in S. mutans biofilm formation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus-derived biosurfactant on S. mutans biofilm formation and gtfB/C expression level (S. mutans standard strain ATCC35668 and isolated S. mutans strain (22) from dental plaque). The Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) DSM 20079 was selected as a probiotic strain to produce biosurfactant. The FTIR analysis of its biosurfactant showed that it appears to have a protein-like component. Due to the release of such biosurfactants, L. acidophilus was able to interfere in the adhesion and biofilm formation of the S. mutans to glass slide. It also could make streptococcal chains shorter. Using realtime RT-PCR quantitation method made it clear that gtfB and gtfC gene expression were decreased in the presence of L. acidophilus-derived biosurfactant fraction. Several properties of S. mutans cells (the surface properties, biofilm formation, adhesion ability and gene expression) were changed after L. acidophilus-derived biosurfactant treatment. It is also concluded that biosurfacant treatment can provide an optional way to control biofilm development. On the basis of our findings, we can suggest that the prepared biosurfactant may interfere with adhesion processes of S. mutans to teeth surfaces, provided additional evaluation produce satisfactory results.