ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of some medicinal plants and systemic glucantime in a comparative manner against the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis both in vitro and in BALB/c mice. Methods For in vivo testing, inbred mice were challenged with Leishmania major parasites and the resultant ulcers were treated with extract based-ointments applied topically two times per day for a period of 20 days. A group of 56 mice were randomly divided into 7 subgroups. The control group received the ointment void of extracts, whereas the reference group received glucantime only. The efficacy of treatments was evaluated by measuring ulcer diameter, parasite burden and NO production. Results Our results indicated that plant extract based-ointments were effective in reducing ulcer size and parasite burden in spleens, but their effects did not differ significantly from that of glucantime. The plant extracts tested in this study were able to increase NO production that helped parasite suppression. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the tested plant extracts are effective against Leishmania major both during in vitro and in vivo experiments, but further researches are required to recommend a potential plant extract as an alternative drug.
ABSTRACT
Background and purpose:Microsporidia infections occurvirtually in all in vertebrate and vertebrate hosts, in cluding humans. The this study is aimed atcomparison of distribution of microsporidiosis in various samples of Iranian immunocompromised patients and healthy individuals by molecular methods.
Materials and Methods: Inthiscase - control study, 258stool, blood, bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] and urine sampleswere obtained fromimmunocompromisedpatients [bone marrowtransplant, kidney transplant and respiratory complications] referred to Masih Daneshvari and Shariati Hospitalduring 2010-2011.
After recording clinical data, DNA extraction was performed on all samples. To identifyhuman related microsporidiosis [Encephalitozoon spp. And Enterocytozoon spp.], polymerase chain reactionwas performedusingspecific primers andmultiplex-PCR on allsamples.
Results: Overall, the prevalence of microsporidiosis in immunocompromised patients were 4.3 and 3.9 percent in cases and control group, respectively.Incidence of microsporidiosis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation [5 isolates from 70 samples] was 7.1%, in patients with respiratory complications [4 isolates from 150 samples] 2.7 percent and patients undergoing renal transplantation [2 isolates from 38 samples] 5.3 percent. In the case group, most cases of infection occurred among men at the age of40-60 years. In bronchoalveolar lavage samples 3 isolates of Encephalitozoon [2%] and one isolate of Entrocytozoon [0.7%], were identified, respectively. In cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation 4 isolates of Encephalitozoon [5.7%], 1 isolate of Enterocytozoon [1.4%] and in patients with renal transplants 2 isolates of Enterocytozoon [5.3%]were detected. 4 isolates of Enterocytozoon [2.2%] and 3 isolates of Encephalitozoon [1.7%] were identified in the control group that most infections occurred among menat the age of30-45years.
Conclusion:The most cases of human microsporidiosis are associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection or other states of immunosuppression, particularly in organ transplant recipients; The obtained results confirm this claim.
ABSTRACT
Background: TSA (thiol-specific antioxidant antigen) is the immune-dominant antigen of Leishmania major and is considered to be the most promising candidate molecule for a recombinant or DNA vaccine against leishmaniasis. The aim of the present work was to express a plasmid containing the TSA gene in eukaryotic cells. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted, and the TSA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR product was cloned into the pTZ57R/T vector, followed by subcloning into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3 (EcoRI and HindIII sites). The recombinant plasmid was characterised by restriction digest and PCR. Eukaryotic Chinese hamster ovary cells were transfected with the plasmid containing the TSA gene. Expression of the L. major TSA gene was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. Results: The plasmid containing the TSA gene was successfully expressed, as demonstrated by a band of 22.1 kDa on Western blots. Conclusion: The plasmid containing the TSA gene can be expressed in a eukaryotic cell line. Thus, the recombinant plasmid may potentially be used as a DNA vaccine in animal models.
ABSTRACT
Dermatophytosis is common cutaneous fungal disease with worldwide distribution. Interleukin8 [IL-8] realized from keratinocytes in the presence of dermatophytic antigens causes induction of acute responses in dermatophyte infection and subsequently production of acute phase proteins occurs in hepatocytes. C-reactive protein [CRP] and Mannose binding lectin [MBL] are acute phase proteins. Since few researches in the case of acute phase proteins in dermatophytic infections has been accomplished, this study has been designed for determining serum CRP and MBL levels in patients affected to dermatophytosis. This was a cross sectional study and samples were carried out on 96 healthy individuals and 105 patients affected to dermatophytosis with non probable and in access procedure. For isolation and identification of dermatophyte direct microscopic examination, culturing and complementary examinations were done and for determination of serum CRP and MBL levels in healthy individuals and in patients ELISA test were used. For investigation of relevance between variables, Chi-square, Fisher exact, Mann-Whitney and Roc curve analysis were used and p<0.05 was considered as meaningful level. The median serum CRP level in healthy individuals and in patients group was 3.31 +/- 3.32 micro g/ml and 16.60 +/- 35.96 micro g/ml [p<0.001] respectively and the median serum MBL level was 1.53 +/- 1.87 micro g/ml and 1.97 +/- 2.03 micro g/ml [p=0.039] respectively. CRP [p<0.001] and MBL [p=0.042] were determined meaningful parameters for dermatophytosis. MBL deficiency [MBL concentrations<1 micro g/ml] was higher in control subjects [56.2%] than in patients [41.0%]. Findings of this study indicate increased concentrations of CRP and MBL in patients affected to dermatophytosis and their role in this infection. Probably observation of high frequency of MBL deficiency in healthy individuals in compare with patients group indicates that it is not predisposing factor in affecting to dermatophytosis
ABSTRACT
Acute diarrhea is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in young children. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of rotavirus infections in children with acute gastroenteritis in Isfahan. Also seasonal variations and the effects of environmental conditions, type of nutrition and child care on the prevalence of rotavirus infections are evaluated. A total of 185 hospitalized children with acute diarrhea and 91 controls were selected by simple random sampling. Stool specimens were obtained at the time of admission and checked for rotavirus antigens by ELISA method. Demographic data regarding age, sex, type of nutrition [breast-fed vs. bottle-fed] and child care [at home vs. day care-center] of children with acute diarrhea were also recorded. Rotavirus was detected in the feces of 57 [30.8%] children with acute diarrhea and 11 [12.1%] stool samples from control children [p<0.05]. 84.2% of cases with rotavirus gastroenteritis were under 2 years of age with highest prevalence in children 6-12 months of age. The relative frequency of rotavirus gastroenteritis was higher in winter [41.4%] than other seasons. Bottle-fed children and those cared at child care centers showed higher relative frequency of rotavirus gastroenteritis. Rotaviruses are important and prevalent etiologic agents of acute gastroenteritis in young children in Isfahan. Being in day care centers and bottle-feeding can serve as precipitating factors of rotavirus diseases in this age group