[Effect of anti-HIV activity of novel compounds 8-phenyl-4-quinolone containing different substituents at position 3]

Background and Objective: HIV treatment influences the global health and finding new compounds against HIV virus is increased. This study was done to evaluate anti-HIV activity of 8-phenyl-4-quinolone derivatives containing different substituents at position 3

Methods: In this descriptive study, single cycle replicable [SCR] HIV Virions were produced by cotransfecting HEK 293T cells with pmzNL4-3, pSPAX.2, pMD2.G plasmids. HeLa cells were infected with the SCR virions and then inhibit of virus replication by compounds were measured by p24 Antigen with ELISA kit. The cytotoxicity of these compounds on HeLa cells were measured by XTT method

Results: All compounds including NPZ-4F, NPZ-2F, NPZ-4CL and NPZ-2CL had the best inhibitory effect at a concentration of 100 micro M with the inhibition rate of respectively 51%, 48%, 33%, and 25%, respectively. The compounds of NPZ-4F and NPZ-2CL had negligible cellular toxicity and have inhibited HIV replication at the highest concentration. This issue can make them a valuable compound since they are better compounds in therapeutic terms, which at a suitable concentration; they have the lowest rate of cellular toxicity and highest power to inhibit HIV replication

Conclusion: Novel compounds derived from 8-phenyl-4-quinolone containing different substituents at position 3 can prevent HIV replication which is capable of high anti-viral and low cellular toxicity and suitable candidates for further investigation in antiviral studies

[Anti-viral effect of methanolic extract of Sea cucumber on HIV-1 virus]

Background and Objective: Sea cucumber [Holothuria leucospilota] is used for food purposes and traditional medicine in the South East and East Asia. This study was done to determine the antiviral effect of methanolic extract, of Holothuria leucospilota species against HIV-1 virus

Methods: In this laboratory study, sea cucumbers were collected from Larak Island, Persian Gulf, Iran at depths of 10-30 m. Methanol solvent was used for extraction process. Extract was concentrated by rotary evaporator at 40-45[degree sign]C, and subsequently was prepared in the form of dry powder using vacuum freeze dryer lyophilization

Results: The extract in 100 and 1000 micro g/ml of concentrations inhibited by 94% and 92.5% the replication of HIV-1, respectively. 10 micro g/ml of extract had not specific antiviral effect. Approximately the half of concentration of extract [35.89 micro g/ml] prevents 50% of proliferation of HIV-1, which was 50% toxic of on host cells [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Sea cucumber methanolic body wall extract of Holothuria leucospilota species had no antiviral effect against HIV-1 virus. It can be due to cytotoxic effect of extract on the host cells

[Efficacy of four disinfectants against hepatitis B virus]

Hepatitis B is an important infection in dentistry necessitating the use of disinfectants to prevent its transmission. This study compared the efficacy of 2/100 sodium hypochlorite disinfectants manufactured by four different manufacturers namely Ashimashi, Paknaz, Vitex and Active against hepatitis B virus [HBV]. In this experimental laboratory trial, serum of 10 hepatitis B patients was poured into microtubes and Ashimashi, Paknaz, Vitex and Active disinfectants were added to them. Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] was performed with viral diagnostic kits to diagnose the virus genome. Real time PCR was performed before and after incubation with the disinfectants. The reductions occurred in the viral load of HBV were statistically analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.No significant antiviral efficacy was noted following the application of Ashimashi 2/100 sodium hypochlorite disinfectant. Paknaz showed the highest efficacy against HBV. Vitex and Active ranked next with significant differences [P<0.0001].Under the study limitations, Paknaz 2/100 sodium hypochlorite solution was the most effective while Ashimashi 2/100 sodium hypochlorite disinfectant did not show adequate efficacy against HBV

[Study the capacity of recombinant HCV core+1 protein to induce immune responses in combination with different adjuvants]

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] genome contains a large open reading frame coding for a polyprotein that is cleaved into ten proteins. Recently, a new protein, named core+1, has been described to be expressed through a ribosomal frame shift within the capsid-encoding sequence. To address these possibilities, core+1 was produced in E.coli and the purified protein was evaluated for the immunological properties. The core+1 corresponding nucleotide sequence was created by PCR-based induction of a +1 frame shift mutation within the core gene template. The amplicon was cloned into the pET-24a vector and expressed in E.coli host. The expressed protein was purified under denaturing condition and after refolding steps was characterized by SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting. The immunization potential of core+1 with various adjuvant [Freunds [C/IFA], Montanide ISA 206 and IMS 1312, pluronic acid [F127] and imiquimod [IMIQ] was assessed in Balb/c mice. ELISA-based assays were used to analyze the humoral immune responses. The yield of E.coli-derived core+1 was 5 mg/ L of culture media and antigenicity of this protein was confirmed by western blotting. All the core+1/adjuvant formulations significantly developed the anti-core+1 IgG responses in the immunized mice but C/IFA and ISA206 elicited the highest antibody titers. ISA 206 and IMS 1312 formulation of core+1 induced strong Th1/Th2 responses. Our results indicated that core+1 formulation with various adjuvants may elicit the different immune response profiles [Th1/Th2]. Thus core+1 might be a potential component of future HCV vaccine too

Cloning, optimization of expression condition, purification and immunological characterization of hydrophilic section of HCV core Ag, expressed in E-coli by T7-ara BAD promoter

The capsid or core Ag of Hepatitis C virus is a multifunctional protein which has the principal pathogenesis and diagnostic role in HCV related infections and most of these properties are attributed to the hydrophilic section [amino acids 2-122] of this protein. For different research and diagnostic applications, high amounts of this protein in pure and original form are required. So, the aim of this study was to clone the gene, optimize the expression condition, purify it in the original form, and immunologically characterize hydrophilic section of HCV Core Ag, expressed by T7-araBAD promoter system in E.coli. The PCR amplified region corresponding to 2-122 section of this Ag from genotype lb was cloned in pIVEX 2.3, a T7 promoter derived vector. The proper construct after digestional analysis and sequencing confirmations was transformed into BL2 1 -Al E. coli, and protein expression under control of araBAD promoter by addition of 0.2% Arabinose was induced. After optimization of expression condition, purification of protein by NI-NTA agarose gel chromatography in native condition by immidazole yielded about 3.5mg/L of HCV core Ag. Immunological studies by western blotting through application of core specific mAbs and results of ELISA tests indicated that the protein is with desired immunological properties. AraBAD promoter can be perfectly utilized to produce the hydrophilic section of HCV core in high yields, and purification through NI-NTA in native condition may provide the antigen for different research and diagnostic applications