ABSTRACT
Introduction: Susceptibility to tuberculosis [TB] infection varies in individuals and is linked to genetic variations in the toll-like receptors [TLRs] genes. The current study employed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to describe the most prevalent single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] from various TLRs and to assess the association between these polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility
Methods: The PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ISI Web of Knowledge databases were searched for all articles published before May 25, 2015, that contained the target keywords. Following the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 37 relevant articles were identified that examined the association between the TLRs gene polymorphism and susceptibility to tuberculosis
Result: A meta-analyses approach to the research determined that there is a statistically significant association between TLR1 rs4833095, TLR6 rs5743810, and TLR8 rs3788935 in the allelic model and also TLR1 rs4833095, TLR1 rs5743018, TLR2 rs5743708, TLR6 rs5743810, and TLR8 rs3761624 in the co-dominant model with increased or decreased susceptibility to tuberculosis. No associations were observed between the other TLRs polymorphisms and tuberculosis risk
Discussion: Several studies have found that host genetic factors, such as SNPs in TLRs gene, may increase an individual's susceptibility to tuberculosis. Therefore, the identification of these SNPs is important to investigate immune responses to TB
Conclusion: The present study concluded that there is an association between some polymorphisms of TLRs and tuberculosis risk. Thus, for a better understanding about the role of SNPs to TB susceptibility, additional studies on alternative TLRs SNPs are needed
ABSTRACT
Type A influenza viruses causes infections in human and animals, especially in birds. Wild aquatic birds are the natural hosts for all known influenza type A viruses. Avian type viruses are divided into two groups: highly pathogenic avian influenza [HPAI] and low pathogenic avian influenza [LPAI]. HPAI virus is very dangerous, but LPAI virus is much weaker. Two forms of mutations including drift and shift have been recognized for antigenic changes in influenza viruses. Antigenic shift is responsible for producing re-assortment viruses with a potentiality to be transmissible to human and possibly resulting in pandemic. Emerging new species of viruses, the loss of previous immunity in human population and the transmission from human to human are the three major conditions that result in the occurrence of influenza pandemic in human. When pandemic happens, public health is a major concern due to probability of high fatality rate and other socioeconomic consequences
ABSTRACT
Expressions of recombinant proteins for different applications are important objectives in molecular biotechnology; however, expression of some recombinant proteins is difficult. Several methods have been designed for expression of these proteins. The aim of this study was to construct a vector containing Mtb32C fragment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis [M.tuberculosis] as a fusion partner in order to improve the expression of fused recombinant proteins. Mtb32C was amplified by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. The amplified fragment was ligated into pET21b+ vector. Colony-PCR, enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing methods were used to confirm the recombinant vector. Colony-PCR showed a 420 bp fragment in size corresponding to the correct size of our fragment. In addition the recombinant plasmids sequencing showed the accuracy of the cloned fragment. For confirming the expression, reverse transcriptase [RT]-PCR analysis was performed showing a 420 bp fragment in agarose gel electrophoresis using specific primers. The construction of a vector containing Mtb32C fragment is promising as a fusion partner for future studies as it affected the expression of the fused proteins and increased immune responses against the partner
ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis [TB] is the leading cause of mortality among the infectious diseases, especially in developing countries. One of the main goals in tuberculosis research is to identify antigens which have the ability of inducing cellular and/or humoral immunity in order to use them in diagnostic reagents or vaccine design. The aim of this study was to clone and express the TB10.4 protein in Escherichia coli expression system. DNA was extracted from Mycobacerium tuberculosis H37Rv. Gene specific primers were designed using Gene Runner software according to sanger sequence database. Gene tb 10.4 fragment was amplified by PCR method and purified tb 10.4 gene was cloned into pET 102/D vector. Plasmid containing pET 102/D-10.4 was transformed into competence E. coli TOP10. A positive transformant was chosen and plasmids DNA was isolated and subsequently transformed into competence E. coli BL21 [DE3]. The bacterium was induced by IPTG and its lysates were loaded directly onto SDS-PAGE. Purified recombinant protein was achieved using metal affinity chromatography [Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid]. TB10.4 molecule was successfully cloned, expressed, and purified. An approximately 26.4 kDa exogenous protein was observed on the SDS-PAGE. The recombinant protein was confirmed by DNA sequencing of correct insert. The success of expressing the TB10.4 protein could serve as a basis for further studies on the usefulness of the gene and its expression product in the development of submit vaccine and diagnostic method
ABSTRACT
Ziziphora dinopodioides Lam. is a plant widely used in Iranian traditional medicine for gastrointestinal disorders. Several reports have demonstrated antibacterial [Helicobacteria pylori], antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Z dinopodioides. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aqueous-ethanol extract of Z. dinopodioides on rat's gastric acid output in basal, vagotomized [VX] and vagal stimulated conditions. A total of 24 male Wistar rats weighed 200-250 g were randomly divided into two groups: control and test. Tracheostomy and gastroduodenostomy procedures were performed for each rat. In the vagotomized condition the vagus nerve in the cervical region was dissected and in the vagal stimulation condition the distal portion of the vogues nerve stimulated. Gastric content was collected for 15 min by wash out technique. A volume of 1 ml of three doses [0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg] was introduced into the stomach [i.g.] of each rat in the test group and the same volume of saline was used in the control group. Total titratable acid was measured by a titrator. The extract inhibited acid secretion significantly at basal condition. At VX condition not only this inhibitory effect on acid secretion disappeared but also a stimulatory effect at the dose of 2 mg/kg was shown. In vagal stimulation condition the extract showed a significant inhibitory effect at 1 mg/kg dose. Taking together our data resulted from comparison of three conditions showed that the extract exerted an inhibitory effect on acid secretion in basal and vagal stimulation. Also, according to our results this inhibitory effect of the extract could be exerted via gastric vagal parasympathetic nerve
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Male , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Plant Extracts , Vagotomy , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Apoptosis or programmed cell death that is genetically regulated is a process for killing cells. It is essential for the normal function of organisms and therefore variety of diseases including autoimmunity and cancer result from any defect in this physiological process. Two pathways are responsible for signalling apoptosis: intrinsic or mitochondrial pathway and extrinsic or death receptor pathway. As a final result of this process, cell destruction activated by a family of cysteine proteases [caspases] takes place. This article summarizes current knowledge of apoptosis