ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the possible association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and breast cancer by examining the seropositivity and serointensity rate of anti-T. gondii antibodies in breast cancer patients and healthy volunteers. Methods: This study was carried out on 66 women with breast cancer which consists of 29 newly diagnosed patients (Group 1) and 37 cases undergoing treatment and regular checkups (Group 2). Also, 60 healthy women (Group 3) with no history of cancer confirmed by clinical examination and imaging participated in this study. The participants were tested for T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassays. Results: The mean age of Groups 1, 2 and 3 were 43.3±6.8, 41.8±5.5 and 42.3±4.9, respectively (P=0.72). Overall, 104 (82.5%) and 8 (6.3%) out of 126 women were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Higher seropositivity rate of anti-T. gondii antibodies (IgG) was seen in breast cancer patients (86.4%) compared with control group (78.3%) (P=0.24). IgG antibodies were detected in 89.2% of cancer patients under treatment, 82.7% of newly diagnosed patients (P=0.18). IgM antibodies were found in 3 (10.3%), 2 (5.4%) and 3 (5%) in Groups 1, 2 and 3. No significant difference was found between the mean titers of T. gondii IgG antibody among these groups (P=0.87). Conclusions: This study did not find any significant association between toxoplasmosis and breast cancer besides higher rates of seropositivity and serointensity in patients compared with healthy volunteers.
ABSTRACT
Cryptosporidium species are important cause of diarrheal diseases in both developing and developed countries. This study aimed to compare the performance of several molecular methods for identification of Cryptosporidium species, and to detect genetic variation among each of these species isolated from Iran, Malawi, Nigeria, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. The oocysts DNA samples were derived from 106 Cryptosporidium positive feces. Polymerase chain reaction, PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA and the Cryptosporidium oocysts wall protein genes; PCR and DNA sequence analysis of a fragment of 70 kDa heat shock protein and 60 kDa glycoprotein genes were carried out. Based on these analysis, three species of Cryptosporidium including C. hominis, C. parvum and C. meleagridis, and both C. hominis and C. parvum were found in Iranian and the UK samples, respectively. Also, three C. hominis [Ib, Ib3and Id] and three C. parvum [Ila, IIC and IId] subtypes were identified by sequence analysis of the GP60 gene. Of these, C. hominis Ib was predominant and interestingly, one subgen-otype [C hominis Ib A10G2] accounted for the majority of the samples. The current study demonstrates the complex subtypes of Cryptosporidium isolates in both developing and developed countries. This is the first report of C. parvum IId subgenotype and three new subtypes of C. parvum Ila in the UK, a new subtype of C. hominis Id from Malawi; and the first multi-locus study of three species of Cryptosporidium in human from Iran.
ABSTRACT
High concentration of iron and other trace elements could restrict bacterial growth and modify their metabolic pattern as well. However, this study aimed to find out the influence of iron, chromium, cadmium and synergism or antagonism between these elements on the growth of a gram positive bacterium. In a series of experiments, Bucillus cereus was cultured in a nutrient broth which supplemented with Fe[+2], Fe[+3], Cr[+3], Cd[+2] separately, or in combination with each other, at 37°C for 5 hours. Bacterial growth was measured every half - hour, using spectrophotometer. The results indicated that bacterial growth rate reduced in the presence of 0.5 mM/L concentration of Fe[+2] or Fe[+3], in comparison with control and the growth of bacteria was inhibited by 1 mM/L concentration of iron. The results also revealed that Fe [III] as well as Fe [II] was toxic for bacteria. Chromium had partial inhibitory effects on the growth of bacteria and cadmium was very toxic. Cr[+3] and Cd[+] had antagonistic effect with iron on the growth of bacteria. Data obtained here provide a potentially interesting conceptual advance in toxic effects of trace elements on pathogenic bacteria