Use of N-trimethyl chitosan for intranasal delivery of DNA encoding M2e-HSP70c in mice

Influenza outbreak has become a great lifethreatening disease in the world. Nasal vaccines can induce systemic IgG and mucosal IgA antibody responses, which establish two layers of immune defense against the infectious pathogens like influenza. Mucosal vaccines must overcome several limitations, including the mucociliary clearance and inefficient uptake of soluble antigens. Therefore, nasal vaccines require potent adjuvants and delivery systems. In this study we evaluated the effect of N-trimethyl chitosan [TMC] as a potent vehicle for DNA encoding M2e/HSP70c in order for intranasal administration in mice. Ectodomain of the conserved influenza matrix protein 2 [M2e], which has been found to induce heterosubtypic immunity, was fused to HSP70359-610 or C-terminus of Mycobacterium tuberculosis HSP70 [HSP70c] in pcDNA3.1 vector [pcDNA/M2e-HSP70c] and then encapsulated into a derivative of chitosan, N-trimethyl chitosan [TMC]. After encapsulation of the plasmid, physical properties of the particles were investigated using Zetasizer[R] 3000 the particles were then administered through the intranasal delivery in BALB/c mice. It was found that the particles had a size ranging between 90-120nm and positive surface charge. The intranasal immunization with M2e-HSP70c+TMC in BALB/c mice significantly induced higher M2e specific IgG than those induced in control groups [pcDNA/M2e-HSP70c without TMC, pcDNA/M2e, bearing M2e alone, and PBS]. The present study showed that the encapsulation of M2e/ HSP70c into N-trimethyl chitosan [TMC] could strongly induce the humoral immune response against the M2e-HSP70c plasmid without lowering the adjuvant efficacy of HSP70c

Association of vitamin D receptor polymorphism [VDR rs 2238136] with colorectal cancer

Many studies have demonstrated that Vitamin D has an important role in cell growth and proliferation and vitamin D receptor polymorphism has significant relationship with colorectal cancer [CRC]. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of VDR rs 2238136 polymorphism in Iranian population and to investigate the relationship between this single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] and increased risk of CRC. In this case-control study, genotyping of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism [VDR rs2238136] was determined in a series of 112 colorectal cancer patients and 112 controls by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping assays [PCR-RFLP]. Statistical analysis was done through SPSS 16. VDR polymorphism [rs 2238136] had no significant relationship with CRC risk. The result of statistical analysis for the genotype AG compared with GG was OR=0. 59, CI=0.33-1.03 and for AA versus GG was OR=0.8, Ct=0.29-2.17. Incidence of mutant allele in patients and controls did not show significant difference [OR=0.74, CI=0.49 -1.13]. These findings suggest that VDR [rs 2238136] is not associated with increased risk of CRC. Moreover age, sex and smoking are not predisposing factors for increased risk of CRC

Efficacy of permethrin-impregnated uniforms in the prevention of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iranian soldiers

One approach for prevention of cutaneous leishmaniasis is creation of a barrier between the insect vector [phlebotomus] and the host. Many, but not all, researchers claim that permethrinimpregnated uniforms are effective for prevention of cutaneous leishmaniasis. We determined the efficacy of permethrinimpregnated uniforms for prevention of cutaneous leishmaniasis among Iranian soldiers. 324 soldiers were randomized into two equal groups. 272 soldiers completed the study. In Group A, 134 soldiers were issued permethrin impregnated uniforms. In Group B, 138 soldiers were issued uniforms washed in water. The soldiers wore uniforms day and night for 3 months, and were observed for an additional 6 months. All of the soldiers remained during this 3 months in the leishmaniasis-endemic area of Isfahan. 9 [6.5%] of 138 soldiers wearing control uniforms and 6 [4.4%] of 134 soldiers wearing permethrin-impregnated uniforms acquired cutaneous leishmaniasis. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Permethrin-impregnated uniforms may not be effective in prevention of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Growth parameters and hormonal constituents of vicia faba seedlings grown from uniconazole soaked seeds

Pot experiments were conducted during two successive growth seasons to study the effect of treating Vicia faba seeds [cv. Giza 402] with uniconazole at concentrations 0, 5, 10, 20 or 40 ppm on the growth parameters and the natural hormone content of the produced seedlings. The treatments reduced plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weights of the shoot system; the decrements were often significant at 1% level of probability and in a linear relationship with the used concentrations of uniconazole. IAA and GA-like substances [either in the form of free or water-soluble bound] were decreased while ABA was increased in the seedlings produced from treated seeds compared to those raised from untreated ones. The decrements and increments in the hormonal constituents were directly proportional with the concentration of uniconazole

Growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments and mineral ions content of bean [vicia faba cv Giza 402] plants raised from pre-sowing uniconazole soaked seeds

Growth parameters [represented by stem length, number of branches and leaves, fresh and dry weight of shoot system as well as the water content and its percentage in the shoot], photosynthetic pigments content [viz. chlor. a, chlor. b and carotenoids] and the mineral ions content [viz. K, Ca and Mg] of Vicia faba [cv. Giza 402] plants raised from pre-sowing soaked seeds in the following concentrations of uniconazole 0, 5, 10, 20 or 40 ppm and collected after five and nine weeks from sowing were studied. The treatments reduced all the studied growth parameters at the two ages investigated. The decrement was often directly proportional with the concentration used of uniconazole and it was almost significant at 1% level of probability. The only exception of this was that at the second studied age, increase in the average number of branches and levels was observed with the treatments and it was sometimes significant at 5% level of probability. The treatments caused increase in the photosynthetic pigments which was more obvious after five weeks from sowing while after nine weeks from sowing the increment in this criterion was restricted to the two higher concentrations used [20, 40 ppm]. Mineral ions contents [viz. Ca, K and Mg] of bean shoots were increased in comparison with control plants, the increase were directly proportional with the concentration used of uniconazole and it was almost significant at 1% level of probability