Molecular Characterization of Paederus Spp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Paederinae) the Agent of Human Linear Dermatitis in the Caspian Sea Coast, North of Iran.

Background: A combined morphological and molecular survey was performed to determine the agent of human linear dermatitis Paederus Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Paederinae) species composition in Mazandaran Province in the Caspian Sea coast in northern Iran, where most of linear dermatitis cases of the country occurred. Methods: Altogether, 397 Paederus specimens were collected from May to August 2021 and classified using morphological characters and ITS2-rDNA sequence analysis. Results: Morphological investigation revealed that all the specimens were Paederus fuscipes. ITS2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) direct-sequences and the profiles of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) derived from digestion of PCR products by HinfI, HpaII, and SalI enzymes were identical confirming the morphological results, implying that all specimens belonged to a single taxon. Conclusion: Paederus fuscipes (Fabricius, 1775) is considered the dominant taxon and responsible for linear dermatitis in Mazandaran Province. To our knowledge, we have provided the first molecular typing of Paederus beetles at the species level, suggesting that ITS2-rDNA characterization is an alternative tool for species discrimination of Paederus spp.

Emerging Role of Enhancer RNAs as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Cancer.

Enhancers are distal cis-acting elements that are commonly recognized to regulate gene expression via cooperation with promoters. Along with regulating gene expression, enhancers can be transcribed and generate a class of non-coding RNAs called enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). The current discovery of abundant tissue-specific transcription of enhancers in various diseases such as cancers raises questions about the potential role of eRNAs in disease diagnosis and therapy. This review aimed to demonstrate the current understanding of eRNAs in cancer research with a focus on the potential roles of eRNAs as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in cancers.

Prediction of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms within microRNAs Binding Sites of Neuronal Genes Related to Multiple Sclerosis: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: Different genetic variants, including the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) present in microRNA recognition elements (MREs) within 3'UTR of genes, can affect miRNA-mediated gene regulation and susceptibility to a variety of human diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease of the central nervous system. Since the expression of many genes associated with MS is controlled by microRNAs (miRNAs), the aim of this study was to analyze SNPs within miRNA binding sites of some neuronal genes associated with MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven neuronal genes related to MS were achieved using dbGaP, DAVID, DisGeNET, and Oviddatabases. 3'UTR of candidate genes were assessed for SNPs, and miRNAs' target prediction databases were used for predicting miRNA binding sites. RESULTS: Three hundred and eight SNPs (minor allele frequency >0.05) were identified in miRNA binding sites of 3'UTR of 44 genes. Among them, 42 SNPs in 22 genes had miRNA binding sites and miRNA prediction tools suggested 71 putative miRNAs binding sites on these genes. Moreover, in silico analysis predicted 22 MRE-modulating SNPs and 22 MRE-creating SNPs in the 3'UTR of these candidate genes. CONCLUSIONS: These candidate MRE-SNPs can alter miRNAs binding sites and mRNA gene regulation. Therefore, these genetic variants and miRNAs might be involved in MS susceptibility and pathogenesis and hence would be valuable for further functional verification investigation.

Molecular Species Identification of Six Forensically Important Iranian Flesh Flies (Diptera).

BACKGROUND: Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) are considered as myiasis agents and important evidences in forensic investigations. However, their use has been restricted because, at all larval stages and female adults, morphological species identification is difficult or very challenging. This study investigated to test utility of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mt-COI) sequences for differentiation of six forensically important Iranian flesh flies namely, Sarcophaga crassipalpis, S. flagellifera, S. hirtipes, S. aegyptica, S. africa and S. argyrostoma. METHODS: Male specimens were morphologically identified to species level and then the genomic DNA of the flies were extracted and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) against mt-COI gene. The PCR products were sequenced and the obtained sequences were analyzed for the species specific restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). RESULTS: Rate of genetic variation between species was 6-10% which was enough to find restriction enzymes (RE) that were able to produce species-specific RFLP profiles. Combinations of three REs: BsrFI, RsaI and HinfI, provided diagnostic bands for identification of the six Sarcophaga species. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that molecular markers such as RFLPs enhancing the use of evidence from flesh flies in forensic investigation. However, lack proper restriction sites in the COI region inhibited introduction of a single restriction enzyme for easy species identification. It is recommended to apply larger part of DNA such as combination of COI and COII genes to provide better RFLP markers for species identification of flesh flies.

Discrimination of Paederus fuscipes and Paederus littoralis by mtDNA-COI PCR-RFLP.

BACKGROUND: Linear dermatitis is endemic in Iran where most cases occur in the Caspian Sea coast and Fars province. The disease is caused by beetles of the genus Paederus which are active from early spring to beginning of autumn although its incidence rises from May to August. The classic taxonomy of Paederus spp. is based on the male genitalia that is very complex and needs expertise. In this study, we report a DNA-based method to discriminate Paederus fuscipes and Paederus littoralis (=syn: P. lenkoranus, P. ilsae). METHODS: Type specimens were collected from north and south of Iran. Molecular typing of the species was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified fragments of mtDNA-COI. RESULTS: Sequence analyses of the data obtained in this study showed significant DNA polymorphisms. There were 89 substitutions between COI sequences of the two species. The mtDNA-COI fragment comprises several useful species-specific restriction sites comprising HaeIII that could result in distinctively different species-specific PCR-RFLP profiles. The HaeIII enzyme cuts the 872 bp PCR amplicon of P. littoralis into 737 and 100 bp and two small nonvisible bands whereas it does not cut P. fuscipes amplicon into fragments. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that molecular typing is useful method and allows one to differentiate between two species and is recommended for discrimination of other Paederus species, which morphologically are indistinguishable or very difficult to be distinguished.