Alteration in Gut Microbiota Composition of Older Adults Is Associated with Obesity and Its Indices: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Obesity in the older adults is a health concern that increases the risk of several life-threatening diseases. Previous research has been revealed that alterations in the gut microbiota composition is related to obesity. So, understanding the gut microbiota changes in older adults' obesity may help to provide promising strategies for their health management. OBJECTIVES: Here we conducted a systematic review that investigate the alteration of gut microbiota composition in association with obesity and its indices in the older adults. DESIGN: Systematic review. SETTING: A comprehensive systematic search was performed through PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase databases for all relative studies up to 2023 with the main search concepts as Microbiota, Obesity and Elderly. The data about gut microbiota in association with obesity indices had been extracted. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults (≥60 years). INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS: None. RESULTS: Within 10741 recordes, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Most of them indicated the gut microbiota alterations in obese compared with non-obese older adults. However, the gut microbiome composition in obese older adults is affected by other underlying diseases like diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The most important taxa that had abundance alteration in association with obesity in older adults were Christensenellaceae, Porphyromonadaceae and Rikenellaceae, Akkermansia, Blautia, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium. CONCLUSION: The gut microbiota composition is associated with obesity in older adults. Considering the other factors affecting the composition of gut microbiota, such as age, underlying diseases and lifestyle, a more accurate conclusion about this matter requires more future studies.

Assessment of Mouse Ileal loop Protection against Clinically Isolated Vibrio cholerae Outer Membrane Vesicles as a Vaccine Candidate.

Cholera, a life-threatening disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholera, remains a concern in developing countries. The present study investigated the immunogenicity and protective immunity of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and combination of OMV and killed whole cells (WC) of a local strain isolated from the last outbreak in Iran in addition to reference and local strains of V. cholerae El Tor O1 in comparison to Dukoral vaccine in mice model. The protein content, morphology, and size of extracted OMVs were evaluated by electrophoresis and microscopic analyses, respectively. The serum titers of total immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG1, IgG2a, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in addition to secretory IgA and total IgG in different mice groups were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, fluid accumulation (FA) assay regarding the resistance to live strain of V. cholerae in ligated ileal loops was carried out to determine immunogenicity by OMV or combination of OMV and WC in comparison to that reported for Dukoral vaccine. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified OMVs indicated protein profiles within the range of 34-52 kDa. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the spherical shaped vesicles of 50-200 nm. The results of ELISA showed significant titers of systemic and mucosal immune anti-OMV IgGs in immunized BALB/c mice with different vaccine regimens. Additionally, a notable increase in the FA ratio was demonstrated in this study. The obtained results of the present study revealed that the WC-OMV combination of local strain can induce a high level of antibody response indicating more protection than OMV or WC separately. Moreover, it can be considered an effective immunogen against V. cholerae.

A systems medicine approach reveals disordered immune system and lipid metabolism in multiple sclerosis patients.

Identification of autoimmune processes and introduction of new autoantigens involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be helpful in the design of new drugs to prevent unresponsiveness and side effects in patients. To find significant changes, we evaluated the autoantibody repertoires in newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS patients (NDP) and those receiving disease-modifying therapy (RP). Through a random peptide phage library, a panel of NDP- and RP-specific peptides was identified, producing two protein data sets visualized using Gephi, based on protein--protein interactions in the STRING database. The top modules of NDP and RP networks were assessed using Enrichr. Based on the findings, a set of proteins, including ATP binding cassette subfamily C member 1 (ABCC1), neurogenic locus notch homologue protein 1 (NOTCH1), hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET), RAF proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase (RAF1) and proto-oncogene vav (VAV1) was found in NDP and was involved in over-represented terms correlated with cell-mediated immunity and cancer. In contrast, transcription factor RelB (RELB), histone acetyltransferase p300 (EP300), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (ACACB), adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 mitochondrial (PCK2) had major contributions to viral infections and lipid metabolism as significant events in RP. According to these findings, further research is required to demonstrate the pathogenic roles of such proteins and autoantibodies targeting them in MS and to develop therapeutic agents which can ameliorate disease severity.

EGFR rs11506105 and IFNL3 SNPs but not rs8099917 are strongly associated with treatment responses in Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Interferon lambda 3 (IFNL3) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may play a key role in the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and treatment responses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of IFNL3 SNPs and EGFR rs11506105 on treatment outcomes in patients with chronic HCV (CHC). IFNL3 SNPs and EGFR rs11506105 were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and PCR-sequencing, respectively, in 235 naïve patients with CHC infection. The frequency of rapid virologic response (RVR), complete early virologic response (cEVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) were 52.3%, 76.2% and 64.7% respectively. The results of this study showed that RVR was associated with ALT (P=0.015), AST (P=0.020), IFNL3 rs12979860 (CC) (P=0.043), rs12980275 (AA) (P=1 × 10-4), and EGFR rs11506105 (AA) (P=0.010), and IFNL3 rs12979860 (CC) (P=0.048), rs12980275 (AA) (P=0.022), and EGFR rs11506105 (AA) (P=0.006) were correlated with cEVR. HCV genotype (P=0.007), IFNL3 rs12979860 (CC) (P=0.023), IFNL3 rs12980275 (AA) (P=1 × 10-4), EGFR rs11506105 (AA) (P=0.005), RVR (P=1 × 10-4), and cEVR (P=0.003) were significant predictors for SVR. These results, for the first time, revealed that beside IFNL3 SNPs, EGFR rs11506105 is strongly associated with RVR, cEVR and SVR. EGFR rs11506105 besides IFNL3 SNPs could predict treatment responses in CHC patients.

From in-silico immunogenicity verification to in vitro expression of recombinant Core-NS3 fusion protein of HCV.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious global health burden. There is no effective vaccine against HCV and new direct acting antivirals (DAAs) are so expensive and virtually unavailable to the public. Therefore, seeking for therapeutic or prophylactic vaccines is exigent and reliever. METHODS: The secondary and tertiary structures of the recombinant Core-NS3 (rC-N) fusion protein of HCV and its B and T-cells epitopes were evaluated with bioinformatics software. Cloning and in vitro expression of rC-N were performed by pET24a(+) and E.coli BL21-DE3 expression host, respectively. The recombinant protein purification was done by affinity chromatography method and then identified by Western blotting using anti-His monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: The sequences of rC-N protein consist of 1-118 amino acid parts of Core and 1095-1384 amino acids of NS3 were connected by a flexible linker (AAY) with proteasome cleavable site. The expressed and purified 46.7292 kDa rC-N protein had antigenic value up to threshold and conservancy found in this chimeric protein. Ramchandran Plot analysis represented that most residues were fallen in favourable regions. It also interacted with both type I and II major histocompatibility complex (MHC I, II) molecules. The rC-N had antigenic behaviour to create T cell responses. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that conserved rC-N protein had the ability to induce T-cell-mediated immune responses and it could be utilized as a therapeutic vaccine candidate against HCV (Tab. 3, Fig. 4, Ref. 40).

Physico-chemical analysis of drinking groundwater of around Tehran by seasonal variation.

This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study and done in four seasons during April 2011 to March 2012.The objective of the present study was to examine Physico-chemical properties of groundwater around Tehran. The results are also compared with the guideline values of Iranian legislation. A total of 160 drinking water samples were collected from different drinking groundwater around the Tehran. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), conductivity and pH, were measured by using standard methods and the concentration of ions Cl-, F-, NO3-, NO2-, Br-, SO4(2-), PO4(3-), Ca2+, K+, Na+ and NH4+ in groundwater was performed using Ion chromatography (Metrohm Company, USA) with standard method. This study showed that most of the parameters in groundwater were below the Iranian permissible limit except total dissolved solids (N = 2), conductivity (N = 2), nitrate as NO3- (N = 22), chloride (N = 3), sulphate (N = 2), fluoride (N = 3) and ammonia (N = 8). There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between physico-chemical parameters such as pH, nitrite (NO2-), sodium, potassium, sulphate, ammonia, bromide and phosphate in different seasons. These results are important, not only for the many people who drink groundwater but also for the health supervisory agencies such as Ministry of Health and Institute of Standards and Industrial of Iran (ISIRI) to have more effective control on groundwater.

A flow cytometric opsonophagocytic assay for measurement of functional antibodies elicited after immunization with outer membrane vesicle of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B.

Opsonophagocytosis mediated by antibody and complement is the major defense mechanism for clearing Neisseria meningitidis from the host. Therefore, a newly developed phagocytosis assay based on flow cytometry (flow assay) was using sera obtained from rabbit postvaccination with outer membrane vesicle of N. meningitidis serogroup B, was done in order to evaluation of the potential efficacy of (experimental) meningococcal vaccines. The Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs) and control were injected intramuscularly into groups of five rabbit with boosters on 14, 28 and 42 days after the primary immunization. The serum on 0, 14, 28, 42 and 56 days were collected and stored at -20 degrees C for next analysis. Phagocytic function of and intracellular oxidative burst generation by rabbit polymorphonuclear (PMN), against N. meningitidis serogroup B, was measured with flow cytometer, using dihydrorhodamine-123 as probes, respectively. We use a Coulter Epics XL-profile (USA) with an argon laser operating at 488 nm. The results of quantitative flow cytometric analysis of rabbit PMN function in hyperimmun sera with OMVs revealed a highly significant increase in opsonophagocytic responses against serogroup B meningococci after 56 day in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). Present results indicated that OMVs could be as a candidate for vaccine toward serogroup B meningococci and a new standard flow cytometric method to measure the opsonophagocytosis activity by rabbit PMNs was shown by this study.