Distribution of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli among E. coli isolates from diarrheal samples referred to educational hospitals in Tehran-Iran

Background: Introduction: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the most important bacterial cause of watery  travelers' diarrhea  in  developing countries. Watery diarrhea is can cause serious life-threatening dehydration. ETEC was caused diarrhea by the secretion of two heat-labile enterotoxins (LTs) and the heat-stable enterotoxins (STs) which increase intestinal secretion. Routine laboratory methods are not appropriate to detect ETEC and other diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes. The molecular techniques such as PCR are rapid and accurate methods that have been developed for detection of ETEC. We were recognized ETEC by PCR on lt and st genes from E. coli isolates from patients with diarrhea collected from selected Tehran educational hospitals.Materials and Methods: The E. coli isolates were collected from total 140 patients with diarrhea and 110 patients without diarrhea using culture and IMViC test. DNA was extracted by boiling method and the presence of the uidA, lt and st genes was detected by PCR.Results: Among 140 E. coli isolates from diarrheal stools 5 (3.6%) isolates were positive for, just lt gene, 3 (2.1%) co-amplified for both lt/st and 1 (0.7%) was positive for just the st gene which were considered as ETEC. In the E. coli isolates from non-diarrheal control samples just one (0.9%) isolate was positive for both lt and st genes.Conclusion: The results showed that the ETEC as a significant cause of diarrhea, usually ignored by laboratories using traditional methods. Sometimes the ETEC causes severe diarrhea and can threaten for patient's life. Thus a rapid diagnostic test such as PCR can be very helpful in the treatment of patients

Evaluation of Neurofibromatosis Gene Expression in Non-Hereditary Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women. Studies have shown that changes in neurofibromatosis gene expression can cause breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the change of neurofibromatosis type 1 gene expression in non-hereditary breast cancer using real time PCR. Materials and Methods: In this study, 160 tissue samples were collected from patients following ethical principles. After lysis of tissues, extraction of RNA and synthesis of cDNA was performed. The amount of gene expression changes was investigated. Results: The results showed that the level of NF1 gene expression was dependent on the stages of the disease and as the stages progress, the level of expression of this gene showed a significant decrease. Conclusion: The use of gene biomarkers can help to diagnose and treat diseases faster. Along with examining other candidate genes, using NF1 gene expression analysis in breast cancer patients can be a suitable option for diagnosing the stages of disease progression

Genotyping of Virulence Factors of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli by PCR

Background: Escherichia coli is the most causative agent of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Apart from all human infectious diseases, UTI have a high prevalence and in most cases, Escherichia coli is a dominance bacterium which can cause pyelonephritis and cystitis. The aim of the study was to determine the occurrence of some virulence genes expressing fimbriae, production of hemolysin and aerobactin among a hundred Escherichia coli isolates obtained from in-and outpatients of Karaj Shahid Rajaii hospital, showing clinical and laboratory signs of UTI.Materials and Methods: In this investigation we isolated Escherichia coli strains from urine samples of patients with UTI during the period of July to December 2012 and studied them for the presence of the virulence genes by PCR.Results and Conclusion: The most abundant virulence factor in this study was fimH. The prevalence of the virulence factors for fimbriae type 1 (fimH gene), pyelonephritis associated pili (pap gene), S-family adhesions (sfa gene), hemolysin (hly gene) and aerobactin (aer gene), was 73%, 46%, 32%, 47%, 57%, respectively

Peptide and Protein Interaction Prediction and Intervention with Computational Methods

Proteins are the most fascinating multifaceted biomacromolecules in living systems and play various important roles such as structural, sensory, catalytic, and regulatory function. Protein and peptide interactions have emerged as an important and challenging topic inbiochemistry and medicinal chemistry. Computational methods as promising tools have been utilized to predict protein and peptide interactions in order to intervene in the biochemical processes and facilitate pharmaceutical peptide design and clarify the complications. This review will introduce the computational methods which are applicable in protein and peptide interaction prediction and summarizes the most successful examples of computational methods described in the literature.HIGHLIGHTS•Highlights the importance of peptides and proteins interactions.•Summarizes the computational methods which are applicable in peptide and protein interaction prediction.•Highlights the applications of computational methods in peptides and proteins interactions

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Cuminum Cyminum Essential Oil and Extract against Bacterial Strains Isolated from Patients with Symptomatic Urinary Tract Infection

Background: Many efforts have been done to find effective agents against resistant pathogens. Cuminum cyminum L. (Cumin) is an aromatic plant within the Apiaceae family. It has a variety of purposes and demonstrates antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the activity of C. cyminum extract and essential oil against bacterial isolates which cause urinary tract infection, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus agalactiae, group A streptococci, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolated from patients with urinary tract infection.Materials and Methods: Extract was prepared by maceration and essential oil was prepared by hydrodistillation from C. cyminum seeds. The study population was 95 patients with urinary tract infection without malignant diseases, diabetes and immunosupression. After identification of organism, susceptibility testing was carried out by disc diffusion method and MIC values by broth microdilution testing.Results: C. cyminum essential oil can have a better effect on the gram-negative bacteria causing urinary tract infection than gram-positive bacteria. In addition, C. cyminum extract have good activity against both gram- positive and gram-negative bacteria. Our findings also showed that essential oil and extract of C. cyminum has better antibacterial activity on uropathogen isolates than amoxicillin and the difference was significant (P value<0.05) but the activity is not superior to other antibiotics.Conclusion: These results suggest that the essential oil and extract of C. cyminum seeds might be considered as interesting sources of antibacterial components against uropathogenic bacteria

Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Bacteria Isolated from Patients with Community-acquired Urinary Tract Infections in Iran: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain the common infections diagnosed in outpatients as well as hospitalized patients. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) and extensively-drug resistance (XDR) in bacteria is an alarming problem in the world. The aim of this study was to detection of etiologic agents associated with community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs) and investigation of antibiotic susceptibility patterns.Methods: This study was performed from September 2014 to March 2015 on outpatients, which referred to Labbafinejad Hospital Clinic, Tehran, Iran. The bacterial pathogenic diversity identified by standard laboratory methods. The antimicrobial resistance rates were performed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion methods.Results: A total of 303 patients were enrolled in this study, from which 204 (67.3%) were female and 99 (32.5%) were male patients. Escherichia coli was the dominant species (69%), followed by Enterococcus faecalis (12.8%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (4.6%). High resistance rate to nalidixic acid (73.8%), trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (54.3%), ciprofloxacin (54.3%) in E. coli,  and tetracycline (89.7%) in E. faecalis strains and high susceptibility rate to meropenem (96.6%), imipenem (95.2%), amikacin (90.4%), cefoxtin (87.6%), and  nitrofurantoin (82.8%)  in E. coli,  and nitrofurantoin (100%)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      in E. faecalis strains were observed. In addition, 43.5% of the strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR).Conclusions: This study showed that E. coli was the predominant uropathogen of CA-UTIs in this geographical area. It also demonstrated the empirical treatment of urinary tract infections may be difficult due to high resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Continuous monitoring of MDR organisms and drug resistance patterns are needed to prevent treatment failure and reduce selective pressure. These findings suggest the use of nitrofurantoin, cefoxitin, and amikacin in this area of the country

Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Bacteria Isolated from Patients with Community-acquired Urinary Tract Infections in Iran: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain the common infections diagnosed in outpatients as well as hospitalized patients. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) and extensively-drug resistance (XDR) in bacteria is an alarming problem in the world. The aim of this study was to detection of etiologic agents associated with community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs) and investigation of antibiotic susceptibility patterns.Methods: This study was performed from September 2014 to March 2015 on outpatients, which referred to Labbafinejad Hospital Clinic, Tehran, Iran. The bacterial pathogenic diversity identified by standard laboratory methods. The antimicrobial resistance rates were performed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion methods.Results: A total of 303 patients were enrolled in this study, from which 204 (67.3%) were female and 99 (32.5%) were male patients. Escherichia coli was the dominant species (69%), followed by Enterococcus faecalis (12.8%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (4.6%). High resistance rate to nalidixic acid (73.8%), trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (54.3%), ciprofloxacin (54.3%) in E. coli,  and tetracycline (89.7%) in E. faecalis strains and high susceptibility rate to meropenem (96.6%), imipenem (95.2%), amikacin (90.4%), cefoxtin (87.6%), and  nitrofurantoin (82.8%)  in E. coli,  and nitrofurantoin (100%)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      in E. faecalis strains were observed. In addition, 43.5% of the strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR).Conclusions: This study showed that E. coli was the predominant uropathogen of CA-UTIs in this geographical area. It also demonstrated the empirical treatment of urinary tract infections may be difficult due to high resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Continuous monitoring of MDR organisms and drug resistance patterns are needed to prevent treatment failure and reduce selective pressure. These findings suggest the use of nitrofurantoin, cefoxitin, and amikacin in this area of the country

Detection of blaNDM, blaDIM, blaIMP, blaVIM and blaCTX-M-15 beta-lactamase Genes among Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii Strains Isolated from Two Hospitals of Tehran, Iran

Background: In this study, we evaluated the existence of blaNDM ,  blaDIM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaCTX-M-15 beta-lactamase  genes among Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from hospitalized patients.Materials and Methods: From June 2013 to May 2014, thirty-four nonduplicate nonconsecutive isolates of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa were isolated from blood, respiratory tract, wound, sputum and urine samples of patients from hospitalized in two hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines. In this study, the frequency of MBL (metallo-beta-lactamase) producers was evaluated by CDDT (Combined disk diffusion test) and prevalence of blaNDM, blaDIM, blaIMP, blaVIM and blaCTX-M-15  genes were evaluated  by PCR and sequencing methods among P. aeruginosa and  A. baumannii strains isolated from  hospitalized patient of Tehran during 2013 -2014 years.Results: Of thirty-four non-fermenter isolates, 24 (70.58%) P. aeruginosa and 10 (29.41%) as A. baumannii were isolated and identified. High rate of resistance to common antibiotics were detected specially among A. baumannii isolates that showed 100% resistance to 4 of tested antibiotics. The CDDT results reveal that 4 (16.66%) of the P. aeruginosa isolates and 1 (10%) of the A.baumannii were positive for production of MBLs. The prevalence of blaCTX-M-15 gene among 10 A. baumannii isolates was 4 (40%), and for IMP-1, 2 (20%). The OXA-51 has been investigated and was detected in all A. baumannii isolates. Also the prevalence of blaCTX-M-15 gene among 24 P.aeruginosa isolates was 11 (45.83%), and for IMP-1, 3(12.5%). Fortunately, NDM, blaVIM, blaDIM gene was not detected in all isolates.Conclusion: The detection of MBL-producing A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa strains detected in this research is of great concern and highlights the need of infection control measures, including antimicrobial management and prompt detection of beta-lactamase-producing isolates.