Diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women referred to therapeutic centers of Alborz Province (Iran) using immunoglobulin G avidity ELISA technique

Objective To evaluate immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity as a useful and reliable technique in diagnosing toxoplasmosis in pregnant women referring to therapeutic centers of Alborz Province (Iran) in 2014, against two other tests, IgG and immunoglobulin G (IgM) anti-Toxoplasma. Methods Serum samples (468 in total) were obtained from different therapeutic centers in Karaj City. ELISA method was used to test the anti-Toxoplasma avidity of IgG, IgM and IgG. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods and Chi-square test (P < 0.05) using SPSS 17.0. Results Anti-Toxoplasma avidity tests of IgM and IgG were positive in 9 and 86 samples respectively. Also, a borderline IgM avidity was detected in 2 suspected samples. In addition, among all positive and suspected samples, 79 cases indicated high titers of IgG avidity, 7 cases were of low titers and 1 case was of a borderline titer. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was 20. The sera which showed high avidity index was obtained from patients at chronic phase of infection (77.7) while those which showed low avidity levels were from patients at acute toxoplasmosis (92). Conclusions This study clearly showed that acute and chronic phases of toxoplasmosis could be differentiated with the aid of IgG avidity test. This test may also assist in recognizing old and newly acquired infections. © 2016 Asian Pacific Tropical Medicine Pres

Analysis of the active fraction of Iranian Naja naja oxiana snake venom on the metabolite profiles of the malaria parasite by 1HNMR in vitro

Objective(s): Malaria is an important parasitic disease with high morbidity and mortality in tropical areas. Resistance to most antimalarial drugs has encouraged the development of new drugs including natural products. Venom is a complex mixture of active pharmaceutical ingredients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimalarial activity of purified fractions of Naja naja oxiana. Materials and Methods: Lyophilized venom was purified with a Sephacryl S-200 HR column and the fractions lyophilized and inhibitory concentration 50 against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 in vitro obtained. The 4th fraction was run on a Mono Q column, and activity against P. falciparum was detected by lactate dehydrogenase assay and purity by SDS PAGE. Large scale culture of the parasite was carried out with and without the active fraction on the ring stage for 48 hr. The parasites were collected and lyophilized and analyzed by 1HNMR. Chemometrics studies were performed using MATLAB, differentiating metabolites were identified by Human Metabolic Database, and metabolic pathways by the Metaboanalyst online package. Results: The active fraction from the ion exchange column had a 50 inhibitory concentration of 0.026 μg/ml on P. falciparum in vitro (P<0.001) with molecular weight of 63 kDa by SDS-PAGE and no hemolytic activity. Metabolomics studies on the two groups with and without the fraction identified 5 differentiating metabolites and a number of related pathways. Conclusion: The metabolites were succinic acid, l-glutamic acid, pyruvic acid, cholesterol, and NAD. The changes in the Krebs cycle and metabolism pathways of nicotinamide and pyruvate were noticeable. © 2020 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Detecting endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies in patients with giardiasis

Celiac disease is a genetic disease diagnosed to be associated with chronic intestinal inflammation. Endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies are the best serum markers for celiac disease (CD) diagnosis. This research aimed to determine the levels of endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies in patients with giardiasis. Forty cases of giardiasis were selected among the referees to Milad Hospital in Tehran, as well as a children�s hospital and some health centers in Karaj. Euro-immune IgA immunofluorescence and ELISA were utilized to measure their titers of endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies, respectively. Twenty random serum samples of negative Giardia and 16 serum samples of positive anti-(tissue transglutaminase) tTG antibodies were evaluated by using ELISA and endomysium antibody through immunofluorescence techniques. Among the 40 cases of giardiasis, 16 positive endomysial and transglutaminase antibodies (40) were detected. Sixteen positive samples of endomysial antibody (EMA) were also positive for anti-tTG, and 20 random negative samples were negative for EMA and anti-tTG. The chi-square test revealed a significant association between antibodies and giardiasis (P = 0.001). Atrophy of the intestinal villi can arise after giardia infection by mimicking the behavioral patterns of anti-EMA and anti-tTG antibodies. Due to low specificity, anti-gliadin antibody test is not helpful in detecting CD in patients with giardiasis. In the present study on anti-EMA and anti-tTG in patients with giardiasis, these antibodies were positive in giardiasis. Thus, the best and most reliable way to diagnose CD and treat giardiasis is intestinal biopsy as the gold standard method. © 2018, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature

Novel chloroquine loaded curcumin based anionic linear globular dendrimer G2: A metabolomics study on Plasmodium falciparum in vitro using 1H NMR spectroscopy

Due to side-effects and inefficiency of the drugs used in malaria treatment, finding alternative medicine with less side-effects has attracted much attention. In this regard, in the present study, nanocomposite synthesized and its effects on the metabolites of P. falciparum were investigated. Subsequent to synthesis of nanocomposites, characterization was carried out using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and Fourier-transform infrared tests. Solubility and drug release were measured and its toxicity on Vero cell was assessed using the MTT assay. The antiparasitic effect of the nanocomposite on the metabolites of P. falciparum was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Among synthesized nanocomposites, the average size of 239 nm showed suitable solubility in water as well as slow drug release. The MTT assay showed no toxicity for Vero cell lines. Concentrations of 2.5 μg mL-1 of nanocomposite eliminated 82.6 of the total parasites. The most effected metabolic cycles were glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. In this study, 1H NMR spectroscopy was used with untargeted metabolomics to study the effect of the nanocomposite on P. falciparum. Playing an essential role in understanding drug-target interactions and characterization of mechanism of action or resistance exhibited by novel antiprotozoal drugs, can be achieved by targeting metabolic using LC-MS. Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press