Rapid differential diagnosis of vaginal infections using gold nanoparticles coated with specific antibodies

Vaginal infections caused by bacteria, Candida and Trichomonas vaginalis, affect millions of women annually worldwide. Symptoms and signs have limited value in differential diagnosis of three causes of vaginitis. Current laboratory methods for differential diagnosis are either expensive or time consuming. Therefore, in this work, development of a method based on gold nanoparticles has been investigated for rapid diagnosis of vaginal infections. Specific antibodies against three main causes of vaginal infections were raised in rabbits. The antibodies were then purified and conjugated to gold nanoparticles and used in an agglutination test for detection of vaginal infections. Finally, sensitivity and specificity of this test for diagnosis of vaginal infections were estimated using culture method as gold standard. Purification of antibodies from sera was confirmed by electrophoresis. Construction of nanoparticles was proved by TEM and FT-IR methods. Conjugation of antibodies to gold nanoparticles was confirmed using XPS method. Sensitivity and specificity of gold nanoparticles for diagnosis of Candida species were 100%, for Gardnerella were 100% and 93%, and for T. vaginalis was 53.3% and 100%, respectively. Gold nanoparticle-based method is a simple, rapid, accurate, and cost-effective test for differential laboratory diagnosis of vaginal infection

Effect of Taxusbaccata leaves fractions on Trichomonasvaginalis growth in culture medium

Abstract Background & aim: Tichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Metronidazole, with vast side effects, is the main treatment for this infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the extract fractions of Taxusbaccata, on Trichomonas vaginalis in cultured medium. Methods: In the present study, asetonia dichloromethane extract of Taxusbaccata and hydroalcoholic fractions of 60% and 90% were collected and then dried. Their anti-trichomonas effect at doses of 200, 300, 400 and 500 μg/ml at 24, 48 and 72 hours on the TYIS33 culture media were studied. Data were analyzed using ANOVA test. .Results: The crude extract and fractions of 60% at different times at concentrations of 200, 300, 400 and 500 μg/ml showed higher anti-parasitic effects than 90% (p < 0.05). At concentration of 200 μg/ml of extract of 60% which causing 100% inhibition growth but the fraction of 90% showed 60% of inhibition growth. Conclusion: The effect of Taxusbaccata on Trichomonas may be a good alternative candidate for metronidazole. Key words: Taxusbaccata, Trichomonas vaginalis, Fracction