Expression, purification and immunogenic description of a hepatitis c virus recombinant coreE1E2 protein expressed by yeast pichia pastoris

Background: Gradual development of a useful vaccine can be the main point in the control and eradication of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Hepatitis C Virus envelope glycoproteins are considered as the main HCV vaccine candidate. Objectives: In this study, the Pichia pastoris expression system was used to express a recombinant HCV CoreE1E2 protein, which consists of Core (269 nt-841nt) E1 (842 nt-1417nt) and E2 (1418 nt-2506nt). Materials and Methods: By a codon optimization technique based on the P. pastoris expression system, we could increase the rate of recombinant proteins. Moreover, the purified protein can efficiently induce anti-CoreE1E2 antibodies in rabbits, and also by developing a homemade Enzyme-Linked ELISA kit we can detect antibody of HCV Iranian patients with genotype 1a. Results: In our study, the virus-like particle of rCoreE1E2 with 70 nm size, was shown by Electron microscopy and proved the self-assembly in vitro in a yeast expression system. Conclusions: These findings of the present study indicate that the recombinant CoreE1E2 glycoprotein is effective in inducing neutralizing antibodies, and is an influential HCV vaccine candidate. © 2015, Kowsar Medical Publishing Company. All rights reserved

Human bocavirus in hospitalized iranian adults with respiratory tract infections during January-June 2014

The epidemiology of respiratory human bocavirus (HBoV) infection has not been described in Tehran's adult and to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics associated with HBoV infection, a population of adults hospitalized with respiratory tract infections were chosen. Throat swab samples were collected from 91 hospitalized adults aged between 29 to 91 year and Real-time PCR TaqMan was used to screen specimens by amplifying a part of the NP1 gene. HBoV was detected in 6 adults (6.6). Mean age was 76 years and 67 of patients were female. The most common symptoms were wheezing (100), tachypnea (100), cough (100), rhinorrhea/pharyngitis (83.33) and fever (83.33) which clinically diagnosed by a physician. Gastrointestinal symptoms was present only in 1 patient (16.6). In our study the distribution of HBoV was influenced by temperature, relative humidity and precipitation. HBoV is circulating in Tehran and is associated with both upper and lower respiratory tract disease in adults

Merkel cell polyomavirus infection in a patient with Merkel cell carcinoma: A case report

Introduction: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy of the skin which occurs mainly in old people and is very uncommon in young individuals. A new tumor virus belonging to the Polyomaviridae family; Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) has recently been identified in more than 80 of MCCs. Case Presentation: We conducted a retrospective review on the archives of the Department of Pathology; Imam Khomeini Hospital Cancer Institute affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences to confirm the MCC samples and we found medical records and samples of a young case with MCC who developed leg skin and scalp tumor six and seven years after bone marrow transplantation, respectively. We analyzed patient formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples for the presence of MCPyV DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, and the PCR amplicons were subjected to DNA sequencing. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus DNA was detected in both tumors from patient and sequence analysis of the viral LT3 region showed a close homology to strains circulating worldwide. Conclusions: The findings of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that local, systemic, or tumor-induced immunosuppression may allow the MCPyV to initiate skin aggressive cancer. It is necessary to maintain regular check over patients taking immunosuppressive medications for MCPyV infection. Since there is not any information about detection and molecular biology analysis of MCPyV among Iranian patients with MCC, this study provides more information about MCC and MCPyV in Iran. © 2015, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

The prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection in the oligospermic and azoospermic men

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases that affects men like women and infected cutaneous and mucosal squamous epithelium. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of HPV in the semen of oligospermic, azoospermic and normal patients. Methods: From June 2012 to June 2013, a total of 90 individuals were enrolled in this cross sectional comparative study. The participants were classified into three groups (oligospermia, azoosprmia and normal). This classification was based on a new WHO reference values for human semen characteristics published on 2010. After extraction of DNA from specimens L1 gene of HPV was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested-PCR) and the PCR products of positive specimens were genotyped using INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra assay. Results: Among 50 confirmed oligospermic male, 15 were HPV DNA positive (30). In azoospemic group we had 8 HPV DNA positive (40) and in normal group just 3 of 20(15) samples were positive. Statistical assessment was done with SPSS v.15. Chi-square test showed no significant relationship between 3 groups results. Based on independent samples t-test, we found statistical significant relationship for sperm count (p<0.05) and sperm motility (slow) (p<0.05) in oligospermic group positive samples compared with negative. In the present study, 13 HPV genotypes were detected among positive samples. HPV genotypes 16, 45 in the high risk group and 6,11,42 in the low risk group were more frequent than the others. Conclusion: The current study shows that HPV infection can affect on sperm count and motility and decrease count of sperm cell and decrease motility capability of these cells

Relation between parvovirus B19 infection and fetal mortality and spontaneous abortion

Background: Infection with parvovirus B19 may cause fetal losses including spontaneous abortion, intrauterine fetal death and non-immune hydrops fetalis. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of parvovirus B19 in formalin fixed placental tissues in lost fetuses using real-time PCR method. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 formalin fixed placental tissues with unknown cause of fetal death were determined using real-time PCR method after DNA extraction. Results: Six out of 100 cases (6) were positive for parvovirus B19 using real-time PCR. Gestational age of all positive cases was less than 20 weeks with a mean of 12.3 weeks. Three cases have a history of abortion and all of positive cases were collected in spring. Mean age of positive cases were 28 years. Conclusion: Parvovirus B19 during pregnancy can infect red precursor cells and induces apoptosis or lyses these cells that resulting in anemia and congestive heart failure leading to fetal death. Management of parvovirus B19 infection in pregnant women is important because immediate diagnosis and transfusion in hydropsic fetuses can decrease the risk of fetal death

The prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus in the genital tract of males in Iran

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral sexually-transmitted infection. Despite HPV infection is associated with several malignant disorders including penile and anal cancers, little is known about the epidemiology of HPV infection in males, particularly in developing countries. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV infection and its genotype distribution among Iranian males. Patients and Methods: Between March 2009 and April 2014, a total number of 483 males, referred to Iran University of Medical Sciences-affiliated sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinics, were enrolled in this study. Following DNA extraction, HPV detection and genotyping were performed using INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra assay. To analyze the association of HPV infection and age, the logistic regression was employed. Results: No statistical association between HPV infection and age was observed (P = 0.469). Furthermore, there was no statistically significant correlation between HR HPV infection and age (P = 0.330). Conclusions: In this investigation, the prevalence of HPV infection was relatively substantial. Totally, 17 different HPV genotypes were detected and the most frequently detected genotypes were HPV6, HPV11, HPV16, HPV18 and HPV52, respectively. The data from this study is essential for planning future public health strategies including HPV vaccination programs. © 2015, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes among Azerbaijani patients in capital city of Iran-Tehran

Background: Determination of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype distributed in a particular area has an important role on public health throughout the world. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of HCV genotypes in Azerbaijani patients. Patients and Methods: From March 2010 until March 2012, 235 Azerbaijani patients with established chronic hepatitis C, referred to Hospitals related to Iran University of Medical Sciences and Tehran Hepatitis Center, Clinical department of Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroeneterology and Liver Disease, were enrolled in this cross sectional study. About 5 mL of peripheral blood was collected from patients and after separation of plasma, viral RNA extracted. HCV-RNA were amplified by RT-nested PCR using primers from the 5�-UTR and genotyped by RFLP assay, and then HCV genotypes were confirmed using sequencing of cloned PCR products into pJET1.2/blunt cloning vector. Results: HCV genotyping of positive plasma samples demonstrated that predominant HCV subtype was noted for 1b (71.1) followed by subtype 3a (17.0), genotype 2 (6.8), 1a (1.7), and mixed infection (3.4). The mean ± SD age of patients was 37.3 ± 11.8 (range: 2-63) years. Out of 235 patients, 139 (59.1) were male. The frequency of HCV subtype 3a was higher in patients under 40 years old (3a: 18.1 vs. 15.0), and subtype 3a was higher in male patients (3a: 18.7 vs. 14.6). Conclusions: The current study shows that the predominant HCV genotype among Azerbaijani patients with established chronic hepatitis C is subtype 1b (71.1) followed by subtype 3a (17.0). © 2013, Kowsar Corp

Association between Epstein-Barr virus infection and gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Numerous studies conducted over the past 30 years have pointed to the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in gastric cancer samples. This study was aimed to provide a meta-analytic review of the prevalence of EBV in gastric cancer patients, and to clarify the relationship between EBV infection and gastric cancer. Methods: A literature search was performed electronically using online databases for English language publications until July 1, 2019. The pooled EBV prevalence and 95 confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a random-effects model. To determine the association between EBV and gastric cancer, pooled odds ratio (OR) and its 95 CI were computed for case-control studies. Two separate analyses were performed on data from case-control studies with matched and non-match pairs designs to calculate the pooled estimates of ORs. Results: The pooled prevalence of EBV in 20,361 gastric cancer patients was 8.77 (95 CI: 7.73-9.92; I2 = 83.2). There were 20 studies with matched pairs design, including tumor and tumor-adjacent normal tissue pairs from 4116 gastric cancer patients. The pooled ORs were 18.56 (95 CI: 15.68-21.97; I2 = 55.4) for studies with matched pairs design and 3.31 (95 CI: 0.95-11.54; I2 = 55.0) for studies with non-matched pairs design. The proportion of EBV-associated gastric cancer among male cases was significantly higher than among female cases (10.83, vs. 5.72) (P &lt; 0.0001). However, the pooled OR estimate for EBV-associated gastric cancer was significantly higher among females (21.47; 95 CI: 15.55-29.63; I2 = 0) than in males (14.07; 95 CI: 10.46-18.93; I2 = 49.0) (P = 0.06). EBV was more prevalent in the cardia (12.47) and the body (11.68) compared to the antrum (6.29) (P = 0.0002). Conclusions: EBV infection is associated with more than 18 times increase the risk of gastric cancer. Although the prevalence of EBV was higher in male patients than in female patients with gastric cancer, women are more likely than men to develop EBV-associated gastric cancer. Our findings showed that using tumor-adjacent normal tissues as the control group provides more robust and accurate results regarding the relationship between EBV infection and gastric cancer. © 2020 The Author(s)

Molecular epidemiology of Kaposi�s sarcoma-associated herpes virus, and risk factors in HIV-infected patients in Tehran, 2014

Background: Kaposi�s sarcoma (KS) remains themostcommonmalignancyamongHIV-infected patients. Humanherpesvirus type- 8 (HHV-8) is regarded as the infectious etiological agent of Kaposi�s sarcoma (KSHV). Diagnostic procedures associated with KSHV are not routinely performed in HIV-infected subjects. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to obtain information on KSHV epidemiology in Iranian HIV-infected individuals. Patients and Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 109 patients with established HIV infection, who visited a governmental and referral center for HIV screening in Tehran (Tehran west health center (TWHC)) between May 2014 and July 2015 were enrolled according to the convenience sample strategy. After peripheral blood collection, isolation of plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) compartments, DNA extraction was performed. KSHV DNA was analyzed by nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) using primers from ORF-26 (virus minor capsid). Results: Among all 109 HIV-infected patients, 67 (61.5) were male, with an age range of 2 - 64 years (mean±standard deviation 35.8 ±13.3). KSHV DNA was found in PBMC and plasma samples of six (5.5) and four (3.6) patients, respectively. Conclusions: This study revealed a considerable prevalence of KSHV DNA, during latent and lytic phases, among HIV-infected patients. Risk factors for KSHV infection acquisition and concurrent. 0+infection with HIV were also evaluated. Diagnosis of KSHV in the group could be helpful for prognosis of Kaposi�s sarcoma and clinical management. © 2016, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

SNP haplotyping technique for evaluation of MGP 5� UTR power in osteoblast cells

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is involved in calcium trafficking and arterial calcification. The aim of study was to investigate the role of three polymorphisms within the MGP gene promoter region on reporter gene (luciferase) expression level. The fragments containing rs1800799 (C/T), rs1800802 (T/C), and rs1800801 (G/A) sites were constructed and transferred into human G292 osteoblast cells using pGL3-Basic plasmid. The reporter gene expression was calculated for the high and low frequency polymorphic haplotypes (CTG and TCA, respectively). Results showed that the reporter gene expression levels are not statistically different (p > 0.3). We concluded that the investigated polymorphic sites are not able to change the gene expression pattern in human G292 osteoblast cells. © 2016, The Author(s)