First Molecular Detection of Aichivirus in Pediatric Patients with Acute Gastroenteritis in Iran

Background: Aichivirus as a new member of Picornaviridae family was detected and isolated in Japan. Aichivirus species, which belongs to genus Kobuvirus, include of three genotypes A, B and C. Based on previous reports to detect aichiviruses in stool samples as well as environmental samples such as river waters and sewage waters, it has been demonstrated that Aichivirus infect humans by fecal-oral routs. In order to establish an examination for the prevalence of Aichivirus among pediatric patients involved to acute gastroenteritis, we conducted a RT-qPCR assay for detection and quantification of Aichivirus in collected stool samples.Materials and Methods: In this study, a total of 160 stool samples from September 2018 to May 2019 were collected from presenting pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis in Karaj hospital, Iran. After viral RNA extraction, the RT-PCR was performed to amplify the 3CD junction region of Aichivirus.Results: Out of the 160 samples tested, the Aichivirus genomic RNA was detected in 13/160 (8.1%) of stool samples. The maximum viral prevalence rate was related to December (30.7%). The co-infection of Aichivirus with Salivirus and Saffold virus also assessed, among which high double or triple mixed-infections were determined.Conclusion: This is the first documentation of Aichivirus detection in stool samples that demonstrates Aichivirus has been circulating among Iranian pediatric patients. Our results indicate that Aichivirus in association with Salivirus and Saffold virus may be considered as a causative agent of acute gastroenteritis.

Bacteriophage as a Novel Antibacterial Agent in Industry and Medicine

Bacteriophage is a kind of virus that infect bacteria, and is distinct from the animal and plant viruses that could have either lytic or lysogenic cycle. Lytic phages known as candidates for phage therapy, since they rapidly replicate into their host and lyse them. Theoretically, phages have more than a few benefits over routine antibiotics. They are extremely specific and for their targeted hosts and also are safe for human, because they have no activity against eukaryote cells. Over this time, phages were used to treat various infections. Although, phages have a lot of advantages against antibiotics, their industrial production as a commercial production have been ceased in most of the western European countries.These days, by raising of antibiotics resistance and inefficiency of antibiotic to overcome bacteria biofilm,  there is renewed global attention in phage applications as a potentially powerful antibacterial agents. Different published paper through the world indicates bacteriophage could be recruited as suitable agent for therapeutic purposes in medicine and food industry. Therefore, here we tried to review most of these ideas about phage application as a rapid review

Comparing the efficiency of four diagnostic concentration techniques performed on the same group of intestinal parasites

Background: Intestinal parasites are a major public health problem, and their accurate diagnosis is important. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficiency of four concentration techniques for the detection of intestinal parasites under laboratory conditions.Methods: A total of 800 suspension specimens including 200 samples for each technique were simultaneously and parallel processed for comparing the diagnostic efficiency of the formalin-tween (FTC), formalin-ether (FEC), formalin-acetone (FAC), and formalin-gasoline concentration (FGC) techniques.Results: Sensitivity of FTC, FEC, FAC, and FGC techniques for diagnosis of intestinal parasites was 71.7%, 55.8%, 70.0% and 56.7%; and their negative predictive values (NPV) were 70.2%, 60.2%, 69.0% and 60.6%, respectively. FTC and FAC techniques with equivalent recovery rates were significantly more sensitive than FEC and FGC techniques for diagnosing helminth ova, but for diagnosis of protozoan cysts they were reversed. Overall diagnostic k agreement for FTC and FAC techniques was substantial, while for FEC and FGC techniques it was moderate. The k statistic indicated low to moderate agreement for diagnosis of helminths and moderate to substantial agreement for protozoa.Conclusion: Tween, acetone and gasoline reagents are more stable, safer, less flammable and of lower cost than that of ether; and promise to be a useful alternative to ether- concentration. Our results demonstrated that the combined use of parasitological techniques is important for the diagnosis of all intestinal parasites. FTC and FGC techniques are superior for the diagnosis of helminth ova and protozoan cysts in stool, respectively. Additional studies are suggested, using a larger sample size and different parasites in the field.Keywords: Concentration technique, Diagnosis, Intestinal parasite, Sensitivity, NPV, FAC, FTC, FEC, FG

Comprehensive phylogenetic, similarity and allergenicity analysis of Boophilus genus tick Tropomyosin protein

     Boophilus genus ticks are responsible for transferring some pathogens and reducing production factors in cattle. Tropomysin (TPM) protein has actin regulator activity and playing important role in immune and allergic reactions. The main goal is to determine different aspects of phylogenetic, similarity, homology, structure and allergenicity of TPM protein. In prior study, we identified TPM by using Mass-spectrometry in Boophilus anulatus larva proteins extraction. Analysis by NCBI and Mascot software showed complete similarity of this protein with Boophilus microplus. TPM Blasting, invertebrates TPM sequences retrieval, aligning and analyzing of conserved and variable regions along sequences were next steps. Also, construction the phylogenetic tree, overall mean distances estimation, homology protein secondary structure, allergencity analysis was achieved. The most similar sequences to Boophilus genus TPM are Haemaphysalis sp., Scolopendra sp. and etc., respectively. The multiple sequence alignment showed that conserved and variable regions stretched in different part of TPM. The close relationships in Phylogenetic tree between Ticks and Mites were seen, although the TPM sequences in ticks are more similar to each other than to mites and assume as the nearest relatives. Insects TPM like worms, located in two separated clades, and Trichinella spiralis in worm clades are more related taxa to members of ticks and mites groups. Furthermore, overall mean distances over sequence pairs reflects TPM conservation during speciation. TPM has high homology in different species and has two domain of α-helix that cannot form disulfide bonds. Finally, allergenicity analysis by separated and hybrid approach showed it undoubted is allergen and candidates some peptides as responsible for allergenicity of TPM. The comprehensive analysis of TPM has never been easy, especially when we attempt to make statements from different aspects about this protein.  Our study revealed the some unique and valuable aspects of TPM protein of Boophilus genus, and will help to further studies on mentioned protein

Evaluation of the detection of diarrhoea-associated RNA viruses in immunocompromised children in Iran

Summary: Background: Gastroenteritis accounts for about 10% of the deaths among children, especially in immunocompromised children. Few studies on the prevalence of gastrointestinal infections caused by RNA viruses have been done in Iran. The aim of the study was to evaluate the detection of RNA viruses causing diarrhoea using a multiplex PCR. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 130 paediatric patients with diarrhoea who had acute lymphocytic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and retinoblastoma. After RNA extraction and synthesis of cDNA, multiplex PCR was done to evaluate the presence of rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, and enterovirus. Results: There were 9 (6.9%), 7 (5.4%), 3 (2.3%), and 6 (4.6%) cases of rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, and enterovirus detected, respectively. One case of co-infection with astrovirus and norovirus was observed. Conclusions: This is the first report from Iran which identified the presence of common RNA viruses causing diarrhoea in immunocompromised children. Increased awareness of these viruses will enable healthcare professionals to improve strategies and policies to control spread and infection caused by these viruses

Immunogenicity of mannan derived from Mycobacterium bovis as a promising adjuvant in vaccine BCG

Background and Objectives: Lipoarabinomannan is one of the components of the significant structural cell surfaces of mycobacteria and serves as an immunostimulatory factor. TNF-α and IL-12 are two examples of the anti-bacterial inflammatory cytokines that are activated and induced during infection. Materials and Methods: In this study, mannan was extracted and processed, and then Bulb/c female mice were used in three groups, one group was given BCG vaccine, the other group was given BCG vaccine with mannan adjuvant, and a non-injected group was used as a control group. Inflammatory factors interleukin-12, TNF-α, IgG and IgM were measured in mouse serum. Results: The levels of the inflammatory factors interleukin-12 and TNF-α in the serum isolated from mice receiving the BCG vaccine with mannan adjuvant showed a significant difference compared to the group that received only the BCG vaccine and the control group [IL-12] and , with P≤0.05.The examination of the level of IgG immune factors in these three groups revealed a significant difference. The group that received the BCG vaccine with mannan adjuvant showed a marked contrast compared to the group that received only the BCG vaccine and the control group, with P≤0.05. The level of IgM was higher in the group that received the BCG vaccine alone compared to the adjuvant vaccine group and the control group, with P≤0.05. Conclusion: Our results indicated that mice receiving the BCG vaccine with mannan adjuvant had significantly higher serum levels of IL-12, TNF-α, and IgG than the group receiving BCG alone

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Kinetics in Serum, Saliva, and Urine, Iran, 2018

Little is known about using noninvasive samples for diagnosing Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). We investigated detection of CCHF virus in serum, saliva, and urine samples. Our results indicate that serum is the best sample type for CCHF diagnosis; saliva can be used for noninvasive sampling

First Molecular Detection of Saffold Virus in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis in Iran: Detection of Saffold Virus in Children

Background: Saffold virus as a new member of cardiovirus genus in picornaviridae family has been suggested to be related to diarrheic cases and human airway diseases. However, relationship between Saffold virus and human diseases is unclear. In order to establish an investigation for the occurrence of Saffold virus among pediatric patients involved to acute gastroenteritis, we implemented a RT-PCR assay for detection and quantification of Saffold virus in stool specimens. Materials and Methods: In this study, a total of 160 stool samples from September 2018 to May 2019 were collected from presenting pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis in a Karaj hospital, Iran. After viral RNA extraction, the RT-PCR was performed to amplify the 5’UTR region of Saffold virus genome. Results: Out of the 160 samples tested, the Saffold virus genomic RNA was detected in 26/160 (16.2%) of stool samples. The high Saffold virus detection rate was related to February (6/26 or 23%). The co-infection of Saffold virus with Aichivirus and Salivirus as other new emerging viruses was also assessed, among which high double or triple mixed-infections were determined. Conclusion: This is the first documentation of Saffold virus detection in stool samples that demonstrates Saffold virus has been circulating among Iranian pediatric patients. Our results indicated that Saffold virus in association with Aichivirus and Salivirus may be possibly considered as causative agent of acute gastroenteritis