How Iran responded to expanding need for laboratory services for COVID-19?

After the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in early 2020 in Iran, the rapid response team of Pasteur Institute of Iran was the first lab starting detection and report of suspected human samples. This article is a short summery of all actions from the preparedness for detecting the first cases of COVID-19, expanding the nationwide laboratory service, choosing the suitable laboratory tests and other challenges in laboratory detection during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Iran.

Construction of an eGFP Expression Plasmid under Control of T7 Promoter and IRES Sequence for Assay of T7 RNA Polymerase Activity in Mammalian Cell Lines.

Background: Recently, the use of T7 RNA polymerase instead of other viral and cellular promoters is increasing due to high efficacy of transcription in the cell cytoplasm by this polymerase. In order to translate the transcripts produced by T7 RNA polymerase in mammalian cell lines, it is necessary to include Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES) sequences. In addition, if sequence of poly A signal would be included after interested gene, the rate of expression could be increased in the cells.

Prevalence of GBV-C among Iranian HBV positive patients using PCR-RFLP technique.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of GBV-C among Iranian HBV positive patients using PCR-RFLP technique.

Background: GBV-C was a member of flaviviridae family and recently propose to classify as members of a fourth genus in this family, named Pegivirus and suggest that at least one quarter of the world's population has been infected with this virus. GBV-C can be transmitted via the blood-borne route, although vertical and sexual transmission is very well documented.