MicroRNA profiles in Zika virus infection: Insights from diverse sources.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) stands as one of the most significant reemerging viral pathogens, linked to neurological diseases such as meningoencephalitis and congenital microcephaly. Today there are no effective therapies for treating ZIKV-infected patients. MiRNAs play a critical role in regulating cellular signaling and physiological conditions, and alterations in their profiles can bear great significance in disease progression.

Association between COVID-19 Severity and Expression of Viral Nucleic Acid Sensor Genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Nasopharyngeal Epithelial Cells.

This study examined expression of key viral nucleic acid sensor genes MDA5, ZBP1, and AIM2 in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 153 COVID-19 patients across a spectrum of disease severity (mild, severe, and critical) and 42 healthy controls. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify and compare sensor transcript levels. The COVID-19 cohort had a mean age of 53.

The Role of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Infected Gastric Cancer in Increasing microRNA124 (miR-124) Promoter Methylation and Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) Gene Expression.

The tumor suppressor microRNAs, miR-21, miR-124, and miR-494, participate in the controlling several cellular processes. To assess target miRNAs promoter methylation levels, we investigated 304 pairs of gastric cancer (GC) tissues and non-tumor tissues. We used a commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Helicobacter pylori kit to detect EBV and H.

SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms of cell tropism in various organs considering host factors.

A critical step in the drug design for SARS-CoV-2 is to discover its molecular targets. This study comprehensively reviewed the molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2, exploring host cell tropism and interaction targets crucial for cell entry. The findings revealed that beyond ACE2 as the primary entry receptor, alternative receptors, co-receptors, and several proteases such as TMPRSS2, Furin, Cathepsin L, and ADAM play critical roles in virus entry and subsequent pathogenesis.

The role of HLA genetic variants in COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, and mortality: A global review.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, with variations in susceptibility, severity, and mortality rates across different regions. While many factors can contribute to the spread and impact of the disease, specifically human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetic variants have emerged as potential contributors to COVID-19 outcomes.

Methods: In this comprehensive narrative review, we conducted a thorough literature search to identify relevant studies investigating the association between HLA genetic variants and COVID-19 outcomes.

Molecular identification of neuraminidase gene mutations in influenza A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 isolates of Mazandaran province, north of Iran.

Objectives: The neuraminidase (NA) mutations causing resistance to NA inhibitors (NAIs) mostly compromise the fitness of influenza viruses. Considering the importance of these mutations, constant monitoring of the effectiveness of available drugs is critical. This study aimed to identify NA mutations in the influenza A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 subtypes in the samples of Mazandaran, Iran from 2016 to 2020.

NSP4 as adjuvant for immunogenicity and design of effective therapeutic HPV16 E6/E7/L1 DNA vaccine in tumor-bearing and healthy C57BL/6 mice.

Introduction: In humans, approximately 5% of all cancers are attributable to HPV infection. Prophylactic vaccines can inhibit viral migration and persistence. However, further studies are still required to develop such treatments.

State-of-the-art cerium nanoparticles as promising agents against human viral infections.

The world is faces a significant global health challenge in the form of viral infections, particularly the emergence of viral strains that are resistant to effective antiviral therapies. This underscores the urgent need for the development of effective and safe antiviral agents. Nanoscale materials are now being used as novel antiviral agents.

Letter to the Editor Regarding "An Overview on Serology and Molecular Tests for COVID-19: An Important Challenge of the Current Century (doi: 10.22034/iji.2021.88660.1894.)".

Recently in a review article by Mansourabadi et al. published in the Iranian Journal of Immunology, the authors described the serological and molecular tests for COVID-19 (1). The mentioned review considered helicase (Hel) as a structural protein of SARS-CoV-2 (1).

Live-attenuated poliovirus-induced extrinsic apoptosis through Caspase 8 within breast cancer cell lines expressing CD155.

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the world. Different therapeutic strategies such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery have been used either individually or in combination. Oncolytic virotherapy is a rising treatment methodology, which utilizes replicating viruses to eliminate tumor cells.

Oncolytic virus delivery modulated immune responses toward cancer therapy: Challenges and perspectives.

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) harness the hallmarks of tumor cells and cancer-related immune responses for the lysis of malignant cells, modulation of the tumor microenvironment, and exertion of vaccine-like activities. However, efficient clinical exploitation of these potent therapeutic modules requires their systematic administration, especially against metastatic and solid tumors. Therefore, developing methods for shielding a virus from the neutralizing environment of the bloodstream while departing toward tumor sites is a must.

Oncolytic viruses and pancreatic cancer.

Background: Today, the pancreatic cancer prognosis is poor and genetic technology is developing to treat various types of cancers. Scientists are actively looking for a new technique to design a therapeutic strategy to treat pancreatic cancer. Several oncolytic viruses are known to be valuable tools for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Partial sequence conservation of SARS-CoV-2 NSP-2, NSP-12, and Spike in stool samples from Abadan, Iran.

Since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the clinical manifestations of the virus have undergone many changes. Recently, there have been many reports on gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients. This study is aimed to perform a detailed phylogenetic study and assessment of different SNVs in the RNA genome of viruses isolated from fecal samples of patients with COVID-19 who have gastrointestinal symptoms, which can help better understand viral pathogenesis.

Ribosome Profiling: A Useful Approach to Discover Hidden Corners of SARS-CoV-2.

Following SARS-CoV-2 China epidemic in the December 2019, researches have attended to the genome of novel coronavirus. Hidden corners of SARS-CoV-2, maybe a shiny way to discover its pathogenicity and virulence. To design therapeutic agents, it is critical to map the complete repertoire of viral-translated proteins.

Novel X gene point mutations in chronic hepatitis B and HBV related cirrhotic patients.

Introduction: HBx is a multifunctional modulator viral protein with key roles in various biological processes such as signal transduction, transcription, proliferation, and cell apoptosis. Also, HBx has an important role in the progression of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to determine mutations in X gene, enhancer II (EnhII), and basal core promoter (BCP) of genotype D of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in cirrhotic and chronic HBV patients.

Association between blood groups and COVID-19 outcome in Iranian patients.

Many factors have been speculated to explain the COVID-19 complex clinical phenotype. Due to the inconsistent data published on blood groups and COVID-19, we conducted a study on Iranian patients to further assess this association. This retrospective study was conducted on data collected from confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized patients during March and December 2020 in a referral hospital for COVID-19, 5 Azar Hospital, Gorgan, north of Iran.

Trends of women's authorship in an Iranian medical journal from 1999 to 2019.

Author's gender is a potential factor in scientific publications. We evaluated the trends of authorship gender by focusing on women in an Iranian medical journal and followed two aims: A) Mapping gender trends in authorship positions; B) Drawing the patterns among authors. Our results showed that between 1999 and 2019, the role of women as first author was 26.

Detection of human herpes viruses 1-5 in miscarriage: A case-control study.

Background: Miscarriage is the spontaneous pregnancy loss before 24 wk of gestation. The incidence rate of miscarriage over the past few decades has shown steady or even growing trends. Viral intrauterine infections are one of the probable etiological causes of miscarriage.