Discovery of novel vaccine candidates based on the immunogenic epitopes derived from membrane proteins.

Purpose: Due to the widespread distribution and importance of infection as a parasitic zoonosis, multi-epitope vaccine design was implemented using a set of immunodominant epitopes screened out of a wide scope of membrane proteins.

Materials And Methods: On this basis, 5 vaccine candidates were created using linkers ([GGGGS], KK, AAY, GPGPG, GDGDG, EAAAK) and adjuvants (RS-09 peptide, resuscitation-promoting factor E [RpfE] and 50S ribosomal protein, human interferon [IFN]-γ).

Results: Polytopes with RS-09 alone (Toxo-App) and with IFN-γ (Toxo-Apfn), and one with 50S ribosomal protein (Toxo-Ribos) showed the highest immunogenicity during prediction, and their 3-dimensional structure was refined.

Gastrointestinal Helminths and Ectoparasites in the Stray Cats (Felidae: ) of Ahar Municipality, Northwestern Iran.

Background: The stray cats are considered as the sources of emerging humans and domestic livestock pathogens and the zoonoses of public health importance. The present study was aimed to elucidate intestinal helminth infections and infestation with ectoparasites of the stray cats of Ahar City, northwestern Iran.

Methods: Totally, 51 stray cats were randomly trapped from different parts of the city between Mar and Nov 2013.