Publications by authors named "Mostafa Salehi Vaziri"

Dengue virus (DENV) remains a significant public health threat in tropical and subtropical regions, with effective antiviral treatments and vaccines still not fully established despite extensive research. A critical aspect of vaccine development for DENV involves selecting proteins from both structural and non-structural regions of the virus to activate humoral and cellular immune responses effectively. In this study, we developed a novel vaccine for dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) using a heterologous Prime-Boost strategy that combines an adenoviral vector (Ad) with subunit vaccines.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: Dengue virus (DENV) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are the most common arthropod-borne viruses (Arboviruses) globally. So far, no autochthonous cases of DENV and CHIKV infections have been reported in Iran. Nevertheless, due to the recent identification of Aedes aegypti in the south and Aedes albopictus in the north of Iran, the country is at a serious risk of local outbreaks of these infections.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a lethal acute viral zoonosis with a case fatality rate of 5-50%. Due to the potential of human-to human transmission of the disease, healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of occupational exposure to CCHF virus. Little is known about CCHF virus route of transmission and risks in Iranian HCWs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), which is a tick-borne viral disease, and aims to examine the presence of specific bacterial infections among individuals who are suspected of having CCHF in Iran.
  • Researchers analyzed 260 serum samples from patients who tested negative for CCHF virus, finding 3.46% positive for brucellosis and 3.07% for Q fever, while no borreliosis or ehrlichiosis cases were detected.
  • The findings suggest that bacterial infections like brucellosis and Q fever should be considered when diagnosing CCHF, and further broad investigations into bacterial infections with similar symptoms are recommended.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The unexpected Mpox outbreak that began in non-endemic European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2022 highlighted its potential for human-to-human transmission, mainly facilitated by travel.
  • This paper reports a case involving a 34-year-old Iranian woman who contracted Mpox from her husband after his return from Canada, presenting flu-like symptoms and skin rashes.
  • The study emphasizes the need for health systems to remain vigilant and prepared for infectious disease outbreaks like Mpox, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Since the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), new variants with enhanced transmissibility and pathogenicity have surfaced. The World Health Organization has designated five such variants-Alpha (B.1.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

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.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The control and prevention of rodent-borne diseases are mainly based on our knowledge of ecology and the infectious status of their reservoir hosts. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of , , and arenavirus infections in small mammals and to assess the potential of disease occurrence in East Azerbaijan, northwest of Iran, in 2017 and 2018. Spleen and lung samples were obtained from all trapped small mammals.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The World Health Organization classified Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) as a high-priority infectious disease and emphasized the performance of research studies and product development against it. Little information is available about the immune response due to natural CCHF virus (CCHFV) infection in humans. Here, we investigated the persistence of IgG and neutralizing antibodies in serum samples collected from 61 Iranian CCHF survivors with various time points after recovery (<12, 12-60, and >60 months after disease).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) resulted from an infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) which is the main cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in global population from 2019 on. It may contribute to higher rate of death among the patients with immunodeficiency based on recent reports. In addition, Good syndrome (GS) as a result of thymoma removal might cause in some long-lasting microbial infections.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The lack of effective medicines or vaccines, combined with climate change and other environmental factors, annually subjects a significant proportion of the world's inhabitants to the risk of dengue virus (DENV) infection. These conditions increase the likelihood of exposure to mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever. Hence, many research approaches tend to develop efficient vaccine candidates against the dengue virus.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The present study aims to provide an insight to the comprehensive efforts of Pasteur Institute of Iran (PII) regarding COVID-19 management, research, achievements, and vaccine production, though there are many challenges. The relevant literature review was investigated through national and international database and also reports from the related research departments. Six strategies were taken by PII to manage the pandemic of COVID-19.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - This study aimed to understand the frequency of common respiratory infections in patients showing COVID-19 symptoms but tested negative for the virus, during the pandemic in Iran.
  • - Researchers analyzed data from 1,002 patients and found that 21.8% tested positive for at least one respiratory virus, with Influenza A being the most prevalent.
  • - The results indicate that younger children were more likely to have respiratory infections, emphasizing the need for improved detection and management strategies for respiratory diseases alongside COVID-19.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Strengthening surveillance systems is a key aspect of outbreak response and was particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respiratory pathogens spread rapidly, and laboratory capacity is key to monitoring the spread. Prior to the pandemic, Iran had established a rapid response team and laboratory network to provide identification, monitoring, and detection of emerging infectious diseases, but did not have the laboratory capacity to respond to COVID-19.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • This study evaluated the effectiveness of the PastoCovac Plus vaccine as a booster compared to the original vaccines (ChAdOx1-S and BBIBP-CorV) in volunteers who had already received two doses of either.
  • A total of 194 previously vaccinated participants were divided into groups to receive either the PastoCovac Plus or another dose of their initial vaccine, with serum samples collected before and four weeks after the booster to measure antibody levels.
  • Results showed significant increases in anti-spike IgG levels for those receiving the PastoCovac Plus booster, with no notable differences in neutralizing antibody levels, indicating that both booster options are similarly effective.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Understanding the microbiota of disease vectors can help for developing new strategies to prevent the transmission of vector pathogens. is one of the most notorious tick vectors with increasing importance in Iran and other parts of the world while there is limited data on its microbiota. This study aimed to use metagenomics for identifying the tick's microbiota of Iran.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study evaluates a commercial multiplex real-time PCR technique, GA SARS-CoV-2 OneStep RT-PCR Kit, as a faster alternative to next-generation sequencing (NGS) for identifying SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly in developing countries.
  • - A total of 238 SARS-CoV-2-positive samples from different COVID-19 waves in Iran were analyzed using both the PCR kit and NGS to determine the presence of variants of concern.
  • - Results showed high accuracy with the PCR kit, achieving 100% sensitivity and specificity for major variants like Wuhan, Alpha, and Delta, and strong performance for Omicron subvariants, suggesting it is a reliable and cost-effective option for quick identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic's management included global vaccination, but concerns arose about antibody decline following various vaccines.
  • A study investigated the effectiveness of the PastoCovac Plus protein subunit booster in healthcare workers who had been vaccinated with COVAXIN, highlighting the need for boosters at least three months after the second dose.
  • The findings revealed significant increases in neutralizing and anti-Spike antibodies, but a notable percentage of participants remained seronegative for these antibodies, underscoring the importance of booster vaccinations to combat variants like Delta.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: In 2019, COVID-19 emerged in China and has since spread worldwide. Owing to the virus's ability to adhere to specific receptors, cats are susceptible to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The popularity of pet cats in Iran has sparked fears of human-cat-human transmission of the virus.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Global real-time monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 variants is essential for controlling COVID-19, leading to the development of a Sanger-based platform for variant tracking in low-resource labs.
  • The study utilized nested RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing on 1,028 samples, achieving high concordance with whole genome sequencing for mutation detection and lineage assignment.
  • The new method is effective for tracking variants of concern like Delta and Alpha, making it a viable option for countries with limited resources to monitor SARS-CoV-2 variants efficiently.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzed the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in Iran over one year, following two independent viral introductions during the early outbreak phase.
  • Researchers sequenced 319 whole genomes between March 2020 and May 2021 to monitor the circulating viral lineages.
  • Results showed that different SARS-CoV-2 clades dominated various waves of infection, with the Delta variant emerging as a crucial factor in the fifth wave, highlighting significant mutations in key lineages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The optimal booster vaccine schedule against COVID-19 is still being explored. The present study aimed at assessment of the immunogenicity and antibody persistency of inactivated-virus based vaccine, BBIP-CorV and protein-subunit based vaccines, PastoCovac/Plus through heterologous and homologous prime-boost vaccination. Totally, 214 individuals who were previously primed with BBIBP-CorV vaccines were divided into three arms on their choice as heterologous regimens BBIBP-CorV/PastoCovac (n = 68), BBIBP-CorV/PastoCovac Plus (n = 72) and homologous BBIBP-CorV (n = 74).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Importance: The protein-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines FINLAY-FR-2 (Soberana 02) and FINLAY-FR-1A (Soberana Plus) showed good safety and immunogenicity in phase 1 and 2 trials, but the clinical efficacy of the vaccine remains unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 2-dose regimen of FINLAY-FR-2 (cohort 1) and a 3-dose regimen of FINLAY-FR-2 with FINLAY-FR-1A (cohort 2) in Iranian adults.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial was conducted at 6 cities in cohort 1 and 2 cities in cohort 2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF