The presence of yeasts and bacteria in free-living amoebae isolated from COVID-19 patients: concern for secondary infections.

This study aimed to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2, yeasts, and bacteria in isolated free-living amoeba (FLA) from COVID-19 patients. Nasopharyngeal swabs ( = 60) were obtained from COVID-19 patients. After cultivation, morphological characterization, and RNA/DNA extraction, the presence of selected microorganisms was investigated.

Altered RBC deformability in diabetes: clinical characteristics and RBC pathophysiology.

Background: Reduced red blood cell deformability (RBCD) is associated with diabetic vascular complications, but early pathophysiological RBC changes and predictive demographic and clinical factors in populations with diabetes are unclear. An understanding of early diabetes-specific RBC changes associated with impaired RBCD is essential in investigating mechanisms that predispose to diabetic vascular complications.

Methods: We conducted an outpatient cross-sectional study of participants in a well-controlled diabetes cohort (N81) and nondiabetic controls (N78) at the National Institutes of Health.

Evaluation of the efficacy of Chitosan nanoparticles based on Rosuvastatin in the treatment of acute toxoplasmosis: An In vitro and In vivo study.

Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan that infects warm-blooded animals and has a global distribution. Acute toxoplasmosis is commonly reported in patients with acquired/congenital toxoplasmosis and immune deficiency.

Isolation and Molecular Identification of Vahlkampfiidae and from Fresh Vegetables: A Neglected Source of Infections.

Background: spp., spp., and are potential pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA) causing diseases such as keratitis, meningoencephalitis, and lung infections.

Design and evaluation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification for rapid detection of .

is one of the most prevalent microsporidia species, responsible for more than 90% of human and animal microsporidiosis. Microsporidia species, particularly are frequently reported from waterborne and foodborne outbreaks. Therefore, early detection is crucial in clinics and outbreak investigations.

Identification of and non-MRSA in free-living amoebae isolated from the hospital wards; an alarm for distribution of nosocomial infections via FLA.

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are isolated from the hospital environments and known as Trojan horses for medical essential microorganisms. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the presence of FLA and two critical agents of nosocomial infections, in the hospital wards. Sixty samples were collected from four communities and cultured onto non-nutrient agar (NNA).

Molecular identification, phylogenetic analysis and histopathological study of pathogenic free-living amoebae isolated from discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) in Iran: 2020-2022.

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are capable of inhabiting diverse reservoirs independently, without relying on a host organism, hence their designation as "free-living". The majority of amoebae that infect freshwater or marine fish are amphizoic, or free-living forms that may colonize fish under particular circumstances. Symphysodon aequifasciatus, commonly referred to as the discus, is widely recognized as a popular ornamental fish species.

Phylogenetic analysis of Acanthamoeba isolated from soil samples and nasal cavities of patients with malignancy: a public health concern in the northwest of Iran.

Background: The genus Acanthamoeba is reported from various environmental sources and can cause multiple complications, including chronic amoebic aeratitis and amoebic granulomatous encephalitis. This study investigated the presence and genotyping of Acanthamoeba in the soil of parks and patients with malignancies referred to health centers in Zanjan city, Iran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 soil samples were collected from amusement parks in Zanjan city from September 2017 to May 2018.

Isolation and genotyping of Acanthamoeba species and Vahlkampfiidae in the harsh environmental conditions in the centre of Iran.

Different species of free-living amoeba (FLA) have been abundantly isolated in harsh environmental conditions such as hot springs and brackish water. The present study aimed to isolate, genotype, and evaluate the pathogenicity of FLAs in Qom Roud, a large river, in the centre of Iran. About 500 mL of water samples (n = 30) were collected from each sampling site and were investigated for the presence of FLAs using morphological and molecular characters.

Toxoplasma gondii profilin induces NLRP3 activation and IL-1β production/secretion in THP-1 cells.

Toxoplasma gondii is a highly prevalent protozoan that infects a broad spectrum of warm-blooded animals. Profilin is a critical protein that plays a role in the movement and invasion of T. gondii.

Can Free Living Act as a Trojan Horse for SARS-Cov-2 on Viral Survival and Transmission in the Environment? A Narrative Review.

is a free-living amoeba that has been found on surfaces, air, water and various environmental sources around the world. It enters the human body through the respiratory tract via the nose. Of note, amoebae are well known to act as a reservoir for various pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria and viruses such as and .

Free-living amoebae in an oil refinery wastewater treatment facility.

Free Living Amoebae (FLA) are ubiquitous microorganisms reported from harsh environmental conditions. Oil refinery facilities consume vast volumes of water during their processes, generating a large amount of wastewater. The present study aimed to evaluate the wastewater treatment process in an oil refinery wastewater treatment facility (ORWWTF) for the presence of FLA.

Abnormal urinary loss of vitamin C in diabetes: prevalence and clinical characteristics of a vitamin C renal leak.

Background: Diabetes is associated with low plasma vitamin C concentrations.

Objectives: We investigated the contribution of dysregulated vitamin C renal physiology, its prevalence, and associated clinical characteristics.

Methods: An essential prerequisite was determination of normal vitamin C renal threshold, the plasma concentration at which vitamin C first appears in urine.

Isolation and identification of potentially pathogenic free-living amoeba in drinking, surface, and stagnant water sources from Alborz Province, Iran.

Free-living amoebas (FLAs) can cause neurological and ocular complications in humans. Water supplies play a critical role in transmitting FLAs to humans. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of FLAs in various aquatic sources including drinking water, stagnant water, and surface water in Alborz province, northern Iran, using morphological and molecular techniques.

Occurrence and genetic evaluation of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba genotypes in nasal mucosa of immunocompromised patients: a case-control study in Iran.

Background: The occurrence of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) was investigated due to the exposure of a large number of immunocompromised patients to opportunistic Acanthamoeba infections, which in most cases are fatal.

Methods: In this case-control study, 160 samples from the nasal mucosa of immunocompromised patients were collected between February 2019 to February 2020 in Isfahan, central Iran, using sterile cotton swabs; 150 ethnically matched controls were included. The pathogenic potential of the identified isolates was evaluated using temperature and osmotolerance assays.

Contamination of fresh vegetables in municipal stores with pathogenic genotypes; a public health concern.

spp. cause keratitis and encephalitis, and are a proper carrier of foodborne pathogens. A total of 70 samples including garden cress, chives, mint, parsley, and basil were collected.

In Vitro Activity of Pentamidine Isethionate against Trophozoite and Cyst of .

Background: are a causative agent of keratitis (AK) in immunocompetent individuals. Since access to propamidine isethionate (Brolene®) as a first-line treatment has been limited in recent years, in the current study, we examined the effects of pentamidine isethionate against trophozoite and cyst forms of .

Methods: This experimental study was conducted in the Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, during 2019-2020.

Molecular Identification of Pathogenic Free-Living Amoeba from Household Biofilm Samples in Iran: A Risk Factor for Keratitis.

Free-living amoeba (FLA) are ubiquitously distributed in the environment. However, they are also the causative agents of opportunistic infections in humans and other animals. A biofilm comprises any syntrophic consortium of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other and often also to a surface.

Association of Blastocystis ST6 with higher protease activity among symptomatic subjects.

Background: Blastocystis sp. is an anaerobic intestinal protozoan parasite of humans and a wide range of animals worldwide. In the current study the correlation between the cysteine protease activity of clinical samples of Blastocystis sp.

Molecular identification of Acanthamoeba genotypes isolated from oral cavity of heart transplant patients in Iran.

Objective: Heart transplant is one of the accepted treatments for some patients with advanced heart failure. Of note, transplant surgeries may cause different infections and complications for patients during the post-transplant period. A wide variety of opportunistic organisms caused these infections including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa particularly Free-living amoebae (FLA).

Soluble total antigen derived from Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites increased the expression levels of NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, and the release of mature form of IL1β, but downregulated the expression of IL1β and IL18 genes in THP-1cell line.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular parasitic protozoan infecting homoeothermic animals and about a third of the world's population. Inflammasomes are intracellular multi-protein complex, which are activated by many factors.

Isolation of N. philippinensis and N. americana strains from irrigation waters of farmland soils in Iran.

Free-living amoebae (FLA) including Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria fowleri, and Balamuthia mandrillaris are among the many waterborne parasites. There is not much known about the possible FLA contamination of the irrigation resources watering crops and agricultural lands in this country.