MARCH-I: A negative regulator of dendritic cell maturation.

The expression of costimulatory molecules such as MHC-II, CD86 and CD83 on dendritic cells (DCs) are strongly regulated during cellular activation. Ubiquitination of some of these markers by the E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH-I affects the maturation state of DCs and subsequently modulates immune responses. The effects of MARCH-I gene overexpression on the functional activity of human DCs is not well understood.

Efficiency of mitochondrial genes and nuclear Alu elements in detecting human DNA in blood meals of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes: a time-course study.

Background: The time required for PCR detection of DNA in human blood meals in vector mosquitoes may vary, depending on the molecular markers used, based on the size and copy number of the amplicons. Detailed knowledge of the blood-feeding behavior of mosquito populations in nature is an essential component for evaluating their vectorial capacity and for assessing the roles of individual vertebrates as potential hosts involved in the transmission of vector-borne diseases.

Methods: Laboratory experiments were conducted to compare the time course of PCR detection of DNA in human blood meals from individual blood-fed Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, using loci with different characteristics, including two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes, cytB (228 bp) and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) (157 bp) and nuclear Alu-repeat elements (226 bp) at different time points after the blood meal.

Sex-typing of ingested human blood meal in Anopheles stephensi mosquito based on the amelogenin gene.

Identifying the sex of human hosts of insect disease vectors, using PCR amplification of the amelogenin gene (AMEL) from the ingested blood meal is an increasingly useful technique for epidemiological studies of vector-borne diseases, as well as within the criminal justice system. Detection of DNA from ingested blood is influenced by the choice of DNA extraction method, genomic target region, type and length of PCR, and rate of degradation in the DNA samples over time. Here, we have tested two types of PCR (i.

Enhancement of hypericin nanoparticle-mediated sonoinduced disruption of biofilm and persister cells of Streptococcus mutans by dermcidin-derived peptide DCD-1L.

Background: Streptococcus mutans is considered a major significant contributor to dental caries and its effective removal is difficult due to the formation of biofilm. Therefore, the development of adjuvant therapeutic strategies with anti-biofilm properties is a promising approach. In the present study, we examined the effect of dermcidin-derived peptide DCD-1 L on the antibacterial activity of hypericin nanoparticle (HypNP)-mediated antimicrobial sonodynamic therapy (aSDT) against persister cells growing- and biofilm cultures of S.

Overexpression of Iron Super Oxide Dismutases A/B Genes Are Associated with Antimony Resistance of Clinical Isolates.

Background: Pentavalent antimonial has been a drug of choice against leishmaniasis, despite the emergence of treatment failure. Identification of resistance markers is urgently needed to design new therapeutic strategies. Iron-Superoxide dismutases (Fe-SODs) are antioxidant enzymes contributing to detoxify reactive oxygen species to prevent a cell from oxidative stress.

Evaluation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Gene Mutations in an Iranian Population with Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

Background: Mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor () gene, predominantly in exons 18-21, have been highlighted to function as the crucial predictors of the response rate of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

Methods: This study was performed at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data and information were retrospectively collected from the period between Dec 2010 and Apr 2014.

Validation of a mixture of rK26 and rK39 antigens from Iranian strain of Leishmania infantum to detect anti-Leishmania antibodies in human and reservoir hosts.

Mediterranean type of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic parasitic infection. Some provinces of Iran are endemic for VL while other parts are considered as sporadic areas. This study aimed to assess a combination of recombinant K26 and rK39 antigens as well as crude antigen (CA), derived from an Iranian strain of L.

Optimized simple and affordable procedure for differentiation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells from LRF: An accessible and valid alternative biological source.

Dendritic cells are one of the most popular immune cells, which plays a remarkable role in both immunotherapy and tolerance induction. Due to unwanted side effects of leukocyte presence in donated blood, the policy of blood service is the pre-storage reduction of leukocytes, which today, filtration is the most common method for this purpose. The filtration method has led to diminished access to Buffy coat as a generally used conventional source of biological cells.

Prenatal diagnosis of de novo small supernumerary marker chromosome 4q (4q11-q12): A case report.

Background: Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMCs) are chromosomal fragments with abnormal structures found in patients with fertility problems and developmental delay. They may be detected in amniotic cell karyotypes. sSMCs are categorized as hereditary or de novo.

Identification of immunodominant proteins of Leishmania infantum by immunoproteomics to evaluate a recombinant multi-epitope designed antigen for serodiagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a protozoan disease caused by Leishmania infantum in the Mediterranean region including Iran. In 95% of cases, the disease can be fatal if not rapidly diagnosed and left untreated. We aimed to identify immunoreactive proteins of L.

The rK39 Antigen from an Iranian Strain of : Detection of Anti- Antibodies in Humans and Dogs.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe form of leishmaniasis in Iran with high mortality rates in the case of inaccurate diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to prepare and evaluate a new rk39 recombinant antigen from an Iranian strain of for diagnosis of VL in humans and dogs.

Methods: rK39-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was compared with the direct agglutination test (DAT) for the detection of anti antibodies.

Therapeutic applications of nucleic acid aptamers in microbial infections.

Today, the treatment of bacterial infections is a major challenge, due to growing rate of multidrug-resistant bacteria, complication of treatment and increased healthcare costs. Moreover, new treatments for bacterial infections are limited. Oligonucleotide aptamers are single stranded DNAs or RNAs with target-selective high-affinity feature, which considered as nucleic acid-based affinity ligands, replacing monoclonal antibodies.

Gene expression analysis of antimony resistance in Leishmania tropica using quantitative real-time PCR focused on genes involved in trypanothione metabolism and drug transport.

Pentavalent antimonials remain the treatment of choice for all the clinical forms of leishmaniasis. The increasing rates of antimony resistance are becoming a serious health problem in treatment of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). Accordingly, unraveling molecular markers is crucial for improving medication strategies and monitoring of drug-resistant parasites.

Association of virulence gene expression with colistin-resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii: analysis of genotype, antimicrobial susceptibility, and biofilm formation.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii causes difficult-to-treat nosocomial infections, which often lead to morbidity due to the development of antimicrobial drug resistance and expression of virulence genes. Data regarding the association of resistance to colistin, a last treatment option, and the virulence gene expression of A. baumannii is scarce.

An experimental study for rapid detection and quantification of endodontic microbiota following photo-activated disinfection via new multiplex real-time PCR assay.

Background: The infected root canal system harbors one of the highest accumulations of polymicrobial infections. Since the eradication of endopathogenic microbiota is a major goal in endodontic infection therapy, photo-activated disinfection (PAD) can be used as an alternative therapeutic method in endodontic treatment. Compared to cultivation-based approaches, molecular techniques are more reliable for identifying microbial agents associated with endodontic infections.

Cloning of K26 Hydrophilic Antigen from Iranian Strain of .

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by is the most severe form of leishmaniasis in Iran, which causes a high mortality rate in the case of inaccurate diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to clone of K26 gene from Iranian strain of and register the sequencing results in Genbank to facilitate the preparation a new K26 antigen for the detection of infection.

Methods: was obtained from an infected domestic dog in Meshkin-Shahr area from northwestern Iran in 2015.

The effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy on the expression of novel methicillin resistance markers determined using cDNA-AFLP approach in Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: Widespread methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and absence of effective antimicrobial agents has led to limited therapeutic options for treating MRSA infection. We aimed to evaluate the effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on the expression of novel identified methicillin resistance markers (NIMRMs) in S. aureus using complementary DNA-Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) approaches to address the therapeutic alternatives for MRSA infections.

Effect of photodynamic therapy based on indocyanine green on expression of apoptosis-related genes in human gingival fibroblast cells.

Background: Periodontal diseases refer to inflammation of the gingiva, induction of apoptosis in human gingival fibroblast cells, destruction of the surrounding tissues, and early bone loss resulting in infections due to the pathogenic activity of the microorganisms and the host immune inflammatory responses. Recent investigations have suggested that antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) can be an adjunct treatment therapy for periodontal infections.

Aim: To prove the lack of side effects of PDT on periodontal tissues, we investigated the expression of BAX and BCL-2 genes that are involved in apoptosis after the PDT on human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells.

The efficacy of photodynamic and photothermal therapy on biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans: An in vitro study.

Background: The alternative antibacterial treatments of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) significantly affect microbiota inactivation. The aim of the present research was the assessment of the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects of PDT with toluidine blue O (TBO) and PTT with indocyanine green (ICG) on Streptococcus mutans as a cariogenic bacterium.

Materials And Methods: The S.

Evaluation of photo-activated disinfection effectiveness with methylene blue against Porphyromonas gingivalis involved in endodontic infection: An in vitro study.

Background: Eradication or suppression of microbial pathogens is a major goal in endodontic infection therapy. Sub-lethal doses of photo-activated disinfection (sPAD) as a new treatment method might be able to control the microorganisms involved in endodontic infections normally treated with PAD. This study evaluated the effect of sPAD using methylene blue (MB) in combination with diode laser irradiation on the growth and biofilm formation ability of Porphyromonas gingivalis as an endodontic pathogen.

Detection and molecular identification of leishmania RNA virus (LRV) in Iranian Leishmania species.

Leishmania RNA virus (LRV) was first detected in members of the subgenus Leishmania (Viannia), and later, the virulence and metastasis of the New World species were attributed to this virus. The data on the presence of LRV in Old World species are confined to Leishmania major and a few Leishmania aethiopica isolates. The aim of this study was to survey the presence of LRV in various Iranian Leishmania species originating from patients and animal reservoir hosts.

Effects of sub-lethal doses of photo-activated disinfection against Porphyromonas gingivalis for pharmaceutical treatment of periodontal-endodontic lesions.

Background: Microorganisms treated by photo-activated disinfection (PAD) in combined periodontal-endodontic (perio-endo) lesions would be exposed to sub-lethal doses of PAD (sPAD). This study evaluated the effect of sPAD using toluidine blue O (TBO) in combination with diode laser irradiation on the growth and biofilm-formation ability of Porphyromonas gingivalis as an endo-periodontal pathogen.

Methods: The antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of sPAD against P.

Expression of Efflux Pumps and Fatty Acid Activator One Genes in Azole Resistant Candida Glabrata Isolated From Immunocompromised Patients.

Acquired azole resistance in opportunistic fungi causes severe clinical problems in immunosuppressed individuals. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of azole resistance in clinical isolates of Candida glabrata. Six unmatched strains were obtained from an epidemiological survey of candidiasis in immunocompromised hosts that included azole and amphotericin B susceptible and azole resistant clinical isolates.