Repurposing the natural compounds as potential therapeutic agents for COVID-19 based on the molecular docking study of the main protease and the receptor-binding domain of spike protein.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) enters the cell by interacting with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor through the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike (S) protein. In the cell, the viral 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CLpro) enzyme is essential for its life cycle and controls coronavirus replication. Therefore, the S-RBD and 3CLpro are hot targets for drug discovery against SARS-CoV-2.

Challenging TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP): the two sensitive molecular techniques for the detection of toxoplasmosis, a potentially dangerous opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients.

Due to defects and drawbacks of most conventional diagnostic methods including serology for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis as a dangerous opportunistic infection in immunocompromised individuals, the accurate, rapid, and sensitive detection of infection in such patients is essential. In this study, the TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR and, a relatively new nucleic acid amplification method, the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique was compared based on the repetitive elements (RE) sequence to detect Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) DNA in blood samples of immunocompromised individuals.

Gene Expression and Levels of TGF-B in PBMC Is Associated with Severity of Symptoms in Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: TGF-β1 is known to promote cardiac remodeling and fibrosis during Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). In this study, an attempt was made to investigate expression of Transforming Growth Factor beta1 (TGF-β1) and relative expansion or contraction of regulatory T-cell (Tregs) population in peripheral blood of patients with Chronic Heart Failure (CHF).

Methods: Real-time PCR assay was used to investigate expression and post-stimulation levels of TGF-β1 in cell culture supernatant of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) of 42 patients with CHF and 42 controls.

Association of levels of interleukin 17 and T-helper 17 count with symptom severity and etiology of chronic heart failure: a case-control study.

Aim: To assess the association between the levels of interleukin 17 (IL-17) and T-helper 17 count and symptom severity and etiology of chronic heart failure.

Methods: This single-center prospective case-control study, conducted from December 1, 2015 to January 1, 2017 in Tehran Heart Center, evaluated gene expression of IL-17, relative count of (CD4+IL17+) Th17 cells and CD4+ helper T-cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 42 patients with CHF and 42 matched controls. A multiple regression model assessed the predictors of peripheral IL-17 expression and Th17 count in patients with CHF.

Efficient Cadmium Bioaccumulation by Displayed Hybrid CS3 Pili: Effect of Heavy Metal Binding Motif Insertion Site on Adsorption Capacity and Selectivity.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of insertion site of the metal binding motif on the bioaccumulation capacity of the hybrid CS3 pili displayed on the surface of Escherichia coli using both computational and experimental methods. Two metal binding motifs (cadmium binding motif (cbm) and cadmium binding beta motif (cbβm)), identified by searching against the PROSITE database, were inserted into five putative permissive sites of CstH protein (CS3 pili subunit) by using SOEing PCR technique. The expression and surface display of the hybrid pili were evaluated using dot and Western blotting methods and also immunofluorescence microscopy.

In silico design and construction of metal-binding hybrid proteins for specific removal of cadmium based on CS3 pili display on the surface of Escherichia coli.

In this study, through a combination of bioinformatics and genetic engineering procedures, high-affinity metal-binding peptides were designed and expressed on the surface of Escherichia coli for selective Cd(2+) adsorption. Putative cadmium-binding motifs were identified by searches against the Prosite database and permissive sites in the major subunit (CstH) of the enterotoxigenic E. coli pili were predicted based on the data derived from modeling of 3D structures, secondary structure prediction and assignment, inspection of protein hydropathy and exposed regions, and also protein interaction sites.