Investigation of frequency and typing of human papillomavirus among genital warts using a reverse dot blot hybridization approach.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, affecting about 80% of women up to the age of 50. The persistent infection of high risk-HPV types (HR-HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer of women. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the frequency and typing of HPV in the genital lesions in the Iranian population. METHODS: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted on a population in the South-Khorasan province of Iran. All of the participants were sexually active and were checked for evident cervical warts. Biopsy samples were collected from various lesions, and all samples were tested for detection and genotyping of HPV using a reverse dot blot hybridization method (HPV direct flow CHIP). RESULTS: In overall, 370 samples were evaluated; 10 cases (2.7%) were male and the rest were female. The mean age of patients was 33.3 ± 8.5 years, of which 48.1% were in the age range from 25 to 36 years. Among the samples, 345 (93.2%) were positive for HPV-DNA; the low risk HPV types (LR-HPV) and HR-HPV were identified among 80.9% and 15.5% of tissue samples, respectively. Among the LR-HPV, HPV-6, 11, 42 and 54 were the most common genotypes, and HPV-16 and 39 were prevalent HR-HPV types detected. The number of pregnancies, marriage age, and partner infection were not significantly related to the HPV types. Types 42 had a declining pattern toward aging, and HPV-11 was increasing toward aging. CONCLUSION: The number of samples with HR-HPV was rather high. Due to the greater frequency of infection in the age range of 25-35 years, it is advised that all individuals referred to gynecological clinics at gestational age be tested for HPV types.

A salt resistant biosurfactant produced by moderately halotolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (AHV-KH10) and its application for bioremediation of diesel-contaminated sediment in saline environment.

A halotolerant bacterial strain was isolated from oily-contaminated sites of Persian Gulf, which characterized as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (AHV-KH10) by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. This strain was used for bioremediation of diesel-contaminated sediments. Biosurfactant production was initially screened by using oil displacement test and drop-collapse method, followed by measurement of surface tension (ST) of growth medium. Produced biosurfactant was a rhamnolipid type biosurfactant and lowered the ST to 33.4 mN/m at the given critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 75 mg/L. Addition of 3 CMC rhamnolipid, inoculums size of 15 mL, biodegradation in slurry phase and salinity level of 6% led totally to a diesel biodegradation rate of 70% for initial concentration of 1000 mg/kg after 35 days. The maximum diesel removal occurred at the salinity content of 6% indicating the moderately halo-tolerant characteristics of isolated strain. Evaluation of bacterial growth showed a biomass yield of 0.33 mg VSS/mg diesel in selected conditions. The field performance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AHV-KH10 was proved through the removal of the TPH content in unwashed sediment, which varied from 2390 to 1875 mg/kg within four months.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus among HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) share the same rate of transmission. HIV/HCV co-infected individuals may result in faster progression of liver fibrosis and highly increase the risk of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma development. Thus this study was conducted to determine co-infection of HCV genotypes in positive HIV patients in Ahvaz city, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sera samples were collected from confirmed 78 infected HIV, 67 (85.89%) males and 11 (14.1%) females. All sera samples were tested for HCV Ab using ELISA test. The HCV Ab positive samples were tested for detection of 5' untranslated (UTR) and core regions of HCV genome using nested RT-PCR. The PCR products of 5UTR and core regions were sequenced to determine HCV genotypes. RESULTS: Among the 78 infected HIV, 25 (32.05%) cases including 20 (25.64%) males and 5 (6.41%) females were positive for HCV Ab (p=0.316). 53 (67.94%) of HIV patients were negative for HCV Ab. Among 25 positive HCV Ab, 19 (24.35%) cases including 15 (19.23%) males and 4 (5.12%) females were positive for HCV RNA (p=0.447). The PCR products of 5 positive samples were randomly sequenced. The results of sequences and alignments showed that the detected HCV genotypes were three 3a and two 1a. The occurrence of genotype HCV 1a was found in one male injecting drug user Injecting Drug User (IDU) and one female. The HCV 3a genotype was detected in the three males IDU. CONCLUSION: The results of this survey indicated that 32.05% of HIV patients were positive for HCV Ab, among them 24.35% were positive HCV RNA. HCV genotype 3a was dominant and detected in the three males IDU. Regarding the consequences of HIV/HCV co-infection, it is suggested that HCV RNA detection should be regularly checked in individuals infected with HIV.