Low Serum Levels of Selenium, Zinc, Iron, and Zinc/Copper Ratio in an Endemic Region of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Southwest Iran.

Leishmaniasis is a widespread tropical infection; cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common form of this disease known to cause significant morbidity. Trace metals, including selenium, zinc, iron, and copper, are required for the activity of several enzymes involved in immune system responses. The aim of this research was to measure the serum levels of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and Zn/Cu ratio in patients with CL. In this case-control study, 80 patients with CL and 80 healthy volunteers (not exposed to CL) from a CL endemic region in southwest Iran agreed to participate. Both clinical and parasitological verifications were made to include each subject as a CL-positive case. A questionnaire was completed for each participant which included the following criteria: age (year), height (cm), weight (kg), body mass index (kg/m2), and duration of disease (day). The biochemical assays were performed according to the standard protocols, and the values of Zn, Cu, Se, and Fe were expressed in micrograms per deciliter (µg/dl). All results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and the statistical significance level was defined to be less than 0.05 (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in terms of mean values of age, body weight, height, and body mass index between CL patients and the control group (P > 0.05). The mean ± SD concentrations of Zn, Fe, and Se in the control group were found to be 118.87 ± 6.35 µg/dl, 123.00 ± 8.40 µg/dl, and 11.26 ± 1.88 µg/dl, respectively. These trace elements (TEs) were statistically lower (P < 0.001) in patients with CL (case group) with values of 83.05 ± 7.32 µg/dl for Zn, 86.51 ± 10.09 µg/dl for Fe, and 3.83 ± 1.20 µg/dl for Se. We have also observed that serum levels of Cu in CL-positive group were significantly higher than in the controls (P < 0.001). Furthermore, CL patients had significantly lower Zn/Cu ratio than controls (0.63 ± 0.05 µg/dl vs. 1.11 ± 0.10; P < 0.001). The alternation in serum levels of TEs may be a part of the defense strategy of the organism. Based on these results, it can be suggested that serum levels of these TEs can be a useful marker to estimate the prognosis of CL infection.

In-depth computational analysis of calcium-dependent protein kinase 3 of Toxoplasma gondii provides promising targets for vaccination.

PURPOSE: The Toxoplasma gondii calcium-dependent protein kinase-3 (CDPK3) is a key enzyme for parasite egress, control of calcium-dependent permeabilization in parasitophorous vacuole membrane and tissue cyst formation. In this study, we comprehensively explored the bioinformatics features of this protein to improve vaccine design against T. gondii. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Various web servers were employed for the analysis of physico-chemical properties, post-translational modifications, localization in the subcellular milieu, secondary and tertiary structures, as well as B-cell, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-binding and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes. RESULTS: This protein was a 537 amino acid antigenic and non-allergenic molecule with a molecular weight of 60.42 kDa, a grand average of hydropathicity score of -0.508, and aliphatic index of 79.50. There exists 46.74% alpha helix, 12.48% extended strand, and 40.78% random coil in the secondary structure. Ramachandran plot of the refined model demonstrated 99.3%, 0.7%, and 0.0% of residues in the favored, allowed and outlier areas, respectively. Besides, various potential B-cell (continuous and conformational), MHC-binding and CTL epitopes were predicted for Toxoplasma CDPK3 protein. CONCLUSION: This article provides a foundation for further investigations, and laid a theoretical basis for the development of an appropriate vaccine against T. gondii infection.

Rhomboid antigens are promising targets in the vaccine development against Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasite with worldwide distribution. It is estimated that near one-third of the people around the globe are latently seropositive for the parasite. Since the current common drugs are incapable in the elimination of parasites within tissue cysts, the development of an effective vaccine has high priority for researchers to limit the infection. During recent years, non-stop efforts of scientists have made great progress in the identification and development of T. gondii candidate vaccines. However, there is a lack of a commercially licensed vaccine for human application yet. Rhomboid proteases (ROMs) are a class of serine proteases that have an important role in the invasion of the parasites that can be considered as a new target for vaccine strategy. They also play critical roles in mitochondrial fusion and growth factor signaling, allowing the parasite to completely enter into the host cell. In the current review, we have summarized the recent progress regarding the development of ROM-based vaccines against acute and chronic T. gondii infection in animal models.

Basic Occupational Health Services for Agricultural Workers in the South of Iran.

The agricultural sector has by far the world's largest labour force, there are more than one billion workers in this industry worldwide, which contains half of the total world labour force. On the other hand, agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations, and many workers suffer occupational accidents and ill health each year. Farming and animal breeding are associated with exposure to a wide variety of risk factors, including zoonotic agents, dust, elements of the thermal environment, noise, vibration and chemicals. Although half of the world's population are economically active and spend at least one third of their time in the workplace, only 15% of the workers have access to basic occupational health services. According to a WHO report, Iran has a well-structured health care system through which basic health care services are available to the entire population, and health indicators in Iran have consistently improved. The agricultural health program in Iran is being carried out in the cities and rural areas, and occupational health services are mainly integrated into the health network. This paper aims to describe the health care system and basic occupational health services (BOHs) available to 5,300 agricultural enterprises with 8,380 employees in the cities of Abadan, Khorramshahr and Shadegan in the Abadan region (Abadan, Khoramshahr and Shadegan districts), in the south of Iran.