Toxoplasma gondii infection and ABO blood groups: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in ABO blood groups and assess the relationship between the prevalence of T. gondii and blood groups. A literature search was carried out for epidemiological studies that were published through December 2022. A random effects model was used to determine the OR and the pooled prevalence with a 95% CI. The estimated pooled prevalences of T. gondii infection in the A, B, AB and O blood groups were 38% (95% CI 27 to 48%), 38% (95% CI 29 to 47%), 36% (95% CI 26 to 45%) and 36% (95% CI 27 to 45%), respectively. Also, the pooled ORs of the relationship between the prevalence of T. gondii infection and the A, B, AB and O blood groups were 1.08 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.19), 1.10 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.28), 1.08 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.27) and 0.89 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.00), respectively. This meta-analysis did not show any relationship between the prevalence of T. gondii infection and ABO blood groups.

Prevalence, genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibility profiles of F. fujikuroi, F. solani and Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complexes from onychomycosis in north of Iran.

Onychomycosis, a nail fungal infection, is normally caused by dermatophytes. However, yeasts and non-dermatophyte moulds (NDM) are among pathogens that cause nail disease. Regarding, this study aimed to describe the molecular epidemiology of Fusarium onychomycosis in the North of Iran. Two hundred and fifty seven nail samples collected from the patients clinically suspected of onychomycosis were subjected to direct microscopy, calcofluor white staining and culture. Fusarium isolates were identified at a species level through determination of multi-locus sequences for internal transcribed spacer and translation elongation factor 1 alpha. Based on the findings, Fusarium species were isolated from onychomycosis patients (n = 27). According to a previous partial genes analysis, the species in the recent study belonged to the members of F. fujikuroi species complex (n = 14), Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (n = 1) and F. solani species complex (n = 12). In this study, F. proliferatum was the dominant Fusarium species collected from the samples. The correct identification of Fusarium species is essential regarding the increased prevalence of Fusarium onychomycosis and the inherent resistance of these agents to a wide spectrum of antifungals. The obtained results indicated variation in the epidemiology of Fusarium species isolated from onychomycosis. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of luliconazole and lanoconazole was in the range of 0.001-1 µg/ml, with the geometric mean of MICs obtained at 0.0103 and 0.0343 µg/ml against Fusarium species, respectively. These findings can increase researchers' knowledge regarding diversity of species, distribution of onychomycosis and the choice of a proper treatment.

High occurrence of Blastocystis sp. subtype 3 in individuals referred to medical laboratories in Kermanshah, Iran.

Aim: The current study investigated the prevalence and genotypes of Blastocystis sp. in individuals who referred to medical laboratories in Kermanshah, Iran. Background: Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal protozoan found in humans and a wide range of animals, and it is involved in the development of gastrointestinal disorders. Methods: A total of 950 stool samples were examined using the standard formalin-ether concentration technique. All specimens were cultured in Robinson xenic medium. Subsequently, DNA extraction and PCR amplification of subtype specific sequence-tagged site (STS) were conducted. Results: Microscopic examination showed that 86 out of 950 samples (9.05%) were infected with Blastocystis sp. Subsequently, 33 of 86 positive samples were cultured and molecularly confirmed by conventional PCR, indicating six subtypes (ST1-ST6). Of note, ST3 (45.0%) was the predominant subtype, followed by ST1 (15.15%) and ST5 (12%). Conclusion: Based on the current findings, ST3 was the most frequent subtype among all positive samples. Having a better understanding of Blastocystis sp. subtype distribution and risk factors would lead to improved preventive measures.

Molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility of clinical fungal isolates from onychomycosis (uncommon and emerging species).

Onychomycosis is a common nail problem, accounting for up to 50% of all nail diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine the species distribution based on the restriction fragment length polymorphism and susceptibility patterns of the causative agents of onychomycosis. This cross-sectional study was conducted on nail samples collected from 257 patients suspected of onychomycosis during 14 months. Fungal isolates were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) with the enzymes Msp I, Mva I, Alw I and sequencing. According to the results, out of the 257 patients participating in the study, onychomycosis was diagnosed in 180 (70.03%) cases, among which 51.1% were caused by non-dermatophyte moulds (NDMs), 35% by yeast and 10.6% by dermatophytes. Numerous cryptic species recovered from onychomycosis for the first time. In the majority of cases, novel triazoles and imidazoles (ie, efinaconazole, luliconazole and lanoconazole) showed potent activity in comparison with other antifungal agents. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of luliconazole and lanoconazole ranged within 0.001 to >1 µg/mL and their geometric mean MICs were 0.0154 and 0.0309 µg/mL against all isolates, respectively. It seems that obtained data will be useful to improve the knowledge of researchers, clinicians and dermatologists about onychomycosis distribution, species diversity and adoption of appropriate treatment.

Differential genomics output and susceptibility of Iranian patients with unilocular hydatidose.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate HLA-DRB1*and DQB1* allelic polymorphisms in Iranian patients with hydatidose. This is the first survey dealing with the correlation between HLA-DRB1* and DQB1* alleles and cystic echinococcosis in Iranian patients. METHODS: The study was carried out on 56 patients with confirmed cystic echinococcosis and 30 apparently healthy individuals living in Arak- Markazi Province by HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 typing through PCR-SSP method. The first step was to identify the patients and blood sampling. DNA was prepared from whole blood and PCR-SSP with 31 primer mixes for per sample was used. PCR reaction mixtures were loaded in agarose gels and bands were observed under UV illumination and gel document after electrophoresis. Analysis of results was carried out with specific softwares and frequency and interpretation tables for calculation of P-value in χ(2) test were provided via Fisher's exact test. Significant samples were analyzed by logistic regression and odds-ratios were calculated. RESULTS: A statistically significant positive association was found between HLA-DQB1*03 and the resistance to cystic echinococcosis (P < 0.02) (odds-ratio = 2.87). CONCLUSION: Immunogenetic susceptibility to unilocular hydatidose varies according to the HLA antigens in Arak, Markazi Province, and DQB1*03 molecules are associated with the level of immune response to parasite antigens.

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium isolates from human and bovine using 18s rRNA gene in Shahriar county of Tehran, Iran.

Cryptosporidiosis is a widespread cause of diarrheal diseases of humans, young calves, and many mammals. Although in recent years molecular investigations on Cryptosporidium have increased, no data are available on Iran in this regard. Two species of Cryptosporidium are known to infect human beings; Cryptosporidium hominis which shows anthroponotic transmission among humans and Cryptosporidium parvum which shows zoonotic transmission between animals and humans. Cryptosporidium oocysts, morphologically identified as C. parvum, were isolated from 24 human and 35 bovine cases in Shahriar (suburb of Tehran, Iran), and genotyped by means of a Nested-polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 18s rRNA gene. The isolates from bovine samples gave zoonotic or 2 genotype (C. parvum), and DNA profiles of human isolates gave two distinct genotypes, namely an anthroponotic or 1 (C. hominis) and zoonotic genotype or 2 (C. parvum).

Expression of the herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein D in baculovirus expression system and evaluation of its immunogenicity in guinea pigs.

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is highly prevalent and major cause of genital herpes in humans. The life-long nature of infection and the increasing prevalence of genital herpes imply that vaccination is the best strategy for controlling the spread of infection and limiting HSV disease. HSV glycoprotein D (gD) is one of the most important viral immunogen which has an essential role in virus infectivity and induction of immune responses. METHODS: HSV-2 DNA was extracted and used as template in polymerase chain reactions to amplify gD2 gene. The PCR product was confirmed by restriction enzyme analysis, cloned into a cloning vector and then sequenced. The Bac-to-Bac expression system was used to express HSV-2 gD in insect cells. The expressed protein was used as subunit vaccine to immunize guinea pigs after confirmation. RESULTS: The expressed protein was confirmed with SDS-PAGE and Western-blot analysis. In Western-blot analysis, two major protein bands, with approximate molecular weights of 52-55 and 41-43 kDa corresponding to the glycosylated and non-glycosylated forms of gD2 protein, were observed, respectively. Immunization with the recombinant gD2 could elicit humoral responses in guinea pigs as measured by neutralization test and ELISA, and offered high protection against induced HSV-2 genital disease. CONCLUSION: The baculovirus expression of heterologous genes permits proper folding, post-translational modification and oligomerization in manners that are often identical to those that occur in mammalian cells. Expression of proteins under the control of the strong polyhedrin promoter, allowing high level protein production, can be used as subunit vaccine.