Toxicity effects of AgZnO nanoparticles and rifampicin on Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the macrophage.

The World Health Organization acknowledges tuberculosis as a global threat. Tuberculosis infection is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Nanotechnology and microbiology researchers are looking for new and safe nano drugs for eliminating Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. In this study, AgZnO nano-crystals (AgZnONCs) is synthesized via the decomposition of the precursor of oxalate method. Characterization of AgZnONCs were evaluated. Next, various concentrations of AgZnONCs, as well AgZnONCs+Rifampicin, were prepared. The MTT assay was employed to study the viability of human macrophage cell lines (THP-1) exposed to AgZnONCs. The bactericidal effects of AgZnONCs and AgZnONCs+Rifampicin were studied by Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) test. Subsequently, THP-1 were infected by H37 Rv strain of M. tuberculosis (H37 RvMtb). Also, bactericidal effects of AgZnONCs and AgZnONCs+Rifampicin were compared with ex-vivo conditions. The MBC of AgZnONCs and AgZnONCs+Rifampicin were ratios of 1:4 and 1:32 respectively (p-value <0.05). Also, more than 50% and 80% of THP-1 were alive in ratios of 1:4 and 1:32 in the presence of AgZnONCs, respectively. All phagocytic H37 RvMtb were killed in the presence of AgZnONCs+Rifampicin (p-value <0.05), while AgZnONCs were not able to kill all the H37 RvMtb (p-value >0.05). This study showed that, AgZnONCs+Rifampicin has the most anti-tubercular behavior with respect to the macrophages.

Identification and comparison of genetic pattern of human and cattle M.bovis isolates from Zanjan province, by restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA hybridization.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Mycobacterium bovis, responsible for bovine tuberculosis is a member of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. This bacterium is responsible for infection in wide range of hosts. Bovine tuberculosis is well known as Zoonotic tuberculosis in human and is transmitted via consumption of unpasteurized milk, contaminated meat products and also by ingestion of Mycobacteria from the environment. The objectives of the present study was to compare the genomic pattern of M. bovis obtained from human subjects in Zanjan province, with those of atypic cattle in Iran by Restriction fragment length polymerization and DNA hybridization methods. METHODS: DNA was isolated from 2M. bovis strains isolated from suspected patients by van Sooligen method. Finger printing methods using RFLP and DNA hybridization with probes DR and PGRS was performed. The obtained patterns were compared with the genomic pattern of 161M. bovis strains isolated from infected cattle lymph nodes, present in the Tuberculin reference Laboratory at Razi vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj. RESULTS: Comparisons of the genetic pattern of the 2M. bovis strains from Zanjan province with 16 distinct patterns obtained with PGRS probe and 20 patterns with DR probes from 161M. bovis isolates indicated no correlation of the patterns of Zanjan isolates with those present at Razi Tuberculin Reference Laboratory. CONCLUSION: With respect to the age of patients, absence of epidemic and lack of cluster in the mentioned province and other provinces, our results indicate recurrence of the infection due to M. bovis isolates which were present in Zanjan province in previous years. These isolates had no association with the bovine tuberculosis isolates present in Razi Tuberculin Reference laboratory.