Five-year surveillance study of clinical and environmental Triazole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus isolates in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Invasive aspergillosis is one of the most common fungal infections and azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus (ARAf) is a growing medical concern in high-risk patients. To our knowledge, there is no comprehensive epidemiological surveillance study on the prevalence and incidence of ARAf isolates available in Iran. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to report a five-year survey of triazole phenotypes and genotype patterns concerning the resistance in clinical and environmental A. fumigatus in Iran. METHODS: During the study time frame (2016-2021), a total of 1208 clinical and environmental Aspergillus species were collected. Isolates were examined and characterised by in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing (CLSI M38 broth microdilution) and cyp51A sequencing. RESULTS: In total, 485 Aspergillus section Fumigati strains were recovered (clinical, n = 23; 4.74% and environment, n = 462; 95.26%). Of which A. fumigatus isolates were the most prevalent species (n = 483; 99.59%). Amphotericin B and the echinocandins demonstrated good in vitro activity against the majority of isolates in comparison to triazole. Overall, 16.15% (n = 78) of isolates were phenotypically resistant to at least one of the azoles. However, 9.73% of A. fumigatus isolates for voriconazole were classified as resistant, 89.03% were susceptible, and 1.24% were intermediate. While, for itraconazole and posaconazole, using the epidemiological cut-off value 16.15% and 6.83% of isolates were non-wild types, respectively. Remarkably, in 21.79% (n = 17) phenotypically resistant isolates, no mutations were detected within the cyp51A gene. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of ARAf varies from country to country, in Iran the rate has ranged from 3.3% to 18%, significantly increasing from 2013 to 2021. Strikingly, a quarter of the phenotypically resistant isolates harboured no mutations in the cyp51A gene. It seems that other mechanisms of resistance are importantly increasing. To fill a gap in our understanding of the mechanism for azole resistance in the non-cyp51A strains, we highly recommend further and more extensive monitoring of the soil with or without exposure to fungicides in agricultural and hospital areas.

The fluctuation of APC gene in WNT signaling with adenine deletion of adenomatous polyposis coli, is associated in colorectal cancer / A flutuação do gene da APC na via de sinalização WNT com deleção de adenina na polipose adenomatosa do cólon está associada ao câncer colorretal

ABSTRACT Colorectal cancer is one of the most important malignancies in the classification of gastrointestinal cancers. One of the predisposing factors at molecular level for this cancer is via WNT signaling which is associated with the vast numbers of different genes. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate whether Adenomatous Polyposis Coli gene (APC) mutation of rs41115in two locations such as 132.002 and 131.989 acts as a trigger or cause of colorectal cancer. Relatively, 30 blood samples of colorectal cancer patients and 30 normal blood samples as control group after colonoscopy and also confirmation of pathology report at Rohani Hospital in Babol (Iran) were investigated. The primers were designed in order to be included the rs41115 to identify the particular polymorphisms of gene. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR direct sequencing method) was used. Conclusively, deletion of adenine in two specific locations such as 131.989 and 132.002 has been identified, but there was no relationship between rs41115 polymorphisms located in adenomatous polyposis coli gene and colorectal cancer.

RESUMO O câncer colorretal é uma das neoplasias malignas mais importantes na classificação dos cânceres gastrointestinais. Um dos fatores predisponentes no âmbito molecular para esse câncer é através da via de sinalização WNT, que está associada a um grande número de genes diferentes. Portanto, neste estudo, objetivamos investigar se a mutação rs41115 do gene da polipose adenomatosa do cólon (Adenomatous Polyposis Coli - APC) em dois locais como 132.002 e 131.989 atua como gatilho ou como causa do câncer colorretal. Relativamente, 30 amostras de sangue de pacientes com câncer colorretal e 30 amostras de sangue normal (grupo controle) foram analisadas após a colonoscopia, bem como a confirmação do laudo da patologia no Rohani Hospital em Babol (Irã). Os primers foram projetados de modo a incluir o rs41115 para identificar os polimorfismos particulares do gene. A reação em cadeia da polimerase (método de sequenciamento direto por PCR) foi utilizada. Conclusivamente, a deleção de adenina em dois locais específicos, como 131.989 e 132.002, foi identificada, mas não houve relação entre o polimorfismo rs41115 localizado no gene da polipose adenomatosa do cólon e o câncer colorretal.

Cancer signaling pathways with a therapeutic approach: An overview in epigenetic regulations of cancer stem cells.

One of the most important issues in cancer progression is caner stem cells (CSCs) which have illustrated that the bulk tumors can arise from a special combination of cells. Remarkably, it has been proposed to be a notable and strong factor in carcinogenesis and tumorogenesis and also is a key parameter of therapeutic resistance. In this way, recent findings have shown the key roles of epigenetic regulations in cancer development.Considerably, epigenetic regulations of gene expression is an active and dynamic process including histone modification, DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling with a reversible trait.Meaningly, recent and novel findings have described the significance of epigenetic regulatory proteins from divers features comprising tumorogenesis,stem cell proliferation and carcinogenesis. Evidently, abnormal epigenetic regulations is directly related with many serious disorders particularly different cancers. We here review a discussion of how the deregulation of eclectic pathways containing Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), WNT, Beta catenin and NOTCH can help to carcinogenesis specially focusing to survival and maintenance of CSCs in therapeutic approach.