Seroprevalence and trends of transfusion transmissible infections among retrospective blood donors in Western Azerbaijan Regional Blood Transfusion Center, Iran: A ten-years evaluation.

Transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) have been a public health challenge for the accessibility, quality and safety of blood transfusion. The present study aimed to consider the prevalence and the trends of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis across the ten years among retrospective blood donors. A retrospective investigation of blood donors' data covering the period from 22 May 2009 to 22 May 2019 was done. Data was accumulated and analyzed from Blood Transfusion Center records, pertaining to all donors who were screened for various TTIs using respective immunological techniques. Out of the 682,171 screened donors in the 2009-2019 study period, 2470 (0.36 %) were infected with at least one infectious agent. The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, HTLV-1, HIV and syphilis were 1700 (0.25 %), 184 (0.027 %), 335 (0.05 %), 4 (0.0.05 %) and 247 (0.036 %), respectively. The study showed male dominated donor pool (96.79 %) with higher prevalence (0.34 %) of TTIs compared to female donors (0.02 %) with 3.21 % population. Despite the low prevalence of TTIs in our study, HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV have remained a big threat to safe blood transfusion in Iran. Strict adherence to selection criteria, algorithm of donor screening, use of highly sensitive and specific methods for detection of TTIs, regular consultation and health education programs, prevention and sanitization strategies to reduce the risk of TTIs are recommended to reduce the risk of TTIs and ensure the safety of blood transfusion for recipient.

Determination of Helicobacter pylori virulence-associated genes in duodenal ulcer and gastric biopsies.

Background:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori or Hp) has been strongly associated with the peptic ulcer diseases, chronic gastritis, ulcers, and gastric cancer. Genes associated with pathogenicity have been designated for H. pylori, and some of them appear to be related to more severe clinical consequences of the infection. The present study was conducted to determine cagA, vacA, cagE, iceA1, oipA, and iceA2 genes in H. pylori strains isolated from gastroduodenal patients, who referred to Shariati hospital in Tehran, Iran. Methods: Gastric biopsy specimens were collected during endoscopy from patients, who referred to the Shariati hospital in Tehran, Iran during January and November 2015. After isolation of H. pylori from the biopsy culture, genomic DNA was extracted and subsequently used to identify H. pylori and virulence genes using specific primers. Results: The isolation rate of H. pylori strains was 65.7% (169/257). The frequency of cagA, vacA, cagE, iceA1, oipA, and iceA2 was 143 (% 84.6), 169 (100%), 131 (77.5%), 97 (57.3%), 89 (52.6%), and 72 (42.6%), respectively. Conclusion: In this study, a significant difference was observed between investigated genes and strains isolated from PUD and GC patients (p<0.05).

Phenotypic and genotypic study of macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in Tehran, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Resistance to antimicrobial agents among Staphylococcus aureus is an increasing problem. Two common genes responsible for resistance to macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B (MLSB) antibiotics are the ermA and ermC genes. Three resistance phenotypes have been detected to these antibiotics: strains containing cMLSB (constitutive MLSB) and iMLSB (inducible MLSB), which are resistant to macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B antibiotics, and MS, which is only resistant to macrolide and streptogramin B antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of MLSB phenotypes and genotypes in erythromycin-resistant strains of S. aureus isolated from patients in 4 university hospitals in Tehran, Iran. MATERIAL/METHODS: S. aureus strains were isolated from various clinical specimens and identified by routine phenotypic methods and PCR for nuc gene. Erythromycin resistance was determined by disk diffusion testing. Prevalence of MLSB phenotypes was determined by use of the D-test. ermA and ermC genes were detected by PCR. RESULTS: Altogether, 126 erythromycin-resistant strains of S. aureus were detected. Prevalence of cMLSB, iMLSB and MS resistance phenotypes were 92.8%, 6.4%, and 0.8%, respectively; 60.3% of strains had ermA gene and 54.8% ermC gene; 61 strains (48.4%) contained 2 studied erm genes and 42 strains (33.3%) did not have any studied erm genes. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the high prevalence of clindamycin resistance among S. aureus isolated from patients in Iran, we recommend clindamycin therapy only after proper antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes in Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from nosocomial infections in Tehran, Iran.

Background and objectives: bla SHV, bla TEM and bla VEB are a group of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase enzymes (ESBLs) which are able to hydrolyze Penicillins and some cephalosporin antibiotics. The present study evaluated the frequency of ESBL genes bla SHV, bla TEM and bla VEB in Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from nosocomial infections to outline the importance of these genes in antibiotic resistance. Methods: One hundred Acinetobacter baumannii strains were isolated from different nosocomial infections. After antibiotic resistance evaluation with the Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion method, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of Ciprofloxacin was measured using the E-test method. Then, the ESBL producing strains were identified employing Combined Disk Methods. Finally, all isolates were evaluated with the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique to detect the ESBL genes of interest. Results: Out of 100 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates, 59% were ESBL positive according to the phenotypic method. The PCR assay could not detect the bla SHV and bla VEB genes in the studied isolates, but the presence of bla TEM gene was demonstrated in 42% of the strains. Conclusion: The high resistance to most antibiotics, the high prevalence of ESBLs-producing strains and also a high prevalence of bla TEM gene in A. baumannii strains found in the current study gives cause for major concern about nosocomial infections in Iran because of the treatment complexity of these strains. Our results highlight the need for infection control measures to prevent the spread of resistant isolates, especially in hospitals.

Prevalence, and virulence determination of Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from clinical and non-clinical samples by multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

INTRODUCTION:: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, and virulence factors of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from various samples by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPCR). METHODS:: A total of 617 isolates were obtained and MPCR was employed for detection of the inlA, inlC, and inlJ genes. RESULTS:: L. monocytogenes was detected in 46 (7.45%) of the 617 specimens. inlA, inlC, and inlJ were detected in 100%, 76.26%, and 71% isolates, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:: This study validated MPCR in the analysis and rapid detection of L. monocytogenes. The role of the genes in pathogenesis of the strains can also be affirmed.

In silico analysis and molecular modeling of RNA polymerase, sigma S (RpoS) protein in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

BACKGROUND: Sigma factors are proteins that regulate transcription in bacteria. Sigma factors can be activated in response to different environmental conditions. The rpoS (RNA polymerase, sigma S) gene encodes sigma-38 (σ38, or RpoS), a 37.8 kDa protein in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) strains. RpoS is a central regulator of the general stress response and operates in both retroactive and proactive manners; not only does it allow the cell to survive environmental challenges; it also prepares the cell for subsequent stresses (cross-protection). METHODS: The significance of RpoS for stress resistance and protein expression in stationary-phase P. aeruginosa cells was assessed. The goal of the current study was to characterize RpoS of P. aeruginosa PAO1 using bioinformatics tools. RESULTS: The results showed that RpoS is an unstable protein that belongs to the sigma-70 factor family. Secondary structure analysis predicted that random coil is the predominant structure followed by extended alpha helix. The three-dimensional (3D) structure was modeled using SWISS-MODEL Workspace. CONCLUSION: Determination of sequence, function, structure, and predicted epitopes of RpoS is important for modeling of inhibitors that will help in the design of new drugs to combat multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains. Such information may aid in the development of new diagnostic tools, drugs, and vaccines for treatment in endemic regions.

The effect of resveratrol on the expression of MDR1 gene in leukemic lymphoblast's of acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy plays a very important role in the treatment of leukemia but the resistance properties of the lymphoblasts limit the effect of chemotherapy. One of the main mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy is the increased expression of MDR1 gene. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of resveratrol on the expression of MDR1 gene in leukemic lymphoblast of new cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients in vitro. METHODS: Separation of lymphoblasts of 5 new case ALL patients from peripheral blood was performed by ficoll density gradient centrifugation. Lymphoblasts were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium. Lymphoblasts were treated with 50µmol/L resveratrol for 48 h. Total RNA was extracted with guanidine isothiocyanate. RNA was converted to cDNA. Real time PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of MDR1. RESULTS: The results of gene detection showed that the expression of MDR1 did not change significantly in the patients however, in one patient expression of MDR1 increased upon treatment with resveratrol. CONCLUSION: The results of this study did not support resveratrol as a compound to reverse multidrug resistance in leukemic lymphoblasts.