Archives of Razi Institute最新文献

Periodontitis is an infection of the periodontium caused by a group of specific microorganisms, resulting in progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone.Initial treatment for periodontitis is mechanical scaling and root planing, but this does not cause sufficient reduction of the bacterial load due to lack of accessibility to microorganisms. The incorporation of an adjunctive chemotherapeutic agent enhances the outcome at sites which are not responsive to conventional therapy. Chlorhexidine is regarded as the gold standard for local drug delivery systems; however, it has been associated with undesirable side effects, including tooth staining, xerostomia, and calculus formation. This has given rise to an increased demand for herbal medicine, as it is associated with fewer side effects and is cost-effective. Anethum graveolens, which contains natural phytochemicals, is a well-known herbal remedy with therapeutic properties. The present in-vitro microbiological study was therefore undertaken to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial activity of Anethum graveolens gel with Chlorhexidine gel for Aa,Pg and Fn.The MIC and MBC of the ethanolic extract of Anethum graveolens against standard ATCC bacterial strains of A.a, P.g and F.n were determined using the broth dilution method and streaking on blood agar plates. The antimicrobial activity of the prepared Anethum graveolens gel was evaluated and compared with Chlorhexidine gel using the agar well diffusion assay. The zone of inhibition for Chlorhexidine gel was found to be 15.6 mm, 17 mm and 15.3 mm for A.a, P.g and F.n, respectively, whereas for A. graveolens gel, it was 12.6 mm, 13 mm and 12 mm for 24. A.a, P.g and F.n, respectively. The results obtained suggested that Chlorhexidine gel exhibited a marginally superior antimicrobial activity in comparison to the Anethum graveolens gel against Aa, Pg and Fn.

Fasciolosis, a foodborne parasitic disease, is caused by the trematodes Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. This disease is of significant concern, having been reported in various vertebrate hosts across more than 80 countries. A comparison of the geographical distribution of the two species reveals that Fasciola hepatica affects a wider range of animals and is often reported from high altitudes and hot and humid areas. The present study endeavors to provide an update on fascioliasis in animal and human hosts in Iran during the years 2019 to 2024. A systematic search of published articles in English was conducted using electronic databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Iran Science Direct, SID and Magiran. Following a thorough review of the literature, a total of 18 articles were identified that satisfied the predetermined inclusion criteria for the evaluation of the prevalence of fascioliasis in humans and animals within the Iranian context. Of the 18 articles that were subjected to analysis, only five documented the presence of the Fasciola hepatica species. In four articles, researchers encountered difficulties in identifying the specific species of Fasciola. Notably, the remaining articles reported the presence of both F. hepatica and F. gigantica species. The molecular analysis was employed in 61.1% of the cases, which is noteworthy. The prevalence of human fascioliasis exhibited variability, ranging from 1.7% to 2.4% across diverse regions of Iran. The present systematic review revealed that there has been a paucity of studies conducted in the field of fasciolosis in Iran during the last five years. Consequently, the authors of the present study recommend the implementation of further research focusing on the prevalence of fasciolosis in all provinces. The authors further recommend the formulation and dissemination of effective prevention and control strategies for this disease, contingent on the prevalence of fasciolosis in different provinces.

The etiology of "Covid-19," a respiratory illness, was first identified in late 2019 as the causative agent of the novel coronavirus. The conclusion of the pandemic was declared in 2023, and during this interval, a range of vaccines employing diverse strategies were developed. The effectiveness and other immunological characteristics of these vaccines have been thoroughly evaluated. The publication of documents related to the vaccines has persisted even after the conclusion of the pandemic. This study was conducted to investigate the research process and published documents related to the manufacturing technology and effectiveness of the vaccines. The documents published in the Scopus database in early 2024 were collected using restrictions in four subject areas and the English language. The bibliographic analysis was conducted using the Bibliometrix package in Rstudio and VOSviewer. A total of 2,810 documents were reviewed. The majority of these documents were articles and reviews, with 2,320 and 394 documents falling into these categories, respectively. Peptides and capillary electrophoresis emerged as prominent subjects in 2024. Furthermore, elasomeran, covilo, and tozinameran emerged as more recent than other keywords based on their temporal distribution. This study examines the documents published in one of the most reliable databases of vaccines against the novel strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) from a bibliometric perspective. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable insights and direction for future research initiatives, opportunities, and challenges in this field.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is a significant pathogen that causes respiratory diseases, which have had a substantial economic impact on the poultry industry. Despite the resistance of MG to antibiotics, it is imperative to identify genetic diversity in order to develop countermeasures. In this study, the genomes of six MG strains were examined to gain deeper insights into the mutations. The data pertaining to Variant Annotation and Mutation Analysis using SnpEff, along with the calculation of mutation rates as the ratio of total mutations to the length of the genomic regions analyzed, were thoroughly examined. The comprehensive evaluation yielded a total of 25,942 variants across the six strains, underscoring substantial genetic diversity. Notably, strain S6 exhibited a preponderance of frameshift mutations. A notable finding was the presence of a mutation in the MsbA gene shared by all six strains. Furthermore, five of the six strains, with the exception of strain F99 Lab, exhibited a mutation at position 5158, which impacts a multidrug transport system. Notably, strain ATCC exhibits a distinctive mutation at position 942, while strain S6 displays a unique mutation at position 6855, which is linked to efflux ABC transporter components. Furthermore, a substantial degree of genetic variation was observed among the CrmA, GapA, and vlhA genes among the various strains. High-impact changes, such as insertions and deletions, exhibited a higher frequency in CrmA, particularly in strain S6. Conversely, nonsynonymous variations demonstrated a heightened prevalence in GapA, particularly in strain F99 Lab. The vlhA gene exhibited a spectrum of effects, ranging from synonymous mutations to high-impact mutations such as stop-gains and frameshifts, particularly in strains k5111a and k4602. The functional variations observed among the strains can be attributed to these mutations, which have the potential to alter gene expression or protein function. Furthermore, substantial mutations in the dxr and rpoC genes were associated with antibiotic resistance. These mutations underscore the ongoing evolutionary adaptations of M. gallisepticum. Consequently, there is an imperative for the revision of treatment protocols and the formulation of targeted vaccines to regulate resistance within the poultry industry.

The ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has had a considerable impact on healthcare systems and economies worldwide. The aim of vaccines against the virus is to elicit an immune response against the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with the objective of neutralizing the virus. Efficacy has now been demonstrated for several vaccinations, including those based on mRNA, adenoviral-vectored protein subunits, and whole-cell inactivated subunits. A comprehensive understanding of the immune responses to these vaccines, and the manner in which different antibodies are generated following vaccination, is imperative to enhance our comprehension of the pathophysiology of the disease. The present study aims to provide a comparative analysis of the humoral immune responses elicited by BNT162b2 (mRNA-based), BBIBP-CorV (inactivated virus), and ChAdOx1 (dsDNA-recombinant) vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The study population comprised 321 individuals, with 90 individuals who had not received any vaccines (control group) and 77 individuals who had received the Pfizer and Sinopharm vaccines, respectively. Blood samples were collected 10 weeks after vaccination, and serum analysis was performed. The human SARS-CoV-2 Spike (Trimer) IgG or IgM ELISA (Thermo Fisher) was utilized to assess the quantity of IgG or IgM antibodies that had bound to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (Trimer). The study revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the vaccines (P value = 0.958). The investigation further demonstrated that all three vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm) were effective in stimulating the production of IgM and IgG. The study revealed that Sinopharm demonstrated superior efficacy in the induction of IgM and IgG. The utilization of ChAdOx1 resulted in the generation of higher levels of IgG compared to BNT162b2, as evidenced by a statistically significant difference (P value= 0.0001). The enhanced immune response observed with Sinopharm could be attributed to its nature as an inactivated subunit vaccine. The immunological reactions to the vaccines studied in the following studies have prompted a lot of issues about how they happen, and the study recommends more studies regarding the most effective vaccines among the Kurdish people in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Acinetobacter, recognized as a nosocomial pathogen, undergoes structural changes when exposed to various antibiotics, rendering it relatively resistant and posing challenges in disease treatment. This study aimed to identify two biofilm-related genes and assess the drug resistance profile of clinical strains. Clinical isolates were collected from the ICU of Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman, Iran, and phenotypically identified. Confirmation was achieved for 55 clinical Acinetobacter isolates. Antibiogram testing was conducted for meropenem, amikacin, ampicillin-sulbactam, cefotaxime, levofloxacin, rifampin, and tigecycline antibiotics. Biofilm formation ability was assessed using microtiter plates and crystal violet staining, followed by spectrophotometry at OD 490 nm. PCR was employed to determine the frequency of pslA and pelB genes. Analysis revealed that the highest age group affected was 1 to 15 years (19%), while the lowest was 26 to 35 years (5%). The frequencies of pslA and pelB genes were 34.5% and 65.5%, respectively, and drug resistance ranged from 72% to 100% for the mentioned antibiotics. Given the pelB gene's approximately twofold higher frequency compared to pslA, it suggests that in most studied isolates, Psl may often be disrupted or that intracellular c-di-GMP levels have significantly increased.

Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a potent immunosuppressive agent that has been reported to cause various disorders, including hepatotoxicity. However, the precise molecular mediators involved in CsA-induced liver injury remain to be fully elucidated. The present study aspires to elucidate the transcription factors implicated in lipid metabolism in the context of hepatic injury induced by cyclosporine A (CsA), both independently and in conjunction with curcumin. A total of twenty-eight male adult Wistar rats were assigned into four groups, including control (Con), sham, cyclosporine A (CsA), and cyclosporine A (CsA) + curcumin (CsA+cur). The rats were administered CsA at a dosage of 30 mg/kg and curcumin at 40 mg/kg via a gastric tube for a duration of 28 days. RT-PCR and Masson trichrome staining were used to measure related changes. The results demonstrated that CsA exposure led to a substantial upregulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), fatty acid translocase CD36 (FAT/CD36), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) genes, along with a notable decrease in hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 Alpha (HNF4A) gene expression compared to the control and sham groups. Furthermore, CsA treatment led to a substantial elevation in plasma lipids (LDL, cholesterol, triglycerides) and liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)), in comparison to the control and sham groups. Furthermore, fibrotic changes were detected in the CsA group through Masson trichrome staining. Curcumin consumption resulted in a considerable improvement in histological disorders and molecular mediators involved in liver injury following CsA treatment. Consequently, these findings collectively suggest that CsA can exert deleterious effects on liver tissue, manifesting as lipid homeostasis disorders, as evidenced by alterations in FAT/CD36, PTP1B, and HNF4A gene expression. The findings of this study suggest that the use of curcumin, a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, can mitigate the adverse effects of CsA on liver tissue by restoring lipid homeostasis.

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) was selected as the target plant for the present study due to its high nutritional value and antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The aim was to investigate the effect of adding purslane powder on flock performance and immune response against Newcastle and infectious bursal disease. Purslane seeds were purchased from a medicinal company in India and, after preparation, used as a 1% powder. The experiment was conducted using 180 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens, with the aim of investigating the effect of purslane powder on the performance and immunity system of the birds. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with three treatments, four replicates and 15 birds each. The experimental treatments comprised a negative control (basic feed without purslane powder or vaccination), a positive control (basic feed without purslane powder but vaccinated against Newcastle and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)), and a purslane group (basic feed with 1% purslane powder and vaccination). The results of the experiment demonstrated that performance indicators such as total weight at the end of the period, body weight gain, and European Production Efficiency Factor decreased with vaccination and increased significantly with the use of purslane powder in vaccinated chickens (p<0.05). Antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus in vaccinated chicks received purslane powder was more than vaccinated group without purslane, but the difference was not significant (p>0.05). The study also revealed that the antibody titer against the IBD vaccine increased in both vaccinated groups; however, the titer in the purslane group was significantly higher than in the group that received only vaccination (p<0.05). The findings of this study indicate that the supplementation of broiler feed with purslane can enhance the performance of broiler flocks, strengthen the immune response against ND and IBD vaccination, and positively impact the population of intestinal microflora.

Colibacillosis, a major bacterial disease affecting chickens and turkeys, is caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). The disease has significant economic implications for poultry farms, resulting in increased mortality, reduced body weight, and higher feed conversion ratios (FCRs). These factors can lead to higher carcass condemnation at slaughterhouses.In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of vaccines against APEC, including both homologous and heterologous vaccines. The present study employed mineral oil as an adjuvant for inactivated E. coli, which was inoculated via injection route to layer chickens.At 28 days of age, 60 birds were subsequently divided into six experimental groups of 10 chickens per group. The control group did not receive the E. coli vaccine, whereas the five treatment groups were vaccinated subcutaneously with a formalin-inactivated, mineral-oil adjuvant E. coli vaccine containing an isolate of E. coli serotype O₇₈. The T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 groups were vaccinated at The T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 groups were inoculated at 28 days of age with 0.2 ml (8 ×10⁶, 16 ×10⁶, 33 ×10⁶, 66 ×10⁶ and 133 ×10⁶ cfu/ml) of E. coli O₇₈, respectively.Ten weeks after inoculation, the levels of IgG antibody titres against E. coli were evaluated using an ELISA method. The results demonstrated a significant increase in IgG antibody titres in the immunised birds compared to the unimmunised control group (P <0.05). Anti-IgG antibodies increased on a weekly basis after injection in most vaccinated groups up to four weeks.In conclusion, the prepared E. coli vaccine at the Razi Institute, Shiraz branch, induced high levels of immune responses in the vaccinated group, as revealed by ELISA. In order to elicit a substantial immunological stimulus, it is recommended that all chickens in the experimental group receive a booster dose four weeks after the initial immunization.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of infection of the respiratory tract in infants, older adults, individuals with heart and lung disease, and immunocompromised patients. The disease is responsible for between 100,000 and 200,000 infant deaths on an annual basis. RSV vaccine production platforms have been developed. In this study, a local diploid cell line, RAZI-HDC, derived from human fetal lung cells, was utilized for RSV virus propagation with the objective of studying live-attenuated vaccine, and was compared to the MRC-5 cell line. The total cells per 25-cm² flask were 44.0 ± 2.6 *105 and 41.66 ± 2.08 *105 for MRC-5 and RAZI-HDC, respectively. The maximum cell-specific growth rate of RAZI-HDC was 316.66 ± 20.81, while that of MRC-5 was only 340 ± 26.45. The maximum cell division number of RAZI-HDC was 1.24 ± 0.07, in comparison to the MRC-5, with a maximum cell division number of 1.32 ± 0.08. Both cell substrates achieved maximum cell density five days after the initiation of the culture. The complete cytopathic effect of RSV in RAZI-HDC-RAZI-HDC was observed after four days, indicating the sensitivity of these cells to RSV. The virus productivity in RAZI-HDC cells (2.4685) was not significantly different from that in MRC-5 cells (2.5), as determined by a two-tailed t-test (p=0.78). The results indicated that both cell substrates function similarly in terms of RSV propagation. It is noteworthy that diploid cell lines, such as MRC-5 and RAZI-HDC, are particularly well-suited for vaccine manufacturing. This is primarily due to their human origin and the stability of their karyotype. This is a significant advantage, as it helps ensure the safety of the final vaccine product if these cells are used to make viral vaccines that require virus amplification. The study further assessed the replication capacity of the RAZI-HDC cell line and found it to be equivalent to that of the MRC-5 cell line. Specifically, the maximum virus productivity in RAZI-HDC cells (2.4685 log TCID50/mL) was not significantly different from that in MRC-5 cells (2.5 log TCID50/mL), as determined by statistical analysis. The utilization of a locally developed cell line such as RAZI-HDC has the potential to be more cost-effective in comparison to relying on imported cell substrates.