alireza gholami

Gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a peptide involved in mammals’ fertility and may also serve as a candidate target for cancer immunotherapy. Immunonsterilization is known as a proper alternative to surgical castration and has been advocated by European countries in recent years. Immunization with GnRH can effectively inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins and cause infertility in both genders of mammals. In this study, a recombinant trimer of GnRH is designed and expressed in a prokaryotic system.  A construct containing GnRH trimer was designed and prepared using gene synthesis. A cloning site was embedded and connected to the GnRH using a linker to further clone any protein of interest. The construct was subcloned into a pET-32a+ plasmid vector. The recombinant vector was transferred to BL21, an Escherichia coli strain, and the expression was induced using isopropyl β- d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The cell lysate was prepared using lysis buffer and nickel affinity chromatography purification. The GnRH expression was evaluated using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after protein purification. The cloning was verified using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing the recombinant vector. The result of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis verified the recombinant protein’s expression and the purification process’s function. The GnRH was properly cloned and expressed in BL21. The results also verified the reliability of the purification process. The construct design allows the researchers to express another peptide sequence attached to the GnRH using the embedded linker to improve the stability and antigenicity. A stable recombinant GnRH would be applied in immunocastration and cancer immunotherapies.

There are several spaces in cities that are never used, although citizens are allowed to be in them. It seems that these spaces are invisible and do not exist. The existence of these spaces can be caused by various factors, such as weakness in planning and design, or functional and physical limitations. By ignoring them, social and safety issues will arise over time and also they can turn into a weakness for the city. This is despite the fact that many of these spaces have the potential to turn into quality places. This article which is a type of field research, describes the experience of Hamsaakht Urban Activists Society-NGO in revitalizing an urban void adjacent to Sobhani Square in Shiraz, Iran to find how activists and non-governmental organizations can be effective in revitalizing urban voids, with the participation of users, and what challenges do they face in this way? And what effects will the revitalization of this urban void have on other similar spaces in the neighborhood? The current research methodology involves field research using the observation technique of sample members. Activists encourage residents to participate and develop a sensitivity towards the space, to improve their sense of belonging. The aim is to determine whether meaningful physical changes will occur in this place compared to other similar spaces in the Maba’as residential complex and what effects these changes will have on other spaces. The research results indicate that despite the success of tactical urbanism methods, users were hesitant to actively participate in costs and social capital was inadequate due to a lack of trust in city authorities and a generalization to other urban activists. Additionally, a weak sense of belonging was observed due to rental and instable accommodation. However, the project had a positive impact on the municipality and board members of the Maba’as residential complex, and steps have been taken to revitalize similar urban voids.

Applying heat sinks as extended surfaces plays a significant role in cooling various industrial equipment. This study investigates the impact of heat transfer parameters of fins, such as practical geometry, wall heat flux, coolant velocity, and the angle at which the coolant flow interacts with the fin. The geometry of the fins includes rectangular and triangular shapes, with a heat flux range of approximately 4.6-18.5 kW/m2, coolant velocities ranging from 1-2 m/s, and angles of 0º, 45º, and 90º between the fin position and cooling flow direction. Aluminum, known for its high conductivity, was chosen as the material for the fin structure, with air serving as the primary cooling flow. The study found that triangular fins exhibited a higher convective heat transfer rate than rectangular fins, approximately 47.4% higher on average across all conditions. However, rectangular fins dissipated heat from the wall more effectively. Pressure drop was assessed by comparing cooling flow velocities associated with each fin in various positions. Results revealed that the sharp tip of triangular fins reduced the vorticity effect, increased average flow velocity, and decreased pressure drop. Additionally, rectangular fins were approximately 10.4% more efficient on average than triangular fins. The study also concluded that the impact angle had a negligible effect on the efficiency of both rectangular and triangular fins.

 Rabies is a usually fatal viral zoonotic and preventable disease. The efficacy and safety of animal rabies vaccination made in permanent BHK-21 cell culture have been proven over a long period of use. By increasing the yield of cells and viruses, the efficacy of the vaccine can be increased.

 The objective of this study was to optimize and maximize the output of a rabies vaccine made on BHK cells in a bioreactor.

 This study examined the impacts of independent parameters, such as pH, temperature, cell density, and dissolved oxygen (DO), on rabies virus strain PV-PARIS yield for a central composite design. To achieve high viral production, this study used the central composite approach to optimize cell development.

 The findings showed that BHK-21 cells were grown under the ideal conditions of pH 7.21, temperature 35.05ºC, 68.75% for DO, and 2.30 × 106 cell/mL of cell density to produce high titers of rabies virus (4.7 × 107 plaque-forming unit [PFU]/mL). High correlation coefficients (0.927) validated that the predicted model was well-fitted with the data, and the statistical analysis of the collected data indicated that the experimental data and predicted model were well-matched. The accuracy of this model’s predictions was correlated with values of adjusted R-squared (R2Adj) and predicted R-squared (R2Pred).

 These upgrades lead to a more reliable and economical procedure that makes industrialization and commercialization easier.

In this study, the numerical investigation is carried out for fin heat transfer used in internal combustion engines in drones, cars, and motorcycles, while the geometry, configuration, cooling flow regime, and priority of using each of them was studied at different conditions. Also, introduction of geometry, boundary condition and meshing was done by GAMBIT and the numerical solution was done by FLUENT while the K-ω was preferred turbulent model. It found that the heat transfer of singular and group fins was dependent on the flow behavior on the surface and its penetration respectively. Also, the average heat transfer coefficient in convex parabolic fin against the laminar and turbulent flow was 336 and 45.24 percent more than rectangular and 82.8 and 9.4 percent more than triangular, respectively, while its volume was less than 88.77 and 77.55 percent in comparison with rectangular and triangular respectively. So this fin can be considered in the cooling of light equipment engines. Also, the results of material effects on parabolic fin heat transfer showed a change of conductivity could be effective only for tall fins.

Rabies is fatal encephalitis, i.e., preventable by appropriate vaccination. Reverse genetics has proved promising for manipulating the rabies virus immunological characteristics. The insertion or deletion of a gene from the rabies genome could render specific functions to the rabies virus. 

A multiple cloning site including 111 nucleotides long harboring 10 single-cut restriction sites have been designed. The designed fragment was cloned between the G and L genes of the rabies virus genome. The recombinant rabies virus was rescued, and its infectivity was confirmed in the BHK-21 cell line. The recombinant virus propagation was compared with the initial rabies virus strain. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism.

The cloning and localization of the multiple cloning site were verified by nucleotide sequencing. The recombinant virus properly propagated and rescued in the BHK-21 cell line. Comparing the recombinant virus with the initial rabies virus has shown that both viruses had similar functionality and propagation rate.

The recombinant virus obtained in the present study could facilitate further cloning experiments. Examples include constructing a marker virus, carrying green fluorescent protein to be used either in rabies immunity assays or tracking the virus infection in relevant tissues.

Rabies is almost always fatal but entirely preventable through proper vaccination. Inadequacy of costly high-quality cell culture vaccines is sometimes a bottleneck for expanded rabies control plans. Reverse genetics along with other molecular biology means are trying to improve the immunogenicity and yield of rabies vaccine products.

An additional glycoprotein gene of the rabies virus PV strain was inserted between the glycoprotein and polymerase genes of the virus. The viral proteins were expressed at the T7BHK cell line to rescue the recombinant virus.

The recombinant virus containing two consecutive glycoprotein genes was rescued from T7BHK cells. The virus particles were functional and successfully infected the permissive BSR cell line.

The new virus strain with an additive copy of the glycoprotein gene has a good potential to be utilized in different studies, including cell biology and immunological properties of the rabies virus. In this study, the recombinant rabies virus was successfully rescued from cell culture which would pave the way for further investigations on this virus.

Among Iranian venomous snakes, the most important groups causing envenomation are Naja Naja Oxiana, Echis,Vipera albicornuta, Vipera  latifii Mertens, pseudocerastes  peersicus and Vipera lebetina. Many researchers believe natural snake venom toxins are containing several pharmacologically active components  that could be of  potential therapeutic  value. In the  past, studies have  shown that  some neurotoxic fractions of snake  venom interfere with some infectious and non-infectious diseases such as cancer. we purified snake venom of V. lebetina by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) using Sephacryl S-200 hr column. The fractions collected and evaluated by SDS-PAGE analysis.  The cytotoxicity effect of crude venom and fractions on Vero cells were demonstrated using 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and adhesion assay. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Macrovipera  lebetina (one of the native snakes of many parts of iran) , in order to create an appropriate animal cell culture model to evaluate the effects of protein complexes on diseases such as viral infections.

In this study, we perform experimental and analytical investigations of corrosion effects on heat transfer in a kettle heat exchanger. In this heat exchanger, the oil is flown inside the tube and the water is flown inside the shell, which is their duty to convert water to superheat steam. First, the causes of corrosion in the heat exchanger are analyzed using optical and electronic microscopes and also metallographic experiments, that tube sintered ferrite, and perlite structure and grain size does not change in the surface crust boundary which illustrates the basic metal does not trigger the reaction. XRD and XRF experiments on the results of sediments in the external scale of silicate, calcium, and phosphorus tubes show that because of poor heat transfer, the feed water quality, the concentration of oxygen cells is made in that case sub-sediment corrosion which is the subset of SCC corrosion. This phenomenon reduces the outside of the tube thickness from 2.11 mm to 1.44 mm. Corrosion deposits in the outside surface of the tube cause a reduction in the heat transfer rate, which results in a hot spot, increasing tube oxidation intensity and corrosion. This issue exactly matches with a gradual reduction in the output heat exchanger vapor pressure during operation which is determined experimentally. MATLAB software coding is the relationship between sediment mass and sediment heat resistance. The results illustrate that by passing time, the sediment mass and sediment heat and at the end of this instance are matched with experimental results.

Polarization and social duality is a complex phenomenon that has affected large cities and contemporary metropolises. This phenomenon has emerged under the capitalist system influence and the centralist policies of governments. Iranian cities have been affected by this phenomenon due to peripheral and quasi-capitalist policies. It have caused the country's metropolises to become a heterogeneous city in terms of social environment due to increasing social and economic distance and unequal distribution of facilities and services. As a result, urban society is deeply polarized. Thus, economic polarization and social polarization have intensified. In the meantime, the metropolis of Isfahan has not been deprived of this economic and social polarization. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development (2019), about 23.35% of population, live in dysfunctional textures with rural backgrounds, informal settlement, middle contexts and historically dysfunctional textures, which is equivalent to 436,453 people. These textures have prominent characteristics such as inefficient infrastructure, low services, low-strength buildings, high social damage, etc. Also, according to the reports of the Parliamentary Research Center, the poverty rate of this city has been announced as 11.95%. In fact, the clustering of social differentiation and thus the formation of social polarization has intensified and class distance and duality in urban space have become geographical and spatial. Continuation of this situation will cause the metropolis of Isfahan to be swallowed up by the marginalized and poor population. If no precautionary measures are taken, the text of the city will soon be digested in the stomachs of the suburbs and its poor. Accordingly, the aim of the present study is zoning and spatial analysis of social polarization at the level of statistical blocks of Isfahan metropolis.

The present article is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of method. The statistical population of this research is the statistical blocks of Isfahan metropolis in 2016. The research data has prepared from the statistical blocks (2016) of the Statistics Center of Iran. AHP and Topsis models have been used to data analysis, compilation of indicators and final social polarization index extraction. Also, exploratory methods, ie Hotspot model, have been used for measurement of cluster or random social polarization in Isfahan metropolis. Arc / GIS software has been used for indexing and mapping.

Findings has show that major indicators have the greatest impact on social polarization in the city of Isfahan, which are literacy, household in housing unit, marital status, women's employment and place of birth. The impact coefficients of these indicators are 0.299, 0.254, 0.166, 0.147 and 0.134, respectively. Also, the situation of neighborhoods in terms of social polarization indicators is as follows: 24 neighborhoods (12.5%) good quality, 57 neighborhoods (29.69%) relatively good quality, 46 neighborhoods (23.96%) average, 40 neighborhoods ( 20.8%) relatively unsuitable and finally 25 neighborhoods equivalent to 13% unsuitable. In fact, more than 33% of the city's neighborhoods are socially unacceptable. Therefore, most of the neighborhoods of Isfahan metropolis are in average and unfavorable condition (more than 55% in total) and a kind of social differentiation has been created in this city in terms of space. As a result, social polarization in the metropolis has found a geographical or spatial dimension.Neighborhoods with higher than average values are located in the center and to some extent in the north of the city and neighborhoods with lower than average values are located in the east of Isfahan metropolis.

According to the results of the present study, about 33% of neighborhoods in the metropolis of Isfahan are in poor condition in terms of social indicators and more than 55% of neighborhoods in this city are average and unsuitable. Thus, the city is faced with a kind of social differentiation, social differentiation and duality, which eventually has manifests itself in the form of social polarization. In fact, social polarization has manifested itself spatially. Thus, the city is faced with a kind of social differentiation, social differentiation and duality, which eventually manifests itself in the form of social polarization. In fact, social polarization has manifested itself spatially.In fact, social polarization has emerged as a geographical manifestation of social inequality and differentiation. It also means unbalanced and unbalanced distribution of a set of social indicators in the metropolis of Isfahan. So that, the results of spatial analysis have confirmed the inequality and social differentiation in the metropolis of Isfahan. In fact, the center and the northern part of Isfahan are in a favorable situation in terms of social indicators, and in contrast, the eastern neighborhoods are located in an unfavorable situation. The results of the present study are consistent with the background. According to the results of research by Lustig et al. (2013), Mukhopadhyay & Urzainqui (2018) and Tarmizi et al. (2014), the existence of social inequality, spatial and social differentiation, geographical gap and social polarization has confirmed in Latin American cities, including Brazil, Approved in Argentina, Mexico and Asian cities such as India and Malaysia. Also, the results of the researches of Gholamipour and Kalantari (2017), Latifi and Babagoli (2015) and Safarloui et al. (2014) have confirmed the duality and spatial inequality in the cities of Mahshahr, Tehran and Urmia.

The mechanisms of rabies evasion and immunological interactions with the host defense have not been completely elucidated. Here, we evaluated the dynamic changes in the number of astrocytes, microglial and neuronal cells in the brain following intramuscular (IM) and intracerebral (IC) inoculations of street rabies virus (SRV). The SRV isolated from a jackal and CVS-11 were used to establish infection in NMRI-female mice. The number of astrocytes (by expression of GFAP), microglial (by Iba1), and neuronal cells (by MAP-2) in the brain following IM and IC inoculations of SRV were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and H & E staining 7 to 30 days post-infection. Increased numbers of astrocytes and microglial cells in dead mice infected by SRV via both IC and IM routes were recorded. The number of neuronal cells in surviving mice was decreased only in IC-infected mice, while in the dead group, this number was decreased by both routes.The risk of death in SRV-infected mice was approximately 3 times higher than in the CVS-11 group. In IC-inoculated mice, viral dilution was the only influential factor in mortality, while the type of strain demonstrated a significant impact on the mortality rate in IM inoculations. Our results suggested that microglial cells and their inflammatory cytokines may not contribute to the neuroprotection and recovery in surviving mice following intracerebral inoculation of SRV. An unexpected decrease in MAP2 expression via intramuscular inoculation indicates the imbalance in the integrity and stability of neuronal cytoskeleton which aggravates rabies infection.

Isfahan province has been recognized as the most industrialized province in the country for the past decade and has therefore become one of the most migrant provinces in the country. This irregular and uncontrolled migration has had undesirable consequences, including the suburbanization and the formation of slums. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study is spatial analysis and zoning of slums of Isfahan metropolitan area based on physical indicators for better planning for organizing, empowering and enhancing their quality of life. This study is an applied one and its method is descriptive-analytical. The research data were obtained from Statistical Blocks of Iran Statistical Center (2016). Statistical methods used for data analysis include AHP, Topsis and Hotspot. Based on finding, the indexes of age of the building (246%), building materials (0.192), and facilities (0.181) had a greater impact on the formation of poverty zones in the Isfahan metropolitan area. Building age indicators whit (246%) and number of room’s whit (096%) respectively, have the highest and lowest impact coefficients. Based on the final index of poverty status in terms of physical indices, 30 neighborhoods (15.16%) are of good quality, 35 neighborhoods (18.23%) are of relatively poor quality, 38 neighborhoods (19.79%) are in moderate condition, 45 neighborhoods. (23.44%) are in poor condition and finally 22 neighborhoods (11.46%) are in poor condition. In fact, about 35% of Isfahan metropolitan areas are in poor condition. The results indicate that neighborhoods with higher than average values are located in the center and partly south of the city and neighborhoods with lower than average values are located east of the metropolitan area of Isfahan.

Rabies is zoonotic acute encephalitis that continuously kills thousands of people annually with almost 100 percent fatality. In the present study, apoptosis was investigated in BHK- 21 cell lines infected by rabies virus. Apoptotic cells are identified by fragmented and dense chromatin masses and evaluated by microscopic and statistical methods. In vitro apoptosis was time and dose-dependent in 24 to 72 hours of incubation in BHK-21cell lines; however, a marked reduction in the number of apoptotic cells was observed, especially at the lowest concentrations of F4 and F5 fractions, obtained by FPLC of crude Naja naja oxiana venom. The number of infected apoptotic cells in the presence of different concentrations of two fractions F4 (40, 30 and 20μg/ml) and F5 (40, 25 and 15μg/ml) of Caspian cobra venom are obtained by Hoechst staining. According to the obtained results, by decreasing the concentrations of F4 and F5 fractions, the apoptotic indices were decreased in each incubation time. The F5 fraction in comparison with F4 at the same incubation times (24, 48 and 72h) showed more effective on apoptosis of infected cells. The highest percentages (66.57% and 65.43%) of apoptotic cells which were recorded after 48 and 72 hours belong to 40μg/ml of F5 fraction respectively. Our observations have shown that the use of a specific fraction (F5) of cobra venom, in an efficient concentration and time can cause apoptosis of rabies-infected cells, so it can be hoped that this toxic fraction will be a candidate in treatment of Rabies virus proliferation.

Rabies is a deadly zoonotic disease that is caused by the rabies virus. The virus can infect and disrupt the central nervous system of a rabid patient. The rabies virus is a neurotropic single stranded RNA virus. Glycoprotein (G) is the most important protein that binds to the cellular receptors and also induces an immune response against the virus in the host. Using reverse genetics technology, the glycoprotein gene could be modified and a virus with higher immunogenicity or lower pathogenicity.

In this study, we designed a mutation in the sequence of glycoprotein gene using a software, on the main antigenic site II of the Pasteur virus strain at the position of 42-34 amino acids. Agene fragment in the cloning vector containing the rabies virus genome was replaced by the synthesized construct containing the altered gene by two restricted enzymes, and then cloned. The T7-BHK cell under the T7 phage promoter control was transfected to express the glycoprotein gene, along with the construct and vectors expressing the N, P, and L genes of the rabies virus as well as the full genome. After expressing and confirming viral genes, it was cultured and amplified in BSR cell.

after cloning and expression of the recombinant virus in the target cell, the vector containing the mutated gene led to the rescue of the recombinant virus. The recombinant virus cultured and propagated in the BSR cells, then the genome was extracted and finally confirmed by sequencing.

The rescued recombinant virus can be used for research studies or in the vaccines manufacturing, provide that the antigenicity is maintained or increased.

The role of laboratory parameters in screening of COVID-19 cases has not been definitely estab-lished. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of laboratory parameters in predicting cases with positiveRT-PCR for COVID-19.

This diagnostic accuracy study was conducted on suspected COVID-19 pa-tients, who presented to Behpooyan Clinic Medical center in Tehran (Iran) from 22 February to 14 March, 2020.Patients were divided into two groups based on the results of real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chainreaction (RT-PCR) for COVID-19, and the accuracy of different laboratory parameters in predicting cases withpositive RT-PCR was evaluated using area under the ROC curve (AUC).

Two hundred cases with themean age of 41.3±14.6 (range: 19-78) years were studied (0.53% male). The result of RT-PCR for COVID-19 waspositive in 70 (35%) cases. Patients with positive RT-PCR had significantly higher neutrophil (NEU) count (p =0.0001), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.04), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p = 0.0001), aspartate amino-transferase (AST) (p = 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p = 0.0001), and Urea (p = 0.001) levels in serum.In addition, patients with positive RT-PCR had lower white blood cell (WBC) count (p = 0.0001) and serum albu-min level (p = 0.0001) compared to others. ALT (AUC = 0.879), CRP (AUC = 0.870), NEU (AUC = 0.858), LDH (AUC= 0.835), and Urea (AUC = 0.835) had very good accuracy in predicting cases with positive RT-PCR for COVID-19,respectively.

Our findings suggest that level of LDH, CRP, ALT and NEU can be used to predict theresult of COVID-19 test. They can help in detection of COVID-19 patients.

Rabies constantly kills 59,000 people annually, mostly in Asia and Africa. Rabies, which is responsible for 99% of human rabies cases, is totally preventable by standard vaccinations. In 2015, a global call for action was made by the World Health Organization, World Organization for Animal Health, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control to join forces toward the elimination of dog-transmitted human rabies by the year 2030. All the tools and protocols to reach that target are readily available, and the feasibility of dog rabies elimination has been proven. Countries should drive the changes needed to engage into this global movement. Certainly, countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region require taking more critical steps to reach the rabies elimination target by 2030. The international awareness campaign of the World Rabies Day is an excellent occasion to assess challenges and opportunities toward rabies elimination.

Up to now, several attenuated measles virus vaccine strains derived from the Edmonston B vaccine consisting of Schwarz/Moraten, Zagreb, and AIK-C have been introduced for the rescue of their relative viruses through reverse genetics. In most studies, the measles virus rescue was done by supplying a cell line that expresses T7 RNA polymerase and measles virus N and P proteins as accessory proteins. The present study aimed to evaluate the rescue efficiency of the recombinant measles virus AIK-C vaccine strain by using a tricistronic expression plasmid. In this study, the rescue of the recombinant measles virus AIK-C vaccine strain was performed by co-transfection of three plasmids, including the cloned antigenomic cDNA of measles virus, a tricistronic expression plasmid that contained T7 RNA polymerase and measles virus N and P genes, and measles virus L polymerase expression plasmid. To increase the rescue efficiency, the transfected HEK-293 cells were co-cultured with Vero cells. As a result, the use of tricistronic expression plasmid that concomitantly encoded three necessary genes for the rescue of the measles virus led to the viral cytopathic effect with high efficacy five days post-transfection. Finally, the co-culture of transfected HEK-293 cells with Vero cells showed a relatively fast induction of viral cytopathic effect.

Routing is one of the oldest methods for calculating output hydrographs. Dynamic wave dynamics is one of the most complex and precise methods of routing, which is accomplished by solving a complete number of Saint Vincent's equations. With regard to the flow hydrograph of a stream as problem information and flow path characteristics, the equations of Saint- Venant and the finite difference method were solved and the input hydrograph was calculated. This method was investigated as a reverse order and its results were compared with laboratory observations. An uncontrolled flow was created and, regardless of the path loss, the laboratory was taken and laboratory data was controlled with the program written for adjustment. Then, using the statistical parameters of the obtained results, it was examined and shown that the created model for calculating the input hydrographs has high accuracy. The results of the reverse routing analysis of the tested hydrograph showed that there is good agreement between the program outputs and experimental observations, which resulted in a relative error of maximum 5% in hydrographs 4 and 5. Also, in this study, increasing the amount of discharge flow increased the error rate, which reached the lowest value in the hydrograph 9. In general, this method has high accuracy for laboratory fluxes less than 40 liters per second.

Thimerosal is used as a preservative in Rabies vaccine. This study aimed at comparing potency and stability of inactivated animal rabies vaccine with and without thimerosal. Therefore, two groups of rabies vaccine were produced. The results indicated that thimerosal has no deleterious effect on the vaccine; furthermore, its elimination did not influence the potency and stability of the vaccine.

Rabies, as the most important zoonotic disease, is transmitted through a bite or scratch by an infected domestic or wild carnivores and bats or contact of open wound with infected saliva. The fluorescent antibody test (FAT) is the "gold standard" diagnostic method for suspected brain samples. For close monitoring of unknown encephalitis, rabies surveillance, and also the limitations for post-mortem diagnosis of rabies in human and performing fast prophylactic measures for other individuals in contact with rabid patients, ante-mortem diagnosis based on molecular methods such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) seems to be more reliable. In this study, we detected 2 positive rabid cases using SYBR Green real-time PCR for the first time in Iran. In this study, 3 saliva samples at intervals up to 6 hours were collected from any of the nine suspected patients with nonspecific symptoms between March 2016 and March 2017. Total RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and real-time PCR were performed along with confirmed negative and positive controls. Then, we tracked the patients for follow-up and understanding of their status. On brain samples of patients who died, FAT and MIT (mouse inoculation test) were performed to obtain definitive results. In this study, the patients were 4 females and 5 males, between 8 and 80 years old from different geographical areas of Iran. The ante-mortem saliva samples of 2 out of nine patients who died were positive by SYBR Green real-time PCR. Positive results of FAT test on these samples confirmed the presence of rabies virus infection in their brains and also the ante-mortem diagnosis results. The results of this study suggest that SYBR Green real-time PCR technique on saliva sample can be used as an applicable method for ante-mortem diagnosis of rabies to avoid infection of other people such as the treating medical staff or family members of the patient

In Iran, 95% of animal bites are attributed to domestic dogs and cats, while one-third of rabies victims are from wildlife. The wolf is one of the primary vectors of wildlife in the country. This study was aimed to assess the impact of wildlife on rabies transmission and to evaluate the efficacy of an oral rabies vaccine (ORV) in the gray wolf (Canis lupus pallipes).
We studied the incidence of wolf attacks by analyzing a 10-year period of data (2000 to 2009) available in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the Veterinary Organization and Pasteur Institute of Iran. In the next step, five captive gray wolves were fed by Raboral V-RG® vaccine baits (Merial®, part of Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany) and monitored for rabies neutralizing antibodies over 20 months by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT).
Our analysis showed that 55% of animal bites occurred in rural areas and the remaining in urban areas. The most rabid wolves were from Fars province in southern Iran. The vaccine baits were palatable for the hungry wolves. Seroconversion with antibodies titers ≥0.5 IU/ml occurred after 12 weeks and maintained for 78 weeks indicating potential protection against rabies after receiving a single ORV bait.
Our results suggested that a single dose of vaccination with V-RG®, though initially designed for foxes and raccoons, can protect the gray wolf against rabies as well.

Achieving justice and balance in rural settlements in the country, calls for review and identifying the resources and facilities in these settlements. Spatial analysis of development, identifies the inequality and deprivation in different areas, then prioritizes the necessary measures to improve the living standards. This study, using 41 different indicators in infrastructure, economical, health-medical, cultural-social and service dimensions, and applying them into Moris and Taxonomy Models, also Changes Coefficient Model for identifying the disparity of indexes; has analyzed the spatial inequality of rural development between the 7 districts of Sahne township in 2011. Results of both models have shown different level of development in districts, and placing them at different levels, so that in both models, Gamasyab district with development Coefficient of 66.60 in Moris Model, and 20.19 in Taxonomy Model, as well as Hor district with Coefficient of development of 20.99 in Moris Model and 87.11 in Taxonomy Model, respectively, show the highest and lowest degree of development. Meanwhile, cultural and Social Indicators with 42.67, and economic indicators with 53.03 score, acquired the lowest and highest variation coefficient. Difference in development coefficient of indicators, proves difference in the level of district development in term of indicators and the necessity to take appropriate approaches to moderate these inequalities. Also, the correlation coefficient between population and number of inhabited villages, with the development coefficients, respectively obtained 0.509 and -0.07, indicating a strong positive correlation between population and District development of districts.

Nowadays, various factors such as collapse of tribal structures and systems, deterioration of grasslands, lack of decent educational system for the children, and shortage of healthcare facilities have caused tribal living extremely challenging. To help avert the process, experts have proposed different approaches among which settlement plan rendered as most appropriate. As a whole, nomad’s settlement fundamentally transforms one of the intrinsic characteristics of nomads that differentiate them from either rural or urban societies for whatever reasons such as political, social or economic development. Talkhab in Ilam province has been a site to tribal settlement plan, which has been conducted by Housing Foundation at to help manage tribal affairs. This article intends to evaluate physical-spatial impacts of the settlement plan in Talkhab as felt by nomads themselves regarding housing, sewage system, pathways and infrastructure and services quality. It also evaluates how the plan affected their livelihood and satisfaction as well as their participation. In order to make the inquiry practical, descriptive-analytic method via field studies including questionnaires, interviews, observations have been used and the results were finally put in SPSS for further statistical analysis. The results suggest that the settled tribe members are generally pleased with the plan including its implementation, allocation, and availability of some services. However, certain issues such as financial support, other infrastructural services (running water, healthcare facilities, sports, religious and commercial facilities), employment, the plan has fallen short of meeting their expectations. A number of guidelines are suggested based on the findings for better realization of the settlement plan. These include better planning of pathways, piping, sewage system, electricity and water services, user participation. More attention should be focused on sustainable ways of livelihood in settlement plans, more efficient financial support through the banking system for an affordable housing and suitable reimbursement policy.

Rabies is an acute viral disease that causes encephalomyelitis in mammals and human. The only way to prevent this disease is through vaccination before or after exposure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of the Pasteur virus (PV) minigenome, using PV strain.
Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) sequence was placed between the designed necessary elements (Hammerhead, HDV ribozyme, 3’ Leader, and 5’ Trailer sequences), which resemble the rabies virus PV strain (PV2061) genome and anti-genome. These constructs were placed between T7 polymerase promoter and T7 polymerase terminator sequences. The accuracy of the minigenome was confirmed by the expression of EGFP using the helper virus in T7-BHK cell line.
The viral necessary elements of positive and negative sense strands were evaluated for the ability of EGFP expression in the presence of the helper virus. While the positive strand showed background results, no EGFP background was observed in the negative strand application.
Establishment of minigenome system does not require advanced biosafety levels. Furthermore, using minigenome system eliminates many potential confounding factors that may be present in coding regions of the genome. Use of the minigenome system is easier and more feasible than the full genome rescue of the virus. This study successfully shows the efficiency of the constructed rabies virus minigenome in expression of inserted gene.

Several investigations revealed that the activation of the innate immune system plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. The innate immune system activation occurs in response to pathogens or tissue injury via pattern-recognition receptors that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The innate immune system triggered by these interactions besides the general responses causes a specific response to pathogen. In addition, this pathogen-specific innate response affects the specificity of the adaptive immune response through directing the differentiation of T-cells into functionally distinct subtypes. Although the mechanism(s) by which different Rabies viruses induce differential immune responses are unknown, recent studies indicate that the consequence of rabies virus infection is dependent upon the rapid stimulation of innate and adaptive immunity. The responses prevent viral entry into the central nervous system (CNS), where it can escape immunity. Laboratory strains that reach the CNS can be cleared and this has obviously happened in individuals with rabies. Thus, during rabies virus infection, pattern-recognition receptors of rabies can be recognized in the periphery and the CNS.
To study these possibilities, the consequence of rabies infection in mice lacking adaptor myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) was demonstrated. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) signals, except for TLR3, activate proinflammatory reaction via the adaptor protein MYD88. Only mice lacking TLR7 displayed a marked mortality compared with MyD88 negative and control mice with deficits in both the development of peripheral immunity and rabies virus clearance from the CNS. The review demonstrated that TLR7 plays a vital role in controlling and directing of immune response against the rabies virus.