Archives of Razi Institute
Volume:76 Issue: 1, Mar 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about rapid change in medical science. The production of new generation vaccines for this disease has surprised even their most optimistic supporters. Not only have these vaccines proven to be effective, but the importance of this disease and pandemic situation also significantly shortened the long-standing process of validating such products. Vaccination is a type of immunotherapy. Researchers have long been looking at vaccines as a possible treatment for cancer (Geynisman et al., 2014). In the same way that vaccines work against infectious diseases, attempts are being made to develop vaccines to identify specific proteins on cancer cells. This helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. Cancer vaccines may help: I) Prevent the growth of cancer cells (Bialkowski et al., 2016), II) Prevent recurrence of cancer (Stanton and Disis, 2015), III) Destroy cancer cells left over from other treatments. The following types of cancer vaccines are being studied: Antigen Vaccines. These vaccines are made from specific proteins or antigens of cancerous cells. Their purpose is to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells (Tagliamonte et al., 2014). Whole-Cell Vaccines. A whole-cell vaccine uses the entire cancer cell, not just a specific molecule (antigen), to generate the vaccine. (Keenan and Jaffee, 2012).Dendritic Cell Vaccines. Dendritic cells help the immune system identify abnormal cells, such as cancerous cells. Dendritic cells are grown with cancer cells in the laboratory to produce the vaccine. The vaccine then stimulates the immune system to attack cancer. (Wang et al., 2014; Mastelic-Gavillet et al., 2019). DNA Vaccines. These vaccines are made from DNA fragments of cancer cells. They can be injected into the body to facilitate immune system cells can better respond and kill cancer cells (Gatti-Mays et al., 2017).Other Types of Cancer Vaccines. such as Anti idiotype vaccines. This vaccine stimulates the body to generate antibodies against cancerous cells. An example of an anti-idiotype antibody is Racotumomab or Vaxira (Cancer, 2016). However, conditions and considerations after Corona does not seem to be the same as before. The current pandemic situation has also led to major changes in the pharmaceutical and Vaccine production process and international protocols. Some of the most critical issues that can accelerate the introduction of cancer vaccines are: 1. Typical drug and vaccine development timeline. A typical vaccine needs 5 to 10 years and sometimes longer to design secure funding, and get approval (Figure 1). Less than 10 percent of new drugs, which are entered in the different phases of clinical trials, are advanced to approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)(Cancer, 2020a). However, now the situation is not normal. Dozens of Covid 19 vaccines are starting clinical trials. Some of them use RNA and DNA technology, which delivers the body with missions to produce its antibodies against the virus. There are already at least 254 therapies and 95 vaccines related to Covid-19 being explored. However, it seems that the experiences gained in this pandemic, and advances in technology, may be effective in shortening the production path of other vaccines and drugs and the process of its approval at the national and international levels in the future. In Figure 2, the time course of production of conventional vaccines in comparison with Covid 19 vaccines (Cancer, 2020b) is shown.2. The introduction of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology into the field of prevention and treatment. Over the past decades, this technology has been considered an excellent alternative to conventional vaccination methods. Proper potency and low side effects, the possibility of fast production and relatively low production cost are its advantages. However, until recently, the instability of this molecule has been a major problem in its application. This research was started many years ago by two companies that played a significant role in developing the first Covid vaccines, so BioNTech and Moderna were able to quickly transfer their experience in the field of Covid vaccine development (Pardi et al., 2018; Moderna, 2020). Figure 3 shows how mRNA vaccines work. Bout Pfizer – BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines were more than 90 % effective in preclinical stages. Millions of doses of these two vaccines are currently being injected into eligible individuals worldwide. 3. Considering the use of artificial intelligence in assessing the effectiveness of vaccines. There are always doubts about the effectiveness of the new drug in treating the disease. Once the vaccine is widely available, we will know more about its effectiveness versus it works under carefully controlled scientific testing conditions. Vaccines will continue to be monitored after use. The data collected helps professionals understand how they work in different groups of people (depending on factors such as age, ethnicity, and people with different health conditions) and also the length of protection provided by the vaccine. Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging field, which reaches everywhere and not only as a beneficial industrial tool but also as a practical tool in medical science and plays a crucial role in developing the computation vision, risk assessment, diagnostic, prognostic, etc. models in the field of medicine (Amisha et al., 2019). According to the wide range of AI applications in the analysis of different types of data, it can be used in vaccine production, safety assessments, clinical and preclinical studies and Covid 19 vaccines adverse reactions (CDC, 2019). Indeed, most cancer vaccines are therapeutic, rather than prophylactic, and seek to stimulate cell-mediated responses, such as those from CTLs, capable of clearing or reducing tumor burden. There are currently FDA-approved products for helping cancer treatment such as BREYANZI, TECARTUS and YESCARTA for lymphoma, IMLYGIC for melanoma, KYMRIAH for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and PROVENGE for prostate cancer. Over the past decade, most of BioNTech's activities have been in the field of cancer vaccine design and production for melanoma (two clinical trials), breast cancer (one clinical trial), and the rest concerning viral and veterinary vaccines (two clinical trials). Also Maderno company has been working on Individualized cancer vaccines (one clinical trials), and vaccines for viral infections such as Zika and Influenza and veterinary vaccines (several clinical trials) (Pardi et al., 2018). Therefore, it can be said, mRNA technology that has been the subject of much research into the treatment of cancer has been shifted and rapidly used to produce and use the Covid 19 vaccine. The current pandemic situation has necessitated the acceleration of Covid 19 vaccines and drugs and national and international protocols for their approval. If the currently produced vaccines can continue to be as successful as the preclinical and early phase studies, these changes and evolution have raised hopes for accelerating the use of these technologies and mechanisms in the field of cancer and other diseases vaccines, including HIV and influenza.

Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium septicum are gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming rods and pathogens for humans and livestock, which are widespread in nature as well as human and animal digestive systems. C. perfringens produces numerous different exoproteins, which are various systems of action. The major C. perfringens toxins include alpha, beta, epsilon, and iota. C. perfringens are classified into five groups (A-E) on the basis of the production of these lethal toxins. Furthermore, toxins secreted from C. septicum include alpha, beta, delta, and gamma. Epsilon and alpha toxins of C. perfringens and C. septicum are the major causes of enterotoxemia and braxy in sheep and goats, respectively. The production of recombinant immunogenic proteins of these bacteria using suitable expression vectors and expression prokaryotic hosts can be a convenient method for the reduction of the costs and production time of clostridial anaerobic vaccines. In the present study, recombinant Escherichia coli strain TOP10 containing pJETεα was used for the evaluation of C. perfringens type D and C. septicum epsilon-alpha fusion protein using different commercial vectors. After the extraction of pJETεα from the recombinant cell, it was digested by NdeI and XhoI restriction enzymes and subcloned into pET22b (+), pET26b (+), and pGEM-B1 expression vectors in E. coli/Rosetta and E. coli/BL21 (DE3). The expression of recombinant fusion toxin was evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting in three different temperatures, various isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) gradients, and different times using pGEMεα, pET22εα, and pET26εα vectors in E. coli/Rosetta and E. coli/BL21 (DE3). According to the obtained results, recombinant E. coli/Rosetta/pET22εα showed better expression at a temperature of 37°C after 6 h of induction by IPTG.

On 14 November 2016, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPA) was reported from a commercial layer farm located in Malard, Tehran Province, Iran. This study aimed to investigate the HPAI H5N8 outbreaks in Iran. The questionnaire was prepared and completed through interviews with farm owners or field observations at the time of disease onset from November 2016 to February 2017. The HPAI H5N8 infection was confirmed in 30 different locations including 10 villages (33.3%), nine-layer farms (33%), two broiler breeder farms (6.67%), one layer breeder farm (3.3%), one turkey farm (3.3%), one partridge farm (3.3%), five national parks (16.7%), and one wetland (3.3%) in 12 provinces of Iran. The cumulative incidence rates of disease in villages, layer farms, broiler breeder farms, layer breeder farms, partridge farms, and turkey farms were 0.02%, 0.87%, 0.55%, 6.25%, 7.14%, and 0.69%, respectively. The findings reflect that among the investigated variables at infected locations, new birds entering the home in villages, live bird markets, inappropriate biosecurity conditions, transporting manure during the breeding period, close proximity of a common road to infected farms, and poultry movement inside (pullet) and outside were the most frequently observed possible risk factors for these outbreaks. In conclusion, attention should be focused on the study of the dynamics and movements of domestic poultry, investigation and modification of the structure of industrial poultry farms, training for all related people, enhancement of passive surveillance, an increase in biosecurity, raising the awareness of the authorities on the importance of the infection, and provision of the required credits and facilities.

Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral infection affecting many species of birds that can spread fast between poultry houses and cause a heavy economic burden on the poultry industry all around the world. Fusion and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein are important in the pathogenesis of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The HN protein is a critical viral protein with multiple functions and plays a key role in the formation of the virulence of NDV. Head of HN protein is responsible for receptor binding, neuraminidase activity. This study aimed to investigate the sequence homology of hemagglutinin-neuraminidase of two NDV isolates sampled from infected farms in Iran. The samples were collected from flocks that had been vaccinated by both types of live and killed vaccines for NDV. After isolation of NDV, the viruses were subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using two pairs of specific primers designed for the HN gene to amplify the complete HN gene (1730bp). Afterward, the PCR products were sequenced and analyzed by phylogenetic tree construction software. Based on the analysis, substantial sequence homology among Iranian isolates is within the range of 97.1-100%. Moreover, the sequence homology searching revealed a level of similarity between HN sequences of Iranian isolates and the HN sequences from other countries, particularly Asian ones. For instance, a high homology ratio (95.34%) was found between Iranian isolates and the sequences registered on online molecular databases from China. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the NDV isolates belong to the VIId genotype. Finally, it can be concluded that monitoring the circulation of NDVs among poultry and other birds can help to obtain an insight into the evolution of NDVs and control of panzootic viruses in the future.

Infertility has recently become a growing social and economic world problem. Genital mycoplasmas, such as Mycoplasma hominis and M. genitalium, are most frequently associated with several adverse effects on men’s fertility. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of M. hominis and M. genitalium in the semen samples in thenortheast of Iran. During thiscross-sectional study from February to May, 2018, 100 semen samples were collected from 100 infertile men in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi province, northeast of Iran. The presence of M. hominis and M. genitalium was detected by cultivation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and Multiplex PCR assays. The colony of mycoplasma was confirmed by Diene’s stain; moreover, arginine hydrolysis, glucose, and urea utilization were evaluated. The following semen indices were analyzed according to World Health Organization guidelines for semen analysis: color, volume, appearance, liquefaction, viscosity, concentration, pH, leukocyte concentration, progressive motility, morphological normality, motile sperm concentration, functional sperm concentration, sperm motility index, and functional sperm. The gene of 16SrRNA (GPO1& MGSO primers) was used as the target gene of the Mycoplasma genus in PCR assay. Multiplex-PCR was performed with a specific primer for conserved regions in the 16SrRNA gene for M. hominis (RNAH1& RNAH2 primers) and the 140-kDa Adhesion Protein Gene for M. genitalium (MG1 & MG2 primers).According to the results,9 (9%) samples were PCR-positive for Mycoplasma spp, while there were 7 (7%) cases isolated by cultivation. M. hominis was detected in 8 (8%) samples by Multiplex PCR, while there was no evidence for M. genitalium. The mean age scores of all infertile and infected men were obtained at 31 and 30 years, respectively. The study could not show any statistical correlation between mycoplasma infection and abnormal semen parameters. The heterogeneity of mycoplasma prevalence in the reports can be ascribed to differences in geographic areas, the sensitivity of the identification method, condition of the group (fertile/infertile), sample size, and operator proficiency. Various results have been reported in numerous studies conducted on the relationship between mycoplasma infection and abnormal semen parameters.

Brucellosis is recognized as a major public health concern leading to critical economic losses in livestock animals. The present study assessed Brucella spp. isolated from aborted ovine and caprine fetuses in different parts of Iran between 2016 and 2019. It used classic and molecular methods in order to determine the Brucella species carrying higher risks of abortion complications in these animals. A total of 189 samples from 35 cases/case series from milk (16 sheep, and 8 goats), 19 abomasum content (sheep), and 146 aborted fetuses (116 sheep, and 30 goats) were bacteriologically examined. Subsequently, the resultant Brucella isolates were further characterized by phenotypic and molecular approaches. The multiplex Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Bruce-ladder) and IS711-based PCR were performed on all the extracted DNA to evaluate the presence of Brucella spp. As suggested by the obtained results, all recovered isolates from ovine and caprine abortion samples were either B. melitensis or B. abortus. An issue of concern was the implication of B. melitensis vaccine strain Rev1 in a small portion of sheep and goat abortion cases. Despite the recent B. abortus burden in ovine, aborted cases were predominantly associated with B. melitensis infections in both ovine and caprine, and B. melitensis biovar 1 was responsible for the majority of studied cases. These data and the techniques implemented in the present study can shed light on the level of implication of different Brucella species in ovine and caprine abortion in Iran. The present study identified Brucella agents responsible for abortion in small ruminants at the biovar level. Therefore, it provides precious information for future control programs and vaccination strategies in Middle Eastern regions.

Mycoplasma agalactiae (M. agalactiae) is known as the main etiological agent of contagious agalactia (CA). The CA is a disease affecting dairy sheep and goats, the main characteristics of which include keratoconjunctivitis, arthritis, and mastitis. This pathogen results in milk production reduction and suppression, thereby leading to serious economic loss. In the present study, 125 sheep and goat samples were collected from 15 provinces of Iran. Cultural and molecular methods were used for sample characterization. After extracting genomic DNAs using the phenol/chloroform method, the PCR technique was employed to detect Mycoplasma genus in 163bp fragment of 16S rRNA gene (M-PCR) and M. agalactiae in 800bp fragment of conserve and specific P30 lipoprotein gene (P30-PCR) in cultural and clinical samples. Finally, to validate the experimental approach, a 375 bp amplicon of P80 lipoprotein was amplified using the MA-PCR. Out of 125 samples under investigation, 43 cases were positive, and Mycoplasma colonies were observed in the pleuropneumonia-like organisms agar culture. Based on the results of the M-PCR method, 61 specimens (out of 125 samples) were scored positive for Mycoplasma presence. Furthermore, 20 samples were positive according to the P30-PCR data. It should be mentioned that the MA-PCR was performed based on the P80 gene on 125 total samples to furtherverify the results for M.agalactiae detection. Based on the obtained data, P30 and P80 genes were presented and amplified in all Iranian M. agalactiae isolates (n=20). Our results indicated that the P30 gene was conserved and specific to all Iranian M. agalactiae isolates and this new P30-PCR method (as an MA-PCR technique) might be useful in the detection of this pathogen.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and early detection of hypodermosis in goats by the investigation of Przhevalskiana larvae and sera collected from the infested animals. This study was conducted in Lorestan province, located in the South-West of Iran, from April 2017 up to April 2018. A total of 3350 goats slaughtered in Lorestan abattoirs were investigated by clinical-parasitological examinations in different periods. The larvae were collected from the back and flank regions of the slaughtered goats. The number of infested animals, gender and age, number of maggots present on the body of each animal, location, and larval stage of warble flies were recorded in this study. To detect an infestation in the early period, a total of 150 blood samples were randomly collected from the field animals in Lorestan, Iran. The morphological findings showed that out of 3350 goats examined, 706 (21.07%) goats were infested. Furthermore, three species of Przhevalskiana, including P. Silenus (n=726, 50.07%), P.crossii (n=440, 30.43%), and P. aegagri (n=284, 19.59%) were recognized as the causative agents of goat hypodermosis in this province. No significant difference was observed between genders and/or among the age groups (P>0.05). The anti-Przhevalskiana antibodies in the serum samples were detected using ELISA from August up to mid-September (summer). Clinical diagnosis of infestation was usually performed from late October until mid-March (winter) by visual observations and direct palpation of warbles in the back and flank regions of the animals. It could be concluded that the use of ELISA can help to detect hypodermosis among goats in the early stages.

Theileriosis is one of the most important diseases in tropical and subtropical regions and leads to annual economic losses, such as the reduction of dairy products and casualties. Although the clinical form of bovine theileriosis has been observed in Afghanistan, to the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive study has been conducted on this issue. This molecular survey was performed to identify Theileria annulata and tick vectors in dairy cattle in the Herat area, Afghanistan, from June 2015-September 2016. A total of 100 dairy cattle were clinically examined and their blood smears, EDTA blood samples, and ixodid ticks were collected. The blood samples were transported to the laboratory, followed by the preparation of the blood smears and staining with the Giemsa method. The collected ticks were identified at the species (spp) level using the identification key and were then separated into 70 tick pools according to their species. Subsequently, the salivary glands were dissected out in 0.85% saline under a stereomicroscope. The DNA of blood and salivary glands was extracted using a commercial kit and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The ring form of Theileria spp infection was observed in 22 (22%) of blood smears, while 74% of blood samples were T. annulata positive using PCR. Among the collected ticks, the numbers of male and female ticks were obtained at 219 and 130 ticks, respectively. The frequency of tick spp was rated in descending order as Hyalomma annatolicum (73.9%), Hyalomma excavatum (22.3%), Hyalomma nymph spp (12%), Hyalomma marginatum (1.7%), Hyalomma asiaticum (1.1%), and Hyalomma rufipes (0.75%). The PCR results showed that seven pools belonging to salivary glands of H. anatolicum were infected with T. annulata. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that T. annulata had a high frequency in dairy cattle and H. anatoloicum was also identified, such as the vectors of T. annulata in the Herat area, Afghanistan.

Mushrooms are cosmopolitan organisms living on different substrates and have different pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects thanks to many bioactive compounds. Edible and medicinal higher fungi have been used by humankind for millennia. They are collected and used directly not only for their nutritional values as a main source of food or as a part of a regular diet but also for their medicinal purpose as a source of powerful new bioactive compounds. Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory functions and therefore lipid-lowering effects correlate with antiatherogenic effects. This study determined the total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant capacity (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity, and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Stereum hirsutum (Willd.) Pers. Moreover, the effects on atherosclerosis are discussed according to the antioxidant activity of the mushroom. The TAS, TOS, and OSI values of S. hirsutum were determined using Rel Assay kits. According to the results, the TAS, TOS, and OSI values were determined at 5.289±0.113 mmol/L, 20.540±0.416 μmol/L, and 0.389±0.012. Furthermore, free radical scavenging activity was determined by the DPPH method. The ethanol (EtOH) extracts of S. hirsutum showed higher DPPH activity than methanol extracts. The EtOH extracts at a concentration of 2 mg/mL showed a DPPH inhibition of 45.84±0.81%. Antimicrobial activities were tested on 9 standard bacterial and fungal strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus MRSA, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Candida albicans, C. krusei,and C. glabrata using a modified agar dilution method. Extracts showed high activity against S. aureus, S. aureus MRSA, and A.baumannii. In conclusion, it was suggested that S. hirsutum can be used as a natural source related to the effects on atherosclerosis due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Chemotherapy is the main approach for the treatment of cancer; however, it often causes unpleasant oxidative damages. Therefore, the development of an effective alternative/complementary therapy with improved tumor suppression efficiency and lower adverse effects is highly required. Recently, it has been shown that Cyrtopodion scabrum extract (CsE) is an effective and selective tumor suppressor medicine. The present study investigated the antioxidant activity of Cyrtopodion scabrum homogenate (CsH) and CsE and their effects on attenuating 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced liver dysfunction in rats. A total of 60 male rats (weight: 200-220 g) were divided into six groups and treated for 14 days. The control (group I) and 5-FU (group II) groups received distilled water and 5-FU, respectively. The other four groups were orally administered with CsE, CsH, CsE+5-FU, and CsH+5-FU (groups III to VI), respectively by gavages based on a daily schedule. The 5-FU-induced oxidative damage was evaluated by changes in the weight and food and water intake during the treatment and antioxidant parameters in the liver and serum of the treated rats. The obtained data indicated that the administration of CsH and CsE significantly improved liver function and defense system of antioxidants by attenuating the levels or activities of malondialdehyde, superoxide anion, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase and decrease of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione, total protein, and albumin in the liver and serum, induced by 5-FU treatment. The obtained data of the current study suggested that CsH and CsE play a protective role in the imbalance elicited by 5-FU and can be used as alternative/complementary supplements with 5-FU to reduce oxidative damages which is the consequence of reactive oxygen species production in cancerous patients.

The role of oxidative stress in female fertility is a compelling area for research. According to traditional medicine, Cichorium intybus, known as Kasni, is believed to improve fertility. For this purpose, the effects of C. intybus distillate (CI) on blood antioxidant status were assessed in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced toxicity. The rats were assigned to four experimental groups of Control, CI, CCl4, and CI+CCl410 (n=10 in each group). The level of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase (CAT), as well as lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione (GSH) level, were measured in serum samples. In the second part of the study, the antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition of the hydrodistillate of C. intybus aerial parts were determined by DPPH radical scavenging and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, respectively. The administration of CCl4 decreased the enzyme activities of GPx, GR, and CAT which were significantly ameliorated after CI administration. The decreased level of serum GSH following CCl4 administration was not considerably elevated in the CI+CCl4 group. Furthermore, the level of malondialdehyde in the serum of CI+CCl4 rats was decreased, compared to the CCl4 group. The main compositions of the essential oil from the C. intybus distillate were the antioxidants of Pulegone (8.10%), Piperitenone (7.68%), dihydroactinidiolide (5.0%), and carvone (4.18%). The antioxidant activity of the distillate was obtained at 75µg/l using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) test. In general, the results of the present study demonstrated that C. intybus distillate, as a safe herbal remedy, can attenuate CCl4-induced oxidative damages via boosting the endogenous antioxidant defense system.

Aflatoxins (AFs) released by fungi are observed in the cow’s milk even after pasteurization. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) has particularly an incredible clinical significance, as a critical carcinogenic agent for humans. Several strategies have been implemented for lowering the AFM1 amount, such as the employment of probiotics, particularly lactobacilli or lactic acid bacteria (LAB). However, this strategy has not been applied routinely until today. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three LABs on the reduction of AFM1 in traditional milk and cheese samples. In total, 85 milk (n=45) and cheese (n=40) samples were obtained from the open markets of Shiraz, Iran, from February to June 2018. Additionally, the AFM1 levels were evaluated, compared to those of the National Iranian Standard. The data were then analyzed in SPSS software (version 20) through the Chi-square test. Statistical analysis was performed at a 95% confidence level (p-value of <0.00001). Out of 50 purchased LABs, the efficient antifungal property and resistance to bile salts were observed in five strains. The mean value of these five strains was calculated after adding 5 ppm AFM1, compared to natamycin. The strains with a reduction in AFM1 level were sequenced and registered in the NCBI database.In total, 15 samples with contamination higher than the allowed limit included Penicillium spp, Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cerevisia, Saccharomyces paradoxus, and Yarrowia lipolytica.The results also showed reduced AFM1 levels in three LAB-treated strains. Lactobacillus fermentum CECT562 (T), Lactobacillus brevis ATCC14869 (T), and Enterococcus faecium LMG 11423 (T) had this capability to 0.05, 0.03, and 0.03 respectively. The National Iranian Standard should be implemented to have control over traditional dairy products with more care. The three LABs selected in the current study revealed a significant effect on reducing AFM1 levels in traditional milk and cheese.

Snake venoms are mostly composed of various proteins and peptides with toxicity and pharmacological effects depending on their geographical sources. Naja naja oxiana is one of the most medically important venomous snakes in Iran and Central Asia. The bite of this type of snake can cause severe pain and swelling, as well as neurotoxicity. Without medical treatment, symptoms quickly worsen and death can occur soon. A detailed understanding of venom components can provide new insight into the production of antivenom against toxic agents instead of crude venom. Specific antibodies against toxic fractions are of utmost importance in neutralizing crude venom. Therefore, the proteome profile of these fractions of Naja naja oxidana venom was analyzed using fractionation by gel filtration, two-dimensional electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and data mining. Base on the results, in total, 32 spots were detected and categorized into three protein families, namely three-finger toxin (3FTx), phospholipase, and Cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP). These proteins consist of more than 70% crude venom all with a molecular weight below 25 kDa. The 3FTx as a highly diverse constituent in the venom of Naja species was in large quantity in this district. Short-chain neurotoxins, including short neurotoxin, cytotoxin, and muscarinic toxin-like protein, were in abundance, respectively. In conclusion, the recognition of toxic fractions of Naja naja oxiana in this region could be of great help in the production of an effective antivenom against similar compositions. It can also help the medical care department to find out the clinical sign of cobra venom. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to report the proteomic of toxic fractions of Naja naja oxiana in Iran.

Iranian Naja oxiana (the Elapidae family) known as cobra snake inhabits in the northwestern part of Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the edematogenic potency of the crude venom with intraplantar injection into mice. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of three different drugs (i.e., promethazine, dexamethasone, and piroxicam) on paw edema were examined. Moreover, the gelatinase activity of this venom was assessed using the zymography method. Paw edema was induced by the intraplantar injection of different concentrations of the venom (0.5-5 μg dissolved in 50 μl of normal saline) into the mice (six in each group). It was estimated through the measurement of the increase in the paw thickness (%) with a digital caliper. The paws were pretreated and the rate of changes was measured after the venom injection. Pathological findings in the treated paws were evaluated with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Paw thickness reached its maximum amount within 5 min and resolved after 1 h. This venom had no gelatinase activity using the zymography method ruling out its role in edema. It caused non-hemorrhagic diffuse edema with the infiltration of inflammatory cells (i.e., leukocytes and lymphocytes) in the dermis. Intraperitoneal pretreatment with drugs significantly inhibited the venom-induced (1 μg/paw) edema; however, all the mice died unexpectedly a day after piroxicam injection. This in vitro and in vivo preliminary study demonstrated for the first time that N. oxiana venom-induced non-hemorrhagic edema in a short time. Dexamethasone (phospholipase A2 inhibitor; 1 mg/kg) and promethazine (H1 inhibitor; 5 mg/kg) decreased the venom-induced edema (p <0.001). It is suggested to carry out further studies to identify different mediators in venom-induced edema formation.

Scorpions are venomous arachnids with major medical health importance in Iran, specifically in the Southwest. In total, three families of scorpions, including Scorpionidae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Buthidae were reported in Iran. This study was conducted on scorpion ecology to determine the species composition and the dispersion of scorpions based on the ecological and environmental variables in combination with the Geographic Information System (GIS) in Khuzestan, Hormozgan, and Bushehr Provinces along with the Oman Sea and the Persian Gulf in Iran. Scorpions were collected from Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and Bushehr Provinces, Iran using the Ultra Violet light. The specimens were then identified according to their morphological characters utilizing reliable keys. To determine the relationship between the eco-environmental variables and the spatial distribution of species, the GPS points of the collected scorpions were recorded, and the scorpion shapefile was overlaid on digital elevation model, slope, land use, temperature, rainfall, soil texture, and bioclimatic maps. Totally, 25 specimens were reported in three families of Scorpionidae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Buthidae. Furthermore, Razianus zarudnyi, Androctonus crassicauda, Buthacus macrocentrus, Mesobuthus eupeus phillipsii, Odontobuthus bidentatus, and Hemiscorpius lepturus were the common species collected from Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and Bushehr Provinces, Iran. The results of the current study showed that a large number of species preferred the sand texture due to ecomorphological adaptation. Moreover, the poor rangeland vegetation cover was preferred by the majority of the scorpion species, including S. maurus townsendi. According to the results, the combination of the ecological factors related to the suitable habitat of different species of scorpion and GIS will provide the dispersal areas of each species. Furthermore, such databases can be comprehensive and valuable guides for health authorities to reduce and manage scorpion envenomation.

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is caused by a morbillivirus from the Paramyxoviridae family and the infected animals, especially goats, that show clinical signs of necrotic stomatitis, enteritis, and pneumonia. The PPR virus has four lineages closely related to the geographical regions. Sufficient awareness of the lineage of the virus helps monitor the disease in different regions of a country. Phylogenetic studies have led to implementing strategies against new lineages that may enter a given country from the neighboring countries. The present research aimed to study the PPR virus (PPRV) detected phylogenetically by PCR in a small ruminant flock with PPR clinical signs. The goats in a flock in Alborz province showed clinical signs of PPR, and 10% died. Oral swabs and blood samples were taken from two affected goat flocks. The RT-PCR was conducted to detect PPRV RNA, and the sequence of the obtained RNA was analyzed phylogenetically. Moreover, all the samples were positive for the presence of PPRV and belonged to lineage IV. The isolates had high homology with each other and with the isolates from different countries. To inhibit the entrance of new isolates to Iran and reduce the incidence of outbreaks in Iran, it is essential to control the animals’ movement across the borders and increase the vaccination coverage throughout the country. To eradicate PPR, an extensive vaccination program should cover small ruminant populations throughout the country.