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Background: Leishmania is a vector-borne protozoon, which causes visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniosis in human and animals. Monocyte-derived exosome vaccines can be used as prophylaxis and immunotherapy strategies. The aim of this study was to design a multiple-epitope candidate vaccine using leishmaniolysin (GP63) and rK39 proteins against Leishmania major and L. infantum for monocyte-derived exosome preparation. Methods: This study was carried out in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, 2023-2024. Effective immunodominant epitopes were selected from two antigenic proteins of GP63 and rK39 using various immunoinformatics and bioinformatics approaches. Vibrio cholerae ß-subunit was used as an adjuvant to stimulate immune responses. Then, appropriate linkers were selected for the fusion of epitopes. The 3D model of candidate vaccine was predicted and validated. Results: This designed candidate vaccine could effectively be used as a prophylaxis strategy against leishmaniosis. Conclusion: A candidate vaccine was designed using bioinformatic and immunoinformatic studies with virtual acceptable quality; however, effectiveness of this vaccine should be verified through further in-vitro and in-vivo studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microsporidia as one of the most important pathogens in veterinary and agricultural settings, have emerged in immunocompromised patients in Iran. To date, different Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes have been identified in humans and animals, supporting the possibility of zoonotic zoonosis transmission potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of E. bieneusi genotypes among overpopulated stray dogs in vicinity of Tehran, the capital city of Iran. Methods: Totally, 75 stool and 75 urine samples were obtained from 75 stray dogs during the time period from Mar 2015 to Oct 2015. DNA extraction was performed on all the samples and specific fragment of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene of E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. was amplified. Furthermore, specific primers targeting the internal transcribed spacer region of E. bieneusi were applied to determine the genotype of the microorganism. Results: Microsporidia was detected in 5.3% of stool samples, while none of the urine samples was positive for microsporidia species. Overall, 440 bp fragment of E. bieneusi was amplified in all the samples and there was no amplification for Encephalitozoon spp. The results of sequencing of 410 bp fragment of internal transcribed spacer region showed that all the E. bieneusi were genotype D. Conclusion: E. bieneusi was the most prevalent microsporidian species in the stray dogs and all the positive isolates were characterized as genotype D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leishmania is a vector-borne protozoon, which causes visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniosis in human and animals. Monocyte-derived exosome vaccines can be used as prophylaxis and immunotherapy strategies. The aim of this study was to design a multiple-epitope candidate vaccine using leishmaniolysin ( GP63 ) and rK39 proteins against Leishmania major and L. infantum for monocyte-derived exosome preparation., Methods: This study was carried out in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, 2023-2024. Effective immunodominant epitopes were selected from two antigenic proteins of GP63 and rK39 using various immunoinformatics and bioinformatics approaches. Vibrio cholerae β-subunit was used as an adjuvant to stimulate immune responses. Then, appropriate linkers were selected for the fusion of epitopes. The 3D model of candidate vaccine was predicted and validated., Results: This designed candidate vaccine could effectively be used as a prophylaxis strategy against leishmaniosis., Conclusion: A candidate vaccine was designed using bioinformatic and immunoinformatic studies with virtual acceptable quality; however, effectiveness of this vaccine should be verified through further in-vitro and in-vivo studies., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 Moazezi Ghavihelm et al. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)