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Pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system, such as RIG-I and MDA5, are responsible for recognizing viruses and inducing interferon production. Genetic polymorphisms in the coding regions of RLR may be associated with the severity of COVID-19. Considering the contribution of the RLR signaling in immune-mediated reactions, this study investigated the association between three SNP in the coding region of IFIH1 and DDX58 genes with the susceptibility to COVID-19 in the Kermanshah population, Iran. 177 patients with severe and 182 with mild COVID-19 were admitted for this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes of patients to determine the genotypes of two SNPs, rs1990760(C>T) and rs3747517(T>C) IFIH1 gene and rs10813831(G>A) DDX58 gene using PCR–RFLP method. Our results showed that the frequency of the AA genotype of rs10813831(G>A) was associated with susceptibility to COVID-19 compared to the GG genotype (p = 0.017, OR = 2.593, 95% CI 1.173–5.736). We also observed a statistically significant difference in the recessive model for SNPs rs10813831 variant (AA versus GG + GA, p = 0.003, OR = 2.901, 95% CI 1.405–6.103). Furthermore, No significant association was found between rs1990760 (C>T) and rs3747517(T>C) of IFIH1 gene polymorphisms with COVID-19. Our findings suggest that DDX58 rs10813831(A>G) polymorphism may be associated with COVID-19 severity in the Kermanshah population, Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) as the recognition of pathogenic fungal structures induce the secretion of cytokines by immune systems. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 are the main PRRs that recognize fungal components. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the presence of dermatophyte species in symptomatic cats in a region of Iran and to investigate the expression of TLR‐2 and 4 in cat lesions with dermatophytosis. Methods: A total of 105 cats suspected of dermatophytosis with skin lesions were examined. Samples were analysed by direct microscopy using potassium hydroxide (20%) and culture on Mycobiotic agar. Dermatophytes strains were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and then sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer rDNA region. Also, for pathology and real‐time PCR studies, skin biopsies were taken by sterile single‐use biopsy punch from active ringworm lesions. Results: Dermatophytes were found in 41 felines. Based on the sequencing of all strains, Microsporum canis (80.48%, p < 0.05), Microsporum gypseum (17.07%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (2.43%) were the dermatophytes isolated from cultures. Cats under 1 year (78.04%) revealed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of infection (p < 0.05). Gene expression by real‐time PCR revealed the increased TLR‐2 and 4 mRNA levels in skin biopsies of cats with dermatophytosis. Conclusions: M. canis is the most prevalent dermatophyte species isolated from feline dermatophytosis lesions. Increased expression of TLR‐2 and TLR‐4 mRNAs in cat skin biopsies suggests that these receptors are involved in the immune response by recognizing dermatophytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the relationship between the prevalence of antibiotics resistance and virulence factors genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strains from clinical samples taken in west Iran. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study using 100 MRSA and 100 MSSA samples isolated from clinical specimens. We used biochemical methods to identify the isolates, which were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion. PCR detected the presence of virulence factors, including enterotoxin genes, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), and exfoliative toxin. Results: The majority of MRSA isolates exhibited a high level of resistance to common antibiotics and susceptible to vancomycin, while most MSSA isolates were also resistant to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. The prevalence of Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) were reported 147 (73.5%). Among 100 MRSA samples, 92 (92.0%) harbored SAggenes. The most frequent toxin gene was sea (45.0%) followed by sec (39.0%). Among 100 MSSA isolates, 89 (89.0%) harbored SAg genes and the most prevalent genes were sea (42.0%), sek (38.0%), sec (35.0%,), and TSST-1 (10.0%). The prevalence of TSST-1 and exfoliative toxin genes in MRSA samples were 12 (12.0%). The association of SAg genes with MRSA and MSSA isolates showed a high prevalence of enterotoxin seq,seg, and sei in MRSA than MSSA with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.050). Conclusions: The prevalence of MRSA and the association of pathogenic agents with antibiotics resistance genes can lead to the emergence of strains with higher pathogenicity and less susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]