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Background:Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) is the main vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Wolbachia is a symbiotic alphaproteobacteria of arthropods that can be involved in susceptibility or resistance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Wolbachia and Deltamethrin susceptibility/resistance in Ph. papatasi. Deltamethrin filter papers (0.00002%) were used to test sand fly field collected from southern Iran. After the test, PCR amplification of the Wolbachia surface protein gene (wsp) was used to measure Wolbachia infection rate in the killed, surviving, and control groups. Result: The rates of infection by Wolbachia strain (wPap, super group A) differed between killed (susceptible) and surviving (resistant) Ph. papatasi specimens. The rate of Wolbachia infection in susceptible individuals was more than twice (2.3) (39% vs. 17%) in resistant individuals with the same genetic background. This difference was highly significant (p < 0.001), indicating a positive association between Wolbachia infection and susceptibility to Deltamethrin. In addition, the results showed that Deltamethrin can act as a PCR inhibitor during detection of Wolbachia in Ph. papatasi. Conclusion: Results of this study show that Wolbachia is associated with Deltamethrin susceptibility level in Ph. papatasi. Also, as Deltamethrin has been identified as a PCR inhibitor, great care must be taken in interpreting Wolbachia infection status in infected populations. The results of this study may provide information for a better understanding of the host-symbiont relationship, as well as application of host symbiosis in pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current in silico study was done to determine the primary biochemical features and immunogenic epitopes of Echinococcus granulosus glutathione S-transferase protein as a potential vaccine candidate. Methods: Several web tools were employed to predict physico-chemical properties, antigenicity, allergenicity, solubility, post-translational modification (PTM) sites, subcellular localization, signal peptide, transmembrane domain, secondary and tertiary structure followed by refinement and validations. In addition, B-cell epitopes were predicted and were screened using various web servers, while MHC-binding and CTL epitopes were predicted using IEDB and NetCTL servers, respectively. Results: The protein had 219 residues with a molecular weight of 25.55 kDa and alkaline isoelectric pH (7.5). This protein was stable, thermotolerant (aliphatic index: 78.04) and hydrophilic (GRAVY: -0.440). The predicted antigenicity scores were low and the protein was nonallergenic in nature. There were no transmembrane domain and signal peptide in the sequence. Moreover, several B-cell, MHC-binding and CTL epitopes were found in the EgGST protein, which could be further used in multi-epitope vaccines. Conclusion: Further studies are needed on the development of vaccines in vivo using EgGST alone or in combination with other antigens in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giardia duodenalis (G. duodenalis), is one of the major causes of gastrointestinal disorders worldwide, infecting the small intestine of humans and animals. Based on the genetic characteristics of the parasite, eight genotypes (A to H) have been identified in clinical samples. The main purpose of the present study was to find the genetic diversity of Giardia in people referred to health centers in Semnan, Iran, using PCR. Totally, 300 stool samples were collected from people referred to health centers in Semnan. The stool samples were first examined using the microscopic method (direct method and Lugol staining), and the samples were checked with trichrome staining. After DNA extraction, the GDH gene of positive samples was amplified by the semi-nested PCR method. The genotype of positive samples was determined by the sequencing method. Out of 300 samples, only 20 (6.66%) samples were found to be positive in the microscopic examination of the stool. In the PCR test, only 13 (4.33%) of the samples were positive. According to the multiple alignment results, it was found that the isolates belonged to AII, BIII, and BIV genotypes. Most of which are related to people without clinical symptoms of diarrhea. Identification of AII, BIV, and BIII genotypes indicates the anthroponotic and anthropozoonotic transmission cycle of Giardia infection in Semnan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Leishmaniasis is a zoonosis disease with a global spread that occurs in three, cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral forms. In Iran, three species of Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major, and Leishmania infantum have been reported from different regions of the country. Nowadays, molecular methods are usually used for the diagnosis and identification of parasite species. Amplification of the ITS1 gene can also be used to differentiate symptomatic and asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis as well as types of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Objectives: The main aim of our research was to diagnose and identify the common Leishmania species in Iran through ITS1 gene amplification and using the PCR-RFLP method. Methods: First, L. major, L. tropica, and L. infantum parasites were proliferated in an RPMI culture medium, and DNA was extracted from these species separately then ITS1 gene of the parasite was amplified using the PCR-RFLP method. Results: The result of PCR-RFLP after enzymatic cutting indicated, L. tropica produced 4 fragments of 139, 76, 56, 20 bp bands; L. major showed two fragments of 165, 139 bp bands and L. infantum produced three fragments of 141, 91, 54 bp bands. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the use of ITS1 gene and HaeIII enzyme in the PCR-RFLP method is efficient for identifying L. tropica, L. major, and L. infantum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and molecular features of human cystic echinococcosis in Tehran, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all human cystic echinococcosis patients admitted to Tehran's hospitals from 2011 to 2019 were enrolled, and demographic characteristics, clinical findings, and laboratory data were collected. Formalinfixed, paraffin-embedded and fresh tissue samples of 175 cystic echinococcosis patients were evaluated for molecular characterization. The samples' isolated DNA was used to amplify cytochrome c oxidaseâ... and NADH dehydrogenase subunitⅠ genes. Also, the morphological features of fresh samples were examined. Results: In total, 175 patients with a mean age of 45 (9-98) years were admitted to Tehran's hospitals diagnosed with cystic echinococcosis. Moreover, the highest (26.9%) and the lowest (2.9%) prevalence of cystic echinococcosis cases were in the 16-30 and 1-15 years range, respectively. Male/female ratio was 0.96 (49.1% vs. 50.9%). The liver was affected in 92 patients (52.6%), and two or more organs were infected in 7 patients (4.0%). The cysts' diameter varied from 1 to 25 cm, and 96.0% of the patients had a single hydatid cyst. All patients underwent radical surgery and the PAIR technique was applied for all cases. No significant difference was observed between the protoscolex hooks of pulmonary and hepatic cysts. G1-G3 had the highest percentage (99.4%) over other identified G6 genotypes (0.6%). Conclusions: The sheep-dog cycle plays an important role in transmitting the human cystic echinococcosis infection in Tehran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]