آذر سبکبار

Bioremediation is one of the methods of cleaning the environment from petroleum compounds. The aim of this research was to identify a native phenanthrene-degrading bacterium and to investigate the optimal growth conditions for biodegradation.

Sampling was carried out from petroleum-contaminated soils in the Darkhovin oil field, Iran. After isolation and primary identification of the bacteria, the specific bacterium was selected and identified. Then, after initial examination, the amount of biosurfactant produced by the bacterium was measured using a tensiometer. The effect of temperature, time, pH, nitrate, and sodium phosphate factors at 3 different levels was investigated using the Taguchi method, and the selected bacterium was placed under the designed conditions. The amount of phenanthrene degradation was examined using GC-MS, and the obtained results were analyzed.

Among the isolates, Bacillus mojavensis had a higher ability to degrade phenanthrene. Evaluation of the presence of biosurfactant in this bacterium showed a value of 47 mN/m. The results of analyzing the optimal conditions of Bacillus mojavensis for biodegradation showed a temperature of 45 °C, pH 7, nitrate 1mg/mL, sodium phosphate 0.3 mg/mL 0.3, and a time of 5 days, under which conditions 55% of phenanthrene was degraded.

The results of this study showed that, considering the presence of native bacteria capable of degrading phenanthrene in contaminated soils, and determining the level of nutrients, environmental factors, and other effective factors in biodegradation, it is an effective strategy to increase the rate of phenanthrene biodegradation.

Plants are a rich source of bioactive chemical compounds that play an important role in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. In this study, the ability of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of sumac (Rhus coriaria) fruit to inhibit the growth of Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans were investigated in vitro.

Extraction of sumac fruit was done by soaking and stirring with water and ethanol and its antimicrobial effects were evaluated by Broth microdilution method by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).

The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ethanolic extract against Trichomonas vaginalis was 1.8 mg/ml and for aqueous extract was 3.55 mg/ml in 24 hours. No concentration of the aqueous extract of Sumac fruit was able to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans, while the ethanolic extract at 60 mg/ml inhibited the growth of Candida albicans after 24 hours.

Sumac fruit extracts can be considered as a potential alternative to chemical drugs in the treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis infections, but these compounds have not shown favorable antifungal results against Candida albicans.

Invasive aspergillosis is one of the leading causes of death in patients with weakened immune systems. Since resistance to antifungal agents has been observed in patients, susceptibility testing is helpful in defining the activity spectrum of antifungals and determining the appropriate drug for treatment. Despite an increasing number of infections of Aspergillus in Iran, the antifungal susceptibility patterns and molecular epidemiology of clinical strains has not been well studied. In the current study, we evaluated the in vitro antifungal susceptibilities of five antifungal agents against clinical Aspergillus isolates from Iran.Clinical Aspergillus isolates were preliminarily identified to the species level based on microscopic and macroscopic characteristics; subsequently, their identity was confirmed by DNA sequencing of the partial β-tubulin (BTU) gene. Antifungal susceptibilities of AMB, ITC, VRC, POS, and CAS against clinical Aspergillus isolates were determined in accordance with the CLSI M38-A2 document. One hundred and sixty-three clinical (n = 163) Aspergillus isolates were evaluated for their antifungal susceptibilities patterns. Aspergillus flavus 42 (64.4%), Aspergillus fumigatus 12 (18.4%), Aspergillus niger 8 (12.3%) and Aspergillus terreus 3 (4.6%) species were identified. Caspofangin (MIC90=0.063 μg/mL) had the highest antifungal activity against Aspergillus isolates and 100% of the isolates had MIC90 equal to 0.063 μg/mL. Among azole drugs, posaconazole had the highest antifungal activity and the MIC of this drug for all isolates was ≤1 μg/mL. Also, 0.5% and 1% of Aspergillus fumigatus isolates were resistant to itraconazole and vriconazole, respectively.Our results suggest that clinical Aspergillus isolates are the most susceptible to posaconazole and caspofungin. These results should be further investigation, especially in in vivo study with different manifestations of aspergillosis.

Cancer is the second factor of death in world on the basis of WHO reports on 2018. Application of fungal polysaccharides is one of the cheaper, less dangerous, less side effects, and newer in the treatment and prophylaxis of cancer. Object of this research is isolation and identification of endemic fusarium fungus, its glucan extraction, determination of chemical characteristics by HPLCand FT-IR and anticancer effects on cell lines of LCL, Hela.In this study fusarium fungus was isolated from soil of karaj district and identified on the basis of microscopic and macroscopic and genetical characteristics as a fusarium genus .Then fungus was grown into selective broth medium for obtaining of the most biomass for extraction of glucan .Glucan of fungus was extracted by boiling water method.Different amounts of extracted glucan were treated to the cell cultures of lcl and Hela and its cytotoxicity effects were surveyed.Results showed that glucan polysaccharide had anticancer effects against cell lines of LCL and no anticancer effects against Hela cell lines. Cytotoxicity effects of glucan showed by colorimetry MTT method.

Prisoners are among the high risk population for contagious infections such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), HBV (Hepatitis B Virus), HCV (Hepatitis C Virus), TB (Tuberculosis), and other dangerous diseases. In spite of other countries in the world, data about the prevalence and risk factors for infectious diseases among prisoners are spars in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV, HCV and TB coinfections among male prisoners suffering from HIV.

In this descriptive-analytical study, 100 HIV patients were selected. Microscopic examination (acid fast staining) was applied on sputum specimens and serological (HBsAg, anti- HCV) and molecular (Real time PCR and DNA sequencing) investigations carried out on patient’s sera.

Among 100 prisoners affected with HIV, the prevalence of HCV, HBV and TB infections were 45%, 3%, and 9%, respectively. All HBV positive cases were genotype D, subgenotype ayw2. Among the HCV positive subjects, 34 (75.5%) and 11 (24.5%) were genotype 1a and genotype 3a, respectively. There was no significant relation between age, CD4 and transmission route of HCV in male prisoners affected with HIV. Drug injection was the main route for the acquisition of HCV, HBV infections.

This study showed that a high prevalence of HCV and TB infections among male prisoners affected with HIV.

Fish mycobacteriosis is a chronic progressive disease that caused by different species of mycobacteria. Diagnosis of the disease in ornamental fish is usually done by bacterial culture and histopathology. Identification is also based on the rate of growth at different temperature, the pigmentation type, the morphology of colony and by biochemical tests. Although the primary diagnosis of fish mycobacteriosis is based on clinical symptoms and the presence of granuloma in visceral tissues by sampling, but in some cases no any clinical symptoms or no granulomas masses are seen. Due to the zoonotic character of the disease, increasing importance of aquariology, and also increasing of opportunistic infections via Non-tuberculous mycobacteria in older persons or immunocompromised patients, also existence of some extremely difficulties to treat like to require the long course of therapy, and on the other hand, the financial losses, so; the present study planned to detection and identification of mycobacterial species in aquarium fish. Existence of Mycobacterial species in 53 fishes were investigated that they were obtained from some local aquarium shops in Tabriz by Ziehl-Neelsen staining and culture on Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium. Identification of isolates was done by morphological characters of mycobacteria on LJ and using of biochemical tests. For drug susceptibility testing, the proportional method on LJ were used for isoniazid, ethambutol, rifampin, streptomycin, kanamycin, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin. The susceptible (H37Rv) standard Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain was used as a control. Acid-fast bacilli were detected on the 7 smears of samples by direct microscopic examination of Ziehl-Neelsen. In using of the culture method, Mycobacterium spp. were isolated from 28.3% of the fishes. The isolated species were identified as M. marinum, M. fortuitum, M. smegmatis, M. terrea, M. flavescens and M. asiaticum. The study showed that M. fortuitum and M. marinum are more than other species. In the drug susceptibility testing; the streptomycin had the highest resistance (93.33%) and the lowest drug resistance was diagnosed to ciprofloxacin (20%). In the investigation, Mycobacterium marinum, M. fortuitum, M. smegmatis and M. flavescens that are well known as pathogens in fish and humans were isolated, which were resistant to most drugs that are used in the treatment. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the presence of
mycobacteria in aquarium fish for reducing the rate of bacterial transmission to human.

One of the best methods to remove pollutions resulted from heavy metals in industrial wastewater is biological removing. The first step in this way is identifying and clustering microorganisms especially, resistant bacteria to these metals. Material and methods: In this research, 17 non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli were isolated and identified from industrial wastewater. Their MIC was determined by different concentrations of Cu and Cd. With CTAB and Dellaporta, methods were extracted bacterial DNA. Then evaluated genetic diversity by 7 RAPD, 3 ISSR markers. The similarity matrix was calculated by using NTSYS-pc software based on Jaccard’s coefficient for genotypes and dendrogram was drawn in UPGMA method. 133 bands were identified by using 10 markers that they included 122 polymorphic bands and 11 monomorphic bands. This markers show high level of polymorphism among the bacteria studied. Discussion and Conclusion: In the study cluster analysis and dendrogram drawn based on RAPD and ISSR markers together, there was a significant match between genetic diversity of markers and genetic diversity based on the MIC values. The combined use of both markers for genetic clustering based on resistance to copper and cadmium was more accurate. Principal component analysis was performed to complete the results of cluster analysis and 2-D, 3-D plots were drawn. The results of comparing these two methods showed that these markers had been properly selected for studying genetic diversity, and it was recommended using cluster analysis.

Aims: In this study, the replacement of natural compounds such as green tea by chemical drugs like itraconazole and voriconazole was studied.
In this study, the effects of the aqueous and methanol extracts of green tea and the synergistic effects of these two extracts were studied along with two drugs of itraconazole and voriconazole against four strains of Aspergillus accordaing to microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC).
Findings: Two strains of A.flavus ATCC39 and A.terreus ATCC274 are sensitive to itraconazole while two other strains were resistant. All four tested strains were resistant to voriconazole. The aqueous and methanol extracts of green tea did not show antifungal effect but synergistic effects of aqueous extract of green tea and itraconazole were worthwhile against A.niger ATCC9142 and A.fumigatus ATCC278. Also, the combined methanol extracts of green tea and itraconazole against A.niger ATCC9142 and the combined aqueous extracts of green tea and voriconazole against A.flavus ATCC 39 and A.fumigatus ATCC278 were reported valuable.
The results of this study showed that there is a valuable synergistic effect between the tested antifungal drugs and the extracts.

Some of Aspergillus species are potential generators of aflatoxin that is a mycotoxin with carcinogenic and teratogenic effects. Animal feed contaminated with Aspergillus species produce aflatoxin, and transfer it to milk and dairy products that cause animal and human health problems. The aim of this study was to isolate any potential aflatoxinogen of animal feeds from farms area in the Shahr Ghods – Shahriar districts
In this study, 394 cattle feed from 41dairy farming in Shahr Ghods – Shahriar districts in autumn, 2014, were randomly selected and they were tested for contamination with potentially aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus by PCR. Isolated Aspergillus from animal feed, by smear and culture, were examined by microscopic and macroscopic and then by molecular method. PCR method used in the presence of primers AFLR, Omt1, FLA1, Nor1, and Par1 to identify potential toxin generating Aspergillus.
The results of study showed 42 cattle feed contaminated with 8 species Aspergillus flavus by PCR which could potentially produce aflatoxin.
The results showed that the dairy farming in Shahr Ghods – Shahriar districts were contaminated with Aspergillus flavus.

The increasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance among gram negative bacteria especially Enterobacteriaceae has become a global problem. Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen, which recently due to causing broad spectrum of disease and antibiotic resistance has been lionized. Efflux pumps are one of the antibiotic resistance mechanisms, which were introduced in this bacteria. Therefore, the aims of this study were detection of oqxA, oqxB, acrA and acrB genes, evaluation of expression level of oqxA and acrA genes and determination of antibiotic resistance patterns among Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated at Tehran hospitals.
In this descriptive study 83 Klebsiella pneumoniae were collected from patients attending to three hospitals in Tehran. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion method. The presence of oqxA, oqxB, acrA and acrB resistance genes was detected by PCR. The CCCP was used as efflux pump inhibitor and the oqxA, acrA genes expression level was analyzed by using real-time PCR.
The most of strains showed to have OqxAB (96%) and AcrAB (97%) pumps. The use of efflux pump inhibitor showed different results for ciprofloxacin MIC. Real-time PCR assay showed higher expression level of OqxAB (2.3 folds) and AcrAB (4 folds) pumps in resistant strains.
The existence of antibiotic resistance genes, increasing of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, which become resistant to common antibiotics and nosocomial infections, highlights the need for particular detection, prevention and control of spread of resistant bacteria.

Aim and Different studies have shown that despite the expanding number of antifungal agents, death rate caused by Aspergillus species has been increased during the recent decades due to drug-resistance occurrence, increased minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and cross-resistance among the isolated species. Regarding the lack of effective response to conventional treatments and antifungal susceptibility patterns of the most common isolated Aspergillus species.
Material and In this study, during 9 months; 20 clinical isolates and 20 environmental strains were studied. In the next stage, drug sensitivity test was done according to the NCCLS-M38P method. A fungal suspension was made with 1-4*104cfu/ml cellular range using 530nm spectrophotometer. Serial dilution of Itraconazol, Voriconazol (0.015-16mg/ml) and Caspofungin (0.007-8mg/ml) were performed and MIC was determined after 48Hr of incubation on 350c.
In studied strains we did not find any drug resistance gene. MIC range for Aspergillus flavus in Itraconazol was determined as 0.125-2mg/ml which MIC50= 0.5 and MIC90=1mg/ml. also for vericonazol range was 0.25-2mg/ml and MIC­­­50=0.5 and MIC90=1 determined and caspofungin 0.0131-0.125mg/ml and MIC50=0.063 and MIC50 = 0.063 and MIC90 = 0.125.
According to MIC range for Itraconazol, voriconazol and caspofungin , the studied aspergillus flavus strains were drug sensitive; also, we did not find any drug resistance strain.

Cryptococcosis is aopportunistic fungal infection. Current disease form occurs as a pulmonary form and as a chronic, subacute and rarely acute disease. Cryptococcal infections mainly occur in immunocompromised patients. This study was done to isolate Cryptococcusneoformans var. gatti from different regions of Iran.
Iran was divided to 3 regions including north, south and central areas. Areas with Eucalyptus trees are randomly selected covering total regions. In north area (Mazandaran and Golestan provinces), in central area,( Tehran, Esfahan and Fars provinces) and in south area,( Khuzestan and Hormozgan provinces) were selected. 495 samples were collected from leaf, soil, flower and air around the Eucalyptus trees during 6 months and were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar (S) and Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenicol (SC) media. Niger seed agar and l-canavanine glycine bromothymol blue were used as differentiation of Cryptococc-usneoformans var. gatti.
Findings: Total of 13 Cryptococcusneoformans var. gatti were identified which 3 isolates (2.5%) were from Khuzestan province, 10 samples (9.2 %) isolated from Mazandaran and Golestan provinces but no cases were isolated from central area .From total isolates, 1 case from 113 flowers samples, 3 cases from 171 leaves samples, 4 cases from 40 air samples and 5 cases from 171 soil samples, identified as Cryptococcusneoformans var. gatti.
Discussion & A significant difference was observed in isolation of Cryptococcusneoformans var. gatti from soil and air, also asignificant difference was observed between presence of yeast in air and soil samples (P

Antibiotic resistance rates especially against aminoglycosides in E. coli are rapidly rising. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as E. coli released from humans and animals into water sources may act as a donor of antimicrobial resistance genes for other pathogenic E. coli strains. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance to aminoglycosides among E. coli strains isolated from different water sources in Alborz province.
The study included all E. coli strains isolated from different surface water sources in Alborz province in 2013. Bacterial strains were isolated, detected and identified by standard microbiological and biochemical tests. To screen the aminoglycosid-resistant isolates, the antimicrobial susceptibility testing was determined according to Kirby Baur assay. Susceptibility patterns of isolates were determined to lincomycin, rifampin, streptomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, kanamycin, clindamycin, amikacin and azithromycin.
One hundred E. coli strains were isolated from water sources and examined in this study. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that 95.7, 94.7, 93.7, 28.1, 27.08, 10.4, 7.4, 6.6 and 4.1 percentages of the isolates were resistant to clindamycin, lincomycin, rifampin, streptomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, kanamycin, amikacin and azithromycin respectively.
This study reflects an increasing prevalence of aminoglycosides resistant E. coli strains circulating in water sources. Dissemination of these resistant strains is of particular concern in water sources.

Trichophyton rubrum is one of the most common pathogenic causes of dermatophytosis. One of the drugs prescribed for fungal infections is fluconazole which belongs to Azoles group of antifungal agents. Recently molecular typing methods have been developed for answering the epidemiological questions and disease recurrence problems. Current study has been conducted on 22 isolates of Trichophyton rubrum obtained from patients randomly. Our aim was the investigation of correlation between genetic pattern and sensitivity to Fluconazole in clinical isolates of Trichophyton rubrum. Firstly the genus and species of isolated fungi from patients have been confirmed by macroscopic and microscopic methods. Then, the resistance and sensitivity of isolates against drug have been determined using culture medium containing defined amount of drug. In next step fungal DNA has been extracted by RAPD-PCR (random amplified polymorphic DNA) with random sequences of 3 primers. Each primer produced different amplified pattern, and differences have been observed in genetic pattern of resistant and sensitive samples using each 3 primers, but there was no bond with 100% specificity. The 12 sensitive isolates which didn’t grow in 50µg/ml concentration of drug, also had limited growth at the lower concentration of drug. Ten resistant isolates which grew in 50µg/ml of drug, also showed resistant to lower concentration of drug. There are differences in genetic pattern of resistant and sensitive samples. RAPD analysis for molecular typing of Trichophyton rubrum seems to be completely suitable.

Recently, using probiotics for preventing and treating the immune system diseases via increasing the absorption of protective factors has attracted the attention of researchers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus plantarum 299v and Bifidobacteria B94, on serum Fe +2 and vitamin D3 levels following ethidium bromide - induced demyelination of rat hippocampus. In this study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, including control, damaged with ethidium bromide, lactobacillus plantarum 299v, and bifidobacterium B94 treatment groups. In damage and treatment groups, a single dose of 3 μl ethidium bromide was directly injected for inducing demyelination in the hippocampus of rats. Also, in control group, the same amount of saline was used. After the induction of demyelination in treatment groups,1/5×108 probiotic bacteria were administered by gavage for 28 days. Results showed increased levels of Fe +2 in the treatment group with lactobacillus plantarum and that of vitamin D3 in both treatment groups. The level of serum Fe +2 in the treatment group with Bifidobacteria B94 decreased, although this increase and decrease were not significant. Although the findings in this study were not significant, but, somehow were in agreement with the findings of previous studies that suggested effects of probiotics. Perhaps the reason for such result is a difference in the type, number and duration of probiotics use compared with other studies.

Candida albicans has been isolated in up to 65% of healthy individuals without signs of clinical disease. Mouthwashes can be used for many preventative and therapeutic purposes. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Iranian and foreign mouthwashes against C.albicans as a common fungal flora in the mouth. In this research, standard strain of C.albicans, ATCC 10231 is used. The suspension is provided by a fresh culture of C.albicans (24 hours) and the OD is read in 530 nm. The C. albicans suspension was cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar plate. In the next step, two wells created on SDA, filling with mouthwashes (100 µl). After incubation at 37ºC for 24 hours, the inhibition zone was measured. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of mouthwashes were determined. The data are analyzed by SPSS software, independent T-tests and one sided variance analysis (ANOVA-one way). Findings of our study showed in which agar diffusion, MIC and MFC tests, there are no significant differences between the antifungal effect of the Iranian and foreign mouthwashes on C.albicans (P value>0.05). Discussion and This study shows that both Iranian and foreign mouthwashes have a good effect against C.albicans, as a common fungal flora in the mouth.

Background & Several studies have shown that fungi can cause allergenic asthma in the susceptible persons. Among these fungi, Alternaria, Penicillium and Aspergillus species are more common in this cases. This study was performed to detect and to compare allergenic bands in A.alternata, P.citrinum and A.fumigatus. Materials & This cross-sectional study was performed on 48 patients afflicted to asthma and 22 healthy controls. The fungi were grown and their extract crude were obtained using the liquid nitrogen. The protein fractions were isolated by SDS-PAGE and after electrotransfering and transfer of the bands into the nitrocellulose membrane, the proteins were used for immunoblotting against the sera obtained from patients and controls. Based on the immunobloting test, 6 protein allergenic bands for A. alternata (49-115 kDa), 4 protein bands for A. fumigatus (57-112 kDa) and 5 protein bands for P. citrinum (37-127 kDa) are detected in these samples. The highest amount of allergic band belonged to A. alternate. The bands with higher molecular weights were more effective in stimulation of IgE.

Trichophyton rubrum is one of the most common pathogeniccause of dermatophytosis. One of the medicines which has been prescribed widely for fungal infections is terbinafine which belongs to allylamines group of antifungal agents. Recently molecular typing methods have been developed for answering the epidemiological questions and disease recurrence problems. Current study has been conducted on 22 isolates of Trichophyton rubrum obtained from patients randomly. Our aim was the investigation of correlation between genetic pattern and sensitivity to Terbinafine in clinical isolates of Trichophyton rubrum. Firstly the genus and species of isolated fungi from patients have been confirmed by macroscopic and microscopic methods, then, the resistance and sensitivity of isolates against medicine have been determined using culture medium containing defined amount of medicine. In next step fungal DNA has been extracted by RAPD-PCR (random amplified polymorphic DNA) with random sequences of 3 primers. Each primer produced different amplified pattern, and using each 3 primers differences have been observed in genetic pattern of resistant and sensitive samples using each 3 primers, but there was no bond with 100% specificity. The 12 sensitive isolates which didn’t grow in 0.1 mg concentration of medicine, also had limited growth at the low concentration of medicine..Ten resistant isolates which grew in 0.1mg/ml of medicine, in lower concentration of medicine were resisted. RAPD analysis for molecular typing of Trichophyton rubrum seems to be completely suitable.

Brucellosis is a zoonosis transmittable to humans poses a significant public health problem in many developing countries and requires rapid and accurate diagnostic methods. Here, our aim was to develop a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in artificially contaminated serum samples as a model for rapid and accurate laboratory confirmation of human brucellosis. In this study, initially the standard Brucella abortus strain (2308) were cultured on Brucella agar medium and then colonies were inactivated by formalin 10 %. Genomic DNA was extracted from inactivated bacterial colonies. Serial dilutions of bacterial-DNA were prepared in fetal bovine serum (FBS) and water and subsequently DNA extraction were repeated on these artificially contaminated samples. The two pairs of primers amplified two different fragments included in: a gene encoding an outer membrane protein (omp-2) (primers JPF/JPR) and a sequence 16S rRNA of B. abortus (primers F4/R2). The two primers assayed showed a difference in sensitivity for detecting Brucella DNA, ranging between 5 pg and 50 pg for artificially contaminated serum samples and 50Fg and 5 pg for contaminated control samples. Therefore, the sensitivity of PCR using F4/R2 primers was greater than the PCR using JPF/JPR primers. Although the sensitivity of PCR using these primers was affected by serum inhibitors, they are still the most sensitive and they could provide a useful tool for the diagnosis of human brucellosis.

Food-borne illnesses are one of the main problems due to contaminated food or water that can occur in humans. Since salmonella species is one of the most common causes of food poisoning, the purpose of this study was to define the prevalence of serotypes of Salmonella species, in foods by multiplex PCR. This Cross-Sectional study was done on 170 samples of food products viz. healthy milk, beef, poultry and salad dressings. After collecting the samples, identification procedures for bacteria were performed by the PCR method. Bacterial contamination was found in 24.7% of sample; 8.8% of beef samples were contaminated with Salmonella. On the whole, from all tested food samples, 1.7% were contaminated with Salmonella: 1.1% with typhimurium and 0.59% with Salmonella enteritidis. It seems Salmonella contamination in meat is high. Multiplex PCR may be helpful in diagnostic confirmation.

Previous studies demonstrated that selected probiotic bacteria elicit beneficial effects in animals. Probiotic bacteria inhibit pathogens growth in the gut, improve lipid metabolism and activate immune system of animals. In the present study Enterococcus spp were isolated from Iranian traditional cheese and their effects on intestine pathogens (Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium) growth, serum lipids level and activation of immune systems in mice were studied. Iranian cheese samples were collected from Ardabil province. Enterococci spp were isolated using selective culture mediums and identified using API kites. Inhibitory effects of isolated Enterococci on growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and intestine pathogens (Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium) were tested using agar well method. In order to study probiotic activities of isolated bacteria in live animals, NMRI mice were divided into different groups and Enterococci was administrated orally (1 ML/mouse) with doses equal to 2 (6×108 cfu/ml) 3 (9×108 cfu/ml) and 4 (12×108 cfu/ml) MacFarland standard for 2 weeks. After two weeks continues treatment, blood samples were collected from retroorbital sinus and serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL measured using enzymatic method. Interleukins (IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10) levels were measured using ELISA kites. Results of this study demonstrated that treatment with faecium species decreases serum cholesterol and increases serum IL-10 level, while it has not showed significant effects on serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, IL-2 and IL-6 (p< 0.05). Administration of faecalis species have no significant effects on lipid levels of serum (p< 0.05). Moreover, results revealed that treatment with faecalis species increased IL-6 and IL-10 (p< 0.05). None of the species affected pathogens growth significantly (p< 0.05). The results obtained from current study demonstrate that continues treatment with both species can affect immune functions of animal by altering the cytokines profile and treatment with faecium species decreases serum level of cholesterol.

According to WHO reports increase of antibacterial resistance is a growing problem in many countries. Many efforts have been made to discover new antimicrobial compounds from various kinds of sources such as micro-organisms, animals, and plants. One of such resources is folk medicines. Systematic screening of them may result in the discovery of novel effective compounds. This study was undertaken to evaluate the growth inhibitory activity of Ephedra major Host, an important medicinal plant with various biological activities, against pathogenic Bacteria involved in common infection.Plant collection was made from district west Tehran, Iran. Extracts were obtained from arial part of plant using ethanol, acetone, methanol and water. Extract was evaporated under vacuum at 60° C. Antibacterial activities of extracts were determined by In Vitro bioassays using agar diffusion-method, MIC and MBC against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Streptococcus pyogenes (PTCC 1447) and E. coli (ATCC 8739). E. coli exhibit sensitive only to acetone extract, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistance to water extract. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes were sensitive to all tested extracts.