ramin farhoudi

 Low-cost, soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymers enhance the efficacy of herbal formulations with established antimicrobial properties.

 This study investigates the healing process of Staphylococcus aureus-infected wounds using PVA loaded with herbal extracts, including Arnebia euchroma, Allium sativum, and Echinacea purpurea.

 minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, Disk Diffusion Method (DDM) tests, and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses were conducted on herbal extract samples. Twelve male Wistar rats were divided into G1: Negative control group (healthy mice), G2: Wound model + S. aureus (Positive control), G3: wound model + S. aureus + Povidone-iodine, and G4: Wound model + S. aureus + PVA/formulation. Hematoxylin-eosin and immunofluorescent staining were employed to assess wound healing.

 The ethanolic herbal extract exhibited potent antibacterial activity against S. aureus, with MIC and MBC values in the 1.87 mg/mL range. The PVA/formulation displayed a zone of inhibition with a diameter of 7 mm against S. aureus. Histopathological investigations indicated that the infected wound treated with nanofibers extract experienced a significant reduction in inflammation between days 7 and 14. Notably, the increased CD3 expression at this site was remarkable for the healing process.

 Consequently, this experimental study suggests combining PVA and herbal extracts enhances antibacterial properties and promotes CD3 expression and re-epithelialization effects.

Management of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in humans depends on the availability of vaccines or effective drugs. Studies have shown that angiotensin‑converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is responsible for binding the viral spike glycoproteins to human cells. Melittin from the bee venom of Apis melifera is a peptide with antimicrobial activities.

In this study, important amino acid residues of ACE2 interacting with spike glycoproteins of the virus were described based on the ACE2‑spike–glycoprotein interface. This has been previously analyzed by Robson in crystal structures of the receptors and ligands. Flexible linkers and 31 amino acid residues from N‑terminal of ACE2 as coronavirus spike binding domains (SBDs) were added to 17 N‑terminal amino acids of melittin (the hydrophobic motif) to construct a hybrid peptide or M‑ACE2SBD. Then, secondary and tertiary structures of the peptide were predicted.

Docking of the hybrid peptide and coronavirus SBDs was carried out as well. Previous studies showed that toxicity and hemolytic activity of the melittin hydrophobic motif decreased in comparison to native melittin due to the lack of peptide binding to the exposed anionic lipids of the human cell membranes and hence the novel peptide can be recommended as an appropriate drug for clinical uses.

This study has hypothesized that 17 N‑terminal amino acids of the mutant melittin used in M‑ACE2SBD design are potentially hydrophobic and attached coronavirus‑2 through lipid envelope of the virus.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is easily transmitted from humans to animals and causes pneumonia, especially in horses. Extensive human vaccination prevents the transmission of the disease to the horse host. The immunogenicity of a vaccine is evaluated by various methods. The aim of this study was to design a test to evaluate the immunogenicity of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine as part of pre-clinical studies of vaccine production. After culturing Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19F in blood agar medium, the obtained colonies were labeled using fluorescence dye. On the other hand, the serum of BALB/c and DBA/2 mice immunized with Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine was collected to determine antibodies with phagocytosis properties against Streptococcus pneumoniae. After proximity of serum dilutions with labeled bacteria, the ability of bacteria to phagocytosis by serum opsonins (opsonophagocytosis) was read by adding mouse macrophage cells by flow cytometry. In both strains, the percentage of cells in the serum that phagocytosed the bacterium decreased with decreasing serum dilution. Opsonophagocytic titers were reported 128 in BALB/c mice and 64 in DBA/2 mice. On the other hand, flow cytometry results were significantly different from the results of manual colony count test (r = 0.89, p≤0.001). According to the results of the present study, the BALB/c strain of mice was a better host to determine the efficacy of the vaccine. Also, using flow cytometry method has more advantages than manual assay method. As a result, the data of this study bring us one step closer to producing an effective vaccine.

Today, cancer is one of the health concerns in modern societies. The use of nanoparticles in medical science has created new possibilities for diagnosis, imaging of tumors, and treatment of cancer in humans.  In this study, chitosan nanoparticles modified with quinic acid were used to diagnose breast cancer using a single-photon emission computed tomography imaging technique. For this purpose, quinic acid was activated by EDC/NHS and then binding was performed by adding chitosan nanoparticles.  TEM, DLS, FTIR, and LC/MASS analyzes were used to investigate this conjugation. MTT toxicity test showed no toxicity on the HEK-293 cell lines and therapeutic properties for the MCF-7 cell line. The response surface method depends on the central composite design that was applied. For the highest labeling efficiency, using 3 factors: the amount of chitosan-quinic acid, pH, and SnCl2 as a reducing agent, and the efficiency of labeling was evaluated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC).  Finally, the study of biodistribution using SPECT imaging in cancer mice and its comparison with blocking tests showed that this compound has a good ability to diagnose breast cancer.

Early detection of cancer can significantly increase the likelihood of successful treatment, and imaging assay can have a significant impact on cancer diagnosis. Although gadolinium compounds are used as a contrast agent in MRI, this substance has side effects and disadvantages. Nanotechnology has so far had a significan impact on medical imaging methods, especially MRI, nanoparticles are contrast enhancers that Each with its characteristics have increased the quality of images and reduced toxicity. In this study, a novel nano-conjugate based PLGA-tryptophan was synthesized and loaded with Gd3+ for using it as a potential MR imaging contrast agent to overcome the previous disadvantage. In vitro cell toxicity, cellular uptake and MR imaging parameters of the prepared nanoconjugate were investigated , The results showed no in vivo toxicity plus flowcytometry assays, good cellular uptake and large longitudinal (r1). Convenient features of the nano-probe indicate that it is a promising agent to use as a MR imaging agent.

The key point in the production procedure of inbred animals is checking the genetic purity. Skin grafting and coat color test are used traditionally to prove genetic purity, but they have some disadvantages. Recent advances in DNA profiling have enabled scientists to check easily the genetic purity of laboratory animals. In the current study, a set of microsatellite markers was designed to check the purity of inbred laboratory mice.

Twenty microsatellites located on 20 chromosomes were employed to create a distinctive genetic profile for parentage analysis. Each individual primer was designed based on distinguishable colors and separable sizes.

Twenty specific microsatellite markers were used in the polymerase chain reaction mixture to identify inbred BALB/cJ strains. Our results confirmed that the designed microsatellites are excellent genetic markers for testing inbred BALB/cJ strain in laboratories.

Our study showed that genetic profiling using microsatellite markers allows us to detect the genetic differences of laboratory mouse species in quality control tests and validation steps.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. Due to the lack of sufficient immune response in whole population, several studies have been conducted to improve the efficacy of alum- based HBV vaccine. Here, naloxone/alum mixture as adjuvant was used for the hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg vaccine and immune parameters evaluated in immunized mice.
The present study aimed at investigating the effect of naloxone/alum mixture for the HBsAg vaccine and comparing to Fendrix vaccine.
Female Balb/c mice were vaccinated at day 0, 14, and 28 with alum- based vaccine or naloxone/alum mixture vaccine in different doses. Naloxone/alum vaccine groups received a dose of 3, 6, or 10 mg/kg of naloxone (NLX) in the vaccine formulation. One group received routine HBsAg alum vaccine and another group received Fendrix vaccine. Some groups received naloxone plus HBsAg without alum and a group received HBsAg without adjuvant. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), naloxone, and alum were also injected into the control groups separately. Finally, the naloxone/alum formulated vaccine was compared with the Fendrix and routine alum- based vaccine with respect to the levels of total anti-HBS antibody, IFN-γ, IL-4, IgG1, IgG2a, and the level of lymphocyte proliferation.
The level of total anti-HBS antibody in naloxone formulated vaccine was comparable with Fendrix. Meanwhile, IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio level was significantly higher in naloxone formulated vaccine groups versus mere vaccine group. IgG2a was also higher in the naloxone formulated vaccine groups.
Based on the data presented in the present study, it was found that naloxone/alum mixture has the ability to shift the immune response towards Th1 pattern and potentially increase immunity against infections.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that infects people with immunocompromised defenses like neutropenic, burned, hospitalized, and cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.. The main aim of this study was to explore the possibility of the recombinant type A flagellin (r-fla-A) in combination of Montanide ISA 70 as a candidate vaccine to promote the humoral and cellular immune responses against r-fla-A.. Recombinant flagellin was prepared in Montanide ISA 70 adjuvant; Mice were divided into two groups one of six. The lymphocyte proliferation assay was performed with Brdu/ELISA and IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokine level assay was carried out to determine the pattern of immune response (Th1 vs. Th2). Specific antibody responses were measured with an optimized in direct ELISA and finally different isotype-specific antibodies including IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3, and IgM was measured with ELISA.. Immunized mice with adjuvanted flagellin showed a considerably increased lymphocyte proliferation compared with the control group (P = 0.004). High level of IL-4 and IFN-γ secretion was observed in immunized mice compared with the control group (P = 0.003 and P = 0.006, respectively) with Th1 profile. In addition to the strong antibody-mediated immune response, we found that immunization of mice with r-fla-A induces specific IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3 and IgM antibodies that indicates a statistically significant difference with the control group (P = 0.003, P = 0.004, P = 0.004, P = 0.006 and P = 0.004 respectively).. Our results demonstrated that r-fla-A could induce cellular and humoral immune response as proper stimulant of poly-isotypic humoral responses..