BACKGROUND: Toxocara canis C-type lectin (T. canis-CTL) is the main protein part of the secretory-excretory product secreted by Toxocara canis infective larvae. T. canis-CTL can stimulate immune response-mediated regulatory T lymphocytes, increase the FOXP3+ cells population, and reduce severe inflammatory responses. T. canis-CTL is a promising candidate for immune modulation in some autoimmune diseases, deserving further investigation.OBJECTIVES: The current research aimed to purify the recombinant T. canis-CTL under denaturation and native condition to increase exploration and maintain biological activity.METHODS: The expression vector, pET32a was constructed with the partial sequence 660bp of T. canis-CTL and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). T. canis-CTL protein expression was induced by IPTG (1 mM) at 37°C after 6 h. In this study, different buffers were used for cell explosion and recombinant protein solubilization, including lysis buffer with urea (8 M, pH=8) and lysozyme enzyme as well as lysis buffer with Imidazole (0.01 M) and lysozyme enzyme, and previous buffers in addition to sonication. The effect of these buffers was evaluated in bacterial cells explosion, using Gram-staining and microscopic examination. Recombinant T. canis-CTL protein was extracted and purified under denaturation and native condition using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography by agarose and sepharose resin. A New Zealand male rabbit was immunized with the recombinant protein to evaluate the bioactivity of the protein. RESULTS: Lysis buffer with urea (8 M, pH=8) and lysozyme enzyme, in addition to sonication, provided acceptable results, and an additional amount of recombinant T. canis-CTL protein was secreted in the buffer. Protein purification under denaturation conditions with Ni-NTA agarose affinity chromatography also provides further recombinant protein. Most of the induction of recombinant T. canis-CTL with 41 KDa molecular weight was collected 6 h after induction at 37°C. Dot-blot results illustrate the brown dot, which showed a 1:500 titer of specific IgG polyclonal antibody has developed in the sera of rabbits immunized with T. canis-CTL recombinant protein.CONCLUSIONS: The denaturation condition did not affect the biological activity of the T. canis-CTL recombinant protein and can recover a further amount of recombinant proteins.

BACKGROUND: Many toxic elements enter human food in different ways by various industries which can put people's lives in danger. Heavy metals can be rarely removed from the body after absorption and deposition in tissues, which can lead to diseases and complications in the body. Mercury is one of the heavy metals that can posion people after consumption of contaminated seafood. The measurement of pollutants such as mercury that present in aquatic animals and environment is one of challenges for humans.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to measure the amount of mercury accumulation in the edible tissue of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) found in farms of Bushehr Province in Iran.METHODS: In this research, 70 whiteleg shrimps were collected during four sampling stages in July, August, September and October for two consecutive years. Total mercury level was measured by the cold vapor method.RESULTS: The level of mercury was 0-0.009 mg/kg of body weight, while the recommended limit for mercury is 0.1 mg/kg according to the WHO. The microscopic study on tissue sections did not show any histopathological changes.CONCLUSIONS: The mercury level in the edible tissue of whiteleg shrimps in Bushehr province is much lower than the recommded level and does not pose any danger to residents and consumers.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) can induce major changes in the function of different organs, including the liver. Studies have indicated that ischemic post-conditioning (HIPO) can protect the tissues against ischemia-reperfusion injury.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ischemia post-conditioning against the IRI of the rat liver through four 30-second cycles of alternating ischemia and reperfusion, before 24-hour persistent reperfusion.METHODS: Fifteen rats were randomly divided into 3 groups 1) operation control group, 2) ischemia-reperfusion (IR) group whose liver was exposed to 60-miute ischemia of by 24-hour reperfusion and 3) ischemic post-conditioning (IR+IPO) group underwent the same procedure as the second group except that before persistent reperfusion, the rats were subject to post-conditioning by four 30-second cycles of alternating ischemia and reperfusion. The changes induced by IRI and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ischemic post-conditioning were assessed by the serum level of IL-6 using the ELISA method, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). RESULTS: Ischemic post-conditioning potentiated antioxidant effects and reduced the inflammation caused by the IR in the liver. The serum level of IL-6 reduced from 394.4±126.4 to 124.4±29.07 pg/ml (post-conditioning group), and the tissue MDA reduced from 431.4±76.53 to 207.2±25.77 nmol/g) compared to the IR group. The data revealed that the levels of the indices returned almost to the level of the operation control group (P<0.001). Additionally, the total antioxidant capacity of the liver significantly improved (P<0.01) from 11.58±1.87 (in the IR group) to 17.53±2.51 mmol/mg (in the IR+IPO group).CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that the protective effect of ischemic post-conditioning against IR-induced injury may be mediated through decreasing inflammation and improving antioxidant activities.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, the interest in functional food has dramatically increased. Herbal plants and functional foods have health-enhancing effects on consumers due to their medicinal, antioxidant, and nutritional properties. Probiotics are one of the most emerging and popular functional food products. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the effect of irradiated and non-irradiated saffron petal extract on the viability of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (M4PM99) in probiotic yogurt.METHODS The ethanolic extract of irradiated saffron petals with a 10 KGy dose of gamma ray at concentrations of 25, 50, and 75 mg/mL and non-irradiated extract at the same concentrations were used and their effect on the viability of Lacticaseibacilus paracasei and their antioxidant and physicochemical properties in set yogurt were studied. Probiotic survival, pH, acidity, content of total phenolic compounds, DPPH inhibition percentage, and sensory properties on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 were assessed.RESULTS: Both irradiated and non-irradiated saffron extracts significantly increased the viability of probiotic bacteria compared to the control sample (P<0.05). The addition of extracts was effective in increasing acidity and decreasing pH compared to the control (P<0.05). With the increase in the amount of extract, the percentage of DPPH inhibition and phenolic compounds significantly increased in the irradiated samples (P<0.05). The effect of storage time was also significant on these indicators, such that the antioxidant properties and phenolic compounds increased until the 14th day and then decreased (P<0.05). In the sensory evaluation, in terms of taste, odor, and color, the lowest score was related to the sample containing 0.75% extract. No significant difference was observed in other concentrations compared to the control sample.CONCLUSIONS: Saffron petal extract has a positive effect on the viability of probiotics during storage. Gamma irradiation has a significant effect on the amount of total phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of saffron petal extract. It can be used as a natural antioxidant in dairy products.

BACKGROUND: Milk and dairy products are important sources of food-borne pathogens. Non-pasteurized dairy products are popular due to home production, beliefs about their higher nutritional value, high accessibility, and taste.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the consumption pattern of local dairy products in women in Qom, Iran, in 2022, and determine the affecting factors.METHODS: In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2022, 319 women in Qom were selected using a stratified random sampling method. Their demographic information (age, educational level, employment status, and income) and consumption of local dairy products were surveyed. In addition, a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with 32 items and 4 subscales (attitude towards nutrition, subjective norms, behavioral intention, and nutritional behavior) was completed. The data was analyzed in SPSS software using ANOVA, and Chi-square test.RESULTS: Overall, the consumption rate of local milk was 82.3 %; yogurt, 85.1 %; cheese, 57.3%; cream, 53.7 %; butter, 42.3 %; and curd, 33.9 %. Regarding the daily consumption rate, the highest consumption rate was related to milk (13.9 %) and yogurt (11.8 %), and the lowest consumption was related to curd (3.1%) and cream (5.1 %). The type of dairy consumed was significantly related to behavioral intention and nutritional attitude (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the type of consumed dairy in terms of the husband's occupation (P=0.001), but there was no significant difference in terms of educational level, marital status, employment status, and relationship with the villagers (P>0.05).CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of local dairy products consumption, especially milk and yogurt, is high in women living in Qom. Their behavioral intention to consume healthy dairy products is at good level, but they do not have proper nutritional attitude and nutritional behavior. Therefore, the risk of developing common zoonotic diseases, including brucellosis and crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is high in Qom.

BACKGROUND: Based on the historical and recently published documents, it has been demonstrated that Mirabilis jalapa as a herbal medicine may be used as remedies for various health problems included wound healing purposes.OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of Laleh abbasi green leaf on healing open wounds induced by skin puncture in the back of rats.METHODS: Collecting and drying Laleh abbasi leaves, leaf extracting through Soxhlet procedure, analyzing the extract via gc / ms method, and preparing eucerin-based extract ointment were done according to recommended routine procedures. Herein, we recruited 40 male rats that were randomly divided into five groups of eight, namely the control, phenytoin treatment, eucerin, 5% eucerin extract, and 7.5% eucerin extract ointment treatment groups. Skin puncture and application of ointments on the induced wounds were carried out. Subsequently, tissue samples were taken on days 3, 7, 10, and 14, followed by which histological slides were prepared and stained with H&amp;E and Masson’s trichrome staining methods. In vitro mycological studies were conducted using opportunistic fungi, including Candida, Mucor, and Aspergillus species.RESULTS: Based on the macroscopic evaluations of the wound healing process and microscopic assessments of tissue samples stained with Harris H&amp;E and Masson’s trichrome methods, the groups treated with eucerin-based ointments containing ethanolic extract of Laleh abbasi leaf had statistically significant positive wound healing responses compared to the other groups. However, the 7.5% ointment group showed statistically better responses compared to the 5% ointment group. The data obtained in the present preliminary experiment on rat model indicated that the extract could facilitate the wound healing process in terms of healing parameters, such as accelerating epithelium repair, creating a favorable inflammatory reaction, angiogenesis, fibroplasia, and collagen precipitation. The antifungal effects of ethanolic extract of Laleh abbasi leaves on Aspergillus fumigatos, fusarium, Candida albicans and Candida cruzei were demonstrated in vitro using saboro dextrose agar medium.CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of this experimental study and the findings of other researchers, it can be concluded that ethanolic extract from Laleh abbasi leaves is of healing and antifungal properties.

BACKGROUND: Excretory urography is a method of imaging the kidneys, ureters, and urinary bladder which uses contrast medium containing the iodine compounds.OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the anatomical structures of urinary tract in the nephrogram, pilogram, and cystogram phases, and determine the exact standard for the size of kidneys, ureters and urinary bladder in guinea pigs to be used to interpret the results, and clinical decisions.METHODS: This study was carried out on 10 guinea pigs with a mean age of 12±1.33 months and average weight of 1.12±0.18 kg. Before to the administration of contrast medium, each guinea pig was fast and Dimethicone 20 mg/kg was given orally. At the time of administration of contrast agent, each animal was sedated by using Ketamine 30 mg/kg and diazepam 5 mg/kg cocktail, and then 1500 mgI/kg of meglumine compound 60 % was injected subcutaneously over the shoulder area. Ventrodorsales and lateral abdominal X-rays were taken, thereafter every 5 minutes up to 60 minutes to complete the pylogram phase. In lateral radiographs of each guinea pig, the length of the body of the second lumbar vertebra was measured to be used as an indicator in determining the standard size of the kidneys.RESULTS: Based on the results of this study, the average length, width, and thickness of the right kidney compared to the length of the second lumbar vertebra were 2.19, 1.64, and 1.33 cm, and in the left kidney of 2.09, 1.53, and 1.41 cm and this average in right and left ureter was 6.41 and 6.22 cm, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: The exact standards can be used in the interpretation of results, and clinical decisions to determine the normal and abnormal size of kidneys, ureters and bladder in the guinea pigs.

BACKGROUND: Coronaviruses, which mainly cause gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, have been identified in various species. Among the extensive genomic data of disease-causing Coronaviruses in humans and animals, some similarities can be analyzed by in-silico methods.   OBJECTIVES: In the present study, comparative genome analysis of medical and veterinary medicine Coronaviruses was performed to obtain more accurate information about the genetic similarities and differences of different members of this family.METHODS: The genomic sequences were retrieved from NCBI and Virus Pathogen Resource databases. Using the NCBI database blast algorithm, all sequences were aligned with the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence, and similarity was obtained. Amino acid sequences of structural and non-structural proteins associated with coding regions (CDS) were aligned separately with the SARS-CoV-2, and their similarities were calculated. The 3D structure from each protein was compared with the corresponding protein in SARS-CoV-2, and Template Modeling Scores (TM-Score) were obtained. A phylogenetic tree of different species of the Coronaviridae family was drawn based on nucleotide and amino acid sequence data.RESULTS: Nonstructural coding gene sequences detected the highest interspecies similarities in nucleotide, amino acid sequence, and 3D structure (nsp12, nsp13, nsp14, and nsp16). The ORF1ab, encoding non-structural proteins, carries essential functions for viral replication.CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the transcription complex is highly conserved among human and animal Coronaviruses. A comparison and analysis of the Coronaviridae transcription complex can be considered a key target for diagnosing, developing antiviral therapies, and designing vaccines.

BACKGROUND: The use of plant compounds and their derivatives, such as extracts and essential oils, for combating infectious agents has attracted a great deal of scientific attention. One of the active antimicrobial compounds with plant origin is carvacrol.OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of carvacrol alone and in combination with the antibiotic cefixime against Escherichia coli O157:H7.METHODS: The antibacterial properties of carvacrol and cefexime were evaluated by determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and disk diffusion method. The checkerboard assay was used to evaluate the interaction between the carvacrol and cefexime and to determine the fractional inhibitory concentration.RESULTS: The results showed that the MIC and MBC of carvacrol and cefexime against E.coli O157:H7 were 250, 250 μg/ml (MIC, MBC) and 128, 128 μg/ml (MIC, MBC), respectively. In the checkerboard test, carvacrol was found to have a synergistic interaction with antibiotic cefixime against E. coli O157:H7 (FIC index=0.5).CONCLUSIONS: Due to the significant antibacterial activity of carvacrol, the present study introduced this agent as a new antibacterial drug with a natural origin. In addition, since carvacrol significantly increased the antibacterial potential of cefixime (synergistic properties), it could be considered as an effective compound for increasing the antibacterial power of cefixime antibiotic.

BACKGROUND: The protozoan Haemoproteus belongs to the Phylum Apicomplexa, Class Sporozoa, and Order Haemosporina. Avian haemosporidian are protozoan parasites that use birds as hosts around the world. Many species of wild and domestic doves are natural hosts of different species of Haemoproteus. Blood-sucking arthropods are the main vectors of these blood parasites.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was the microscopic and molecular investigation of the protozoan Haemoproteus columbae in the blood of infected pigeons in Torkaman County, Iran.METHODS: Blood samples and tubes containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulant were collected from 96 domestic pigeons randomly from 14 pigeon lofts and different parts of Torkaman County.Pigeons were also inspected for infection with the host-vector Pseudolynchia canariensis. In the next step, blood smears were stained with Giemsa and examined microscopically. Also, blood tubes containing EDTA were tested by PCR method on the cytochrome b gene.RESULTS: Microscopic and molecular examination of peripheral blood showed that 62 (64.58 %) and 73 (76.04 %) of the investigated pigeons were contaminated, respectively. Of the 62 infected pigeons infected with the Haemoproteus, 28 pigeons (66.66 %) were male, and 34 (62.96 %) were female. Also, the infestation with Pseudolynchia canariensis was observed in 4 (28.57 %) pigeon lofts.CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary investigation shows the high rate of Haemoproteus infection in pigeons in Torkaman County. Further studies to determine the prevalence and accurate identification of the species infecting pigeons in this region require PCR testing and sequencing of infected blood samples.