Results of skin test surveys for systemic Mycoses in Iran

Several investigators had carried out histoplasmin skin test surveys in 3 different areas of Iran before 1960 (5). To detect skin sensitivity to both histoplasmin and coccidioidin a study was carried out by the Institute of Public Health Research in parts of 7 of the country's 13 provinces on both apparently healthy persons and on clinic patients from February 1962–September 1966. These studies uncovered a small focus with a rather high level of positive reaction to histoplasmin (about 17 %). Positive cultures ofHistoplasma capsulatum were not obtained from either sputum of the positive reactors or from collected soils. In spite of a previously reported case of coccidioidomycosis, very low percentages of positive reaction to coccidioidin were noted.These studies were supported in part by the Institute of Public Health Research Teheran University, and funds of the Ministry of Health and Plan Organization for Project No. 631101 and N.I.H. Grant No. TW00170.Paper read at the Eighth International Congresses for Tropical Medicine and Malaria, September 1968, Teheran (Iran).     

ATP regulation of a large conductance voltage-gated cation channel in rough endoplasmic reticulum of rat hepatocytes

ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels play an important role in regulating membrane potential during metabolic stress. In this work we report the effect of ATP and ADP-Mg on a K⁺ channel present in the membrane of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) from rat hepatocytes incorporated into lipid bilayers. Channel activity was found to decrease in presence of ATP 100 μM on the cytoplasmic side and was totaly inhibited at ATP concentrations greater than 0.25 mM. The effect appeared voltage dependent, suggesting that the ATP binding site was becoming available upon channel opening. Channel activity was suppressed by the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog (ATPγS), ruling out a phosphorylation-based mechanism. Notably addition of 2.5 mM ADP-Mg to the cytosolic side increased the channel open probability at negative potentials. We conclude that the large conductance voltage-gated cation channel in RER of rat hepatocytes is an ATP and ADP sensitive channel likely to be involved in cellular processes such as Ca²⁺ signaling or control of membrane potential across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.     

Enhanced h6h transcript level,antioxidant activity and tropane alkaloid production in Hyoscyamus reticulatus L. hairy roots elicited by acetylsalicylic acid

Hyoscyamine (Hyos) and scopolamine (SCP) are drugs widely used as antimuscarinic to treat diseases such as Parkinson’s or to calm schizoid patients. In this study, with the aim of enhancing tropane alkaloid production in H. reticulatus hairy root cultures, the effects of the signalling molecule acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) were investigated at different concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mM) and inoculation times (24 and 48 h). As well as reducing biomass production, ASA treatment significantly enhanced the activity of catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase (p < 0.01), which was highest at 48 h of exposure to 1 mM of ASA. The highest accumulation of Hyos and SCP (1.6- and 3.5-fold more than in the control, respectively) was obtained at 24 h of exposure to 0.1 mM ASA. Additionally, semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed an increased expression of the hyoscyamine-6-beta-hydroxylase (h6h) gene, involved in the last Hyos and SCP biosynthetic step, which correlated with the enhanced level of Hyos and SCP production under ASA elicitation. Our findings suggest that ASA, by stimulating the expression of key biosynthetic genes and enzymes, can be applied to increase commercial tropane alkaloid production in a H. reticulatus hairy root system.     

Association of interleukin-18 gene variants with susceptibility to visceral leishmaniasis in Iranian population

Host resistance to Leishmania infection is mediated by cellular immune responses leading to macrophage activation and parasite killing. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) known as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) inducing factor, stimulates IFN-γ production by T cells. Taking into account the important role of IL-18 in the defense against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and the known effect of IL-18 gene polymorphisms on its production, the aim of this study was to investigate the probable relationship between IL-18 gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to VL. The study groups included 118 pediatric patients who suffered from VL and 156 non-relative healthy people as the controls from the same endemic area. IL-18 gene polymorphisms at the positions ?656 G/T, ?137 G/C and +105A/C (codon 35/3) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). The results showed that the frequency of T allele at the position -656 was significantly higher in the controls, compared with that in the patients (P = 0.047), but it couldn’t tolerate Bonferroni correction. Regarding the IL-18 genotypes, there was no significant difference between the patients and controls. Although the frequencies of ATG single haplotype and AGG/ATG double haplotype were significantly higher in the controls (P = 0.043) and the patients (P = 0.044), respectively, the two P values couldn’t tolerate Bonferroni correction. Furthermore, a strong linkage disequilibrium was observed among the ?656, ?137 and +105 single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-18 gene (all Ps < 0.001). In conclusion, this study suggests that the inheritance of T allele at the position ?656 may be considered as a genetic factor for resistance to VL.     

Molecular Detection of Hepatitis E Virus in Sewage Samples

Human hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered an emerging pathogen in industrialized countries. In Italy, the true burden of HEV infection is unknown. Molecular HEV screening of raw sewage samples from 11 wastewater treatment plants yielded 19 positives (16%; 18 genotype I, 1 genotype III) evenly distributed throughout Italy. Evidence that HEV could be establishing itself in our region is accumulating and may justify more active surveillance to monitor its spread.Hepatitis E is a self-limited, enterically transmitted acute viral hepatitis that occurs most frequently in epidemic outbreaks and often spreads by way of fecally contaminated drinking water (5, 20). Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are caused by a positive-sense, nonenveloped RNA virus of the Hepevirus genus. The four major genotypes (GI to GIV), all belonging to a single serotype, are known to infect humans. While GI and GII are restricted to humans, GIII and GIV are zoonotic and may infect animals (swine, chickens, deer, mongooses, and rabbits), as well as humans, in both industrialized and nonindustrialized countries (18, 19). GI consists of epidemic strains circulating in Africa and Asia. GII is found in Mexico and Africa. GIII is widely distributed, mainly—but not exclusively—in the United States, Europe, and Japan. GIV is present in Asia (16). An HEV strain belonging to a fifth genotype has been identified in birds (12).HEV is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Large waterborne outbreaks with high attack rates among young adults have been described in regions characterized by poor sanitary conditions (22). Hepatitis E is responsible for over 50% of cases of acute viral hepatitis in countries where the disease is endemic (Central and Southeast Asia, North and West Africa, and Mexico), where seroprevalence rates range from 15% to 60% (8). North America and Europe have traditionally been considered areas where HEV is not endemic, with acute infection diagnosed rarely and largely confined to travelers returning from areas where the disease is endemic. The high rates of HEV IgG positivity reported in different studies, however, suggest that unrecognized or subclinical infection is common (8). In Europe, increasing numbers of HEV infections not associated with travel have been recently reported (15).HEV infection may vary in severity from asymptomatic to fulminant. Case fatality rates range between 0.5% and 4% overall but may reach 25% among pregnant women (1). In industrialized countries, the case fatality rate seems to be higher than in areas where the disease is endemic, since infection occurs more frequently in elderly people with chronic liver disease, a subgroup of patients with a case fatality rate approaching 70% (26).HEV, which is shed in the feces of infected individuals, has been detected in sewage samples, suggesting that HEV contamination of aquatic environments may also be present (2, 6, 7, 23). In Italy, the true burden of HEV infection is still unknown and there are no available studies on the presence of this virus in sewage. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies among healthy individuals has been found to be approximately 1% in the northern regions and up to 5% in the southern regions, including Sicily and Sardinia. Higher prevalence rates have been found among drug users (especially HIV-infected individuals), hemodialysis patients, and patients with chronic hepatitis C, suggesting that HEV may be transmitted not only by the fecal-oral route (the main mode of transmission) but also parenterally (27).The objective of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of HEV through the molecular screening of raw sewage samples collected from urban wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) in different regions of Italy.     

Genetics study of resistance to yellow rust in CIMMYT origin wheat advanced lines at seedling and adult plant stages

To study genetically and evaluate resistance to yellow rust, 29 wheat advanced lines were evaluated in randomised complete blocks design with three replicates in seedling stage under greenhouse conditions using nine races 6E150A+, 198E150A+, 134E150A+, 6E158A+, 166E150A+, 198E130A+, 166E158A+, 230E158A+ and 70E0A+, separately. In the adult plant stage, the genotypes were evaluated in two regions of Iran, Zarghan and Gorgan. The components of resistance including latent period and infection type were recorded under greenhouse conditions. Cluster analysis in all races showed that the genotypes 11, 28 and 29 were completely resistant to all races. Under Zarghan and Gorgan races, 27 and 73% of genotypes were resistant in the adult plant stage, respectively. Seven percent of genotypes were resistant in both stages, seedling and adult plant. All resistant lines can be used in plant breeding programme.