Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiongjiong Chang, Chunlai Liang, Wei Wang, Ling Yong, Weifeng Mao, Hui Yang, Xudong Jia, Zhaoping Liu, Yan Song
Summary: The study found that high doses of atrazine had significant adverse effects on mice in terms of body weight, immune cell counts, and organ weights, while low doses had minimal impact on the immune system. Atrazine mainly causes immunotoxicity through cellular and humoral immunity pathways.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Mahya Sadat Lajevardi, Elham Gholami, Tahereh Taheri, Hamzeh Sarvnaz, Sima Habibzadeh, Negar Seyed, Yousef Mortazavi, Sima Rafati
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania parasites, for which there is currently no effective treatment or human vaccine. Salivary proteins from sand flies have been identified as potential candidates for an anti-Leishmania vaccine. In this study, researchers successfully incorporated two protective salivary proteins into the genome of a safe live vector and demonstrated promising protective immunity against L. major and L. tropica in vaccinated mice.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Woraporn Sukhumavasi, Theerayuth Kaewamatawong, Nawaphat Somboonpoonpol, Montakan Jiratanh, Juntra Wattanamethanont, Morakot Kaewthamasorn, Saovanee Leelayoova, Saruda Tiwananthagorn
Summary: Leishmania martiniquensis is a neglected cause of emerging leishmaniasis with different clinical manifestations in various countries. The study found resolution of infection in the liver but persistent infection in the spleen, with upregulation of Th1 cytokines and iNOS. High expression of IL-10 in the spleen was correlated with parasite persistence. Further research on the mechanisms of persistent infection and experimental infection in immunosuppressed murine models is needed.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Nazanin Biari, Seyedeh Hoda Alavizadeh, Omid Chavoshian, Azam Abbasi, Zahra Saberi, Seyed Amir Jalali, Ali Khamesipoure, Mahmoud Reza Jaafari, Ali Badiee
Summary: The study aimed to compare the effects of stable SM liposomes containing WLL with other types of vaccines in BALB/c mice. Results showed that although liposomal WLL were stable in physicochemical properties, mice receiving Liposome-WLL did not reduce footpad swelling, and the load of parasites in spleen and levels of IL-4 were higher compared to other immunized groups.
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Mohammad Reza Madanipour, Mortaza Fatehi-Zardalou, Nastaran Rahimi, Sara Hemmati, Mojgan Alaeddini, Shahroo Etemad-Moghadam, Maryam Shayan, Sasan Dabiri, Ahmad Reza Dehpour
Summary: This study found that dapsone has anti-inflammatory effects on allergic rhinitis in mice, significantly reducing nasal symptoms caused by inflammation and showing improvement in histopathological analysis.
Article
Microbiology
T. T. Guimaraes, S. M. R. Gomes, R. A. A. C. Albuquerque, A. K. C. Lima, G. F. Braga, J. B. Souza, M. Assis, A. C. S. Brito, R. F. Santos, T. Da Silva, L. M. Siqueira, B. D. Ventura, L. S. Rodrigues, R. Terra, S. A. G. Da Silva, P. M. L. Dutra
Summary: Moderate exercise promotes resistance to infections, while high intensity exercise may increase susceptibility. The study demonstrates that high volume aerobic training can enhance BALB/C mice susceptibility to L. major infection.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carlos M. Restrepo, Alejandro Llanes, Lizzi Herrera, Esteban Ellis, Ricardo Lleonart, Patricia L. Fernandez
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites, with different mouse strains exhibiting varying responses to Leishmania infection. By studying gene expression differences in macrophages, it was found that C57BL/6 macrophages display a classical activation pattern associated with disease resolution, whereas BALB/c macrophages show an intermediate activation pattern favoring parasite persistence. The intermediate pattern observed in BALB/c macrophages resembles the pattern seen in human infections with L. panamensis, supporting BALB/c as a preferred model for studying L. panamensis infection.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Hamidreza Majidiani, Abdolhossein Dalimi, Fatemeh Ghaffarifar, Majid Pirestani
Summary: This study focused on a novel multi-epitope vaccine designed in silico and successfully induced immune responses in mice, demonstrating potential protective effects against acute toxoplasmosis.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Gad Baneth, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Offir Adamsky, Idit Gunther
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of Leishmania infection in dogs and cats in a focus of human L. tropica infection in Israel. The results showed a high rate of Leishmania infection in pets, with L. tropica infection reported in cats for the first time in Israel. Clinical manifestations in cats infected with L. tropica included weight loss, azotemia, gingivostomatitis, and skin lesions.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Karina Miyuki Retamiro, Karine Campos Nunes, Aline Pinto Zani, Caroline Pinto Zani, Laiza Bergamasco Beltran, Sueli de Oliveira Silva, Francielle Pelegrin Garcia, Tania Ueda-Nakamura, Rosangela Bergamasco, Celso Vataru Nakamura
Summary: Ionized water has been found to aid in tissue repair and wound healing. Water purifiers can produce ionized water by using activated charcoal with silver and minerals to reduce contaminants. Additionally, subjecting water to a magnetic field causes a reorganization of water molecules, resulting in alkaline water that has been shown to be non-toxic to mice and can extend survival.
Article
Parasitology
Debora Elienai de Oliveira Miranda, Kamila Gaudencio da Silva Sales, Luciana Aguiar Figueredo, Sheilla Andrade de Oliveira, Amanda Vasconcelos do Nascimento, Diego Jose Lira Torres, Petra Sumova, Petr Volf, Sinval Pinto Brandao-Filho, Suenia da Cunha Goncalves de Albuquerque, Virginia Maria Barros de Lorena, Filipe Dantas-Torres
Summary: Our study found that Migonemyia migonei salivary gland homogenates may modulate the immune response of BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, leading to reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and potentially smaller skin lesions. However, further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Article
Microbiology
Manuel Soto, Laura Ramirez, Jose Carlos Solana, Emma C. L. Cook, Elena Hernandez-Garcia, Jose Maria Requena, Salvador Iborra
Summary: The genetically-modified attenuated L. infantum line, Li Delta HSP70-II, was shown to prevent cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice challenged with virulent L. amazonensis parasites. Vaccinated mice exhibited decreased disease evolution, reduced lesions, and parasite burdens, along with induction of anti-Leishmania antibodies and specific IFN-gamma responses. This live vaccine may have potential as a candidate for human vaccine development against different forms of leishmaniasis.
Article
Immunology
Sanchita Das, Tanaya Saha, Chandrima Shaha
Summary: The pathophysiology of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) involves complex interactions between parasite components and host immune response. Metabolomics analysis of infected, uninfected, and treated tissues and biofluids in BALB/c mice revealed significant differential metabolites, indicating potential biomarkers for diagnostic and therapeutic targets. These findings enhance understanding of host metabolic changes during VL and provide valuable insights for further research.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tinmaya Rai, Srijan Shrestha, Sabita Prajapati, Anup Bastola, Niraj Parajuli, Pragya Gautam Ghimire, Parmananda Bhandari, Kishor Pandey, Manju Jain, Greg Matlashewski, Rachel Bras-Goncalves, Krishna Das Manandhar
Summary: Cutaneous leishmaniasis cases have increased significantly in Nepal. This study identified the Leishmania species in 40 patient samples using molecular methods. The results showed the presence of L. donovani complex and L. major as the causative agents. Moreover, the study found the concurrent occurrence of atypical and typical cutaneous infections caused by these two species.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ali Ghanbariasad, Alireza Valizadeh, Shamsi Noorpisheh Ghadimi, Zhila Fereidouni, Mahmoud Osanloo
Summary: The study investigated the leishmanicidal effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil and prepared a nanoemulsion, showing significant anti-leishmanial effects against Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica in vitro; post-treatment with the nanoemulsion resulted in 0% viability for both species.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng, Shuk-Ching Wong, Danny Wah-Kun Tong, Vivien Wai-Man Chuang, Jonathan Hon-Kwan Chen, Larry Lap-Yip Lee, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Pak-Leung Ho, Deacons Tai-Kong Yeung, Kin-Lai Chung, Kwok-Yung Yuen
Summary: A multipronged infection control strategy implemented in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced nosocomial acquisition among healthcare workers, with no documented transmission from COVID-19 patients in the hospitals.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Roya Chegene Lorestani, Narges Kazemisafa, Mosayeb Rostamian, Alisha Akya, Shahab Rezaeian, Homayoon Bashiri, Seyed Vahid Jasemi, Keyghobad Ghadiri
Summary: This study investigated the survival rate and potential survival-related factors in HIV/AIDS patients from 2011 to 2019 in the city of Kermanshah, Iran, finding that timely initiation of treatment has increased survival rates among HIV patients, while those with low CD4+ T cell count, lack of antiretroviral therapy, low level of education, males, and drug injectors are at highest risk of death.
CURRENT HIV RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Wang Chun Kwok, Sze Him Isaac Leung, Terence Chi Chun Tam, James Chung Man Ho, David Chi-Leung Lam, Mary Sau Man Ip, Pak Leung Ho
Summary: This study compared the efficacy of mRNA vaccine and inactivated whole virus vaccine in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The results showed that patients who received two doses of either vaccine had a lower risk of hospitalization and respiratory failure compared to those who were not vaccinated. Both vaccines were equally effective in preventing COVID-19-related hospitalization and respiratory failure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
King-Pui Florence Chan, Ting-Fung Ma, Siddharth Sridhar, David Chi-Leung Lam, Mary Sau-Man Ip, Pak-Leung Ho
Summary: Healthcare-seeking behavior changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and might alter the epidemiology of pleural empyema. This study compares the incidence, etiology, and outcomes of pleural empyema patients in Hong Kong before and after COVID-19. The incidence of pleural empyema in children significantly decreased in the post-COVID-19 period, while it remained similar in adults. The etiology shifted towards polymicrobial infections and decreased S. pneumoniae infections. Clinical outcomes did not significantly differ between the pre- and post-COVID-19 periods.
Article
Microbiology
Hanshu Fang, Chung-Ho Lee, Huiluo Cao, Shuo Jiang, Simon Yung-Chun So, Cindy Wing-Sze Tse, Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng, Pak-Leung Ho
Summary: The study evaluated the NG-Test(R) CTX-M MULTI lateral flow assay (CTX-M LFA) for rapid detection of CTX-M producers in spiked and clinical blood cultures. The results showed that the CTX-M LFA could accurately detect all CTX-M producers in spiked blood cultures, but false-positive results were observed in clinical blood cultures. Therefore, the CTX-M LFA can provide a reliable and rapid detection method for CTX-M producers in blood cultures.
Article
Virology
Wang Chun Kwok, Man Fung Tsoi, Sze Him Isaac Leung, Chung Ki Tsui, Terence Chi Chun Tam, James Chung Man Ho, David Chi Leung Lam, Mary Sau Man Ip, Pak Leung Ho
Summary: A retrospective cohort study conducted in Hong Kong showed that both molnupiravir (MOV) and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NMV-r) are effective in preventing severe outcomes of COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
Article
Microbiology
Xin Li, Huiluo Cao, Jonathan Hon-Kwan Chen, Yuey-Zhun Ng, Ka-Kin Fung, Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng, Pak-Leung Ho
Summary: Typhoid fever is a concerning disease in Hong Kong, with two local cases caused by Salmonella Typhi being identified within a two-week period in late 2022. A phylogenetic study of Salmonella Typhi isolates from Hong Kong Island between 2020 and 2022 revealed clonal transmission between the two cases. While most local strains belonged to the non-H58 genotype with low antibiotic resistance, the presence of extensively drug-resistant H58 strains is a worrying concern.
Article
Microbiology
Hanshu Fang, Xin Li, Mei-Kum Yan, Man-Ki Tong, Kin-Hung Chow, Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng, Pak-Leung Ho
Summary: This retrospective study analyzed the susceptibility levels of Bacteroides fragilis group (BFG) in a hospital-based laboratory. The study found emerging resistance of BFG to several important anti-anaerobic antibiotics, highlighting the importance of anaerobic susceptibility testing in clinical laboratories to guide therapy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amir Samimi Hashjin, Souroush Sardari, Mosayeb Rostamian, Khadijeh Ahmadi, Hamid Madanchi, Vahid Khalaj
Summary: This study used reverse vaccinology to design a multi-epitope vaccine candidate based on the S and M proteins of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Through prediction and immunogenicity simulation, the constructed vaccine candidate was found to induce cellular and humoral immune responses and create an excellent immune memory response. Additionally, the construct was found to interact with immune receptors and neutralizing antibodies with high affinity.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Forrest Tang, Chung-Ho Lee, Xin Li, Shuo Jiang, Kin-Hung Chow, Cindy Wing-Sze Tse, Pak-Leung Ho
Summary: This study evaluated two rapid detection methods for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales in midstream urine samples. The results showed that the CTX-M LFA had higher sensitivity than the ESBL NP test, while both tests had high specificity. These rapid tests could improve antimicrobial stewardship for urinary tract infections.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hana Heidarinia, Elahe Tajbakhsh, Mosayeb Rostamian, Hassan Momtaz
Summary: In this study, T-cell and B-cell epitopes of A. baumannii OmpW were predicted using bioinformatics and partially validated through in vitro experiments. A 15-mer peptide containing linear B-cell and T-cell epitopes was identified. Although the peptide showed some cell proliferation potential in vitro, it did not induce significant IFN-γ production, indicating the need for further improvement. Overall, this study identified highly immunogenic OmpW epitopes for further investigation and provided preliminary validation, but additional biotechnological modifications and studies are required.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fatemeh Nemati Zargaran, Mosayeb Rostamian, Saeed Alimoradi, Shahab Rezaeian, Etrat Javadirad, Roya Chegene Lorestani, Hajar Motamed, Mahtab Hasanpourshahlaei, Elham Rostami, Keyghobad Ghadiri
Summary: This study aimed to collect and compare clinical and laboratory findings of children with severe and nonsevere COVID-19 in Kermanshah City, Iran. The results showed that factors such as white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, CT findings, respiratory distress, cough, diarrhea, and vomiting can be used to evaluate the severity of COVID-19 in children.
HEALTH SCIENCE REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arezoo Bozorgomid, Roya Chegene Lorestani, Mosayeb Rostamian, Fatemeh Nemati Zargaran, Zhila Shahvaisi-Zadeh, Alisha Akya
Summary: This study evaluated the antibiotic resistance, virulence characteristics, and phylogenetic diversity of Escherichia coli isolated from raw and treated hospital wastewater in a general hospital in western Iran. The results highlight the potential of hospital wastewater as a source for spreading pathogenic and multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biology
Parivash Ranjbarian, Farjam Goudarzi, Alisha Akya, Hana Heidarinia, Alireza Farasat, Mosayeb Rostamian
Summary: This study used immunoinformatics approaches to predict the T cell and B cell epitopes of Klebsiella pneumoniae outer membrane protein-K17 (OMPK17). Several screening analyses were performed to identify potential epitopes, and a 25-mer peptide containing both T cell and B cell epitopes was identified for K. pneumoniae vaccine development.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qi Zhang, Minji Wang, Xuqiao Hu, Aixin Yan, Pak-Leung Ho, Hongyan Li, Hongzhe Sun
Summary: Gold-based drugs and nanoparticles can synergize with glutathione or N-acetyl cysteine to kill mcr-1-positive bacteria. This study not only provides a basis for combining gold-based drugs with colistin to combat mcr-1-positive bacterial infections, but also reveals a new horizon for overcoming antimicrobial resistance using gold-based drugs.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
