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Hassan Dana, 1, 2,* Ghanbar Mahmoodi Chalbatani, 1,* Elahe Gharagouzloo, 1 Seyed Rouhollah Miri, 1 Fereidoon Memari, 1 Reza Rasoolzadeh, 3 Mohammad Reza Zinatizadeh, 3 Peyman Kheirandish Zarandi, 3 Vahid Marmari 2 1Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; 2Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran; 3Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Fereidoon Memari; Sayed Rohollah MiriCancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, IranTel +98-910-5040-602; +98-912-6543-321Email memarife@tums.ac.ir; Srmiri@sina.tums.ac.irIntroduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a type of cancer in humans that leads to high mortality and morbidity. CD166 and CD326 are immunoglobulins that are associated with cell migration. These molecules are included in tumorigenesis of CRC and serve a great marker of CRC stem cells. In the present study, we devised a novel chimeric protein including the V 1-domain of the CD166 and two epitopes of CD326 to use in diagnostic or therapeutic applications.Methods: In silico techniques were launched to characterize the properties and structure of the protein. We have predicted physicochemical properties, structures, stability, MHC class I binding properties and ligand-receptor interaction of this chimeric protein by means of computational bioinformatics tools and servers. The sequence of chimeric gene was optimized for expression in prokaryotic host using online tools and cloned into pET-28a plasmid. The recombinant pET28a was transformed into the E. coli BL21DE3. Expression of recombinant protein was examined by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.Results: The designed chimeric protein retained high stability and the same immunogenicity as of the original proteins. Bioinformatics data indicated that the epitopes of the synthetic chimeric protein might induce B-cell- and T-cell-mediated immune responses. Furthermore, a gene was synthesized using the codon bias of a prokaryotic expression system. This synthetic gene expressed a bacterial expression system. The recombinant protein with molecular weights of 27kDa was expressed and confirmed by anti-his Western blot analysis.Conclusion: The designed recombinant protein may be useful as a CRC diagnostic tool and for developing a protective vaccine against CRC.Keywords: chimeric protein, molecular docking, molecular dynamic, vaccine

Refereed/Peer-reviewed A novel coronavirus, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In early 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 the sixth public health emergency of international concern. The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially affected many groups within the general population, but particularly those with extant clinical conditions, such as having or being treated for cancer. Cancer patients are at a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 since the malignancy and chemotherapy may negatively affect the immune system, and their immunocompromised condition also increases the risk of infection. Substantial international efforts are currently underway to develop specific methods for diagnosing and treating COVID-19. However, cancer patients' risk profiles, management, and outcomes are not well understood. Thus, the main objective of this review is to discuss the relevant evidence to understand the prognosis of COVID-19 infections in cancer patients more clearly, as well as helping to improve the clinical management of these patients.

Refereed/Peer-reviewed The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has various presentations, of which immune dysregulation or the so-called cytokine storm syndrome (COVID-CSS) is prominent. Even though cytokines are vital regulators of body immunoinflammatory responses, their exaggerated release can be harmful. This hyperinflammatory response is more commonly observed during severe COVID-19 infections, caused by the excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-8, tumour necrosis factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interferon-gamma, making their blockers and antagonists of great interest as therapeutic options in this condition. Thus, the pathophysiology of excessive cytokine secretion is outlined, and their most important blockers and antagonists are discussed, mainly focussing on tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor blocker approved to treat severe COVID-19 infections.

Refereed/Peer-reviewed Since the start of the pandemic, thrombotic events have been a well-known and severe complication associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Nevertheless, the initiation of vaccination programs brought another rare yet highly fatal thrombotic event, vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopaenia, which has caused extensive debate regarding the safety of vaccines. This review defines the thromboembolic events following infection and vaccination, identifies their risk factors, describes their pathophysiology, and discusses their management, treatment, and prevention.