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Background: The infections caused by Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis (Salmonella enteritidis) have been increasing in developed and developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic relationship between the strains of Salmonella enteritidis. Methods: In a descriptive study from 2008 to 2010, clinical Salmonella enteritidis strains were collected from the patients referred to different hospitals in Tehran. The strains identified by biochemical and serological methods. Genetic relationships between the isolates were investigated using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method. Findings: Of 40 Salmonella enteritidis isolated strains, two PFGE profiles were obtained which among them, 32 (80%) and 8 (20%) of isolates belonged to cluster A and cluster B, respectively. Based on PFGE patterns, 28 (70%) strains exhibited nine bands and were belonged to cluster A. Conclusion: The result of this study indicated that isolated Salmonella enteritidis strains belonged to the closed clones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic impacts of two important alleles of the growth hormone receptors (GHR), one with retention of exon 3 [exon 3 (+) GHR] and the other with the deletion of it [exon 3 (-) GHR], on the metabolic risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are really unknown. We aimed to evaluate relationships between the genotypes and metabolic risk factors of T2DM. Methods: In the present study, 40 patients in pre-diabetic state and 40 healthy subjects were selected based on their clinical and laboratory evidence. For genotyping, DNA was extracted from the leukocytes of peripheral blood and amplified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction method. Genotypes of the amplified DNA samples were resolved using 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis. Other risk factors were also determined by using standard methods and appropriate kits. Findings: Frequency of the homozygote exon 3 retained genotype [exon 3 (+/+) GHR] was significantly higher in the subject in pre-diabetic state (P < 0.001); the frequency of exon 3 (+/-) GHR and exon 3 (-/-) GHR genotypes were significantly higher in the control subjects (P < 0.001). The decrease of metabolic risk factors was profound in subjects with exon 3(-/-) GHR genotype (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The presence of exon 3 deleted allele of GHR, especially in the homozygosity situation, was associated with decreased levels of the metabolic risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus. So, the exon 3 deleted GHR may have more robust biological and metabolic activities lead to the resistance against T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was production of a recombinant antigen from envelope protein of dengue virus, in order to achieve high level expression in soluble form. Therefore, the possibility of envelope protein domain III expression in bacterial host was studied. Methods: Multiple sequence alignment for domain III sequences was carried out using Megalign software. The Modeller and Optimizer software were used for protein structure prediction and sequence optimization. After gene synthesis and subcloning in the pET21a expression vector, the optimization of recombinant protein expression was carried out in Escherichia coli. Ni-NTA chromatography columns were used for protein purification. The efficiency of protein expression was analyzed using electrophoresis and western blotting methods. Findings: A consensus sequence for domain III of dengue virus type 2 envelope protein was provided. The structural properties of target protein were predicted using bioinformatics methods. For high expression level, the sequence of EDIII2 gene was optimized for appropriate codon usage and GC content. The coding gene sequence was approved by sequencing and enzymatic digestion. For disulfide bound formation in protein structure, the Origami (DE3) expression host was used. At the final step, expression of target protein was optimized, and a high concentration of recombinant protein was achieved in soluble form. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the optimization of domain III sequence led to obtain high concentration (20 mg/l) of produced protein. This expression system can be used for production of dengue virus envelope protein domain III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aromatase is a key enzyme in production of estrogen. This enzyme is encoded by cytochrome P-450 (CYP19) gene. It has been shown that overexposure of cells to estrogen causes breast carcinoma and breast cancer patients show higher level of aromatase expression. The purpose of this study was to investigate polymorphism of the CYP19 intron 4 (TTTA)n among breast cancer patients and healthy individuals and its relation to risk of breast cancer. Methods: This study was a case-control study on 100 patients and 100 controls women. DNA was extracted from the blood of study subjects, the sequence were amplified by the technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Thereafter the number and sequence of TTTA was measured by gel electrophoresis on Polyacrylamid. Findings: The results of this study shown that CYP19 gene allele distribution in Isfahan population varies between 7 and 13. The most common allele in both controls and cases was (TTTA)7-TCT with frequencies of 34.3% and 34.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Our results show that the frequency distribution of 10 TTTA repeats is more in controls (2.3%) than in patients (1.3%). This discrepancy suggests a protective role for this allele for Isfahanian women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: S-layer protects bacteria to the phagocytosis and prohibits the entry of some biomolecules and adhesion molecules to the matrix proteins which increase the stability of infection and antibiotic resistance in virulence agents. Therefore the spread of bacteria which have S-layer in the hospitals should be avoided. Surfaces can serve as reservoirs of potential pathogen and is important in the chain of infection. Surfaces bacteria have low potential to spread, but staff hands have many contacts with hospital surfaces, especially with high contact surfaces. Therefore it could be a potential source of bacteria transmission from surfaces. Methods: This research was performed in the Al-zahra hospital of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (2005 to 2007). 274 samples were randomly selected (194 sample from surface and 80 sample from staff hand). Environmental samples collected, from high and low contact surface with swab in NB and staff hand. Samples were collected through finger print method and identification of bacteria, were performed with microbiological methods: staining, chemical test, use of differential and selective media. Isolated Bacillus cereus strains, performed with Bacillus cereus Selective Agar, for preparation samples, in first culture Bacteria in TSA, for 16h, then separated surface proteins and finally, specimen's electrophoresis proximally molecular weight marker. S-layer in Bacillus cereus has 97KD molecular weight. Findings: According to the results, the prevalence of Bacillus cereus strains was 9.49%. The prevalence of Bacillus cereus strains in environmental and staff hands were respectively 6.7% and 16.25%, and of 13 isolated Bacillus cereus from, staff hand 11 strain (84.6%) and from 13 isolated Bacillus cereus from environmental samples 1 strain (7.7%) production S-layer. Conclusion: We found a high prevalence Bacillus cereus in staff hands and hospital surfaces and frequency surface layer in Bacillus cereus isolated of staff hands into hospital surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]