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Background: Trichomonas vaginalis is an anaerobic flagellated protozoan which is responsible for human urogenital infections. Several zymodemes of T. vaginalis have been reported from various parts of the worlds on the basis of isoenzyme patterns. This study was conducted to characterize the isolated organisms of T. vaginalis from HIV patients using isoenzyme electrophoresis in Fars and Kerman provinces, southeast Iran.Methods: Eighteen mass cultivated isolates of T. vaginalis in the modified TYI-S-33 medium were analyzed using isoenzyme electrophoresis. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of five different enzyme systems were used to characterize T. vaginalis isolates: (i) Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), (ii) Glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI), (iii) Malate dehydrogenase (MDH), (iv) Malic enzyme (ME), and (v) Phosphoglucomutase (PGM). Results: MDH, GPI, PGM, and ME enzyme systems showed a homogeneity and detected an identical enzyme pattern in all isolates. Meanwhile, G6PD revealed two different enzyme patterns. The isoenzyme electrophoretic profiles divided 18 T. vaginalis isolates into two zymodemes. Zymodeme 1 contained Shiraz isolates and zymodeme 2 contained Kerman isolates.Conclusion:The polymorphism of Iranian human isolates of T. vaginalis could be assessed by biochemical study using appropriate enzyme systems. Isoenzyme analysis is a promising method for the characterization of T. vaginalis. New molecular studies with increased number of enzyme loci and genetic markers are suggested to classify more zymodemes of Trichomonas in Iran.

Freshwater fishes varied morphologically, but genetic assessments need some clarification. The present study is carried out to illustrate genetic variations between the freshwater fishes; Malapterurus electricus (Gmelin, 1789), Synodontis schall (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), Labeo niloticus (Forsskål, 1775), and Lates niloticus as well as the brain isoenzymes electrophoresis of lactic dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The fishes were collected from River Nile were investigated for brain isoenzyme electrophoresis of lactic dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and genetic variation using ten primers. The result of the study showed variations in the expression of the assayed isoenzyme electrophoresis. Also, application of the RAPD PCR using 10 primers revealed marked variations between the studied fishes. The primer OPB-3 expressed the production of nine unique bands between the study fishes, Nevertheless, OPA-2 and OPB-7 led to the production of eight unique bands, while the primers of OPA-5, OPA-7, OPA-9 and OPB-8 exhibited seven unique bands. Finally, the authors concluded that fish species varied in genetic expression and isoenzymes activities especially lactic dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase of the studied freshwater fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trichomonas vaginalis is an anaerobic flagellated protozoan which is responsible for human urogenital infections. Several zymodemes of T. vaginalis have been reported from various parts of the worlds on the basis of isoenzyme patterns. This study was conducted to characterize the isolated organisms of T. vaginalis from HIV patients using isoenzyme electrophoresis in Fars and Kerman provinces, southeast Iran. Methods: Eighteen mass cultivated isolates of T. vaginalis in the modified TYI-S-33 medium were analyzed using isoenzyme electrophoresis. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of five different enzyme systems were used to characterize T. vaginalis isolates: (i) Glucose- 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), (ii) Glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI), (iii) Malate dehydrogenase (MDH), (iv) Malic enzyme (ME), and (v) Phosphoglucomutase (PGM). Results: MDH, GPI, PGM, and ME enzyme systems showed a homogeneity and detected an identical enzyme pattern in all isolates. Meanwhile, G6PD revealed two different enzyme patterns. The isoenzyme electrophoretic profiles divided 18 T. vaginalis isolates into two zymodemes. Zymodeme 1 contained Shiraz isolates and zymodeme 2 contained Kerman isolates. Conclusion: The polymorphism of Iranian human isolates of T. vaginalis could be assessed by biochemical study using appropriate enzyme systems. Isoenzyme analysis is a promising method for the characterization of T. vaginalis. New molecular studies with increased number of enzyme loci and genetic markers are suggested to classify more zymodemes of Trichomonas in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to characterize the Giardia duodenalis isolates from Iranian patients in Fars Province, south of Iran by biochemical and molecular methods. Fifteen mass cultivated of G. duodenalis isolates in modified TYI-S-33 medium were analyzed using isoenzyme electrophoresis and PCR genotyping. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of five different enzyme systems was used to characterize isolates: (i) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, (ii) glucose phosphate isomerase, (iii) malate dehydrogenase, (iv) malic enzyme, and (v) phosphoglucomutase. As well, a fragment of the SSU-rDNA (292 bp) gene was amplified by PCR using the primers RH11 and RH4. The sequencing of the PCR products and phylogenetic tree were performed. The isoenzyme electrophoretic profiles divided fifteen G. duodenalis isolates into four zymodemes. G6PD, GPI, MDH, ME, and PGM enzyme systems showed 1, 2, 2, 3, and 3 enzyme pattern, respectively. G6PD isoenzyme pattern had the most homogeneity, while isoenzyme patterns of ME and PGM had the most heterogeneity in our study. Genotyping results indicated that the zymodemes 1–4 were categorized in assemblage A based on the SSU-rDNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all four zymodemes were distributed within the cluster of assemblage A. Our results indicated that both isoenzyme and DNA analyses were useful to characterize the isolates of Giardia and distinguishing various zymodemes and assemblages. It could be suggested that the genetic diversity among isoenzymes profiles of G. duodenalis may explain the variable clinical manifestations, pathogenicity, host response, drug susceptibility, and treatment efficacy of human giardiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anopheles funestus is a major vector of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. In order to apply effective control measures against this vector, it is necessary to understand the underlying physiological factors that play a critical role in its development, reproduction, fertility and susceptibility to insecticides. One enzyme family involved in the above mentioned biological pathways is the esterases. The aim of this study was to analyse esterase activity levels at different ages during the life-span of adult Anopheles funestus Giles in order to better understand the complex biological processes in this species. Methods: Isoenzyme electrophoresis (IEE) was used to examine the esterase activity in laboratory colonised An. funestus adults aged between 2 h (h) and 30 days post eclosion as well as in wild An. funestus adults aged between 2 h and 15 days post eclosion. Esterase activity was quantified by densitometry analysis of the IEE gels. Esterases were classified according to their activity inhibition by organic phosphates, eserine sulphate and sulphydryl reagents. Results: Nine esterases IEE profiles were common to both the laboratory colonised and wild An. funestus adults. These esterases were further divided into acetylesterases, arylesterases, carboxylesterases and acetylcholinesterase. The activity level of certain specific esterases was primarily influenced by age and/or gender. Conclusions: The information from this study contributes towards the general understanding of esterase enzyme activity variation in adults of a major malaria vector An. funestus. This variation likely carries physiological and adaptive significance and may influence specific characteristics, such as reproductive fitness and insecticide resistance that are epidemiologically important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]