Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology

BACKGROUND: The synchronous expression of antigen and adjuvant proteins in plant hosts presents an intriguing potential for vaccine production and the enhancement of appropriate immune responses. In this study, we examined the expression of bioactive murine interferon-gamma (mIFN-γ) along with HBsAg in tobacco and lettuce leaves aimed to further perform the analysis of immune responses in the mouse model. METHODS: Monocistronic and bicistronic cassettes, carrying genes encoding mIFN-γ and HBsAg in various orders, were constructed...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The view of Radiotherapy (RT) as a simple inducer of DNA damage resulting in tumor cell death has dramatically changed in recent years, and it is now widely accepted that RT can trigger an immune response which provides a sound basis for combining RT with immunotherapy. Given that, radiation can be delivered with different regimens, its effect on immune responses and Tumor Immune Microenvironment (TIME) may vary with dose and fractionation schedule. This fractional dose dependency may need to be more considered because of recent developments in RT delivery techniques making it possible to deliver precisely higher dosages per fraction (hypofractionation) while reducing exposure to normal tissues...

BACKGROUND: Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent Coronavirus 2 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). This study examines and compares the efficiency of AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Sputnik vaccines and the correlation of antibody response with age, sex, and history of corona disease in employees of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. METHODS: 202 participants were included, of which 82 were administered the Astra-Zeneca, 59 were given the Sinopharm, and 61 were given the Sputnik vaccine...

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent chronic neurodegenerative disorders. The present study aims to better understand the mechanism by which Citrus aurantium ( C. aurantium) and Lavandula angustifolia ( L. angustifolia) hydro-alcoholic extracts were used to treat AD and anti-oxidant issues in a laboratory model. METHODS: 15 male Wistar rats, weighing 250±20 gr , aged 6-8 weeks, were used. Amyloids in the brain were found and identified using the shuttle box and Congo red test...

BACKGROUND: Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP) , also called Giao-co-lam, is a traditional Vietnamese herb, also known as the "Herb of Immortality", that grows throughout Asian countries and is used for the treatment of hematuria, edema in the pharynx and neck, tumors, and trauma. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the effects of culture conditions on cell growth and total gypenoside accumulation in the GP suspension cells. Cells were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2...

BACKGROUND: Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by Vibrio cholera ( V. cholera ). The development of antibodies against specific V. cholerae may have a therapeutic effect. In the present research, we investigated the protective effect of egg yolk Immunoglobulin (IgY), which was produced by immunizing hens with formaldehyde-killed V. cholerae O1 and subsequently the isolated IgY was orally administrated to the V. cholerae O1 infected mice for evaluation of its immunizing capability...

BACKGROUND: Placenta-specific 1 (PLAC1) is one of the cancer-testis-placenta antigens that has no expression in normal tissue except placenta trophoblast and testicular germ cells, but is overexpressed in a variety of solid tumors. There is a lack of studies on the expression of PLAC1 in leukemia. We investigated expression of PLAC1 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). METHODS: In this study, we investigated expression pattern of PLAC1 gene in peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells of newly-diagnosed patients with AML (n=31) and ALL (n=31) using quantitative real-time PCR...

BACKGROUND: From time immemorial herbal preparations are been employed for the treatment of several ailments. In recent years due to poor bioavailability the conventional herbal preparations are replaced by phytoniosomes, an advanced novel drug delivery system in which the herbal extracts are incorporated into a non-ionic surfactant to yield higher absorption and remarkable desired pharmacological activity. The present study is aimed to prepare and characterize the ethanolic leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia (nELETC) loaded phytoniosome and to compare its antioxidant properties with ethanolic leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia (ELETC)...

BACKGROUND: One of the most important research activities around the world is the screening of various plant components for novel anticancer medicines. The anticancer activities of Aconitum heterophyllum were studied in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in this study. Since tumorigenesis is thought to be the result of a series of progressive gene alterations, including oncogene activation and tumour suppressor gene inactivation, the expression of genes like p53, p21, STAT , and Bcl-2 , which are thought to be important in tumorigenesis and cell death, was determined...

Depression is the most prevalent and debilitating disease with great impact on societies. Evidence suggests Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays an important role in pathophysiology of depression. Depression is associated with altered synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis. BDNF is the main regulatory protein that affects neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus. A wealth of evidence shows decreased levels of BDNF in depressed patients. Important literature demonstrated that BDNF-TrkB signaling plays a key role in therapeutic action of antidepressants...

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficiency of Menstrual blood Stromal/Stem Cells (MenSCs) administration in Myocardial Infarction (MI), the effects of MenSCs and their derived conditioned Medium (CM) on cardiac function in MI rat model was assessed. METHODS: Animals were divided into four groups including sham group, MI group, MenSCs derived CM group (CM group), and MenSCs suspended in CM (MenSCs+CM) group. The injection of different groups was carried out 30 min after ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery into the infarct border zone...

BACKGROUND: Antigen presentation using bacterial surface display systems, on one hand, has the benefits of bacterial carriers, including low-cost production and ease of manipulation. On the other hand, the bacteria can help in stimulating the immune system as an adjuvant. For example, using bacterial surface display technology, we developed a hepatitis C virus (HCV) multiple antigens displaying bacteria's surface and then turned it into a bacterial ghost. METHODS: The HCV core and NS3 proteins' conserved epitopes were cloned into the AIDA gene plasmid as an auto transporter...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has claimed the lives of millions of people during the past decades. While several antiretroviral drugs like Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs) have been introduced to control HIV, Transmitted Drug Resistance (TDR) in HIV genome caused failure in treatment. This study aimed to investigate TDR and natural occurring mutations (NOPs) in HIV integrase gene in Iranian HIV patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, blood samples of 30 HIV-positive patients who had never taken integrase inhibitors were considered for CD4 T cell count, RT real-time PCR, and, Nested PCR...

BACKGROUND: In this study we differentially showed the effects of cell-seeded bilayer scaffold wound dressing in accelerating healing process in diabetic ulcers that still remains as a major clinical challenge. The aim of the study was to compare immunomodulatory and angiogenic activity, and regenerative effect differences between Menstrual blood-derived Stem Cells (MenSCs) and foreskin-derived keratinocytes/fibroblasts. METHODS: The streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice model was developed in male C57/BL6 mice...

BACKGROUND: Momordica charantia (M. charantia) has been used in traditional medicine for the management of complications associated with diabetes mellitus. Several phytochemicals with different pharmacological properties have been previously identified from the botanical; however, the mechanisms of actions of this plant vis-à-vis inhibition of non-enzymatic protein glycation are not known. This study aimed at understanding the putative mechanisms underlying the antiglycation properties of M...

BACKGROUND: Bitter taste-sensing type 2 receptor (T2Rs or TAS2Rs) found on ciliated epithelial cells and solitary chemosensory cells have a role in respiratory tract immunity. T2Rs have shown protection against SARS-CoV-2 by enhancing the innate immune response. The purpose of this review is to outline the current sphere of knowledge regarding this association. METHODS: A narrative review of the literature was done by searching (T2R38 OR bitter taste receptor) AND (COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2) keywords in PubMed and google scholar...

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a worldwide concern as an epidemic bacterium and a cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. One of the major problems in the prevention and treatment of infections caused by MRSA strains is their multi-drug resistant trait, which causes the spread of infections and increases the mortality rate. Therefore, a rapid and accurate method is needed to identify MRSA strains, initiate appropriate antibiotic therapy, and control its infection...

BACKGROUND: Breast carcinogenesis involves both genetic and epigenetic changes. DNA methylation, as well as micro-RNA regulations, are the significant epigenetic phenomena dysregulated in breast cancer. Herein, the expression of DACH1 as a tumor suppressor gene and its promoter methylation status was analyzed in breast cancer tumors. Also, the expression of three micro RNAs (miR-217, miR-6807-3p, and miR-552), which had been previously reported to target DACH1 , was assessed. METHODS: The SYBR green-based Real-Time reverse transcription-PCR was used to determine DACH1 and micro-RNAs (miR-217, miR-6807-3p, and miR-552) expression in 120 ductal breast cancer tumors compared with standard control...