Seyed Masoud Hosseini

Human T‐lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV‐1) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV‐1) can be transmitted through similar routes, so co‐infection may occur, especially in endemic regions. Since there is limited data on this co‐infection, its genotypes, and genetic variations in Iran, we aimed to investigate HTLV‐1/HIV‐1 co‐infection to gain a better understanding of its epidemiology. Whole blood and plasma of 282 HIV‐1‐infected patients were sampled in Tehran, Iran. Briefly, plasma samples were used to investigate HTLV I/II antibody seroprevalence by ELISA, and PBMCs were used for molecular analysis of Tax , LTR , and ENV regions. Then, amplified LTR and ENV were subjected to sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and variation determination. Out of 282 HIV‐1‐infected individuals (31.9% female and 68.1% male, with a mean age of 43.80 ± 11.25), 6 samples (2.1%) were seropositive, and provirus was detected in 2 samples (0.7%). Both samples belonged to HTLV‐1aTC, and after genetic variation analysis for both LTR and ENV regions, the ENV region displayed 6 and 7 point mutations in each isolate, respectively, relative to the ATK HTLV‐1 prototype, with 5 and 4 of these mutations being nonsynonymous. Analysis of the LTR region identified 8 mutations in each isolate, comprising 7 point mutations and one deletion. This survey confirms the prevalence of HTLV‐1 among people living with HIV‐1, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring of this population. Additionally, the findings in this study indicate that HTLV‐1aTC is predominant among the studied population, consistent with previous reports worldwide, and nucleotide variations are present in both investigated HTLV‐1 regions.

Salmonella Enteritidis is a major causative agent of gastroenteritis and foodborne illnesses, posing significant therapeutic challenges due to the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. The increasing prevalence of resistant isolates highlights the need for alternative strategies to improve treatment outcomes. Lytic bacteriophage therapy has emerged as a promising complementary approach to antimicrobials. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of a newly formulated cocktail comprising three distinct lytic bacteriophages combined with selected antimicrobials against the standard strain of Salmonella Enteritidis (ATCC 13076). Three distinct bacteriophages were isolated from poultry farm wastewater, purified based on their different plaque morphologies, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealing short non-contractile tailed caudoviruses. Phage stability was evaluated across a pH range of 3 to 11 and temperatures from 4 to 50 °C. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the macrodilution (tube dilution) method, and viable bacterial counts (CFU/mL) were measured at 0, 6, 12, and 24 h to assess the bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects on the bacterial strain. The phage cocktail combined with ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone showed significant synergistic activity, resulting in reductions of 5.8 and 4.9 log CFU/mL, respectively, corresponding to up to a 75% reduction in MIC. In contrast, combinations with ampicillin and erythromycin demonstrated the least efficacy. The phage cocktail alone achieved a 3.2 log reduction in CFU/mL. The phage cocktail demonstrated enhanced antibacterial activity when combined with ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone, achieving greater reductions in Salmonella Enteritidis counts compared to individual treatments. Minimal synergy was observed with ampicillin and erythromycin. Overall, the evaluated phage-antimicrobial combinations exhibited superior antibacterial effects within the scope of this study.

This study investigated the associations between specific polymorphisms in the Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-18 (IL-18), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1^

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a major cause of pneumonia, meningitis, bacteremia, and secondary infections following viral respiratory diseases such as influenza and COVID-19. Because current polysaccharide-based vaccines protect only against selected serotypes, there is a pressing need for serotype-independent strategies. In this study, a novel multi-epitope mRNA vaccine candidate against S. pneumoniae was designed using immunoinformatics approaches. The immunodominant regions of PsaA and PspA were fused with flexible linkers, and TLR agonist domains derived from Ply and PepO were incorporated as adjuvants to enhance immune activation. The resulting construct, named YAPO, was predicted to possess favorable physicochemical and immunological properties, including stability, solubility, antigenicity, non-allergenicity, and non-toxicity. Additional analyses—including IFN-γ epitope prediction, conformational B-cell epitope mapping, HLA docking, vaccine–TLR docking, molecular dynamics, and immune simulations— indicated potential to induce robust immune responses. The mRNA sequence was engineered with essential regulatory elements (5′ cap, UTRs, Kozak sequence, signal peptide, and poly(A) tail) to promote efficient expression, and codon optimization suggested compatibility with mammalian translation. In silico cloning into the pcDNA3.1(+) vector further supported potential construct feasibility. Overall, these findings highlight that YAPO-mRNA is a promising serotype-independent pneumococcal vaccine candidate that merits further experimental validation.

Aims: Viral hepatitis and tuberculosis are major public health concerns with shared risk factors, especially in marginalized communities. Despite this, routine hepatitis B and C viruses screening in tuberculosis patients is uncommon. This study, conducted in Golestan Province, where tuberculosis and hepatitis B virus have high incidence rates, aimed to assess the rates and prevalence of hepatitis B and anti-hepatitis C viruses testing among active tuberculosis patients. Materials and methods: Our cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2018 and March 2023 and included patient records of 2283 tuberculosis cases registered in the database of Golestan University of Medical Sciences. Hepatitis B and anti-hepatitis C viruses were tested among patients with confirmed tuberculosis. Clinical and demographic data were collected by taking patient records and performing structured interviews. Exclusions were limited to patients with a confirmed tuberculosis diagnosis. Patients who did not consent to participate and had incomplete information were excluded from the study. Results: Among 2280 tuberculosis patients, 50.1% were male, with a mean age of 46.22 years. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen was detected in 10.57%, and 2.32% tested positive for anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies. Men were more frequently tested for anti-hepatitis C virus positivity than women (62.15% versus 37.85%, p > 0.3). Most co-infected patients resided in rural areas, with pulmonary tuberculosis being the predominant manifestation. Co-infection rates among chronic hepatitis B virus patients varied by family structure: 6.7% in three-generation families, 15% in two-generation families, and 15% in intrafamilial cases. Additionally, 20% of mother–child pairs and 7.5% of intrafamilial hepatitis B virus patients tested positive for anti-hepatitis C virus. Liver function test abnormalities were more common in hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis patients, especially in hepatitis B/anti-hepatitis C viruses positive tuberculosis cases ( p = 0.05). Hepatitis B virus DNA levels were higher in CHB/tuberculosis patients compared to CHB-only patients ( p = 0.02). Conclusions: Tuberculosis patients were more likely to test positive for hepatitis B and anti-hepatitis C viruses than the general population. These results emphasize the need for regular screening and coordinated care for co-infected patients.

Background: The liver's role in glucose metabolism and hormone regulation links liver infections to diabetes mellitus. Understanding this interaction is crucial for managing diabetes in affected patients.Objective: Golestan Province has the highest incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the country. The current research aimed to assess the prevalence of HBV infection and anti‐HCV antibodies among diabetic patients in the region, providing insights to improve disease management and prevention.Methods: Data from 31,803 diabetic patients, collected (2019–2023) from the NAB system at Golestan University of Medical Sciences, were used to evaluate the co‐occurrence of HBV infection and anti‐HCV antibodies in them. Also, this study analyzed the co‐occurrence of diabetes in three/two‐generation CHB (Chronic Hepatitis B) patients, and recovered patients, demographic factors, liver enzyme, and viral DNA levels. Binary logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with diabetes.Results: HBsAg and anti‐HCV antibody positivity were found in 2.52% and 0.53% of diabetic individuals, respectively. Diabetic patients with HBV infection (P‐value = 0.003) or anti‐HCV positivity (P‐value = 0.008) had significantly lower BMIs. HBV prevalence was higher among married individuals (78.4%, P‐value = 0.01) and rural residents (61.7%, P‐value = 0.3). Diabetic patients with two or three generations of HBV/diabetes had higher liver enzyme levels and HBV viral loads compared to those without diabetes (P‐value < 0.05).Conclusions: In individuals with diabetes, compared to those without the disease, there was a correlation between HBV infections and altered liver function indicators, as well as HBV viral load. Additionally, familial susceptibility to HBV infection or anti‐HCV antibody positivity was significant.

Background and Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is one of the most common causes of hospital-ac- quired infections. It is associated with high morbidity and healthcare costs, especially when appropriate antibiotic treatment is delayed. Antibiotic selection for patients with P. aeruginosa infections is challenging due to the bacteria's inherent resis- tance to many commercially available antibiotics. This study investigated antibiotic-resistance genes in isolated bacteria, which play a key role in disease pathogenesis. Materials and Methods: 100 samples out of the 140 samples collected from urinary tract infections (UTIs) cases between December 15th, 2022, and April 15th, 2023, were included in the study. Identification of bacterial isolates was based on colony morphology, microscopic examination, biochemical tests, and the Vitek-2 system. Antibiotic resistance genes; Aph(3)-llla, ParC, Tet/tet(M), and aac(6´)-Ib-cr were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The obtained results were based on bacterial identifications of 81 clinical samples. Only 26 (32%) of these isolates were P. aeruginosa, 21 (26%) were Escherichia coli, and 18 (22.2%) were other bacteria. These isolates were used to detect four genes including tet(M), Aph(3)-llla, Par-c, and aac(6´)-Ib-cr. Four types of primers were used for PCR detection. The results showed that 11/14 (78.57%) carried the tet(M) gene, 10/14 (71.42%) carried the Aph(3)-llla gene, 14/14 (100%) car- ried the Par-c gene, and 10/14 (71.42%) of the isolates carried the aac(6´)-Ib-cr gene. The biofilm formation examining the esp gene, showed that 9 (64.28) isolates carried this gene. Conclusion: The inability of antibiotics to penetrate biofilms is an important factor contributing to the antibiotic tolerance of bacterial biofilms.

Background and Objectives: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a leading cause of urinary tract infections, which are a significant public health concern worldwide. Antibiotic resistance among UPEC isolates is an increasing challenge, necessitating a better understanding of the resistance patterns and underlying genetic mechanisms. This study examined the prevalence of antibiotic resistance phenotypes and the detection of specific resistance genes among patients with UPEC infections in Sheikh Ragheb Harb University Hospital in south Lebanon. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial resistance phenotype of 104 urine samples was tested to determine the resistance percentages for various antibiotics including ampicillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, bactrim, meropenem, and imipenem using disk diffusion test. Additionally, molecular analysis like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect the presence of bla SHV , qnrA, tetA, dfrA1, aac3, bla and bla IMP resistance genes. Results: The antimicrobial resistance testing revealed the following resistance percentages for various antibiotics: ampicillin (100%), gentamicin (15.38%), ciprofloxacin (34.61%), tetracycline (48.07%), bactrim (17.3%), meropenem (0.96%) and imipenem (0.96%). The analysis of resistance genes showed the presence of bla SHV (7.96%), qnrA (0.96%), tetA (20.19%), and dfrA1 (0.96%) genes, while the aac3, bla , and bla IMP genes were not detected. Conclusion: The high rates of antibiotic resistance observed, particularly to ampicillin and tetracycline, highlight the need for more judicious antibiotic use and the development of alternative treatment strategies to combat UPEC infections. These results can inform antimicrobial stewardship programs and guide the selection of appropriate empiric therapy for urinary tract infections.