Faramarz Dobakhti, Ghader Khalili, Hamid Mahmoudzadeh Niknam, Vahid Khaze, Fatemeh Partovi, Taraneh Naghibi Mahmoodabadi, Shahriar Aalinejad,
Volume 1, Issue 1 (11-2013)
Abstract
Various adjuvants in combination with different antigens have been utilized as a vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis. However, the search for ideal adjuvants is still pursued due to the inefficiencies of current compounds. In the present study, the effect of imiquimod, as an adjuvant, is studied with soluble Leishmania antigens (SLA) in BALB/c mice. Four groups of mice were immunized with SLA, SLA plus imiquimod, SLA plus BCG, and PBS as control. Immunized mice received a boosting dose of SLA after 15 days. All groups were challenged with Leishmania major (L. major) promastigotes 2 weeks after the booster immunization. Our results showed that strong TH1 responses were induced in groups of SLA plus imiquimod as well as SLA plus BCGafter immunization. These responses included smaller footpad thickness, lower parasite load in lymph node, and higher proliferative response of lymph node cells to SLA, higher levels of interferon &gamma in culture supernatant of lymph node cells, and higher levels of IgG, and IgG2a in sera. The data supports the possibility of using imiquimod as a suitable adjuvant in leishmania vaccination.
Azam Aghili Amjad, Mohammad Niakan, Fatemeh Sameni, Shahriar Bakhti, Mansoor Khaledi, Hamed Afkhami, Reza Mirnejad,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (12-2022)
Abstract
Introduction: Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most important causes of nosocomial infections. In this bacteria, several mechanisms contribute to resistance against antimicrobial agents. The present study investigated the prevalence of adeS and adeH genes and the role of efflux pumps in imipenem and colistin-resistant A. baumannii clinical isolates. Methods: This study included 60 A. baumannii isolates collected from medical centers affiliated with the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern was examined using the broth microdilution MIC method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Also, the adeS and adeH genes were amplified by PCR. Results: The isolates were 100% imipenem-resistant and 86.7% colistin-resistant. All isolates were positive for the 51-blaOXA gene. The adeH and adeS genes were detected in 95% and 80% of the isolates. Conclusion: The high frequency of adeS and adeH efflux pump genes and the high drug resistance in A. baumannii clinical isolates indicated that adeS and adeH efflux pump genes contribute to antibiotic resistance in this species. Therefore, our results provide essential information about high drug resistance in A. baumannii clinical isolates that can help limit the horizontal and vertical transmission of efflux pump genes in antibiotic-resistant A. baumannii isolates that causes nosocomial infections in susceptible strains.
