Hadi Ghasemloo, Mohsen Ghomashlooyan, Hossein Hooshyar,
Volume 2, Issue 1 (1-2014)
Abstract
Introduction : Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a protozoan parasitic infection distributed worldwide. Early infection by this protozoa can lead to abortion and congenital toxoplasmosis in pregnant women. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among pregnant women referring to Shahid Akbar Abadi Hospital, Tehran, Iran during 2010-2013. Methods: This descriptive study carried-out from October 2010 to March 2013. The blood samples from 785 pregnant women were collected and examined for specific IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii by ELISA method. Results: From 785 sera samples tested 541 (68.9%) were negative for any anti- T. gondii antibody. The women with anti- T. gondii positive and borderline IgG titers comprised 31.1% of the population study. T. gondii specific IgM was negative for all the pregnant women examined, and only for 6 women the titer showed to be at borderline. The rate of infection increased with age, as the highest rate of seropositivity (42.2%) was observed in 35-50 age group. However, no significant difference in the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was observed between different age groups (P = 0.139). Conclusion: As a considerable number of the pregnant women were negative for T. gondii antibodies and are prone to acquisition of acute T. gondii infection over the course of pregnancy, primary prevention measures and serological monitoring of seronegative pregnant women are important for preventing congenital toxoplasmosis. J Med Microbiol Infec Dis, 2014, 1 (2): 4 pages.
Mohammad Talebzadeh, Reyhaneh Mohabati, Jalal Babaie, Samira Amiri, Mojgan Allahyari, Majid Golkar,
Volume 2, Issue 1 (1-2014)
Abstract
Introduction : Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii it leads to serious medical problems in congenitally-infected and immunocompromised individuals, while it is quite harmless in immunocompetent individuals. Toxoplasma tissue cyst matrix protein (MAG1) induces early humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Previous studies suggested recombinant MAG1 as a promising antigen for serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma infection. A DNA fragment encoding mag1, comprising amino acids 50 to 207, was amplified from T . gondii RH strain and cloned in prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-15b(+). The cloned DNA fragment was sequenced and showed 100% similarity with the published sequences available in GenBank Database. Recombinant MAG1 was expressed in Escherichia coli, and was highly purified in a single step by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. In Western blot analysis, purified protein showed a much stronger reactivity with sera from patients with acute Toxoplasma infection, compared to those with chronic infection. MAG1 protein, in combination with other acute-phase markers might be useful in discriminating acute/reactivated Toxoplasma infections from chronic forms. J Med Microbiol Infec Dis, 2014, 1 (2): 5 pages.
Mojgan Allahyari, Samira Amiri, Alireza Vatanara, Majid Golkar,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (3-2021)
Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate rSAG1-PLGA efficacy as a particulate vaccine in conferring protection against Toxoplasma gondii infection in C57BL/6 mice. In light of our previous studies, we studied mice genotype role in eliciting immune responses by rSAG1-PLGA nanoparticles in this study. Methods: Poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded by rSAG1 as a subunit vaccine were prepared, and C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneously immunized twice at a 3-week interval by rSAG1-PLGA, soluble rSAG1, blank PLGA, and one group kept unvaccinated. The characteristics of PLGA nanoparticles, the amounts of produced IFN-γ, IL-10, specific anti-ToxoplasmaIgGs, and the conferred protection against infection by T. gondii RH tachyzoite were assessed. Results: rSAG1-PLGA nanoparticles shared a z-average of about 450nm with negative Zeta potential. Compared with the negative control group, the mice vaccinated with rSAG1-PLGA nanoparticles produced significantly higher amounts of IFN-γ, specific anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and higher titer of IgG2a, which resulted in longer survival times. Conclusion: The efficiency of rSAG1-PLGA nanoparticles in inducing humoral and cellular responses and consequently partial protection against acute toxoplasmosis in C57BL/6 was confirmed.
