Hamid Reza Rahimi; Tahereh Mohammadzadeh; Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi; Bahador Sarkari; Farzaneh Zahabiun
Volume 14, Issue 2 , June 2017, , Pages 123-133
Abstract
Background: Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Several native and recombinant antigens, derived from different stages of E. granulosus life cycle, have been used for vaccine trials. In vitro reared adult worms are good candidates for ...
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Background: Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Several native and recombinant antigens, derived from different stages of E. granulosus life cycle, have been used for vaccine trials. In vitro reared adult worms are good candidates for vaccination as they do not produce fertile egg/s and do not have any risk of contamination for researchers. Objective: To evaluate different antigens derived from in vitro reared E. granulosus adult worms for the immunization of BALB/c mice against secondary hydatidosis. Methods: Viable protoscoleces (PCSs) of sheep hydatid cyst were cultivated in S.10E.H media. Excretory secretory (E/S) and crude antigens were prepared from reared adult worms. A total of fifty BALB/c mice, each 8-weeks-old, were divided into 5 groups of 10 mice. Three groups were subcutaneously immunized with crude, E/S and immunodominant antigens on days 1 and 28. The fourth group received only PBS and the fifth group had no injection. Three weeks following the second immunization, all groups were challenged, intraperitoneal, with viable PSCs. After the autopsy of the mice and opening their abdominal wall, cysts were counted and measured followed by histopathological observations. Results: The highest protective immunity (98.7%) against hydatidosis was induced by crude antigen, followed by E/S and immunodominant antigens. Conclusion: Antigens (crude antigens in particular) derived from in vitro reared E. granulosus adult worms, and their different protein components are suitable candidates for the vaccination of intermediate hosts against hydatidosis.
Zeinab Tavakkol Afshari; Hamid Reza Rahimi; Seyed Morteza Ehteshamfar; Rashin Ganjali; Fatemeh Tara; Abbas Shapouri Moghadam
Volume 13, Issue 4 , December 2016, , Pages 309-316
Abstract
Background: Pre-eclampsia is the most common critical condition during pregnancy.
Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1-beta
(IL-1β) increase in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, compared to normal pregnant
women. Objective: To investigate the polymorphisms ...
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Background: Pre-eclampsia is the most common critical condition during pregnancy.
Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1-beta
(IL-1β) increase in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, compared to normal pregnant
women. Objective: To investigate the polymorphisms of IL-1β (C+3954T), TNF-α (G-
308A), and (G-238A) in preeclemptic women northeastern Iran. Methods: This study
was conducted on 153 preeclamptic women (case group) and 150 healthy pregnant
women (control group), admitted to Ghaem and Imam Reza hospitals of Mashhad, Iran.
IL-1β (C+3954T), TNF- α (G-238A) and TNF-α (G-308A) gene polymorphisms in the
promoter region were screened by polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed,
using SPSS version 16.0. Results: The mean age of the participants in the case and
control groups was 28.2 ± 6.1 and 27.1 ± 6.3 years, respectively (P=0.68). The
frequency of G-308A polymorphism was significantly higher in the case group,
compared to the control group (p<0.001). However, no significant relationship was
found between IL-1β genotype and pre-eclampsia (p=0.39). The frequency of TNF- α
(G-238A) AA genotype was significantly higher in the case group, while GG genotype
was less frequently detected in the case group, compared to the control group (p<0.001
for both genotypes). Moreover, the frequencies of AA genotypes of -238 TNF-α and G-
308A polymorphisms were significantly higher in the case group, compared to the
control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The significant correlation between inflammation
promoting genotypes of TNF-α and Pre-eclampsia is noteworthy and provides evidence
on the contribution of immune related genes in this disease.
Hamid Reza Rahimi; Bahador Sarkari; Tahereh Mohammadzadeh; Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi
Volume 8, Issue 4 , December 2011, , Pages 236-243
Abstract
Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), also known as echinococcosis/hydatidosis, is one of the most important parasitic diseases in the world. It enhances both humoral and cellular (Th1 and Th2) responses in infected host. Different antigens of the worm may favor the Th1 or Th2 immune responses in CE ...
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Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), also known as echinococcosis/hydatidosis, is one of the most important parasitic diseases in the world. It enhances both humoral and cellular (Th1 and Th2) responses in infected host. Different antigens of the worm may favor the Th1 or Th2 immune responses in CE patients. Objective: To evaluate the humoral and cellular immune responses of Balb/c mice against the crude and excretory/ secretory (E/S) antigens of in vitro reared Echinococcus granulosus adult worms. Methods: A total of 20 Balb/c mice divided into 5 groups of 4 mice each. Three groups of mice (n=4) were immunized with crude, E/S and an immunodominant antigen of in vitro reared Echinococcus granulosus adult worms on day 1 and 28. The fourth and the fifth groups were negative control groups and received PBS plus adjuvant, or nothing, respectively. Two weeks after the second injection, the mice were killed and their blood was collected for determining antibody responses, and their spleens were employed for proliferation assay. Total IgG were measured by indirect ELISA. Spleen cells of immunized mice were cultivated and exposed to different antigens of adult worms including E/S and crude antigens. Level of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-4 and IL-10 were measured in the recovered cell culture supernatants by capture ELISA. Results: Total IgG assay showed the highest level of antibody produced in mice immunized with crude antigens. Proliferation assay showed a statistically significant production of cytokines in the mice immunized with crude antigens (p<0.05). The highest levels of IFN-γ, IL12 and IL-4 were produced in mice immunized with crude antigen of the in vitro reared Echinococcus granulosus adult worms followed by E/S antigens. Immunodomonant antigen induced the lowest levels of cytokines (IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10) in immunized mice. Conclusion: A significant levels of Th1 related cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12) were produced in Balb/c mice immunized with crude antigen of the in vitro reared Echinococcus granulosus adult worms.