Aim: The aim of this study was designing a LAMP method for the rapid detection of Brucella and development of a sensitive quantitative-LAMP (Q-LAMP) assay for quantification of brucellosis. Methods and Results: In this study for the LAMP detection of the causative agent of brucellosis, we used specifically designed primers to target the omp25 conserved gene of Brucella spp. The sensitivity of the LAMP method was evaluated by preparing serial tenfold dilution of omp25 gene containing plasmid followed by performing the LAMP reaction. To improve the assay as a quantitative test, LAMP products in the serial dilution were evaluated by Loopamp real-time turbidimeter system and then standard curve was generated by plotting time threshold values against log of copy number. The assay specificity was evaluated using Brucella genomic DNA and a panel containing genomes of 11 gram-positive and gramnegative organisms. The LAMP assay was highly specific and no amplification products were observed from the non-Brucella organisms. The test sensitivity for visual detection of turbidity or fluorescent colour change and also agarose gel electrophoresis was 560 ng and 5Á6 ng, respectively. The lower limit of detection was 17 copies of the gene that could be detected in 50 min. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that the LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, sensitive and specific technique for detection of Brucella spp. that may improve diagnostic potential in clinical laboratories. Significance and Impact of the Study: The LAMP assay because of the simplicity and low cost can be preferred to other molecular methods in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

Congenital total loss of the sense of smell occurs as a part of a syndrome or isolated anosmia. Kallmann syndrome is the most well known congenital anosmia associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Isolated congenital anosmia (ICA) is a very rare condition and appears to be due to changes in the olfactory epithelium or to aplasia of the olfactory nerve, bulb, and tract. Here we report two unrelated Iranian families with ICA. One family consisted of nine affected members, and the other family contained three affected members. Clinical history, physical examination, and smell testing by intravenous injection of combined vitamins (Alinamin trade mark, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Japan) confirmed the disease in each affected member. No signs of hypogonadism or other neurological disorders were observed in any affected members. Family analysis with the complete ascertainment method under assumption of the same condition in the two families suggested that the disease is not inconsistent with an autosomal dominant mode with incomplete penetrance. The inheritance in one family appears unusual, i.e., there were no affected individuals in the third generation. When only two upper generations in the family are concerned, the segregation ratio was 0.39 +/- 0.11. Male-to-male transmissions were observed and both sexes were affected in both families. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the olfactory bulb and sulcus revealed no evidence of morphological changes in all affected members, suggesting that these patients have either a defect in the olfactory epithelium or a functional defect in the olfactory cortex.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), causing the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was introduced by WHO (World Health Organization) as “pandemic” in March 2020. According to WHO, thus far (23 November 2020) 58,425,681 infected cases including 1,385,218 deaths have been reported worldwide. In order to reduce transmission and spread of this lethal virus, attempts are globally being made to develop an appropriate vaccine. Intending to neutralize pathogens at their initial entrance site, protective mucosal immunity is inevitably required. In SARS-CoV2 infection and transmission, respiratory mucosa plays a key role; hence, apparently mucosal vaccination could be a superior approach to elicit mucosal and systemic immune responses simultaneously. In this review, the advantages of mucosal vaccination to control COVID-19 infection, limitations, and outcomes of mucosal vaccines have been highlighted. Considering the gut microbiota dysregulation in COVID-19, we further provide evidences on utilization of recombinant probiotics, particularly lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as vaccine carrier. Their intrinsic immunomodulatory features, natural adjuvanticity, and feasible expression of relevant antigen in the mucosal surface make them more appealing as live cell factory. Among all available platforms, bioengineered probiotics are considered as the most affordable, most practical, and safest vaccination approach to halt this emerging virus.