Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is prevalent intracellular parasite and a cause of worldwide infection in the human population. An inhibitory effect of this parasite on cancer growth has been demonstrated in cell culture and animal models. To determine whether the anticancer activities of T. gondii are associated with host immune response, in the current study the reactivity of anti-T. gondii antiserum with the surface of cancer cell lines was investigated. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were raised in rabbit and the reaction of this antiserum in comparison with other anti-parasite antisera (anti-T. vaginalis, anti-hydatid cyst fluid, anti-protoscolices antigens) with mouse melanoma or breast cancer cells lines was investigated using flow cytometry. Anti-T. gondii antiserum reacted markedly with the surface of mouse melanoma and breast cancer cells, and less so with the normal mouse spleen lymphocytes. Meanwhile, the other anti-parasite antisera did not react strongly with the surface of cancer cells compared with normal mouse spleen lymphocytes. In summary, it has been demonstrated herein that anti-T. gondii antiserum may selectively react with the surface of mouse cancer cells but not with normal mouse spleen lymphocytes. Therefore, further study on anti-Toxoplasma antibodies may be useful for directing the application of selective drug delivery in cancer treatment.
Background:Current research findings demonstrate that acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine, has beneficial effects on several acute and chronic infectious and inflammatory diseases. Acupuncture promotes tissue healing and regulates immune response in various disease conditions. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease caused by protozoan from genus Leishmania. Acupuncture is supposed to accelerate healing of CL because of common mechanisms involved in the cure of the CL lesions.Materials and Methods:60 BALB/c mice were experimentally infected with L. major strain MRHO/IR/75/ER and divided into three groups: (1) Treatment group received acupuncture 2 times a week for 5 weeks (10 sessions) with intraperitoneal diazepam as a sedative agent. (2) Diazepam control group only received diazepam the same as the treatment group. (3) Control group did not receive any intervention. Size of the lesions was measured before the experiment, on session 5 and 10 and 4 weeks after the experiment. Parasite burden was evaluated by microscopic assay as well as quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technique.Results:Size of the lesions decreased significantly on session 5 in treated group in comparison with session 0 (P = 0.02) while the size of the lesions increased significantly in two control groups on session 5 and 4 weeks after treatment (P = 0.04 and P = 0.01 respectively). Mean parasite burden did not show a significant difference between or within groups on session 0 and 10 by any methods.Conclusions:This investigation showed that acupuncture decreased size of the CL lesions by session 5 in the BALB/c mice model, but did not cause a significant reduction in parasite burden.
Background: vaginal infections are common among women referring to gynecological clinics worldwide, but treatment modalities cannot provide complete remission of the disease. Laboratory diagnosis of vaginal infections using more sensitive and specific methods is essential for the best treatment options. Objectives: In this study, diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was investigated. Methods: vaginal samples were collected from 635 symptomatic women referring to gynecology clinics in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran, in 2017. All samples were then diagnosed using microscopy, culture, and PCR methods. Results: Of 635 symptomatic women, 200 cases (31.4%) were diagnosed with BV according to the culture method using the PCR method. However, 3.9% of samples who were negative based on the culture method, were diagnosed to have BV based on PCR results. Conclusions: PCR is more sensitive than culture and microscopy methods for the diagnosis of BV.
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