Background: Typing of nosocomial pathogens is necessary to determine the source of an outbreak. The aim was to determine the genomic variability among Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) methods. Methods: Fifty P. aeruginosa isolates were obtained from the hospitals. The source of these isolates were burn wound and urinary tract infections. After detection of P. aeruginosa by biochemical methods, chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted by a DNA extraction kit. ERIC-PCR and RAPD-PCR was done by standard methods. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were run and visualized in 1.5% agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide. Results: Fifty P. aeruginosa isolates were analyzed by ERIC-PCR and RAPD-PCR methods. Multiple PCR fragment sizes generated by two PCR methods and PCR product size were between 200-3500 bp, and 10 and 7 different PCR patterns were detected by ERIC-PCR and RAPD-PCR, respectively. Eleven isolates were not detected by ERIC-PCR method. Fifteen isolates were typed to a single genotype by the RAPD-PCR method. Conclusions: We suggested that ERIC and RAPD PCR are equally suitable, inexpensive, fast, reproducible, and discriminatory as rapid DNA typing tools for effective epidemiological surveillance of P. aeruginosa isolates. Our results suggest that these DNA typing tools could be used in routine epidemiological surveillance, outbreak surveillance, and in the identification of the source of transmission of P. aeruginosa.

Background and Objectives: Recent reports indicate high prevalence of fungal infections due to non-albicans Candida spp. which are present in various environments such as raw milk. The quality of milk for fungal normal flora was investigated in this study. Materials and Methods: A total of 262 milk samples were collected directly from milk collection tanks indesignated dairy farms and cultured in SDA media. By further analysis of grown yeasts, 69 non-albicans Candida strains were identified. Antifungal susceptibility of the isolated species, were evaluated against amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole and flucytosine. Fifty two non-albicans clinical samples isolated from human blood have been evaluated along. Results: Antifungal susceptibility evaluation in non-albicans strains isolated from milk revealed Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis to be 100% sensitive to flucytosine and fluconazole. Candida krusei showed 94% and 80% sensitivity to flucytosine and fluconazole respectively. Candida parapsilosis indicated 72.72% sensitivity to fluconazole. Conclusion: Evaluation of non-albicans Candida species in raw milk and antifungal susceptibility patterns of these isolatescompare with non-albicansisolates from human blood, may help physicians to choose an appropriate medication for diseases needing long-term treatment, especially for diseases caused by local strains.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Micro RNAs have emerged as a biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate miR-191, miR-22, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA in peripheral blood and tissues of patients with breast cancer. Methods: A number of 100 peripheral blood samples (50 patient blood samples and 50 healthy blood samples) were collected. Also, 100 tissue samples were simultaneously collected from affected patients by a specialist including 50 samples from the center of the tumor and 50 samples from the side tissues of tumors. Immediately, RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were performed and polymerase chain reaction (real-time polymerase chain reaction) was performed. Results: The data obtained from the present study showed that the blood and tissue levels of miR-191 and EGFR mRNA were significantly increased in breast cancer samples compared to the group of healthy samples and the blood and tissue levels of miR-22 were significantly decreased in breast cancer samples compared to the group of healthy samples. The miR-191 was increased in patients compared to normal individuals up to 2.3 (blood) and 2.16 (tissue) times, respectively. The miR-22 was decreased in patients compared to normal individuals up to 1.46 (blood) and 1.28 (tissue) times, respectively. Also, EGFR expression was increased in patients compared to normal individuals up to 70.2 (blood) and 24.2 (tissue) times, respectively. The present study can play role in determining the prognosis of breast cancer and in obtaining molecular diagnostic biomarkers in peripheral blood and tissues of patients with breast cancer.

Background: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most common nosocomial pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been introduced as a viable alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of MDR pathogens. Objectives: This study was designed to assess the in vitro pharmacokinetics of the combination of two potent AMPs, LL-37 and oncorhyncin II, against A. baumannii (ATCC19606). Methods: The synthesized genes of oncorhyncin II and LL-37 were introduced into Escherichia coli BL21 as the expression host. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), time-kills, and growth kinetics of these peptides were used to evaluate their antimicrobial efficiencies against A. baumannii (ATCC19606). Results: LL-37 and oncorhyncin II recombinant peptides showed MIC of 30.6 and 95.87 µg/mL against A. baumannii, respectively. Additive action was confirmed by combining the generated AMPs at the checkerboard approach. The combination of LL-37 and oncorhyncin II at 2 × MIC resulted in a rapid drop in log10 CFU/mL of A. baumannii in the time-kill and growth kinetic findings studies. Conclusions: The combination of the produced LL-37 and oncorhyncin II synergizes the bioactivity of the individual peptides. Therefore, these peptides or their combinations might function as novel antibiotics and be used to develop and produce new antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of infections caused by A. baumannii.