Microbiology
Ehsan Kazemi Moghaddam; Parviz Owlia; Abolfazl Jahangiri; Iraj Rasooli; Mohammad Reza Rahbar; Marjan Aghajani
Abstract
Background & Objectives: Due to the importance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in severe inpatient infections and high mortality, the need for an efficient vaccine against these bacteria is increasing. In this regard, the general outer membrane porin of the most problematic microorganism P. aeruginosa, ...
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Background & Objectives: Due to the importance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in severe inpatient infections and high mortality, the need for an efficient vaccine against these bacteria is increasing. In this regard, the general outer membrane porin of the most problematic microorganism P. aeruginosa, outer membrane protein F (OprF), is a good vaccine candidate. Methods:The databank of NCBI was used to retrieve protein sequences recorded for OprF in P. aeruginosa.The current study aimed at investigating the conservation of the OprF in 150 reference sequences, clinical, and environmental strains of P. aeruginosa from different countries via bioinformatic tools.T-COFFEE and PRALINE software were used for alignment. Results: Of these, 134 strains were isolated from clinical specimens and other strains from environmental samples. Evaluation of alignment by the mentioned software clearly showed that this protein was conserved. Antigenicity and grand average of hydropathicity were favorable. Conclusion: Conservation of OprF in all pathogenic and environmental strains of P. aeruginosa indicated that it can be considered as a good immunogen; however, the protectivity of OprF should be validated experimentally.
Seyedeh Maryam Sharafi; Iraj Rasooli; Ali Dehghan Kashani; Parviz Owlia; Mohammad Bagher Rezaee; Shakiba Darvish Alipoor Astaneh
Volume 5, Issue 4 , September 2010, , Pages 184-193
Abstract
Background and Objectives: There is a profound inclination among people toward consumption of herbs and herbal products. Some of these products are harmful while health-promoting potentials of some others should be discovered. In the present study the antibacterial, antioxidant, acute and subchronic ...
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Background and Objectives: There is a profound inclination among people toward consumption of herbs and herbal products. Some of these products are harmful while health-promoting potentials of some others should be discovered. In the present study the antibacterial, antioxidant, acute and subchronic and cancer cell toxicity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Rosa damascena Mill. was studied. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial activities were determined by agar disc diffusion method. Total phenol content was estimated. Antioxidative properties of the extracts were determined by bleaching of beta carotene or 2,20-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) was expressed as gallic acid equivalents or known Fe (II) concentration for rose extracts and blood sera respectively. Acute and subchronic toxicity and cytotoxicity of the extracts were tested using animal model or Hela cells. Hematology and clinical chemistry parameters were noted. Results: Staphylococcus aureus was found susceptible. The total phenol contents of the methanolic and aqueous extracts were 132.67±3.51 and 117.33±6.81 μg Gallic acid equivalent/mg sample, respectively. Antioxidative effects were higher than those of the synthetic antioxidants were. A dose dependent levels of FRAP was noted in blood sera of rats gavaged with the extracts. Decrease in cholesterol/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios, fasting glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid is suggestive of promising therapeutic potentials of the extract. Inhibitory concentration of 50% (IC50) of 4.5 µg/ml was determined for cytotoxicity of the extract against Hela cell line. Conclusion: The results suggest application of rose extract as a natural antioxidant and health-promoting agent.