Background:Immunotherapy is a promising prospective new treatment for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. Neutralizing effects have been reported using monoclonal antibodies. Recombinant single chain antibodies (scFvs) due to their advantages over monoclonal antibodies are potential alternatives and provide valuable clinical agents.Objectives:The aim of this study was to select specific single chain antibodies against gp55 of CMV and to evaluate their neutralizing effects. In the present study, we selected specific single chain antibodies against glycoprotein 55 (gp55) of CMV for their use in treatment and diagnosis.Materials and Methods:Single chain antibodies specific against an epitope located in the C-terminal part of gp55 were selected from a phage antibody display library. After four rounds of panning, twenty clones were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fingerprinted by MvaI restriction enzyme. The reactivities of the specific clones were tested by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the neutralizing effects were evaluated by the plaque reduction assay.Results:Fingerprinting of selected clones revealed three specific single chain antibodies (scFv1, scFv2 and scFv3) with frequencies 25%, 20 and 20%. The clones produced positive ELISA with the corresponding peptide. The percentages of plaque reduction for scFv1, scFv2 and scFv3 were 23.7, 68.8 and 11.6, respectively.Conclusions:Gp55 of human CMV is considered as an important candidate for immunotherapy. In this study, we selected three specific clones against gp55. The scFvs reacted only with the corresponding peptide in a positive ELISA. The scFv2 with 68.8% neutralizing effect showed the potential to be considered for prophylaxis and treatment of CMV infections, especially in solid organ transplant recipients, for whom treatment of CMV is urgently needed. The scFv2 with neutralizing effect of 68.8%, has the potential to be considered for treatment of these patients. The specific scFv1 and scFv3 with lower neutralizing effects can be used for diagnostic purposes.

Foods supplemented with probiotics enhance athletes' immune system functions, improve body health and consequently decreases athlete's health maintenance costs. Probiotics improve immune system function against pathogens via affecting on innate immune system, humeral immunity and cytokines. The effects of consumption of Iranian probiotic Bifidobactrium bifidum (BIB2) on athletes' immune system functions were evaluated. The results showed studied immune system factors were significantly different between test and control groups, so that IgA, IgM, lymphocyte and monocytes percentage and CD4 measurements of test group were higher than control. The Bifidobacterim bifidum (BIB2) probiotic consumption can affect some immune system factors; therefore its ability to improved general health should be studied more.

Background: Extreme of professional exercise intensively increase the production of free radicals, damage to body tissues, and production of stress hormones and reduces the immune activity. The use of probiotic supplements has attracted sports community attention to promoting the health and performance of athletes.Objectives: In this study, the effect of probiotic supplementation was investigated on psychological conditions and the level of oxidative stress enzymes in athlete soldiers.Methods: This double-blind controlled trial was conducted on 40 swimmers that were randomly divided into two groups: A test group (n = 20 receiving one glass of probiotic juice daily for 12 weeks) and a control group (n = 20 receiving placebo juice for 12 weeks). The probiotic juice contained a probiotic strain of Bacillus coagulans at 1 × 10 9 CFU. The mental health status was evaluated by scoring on the POMS and the concentration of antioxidant enzymes and the total antioxidant capacity in blood samples were determined using the kits at the beginning and the end of the three-month post-test every 15 days. Results:After 12 weeks of intervention, a significant increase was observed in the antioxidants levels in the test group compared to the control group: SOD (43.10 ± 0.1000 vs. 28.25 ± 0.2500 u/mL; P < 0.0001), GPX (289.5 ± 1.500± vs. 160.0 ± 1.000 u/mL; P < 0.0001), total oxidative stress capacity (1.975 ± 0.005000 vs. 1.365 ± 0.005000 u/mL; P < 0.0001). In addition, psychological parameters were more favorable in the probiotic group than in the placebo group. Conclusions:Based on the results, the probiotic juice consumption has beneficial effects on the body's antioxidant system and mental health parameters in athlete soldiers.