Background: Fumonisins B1 (FB1) is the main member of the family of fumonisins produced by several Fusarium species in cereals, especially rice.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze mycoflora and FB1 contamination of fresh and stored rice grains.Materials and Methods: One-hundred and fifty different fresh and stored rice samples were collected from 30 different zones of the Mazandaran province, Iran between August 2010 and November 2011. After sterilization, the grains were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) containing chloramphenicol (100 mg/L) at 27°C for 7 - 10 days. All Fusarium isolates were sub-cultured on PDA, SpeziellerNährstoffarmer agar (SNA) and carnation leaf agar (CLA). FB1 was extracted with acetonitrile: water (50: 50, v/v) solution and detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis using a fluorescence detector (excitation: 229 nm; emission: 442 nm).Results: Mycoflora profiles of fresh and stored rice grains showed that Aspergillus species (37.3%, 40.7%) were the predominant fungal agents, followed by Fusarium (21.6%, 16.2%), Mucor (19.6%, 16.7%) and Rhizopus (9.8%, 11.1%), respectively. In HPLC analysis, most of the rice samples (96.7%) collected were found to be positive for FB1 with mean levels ranging from not detected to 56.2 mg/kg for fresh samples and from 4.3 to 42.8 mg/kg for stored ones. FB1 levels varied from one zone to another and throughout the storage time, showing a decreasing trend in most zones.Conclusions: Rice samples with a high prevalence of diverse species of toxigenic fungi, in particular Aspergillus and Fusarium species, and high levels of FB1 in many samples indicate the need for proper surveillance and monitoring exclusively for the prevention of fungi and FB1 in rice produced in Mazandaran province before it reaches the consumer

Background. A fundamental component of innate immunity is represented by skin that acts as a first aid against infection. The skin’s epithelial barriers, respiratory tract, and eyes directly contacting with the external environment have incremented the probability of infection. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes various infections in immunocompromised hosts. In addition, one-third of P. aeruginosa clinical isolates are resistant to three or more antibiotics. Lately, lots of researchers concentrate on halophilic microorganisms due to affordable novel biomolecules. One of these biomolecules is metal nanoparticles. MNPs exhibited antimicrobial functionality against a variety of microbes. Amidst MNPs, SeNPs are one of the most extensively studied. In this study, halophilic bacteria from solar saltern were employed for the biosynthesis of SeNPs. Aim. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial properties of SeNPs which are synthesized by halophilic microorganisms. Result. The NPs were synthesized by Halomonas eurihalina intracellularly. The produced SeNPs were identified through various assays such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, DLS, FTIR, and SEM. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the presence of SeNPs. In addition, the average particle size of SeNPs was 260 nm. FTIR confirmed the presence of the capping agent to inhibit the aggregation of SeNPs. Also, synthesized selenium nanoparticles have a natural crystalline nature that is verified by XRD. SEM also revealed the spherical shape. Furthermore, SeNPs represented significant antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa. Conclusion. According to the obtained result, biosynthesized SeNPs demonstrated remarkable characteristics that make them profitable nonantibiotics and also decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with tissue infections.

Background: Anti-cancer activity of some lactic acid bacterial strains is well documented in several literatures. Lactobacillus strains have received considerable attention as a beneficial microbiota. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of anti-tumor activities of L. acidophilus ATCC4356 culture supernatants on the MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Materials and methods: Anti-cancer effect of 24h and 48h culture supernatants at various concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 µg/ml) were determined by various in vitro and in vivo assays including MTT, tumor volume measurement as well as 99mTc-MIBI biodistribution in MCF-7 tumor bearing nude mice and histopathology test. For evaluation of the related mechanism of action, quantitative PCR was conducted. Results: The 48h culture supernatants at 10 and 20 µg/ml exhibited significant in vitro inhibition of MCF-7 cell proliferation. However, this inhibition was not observed for HUVEC human endothelial normal cells. Q-PCR indicated that treatment by the supernatant led to a significant downregulation of VEGFR ( ̴ 0.009 fold) and Bcl-2 ( ̴ 0.5 fold) and upregulation of p53 ( ̴ 1.3 fold). In vivo study using MCF-7 xenograft mouse models demonstrated reduction in tumor weight and volume by both 24h and 48h supernatants (10 µg/ml and 20 µg/ml) after 15 days. According to the 99mTc-MIBI biodistribution result, treatment of MCF-7 bearing nude mice with both 24h and 48h supernatant (20 µg/ml) led to significant decrease in tumor uptake compared with the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the culture supernatants of L. acidophilus ATCC4356 at suitable concentrations can be considered as a good alternative nutraceutical with promising therapeutic indexes for breast cancer.

Background:Toxoplasmosis is the most common disease in humans and animals (zoonosis) caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The disease is usually appeared as asymptomatic in immunocompromised individuals but its most common symptom is lymphadenopathy. Shortly before or during the first trimester of pregnancy, this disease can be transferred to the fetus and cause serious infection in the fetus. In late pregnancy (third trimester), the complications of this infection is very low or unsigned. Due to the absence of non-specific clinical symptoms or slight infection in pregnant women, prenatal diagnosis is often impossible.Objectives:Since no research compared these two methods, we decided to compare these methods and determine which method works better for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.Patients and Methods:In this study, 50 pregnant women who referred to the Chalus Health Center laboratory were included and the blood samples were tested for presence of IgG and IgM antibodies of Toxoplasma gondii by both ELISA and Chemiluminescence methods.Results:Of the 50 samples tested by the ELISA method, 26 samples (52%) were positive for IgG . No samples were positive for IgM. Of the 50 samples tested by the Chemiluminescence method, 28 samples (56%) were positive for IgG. No samples were positive for IgM.Conclusions:A significant relationship between the age of the youngest child and the infection rate was seen. No significant correlation between age, number of individuals in the household, number of children, location, type of construction, consumption of greens, the way of greens and meat consumption, drug use, history of stillbirth and infection levels was seen.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are one of the most important multidrug resistant microorganisms that threaten human health. Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of erythromycin resistance among MRSA isolates recovered from raw milk in Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 MRSA isolates were recovered from raw milk. Tests for erythromycin and clindamycin susceptibility and inducible clindamycin resistance were done. In addition, the presence of the methicillin resistance determinant (mecA), erythromycin resistance genes (ermA, ermB, ermC and msrA) and an important virulence gene (Panton– Valentine leukocidin) were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results: Forty-eight percent (24/50) and 46% (23/50) of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin, respectively. Seven (14%) isolates showed inducible clindamycin resistance phenotype. The mecA gene was detected in 88% (44/50) of MRSA isolates. The incidence of the ermA, ermB, ermC and msrA genes was 14%, 64%, 12%, and 26%, respectively and the PVL gene was present in 18% (9/50) of MRSA isolates. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the incidence of erythromycin resistance genes and inducible clindamycin-resistant MRSA strains was high in raw milk samples in Iran.