Objectives. In 2013, Clermont classified E. coli strains into eight phylogenetic groups using a new quadruplex PCR method. The aims of this study were to identify the phylogenetic groups of E. coli based on this method and to assess their antibiotic resistance patterns in Bushehr, Iran. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 140 E. coli isolates were subjected to phylogenetic typing by a quadruplex PCR method. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method. Results. Phylogenetic group B2 was most predominant (39.3%), followed by unknown (27.1%), E (9.3%), C and clade I (each 6.4%), B1 (5%), F and D (each 2.9%), and A (0.7%). The most common antibiotic resistance was related to amoxicillin (82.1%) and the least to meropenem (0.7%). 82.14% of isolates were multiple drug resistant (MDR). Antibiotic resistance was mainly detected in group B2 (50%). Conclusions. Our findings showed the high prevalence of MDR E. coli isolates with dominance of group B2. About 25% of E. coli isolates belong to the newly described phylogroups C, E, F, and clade I. Such studies need to be done also in other regions to provide greater understanding of the antibiotic resistance pattern and the prevalences of different phylogenetic groups.

No abstract

Resistance to chemotherapy agents is a major challenge infront of cancer patient treatment and researchers. It is known that several factors, such as multidrug resistance proteins and ATP-binding cassette families, are cell membrane transporters that can efflux several substrates such as chemotherapy agents from the cell cytoplasm. To reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy agents, various targeted-based cancer therapy (TBCT) agents have been developed. TBCT has revolutionized cancer treatment, and several agents have shown more specific effects on tumor cells than chemotherapies. Small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies are specific agents that mostly target tumor cells but have low side effects on normal cells. Although these agents have been very useful for cancer treatment, however, the presence of natural and acquired resistance has blunted the advantages of targeted therapies. Therefore, development of new options might be necessary. A better understanding of tumor cell resistance mechanisms to current treatment agents may provide an appropriate platform for developing and improving new treatment modalities. Therefore, in this review, different mechanisms of tumor cell resistance to chemotherapy drugs and current targeted therapies have been described.

Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer among women. MicroRNAs as noncoding small RNA molecules play pivotal roles in cancer-related biological processes. Increased levels of microRNA-29a in the serum of breast cancer patients have been reported. Since heat shock proteins (HSPs) play important roles in cell events, the quantitative fluctuations in their cellular levels could be deemed as key indicators of how the exerted treatment alters cell behavior. In this regard, using an antisense small RNA, we attempted to investigate the effects of miR-29a knockdown on the expression of HSPs genes in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. MCF-7 cells were cultured in high-glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 10% FBS. Studied cells were subdivided into five groups: treated with scramble, anti-miR-29a, anti-miR-29a + Taxol, Taxol, and control. Taxol was added 24 h post-anti-miR transfection and RNA extraction, and cDNA synthesis was done 48 h later. The changes in expression of HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90 were evaluated by real-time PCR. Our results revealed that inhibitors of microRNA-29a promote apoptosis through upregulation of HSP60 level and downregulation of HSP27, HSP40, HSP70, and HSP90 levels and could be contemplated as a compelling alternative for Taxol employment with similar effects and/or to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy with fewer side effects.

No abstract