Based on these and our previous results, it can be concluded that in vivo prepared T. gondii E/SA could be considered as a good candidate for animal vaccination.

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Antimicrobial resistance is a major concern for public health throughout the world that severely restricts available treatments. In this context, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for a high percentage of S. aureus infections and mortality. To overcome this challenge, nanoparticles are appropriate tools as drug carriers to improve the therapeutic efficacy and decrease the toxicity of drugs. In this study, a polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated nanostructured lipid carrier (PEG-NLC) was synthesized to improve the oral delivery of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) for the treatment of MRSA skin infection in vitro and in vivo. The nanoformulation (PEG-TMP/SMZ-NLC) was synthesized with size and drug encapsulation efficiencies of 187 ± 9 nm and 93.3%, respectively, which could release the drugs in a controlled manner at intestinal pH. PEG-TMP/SMZ-NLC was found efficient in decreasing the drugs’ toxicity by 2.4-fold in vitro. In addition, the intestinal permeability of TMP/SMZ was enhanced by 54%, and the antibacterial effects of the drugs were enhanced by 8-fold in vitro. The results of the stability study demonstrated that PEG-TMP/SMZ-NLC was stable for three months. In addition, the results demonstrated that PEG-TMP/SMZ-NLC after oral administration could decrease the drugs’ side-effects such as renal and hepatic toxicity by ~5-fold in MRSA skin infection in Balb/c mice, while it could improve the antibacterial effects of TMP/SMZ by 3 orders of magnitude. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the application of PEGylated NLC nanoparticles is a promising approach to improving the oral delivery of TMP/SMZ for the treatment of MRSA skin infection.

The present study, evaluated, using the components of peritoneal fluid of infected mice (as another source of E/SA), for the detection of Toxoplasma specific IgG in human serum. Peritoneal fluids of mice infected by intraperitoneal (IP) inoculation of Toxoplasma tachizoites were collected after 3 days and centrifuged at 750 x g for 15 min then the supernatant was precipitated with ammonium sulphate solution (40% saturated) and used as components containing E/SA. Forty nine uninfected (without anti-Toxoplasma antibodies) and thirty two positive (with IgG to Toxoplasma) human serum samples were selected (all sera were first tested by standard method for detection of IgG antibodies anti-T. gondii) then the sera were tested by ELISA using E/SA. The cut-off point with 95% confidences was found to be 0.78. Moreover, sensitivity and specificity of the method were determined to be 84 and 92%, respectively. The present results indicate that peritoneal exudates from mice infected with T. gondii may be used as a source of antigenic material for the detection of Toxoplasma-specific IgG and may be valuable for the development of new tools in the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis.

Background:Zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii has a high prevalence in human populations. A suitable vaccine for animals can stop the transmission of infection between animal and human.Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo prepared excretory/secretory antigens (E/SA) as a potential candidate for immunization against the parasite and its effect on the production of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β).Materials and Methods:Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were inoculated in the peritoneal cavity of mice and E/SA was harvested and used in animal immunization with and without adjuvant. Serum levels of anti-E/SA antibodies and TGF-β were measured in days 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 after immunization using ELISA technique. The measurements were statistically analyzed.Results:Our results showed that the serum levels of anti-E/SA immunoglobulins significantly increased in all of the immunized groups. The differences of the serum levels of TGF-β between the groups were statistically significant at days 28 and 56 after immunization with E/SA.Conclusions:Based on our study, in vivo prepared E/SA may be considered as a good candidate for animal immunization.