EC in this region, including opium consumption, drinking hot tea, poor oral hygiene, obesity, exposure to polycyclic and genetic factors (Kamangar et al., 2007). There is no data about the relationship between FB1 and incidence of EC in this high risk area. So, we conducted this study to determine FB1 contamination of rice and corn samples and its relationship with EC in Golestan province of Iran.

Background: Candida albicans as an opportunistic fungus is one of the most important causes of late-onset morbidity and mortality in patients with major burns and severely impaired immune system. In recent years, the emergence of resistance to opportunistic fungi and toxicity of antimicrobial drugs make it necessary to develop new drugs. Methods: In the present study, we investigated anticandidal effects of indolicidin, as a representative of host defense peptide, conjugated with gold nanoparticles in fluconazole-resistant clinical isolates of C. albicans . After characterizing the conjugation of indolicidin using biophysical methodologies, the cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity of the nanocomplex were examined. In addition, the expression level of ERG11 , responsible for antifungal resistance, and the immunomodulatory effect of peptide-nanomaterial conjugates were assessed. Results: Our data indicated that the nanocomplex was nontoxic for the fibroblast cells and erythrocytes. Treatment with the nanocomplex significantly reduced the expression levels of the ERG11 gene in fluconazole-resistant C. albicans isolates and the iNOS gene in macrophages. Conclusion: The study data provides a chance to develop innovative therapies for the treatment of C. albicans burn infections. However, further investigation is required to examine the efficiency of the nanocomplex.

The evolution of drug resistance of Candida species to conventional antifungal agents has been a major medical challenge worldwide; attempt to use the potential antifungal agents with appropriate therapy efficacy and minimum effects is considerably growing. This study was conducted to evaluate the use of nanogel as a nanocarrier for pharmaceutical application of farnesol. The nanogels were synthetized using alginate (AL) and chitosan (CS) polymers containing 300 mM of farnesol in the nanorange 42-70 nm size. In vitro release studies indicated that release of farnesol from CS and AL nanogels was as 58% and 37%, respectively. Chitosan nanogel showed more in inhibitory zone as compared to AL nanogel (9 mm). Also, cytotoxicity assay showed no significant difference between control and treatment groups (p>.05). Finally, the effect of nanogels on genes expression of HWP1, SAP6 and Rim101 in Candida albicans ATCC10231 was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Expression of HWP1 and SAP6 genes in C. albicans treated with CS nanogel was significantly decreased (p<.01). In general, the obtained finding showed that, CS nanogel contains farnesol with proper antifungal activity and as a new approach used in pharmaceutical applications against C. albicans; however, more studies in vitro and in vivo are needed in the future.

Background:A cluster of genes are involved in the pathogenesis and adhesion of Candida albicans to mucosa and epithelial cells in the vagina, the important of which is agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) genes. As well as vaginitis is a significant health problem among women, the antifungal resistance of Candida species is continually increasing. This cross-sectional study investigates the expression of ALS1 and ALS3 genes and biofilm formation in C. albicans isolate isolated from vaginitis.Materials and Methods:Fifty-three recognized isolates of C. albicans were collected from women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis in Iran, cultured on sabouraud dextrose agar, and then examined for gene expression. Total messenger RNA (mRNA) extracted from C. albicans isolates and complementary DNA synthesized using reverse transcriptase enzyme. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using specific primer was used to evaluate the expression of ALS1 and ALS3 through housekeeping (ACT1) genes. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay was performed to assess adherence capacity and biofilm formation in the isolated.Results:Forty isolates (75.8%) expressed ALS1 and 41 isolates (77.7%) expressed ALS3 gene. Moreover, 39 isolates (74%) were positive for both ALS1 and ALS3 mRNA by the RT-PCR. Adherence capability in isolates with ALS1 or ALS3 genes expression was greater than the control group (with any gene expression), besides, it was significantly for the most in the isolates that expressed both ALS1 and ALS3 genes simultaneously.Conclusion:The results attained indicated that there is an association between the expression of ALS1 and ALS3 genes and fluconazole resistance in C. albicans. A considerable percent of the isolates expressing the ALS1 and ALS3 genes may have contributed to their adherence to vagina and biofilm formation.

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