The multipotency property of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has attained worldwide consideration because of their immense potential for immunomodulation and their therapeutic function in tissue regeneration. MSCs can migrate to tissue injury areas to contribute to immune modulation, secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines and hide themselves from the immune system. Certainly, various investigations have revealed anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, reconstruction, and wound healing potentials of MSCs in many in vitro and in vivo models. Moreover, current progresses in the field of MSCs biology have facilitated the progress of particular guidelines and quality control approaches, which eventually lead to clinical application of MSCs. In this literature, we provided a brief overview of immunoregulatory characteristics and immunosuppressive activities of MSCs. In addition, we discussed the enhancement, utilization, and therapeutic responses of MSCs in neural, liver, kidney, bone, heart diseases, and wound healing.

The present study was conducted to clarify the effects of Lactobacillus salivarius (LS) ATCC 11741 and pectin (PE) on growth performance, digestive enzymes activity, gut microbiota composition, immune parameters, antioxidant defense as well as disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in narrow-clawed crayfish, Postantacus leptodactylus. During 18 weeks trial feeding, 525 narrow-clawed crayfish juvenile ( 8.07 ± 0.1  g) fed with seven experimental diets including control (basal diet), LS1 ( 1 × 10 7  CFU/g), LS2 ( 1 × 109  CFU/g), PE1 (5 g/kg), PE2 (10 g/kg), LS1PE1 ( 1 × 10 7  CFU/g +5 g/kg), and LS2PE2 ( 1 × 109  CFU/g +10 g/kg). After 18 weeks, growth parameters (final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate) and feed conversion rate were significantly improved in all treatments ( P < 0.05 ). Besides, diets incorporated with LS1PE1 and LS2PE2 significantly increased the activity of amylase and protease enzymes compared to LS1, LS2, and control groups ( P < 0.05 ). Microbiological analyses revealed that the total heterotrophic bacteria count (TVC) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of narrow-clawed crayfish fed diets containing LS1, LS2, LS1PE1, and LS2PE2 were higher than control group. The highest total haemocyte count (THC), large-granular (LGC) and semigranular cells (SGC) count, and hyaline count (HC) was obtained in LS1PE1 ( P < 0.05 ). Similarly, higher immunity activity (lysozyme (LYZ), phenoloxidase (PO), nitroxidesynthetase (NOs), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP)) observed in the LS1PE1 treatment compared to the control group ( P < 0.05 ). The glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity remarkably enhanced in LS1PE1 and LS2PE2, while malondialdehyde (MDA) content reduced in these two treatments. In addition, specimens belonging to LS1, LS2, PE2, LS1PE1, and LS2PE2 groups presented higher resistance against A. hydrophila compared to the control group. In conclusion, feeding narrow-clawed crayfish with synbiotic had higher efficiency on growth parameters, immunocompetence, and disease resistance compared to single consumption of prebiotics and probiotics.

Background & Objective: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that causes a variety of clinical symptoms in humans. It is a facultatively heteroxenous, polyxenous protozoon that has evolved several potential transmission routes within and between the host species. Infections caused by Toxoplasma gondii are more frequently seen in immunocompetent patients. The infection acquired by the mother during pregnancy puts the fetus at risk of congenital infection due to the parasite transmission across the placenta. The severity and frequency of infection are determined by the gestational age of the mother at the time of infection. The objective of this research was to study the toxoplasmosis infection in women, and to estimate the relationship between T. gondii infection and parameters including abortion time, chronic diseases, and age. Materials & Methods:The case-control study was conducted on 50 healthy women (pregnant and non-pregnant) as control group and 135 women with abortion experience as case group at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq from December 2021 until March 2022. The questionnaire was used to gather information from the women. The participant's name, age, gestational age, address, medications taken, medical history, previous abortions, and the date the sample was taken were all included. Under sterile conditions, five milliliters of the venous blood were drawn from each woman. The ELISA test was used to determine the level of anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies in serum samples. Results:The anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies were found to be positive in 51% and 8% of the cases, respectively. However, the anti-T. gondii antibodies seroprevalence was 59% in women who had abortion. The healthy women had 0% for all antibodies. Conclusion:Despite reporting the high rates of infection among women who had single abortions, the current study found no significant association between the percentage of infection and the number of abortions. The cause of high incidence among women who had abortion could be due to decrease in the immune system function.