ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Typing of fliC Gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Metallo-Beta-‎Lactamase Producer Strains Isolated from Clinical Specimen Aims: Carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa resulting from metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) has been reported to be an important cause of nosocomial infection and is a serious therapeutic problem worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine the fliC (flagellin) typing and their prevalence rate in P. aeruginosa producing MBL isolated from clinical specimens in Ahvaz, Iran. Materials and Methods: In the present experimental study, isolates were related to the previous study collected from hospitalized patients in Golestan and Imam Khomeini, in Ahvaz, Iran, during 9 months in 2012. Strains were identified using microscopic and biochemical tests. Then, the susceptibility antibiotic tests were performed on all isolates. Imipenem (IMP) and IMP+EDTA (IMP/IMP+EDTA) combined disk phenotypic test was performed for detection of MBL producing strains that were resistant to IMP. Finally, PCR was performed to detect fliC genes in IMP resistant strains. Findings: Out of 100 examined isolates, 47 isolates were resistant to IMP. Among 47 imipenem resistant strains, 41 strains were MBL producers. Eighty-three percent of the strains contained fliC gene that 48 isolates had type A and 32 isolates had type B. Conclusion: Eighty-three percent of the specimens have flagellin (fliC) gene, which out of them, 48 strains of P. aeruginosa (60.0%) have type A flagellin and 32 strains (40.0%) have type B. Twenty-four of the 41 strains of MBL producer (60.0%) have type A and 16 strains (40.0%) have type B and only one strains lacks the flagellin gene, so the flagella plays a significant role in the bacterial virulence. http://iem.modares.ac.ir/article-1-19186-en.pdf 2018-06-20 41 46 Pseudomonas aeruginosa Metallo Beta-Lactamases ‎ FliC Flagellin PCR M. Moosavian 1 ‎Infectious & Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AUTHOR M. Moradzadeh ‎ mi.1366@yahoo.com 2 Infectious & Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur ‎University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AUTHOR H. Ghadri 3 Microbiology Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical ‎Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil‌ ‌against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Aims: Nowadays, treatment of bacterial infections is one of the most important challenges in the world. Medicinal plants offer a great hope to overcome these needs because of their chemical diversity and their significant role in the drug development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of the thyme (Thymus vulgaris) essential oil against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, thyme herb plants were collected and thyme essential oil was extracted. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MICs) tests were performed to determine the antimicrobial activity of Thymus plant against the first (Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol) and second (Cycloserine, Streptomycin, Kanamycin) drug antibiotics of mycobacterium. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 software, using one-way ANOVA test. Findings: The MICs for Isoniazid, Ethambutol, Streptomycin and Cycloserine were less than 10µg/ml and the MIC values for Rifampicin and Kanamycin were 40µg/ml. The limits of minimal inhibitory concentration of essential oil was between 0.5-40µg/ml (p<0.05). Conclusion: Thyme essential oil has antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberclusis. http://iem.modares.ac.ir/article-1-19575-en.pdf 2018-06-20 47 51 Minimum Inhibitory Concentration ‎ Mycobacterium tuberculosis ‎ Antibiotic Resistance ‎ Thymus vulgaris Sh. Pourazar Dizaji ‎ 1 Mycobacteriology & Pulmonary Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran ‎ AUTHOR N. Soleimani ‎ N_soleimani@sbu.ac.ir 2 Microbiology & Microbial Biotechnology Department,‎‏ ‏Life Sciences & Biotechnology Faculty, Shahid ‎Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR P. Afrugh ‎ 3 Mycobacteriology & Pulmonary Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR S. Saedi ‎ 4 Medical Bacteriology Department of Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Frequency of Enterotoxin Producing Staphylococcus aureus and ‎Toxin Genes in Raw and Cooked Meat Samples Aims: Food safety has emerged as an important global issue with international trade and public health implications. Staphylococcus aureus is recognized as an important cause of food poisoning related to the consumption of raw, undercooked or mishandled foods worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and the frequency of enterotoxin producing S. aureus and SE genes in meat samples collected from meat retail outlets and restaurants in Zanjan, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, from March to June 2015, a total of 90 individual meat samples were collected from meat retail outlets and restaurants in Zanjan, Iran and investigated the frequency of enterotoxin producing S. aureus and SE genes. The meat samples were immediately homogenized and cultured on Baird parker agar and subjected for confirmatory biochemical tests and molecular detection of femA, sea, seb, sec, sed and see genes. Findings: A total of 31 (34.4%) meat samples were positive for the presence of S. aureus. The frequency of S. aureus in raw meat (23.3%) was higher than cooked meat samples (11.1%). Enterotoxin-producing capacity was determined in 18 (20.0%) out of 90 homogenized meat samples using ELISA technique. The most prevalent SE gene was sea (38.7%), followed by see (22.6%), sec (16.1%) and seb (12.9%). SE genes were not found in strains isolated from cooked meat samples. Conclusion: Detection of enterotoxigenic S. aureus in raw meat samples shows a probable risk for public health.   http://iem.modares.ac.ir/article-1-19049-en.pdf 2018-06-20 53 58 Staphylococcus aureus ‎ Enterotoxins ‎ Meat ‎ PCR D. Asgarpoor 1 Microbiology Department, Medicine‎ Faculty, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran AUTHOR F. Haghi 2 Microbiology Department, Medicine Faculty, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran AUTHOR H. Zeighami zeighami@zums.ac.ir 3 Microbiology Department, Medicine Faculty, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Comparison of Green Tea and Chlorhexidine Mouthwash Effects ‎on Bacterial Colonies of Throat Cultures of Patients in ICU Aims: Throat of a healthy individual is an environment, which is suitable for the growth of various bacteria and viruses. In patients who are under artificial ventilation, leakage around the cuff of the trachea may be the cause of pneumonia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of herbal teas of 5% green tea and 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash on oral hygiene of patients with tracheal intubation. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 46 intubated patients admitted to ICU of Shahid Mohammadi hospital of Bandar Abbas, Iran in 2015. These patients were selected by simple random sampling method. In the first 4 days, the first group was mouthwashed with chlorhexidine solution and the second 4 days with green tea solution. The second group was first washed with green tea solution and the other 4 days with chlorhexidine solution for the first 4 days. On the first day and the end of the fourth and eighth day, the pharynx was cultured using sterilized method. The data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software using Chi-square, chi-square for trend, or Fisher’s exact test. Findings: Patients in both intervention groups demonstrated improved oral health with respect to decreased bacterial load in pharynx. However, no significant difference was observed between the two intervention groups with respect to improved oral bacterial load (p>0.05). Conclusion: The use of green tea and chlorhexidine mouthwashes has a similar effect on bacterial colonies in the pharynx. http://iem.modares.ac.ir/article-1-21845-en.pdf 2018-06-20 59 65 Chlorhexidine ‎ Green Tea ‎ Mouthwashes ‎ Oral Hygiene ‎ Bacterial Colony Y. Khanchemehr 1 Operation Room Department, Paramedicine Faculty, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, ‎Bandar Abbas, Iran AUTHOR H. Hoseynrezaei ‎ h_m5664@yahoo.com 2 Nursing & Midwifery Department, Nursing & Midwifery Faculty, Kerman University of Medical ‎Science, Kerman, Iran AUTHOR S. Kashani 3 Critical Care & Pain Management Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar ‎Abbas, Iran AUTHOR A. Khanchemehr 4 Dentistry Department, Dentistry Faculty, Hrmozgan University of Medical Science. Bandar Abbas, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Anti-Biofilm Activity of Punica granatum, Ricinus communis, and ‎Allium sativum Plant Extracts on Streptococcus mutans Aims: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is part of human oral cavity microbiome and is known to be responsible of dental caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of Punica granatum, Ricinus communis, and Allium sativum extracts on biofilm formation caused by S. mutans. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the biofilm formation was carried out by broth dilution method with glucose -supplemented Tryptic Soy Agar (TSB) in 96-well microtiter plates. Seven serial dilutions from the aqueous extracts of the Punica granatum, Ricinus communis, and Allium sativum were prepared. Then, a suspension of S. mutans was added to the wells. The anti-biofilm effects of the extracts and turbidity were measured by an ELISA reader apparatus at OD492nm. Experiments were completed in triplicate. Findings: Ricinus communis was more active on S. mutans than other extracts. In comparison with others, the mean OD obtained in the presence of a concentration of 50mg of the plant extract (OD=0.083) was close to the negative control (OD=0.068). This plant was effective in higher concentrations (50, 25, 12.5 and 6.25mg/ml). Allium sativum extract has a moderate effect on S. mutans. The lowest activity belonged to Punica granatum extract. Conclusion: The extract of Ricinus communis has strong anti-biofilm activity against Streptococcus mutans, when compared to other extracts, Allium sativum extract show moderate activity on the biofilm formation. Aqueous extract of Punica granatum peel isn’t very effective on S. mutans. http://iem.modares.ac.ir/article-1-23374-en.pdf 2018-06-20 67 72 Streptococcus mutans ‎ Biofilms ‎ Punica granatum ‎ Ricinus communis ‎ Allium sativum S. Shams ‎ sshams@muq.ac.ir 1 Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran AUTHOR A. Mehdipour ‎ 2 Pediatric Dentistry Department, Dental Faculty, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran AUTHOR S. Kermani ‎ 3 Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran AUTHOR H. Ghorbani ‎ 4 Student Research Committee, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran ‎ AUTHOR S. Ragolia ‎ 5 Molecular Medicine Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Effect of Farnesol on Responsive Gene Expressions in Hyphal ‎Morphogenesis Transformation of Candida albicans Aims: Candida albicans a polymorphic fungus can grow as yeast, pseudohyphae and true hyphae forms. The hyphal form has a key role in infection process during invasion to mucosal membrane. A cluster of genes contribute in controlling of hyphae formation in C. albicans, include SAP6, HWP1 and RIM101. Farnesol is a quorum sensing molecule which inhibits switching of yeast-to-hyphae form. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of farnesol on yeast-to-hyphae morphogenesis and its related gene expressions in C. albicans. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory trial study, C .albicans was exposed to various concentration (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 150 and 300µM) of farnesol and the rate of yeast cell proliferations and germ tube formation was evaluated by different methods and microscopic examination. Real time-PCR was performed to assess the expression levels of the hyphae-specific genes SAP6, HWP1 and RIM101. The results were analyzed by IBM SPSS 23 software using Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA. Findings: The yeast growth reduced 5% in 300µM of farnesol approximately (p<0.05). Germ tube formation strongly suppressed. Moreover, Real time-PCR analysis showed that 300µM farnesol decreased HWP1 and SAP6 gene expressions significantly in comparison to control group (p<0.05), whereas, there was no difference in the expression of RIM101 gene. Conclusion: Farnesol in 300µM concentration can inhibits growth and proliferation of C. albicans yeast cells and also inhibits hyphal formation. Farnesol can affect the expression of virulent genes including pathogenic genes that are associated with hyphae morphogenesis such as SAP6 and HWP1. http://iem.modares.ac.ir/article-1-20654-en.pdf 2018-06-20 73 77 Candida albicans ‎ Farnesol ‎ RIM101 ‎ SAP6 ‎ HWP1 F. Nikoomanesh 1 Medical Mycology Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Sh. Roudbar mohammadi‎ sh.mohammadi@modares.ac.ir 2 Medical Mycology Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR B. Bashardoust 3 Medical Mycology Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR M. Zareei ‎ 4 Health Department, Rescue & Treatment of I.R. Iran Police Force, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR