Tarbiat Modares University Infection Epidemiology and Microbiology 2588-4107 11 4 2025 11 01 Apoptotic Induction in Glioblastoma Cells by Staphylococcus aureus Cytoplasmic Extract: An Approach to Targeting Bax and Bcl-2 Pathways 297 306 28093 10.52547/iem.11.4.297 EN Maryam Rasouli Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Bahareh Hajikhani 2. Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hossein Fahimi 3. Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Mahdyeh Neghabi Hajiagha 2. Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Journal Article 2025 01 24 Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive and prevalent primary brain tumors, with a limited treatment options. The median survival rate remains low, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) extract, have shown potential in inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, offering a promising avenue for glioblastoma treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of S. aureus cytoplasmic extract on the U87 glioblastoma cell line, focusing on its ability to induce apoptosis and modulate key apoptotic genes, Bax and Bcl-2. Materials & Methods: The U87 cell was cultured under standard conditions, and S. aureus cytoplasmic extract was prepared using sonication. The extract's protein concentration was determined using the Lowry assay. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, and the expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were measured via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) following treatment with the extract at concentrations ranging from 10 to 30 µg/mL. Results: The cytoplasmic extract significantly reduced U87 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, with the highest cytotoxicity (30 µg/mL (p < 0.05). The extract increased Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression, indicating apoptosis induction. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in gene expression between treated and control groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that S. aureus cytoplasmic extract effectively inhibits U87 glioblastoma cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis through the modulation of apoptotic genes. These results suggest that bacterial extracts could serve as a potential therapeutic agent for glioblastoma, warranting further research into their mechanisms and clinical applications.

https://iem.modares.ac.ir/article_28093_5e5bd82a90466d9434c270b85ddf187c.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Infection Epidemiology and Microbiology 2588-4107 11 4 2025 11 01 Tetracycline Resistance in Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in Southern Iran 307 315 28096 10.52547/iem.11.4.307 EN Pejman Abbasi Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Abbas Doosti Biotechnology Research Center, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran. Sadegh Ghorbani-Dalini Department of Microbiology, Jahrom Branch, Young Researcher's Club, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran. Abolfazl Sharifi Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran. Omid Pouresmaeil Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. Jalal Mardaneh Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran. Journal Article 2022 06 29 Backgrounds: Diarrhea is a predominant contributor to childhood mortality in developing nations, particularly among those under the age of five. Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli is one of the main causes of endemic and epidemic diarrhea worldwide. This study aimed to assess the frequency of antibiotic resistance and tetracycline resistance genes in diarrheagenic E. coli strains obtained from children under five years of age. Materials & Methods: 550 pediatric fecal samples were obtained from the laboratory archives of three Shiraz hospitals between April 2018 and December 2019. Bacteria were isolated and identified using standard bacteriological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method according to CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institution) 2019 guidelines. Molecular analysis of tetracycline resistance genes (tetA, tetB, and tetC) was performed using multiplex PCR. Findings: A total of 112 diarrheagenic E. coli strains were isolated. Antibiogram analysis revealed a high antibiotic resistance to tetracycline (57.1%) and the lowest antibiotic resistance to amikacin and nitrofurantoin (3.3%). Ninety-three (83%) isolates showed a multidrug-resistance (MDR) pattern. Of the 64 tetracycline-resistant isolates, 56 (87.50%) contained tetracycline resistance genes. The frequencies of tetracycline resistance genes tetA, tetB, and tetC in tetracycline-resistant isolates were 58.9, 44.6, and 14.3%, respectively. Conclusion: Tetracycline-resistance is more common among diarrheagenic E. coli strains. Furthermore, resistance to antimicrobial agents is more common in E. coli strains isolated from pediatric patients and is correlated with increased antibiotic use among patients with gastroenteritis. However, the influence of unsupervised antibiotic administration on specific antibiotics remains unclear.

https://iem.modares.ac.ir/article_28096_e607b9b80358410a2bcdcbc7e9978ce1.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Infection Epidemiology and Microbiology 2588-4107 11 4 2025 11 01 Mucosa-Associated Escherichia coli Producing Cyclomodulin toxins in Colon Cancer and intestinal inflammatory Patients 317 329 28091 10.52547/iem.11.4.317 EN Sima Ghiasvand Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Massoud Saidijam Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Institute of Cancer, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Ghodratollah Roshanaei Modeling of Non communicable Diseases Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Mohammad Jafari Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Mohammad Taheri Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Mohammad Sina Alikhani Student research center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Sima Kazemi Infectious Disease Research Center, Avicenna Institute of Clinical Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Mohammad Yousef Alikhani Infectious Disease Research Center, Avicenna Institute of Clinical Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Journal Article 2024 11 07 Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of death. In the human intestinal tract, some Escherichia coli strains produce cyclomodulin toxins. This study aimed to determine the frequency of cyclomodulin-encoding genes in E. coli isolates from patients with CRC and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to healthy subjects. Materials & Methods: A total of 120 E. coli strains were isolated from colonic mucosa samples during 2016-2017 from Hamadan, Iran. E. coli isolates were identified using biochemical tests. Phylogroups of E. coli isolates and cyclomodulin toxin-encoding genes were identified by PCR. The results were analyzed by SPSS software. Findings: The predominant E. coli phylogroups were A (52.5%), B2 (52.5%), and A (55%) in the CRC, IBD, and healthy groups, respectively. E. coli isolates harboring the pks (32.5%) and cnf1 (27.5%) genes belonged to phylogroup B2 (p< .001), and isolates harboring the pks gene were more prevalent in CRC patients (30%). The cnf3 gene had the highest frequency (30.8%) in the cnf gene family. The highest prevalence of cnf1 (27.5%) was observed in E. coli phylogroup B2, the highest prevalence of cdt4 (58.3%) was in phylogroup B1, and the highest prevalence of cif (52.5%) was strongly related to phylogroup B2. Conclusion: The presence of cyclomodulin toxin-encoding genes in E. coli isolates was not associated with CRC, and no statistical difference was observed in the level of cyclomodulin-encoding genes in E. coli isolates. On the other hand, there is no information about the critical time of host-microbe interaction for tumorigenesis.

https://iem.modares.ac.ir/article_28091_068bcdad6accbee0b2adc53cb82eb533.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Infection Epidemiology and Microbiology 2588-4107 11 4 2025 11 01 Cytokine Profiling and Bacterial Spectrum in Patients with Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia 331 341 28092 10.52547/iem.11.4.331 EN Shahrazad Ahmed Khalaf Department of forensic science, College of Science, University of Diyala, Diyala, 32001, Iraq Journal Article 2025 10 05 Background: This study was designed to identify bacterial causes of hospital-acquired pneumonia )HAP), determine serum levels of IL-6, IL-22, and TGF-β in HAP patients, and compare the levels of these cytokines with those in healthy individuals. Additionally, the study investigated the relationship between cytokine profiles and bacterial species responsible for HAP in Diyala Governorate, Iraq. Materials & Methods: Samples (blood and sputum) were collected from 150 patients admitted to Baquba Teaching Hospital in Iraq between December 2023 and May 2024. All patients showed clinical signs and symptoms of pneumonia. Sputum samples were cultured on differential media, and 58 samples displayed bacterial growth. Bacterial species were identified using the Vitek system. In addition, 32 blood samples were obtained from healthy individuals as controls. Serum levels of IL-6, IL-22, and TGF-β were measured in both groups using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Findings: The results revealed that IL-6, IL-22, and TGF-β levels were significantly higher in patients (19.02±1.675 pg/mL, 446.1±3.074 pg/mL, and 14.69±0.191 ng/mL, respectively) compared to healthy controls (7.206±0.274 ng/mL, 365.6±4.265 pg/mL, and 5.88±0.17 ng/mL, respectively). The prevalence of HAP was higher in males. IL-6 and IL-22 levels were significantly higher in males, whereas TGF-β levels were lower compared to females. Conclusion: Significant differences were observed in IL-6, IL-22, and TGF-β levels between patients and healthy individuals. Understanding the cytokine network involved in HAP pathogenesis may contribute to developing targeted therapies and improving clinical outcomes.

https://iem.modares.ac.ir/article_28092_f7ae036c695ff77ff4bd82e015a2f624.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Infection Epidemiology and Microbiology 2588-4107 11 4 2025 11 01 Characterization of vaginal Candida isolates and assessment of the antifungal potential of Crude Alkaloid-Enriched Plant Extracts 343 354 28094 10.52547/iem.11.4.343 EN Ibtehal Al-Sahlani Department of Biology, College of Education for pure Science, University of Thi Qar, 64001, Iraq. Zuhair Addai Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Thi Qar, 64001, Iraq. 0000-0001-5673-2196 Mithaq Abood Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Thi-Qar, 64001, Iraq. 0000-0003-1048-7185 Journal Article 2025 10 16 Background: Vaginal candidiasis remains a major global health issue, increasingly complicated by antifungal resistance. This study aimed to isolate and characterize Candida species from vaginal infections and to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of selected alkaloid-rich plant extracts as potential natural alternatives to conventional drugs. Materials & Methods: Vaginal swabs were collected from women clinically diagnosed with candidiasis. Fungal isolates were identified through conventional morphological and biochemical tests and confirmed using the Vitek-2 Compact system. Susceptibility to miconazole, amphotericin B, nystatin, and ketoconazole was determined by the disk diffusion method. Crude alkaloid extracts from black pepper (Piper nigrum), green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis), pomegranate peels (Punica granatum), and eggplant (Solanum melongena) were prepared, characterized by GC–MS, and evaluated for antifungal activity using agar well diffusion assays. Findings: Candida albicans represented the predominant species (57.6%), followed by C. tropicalis (22.4%) and C. glabrata (20.0%). Most isolates were highly sensitive to miconazole but showed resistance to nystatin. GC–MS profiling revealed key alkaloids piperine, caffeine, pelletierine, and solasodine as major constituents. Among tested extracts, black pepper exhibited the highest antifungal activity (26 mm inhibition zone), while eggplant showed the lowest (15.5 mm). A significant, concentration-dependent increase in inhibition was observed for all extracts (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: Alkaloid-rich plant extracts, particularly those from black pepper, exhibit strong antifungal activity against vaginal Candida isolates and may serve as promising leads for developing novel natural antifungal agents. Further research is needed to determine their minimum inhibitory concentrations and clarify their mechanisms of action.

https://iem.modares.ac.ir/article_28094_d348d11f7f80d82e49a05e3c2269d373.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Infection Epidemiology and Microbiology 2588-4107 11 4 2025 11 01 Incidence of Surgical site infections (SSIs) in liver transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis 355 367 28090 10.52547/iem.11.4.355 EN Sakineh Narouee Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Department of Health, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran 0000-0003-2908-3965 Shoboo Rahmati Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. 0000-0002-2465-395X Fereidoun Jahangir Department of Nursing, Hazrat Zahra (P.B.U.H) Abadeh School of Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Saeed Hamidizadeh Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran 0000-0001-5581-275X Journal Article 2024 03 17 Background: No previous systematic review study has been found that exclusively addresses the incidence of surgical site infection in liver transplant patients. This systematic review was conducted to determine the pooled incidence of postoperative SSI after liver transplantation. Material and Methods: A systematic literature review was performed following PRISMA guidelines, using MEDLINE databases via MeSH terms, as well as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus without language or date restrictions. Two independent reviewers carried out data extraction. We included prospective or retrospective studies that have reported the incidence of SSIs. The Newcastle–Ottawa scale was used to evaluate the risk of bias in the studies. The pooled incidence was calculated using R software version 4.2.0. Findings: Among the 722 publications assessed, 37 observational studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 15589 adult and pediatric patients undergoing surgery. Using a random-effects model, the pooled incidence of SSI was 16.50(13.73;19.71). Organ/Space infection (10.61 [7.06;15.63]) was the most common type of infection, followed by superficial infection (2.60 [16.2;2.16]) and deep infection (1.94 [1.06;2.52]). A higher incidence was observed in pediatric patients at 23.21 (16.44; 31.71) compared to adult patients at 13.96(11.26;17.18). Conclusion: Surgical site infections are frequent after liver transplantation worldwide, especially in pediatric patients. Organ/space infection is the predominant type of surgical site infection in liver transplantation. Though Organ/Space infection is mainly caused by intraoperative factors, risk factors during surgery should be further investigated in these patients.

https://iem.modares.ac.ir/article_28090_0fe47dbb289a999610c8c5ab9aeb2107.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Infection Epidemiology and Microbiology 2588-4107 11 4 2025 11 01 PULMONARY AND HEPATIC HYDATIDOSIS: A CASE REPORT 369 376 28097 10.52547/iem.11.4.369 EN Jolsana Augustine Specialist Pulmonology, Aster Hospitals, Sharjah, UAE. Teju Thomas Specialist Critical Care Medicine, Aster Hospitals, Sharjah, UAE. Lokesh Chamundaiah Specialist Anaesthesiology, Aster Hospitals, Sharjah, UAE. Roshan Thomas General Practitioner, Aster Hospitals, Sharjah, UAE. MOHD ILYAS Radiologist, Aster Hospitals, Sharjah, UAE. Journal Article 2025 03 18 Background: Hydatidosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis. It can be transmitted to humans by ingesting contaminated food or contacting infected animals. The disease primarily affects the liver, the lungs being the second most commonly affected organ. Case presentation: We report a case of a 26-year-old female diagnosed with concomitant hydatidosis. The patient was treated with albendazole (400 mg), and bronchoscopy under general anesthesia was performed to clear the airway of ruptured cyst contents. Saline instillation and aspiration were subsequently used to remove the contents of the lesion originating from the posterior segment of the right lower lobe. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of raising public awareness about the transmission, early detection, and management of hydatidosis. The rarity of concurrent pulmonary and hepatic involvement in a young patient from an urban area underscores its clinical significance and emphasizes the importance of vigilance in diagnosis and treatment.

https://iem.modares.ac.ir/article_28097_3090f54f8d8eecd6469c3a9eb3ddb48a.pdf