Showing 6 results for Leishmania Major
Mansour Dabirzadeh , Abbas Pashaie Neghadeh , Tahere Davoodi , Mohammad Hashemi ,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (3-2016)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease and a health problem in different parts of Iran, especially two cities of Mashhad and Chabahar. Due to morphological similarities of most Leishmania species and difference in reservoirs of L. major and L. tropica, it is necessary to determine the parasite specie to combat the disease. Thus, this study used gene sequencing and genotyping of 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) to differentiate the two species of Leishmania.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, microscope slides and cultures were prepared from 43 patients suspected of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Chabahar and Mashhad. PCR was performed after genomic DNA extraction and then PCR products were sequenced and analyzed.
Results: Of the 43 patients studied, 32 direct smear and culture (74.4%) were positive and 11 (25.6%) showed negative results, and were therefore excluded from the study. Using HSP70-specific primers, 1962 bp and 1152bp bands were observed for HSP70 of L. major in Chabahar and L. tropica in Mashhad, respectively. Based on the results, there were 18 nucleotide differences between HSP70 of L. major in Chabahar and L. tropica in Mashhad.
Conclusion: Due to the morphological similarities between Leishmania species and inability to differentiate species through parasitological methods, the HSP70 gene can be used for identification of the species, and prevention and treatment of the disease.
Asghar Farghi Yamchi , Mansour Dabirzadeh , Abdolhossein Miri,
Volume 10, Issue 5 (9-2016)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Leishmania major is a flagellate protozoan parasite causing cutaneous leishmaniasis. Although pentavalent antimony compounds are the first-line drugs for leishmaniasis, their application is often accompanied by numerous limitations and side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to seek drugs of herbal origin that have fast-acting benefits and few side effects without resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effects of methanolic extract of Arctiul lappa root on promastigotes and amastigotes of L. major.
Methods: This experimental study evaluated the effects of 10, 100, 500, and 1000 µg/ml of A. lappa root methanol extract on L. major promastigotes using direct cell counting and MTT assay. The mean number of amastigotes in infected macrophages was calculated after 24 and 48 hours.
Results: The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of A. lappa root methanolic extract was 131.25 µg/ml after 24 hours. The mean number of amastigotes in macrophages after 24 hours in the control group and in the A. lappa group with concentrations of 500 and 1000 µg/ml were 3.52, 2.02, and 1.27, respectively.
Conclusion: The results show that the methanolic extract of A. lappa root has anti-leishmanial effects on the promastigotes and amastigotes of L. major in vitro.
Keywords: Leishmania Major, Amastigotes, Promastigotes, Arctium.
Hamed Noormohammadi , Yahya Maroufi , Mansour Dabirzadeh , Abdolhossein Miri ,
Volume 11, Issue 6 (11-2017)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Leishmaniasis is a public health problem caused by the protozoan Leishmania. Pentavalent antimonials are currently used for treatment of leishmaniasis, but they have serious side effects. Nerium oleander L. has been used in traditional medicine due to its various health-protective properties. This study aimed to investigate anti-leishmanial activity of N. oleander L. leaves extract against Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes in vitro.
Methods: L. major promastigotes were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplied with 10% fetal bovine serum. Different concentrations were prepared from the extract and added to L. major promastigotes seeded in 96-well plates. Viability percentage was evaluated by direct counting and MTT assay after 24, 48 and 72 hours. To investigate the cytotoxic effect of N. oleander L. on L. major amastigotes, the plant extract was added to amastigotes cultured in intraperitoneal macrophages. The mean number of amastigotes was calculated by direct counting after 24 and 48 hours.
Results: All concentrations of the extract significantly reduced the viability of promastigotes when compared with the controls. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration was estimated to be 22.21 µg/ml after 24 hours. Percentage of cytotoxicity in amastigotes exposed to 20 μg/ml of the extract was 53.61% and 53.27% after 24 and 48 hours, respectively. In addition, percentage of cytotoxicity in amastigotes exposed to 80 μg/ml of the N. oleander L. extract was 53.77% and 55.48% after 24 and 48 hours, respectively.
Conclusion: The N. oleander L. extract exerts anti-leishmanial activity on L. major promastigotes in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
Keywords: Leishmania major, Nerium.
Afieh Samimi, Oghol Niaz Jorjani, Zohreh Sharifi, Faramarz Koohsar, Khodaberdi Kalavi, Fatemeh Mesgarian, Beniamin Talebi ,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (5-2022)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in most areas of Iran, and the diagnosis of its species is essential for controlling the disease. Leishmania major is the causative agent for cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans. Molecular methods are generally more sensitive than microscopic methods. The present study aimed to use a polymerase chain reaction-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) technique for detecting live L. major from wounds of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Methods: In the present study, a standard strain of L. major promastigotes was used as the positive control for purification of DNA. The Novy–MacNeal–Nicolle and RPMI-1640 media were used for reproduction of parasites. DNA was isolated from specimens taken from 35 patients with suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis whose disease was confirmed by direct smear method. The PCR-ELISA technique was later applied by using the standard strain, patient specimens, and primers specific for the 18s rRNA.
Results: Out of 35 patients, 17 (48.6%) were male and 18 (51.4%) were female. In addition, 8.6% of the patients lived in the Gonbad-e Kavus County, while all patients had been infected in villages around Gonbad-e Kavus. Of 35 patients with confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis according to the direct smear method, 31 patients (86.31%) had leishmaniasis based on the PCR method and the PCR-ELISA methods.
Conclusion: Based on the results, the PCR-ELISA method is more sensitive and accurate for detecting L. major.
Khodaberdi Kalavi, Mohammad Ali Faghihi, Ogholniaz Jorjani , Zolikha Tatari,
Volume 16, Issue 5 (9-2022)
Abstract
Dear Editor,
There are several reports about the modulatory effects of intracellular pathogens, such as Leishmania spp., to help survival and replication inside host cells. They alter host cells' defense and offence mechanisms, and in case of leishmaniasis, the pathogen creates a hostile environment inside macrophages. We performed an RNA sequencing analysis of transcriptome changes in Leishmania major-infected human macrophages at four hour post infection. In this study, we investigated gene expression pattern of the infected macrophages against microbead (4.16 µm) polystyrene particles phagocytized and non-polarized macrophages as controls. Monocytes with high purity were isolated from healthy donors by magnetic-activated cell sorting and then differentiated into macrophages after 6-9 days of incubation at 37 ˚C.
In this study, we focused on some key interaction events between host cell and the pathogen; so some feature steps resulting from dictation strategies of the pathogen are presented below.
Faramarz Koohsar, Hamed Kalani, Fatemeh Livani, Oghol Niaz Jorjani, Ganesh Yadagiri, Alireza Ahmadi, Roghiyeh Faridnia,
Volume 18, Issue 3 (5-2024)
Abstract
Background: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan. Despite the significant frequency of cutaneous leishmaniasis, there is still no appropriate prevention, control and treatment. In recent years, a few studies have been performed on the effects of garlic extract for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Current drugs, such as glucantime, have several side effects and lead to direct cellular damage. If an herbal-based drug reduces Leishmania by augmenting the immune system, it has the potential to possess a wider margin of safety. This study aimed to investigate the effects of in vitro systematic review of the effects of garlic (Allium sativum) and its compounds on Leishmania major.
Methods: Five English databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched until the end of December 2022. The syntax and specific tags have been used for each database. The studies with poor methodology, inadequate information, inappropriate analysis, and confusing presentation were excluded from the current study. The quality of articles was assessed by eleven questions developed by the authors and the data were extracted from the selected articles and discussed.
Results: In this study, 198 articles were selected in the search step, of which five eligible articles were included for examination. The most commonly used solvent for the preparation of garlic extract was distilled water (60%), followed by methanol (40%). In these studies, the bulb of garlic is mostly used (80%). Cell type of J774 was used in only one study (20%), and murine peritoneal macrophages were used in the other studies (80%). The effect of garlic on Leishmania major was strong (80%). Studies have shown that garlic extract or its active compounds can increase cellular immune responses, which play an important role in inhibiting the Leishmania parasite. This is associated with the activation of macrophages and increased IFN-γ levels and NO production.
Conclusion: According to the studies, the effect of different combinations of garlic on the Leishmania parasite has been shown. However, the exact mechanism of the anti-Leishmanial effect of garlic has not been determined. Thus, this issue needs further investigation.
