ABSTRACT

            Background and Objectives: Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder pose a high burden among the general population. Etiological factor(s) of such disorders remain unknown. Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurotropic virus that has been suggested as an etiological agent for psychiatric disorders. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of BDV among patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
            Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of schizophrenic (n=75) and bipolar (n=55) patients and healthy blood donors (n=125) were extracted form whole blood samples. RNA was extracted from PBMCs and the presence of BDV P40 RNA was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
            Results: The BDV genome was not detected in any of the subjects. Positive family history of disease was significantly more frequent among patients (P=0.0001). There was a significant association between contact with animals and psychiatric illnesses (P<0.05). Moreover, education level differed significantly between the two groups (P<0.05).
            Conclusion: The results indicate no evidence of BDV genome among patients with psychiatric disorders. Serological examination for BDV antigens or antibodies could provide further information in this regard. In addition, contact with cats is significantly more prevalent among patients with mental illnesses, which might be due to infection with Toxoplasma gondii.
            Keywords: Borna disease virus, Psychiatric disorder, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Risk factors.

ABSTRACT
            Background and objectives: Coronaviruses are the main causes of respiratory tract infections in humans. They are also the second leading cause of common cold after rhinoviruses, and can lead to otitis media and asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular detection of coronaviruses in clinical samples of patients with flu-like symptoms.
            Methods: Specimens were taken from 297 patients with flu-like symptoms who were referred to the influenza laboratory of Golestan University of Medical Sciences during 2012-2014. RNA was extracted from the specimens using an RNA extraction kit. Accordingly, RNA was used for cDNA synthesis and GAPDH was used as the internal control. Synthesized cDNA was investigated for presence of human coronaviruses genome with real-time polymerase chain reaction using specific primers. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16.0 software. 
            Results: The coronavirus genome was not detected in the specimens of patients with flu-like symptoms.
            Conclusion: Genome of human coronaviruses is absent in samples from patients with upper respiratory tract infections and influenza-like symptoms, which may indicate the low prevalence of the virus in the Golestan Province, Iran.
            KEYWORDS: Human coronaviruses, Upper respiratory tract infection, Golestan Province.

ABSTRACT
            Background and Objectives: Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease that is transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to humans. Humans mainly acquire pathogenic leptospires through mucosal or percutaneous exposure to environment contaminated with urine from an infected animal. We aimed to identify pathogenic leptospiral serovars by detection of the ompL37 gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
            Methods: Sixteen pathogenic leptospiral serovars and a saprophytic serovar, L. biflexa were cultured in modified semisolid Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris medium containing 5% rabbit serum. Genomic DNA extraction was done using the phenol-chlorophorm method. The ompL37 gene was amplified using specific primers. PCR products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis.
            Results: The ompL37 gene was amplified only in the pathogenic leptospiral serovars. We detected no amplified fragment for the saprophytic serovar.
Conclusion: Leptospirosis may be confused with other infectious diseases, and therefore, its early and accurate diagnosis is crucial. We showed that molecular detection of pathogenic leptospires based on the ompL37 gene could be used for laboratory diagnosis of leptospirosis.
            Keywords: Leptospirosis, PCR, ompl37 Gene, Pathogenic Leptospires.

ABSTRACT
           Background and Objectives: Candida albicans is one of the most common fungal pathogens that can form biofilm, particularly on surface of medical devices. In recent years, C. albicans has shown increased resistance to antifungal agents. In this experimental study, we aimed to study effects of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles or SPION) on biofilm formation by C. albicans.
           Methods: First, the SPION were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation. The formation of nanoparticles was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of SPION were determined. Then, antibiofilm effects of the nanoparticles were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 at significance level of 0.05.
           Results: According to the results of X-ray diffraction, the SPION had a mean diameter of about 70 nm. MIC and MFC values of SPION against C. albicans were 100 ppm and 200 ppm which reduced biofilm formation by 87.2% and 100%, respectively. SPION showed significant inhibitory effects on C. albicans growth and biofilm formation.
           Conclusion: Based on the findings, SPION may be considered as a novel family of fungicidal compounds. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the safety of these nanoparticles for treatment of fungal infections in humans.
           Keywords: Candida albicans; Biofilms; SPION; Nanoparticles.