Iranian

---

Dermatophytes are a group of keratinophilic fungi capable of invading keratinized tissues (skin, hair and nails). They cause dermatophytosis (commonly known as tinea or Ring worm) in human and animals. In this report, DNA similarities and genomic linkage of 40 dermatophytes strains was obtained from different universities, were studied by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD–PCR) using 11 random primers. The similarity of Microsporum genus with two other genera was 13%, and the similarity of Trichophyton with Epidermophyton was 20.8%. These results provide the basis for the rapid identification of dermatophytes at the genetic level, in additions to the existing laboratory methods.

---

Background: Cryptosporidium parvum is an important coccidian parasite infecting many mammals, including human. This parasite can manifest as chronic severe diarrhea in immunocompromised individuals, especially those with AIDS. The present study reports the recombinant production of recombinant (r)P2 and rP23 antigens of C. parvum as antigens for detecting human cryptosporidiosis using indirect ELISA tests.
Methods: The coding sequences of rP2 and rP23 proteins were codon-optimized, commercially synthesized and sub-cloned in the pET28a expression vector. The expressed proteins were purified by Ni-NTA column chromatography and confirmed by Western blotting. The efficacy of rP2/rP23 proteins for serodiagnosis was evaluated by positive (n = 20) and negative (n = 20) human sera, confirmed by the Ziehl-Neelsen staining as the gold standard test.
Results: In ELISA test, the sera from C. parvum-infected patients reacted strongly to rP2/rP23. The sensitivity and specificity related to the diagnostic potential of rP2/rP23 in the ELISA assay were 100%.
Conclusion: Our results showed that combination of rP23 and rP2 antigens in ELISA significantly increases the performance of C. parvum serodiagnosis in human cryptosporidiosis.