1 1028-852X Pasteur Institute of Iran 2201 Related Fields Dr. Sabar Mirza Farman Farmaian; Benefactor and Former Director of Pasteur Institute of Iran Shahbazi Narges b Mostafavi Ehsan c b Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran c Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran 1 1 2018 22 1 1 3 03 10 2017 03 10 2017  Pasteur Institute of Iran (PII) is known for its history of benefaction by exquisite characters, the most prominent of who is the family of Farman Farmaian. Dr. Sabar Mirza Farman Farmaian, born in 1912 in Tehran, resided as the director of PII for a period of six years (1971-1977). Furthermore, he devoted his house (located in Shemiranat) for the establishment of a center to study and combat infectious diseases. Both of these events had a significant impact on the fate of PII. He was born to a famous family of Farman Farmaian. His father, Abdol-Hossein Mirza Farman Farmaian, the grandson of Abbas Mirza and Fath-Ali Shah, was born in 1852, in Tabriz. He was known as “Salar Lashkar” and “Farman Farma”. He finished his elementary studies at Dar ul-Funun, after which he went to an Austrian school to learn military skills. He held numerous critical positions during 1881-1919. These include the chief of Kerman and Azerbaijan military troops, governor of Kerman, Tehran, Fars, Khorasan, and Kermanshah, as well as the minister of War, Justice and the Interior. The most prominent of all is his chair as the prime minister during the reign of Ahmad Shah Qajar... 
2171 Related Fields Optogenetics: Control of Brain Using Light Gholami Pourbadie Hamid d Sayyah Mohammad e d Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran e Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran 1 1 2018 22 1 4 5 05 09 2017 05 09 2017 Neuronal cells communicate with each other by producing electrical signals or action potentials (APs). Different ion channels, including Na+, K+ and Ca2+ channels, are involved in generation of AP. Once an AP is generated in the soma, it travels down entire the axon length toward its terminal in a self-generating fashion that ultimately conveys information between neurons in the neural circuit. Depending on the neurotransmitter, each neuron inhibits or excites other neurons in a certain network. For instance, glutamate released from glutamatergic neurons, opens AMPA and NMDA channels permitting influx of Na+/Ca2+, which leads to postsynaptic depolarization. On the other hand, GABA released from GABAergic neurons results in Cl- influx and postsynaptic hyperpolarization. One of the major challenges in neuroscience is how actions of individual cells in the brain could underlie a certain behavior such as attention, food consumption, aggression, cognition, and movement...  2241 Related Fields Molecular Basis of α-Thalassemia in Iran Valaei Atefeh f Karimipoor Morteza g Kordafshari Alireza h Zeinali Sirous i f Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. g Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. h Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. i Medical Genetics Lab of Dr. Zeinali, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran 1 1 2018 22 1 6 14 05 11 2017 05 11 2017 Alpha-thalassemia (α-thal) is probably the most prevalent monogenic condition in the world. Deletions are the most common types of mutations in α-thal, followed by point mutations and small insertion/deletion. In the context of national screening program for prevention of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies in Iran, α-thal carriers have come to more attention. Therefore, the frequency and distribution of α-globin mutations in various regions of the country have been studied in recent years. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and national databases for finding reports on mutation detection in α-thal carriers and HbH disease with Iranian origin. The mutation data of 10849 α-thal carriers showed that -α3.7 and α-5NT were the most common deletional and nondeletional mutations, respectively. In HbH disease cases, the -α3.7/--MED was the most prevalent genotype. Overall, 42 different mutations have been identified in α-globin cluster reflecting the high heterogeneity of the mutations in Iranian populations. 2128 Related Fields Low Level of Autophagy-Related Gene 10 (ATG10) Expression in the 6-Hydroxydopamine Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease Shams Nooraei Marzieh j Noori-Zadeh Ali k Darabi Shahram l Rajaei Farzad m Golmohammadi Zohreh n Abbaszadeh Hojjat Allah o j Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Science, Qazvin, Iran k Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam,Iran l Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Science, Qazvin, Iran m Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Science, Qazvin, Iran n Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Science, Qazvin, Iran o Hearing Disorder Research center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science,Tehran, Iran 1 1 2018 22 1 15 21 23 07 2017 23 07 2017 Background: Autophagy is a mechanism disassembling the damaged organelles from the cell. This study attempted to examine the expression of several autophagy-related genes in Parkinson’s disease (PD) rat model. Methods: The male Wistar rats were divided into three groups as control, sham, and lesion. In the latter group, the PD rat model was induced by the injection of 6-hydroxydopamine in the striatum. The behavioral test was conducted one (baseline) and four weeks after the surgery through apomorphine hydrochloride. Then the RT-PCR technique was employed to evaluate the expressions of p62/SQSTM, autophagy-related genes (ATG)5, ATG12, ATG16L1, ATG10, as well as GAPDH and LC3. Results: By injecting apomorphine, the striatal lesion group showed a significant contralateral rotation at fourth week as compared to the baseline. The examination of p62, ATG5, ATG12, ATG16L1, and LC3 expressions using RT-PCR revealed that p62, ATG5, ATG12, LC3, and ATG16L1 were expressed in the substantia nigra of PD rat model, while ATG10 was not expressed. Conclusion: ATG10 expression is necessary for the initiation of autophagy. Thus, these results show that autophagy deregulation occurs in the initiation stages of the process in the rat model of PD. 2095 Molecular Immunology & Vaccines Immunization of C57BL/6 Mice with GRA2 Combined with MPL Conferred Partial Immune Protection against Toxoplasma gondii Babaie Jalal p Amiri Samira Homayoun Robab Azimi Ebrahim Mohabati Reyhaneh Berizi Mahboubeh Sadaie M. Reza Golkar Majid p Molecular Parasitology Lab., Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Molecular Parasitology Lab., Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Molecular Parasitology Lab., Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Molecular Parasitology Lab., Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Molecular Parasitology Lab., Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Molecular Parasitology Lab., Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran NovoMed Consulting, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA Molecular Parasitology Lab., Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran 1 1 2018 22 1 22 32 25 06 2017 25 06 2017 BBackground: We have previously reported that immunization with GRA 2 antigen of Toxoplasma gondii induces protective immunity in CBA /J (H2k) and BALB/c mice (H2d). We aimed to examine whether immunization of a distinct strain of rodent with recombinant dense granule antigens (GRA2) combined with monophosphorryl lipid A (MPL) adjuvant elicits protective immune response against T. gondii. Methods: C57BL/6 (H2b haplotype) mice were immunized with GRA 2, formulated in MPL adjuvant. Results: Strong humoral response, predominantly of IgG1 subclass and cellular response, IFN-γ, was detected at three weeks post immunization. Mice immunized with GRA 2 had significantly (p < 0.01) fewer brain cysts than those in the adjuvant group, upon challenge infection. Despite the production of a strong antibody response, IFN-γ production and brain cyst reduction were not significant when the immunized mice were infected four months after the immunization. Conclusions: We can conclude that GRA2 immunization partially protects against T. gondii infection in C57BL/6 mice, though the potency and longevity of this antigen as a standalone vaccine may vary in distinct genetic backgrounds. This observation further emphasizes the utility of GRA 2 for incorporation into a multi-antigenic vaccine against T. gondii. 2112 Molecular Microbiology Molecular Identification and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern of Non-albicans Candida Species Isolated from Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Abbasi Nejat Ziba Farahyar Shirin Falahati Mehraban Ashrafi Khozani Mahtab Hosseini Aga Fateme Faiazy Azamsadat Ekhtiari Masoome Hashemi-Hafshenjani Saeideh International Campus, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Gynecology, Sayyad Shirazi Hospital, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 1 1 2018 22 1 33 41 09 07 2017 09 07 2017 Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an important health problem caused by Candida spp. The aim of this study was molecular identification, phylogenetic analysis, and evaluation of antifungal susceptibility of non-albicans Candida isolates from VVC. Methods: Vaginal secretion samples were collected from 550 vaginitis patients at Sayyad Shirazi Medical and Educational Center of Gorgan (Golestan Province, Iran) from May to October 2015. Samples were analyzed using conventional mycological and molecular approaches. Clinical isolates were analyzed with specific PCR using CGL primers, and the internal transcribed spacer region and the D1-D2 domain of the large-subunit rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced. Susceptibility to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and clotrimazole was determined by the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Results: In total, 35 non-albicans Candida isolates were identified from VVC patients. The isolates included 27 strains of Candida glabrata (77.1%), 5 Candida krusei (Pichia kudriavzevii; 14.3%), 2 Candida kefyr (Kluyveromyces marxianus; 5.7%), and 1 Candida lusitaniae (Clavispora lusitaniae; 2.9%). The fungicides itraconazole and amphotericin B were effective against all species. One isolate of C. glabrata showed resistance to fluconazole and clotrimazole, and 26 isolates of C. glabrata indicated dose-dependent susceptibility to fluconazole. C. lusitaniae was susceptible in a dose-dependent manner to fluconazole and resistant to clotrimazole. Conclusions: Non-albicans Candida spp. are common agents of vulvovaginitis, and C. glabrata is the most common species in the tested patients.  2115 Molecular Microbiology Analysis of NSP4 Gene and Its Association with Genotyping of Rotavirus Group A in Stool Samples Teimoori Ali Nejati Mehrab Ebrahimi Saeedeh Makvandi Manoochehr Zandi Milad Azaran Azarakhsh Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran 1 1 2018 22 1 42 49 11 07 2017 11 07 2017 Background: Non-structural protein 4 (NSP4) is a critical protein for rotavirus (RV) replication and assembly. This protein has multiple domains and motifs that predispose its function and activity. NSP4 has a sequence divergence in human and animal RVs. Recently, 14 genotypes (E1-E14) of NSP4 have been identified, and E1 and E2 have been shown to be the most common genotypes in human. Methods: The gene and protein sequence of NSP4 in RV-positive samples were inspected with the aim of NSP4 genotyping and variation analysis in viroporin and other domains. P and G typings of RV samples were carried out by WHO primers using a semi-multiplex PCR method. Non-typeable RV samples were amplified by conserved primers and sequenced. Results: In viroporin and enterotoxin, conserved sequence was detected, and amino acids substitution with the same biochemical properties was found. Conclusion: Association of NSP4 genotype with P or G genotyping G1/G9 correlates with E1 genogroups. In electrophoretyping of RV, E2 genotype had a short pattern when compared to E1. 2064 Related Fields Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activities of Iranian Propolis Afrouzan Houshang Tahghighi Azar Zakeri Sedigheh Es-haghi Ali Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Department of Physico Chemistry, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute Karaj, Iran 1 1 2018 22 1 50 65 31 05 2017 31 05 2017 Background: With considering the importance of natural products for their remedial and therapeutic value, this research was aimed to analyze the chemical compositions and antimicrobial activity of four propolis samples from different areas of Iran (Chenaran, Taleghan, Morad Beyg, and Kalaleh) with various climates and flora. Methods: Ethanolic (70% EtOH) and dichlromethane (DCM) extracts of Iranian propolis were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods, and antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus using disk diffusion antimicrobial method. Results: The results of GC-MS analysis showed the presence of fatty acids, flavonoids, terpenes, aromatic-aliphatic acids, and their related esters. The total flavonoids in DCM extract of Chenaran, Taleghan, Morad Beyg, and Kalaleh propolis were pinocembrin and pinostrobin chalcone. The common phenolic and terpene compounds detected in all four tested EtOH extracts were P-cumaric acid and dimethyl -1,3,5,6-tetramethyl-[1,3-(13C2)] bicycloce [5.5.0] dodeca-1,3,5,6,8,10-hexaene-9,10-dicarboxylate, respectively. The highest inhibitory diameter zone of the Iranian propolis against C. albicans, E. coli, and S. aureus was for DCM extract of Kalaleh propolis (13.33 mm), Morad Beyg propolis (12 mm), and Kalaleh (11.67 mm), respectively. Conclusion: Iranian propolis showed antimicrobial activities against C. albicans, E. coli, and S. aurous, perhaps due to the presence of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes as active components that can be used alone or in combination with the selected antibiotics to synergize antibiotic effect, as well as to prevent microbial resistance to available antimicrobial drugs. 2114 Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Expression Optimization of Anti-CD22 scFv-Apoptin Fusion Protein Using Experimental Design Methodology Agha Amiri Solmaz Zarei Najmeh Enayati Somayeh Azizi Mohammad Khalaj Vahid Shahhosseini Soraya Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Medical Biotechnolgy, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Department of Medical Biotechnolgy, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Department of Medical Biotechnolgy, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Department of Medical Biotechnolgy, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 1 1 2018 22 1 66 69 10 07 2017 10 07 2017 Background: Design of experiments is a rapid and cost-effective approach for optimization of recombinant protein production process. In our previous study, we generated a potent dual-acting fusion protein, anti-CD22 scFv-apoptin, to target B-cell malignant cell lines. In the present investigation, we report the effect of different variables on the expression levels of this fusion protein. Methods: Four variables (cell optical density at induction, IPTG concentration, induction temperature, and induction time) were tested using experimental design. Results: Our findings demonstrated that among the examined variables, only the induction time had a significant positive effect on the protein expression yield. Conclusion: Experimental design was successfully applied in this study. The optimized condition obtained in the current study can be applied in future commercial production of this novel fusion protein. 2120 Medical Biotechnology Effect of Passage Number and Culture Time on the Expression and Activity of Insulin-Degrading Enzyme in Caco-2 Cells Mohammadi Farsani Taiebeh Motevaseli Elahe Neyazi Nadia Khorramizadeh Mohammad Reza Zafarvahedian Elaheh Ghahremani Mohammad Hossein Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Campus (TUMS- IC), 88 Italia St., Tehran, Iran Biosensor Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Biosensor Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 1 1 2018 22 1 70 75 15 07 2017 15 07 2017 Background: Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a conserved zinc metallopeptidase. Here, we have evaluated the effect of passage number and culture time on IDE expression and activity in colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (Caco-2). Methods: Caco-2 cells were cultured with different passage ranges of 5-15, 25-35, 52-63 for 48, 72, and 120 hours. Subsequently, IDE expression and enzyme activity were assessed by Western blot analysis and fluorescent assay, respectively. Results: Our results confirmed that the amount of IDE was higher in cell extract compared to supernatant, and different passage numbers and culture times had small effect on IDE expression. However, when cells were cultured in the passage number range of 5-15 for 72 hours, the IDE activity was 35% higher compared to other passage numbers (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of Caco-2 cells at passage number range of 5-15 and culture time of 72 hours provides proper conditions for IDE-related studies.