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Fatemeh Tabatabaie

Other affiliations: Tarbiat Modares University
Bio: Fatemeh Tabatabaie is an academic researcher from Iran University of Medical Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Leishmania major & Toxoplasmosis. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 43 publications receiving 233 citations. Previous affiliations of Fatemeh Tabatabaie include Tarbiat Modares University.

Papers
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01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: Rotaviruses are important and prevalent etiologic agents of acute gastroenteritis in young children in Isfahan and being in day care centers and bottle-feeding can serve as precipitating factors of rotavirus diseases in this age group.
Abstract: Background: Acute diarrhea is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in young children. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of rotavirus infections in children with acute gastroenteritis in Isfahan. Also seasonal variations and the effects of environmental conditions, type of nutrition and child care on the prevalence of rotavirus infections are evaluated. Method: A total of 185 hospitalized children with acute diarrhea and 91 controls were selected by simple random sampling. Stool specimens were obtained at the time of admission and checked for rotavirus antigens by ELISA method. Demographic data regarding age, sex, type of nutrition (breast-fed vs. bottle-fed) and child care (at home vs. day care-center) of children with acute diarrhea were also recorded. Results: Rotavirus was detected in the feces of 57 (30.8%) children with acute diarrhea and 11 (12.1%) stool samples from control children (p<0.05). 84.2% of cases with rotavirus gastroenteritis were under 2 years of age with highest prevalence in children 6-12 months of age. The relative frequency of rotavirus gastroenteritis was higher in winter (41.4%) than other seasons. Bottle-fed children and those cared at child care centers showed higher relative frequency of rotavirus gastroenteritis. Conclusion: Rotaviruses are important and prevalent etiologic agents of acute gastroenteritis in young children in Isfahan. Being in day care centers and bottle-feeding can serve as precipitating factors of rotavirus diseases in this age group.

28 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 2013-Apmis
TL;DR: The findings of this study indicated that the cocktail DNA vaccine increased the cellular response and survival rate and induced protection against infection with Leishmania in the mice.
Abstract: Leishmaniasis is an important disease in humans. Leishmania homologue of receptor for Activated C Kinase (LACK) and thiol specific antioxidant (TSA) as immuno-dominant antigens of Leishmania major are considered the most promising molecules for a DNA vaccine. We constructed a DNA cocktail, containing plasmids encoding LACK and TSA genes of Leishmania major and evaluated the immune response and survival rate in BALB/c mice. IgG and Interferon gamma values were noticeably increased in the immunized group with DNA cocktail vaccine, which were significantly higher than those in the single-gene vaccinated and control groups (p 0.05). The immunized mice with the cocktail DNA vaccine presented a considerable reduction in diameter of lesion compared to other groups and a significant difference was observed (p < 0.05) in this regard. The survival time of the immunized mice with the cocktail DNA vaccine was significantly higher than that in the other groups (p < 0.05) after their being challenged with Leishmania major. The findings of this study indicated that the cocktail DNA vaccine increased the cellular response and survival rate and induced protection against infection with Leishmania in the mice.

24 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Synthesis of nanocomposites played an essential role in understanding drug-target interactions and characterization of mechanism of action or resistance exhibited by novel antiprotozoal drugs, can be achieved by targeting metabolic using LC-MS.
Abstract: Due to side-effects and inefficiency of the drugs used in malaria treatment, finding alternative medicine with less side-effects has attracted much attention. In this regard, in the present study, nanocomposite synthesized and its effects on the metabolites of P. falciparum were investigated. Subsequent to synthesis of nanocomposites, characterization was carried out using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and Fourier-transform infrared tests. Solubility and drug release were measured and its toxicity on Vero cell was assessed using the MTT assay. The antiparasitic effect of the nanocomposite on the metabolites of P. falciparum was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Among synthesized nanocomposites, the average size of 239 nm showed suitable solubility in water as well as slow drug release. The MTT assay showed no toxicity for Vero cell lines. Concentrations of 2.5 μg mL−1 of nanocomposite eliminated 82.6% of the total parasites. The most effected metabolic cycles were glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. In this study, 1H NMR spectroscopy was used with untargeted metabolomics to study the effect of the nanocomposite on P. falciparum. Playing an essential role in understanding drug-target interactions and characterization of mechanism of action or resistance exhibited by novel antiprotozoal drugs, can be achieved by targeting metabolic using LC-MS.

19 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: The aim of the current study was to determine the serum levels of anti-toxoplas ma IgG and IgM in diabetic and non-diabetic people, and found no statistically significant difference in prevalence of the parasite in diabeti c andNon-di diabetic individuals.
Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is an important opportunistic par asite in immunocompromised people. On the other han d, diabetes is the disease affecting the immune system and influences on the cellular and humoral immun ity depending on the type of the disease. The aim of th e current study was to determine the serum levels o f antitoxoplasma antibodies in diabetic and non-diabetic people. This is a descriptive case-control study. The samples were obtained from 150 diabetic and 150 non-diabeti c individuals referred to the hospitals in west of the Mazandaran province and the levels of anti-toxoplas ma IgG and IgM were detected by ELISA. The relation ship between diabetes and toxoplasmosis was evaluated us ing chi-square test. The obtained results showed th at both the experiment and control groups were negative in the IgM titer. Among the participants, 52.6% and 50.6% of the participants in the experiment and control groups w ere positive for IgG, respectively (p<0.05). Based on some reports, Toxoplasma gondii, as an opportunistic par asite , can disseminate in different organs and lea ds to tissue necrosis in different organs including the liver, s pleen, lungs, pancreas, brain and heart. However, icurrent study, we did not find a statistically significant difference in prevalence of the parasite in diabeti c and non-diabetic individuals.

18 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In conclusion, TSA-based DNA vaccine induced Th1 platform immune response and aluminum phosphate could improve the efficacy of these vaccines with induction of humoral and cellular immune responses against L. major infection.
Abstract: Background: The Thiol-specific antioxidant (TSA) is an antigen of Leishmania major which is believed to be the most promising molecule as a vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis Objectives: In this study, we investigated the protective efficacy of TSA-based DNA vaccine against L major infection Materials and Methods: Recombinant plasmid construction TSA (pcTSA) was prepared and transfected into eukaryotic cells and expression was confirmed with western blot and RT-PCR The mice were assigned to six different groups and DNA immunization was performed with 100 µg intramuscular recombinant plasmid with a two-week interval Cytokines and lymphocyte proliferation assay, antibody responses and determination of parasite burden were performed following immunization and the challenging infection with L major Results: The antibody and IFN-γ titers were higher in pcTSA + AlPO4 group the immunized mice with pcTSA alone, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups Additionally the IL-4 titer was not statistically different between the groups following immunization and challenge After infection with L major promastigotes, the immunized mice with pcTSA and the one immunized with both pcTSA + AlPO4 presented a considerable reduction in diameter of lesion but there was no statistical difference between the two groups The immunized mice had significantly lower parasite loads No significant differences were observed between the two vaccinated groups However the highest reduction in parasite burden was observed in the group immunized with pcDNA + AlPO4 No significant differences were observed in survival rate of the immunized mice after the challenge with L major Conclusions: In conclusion, TSA-based DNA vaccine induced Th1 platform immune response and aluminum phosphate could improve the efficacy of these vaccines with induction of humoral and cellular immune responses against L major infection There were no significant differences observed between pcTSA and pcTSA + AlPO4 groups

17 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1966-Nature
TL;DR: Theories Moleculaires de la Resonance Magnetique Nucleaire Applications a la Chimie Structurale as mentioned in this paper, Par G. Mavel. Pp. x + 325.
Abstract: Theories Moleculaires de la Resonance Magnetique Nucleaire Applications a la Chimie Structurale. Par G. Mavel. Pp. x + 325. (Paris: Dunod, 1966.) 78 francs.

370 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: IL-12 is an effective adjuvant for the initiation of protective cell- mediated immunity against leishmaniasis and may be an important component in other vaccines that need to induce cell-mediated immunity.
Abstract: Protection induced by vaccination depends on the capacity of the vaccine to elicit an appropriate immune response. In leishmaniasis, protection requires leishmanial-specific CD4+ T helper (TH) cells. Vaccination of BALB/c mice with leishmanial antigens and interleukin-12 (IL-12) promoted the development of leishmanial-specific CD4+ TH1 cells. These mice were resistant to subsequent infection with Leishmania major. Thus, IL-12 is an effective adjuvant for the initiation of protective cell-mediated immunity against leishmaniasis and may be an important component in other vaccines that need to induce cell-mediated immunity.

221 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present review focuses on the development and the status of various vaccines and potential vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis.
Abstract: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by different species of protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. It is a major health problem yet neglected tropical diseases, with approximately 350 million people worldwide at risk and more than 1.5 million infections occurring each year. Leishmaniasis has different clinical manifestations, including visceral (VL or kala-azar), cutaneous (CL), mucocutaneous (MCL), diffuse cutaneous (DCL) and post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). Currently, the only mean to treat and control leishmaniasis is by rational medications and vector control. However, the number of available drugs is limited and even these are either exorbitantly priced, have toxic side effects or prove ineffective due to the emergence of resistant strains. On the other hand, the vector control methods are not so efficient. Therefore, there is an urgent need for developing a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine for the prevention of leishmaniasis. Although in recent years a large body of researchers has concentrated their efforts on this issue, yet only three vaccine candidates have gone for clinical trial, until date. These are: (i) killed vaccine in Brazil for human immunotherapy; (ii) live attenuated vaccine for humans in Uzbekistan; and (iii) second-generation vaccine for dog prophylaxis in Brazil. Nevertheless, there are at least half a dozen vaccine candidates in the pipeline. One can expect that, in the near future, the understanding of the whole genome of Leishmania spp. will expand the vaccine discovery and strategies that may provide novel vaccines. The present review focuses on the development and the status of various vaccines and potential vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis.

147 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Playing with toys, attending day care, distance of source of water from toilet, eating of food not requiring cooking and playing with other children may serve as predisposing factors of rotavirus disease in these children.
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the incidence of rotavirus infection in children with gastroenteritis attending Jos university teaching hospital, Plateau State. A total of 160 children with acute diarrhea were selected by random sampling. Stool samples were obtained and assayed for rotavirus antigens by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique using standard diagnostic BIOLINE Rotavirus kit. Demographic data of parents were also recorded. Rotavirus were detected in faeces of 22(13.8%) children with acute diarrhea, 90.9% of positive cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis were under 2 years of age with highest prevalence in children 7-12 months of age. Males excreted rotavirus at a significant higher rate than females (P < 0.05). Rotavirus excretion was highest when all three symptoms (diarrhea, fever and vomiting) occurred in the same child (7.5%) and lower when 2 symptoms occurred together (diarrhea and vomiting) with 3.8%, diarrhea and fever with 1.3% and lowest when diarrhea occurred alone with 1.3%. Playing with toys, attending day care, distance of source of water from toilet, eating of food not requiring cooking and playing with other children may serve as predisposing factors of rotavirus disease in these children.

84 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The strategy described in the present study incorporates the advantages of reverse vaccinology, bioinformatics and immuno-proteomic platform technologies and is easy to perform to identify novel immunogens for multi-component vaccines development.
Abstract: Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) is a global emerging bacterium causing nosocomial infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, bacteremia and soft tissue infections especially in intensive care units. Since Ab is resistant to almost all conventional antibiotics, it is now one of the 6 top-priorities of the dangerous microorganisms listed by the Infectious Disease Society of America. The development of vaccine is one of the most promising and cost-effective strategies to prevent infections. In this study, we identified potential protective vaccine candidates using reverse vaccinology. We have analyzed 14 on-line available Ab genome sequences and found 2752 homologous core genes. Using information obtained from immuno-proteomic experiments, published proteomic information and the bioinformatics PSORTb v3.0 software to predict the location of extracellular and/or outer membrane proteins, 77 genes were identified and selected for further studies. After excluding those antigens have been used as vaccine candidates reported by the in silico search-engines of PubMed and Google Scholar, 13 proteins could potentially be vaccine candidates. We have selected and cloned the genes of 3 antigens that were further expressed and purified. These antigens were found to be highly immunogenic and conferred partial protection (60%) in a pneumonia animal model. The strategy described in the present study incorporates the advantages of reverse vaccinology, bioinformatics and immuno-proteomic platform technologies and is easy to perform to identify novel immunogens for multi-component vaccines development.

78 citations