Gol Mohammadi, R, Tabaraei, A, Abbasi, A, Khademi, N, Mahdavian, B, Javid, N, Kaleji, H, Kamasi,a, Bazoori, M, Moradi, A,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (March, April[PERSIAN] 2015)
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Objective: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) can effectively prevent the progression of HIV-1 replication and increase life expectancy. There are numerous causes of treatment failure and the leading one is drug resistance. Thus, we aimed to determine the HIV RT gene drug resistance mutations in patients treated with antiretroviral medications.
Material and Methods: In this cross - sectional study, venous blood was taken from 130 HIV-positive patients treated with antiretroviral medications. In order to determine drug resistance mutations, RT-PCR and PCR steps were performed using RT gene specific primers. Subtypes and mutations in the virus genome were determined using the Stanford HIV drug resistance sequence database.
Results: In 122 treating patients, most of the major mutations were associated with nucleoside and non-nucleoside drugs. subtype A in 66.4%, subtype D in 26.2% and subtype B in 7.4% of the participants were reported. They were resistant to Nucleoside RT Inhibitor drugs (23.7%) and Non-Nucleoside RT Inhibitor drugs(30.3%). The highest were related to Nevirapine (21.3%) and Efavirenz (19.7%) and the lowest to both Tenofovir and Zidovudine (91.5%).
Conclusion: The use of two nucleoside RT inhibitor drugs combined with one protease inhibitor drug could be effective in the treatment of HAART.
Key words: HIV, Nucleoside RT Inhibitor, Non- Nucleoside RT Inhibitor
Hamid Vaez , Vahid Vaez , Farzad Khademi ,
Volume 11, Issue 6 (Nov - Dec 2017)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important non-fermenting gram-negative hospital-acquired pathogen. Treatment of P. aeruginosa infections has become more challenging due to overexpression of efflux pumps. The aim of the present study was to apply in silico analysis to evaluate the structure of the efflux pump regulatory protein, MexR, and impact of mutation on its stability and function.
Methods: Different bioinformatics tools including EXPASY, PROTEER, TECCOFFE, iStable, I-Mutant 2, STRING, ESPript, GOR IV, and PDB were used in the study.
Results: Aliphatic and instability indices were 104.15, and 46.52, respectively, indicating that the protein has a relatively short half-life. Most mutations decreased protein stability. Twenty-four mutations were identified as deleterious, with negative impact on the protein’s function.
Conclusion: Determination of structure, variability, and function of MexR could be useful for modeling of treatment and control of multidrug resistant P. aeruginosa, with overexpressed efflux pump. We found that MexR is a relatively unstable and conserved protein and the majority of mutations decrease its stability.
Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MexR protein, Drug resistance, drug resistance multiple.
Fatemeh Rashedi, Zahra Yazdanpour, Farzad Khademi, Hamid Vaez,
Volume 17, Issue 6 (Nov-Dec 2023)
Abstract
Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most prevalent bacterial diseases worldwide. Escherichia coli is a well-known etiological agent of UTI. The emergence and spread of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL)-producing E. coli is a serious threat to public health.
This study aimed to investigate the antibiotic resistance pattern and prevalence of MBL-producing E. coli isolated from UTI.
Methods: From January 2020 to June 2021, 1200 urine specimens were collected from patients suspected of having UTI. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out by the disk diffusion method. The prevalence of MBL (blaVIM, blaIMP, blaSPM, and blaNDM) genes was determined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Results: The highest susceptibility was observed against amikacin (96%) and gentamicin (95%). The isolates were mostly resistant against ampicillin (72%) and cephalothin (60%). All carbapenem-resistant isolates were MBL-positive. Based on the results of PCR, 75% of the isolates were blaNDM-positive.
Conclusion: Resistance to some antibiotics, such as ampicillin and cephalothin, was high, and their prescription must be restricted. The prevalence of MBL-producing isolates was not high; however, due to the high level of resistance against other antibiotics, continuous monitoring of MBL-producing isolates is highly essential.
