Induction of TLR5, IRAK1, and NF-κB expression by Trichomonas vaginalis in cervical cancer cell (HeLa) and normal human vaginal epithelial cell (HVECs) lines Soraya Mohammadi Esfanjani, Leili Aghebati Maleki, Sanam Nami, Mina Ebrahimi, Amir Baghbanzadeh, Gregorio Perez-Cordon, Sonia M Rodrigues Oliveira, Maria De Lourdes Pereira, Aleksandra Barać, Ehsan Ahmadpour, Jelena Micić Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 2023 Introduction: Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection that increases the risk of cervical cancer. Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) can regulate the pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the host cells. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of mammalian cells, expressed in various host cells and have an important role in recognizing pathogens, and pro-inflammatory responses. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of TLR5 in cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and human vaginal epithelial cells (HVECs) exposed to T. vaginalis. Methodology: First, the cells and parasites were cultured in RPMI and trypticase yeast extract maltose (TYM), respectively. After adaption of parasite and epithelial cells by RPMI-TYM medium co-culture (9:1 vol/vol), HVECs and HeLa cells were stimulated with T. vaginalis trophozoites (24-hour incubation at 37 °C, 5% CO2). Following RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the gene expression levels of TLR5, IRAK1, and NF-κB were assessed using real-time PCR. Besides, the protein levels were measured using western blotting. All tests and controls were normalized using β-actin as a housekeeping control. Results: Real-time PCR results showed an increased gene expression of TLR5, IRAK1, and NF-κB in T. vaginalis exposed HVECs and HeLa cells compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, western blot analysis showed a statistically significant increase in TLR5, and NF-κB proteins in both groups after exposure to the parasite (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings provide insight into the host-parasite interaction, and the results indicated that T. vaginalis could stimulate TLR5 and activate related pathways.
Global molecular prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in pigs (Sus domesticus): A systematic review and meta-analysis Ali Asghari, Mina Ebrahimi, Laya Shamsi, Alireza Sadrebazzaz, Morteza Shams Heliyon, 2023 Giardia duodenalis is one of the common intestinal parasites causing diarrhea in humans and livestock, including pigs. Thus, a healthy livestock would result in a clean environment, which benefits humans. In the present study, the global molecular prevalence of G. duodenalis infection was determined in pig populations, through systematic exploration of 4 international databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) until March 4th, 2022. A random-effects meta-analysis model was used to estimate the overall and subgroup-based pooled prevalence of G. duodenalis , and I 2 index was used for the evaluation of the heterogeneity. Altogether, 42 datasets from 18 papers examined 7272 pigs across 12 nations, showing a 9.1% (95% CI: 5.6–14.3%) pooled molecular prevalence. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated no remarkable variation in the reported total prevalence upon removing individual studies. It was found that 6 Giardia assemblages (A-F) are capable to infect pigs around the world, including assemblage E [16 datasets, 41.1% (95% CI: 24.8–59.6%)], B [8 datasets, 28.2% (95% CI: 12.2–52.6%)], D [3 datasets, 16.2% (95% CI: 10.6–24.1%)], C [3 datasets, 11.6% (95% CI: 7.3–17.9%)], and A [11 datasets, 9.9% (95% CI: 5.6–16.9%)]. Of note, assemblage F was only reported in one study. Meta-regression analysis showed that publication year was not significantly associated with the Giardia prevalence in swine population, in contrast to the sample size. Substantially, animals in weaner and fattener stages were more prone to giardiasis. Assemblages A and B are of utmost zoonotic significance for humans, while assemblages C, D and F have, also, been found in dogs and cats. Still, little is known on the prevalence and distribution of Giardia assemblages in pigs and requires more extensive and detailed studies.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the global prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in people living with HIV and associated risk factors Mina Ebrahimi, Nayer Mehdizad, Fatemeh Yeganeh-Sefidan, Hanie Safarpour, Abdol S. Pagheh, Amir Pouremamali, Somayeh Shiralizadeh, Ali Ghodrati, Sana Jafari, Firooz Shahrivar, Siamak Heidarzadeh, Mahboobeh Montazeri, Mohammad Yousef-Memar, Sonia M. Rodrigues-Oliveira, Maria de-Lourdes-Pereira, Apostolos Beloukas, Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi, Aleksandra Barac, Milad Shirvaliloo, Ehsan Ahmadpour AIDS Reviews, 2023 People living with HIV (PLWH) constitute a vulnerable population for acquiring additional sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study was conducted to provide a summary of the evidence on the global prevalence of STIs in PLWH with an emphasis on infectious agents, diagnostic methods, and related risk factors. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched to include records published from January 01, 1990, to January 31, 2022, and the Google Scholar search engine was used to check the search strategy. In total, 132 eligible studies reporting STIs in PLWH were included, enrolling subjects from 35 countries across five continents. The pooled proportion of STIs was estimated to be 30.23% (95% CI, 26.1-34.45%) in PLWH and 20.01% (95% CI, 17.17-23.01%) in HIV-negative patients. Our meta-analysis indicated that in PLWH, the pooled OR of STIs compared to HIV-negatives was 1.77 (95% CI: 1.58-1.98) (p < 0.0001). The pooled OR of STIs by viral infectious agents was highest in PLWH (52.19% [95% CI: 43.88-60.43]) compared with fungal (22.19% [95% CI: 15.64-29.53]), bacterial (19.07% [95% CI: 13.59-26.63]), and parasitic (14.05% [95% CI: 11.88-16.38]) infections. Our findings show that there is a rather significant frequency of STIs among PLWH. This study highlights the need for new programs for the detection, treatment, and prevention of STIs in this at-risk population.
Global status of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors in people living with HIV Hanie Safarpour, Muge Cevik, Mehdi Zarean, Aleksandra Barac, Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi, Mohammad T. Rahimi, Hossein Bannazadeh Baghi, Tohid J. Koshki, Abdol S. Pagheh, Firooz Shahrivar, Mina Ebrahimi, Ehsan Ahmadpour AIDS, 2020 Objective: Toxoplasma infection remains as the most common cause of focal brain lesions among people living with HIV (PLHIV) despite the decline in opportunistic infections with the introduction of antiretroviral treatment. This study was conducted to provide a summary of evidence about the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and prevalence of active T. gondii infection and associated risk factors among PLHIV. Design: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct and EMBASE were searched from 1997 to July 2018. All peer-reviewed original research articles describing T. gondii infection among PLHIV with different diagnostic methods were included. Methods: Incoherence and heterogeneity between studies were quantified by I 2 index and Cochran's Q test. Publication and population bias were assessed with funnel plots and Egger's regression asymmetry test. All statistical analyses were performed using StatsDirect. Results: In total, 111 studies from 37 countries assessing 66 139 blood samples were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of T. gondii infection among PLHIV was 3.24% by IgM and 26.22% by molecular methods using the random-effects model. Pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii by IgG was 44.22%. There was a relationship between Toxoplasma prevalence and sex, raw meat consumption, contact with cat and knowledge about toxoplasmosis. Conclusion: High Toxoplasma seroprevalence among PLHIV observed in this study emphasizes the need for implementing screening and prophylaxis tailored to the local context. Owing to the serious and significant clinical manifestations of the parasite in case of reactivation, early identification of seropositivity for initiating prophylaxis among those with a CD4+ cell count of less than 200 cells/ml is recommended.
Strongyloides stercoralis infection in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients and related risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis Ehsan Ahmadpour, Mohammad Ali Ghanizadegan, Atefeh Razavi, Mahsa Kangari, Rouhollah Seyfi, Maryam Shahdust, Ali Yazdanian, Hanie Safarpour, Hossein Bannazadeh Baghi, Mehdi Zarean, Seyed Abdollah Hosseini, Roghayeh Norouzi, Mina Ebrahimi, Berit Bangoura Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2019 Strongyloidiasis is caused by nematode infections of the genus Strongyloides, mainly Strongyloides stercoralis, and affects tens of millions of people around the world. S. stercoralis hyperinfection and disseminated strongyloidiasis are unusual but potentially fatal conditions mostly due to Gram-negative bacteremia and sepsis, primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Infections with immunosuppressive viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) have been reported as risk factors for strongyloidiasis. Hyperinfection syndrome has been described in HIV-positive patients following the use of corticosteroids or during immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). In this research, we conducted a global systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the seroprevalence and odds ratios (ORs) of S. stercoralis infections in HIV infected patients. A total of 3,649 records were screened, 164 studies were selected and evaluated in more detail, and 94 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of S. stercoralis infection in HIV positive patients was 5.1 % (CI95%: 4 % - 6.3 %), and a meta-analysis on six studies showed that with a pooled OR of 1.79 (CI95%: 1.18 - 2.69 %) HIV positive men are at a higher risk of S. stercoralis infections (P<0.0052) compared to HIV positive women.
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the global prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in people living with HIV and associated risk factors. M Ebrahimi, N Mehdizad, F Yeganeh-Sefidan, H Safarpour, AS Pagheh, ... AIDS reviews 25 (3) , 2023 2023 Citations: 7
Global molecular prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in pigs (Sus domesticus): A systematic review and meta-analysis A Asghari, M Ebrahimi, L Shamsi, A Sadrebazzaz, M Shams Heliyon 9 (2) , 2023 2023 Citations: 26
Induction of TLR5, IRAK1, and NF-κB expression by Trichomonas vaginalis in cervical cancer cell (HeLa) and normal human vaginal epithelial cell (HVECs) lines S Mohammadi Esfanjan, L Aghebati Malek, S Nami, M Ebrahimi, ... JIDC , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
In vitro efficacy of albendazole-loaded β-cyclodextrin against protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto NM Bakhtiar, A Akbarzadeh, E Ahmadpour, M Mahami-Oskouei, A Casulli, ... Experimental Parasitology 243, 108428 , 2022 2022 Citations: 4
Nanoliposomes increases Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis and apoptotic activities of metronidazole M Ebrahimi, M Montazeri, A Ahmadi, S Nami, H Hamishehkar, F Shahrivar, ... Acta tropica 224, 106156 , 2021 2021 Citations: 6
Global status of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors in people living with HIV H Safarpour, M Cevik, M Zarean, A Barac, K Hatam-Nahavandi, ... Aids 34 (3), 469-474 , 2020 2020 Citations: 99
Strongyloides stercoralis infection in human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients and related risk factors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis E Ahmadpour, MA Ghanizadegan, A Razavi, M Kangari, R Seyfi, ... Transboundary and emerging diseases 66 (6), 2233-2243 , 2019 2019 Citations: 20
Effect of Morgana extract on Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis growth in vitro. F Nikoomanesh, M Ebrahimi, J Sadraei, S Roudbarmohammadi Current Medical Mycology 4 , 2018 2018
The effect of acetone extract of Moringa peregrina on Trichomonas vaginalis , Candida albicans and macrophage cells in vitro. M Ebrahimi, J Sadraei, S Roudbarmohammadi, F Nikoomanesh 2018 Citations: 5
In Vitro Effect of Methanol Extract of Moringa Peregrina against Trichomonas Vaginalis M Ebrahimi 2016
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Global status of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors in people living with HIV H Safarpour, M Cevik, M Zarean, A Barac, K Hatam-Nahavandi, ... Aids 34 (3), 469-474 , 2020 2020 Citations: 99
Global molecular prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in pigs (Sus domesticus): A systematic review and meta-analysis A Asghari, M Ebrahimi, L Shamsi, A Sadrebazzaz, M Shams Heliyon 9 (2) , 2023 2023 Citations: 26
Strongyloides stercoralis infection in human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients and related risk factors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis E Ahmadpour, MA Ghanizadegan, A Razavi, M Kangari, R Seyfi, ... Transboundary and emerging diseases 66 (6), 2233-2243 , 2019 2019 Citations: 20
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the global prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in people living with HIV and associated risk factors. M Ebrahimi, N Mehdizad, F Yeganeh-Sefidan, H Safarpour, AS Pagheh, ... AIDS reviews 25 (3) , 2023 2023 Citations: 7
Nanoliposomes increases Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis and apoptotic activities of metronidazole M Ebrahimi, M Montazeri, A Ahmadi, S Nami, H Hamishehkar, F Shahrivar, ... Acta tropica 224, 106156 , 2021 2021 Citations: 6
The effect of acetone extract of Moringa peregrina on Trichomonas vaginalis , Candida albicans and macrophage cells in vitro. M Ebrahimi, J Sadraei, S Roudbarmohammadi, F Nikoomanesh 2018 Citations: 5
In vitro efficacy of albendazole-loaded β-cyclodextrin against protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto NM Bakhtiar, A Akbarzadeh, E Ahmadpour, M Mahami-Oskouei, A Casulli, ... Experimental Parasitology 243, 108428 , 2022 2022 Citations: 4
Induction of TLR5, IRAK1, and NF-κB expression by Trichomonas vaginalis in cervical cancer cell (HeLa) and normal human vaginal epithelial cell (HVECs) lines S Mohammadi Esfanjan, L Aghebati Malek, S Nami, M Ebrahimi, ... JIDC , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
Effect of Morgana extract on Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis growth in vitro. F Nikoomanesh, M Ebrahimi, J Sadraei, S Roudbarmohammadi Current Medical Mycology 4 , 2018 2018
In Vitro Effect of Methanol Extract of Moringa Peregrina against Trichomonas Vaginalis M Ebrahimi 2016
