Infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) pose a major clinical threat worldwide especially to immunocompromised patients. As a novel vaccine network for many kinds of bacteria, bacterial ghosts (BGs) have recently been introduced. In the present research, using Sponge-Like Reduced Protocol, P. aeruginosa ghosts (PAGs) were prepared to maintain surface antigens and immunogenicity. This is the first study, to our knowledge, on the production of chemically induced well-structured bacterial ghosts for PA using concentrations of different chemicals. The research was carried out using diabetic rats who were orally immunized at two-week intervals with three doses of PAGs. Rats were subsequently challenged either by the oral route or by the model of ulcer infection with PA. In challenged rats, in addition to other immunological parameters, organ bioburden and wound healing were determined, respectively. Examination of the scanning and transmission electron microscope (EM) proved that PAGs with a proper three-dimensional structure were obtained. In contrast to control groups, oral PAGs promoted the generation of agglutinating antibodies, the development of IFN-γ, and the increase in phagocytic activity in vaccinated groups. Antibodies of the elicited PAGs were reactive to PA proteins and lipopolysaccharides. The defense against the PA challenge was observed in PAGs-immunized diabetic rats. The resulting PAGs in orally vaccinated diabetic rats were able to evoke unique humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and to defend them from the threat of skin wound infection. These results have positive implications for future studies on the PA vaccine.

Introduction: Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is mainly precipitated by an uncontrolled inflammatory response and cytokine storm. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8 levels were markedly increased in complicated cases. Genetic polymorphisms may have a role in this dysregulated expression during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our aim was to assess the influence of IL-6 and IL-8 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on COVID-19 outcomes. Methodology: 240 subjects were involved in the study; 80 cases with severe COVID-19, 80 cases with mild COVID-19, and 80 healthy subjects. IL-6rs1800795(G/C) and IL-8 rs2227306(C/T) genotyping was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Ages ranged between 20-67 years in all groups. There was a statistically significant association between the male gender and severe COVID-19. A significantly higher expression of IL-6rs1800795GG and IL-8rs2227306CC genotypes was observed among patients with severe COVID-19 than other groups. At the allele level, IL-6rs1800795G and IL-8rs2227306C alleles were more frequent among patients with severe COVID-19 when compared with other groups. Haplotypes' frequency clarified that the coexistence of IL-6 rs1800795G and IL-8rs2227306C alleles in the same person increased the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Carriers of IL-6rs1800795C and IL-8 rs2227306T alleles are at lower risk of developing severe COVID-19. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that old age, male gender, IL-6 rs1800795CG+GG, and IL-8 rs2227306CT+CC genotypes could be independent risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Conclusions: IL-6 rs1800795G and IL-8 rs2227306C alleles are significantly associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes, especially if they coexist. They may be used as prognostic markers for COVID-19.

Background: Gamma radiation or radiotherapy is one of the most widely used treatments for cancer. There is accumulating evidence that adaptive immunity significantly contributes to the efficacy of radiotherapy. Aim: This study is carried out to show the effect of gamma rays on the interplay between Th1/Th2 response, splenocyte lymphoproliferative response to polyclonal mitogenic activators and lymphocytic capacity to produce IL-12 and IL-10 in mice. Methods: mice were exposed to whole body gamma irradiation and tested for the effect of recovery times on splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production. In addition, direct irradiation of spleens and lymphocyte suspension was done. Basal and mitogen-stimulated splenocyte proliferation was assessed by MTT assay while IL-10 and IL-12 were measured using ELISA. Results showed that exposure of intact spleens to different doses of γ-rays (5, 10, 20 gray) caused spontaneous and dose dependent immune stimulation manifested by enhanced cell proliferation and elevated IL-12 production with decreased IL-10 release (i.e. Th1 bias). While exposure of splenocytes suspension to different doses of γ-rays (5, 10, 20 gray) showed activation in splenocytes stimulated by PWM at 5 grays then a state of conventional immune suppression that is characterized by being dose-dependent and is manifested by decreased cell proliferation and IL-12 release accompanied by increase in IL-10 production (i.e. Th2 bias). In addition, we investigated exposure of the whole murine bodies to different doses of γ-rays and found that exposure to low dose γ-rays (0.2 gray) caused a state of immune stimulation terminated by a remarkable tendency for immune suppression. Exposure to 5 or 10 gray of γ-rays resulted in a state of immune stimulation (Th1 bias), but exposure to 20 gray showed a standard state of immune suppression (Th2 bias). Conclusion: Exposure to gamma radiation could cause a state of immune stimulation or suppression via controlling Th1/Th2 cell

Ovarian epithelial tumor (OET) is a silent disease of late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Currently treatment options are limited and patient response to treatment is difficult to predict so there is a serious need to delineate the real pathogenesis to predict tumour prognosis. Prohibitin (PHB) is an evolutionarily protein that regulates the cell cycle. TGF-β has been shown to be a positive and negative regulator of cellular proliferation and differentiation. The present study provides an overview on the role played by PHB1, TGF-β and LH in ovarian cancer. The study was conducted on 60 patients with ovarian tumors (benign, borderline and malignant) and 20 healthy volunteers. LH and TGF-β serum levels were measured by ELISA. Expression of prohibitin and LHR-mRNA were assessed by IHC and TaqMan® real time gene expression assay, respectively. Serum levels of LH and TGF-β were significantly decreased among borderline and malignant groups. There was significant over-expression of LHRmRNA in malignant group. Prohibitin expression was significantly increased in malignant ovarian tissue. Strong negative correlations were found between LHR mRNA expression and serum LH levels, and between IHC score of prohibitin and serum levels of LH among patients with borderline ovarian tumors. Steady decline of LH and TGF-B serum levels, from benign cystadenoma to borderline tumor to carcinoma, suggests their inhibitory role against OET cell growth. Increased PHB1 expression in OET suggests its proliferative activity that can be regulated by luteinisation and/or TGF-β. Furthermore increased LHR mRNA tissue expression can provide hope for using LH in treatment of some types of ovarian cancers.

Although UV radiation is used to treat several diseases, including rickets, psoriasis, eczema and jaundice, prolonged human exposure to UV radiation may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eye and immune system. Aim: this study is carried out to show the effect of UV on both splenocyte lymphoproliferative response and their capacity to produce IL-12 and IL-10 in mice. Methods: mice were exposed to whole body UVB and tested for the effect of recovery times on splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production. In addition, direct irradiation of spleens and lymphocyte suspension was done. Basal and mitogen-stimulated splenocyte proliferation was assessed by MTT assay while IL-10 and IL-12 were measured using ELISA. Results showed significant suppression in splenocyte proliferation in comparison with control. IL-12 levels were significantly reduced while IL-10 was increased. ConA and PWM had no significant changes in IL-10 while Con A caused a highly significant increase in IL-12 at day six recovery in UVB body irradiation. Conclusion: Exposure to UVB radiation could cause a state of immune suppression and shifts Th1/Th2 cell response. This effect is closely associated with the reduction of Th1 cytokines' expression and increase in Th2 cytokines' levels.

Background: Ovarian cancer is considered the most lethal gynecological malignancies and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women. The high mortality rate is largely attributed to its diagnosis in advanced stages. Poor prognosis of ovarian cancer is usually due to lack of specific or effective screening and diagnostic methods for identifying early stage disease. Aim: Our study aimed to study the role of HLA-DP, HLA-DQ and ICAM-1 SNPs in diagnosis and/or prognosis of ovarian tumors. Subjects & methods: The current study was conducted on 60 patients with ovarian tumors (benign, borderline and malignant) and 20 healthy volunteers. Genotyping of HLA-DP rs 3077, HLA-DQ rs3920 and ICAM-1 rs1437 SNPs was done using 5' nuclease assay. Results: we found significant association of HLA-DP rs 3077 AA, HLA-DQ rs 3920 GG, ICAM-1 rs1437 CC and CT genotypes with increased risk of ovarian cancer (OR=43.5, 6, 25 and 2.6 respectively). In addition, HLA-DQ rs3920 and ICAM-1 rs1437 alleles vary significantly among different types of ovarian cancer (P=0.003 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: HLA-DP rs 3077, HLA-DQ rs3920 and ICAM-1 rs1437 SNPs could help in diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer.