Background: Currently available anti-influenza drugs are often associated with limitations such as toxicity and the appearance of drug-resistant strains. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the development of novel, safe and more efficient antiviral agents. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and PEGylated zinc oxide nanoparticles against H1N1 influenza virus. Methods: The nanoparticles were characterized using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, x-ray diffraction analysis, and electron microscopy. MTT assay was applied to assess the cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles, and anti-influenza activity was determined by TCID50 and quantitative Real-Time PCR assays. To study the inhibitory impact of nanoparticles on the expression of viral antigens, an indirect immunofluorescence assay was also performed. Results: Post-exposure of influenza virus with PEGylated ZnO-NPs and bare ZnO-NPs at the highest non-toxic concentrations could be led to 2.8 and 1.2 log10 TCID50 reduction in virus titer when compared to the virus control, respectively (P < 0.0001). At the highest non-toxic concentrations, the PEGylated and unPEGylated ZnO-NPs led to inhibition rates of 94.6% and 52.2%, respectively, which were calculated based on the viral loads. There was a substantial decrease in fluorescence emission intensity in viral-infected cell treated with PEGylated ZnO-NPs compared to the positive control. Conclusions: Taken together, our study indicated that PEGylated ZnO-NPs could be a novel, effective, and promising antiviral agent against H1N1 influenza virus infection, and future studies can be designed to explore the exact antiviral mechanism of these nanoparticles.

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a prevalent gastrointestinal illness and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children younger than 5 years of age. Viral pathogens, group A rotavirus (RVA), norovirus (NoV), adenovirus (AdV), and astrovirus (AstV), account for over 70% of AGE cases in this age group. Co-infections with multiple enteric viruses are frequently observed in developing regions with Limited healthcare infrastructure and may contribute to increased pathogenicity, reduced vaccine efficacy, and viral evolution. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical features of RVA, NoV, AdV, and AstV infections, including patterns of viral co-infection, among children under 5 years of age with AGE in Tehran, Iran. From January 2021 to January 2022, 200 stool specimens were collected from children under 5 hospitalized with AGE at children’s hospitals in Tehran. They were tested for RV, AdV, and AstV using RT-PCR, and for NoV, via real-time PCR. The overall prevalence rate for RV, NoV, AdV, and AstV was 24%, 22%, 14%, and 0.5%, respectively. In total, 72% of the samples tested positive for at least one enteric virus, and co-infections were detected in 11.5% of them. The most common co-infection among this population was RV-AdV (25.6%), and RV was the most frequently co-detected virus with NoV, AdV, and AstV. Our findings highlight that RV was the most frequently detected virus, followed by NoV, AdV, and AstV. The notable rate of co-infections underscores the need for multiplex diagnostics and may inform vaccination strategies to better prevent severe pediatric gastroenteritis.

Background: Some studies implicate rotavirus infection as a trigger for the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in children, however findings are controversial. Objectives: We investigated the link between rotavirus infection and autoantibodies against islet antigens and T1DM in children. Methods: Serum samples from 80 new-onset diabetic and 80 nondiabetic children were screened for anti-rotavirus IgG, anti-GAD65 and anti-IA-2 autoantibodies using ELISA kits. Results: Positivity percentages of anti-rotavirus IgG detection in diabetic and nondiabetic children were 51.3% and 35.0%, respectively (p = 0.03). The mean anti-GAD65 and anti-IA-2 antibody titers in anti-rotavirus IgG positive samples were statistically higher than that the anti-rotavirus IgG negative samples. A positive correlation was found between anti-rotavirus IgG and anti-GAD65 antibody levels (p = 0.004; r = 0.22). Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that rotovirus infection may induce T1DM in children.

Objective: To systematically review the reported cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in Iran. Methods: A comprehensive literature review of CJD cases in Iran was undertaken using the PubMed®, Scopus® and Google Scholar databases. In addition, the Iranian database MagIran was searched for Persian language reports. Case selection used the following criteria: (i) patients of Iranian origin; (ii) publication in peer-reviewed journals or reputable medical databases; (iii) a definitive diagnosis of CJD based on established diagnostic criteria. Results: Thirteen cases from twelve reports were included in this systematic review. The majority of the cases were female (11 of 13; 84.6%). The mean ± SD age of patients at hospital admission was 59.38 ± 7.44 years. The findings of the case review suggested that the prevalence of CJD in Iran is not fully established. CJD may be misdiagnosed alongside other clinical signs. The most prevalent early indications of the disease were psychiatric and neurological in nature. A considerable delay in diagnosis was observed in some cases and there was a shortage of brain autopsy records. Conclusion: Efforts to improve diagnostic capabilities, promote awareness and establish monitoring systems are necessary for managing the challenges of providing an early diagnosis of CJD in Iran.