Background: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the world. Immunotherapy is a new، non-invasive and effective method for the treatment of cancer، but its side effects on the normal flora of bacteria and opportunistic infections not known yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of immunotherapy on Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) virulence gene expression in patients with prostate cancer. Methods: In this study، the effect of prostate cancer immunotherapy on the expression level of enterococcal surface protein (esp) gene which is involved in Enterococcus faecalis pathogenesis were investigated. For this purpose، the samples were analysed in three groups; normal individuals 211 men)، prostate cancer patients (176 men) before and six months after immunotherapy period. Results: Results showed significant (p=0. 00) over expression of esp gene in prostate cancer patients after immunotherapy. There was no significant difference between prostate cancer patients before immunotherapy and healthy subjects. Conclusion: We conclude from these findings that immunotherapy could play a major role in increasing the pathogenicity risk of E. faecalis as a normal microflora. According to current results we suggest that using antibiotic administration in the period of immunotherapy prevents the possibility of opportunistic bacterial infections including E. faecalis.

Background and objectives: Resistance to high level concentration of gentamicin is widespread among isolates of enterococci at Tehran Hospitals. To understand the mechanism of resistance among the Iranian isolates, we screened a collection of E.faecalis and E.faecium isolates to detect aminoglycoside modifying enzymes genes.Material and Methods: To detect the high level gentamicin resistant isolates of enterococci (HLGR phenotype, MIC>500 mg/ml), 114 clinical isolates of E. faecalis (n=79) and E. faecium (n=35) were tested with disks containing 120 mg of gentamicin. The macrobroth dilution assay was then used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of gentamicin. The susceptibility of isolates against amikacin, netilmicin, tobramycin, kanamycin were also determined by Kirby-Bauer method. All isolates were subjected to polymerase chain reaction assays targeting aminoglycoside modifying enzyme (AMEs) genes including aac(6')-aph(2"), aph(2")-Ib, aph(2")-Ic, aph (2")-Ia, aph (2")-Id. aph(3')-IIIa and ant(4')-Ia.Results: All isolates with HLGR phenotype and those showing 64<MIC<500mg/ml contained aac(6')- aph(2''). The aph(3')-IIIa was found among 61% and 65% of isolates withHLGR phenotypes and those with MIC<500 in respects. Co-existence of aac(6')-aph(2'') and aph(3')-IIIa gene among HLGR isolates of E. faeclais and E. faecium were 59.5% and 64.7% respectively. The gene aph(2'')-Ic was amplified in two isolates of E.faecium. The results of PCR for aph (2'')-Id, ant(4')-Ia and aph(2")-Ib genes were negative. Conclusion: The aac(6')-aph(2'') was the most frequent gene encoding resistance to gentamicin and other aminoglycosides followed by aph(3')-IIIa. Isolates lacking these genes were susceptible' to all aminoglyocosides used in this study.

Background and objectives: Enterococcus faecalis is a normal commensal in the human intestinal flora but can lead to nosocomial infections. Several virulence factors have been described in E. faecalis, including aggregation substance(Agg), entrococcal surface protein(Esp), cytolysin (Cyl) having both hemolytic and bactericidal activity, and gelatinase(Gel). These factors act synergistically to enhance virulence, resulting tissue damage and tissue invasion. The aims of this study were phenotypic determination of virulence factors of E. faecalis isolates recovered from patients with urinary tract infections. Material and Methods: This descriptive study were carried out in 95 clinical E. faecalis isolates recovered from patients with urinary tract infections in Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan, Iran, between 2007 and 2008. The production of biofilm, hemolysin and gelatinase by these isolates was also examined and the associated medical records of patients were retrospectively reviewed. Data were analyzed using Exact Fischer test and Chi Square. Results: Gelatinase activity was detected in 19 of the 95 (20%) E. faecalis isolates, hemolysin was detected in 42 of 95 (44.2%) E. faecalis isolates as beta hemolysis 35.8% and alpha hemolysis 7.4%, and 79 out of 95(83.2%) isolates showed weak, 6 out of 95(6.3%) moderate and 10 out of 95 (10.5%) strong biofilm formation. There was no significant statistical correlation between biofilm formation and age, sex, previous history of antibiotic therapy, catheterization, and production of haemolysin and gelatinase activity. Conclusions: No single factor was detected as virulence prediction. It seems that the factors are act synergistically.

Enterococci are a part of the opportunistic pathogens, which are very important in medicine. These bacteria can cause a variety of diseases in both dogs and human. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency detection of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium in companion dogs in Ahvaz and review of risk factors including age, gender, breed and diarrheic status in animals. Also, the prevalence of virulence genes was evaluated including gelatinase (gelE) and (ccf) and antibiotic susceptibility measured in obtained samples. Sampling was performed from the rectum of the 150 dogs (36 cases diarrheic and 114 non-diarrheic). The samples were evaluated by two methods of bacterial culture and PCR. In bacterial culture, 122 isolates, suspected to Enterococcus species, were isolated and subsequently the detection of SodA gene specific to Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium was performed by PCR. Overall forty-five positive isolates were identified, which thirty four of which were Enterococcus faecalis (75.5%) and 11 were Enterococcus faecium (24.5 %). In regard to identify virulence genes (gelE and ccf), 36 out of 45 isolates were positive for virulence genes. Twenty six isolates (57.77%) had virulence genes, 5 isolates (11.11%) ccf gene and 5 other isolates (11.11%) gelE gene. In all, nine isolates (20%) had no virulence gene. Fourteen different antibiotics were used to determine antibiotic susceptibility that indicated all isolates were resistant to azithromycin, streptomycin, ampicillin and imipenem. Thereafter, the highest resistance was related to erythromycin and cephalexin (95.5%), trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (84.4%) and gentamicin (80%), respectively. Also, the highest sensitivity was related to nitrofurantoin (62.2%), penicillin G (60%) and enrofloxacin (55.5%), respectively. There was no significant relationship between risk factors such as age, gender, breed and diarrheic condition with the presence of Enterococcus in the studied dogs (P>0.05). The results showed that the prevalence of Enterococci was relatively significant (30%) in dogs of Ahvaz district. Antibiotic resistance was significant in the two species of Enterococci. Finally, because of the very high importance of antibiotic resistance, appropriate administration of antibiotics is recommended.

Pousti cheese is a traditional dairy product in different parts of our country. Enterococci are among the predominant bacteria in raw milk cheeses, such as pousti cheeses, which are even used in cheese as a starter or probiotic. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium strains with probiotic potential from Pousti cheeses in Gilan province. For this purpose, after isolation and detection of enterococci by phenotypic and biochemical methods, Survival under in-vitro conditions simulating the human GI tract (acid, pepsin, bile and pancreatin), antagonistic properties of isolates and their Auto-aggregation properties, and Co-aggregation with Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica were evaluated. The results showed the presence of enterococci in 23 cheese samples (76. 6%) which were confirmed by conformational and biochemical tests as 29 isolates of Enterococcus faecium (50%) and 22 isolates of Enterococcus faecalis (37. 9%). Totally, 14 samples (27. 4%) were able to survive in the presence of acid and pepsin and were selected for the further steps. Finally, 12 isolates well tolerated the presence of bile and pancreatin and their antimicrobial and aggregation properties were evaluated. The isolates showed significant anti-listeria effects and also had a high auto-aggregation power (53. 95%) and their co-aggregation effect was higher with Salmonella enterica than Escherichia coli. From the results it can be concluded that some native isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium in Pousti cheese have good potential for use as probiotics.

Background & Aim: Enterococcus faecalis, play a significant role in plaque formation and tooth decay. Mouthwashes are one of the tools used to reduce decay. . the aim of study was comparision of fluorine total with chlorhexidine on Enterococcus faecalis. Material and Methods: In this in-vitro study a total of 24 samples (18 samples in each groups and 6 control samples) were examined, the diameter of the growth inhibition zone of Enterococcus faecalis was compared between two mouthwashes of fluorine total and chlorhexidine 0. 2% Enterococcus faecalis was first cultured on a blood agar plate and incubated for 24 hours at 37 ° C. The bacteria were then cultured on 18 plates of blood agar (9 plates for chlorhexidine mouthwash and 9 plates for fluorine total mouthwash). To evaluate the absence of bacterial inside the mouthwashes, 2 plates containing fluorine total and chlorhexidine mouthwash were cultured separately. The plates were prepared by well method, then the growth inhibition zone in the two study groups was measured and analyzed by Repeated Measure ANOVA test of 25th version of SPSS software. Results: The growth inhibition zone in the chlorhexidine and fluorine total group was 15/94±0. 8 mm and 18/61±1. 4 mm, respectively, which was in the chlorhexidine group, which is statistically significant (P<0/0001). Conclusion: Fluorine total mouthwash is more effective than chlorhexidine mouthwash on enterococcus faecalis.

Enterococci are microorganisms that are mainly found in the intestines. Their high presence in food can cause fecal contamination, and they are isolated from various foods such as vegetables, meat, etc. Among the food, a hamburger is one of the products used by hand and widely by people. In this study, 50 hamburger samples were examined for biochemical and molecular methods for the presence of Enterococcus faecalis. A PCR reaction temperature program was performed to detect virulence genes in the fact of specific primer pairs. In this study, out of 50 samples, 33 samples (66%) were infected with E. faecalis. Of 33 E. faecalis isolates isolated from hamburgers, efaA was reported in 8 isolates (24. 24%), cylA was reported in 15 isolates (45. 45%), gel E was reported in 9 isolates (27. 27%), esp reported in 2 isolates (6. 06%), agg reported in 2 isolates (6. 06%), and aca, asa, and cyl B were not observed in any of the isolates. Enterococci and coliforms are considered two essential health indicators. Considering that the high presence of enterococci in food can be a reason for fecal contamination, the results of this study indicate the high contamination of burgers offered in Shahrekord city.

Background: Improper prescription of vancomycin is one of the -reasons for emerging resistance of enterococci to this antibiotic. Therefore, such resistance can be reduced if other effective antibiotics such as gentamicin in combination with ampicillin are used against the susceptible strains. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible synergistic effect of these antibiotics against isolates of Enterococcus Faecalis that show low level of resistance to gentamicin (MIC<16 mg/ml).Material and Methods: 97 isolates of E. Faecalis (MIC<500) were selected. The synergy test was performed between ampicillin at 1/4 % and 1/2 MIC for each strain and gentamicin at 2 and 4 mg/ml.Results: Synergyreslilts showed that gentamicin 4mg/ml was more effective than 2 mg/ml. The most effective concentration of apicillin in synergy experiment was 1/2, of MIC for every strain. The strongest synergy activity was detected among the antibiotic treated cells after a6- hour treatment. Conclusions: The growths of more than 70% of low level gentaniicin resistant (MIC<16 mg/ml) isolates E. Faecalis were inhibited in combined antibiotics consisting of 4 mg/ml, of gentamicin with 1/2 MIC of -ampicillin of each strain. Based on the results it appears that low level gentamicin resistant isolates -are susceptible to, combination therapy with gentamiein and ampicillin, thus they may be a good altemative regimen for vancomyc in and gentamicin.