https://igj.tums.ac.ir/index.php/igj/issue/feedImmunology and Genetics Journal2025-10-14T12:02:18+0330Nima Rezaeiigj.journal@gmail.comOpen Journal Systems<p><strong>Immunology and Genetics Journal </strong>is the official journal of the<strong><a href="http://rcid.tums.ac.ir/"> Research Center For Immunodeficiencies</a>, Tehran University of Medical Sciences</strong>. The journal is a Quarterly peer-reviewed, Open Access journal, publishing high quality scientific (basic and translational) and clinical-epidemiological papers on a wide range of pediatric and adult genetics and immunological topics, including Clinical Genetics, Clinical Immunology, Infection and Immunity, Autoimmunity, Immunobiology, Immunogenetics, Immunohematology, Immunopathology, Transplantation, and Cancer immunology.</p> <p>The Journal is scientifically supported by <a href="https://usern.tums.ac.ir/">Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN)</a>, and the following centers, associations, groups, and networks:</p> <ul> <li class="show"><a href="https://usern.tums.ac.ir/Group/Info/PIDNet">Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Network (PIDNet)</a></li> <li class="show"><a href="https://usern.tums.ac.ir/Group/Info/NIIMA">Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA)</a></li> <li class="show"><a href="https://usern.tums.ac.ir/Group/Info/CIP">Cancer Immunology Project (CIP)</a></li> <li class="show"><a href="https://usern.tums.ac.ir/Group/Info/Immuno_TACT">Immunology Board for Transplantation And Cell-based Therapeutics (ImmunoTACT)</a></li> <li class="show"><a href="https://usern.tums.ac.ir/Group/Info/SRMEG">Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Expert Group (SRMEG)</a></li> </ul> <p> </p>https://igj.tums.ac.ir/index.php/igj/article/view/219Safeguarding Public Health in Conflict Zones: A Global Responsibility2025-10-14T11:52:05+0330Reza Yazdanireza_yazdani86@yahoo.com<p>.</p>2025-10-14T11:52:04+0330##submission.copyrightStatement##https://igj.tums.ac.ir/index.php/igj/article/view/210Unraveling the M1R Protein of Monkeypox Virus: An Integrated Structural Bioinformatics, Immunological Profiling, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approach2025-07-26T02:28:04+0430Cena Aramsinaaram00@gmail.comKiarash SalekiKiarash_Saleki@icloud.comAmirreza Mazloomiamirrezamazloomii@gmail.comMaryam Barancheshmehbarancheshme.maryam@gmail.comNima Rezaeirezaei_nima@yahoo.com<p class="s17"><strong><span class="s5">Background: </span></strong><span class="s5">Monkeypox virus (MPXV) </span><span class="s5">is a</span><span class="s5"> zoonotic pathogen </span><span class="s5">that influences</span><span class="s5"> humans </span><span class="s5">as well as</span><span class="s5"> animals</span><span class="s5">pos</span><span class="s5">ing</span><span class="s5"> a significant public health concern due to its emergence and circulation. </span><span class="s5">T</span><span class="s5">he structural dynamics and features of </span><span class="s5">several</span><span class="s5"> MPXV proteins, including M1R, </span><span class="s5">have not been completely studied</span><span class="s5">. </span></p> <p class="s17"><span class="s5"><strong>Methods:</strong> This </span><span class="s5">experiment</span><span class="s5"> focuses on the prediction and analysis of the secondary and tertiary constructs for</span><span class="s5"> the M1R protein</span><span class="s5">.</span> <span class="s5">Briefly, its</span><span class="s5"> amino acid sequence </span><span class="s5">was collected</span><span class="s5"> from the </span><span class="s5">UniProt</span><span class="s5"> database. </span><span class="s5">A wide range of</span><span class="s5"> in silico approaches were employed, including </span><span class="s5">ProtParam</span><span class="s5">, SOPMA, PSIPRED, CD Search, </span><span class="s5">GalaxyTMB</span><span class="s5">, Robetta, I-TASSER, and GROMACS, </span><span class="s5">in order </span><span class="s5">to</span><span class="s5"> explore the physicochemical properties, structural features, and functional insights of the M1R protein. The tertiary structure models </span><span class="s5">were </span><span class="s5">evaluated</span><span class="s5"> to </span><span class="s5">detect</span><span class="s5"> the most reliable </span><span class="s5">solution</span><span class="s5">, which </span><span class="s5">was then used for</span><span class="s5"> </span><span class="s5">I</span><span class="s5">mmunoinformatics analys</span><span class="s5">es such as </span><span class="s5">MHC I/II and B-cell epitope prediction using the IEDB and </span><span class="s5">Ellipro</span><span class="s5"> tools, respectively. </span><span class="s5">E</span><span class="s5">pitopes </span><span class="s5">from the M1R protein </span><span class="s5">were </span><span class="s5">evaluated</span><span class="s5"> based on antigenicity, affinity</span><span class="s5"> of binding</span><span class="s5">,</span><span class="s5"> along </span><span class="s5">solubility. </span><span class="s5">Furthermore</span><span class="s5">, active sites </span><span class="s5">were </span><span class="s5">forecast</span> <span class="s5">by the</span> <span class="s5">CASTp</span><span class="s5"> v3.0</span><span class="s5"> tool</span><span class="s5">.</span> </p> <p class="s17"><strong>Results: </strong><span class="s5">P</span><span class="s5">hysicochemical </span><span class="s5">calculations</span> <span class="s5">indicate</span><span class="s5"> that M1R </span><span class="s5">had favorable thermostability</span><span class="s5"> and hydrophilic </span><span class="s5">features</span><span class="s5">. Structural </span><span class="s5">analyses</span> <span class="s5">suggested</span><span class="s5"> that M1R is a lipid membrane protein </span><span class="s5">component of</span><span class="s5"> DNA viruses, </span><span class="s5">suggesting</span><span class="s5"> it </span><span class="s5">as</span><span class="s5"> a</span> <span class="s5">robust</span> <span class="s5">antigenic target. </span><span class="s5">Immun</span><span class="s5">ogenicity analyses indicated</span> <span class="s5">it as a potentially</span> <span class="s5">suitable target</span><span class="s5"> for</span><span class="s5"> immunogenic protein design</span><span class="s5">. </span><span class="s5">As well</span><span class="s5">, molecular dynamics simulations (MDS)</span> <span class="s5">were </span><span class="s5">carried</span><span class="s5"> out</span><span class="s5"> for 100-ns</span><span class="s5"> using an all-atom forcefield</span><span class="s5">. </span><span class="s5">Analysis</span><span class="s5"> of </span><span class="s5">various molecular dynamics parameters of</span> <span class="s5">M1R throughout the </span><span class="s5">MDS trajectory,</span> <span class="s5">including</span><span class="s5"> RMSD, RMSF, </span><span class="s5">radius of gyration (</span><span class="s5">Rg</span><span class="s5">)</span><span class="s5">, and </span><span class="s5">solvent accessible surface area (</span><span class="s5">SASA</span><span class="s5">),</span> <span class="s5">indicated</span> <span class="s5">good</span><span class="s5"> stability of the M1R </span><span class="s5">and </span><span class="s5">unveiled</span><span class="s5"> imp</span><span class="s5">o</span><span class="s5">rtant </span><span class="s5">molecular dynamics </span><span class="s5">characteristics such as </span><span class="s5">the </span><span class="s5">flexibility of </span><span class="s5">certain</span><span class="s5"> protein regions</span><span class="s5">. </span></p> <p class="s17"><span class="s5"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> </span><span class="s5">Multiple</span><span class="s5"> epitopes </span><span class="s5">were detected in</span><span class="s5"> </span><span class="s5">our</span> <span class="s5">experiment</span><span class="s5">,</span><span class="s5"> with</span> <span class="s5">12 B-cell epitopes </span><span class="s5">identified </span><span class="s5">using</span><span class="s5"> the Robetta model and 6 B-cell epitopes </span><span class="s5">predicted</span> <span class="s5">by</span><span class="s5"> the Galaxy model, alongside 3 MHC-I and 3 MHC-II epitopes, </span><span class="s5">which </span><span class="s5">scored favorably. </span><span class="s5">Results</span> <span class="s5">of the present </span><span class="s5">computational analysis</span> <span class="s5">provide clues to unleash</span> <span class="s5">the </span><span class="s5">potential</span><span class="s5"> of M1R as a</span><span class="s5">n</span> <span class="s5">immunotherapy</span><span class="s5"> target </span><span class="s5">for the development of antiviral </span><span class="s5">solutions against MPXV</span><span class="s5"> in the future.</span></p>2025-07-20T13:15:30+0430##submission.copyrightStatement##https://igj.tums.ac.ir/index.php/igj/article/view/217Hematological Parameters in Patients with Allergic Rhinosinusitis Combined with Chronic Allergic Otitis Media2025-09-04T15:13:31+0430Ashur Qosimzodarezaei_nima@yahoo.comMakhsum BustonovBustonov@gmail.comSayfullo RakhmonovRakhmonovi@gmail.comZohid ShermatovShermatovi@gmail.comBobur BustonovBustonovi@gmail.com<p><strong>Background</strong>: Allergic rhinosinusitis (ARS) and chronic allergic otitis media are common manifestations of upper airway allergic inflammation. Despite advances in understanding the immunopathogenesis of these conditions, hematological markers reflecting systemic immune activation remain underexplored, particularly in combined presentations. To evaluate hematological parameters, with emphasis on leukocyte subpopulations and the eosinophil-lymphocytic index, in patients with allergic rhinosinusitis combined with chronic allergic otitis media compared to non-allergic chronic otitis media.</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong>: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 patient records from the otorhinolaryngology department of the National Medical Center “Shifobakhsh”, Republic of Tatarstan. Group I (n=30) included patients with allergic rhinosinusitis and chronic allergic otitis media; Group II (n=30), serving as controls, had chronic otitis media without allergic manifestations. Complete blood count (CBC) with differential was analyzed, and the eosinophil-lymphocytic index was calculated. Data were compared using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>: Patients with allergic rhinosinusitis and chronic allergic otitis media showed a relative increase in eosinophils and higher incidence of peripheral eosinophilia. Relative lymphocytosis was observed in 40% of Group I versus 16.7% in controls. The ELI was elevated in 43.3% of allergic patients. Leukocytosis was present in 16.7% of Group I and 40% of Group II. Absolute lymphocyte count was significantly lower in Group I. Correlation analysis revealed stable, strong relationships between segmented neutrophils and eosinophils, as well as neutrophils and monocytes, suggesting shared immunological pathways.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Hematological changes, particularly eosinophilia and elevated eosinophil-lymphocytic index, serve as indirect markers of systemic allergic sensitization in patients with combined Allergic rhinosinusitis and chronic allergic otitis media. While not diagnostic alone, these parameters may support clinical suspicion and reduce reliance on extensive allergological testing in resource-limited settings.</p>2025-09-04T15:13:31+0430##submission.copyrightStatement##https://igj.tums.ac.ir/index.php/igj/article/view/209Design of a Trivalent DC-inducing mRNA Vaccine Against Monkeypox, Cowpox, and Vaccinia Viruses: A computational approach2025-10-11T14:19:35+0330Cena Aramsinaaram00@gmail.comKiarash SalekiKiarash_Saleki@icloud.comAmirreza Mazloomiamirrezamazloomii@gmail.comNima Rezaeirezaei_nima@tums.ac.ir<p>Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a novel virus that has been disseminated around the globe and caused human disease. Over 86 thousand infection cases have been reported, which has concerned the World Health Organization (WHO). Given the challenges faced due to the spread of MPXV, an immune-mediating therapy to prevent infection by MPXV is invaluable to aid large-scale public health practices. In this field, the mRNA vaccine could be a sufficient way to control the virus's transmissibility around worldwide study; we used immunoinformatic approaches that aided the pathway to develop the novel mRNA vaccine. In the first step, we gathered three key proteins (A35R, cell surface binding, and M1R) conserved in Cowpox as well as Vaccinia viruses for the design of vaccines and computed the potent immunogen epitopes that the engineered vaccines assemble with the fused finalized epitopes and Beta-defensin 3 adjuvant that is a major stimulation of dendritic cells (DCs), along with the PADRE and TAT sequences were added. The vaccine construct was modeled with Robetta tool and validated by PROCHECK, ERRAT, and Z-score. Physicochemical properties were also investigated and confirmed to be favorable. Disulfide engineering, immunological simulation, and molecular docking with TLR3 were performed. Finally, the construction of mRNA was designed in silico, the mRNA vaccine structure was predicted, and then the molecular dynamics simulation was performed to investigate the TLR3-vaccine complex. The eighteen final epitopes were predicted. The engineered multi-epitope protein, entails 350 amino acids and had good structural quality, as quantified through an ERRAT value over 99%. Also, engineering of disulfide bond was performed in order to augment the construct stability of the MPXV vaccine. The Ramachandran analysis was utilized to further corroborate the favorable φ (phi) and ψ (psi) angles, with the aminoacids localized to the highly favorable or permitted regions. The design of the mRNA construct was achieved by incorporating the 5’UTR, start codon, signal peptide, open reading frames, stop codon,3’UTR, and polyA. In addition, the immune simulation showed sustained immune response. Also, the molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) and energy analyses suggested that the vaccine-TLR3 complex binding was stable. An mRNA vaccine was designed to provoke a robust immune response against MPXV while offering immunoprotection against Cowpox and Vaccinia. The present work analyzed the structure of a novel multi-epitope vaccine, which indicated it could be an effective option against MPXV infection. Future study is recommended to confirm the immunomodulatory role of the designed MPXV vaccine.</p>2025-10-11T14:19:34+0330##submission.copyrightStatement##https://igj.tums.ac.ir/index.php/igj/article/view/220Clinical and Immunological Correlates of Skin Prick Test Reactivity and Anaphylaxis During Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy in Children with Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis2025-10-14T12:02:18+0330Pardis ShirkaniShirkanii@gmail.comShima KhodadadiKhodadadi@gmail.comSudabeh MohammadiMohammadii@gmail.comAfshin Shirkania.shirkani@bpums.ac.ir<p><strong>Background</strong>:<br> Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis and asthma, aiming to induce immune tolerance through repeated exposure to allergens. Although skin prick testing (SPT) is commonly used to identify sensitized individuals, its predictive value for systemic reactions during AIT, including anaphylaxis, remains uncertain. To investigate the correlation between the diameter of the wheal in SPT and the incidence of anaphylactic shock during subcutaneous immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma.</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong>:<br> This cross-sectional observational study included 255 pediatric patients aged 3–18 years with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma who underwent SPT at an allergy clinic in 2019. Patients with a positive SPT (wheal ≥3 mm) received subcutaneous AIT using standard allergen extracts for a period of three years. All patients were monitored for 20 minutes post-injection for adverse reactions. The size of SPT wheals was compared between patients who experienced anaphylactic reactions and those who did not.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>:<br> The mean age of patients was 10.2 ± 3.7 years; 68.2% were male. Of the 255 patients, 2.4% (n=6) experienced anaphylactic shock—two of grade I and four of grade II severity. Anaphylaxis occurred only in patients with allergic rhinitis or rhinitis combined with asthma; no cases were observed in patients with asthma alone (p=0.04). The average SPT wheal sizes for common allergens, particularly <em>Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus</em>, were slightly larger in patients with anaphylaxis, but the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong>:<br> There was no significant correlation between SPT wheal size and the risk or severity of anaphylaxis during AIT. However, allergic rhinitis appeared to be more associated with systemic reactions than asthma. These findings suggest that the magnitude of local skin reactivity may not reliably predict systemic hypersensitivity outcomes during immunotherapy. Further studies with larger sample sizes and more advanced immunological profiling are recommended.</p>2025-10-14T12:02:18+0330##submission.copyrightStatement##https://igj.tums.ac.ir/index.php/igj/article/view/211Clinical relevance of high HHV-6B viral load in immunocompromised host2025-07-20T13:14:23+0430Elena Kishkurnoe-kishkurno@yandex.ruTamara Amvrosievaamvrosieva@gmail.comEvgeniy Dmitrieve-katerinka@tut.byKaterina Divakovakaterina.divakova@gmail.com<p>The peculiarity of the chromosomally integrated form of human herpesvirus type 6 (ciHHV-6) is its wide distribution (up to 1% of the population), the possibility of transmission by inheritance, the problem of diagnosis, including issues of differential diagnosis with the acute form of HHV-6 infection, which, in turn, makes it difficult to resolve the problem of the therapy necessity. In addition, activation of ciHHV-6 is possible sometimes with acute infection clinical symptoms and the need for antiviral therapy, especially in patients after bone marrow transplantation and chemotherapy. We report a 10-years-old girl after chiasmal-sellar germinoma surgery and subsequent chemotherapy with ciHHV-6B. The child was treated with ganciclovir. This did not significantly influence the reduction of the viral load HHV-6B DNA in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. No adverse effects of antiviral treatment were registered. It’s important to exclude ciHHV-6 before the diagnosis of HHV-6 active disease is made, as this screening may prevent the unnecessary use of antivirals.</p>2025-07-20T13:14:23+0430##submission.copyrightStatement##https://igj.tums.ac.ir/index.php/igj/article/view/214Hematological Complications in Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Case Report and Literature Review2025-09-03T11:16:46+0430Ali Taherialit13191@gmail.comReza Yazdanir_yazdani@sina.tums.ac.ir<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p><strong>Background:</strong> Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an inherited autoinflammatory disease caused by mutations in the <em>MEFV</em> gene. These patients typically present with lymphocytosis and thrombocytosis during periods of inflammation; however, some patients may manifest leukopenia along with other symptoms.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> Demographic data, medical history, laboratory data, and genetic findings of the cases were collected by reviewing clinical records of the patient. Whole-genome sequencing test revealed a mutation in <em>MEFV </em>gene. A systematic searched was conducted in four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PerQuest, using keywords related to blood abnormalities in FMF disease.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> A mutation in the <em>MEFV</em> gene was confirmed in a 29-year-old patient with FMF. He experienced periodic and regular decreases in the number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets during periods of inflammation. Our literature review revealed neutropenia (17.6%), lymphopenia (8.8%), thrombocytopenia (11.8%), leukopenia (61.8%), and anemia (20.6%) are the frequent most common hematologic complications. Genetic analysis in 28 patients revealed M694V as the most prevalent mutation (57.1%), followed by E148Q (21.4%), M680I (10.7%), and others.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Reporting this case and others highlights that hematological manifestations in FMF can be observed periodic and simultaneous decreases in neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelet counts can in patients with FMF. </p>2025-09-02T12:47:12+0430##submission.copyrightStatement##