Viral infections are detected in most cases by the host innate immune system through pattern-recognition receptors (PRR), the sensors for pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which induce the production of cytokines, such as type I interferons (IFN). Recent identification in mammalian and teleost fish of cytoplasmic viral RNA sensors, RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), and their mitochondr...

Scorpions sometimes capture and crush prey with their pedipalps and do not use their sting t o inject venom . Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that sting use is selective, resulting in conservation of venom . Sting use in relation to prey size and activity was studied in two African scorpions, Parabuthus liosoma and P. pallidus . Restrictive use of the sting was observed in bot...

Extensive research on antiviral small molecules starting in the early 1970s has led to the identification of 10-carboxymethyl-9-acridanone (CMA) as a potent type I interferon (IFN) inducer. Up to date, the mode of action of this antiviral molecule has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate that CMA mediates a cell-intrinsic type I IFN response, depending on the ER-resident protein STING. CMA dir...

The production of cytokines by the immune system in response to cytosolic DNA plays an important role in host defense, autoimmune disease, and cancer immunogenicity. Recently a cytosolic DNA signaling pathway that is dependent on the endoplasmic reticulum adaptor and cyclic dinucleotide sensor protein STING has been identified. Association of cytosolic DNA with cyclic-GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) ac...

Modulating target proteins via the ubiquitin-proteasome system has recently expanded scope of pharmacological inventions. Stimulator interferon genes (STING) is an auspicious for immunotherapy. Seminal studies envisioned importance STING as well utility its agonists in immunotherapy outcomes. Herein, we suggest UPPRIS (upregulation by protein-protein interaction strategy) to pharmacologically i...

Microbial nucleic acids are critical for the induction of innate immune responses, a host defense mechanism against infection by microbes. Recent studies have indicated that double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) induces potent innate immune responses via the induction of type I IFN (IFN) and IFN-inducible genes. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying dsDNA-triggered signaling are not fully underst...

dear editor:   sir, the recent published case report on corneal bee sting by sedaghat et al is very interesting.1 sedaghat et al concluded that “bee sting can lead to serious visual impairment despite adequate medical and surgical approaches.1” indeed, the arthropod sting on cornea is usually serious and difficult-to-manage case. based on the experience on another similar situation, corneal was...

Both type I interferon (IFN-I) and CD40 play a significant role in various infectious diseases, including malaria and autoimmune disorders. CD40 is mostly known to function in adaptive immunity, but previous observations of elevated CD40 levels early after malaria infection of mice led us to investigate its roles in innate IFN-I responses and disease control. Using a Plasmodium yoelii nigeriens...

Background: Hemiscorpius lepturus envenomation is one of the most important medical issues in tropical regions of Iran, especially Khuzestan Province. Due to lack of reliable data about scorpion sting in Khuzestan Province, this investigation was performed to study the clinical presentation, prognosis factors, complications and mortality rates of Hemiscorpius lepturus sting. Methods: this study...

backgrounds and aims : in the tropical regions of iran, scorpion stings are one of the most important medical and health problems. knowing about their epidemiologic aspects might lead to the employment of appropriate preventive methods. therefore, these studies were done in qom province for this purpose. materials and methods : this research is a descriptive cross-sectional study which has been...