Papers by Pouria Abolfazli
Microplastics (MPs) have aroused a global health concern and their coexistence with antibiotics i... more Microplastics (MPs) have aroused a global health concern and their coexistence with antibiotics is inevitable. However, how MPs would affect the bioaccumulation and risks of antibiotics in humans remains poorly understood. In this study, we reviewed several articles that examined the abundance and expression changes of ARGs in various environments. These changes were observed upon exposure to antibiotics such
as tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and macrolides, as well as MPs, or a combination of both. To assess the impact of MPs on ARG abundance, we compiled data from various studies using tables of ARG abundances in tissues or environmental samples. By synthesizing this information, we aimed to identify which ARGs were upregulated or downregulated in response to micronanoplastics and antibiotics. Our findings provide
insights into the potential risks posed by environmental pollutants and underscore the importance of understanding the dynamics of ARGs in response to MPs. We identified that shifts in gut microbiota contributed to the changes in ARG profiles. Combined, our results demonstrate that MPs reduced the bioaccumulation of tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and macrolides, but they enhanced its effects on gut microbiota and the antibiotic resistome indicating they might have high risks to humans.
Academia Biology, Oct 28, 2024
Demyelinating diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder... more Demyelinating diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), are characterized by dysregulated immune responses to self-antigens, leading to myelin loss. Genetic predisposition and environmental factors, such as alterations in the gut microbiome, influence these conditions. We have examined studies on gut microbiome in patients and animal models and reviewed the existing literature on this topic. Germ-free mice showed a reduced susceptibility to demyelinating disorders, highlighting the crucial role of gut bacteria in disease development. Gut dysbiosis promotes the generation of proinflammatory Th17 cells, contributing to blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption and central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity. In MS, an increased presence of Th17 cells correlates with disease severity, accompanied by elevated levels of Streptococcus and a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Moreover, dysbiosis in MS involves more pathogenic bacteria and fewer beneficial taxa, further influencing disease progression. Similarly, NMOSD exhibits gut microbiota alterations linked to disease severity, with Streptococcus and Clostridium perfringens being significant contributors, suggesting a gut–CNS interaction in pathogenesis. Prebiotic and probiotic interventions can modify gut microbiota, reduce inflammatory markers, and improve patient outcomes, indicating the therapeutic potential of targeting gut microbiota in managing MS. In conclusion, gut microbiome serves as a primary risk factor in developing demyelinating diseases by producing toxins and metabolites that facilitate communication between the gut and brain. Understanding these relationships provides potential therapeutic approaches targeting gut microbiota to more effectively manage and alleviate demyelinating diseases.
Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has devastatingly i... more The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has devastatingly impacted people's lives. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is fatal comorbidity of COVID-19 seen with potential risk factors to develop severe symptoms. This research focuses on determining and elucidating the molecular factors and connections that might contribute to the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in NAFLD patients. Here, we comprehensively inspected the genes involved in NAFLD and SARS-CoV-2 entry factors (SCEFs) found by searching through the DisGeNet database and literature review, respectively. Further, we identified the SCEFs-related proteins through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, MCODE, and Cytohubba. Next, the shared genes involved in NAFLD and SARS-CoV-2 entry, and hub gene were determined, followed by the GO and KEGG pathways analysis. X2K database was used to construct the upstream regulatory network of hub genes, as well as to identify the top ten candidates of transcription factors (TFs) and protein kinases (PKs). PPI analysis identified connections between 4 top SCEFs, including ACE, ADAM17, DPP4, and TMPRSS2 and NAFLD-related genes such as ACE, DPP4, IL-10, TNF, and AKT1. GO and KEGG analysis revealed the top ten biological processes and pathways, including cytokine-mediated signaling, PI3K-Akt, AMPK, and mTOR signaling pathways. The upstream regulatory network revealed that AKT1 and MAPK14 as important PKs and HIF1A and SP1 as important TFs associated with AKT1, IL-10, and TNF. The molecular connections identified between COVID-19 and NAFLD may shed light on discovering the causes of the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infected NAFLD patients.
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Papers by Pouria Abolfazli
as tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and macrolides, as well as MPs, or a combination of both. To assess the impact of MPs on ARG abundance, we compiled data from various studies using tables of ARG abundances in tissues or environmental samples. By synthesizing this information, we aimed to identify which ARGs were upregulated or downregulated in response to micronanoplastics and antibiotics. Our findings provide
insights into the potential risks posed by environmental pollutants and underscore the importance of understanding the dynamics of ARGs in response to MPs. We identified that shifts in gut microbiota contributed to the changes in ARG profiles. Combined, our results demonstrate that MPs reduced the bioaccumulation of tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and macrolides, but they enhanced its effects on gut microbiota and the antibiotic resistome indicating they might have high risks to humans.
as tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and macrolides, as well as MPs, or a combination of both. To assess the impact of MPs on ARG abundance, we compiled data from various studies using tables of ARG abundances in tissues or environmental samples. By synthesizing this information, we aimed to identify which ARGs were upregulated or downregulated in response to micronanoplastics and antibiotics. Our findings provide
insights into the potential risks posed by environmental pollutants and underscore the importance of understanding the dynamics of ARGs in response to MPs. We identified that shifts in gut microbiota contributed to the changes in ARG profiles. Combined, our results demonstrate that MPs reduced the bioaccumulation of tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and macrolides, but they enhanced its effects on gut microbiota and the antibiotic resistome indicating they might have high risks to humans.