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t
History
Immunology Department was established in 1986 in the Pasteur Institute of
Iran with the aim of initiating and promoting basic and applied researches
in immunology of intracellular infectious diseases particularly
leishmaniasies. During the past 15 years, this Department has
succeeded to attract a number of researchers, Ph.D. and M.Sc. students and
also succeeded to obtain a numerous international and national
research grants.
Laboratories
Immunology Department is consisting of six laboratories. These laboratories
are equipped with advanced instruments necessary for research in all fields
of Immunology:
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Cellular Immunology Lab
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In this Lab, T-cell proliferation assay, intra and extra cellular cytokine
analysis, assessment of cell surface markers including CD4+
T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, CD4+CD25+ T-cells
(regulatory cells) and apoptosis are performed using flow cytometery.
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Immuno-chemistry
Lab
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This
Lab equipped all the most techniques including immuno-fluorescence
microscopy, ELISA assay, SDS-PAGE, iso-eletrofocussing (IEF), immunoblotting
and affinity chromatography.
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Immunogenetic
Lab
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This
Lab was initiated to study the immunogenetics of infectious diseases. HLA-typing
including classical (cell cytotoxicity based) and molecular (PCR based) is
routinely performed. Recently, a technique for study the polymorphism in
cytokine genes has been established in this Lab.
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Hybridoma
Lab
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In this
lab, the efforts are focused on producing new and effective monoclonal
antibodies for diagnostic and research purposes. Cell culture and cell
fusion and hybridoma technologies have been established in this lab for
preparation of specific monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic and research
purposes.
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Leishmania
Vaccine and Antigen Research Lab
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This lab was initially
established in 1987 for preparation and evaluation of skin test antigen from
the killed Leishmania major. Projects were designed and sponsored by Tropical Diseases Research (TDR) of the WHO for preparation of
antigen. The prepared reagent (called leishmanin) was evaluated in different
research centers in the world and selected by TDR for all vaccine studies
and as a reference reagent. Since approval, many research centers
all over the world are using this reagent for epidemiological studies and
vaccine trials.
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Molecular Immunobiology Lab
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In this
lab, the
expression and function of IFN-R
in patients suffering from visceral leishmaniasis are determined by
flow cytometery. The expression of alpha and beta chains of IFN-R on and phosphorylation of STAT-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
is
also being studied. Moreover, the expressing of TCR vβ chain gene is
assessed in this lab by Real-time PCR.
   
Summary of Scientific Activities During 1993-2005:
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Completed projects: 16 |
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Ongoing projects: 11 |
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Post graduated students : 8 Ph.D. and 20 M.Sc. |
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Ongoing theses: 3 M.Sc. theses |
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Abstracts in international congress: more than 70 abstracts
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Publications: 62 papers |
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