MOSP - Macao Scientific Publishers

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Penicillium verruculosum RS7PF: A root fungal endophyte associated with an ethno-medicinal plant of the indigenous tribes of Eastern India

R. K. Bhagobaty, S. R. Joshi* and R. Kumar

Abstract: Potentilla fulgens L., an ethno-medicinal plant of the ethnic tribes of Meghalaya in the Eastern Himalayan range of India was screened for root fungal endophytes. This plant is distributed in the wild habitats and in the traditionally preserved ‘Sacred Groves’ of Meghalaya in Eastern India, which is of late getting over-exploited for its medicinal value. Isolation of endophytes in water agar plates yielded a unique fungus that had similar morphological characteristics with the members of the genus Talaromyces. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies of the fungus revealed its surface morphological features, close association and extensive colonization of plant root tissues. Molecular characterization using fungal specific 18S rRNA primers showed that the fungus shared a 98% homology with Penicillium verruculosum (Genbank accession number AF510496). The isolate investigated is likely to be a novel endophytic strain of P. verruculosum which has evolved a very close symbiotic association with the host plant roots. The fungal endophyte characterized is being explored as an early colonizer in the establishment of seedlings and successful micropropagation of the plant.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Potentilla fulgens L., ethnic tribes, Sacred Grove, fungal endophyte, molecular characterization, Penicillium verruculosum.

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Antibiotic sensitivity of human genital mycoplasmas

Jafar Khan*, Robeena Farzand and Pir Bux Ghumro

Abstract: The therapeutic failure of antimycoplasma drugs, subject to resistance is vital for specific microbiological investigation to overcome urogenital diseases among women. The susceptibility of 5 Mycoplasma hominis strains and 11 strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum were studied against six antibiotics namely: minocycline, lincomycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline and rosaramicin. Both M. hominis and Ureaplasmas strains were highly resistant to tetracycline. It was observed that both rosaramicin and minocycline were active growth inhibitors for Ureaplasmas. However, erythromycin and lincomycin showed differential growth inhibitory patterns for M. hominis and Ureaplasma strains. In comparison, the minocycline and doxycycline exhibited similar antibiotic activity against Ureaplasma and M. hominis. The in vitro antibiotic sensitivity analysis for rosaramicin and erythromycin was also noted to be at the same level for all the isolates.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, antibiotic sensitivity, drug resistance.

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Determination of microbiological characteristics of Turkish Karin Kaymagi cheeses packaged in different materials

Salih Özdemir, Filiz Yangılar* and Cihat Ozdemir

Abstract: The aim of this study is to transport to dairy plants the making technique of Karin Kaymagi cheese and to make them hygienic cheese. Also, the effects of different packaging materials (artificial case, barrel and tripe) on microorganism counts in the cheese samples were determined. In this research, four different Karin Kaymagi cheese samples were prepared from white cheese, civil cheese, whey cheese, pasteurized cream and concentrated yoghurt mixes. These mixes were put in three different packaging materials (artificial case, barrel and tripe) and ripened at 12°C for 2, 15, 30 and 60 days. The means of total aerobic mesophilic (TAMB), lactic acid (LAB), coliforms, proteolytic, lipolytic, psychrotrophic, spore forming bacteria and yeast-moulds in the cheese samples were determined as 7.08, 6.11, 1.18, 5.13, 4.82, 5.30, 1.30 and 4.83 log cfu/g, respectively. As the LAB counts and the yeast-mould counts of samples increased, the coliform group bacteria counts decreased during ripening periods. The yeast-moulds counts of cheese samples packaged in barrel were lower than that of tripe and artificial case.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Karin Kaymagi cheese, microbiological characteristics, packaging materials.

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Preliminary studies on Piliostigma thonningii Schum leaf extract: Phytochemical screening and in vitro antimalarial activity

A. Kwaji, P. U. Bassi, M. Aoill, C. M. Nneji and G. Ademowo

Abstract: Different parts of Piliostigma thonningii Scum (Caesalpinioideae) have been used medicinally. The roots and twigs have been used locally in the treatment of dysentery, fever, respiratory ailments, snake bites, hookworm and skin infections in Eastern Nigeria. The leaf extracts has been used for various ethnomedicinal purposes including the treatment of malaria all over Eastern Nigeria. In this study, we have investigated the inhibitory effects of the crude ethanol and methanol extracts for in vitro antimalarial activity against chloroquine resistant Plamodium Falciparum clone (W2-Indo-China isolates). The aqueous screening using reported methodologies for phytochemical screening and in vitro test methods, revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponnins, steroid, terponoids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and anthroquinoes. The crude leaf extracts obtained were tested for in vitro antimalarial activity using chloroquine resistant strain of P. Falciparum clone (W2 – Indochina isolates) . The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were evaluated after 48 - 72 h contacts between the extracts and the parasite culture. The 50% inhibitory concentration values for both the crude amide ethanolic extract and the partially purified methanolic extract ranged between 6.20 - 15.06 µg/ml. While that of chloroquine was 0.316 µg/ml. This study suggested that P. thonningii leaf extract possess a significant level of antimalarial activity.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Pilostigma thonningii leaf, phytochemical screening, antimalarial activity.

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The potential influence of high cholesterol diet-induced oxidative stress on composition and properties of red blood cells in rabbits

Mohamed Anwar K. Abdelhalim

Abstract: Atherosclerosis and heart diseases are major causes of morbidity and mortality in adults in industrialized nations. The aim of this study was to assess the potential influence of high-cholesterol diet-induced oxidative stress on composition and properties of red blood cells (RBCs) in rabbits. Thus, percentage of hematocrit, RBCs, white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets counts, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoprotein (HDL), Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) serum level, antioxidant enzymes activity (Superoxide dismutase: SOD; Glutathione peroxidase: GPx), hemoglobin (Hb) and Hb derivatives (oxyhemoglobin: HbO2; carboxyhemoglobin: HbCO; sulfohemoglobin: SHb; met-hemoglobin: Met-Hb) were measured in control and high fat diet (HFD) rabbits. We found that the TC, LDL, TG and HDL (mg/dl) were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in Hb (g/dl), percentage of hematocrit and RBCs count was observed in HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits while a significant increase in platelet and WBCs counts was observed. The TBARS was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits while antioxidant enzymes SOD and GPx activity were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased. A significant increase in percentage of Met-Hb, HbCO and SHb was observed in HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits while a significant decrease in percentage of HbO2 was observed. This study shows that hypercholesterolemia affects the level of Hb and Hb derivatives which causes anemia and may produce reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and other free radicals increasing TBARS and decreasing SOD and GPx enzymes activities. Hypercholesterolemia may promote the conversion of HbO 2 and the fraction of unstable Hb molecules to Met-Hb, SHb and HbCO. Furthermore, increased platelet and WBCs count in HFD rabbits may be of pathophysiological importance for the progression of atherosclerosis and thromboembolic complications. This study suggests that hypercholesterolemia may produce free radicals which promote oxidation of Hb and reduce its concentration and conversion of HbO 2 to Met-Hb and the fractions of unstable Hb molecules to Met-Hb, SHb and HbCO. Furthermore, an imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant enzymes activities may lead to oxidative stress.[...] Read More.

Keywords: High cholesterol diet, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzyme activates, red blood cells, atherosclerosis.

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Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates in a teaching hospital, Shantou, Chin

Qing Peng, Bing Hou, Shuqin Zhou, Yuanchun Huang, Dexing Hua, Fen Yao and Yuan shu Qian*

Abstract: Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection has now become a major public health concern. The aim of this study is to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern and prevalence of different staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types among the MRSA isolates from a teaching hospital in Shantou, China. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of seventeen antimicrobial agents against MRSA isolates were determined using the micro broth dilution method. SCCmec types were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) strategy. The results show that all MRSA isolates were resistant to ampicillin, oxacillin, gentamycin, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. Fewer than 6% of isolates were resistant to doxycycline, but more than 90% were resistant to cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, cefepime, sparfloxacin and tetracycline. There was no minocycline, chloramphenicol or vancomycin resistant. S. aureus was found in this study. SCCmec type III and IIIA were predominant in our study. Our data highlighted that multidrug-resistant strains of MRSA caused severe problems in Shantou, China. However, some of the old agents, such as minocycline, doxycycline and chloramphenicol are highly effective against MRSA isolates.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), antimicrobial agent resistance.

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Phenotypic and molecular characterization of SHV, TEM, CTX- M and extended-spectrum -lactamase produced by Escherichia coli, Acinobacter baumannii and Klebsiella isolates in a Turkish hospital

Elif Burcu Bali, Leyla Açık* and Nedim Sultan

Abstract: A total of 94 clinical isolates were collected from Gazi University Hospital, Turkey. Presence of ESBL positivity was detected using the double disk synergy test (DDST). ESBL isolates were further typed for the blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M and blaOXA using designed primers. ESBLs were found in 65 (69.14%) isolates using DDST. Plasmid DNAs of potentially ESBL positive strains were isolated. About 7.69% of the ESBL positive isolates did not harbour plasmid DNA. According to the PCR technique, only 2 additional isolates were found to be ESBL producers. blaTEM was the commonest genotype (73.43%), followed by blaSHV (21.87%) and blaCTX-M (17.18%), either alone or in combination. ESBL positive strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are increasingly found in hospital isolates. Because these strains become resistant to available antibiotics and they can pass the gene to other clinical strains, the quick detection of these strains in clinical laboratories is very important.[...] Read More.

Keywords: ESBL, double disk synergy test, plasmid, PCR.

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The validity of the diagnostic methods in predicting pulmonary tuberculosis

Sulhattin Arslan*, Levent Özdemir, Yeltekin Demirel and Ibrahim Akkurt

Abstract: In our study, we aimed to determine the validity of diagnostic methods for tuberculosis. Eighty-one people suspected to have tuberculosis were included in the study. The validity of the applied methods for the diagnosis of tuberculosis tuberculin skin test (TST), sputum smear, and used in diagnostic chest X-ray findings (CXR), clinical features and history were evaluated as culture was considered the reference test. Included in the study of 81 people (54 males 27 females) mean age was determined as 45.04 ± 18.69. The most sensitive diagnostic methods were detected as clinical and sputum smears (89 and 86%). The sensitivity of PPD and Radiology have been identified as 0.74 and 0.73 respectively. Diagnostic method with the highest specificity value was found to be radiology. The positive predictive values of PPD, radiology, clinical and sputum smear were identified as 98, 94, 96 and 92%, respectively. PPD had the lowest negative predictive value with 26%. In our study, the validity of the diagnostic methods for the tuberculosis are compatible with the literature. These methods in the diagnosis of tuberculosis are still valid. We think our study may add to the current data in the literature about the topic.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Validity, specificity, sensitivity, PPD, TST, sputum smear, culture, tuberculosis, clinical features.

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Efficiency of filtration technique for isolation of leptospires from surface waters: Role of different membranes with different pore size and materials

Hami Kaboosi*, Mohammad Reza Razavi, and Ashraf al Sadat Noohi

Abstract: The objective of this research focused on evaluation of membrane filters application for isolation of Leptospira from surface water samples. The filter materials evaluated included nitrocellulose (0.22 and 0.45 µm pore diameters), polyvinylidene fluoride (Durapore 0.22 and 0.40 m pore diameters), nylon mesh (37 m), and glass fiber (1.0 µm). Millipore polyvinylidene fluoride filter (0.22 m) was examined by scanning electron microscopy to verify that leptospires were present following filtration. Our results suggest for isolate nearly 100% of Leptospira from water samples, the optimal pore diameter should be less than 0.45 µm (a standard pore size used to detect indicator microorganisms in 100 ml of water). Although filtration method can be used to isolation leptospires from surface water samples, it is unclear whether this is a useful method for detection of all leptospires exist within surface water samples. Accordingly, a large proportion of leptospires can be retained by membrane filter with a pore diameter commonly used to isolate leptospires from surface water samples (0.45 µm pore size).[...] Read More.

Keywords: Leptospira, filtration technique, leptospirosis.

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Antibacterial activity and mechanism of recombinant human-defensin 5 against clinical antibiotic-resistant strains

A. P. Wang, Y. P. Su, S. Wang, M. Q. Shen, F. Chen, M. Chen, X. Z. Ran, T. M. Chen and J. P. Wang*

Abstract: The increasing clinical bacterial strains resistant to conventional antibiotics have being a great challenge to the public’s health. As a novel kind of antimicrobial agent, defensins are undoubtedly worthy of exploitation for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To evaluate the antibacterial potency of recombinant mature human -defensin 5 (rmHD5) against clinical pathogenic strains, we examined its antibacterial kinetics and bactericidal efficacy on forty-nine bacterial strains (belonging to eleven species) with different antibiotic-resistant phenotypes, isolated from digestive and urogenital tracts of the inpatient. Meanwhile, the action mechanism of rmHD5 was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy observation and membrane permeability detection. The peptide of rmHD5 was found to possess high potency against all the tested isolates at concentrations of 6 - 12 g/ml for gram-negative (G-) bacteria and 28 - 32 g/ml for gram-positive (G+) bacteria. G- bacteria were more susceptible to the peptide than G+ bacteria. Abnormal morphological changes and increased permeabilization of the cytomembrane were observed in both G - bacteria and G+ bacteria treated with rmHD5. The antibacterial activity of rmHD5 may be tightly associated with the biomembrane permeabilization. Recombinant mHD5 is a promising candidate to be developed into therapeutic agents for bacterial infections.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity, mechanism, antibiotics resistant strain, human alpha defensin 5.

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