MOSP - Macao Scientific Publishers

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Purification of a bacteriocin produced by ENTEROCOCCUS FAECIUM and its effectiveness for preservation of fresh-cut lettuce

Full Length Research Paper

Abstract: The bacteriocins produced by ENTEROCOCCUS species (enterocins) show considerable activity against diverse pathogens. One of these antimicrobial peptides was isolated from ENTEROCOCCUS FAECIUM E86 cultured in MRS broth for 24 h at 37°C. The antimicrobial peptide was purified by precipitation in 75% ammonium sulfate, followed by chloroform precipitation and chromatography in Dowex-50, resulting in a specific activity of 52.46 AU/ mg in a final yield of 80% and a 6-fold recovery. The enterocin was purified to homogeneity and had an apparent molecular mass of 3.5 kDa as evaluated by 18% SDS-PAGE. The purified and the partial-purified enterocin were able to inhibit the proliferation of natural microbiota of fresh-cut lettuce as well as that artificially contaminated with LISTERIA spp. After 30 min in the presence of 0.5% acetic acid, the natural microbiota proliferation was reduced by 3 log cycles, while the enterocin in its purified or partially purified form showed an inhibition of the microbiota proliferation by 1 or 2 log cycles, respectively. These results indicate that enterocin could be used as a natural antimicrobial to reduce chemical treatment in minimally processed leafy vegetables.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Bacterial enzymes, antimicrobial peptide, purification and characterization of enzymes, food safety.

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Prevalence of Î²-lactamase-producing and non-producing methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in clinical samples in Bangladesh

Full Length Research Paper

Abstract: Staphylococcus aureus has been reported to be a major cause of community and hospital acquired infections. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics resulted in the development of multi-drug resistant S. aureus throughout the world. Development of multi-drug resistant strains of S. aureus is increasingly alarming in Bangladesh. We attempted to study the current prevalence of β-lactamase-producing and non-producing methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in clinical samples and to find out the correlation of antimicrobial resistance pattern with their plasmid profiles. Twenty three clinical isolates of S. aureus were evaluated during the study period (2009). The isolates were identified by conventional methods. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was performed by disk diffusion method. Plasmid profiles were observed by agarose gel electrophoresis. In the present investigation, 43·48% isolates were ensured methicillin resistant while the remaining 56·52% isolates were found to be methicillin sensitive by disk diffusion method. β-lactamase test which was performed by acid formation method showed that 50% of the MRSA isolates produced β-lactamase. Our studies of resistance pattern to commonly prescribed antimicrobials showed that MRSA isolates were highly sensitive to vancomycin (100%), fusidic acid (90%), chloramphenicol (80%), neomycin (80%), rifampin (80%), gentamycin (70%), ceftriaxone (60%), cephalexin (60%), ciprofloxacin (60%), and cloxacillin (60%). Plasmid profiling of the selected resistant isolates of Staphylococcus revealed clear and distinct bands of plasmid DNA. These isolates showed severe resistance to amoxicillin (70%), co-trimoxazole (90%) and erythromycin (80%).[...] Read More.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), resistance, β-lactamase, Bangladesh.

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Recurrent psoas abscess due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A case report

Zohoun A.*, Ngoh Akwa E., Oragwu N., El Ghazouani M., Zrara A., Akhaddar A., Sair K. and El Ouennass M.

Abstract: Recurrent secondary psoas abscess due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a relatively rare disease. Diagnosis is often easy through appropriate investigations but the treatment may be difficult, especially in patients with severe underlying conditions. We report a case of recurrent psoas abscess due to P. aeruginosa in same focus after osteosynthesis for kyphoscoliosis. A 65 years old man suffered in post-operative course of recurrent psoas abscess due to P. aeruginosa with relapse intervals of 6 and 2 years. As patient’s condition was a contraindication to the ablation of the osteosynthesis material, we set up a regimen combining percutaneous computed tomography (CT) drainage with antibiotic therapy by ceftazidime after the second relapse. The successful therapeutic regimen established to overcome the patient’s problem is underlined. The treatment of psoas abscess involves the use of appropriate antibiotics in association with percutaneous or surgical drainage. In case of recurrence associated to surgical contraindication, ceftazidime in prolonged administration as performed in our case could be useful.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Psoas abscess, recurrence, antibiotherapy, ceftazidime.

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Urinary tract infections at a Nigerian university hospital: Causes, patterns and antimicrobial susceptibility profile

Jombo GTA*, Emanghe UE, Amefule EN and Damen JG

Abstract: Treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is becoming difficult due to the increasing trend of antibiotics resistance and this may necessitate an up to date knowledge of resistance pattern. This study was therefore set up to ascertain bacterial resistance patterns from UTIs at a University hospital. The study was retrospective in nature. Data generated from urine cultures of patients at the University of Calabar Teaching hospital for a period of five years (2004 to 2009) were compiled. Relevant information obtained were age and gender of patients, organisms recovered and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. The incidence of UTI was found to be 7.7% (565/7,348) comprising of 264 (46.7%) males and 53.3% (301) females (P>0.05); 391 (69.2%) were of community acquired (CA) while 174 (30.8%) were nosocomial (NC) in origin. Infections were significantly lower among those aged below 20 years (P[...] Read More.

Keywords: Antibiotics, infections, susceptibility, urinary tract.

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Investigation on the safety and probiotic potentials of yoghurts sold in Owerri metropolis in Imo State Nigeria

Oranusi S.*, Madu S. A., Braide W. and Oguoma O. I.

Abstract: Investigation on the microbial safety and probiotic potentials of different yoghurt brands sold in Owerri, Imo State Nigeria, was carried out using standard microbiological procedures. Ten each, of five different brands of commercially available yoghurt packaged in plastic containers were purchased from the street vendors and shopping malls in Owerri metropolis. The mean total count of samples on Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) and De Mann Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) agar media ranged from 2.0×107 to 6.0×108 and 1.0×108 to 5.4 × 108 cfu/ml respectively. The yoghurt isolates were identified as Streptococcus and Lactobacillus species; these isolates were resistant to commonly used antibiotics and inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from clinical samples. No viable growth of isolates was observed in simulated gastric fluid of pH 1.5 to 2.5. Slight decrease in viable count of Lactobacillus spp. from 4.0×107 to 3.0×107 cfu/ml and Streptococcus spp. from 3.0×108 to 2.0×108 cfu/ml was observed in bile of pH 8.28 to 8.30. The isolates were recovered from faecal samples two weeks after ingestion with mean count ranging from no growth (zero) to 5.8×108 cfu/ml on MRS agar media. The isolates were found to exhibit some probiotic potentials and no pathogen was isolated from samples. It is recommended that strains of microorganisms that can deliver full probiotic potentials to consumers be used in commercial yoghurt production.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Yoghurt, microbial safety, probiotic potential, simulated gastric fluid, bile.

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Leishmania: Probable genetic hybrids between species in Sudanese isolates

Hamad S. H., Ahmed M. Musa, Eltahir A. G. Khalil, Tamrat Abebe , Brima M. Younis, Mona E. E. Elthair, Ahmed M. EL-Hassan, Asrat Hailu and Aldert Bart*

Abstract: The horn of Africa bears the prunt of Leishmaniasis in the world where both Phlebotomus orientalis, the vector of Leishmania donovani and Phlebotomus papatasi, the vector of Leishmania major, exist. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by L. donovani is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in east Africa. The populations of east Africa are very dynamic in continuous movements between endemic areas of different leishmaniasis clinical forms. Molecular epidemiological studies have provided indirect evidence for genetic exchange between different strains of one Leishmania species. Only recently, genetic exchange between different Leishmania strains of one species was definitively demonstrated in vitro. Genetic exchange between different Leishmania species is probably an even rarer event. In this study, one hundred and seven L. donovani isolates were collected from lymph nodes/bone marrow aspirates, from patients from Sudan and Ethiopia. DNA was isolated from leishmania parasites using the High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit. PCR products were sequenced using BigDye Terminator chemistry and analyzed using the ABI 3100 or 3730 Genetic Analyzers. Sequences were analyzed using CodonCode program (CodonCode Corporation) and MEGA. Sequences were submitted to Genbank and are accessible under accession numbers HM117696-HM117699. Our data showed hybridization between two divergent Leishmania species, L. donovani and L. major, possibly due to migration. Such hybridization may have clinical implications with respect to parasite fitness, vector adaptation and response to treatment.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Leishmania donovani, Leishmania major, Leishmania infantum, Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus orientalis, Phlebotomus papatasi.

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Isolation and molecular characterization of UTI associated Serratia marcescens TW1 from urine specimens

Tariq A. L.* and John Prabakaran J.

Abstract: Among the 100 isolates, a bacterial strain TW1 was isolated from the urine tract specimens of infected women admitted at Government hospital, Namakkal District in Tamil Nadu, India, using caprylate thallious agar medium. The organism was characterized by all biochemical tests and showed similarity with Serratia marcescens. The genomic level confirmation done with 16s rDNA primer by submitting the genomic sequence to Gene Bank under ACC.No-GU046545 after comparing, showed 98% sequence similarity with S. marcescens and thus, the strain was named Serrtia marcescens TW1.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Urinary tract specimens, Serratia marcescens TW1, 16s rDNA genomic analysis.

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Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of methanol extract of Heliotropium indicum leaf

Osungunna, M. O.* and Adedeji, K. A.

Abstract: Methanol extract of the leaf of Heliotropium indicum was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity against five bacterial isolates comprising of four Gram-negative namely: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp. and Proteus mirabilis; and one Gram positive, Staphylococcus aureus at 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/ml including phytochemical analysis. While both S. aureus and Klebsiella spp. were inhibited at 50, 100 and 200 mg/ml with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3 mg/ml; P. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis with MIC of 10 mg/ml were inhibited at 100 mg/ml and 200 mg/ml. E. coli with MIC of 20 mg/ml was inhibited only at 200 mg/ml concentration of the extract. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of plant metabolites as alkaloids, saponin and tannins. While activity-directed assay is advocated, the plant promises to be of tremendous assistance in the treatment of infections with which bacterial isolates used for the study are associated.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Phytochemical, antimicrobial, Heliotropium indicum alkaloids, saponin, tannin.

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Biochemical role of nitric oxide precursor and antibiotic against typhoid

S. S. Haque

Abstract: Typhoid fever remains an underestimated important health problem in many developing countries. It continues to be a global problem with an annual estimate of 1.6 million cases and 600,000 deaths. Salmonella, gram negative bacilli can survive during certain stages of host parasites interaction. There are number of drugs being used for the treatment of typhoid, but increasing occurrence of multidrug resistant (MDR) strain of Salmonella typhi has complicated its management, that thus, it has necessitated the search of formulated drugs for its treatments. Nitric oxide (NO) is a versatile molecule produced in a biological system. Previous studies have suggested that exogenous administration of L-arginine results in increased NO production, indicating that endogenous substrate is insufficient for maximal NO production. Taking these facts in to consideration, it was thought pertinent to see the effect of oral administration of NO precursor that is, L-arginine. Formulation of nitric oxide precursor and antibiotics shows decreases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) by 54.24% and 53.91% in 1/2 LArg+1/2 Cip group as compared to bacterial treated groups.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Salmonella typhi, L-arginine, ciprofloxacin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST).

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Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and Candida species in crude milk

Ludmilla Santana de Soares e Barros*, Silvio Luiz de Oliveira Sóglia, Marília de Jesus Ferreira, Margarete de Jesus Rodrigues and Marialice Pereira Castelo Branco

Abstract: Since milk is a high nutrition food, it is extremely liable to microbiological contamination. Maximum hygiene in mechanical milking and in health practices management throughout the production process is necessary so that the quality of crude milk is guaranteed. Current research comprises the collection of milk in milk-producing farms during April, May and June 2009 so that the microbiological safety of milk produced in the municipality of Amargosa BA Brazil may be verified. Results show that crude milk samples are unsatisfactory due to the presence of 9.68 and 35.48% of clinical and sub-clinical mastitis, respectively; 12.74% of Staphylococcus aureus, 18.26% of entero-bacteria, 12.5% of Candida albicans, 7.5% of Candida krusei, 10% of Candida tropicalis and 42.5% of other types of Candida. It is mandatory that sanitary education should be provided to milk-producing farmers so that the microbiological quality of milk could be improved.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Crude milk, microbiology, entero-bacteria, fungi.

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