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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023The aim of this study was to investigate the compounds in the hexane extract of (Savi.) Ten. and to determine the antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities...
The aim of this study was to investigate the compounds in the hexane extract of (Savi.) Ten. and to determine the antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities of different extracts. The (NGBB 7229) plant was collected from Turkey's Trakya region. Crude extracts were obtained using different solvents. The chemical composition of was determined in hexane extract using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), the β-carotene bleaching method, and the determination of superoxide anion scavenging activities. The antibacterial activity was tested against , , , , , and , whereas the antifungal activity was tested against , , and by applying microdilution methods. A total of 41 bioactive compounds were identified using the GC-MS library. Terpenoids were found to be dominant (52.89%), and lup-20(29)-en-3-yl-acetate and lupeol were the most abundant terpenoids. The highest total flavonoid content (25.73 mg catechin/g) and antioxidant capacity were found in the methanolic extract. The highest antibacterial activity was detected against in the ethyl acetate extract, and the highest antifungal activity was found against and in the hexane extract. The observed antioxidant characteristics of the extracts could be attributed to the presence of flavonoids. The high antifungal activity of the hexane extract against all fungal strains can be attributed to its constituents, i.e., terpenoids. This study discloses the potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, including some bioactive components, of and implies that holds possible applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal agent.
Topics: Antioxidants; Antifungal Agents; Cirsium; Hexanes; Plant Extracts; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Flavonoids; Terpenes; Candida albicans
PubMed: 37894654
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28207177 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023A series of novel Mannich bases were designed, synthesized, and screened for their antimicrobial activity. The target compounds were synthesized from...
A series of novel Mannich bases were designed, synthesized, and screened for their antimicrobial activity. The target compounds were synthesized from 4-(3-chlorophenyl)-5-(3-fluorophenyl)-2,4-dihydro-3-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione and different piperazine derivatives. The structures of the products were confirmed by H and C NMR and elemental analysis. The activity of piperazine derivatives against bacteria (Gram-positive: , , , , and ; Gram-negative: , , , and ) and yeasts (, , and ) was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values. Significant activity was observed against Gram-positive bacteria, mainly staphylococci (-) and bacteria of the genes of and (), as well as selected strains of Gram-negative bacteria, including bacteria of the family (), while all tested compounds showed high fungistatic activity against spp. yeasts, especially , with MICs ranging from 0.49 µg/mL () to 0.98 µg/mL () and 62.5 µg/mL (). In conclusion, the results obtained confirm the multidirectional antimicrobial activity of the newly synthesized piperazine derivatives. Furthermore, in silico studies suggest that the tested compounds are likely to have good oral bioavailability. The results obtained will provide valuable data for further research into this interesting group of compounds. The library of compounds obtained is still the subject of pharmacological research aimed at finding new interesting biologically active compounds.
Topics: Piperazine; Mannich Bases; Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Candida; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 37513434
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145562 -
Journal of Intelligence Jul 2023As an artificial space extended from the physical environment, the virtual environment (VE) provides more possibilities for humans to work and be entertained with less... (Review)
Review
As an artificial space extended from the physical environment, the virtual environment (VE) provides more possibilities for humans to work and be entertained with less physical restrictions. Benefiting from anonymity, one of the important features of VEs, users are able to receive visual stimuli that might differ from the physical environment through digital representations presented in VEs. Avatars and contextual cues in VEs can be considered as digital representations of users and contexts. In this article, we analyzed 21 articles that examined the creativity-boosting effects of different digital user and contextual representations. We summarized the main effects induced by these two digital representations, notably the effect induced by the self-similar avatar, Proteus effect, avatar with Social Identity Cues, priming effect induced by contextual representation, and embodied metaphorical effect. In addition, we examined the influence of immersion on creativity by comparing non-immersive and immersive VEs (i.e., desktop VE and headset VE, respectively). Last, we discussed the roles of embodiment and presence in the creativity in VEs, which were overlooked in the past research.
PubMed: 37504787
DOI: 10.3390/jintelligence11070144 -
Scientific Reports Aug 2023The Middle Atlas is a Moroccan territory that serves as an abode to plants with incredible biodiversity, of which aromatic and medicinal plants that have been of...
The Middle Atlas is a Moroccan territory that serves as an abode to plants with incredible biodiversity, of which aromatic and medicinal plants that have been of folkloric use are a significant component. However, their effective utilization in modern medicine requires the characterization of their phytochemicals to facilitate their entry into drug discovery pipelines. Hence, this study aimed to characterize and investigate the antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effects of the essential oils (EOs) of Salvia lavandulifolia subsp. mesatlantica and Salvia officinalis L. by use of in vitro and in silico assays. Ten phytochemicals were identified in the EOs of S. lavandulifolia, while twenty phytochemicals were identified in S. officinalis. Camphor was the most abundant compound in both species, comprising 26.70% and 39.24% of the EOs of S. lavandulifolia and S. officinalis, respectively. The EOs of both plants exhibited significant DPPH free radical scavenging activity, with S. lavandulifolia and S. officinalis showing estimated scavenging rates of 92.97% and 75.20%, respectively. In terms of Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), S. officinalis demonstrated a higher value (72.08%) compared to that of S. lavandulifolia (64.61%). Evaluation of the antimicrobial effects of the EOs of S. officinalis and S. lavandulifolia against microorganisms revealed bactericidal activities against Proteus mirabilis and Bacillus subtilis at low concentrations. It showed bactericidal activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans at a relatively higher concentration. Molecular docking of antioxidant and antimicrobial proteins offers significant insights into ligand-protein interactions, facilitating the development of innovative therapeutics from the current study. Ultimately, this study identified the phytochemical composition of S. lavandulifolia and S. officinalis and highlighted their potential for therapeutic discovery.
Topics: Oils, Volatile; Antioxidants; Molecular Docking Simulation; Camphor; Bacillus subtilis
PubMed: 37640782
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41178-2 -
European Review For Medical and... Nov 2023Proteus syndrome (PS) is an extremely rare disorder with ocular manifestations. In this study, we aimed to describe the ophthalmic characteristics and the clinical...
BACKGROUND
Proteus syndrome (PS) is an extremely rare disorder with ocular manifestations. In this study, we aimed to describe the ophthalmic characteristics and the clinical course of an unusual PS patient to acquire a comprehensive and intensive understanding of ocular PS and highlight the importance of collaborative treatment by ophthalmologists.
CASE PRESENTATION
A case of PS with atypical ocular features and syndromes was observed in a Chinese female. Her proptosis and vision impairment were relieved after Endoscope-Navigation system (ENS)-aided optic canal decompression. A 1.5-year follow-up showed that the treatment was temporarily effective, but the disease continued to develop. A review of the literature was conducted: forty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria. Although ocular manifestations play important roles in PS diagnosis, only a limited number of cases have been reported to have ocular abnormalities. And to date, almost none of these reports have described the treatment in detail. Therefore, PS patients with ocular manifestations were reviewed.
CONCLUSIONS
PS is a complex disorder with variable characteristics and progressive imbalances. In this paper, the clinical symptoms, molecular characteristics, and differential diagnosis of PS are introduced. More importantly, the ocular manifestations, treatment, and prognosis of PS cases to date are summarized and discussed. This study aimed to acquire a comprehensive and intensive understanding of ocular PS and to reveal the importance of collaborative treatment by ophthalmologists.
Topics: Humans; Female; Proteus Syndrome; Eye
PubMed: 37975355
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202311_34306 -
BMC Microbiology Aug 2023Proteus mirabilis, a naturally resistant zoonotic bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, has exhibited an alarming increase in drug resistance....
Proteus mirabilis, a naturally resistant zoonotic bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, has exhibited an alarming increase in drug resistance. Consequently, there is an urgent need to explore alternative antimicrobial agents. Bacteriophages, viruses that selectively target bacteria, are abundant in the natural environment and have demonstrated potential as a promising alternative to antibiotics. In this study, we successfully isolated four strains of Proteus mirabilis phages from sewage obtained from a chicken farm in Sichuan, China. Subsequently, we characterized one of the most potent lytic phages, Q29, by examining its biological and genomic features. Comparative genomic analysis revealed the functional genes and phylogenetic evolution of Q29 phages. Our findings revealed that Proteus mirabilis bacteriophage Q29 possesses an icosahedral symmetrical head with a diameter of 95 nm and a tail length of 240 nm. Moreover, phage Q29 exhibited stability within a temperature range of 37 ℃ to 55 ℃ and under pH conditions ranging from 4 to 9. The optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) for this phage was determined to be 0.001. Furthermore, the one-step growth curve results indicated an incubation period of approximately 15 min, an outbreak period of approximately 35 min, and an average cleavage quantity of approximately 60 plaque-forming units (PFU) per cell. The genome of phage Q29 was found to have a total length of 58,664 base pairs and encoded 335 open reading frames (ORFs) without carrying any antibiotic resistance genes. Additionally, genetic evolutionary analysis classified phage Q29 within the family Caudalidae and the genus Myotail. This study provides valuable research material for further development of Proteus mirabilis bacteriophage biologics as promising alternatives to antibiotics, particularly in light of the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance posed by this bacterium.
Topics: Bacteriophages; Proteus mirabilis; Phylogeny; Genomics; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Genome, Viral
PubMed: 37553593
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02960-4 -
EBioMedicine Dec 2023Recent studies suggesting the importance of the gut-microbiome in intestinal aggregated alpha synuclein (α-syn) have led to the exploration of the possible role of the...
BACKGROUND
Recent studies suggesting the importance of the gut-microbiome in intestinal aggregated alpha synuclein (α-syn) have led to the exploration of the possible role of the gut-brain axis in central nervous system degeneration. Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis), a gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacterium, has been linked to brain neurodegeneration in animal studies. We hypothesised that P. mirabilis-derived virulence factors aggregate intestinal α-synuclein and could prompt the pathogenesis of dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the brain.
METHODS
We used vagotomised- and antibiotic-treated male murine models to determine the pathogenesis of P. mirabilis during brain neurodegeneration. The neurodegenerative factor that is driven by P. mirabilis was determined using genetically mutated P. mirabilis. The pathological functions and interactions of the virulence factors were determined in vitro.
FINDINGS
The results showed that P. mirabilis-induced motor dysfunction and neurodegeneration are regulated by intestinal α-syn aggregation in vagotomised- or antibiotic-treated murine models. We deduced that the specific virulence factor, haemolysin A (HpmA), plays a role in the pathogenesis of P. mirabilis. HpmA is involved in α-synuclein oligomerisation and membrane pore formation, resulting in the activation of mTOR-mediated autophagy signalling in intestinal neuroendocrine cells.
INTERPRETATION
Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that HpmA can interact with α-syn and act as a possible indicator of brain neurodegenerative diseases that are induced by P. mirabilis.
FUNDING
This study was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea.
Topics: Animals; Male; Mice; alpha-Synuclein; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Base Composition; Hemolysin Proteins; Mirabilis; Phylogeny; Proteus mirabilis; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 37995468
DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104887 -
ACS Omega Oct 2023This study utilized a simple hydrothermal technique to prepare pure BiVO and tightly bound BiVO/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite materials. The...
This study utilized a simple hydrothermal technique to prepare pure BiVO and tightly bound BiVO/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite materials. The surfactant was employed to control the growth, size, and assembly of BiVO and the nanocomposite. Various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), photoluminescence (PL), Raman, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were utilized to analyze and characterize BiVO and the BiVO/MWCNTs nanocomposite. Through XRD analysis, it was found that the carbon nanotubes were effectively embedded within the lattice of BiVO without generating any separate impurity phase and had no influence on the BiVO monoclinic structure. TEM images confirmed the presence of MWCNTs within BiVO. Furthermore, adding MWCNTs in the BiVO/MWCNTs nanocomposite resulted in an effective charge transfer transition and improved carrier separation, as evidenced by PL analysis. The introduction of MWCNTs also led to a significant reduction in the optical band gap due to quantum effects. Finally, the antibacterial activity of pure BiVO and the BiVO/MWCNTs nanocomposite was assessed by exposing and to these materials. Biofilm inhibition and antibiofilm activity were measured using a crystal violet assay and a FilmTracer LIVE/DEAD Biofilm Viability Kit. The results demonstrated that pure BiVO and BiVO/MWCNTs effectively inhibited biofilm formation. In conclusion, both pure BiVO and BiVO/MWCNTs are promising materials for inhibiting the bacterial biofilm during bacterial infections.
PubMed: 37841170
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04722 -
Archives of Razi Institute Aug 2023species (spp.) is considered one of the widely spread pathogens worldwide. spp. can be detected in contaminated water, soil, and manure, aiding the decomposition of...
species (spp.) is considered one of the widely spread pathogens worldwide. spp. can be detected in contaminated water, soil, and manure, aiding the decomposition of organic substances from animals. is a gram-negative bacterium that causes a wide range of human illnesses. This study aimed to find some virulence genes in Proteus spp. from different sources, including the laboratories of government hospitals in Karbala, Al-Hussies, and Al-Muthanna, Iraq. Fifty swab samples were collected from patients' wounds, ears, and sputum. Clinicians collected swab samples for identification. In total, 17 sputum samples, 13 ear samples, and 20 wound samples were collected from 27 (54%) females and 23 (46%) males. The virulence genes and were identified after the genomic diagnosis of spp. Thirteen isolates were identified using the primer, and 16 isolates were identified using the primer. The DNA sequence analysis of and genes revealed that all samples shared 99.52% identity for the gene, whereas the gene differed from one sample to the next. The sequence results are available at the NCBI under the accession numbers (LC661938) and (LC661939), respectively.
Topics: Male; Animals; Female; Humans; Proteus mirabilis; Virulence; Iraq; Proteus
PubMed: 38226368
DOI: 10.32592/ARI.2023.78.4.1295 -
BMC Genomic Data Sep 2023Providencia is a genus of gram-negative bacteria within the order Enterobacterales, closely related to Proteus and Morganella. While ubiquitous in the environment, some...
OBJECTIVES
Providencia is a genus of gram-negative bacteria within the order Enterobacterales, closely related to Proteus and Morganella. While ubiquitous in the environment, some species of Providencia, such as P. rettgeri and P. stuartii, are considered emerging nosocomial pathogens and have been implicated in urinary tract infection, gastrointestinal illness, and travelers' diarrhea. Given their intrinsic resistance to many commonly used antibiotics, this study aimed to isolate and sequence bacteriophages targeting a clinical P. rettgeri isolate.
DATA DESCRIPTION
Here we report the complete genome sequence of three novel Providencia phages, PibeRecoleta, Stilesk and PatoteraRojo, which were isolated against a clinical P. rettgeri strain sourced from a patient in a metropolitan hospital in Victoria, Australia. The three phages contain dsDNA genomes between 60.7 and 60.9 kb in size and are predicted to encode between 72 and 73 proteins. These three new phages, which share high genomic similarity to two other Providencia phages previously isolated on P. stuartii, serve as important resources in our understanding about Providencia bacteriophages and the potential for future phage-based biotherapies.
Topics: Humans; Diarrhea; Providencia; Travel; Bacteriophages; Dysentery; Hospitals, Urban; Victoria
PubMed: 37658299
DOI: 10.1186/s12863-023-01153-2