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IEEE Transactions on Nanobioscience Jul 2024Zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium-doped zinc oxide (Mg-doped ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using Ziziphus oxyphylla 's aqueous leaf extract as reducing agent....
Zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium-doped zinc oxide (Mg-doped ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using Ziziphus oxyphylla 's aqueous leaf extract as reducing agent. UV-Vis absorption peaks at 324 nm and 335 nm were indicative of ZnO and Mg-doped ZnO, respectively. FTIR absorption bands observed at 3238, 1043, 1400, 1401, 2186 and 2320 cm suggested the presence of phenols, alcohols, saturated hydrocarbons, and possibly alkynes. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy revealed pure, spherical and agglomerated NPs with average size of 35.9 nm (ZnO) and 56.8 nm (Mg-doped ZnO). Both NPs remained active against all bacterial strains with the highest inhibition zones observed against Proteus vulgaris (21.16±1.25 mm for ZnO and 24.1±0.76 mm for Mg-doped ZnO. EtBr fluorescence (cartwheel assay) indicated efflux pump blockage, suggesting its facilitation in the bacterial growth inhibition. Antioxidant potential, determined via DPPH radical scavenging assay, revealed stronger antioxidant potential for Mg-doped ZnO (IC [Formula: see text]/mL) than pure ZnO (IC [Formula: see text]/mL). Furthermore, both NPs showed antileishmanial activity against Leishmania tropica promastigotes (IC [Formula: see text]/mL for Mg-doped ZnO and 64.34±6.56 for ZnO), while neither NP exhibited significant hemolysis, indicating biocompatibility and further assessment for their drugability.
Topics: Zinc Oxide; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Ziziphus; Green Chemistry Technology; Magnesium; Metal Nanoparticles; Antioxidants; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 38446646
DOI: 10.1109/TNB.2024.3373777 -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Feb 2024Origanum punonense Danin is one of the old traditional medicinal plants Bedouins utilize in the Dead Sea region to treat a variety of illnesses, those caused by...
BACKGROUND
Origanum punonense Danin is one of the old traditional medicinal plants Bedouins utilize in the Dead Sea region to treat a variety of illnesses, those caused by infections. The current study aimed to identify the phytochemical components of O. punonense essential oil (EO) and determine its antiproliferative and antimicrobial effects.
METHODS
Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were employed to detect the phytochemical constituents of O. punonense EO. Broth microdilution assay was utilized to determine the antimicrobial effects against various microbial species, including those causing diabetic foot infections.
RESULTS
This study revealed that O. punonense EO contains 44 phytochemical compounds, of which 41 compounds were detectable and amounted to 99.78% of the total oil. The main chemical components of the oil were carvacrol (57.4%), p-cymene (6.66%), carvone (5.35%), pinene (4.9%), and terpinene (2.96%). The antiproliferative activity of different concentrations of O. punonense EO was noted in all of the investigated cell lines, with the best activity at the concentration of 500 µg/mL. The greatest antibacterial activity was against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus vulgaris, with MIC values of 1.56 µL/mL. In addition, and the O. punonense EO showed strong antifungal activity against Candida albicans with a MIC value of 0.8 µL/mL. In addition, the O. punonense EO showed potent antibacterial activity against all MRSA samples obtained from the diabetic foot with a MIC value of 3.13 µL/mL. The O. punonense EO demonstrated potent activity against Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, Citrobacter freundii, and K. pneumoniae, with MICs value of 6.25 µL/mL.
CONCLUSION
The potent antiproliferative and broad antimicrobial activity of O. punonense EO makes it an effective strategy for treating infections, especially in immunocompromised patients with chronic comorbidities such as cancer and diabetes mellitus.
Topics: Humans; Oils, Volatile; Origanum; Arabs; Diabetic Foot; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Escherichia coli; Phytochemicals
PubMed: 38418969
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04395-4 -
Microorganisms Feb 2024This study aimed to explore the phenotype and relationship of drug resistance genes in livestock and poultry farm wastewater and drinking water reservoirs to provide...
This study aimed to explore the phenotype and relationship of drug resistance genes in livestock and poultry farm wastewater and drinking water reservoirs to provide evidence for the transmission mechanisms of drug resistance genes, in order to reveal the spread of drug resistance genes in wastewater from intensive farms in Central China to urban reservoirs that serve as drinking water sources and provide preliminary data for the treatment of wastewater from animal farms to reduce the threat to human beings. DNA extraction and metagenomic sequencing were performed on eight groups of samples collected from four water reservoirs and four related wastewaters from animal farms in Central China. Metagenomic sequencing showed that the top 20 AROs with the highest abundance were _gene, _gene, , , , _gene_, _gene, , _gene, _gene, , , , , _gene, , _gene, , , and . The resistance genes mentioned above belong to the following categories of drug resistance mechanisms: antibiotic target replacement, antibiotic target protection, antibiotic inactivation, and antibiotic efflux. The resistomes that match the top 20 genes are and ; ; ; and . ; ; and ; and ; , , , , , , , , , and ; and ; , , , , , and ; and ; and ; , , and ; , , , , , , and . Unreported drug resistance genes and drug-resistant bacteria in Central China were identified in 2023. In the transmission path of drug resistance genes, the transmission path from aquaculture wastewater to human drinking water sources cannot be ignored. For the sake of human health and ecological balance, the treatment of aquaculture wastewater needs to be further strengthened, and the effective blocking of drug resistance gene transmission needs to be considered.
PubMed: 38399800
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020396 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of citrate-stabilized sols of cerium oxide nanoparticles at different concentrations via...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of citrate-stabilized sols of cerium oxide nanoparticles at different concentrations via different microbiological methods and to compare the effect with the peroxidase activity of nanoceria for the subsequent development of a regeneration-stimulating medical and/or veterinary wound-healing product providing new types of antimicrobial action. The object of this study was cerium oxide nanoparticles synthesized from aqueous solutions of cerium (III) nitrate hexahydrate and citric acid (the size of the nanoparticles was 3-5 nm, and their aggregates were 60-130 nm). Nanoceria oxide sols with a wide range of concentrations (10-10 M) as well as powder (the dry substance) were used. Both bacterial and fungal strains (, , , , , , , ) were used for the microbiological studies. The antimicrobial activity of nanoceria was investigated across a wide range of concentrations using three methods sequentially; the antimicrobial activity was studied by examining diffusion into agar, the serial dilution method was used to detect the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations, and, finally, gas chromatography with mass-selective detection was performed to study the inhibition of growth. To study the redox activity of different concentrations of nanocerium, we studied the intensity of chemiluminescence in the oxidation reaction of luminol in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. As a result of this study's use of the agar diffusion and serial dilution methods followed by sowing, no significant evidence of antimicrobial activity was found. At the same time, in the current study of antimicrobial activity against strains using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, the ability of nanoceria to significantly inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms after 24 h and, in particular, after 48 h of incubation at a wide range of concentrations, 10-10 M (48-95% reduction in the number of microbes with a significant dose-dependent effect) was determined as the optimum concentration. A reliable redox activity of nanoceria coated with citrate was established, increasing in proportion to the concentration, confirming the oxidative mechanism of the action of nanoceria. Thus, nanoceria have a dose-dependent bacteriostatic effect, which is most pronounced at concentrations of 10-10 M. Unlike the effects of classical antiseptics, the effect was manifested from 2 days and increased during the observation. To study the antimicrobial activity of nanomaterials, it is advisable not to use classical qualitative and semi-quantitative methods; rather, the employment of more accurate quantitative methods is advised, in particular, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, during several days of incubation.
PubMed: 38392727
DOI: 10.3390/nano14040354 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024Nowadays, unprecedented health challenges are urging novel solutions to address antimicrobial resistance as multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria, yeasts and moulds...
Nowadays, unprecedented health challenges are urging novel solutions to address antimicrobial resistance as multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria, yeasts and moulds are emerging. Such microorganisms can cause food and feed spoilage, food poisoning and even more severe diseases, resulting in human death. In order to overcome this phenomenon, it is essential to identify novel antimicrobials that are naturally occurring, biologically effective and increasingly safe for human use. The development of gemmotherapy extracts (GTEs) using plant parts such as buds and young shoots has emerged as a novel approach to treat/prevent human conditions due to their associated antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and/or antimicrobial properties that all require careful evaluations. Seven GTEs obtained from plant species like the olive ( L.), almond ( L.), black mulberry ( L.), walnut ( L.), blackberry ( L.), blackcurrant ( L.) and bilberry ( L.) were tested for their antimicrobial efficiency via agar diffusion and microbroth dilution methods. The antimicrobial activity was assessed for eight bacterial (, , subsp. , , , , and ), five moulds (, , , , ) and one yeast strain (). The agar diffusion method revealed the blackberry GTE as the most effective since it inhibited the growth of three bacterial, four moulds and one yeast species, having considered the total number of affected microorganism species. Next to the blackberry, the olive GTE appeared to be the second most efficient, suppressing five bacterial strains but no moulds or yeasts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were then determined for each GTE and the microorganisms tested. Noticeably, the olive GTE appeared to feature the strongest bacteriostatic and bactericidal outcome, displaying specificity for , and . The other GTEs, such as blueberry, walnut, black mulberry and almond (the list indicates relative strength), were more effective at suppressing microbial growth than inducing microbial death. However, some species specificities were also evident, while the blackcurrant GTE had no significant antimicrobial activity. Having seen the antimicrobial properties of the analysed GTEs, especially the olive and black mulberry GTEs, these could be envisioned as potential antimicrobials that might enhance antibiotic therapies efficiency, while the blackberry GTE would act as an antifungal agent. Some of the GTE mixtures analysed have shown interesting antimicrobial synergies, and all the antimicrobial effects observed argue for extending these studies to include pathological microorganisms.
PubMed: 38391567
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13020181 -
Parasites & Vectors Feb 2024Traditional methods for detecting insect-borne bacterial pathogens are time-consuming and require specialized laboratory facilities, limiting their applicability in...
BACKGROUND
Traditional methods for detecting insect-borne bacterial pathogens are time-consuming and require specialized laboratory facilities, limiting their applicability in areas without access to such resources. Consequently, rapid and efficient detection methods for insect-borne bacterial diseases have become a pressing need in disease prevention and control.
METHODS
We aligned the ribosomal 16S rRNA sequences of seven bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, Aeromonas caviae, Vibrio vulnificus, Salmonella enterica, Proteus vulgaris, and Yersinia enterocolitica) by DNASTAR Lasergene software. Using DNASTAR Lasergene and Primer Premier software, we designed universal primers RLB-F and RLB-R, two species-specific probes for each pathogen, and a universal probe (catch-all). The PCR products of seven standard strains were hybridized with specific oligonucleotide probes fixed on the membrane for specific experimental procedures. To evaluate the sensitivity of PCR-RLB, genomic DNA was serially diluted from an initial copy number of 10 to 10 copies/μl in distilled water. These dilutions were utilized as templates for the PCR-RLB sensitivity analysis. Simultaneous detection of seven fly-borne bacterial pathogens from field samples by the established PCR-RLB method was conducted on a total of 1060 houseflies, collected from various environments in Lanzhou, China.
RESULTS
The established PCR-RLB assay is capable of detecting bacterial strains of about 10 copies/μl for S. aureus, 10 copies/μl for S. flexneri, 10 copies/μl for A. caviae, 10 copies/μl for V. vulnificus, 10 copies/μl for S. enterica, 10 copies/μl for P. vulgaris, and 10 copies/μl for Y. enterocolitica. The results demonstrate that the detection rate of the established PCR-RLB method is higher (approximately 100 times) compared to conventional PCR. This method was applied to assess the bacterial carrier status of flies in various environments in Lanzhou, China. Among the seven bacterial pathogens carried by flies, S. enterica (34.57%), S. flexneri (32.1%), and Y. enterocolitica (20.37%) were found to be the predominant species.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, this research shows that the rapid and efficient PCR-RLB detection technology could be a useful for surveillance and therefore effective prevention and control the spread of insect-borne diseases. Meanwhile, the experimental results indicate that urban sanitation and vector transmission sources are important influencing factors for pathogen transmission.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Diptera; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sensitivity and Specificity; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 38389104
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06170-3 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Feb 2024While in much of the Western world snakes are feared, in the small, rural, mountainous town of Cocullo, in the middle of central Italy, snakes are annually collected and...
While in much of the Western world snakes are feared, in the small, rural, mountainous town of Cocullo, in the middle of central Italy, snakes are annually collected and celebrated in a sacro-profane ritual. Every 1st of May, Serpari (snake catchers) capture and showcase dozens of non-venomous snakes to celebrate the ritual of San Domenico. In order to detect potential zoonotic pathogens within this unique epidemiological context, parasites and microorganisms of snakes harvested for the "festa dei serpari" ritual were investigated. Snakes (n = 112) were examined and ectoparasites collected, as well as blood and feces sampled. Ectoparasites were identified morpho-molecularly, and coprological examination conducted through direct smear and flotation. Molecular screenings were performed to identify parasites and microorganisms in collected samples (i.e., Mesostigmata mites, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, Babesia/Theileria spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Leishmania spp. and helminths). Overall, 28.5% (32/112) of snakes were molecularly positive for at least one parasite and/or microorganism. Endosymbiont Wolbachia bacteria were identified from Macronyssidae mites and zoonotic vector-borne pathogens (e.g., Rickettsia, Leishmania), as well as orally transmitted pathogens (i.e., Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas), were detected from blood and feces. Thus, given the central role of the snakes in the tradition of Cocullo, surveys of their parasitic fauna and associated zoonotic pathogens may aid to generate conservation policies to benefit the human-snake interactions, whilst preserving the cultural patrimony of this event.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Parasites; Cryptosporidiosis; Tick-Borne Diseases; Cryptosporidium; Rickettsia; Italy
PubMed: 38381797
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011973 -
AMB Express Feb 2024The bacterial enzyme chondroitinase ABCI (chABCI), which has been isolated from Proteus Vulgaris, is crucial in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. However, due to...
The bacterial enzyme chondroitinase ABCI (chABCI), which has been isolated from Proteus Vulgaris, is crucial in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. However, due to its short lifespan, the maintenance and clinical application of this enzyme are very constrained. In this study, the immobilization of this enzyme on hydroxyapatite has been carried out and assessed with the aim of enhancing the characteristics and efficiency of chABCI. Hydroxyapatite particles (HAPs) are a potential candidate for drug-delivery carriers because of their excellent biocompatibility, shape controllability, and high adsorption. The use of the nanometer scale allows efficient access to the enzyme's substrate. It demonstrates important biological application capabilities in this way. Field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), in vitro release study, and cytotoxicity test were used to characterize the drug nanosystem's properties. According to the findings, electrostatic bindings was formed between charged groups of the enzyme and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The results also demonstrated that immobilized chABCI on hydroxyapatite has beneficial properties, such as more manageable drug release, minimal toxicity and side effects, and a high potential to enhance the efficacy of drug delivery and decrease the need for repeated injections.
PubMed: 38353777
DOI: 10.1186/s13568-024-01677-5 -
Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins Feb 2024Diabetes mellitus, a most common endocrine disorder of glucose metabolism, has become a global epidemic and poses a serious public health threat with an increased...
Anti-Diabetic Potentials of Lactobacillus Strains by Modulating Gut Microbiota Structure and β-Cells Regeneration in the Pancreatic Islets of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats.
Diabetes mellitus, a most common endocrine disorder of glucose metabolism, has become a global epidemic and poses a serious public health threat with an increased socio-economic burden. Escalating incidence of diabetes is correlated with changes in lifestyle and food habits that cause gut microbiome dysbiosis and β-cells damage, which can be addressed with dietary interventions containing probiotics. Hence, the search for probiotics of human origin with anti-diabetic, anti-AGE, and anti-ACE potentials has gained renewed interest for the effective management of diabetes and its associated complications. The present study used an alloxan (AXN)-induced diabetic rat model to investigate the effects of potential probiotic Lacticaseibacillus casei MKU1, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus MKU3, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MKU7 administration individually on physiochemical parameters related to diabetic pathogenesis. Experimental animals were randomly allotted into six groups viz. NCG (control), DCG (AXN), DGM (metformin), DGP1 (MKU1), DGP2 (MKU3), and DGP3 (MKU7), and biochemical data like serum glucose, insulin, AngII, ACE, HbA1c, and TNF-α levels were measured until 90 days. Our results suggest that oral administration with MKU1, MKU3, or MKU7 significantly improved serum insulin levels, glycemic control, glucose tolerance, and body weight. Additionally, β-cell mass was increased by preserving islet integrity in Lactobacillus-treated diabetic rats, whereas TNF-α (~40%), AngII (~30%), and ACE levels (~50%) were strongly inhibited and enhanced sIgA production (5.8 folds) abundantly. Furthermore, Lactobacillus administration positively influenced the gut microbiome with a significant increase in the abundance of Lactobacillus species and the beneficial Bacteroides uniformis and Bacteroides fragilis, while decreased the pathogenic Proteus vulgaris and Parabacteroides distasonis. Among the probiotic treatment groups, L. pentosus MKU3 performed greatly in almost all parameters, indicating its potential use for alleviating diabetes-associated complications.
PubMed: 38329697
DOI: 10.1007/s12602-024-10221-7 -
DNA Research : An International Journal... Feb 2024While conjugation-related genes have been identified in many plasmids by genome sequencing, functional analyses have not yet been performed in most cases, and a full set...
While conjugation-related genes have been identified in many plasmids by genome sequencing, functional analyses have not yet been performed in most cases, and a full set of conjugation genes has been identified for only a few plasmids. Rts1, a prototype IncT plasmid, is a conjugative plasmid that was originally isolated from Proteus vulgaris. Here, we conducted a systematic deletion analysis of Rts1 to fully understand its conjugation system. Through this analysis along with complementation assays, we identified 32 genes that are required for the efficient conjugation of Rts1 from Escherichia coli to E. coli. In addition, the functions of the 28 genes were determined or predicted; 21 were involved in mating-pair formation, three were involved in DNA transfer and replication, including a relaxase gene belonging to the MOBH12 family, one was involved in coupling, and three were involved in transcriptional regulation. Among the functionally well-analysed conjugation systems, most of the 28 genes showed the highest similarity to those of the SXT element, which is an integrative conjugative element of Vibrio cholerae. The Rts1 conjugation gene set included all 23 genes required for the SXT system. Two groups of plasmids with conjugation systems nearly identical or very similar to that of Rts1 were also identified.
Topics: Escherichia coli; Conjugation, Genetic; Plasmids; Base Sequence; Chromosome Mapping; DNA, Bacterial
PubMed: 38300630
DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsae002