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ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering Jun 2024Tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) is prevalent in clinical settings. Patients with TMPs often suffer from infections caused by and , leading to middle ear and...
Tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) is prevalent in clinical settings. Patients with TMPs often suffer from infections caused by and , leading to middle ear and external ear canal infections, which hinder eardrum healing. The objective of this study is to fabricate an enzyme-responsive antibacterial electrospun scaffold using poly(lactic--glycolic acid) and hyaluronic acid for the treatment of infected TMPs. The properties of the scaffold were characterized, including morphology, wettability, mechanical properties, degradation properties, antimicrobial properties, and biocompatibility. The results indicated that the fabricated scaffold had a core-shell structure and exhibited excellent mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, degradability, and cytocompatibility. Furthermore, in vitro bacterial tests and ex vivo investigations on eardrum infections suggested that this scaffold possesses hyaluronidase-responsive antibacterial properties. It may rapidly release antibiotics when exposed to the enzyme released by and . These findings suggest that the scaffold has great potential for repairing TMPs with infections.
PubMed: 38917429
DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00060 -
International Microbiology : the... Jun 2024Plants exposed to heavy metals (HMs) stress negatively affect their development and production capacity. Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), and Lead (Pb) are the most common...
Plants exposed to heavy metals (HMs) stress negatively affect their development and production capacity. Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), and Lead (Pb) are the most common hazardous trace metals in agriculture. The physiological, biochemical, and molecular characteristics of crops are being affected. Phytoremediation is a method to alleviate heavy metals from the contaminated soil. The study aims to evaluate the phytoremediation ability of Vigna radiata L. (mung bean) in the absence and the presence of multi-metal tolerant and plant growth promoting Pseudomonas geniculata strain TIU16A3 isolated from soil of tannery industrial estate, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The strain was further assessed with increasing concentrations of Cr, Cd, and Pb (10, 20, 40, and 80 µg/mL) when the mung bean plant was a test crop. The strain significantly increased plant growth, chlorophyll content, increased level of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase, and decreased oxidative stress indicators like HO and electrolyte leakage in the presence of Cr, Cd, and Pb as compared to plants grown in the absence of Pseudomonas geniculata strain. Shoot length responsive gene (Aux/IAA) in the presence of heavy metal alone and Pseudomonas geniculata treated Cd and Cr showed higher relative expression of (Aux/IAA) compared to Pb. Due to these intrinsic abilities, Pseudomonas geniculata strain TIU16A3 can be a plant growth promoter and thus can help in the remediation of heavy metal (Cr, Cd, and Pb) contaminated soil.
PubMed: 38916652
DOI: 10.1007/s10123-024-00546-2 -
Journal of Medical Microbiology Jun 2024The intensified global challenge of antimicrobial resistance, set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a cause for major concern. Within healthcare... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Antimicrobial resistance patterns among critical priority pathogens in an intensive care unit at a tertiary hospital in Egypt: a descriptive analysis comparing pre- and COVID-19 eras.
The intensified global challenge of antimicrobial resistance, set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a cause for major concern. Within healthcare settings, intensive care units are recognized as focal points for Gram-negative infections. The study pursued to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of critical priority pathogens (, , Enterobacteriaceae, comprising and ) during both pre- and COVID-19 periods. The decision to explore this topic stemmed from the urgent need to understand how the exceptional healthcare crisis of COVID-19 affected AMR patterns. This was an observational retrospective analysis of 1056 clinical specimens obtained from 950 patients who were admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt. In the period before COVID-19, 342 pathogenic isolates (135 . , 83 . , 76 . and 48 ) were obtained from samples collected from 450 patients. Conversely, during the COVID-19 period, 714 isolates (237 . , 205 . , 199 . and 73 ) were collected from the same number of patients. In the course of the pandemic, there is a slight increase in and infections, whereas and exhibit a distinct trend with a noticeable reduction in infection rates during COVID-19. During the COVID-19 period, a noticeable rise in resistance rates was observed for all antibiotics utilized. The results from Fisher's exact test indicated a substantial increase in resistance towards certain antibiotics. Specifically, a significant rise in resistance was observed for to ciprofloxacin ( = 0.00), gentamicin and ( = 0.02), levofloxacin and ( = 0.01), piperacillin-tazobactam and ( = 0.04), and piperacillin-tazobactam and ( = 0.01). Our results display how the pandemic impacted bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance, indicating a general increase in resistance rates. These findings are crucial for guiding healthcare practices, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance and potentially checking antibiotic usage schemes.
Topics: Humans; Tertiary Care Centers; Egypt; COVID-19; Retrospective Studies; Intensive Care Units; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Male; Female; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; SARS-CoV-2; Middle Aged; Adult; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Acinetobacter baumannii; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Escherichia coli; Aged
PubMed: 38916589
DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001838 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jun 2024Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) for most affected individuals but the effects of treatment on...
Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) for most affected individuals but the effects of treatment on sinus microbiota are still unknown. Changes to the airway microbiota in CF are associated with disease state and alterations to the bacterial community after ETI initiation may require changes to clinical management regimens. We collected sinus swab samples from the middle meatus in an observational study of 38 adults with CF and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) from 2017 to 2021 and captured the initiation of ETI therapy. We performed 16S and custom amplicon sequencing to characterize the sinus microbiota pre- and post-ETI. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to estimate total bacterial abundance. Sinus samples from people with CF (pwCF) clustered into three community types, dependent on the dominant bacterial organism: a -dominant, -dominant, and mixed dominance cluster. Shannon's diversity index was low and not significantly altered post-ETI. Total bacterial load was not significantly lowered post-ETI. spp. abundance was significantly reduced post-ETI, but eradication was not observed. spp. became the dominant organism in most individuals post-ETI and we showed the presence of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) in the sinus both pre- and post-ETI. We also demonstrated that the sinus microbiome is predictive of the presence of spp., spp., and spp. in the sputum. spp. and spp., including MRSA, persist in the sinuses of pwCF after ETI therapy, indicating that these pathogens will continue to be important in CF airway disease management in the era of highly effective modulator therapies (HEMT).IMPORTANCEHighly effective modulator therapies (HEMT), such as elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI), for cystic fibrosis (CF) have revolutionized patient care and quality of life for most affected individuals. The effects of these therapies on the microbiota of the airways are still unclear, though work has already been published on changes to microbiota in the sputum. Our study presents evidence for reduced relative abundance of spp. in the sinuses following ETI therapy. We also show that spp. becomes the dominant organism in the sinus communities of most individuals in this cohort after ETI therapy. We identified methicillin-resistant (MRSA) in the sinus microbiota both pre- and post-therapy. These findings demonstrate that pathogen monitoring and treatment will remain a vital part of airway disease management for people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) in the era of HEMT.
PubMed: 38916354
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00787-24 -
Microbiology Resource Announcements Jun 2024We report the draft genome sequence of three marine bacteria belonging to and genera, with hydrocarbonoclastic metabolism for oil and monoaromatic hydrocarbon...
We report the draft genome sequence of three marine bacteria belonging to and genera, with hydrocarbonoclastic metabolism for oil and monoaromatic hydrocarbon degradation. The genomic information of these organisms contributes to the knowledge of natural and polluted marine environments with ubiquitous presence of hydrocarbons as a selective pressure.
PubMed: 38916305
DOI: 10.1128/mra.00335-24 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Antibacterial proteins inhibiting have been identified in various phages and explored as antibiotic alternatives. Here, we isolated a phiKZ-like phage, Churi, which...
Antibacterial proteins inhibiting have been identified in various phages and explored as antibiotic alternatives. Here, we isolated a phiKZ-like phage, Churi, which encodes 364 open reading frames. We examined 15 early-expressed phage proteins for their ability to inhibit bacterial growth, and found that gp335, closely related to phiKZ-gp14, exhibits antibacterial activity. Similar to phiKZ-gp14, recently shown to form a complex with the ribosome, we predict experimentally that gp335 interacts with ribosomal proteins, suggesting its involvement in protein translation. GFP-tagged gp335 clusters around the phage nucleus as early as 15 minutes post-infection and remains associated with it throughout the infection, suggesting its role in protein expression in the cell cytoplasm. CRISPR-Cas13-mediated deletion of gp355 reveals that the mutant phage has a prolonged latent period. Altogether, we demonstrate that gp335 is an antibacterial protein of nucleus-forming phages that associates with the ribosomes at the phage nucleus.
PubMed: 38915640
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.15.599175 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024Fish intestinal health under intensive aquaculture mode plays an important role in growth, development, and immune function. The present study was aimed to... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Fish intestinal health under intensive aquaculture mode plays an important role in growth, development, and immune function. The present study was aimed to systematically investigate the differences of intestinal health between wild and cultured by biochemical parameters, histomorphology, and molecular biology. A total of 15 healthy per group, with an average body weight of 45 g, were sampled to analyze intestinal health parameters. Compared with wild fish, the cultured in the foregut had lower trypsin, lipase, SOD, CAT, T-AOC, and GSH-Px activities ( < 0.05) and higher amylase activity and MDA content ( < 0.05). The villus circumference and goblet cells in the cultured group were significantly lower than those in the wild group ( < 0.05). In addition, the cultured fish showed lower relative expression levels of , , , , , , , , , , , , and ( < 0.05) and higher , , , , and mRNA expressions than those of wild fish ( < 0.05). In terms of gut microbiota, the cultured group at the phylum level displayed higher percentages of and and lower percentages of , , , , and compared to the wild group ( < 0.05). At the genus level, higher abundances of and and lower abundances of and were observed in the cultured group than in the wild group ( < 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the intestinal health status between wild and cultured in terms of biochemistry, histology, and molecular biology levels. Overall, the present study showed significant differences in intestinal health between wild and cultured and the main manifestations that wild had higher intestinal digestion, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal barrier functions than cultured These results would provide theoretical basis for the subsequent upgrading of healthy aquaculture technology and nutrient regulation of intestinal health of cultured
Topics: Animals; Aquaculture; Intestines; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Smegmamorpha; Intestinal Mucosa; Cytokines; Animals, Wild
PubMed: 38915412
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1411544 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Aloe barbadensis is a drought-tolerant perennial medicinal plant with both nutritional and cosmetic uses. Drought is one of the main abiotic stresses limiting plant...
Evaluation of the benefits of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi on biochemical and morphophysiological traits of Aloe barbadensis Mill under water deficit stress.
Aloe barbadensis is a drought-tolerant perennial medicinal plant with both nutritional and cosmetic uses. Drought is one of the main abiotic stresses limiting plant growth and development. However, the use of drought-resistant plants combined with beneficial soil micro-organisms could improve the effectiveness of biological methods to mitigate drought damage. This research aims to evaluate the effects of Funneliformis mosseae (MF), plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) (including Pseudomonas putida and Pantoea agglomerans), and their co-inoculation on the macronutrient status, antioxidant enzyme activities, and other morphophysiological traits of A. barbadensis under four irrigation regimes [25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of water requirement (WR)]. Three harvests were conducted, revealing that inoculation enhanced the survival rate and shoot fresh weight (SFW) compared to the control plants. However, at 25% WR, the SFW was reduced by 43% more than the control. across all harvests, while the PGPR + MF treatment showed increases of more than 19%, 11%, and 17% compared to the control, MF, and PGPR treatments, respectively. The results also showed that A. barbadensis exhibited innate drought tolerance up to a 50% WR level by enhancing physiological defenses, such as antioxidant enzyme activity. Inoculation increased the macronutrient status of the plant at all levels of irrigation regimes especially under severe drought conditions. The highest levels of nitrogen (N) (16.24 mg g DW) and phosphorus (P) (11.29 mg g DW) were observed in the PGPR + MF treatment at 100% WR. The maximum relative water content under MF inoculation and 75% WR (98.24%) (98.24%) was reached. PGPR + MF treatment alleviated drought-induced osmotic stress, as indicated by reduced antioxidant enzyme activities and electrolyte leakage. However, P. putida and P. agglomerans strains alone or in combination with F. mosseae increased plant yield, macronutrient uptake and antioxidant enzyme activity. This study underscores the potential of these PGPR and MF strains as invaluable biological tools for the cultivation of A. barbadensis in regions with severe drought stress.
Topics: Aloe; Mycorrhizae; Droughts; Pseudomonas putida; Antioxidants; Plant Roots; Water; Stress, Physiological; Soil Microbiology; Pantoea; Dehydration; Fungi
PubMed: 38914637
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64878-9 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024The novel multifunctional active packaging composite film with antimicrobial, antioxidant, water-vapor and UV-barrier, and corrosion resistance properties was...
The novel multifunctional active packaging composite film with antimicrobial, antioxidant, water-vapor and UV-barrier, and corrosion resistance properties was successfully prepared from waste biomass. In this study, waste poplar sawdust was pretreated using green liquor to extract black liquor (BL). BL was then mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). PVA-BL-AgNPs film was fabricated by solution casting method, and the microstructure characterization and macroscopic performance testing of the composite film were conducted. The results revealed that PVA-BL-AgNPs film exhibited inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus (inhibition zone: 33.6 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (inhibition zone: 31.6 mm), and Escherichia coli (inhibition zone: 32.0 mm). It could eliminate over 99 % of 2,2-diazodi (3-ethyl-benzothiazol-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radicals and provided 100 % UV-blocking, reducing light-induced food damage. It exhibited the improvement of water-vapor barrier properties and corrosion resistance. In vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that no significant impact occurred on cell proliferation, confirming the safety of the film. Packaging experiments showed that PVA-BL-AgNPs film effectively inhibited milk spoilage and prolonged the shelf-life of bread and bananas. Therefore, PVA-BL-AgNPs film might extend the shelf-life of food and offer significant opportunities in addressing the issues of low safety and environmental pollution associated with traditional packaging films.
PubMed: 38914391
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133344 -
PloS One 2024Exploration of interspecies interactions between microorganisms can have taxonomic, ecological, evolutionary, or medical applications. To better explore interactions...
Exploration of interspecies interactions between microorganisms can have taxonomic, ecological, evolutionary, or medical applications. To better explore interactions between microorganisms it is important to establish the ideal conditions that ensure survival of all species involved. In this study, we sought to identify the ideal biotic and abiotic factors that would result in high co-culture viability of two interkingdom species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acanthamoeba castellanii, two soil dwelling microbes. There have been limited studies showing long-term interactions between these two organisms as co-culture can result in high mortality for one or both organisms suggesting a predator-predator interaction may exist between them. In this study, we identified biotic and abiotic conditions that resulted in a high viability for both organisms in long-term co-culture, including optimizing temperature, nutrient concentration, choice of bacterial strains, and the initial ratio of interacting partners. These two species represent ideal partners for studying microbial interactions because amoebae act similarly to mammalian immune cells in many respects, and this can allow researchers to study host-pathogen interactions in vitro. Therefore, long-term interaction studies between these microbes might reveal the evolutionary steps that occur in bacteria when subjected to intense predation, like what occurs when pathogens enter the human body. The culture conditions characterized here resulted in high viability for both organisms for at least 14-days in co-culture suggesting that long-term experimental studies between these species can be achieved using these culture conditions.
Topics: Acanthamoeba castellanii; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Coculture Techniques; Microbial Interactions; Temperature; Soil Microbiology
PubMed: 38913685
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305973