Microbiol. Res., Volume 8, Issue 1 (May 2017) – 8 articles

The activity of ghrelin, apelin and their receptors has been correlated to the control of some infectious diseases, besides the hypothesis of their role in the control of some peripheral organs, among which ovaries. The aim of the present work was to highlight the presence and distribution of ghrelin, apelin and cognate receptors in the ovaries of pregnant bitches, by means of immunohistochemical techniques. Apelin, its receptor and the receptor of ghrelin were highlighted in the corpora lutea, with a particular localization in the cytoplasm of some luteal cells. Instead, a positive reaction for ghrelin was evident in the walls of small arteries in the connective tissue. These results allowed us to hypothesize that these molecules intervene in the control of ovaries in pregnant bitches, suggesting autocrine/paracrine mechanisms of regulation. Full article

Fifty patients (18 males, 32 females) with malaria infection and 50 apparently healthy control subjects (22 males, 28 females) were recruited for the study. Hematocrit level (PCV) was determined using Heco C haematology analyzer. Plasma electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃^-, Cl^-), and glucose were respectively analyzed by SM23A Spectrophotometer, using TECO DIAGNOSTICS and RANDOX enzymatic glucose methods respectively. The results showed a significant reduction in the mean values of PCV (30.04 ± 5.31%), Na⁺ (131.56 ± 6.63 mmol/L), and glucose (85.92 ± 13.85 mg/dL) in the malaria-infected subjects compared with the mean values of PCV (38.74 ± 3.12%), Na⁺ (134.14 ± 5.95 mmol/L), and glucose (92.40 ± 13.99 mg/dL) (P < 0.05) obtained from the control subjects. We observed higher significant mean values of K⁺ (3.93 ± 0.79 mmol/L) and HCO₃^- (23.56 ± 2.55 mmol/L) in the malariainfected subjects compared with the control mean values of K+ (3.62 ± 0.51 mmol/L) and HCO₃^- (23.48 ± 2.02 mmol/L) (P < 0.05). The mean values for chloride observed in the malaria-infected subjects, Cl^- (99.52 ± 7.44) was higher than the observed mean in the control subjects, Cl^- (99.50 ± 6.33), but was not statistically significant P > 0.05. The mean (±standard deviation) of PCV, Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃^-, Cl^- and glucose in malariainfected patients of different age groups were compared with the age-matched controls, and there were significant differences only in the age groups involving PCV and potassium in the 1–20 and >40 age brackets. This study has shown the importance of electrolyte management in patients with severe malaria to prevent attendant physiological failure during complications. Full article

The plant Pomegranate (Punica granatum Linn.) selected for this study is native to the region of Eurasia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antitrypanosomal potential of the plant against Trypanosoma brucei brucei (T.b. brucei) and Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi). Similarly, the parasites used for this study have two entirely different modes of transmission that is Cyclical Transmission (T.b. brucei) and Mechanical Transmission (T. evansi). The chloroform extract of Punica granatum (P. granatum) was analysed in vitro for trypanocidal activity against T.b. brucei and T. evansi at concentrations of 100 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, 25 mg/mL, 12.5 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL. The chloroform extracts of P. granatum had trypanocidal activity against T. evansi and was inactive against T.b. brucei. These findings suggest that the mode of transmission may have an effect on the parasite-drug reaction and the possible use of the chloroform extract of P. granatum in the management of trypanosomiasis due to T. evansi which may require further elucidation. Full article

Candida bloodstream infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The most important contribution of biofilm is the higher antifungal resistance than planktonic cells. We aimed to investigate the biofilm formation rate and antifungal susceptibility characteristics of our bloodstream isolates, and evaluate two different biofilm detection methods. A total of 200 bloodstream Candida isolates were included. The biofilms were formed on 96-well microtiter plates and measured by spectrophotometric percent transmittance and 2,3-bis(2- methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfo-phenyl)-2H-tetrazolium- 5-carboxanilide colorimetric assay. In addition antifungal susceptibilities of these isolates were evaluated against caspofungin, anidulafungin and amphotericin B by reference method. Biofilm production rate was considerably high among our bloodstream isolates. The most important biofilm producer species was C. tropicalis; C. glabrata had the lowest biofilm production rate. The consistency rate between biofilm detection methods was 66%. Remarkable antifungal resistance was not observed among our isolates in general. In conclusion, biofilm production in Candida species is an important virulence factor, and its rate is considerably high in bloodstream isolates. At present, a standardized method has not been established to detect the biofilm formation. Full article

The availability and popularity of processed, ready-to-cook (RTC) poultry products are increasing in India. Though fresh poultry is known to be contaminated with Salmonella, the prevalence of this foodborne pathogen in RTC poultry products is not reported. Eighty-seven chilled and frozen RTC poultry samples of 4 different brands obtained from supermarkets and departmental stores in Mumbai were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella. The prevalence of Salmonella was higher (51%) in chilled RTC samples as compared to the frozen RTC samples (5%). The frozen RTC samples of one brand were free from Salmonella. S. Typhimurium (75.2%) was the most prevalent serovar, followed by S. Enteritidis (23%) and S. Weltevreden (1.7%). A high percentage (81.4%) of the isolates were found to be resistant to 5 or more antibiotics and class 1 integron, which has been shown to confer multi-drug resistance, was detected in 69.9% of the isolates. Multiple antibiotic resistance index of isolates was high (0.6) indicating the indiscriminate use of antibiotics during poultry farming. High genetic diversity was observed among the Salmonella serovars based on Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis profiles. Results showed the presence of multi-drug resistant Salmonella serovars in processed, chilled RTC poultry products marketed in Mumbai, India. Full article

Quercetin is a polyphenolic flavonoid with potential chemoprotective properties. In the present work its antibacterial properties were studied against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lactobacillus casei var shirota by broth dilution method. Quercetin inhibited S. aureus, P. aeruginosa at concentration 20 mcg/mL while P. vulgaris and E. coli were inhibited at concentration 300 mcg/mL and 400 mcg/mL respectively. Shigella flexneri and Lactobacillus casei var shirota were completely indifferent even at concentration of 500 mcg/mL. Full article

The objective of this study was to identify and estimate the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle fecal samples in northwest of Iran, using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this study, cattle fecal samples were collected from an abattoir in Tabriz, Iran. After enrichment, isolation was carried out on CT-SMAC culture and afterwards, the identification of E. coli O157 was achieved on colorless sorbitol negative colonies. Then, one of these colonies was analyzed by PCR to identify genes coding for verotoxin 1 and 2 (vt1 and vt2), intimin (eceAO157), and H7 flagella antigen (fliCh7). Of 200 samples, 22 were positive by CT-SMAC culture. Of the 22 sorbitol-negative samples investigated by PCR, two isolates were identified as E. coli O157:H7. Three isolates carried eaeAO157 specific locus (non-VTEC E.coli O157) and one or both the verotoxin genes (vtx1 and vtx2) only (non-O157 VTEC). Low prevalence rates of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle feces as an important animal reservoir of the mentioned bacterium should be added to the variety of factors mentioned for the low prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in Iran. Full article

In the present investigation, biological crusts from the surface of eight historical monuments of Varanasi, India, were examined for the presence of scytonemin (a cyanobacterial photoprotective pigment) containing cyanobacterial species. Lyngbya sp. and Scytonema sp. were the dominant cyanobacteria present in all crust samples. The absorption spectroscopic data of chlorophyll, carotenoids and scytonemin showed that scytonemin was more abundant than the carotene and chlorophyll in all the crusts. Identification of these compounds was done using UV-Vis spectroscopy and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of scytonemin in seven out of eight samples and peaks of scytonemin with retention time ranging from 1.4–1.9 min with corresponding absorbance maxima at 386, 300 and 252 ± 2 nm. As per our knowledge this is the first report of its kind from monuments of Varanasi. From this study, it can be concluded that synthesis of photoprotective compounds like scytonemin and its derivatives counteract the damaging effects of solar radiation which enable cyanobacteria to colonize and inhabit almost all kinds of habitats, including extreme lithic habitats, such as rocks and walls of monuments which face prolonged high intensity solar radiation. Full article