New insights into geraniol's antihemolytic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticoagulant potentials using a combined biological and in silico screening strategy.

The study aims to assess the antihemolytic and antioxidant activities of geraniol versus 2, 2'-azobis, 2-amidinopropane dihydro-chloride- (AAPH-) induced oxidative damage and hemolysis to erythrocytes and its anti-inflammatory potential against lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced inflammation in white blood cells (WBCs) with a focus on its integrated computational strategies against different targeted receptors participating in inflammation and coagulation. The rats' erythrocyte suspension was incubated with different geraniol concentrations. Molecular docking and simulation were used to explore the possible interaction patterns of geraniol against the potential targeted proteins for therapeutic screening. The results displayed that geraniol had a prolonged noteworthy effect on activated partial thromboplastin time and thromboplastin time. Geraniol displayed strong antioxidant effects via reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and increased GSH level and SOD activity. We observed dose-dependent prevention of K+ ion leakage along with a remarkable decline of hemolysis in erythrocytes pretreated with geraniol. Geraniol 100 µg/mL and diclofenac 100 µM were nontoxic to WBCs. Geraniol significantly reduces the expression and release of cellular pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-8, and nitric oxide, accompanied by a significant upregulation of gene expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in LPS-induced WBCs compared to nontreated cells. It demonstrates a much stronger inhibition potential than diclofenac in terms of inflammation inhibition. When comparing molecular docking and simulation data, current work showed that geraniol has a good affinity toward apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and human P2Y12 receptors and could be developed as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulant medication in the future. Consequently, geraniol is recommended to have a defensive influence against oxidative stress, and hemolysis also could be developed as a promising anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticoagulant medication.

Antimicrobial Resistance, Virulence Factors, and Pathotypes of Escherichia coli Isolated from Drinking Water Sources in Jordan.

The study investigated the prevalence of potentially pathogenic and drug resistant Escherichia coli among drinking water sources in Jordan. A total of 109 confirmed E. coli isolates were analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Phenotypic identification of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase production was done using the double disk synergy test and the modified Hodge test, respectively. Isolates' plasmid profiles were determined by gel electrophoresis. PCR was used for detection of virulence and resistance genes. Overall, 22.0% of the isolates were potentially intestinal pathogenic E. coli (IPEC); namely enteroaggregative E. coli (16.5%), enteropathogenic E. coli (2.8%), enteroinvasive E. coli (1.8%), and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (0.9%). A third of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. The highest rates of antimicrobials resistance were observed against ampicillin (93.6%) and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (41.3%). All isolates were susceptible to imipenem, meropenem, doripenem and tigecycline. The prevalence of ESBL and carbapenemase producers was 54.1% and 2.8%, respectively. BlaVIM was the most prevalent resistance gene (68.8%), followed by blaCTX (50.5%), blaTEM (45.9%), blaNDM (11%), blaKPC (4.6%), and blaSHV (0.9%). Fifty-eight (53.2%) isolates contained one or more plasmid ranging from 1.0 to 8.0 kbp. Overall, high prevalence of potentially pathogenic and resistant isolates was observed.