Prevalence and genotypic (G and P) determination of porcine group A rotaviruses from different regions of India.

Group A rotaviruses can infect both humans and animals and have been recognized as an important cause of diarrhea in porcine. In this study, we report the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of rotaviruses detected in piglets in different regions of India. A total 275 fecal samples (180 diarrheal and 95 non-diarrheal) from piglets were collected from the western (135), southern (60), northern (20), and North-Eastern Hill (NEH) (60) regions of India and tested for rotaviruses. All the samples were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Rotaviruses were detected in 10.18 % of samples by SDS-PAGE and/or RT-PCR with a maximum of 30 % from the NEH region followed by 7.4 % from the western region. Samples from the southern and northern regions were found to be negative. Only 10 isolates were subjected to genotypic characterization using amplification of VP7 and VP4 genes followed by two separate multiplex PCR assays for G genotyping and another two for P genotyping using genotype-specific primers. Of these, three isolates could be typed as G4 specificity, one with G9, and three as P[6] leading to identification of an uncommon strain, G4P[6]. One isolate was further confirmed by nucleotide sequencing. The data demonstrate genetic diversity of porcine rotavirus strains and suggest that pig farms may serve as potential reservoirs for human infections.

Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Lactobacillus Acidophilus as an Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Antibiofilm Agent Against Multi-drug Resistant Enteroaggregative Escherichia Coli.

The present study was envisaged to employ the green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the potential probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus, to assess its antibacterial as well as antibiofilm activity against multi-drug-resistant enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (MDR-EAEC) strains and to investigate their antioxidant activity. In this study, AgNPs were successfully synthesized through an eco-friendly protocol, which was then confirmed by its X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. A weight loss of 15% up to 182 °C with a narrow exothermic peak between 170 °C and 205 °C was observed in thermogravimetric analysis-differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), while aggregated nanoclusters were observed in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging of AgNPs revealed a spherical morphology and crystalline nature with an optimum size ranging from 10 to 20 nm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of green synthesized AgNPs against the MDR-EAEC strains were found to be 7.80 mg/L and 15.60 mg/L, respectively. In vitro time-kill kinetic assay revealed a complete elimination of the MDR-EAEC strains after 180 min on co-incubation with the AgNPs. Moreover, the green synthesized AgNPs were found safe by in vitro haemolytic assay. Besides, the green synthesized AgNPs exhibited significant biofilm inhibition (P < 0.001) formed by MDR-EAEC strains. Additionally, a concentration-dependent antioxidant activity was observed in 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Hence, this study demonstrated potential antibacterial as well as antibiofilm activity of green synthesized AgNPs against MDR-EAEC strains with antioxidant properties and warrants further in-depth studies to explore it as an effective antimicrobial agent against MDR infections.