In vitro antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticles synthesised using the seed extracts of three varieties of Phoenix dactylifera / Atividades antibacterianas in vitro de nanopartículas de prata sintetizadas usando extratos de sementes de três variedades de Phoenix dactylifera

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is an ecofriendly, cost-effective and promising approach for discovery of novel therapeutics. The aim of the current work was to biogenic synthesize, characterize AgNPs using seed extracts of three economically important varieties of date palm (Iklas, Irziz and Shishi), and assess their anti-pathogenic bacterial activities. AgNPs were synthesised then characterised using electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analyses. The bactericidal activities of AgNPs against five different bacterial pathogens, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, were determined in vitro. In particular, changes in membrane integrity of virulent bacterial strains in response to AgNPs were investigated. Results of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase activity assays, and measurement of membrane potential revealed that the cytotoxic effects of the AgNPs were mainly centred on the plasma membrane of bacterial cells, leading to loss of its integrity and eventually cell death. In conclusion, green synthesis of AgNPs is an efficient, cost-effective and promising strategy to combat virulent antibiotic-resistant strains.

A síntese verde de nanopartículas de prata (AgNPs) é uma abordagem ecologicamente correta, econômica e promissora para a descoberta de novas terapêuticas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi sintetizar biogênica, caracterizar AgNPs usando extratos de sementes de três variedades economicamente importantes de tamareira (Iklas, Irziz e Shishi) e avaliar suas atividades bacterianas antipatogênicas. AgNPs foram sintetizados e caracterizados usando microscopia eletrônica e análise de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier. As atividades bactericidas de AgNPs contra cinco diferentes patógenos bacterianos, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina e Streptococcus pneumoniae, foram determinadas in vitro. Em particular, foram investigadas alterações na integridade da membrana de cepas bacterianas virulentas em resposta a AgNPs. Os resultados da lactato desidrogenase, dos ensaios da atividade da fosfatase alcalina e da medição do potencial de membrana revelaram que os efeitos citotóxicos dos AgNPs estavam principalmente centrados na membrana plasmática das células bacterianas, levando à perda de sua integridade e, eventualmente, à morte celular. A síntese verde de AgNPs é uma estratégia eficiente, econômica e promissora para combater cepas virulentas resistentes a antibióticos.

In vitro antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticles synthesised using the seed extracts of three varieties of Phoenix dactylifera

Abstract Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is an ecofriendly, cost-effective and promising approach for discovery of novel therapeutics. The aim of the current work was to biogenic synthesize, characterize AgNPs using seed extracts of three economically important varieties of date palm (Iklas, Irziz and Shishi), and assess their anti-pathogenic bacterial activities. AgNPs were synthesised then characterised using electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analyses. The bactericidal activities of AgNPs against five different bacterial pathogens, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, were determined in vitro. In particular, changes in membrane integrity of virulent bacterial strains in response to AgNPs were investigated. Results of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase activity assays, and measurement of membrane potential revealed that the cytotoxic effects of the AgNPs were mainly centred on the plasma membrane of bacterial cells, leading to loss of its integrity and eventually cell death. In conclusion, green synthesis of AgNPs is an efficient, cost-effective and promising strategy to combat virulent antibiotic-resistant strains.

Resumo A síntese verde de nanopartículas de prata (AgNPs) é uma abordagem ecologicamente correta, econômica e promissora para a descoberta de novas terapêuticas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi sintetizar biogênica, caracterizar AgNPs usando extratos de sementes de três variedades economicamente importantes de tamareira (Iklas, Irziz e Shishi) e avaliar suas atividades bacterianas antipatogênicas. AgNPs foram sintetizados e caracterizados usando microscopia eletrônica e análise de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier. As atividades bactericidas de AgNPs contra cinco diferentes patógenos bacterianos, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina e Streptococcus pneumoniae, foram determinadas in vitro. Em particular, foram investigadas alterações na integridade da membrana de cepas bacterianas virulentas em resposta a AgNPs. Os resultados da lactato desidrogenase, dos ensaios da atividade da fosfatase alcalina e da medição do potencial de membrana revelaram que os efeitos citotóxicos dos AgNPs estavam principalmente centrados na membrana plasmática das células bacterianas, levando à perda de sua integridade e, eventualmente, à morte celular. A síntese verde de AgNPs é uma estratégia eficiente, econômica e promissora para combater cepas virulentas resistentes a antibióticos.

In vitro antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticles synthesised using the seed extracts of three varieties of Phoenix dactylifera / Atividades antibacterianas in vitro de nanopartículas de prata sintetizadas usando extratos de sementes de três variedades de Phoenix dactylifera

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is an ecofriendly, cost-effective and promising approach for discovery of novel therapeutics. The aim of the current work was to biogenic synthesize, characterize AgNPs using seed extracts of three economically important varieties of date palm (Iklas, Irziz and Shishi), and assess their anti-pathogenic bacterial activities. AgNPs were synthesised then characterised using electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analyses. The bactericidal activities of AgNPs against five different bacterial pathogens, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, were determined in vitro. In particular, changes in membrane integrity of virulent bacterial strains in response to AgNPs were investigated. Results of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase activity assays, and measurement of membrane potential revealed that the cytotoxic effects of the AgNPs were mainly centred on the plasma membrane of bacterial cells, leading to loss of its integrity and eventually cell death. In conclusion, green synthesis of AgNPs is an efficient, cost-effective and promising strategy to combat virulent antibiotic-resistant strains.

A síntese verde de nanopartículas de prata (AgNPs) é uma abordagem ecologicamente correta, econômica e promissora para a descoberta de novas terapêuticas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi sintetizar biogênica, caracterizar AgNPs usando extratos de sementes de três variedades economicamente importantes de tamareira (Iklas, Irziz e Shishi) e avaliar suas atividades bacterianas antipatogênicas. AgNPs foram sintetizados e caracterizados usando microscopia eletrônica e análise de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier. As atividades bactericidas de AgNPs contra cinco diferentes patógenos bacterianos, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina e Streptococcus pneumoniae, foram determinadas in vitro. Em particular, foram investigadas alterações na integridade da membrana de cepas bacterianas virulentas em resposta a AgNPs. Os resultados da lactato desidrogenase, dos ensaios da atividade da fosfatase alcalina e da medição do potencial de membrana revelaram que os efeitos citotóxicos dos AgNPs estavam principalmente centrados na membrana plasmática das células bacterianas, levando à perda de sua integridade e, eventualmente, à morte celular. A síntese verde de AgNPs é uma estratégia eficiente, econômica e promissora para combater cepas virulentas resistentes a antibióticos.

Comparative Study Between Periostin And Osteocalcin As Biomarkers For Osteoporosis And Fracture Risk In Egyptian Postmenopausal Women

Objective: This study aimed to compare between periostin and osteocalcin as biomarkers in Egyptian postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and to explore their possible relationship with fracture risk. Methods: This study included 90 postmenopausal females recruited from Al-Hussein University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt; divided into three groups; 35 postmenopausal osteoporotic females with low fracture risk (group I), 35 postmenopausal osteoporotic females with high fracture risk (group II), and 20 apparently healthy controls. Serum periostin, osteocalcin, and estrogen were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Fracture risk assessment was calculated. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total and ionized calcium, Aspartate transaminase (AST), and Alanine transaminase (ALT) were measured spectrophotometrically. Results: The diagnostic performance of periostin for discriminating high fracture risk from low fracture risk groups showed the specificity of (68.6 %) and sensitivity of (100 %), while for osteocalcin the specificity was (51.4 %) and the sensitivity was (68.6 %) respectively. Moreover, the multi Receiver Operating Characteristics (multi-ROC) curve for periostin and osteocalcin together revealed improved specificity and sensitivity of (100 %) each. Conclusion: Periostin was superior to osteocalcin in discriminating high fracture risk from low fracture risk postmenopausal osteoporotic groups. Moreover, dual use of both markers gave the highest discriminative power between low and high fracture risk groups with 100 % specificity and sensitivity.

Molecular characterisation of Panton–Valentine leucocidin‑producing methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus clones isolated from the main hospitals in Taif, KSA.

Introduction: Panton–Valentine leucocidin (PVL) is a bicomponent pore‑forming cytolytic toxin encoded by the lukF‑PV and lukS‑PV genes. Community‑acquired methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA‑MRSA) may carry the pvl genes which may be related to increased disease severity. This study aimed to characterise the PVL‑producing MRSA recovered from different Taif Hospitals, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study included 45 hospital‑acquired‑MRSA (HA‑MRSA) and 26 CA‑MRSA strains which were identified from 445 S. aureus strains isolated from different clinical samples. MRSA strains were identified by standard oxacillin salt agar screening procedure and by the detection of the mecA gene by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Detection of the S. aureus‑specific femA, mecA and pvl genes was performed by multiplex PCR. PCR‑restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‑RFLP) analysis was done for coagulase (coa) gene. Results: The staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec types of the 45 HA‑MRSA strains were Type I (n = 24), Type II (n = 7) and Type III (n = 14) whereas the 26 CA‑MRSA strains were Type IV (n = 14), Type V (n = 11) and one isolate was non‑typeable. All the HA‑MRSA and six CA‑MRSA strains were PVL‑negative PCR‑RFLP analysis of coa gene showed that PVL‑positive MRSA (n = 20) isolates showed six different patterns, and five patterns were shared by PVL‑positive methicillin‑susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). The eighth pattern was the most frequent in both MRSA and MSSA. Conclusion: PVL is more frequent among CA‑MRSA than MSSA. All the HA‑MRSA and 25% of CA‑MRSA strains were negative for PVL. The pvl gene was related to the severity of infection but not related to coa gene RFLP pattern.

Frequence et profil de sensibilite aux antibiotiques des bacteries isolees des hemocultures au CHU de Mahdia

L'objectif de notre etude etait de determiner l'epidemiologie et le profil desensibilite aux antibiotiques des bacteries isolees des hemocultures dans le CHUde Mahdia; afin d'optimiser l'antibiotherapie probabiliste utilisee en premiere intention.Cette etude retrospective a ete realisee sur une periode de seize mois (Jui ll et2007 a Octobre 2008) et a concerne 398 isolats. Cinquante neuf pourcent des isolats etaient des bacilles a Gram negatif (BGN) dont 83;2d'enterobacteries. Les cocci a Gram positif representaient 39;7avec predominance de staphylocoques a coagulase negative (61;2). Les BGN non fermentant representaient 16;8. La resistance a l'oxacilline etait de 34;2pour les staphylocoques a coagulase negative. Les enterobacteries etaient resistantes aux C3G dans 50;5. Le taux de resistance de l'Acinetobacter baumannii etait de 62a la ceftazidime et de 51a l'imipeneme. Celui de Pseudomonas aeruginosa etait; respectivement de 35;3et de 18;7. Une surveillance epidemiologique des bacteriemies est necessaire; a l'echelle d'un hopital; pour mieux guider l'antibiotherapie probabiliste

Lactose/whey fermentation and single cell protein production by auxotrophic mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Different auxotrophic mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe derived from argon irradiation and ethyl methanesulfonate [EMS] treatments were tested for single cell protein [SCP] production and also for the fermentation of lactose/whey as the agro-industrial wastes produced in very large quantities by the diary industry and often comes to be an environmental threat. Some of these mutants and prototrophic isolates were found to induce high yield of biomass and SCP. In addition, many of isolates, which have a higher yield of biomass, proved to give the highest yield of protein. Fermentation studies of lactose/whey showed that some of auxotrophic mutants could efficiently utilize lactose as a carbon source and grow well in whey medium. Although most of the mutants were significantly assimilated and bioconverted lactose, they significantly decreased residual lactose. Analysis of variance showed significant differences for lactose consumption and residual lactose. Auxotrophic mutants were utilized up to 65% of lactose in whey medium, 71% whey + 0.4% lactose and 76% in whey + 0.4% glucose. The results indicated that the biomass of yeast cells produced by the efficient strains of Schizosaccharomyces pombe through the fermentation of lactose/cheese whey might be considered as a protein source for marine and animal feeding. The utilization of these waste materials decreases pollution problems

Detection and classification of mutagens with a new salmonella typhimurium tester strains

This paper described a model that relates the actual effect measured in the Salmonella test, i.e. the number of revertants colonies, the number of survivors and their relationship with the dose-response. A detection and classification system for mutagens has been developed using a new tester strain, TA102, this strain contains AT base pairs at the site of the mutation, in contrast to other Salmonella tester strains that detect mutagens damaging GC base pairs. The new strains detects a variety of aldehydes, including petroleum ether and hexane, oxidative mutagen, including phenylhydrazine as well as factory effluents. Most of these mutagens as well as factory effluents demonstrate a linear dose response for revertants induced over the spontaneous value which is evidence for mutagenicity and also for cell survivors at levels that are not excessively toxic to the bacteria. All of compounds tested on the bacteria resulted in negative and positive correlation for cell survivors and revertants induced, respectively

Ames fluctuation tests are more sensitive than plate tests in detects ecotoxicological and mutagenicity of factory effluents

In this study, an ecotoxicological and mutagenic characterization of liquid industrial wastes from Fertilizer Factory [FF] and Oils and Soap Company [OSC] has been performed using 3 short-term assays [the incorpo-Ames-fluctuation test, plate ration and preincubation tests] with Salmonella TA strains and E. coli. The expression of ecotoxicity data in terms of survivors demonstrate the dose-response toxic range for both effluents. The strains TA102 and TA1537 were found to be more sensitive to FF effluents-induced mutagenesis in a plate assays as well as TA102 and TA1538 with OSC effluents. The effluents of OSC was found to be excessively toxic to the revertants of TA1537. In the fluctuation tests, the maximum sensitivity for mutagenicity was achieved by the effluents of OSC other than of FF; in contrast, the effluents of FF were found to be weakly mutagenic and strongly toxic other than the wastes of OSC. However, the fluctuation technique using modified media was shown to detect a wider range of mutagenic effect of effluents than tests with standard media

Effect of caffeine on base-pair substitution and frameshift mutagenesis induced in salmonella typhimurium

The mutagenicity of caffeine was studied by using 2 different Ames Salmonellamutagenicity tester strains. Three short-term assays [plate incorporation,preincubation and the Ames-fluctuation test] were carried out to evaluate thegenotoxicity of caffeine. The effect of some extracts of the culturalfiltrate of Alternaria eichhorniae on the original strains and theirrevertants was also examined. Mutagenicity data for caffeine demonstrated adose-response at levels that are not excessively toxic to bacteria. In allcases, the addition of preincubation resulted in greater sensitivity thanplate incorporation. Testing conducted with strains that carry the base- pairsubstitutions and frame-shift mutations in different repair backgroundsindicated that the presence of pKM101 and the deletion of the uvr B genefacilitate the detection of caffeine as mutagen. The mutagenic activity ofcaffeine determined by employing Salmonella typhimurium mutagenesis assay[TA1535 and TA97] revealed the mutagenic potency of base-pair substitutions andframe-shift mutations in all assays, without any need for metabolicactivation, indicating the presence of direct-action mutagen

Immune response to brucella: transfer factor from guinea pigs

Br. melitensis was isolated from human patients suffering from brucellosis. The micro-organisms were serologically identified using some serological tests, like ELISA and fluorescent tests. Using guinea pigs immunized with brucella mciro-organisms, we found that a low molecular weight substance derived from spleen cells was able to transfer sensitivity to brucella antigen, to non-immunized animals. Material obtained from spleens of sline treated guinea pigs did not transfer sensitivity to brucella antigen

Solitary plasmacytoma of the frontal bone. Case report and review of literature

A case solitary plasmacytoma of the frontal bone was presented. The patient underwent total excision of the lesion and acrylic cranioplasty. Post-operative radiotherapy was not given. He remains free of local recurrence or evidence of systemic myeloma after a follow-up of 12 months. Relevant literature was reviewed

Primary epidural Ewing's sarcoma [a case report]

A case of primary epidural Ewing's sarcoma is presented. Only 18 such cases have so far been reported in the literature. Their clinical features, diagnosis and management are briefly discussed, with a review of relevant literature

review of etiological factors in erythema multiforme

A total of forty nine patients with erythema multiforme was studied. Twenty six patients were male and twenty three were females with a mean age of 22.7 years. In 65.3% of the patients, erythema multiforme was preceded by simplex facialis. The latent period between the herpes simplex infection and erythema multiforme ranged from 2-14 days with a mean of 5.5 days. The post-herpetic erythema multiforme was recurrent in 28.1% of the cases