Myogenesis and Analysis of Antimicrobial Potential of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) against Pathogenic Bacteria.

The widespread and indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics leads to microbial resistance, which causes major problems in the treatment of infectious diseases. However, advances in nanotechnology have opened up new domains for the synthesis and use of nanoparticles against multidrug-resistant pathogens. The traditional approaches for nanoparticle synthesis are not only expensive, laborious, and hazardous but also have various limitations. Therefore, new biological approaches are being designed to synthesize economical and environmentally friendly nanoparticles with enhanced antimicrobial activity. The current study focuses on the isolation, identification, and screening of metallotolerant fungal strains for the production of silver nanoparticles, using antimicrobial activity analysis and the characterization of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In total, 11 fungal isolates were isolated and screened for the synthesis of AgNPs, while the Penicillium notatum (K1) strain was found to be the most potent, demonstrating biosynthetic ability. The biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles showed excellent antibacterial activity against the bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC10536), Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC9144), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC10145), Enterococcus faecalis, and Listeria innocua (ATCC13932). Furthermore, three major diffraction peaks in the XRD characterization, located at the 2θ values of 28.4, 34.8, 38.2, 44, 64, and 77°, confirmed the presence of AgNPs, while elemental composition analysis via EDX and spherical surface topology with a scanning electron microscope indicated that its pure crystalline nature was entirely composed of silver. Thus, the current study indicates the enhanced antibacterial capability of mycologically synthesized AgNPs, which could be used to counter multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Effect of ellagic acid and mesocarp extract of Punica granatum on productive and reproductive performances of laying hens.

In the present study, we determined the potential effects of ellagic acid and mesocarp extract of Punica granatum on the productive and reproduction performance of laying hens. Five treatment groups were setup: (1) control group (without ellagic acid), (2) 50 mg of ellagic acid, (3) 100 mg of ellagic acid, (4) 200 mg of ellagic acid, and (5) mesocarp extract of P. granatum. All the groups were investigated for feed intake, body weight, egg production, egg quality, fertility, hatchability, antioxidant status of serum and liver, lipid peroxidation, and antibacterial activities. Egg production, feed intake, and bodyweight were significantly increased (p < 0.05) with 100 mg of ellagic acid and P. granatum extract while no significant effect was observed on albumen and yolk weight, yolk index, yolk color, egg-shape index, and Haugh unit. Both ellagic acid and P. granatum extract significantly improved hatchability while 100 and 200 mg/kg of ellagic acid numerically decreased fertility. Besides, ellagic acid (100 mg/kg) and P. granatum extract significantly decreased malondialdehyde concentration and increased total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and total superoxide dismutase in serum and liver samples of laying hens (p < 0.05). The lipid peroxidation was decreased among the treatment groups, with 100 mg of ellagic acid and P. granatum extract showed the best activity. Moreover, ellagic acid demonstrated strong killing activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus while it was ineffective against methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Our results conclude that ellagic acid and P. granatum promoted egg production, hatchability, and antioxidant enzyme activities of the laying hens.

Burn Wound Microbiology and the Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Bacterial Isolates in Three Burn Units of Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Infection is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among burn patients and is accentuated multifold by the emergence of antimicrobial resistance among the nosocomial isolates. It is vital to know the common organisms involved in infected burn wound etiology and their respective antibiotic susceptibility patterns. These crucial findings can help in formulating a better and more efficient antimicrobial therapy plan for controlling burn wound infections. The current study was conducted to identify the common bacteria involved in causing infections in wounds of burn patients and their respective antibiotic susceptibility patterns in three hospitals of Abbottabad, Pakistan. A total of 100 patients were included from the burn units of three hospitals in Abbottabad. Wound swabs were taken from the deepest portions of infected burns, and the organisms involved were isolated via standard microbiological techniques. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique was used to monitor antibiotic susceptibility. Gram-positive organisms were found readily in infected burn wounds. Staphylococcus aureus (46%) was the most common isolate followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (17%), Escherichia coli (16%), Proteus spp. (12%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was only 7%. Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to amikacin, gentamicin, cefotaxime, and norfloxacin. In contrast, the gram-negative isolates were sensitive to amikacin, chloramphenicol, and nalidixic acid. Pseudomonas was resistant to most of the antibiotics tested in the present study.

Antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacterial isolates from post-surgical wounds of patients in tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Postoperative wound infections are the infections of the operating site within thirty days after surgery. The infections that develop after surgery are a major problem throughout the world leading to, increased morbidity and mortality. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of bacterial pathogens causing wound infection in the surgical wards and to determine the antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of the isolated bacteria. A total of 250 wound samples were collected over a period of 6 months from July-December, 2016. The pathogenic bacteria were isolated, identified and their antibiotic susceptibility was determined through disc diffusion method. Among 250 cases, 210 (84%) were culture positive for bacterial pathogens, while 40 (16%) were bacteriologically sterile (Negative). Rate of infection was high in males (55.6%) than females (44.4%). The predominant isolates were E.coli 55 (26.19%), followed by S.aureus 51 (24.28%), Pseudomonas spp. 43(20.47%), S.aureus MRSA 21 (10%), Proteus Marbillis 15 (7.14%), E.coli ESBL producer was 8 (3.81%), Acinetobacter 7 (3.33%) Proteus valgaris 5 (2.38%), b-Streptococci 3 (1.43%) and Klebsella pneumonia were the least, 2 (0.95%). Linezolid, Vancomycin, Amoxycillin, Cefoperazone and Meropenem are the most effective antibiotics for treating post-surgical wound infections.