Molecular detection of different virulence factors genes harbor pslA, pelA, exoS, toxA and algD among biofilm-forming clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is considered as the foremost cause of hospital-acquired infections due to its innate and plasmid-mediated resistance to multiple antibiotics making it a multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogen. This study aimed to determine the biofilm formation ability and the presence of different virulence factors genes (pslA, pelA, exoS, toxA and algD) among biofilm-forming strains of P. aeruginosa clinical isolates from burn units in Ismailia Hospitals, Egypt. In our cross-sectional study, one hundred and twenty-six (126) non-duplicate clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered from 450 clinical specimens from burn units in Ismailia Hospitals. The antibiotic sensitivity of strong and moderate biofilm producer isolates was investigated using the disc diffusion method. The isolated bacteria were tested for their ability to form biofilm using a microtiter plate assay. The expression of (pslA, pelA, exoS, toxA and algD) genes in biofilm producers isolates was detected using PCR. The MPA detected 80% (95 /126) isolates as biofilm producers, 18% (22/126) were strong biofilm producers, 34% (43/126) were moderate biofilm producers, 28% (35/126) were weak biofilm producers and 20% (31/126) non-biofilm producers. Susceptibility pattern analysis of biofilm-forming P. aeruginosa isolates (95) detected that 60% (68/ 95) were multi-drug resistant isolates (MDR). Resistance to all used antibiotics and multidrug resistance was higher among biofilm-producing than non-biofilm-producing strains, but the difference was statistically non-significant. Investigation of virulence factors associated genes revealed that 96%, 94%, 86.4%, 80.0% and 74% of the biofilm producers isolates were harboring algD, pslA, pel A, toxA and exoS gene, respectively. The present study confirmed that antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes were more prominent in biofilm-producing P. aeruginosa than in non-biofilm-producers.

Multi-omics analysis of fecal samples in colorectal cancer Egyptians patients: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a public health concern and the second most common disease worldwide. This is due to genetic coding and is influenced by environmental aspects, in which the gut microbiota plays a significant role. The purpose of this study was to compare the microbiota makeup of CRC patients with that of healthy control and to identify upregulated and downregulated proteins and metabolites in CRC patients. Using a next-generation sequencing approach, fecal samples of five females (4 CRC patients and one healthy control) were analyzed by BGI DNBSEQ-T7, Hong Kong, China. Furthermore, proteomics and metabolomics analysis were performed using LC-MS/MS technique. RESULTS: Dysbiosis of gut microbiota has been observed in patients with CRC, with an increase in microbiota diversity at all taxonomic levels relative to healthy control. Where, at the functional level the bacterial species participate in many different pathways among them de novo nucleotide synthesis and amino acids pathways were aberrantly upregulated in CRC patients. Proteomics and metabolomics profiles of CRC patients showed different proteins and metabolites, a total of 360 and 158 proteins and metabolites, respectively were highly expressed compared to healthy control with fold change ≥ 1.2. Among the highly expressed proteins were transketolase, sushi domain-containing protein, sulfide quinone oxidoreductase protein, AAA family ATPase protein, carbonic anhydrase, IgG Fc-binding protein, nucleoside diphosphate kinase protein, arylsulfatase, alkaline phosphatase protein, phosphoglycerate kinase, protein kinase domain-containing protein, non-specific serine/threonine protein kinase, Acyl-CoA synthetase and EF-hand domain-containing protein. Some of the differential metabolites, Taurine, Taurocholic acid, 7-ketodeoxycholic acid, Glycochenodeoxycholic acid, Glycocholic acid, and Taurochenodeoxycholic acid that belong to bile acids metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: Some bacterial species, proteins, and metabolites could be used as diagnostic biomarkers for CRC. Our study paves an insight into using multi-omics technology to address the relationship between gut microbiota and CRC.

Metabolomic Profiling and Molecular Networking of Nudibranch-Associated Streptomyces sp. SCSIO 001680.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are the primary source of one of the growing public health problems that requires global attention, indicating an urgent need for new antibiotics. Marine ecosystems are characterized by high biodiversity and are considered one of the essential sources of bioactive chemical compounds. Bacterial associates of marine invertebrates are commonly a source of active medicinal and natural products and are important sources for drug discovery. Hence, marine invertebrate-associated microbiomes are a fruitful resource for excavating novel genes and bioactive compounds. In a previous study, we isolated Streptomyces sp. SCSIO 001680, coded as strain 63, from the Red Sea nudibranch Chromodoris quadricolor, which exhibited antimicrobial and antitumor activity. In addition, this isolate harbors several natural product biosynthetic gene clusters, suggesting it has the potential to produce bioactive natural products. The present study aimed to investigate the metabolic profile of the isolated Streptomyces sp. SCSIO 001680 (strain 63) and to predict their potential role in the host's survival. The crude metabolic extracts of strain 63 cultivated in two different media were characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The metabolomics approach provided us with characteristic chemical fingerprints of the cellular processes and the relative abundance of specific compounds. The Global Products Social Molecular Networking database was used to identify the metabolites. While 434 metabolites were detected in the extracts, only a few compounds were identified based on the standards and the public spectral libraries, including desferrioxamines, marineosin A, and bisucaberin, halichoblelide, alternarin A, pachastrelloside A, streptodepsipeptide P1 1B, didemnaketal F, and alexandrolide. This finding suggests that this strain harbors several novel compounds. In addition, the metabolism of the microbiome of marine invertebrates remains poorly represented. Thus, our data constitute a valuable complement to the study of metabolism in the host microbiome.

Antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles on Fluconazole resistant Dermatophytes identified by (GACA)4 and isolated from primary school children suffering from Tinea Capitis in Ismailia - Egypt.

Fungal infections caused by dermatophytes recently became more common. Available antifungal drugs are limited because of emergence of resistant strains due to prophylaxis with them, so there is an urgent need for novel antifungals. This study is aimed to detect the antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) on Fluconazole resistant dermatophytes isolated from primary school children clinically suffering from tinea capitis and attending El-Sheikh Zaid Dermatology Center in Ismailia. The study was done on 112 clinical cases. Examination with potassium hydroxide(KOH) of hair samples was done, followed by routine identification using culturing, macroscopical and microscopical examination and biochemical tests, finally molecular identification using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with (GACA) 4 was done. Fluconazole resistance of these dermatophytes was detected by different methods including agar disc diffusion method and broth microdilution susceptibility testing. Silver nanoparticles susceptibility testing was carried out on these Fluconazole resistant dermatophytes. The Ubiquitin 1 (Ub 1) gene was detected in samples which were Fluconazole resistant but SNPs susceptible. In this study dermatophytes were found only in 70 samples (62.5%). They were belonged to 3 species: Trichophyton violaceum, Microsporum gypseum and Microsporum canis. Fluconazole resistance was found in 58 samples (82.85%). Both M. canis and M. gypseum were resistant to all used concentrations of SNPs, while T. violaceum was susceptible to 50 µg/ml SNPs solution. The Ub1 gene was detected in 1 sample (4.8%). Therefore SNPs can be used for treatment of T. violaceum, while they can't be used for treatment of M. canis or M. gypseum.