Microbial Diversity in African Foods and Beverages: A Systematic Assessment.

This article provides a comprehensive and in-depth examination of the microbial diversity inherent in African food and beverages, with a particular emphasis on fermented products. It identifies and characterizes the dominant microorganisms, including both prokaryotes and yeasts, prevalent in these foods, and furthermore, critically analyzes the health benefits of these microbial strains, especially their probiotic properties, which could potentially improve digestion and contribute to human health. Notably, it underscores the vital role these microorganisms play in bolstering food security across Africa by enhancing and preserving food quality and safety. It also delves into the potential applications of microbial products, such as metabolites, in the food industry, suggesting their possible use in food processing and preservation. Conclusively, with a summarization of the key findings, emphasizing the importance of gaining a deep understanding of microbial diversity in African beverages and foods. Such knowledge is crucial not only in promoting food security but also in advancing public health.

Tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment financial profile during 2006-2021: PART A.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that is a major cause of death and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Currently, there is no analyzed data to examine the financial profile of TB by country, continent, and year; this article analyzed TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment financial profile during the last two decades. METHODS: Original research, reviews, and governmental databases are analyzed to present the financial profile of TB. RESULTS: Analyzed data showed Europe (23137.133), Asia (20137.073), and Africa (15237.973) had the most allocated funds (US $ million), and Oceania (236.702), and America (4745.043) had the lowest allocated fund (US $ million) during 2006-2021. Additionally, the allocation of funds (domestic funds, global funds, and grants [excluding global funds]) in different countries and proper planning for TB eradication has caused that in the last two decades, the slope of the confirmed cases and deaths graph line is negative. CONCLUSION: The number of confirmed cases and deaths reported globally is decreasing. The trend lines showed that the assigned funds are increasing, indicating that the TB eradication plan can be apprehended soon.

Therapeutic Potential of Clostridium novyi-NT in Cancer: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives.

Resistance to conventional antitumour therapies and Hypoxia in patients with advanced solid tumours are two major reasons for the failure of conventional anti-tumour therapies. Therefore, it is important to find a new therapeutic method that can overcome these problems. An attenuated anaerobic bacterium, Clostridium novyi-NT, could target Hypoxic and Necrotic areas of tumours causing tumour lysis and stimulating a host anti-tumour immune response. To the best of our knowledge, the combination of bacterial anti-tumour therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy may promote tumour regression, inhibit metastasis and develop a new strategy for the treatment of solid tumours. However, the possible molecular mechanisms of the combined therapies are still the biggest challenge. This review provides an overview of the history of bacterial cancer therapy and the development of a non-lethal strain of Clostridium novyi. Below is a precise definition of Hypoxic conditions in solid tumour tissue. To understand the anticancer effect of Clostridium novyi-NT spores, possible cell death mechanisms were summarised by the enzyme phospholipase C (nt01cx0979), which is secreted by Clostridium novyi-NT spores after germination in tumour tissue. The function of Clostridium novyi-NT spores in stimulating the host immune system to elicit anti-tumour responses was reviewed. Then, the results of anti-tumour combination therapies based on Clostridium novyi-NT spores were compiled. Identifying the molecular mechanisms of Clostridium novyi-NT in treating tumours and inducing cell death in invasive cancer cells, ultimately leading to tumour regression, may develop promising clinical strategies in the combined treatment of solid tumours.

Propolis efficacy on SARS-COV viruses: a review on antimicrobial activities and molecular simulations.

This current study review provides a brief review of a natural bee product known as propolis and its relevance toward combating SARS-CoV viruses. Propolis has been utilized in medicinal products for centuries due to its excellent biological properties. These include anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and bactericidal activities. Furthermore, studies on molecular simulations show that flavonoids in propolis may reduce viral replication. While further research is needed to validate this theory, it has been observed that COVID-19 patients receiving propolis show earlier viral clearance, enhanced symptom recovery, quicker discharge from hospitals, and a reduced mortality rate relative to other patients. As a result, it appears that propolis could probably be useful in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Therefore, this review sought to explore the natural properties of propolis and further evaluated past studies that investigated propolis as an alternative product for the treatment of COVID-19 symptoms. In addition, the review also highlights the possible mode of propolis action as well as molecular simulations of propolis compounds that may interact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The activity of propolis compounds in decreasing the impact of COVID-19-related comorbidities, the possible roles of such compounds as COVID-19 vaccine adjuvants, and the use of nutraceuticals in COVID-19 treatment, instead of pharmaceuticals, has also been discussed.

Evaluation of the different methods to detect Salmonella in poultry feces samples.

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne outbreaks and infection worldwide. The gold-standard detection method of Salmonella is cultivation. There is a need to investigate rapid and accurate processes with time-consuming cultivation. The study evaluated different approaches to detect Salmonella in poultry feces samples. Poultry farm feces samples from 21 cities in Iran were collected from January 2016 to December 2019. Microbiological cultures, serological assays, and multiplex PCR (m-PCR) were used to detect and characterize Salmonella spp. isolates. Serological assays and m-PCR were used to determine the serogroups A, B, C1, C2, D1, E, H, and FliC. The m-PCR was used to detect seven Salmonella serovars, and a Chi-square test was performed to compare the discriminatory power of the methods. Of 2300 poultry feces samples, 173 (7.5%) and 166 (7.2%) samples were detected as Salmonella spp. by cultivation and m-PCR, respectively. The sensitivity of the molecular method was equal to cultivation at 0.96 (CI = 95%). Assessment of H antigenic subgroups showed the same for both m-PCR and serological tests. Therefore, the matching rate of the two methods for detecting all H antigenic subgroups was 100%. Thus, the relationship between the results obtained from both methods was significant in the contingency table test (P < 0.01). The PCR-based approach confirmed the detection of Salmonella in a shorter period (24-36 h) compared to the conventional microbiological approach (3-8 days).

2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) overview.

Novel coronaviruses (CoVs) are zoonotic pathogens, but the first human-to-human transmission has been reported. CoVs have the best known genome of all RNA viruses, and mutations in the genome have now been found. A pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China, was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on 31 December 2019. This study aims to report early findings related to COVID-19 and provide methods to prevent and treat it.

An Overview on the Epidemiology and Immunology of COVID-19.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and the 2019 novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Currently, there is no analyzed data to examine the outbreak of COVID-19 by continent and no determination of prevalence trends; this article reviews COVID-19 epidemiology and immunology. Original research, reviews, governmental databases, and treatment guidelines are analyzed to present the epidemiology and immunology of COVID-19. Reports from patients who were COVID-19 infected showed typical symptoms of neutrophilia, lymphopenia, and increased systemic inflammatory proteins of IL-6 and C reactive protein (CRP). These observations agree with the results of severe conditions of MERS or lethal cases of SARS, in which there is an increased presence of neutrophils and macrophages in the airways. Additionally, analyzed data showed that Europe (49.37%), the Americas (27.4%), and Eastern Mediterranean (10.07%) had the most cumulative total per 100,000 population confirmed cases, and Africa (6.9%), Western Pacific (3.46%), and South-East Asia (2.72%) had the lowest cumulative total per 100,000 population confirmed cases. In general, the trend lines showed that the number of confirmed cases (cumulative total) and deaths (cumulative total) would decrease eventually.

An Overview on the Upper and Lower Airway Microbiome in Cystic Fibrosis Patients.

BACKGROUND: In cystic fibrosis patients, the mucus is an excellent place for opportunistic bacteria and pathogens to cover. Chronic infections of upper and lower airways play a critical role in the mortality of cystic fibrosis. This study aimed to introduce the microbiota profiles in patients with cystic fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a comprehensive literature search was done for studies on upper and lower airway microbiota in cystic fibrosis patients. International and national databases were searched for the following MeSH words: microbiota, microbiome, upper airway, lower airway, cystic fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, upper airway microbiome, lower airway microbiome, microbiome pattern in cystic fibrosis, microbiome pattern in cystic fibrosis, upper airway microbiota, lower airway microbiota, and microbiota pattern. RESULTS: Streptococcus spp. are in significantly higher relative abundance in infants and children with cystic fibrosis; however, Pseudomonas spp. are in higher relative abundance in adults with cystic fibrosis. Molecular diagnostic techniques can be remarkably accurate in detecting microbial strains. CONCLUSION: For the detection and isolation of most bacterial species, independent-culture methods in addition to the standard culture method are recommended, and sampling should include both upper and lower airways.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Satureja Khuzestanica Jamzad and Zataria Multiflora Boiss against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND: The use of antibiotics is common, but its excessive or improper use leads to antibiotic resistance. Consequently, scientists have been interested in exploring traditional medicine to identify a new source of anti-bacterial agents. The present study aimed to conduct a systematic review to determine the anti-bacterial activity of Satureja Khuzestanica Jamzad (SKJ) and Zataria Multiflora Boiss (ZM) essential oils against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in vitro. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search for studies published on SKJ and ZM was carried out. Various keywords (S. Khuzestanica, Marzeh-e-Khuzestani, Z. Multiflora, Z. Multiflora Boiss; avishan-e-shirazi, shirazi thyme, thymol, carvacrol; P. aeruginosa, Iran, antibacterial effect; traditional medicine, phytomedicine, herbal medicine) were used to search both international and Iranian databases (Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, MEDLINE; PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Academic Search; Journal Storage, Magiran, Irandoc, Scientific Information Database (SID), and IranMedex). The selected articles were published during 2000-2017 and were written in English or Persian. RESULTS: Seventeen articles were included in the review. The main ingredients of SKJ and ZM plants were carvacrol and thymol. The potential anti-bacterial activity of essential oils from these plants was confirmed. The carvacrol content, as the major active ingredient of SKJ was between 38.33-97.89%. The major ingredients of ZM were carvacrol (16.8-82.7%) followed by thymol (25.70-64.87%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of SKJ and ZM essential oils against bacterial strains was in the range of 0.31-450 and 2-8,000 µg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present review study confirmed the anti-bacterial activity of SKJ and ZM, particularly against Pseudomonas in vitro.

The study of formulated Zoush ointment against wound infection and gene expression of virulence factors Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of MDR and XDR strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and increased resistance to infection in burn patients recommend the issue of infection control. In this research, we study ZOUSH herbal ointment for gene silencing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. METHODS: The herbal ZOUSH ointment was formulated by alcoholic extracts of plants Satureja khuzestaniea, Zataria multiflora, Mentha Mozaffariani Jamzad, honey, and polyurethane. The MIC and disk diffusion tests were examined by single, binary, tertiary and five compounds. Three-week-old mice were considered to be second-degree infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. During the interval of 5 days, cultures were done from the liver, blood, and wound by four consecutive quarters and counting of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was reported in the liver. In this study, silver sulfadiazine ointments and Akbar were used as a positive control. The gene gyrA reference was used as the control. Real-time RT-PCR results were evaluated based on Livak as the comparative Ct method. RESULTS: The In vitro results indicated that wound infection was improved by healing wound size in the treatment groups compared to control treatment group. In this research, the changes in gene expression were evaluated by molecular technique Real-time RT-PCR. The results showed downregulation exoS, lasA, and lasB after treatment with ZOUSH ointment. SPSS Analyses showed that reduction of expressions in genes exoS, lasA and lasB after treatment with ZOUSH ointment were significantly meaningful (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that ZOUSH ointment has the positive effect for gene silencing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the mouse model with the second-degree burn. The positive effects decreased in the number of bacteria by reducing the expression of virulence bacteria genes as exoS, lasA and lasB and improvement of wound healing.