current microbiology

Pinocembrin (5, 7- dihydroxy flavanone) is the most abundant chiral flavonoid found in propolis, exhibiting antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of Pinocembrin on allergic response is unexplored. Thus, current study aimed at investigating the effects of Pinocembrin on IgE-mediated allergic response in vitro. A special emphasis was directed toward histidine decarboxylase (HDC) and other pro-allergic and pro-inflammatory mediators. Preliminary studies, using a microbiological model of Klebsiella pneumoniae, provided first evidences that suggest Pinocembrin as a potential thermal stable inhibitor for HDC...

Molecular techniques are widely used in the field of parasitology to identify the genetic profile of the microbiological agents. Microsatellite typing studies are comprised of the amplification of polymorphic markers to analyze the fragment sizes using bioinformatics tools. Current methods need fluorescently labeled primers and size markers to obtain fragment peaks in ABI PRISM® systems and due to low discrimination power of gel-electrophoresis, it is not possible to differentiate primer-dimers from small fragments In the present study, we designed a new method for fragment analysis studies, which reduce the time by eliminating the classical PCR, the gel-electrophoresis and the preparation steps of fragment analysis...

RATIONALE: Nontuberculous mycobacteria are an important cause of morbidity in the United States, although patient outcomes vary greatly by species. Currently, nationally representative data on the distribution of mycobacterial species from clinical isolates are limited. OBJECTIVES: Using a national hospitalization database capturing microbiologic data for nearly six million patient encounters, we describe the geographic distribution of, and patient demographic features associated with, clinical mycobacterial isolates in the United States...

In his text 'On Architecture', Vitruvius suggested that architecture is an imitation of nature. Here we discuss what happens when we begin using nature in architecture. We describe recent developments in the study of biofilm structure, and propose combining modern architecture and synthetic microbiology to develop sustainable construction approaches. Recently, Kolodkin-Gal laboratory and others revealed a role for precipitation of calcium carbonate in the maturation and assembly of bacterial communities with complex structures...

Microorganisms are found throughout every corner of nature, and vast number of microorganisms is difficult to cultivate by classical microbiological techniques. The advent of metagenomics has revolutionized the field of microbial biotechnology. Metagenomics allow the recovery of genetic material directly from environmental niches without any cultivation techniques. Currently, metagenomic tools are widely employed as powerful tools to isolate and identify enzymes with novel biocatalytic activities from the uncultivable component of microbial communities...

OBJECTIVES: Appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy in patients with bloodstream infections due to Gram-negative pathogens can improve outcomes. We evaluated the utility of prior microbiologic results for guiding empiric treatment in Gram-negative bloodstream infections. METHODS: We conducted a multi-center observational cohort study, in two large health systems in Canada and the United States, including 1,832 hospitalized patients with Gram-negative bloodstream infection (community, hospital, and ICU acquired) from April 2010 to March 2015...

BACKGROUND: Current methods to identify infected tissue in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) are inadequate. The purpose of this study was (1) to assess methylene blue-guided surgical debridement as a novel technique in PJI using quantitative microbiology and (2) to evaluate clinical success based on eradication of infection and infection-free survival. METHODS: Sixteen total knee arthroplasty patients meeting Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria for PJI undergoing the first stage of 2-stage exchange arthroplasty were included in this prospective study...

After over a decade the Italian regulation on hygiene and surveillance in swimming pools is under revision based on WHO guidelines and current laws from other European countries. The Ministry of Health is proposing an update of the Annex 1 that contains physical, chemical and microbiological indicators for monitoring swimming pool hygiene. The authors review current regulations and the new proposal for updating surveillance. A comparison of Annex 1 as approved in 2003 and the new version as proposed in 2016 allowed to enlighten innovative improvements...

BACKGROUND: The increasing incidence of infections caused by drug-resistant Gram-negative organisms has led to a reemergence in worldwide. This study attempted to investigate the changes in resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to different classes of antibiotics and treatment options in invasive infections. METHODS: We performed this study retrospectively between January 2012 and January 2017 in our tertiary care university hospital. A total of 302 patients with Gram-negative bacterial bacteremia and meningitis were defined...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is one of the most important causes of healthcare-related infections among Gram-negative bacteria. The best therapeutic approach is controversial, especially for multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains as well as in the setting of most severe patients, such as in the intensive care unit (ICU). Areas covered: This article addresses several points. First, the main microbiological aspects of PA, focusing on its wide array of resistance mechanisms. Second, risk factors and the worse outcome linked to MDR-PA infection...

The occurrence of nocardial mastitis, mostly in the context of outbreaks, has been reported in many countries. However, there is a paucity of reports regarding detailed characterization of Nocardia cyriacigeorgica from bovine mastitis. Thus, herein we report characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, molecular identification, and pathogenicity of N. cyriacigeorgica isolated from an outbreak of clinical mastitis in a dairy herd in northern China. A total of 182 (80.2%) lactating cows had clinical mastitis with severe inflammation and firmness of the udder, reduced milk production, and anorexia, with no apparent clinical response to common antibiotics...

Durable engraftment of transplanted CD34+ cells largely depends on the quality of the cell product. Limited data are currently available about extended storage of immunoselected CD34+ cells. The aim of our study was to assess the stability of CD34+ cell product with the cells stored in high concentration (80×10(6) in 6mL) in small bags intended for cell implantation. Cell products were prepared by leukapheresis and immunoselection (Clinimacs(plus) procedure) from 13 patients with chronic dilated cardiomyopathy...

Purpose: Rapid identification of pathogens causing endophthalmitis may improve treatment outcomes through early administration of species-specific medication. The current study reports a new molecular application of peptide nucleic acid-fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA-FISH) with Staphylococcus-specific molecular PNA probes for the potential rapid detection of common pathogens causing endophthalmitis. Methods: An experimental study was designed to evaluate the proof of concept at the microbiology laboratory of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute...

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic encephalopathy is challenging complication of liver dysfunction. Therapeutic treatment options for hepatic encephalopathy are currently limited and have appreciable risks and benefits associated with their use. Rifaximin is a novel anti microbiological agent with wide spectrum of activity that has shown promise as an alternative option for hepatic encephalopathy. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of Rifaximin and Lactulose as a combination vs Lactulose alone, to compare the adverse effects and to study the rapidity of therapeutic effects of Rifaximin and Lactulose...

BACKGROUND: Highly sensitive, commercial nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for Trichomonas vaginalis have only recently been recommended for use in the UK. While testing for T. vaginalis is routine in symptomatic women attending genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, it is rare in asymptomatic women or those attending primary care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the positivity of T. vaginalis using a commercial NAAT, in symptomatic and asymptomatic women undergoing testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in GUM and primary care settings...

INTRODUCTION: Despite aggressive medical and surgical management, the resolution of skin and skin structure infections is often difficult due to insufficient host response, reduced drug penetration, and a high prevalence of resistance organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). As a result of these factors, conventional management often consists of prolonged broad-spectrum systemic antimicrobials. An alternative therapy in development, ultrasonic drug dispersion (UDD), uses a subcutaneous injection followed by external trans-cutaneous ultrasound to deliver high tissue concentrations of cefazolin with limited systemic exposure...

RATIONALE: Mozambique has recorded cyclically epidemic outbreaks of cholera. Antibiotic therapy is recommended in specific situations for management and control of cholera outbreaks. However, an increase in resistance rates to antibiotics by Vibrio cholerae has been reported in several epidemic outbreaks worldwide. On the other hand, there are few recent records of continuous surveillance of antibiotics susceptibility pattern of V. cholerae in Mozambique. GOALS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate antibiotics resistance pattern of Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa isolated during Cholera outbreaks in Mozambique to commonly used antibiotics...

BACKGROUND: Closed pleural biopsy was previously considered a procedure of choice in cases of undiagnosed pleural effusion with good efficacy. Currently, the closed pleural biopsy has been replaced by thoracoscopic biopsy but not easily available in resource-limited setups. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the diagnostic yield and safety of closed needle pleural biopsy in exudative pleural effusion and assessment of patients' characteristics with the yield of pleural biopsy...

The purpose of this review is to delineate means of decontaminating soil. This information might be used to mitigate soil-associated risks of foodborne pathogens. The majority of the research in the published literature involves inactivation of plant pathogens in soil, i.e., those pathogens harmful to fruit and vegetable production and ornamental plants. Very little has been published regarding the inactivation of foodborne human pathogens in crop soil. Nevertheless, because decontamination techniques for plant pathogens might also be useful methods for eliminating foodborne pathogens, this review also includes inactivation of plant pathogens, with appropriate discussion and comparisons, in the hopes that these methods may one day be validated against foodborne pathogens...

The widespread bacterial resistance to a broad range of antibiotics necessitates rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing before effective treatment could start in the clinic. Among resistant bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important, and Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains are a common cause of life threatening infections. However, standard susceptibility testing for S. aureus is time consuming and thus the start of effective antibiotic treatment is often delayed. To circumvent the limitations of current susceptibility testing systems, we designed an assay that enables measurements of bacterial growth with higher spatial and temporal resolution than standard techniques...