[Effect of listeria monocytogenes colonization on maternal and fetal liver and spleen in BALB/c haploid mice]

Background and Objective: Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive facultative intracellular non spore forming bacillus. The epidemiologic studies have shown that Listeria monocytogenes is the cause of abortion and abnormalities in human embryo. This study was done to determine the effect of listeria monocytogenes colonization on maternal and fetal liver and spleen in mice

Methods: In this experimental study, Inbred BALB/c dams allocated into case and control groups. Dams in interventional and control groups were received 200micro L of 1.2 LogFCU/ml, Listeria monocytogenes and normal salin intraperitoneally, respectively. Few mice from each group were randomally selected and 5ml of blood collected, placenta, uterus liver and spleen were removed subsequently in 13 and 24 day of gestation and listeria monocytogenes colonization were determined. Liver and spleen of full term offsprings were stained for the histological studies

Results: L.monocytogenes strains were detected in different organs of mice damsup for 30 day of gestation. The higest and lowest of organ contamination were seen in liver and blood samples, respectively. The ratio of weight/volume of organ was higher in case than control groups. Hepatocytes degenration, hepatocyte size alteration, cell cord atrophy and sinusoid dilatation were seen in the liver. Disruption of red pulp, disorganization of lymphoid nodules and necrosis were noticed in the spleen

Conclusion: Contamination of BALB/c dams causes the histological alterations in the liver and spleen of offesprings

[Evaluation of ultrasound waves effect on antibiotic resistance Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from hospital and their comparison with standard species]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are important pathogens that produce wide spread infections. Purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of ultrasonic irradiation [US] alone and in combination with antibiotic on antibiotic resistance Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. In this study ultrasonic irradiation [US] in a laboratory-scale batch sonoreactor with low frequency [42 kHz] plate type transducer at 170W of acoustic power was used. The Water samples, were taken from different wards of the 3 teaching hospitals which were affiliated to the Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences to isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and also to determine their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Our results showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were affected by the ultrasound and the bactericidal effect increased with time. It was found that P. aeruginosa was more susceptible to the ultrasonic treatment than S. aureus. The combination of US with an antibiotic [amoxicillin] enhanced killing of both bacteria over the use of US alone. There were no differences in resistance to ultrasound between isolated strains and standard strains from Persian type culture collection

Frequency of resistance and susceptible bacteria isolated from houseflies

In this study, we determine the vector competence of Musca domestica with reference to the transmission of susceptible and resistance bacterial strains in hospitals and slaughter house in Sanandaj City, west Iran. Totally 908 houseflies were collected to isolate bacteria from their external body based on standard procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar based on recommendations of CLSI [formerly the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards]. From collected houseflies. 366 bacteria species were isolated. The most common isolated bacterium at hospitals was Klebsiella pneumoniae 43.3% [n= 90] followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 37% [n= 77], while that of slaughterhouse was Proteus mirabilis. 29.1% [n= 46] followed by Citrobacter freundii 28.4% [n= 45]. Among all the isolates from hospitals, cephalexin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and tetracycline, resistance rates were above 32.5% and gentamicin expressed the highest susceptibility among all the isolates from hospitals. It is worth to note that K. pneumoniae showed 61% and 44.5% resistance to cephalexin and chloramphenicol respectively. Similarly, all isolates from slaughterhouse were more than 28% and 30% resistant to cephalexin and chloramphenicol respectively. Surprisingly, among all the isolates, Citrobacter freundii were highly resistant to gentamicin. Houseflies collected from hospitals and slaughterhouse may be involved in the spread of drug resistant bacteria and may increase the potential of human exposure to drug resistant bacteria

[ pullulans [a yeast-like fungus], its importance and applications]

Aureobasidium pullulans [de Bary] is a yeast-like fungus which belongs to the order Dothideales that occurs in Mediterranean, dry and tropical areas where fresh water and marine precipitates can be found on the leaves of the trees. A. pullulans has different applications in various biological fields. Production of pullulan is one of its uses and also it can be used in tasteless polymers as a flavor. Pullulan is a biomaterial factor and is used as a primary material in production of medications and food. Pullulan is used in pharmacologic industry as a binder and oxidative agent. A. pullulans can be used for production of "single cell protein" and also removal of oil spots on the seas, lakes and seashores. It can be used for production of xylanase, sucrase, amylase, and b-galactosidase, glucoamylase. In addition, other important enzymes can be produced which add to the importance of this organism. There are few reports indicating yet another potential of A. pullulans as a probable source of new extracellular and intracellular antimicrobial agents. Considering the above mentioned potentials of A. pullulans, it is clear that this organism is of great importance for various research point of view. Therefore considering the importance of its industrial production [antibiotic, pullulan, single cell protein, removal of environmental pollution, and paint manufacturing industry], we recommend more investigations in the future and its industrial production

Mutagenicity assessment of two herbal medicines, urtan and carmint in human leukocytes by single cell gel electrophoresis

The use of herbal medicine is an old and still widespread practice, which makes studies of their genotoxicity essential. Urtan and Carmint are examples of herbal medicines used in Iran which used for the treatment of hyperplasia, diuretic, urinary disfunction and antispasmodic action, carminative gastrointestinal disfunction respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutagenicity of these herbal medicines in human leukocytes by Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis [SCGE]. Both the herbal medicines were used at four concentrations [0.046, 0.092, 0.138 and 0.184 / 100 ml]. The results were compared against positive [Cr v1] and negative [no mutagen] control groups. Fluorescence microscope was used to observe the DNA damage in randomly selected cells, which were stained with ethidium bromide. Microscopic observation of the affected cells due to Urtan and Carmint was encouraging as compared to previous studies using SCGE. Both Urtan and Carmint exhibited considerable DNA damage to the blood cells. For example, Urtan at 0.184 g/100 ml concentration had almost 23% mutagenic effect and as the concentration increased the mutagenic effect also increased. Similarly Carmint exhibited considerable DNA damage on blood cells. Therefore, both the herbal medicines may have some mutagenic effect