Taxonomy, identification and biological activities of a novel isolate of Streptomyces tendae

Various isolates of streptomycetes spp. obtained from different localities of Baghdad soils were tested for their antimicrobial activities. Five isolates showed the highest antimicrobial potentialities in the culture broth. The isolate AR1 was the most active one and thus was selected for identification. Morphological, cultural, physiological, biochemical characteristics and biological properties as well as enzymatic activities and cell wall composition suggested that the isolate is belonging to the genus Streptomyces. The 16S ribosomal DNA amplification for phylogenetic study revealed that the isolate was highly related to Streptomyces tendae [99%], so it is designated as Streptomyces tendae AR1. This new strain is capable of producing antimicrobial agent[s], which is active in vitro against Gram+ve and Gram-ve bacteria [Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus. Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa], yeasts [Candida albicans, Candida pseudotropicalis and Rhodotorula minuta] and fungi [Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Botrytis allii, Diplodia oryzae, Fusarium oxysporum, Helmenthosporum turcicum, Machrophomina phaseoli and Trichoderma viride]

Immunization of mice with crud extract of saccharomyces boulardii yeast induces cross-reactive immune responses with antigenic preparations from different develop-mental stages of the schistosoma mansoni and reduces the parasite worm burden

Immunization of mice with Saccharomyces boulardii crude extract caused a significant reduction in Schistosoma mansoni worm burden [23.7%; P = 0.02] in comparison to control mice. Mice sera collected after the 1st immunization showed a significant increase [P < 0.05] in both IgM and IgG against parasite soluble cercarial antigenic preparation [CAP] than unimmunized mice sera [UMS]. Upon 2nd immunization, sera from yeast extract immunized mice [YIM] showed increase of IgM and IgG [1.6 and 1 fold] against CAP than UMS. Sera collected 2, 4 and 6 weeks [W] after infection of YIM with S. mansoni cercariae showed higher 1gM [1.4, 1.5 and 1 folds] and IgG [0.9, 1.2 and 1.1 folds] levels against CAP than sera of infected UM [IUM]. When compared to sera from UM, a week post lst and 2nd immunization sera showed a significant elevation [P < 0.05] of both IgM and IgG to parasite soluble adult worm antigenic preparation [SWAP]. Sera collected at 2, 4 and 6W after infection of YIM with parasite cercariae showed higher 1gM [11, 1.3 and 1.2 folds] and IgG [1.2, 1.1 and1.3 folds] reactivities against SWAP than sera of IUM. One week post 1t and 2 immunization with the yeast extract, sera showed a significant increase [P < 0.05] of both 1gM and IgG levels against parasite soluble egg antigen when compared with sera from UM. At 2 and 4W post infection, sera from immunized infected mice showed a significant decrease in IgM [P < 0.05] but the decrease of IgG [0.7 fold] was not significant when compared to IUM. Six weeks post infection the decrease in both antibodies remained but it was significant for IgG [P < 0.05] but not for IgM [2.1 folds] when compared with IUM. Immunization with S. boulardii extract caused a non-significant increase [1.2 folds] in mesenteric lymph node [MLN]-CD4+T cells, significant elevation of MLN-CD8+T cells [P < 0.05] and a non-significant increase [0.9 folds] of B-cells when compared to that of UM. Also, Immunization with S. boulardii extract caused 1 fold elevation in both CD4+ and CD8 +/- T lymphocytes in thymus of YIM when compared with their counts in thymus of UM

Serum level of vitamin A, as risk factor for life threatening acute diarrhoea

This study was carried out at the Diarrheal Diseases Research and Rehydration Center [DDRRC] in Bab El-Shareya University Hospital on 52 patients [30 males and 22 females], aged 1-24 months. All study cases had diarrhea of less than 5 days duration with varying degrees of dehydration. Fifteen matched controls were also studied for serum A level. Results showed that out of the [52] study cases, 13 [25%] had a serum level of vitamin A less than 30 ug%, while all the controls [15] had a normal vitamin A level, and the difference was statistically significant. As regards the relation between vitamin A and the degree of dehydration, it was observed that by the odds ratio [OR] there was some risk for developing moderate dehydration [OR=1.3], if the child has low serum vitamin A level