Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among Patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia in a Tertiary Care Hospital at Navi Mumbai.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is often clinically classified as typical or atypical. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the primary causative organism responsible for atypical pneumonia, which constitutes 10 to 20% of all pneumonia cases. Although prevalence studies have been performed extensively abroad, in India, such work has been seldom carried out. The present seroprevalence study carried out with this fact has shown 12.6% IgM and 16.0% IgG prevalence of the mycoplasma antibodies in the locality. These findings will encourage in undertaking further extensive study on this self-replicating unique bacterium.

Enhancement of Gentamicin Sensitivity in Enterococcus faecalis using Antidiabetic Molecule Gliclazide.

Enterococci, a low-grade pathogen, emerged as a potent nosocomial agent and have recently drawn the global attention because of resistance issues. To deal with this serious threat and reversal of drug sensitivity pattern, we made an attempt to sensitize the cells of Enterococcus faecalis with an oral hypoglycemic molecule gliclazide belonging to the class sulfonylurea. Interestingly, it was observed that results were quite encouraging as it was able to enhance gentamicin sensitivity by reducing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The decrease in MIC of gentamicin to E. faecalis is an indicator of reversibility of drug resistance. The findings have confirmed the concept that prior course or combination therapy of oral hypoglycemic drug with antibiotic gentamicin can be effective against Enterococci strains. However, auxiliary tests still need to be carried out further to understand the exact mechanism of the enhancement procured by gliclazide. The results have sowed the seeds of the concept of using gliclazide as a drug-resistant reversal molecule.

Biological Synthesis of Antimicrobial Silver Nanoparticles by Phaseolus vulgaris Seed Extract.

Biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles is generally a time-consuming process in comparison to chemical process. Despite voluminous reports on biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles, there is still a challenge to develop fast synthesis of nanoparticles in the range of minutes/seconds through biological route. Several disadvantages are generally being posed by slow biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles including cost of operation. To overcome this difficulty, fast and simple method has been developed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, using Phaseolus vulgaris seed extract simply by increasing the temperature. The method is very quick and the color change of the reaction can be observed within 20 seconds. This process was able to synthesize silver nanoparticles within 80 seconds at 100oC which was confirmed by absorption peak at 413.79 nm in UV-visible spectrum. Initially, it was observed that P. vulgaris seed extract was unable to synthesize silver nanoparticles at 37oC even after 24 hours. The silver nanoparticles generated by this method were predominantly spherical in shape and in the range of approximately 4 to 30 nm in size, as characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). On FTIR analysis, it was found that the nanoparticles possessed definite surface exposed groups. Generated silver nanoparticles showed antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Thus, this biological process offers a simple, ecofriendly and very fast synthesis of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles.