Study of antimicrobial activities of chitinases from a potato prototype cultivated in Bangladesh

Chitinases (designated as SPCs) were isolated from „Shilbilati‟ potatoes, a potato prototype cultivated in Bangladesh by affinity chromatography on a chitin column. SPCs agglutinated rat erythrocytes at the minimum concentration of 7 μg/mL and showed toxicity against brine shrimp nauplii with the LC50 value of 20 μg/mL. The chitinases also agglutinated seven bacterial strains among the twelve as studied. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella typhi were the most sensitive towards the SPCs and were agglutinated at 1.2, 2.5 and 5.0 μg/mL protein concentrations respectively. Antibacterial tests demonstrated that SPCs showed inhibitory activity against the pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella typhi. Antifungal activity was investigated by the disc diffusion method. Five fungal species (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium vasinfectum, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus) and two fungal genus (Penicillium and Mucor sp.) were examined in the assay. SPCs showed antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Fusarium vasinfectum and Penicillium sp.

Kyphoscoliosis type of ehlers-danlos syndrome in a family

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome [EDS] is a generalized disorder of connective tissue characterized by hyperextensibility of skin, hypermobility of joints, and fragility of skin and blood vessels. According to new nomenclature EDS is classified in six major types. We are reporting kyphoscoliosis type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in two siblings

Congenital visceral leishmaniasis

Visceral leishmaniasis [kala-azar] is caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani and transmitted by the bite of infected sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes. Only a few cases of congenital transmission have been reported. We are reporting a 15 days old baby with congenital visceral leishmaniasis and then the literature is reviewed