Antimicrobial agent- resistance in Escherichia coli, isolated from patients with diarrhea in Aden

The potency of five types of antimicrobial agents, tested against four Escherichia coli isolates and causing diarrhea in patients, in Aden were evaluated. The production of the beta-lactamase was also evaluated by using direct capillary tubes method. Ofloxacin was the most antimicrobial agent with the highest susceptibility rate and the most active compound among the E. coli isolates [100% susceptible], followed by tetracycline [75% susceptible] and ampicillin [50% susceptible]. The resistance rates to cefpodoxime [100% resistance] and amoxi-clavu. [75% resistance] were high among the isolates in this study. The studied E. coli isolates demonstrated high resistance rates to beta-lactam drugs, including amoxicillin- beta-lactamase inhibitor combination [amoxi-clavu.]. The production of beta-lactamase among the studied E.coli isolates [25%] and, therefore, did not contribute significantly to the resistance of these isolates. The results presented in this study confirm that bacterial resistance continues to be a great problem in Aden

Kinetic study of purified urease enzyme from date-palm seeds

Date seeds of Alhajere variety [from Wadi Hajer - Hadramout] was studied for urease enzyme content. Results showed the occurrence of the urease enzyme, with specific activity 598 unit /mg protein. Urease extracted from Alhajere date seeds was purified by using ammonium sulphate [40-60%] saturation and dialyzed by using 20 mM potassium phosphate buffer at pH 8. The results of urease characterization showed that the optimum pH of the enzyme activity was 8 and also the same value for the optimum pH of the enzyme stability. The optimum temperature of the enzyme activity was 40°C and that for urease stability was [40-50]°C. Kinetic studies showed that Km and Vmax values were 8.4 mmolar and 975 mmole/min respectively, using urea as a substrate