Identification of various Candida species isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis attending a tertiary care hospital in North India

Background: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) is a condition diagnosed in a large proportion of women presenting with complaints of abnormal vaginal discharge. The risk of VVC is high in women with diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, using oral contraceptives or broad-spectrum antibiotics and those having Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection.Objective of the present study was to identify the various species of Candida isolated from patients with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done from January to June 2018. A total of 69 clinically suspected VVC cases were included in the study whose high vaginal swabs were collected and subjected to direct microscopy and cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Creamy white pigmented colonies on SDA were confirmed as Candida by doing Gram抯 staining. Speciation of positive cultures was confirmed by conventional methods like Corn Meal agar culture, Germ tube test (GTT), Candida CHROM Agar Medium (CAM), sugar assimilation and fermentation test.Results: Out of 69 clinically suspected VVC cases included in the study, only 14 cultures were positive for Candida species. All the 14 isolates were found to be Non-albicans Candida (NAC). Most common species isolated were Candida glabrata 7(50%), followed by Candida tropicalis 3(21.4%), Candida lusitaniae 3(21.4%), and Candida parapsilosis 1 (7.1%).Conclusions: Candida albicans was known to be the most common causative agent of VVC as it was isolated in 90% cases. However, this study showed that all isolates from VVC were Non-albicans Candida. Therefore, species identification should be done in all microbiology laboratories for accurate diagnosis of VVC.

Antibacterial Effect of Shenju Lotion in Vitro / 医药导报

Objective To study the antibacterial effect of Shenju lotion in vitro. Methods The diameter of inhibition zone was determined by paper-disc agar-diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration ( MIC) and Minimum bactericidal concentration ( MBC ) was determined by culture medium dilution methodand agar medium plate method, respectively. Antibacterial effect was compared between Shenju lotion and city sale of the gynecological lotion. Results Inhibitory effects of Shenju lotion on 5 pathogenic strains were significantly better than that of city sale of the gynecological lotion at the same concentrations (P<0. 05). MIC of Shenju lotion on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans was 33. 75, 67. 5, 67. 5, 67. 5 and 33. 75 mg ·mL-1 , respectively. MBC of Shenju lotion on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans was 33. 75, 67. 5, 67. 5, 135 and 33. 75 mg ·mL-1 , respectively. Conclusion Shenju lotion has obvious bacteriostasis and sterilization effect.

A New Approach to Screening for Methionine-Producing Bacteria.

Aim: To find a method of screening for active Methionine-producing organisms. Study Design: Examination of cross-section of soil. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria between April 2010 and August 2011. Methodology: Bacterial isolates (200) from soil were screened for Methionine producers on solid agar medium seeded with Methionine auxotroph, Escherichia coli. The agar plates were observed for halo growth of the E. coli which indicates Methionine production by the isolate. Methionine production in submerged medium by the isolates was investigated. Results: A total of 24 bacterial isolates were recovered as Methionine producers. Six of the active isolates used for submerged fermentation accumulated Methionine in a range of 0.46 – 1.40mg/ml. A close relationship was established between the nature of the halo growths of E. coli auxotroph on solid agar and the Methionine yields of the active bacterial isolates in submerged medium. Conclusion: It is a new and fast approach to screening for active Methionine producers.

Cultural Characteristics of Shimizuomyces paradoxus Collected from Korea

This study investigated the cultural characteristics of Shimizuomyces paradoxus in different nutritional and environmental conditions. The highest mycelial growth was observed in Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics complete medium plus yeast extract agar medium, and the optimal temperature and pH were 25degrees C and pH 8.0, respectively. The optimal carbon and nitrogen sources were 1% dextrose and 1% peptone in agar. However, in liquid culture the highest dry mycelium weight was found for the potato dextrose agar and potato sucrose agar broths. The optimum inoculum size was five mycelial discs (5 mm) per 100 mL of broth, and the optimum liquid culture period was 25 days. This is the first ever report of S. paradoxus cultural characteristics.

Evaluation of Brazilian terrestrial Aspergillus strains for Mycotoxin production / Avaliação de linhagens terrestres brasileiras de Aspergillus paraprodução de micotoxinas

Screening tests for aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, ochratoxin A and sterigmatocystin production were performed in 13 strains of Aspergillus spp, isolated from the terrestrial environment in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest (São Paulo State/Brazil). Coconut agar medium and moistened corn were employed as substrates. The fungal extracts obtained from both media were submitted to thin-layer chromatography and the toxins were estimated according to the intensity of their fluorescence observed under UV light. None of the tested strains presented any of the mentioned mycotoxins. Because many unknown fluorescente spots were present, it was necessary to proceed a confirmation step using multiple chromatography, two dimensional chromatography and derivatization. In view of the accuracy of the employed methods and the presence of many unknown fluorescent spots, the need of further studies on the production of others mycotoxins of fungi isolated under tropical conditions is justified. (AU)

Testes de triagem para verificar a produção de aflatoxinas B1, B2, G1 e G2, ocratoxina A eesterigmatocistina foram conduzidos em 13 linhagens de Aspergillus spp, isoladas do ambiente terrestreda Mata Atlântica Brasileira (SP/Brasil). Os meios de agar côco e milho umidificado foram os substratostestados neste estudo. Os extratos dos fungos obtidos a partir dos dois substratos foram submetidos àcromatografia em camada delgada e as micotoxinas estimadas de acordo com as fluorescências apresentadassob luz ultravioleta. Nenhuma das linhagens testadas apresentou produção das micotoxinas mencionadas. Foi necessário acrescentar uma etapa de confirmação, usando múltipla cromatografia, cromatografia bidimensional e derivação. Tendo em vista a eficiência da metodologia aqui empregada e da presença de muitos pontos fluorescentes desconhecidos, justifica-se a necessidade da ampliação dos estudos sobrea produção de outras micotoxinas em fungos isolados de ambientes tropicais. (AU)