Stability Study of Pashanbhedadi Churna Used in Treatment of Ashmari (Renal Calculi): with Respect to Baseline Microbial Diagnostic Modalities

Ashmari (Renal Calculi) is most common disease of urinary system. Ashmari or calculus looks like small gravels/stones hence they are termed as Ashmari. For the treatment of Ashmari Pashanbhedadi Churna was taken as a trial drug. As Pashanbhedadi Churna was trial drug it was necessary to check the stability. Stability of the drug is the time period from the drug production until the time it is intended to be consumed. So, present study was carried out to know the stability of Pashanbhedadi Churna and to check microbial contamination in the Pashanbhedadi Churna at different time interval. Pashanbhedadi Churna was stored in plastic bag. Microbial study of the drug was done at different climatic conditions, humidity and temperature set ups with regular intervals for a period of 11months to analyse mycological and bacteriological findings by wet mount preparation and Gram stain test respectively. Though in different climate, temperature and humidity conditions, at the end of microbial study, Churna has shown absence of microbes for approx.11 months of preparation of drug. So, it is showed that drug is stable in minimum 32°C temperature to maximum 38°C and minimum humidity 23% to maximum 74% humidity. That means stability duration of drug after preparation is approx. 11 months which showed that drug was in a standard condition. Hence it is concluded that stability test of Pashanbhedadi Churna with respect to microbiological findings was negative at room temperature, warm and cold, dry and humid conditions.

The prevalence of novel periodontal pathogens and bacterial complexes in Stage II generalized periodontitis based on 16S rRNA next generation sequencing

Abstract Objective: To define the subgingival microbial profile associated with Stage II generalized periodontitis using next-generation sequencing and to determine the relative abundance of novel periodontal pathogens and bacterial complexes. Methodology: Subgingival biofilm samples were collected from 80 subjects diagnosed with Stage II generalized periodontitis. Bacterial DNA was extracted, and 16S rRNA-based bacterial profiling via next-generation sequencing was carried out. The bacterial composition and diversity of microbial communities based on the age and sex of the patients were analyzed. The bacterial species were organized into groups: bacterial complexes (red, orange, purple, yellow, and green), novel periodontal pathogens, periodontal health-related species, and unclassified periodontal species. The results were analyzed and statistically evaluated. Results: The highest number of bacteria belonged to the phylum Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. In terms of relative abundance, the orange complex represented 18.99%, novel bacterial species (Fretibacterium spp. and Saccharibacteria spp.) comprised 17.34%, periodontal health-related species accounted for 16.75% and unclassified periodontal species represented (Leptotrichia spp. and Selenomonas spp.) 15.61%. Novel periodontal pathogens had outweighed the periodontal disease-related red complex (5.3%). The one-sample z-test performed was statistically significant at p<0.05. The Beta diversity based on the unweighted UniFrac distance at the species level demonstrated a total variance of 15.77% based on age and 39.19% on sex, which was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The bacterial species corresponding to the disease-related orange complex and novel periodontal pathogens are predominant in Stage II generalized periodontitis.

Phenotypic identification of soil bacterial and fungal communities inhabiting an archaeological monument at Augustine University, Ilara Epe, southwest Nigeria

Background: The Sungbo Eredo Monument is an ancient public work with a system of defensive walls and ditches located in Eredo Local Council Development Area of Epe, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria. A huge section of the monument cuts through the Augustine University campus, forming two-sided vertical walls with a deep ridge in-between. The objective of this investigative study is to determine the microbial profile of soil samples from the monument in the University campus. Methodology: Soil samples were collected from the topsoil at a depth of 7.5cm from four randomly selected points along the edge of the monument. The samples were transported to the microbiology laboratory of the Department of Biological Sciences of Augustine University for analysis. Samples were cultured on Nutrient agar (NA) and incubated aerobically for 24-48 hours for bacteria isolation and on Sabouraud's Dextrose agar (SDA) for 72 hours for fungi isolation. Bacterial colonies on NA were preliminarily identified to genus level by Gram reaction and conventional biochemical test scheme for Gram-positive (catalase, coagulase, starch hydrolysis) and Gram-negative isolates (oxidase, urease test, indole, methyl red, Voges Proskauer and sugar fermentation tests). Fungi colonies on SDA were identified using conventional macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Antibiotic susceptibility test of the bacterial isolates to selected antibiotics was done using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: A total of twenty-three bacterial isolates in four genera; Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Cellobiococcus and Micrococcus and nine fungal isolates in three genera; Saccharomyces, Aspergillus and Botrytis were identified from the cultures. The bacterial isolates were sensitive (>50% sensitivity) to only gentamicin and ofloxacin, with 65.2% and 78.3% sensitivity rates respectively, while they were largely resistant to all other antibiotics such as ceftriaxone, erythromycin, cefuroxime, cloxacillin, ceftazidime and augmentin, with resistance rates of 65.2%, 65.2%, 73.9%, 82.6%, 86.9%, 91.3% respectively. Conclusion: The results of this investigative study revealed the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (mainly Gram-positive) and fungi on the archaeological monument of Augustine University, adding to the existing data on microbial spectrum of archaeological monuments that could be useful for unraveling human cultural habits and microbe-related human diseases. However, further studies on molecular identification of these microbial spectrum will be required to ascertain their genetic relatedness and ancestral phylogeny, which will be useful for archaeologists in their study of the Sungbo-Eredo ancestral monument.

A Study on the Microbiological Profile of Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI) in Patients Attending Gauhati Medical College & Hospital.

Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTI’s) are the most frequent infections among patients. The consequences of increased drug resistance are far reaching since bacterial infection of the respiratory tract (RT) is a major cause of death from infectious disease. Objective: This study was focused on obtaining a comprehensive insight into the microbial profile, its prevalence and the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the isolates in respiratory tract infections. Methods: The present study was conducted in the Microbiology Department of a Teaching Government Hospital during January 2014 to June 2014. The Respiratory Tract samples were obtained from the patients (n=1376) of all the age and sex groups, with signs and symptoms suggestive of RTIs. Following culture, the isolated organisms were identified and antimicrobial sensitivity was performed by standard methods. Results: Out of the 1376 RT specimens evaluated, 684(49.70%) were culture positive. A Study showed predominance of Gram negative bacterial cause (67.39%) among the RTI’s with Klebsiella pneumoniae (41.66%) as a major pathogen followed by Candida spp (17.39%), Staphylococcus aureus (12.86%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.69%), and E coli (10.96%). Gram-negative organisms showed increased resistance to routinely used antibiotic. Gram positive organisms showed 100% susceptibility to vancomycin, linezolid, clindamycin, tetracycline, amoxclav and followed by their susceptibility against gentamycin, penicillin.Conclusion: Therefore, we can conclude that for effective management of RTI’s, an ultimate and detailed bacteriological diagnosis and susceptibility testing are required to overcome the global problem of antibiotic resistance.

Microbial profile of neonatal intensive care unit isolates and changes in the pattern of antibiotic sensitivity.

Background: Neonatal Sepsis is most frequent cause for admission in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Aim and objectives: To study microbial profile of isolates from sample of NICU, to determine the susceptibility pattern of commonly encountered pathogens. Materials and methods: Retrospective evaluation of Laboratory data of samples from NICU of Dhiraj General Hospital for microbial profile and antibiotic sensitivity patterns from June 2014 to September 2015 was done. Standard procedures for isolation, identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing were followed. Results: Total 141 samples were tested, out of which 37 were culture positive. A total of 41 isolates were obtained which included Klebsiella - 10, Acinetobacter - 7, Pseudomonas - 5, E. Coli - 4, S. Aureus - 4, CONS - 6, Enterococcus - 2, and Candida – 3. Among Gram negative organisms, most frequently encountered organisms were Klebsiella and Acinetobacter. Conclusion: In present study, frequently encountered organisms were Klebsiella and Acinetobacter which showed sensitivity to mainly Imipenem. Sensitivity to other routinely used antibiotic was variable. Changing sensitivity patterns should be monitored continuously and guidelines should be revived. Early identification of organism and appropriate antibiotic usage minimizes mortality and morbidity.

Microbial dynamics during azo dye degradation in a UASB reactor supplied with yeast extract

The present work aimed to investigate the microbial dynamics during the anaerobic treatment of the azo dye blue HRFL in bench scale upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor operated at ambient temperature. Sludge samples were collected under distinct operational phases, when the reactor were stable (low variation of color removal), to assess the effect of glucose and yeast extract as source of carbon and redox mediators, respectively. Reactors performance was evaluated based on COD (chemical oxygen demand) and color removal. The microbial dynamics were investigated by PCR-DGGE (Polimerase Chain Reaction - Denaturing Gradient of Gel Electrophoresis) technique by comparing the 16S rDNA profiles among samples. The results suggest that the composition of microorganisms changed from the beginning to the end of the reactor operation, probably in response to the presence of azo dye and/or its degradation byproducts. Despite the highest efficiency of color removal was observed in the presence of 500 mg/L of yeast extract (up to 93%), there were no differences regarding the microbial profiles that could indicate a microbial selection by the yeast extract addition. On the other hand Methosarcina barkeri was detected only in the end of operation when the best efficiencies on color removal occurred. Nevertheless the biomass selection observed in the last stages of UASB operation is probably a result of the washout of the sludge in response of accumulation of aromatic amines which led to tolerant and very active biomass that contributed to high efficiencies on color removal.