Complex of Ceftriaxone with Mg(II): Synthesis, Structure, Spectral and Antibacterial Properties

Аннотация. Получен и охарактеризован магниевый комплекс цефтриаксона методами атомно-эмиссионного и элементного анализов, ТГА, ИК- и КР-спектроскопии, РФА и расчетов теории функционала плотности. Цефтриаксон координируется к иону магния через кислород триазинового цикла в шестом положении, азот аминогруппы тиазольного цикла и атомы кислорода карбоксильной и лактамной групп. Динатриевая соль цефтриаксона и комплекс магния были исследованы на антибактериальную активность в отношении Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli и Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Alternate abstract:Magnesium complex of ceftriaxone was obtained and characterized by atomic-emission and elemental analysis, TGA, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and density functional theory calculations. Ceftriaxone was coordinated to the magnesium ion by the oxygen of the triazine cycle in the 6th position, the nitrogen of the amine group of the thiazole ring, and oxygen atoms of the lactam carbonyl and carboxylate groups. The disodium salt of ceftriaxone and magnesium complex were screened for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Evaluation of Dalbavancin Use on Clinical Outcomes, Cost-Savings, and Adherence at a Large Safety Net Hospital.

Dalbavancin is a second-generation lipoglycopeptide antibiotic with activity against Gram-positive organisms. Dalbavancin is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for acute bacterial skin and soft tissue infections (ABSSTIs). There is a lack of substantial data on dalbavancin in more invasive infections, particularly in high-risk populations (patients with intravenous drug use and unstable living conditions). In this retrospective observational study, we reviewed all patients that received at least one dose of dalbavancin in an inpatient or outpatient setting at Parkland Hospital from February of 2019 to August of 2021. The demographics, type of infection, and rationale for dalbavancin were collected at the baseline. Clinical failure was measured by an avoidance of emergency department (ED) visits or hospital readmission at 30, 60, and 90 days. A separate analysis was conducted to estimate hospital, rehabilitation, or nursing facility days saved based on the projected length of treatment. 40 patients were included, and the majority were uninsured (85%), experiencing homelessness (60%), or had intravenous drug use (IDU) (57.5%). Indications for use included ABSSTIs (45%), bloodstream infection (67.5%), osteomyelitis (40%), infective endocarditis (10%), and septic arthritis (10%). Clinical failure was observed in 5 of the 40 patients (12.5%). Nonadherence to medical recommendations, a lack of source control, and ongoing IDU increased the risk of failure. Dalbavancin saved a total of 566 days of inpatient, rehabilitation, and nursing facility stays. Dalbavancin is a reasonable alternative to the standard of care in an at-risk population, offering decreased lengths of stays and cost savings. The uses of second-generation lipoglycopeptides are desirable alternatives to traditional outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapies for patients who otherwise would not qualify or for patients who desire less hospital contact in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. IMPORTANCE This study contributes additional experience to the literature of dalbavancin use in off-label indications, particularly for patients who do not qualify for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy. The majority of the patient population were people who inject drugs and the uninsured. There is difficulty in tracking outcomes in this patient population, given their outpatient follow-up rates; however, we were able to track emergency room visits and readmissions throughout the majority of the local metroplex. The clinical use of dalbavancin at our institution also increased in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to preserve hospital resources and limit health care exposure. In addition, we are able to provide institution-specific cost-saving data with the use of dalbavancin.

Preparation and characterization of antibacterial gels of galactomannan/ZnO nanocomposite in carbopol-based matrix using mesquite seeds as the biopolymer source

Nanocomposite gels are novel materials mainly used in the medical field for the control drug release and distribution. In this study, the effect of the concentration of galactomannan/zinc oxide nanocomposite in a polymeric Carbopol matrix to obtain a functional nanocomposite gel was studied. The swelling, thermogravimetric, rheological, and antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated. The results indicate that there is a direct effect between the amount of the employed nanocomposite and the properties studied in the gels. In this regard, we present a formulation that demonstrates that the prepared nanocomposite gel has ideal properties to be used in the medical field as an antibacterial agent.

5th Interscience Conference of Infection and Chemotherapy (ICIC 2021), Virtual Conference, 4-5 November 2021

These proceedings contain lectures and presentations that discuss invasive fungal infections in severe COVID-19 patients and ongoing battle against gram-positive bacteria.

Multifunctional properties of probiotic strains Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis

The analysis of the literature of the RSCI and Web of Science on the multifunctionality of useful properties of mesophilic lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, which have been used by humans for centuries in the preparation of fermented products as a way to preserve milk and food raw materials. Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactiscan become a resource for various biologically active substances - potential metabiotics, such as: bacteriocins, organic acids, short-chain fatty acids, antioxidants, adhesins, neurotransmitters. New areas of their application as suppliers of bioprotective agents for preventive therapy and the development of oral vaccines are described, which is important for the prevention and control of infections that pose an additional danger to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial and fungal isolates in COVID-19

Background: The pattern of bacterial infection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients differ worldwide. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the patterns of bacterial infections and the antibiotic resistance profile by VITEK 2 (bioMerieux, France) in the culture of blood samples from hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Determining the effects of some bacteria on wooden toys treated with antibacterial protective coatings

Several protective coatings enhanced by antimicrobial agents and/or pigments were considered for the wooden toy market: water-based matte varnish, an ultra-hygiene water-based matte varnish (WBV-UH), a polyurethane matte varnish (PUV), and an ultra-hygiene antiviral polyurethane matte varnish (PUV-UH), as well as a water-based dye (WBV 5%K), an ultra-hygiene water-based dye (WBV-UH 5%K), a polyurethane dye (PUV 5%K), and an ultra-hygiene polyurethane dye (PUV-UH 5%K), which contain 5% red nano-pigment (K). By utilizing 7 kinds of bacteria and 2 types of yeast that are commonly detected in routine, daily settings, the efficacy of the different protective coatings on wooden toy surface was investigated. The antibacterial and antimicrobial activities of the tested dye samples were based on the agar-well diffusion method. Ultimately, the study found that the addition of antimicrobial agents to several different protective coatings and dyes resulted in the presence of antimicrobial activity vs. the lack thereof with protective coatings and dyes alone. Additionally, some of the dyes with added antimicrobial agents were found to be effective against biofilm formation. Overall, the addition of pigment into the coating, alongside the addition of antimicrobial agents, proved to be highly effective in inhibiting growth and spread of microorganisms on wooden toy surface.

Structure-Activity Relationship of Anionic and Cationic Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) Dendrimers against Staphylococcus aureus

Dendrimers are potent synergists, carriers, and delivery molecules for natural biological products and pharmaceuticals. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection is causing serious diseases in humans and animals. Given the recorded antibacterial and antiviral activity of terminal-charged PAMAM dendrimers, the relation between dendrimer charge type and generation is to be established against S. aureus. Three types of polyanionic dendrimers comprising terminal groups sodium carboxylate (generations 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5), hydroxyl (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5), and succinamic acid (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5) and polycationic dendrimers containing primary amine (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5) were in antibacterial assays to determine their zone of inhibition and antibacterial activity. Cationic dendrimers were more potent than anionic dendrimers. The largest inhibition was shown by G(5)-128NH2 followed by G(4)-64NH2 primary amine dendrimers. Carboxylate, hydroxyl, and succinamic acid dendrimers showed weaker effects. Owing to their antibacterial actions, the addition of dendrimers to antibiotic preparations may increase their efficacy by their intrinsic and bacterial action by damaging the bacterial membranes as well as their usage in drug delivery.

Application of an Ultrasonic Nebulizer Closet in the Disinfection of Textiles and Footwear.

The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the importance of disinfection processes in health safety. Textiles and footwear have been identified as vectors for spreading infections. Therefore, their disinfection can be crucial to controlling pathogens' dissemination. The present work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a commercial disinfectant aerosolized by an ultrasonic nebulizer closet as an effective method for disinfecting textiles and footwear. The disinfection was evaluated in three steps: suspension tests; nebulization in a 0.08 m3 closet; nebulization in the upscaled 0.58 m3 closet. The disinfection process of textiles and footwear was followed by the use of bacteriophages, bacterial spores, and bacterial cells. The disinfection in the 0.58 m3 closet was efficient for textiles (4 log reduction) when bacteriophage Lambda, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis were used. The footwear disinfection was achieved (4 log reduction) in the 0.08 m3 closet for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Disinfection in an ultrasonic nebulization closet has advantages such as being quick, not wetting, being efficient on porous surfaces, and is performed at room temperature. Ultrasonic nebulization disinfection in a closet proves to be useful in clothing and footwear stores to prevent pathogen transmission by the items' widespread handling.

Analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of pathogens, changes in inflammatory factors, and prognostic factors in patients with sepsis in the Xinjiang area

Objectives: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of pathogens and changes in inflammatory factors in patients with sepsis in the Xinjiang area and to analyze factors influencing the prognosis for patients with sepsis.

Recent advances of carbon dots as new antimicrobial agents

Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, many rapid antimicrobial agents have developed intensively. Carbon dots (CDs), a new type of carbon‐based nanomaterials, shows great potential against emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial‐resistant infections due to their unique optical properties, excellent biocompatibility, and easy surface modification. With the definition of the CDs structure and properties, synthesis, and characteristic technology improvement, the research on the CDs as antimicrobial agents has made significant progress. However, the lack of high repeatable and exact preparation methods, and the regular antimicrobial activity make it far from practical application. In this review, we summarize the most recent progress and challenges of CDs antimicrobial. First, an overview of the characteristics and properties is given, and the advantage of CDs applied to antimicrobial is further discussed. Then, it focuses on research progress on antimicrobial mechanisms under different conditions, the critical factors affecting their antimicrobial activity, and the practical antimicrobial applications. Finally, the main challenges and future research perspectives of antimicrobial CDs are proposed.

Chemical Compounds and Antimicrobial Activities of Actinomycetes Isolates from BRIS Soil

The existing study examined three actinomycetes isolated from Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales (BRIS) soil where the morphological properties were examined and chemical compounds of their metabolite extracts were ana;ysed. Based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, the strains were identified as Streptomyces sp. AA13, Amycolatopsis sp. AA12 and Micromonosporasp. AA141. Antimicrobial activities of the extracts were tested against a panel of microorganisms that consist of Escherichia coli DSM 30083, Bacillus subtilis DSM 10, Pseudomonas fluorescens DSM 50090, Klebsiella pneumoniae DSM 30104, Micrococcus luteus DSM 20030, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Results revealed a wide range of antimicrobial activities produced by the isolates at different concentration of each extracts. The extracts were found to show stronger antimicrobial activities against gram-negative bacteria compared to gram-positive bacteria, while no activities were shown when tested against fungi. Thirty-nine compounds were detected both from Streptomycessp. AA13 and Amycolatopsissp. AA12, while thirty-eight compounds from Micromonosporasp. AA141 using GC-MS. This Study Demonstrate the ability of actinomycetes in producing variety type of compounds with antimicrobial activities that may be the potential candidates as drug leads.

Antimicrobial Activity of Aspergillus sp. from the Amazon Biome: Isolation of Kojic Acid

The antimicrobial potential of Aspergillus sp., isolated from the Amazon biome, which is stored at the Amazon Fungi Collection-CFAM at ILMD/FIOCRUZ, was evaluated. The fungal culture was cultivated in yeast extract agar and sucrose (YES) for cold extraction of the biocompounds in ethyl acetate at 28 °C for 7 days in a BOD type incubator. The obtained extract was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Gram-positive and negative bacteria by the “cup plate” method and the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the broth microdilution method. The extract was subjected to thin layer chromatography (TLC) and fractionated by open and semipreparative column chromatography. The fractions of interest had their chemical constituents elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. The elucidated molecule was evaluated for cytotoxicity against the human fibroblast strain (MRC5). The extract presented inhibitory activity against both Gram-positive and negative bacteria, with the range of inhibition halos from 5.3 to 14 mm in diameter and an MIC ranging from 500 to 15.6 μg/mL. Seventy-one fractions were collected and TLC analysis suggested the presence of substances with double bond groups: coumarins, flavonoids, phenolic, alkaloids, and terpenes. NMR and MS analyses demonstrated that the isolated molecule was kojic acid. The results of the cytotoxicity test showed that MRC5 cells presented viability at concentrations from 500 to 7.81 μg/mL. The kojic acid molecule of Aspergillus sp., with antibacterial activity and moderate toxicity at the concentrations tested, is a promising prototype of an alternative active principle of an antimicrobial drug.

Special Issue: All subjects about laboratory sciences in emerging diseases. (Special Issue: All subjects about laboratory sciences in emerging diseases.)

This special issue contains 10 papers on the following topics: evaluating association between ABO blood groups and COVID 19;impact of COVID-19 on Libyan laboratory specialists;microscopic agglutination test for diagnosis of leptospirosis by using filter paper-dried serum samples;prevalence of haemoparasites among blood donors in Calabar, Nigeria;assessment of peripheral blood lymphocytosis in adults and determination of thresholds for differential diagnosis between clonal and reactive lymphocytosis;investigation of antibiotic resistance pattern in isolates from urine and blood samples of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Velayat Hospital in Qazvin, Iran;evaluation of rejection rates and reasons among specimens taken from different hospital units;quality tools to ensure patient safety and reduce the turnaround time of medical laboratories in tertiary care teaching hospitals;prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of Gram-positive isolates from burn patients in Velayat Burn Center in Rasht, North of Iran;and infective endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus in a 6-year-old girl with no history of heart and dental problems.

Isolation, biochemical characterization and safety screening of potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria from spontaneously fermented cereal products from Western Kenya

The global demand for non-dairy beverages has sky rocketed especially so during this Covid-19 pandemic for potential health benefits. Development of probiotic strains from fermented cereal and legumes with the ability to grow well and adapt to gastrointestinal conditions at the same time possess high therapeutic ability will be a great achievement. This study aimed at isolating and screening probiotic potential Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) involved in traditional fermentation of cereals (maize, sorghum and millet). A total of ten isolates were obtained from the cereals out of which five isolates that met preliminary attributes of probiotic bacteria were selected for further investigation. Two isolates SPU2 and FPU1 were found to survive a low pH which is a desirable attribute for the survival of probiotic bacteria in the gut. MPU1, FPU1 and SPU2 are possible thermophiles and can survive at low pH and moderate high salt concentration. The enzymes DNase and gelatinase used to test pathogenicity of a microorganism were not produced by all the isolates in this study. The isolates recorded a high susceptibility to the eight antibiotics. This study also revealed that the tested isolates have the ability to grow well even at the minimum tested pH of 1.0 for 1 and 2 h of incubation, respectively. Most isolates were resistant to 0.3% bile concentration with over 92% survival. FPU1 was more resistant at bile concentration of 1% than all the rest while MPU1 was most resistant at 2% bile salt. Traditionally fermented cereals are potential sources of safe bacteria that can be tried in the production of functional foods.

International Conference on Pharmaceutical Material, Engineering and Applied Science (ICOPMES) 2020

This proceedings contains 13 papers focusing on the effect of green tea extract in modulating the antibacterial activity of standard antibiotics against clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, in silico screening of Ziziphus spina-christi and Strychnos ligustrine compounds as a proteinase inhibitor of SARS-COV-2, antioxidant and antifungal propterties of palu shallot (Allium ascalonicum var. aggregatum), probiotic properties and safety of lactic acid bactera isolated from South Sulawesi ethnic cheese, pharmacognostics of 2 Orthoshipon aristatus varieties and effect of honey consumption after physical exercises on electrolytes and blood sugar levels, among others.

In Silico and Experimental Investigation of the Biological Potential of Some Recently Developed Carprofen Derivatives

The efficient regioselective bromination and iodination of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) carprofen were achieved by using bromine and iodine monochloride in glacial acetic acid. The novel halogenated carprofen derivatives were functionalized at the carboxylic group by esterification. The regioselectivity of the halogenation reaction was evidenced by NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by X-ray analysis. The compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against planktonic cells and also for their anti-biofilm effect, using Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853). The cytotoxic activity of the novel compounds was tested against HeLa cells. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of carprofen derivatives, as well as their toxicity, were established by in silico analyses.

The Multifaceted Effects of Gut Microbiota on the Immune System of the Intestinal Mucosa

The gut microbiota has diverse microbial components, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The interaction between gut microbiome components and immune responses has been studied extensively over the last decade. Several studies have reported the potential role of the gut microbiome in maintaining gut homeostasis and the development of disease. The commensal microbiome can preserve the integrity of the mucosal barrier by acting on the host immune system. Contrastingly, dysbiosis-induced inflammation can lead to the initiation and progression of several diseases through inflammatory processes and oxidative stress. In this review, we describe the multifaceted effects of the gut microbiota on several diseases from the perspective of mucosal immunological responses.

Molecular Diagnosis, Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles and Disease Patterns of Gram-Positive Pathogens Recovered from Clinical Infections in Major Ha’il Hospitals

Nosocomial resistance in staphylococci and enterococci is challenging. The aim of this work was to conduct a multipoint study using molecular detections, antimicrobial resistances profiles, patient demographics and disease patterns for objective assessments of Staphilococcus aureus and other Gram-positive pathogens recovered from clinical infections in the Ha’il region. We have surveyed 188 non-duplicate Gram-positives against 22 antimicrobials for molecular-differentiation, resistance, patient demographics, and disease patterns from January–April 2021. According to definitions for acquired resistance, Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent with multidrug resistant (65.4%), where MRSA was 60% (n = 72 out of 121). In age-identified patients, 43% were seniors ≥50 years, 38% 21–49 years, and 19% 0–20 years. In gender-identified patients, 63% were males, and 37% were females. While 25% of specimens were from the ICU, the majority (60%) of specimens were from surgical infection in other wards. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the second (15.4%) species of infection identified with 81% from bloodstream infections at the ICU and other wards. The majority of S. epidermidis patients (69%) were seniors ≥50 years, while other age groups 0–20 and 21–49 each had 14% isolates. Although S. epidermidis was multidrug-resistant, it was susceptible to many drugs. Enterococcus faecalis (13%) ranked third with two major infections;bloodstream (64%) and urinary-tract infections (36%) in mainly seniors (86%). Its isolates were fully resistant to oxacillin, penicillin, cefoxitin, and cefotaxime but nearly 100% susceptible to seven others. Other Gram-positive bacteria (6%) were susceptible to many antibiotics. The use of combinations of objective criteria is a well thought out approach in infection control. While the low-frequency of Gram-positives is an impressive achievement, future large-scale investigations should include all private hospitals, clinics and other cities over a longer sampling time to gain more insights. Although geriatric susceptibility can be justified by age and comorbidities, the staphylococcal infections in young adults and children is a global concern and warrants more vertical studies.

The Future Is Bright for Polyoxometalates

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are clusters of units of oxoanions of transition metals, such as Mo, W, V and Nb, that can be formed upon acidification of neutral solutions. Once formed, some POMs have shown to persist in solution, even in the neutral and basic pH range. These inorganic clusters, amenable of a variety of structures, have been studied in environmental, chemical, and industrial fields, having applications in catalysis and macromolecular crystallography, as well as applications in biomedicine, such as cancer, bacterial and viral infections, among others. Herein, we connect recent POMs environmental applications in the decomposition of emergent pollutants with POMs’ biomedical activities and effects against cancer, bacteria, and viruses. With recent insights in POMs being pure, organic/inorganic hybrid materials, POM-based ionic liquid crystals and POM-ILs, and their applications in emergent pollutants degradation, including microplastics, are referred. It is perceived that the majority of the POMs studies against cancer, bacteria, and viruses were performed in the last ten years. POMs’ biological effects include apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, interference with the ions transport system, inhibition of mRNA synthesis, cell morphology changes, formation of reaction oxygen species, inhibition of virus binding to the host cell, and interaction with virus protein cages, among others. We additionally refer to POMs’ interactions with various proteins, including P-type ATPases, aquoporins, cinases, phosphatases, among others. Finally, POMs’ stability and speciation at physiological conditions are addressed.