Antibacterial, anti-adherent and cytotoxic activities of surfactin(s) from a lipolytic strain Bacillus safensis F4.

The bacterial strain F4, isolated from olive oil-contaminated soil, has been found to produce biosurfactants as confirmed by oil displacement test and the emulsification index results. The identification of the strain F4, by 16S ribosomal RNA gene, showed a close similarity to Bacillus safensis, therefore the strain has been termed Bacillus safensis F4. The Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and the High Pressure Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) demonstrated that the biosurfactant had a lipopeptide structure and was classified as surfactin. The present study showed also that the produced biosurfactant has an important antibacterial activity against several pathogen strains as monitored with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) micro-assays. In particular, it presented an interesting anti-planktonic activity with a MIC of 6.25 mg mL-1 and anti-adhesive activity which exceeded 80% against the biofilm-forming Staphylococcus epidermidis S61 strain. Moreover, the produced lipopeptide showed an antitumor activity against T47D breast cancer cells and B16F10 mouse melanoma cells with IC50 of 0.66 mg mL-1 and 1.17 mg mL-1, respectively. Thus, our results demonstrated that Bacillus safensis F4 biosurfactant exhibited a polyvalent activity via a considerable antibiofilm and antitumoral potencies.

Monoclonal antibodies as cancer therapeutics.

Three main targets were subjected for the most approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in cancer therapy: EGFR in solid cancer, the clusters of differentiation in blood cancer and VEGF in angiogenesis. Meanwhile side effects, the elevated costs and resistance problems are limiting the efficiency of mAbs as targeted therapy. The combinatory therapy with chemo or radiotherapy has improved the efficiency of mAbs. The present review aims to shed more light on the immunotherapy and the related patents that were developed for cancer treatment.

[Anatomic and functional results after surgical treatment of uro genital prolapse: prospective study about 93 cases]. / Résultats anatomiques et fonctionnels après cure chirurgicale de prolapsus uro-génital : étude prospective. A propos de 93 cas.

BACKGROUND: genital polapse is a frequent olisease several techniques were described. AIM: To evaluate the anatomical and functional results of surgery for genital prolapse by vaginal and abdominal approach. METHODS: Prospective study on 93 patients operated for urogenital prolapse (50 by high and 43 vaginal approach) in the department of obstetrics and gynecology of Sfax. Anatomic results and postoperative patient satisfaction was assessed. Quality of life was assessed using the French versions of the questionnaires Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI 20), Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PISQ 7). RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 59 years. 85.9% of our population consisted of postmenopausal women. The results of the postoperative visit, after a mean of 28.7 months, showed about the anatomical level, a success rate for the treatment of prolapse by high 82% against 72.1% for vaginal delivery, but the difference is not significant (P = 0.45). For prolapse of grades 1 and 2, surgical treatment by high and low has corrected all the elements of prolapse. For prolapse of grades 3 and 4, high surgery has resulted in a satisfactory anatomical result in 86%, while the lower channel yielded a significant result in 76.5%, and recurrence were interested mainly the anterior stage. The questionnaire PFDI 20, showed an improvement in the quality of life after surgery significantly in both groups (p<0.003). The improvement was more significant PFDI 20 after surgery by high versus vaginal surgery (p <0.002). Regarding PFIQ 7, improved quality of life was observed after surgery without significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The treatment of urogenital prolapse is mainly based on surgical and reconstructive surgery to restore anatomical and functional surgery also in order to improve the quality of life of patients.

The offer of chemistry to targeted therapy in cancer.

Cancer therapy is facing the big challenge of destroying selectively tumour cells without harming the normal tissues. Chemotherapy was trying from the beginning to kill malignant cells because of their proliferative activity since normal cells are in general quiescent. Meanwhile side effects were produced due to the destruction of some normal cells that need regular proliferation. The discovery of biomarkers led to the identification of molecular targets within tumour cells in order to kill them selectively. Chemistry followed the progress of biomarkers biotechnology by the production of target specific antagonists which were the subject of many patents. Meanwhile novel problems of tumour resistance appeared and made the battle against cancer a non stop development of new strategies and new weapons. As a consequence, paralleled activities of patenting biomarkers and chemical antagonists are continuously generated. The offer of chemistry does not actually limit the efficiency of Targeted therapy but the identification of biomarkers is still missing the exclusive specificity to tumour cells.