Enhancement of bactericidal effects of bacteriophage and gentamicin combination regimen against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in a mice diabetic wound model.

Diabetic patients are more susceptible to developing wound infections resulting in poor and delayed wound healing. Bacteriophages, the viruses that target-specific bacteria, can be used as an alternative to antibiotics to eliminate drug-resistant bacterial infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are among the most frequently identified pathogens in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The aim of this study was assessment of bacteriophage and gentamicin combination effects on bacterial isolates from DFU infections. Specific bacteriophages were collected from sewage and animal feces samples and the phages were enriched using S. aureus and P. aeruginosa cultures. The lytic potential of phage isolates was assessed by the clarity of plaques. We isolated and characterized four lytic phages: Stp2, Psp1, Stp1, and Psp2. The phage cocktail was optimized and investigated in vitro. We also assessed the effects of topical bacteriophage cocktail gel on animal models of DFU. Results revealed that the phage cocktail significantly reduced the mortality rate in diabetic infected mice. We determined that treatment with bacteriophage cocktail effectively decreased bacterial colony counts and improved wound healing in S. aureus and P. aeruginosa infections, especially when administrated concomitantly with gentamicin. The application of complementary therapy using a phage cocktail and gentamicin, could offer an attractive approach for the treatment of wound diabetic bacterial infections.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 1,2,3-triazolyl ß-hydroxy alkyl/carbazole hybrid molecules.

The design, synthesis and biological study of several novel 1,2,3-triazolyl [Formula: see text]-hydroxy alkyl/carbazole hybrid molecules as a new type of antifungal agent has been described. In this synthesis, the N-alkylation reaction of carbazol-9-ide potassium salt with 3-bromoprop-1-yne afforded 9-(prop-2-ynyl)-9H-carbazole. The 'Click' Huisgen cycloaddition reaction of 9-(prop-2-ynyl)-9H-carbazole with diverse [Formula: see text]-azido alcohols in the presence of copper-doped silica cuprous sulphate led to target molecules in excellent yields. The in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activities of title compounds were screened against various pathogenic fungal strains, Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria. In particular, 1-(4-((9H-carbazol-9-yl) methyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-3-butoxypropan-2-ol (10e) proved to have potent antifungal activity against all fungal tests compared with fluconazole and clotrimazole as studied reference drugs. Our molecular docking analysis revealed an appropriate fitting and a potential powerful interaction between compound 10e and an active site of the Mycobacterium P450DM enzyme. The strong hydrogen bondings between [Formula: see text]-hydroxyl and ether groups in 10e were found to be the main factors that drive the molecule to fit in the active site of enzyme. The in silico pharmacokinetic studies were used for a better description of 10a-10n as potential lead antifungal agents for future investigations.

The protective effects of erythropoietin on photoreceptor damage by formaldehyde.

INTRODUCTION: The photoreceptor layer of retina has important role for sight. The previous study showed that accidental formaldehyde injection caused ischemia and damage in the retina. On the other hand the erythropoietin prevents neuronal injury of ischemic damage. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to survey the effect of erythropoietin on retro bulbar formaldehyde injected photoreceptor layer of rat retina. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 adult rats were used and divided into three groups: 1- control group, 2- formaldehyde group (1 ml retro bulbar injected by 10% formaldehyde solution), 3- erythropoietin group (5000 units/kg immediately intraperitoneally injected by erythropoietin after formaldehyde injection for 7 days). The photoreceptor layer of retina studied using a transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Our observation showed that disorganization and vacuolization in outer segment and inner segment, pyknotic and karyolysis in outer nuclear layer were seen in formaldehyde group. But the minor sign of pathology such as lightly vacuolization in inner segment were obvious in erythropoietin group. CONCLUSION: We concluded that formaldehyde caused damage in photoreceptor layer and erythropoietin was improvement this injury.