Antagonistic yeasts from a salt-lake region in Egypt: identification of a taxonomically distinct group of phylloplane strains related to Sporisorium.

Non-pathogenic yeasts antagonising microorganisms that cause pre- and postharvest diseases of plants have been found in diverse habitats. Their practical applicability as biocontrol agents (BCAs) depends on the strength of their antagonistic activity and/or spectrum of sensitive target microorganisms. In this study, yeasts were isolated from the phylloplane and fruits of plants growing in the alkaline water lake region Wadi El-Natrun, Egypt, and tested for antifungal and antibacterial activity. All phylloplane yeast isolates belonged to the Basidiomycota and most of them could antagonise at least certain test organisms. One group of isolates showing strong antagonism against almost all fungi and yeasts appears to represent a hitherto undescribed species distantly related to the smut genus Sporisorium. This is the first report of antagonistic activity in Sporisorium. The isolates assigned to Naganishia and Papiliotrema were more effective against bacteria. The broadest range and intensity of antagonism was observed in the fruit-associated strains belonging to the ascomycetous species Wickerhamomyces subpelliculosus. The Wickerhamomyces strains are good broad-spectrum BCA candidates, the Sporisorium strains could be used as efficient antifungal BCAs, whereas the Papiliotrema isolate can be exploited as an antibacterial biocontrol agent.

Effect of ultrasound-enhanced Nigella sativa seeds oil on wound healing: An animal model.

OBJECTIVES: Nigella sativa oil, ultrasound, and moist-exposed burn ointment (MEBO) have been suggested as noninvasive treatments for a number of inflammatory conditions and to accelerate wound healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of pulsed and continuous modes of ultrasound either alone or through phonophoresis, with N. sativa oil, or MEBO ointment in the treatment of chemical burns. METHODS: Thirty-five local rabbits were randomly divided into seven equal groups: pulsed ultrasound, continuous ultrasound, topical N. sativa oil, pulsed phonophoresis, continuous phonophoresis, topical MEBO ointment, and control group. Wound surface area was measured on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 using metric graph paper and photographs. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between pre- and post-treatment wounds in all groups, except for the control group, in favor of the pulsed phonophoresis. In contrast, low results were found in favor of continuous ultrasound. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound, topical application of N. sativa oil, phonophoresis, and MEBO ointment have the potential to accelerate wound healing induced by chemical burns. Such treatment modalities may be used to treat wounds.

Detection and Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance and Putative Virulence Genes in Aeromonas veronii Biovar Sobria Isolated from Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata L.).

The purposes of this study were to investigate the antimicrobial resistance of Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria isolated from gilthead sea bream and to characterize the virulence-implicated genes. Fish samples (n=365) were collected from wholesale and retail markets in Aljouf, Saudi Arabia between 2013 and 2014. A total of 45 A. veronii biovar sobria isolates (12.3%) from those samples were tested for resistance to a range of antimicrobial agents. All strains exhibited 100% resistances to nalidixic acid, carbenicillin, cephalothin, erythromycin, kanamycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Additionally, the highest susceptibility encountered was to ciprofloxacin (100%). In the present study, we examined the presence of several genes, including aerolysin, elastase, lipase, flagellin, enterotoxin, and DNases, that code for putative virulence factors that may play important roles in bacterial infection. It was found that all of these genes were common in these strains. Several strains isolated from diseased gilthead sea bream were tested for virulence in gilthead sea bream by intraperitoneal injections. The median lethal dose values ranged from 5×10(3) to 5.2×10(9) colony-forming units per fish. These data suggest that commercial gilthead sea bream fish may act as the reservoir for multiresistant A. veronii biovar sobria and facilitate the dissemination of virulence genes.

Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the essential oil and methanol extract of the Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.).

BACKGROUND: Cupressus sempervirens is a medicinal plant traditional, its dried leaves are used in treatment of stomach pain, diabetes, inflammation, toothache, laryngitis and as contraceptive. METHODS: The present study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial, antibiofilm and determination chemical contents of the essential oil (Eo) and methanol extract from Mediterranean C. sempervirens L. The chemical composition of a hydrodistilled Eo of C. sempervirens was analyzed by a GC and GC/MS system. RESULTS: A total of 20 constituents representing 98.1% of the oil were identified: α-pinene (48.6%), δ-3-carene (22.1%), limonene (4.6%) and α-terpinolene (4.5%) were the main components comprising 79.8% of the oil. The antimicrobial test results showed that the methanol extract of C. sempervirens strongly inhibited the growth of the test bacteria studied, except for yeast species while the Eo had moderate antibacterial, but no anti-candida activity. Klebsiella pneumoniae was proven to be the most susceptible against methanol extract. The exposure time of Eo and methanol extract for complete inhibition of cell viability of K. pneumoniae was found to be 250 µg at 30 min and 500 µg at 120 min, respectively. The antibiofilm potential of the samples was evaluated using methods of PVC microtiter and eradication on biomaterial. Visual results showed visible biofilm eradication from the surface of intravenous infusion tube at 500 µg of Eo and methanol extract. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here may suggest that the Eo and extracts of C. sempervirens possess antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties, and therefore, can be used as natural preservative ingredients in food and/or pharmaceuticals.

Adaptation to tert-butyl hydroperoxide at a plasma membrane level in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe parental strain and its t-BuOOH-resistant mutant.

The one-gene mutant hyd1-190 of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe displayed four-fold resistance to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) in comparison with its parental strain hyd(+). The cells of hyd1-190 exhibited a quantitative alteration in the sterol content and hence in the fatty acid composition of the plasma membrane, reflected in a two-fold amphotericin B sensitivity, increased rigidity of the plasma membrane, revealed by an elevated (Δ7.9 °C) phase-transition temperature, measured by means of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and a significantly decreased uptake of glycerol. Treatment of the strains with a subinhibitory concentration (0.2 mM) of t-BuOOH induced adaptation via modification of the sterol and fatty acid compositions, resulting in increased (Δ3.95 °C) and decreased (Δ6.83 °C) phase-transition temperatures of the hyd(+) and hyd1-190 strains, respectively, in order to defend the cells against the consequences of t-BuOOH-induced external oxidative stress. However, in contrast with hyd(+), hyd1-190 lacks the ability to adapt to t-BuOOH at a cell level.

Viral and bacterial infections associated with camel (Camelus dromedarius) calf diarrhea in North Province, Saudi Arabia.

Diarrhea and deaths in new-born camel calves were noticed by veterinary investigators and pastoralist in Saudi Arabia to be very high. Hence, it is thought to be necessary to investigate this problem from the virological and bacteriological point of view. The role of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in six different towns of North Province (Al-Assafia, Arar, Domat Aljandal, Hail, Skaka and Khoa) in Saudi Arabia was studied. Survey was conducted in diarrheic camel calves aged 12 months or younger. In our study calf diarrhea was reported in 184 out of 2308 camels examined clinically during one year, the prevalence of diarrhea was found to be 8.0% in calves ranging from one month to one year. In the present study group A rotavirus and Brucella abortus were detected in 14.7% and 8.98%, respectively, using ELISA technique. Escherichia coli was isolated from diarrheic calf camel (58.2%) 99/170 samples during dry and wet season. Salmonella spp. and Enterococcus spp. were detected in 12% and 8.8% of the specimens, respectively. In this study enterotoxogenic E. coli (ET E. coli) was isolated from 7% of diarrheic camel, which indicates the strong correlation between the camel calf diarrhea and the detection of enterotoxogenic E. coli. This study represented the first report for the detection of group A rotavirus and B. abortus antigen and antibodies in calf camels in Saudi Arabia. It is recommended that the disease should be controlled by vaccination in calf camels.

Novel thermostable and alkalitolerant amylase production by Geobacillus stearothermophilus HP 3.

This study reports the production and characterisation of a novel thermostable alkaline amylase from the newly isolated Geobacillus stearothermophilus HP 3. The optimum temperature and pH for enzyme production was 55°C and 9.0, respectively. The amylase powder obtained from the culture filtrate by pre-chilled acetone treatment was stable over a wide pH range and liquefied thick starch slurries at 75°C. Ca²âº and Co²âº were required for the thermostability of the enzyme preparation. The present purified amylase therefore could be defined as thermostable and alkalitolerant with new properties that make the enzyme applicable for many starch processing applications for use in the food industry.

Effective of metronidazole to bacterial flora in vagina and the impact of microbes on live birth rate during intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of bacterial vaginal flora on life-birth rate during ICSI and influence of metronidazole as antibiotic treatment course before ICSI. METHOD: We enrolled 71 women who were undergoing ICSI. At embryo transfer (ET), all of the women had quantitative vaginal culture, ET catheter-tip culture, and vaginal Gram stain scored for bacterial vaginosis. RESULTS: The overall live birth rate (LBR) was 36.6% (26/71), and the rate of early pregnancy loss was 13% (4/30). In women with bacterial vaginosis, intermediate flora and normal flora, the conception rates were 35% (9/26), 42% (14/33) and 58% (7/12), respectively (p = 0.06 for trend). Metronidazole effect to bacterial flora in vaginal. The predominant species isolated from the tip of the embryo transfer catheter in negative pregnancy was Staphylococcus epidermidis (7 vs. 15.2%), and Streptococcus viridians (11 vs. 24%). CONCLUSIONS: Woman with bacterial vaginosis and with a decreased vaginal concentration of hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli may have decreased conception rates and increased rates of failed pregnancy. A larger prospective treatment trial designed to evaluate the impact on ICSI outcomes of optimizing the vaginal flora prior to ICSI may be warranted.