Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of selected antibiotics against <i>S. aureus</i> strains as determined by broth microdilution assay following CLSI guidelines [25].

<p>Note: (S) Strain susceptible to tested antibiotic.</p><p>(R) Strain resistant to tested antibiotic.</p

Determining bactericidal concentrations of each tested antibacterial agent.

<p>(a) Killing curves showing bactericidal activity of five different tested antibiotics against clinical MRSA isolate. Concentrations of each antibiotic were selected from 0 to 2048 µg/ml. Symbols; Oxacillin (red diamond), Gentamicin (green square), Rifampicin (yellow triangle), Ciprofloxacin (pink square) and Tetracycline (orange circle). (b) Bactericidal activity of α-MSH (2–160 µg/ml) against clinical MRSA isolate. The killing assay was done in triplicate and repeated on three different occasions. *p value ≤0.001, **p value ≤0.01, ***p value ≤0.05.</p

Cellular toxicity due to α-MSH.

<p>(a) Hemolytic effect of α-MSH (100 pg/ml to 100 µg/ml) on mice RBCs after 1 h (diamond) and 18 h (square) of incubation, (b) cytotoxic effect of α-MSH (0.2 µg/ml to 20 µg/ml) on the mouse fibroblast cell lines. Each assay was done in triplicate on two different days.</p

Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC₅₀ and MBC₉₀) values of selected antimicrobial agents when used alone and in the presence of 8 µg/ml of α-MSH against clinical MRSA strain.

<p>Note: Fold reduction = (MBC₅₀ of antibiotic alone/MBC₅₀ in presence of α-MSH).</p><p>NA*means MBC₉₀ not achieved.</p

Impact of sub-lethal doses of α-MSH on DNA, RNA and protein synthesis of <i>S. aureus</i> ATCC 29213.

<p>(a) % of radioactivity of thymidine in untreated control (red), treated with 2 µg/ml α-MSH (green), 10 µg/ml α-MSH (purple) and 2 µg/ml of ciprofloxacin (blue); (b) % of radioactivity of uridine in control (red), treated with 2 µg/ml α-MSH (green), 10 µg/ml α-MSH (purple) and 2 µg/ml of rifampicin (blue); (c) % of radioactivity of leucine in control (red), treated with 2 µg/ml α-MSH (green), 10 µg/ml α-MSH (purple) and 2 µg/ml of tetracycline (blue); (d) killing kinetics of 2 µg/ml of α-MSH (diamond), and 10 µg/ml of α-MSH (square) against ∼10⁸ CFU/ml of <i>S. aureus</i> ATCC 29213. Experiments were done in duplicate and repeated on three independent days. *p value ≤0.001, **p value ≤0.01, ***p value ≤0.05.</p

Killing curves of each of antibiotic alone and in presence of α-MSH against clinical MRSA isolate.

<p>(a) Gentamicin, (b) Tetracycline, (c) Ciprofloxacin, (d) Oxacillin, and (e) Rifampicin. Symbols; antibiotic alone (diamond) and antibiotic+α-MSH (8 µg/ml) (square). Experiments were repeated on three independent days. p value ≤0.05 (when multiple comparisons were done among % survival data-sets of different concentrations of same antibiotic with and without α-MSH).</p

Surveillance quality indicators.

Surveillance quality indicators.</p

Table_1_Zika a Vector Borne Disease Detected in Newer States of India Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.XLSX

BackgroundDuring the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of Zika were reported from Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, India in 2021. The Dengue and Chikungunya negative samples were retrospectively screened to determine the presence of the Zika virus from different geographical regions of India.MethodsDuring May to October 2021, the clinical samples of 1475 patients, across 13 states and a union territory of India were screened and re-tested for Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika by CDC Trioplex Real time RT-PCR. The Zika rRTPCR positive samples were further screened with anti-Zika IgM and Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test. Next generation sequencing was used for further molecular characterization.ResultsThe positivity was observed for Zika (67), Dengue (121), and Chikungunya (10) amongst screened cases. The co-infections of Dengue/Chikungunya, Dengue/Zika, and Dengue/Chikungunya/Zika were also observed. All Zika cases were symptomatic with fever (84%) and rash (78%) as major presenting symptoms. Of them, four patients had respiratory distress, one presented with seizures, and one with suspected microcephaly at birth. The Asian Lineage of Zika and all four serotypes of Dengue were found in circulation.ConclusionOur study indicates the spread of the Zika virus to several states of India and an urgent need to strengthen its surveillance.</p

Characteristics of suspected cases of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), Congenital Rubella Surveillance System, India, November 2016–December 2018 (N = 645).

Characteristics of suspected cases of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), Congenital Rubella Surveillance System, India, November 2016–December 2018 (N = 645).</p

Table_2_Zika a Vector Borne Disease Detected in Newer States of India Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.DOC

BackgroundDuring the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of Zika were reported from Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, India in 2021. The Dengue and Chikungunya negative samples were retrospectively screened to determine the presence of the Zika virus from different geographical regions of India.MethodsDuring May to October 2021, the clinical samples of 1475 patients, across 13 states and a union territory of India were screened and re-tested for Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika by CDC Trioplex Real time RT-PCR. The Zika rRTPCR positive samples were further screened with anti-Zika IgM and Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test. Next generation sequencing was used for further molecular characterization.ResultsThe positivity was observed for Zika (67), Dengue (121), and Chikungunya (10) amongst screened cases. The co-infections of Dengue/Chikungunya, Dengue/Zika, and Dengue/Chikungunya/Zika were also observed. All Zika cases were symptomatic with fever (84%) and rash (78%) as major presenting symptoms. Of them, four patients had respiratory distress, one presented with seizures, and one with suspected microcephaly at birth. The Asian Lineage of Zika and all four serotypes of Dengue were found in circulation.ConclusionOur study indicates the spread of the Zika virus to several states of India and an urgent need to strengthen its surveillance.</p