Formulation and Immunogencity studies of Type III Secretion System needle antigens as Vaccine Candidates

Bacterial infections caused by Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhimurium and Burkholderia pseudomallei are currently difficult to prevent due to the lack of a licensed vaccine. Here we present formulation and immunogenicity studies for the three type III secretion system (TTSS) needle proteins MxiHΔ5, PrgIΔ5 and BsaLΔ5 (each truncated by five residues at its C terminus) as potential candidates for vaccine development. These antigens are found to be thermally stabilized by the presence of carbohydrates and polyols. Additionally, all adsorb readily to aluminum hydroxide apparently through a combination of hydrogen bonds and/or Van der Waals forces. The interaction of these proteins with the aluminum-based adjuvant changes with time to resulting in varying degrees of irreversible binding. Peptide maps of desorbed protein, however, suggest that chemical changes are not responsible for this irreversible association. The ability of MxiHΔ5 and PrgIΔ5 to elicit strong humoral immune responses was tested in a murine model. When administered intramuscularly as monomers, the needle components exhibited dose dependent immunogenic behavior. The polymerized version of MxiH was exceptionally immunogenic even at low doses. The responses of both monomeric and polymerized forms were boosted by adsorption to an aluminum salt adjuvant

Organization and training at national level of antimicrobial stewardship and infection control activities in Europe: an ESCMID cross-sectional survey

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and Infection prevention and control (IPC) are two key complementary strategies that combat development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. The ESGAP (ESCMID Study Group for AMS), EUCIC (European Committee on Infection Control) and TAE (Trainee Association of ESCMID) investigated how AMS and IPC activities and training are organized, if present, at national level in Europe. From February 2018 to May 2018, an internet-based cross-sectional survey was conducted through a 36-item questionnaire, involving up to three selected respondents per country, from 38 European countries in total (including Israel), belonging to the ESGAP/EUCIC/TAE networks. All 38 countries participated with at least one respondent, and a total of 81 respondents. Education and involvement in AMS programmes were mandatory during the postgraduate training of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases specialists in up to one-third of countries. IPC was acknowledged as a specialty in 32% of countries. Only 32% of countries had both guidance and national requirements regarding AMS programmes, in contrast to 61% for IPC. Formal national staffing standards for AMS and IPC hospital-based activities were present in 24% and 63% of countries, respectively. The backgrounds of professionals responsible for AMS and IPC programmes varied tremendously between countries. The organization and training of AMS and IPC in Europe are heterogeneous and national requirements for activities are frequently lacking

Biogenic amine contents of tarhana powder and chips (A cereal based fermented food)

Putrescine, cadaverine, histamine and tyramine contents of tarhana powder and chips samples collected from Maraş Region of Turkey were determined. Twenty-two powder and 19 chips tarhana samples were used for this research. Tarhana chips samples were analyzed for the first time in this project. As results of the study, average putrescine, cadaverine, histamine and tyramine contents of tarhana powder samples were 0.27 ppm, 0.22 ppm, 0.37 ppm and 0.96 ppm, respectively, whereas these values were 0.21 ppm, 0.49 ppm, 0.36 ppm and 0.33 ppm for tarhana chips samples. © 2018, Academic Publishing House. All rights reserved

Chemical compositions and antioxidant activities of five endemic Asperula taxa

In this study, the proximate chemical composition, total flavonoid and ?-tocopherol amounts and antioxidant activities of five endemic Asperula taxa (Rubiaceae) (A. brevifolia, A. pseudochlorantha var. antalyensis, A. pseudochlorantha var. pseudochlorantha, A. purpurea subsp. apiculata and A. serotina) were determined. Antioxidant properties of methanol extracts were studied by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method. Among the all Asperula extracts A. brevifolia showed the most potent radical scavenging activities

Chemical composition of four wild edible mushroom species collected from southwest anatolia

Four different species of wild edible mushrooms (Armillaria mellea, Infundibulicybe geotropa, Meripilus giganteus and Sparassis crispa) representing four different families (Physalacriaceae, Tricholomataceae, Meripilaceae and Sparassidaceae) growing in southwest regions of Anatolia were analyzed for their Fe, Na, K, Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb contents and ash, dry matter, protein, and fat levels. All mineral concentrations were determined on a dry weight basis (d.w.). The mineral content of mushroom samples ranged from 54.00 to 112.33 µg/ g d.w. for Fe, 66.50 to 117.33 µg/ g d.w. for Na, 32.33 to 117.00 µg/ g d.w. for K, 47.40 to 87.40 µg/ g d.w. for Zn, 54.30 to 74.67 µg/ g d.w. for Cu and not detected for Cd and Pb. Na content was higher than other minerals in all mushroom species. This research proves that wild edible fungi can be used in wellbalanced diets due to their nutritive values. Also, their heavy metal contents (Pb, Cd) shows that collection areas are not polluted, therefore all collected mushroom species can be unreservedly consumed without any health risk