Antifungal susceptibility and test for cure of candida species among vulvovaginal candidiasis patients in a secondary care hospital, Nigeria

Background: Antimicrobial resistance among Candida species is an intense public health concern. The aim of the study was to determine the antifungal susceptibility pattern and test for cure of Candida species among women of child bearing age who visited the General Hospital Onitsha, Nigeria with symptoms suggestive of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC).Materials and Methods: Eight hundred and seventy six female patients participated in the study of which high vaginal swabs were collected and evaluated mycological by standard microbiological methods: microscopic examination and culture using sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Susceptibility of isolates to 4 antifungal agents was tested using agar dilution method. Clinicomycological evaluation was also performed among the patients.Result: Higher minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to azole antifungals was observed predominantly among non-albicans Candida species increasingly involved in VVC. The rate of mycological resolution was higher than symptomatic relief at 2 weeks after treatment with antifungal drug.Conclusion: Efficacious treatment of VVC requires an adequate knowledge of the causative agents and more importantly the antimicrobial to which they exhibit high susceptibility.Keywords: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Clinico- mycology, Antimicrobial resistance, Candida speciesSusceptibilite antifonique et test pour la cure d'especes de candida entre les patients de candidases vulvovaginales dans un hopital de soins secondaires, NigeriaContexte: La résistance aux antimicrobiens chez les espèces de Candida est un problème de santé publique intense. L'objectif de l'étude était de déterminer le schéma de susceptibilité aux antifongiques et le test de guérison des espèces de Candida parmi les femmes en âge de procréer qui ont visité l'hôpital général de Onitsha, au Nigeria, avec des symptômes suggérant une candidose vulvovaginale (VVC).Matériaux et méthodes: huit cent soixante-seize six patientes ont participé à l'étude des prélèvements vaginaux élevés collectés et évalués par mycologie par méthodes microbiologiques standard: examen microscopique et culture à l'aide de la gélose sabouraud dextrose (SDA). La susceptibilité des isolats à 4 agents antifongiques a été testée en utilisant une méthode de dilution en agar. Une évaluation clinico-mycologique a également été réalisée chez les patients.Résultat: une concentration minimale minimale d'inhibition (MIC) en anatoxines azoliques a été observée principalement chez les espèces non-albicans Candida de plus en plus impliquées dans VVC. Le taux de résolution mycologique était plus élevé que le soulagement symptomatique à 2 semaines après le traitement par un médicament antifongique.Conclusion: Un traitement efficace de la VVC nécessite une connaissance adéquate des agents causaux et, plus important encore, des antimicrobiens auxquels ils présentent une forte susceptibilité.Mots-clés: Candidiase Vulvovaginale, Clinico-mycologie, Résistance Antimicrobienne, Espèces Candid

Transformation of cholic acid by Arthrobacter simplex

Fermentation of cholic acid with Arthrobacter simplex (ZZCB 227) under aerobic conditions yielded 3,12-dioxo-23,24-dinorchola_4,6dienoic acid, 7a-hydroxy-3,12-dioxo-23,24-dinorchoWenoic acid, 3a, 7a-dihydroxy-l2-oxo-5/3-cholan-24-oic acid, 3a,7~~-dihydroxy-12-0~0-5~-23,24-dinorcholan-22-oic acid, 7a,12a-dihydroxy-3-oxo-5P-cholan-24-oic acid, 7a-12a-dihydroxy-3-oxo-4-cholenoic acid, 7a,lZa-dihydroxy- 3-oxo-23,24-dinorchoM_enoic acid, and methyl-3a-7a,12a-trihydroxy-5fi-cholan-24-oate in addition to a new metabolite 2P-hydroxy-3,12-dioxo-23,24-dinorchola-4,6-dienoic acid. Each microbial metabolite was characterized by the application of various spectroscopic methods. The availability of some of the metabolites’ enabled complete elucidation of their uC NMR spectra

Peptides in headlock - a novel high-affinity and versatile peptide-binding nanobody for proteomics and microscopy

Nanobodies are highly valuable tools for numerous bioanalytical and biotechnical applications. Here, we report the characterization of a nanobody that binds a short peptide epitope with extraordinary affinity. Structural analysis reveals an unusual binding mode where the extended peptide becomes part of a β-sheet structure in the nanobody. This interaction relies on sequence-independent backbone interactions augmented by a small number of specificity-determining side chain contacts. Once bound, the peptide is fastened by two nanobody side chains that clamp it in a headlock fashion. Exploiting this unusual binding mode, we generated a novel nanobody-derived capture and detection system. Matrix-coupled nanobody enables the fast and efficient isolation of epitope-tagged proteins from prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems. Additionally, the fluorescently labeled nanobody visualizes subcellular structures in different cellular compartments. The high-affinity-binding and modifiable peptide tag of this system renders it a versatile and robust tool to combine biochemical analysis with microscopic studies

Politikszenarien für den Klimaschutz VI – Treibhausgas-Emissionsszenarien bis zum Jahr 2030 - Advances in Systems Analysis 5

In the “Policy Scenarios for Climate Protection VI” project the greenhouse gas emissions for Germany are assessed based on model analyses for detailed specific energy and climate policy instruments.In the Current Policy Scenario (CPS) all measures which have been implemented by 8 July 2011 (and those which entered into force for the first time or were changed after 1.1.2005) are taken into consideration. Compared to the reference year of 1990, a 34 % reduction of the emissions of greenhouse gases falling under the Kyoto Protocol4 is achieved by 2020. By 2030 the emissions are reduced by 44 %. Over half f of the emission reductions originate from policies that target the energy conversion sectors, most notably from electricity production. In terms of the instrument-specific effects, the largest share of the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions stems from instruments geared to saving electricity (e.g. the emission trading scheme (ETS))5, building rehabilitation programs, the promotion of renewable energies in electricity and heat production, (European) efficiency standards for passenger cars and the use of bio fuels. Primary energy consumption in Germany decreases by 9 % by 2020 and by 19 % by 2030 compared to 20086. The contribution made by renewable energies to the primary energy supply approximately doubles by 2020; by 2030 the contribution increases by approx. a factor of 2.5. Overall the share of renewable energies in the primary energy supply increases from approx. 9 % in 2008 to 19.5 % in 2020 and to more than 27 % in 2030. Alongside the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, substantial emission reductions in the Current Policy Scenario are achieved by measures and developments in industrial processes and waste management.In the Energy Transformation Scenario (ETS) additional measures which go beyond the ones described above are taken into account. These additional measures bring about an emission reduction of approx. 42 % by 2020 and of more than 58 % by 2030 (compared to 1990). More than half of the emission reductions achieved stem from the energy conversion sectors and, above all, electricity production.The largest emission reduction effects of the policy instruments analysed in this report arise from the more robust implementation of energy rehabilitation standards in the buildings sector, the measures geared to more efficient use of electricity in the tertiary and households sectors, including the effect of higher electricity prices as a consequence of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, more ambitious efficiency standards for passenger cars and the increased use of renewable energies in the heat, transport and electricity production sectors.Primary energy consumption in Germany decreases in this scenario by approx. 16 % by 2020 and by approx. 32 % by 2030 compared to 2008. The share of renewable energies increases by a factor of 2.2 by 2020 and by a factor of 2.8 by 2030 compared to 2008; overall the share of renewable energies in the primary energy supply increases to approx. 23 % by 2020 and to approx. 36 % by 2030

Transfer in the Verbmobil demonstrator

Available from TIB Hannover: RR 5221(147)+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

The Project Luke Issue - Bilingual

A publication of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography with U.S. offices located at the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University. This issue focuses on: The Project Luke scholarship program ran from 1999 to 2011 at the Overseas Ministries Study Center where DACB Founder and Director Emeritus Jonathan Bonk served as Executive Director from 2000 to 2013. This issue of the Journal retraces the history of Project Luke by recounting the stories provided by seventeen men and two women in these pages