Epigenetics in Bacteria

Ökaryotlarda olduğu gibi bakterilerde de epigenetik kontrolün önemli bir mekanizması DNA metilasyonudur. Bakterilerdeki metilasyonun ökaryotlardakinden farkı sitozin yerine yaygın olarak adeninin metillenmesidir. Bakterilerin birçok virülans faktörünün epigenetik mekanizmalarla kontrol edildiği düşünülmektedir. Bu konuda en çok çalışılan bakteriler Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Vibrio, Yersinia, Haemophilus, Brucella ve Pseudomonas cinsi olmuştur. Bakterilerde gen ifadelenmesinin nasıl kontrol edildiğinin bilinmesi infeksiyonların kontrolünde yeni seçeneklerin geliştirilmesi için umut olabilecektir. Yeni antibiyotik moleküllerinin geliştirilmesi gittikçe sınırlı bir hale gelmiştir. Moleküler mikrobiyoloji çalışmaları arttıkça, epigenetik mekanizmalar ile bakterilerin virülans faktörlerinin kontrol edilebileceği konusunda yoğunlaşılmıştır. Çok yakında cevaplanabileceğini umduğumuz iki soru Dam inhibitörlerinin infeksiyon tedavisi ve tümör baskılanması amacıyla kullanılıp kullanılmayacağıdır.Like many eukaryotes, DNA methylation is an important mechanism of epigenetic control in bacteria. Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use DNA adenine methylation rather than DNA cytosine methylation as an epigenetic signal. Epigenetic mechanisms are thought to control several virulence factors of bacteria. Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Vibrio, Yersinia, Haemophilus, and Brucella are the mostly studied bacteria under that topic. Finding out how to control this gene expression in bacteria can facilitate the control of infections that may generate hope for the development of new options. Development of new drug molecules has become increasingly limited. As the number of molecular microbiology studies increase, it has been focused that bacteria virulence factors can be controlled by epigenetic mechanisms. Recently, the usage of Dam inhibitors for the treatment of infection and tumor suppression are the main questions focused on this topic

In-vitro Activity of Fosfomycin, Nitrofurantoin and Ciprofloxacin Against Escherichia coli Strains Isolated From Community Acquired Urinary Tract Infections

Escherichia coli, üriner sistem inf eksiyonlarından (ÜSİ) en sık izole edilen mikroorganizmadır. Son zamanlarda ülke- mizde üropatojen E.coli suşlarında, ÜSİ tedavisinde sık kullanılan antibiyotiklere karşı duyarlılıkta azalma görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada, ÜSİ ön tanısıyla üroloji polikliniğinden gönderilen idrar kültürlerinden izole edilen E.coli suşlarının siprof loksa- sin, nitrof urantoin ve f osf omisin duyarlılıkları, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) önerileri doğrultusunda disk dif üzyon yöntemi ile belirlenmiş; genişlemiş spektrumlu beta-laktamaz (ESBL) üretimi çif t disk sinerji yöntemiyle araş- tırılmıştır. İncelenen E.coli izolatlarında en yüksek direnç oranı % 32.1 ile siprof loksasine karşı saptanmış, bunu % 5.1 ile nitrof urantoin ve % 4.5 ile f osf omisin takip etmiştir. ESBL pozitif lik oranı % 22.5 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Direnç oranları ESBL pozitif ve negatif lerde sırasıyla siprof loksasine karşı % 85.3 ve % 17.3 nitrof urantoine karşı % 12.6 ve % 2.9, f osf omi- sine karşı ise % 13.9 ve % 1.9 olarak saptanmıştır. Bölgemizde siprof loksasine direnç oranında yükselme gözlenmesine karşın f osf omisin ve nitrof urantoin, ÜSİ tedavisinde iyi birer alternatif olmayı sürdürmektedir.Escherichia coli is the most commonly isolated microorganism in cases of urinary tract inf ection (UTI). Currently, in our country, susceptibility of uropathogenic E.coli strains to commonly used antibiotics in the treatment of UTIs has decrea- sed. In this study, the resistance rates of E.coli strains isolated f rom urine samples of patients with UTI f rom urology outpa- tient clinic were determined f or ciprof loxacin, nitrof urantoin and f osf omycin by disk diff usion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was tested by double-disk synergy method. In E.coli strains the highest resistance rate was f ound f or ciprof loxacin (32.1 %). This was f ollowed by nitrof urantoin (5.1 %) and f osf omycin (4.5 %). ESBL positivity rate was f ound as 22.5 %. Resistance rates f or ESBL positive and negative cultures were determined as, 85.3 % and 17.3 % f or ciprof loxacin, 12.6 % and 2.9% f or nitrof u- rantoin, 13.9 % and 1.9 % f or f osf omycin. Despite the increased resistance observed f or ciprof loxacin in our region, f osf omycin and nitrof urantoin continue to be a good alternative in the treatment of UTIs

Kan Kültüründeki Üreme Etkene mi ait? Kontaminasyon mu?

Amaç: Bakteriyemi ve fungemilerin yaklaşık olarak % 30-40 ının tanısını sağlasa da kan kültürü halen altın standarttır. Kan kültüründe mikroorganizmaların hızlı tanınması ve tedaviye erken başlanması mortalite oranını önemli ölçüde düşürmektedir. Otomatize sistemler üreme süresini kısaltmış ve kültürlerin takibini kolaylaştırmıştır. Ancak, içerdikleri zengin besiyeri nedeniyle kontaminasyon oranları da artmıştır. Kan kültüründe üreme olduğu zaman etken/kontaminant ayrımı yapmak kritik önem arz etmektedir. Üreme saptanan şişe/set sayısı, üreme süresi, üreyen mikroorganizma türü, diğer laboratuvar ve klinik bulgular üremenin anlamlı olup olmadığına karar vermek için sıklıkla başvurulan parametrelerdir. Ancak özellikle yalnızca tek şişe örnek alınan hastalarda bu şişede hem etken hem de kontaminant olabilecek bir mikroorganizma ürediğinde bu üremeyi yorumlamak oldukça zordur. Bu çalışmada bakterisidal testin kan kültürlerinin değerlendirilmesine katkısı araştırılmıştır Yöntem: Çalışmaya, Namık Kemal Üniversitesi Sağlık Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi, Yoğun Bakım Ünitesinde yatan ve nötropenik olmayan hastalardan alınan kan kültür şişeleri (BACTEC 9120 Becton Dickinson,USA) dahil edilmiştir. Şişelerde üreme olduğunda hastadan ve sağlıklı kontrolden hemogram tüplerine kan alınmış, kan kültür şişesinde üreyen mikroorganizma ile hasta ve kontrol kanları 4 saat boyunca 37 oC de rotatorda karşılaştırılmış ve 0., 1., 2., 3. ve 4 saatlerde hemogram tüplerinden alınan örnekler kalibre özelerle % 5 koyun kanlı agara ekilmiş, 18- 20 saatlik inkübasyon sonunda koloni sayımları yapılarak kaydedilmiştir. Üreyen mikroorganizma türü, hastanın kliniği ve inflamasyon belirteçleri temel alınarak etken ve kontaminant ayrımı yapılmış ve bulgular buna göre irdelenmiştir. Hem etken hem de kontaminant kabul edilen örnekler için, hastalar ve kontrol grubu kanlarıyla çalışılan bakterisidal test sonuçları koloni sayımı olarak ( KOB/ml) kaydedilmiştir. 26 etken ve 14 kontaminant üreme için hasta ve control kanlarıyla elde edilen koloni sayımlarının 0.-4. saatlerdeki değerlerinin ortalamaları alınmış ve istatistik karşılaştırmaları non- parametrik Mann- Whitney testi ile yapılmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmaya alınan 4o adet kan kültüründeki üremelerin 26’ sı etken 14’ü kontaminant olarak gruplanmıştır. Etkenler için, hasta grubunda 0.-4. saatlerdeki ortalama KOB/ml değerleri 911-365 iken, kontrol grubunda 919-790 olarak saptanmıştır. Bu değerler kontaminantlar için sırasıyla 828-431 ve 878-480 olmuştur. Sonuç: Etken ve kontaminant kabul edilen kan kültürü üremeleri için, hasta ve kontrol grubunda elde edilen KOB/ml değerleri istatistiksel olarak karşılaştırıldığında, etken grupta 1. saatten itibaren hasta ve kontrollere ait değerler arasında anlamlı bir fark olduğu saptanmıştır. Bu fark 2. saatte oldukça ileri düzeye ulaşmıştır. Çalışmamızın sonuçlarına göre, kan kültürü şişesinde üreme saptandığında hastadan alınan kan örneği ile üreyen mikroorganizma kullanılarak yapılan bakterisidal test üreyen mikroorganizmanın etken mi? yoksa kontaminant mı? olduğunu yorumlamak için güvenilir bir parameter olma özelliği taşımaktadır

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective: Infections are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but are rare initial presentation of the disease. Therefore, in this study, we describe a case of Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis in a young woman with previously undiagnosed SLE. Case report: A 23-year-old female patient was admitted to our outpatient clinic complaining of high fever (40 degrees C), chills, fatigue, generalized myalgia, and cough with brown sputum for 5 days. Blood cultures grew gram-positive coccus defined as S. pneumoniae using standard procedures. Antinuclear antibody was positive at a titer of 1/1,000, and anti-double-stranded DNA was positive at 984 IU/mL. She was diagnosed with SLE. Her respiratory symptoms and pleural effusion were considered to be due to pulmonary manifestation of SLE. Conclusion: The underlying immunosuppression caused by SLE could have predisposed the patient to invasive pneumococcal disease. It may also occur as a primary presenting feature, although a rare condition

Benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Jurassic platform carbonate succession in the Bolkar Mountains (southern Turkey)

The stratigraphic distribution of benthic foraminiferal and dasycladacean algal taxa in the Jurassic platform carbonate succession of the Bolkar Mountains permitted to recognise five zoned and two subzones in the Jurassic (Bajocian to Tithonian), These are in ascending order: J1-Bosniella croatical/Riyadhella regularis zone (Bajocian); J2-Redmondoides Iugeoni/R. of. rotundatus zone (lower Bathonian) comprising J2a-Paravalvulina complicata subzone in its middle part; J3-Paleopfenderina trochoideal P. salernitana zone (upper Bathonian-Callovian) comprising J3a-Satorina apuliensis/Kilianina blancheti subzone in its lower part; J4-Kurnubia ex.gr. palastiniensis zone (Oxfordian-lower Kimmeridgian); J5-Clypeina jurassica zone (upper Kimmeridgian-Tithonian). This biostratigraphic scheme corresponds to those for the peri-Mediterranean Jurassic platforms, except for J2 zone and J2a subzone which are first time introduced from the Bolkar Mountains Jurassic succession

Investigation of Synergistic Effects of Curcumin with Some Antibiotics in Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase Positive Or Negative Escherichia Coli and Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolates

Introduction: In recent years resistance against some antibiotics, particularly carbapenems, one of the first options for treatment, has increased among extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates. In this study. the influence of curcumin on amikacin, gentamycin, imipenem and ciprofloxacine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of ESBL positive and negative E. coli or K. pneumoniae isolates, was investigated. Methods: For this purpose, a total of 63 Escherichia coli (30 ESBL + and 33 ESBL -) and 22 K. pneumoniae isolates (10 ESBL + and 12 ESBL -) were included in the study. MIC values of bacteria were determined with microdilution method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations. Synergistic effect of curcumin was studied with checkerboard method. Results: In both bacteria groups, ESBL + isolates were found to be more resistant against all tested antibiotics compared to ESBL - ones. Curcumin was detected not to have a synergistic effect with amikacin, gentamycin and ciprofloxacin in low and high concentrations. Curcumin/imipenem combination was determined to reduce MIC values of imipenem in all ESBL + and ESBL - E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates resistant to imipenem and brought MIC values to susceptible limits. Conclusion: In conclusion, curcumin may be combined with carbapenems in severe infections caused by ESBL + E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates, as its bioavailability is good and well tolerated in therapeutic concentrations

Is it Different the Positivity Rate of Toxoplasma Gondii Antibodyin HIV Patients than Population?

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous coccidian parasite that causes diseases in congenitally infected infants, and in immunosuppressed&nbsp;population in the worldwide. The HIV positive and negative patients, over 18 year old, who admitted to the department, and who&nbsp;were worked anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody (antiTGab) by using ELISA and immunofluorescence assay in Parasitology department&nbsp;were recruited. It was revealed results of the 147 patients who were 62 HIV positive and 85 HIV negative. Of them, male was 55.1%&nbsp;and, mean age was 38.7 year. The rate of male sex in patients with HIV was higher than those in patients without HIV (p=0,001).The rate of AntiTGab positivity was detected 45.3% of the patients. There is no significant difference between HIV positive and&nbsp;negative patients (Table 1). However, mean age of patients was 76.2 year in antiTGab positive, and 54.7 year in antiTGab negative.This difference was significant (p=0.001). Toxoplasma encephalitis was developed in 2 of 29 HIV patients who were antiTGab&nbsp;positive. As a consequence, there is no significant difference between patients HIV positive and negative in terms of antiTGab&nbsp;positivity. The antiTGab positive people were older than those negative people. AntiTGab positive individuals may suffer from&nbsp;Toxoplasma encephalitis.&nbsp;</p

Rapid detection of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives on chromatographic paper and their reflectometric sensing on PVC tablets

Rapid and inexpensive sensing of explosive traces in soil and post-blast debris for environmental and criminological purposes with optical sensors has recently gained importance. The developed sensing method for nitro-aromatic and nitramine-based explosives is based on dropping an acetone solution of the analyte to an adsorbent surface, letting the solvent to dry, spraying an analytical reagent to produce a persistent spot, and indirectly measuring its reflectance by means of a miniature spectrometer. This method proved to be useful for on-site determination of nitro-aromatics (trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine (tetryl) and dinitrotoluene (DNT)) and nitramines (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX)) pre-adsorbed on a poly vinyl chloride (PVC) surface, with the use of different spray reagents for each group of explosives producing different colors. The calibration equations of the tested compounds as reflectance vs. concentration showed excellent linearity (correlation coefficient: 0.998-0.999). The linear quantification interval in terms of absolute quantity of analyte was 0.1-0.5 mu g. The developed method was successfully tested for the analysis of military explosives Comp B and Octol, and was validated against high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The reflectometric sensing method could also be used for qualitative identification of the nitrated explosives on a chromatographic paper. The reagent-impregnated paper could also serve as sensor, enabling semi-quantitative determinations of TNT and tetryl. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved