Recovery of Mycobacterium lentiflavum from bronchial lavage during follow-up of an extrapulmonary tuberculosis patient

Initially diagnosed with cervical lymphadenitis, a 15-year-old boy was started with category I anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs. Follow-up investigations led to isolation and identification of Mycobacterium lentiflavum by multiple diagnostic and identification approaches. Observation of this rare pathogen from human origin urges cautious diagnosis while attending TB cases

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Not AvailableRoselle plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa) of Malvaceae family finds its mention in folk medicine of North East India for its use in various ailments. In the present study, the proximate value and nutritional quality, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial properties, anti-proliferative activity and apoptosis-inducing capacity of roselle found in North East India was evaluated. Nutritional evaluation of the calyx establishes it as a good source of dietary antioxidants and ascorbic acid. Antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extract upto 25mg/ml concentration showed complete growth inhibition of both gram positive (Staph. aureus) and gram negative (E. coli, K. pneumoniae) bacteria while antioxidant activity with 100 mg/ml concentration was high (90% scavenging activity) that gradually decreases with dilution in concentration. The antiproliferative and apoptotic activities were evaluated in cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. It exhibited anti-proliferative activity in a concentration-dependent manner; the concentration @100mg/ml can induce upto 51.8% apoptosis. The studies indicated its potential benefits for health which can further be tested and validated for use as supplement in the food.Not Availabl

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Not AvailablePropylea dissecta (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is one of the most promising ladybird beetle against many sucking pests. Predation rates, developmental biology, life table, and field assessment of this ladybird were examined against mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on broccoli. Data on the life history were collected at 23 ± 1°C and 70 ± 1% RH and were evaluated using the two-sex, age-stage life table. Results showed that the two-sex, age-stage life table-based net reproductive rate (R0) was 11.264 ± 6.197 offspring. The adult females lived longer (33.8 ± 2.356 d) than the adult males (32.2 ± 0.841 d). The fourth instar consumed most of L. erysimi (113.97 ± 5.76) compared to the other larval stages of the predator. Male (1,821) and female (2,673) consumed more aphids than larvae. The net consumption rate was 741.78 ± 89.91 aphids. Other aphidophagous predators such as Coccinella septempunctata L., Micraspis discolor (F.), Coccinella transversalis (F.), and syrphid (Diptera: Syrphidae) were also noted in broccoli. Our research showed that inoculative release of 150 or 200 adults per 1,000 m2 for two times on broccoli achieved a significant decrease in aphids L. erysimi and Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (>95%). The release rate of 150 adults per 1,000 m2 for two times may, therefore, be recommended to manage the aphid population on broccoli.Not Availabl

Presence of a widely disseminated Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b clone in India

Details about the members of the Indian Listeria Consortium are provided in the Supplementary Data.Emerging Microbes and Infections (2016) 5, e55; doi:10.1038/emi.2016.55; published online 8 June 201