Polymerase chain reaction of enterococcus faecalis and candida albicans in apical periodontitis from Turkish patients

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of two important pathogenic microorganisms associated with endodontic infections, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans, in root canal samples from patients with necrotic pulps or failed canal therapy by polymerase chain reaction method. Methodology: Microbial samples were obtained from 117 teeth with necrotic pulp tissues and 114 teeth with failed endodontic treatment. Results: E.faecalis were identified in 16% of the necrotic and 10% of the retreated root canal infections by PCR. C.albicans genome were identified in 20% and 11% of the necrotic and retreated root canal infections, respectively, by PCR. The frequencies of microbiota were not statistically different between necrotic and retreatment groups (p > 0.05, chi squared test). Conclusions: PCR analysis of teeth with periapical lesions revealed that E.faecalis was found in fewer patients than in previous studies. The C.albicans prevelance was consistent with previous reports. No statistical difference was found between primary and secondary root canal infections for C.albicans or E.faecalis

Novel Compounds Targeting InhA for TB Therapy

Tuberculosis (TB) is described as lethal disease in the world. Resistant to TB drugs is the main reason to have unfavourable outcomes in the treatment of TB. Therefore, new agents to replace existing drugs are urgently needed. Previous reports suggested that InhA inhibitors, an enoyl-ACP-reductase, might provide auspicious candidates which can be developed into novel antitubercular agents. In this review, we explain the role of InhA in the resistance of isoniazid. Furthermore, five classes of InhA inhibitors, which display novel binding modes and deliver evidence of their prosperous target engagement, have been debated

The Physiological/Pathophysiological Significance of Vitamin D in Cancer, Cardiovascular Disorders and Beyond

Background: Vitamin D, a molecular precursor of the potent steroid hormone calcitriol, has crucial functions and roles in physiology and pathophysiology. Tellingly, calcitriol has been shown to regulate various cellular signalling networks and cascades that have crucial role in cancer biology and diagnostics. Mounting lines of evidences from previous clinical and preclinical investigations indicate that the deficiency of vitamin D may contribute to the carcinogenesis risk. Concomitantly, recent reports suggested that significant reduction in the cancer occurrence and progression is more likely to appear after vitamin D supplementation. Furthermore, a pivotal role functioned by vitamin D in cardiovascular physiology indicates that the deficiency of vitamin D is significantly correlated with enhanced prevalence of stroke, hypertension and myocardial infarction. Notably, vitamin D status is more likely to be used as a lifestyle biomarker, since poor and unhealthy lifestyles are correlated with the deficiency of vitamin D, a feature which may result in cardiovascular complications. Moreover, recent reports revealed that the effect of vitamin D is to cover not only cardiovascular system but also skeletal system

Spoligotyping of M. tuberculosis Strains from Cattle in Turkey

WOS: 000354410800009Although it is generally accepted that M. bovis leads to tuberculosis in cattle, there are statements given from the different regions of the world, referring to the fact that M. tuberculosis, which is known as the human tuberculosis agent, causes tuberculosis in cattle as well. The material of the study consisted of 13 M. tuberculosis isolates which were isolated and identified from the organ pieces of 95 cattle with the culture methods; these organ pieces had been taken from the cattle with granulomatous lesion detection after the slaughtering in slaughterhouses located in Cukurova region and brought to the laboratory under sterile conditions. It was determined in the genotyping conducted by using the Spoligotyping method that 13 of the 55 isolates were M. tuberculosis and they belonged to the T1 family (SIT53) by becoming dense in one cluster (100%). Consequently, it was shown with this study that M. tuberculosis, which leads to tuberculosis in humans, could be transmitted from humans to animals and from animals to humans again, and researching the human and epidemiological tuberculosis cases by using molecular epidemiology-based methods such as spoligotyping might provide useful information about explaining the ways of transmission of tuberculosis

Antimicrobial peptides as an alternative to anti-tuberculosis drugs

Tuberculosis (TB) presently accounts for high global mortality and morbidity rates, despite the introduction four decades ago of the affordable and efficient four-drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol). Thus, a strong need exists for new drugs with special structures and uncommon modes of action to effectively overcome M. tuberculosis. Within this scope, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are small, cationic and amphipathic peptides that comprise a section of the innate immune system, are currently the leading potential agents for the treatment of TB. Many studies have recently illustrated the capability of anti-mycobacterial peptides to disrupt the normal mycobacterial cell wall function through various modes, thereby interacting with the intracellular targets, as well as encompassing nucleic acids, enzymes and organelles. This review presents a wide array of antimicrobial activities, alongside the associated properties of the AMPs that could be utilized as potential agents in therapeutic tactics for TB treatment

Detection and Molecular Analysis of Moxifloxacin MIC Values of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains Isolated from Clinical Specimens

WOS: 000476627600001PubMed ID: 31414626Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic, granulomatous and necrotizing disease caused by microorganisms belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex group. In 2017, 6.4 million new TB cases have been reported according to the World Health Organization 2018 Global Tuberculosis Report. TB remains among the major health problems of our time due to the increasing drug resistance problem and the difficulties in definitive diagnosis in recent years. It is stated by clinicians that intensive use of quinolone group drugs with oral form in simple indications such as respiratory or urinary tract infections may lead to resistance and this may result in treatment failures. The aim of this study was to determine the moxifloxacin susceptibility of M. tuberculosis isolates obtained from clinical specimens by phenotypical methods, to determine the resistance rates of moxifloxacin and to investigate the relationship between phenotypical resistance and mutations in the gyrA gene. A hundred (n= 100) consecutive non-multidrug resistant and 37 non-consecutive multidrug resistant M.tuberculosis strains isolated from the clinical specimens of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were included in the study. The moxifloxacin susceptibility of the isolates was determined by using Lowenstein-Jensen medium and their epidemiological properties were investigated and also mutations detected by gyrA region were compared with drug susceptibility rates. Of the 137 isolates tested for phenotypical susceptibility, 25 (18.2%) were found to be resistant to moxifloxacin. Resistance rate among non-multidrug resistant and multidrug resistant isolates were determined as 17% and 21.6%, respectively. According to the results of the sequencing analysis, of the gyrA regions of all the isolates included in the study, a single base mutation was found in a total of six samples. The location positions of the mutations were determined as D94Y, D94G, A90V, G88A and among two strains as D89N. Two of the isolates with mutations were found to be phenotypically susceptible to moxifloxacin. In our study, it was found that moxifloxacin resistance in M.tuberculosis isolates was higher than similar studies and it was found that different mechanisms may be responsible for the existing resistance other than the mutations in the gyrA gene. It was concluded that the data obtained from the study should be shared with all clinicians in the country due to the possibility of resistance development to this group of drugs in a short time and considering this drug will have an important role in the treatment of TB, it should be used more limited in non-specific indications. Further studies using larger case groups and isolates are needed for the continuation of the research

Evaluation of MALDI-TOF MS for identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria isolated from clinical specimens in mycobacteria growth indicator tube medium

WOS: 000443556900006PubMed ID: 29874386Nowadays, there is a rising worldwide incidence of diseases caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species, especially in immunocompromised patients and those with underlying chronic pulmonary diseases. Recently, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) became a method of choice for the identification of NTM species. The aim of this study was to evaluate MALDI-TOF MS for the identification of NTM isolates compared to the PCR-restriction enzyme analysis (PRA)-hsp65 method. In this study; a total of 152 NTM strains isolated from various clinical specimens were retrospectively analysed. MALDI-TOF MS successfully identified 148 (97.4%) of the 152 NTM isolates but failed to identify four (2.6%) of them. Bruker mycobacteria library gave spectral scores higher than 2.0 for 45 (29.6%) of NTM isolates, between 1.6 and 2.0 for 98 (64.5%) of NTM isolates, and lower than 1.6 for nine (5.9%) NTM isolates. The discordant results between MALDI-TOF MS and PRA-hsp65 analysis were confirmed by sequence analysis. In conclusion, MALDI-TOF MS is a technique capable of performing accurate, rapid, cost-effective, and easy identification of NTM isolates.Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit of Istanbul UniversityIstanbul University [BEK-2017-25721, TYL-2016-20561]This work was supported by Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit of Istanbul University. Project number BEK-2017-25721, and TYL-2016-20561

Evaluation of Polyphenolic Profile and Antibacterial Activity of Pome-granate Juice in Combination with Rifampin (R) against MDR-TB Clinical Isolates

WOS: 000469235200006PubMed ID: 30854955Background: The global rise of multi-drug resistant M. tuberculosis demands unconventional treatment to enhance the efficiency of current drugs. Punica granatum, which is known as pomegranate, is considered as a member of the Punicaceae family. Pomegranate, which is broadly documented for its activity against a wide spectrum of bacterial pathogens, deserves further scrutiny in this respect. Methods: Within this scope, this study investigated the effect of fresh pomegranate juice (FPJ) on the antibacterial activity of anti-tuberculosis drugs (Rifampin (R) and Isoniazid (INH)) against MDR-TB clinical isolates. The drug resistance profiles in M. tuberculosis clinical isolates were determined by susceptibility test using BACTEC MGIT 960 system. Four concentrations of fresh pomegranate juice (FPJ) (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) were evaluated in combination with R and INH at a dose range of (1.0 mu g/ml) and (0.1 mu g/ml), respectively against the MDR-TB isolates by the BACTEC MGIT 960 system. Moreover, this study scrutinized individual phenolic compounds of FPJ by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The total polyphenols (TP), total flavonoid (TF), total anthocyanins content (TAC), and the antioxidant capacity were also assessed in FPJ. Results: Synergistic effects were observed between R and INH with FPJ against all tested strains. However, combination therapy of rifampin was more effective than isoniazid one. Therefore, the combination of R and FPJ has been used against (27) MDR-TB clinical isolates. 5% of FPJ plus R (1.0 mu g/ml) were found to suppress the growth of one isolates for first group (INH and R resistant). However, 5% of FPJ demonstrated no synergistic impact with R for second (SM, R and INH resistant) and third group (INH, EMB, R and SM resistant). Moreover, 10% of FPJ and R (1.0 mu g/ml) inhibited the bacterial growth of three isolates of first group and two isolates and one isolate for second and third group, respectively. Remarkably, 15% of FPJ plus R (1.0 mu g/ml) appeared to inhibit the growth of MDR-TB isolates for all tested groups indicating a strong synergistic effect. Regarding H37RV, the complete inhibition of the bacterial growth was found to occur at 15% and 20% concentrations of FPJ only. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of FPJ ranged from (4% to 13%) for first group and from (10% to 15%) for second and third group. Thus, FPJ at 15% inhibited 100% of bacteria for all tested isolates (MIC 100% = 15%). Phenolic compounds identified in FPJ were gallic acid, benzoic acid, syringic, folic acid, pelargonidin, naringin+ellagic acid, naringenin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, catechin, myricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, cyanidin-3-glycoside, p-cummaric acid, ferulic acid, and rutin. Total phenolic (TP), total flavonoid (TF), and total anthocyanin (TA) content were 841.5 mg/L, 638.73 mg RE/L, and 47.43 mg/L, accordingly. Conclusion: Overall, FPJ displayed synergistic effect with R against MDR-TB clinical isolates due to its high content of polyphenol and antioxidant capability

Does the Development of Vaccines Advance Solutions for Tuberculosis?

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is considered as one of the most efficacious human pathogens. The global mortality rate of TB stands at approximately 2 million, while about 8 to 10 million active new cases are documented yearly. It is, therefore, a priority to develop vaccines that will prevent active TB. The vaccines currently used for the management of TB can only proffer a certain level of protection against meningitis, TB, and other forms of disseminated TB in children; however, their effectiveness against pulmonary TB varies and cannot provide life-long protective immunity. Based on these reasons, more efforts are channeled towards the development of new TB vaccines. During the development of TB vaccines, a major challenge has always been the lack of diversity in both the antigens contained in TB vaccines and the immune responses of the TB sufferers. Current efforts are channeled on widening both the range of antigens selection and the range of immune response elicited by the vaccines. The past two decades witnessed a significant progress in the development of TB vaccines; some of the discovered TB vaccines have recently even completed the third phase (phase III) of clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this article are to discuss the recent progress in the development of new vaccines against TB; to provide an insight on the mechanism of vaccine-mediated specific immune response stimulation; and to debate the interaction between vaccines and global interventions to end TB