MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDIES OF RICINUS COMMUNIS PHYTOCHEMICALS AGAINST BETA-LACTAMASE FROM ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the antibacterial activity of Ricinus communis phytochemicals against beta-lactamase from Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus through molecular docking studies. Methods: The three-dimensional (3D) structure of beta-lactamase from E. faecalis was modeled using modeler 9v9 and validated. The 3D structure of beta-lactamase from S. aureus (PDB ID: 1 GHP) was retrieved from PDB database. The 2D structures of 29 phytochemical compounds from the methanol leaf extracts of R. communis were drawn in ACD-Chemsketch and converted into 3D structures. The 3D structure of R. communis leaf compounds and cefotaxime (control) was virtually screened in the binding pockets of β-lactamase proteins from E. faecalis and S. aureus using FlexX docking program. Results: The docking studies revealed that ferulic acid and hyperoside exhibited promising minimum binding and docking energy that is closely related to the docking score of standard antibiotic cefotaxime. Conclusion: The result of the present study indicates that ferulic acid and hyperoside are potential compounds that could be effectively used in the treatment of infections caused by E. faecalis and S. aureus. However, further clinical studies are required to ascertain the antibacterial activity and potential toxic effects of ferulic acid and hyperoside in vivo.Â

Bactericidal and Smear Layer Removal Efficacy of Herbal Alternatives Against Enterococcus Faecalis Dentinal Biofilm – An ex-vivo Study

Objective: To assess the antibacterial and smear layer removal ability of Trigonella foenum, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia chebula seed extracts against E. faecalis dentinal biofilm. Material and Methods: Agar well diffusion, micro broth dilution assay and time-kill curve assay were performed to determine the antibacterial activity. The ability of the herbal extracts to remove the smear layer on the root canal surface was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Results: Antibacterial activity was observed for the extracts of S. cumini and T. chebula on E. faecalis dentinal biofilm and its planktonic counterparts. The smear layer was efficiently removed by the seed extracts of T. chebula alone. Seed extracts of T. foenum neither possessed antibacterial effect nor smear layer removal ability. Conclusion: The extracts of T. chebula seeds may replace conventional irrigant due to its antibacterial properties and smear layer removing the ability. The extracts of  S. cumini may be used as an intracanal medicament as it exhibited a bactericidal effect against the E. faecalis dentinal biofilm following 18 hours of incubation

Multidrug Resistant CTX-M-Producing Escherichia coli: A Growing Threat among HIV Patients in India

Extended Spectrum β-Lactamases (ESBLs) confer resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and CTX-M types have emerged as the most prominent ESBLs worldwide. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of CTX-M positive ESBL-producing urinary E. coli isolates from HIV patients and to establish the association of multidrug resistance, phylogeny, and virulence profile with CTX-M production. A total of 57 ESBL producers identified among 76 E. coli strains isolated from HIV patients from South India were screened for blaCTX-M, AmpC production, multidrug resistance, and nine virulence associated genes (VAGs), fimH, pap, afa/dra, sfa/foc, iutA, fyuA, iroN, usp, and kpsMII. The majority (70.2%) of the ESBL producers harbored blaCTX-M and were AmpC coproducers. Among the CTX-M producers, 47.5% were found to be UPEC, 10% harbored as many as 7 VAGs, and 45% possessed kpsMII. Multidrug resistance (CIPRSXTRGENR) was significantly more common among the CTX-M producers compared to the nonproducers (70% versus 41.2%). However, 71.4% of the multidrug resistant CTX-M producers exhibited susceptibility to nitrofurantoin thereby making it an effective alternative to cephalosporins/fluoroquinolones. The emergence of CTX-M-producing highly virulent, multidrug resistant uropathogenic E. coli is of significant public health concern in countries like India with a high burden of HIV/AIDS

Prevalence of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus and its SCCmec type among students at a private dental college hospital in Chennai

Background: Since asymptomatic nasal carriage of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is on the rise among healthcare professionals (HCPs), their prompt detection and decolonization would substantially decrease disease transmission. The study's primary goal was to identify MRSA nasal carriers among dental students/CRIs and determine their SCCmec type and their susceptibility to mupirocin. Methods: Anterior nasal swabs from 102 healthy dental students/ CRIs were collected aseptically and subjected to standard microbiological testing. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the S. aureus isolates was determined by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and mecA-mediated oxacillin (methicillin) resistance was determined using the cefoxitin disc method. PCR analysis of MRSA isolates determined the presence of mecA and their SCCmec types. D test deduced inducible clindamycin resistance. Results: Of the 102 participants screened, only 8(7.8%) carried S. aureus. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that 5/8(62.5%) were MRSA isolates. Of which, only 2 MRSA isolates harbored mecA, and both belonged to the SCCmec type V. All S. aureus isolates were sensitive to Vancomycin, teicoplanin, and tigecycline when tested using agar screening method while 2/8 (25%) of the S. aureus isolates were D test positive and belonged to iMLSB phenotype. Conclusion: MRSA nasal carriers amongst HCWs/dental students are a cause of concern as they are a significant reservoir for transmission of MRSA among their co-workers as well as the community. Our results signify the need for screening for MRSA carriage and decolonization with mupirocin to substantially decrease the transmission of MRSA among dental students/patients

Evaluation of periodontal status and detection of Dialister pneumosintes in cerebral palsy individuals: A Case–Control study

Background: The worldwide prevalence of cerebral palsy among live births is estimated to be between 1.9 and 3.6/1000. The presence of periodontal disease in cerebral palsy children typically is due to bacterial plaque accumulation caused by their inability to correctly clean their own teeth, difficulties in chewing and swallowing food, and improper movements of masticatory muscles and tongue muscles. Objectives: The objective of this study is to estimate the periodontal status in cerebral palsy individuals and evaluate the presence of Dialister pneumosintes. Materials and Methods: Thirty cerebral palsy children from the Spastics Society of Tamilnadu with signs of periodontitis were compared with the same number of age- and gender-matched controls for oral hygiene and periodontal parameters. Subgingival plaque samples were screened for the presence of respiratory pathogen D. pneumosintes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: A variation was noted between types of cerebral palsy individuals with a mean probing pocket depth value of 6 in spastic type, 4.86 in the ataxic, and 4.3 in the dyskinetic. Clinical attachment level varied from 6.71 in spastic to 5.43 in ataxic and 3.50 in dyskinetic. Oral hygiene index-simplified ranged from 2.764 in spastic to 2.25 in ataxic and 1.41 in dyskinetic. PCR results indicated 25% and 21.7% positivity for D. pneumosintes among cerebral palsy and control group, respectively. The odds ratio calculated to estimate the risk of periodontitis due to D. pneumosintes was 0.765. Conclusion: It was concluded that oral hygiene status and severity of periodontitis worsens as the rigidity and muscle tone limiting limb movement increases in cerebral palsy individuals