Therapeutic Effects of Co-administration of Silver Nanoparticles and Vitamin C on Vaginal Infection Caused by Group B Streptococcus

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a bacterium commonly isolated from the vagina. Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) are potential antibacterial agents, and studies have shown their toxic effects. Vitamin C (VC) is an essential vitamin with a protective role against toxicological conditions. We aimed to the evaluation therapeutic effects of the co-administration of SNPs and VC on vaginal infection caused by GBS in mice models. Methods: Vaginitis model was established by intravaginal inoculation of GBS. The Co-administration of SNPs and VC was used to treat the infections. The antibacterial activity of SNPs was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration. The toxicity of nanoparticles was measured by MTT assay. The microbial load and estrous cycle of mice during treatment were evaluated. Finally, blood samples and vaginal tissue sections were isolated and analyzed. Results: The results showed that SNPs have excellent effects on GBS, and the MIC was 512 ppm. Cell viability after exposure at 512 ppm of SNPs was 32.11% but after treatment with VC increased viability at 512 ppm of nanoparticles to 65.32%. In mice that received SNPs and VC at the same time, the bacteria were completely removed from the vagina, and estrus cycle returned to normal cycle. Analysis of the prepared blood samples and microscopic examination of the vaginal sections confirmed the results. Conclusion: SNPs have a potential antibacterial effect on GBS. But nanoparticles have toxic effects on mammalian cells. The simultaneous use of VC, as a powerful antioxidant, can completely eliminate this toxic effect of nanoparticles

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using a combination of Urtica dioica and Scrophularia striata plant extracts and evaluation of their antifungal effects against dermatophytes

       Infection of the skin is caused by various microbial agents such as fungi. Given the alarming spread of microbial resistance, a new therapeutic approach to combat antibiotic-resistant microbes such as nanoparticles seems necessary. The objective of this study was the investigation of properties of silver nanoparticles synthesized by a mixed extract of Scrophularia striata and Urtica dioica and to evaluate their biological activity against skin infectious fungi. ultra violet (UV) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDAX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for characterizing the synthesized nanoparticles. Antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles was then evaluated against three dermatophytes namely Microsporum canis, Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans by measuring the growth disc diameter method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were also determined using microdilution technique. The maximum absorption peak of the nanoparticles was observed at 450 nm, which is in the range of absorption for silver nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction also confirmed the presence of nano silver crystals. The electron microscopy imaging showed that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape and have an average size of 40±5 nm. MIC value for biosynthesized nanoparticles were 31, 15 and 7 ppm for T. rubrum, M. canis and C. albicans, respectively. It is suggested that the silver nanoparticles synthesized by using a combination of U. dioica and S. striata extracts could be used as potent antifungal agents against the skin-deep pathogenic fungi

Occurrence of Fusarium spp. and Fumonisins in Stored Wheat Grains Marketed in Iran

Wheat grains are well known to be invaded by Fusarium spp. under field and storage conditions and contaminated with fumonisins. Therefore, determining Fusarium spp. and fumonisins in wheat grains is of prime importance to develop suitable management strategies and to minimize risk. Eighty-two stored wheat samples produced in Iran were collected from various supermarkets and tested for the presence of Fusarium spp. by agar plate assay and fumonisins by HPLC. A total of 386 Fusarium strains were isolated and identified through morphological characteristics. All these strains belonged to F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides. Of the Fusarium species, F. graminearum was the most prevalent species, followed by F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum and then F. culmorum. Natural occurrence of fumonisin B1 (FB1) could be detected in 56 (68.2%) samples ranging from 15–155 μg/kg, fumonisin B2 (FB2) in 35 (42.6%) samples ranging from 12–86 μg/kg and fumonisin B3 (FB3) in 26 (31.7%) samples ranging from 13–64 μg/kg. The highest FB1 levels were detected in samples from Eilam (up to 155 μg/kg) and FB2 and FB3 in samples from Gilan Gharb (up to 86 μg/kg and 64 μg/kg)

Molecular identification of pathogenic Fusarium species, the causal agents of tomato wilt in western Iran

Fusarium species are causal agents of fungal diseases occurring frequently in numerous agriculturally important plants, including potato, garlic and are one of the common pathogens of tomato, causing root rot in the west part of Iran. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to isolate and identify disease-causing Fusarium species from infected tomatoes based on the morphological and molecular characteristics. Twenty-five isolates of Fusarium were obtained from infected root of tomato plants collected from the fields in different regions of western Iran. Based on morphological features, the strains were classified into four following Fusarium species: F. oxysporum, F. redolens, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides. The phylogenetic trees based on tef1 and tub2 dataset clearly distinguished closely related species. All of the isolates were evaluated for their pathogenicity on healthy tomato seedlings in the greenhouse. This is the first report on molecular identification of Fusarium species isolated from tomato plants cultivated in Iran

Occurrence of Fusarium spp. and Fumonisins in Stored Wheat Grains Marketed in Iran

Wheat grains are well known to be invaded by Fusarium spp. under field and storage conditions and contaminated with fumonisins. Therefore, determining Fusarium spp. and fumonisins in wheat grains is of prime importance to develop suitable management strategies and to minimize risk. Eighty-two stored wheat samples produced in Iran were collected from various supermarkets and tested for the presence of Fusarium spp. by agar plate assay and fumonisins by HPLC. A total of 386 Fusarium strains were isolated and identified through morphological characteristics. All these strains belonged to F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides. Of the Fusarium species, F. graminearum was the most prevalent species, followed by F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum and then F. culmorum. Natural occurrence of fumonisin B1 (FB1) could be detected in 56 (68.2%) samples ranging from 15–155 μg/kg, fumonisin B2 (FB2) in 35 (42.6%) samples ranging from 12–86 μg/kg and fumonisin B3 (FB3) in 26 (31.7%) samples ranging from 13–64 μg/kg. The highest FB1 levels were detected in samples from Eilam (up to 155 μg/kg) and FB2 and FB3 in samples from Gilan Gharb (up to 86 μg/kg and 64 μg/kg)

Detection of nivalenol and deoxynivalenol chemotypes produced by Fusarium graminearum species complex isolated from barley in Iran using specific PCR assays

In order to identify trichothecenes chemotypes produced by Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) isolated from barley, 68 barley samples were collected from markets in Kermanshah and Hamedan provinces, Iran. Thirty-one Fusarium isolates were obtained from grains and morphologically classified into three species FGSC (14), F. equiseti (9), and F. proliferatum (8). The identification of the members of FGSC was confirmed molecularly using Fg16F/Fg16R primers. Fusarium asiaticum isolates (4) were distinguished from other FGSC using Fg6CTPSf177/Fg16R primers. Polymerase chain reaction-based (PCRbased) detection of mycotoxin-synthesis-pathway gene was also used to determine the potential of the analysed strains to produce deoxynivalenol (DON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), and nivalenol (NIV). Of 14 tested isolates, 10 and 4 isolates belonged to DON and NIV chemotype, respectively. Also, the results of DON chemotype survey using specific primers MinusTri7F/R and Tri315F/R showed 1 and 9 isolates produced 3-AcDON and 15-AcDON, respectively. These results show that DON was the most common chemotype in western Iran. To our knowledge, this is the first report on 15-AcDON, 3-AcDON, and NIV isolated from barley in Iran

Detection of fumonisin chemotype produced by Fusarium proliferatum isolated from nuts in Iraq using specific PCR assays

Introduction: The present study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of toxicogenic Fusarium proliferatumstrains isolated from nuts in Iraq. Materials and methods: A total of 108 nut samples collected from different markets in Iraq. Strains of Fusarium spp. isolated from nuts seeds and their morphological characterization of the strains were examined based on their growth on carnation leaf agar (CLA) and potato dextrose agar (PDA). The identification of F. proliferatum isolates were confirmed molecularly using species specific primers of PRO1/PRO2 primers. PCR-based detection of fumonisin-synthesis-pathway gene was also used to determine the potential of F. proliferatum isolates to produce fumonisin using FUM1 gene-based (FUM1 F/FUM1 R) primers. Results: Based on morphological features 28 fungal isolates were obtained from nuts and identified into four species F. proliferatum (12), Aspergillus niger (8), Aspergillus flavus (5), and Penicillium sp. (3). The primers PRO1/PRO2 produced DNA fragments 585 bp in all F. proliferatum strains. PCR assays also showed DNA fragments (183 bp) were amplified in nearly 42% of F. proliferatum strains. Discussion and conclusion: Of 12 tested isolates, 5 isolates (~42%) being fumonisin chemotype. To our knowledge, this is the first report on molecular identification and mycotoxigenic capacity of Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) isolated from nuts in Iraq

Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticle and L-carnitine Advantages on Mixed Vaginitis Caused by Candida albicans/ Escherichia Coli in Mice Models: An Experimental Study: Effects of Silver Nanoparticle and L-carnitine on Mixed Vaginitis

Mix vaginitis refers to at least two potential pathogenic microbes in the vagina. Recently, the popularity of nanoparticles is increasing; these materials have been widely used as an antimicrobial agent in the treatment of chronic infections in which silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are more widely considered. We aimed to establish a mixed vaginitis model in adult mice with Candida albicans and Escherichia coli, then evaluated the effect of AgNPs and L. carnitine (LC) to treat the vaginitis. In our study, the microdilution method and minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration were used for the antimicrobial activity of AgNPs. Vaginitis was made by intra-vaginal inoculation of 107 CFU/ml of both E. coli/C. albicans in adult NMRI mice. Mice were classified into 8 groups: (1) healthy mice without any treatment, (2) mice were infected intravaginally with equal volumes of C. albicans and E. coli suspensions, (3) healthy mice that received daily intraperitoneal injection of 250 mg/kg LC for two weeks, (4) infected mice that treated with a daily injection of 250 mg/kg LC for two weeks, (5) healthy mice that received daily intravaginal inoculation of 250 ppm of AgNPs for two weeks, (6) infected mice treated with daily intravaginal inoculation of 250 ppm AgNPs for two weeks, (7) healthy mice that received daily intravaginal inoculation of 250 ppm AgNPs and a daily injection of 250 mg/kg LC for two weeks, and (8) mice treated with daily intravaginal inoculation of 250 ppm AgNPs and a daily injection of 250 mg/kg LC for two weeks. All treatments with AgNPs and LC were daily for two weeks. A vaginal smear was taken throughout the experiment, and tissue sections were prepared using the hematoxylin-eosin method. The results showed that the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC-50) of AgNPs for E. coli, C. albicans, and their mixture was 96.84, 11.23, and 35.67 ppm, respectively, and their IC- 90 values were 201.77, 105.51, and 173.13 ppm, respectively. MBIC-90 % of AgNPs for E. coli, C. albicans, and the mixture of them were 500, 125, and 250 ppm, respectively. The estrus cycle in treated mice was similar to intact mice, and the order of their vaginal tissue sections confirmed the treatment of mixed vaginitis. In conclusion, co-administration of AgNPs and LC may eliminate the adverse effect of AgNPs and mixed vaginitis