ECHINOCANDINS VERSUS DATED ANTIFUNGALS IN COMBINATION AGAINST OPPORTUNISTIC MYCOTIC INFECTIONS

Scientific and clinical reports globally demonstrated that the opportunistic mycotic infections are at major risk to the human fitness. In past few decades, development of resistance in microbes to existing antifungals, has emphasized on the search of new antimycotic drugs. As a matter of fact "echinocandins" are new categories of broad-spectrum antifungal enlighten a hope in this direction. Echinocandins are bulky lipopeptides that inhibits the production of β-[1,3]-glucan "a major constituent of fungal cell wall" which ultimately leads to the death of fungal pathogens. In vitro as well as in vivo published reports have demonstrated that the echinocandins exhibit fungicidal activity against most Candida spp while fungistatic against Aspergillus spp and exclusively found to be more effective when tested in combination with polyenes/azoles. Present article is an expert views on the recent and historical literature available on the antifungal therapies with accessing their impact on the human health. Emphasis is given on the utility of the echinocandins as potential antifungal agent by discussing recent examples of clinical and laboratory studies including the use of improved proteomics approaches to know a bit more about the interaction of human host and fungal pathogens

IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF BACILLUS AMYLOLIQUEFACIENS AGAINST ASPERGILLUS SPECIES

Objective: Bacteria are able to synthesize a wide range of metabolites with fungicidal properties. The present study focused on the in vitro evaluation of antifungal potential of amyloliquefaciens DSM-1067 against Aspergillus spp. and its electron microscopic studies. Methods: An invitro evaluation of antifungal activity of bacterial secreted and cellular proteins was determined by microbroth dilution, disc diffusion and spore germination inhibition assays (SGIA). The cytotoxicity of these bacterial proteins was determined by hemolytic assay, and the effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM 1067 lysate proteins on Aspergillus fumigatus was visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Results: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM-1067 lysates showed the highest activity by inhibiting the growth of A. fumigatus, A. flavus completely at a concentration of 31.25 µg/ml. In vitro toxicity experiments resulted that the lysate of B. amyloliquefaciens DSM-1067was non-toxic against human erythrocytes even at high concentrations. These findings thus emphasize its usefulness in the development of new antifungal therapies. SEM analysis demonstrated the in vitro inhibition of A. fumigatus growth by B. amyloliquefaciens DSM-1067cytosolic proteins leading to wrinkled hyphae, irregular branching patterns. It also showed disruption of conidiophores development. These cytological effects of B. amyloliquefaciens DSM-1067on the hyphal growth of A. fumigatus can explain its potent anti-Aspergillus activity.Conclusion: The present investigation revealed that B. amyloliquefaciens DSM-1067 lysate protein can act as a potential candidate for exploration in the development of effective and non-toxic treatments against Aspergillus induced diseases. Its effect on the development of conidiophores and hyphal growth are studied in the present study. Â

IN VITRO ANTIMYCOTIC EVALUATION AND PRELIMINARY COMBINATORIAL STUDIES OF IBUPROFEN WITH STANDARD ANTIFUNGAL DRUGS AGAINST ASPERGILLUS SPP.

Objective: The prevalence of invasive mycoses is increased in the immunocompromised patients with an increase in resistance developed againstcurrent antifungal drugs. This has led to the need for discovering novel combinations of the antifungal drugs to combat against resistant pathogenic spp.This study mainly targets to evaluate the antifungal activity of ibuprofen (IBU) alone and in combination with the standard antifungal drugs (polyenesand azoles) against eight isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger.Methods: The study was performed using the disc diffusion assay (DDA), microbroth dilution assay and spore germination inhibition assay. Moreover,cytotoxicity was checked by heamolytic assay.Results: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of IBU against A. fumigatus and A. flavus using DDA is found to be in the range of 250-275 μg/disc while for A. niger isolates, the range was 500-575 μg/disc. Likewise, by broth microdilution assay and spore germination inhibitory assay, MICdetermined, were in the range of 500-750 μg/ml against A. fumigatus and A. flavus while for A. niger, it was 1000-1500 μg/ml.Conclusion: IBU demonstrated its antimycotic potential against all the eight isolates of Aspergillus spp. Moreover, preliminary combinatorialevaluation of IBU with the standard antifungal drugs reported by DDA revealed an increase in zone of inhibition as compared to the drugs alone.Further research regarding the confirmation of synergistic interaction between the selected drugs is in progress

RHIZOSPHERE MICROBIOME: AN EMERGING FRONTIER IN CAUSING AND CURING INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms in the rhizosphere causing infectious diseases in plants and humans has increased considerably due to a high content of nutrients. Such pathogenic infections are of huge concern in agriculture, health care, and medical arenas. Rhizosphere microbiome is a microbial hotspot,†not only for pathogenic microorganism but also for unlimited beneficial microorganisms. Therefore, this microbiome has immense potential in the shaping of earth from natural vegetation to the intense agricultural production to human health. Rhizosphere microorganism from unexplored habitats is a promising approach to overcome the escalating threat of such pathogenic infections. Hence, efforts are being made to isolate more and more rhizobacteria that are beneficial for better plant productivity and for treating human diseases. Thus, present review highlights and discusses the available literature on beneficial/pathogenic microorganisms belonging to rhizosphere and their impact on plants and human diseases. Furthermore, it sheds light on how this novel knowledge helps in deriving maximum benefits out of this naturally occurring population for the betterment of plant and human health

Relation between antioxidant status and postpartum anestrous condition in Murrah buffalo

Abstract Aim: Objective of the present study was to investigate the relation between antioxidant status and postpartum anestrous (PPA) condition in Murrah buffalo. Materials and Methods: Jugular blood samples were collected from two different groups of Murrah buffaloes each group consisting of 20 animals. Group I was of PPA and Group II were of cyclic buffaloes. The animals selected were examined for confirmation for cyclic and acyclic condition (>120 days) after calving by routine transrectal ultrasonography. Heard record was also used for cross confirmation. Results: The analysis of antioxidants in plasma and hemolysates revealed that the levels of vitamin E, β-carotene and reduced glutathione in plasma and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in hemolysate were significantly higher in cyclic animals than PPA animals. The levels of vitamin C, SOD and glutathione peroxidase in plasma did not show any significant difference among the two groups studied. The low antioxidant level in affected animals may predispose them toward PPA condition. Conclusion: Stress imposed by pregnancy and lactation affected the reproductive performance in PPA animals which might be inherently more susceptible to these stressors than those who were normal cyclic as all the animals were maintained under similar feeding and management practices

Relation between antioxidant status and postpartum anestrous condition in Murrah buffalo

Aim: Objective of the present study was to investigate the relation between antioxidant status and postpartum anestrous (PPA) condition in Murrah buffalo. Materials and Methods: Jugular blood samples were collected from two different groups of Murrah buffaloes each group consisting of 20 animals. Group I was of PPA and Group II were of cyclic buffaloes. The animals selected were examined for confirmation for cyclic and acyclic condition (>120 days) after calving by routine transrectal ultrasonography. Heard record was also used for cross confirmation. Results: The analysis of antioxidants in plasma and hemolysates revealed that the levels of vitamin E, β-carotene and reduced glutathione in plasma and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in hemolysate were significantly higher in cyclic animals than PPA animals. The levels of vitamin C, SOD and glutathione peroxidase in plasma did not show any significant difference among the two groups studied. The low antioxidant level in affected animals may predispose them toward PPA condition. Conclusion: Stress imposed by pregnancy and lactation affected the reproductive performance in PPA animals which might be inherently more susceptible to these stressors than those who were normal cyclic as all the animals were maintained under similar feeding and management practices

Awareness data on cervical cancer among females of rural and urban areas of Haryana, India

A cross-sectional study was done to assess the degree of current awareness and behaviors about cervical cancer among females in urban and rural areas of North India. This survey was conducted on one thousand females (500 rural and 500 urban). A well-structured questionnaire was designed to collect information about participants’ knowledge on cancer of cervix uteri such as age, height and weight measurements, marital status, menstrual status, personal hygiene, age at menarche, sexual history, pregnancy and abortion history, use of contraceptive pills for birth-control, smoking, alcohol consumption, and other relevant information. The data was collected by conducting face-to-face interviews after obtaining the verbal consent of the participants. The data has the potential to reduce disease burden by spreading awareness about symptoms and risk factors of cervical cancer as well as implementation of effective early screening strategies