The Formation of Oligoaniline Microspheres in Alkaline Media

Aniline oligomers are generally believed to be responsible for the self-assembly that guides the growth of polyaniline nanostructures. The oxidations of aniline with ammonium peroxydisulfate, which are started and finished above pH 2.5, produce aniline oligomers only. Under alkaline conditions, oligoaniline microspheres spheres are formed as the dominating morphology. They will be potentially useful in applications that do not require conductivity, such as in electrorheology, corrosion protection, as ionic conductors or catalyst supports. Aniline oligomers prepared at alkaline conditions as microspheres have been studied by UV–Vis, infrared and Raman spectroscopies in the combination with optical and electron microscopic techniques. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/3483

Exploring the Zoonotic Potential of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies paratuberculosis through Comparative Genomics

A comparative genomics approach was utilised to compare the genomes of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) isolated from early onset paediatric Crohn's disease (CD) patients as well as Johne's diseased animals. Draft genome sequences were produced for MAP isolates derived from four CD patients, one ulcerative colitis (UC) patient, and two non-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) control individuals using Illumina sequencing, complemented by comparative genome hybridisation (CGH). MAP isolates derived from two bovine and one ovine host were also subjected to whole genome sequencing and CGH. All seven human derived MAP isolates were highly genetically similar and clustered together with one bovine type isolate following phylogenetic analysis. Three other sequenced isolates (including the reference bovine derived isolate K10) were genetically distinct. The human isolates contained two large tandem duplications, the organisations of which were confirmed by PCR. Designated vGI-17 and vGI-18 these duplications spanned 63 and 109 open reading frames, respectively. PCR screening of over 30 additional MAP isolates (3 human derived, 27 animal derived and one environmental isolate) confirmed that vGI-17 and vGI-18 are common across many isolates. Quantitative real-time PCR of vGI-17 demonstrated that the proportion of cells containing the vGI-17 duplication varied between 0.01 to 15% amongst isolates with human isolates containing a higher proportion of vGI-17 compared to most animal isolates. These findings suggest these duplications are transient genomic rearrangements. We hypothesise that the over-representation of vGI-17 in human derived MAP strains may enhance their ability to infect or persist within a human host by increasing genome redundancy and conferring crude regulation of protein expression across biologically important regions

Mycobacteria in the animal’s environment in the Czech Republic

The “atypical mycobacteria ” are widely distributed in the natural environment and can produce infection in farm and wild animals bred in captivity. The objective of the study was to analyze the variety of mycobacterial species in the environment of breeding facilities, tanks and aquariums, as well as in samples of peat used as a feed supplement in the Czech Republic over the 2003-2004 period. A total of 1389 samples from environment were examined, collected from 29 sites throughout the Czech Republic. The samples were decontaminated and cultured at 25 °C and 37 °C in three culture media: Stonebrink’s medium, Herrold’s egg yolk medium and Sula’s medium. Mycobacterial isolates grown were identified by the PCR method and growth and biochemical tests. Of the 1389 environmental samples, mycobacteria were demonstrated by culture in 400 (28.8%) of them originating from different substances. In the samples of farm environment and in peat, mycobacteria were isolated in 185 of 1064 (17.4%) samples, and in 201 of 325 (61.8%) samples from aquarium and breeding tank environment. The results show significant difference between the findings from the stable environment (17.4%) and those from the aquarium environment (61.8%). A wide range of species was found in all constituents of the environment. The following species were most frequently isolated from the stable environment: M. avium (6.5%), M. fortuitum (3.2%), M. flavescens (3.2%), and the aquarium environment harboured most frequently M. fortuitum (13.9%), M. marinum (8.0%) and M. gordonae (4.5%). The results confirm the frequent occurrence of various mycobacterial species in the environment, predominantly in aquariums, some of which can produce infection in animals and in man following contact with the infected environment

Strategy for the detection and differentiation of Mycobacterium avium species in isolates and heavily infected tissues.

The members of Mycobacterium avium species, comprising M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, M. a. hominissuis, M. a. avium, M. a. silvaticum, are currently the most prevalent opportunistic pathogenic mycobacteria causing mycobacterial infection in animals and humans. The ability to distinguish between these subspecies is of relevance for proper diagnosis and control programmes of the diseases. The aim of this study was to design a fast and specific PCR strategy for the detection and differentiation of M. avium subspecies from the solid plate cultures for use in routine veterinary diagnosis. We have developed a multiplex PCR based on IS900, IS901, IS1245 and the dnaJ gene. This method allows the detection of M. a. paratuberculosis, M. a. hominissuis and M. a. avium/M. a. silvaticum in one PCR reaction and theoretically enables mixed infections of M. a. paratuberculosis and M. a. avium or M. a. paratuberculosis and M. a. hominissuis to be revealed. The sensitivity of this multiplex PCR is 103 CFU for each bacterial strain in one PCR reaction, which also enabled the use of this test directly for DNA isolated from the tissue of the heavily infected sheep

Epidemiology of intramammary infections with Staphylococcus aureus and mastitis streptococci in a dairy cattle herd with a history of recurrent clinical mastitis

The aim of the present work was to examine a dairy herd with an anamnesis of recurrent clinical mastitis and decreased milk production. A total of 239 individual cow milk samples originating from asymptomatic cows were collected at four-month intervals and examined mainly for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and mastitis streptococci using standard cultivation methods. In total, 29.7% and 9.2% samples were positive for S. aureus and mastitis streptococci, respectively. Unlike for mastitis streptococci, the prevalence of animals positive for S. aureus had an increasing trend (p<0.05; Chi-squared test for trend) with rising parity. Despite in vitro susceptibility of S. aureus to potentiated penicillins and cephalosporins, the persistence of S. aureus was observed in cows undergoing intramammary treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (a potentiated penicillin antibiotic). All isolates of S. aureus were biofilm-positive and had the same macrorestriction pattern. Furthermore, no dependence was observed between the occurrence of S. aureus in milk and previous cases of clinical mastitis, reproductive and periparturient disorders and administration of antibiotics. In contrast to S. aureus, the occurrence of mastitis streptococci in milk was linked with previous cases of clinical mastitis and intramammary administration of antibiotics