Isolation of ESBL-producing gram-negative bacteria and in silico inhibition of ESBLs by flavonoids

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate nosocomial accounts of 426 extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains from 705 isolates of 9 pathogenic gram-negative bacteria in vitro. We analysed the genetic divergence of ESBLs by constructing a phylogenetic tree and modelled flavonoid inhibition of ESBLs with in silico molecular docking to determine effective control options.MethodsNine ESBL-producing bacteria were isolated from urine samples and their antibiograms were determined by the disc-diffusion method. Comparative models of the 9 ESBL enzymes were generated computationally using reference sequences, and validated by Ramachandran plots. Molecular docking with 11 flavonoids was conducted against the ESBL models.ResultsIsolated strains were floridly multidrug-resistant. From the docking study, the predicted minimum energy value of amikacin was −8.108 kcal/mol against the wild type TEM-1 ESBL of Acinetobacter baumannii, while the docking value against the mutant type Escherichia coli was −7.388 kcal/mol. The docking scores obtained corroborated the in vitro results showing that the antibiotic was incapable of controlling the ESBL of the mutant strain. Among 11 flavonoids tested against the mutant ESBL of E. coli, epigallocatechin 3-gallate and eriodictyol, with docking scores of −9.448 and −8.161 kcal/mol, respectively, were the most effective, with drug-likeness scores of 0.39 and 1.37, respectively, compared to 1.03 for amikacin.ConclusionDocking scores and drug-likeness scores indicated that flavonoids are compelling alternative antimicrobial agents that could serve as complementary therapy for newly arising ESBL-producing bacteria. Phylogenetic tree analysis elucidated the genetic relationship of the 9 ESBL serotypes

In vitro antibacterial efficacy of plants used by an Indian aboriginal tribe against pathogenic bacteria isolated from clinical samples

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate antibacterial efficacies of 21 medicinal plants used by an Indian aboriginal tribe against infectious diseases caused by bacteria isolated from clinical samples.MethodsStandard biochemical procedures were followed for identifying bacteria that were isolated from several clinical samples. All of the bacterial strains were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity tests by Kirby–Bauer's disc diffusion method. From antibiograms of isolated Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, it was discernible that samples were multidrug resistant (MDR). The methanol leaf-extract of Solanum xanthocarpum was subjected to thin layer chromatography (TLC) for phytochemical analysis. Molecular docking of β-lactamase enzyme of Escherichia coli with phytochemicals of S. xanthocarpum was performed to locate effective compounds.ResultsThe most effective 5 plants, which caused the size of the zone of inhibition to range from 21 to 27 mm, were Buchanania latifolia, Careya arborea, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Senna alata and S. xanthocarpum, for MDR bacteria. S. xanthocarpum had the lowest MIC value of 0.67 mg/ml and the lowest MBC value of 1.51 mg/ml against E. coli. In the TLC study, 9 spots of methanol leaf-extract of S. xanthocarpum were recorded with two solvent systems. The phytochemicals of S. xanthocarpum, solasodine and stigmasterol glucoside had the highest docking score values, −10.868 kcal/mol and −10.439 kcal/mol, respectively, against β-lactamase.ConclusionThis study could prove in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of 5 uncommon plants against MDR pathogenic bacteria. Solasodine and stigmasterol glucoside were computationally recorded as the best controlling chemicals from the plant S. xanthocarpum

Poems

The right life I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine Angles of repose This morning Migration In a sea fog Penguins For comrades in solitary confinement Greater flamingoes snipe Oystercatcher One sooty falcon Lesser kestrel Two ravens The nest in tatters That pair of pigeons Over a cup of tea And gathering of swallows twitter The speech of birds Early morning May Bird brigade

Interlending & Document Supply, 2001 to 2010: A bibliometric study

The study intends to evaluate journal of Interlending & Document Supply (ILDS) from 2001 to 2010 using different bibliometric indicators and to find out various dimensions of publication trends of this journal. In accordance with the objectives of the study, the bibliographic citations appended at the end of each article were copied and stored in a separate MS-Word file. The details with regard to each published article such as type of papers, number of articles in each issue of the journal, number of references and their forms in each article, number of pages, number of authors, and the name of journals, etc. were recorded and analyzed. The study applied Lotka's law to assess authorship productivity pattern, and Bradford's law to ascertain the scattering of journals. In analyzing 315 scholarly articles published in ILDS for a period of 10 years ranging from 2001 to 2010, the study reveals that the highest numbers of articles are found to be single authored contributions, followed by two-authored contributions. The authorship productivity pattern partially complies with Lotka's Law. In regard to country productivity, UK leads the table, followed by USA, and France. Moreover, ILDS authors are found to have fairly cited recent literature in their papers which is evident from the half life period of documents. Furthermore, the study concludes that ILDS can enrich its standard if it can fine tune its editorial policy

Phase quantized quasi-Sierpinski carpet reflector for OAM beam generation

This work proposes a quasi-Sierpinski carpet type reflecting surface. The reflector incorporates remodeled Jerusalem type sub-wavelength elements. The element arrangement ensures a 3-bit phase quantized encoding for the reflected beam. Microstrip antenna feed illuminates this reflector. We start with EM simulation of a broadband unit-cell reflector. We assume that the final reflector based on such unit-cell shall show broadband characteristic. The simulated beam from the reflector, due to spatial arrangements of the unit-cells, showed the fundamental mode of orbital angular momentum vortex beams. Experimental verification of fabricated prototype shows good agreement with simulated far-field results at 9.5 GHz, 10 GHz, 10.5 GHz, and 11 GHz which indicate a broadband characteristic

Performing Tracheostomy in Intensive Care Unit- A Challenge during COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 is a rapidly spreading infection caused by novel corona virus. It is challenging to the medical community in an unprecedented degree. Clinicians and health care workers are at added risk of infection during the procedure performing at the intensive critical care unit. Tracheostomy is a common surgical procedure performed at ICU for prolonged ventilation of the patient. Performing tracheostomy is currently a challenging for otolaryngologist at the ICU because of high chance of spreads of the virus to the surrounding health care workers and also to the other patients. The location for this procedure in ICU should be well ventilated after the procedure and the pressure in the room must be maintained negative or neutral. The health care personnel particularly Otolaryngologists have a central role for managing this situations where they are assessing the patients, preventing the contamination to other assisting staff and other patients. As there is progressive rise of the COVID-19 patients worldwide, it is surely expected that several patients may need intubation and mechanical ventilation. So, in this condition, patient my require tracheostomy for prolonged ventilation. Because of the very minimum literature available  regarding tracheostomy in the COVID-19 pandemic, so this review article will surely increase awareness among health care personnel and surgical team for prevention of the transmission of the infection from tracheostomy to medical staffs and other patients

Interlending & Document Supply: A bibliometric study from 2001 to 2010

The study intends to evaluate journal of Interlending & Document Supply (ILDS) from 2001 to 2010 using different bibliometric indicators and to find out various dimensions of publication trends of this journal. In accordance with the objectives of the study, the bibliographic citations appended at the end of each article were copied and stored in a separate MS-Word file. The details with regard to each published article such as type of papers, number of articles in each issue of the journal, number of references and their forms in each article, number of pages, number of authors, and the name of journals, etc. were recorded and analyzed. The study applied Lotka's law to assess authorship productivity pattern, and Bradford's law to ascertain the scattering of journals. In analyzing 315 scholarly articles published in ILDS for a period of 10 years ranging from 2001 to 2010, the study reveals that the highest numbers of articles are found to be single authored contributions, followed by two-authored contributions. The authorship productivity pattern partially complies with Lotka's Law. In regard to country productivity, UK leads the table, followed by USA, and France. Moreover, ILDS authors are found to have fairly cited recent literature in their papers which is evident from the half life period of documents. Furthermore, the study concludes that ILDS can enrich its standard if it can fine tune its editorial policy