IDENTIFICATION OF AMPC Î’-LACTAMASE-PRODUCING CLINICAL ISOLATES OF ESCHERICHIA COLI

  Objective: Indiscriminate use of β-lactam antibiotics has resulted in the emergence of β-lactamase enzymes. AmpC β-lactamases, in particular, confer resistance to penicillin, first-, second-, and third-generation cephalosporins as well as monobactams and are responsible for antibiotic resistance in nosocomial pathogens. Therefore, this study was undertaken to screen nosocomial Escherichia coli isolates for the presence and characterization of AmpC β-lactamases. The study also envisaged on the detection of inducible AmpC β-lactamases and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in AmpC β-lactamase-producing E. coli.Methods: A total of 102 clinical isolates of E. coli, were subjected to cefoxitin screening, and screen-positive isolates were further subjected to inhibitor-based detection method, phenotypic confirmatory test, disc antagonism test, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and isoelectric focusing (IEF).Results: In this study, 33% of E. coli were resistant to cefoxitin, of which 35% were found to be positive for AmpC β-lactamase by inhibitor-based phenotypic test. Of the AmpC-positive isolates, 83% were positive for ESBLs, whereas 25% were producing inducible AmpC β-lactamases. PCR and IEF showed CIT and EBC types of AmpC β-lactamases present in the tested isolates.Conclusion: Our study showed the presence of inducible AmpC enzymes and ESBLs in E. coli isolates and PCR identified more isolates to be AmpC producers

Colour and surface functional properties of wool fabrics coated with gallnut, feijoa skin, and mango seed kernel tannin-stabilised Ag nanoparticles

In the textile industry, textile materials are dyed and multi-functionalised by multi-step treatments that considerably increase the environmental impacts by increasing water, and energy usage along with increasing the generation of volume of effluent. In this work, Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were in-situ formed and stabilised with gallnut, feijoa fruit skin, and mango seed kernel-derived tannins, and wool fabrics were coated simultaneously with these Ag NPs in the same bath. The Ag NP treatment produced dark to light olive-brown shades on wool fabrics. The treatment conditions for the treatment with Ag NPs were optimised to achieve the best results. The colour intensity, UV radiation absorption, antibacterial activity, surface electrical resistance, and durability of the treatment to washing were assessed by various methods. The gallnut-derived tannin (GNT)-stabilised Ag NP-coated wool fabrics showed overall the best results including excellent antibacterial activity against various types of bacteria. The treatment was durable to at least 20 cycles of IWS 7A washes (equivalent to 80 domestic washes). For the 0.5% Ag NPs on the weight of fibre (owf) dosage, the UV light transmission through the trisodium citrate-stabilised Ag NP-coated fabric at 365 and 311 nm was 6.37 and 0.95% respectively, which reduced to 1.63 and 0.20% for the fabric coated with GNT-stabilised Ag NPs providing excellent protection against UV radiation. The surface resistivity of wool fabric reduced from 1.1×1012 Ohm/cm for the untreated fabric to 1.1×109 Ohm/cm for the fabric coated with 2.0% owf GNT-stabilised Ag NPs. The stabilisation of Ag NPs with GNT prolonged the wash-durability by reducing the leaching of Ag NPs from the treated fabric. The developed method could be a sustainable alternative to traditional multi-stage treatments conducted in the textile industry with toxic synthetic dyes and finishing agents for the colouration and multifunctionalisation of wool fabrics

An investigation of the ecological niches and seasonal nature of Clostridium estertheticum and Clostridium gasigenes in the Irish beef farm environment

peer-reviewedBlown pack spoilage (BPS) of vacuum packaged beef is caused by psychrotolerant and psychrophilic Clostridium species (PPC), primarily Clostridium estertheticum and Clostridium gasigenes. The aim of this study was to investigate the environmental niches and impact of season on these BPS Clostridium spp. on Irish beef farms. On each of 5 different beef farms, faecal (10), soil (5), silage (5), bedding straw (5), drinking water (5), puddle/ditch water (5) and air (5) samples were collected during Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and tested for C. estertheticum and C. gasigenes using culture (direct plating and enrichment) and molecular, (conventional PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR)), based techniques. C. estertheticum and C. gasigenes were detected in all sample types, with qPCR detection rates ranging from 4% to 50% and at concentrations of up to 1.5 log10 cfu g‐1 and 3.5 log10 cfu g‐1, respectively. The impact of season was not clear as the results were mixed depending on the detection method used. It was concluded that BPS causing C. estertheticum and C. gasigenes are widely distributed in the beef farm environment

Introduction to Natural Fiber Reinforced Vinyl Ester and Vinyl Polymer Composites

In recent years, the polymer industry has intensified its efforts to produce renewable material based polymer. Therefore, the use of natural fiber composites has been widely considered in various engineering sectors to replace conventional synthetic composite usage. This is because natural fiber composite properties are easily disposed and environmentally friendly in generating economic and sustainability societies. Vinyl polymer is a group of matrices comprising of thermosets and thermoplastics that are normally preferred as matrices with natural fibers. Both groups have their own unique features in benefiting their applications. The composite made of thermoset resin cannot be reprocessed or recycled. The composites of the thermoset matrix tend to provide good mechanical strength, are fragile and have low tensile effects. This is in contrast to the properties of the thermoplastic polymer that can be formed and diluted without changing its physical properties. Thermoplastic has excellent impact resistance and ductile. However, various approaches continue to be carried out by researchers to meet the requirements of natural fiber composites in different applications

The Structural Relationship Between Current and Capital Account Balance in India: A Time Series Analysis

The long run relationship between current account balance (CAB) and capital account balance (KAB) and the repercussions of capital account convertibility (KAC) on growth process of a country is a much debated issue. In particular, in the aftermath of the Southeast Asian crisis, the limitation of the liberal capital regime for a developing country like India is often highlighted in the literature. However, the probable impact of introducing KAC on CAB in India generally is discussed theoretically. Though some of the existing studies in India have earlier focused on this research question, they have done so by exogenously assuming the existence of a single structural break in the interrelationship between CAB and KAB. The present study intends to bridge the gap in the literature by raising two empirical questions: first, how far KAC is likely to destabilize the CAB and second, measuring the strength of the interrelationship between CAB and KAB. The current paper also contributes to the literature by incorporating multiple endogenous structural breaks in the empirical analysis. The empirical findings do not support any long term relationship between capital and current account balance and reveals that two significant structural breaks are observed in 1993-94 and 2003-04

Hopane-type saponins from Glinus lotoides Linn

Seven hopane-type saponins were isolated from the methanol extract of Glinus lotoides. Six of them were identified as novel compounds and designated as lotoideside A [3-O-b-D-xylopyranosyl (1! 2)-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-6a-O-b-D-xylopyranosyl-22-b-O-b-Dglucopyranosyl- 16b-hydroxy hopane (1)], lotoideside B [3-O-b-D-xylopyranosyl (1 !2)-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-22-b-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl- 6a,16b-dihydroxyhopane (2)], lotoideside C [3-OD-xylopyranosyl-6a-O-b-D-xylopyranosyl-16b-O-b-D-xylopyranosyl-22bhydroxyhopane (3)], lotoideside D [3-O-b-D-xylopyranosyl-16b-O-a-L-arabinopyranosyl-6a,22-b-dihydroxyhopane (4)], lotoideside E [3-O-b-D-xylopyranosyl-6a-O-b-D-xylopyranosyl-16 b,22-b-dihydroxyhopane (5)], and lotoideside F [3-O-b-D-xylopyranosyl-22- b-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-16b-hydroxyhopan-6-one (6)]. The known compound succulentoside B (7) was also encountered. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of one-and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic techniques, ESIMS and chemical evidences. � 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

An approach to identify the novel miRNA encoded from H. Annuus EST sequences

MicroRNAs are a newly discovered class of non-protein small RNAs with 22–24 nucleotides. They play multiple roles in biological processes including development, cell proliferation, apoptosis, stress responses and many other cell functions. In this research, several approaches were combined to make a computational prediction of potential miRNAs and their targets in Helianthus annuus (H. annuus). The already available information of the plant miRNAs present in miRBase v21 was used against expressed sequence tags (ESTs). A total of three miRNAs were detected from which one potential novel miRNA was identified following a range of strict filtering criteria. The target prediction was carried out for these three miRNAs having various targets. These targets were functionally annotated and GO terms were assigned. To study the conserved nature of the miRNAs, predicted phylogenetic analysis was carried out. These findings will significantly provide the broader picture for understanding the functions in H. annuus

Efficacy of moxifloxacin & econazole against multidrug resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis in murine model

Background & objectives: Studies have shown the bactericidal potential of econazole and clotrimazole against Mycobacterium tuberculosis under in vitro and ex vivo conditions along with their synergism with conventional antituberculosis drugs. These molecules were also found to be effective against different multidrug resistant (MDR) M. tuberculosis isolates in vitro. Hence the present study was designed to evaluate the in vivo antimycobacterial potential of moxifloxacin and econazole alone and in combination against multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in a mice model. Methods: Mice were infected with 2.5×10 [7] bacilli of MDR strain of M. tuberculosis by aerosol route of infection. After four weeks of infection, chemotherapy was started orally by moxifloxacin 8.0 mg/kg body wt and econazole 3.3 mg/kg alone and in combination, as well as with four first line anti-tuberculosis drugs as a positive control. The animals were sacrificed and the lungs and spleen were excised under aspetic conditions. The tissues were homogenized with sterile normal saline, an aliquot of the homogenate was plated on Middlebrook 7H11 agar supplemented with oleate albumin dextrose catalase (OADC) and incubated at 37°C for four weeks. The number of visible and individual colonies were counted. Results: The first line anti-tuberculosis drugs (RIF+INH+EMB+PZA) after eight weeks of therapy had no impact as the bacillary load in lungs and spleens remained unchanged. However, econazole, moxifloxacin alone as well as in combination significantly reduced the bacillary load in lungs as well as in spleens of MDR-TB bacilli infected mice. Interpretation & conclusions: Co-administration of the two drugs (econazole and moxifloxacin) to MDR-TB strain JAL-7782 infected mice exhibited additive effect, the efficacy of the drugs in combination being higher as compared with ECZ or MOX alone. These results were substantiated by histopathological studies. This study suggests the utility of econazole for the treatment of MDR tuberculosis and warrants further work in this direction