Group B streptococcal carriage among pregnant women and its implications

Group B streptococci are a group of gram positive cocci of Streptococcaceae family belonging to Lancefield group B, classified based on carbohydrate antigen. Streptococci are a group of gram positive cocci predominantly showing chain arrangement attributed to the type of cell division (linear). Among the various groups of streptococci group B Streptococci comprise normal micro biota of human genitourinary tract. Group B Streptococci are represented by Streptococcus agalactiae which are not only commensals but also recognized as a potential pathogen responsible for serious neonatal infections. Colonization in vagina prior to pregnancy may be considered as a risk factor for intra-partum and post-partum complications in pregnant women and neonates. Considering the fact that there are many serotypes of group B streptococci prevalent in different geographical regions and that there are no vaccine available, studies on epidemiology of colonization among risk groups and potential pathogenic nature of the colonizing bacteria assume significance. This paper enlivens the current knowledge of epidemiology of group B Streptococci

Evaluation of anti-bacterial IgG antibodies among rheumatoid arthritis and non rheumatoid arthritis patients with special reference to anti Proteus antibodies

Background: The objective of the study was to detect IgG antibodies against commonly isolated bacterial species among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and non rheumatoid arthritis patients sera with special reference to anti Proteus antibodies.Methods: Fifty each of Rheumatoid factor positive, Rheumatoid factor negative, C reactive protein positive and C reactive protein negative sera were tested for IgG antibodies against ‘O’ antigens of Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by indirect ELISA method using inactivated whole cells as the antigen.Results: Anti Proteus antibodies were detected in more number of (29/50) RA patients than non RA patients.  The antibodies to other bacteria were detected in less number of sera.  More number of C reactive protein positive sera was showing IgG antibodies to several bacterial pathogens than C reactive protein negative sera.Conclusions: Elevated levels of anti Proteus antibodies among RA patients clearly demonstrates the role of infectious agents in diseases like RA but it is not clear whether this role is a cause or effect.  Further studies with large series at multiple centers may widen the treatment options for RA in future

Re-emergence of Neglected Tropical Diseases amid the COVID-19 Pandemic : Epidemiology, Transmission, Mitigation Strategies, and Recent Advances in Chemotherapy and Vaccines

The current re-emergence of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) amid the global COVID-19 pandemic requires increased attention. These include communicable and vector-borne diseases caused by various fungi, bacteria (e.g. tuberculosis), viruses (e.g. dengue, Chikungunya fever, monkeypox, Marburg and Ebola virus disease, poliomyelitis, rabies), and parasites (e.g. filariasis, malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis). Whilst the vast majority of such diseases remain endemic to specific regions of the world (e.g. tropical Africa), some - like those caused by the Ebola virus, the Marburg virus, and more recently the Monkeypox virus - have been reported elsewhere (e.g. Europe and America), forcing public health boards in various countries to take all necessary precautions to control such a spread. The Department for Control of Neglected Tropical Disease was created in 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to tackle NTD. In 2021, the 74th World Health Assembly proposed a 9-year plan (2021-2030) intended to eradicate neglected diseases. Over the past three years, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on socio-economic activities and healthcare systems worldwide. With the WHO recently declaring the global monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, a coordinated effort among high-income and low/middle-income countries is now more than ever recommended to address the threat posed by the worldwide re-emergence of some NTD. There is currently a lack of knowledge on understanding how such diseases are transmitted and what mitigation strategies should be put in place to control their spread. Better availability of diagnostic tests, vaccines, and drugs in affected countries is also required. In this Research Topic, we wish to address how to best tackle the re-emergence of NTD in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This collection welcomes a range of articles including opinion, commentary, systematic reviews, and original research articles on epidemiology, transmission, mitigation strategies, and recent advances in chemotherapy and vaccines for these NTD

Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of heat-cure denture base resin materials incorporated with silver nanoparticles

Background: Poly (Methyl methacrylic acid) based materials are the most widely used for the fabrication of removable complete and partial dentures. Certain microorganisms adhere to the tissue surface of a denture base, especially on palatal region, often leading to Denture stomatitis. Numerous attempts were made to treat the denture stomatitis with various antifungal agents showing variable success rates. This may be attributed to the loss of the drug rapidly into the saliva, inhomogeneous distribution of the drug and the development of resistance to antifungal therapy. Aim: This study was done to evaluate the effect of incorporating various concentrations of silver nanoparticles on the antimicrobial activity of heat-cure denture base resin materials. Methods: Silver nanoparticles were incorporated at various concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 wt%) into three heat-cure denture base materials. A total of 300 disc-shaped specimens (10 × 2 mm) of heat-cure acrylic resin were made using compression molding technique which comprises 100 specimens with each denture base material. Fifty specimens from each denture base materials were allocated to each microorganism used in the study which comprises into five groups with ten specimens (n=10) for each concentration such as control, 0.5wt%, 1.0wt%, 2.0wt% and 5.0wt% concentrations of silver nanoparticles. Antimicrobial activity of control and modified specimens were evaluated using direct contact method against C albicans, and S Mutans by counting the number of colony-forming units. The data were subjected to One way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests for statistical analyses. Results: Significant(P<0.05) differences were observed in the antimicrobial activity against C albicans and S Mutans between the control and modified groups of heat-cure denture base resin materials. Conclusion: Silver nanoparticles are the favourable materials to incorporate into denture base materials as they exhibit superior antimicrobial activity

Editorial : Re-emergence of neglected tropical diseases amid the COVID-19 pandemic: epidemiology, transmission, mitigation strategies, and recent advances in chemotherapy and vaccines

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of infectious diseases that are common in the tropical regions of the world that include landmasses surrounding the equator such as North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. NTDs are caused by different microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Many NTDs involve specific environmental conditions, vectors, and animal reservoirs that favor the survival of microorganisms with complex life cycles. The vast majority of NTDs are caused by parasites followed by bacterial species, fungi, and viruses. Additionally, vector-borne arthropods like mites causing scabies and other ectoparasites can cause NTDs

The emergence of the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 in multiple countries requires active surveillance : current scenario and counteracting strategies

Dear Editor, On April 11, 2022, a child less than two years old living in the Tamanrasset province of South Algeria showed signs of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). On July 8, 2022, this was notified by the WHO through the Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) as a case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) [1]. In the past few months, several genetically-linked Sabin-like type 2 (SL-2) poliovirus isolates have been detected numerous times in the US and the UK [2]. Since last February, the GPLN in London has been consistently detecting SL-2 isolates in sewage samples. The latter showed enough mutations to be classified as type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV2) and, due to the evidence of community transmission, were classified as circulating VDPV2 (cVDPV2) [2]. No human cases of VDPV2 have been documented in the UK as of September 5, 2022. Only one case of VDPV2 was reported in an unvaccinated paralytic individual. This was the first poliomyelitis case reported in that country since 2013 that was not linked to recent international travel. In the US, the virus isolates detected in environmental samples were found to be genetically-related to those reported in the sewage samples from London and those from Jerusalem, Israel [2]. In the case of the child who showed AFP in Algeria, the cVDPV2 isolates were detected in the stool samples. This was the first case of cVDPV2 in that country. Genome sequencing showed that the isolated virus was genetically-related to one strain previously isolated in Kano, Nigeria. The child had not received the polio vaccine and had never travelled outside the Tamanrasset province. Public health investigations are currently underway in that region to identify any more AFP cases [1]

Antimicrobial properties of nanomolecules: potential candidates as antibiotics in the era of multi-drug resistance

OBJECTIVES: The emergence of multi-drug resistance among various microbial pathogens has been a cause of serious concern to the medical world, limiting the choice of antibiotics. Considering that it may take decades to synthesize new antimicrobial drugs that combat resistant pathogens, the search for alternatives to conventional antimicrobial agents has begun. METHODS: In his paper we attempted to review the physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles, their modes of action and potential use in medicine and research with special reference to antimicrobial properties. RESULTS: Nanomolecules and nanoparticles have in recent years been extensively studied for their utility not only as antibiotics but also as vehicles to carry antibiotics or other agents such as cancer chemotherapeutics to target sites and limit damage to host cells. CONCLUSION: Nanomolecules were positively evaluated for their antimicrobial activities. Anti-biofilm activities of nanoparticles, utility of nanomaterials as carrier agents of drugs signifies their importance in medicine and research