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Bloodstream Candida infection is a life-threatening event among ICU admitted patients. This infection is caused by a diverse range of Candida species having varied minimum inhibitory concentrations. To identify Candida species causing bloodstream infections with their antifungal susceptibility determination. Candida species isolated from the blood of ICU admitted patients were identified by phenotypic as well as by molecular methods including PCR-RFLP using Msp I restriction enzyme and MALDI TOF MS. The minimum inhibitory concentration of fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and caspofungin was determined against isolated Candida species by CLSI M27A 3 guidelines. A total of 119 Candida species were isolated. Among them, C. tropicalis (n = 29) was the predominant isolate followed by C. parapsilosis (n = 18) , C. glabrata (n = 12) , C. krusei (n = 11) and C. albicans (n = 11). Uncommon Candida species isolated were; Wickerhamomyces anomalus (n = 15), Kodaemia ohmeri (n = 8), C. lusitaniae (n = 5) and C. auris (n = 2). A varied antifungal MIC values were observed. Caspofungin had the lowest MIC among the tested antifungals. Increased fluconazole MIC was observed against the isolated Candida species including C. tropicalis. All the isolated C. lusitaniae and C. auris strains have ≥1mcg/ml amphotericin B MIC. In comparison to fluconazole, voriconazole was more effective when tested in vitro. Emergence of uncommon Candida species having varied antifungal MIC warns the physicians to have a prompt, accurate identification with antifungal MIC determination in each case of bloodstream Candida infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate two cyanobacteria isolated from different origins i.e. Lyngbya aestuarii (L. aestuarii) from brackish water and Aphanothece bullosa (A. bullosa) from fresh water paddy fields for antifungal and antileishmanila activity taking Candida albicans and Leishmania donovain as targets. Methods: Biomass of L. aestuarii and A. bullosa were harvested after 40 and 60 d respectively and lyophilized twice in methanol (100%) and redissolved in methanol (5%) for bioassay. Antifungal bioassay was done by agar well diffusion method while antileishmanial, by counting cell numbers and flageller motility observation of promastigotes and amastigotes from L. donovani. Fluconazole and 5% methanol were used as control. Results: Both the cyanobacteria were found to be potent source of antifungal activity keeping fluconazole as positive control, however, methanolic crude extract (15 mg/mL) of A. bullosa was found more potent (larger inhibition zone) over that of methanolic crude extract of L. aestuarii. Similarly antileishmanial activity of crude extract (24.0 mg/mL) of A. bullosa was superior over that of methanolic crude extract of L. aestuarii (25.6 mg/mL). Conclusions: Antifungal and antileishmanial drugs are still limited in the market. Screening of microbes possessing antifungal and antileishmanial activity drug is of prime importance. Cyanobacteria are little explored in this context because most of the drugs in human therapy are derived from microorganisms, mainly bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes. Thus in the present study two cyanobacterial strains from different origins showed potent source of antifungal and antileishmanial biomolecules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate antimicrobial and bronchodialator effect of hydroalcholic extract of polyherbal drug Shirishadi containing Shirisha (Albezzia lebbeck), Nagarmotha (Cyprus rotandus) & Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum). Methods: Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion method and MIC, MBC, MFC were calculated by micro dilution method. Hydroalcholic extract of this preparation was investigated for its phytochemical analysis, phenol and flavonoid were determined by spectrophotometric method and in vivo bronchodilator effect was analysed by convulsion time. Results: The phytochemical tests revealed presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The antimicrobial result showed the MIC of 6.25 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and 12.5 mg/mL for Escherichia coli and 12.5 mg/mL against remaining bacteria tested, with strong antifungal activity. The maximum inhibition zone is found against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC 16 mg/mL. Drug showed significant bronchodilator effect with 27.86% & 36.13% increase in preconvulsion time of guinea pigs pretreated with 100 & 200 mg/kg body weight of extract. Conclusions: The study reveals that the extracts possess antibacterial activity and antifungal activity in a dose dependent manner. This antimicrobial property may be due to presence of several saponins, further studies are highly needed for the drug development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Arachidonoyl dopamine and fluocinolone were identified as 'active compounds' from the methanolic extract of a species of cyanobacterium, Arthrospira platensis , isolated from a hypersaline lake in Rajasthan, India. In vitro testing of these compounds has shown potential antifungal activity as well as antibacterial activity against strains with multidrug resistance. A. platensis -derived methanolic crude extract and purified fractions were assayed against bacterial and fungal target pathogens prioritized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The active fractions were subjected to high-resolution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HR-LC/MS). Molecular docking analysis of the screened compounds revealed that arachidonoyl dopamine showed a significant interaction with the enzyme sterol-14-alpha demethylase targeted by other antifungal drugs; likewise, fluocinolone interacted with the OMP-F porin protein present in the outer membranes of the bacteria. However, neither molecule has yet been reported from any cyanobacterial system until now. In vitro activity of both compounds clearly indicates their potential for the development and/or repurposing of antifungal and antibacterial drugs. • A hypersaline cyanobacterium is a potential antimicrobial resource • Identification of arachidonoyl dopamine and fluocinolone as antimicrobial components • In vitro validation of the identified compounds confirmed their potential [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]