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BackgroundTranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic agent applied in orthopedic surgery and has been proven to reduce post-surgery infection rates. We previously showed that TXA also had an additional direct antimicrobial effect against planktonic bacteria. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether it has a synergistic effect if in combination with antibiotics.Materials and MethodsThree ATCC and seven clinical strains of staphylococci were tested against serial dilutions of vancomycin and gentamicin alone and in combination with TXA at 10 and 50 mg/ml. The standardized microtiter plate method was used. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were calculated by standard visualization of well turbidity (the lowest concentration at which complete absence of well bacterial growth was observed by the researcher) and using the automated method (the lowest concentration at which ≥80% reduction in well bacterial growth was measured using a spectrophotometer).ResultsTranexamic acid-10 mg/ml reduced the MIC of vancomycin and gentamicin with both the standard method (V: 1-fold dilution, G: 4-fold dilutions) and the automated turbidity method (vancomycin: 8-fold dilutions, gentamicin: 8-fold dilutions). TXA-50 mg/ml reduced the MIC of gentamicin with both the standard turbidity method (6-fold dilutions) and the automated turbidity method (1-fold dilutions). In contrast, for vancomycin, the MIC remained the same using the standard method, and only a 1-fold dilution was reduced using the automated method.ConclusionOurs was a proof-of-concept study in which we suggest that TXA may have a synergistic effect when combined with both vancomycin and gentamicin, especially at 10 mg/ml, which is the concentration generally used in clinical practice.

This article analyzes the current known information and data on the bamboo plant natural properties: UV protection properties, natural resistance to pests and fungal infestations due to an antimicrobial agent known as ‘bamboo kun’. Bamboo has a bacterial rate of up to 99.8%. The bamboo fibers air permeability is 20% higher than that of cotton, and the absorption capacity is 60% higher. After processing, the bamboo fiber contains no harmful chemicals (as specified in the Okeo-Tex Standard 100 - global testing and accreditation system for harmful substances screening in consumer fabrics). The Fabrics Verification Association of Japan confirms that even after 50 industrial washes the bamboo fiber samples keep their properties. Tests conducted by this association show that about 70% of the bacteria with which the bamboo fiber sample was infested were destroyed. Other studies on bamboo fiber confirm very good antimicrobial properties being followed by the combined fabric 50/50% bamboo / cotton, cotton and viscose. Currently bamboo fibers are used in the manufacture of underwear, socks, bed linen, towels, and bathrobes. The information got as a result of the present study allows to realize the research hypothesis, a step that will be preceded by the own experimental research carrying out in order to determine new directions of bamboo fibers use in the medical field.

Introduction: The roots of Salacia lehmbachii are used in Nigerian folklore medicine without scientific basis. The present study was aimed to investigate the antidiarrheal and antimicrobial activities of the ethanol extract of S. lehmbachii root bark. Methods: The antidiarrheal activity was examined using castor oil induced diarrhoea method. The ethanol root bark extract effects on intestinal transit time and enteropooling were also evaluated in rats, while antimicrobial activity was conducted on selected microorganisms. The acute toxicity test and phytochemical screening of the extract were also carried out. Results: The extract produced significant (P < 0.05) dose dependent protection on rats against castor oil induced diarrhoea. The extract inhibited intestinal transit time and caused significant dose related inhibition of castor oil induced enteropooling in rats, comparable to the standard drug, atropine (P < 0.05). The root bark extract significantly and dose dependently delayed the onset of castor oil induced diarrhoea, reduced the frequency of defecation and decreased the severity of diarrhoea in rats. S. lehmbachii ethanol root bark extract significantly and dose dependently decreased the volume of intestinal fluid accumulation in the castor oil induced enteropooling. The extract also significantly inhibited the growth of test organisms. The acute toxicity test produced no lethality in rats, whereas the phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, resins and balsam. Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the ethnomedicinal use of S. lehmbachii root bark as a valuable natural agent for the treatment of diarrhoea and microbial infections.

Abstract Background Lactobacillus spp. have been researched worldwide and are used in probiotics, but due to difficulties with laboratory cultivation of and experimentation on oral microorganisms, there are few reports of Lactobacillus spp. being isolated from the oral cavity and tested against oral pathogens. This research sought to isolate and determine the safety and inhibitory capabilities of a Lactobacillus culture taken from the human body. Results One organism was isolated, named “L. gasseri HHuMIN D”, and evaluated for safety. A 5% dilution of L. gasseri HHuMIN D culture supernatant exhibited 88.8% inhibition against halitosis-producing anaerobic microorganisms and the organism itself exhibited powerful inhibitory effects on the growth of 11 oral bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide production reached 802 μmol/L after 12 h and gradually diminished until 24 h, it efficiently aggregated with P. catoniae and S. sanguinis, and it completely suppressed S. mutans-manufactured artificial dental plaque. L. gasseri HHuMIN D’s KB cell adhesion capacity was 4.41 cells per cell, and the cell adhesion of F. nucleatum and S. mutans diminished strongly in protection and displacement assays. Conclusion These results suggest that L. gasseri HHuMIN D is a safe, bioactive, lactobacterial food ingredient, starter culture, and/or probiotic microorganism for human oral health.

If food is contaminated with pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, improper cooking during sous-vide preparation can lead to foodborne illnesses. In this study, it was found that L. monocytogenes were inactivated with both heat and the essential oil of Salvia officinalis (sage EO) in beef tenderloin of the musculus psoas major that had undergone sous-vide processing. To determine whether the enhancement of the efficacy of heat treatment is prospective, L. monocytogenes and sage EO were mixed. Groups with L. monocytogenes alone and sage essential oil combined with L. monocytogenes and test groups without EO were established. The samples were vacuum-packed, inoculated with L. monocytogenes, and then cooked sous-vide for the predetermined duration at 50, 55, 60, or 65 °C. In both groups with sous-vide beef tenderloin, the total bacterial count, the coliforms bacterial count, and the amount of L. monocytogenes were assessed on days 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Over these days, the amounts of L. monocytogenes, coliform bacteria, and overall bacteria increased. The identification of bacterial strains in various days and categories was performed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The test group that was exposed to a temperature of 50 °C for 5 min had a higher overall bacterial count for each day that was assessed. Pseudomonas fragi and L. monocytogenes were the most isolated organisms from the test group and the treated group. To ensure the safety for the consumption of sous-vide beef tenderloin, it was found that the addition of natural antimicrobials could produce effective outcomes.

As a family of cationic host defense peptides, human β-defensins (HBDs) are ubiquitous in the oral cavity and are mainly synthesized primarily by epithelial cells, serving as the primary barrier and aiming to prevent microbial invasion, inflammation, and disease while maintaining physiological homeostasis. In recent decades, there has been great interest in their biological functions, structure-activity relationships, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic potential in oral diseases. Meanwhile, researchers are dedicated to improving the properties of HBDs for clinical application. In this review, we first describe the classification, structural characteristics, functions, and mechanisms of HBDs. Next, we cover the role of HBDs and their synthetic analogs in oral diseases, including dental caries and pulp infections, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, fungal/viral infections and oral mucosal diseases, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Finally, we discuss the limitations and challenges of clinical translation of HBDs and their synthetic analogs, including, but not limited to, stability, bioavailability, antimicrobial activity, resistance, and toxicity. Above all, this review summarizes the biological functions, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic potential of both natural HBDs and their synthetic analogs in oral diseases, as well as the challenges associated with clinical translation, thus providing substantial insights into the laboratory development and clinical application of HBDs in oral diseases. [Display omitted] • Human β-defensins are natural defenders to human oral health. • Human β-defensins have potential in the treatment of oral diseases. • Synthetic analogs of human β-defensins are being developed for oral diseases. • Although there are obstacles preventing clinical translation, the future is bright. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable aliphatic polyester that can be used in the field of biomaterials. Electrospinning is the name given to the process of producing micro and nanoscale fibers using electrostatically charged polymeric solutions under certain conditions. Almost all synthetic and naturally occurring polymers can undergo electrospinning using suitable solvents or mixtures prepared in certain proportions. In this study, silica aerogels were obtained by the sol-gel method. PCL-silica aerogel fibers were synthesized by adding 0.5, 1, 2, and 4% ratios in the PCL solution. Blood contact analysis was performed on the produced fibers with UV-VIS. According to the results obtained, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4% nano-silver were added to the fiber-containing 4% aerogel. Then, SEM-EDS and FTIR analyses were performed on all fibers produced. Antimicrobial tests were performed on fibers containing nano-silver. As a result, high-performance blood coagulation fibers were developed using PCL with aerogel, and an antimicrobial effect was achieved with nano-silver particles. It is thought that the designed surface will be preferred in wound dressing and biomaterial in tissue engineering, as it provides a high amount of cell adhesion with a small amount of blood and contains antimicrobial properties.

Fungal microbes are important in the creation of new drugs, given their unique genetic and metabolic diversity. As one of the most commonly found fungi in nature, Fusarium spp. has been well regarded as a prolific source of secondary metabolites (SMs) with diverse chemical structures and a broad spectrum of biological properties. However, little information is available concerning their derived SMs with antimicrobial effects. By extensive literature search and data analysis, as many as 185 antimicrobial natural products as SMs had been discovered from Fusarium strains by the end of 2022. This review first provides a comprehensive analysis of these substances in terms of various antimicrobial effects, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic. Future prospects for the efficient discovery of new bioactive SMs from Fusarium strains are also proposed.

Collagen membranes are routinely used in oral surgery for bone regeneration. Despite their numerous advantages, such as stimulating bone growth, bacterial contamination still remains one of the disadvantages of membrane use. Thus, we assessed the biocompatibility and osteogenic and antibacterial properties of a collagen membrane (OsteoBiol) modified with chitosan (CHI) and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HApNPs). Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) were performed for membrane characterization. Biocompatibility was assessed on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) by an MTT assay, while the osteogenic effect was assessed by an ALP activity assay and qPCR analysis of osteogenic markers (BMP4, ALP, RUNX2, and OCN). Antimicrobial properties were investigated by counting colony-forming units (CFUs) of Streptococcus mitis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Fusobaterium nucleatum on membranes and in the surrounding medium. Membranes showed no cytotoxicity. ALP activity was higher and ALP, BMP4, and OCN genes were up-regulated in DPSCs on modified membranes compared to unmodified membranes. The CFUs were reduced on modified membranes and in the medium. Modified membranes showed great biocompatibility and a high osteoinductive effect. Additionally, they showed antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects against periopathogens. It can be concluded that the incorporation of CHI and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in collagen membranes may be advantageous to promote osteogenesis and reduce bacterial adhesion.

Microbial control through alternative therapies, such as the amniotic membrane (AM) and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), has been gaining prominence with the advancement of bacterial resistance to conventional treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of AM isolated and associated with aPDT using the PHTALOX® as a photosensitizer (PS) against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. The groups studied were: C+; L; AM; AM+L; AM+PHTX; and AM+aPDT. The irradiation parameters were 660 nm, 50 J.cm−2, and 30 mW.cm−2. Two independent microbiological experiments were carried out in triplicate, and the results were analyzed by CFU/mL counting and a metabolic activity test, both statistically analyzed (p < 0.05). The integrity of the AM was verified after the treatments by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The groups AM, AM+PHTX, and, mainly, AM+aPDT showed a statistical difference when compared to C+ regarding the decrease in CFU/mL and metabolic activity. SEM analysis showed significant morphological alterations in the AM+PHTX and AM+aPDT groups. The treatments with AM isolated or associated with PHTALOX® were adequate. The association had potentiated the biofilm effect, and the morphological differences presented by AM after treatment did not hinder its antimicrobial effect, encouraging its use in biofilm formation locals.

Cyano-phycocyanin is one of the active pigments of the blue-green algae and is usually isolated from the filamentous cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis Gomont (Spirulina). Due to its multiple physiological functions and non-toxicity, cyano-phycocyanin may be a potential substance for the topical treatment of various skin diseases. Considering that the conventional medicine faces drug resistance, insufficient efficacy and side effects, the plant origin compounds can act as an alternative option. Thus, the aim of this paper was to review the wound healing, antimicrobial, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimelanogenic and anticancer properties and mechanisms of cyano-phycocyanin topical activities on human skin. Moreover, possible applications and biotechnological requirements for pharmaceutical forms of cyano-phycocyanin for the treatment of various skin diseases are discussed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, the effects of Trachystemon orientalis L. (Kaldirik, Somar) on the shelf life of ground beef were investigated. Dried leaves were lyophilized after being treated with different solvents (petroleum ether, methanol and water). Lyophilized extracts were added to ground beef at different levels (250 ppm and 500 ppm), and the samples were stored at 2±1 °C. TBARS, pH, color values and Pseudomonas and Enterobacteriaceae counts of the ground beef samples were analyzed at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours of storage. The addition of the extract increased the pH value of ground beef (P < 0.01) and prevented lipid oxidation (P < 0.01). The a* value was more preserved in the samples with 250 and 500 ppm water extract than in the other treatment groups. Addition of extract to ground beef prevented the growth of Pseudomonas and Enterobacteriaceae (P < 0.01). Storage time had significant effects on the investigated properties (P < 0.01). During storage, TBARS values of all samples increased (P < 0.01), while the highest increase was detected in control samples (P < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kefir is a fermented dairy product with well recognized probiotic properties. Recently, consumer interest in fermented products with probiotic microorganisms has increased due to the accumulating evidence of the effects of kefir microorganisms on the modulation of gut microbiota and their antimicrobial activity. Although the health properties of kefir have been reviewed in other works, the present review addresses the antimicrobial effects of kefir microbiota and associated compounds. The antimicrobial activity of kefir microorganisms could derive from different mechanisms. The microorganisms' capacity to adhere to the intestinal epithelium, preventing the adhesion of pathogens, and their immunomodulation properties are among the mechanisms suggested. Bacteria and yeast isolated from kefir have been shown to have in vivo and in vitro antimicrobial activity against enteropathogenic bacteria and spoilage fungi. However, most reports have focused their approach on single-strain antimicrobial properties; evaluation of antimicrobial activity of cocultures of kefir microbiota and their potential mechanisms of action has been neglected. Kefir microbiota and associated compounds have shown promising antimicrobial effects; however, more research needs to be done to discern the mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the antimicrobial effects of Citrus limonum and calcium hydroxide comparatively and to evaluate MIC, MBC, and MFC levels for some microorganismal strains of the root canal microbial flora. Materials and Methods: Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Escherichia coli standard strains were used. Microorganisms were cultivated and used for the evaluation of the antimicrobial effect of the different concentrations of the C.limonum and calcium hydroxide using disc diffusion and agar well diffusion methods. Then MIC, MBC, and MFC values were recorded. Results: Wider inhibition zones were obtained for C.limonum essential oil compared to calcium hydroxide. In the agar well diffusion method, while the widest inhibition zone was obtained for C.albicans, the narrowest inhibition zone was observed for E.faecalis for C.limonum. For calcium hydroxide, the widest inhibition zone was in C.albicans cultures, however, the narrowest inhibition zone was observed for S.mutans. In the agar disc diffusion method, the widest inhibition zone was observed for C.albicans, and the narrowest inhibition zone was spotted in S.aureus for Citrus limonum. For calcium hydroxide, while the widest inhibition zone again reached for C.albicans, the narrowest inhibition zone was found for E.faecalis. The lowest MIC and MBC value for Citrus limonum was observed in S.mutans. For calcium hydroxide, the lowest MIC and MBC values were recorded for S.aureus, E.coli, and S.mutans. Conclusion: Data in experimental conditions showed that C.limonum essential oil may be an alternative candidate, and superior to calcium hydroxide in terms of antimicrobial activity for all chosen members of intracanal flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global use of probiotic products has been increasing steadily. These products are therapeutically intended for the prevention or treatment of various diseases. Commercial probiotic products are diverse, however no local or international regulations are applied to control the quality of these products. Many international studies have shown a scarcity of probiotic products that comply with the international guidelines. In Iraq, there are no previous studies that have looked at probiotic products from this scope. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess whether the bacterial contents and package labels of some commercial probiotic products were correct. In addition, the study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of the isolated probiotics. Eighteen probiotic products were purchased from local community pharmacies within 7-month period. Bacterial contents were counted using culture and count method. Packages' labels were checked for contents and spelling accuracy. Antimicrobial activity was performed using conventional well-diffusion assay. Half of the eighteen products purchased from local pharmacies, did not fulfill the taxonomy and nomenclature of bacteria. 7 products (38.8%) demonstrated positive growth on culture media and none of them matched the labelled bacterial counts on their packages. Of these 7 products, it has been found that the 24 h-spent culture of product-1 was the only one that demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. These findings necessitate the need for quality and efficacy control of these fairly expensive products. The effect of packaging and storage on the efficacy of these commercial products should also be taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteomyelitis is deep tissue inflammation caused by bacterial infection. If such an infection persists, it can lead to dissolution and necrosis of the bone tissue. As a result of the extensive use of antibiotics, drug-resistant bacteria are an increasingly common cause of osteomyelitis, limiting the treatment options available to surgeons. Photodynamic antibacterial chemotherapy has attracted increasing attention as a potential alternative treatment. Its advantages are a broad antibacterial spectrum, lack of drug resistance, and lack of toxic side effects. In this study, we explored the impact of the new photosensitizer LD4 in photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT), both alone and in combination with an antibiotic, on osteomyelitis. A rabbit tibial osteomyelitis model was employed and microbiological, histological, and radiological studies were performed. New Zealand white rabbits (n = 36) were randomly divided into a control group, antibiotic group, PACT group and PACT + antibiotic group for treatment. In microbiological analysis, a reduction in bacterial numbers of more than 99.9% was recorded in the PACT group and the PACT + antibiotic group 5 weeks after treatment (p < 0.01). In histological analysis, repair of the damaged bone tissue was observed in the PACT group, and bone repair in the PACT + antibiotic group was even more significant. In radiological analysis, the X-ray Norden score showed that the severity of bone tissue defects or destruction followed the pattern: PACT + antibiotic group < PACT group < antibiotic group < control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zr-Cu based thin-film metallic glass (TFMG) has good glass-forming ability and the addition of a third element can create a chaotic system capable of inhibiting the nucleation and growth of crystals. This study focused on TFMGs made with Zr, Cu, and Ti in various compositions deposited via high-impulse magnetron sputtering on silicon and 304 stainless-steel substrates. Detailed analysis was performed on the microstructure and surface characteristics of the resulting coatings. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the multilayer structure changed to a nanocrystalline structure similar to an amorphous coating. The excellent hydrophobicity of Zr-Cu-Ti TFMGs can be attributed to their ultra-smooth surface without any grain boundaries. The excellent antimicrobial effects can be attributed to a hydrophobic surface resisting cell adhesion and the presence of copper ions, which are lethal to microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics in fermented foods or commercially available supplements benefit the host by providing metabolites and peptides. The production of these metabolites varies with the available substrates or prebiotics present in the system and their concentration. In this study, 0.5% peanut flour (PF) was used to stimulate the growth and production of metabolites of wild-type Lactobacillus casei (LCwt) and compare with an engineered L. casei (LCCLA) capable of converting a higher amount of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The total extracellular metabolites present in the cell-free cultural supernatant (CFCS) of LCwt (without peanut), LCwt+PF (with peanut), and LCCLA were collected after 24 and 48 h of incubation, and their antagonistic activities against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC EDL933) growth and pathogenesis were evaluated. All collected metabolites exhibited varying efficiency in restraining EHEC EDL933 growth, whereas supplementing a low concentration of CLA to the 48-h CFCS from LCwt showed augmented antagonism toward EHEC EDL933. A downregulation of key virulence genes was observed from metabolites collected at the 48-h time point. These observations indicate that the presence of metabolites in CFCSs—including CLA, which is produced by Lactobacillus and was identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry—plays a critical role. This study demonstrates the potential applicability of Lactobacillus-originated CLA in the prevention of EHEC EDL933–mediated illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of micro‐organisms elimination from the air and surfaces is to ensure microbiological safety in health care facilities or food production plants. Currently, many disinfection methods are used, both physical, chemical and, increasingly, biological. Scientists seek new solutions with high antimicrobial effectiveness (especially against the drug‐resistant strains of bacteria), low production and operating costs, and, above all, the safety of patients and food consumers. The limitation of the methods used so far is primarily the micro‐organisms acquire the resistance, mainly to antimicrobial agents. One of the new and alternative methods of disinfection is radiant catalytic ionization (RCI). RCI is an active method of air and surface purification. The technology proved high efficiency against viruses, Gram‐positive and ‐negative bacteria, and fungi, both in the air and on surfaces (planktonic forms and biofilm). RCI has many advantages as well as some minor limitations. This overview summarizes the current knowledge about RCI technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose oxidase (GOx) is an important oxidoreductase enzyme with many important roles in biological processes. It is considered an "ideal enzyme" and is often called an oxidase "Ferrari" because of its fast mechanism of action, high stability and specificity. Glucose oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of β -d-glucose to d-glucono- δ -lactone and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of molecular oxygen. d-glucono- δ -lactone is sequentially hydrolyzed by lactonase to d-gluconic acid, and the resulting hydrogen peroxide is hydrolyzed by catalase to oxygen and water. GOx is presently known to be produced only by fungi and insects. The current main industrial producers of glucose oxidase are Aspergillus and Penicillium. An important property of GOx is its antimicrobial effect against various pathogens and its use in many industrial and medical areas. The aim of this review is to summarize the structure, function, production strains and biophysical and biochemical properties of GOx in light of its various industrial, biotechnological and medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to derive an essential oil from Cystoseira crinita Duby, analyze the chemical composition of the essential oil, discover the antimicrobial activities of the oil and the extracts, and investigate the scolicidal activities of the extracts. The volatile organic compounds of Cystoseira crinita Duby were determined by GC/MS-FID using both hydro-distillation (HD) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) methods. As a result of the essential oil analysis, 97.14% of 17 compounds and 93.13% of 19 compounds were elucidated. The main compounds identified were hexanal (31.802%), n-hexadecanoic acid (12.654%), trans-ß-ionone (9.118%), 2E-hexenal (15.955%), heptadecane (15.729%) and tetradecane (13.458%). In addition, hexane, dichloromethane, chloroform, and methanol extracts of the algae sample were prepared. The antimicrobial activities of the essential oil and extracts on gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and fungi microorganisms were studied. The results revealed activity within the zone diameter range of 8-16 mm. It was observed that all extracts and the essential oil itself showed high activity against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 microorganism. The chloroform and dichloromethane extracts were also found to demonstrate a high level of efficacy against Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876. Furthermore, viability detection was performed and the scolicidal effects of the extracts on protoscoleces were assessed. All extracts showed a strong scolicidal effect at the dose of 15000 µg/mL. For each solution, the difference between hours at each dose and the difference between doses at every hour were compared by One-Way ANOVA. The values of lethal concentration doses (LD50 and LD90) were calculated using Probit Analysis. This study provides information about the effects of Cystoseira crinita Duby algae extracts and suggests that the experimental studies needed for their use in live cells should be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen and causes illnesses with a high mortality rate in susceptible populations. Several dairy-related outbreaks have been attributed to contamination by L. monocytogenes, which requires antimicrobial interventions to enhance the safety of these products. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity of the ohelo berry (Vaccinium calycinum), a Hawaiian wild relative of cranberry, against L. monocytogenes in culture media and milk products. The effect of ohelo berry juice at its sub-inhibitory concentrations on the physicochemical properties, biofilm formation, and gene expression of L. monocytogenes was also investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentration of ohelo berry juice against L. monocytogenes was 12.5%. The sub-inhibitory concentration of ohelo berry juice (6.25%) significantly increased the auto-aggregation and decreased the hydrophobicity, swimming motility, swarming motility, and biofilm formation capability of L. monocytogenes. The relative expression of genes for motility (flaA), biofilm formation and disinfectant resistance (sigB), invasion (iap), listeriolysin (hly), and phospholipase (plcA) was significantly downregulated in L. monocytogenes treated by the 6.25% juice. L. monocytogenes was significantly inhibited in whole and skim milk supplemented with 50% ohelo berry juice, regardless of the fat content. These findings highlight the potential of ohelo berry as a natural preservative and functional food to prevent L. monocytogenes infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The existence of tick toxins is an old enigma that has intrigued scientists for a long time. The adaptive value of using deadly toxins for predatory animals is obvious: they try to kill the prey in the most effective way or protect themselves from their natural enemies. Ticks, however, are blood‐sucking parasites, and it seems paradoxical that they have toxins similar to spiders, scorpions and snakes. Based on published data, here we examine the potential adaptive function of different types of toxins produced by soft and hard ticks. We hypothesize that there are diverse evolutionary roles behind (a) to attack and reduce the tick‐transmitted pathogens inside the vertebrate host systemically to protect the tick, (b) to paralyse the host to stop grooming, (c) to speed up host heartbeat to improve blood supply and (d) to inhibit the process of necroptosis to prevent the rejection of hard ticks. We will provide published evidence that supports the above‐mentioned hypotheses, and we will give an outlook how these new scientific results might be applied in modern pharmacology and medicine.

Background and Aim: Lactobacillus is the most important genus of lactic acid bacteria and the use of some species of lactobacillus with the probiotic potential can be effective for inhibition of the growth of some pathogens and control of gastrointestinal diseases and cancers. In this study, the pro-apoptotic and antimicrobial effect of Lactobacillus sakei on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line and some gastrointestinal pathogenic species was examined. Materials and Methods: In this study, the antimicrobial activity of metabolites of Lactobacillus sakei was assessed by Well Diffusion Agar (WDA) method against some gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria. HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cancer cells were cultured in DMEM medium with 10% bovine serum. The cells were treated in 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/ml concentrations of sakei metabolites and incubated at 24 and 48 hours. Apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V-FITC/PI kit according to the manufacturers protocol in both incubation times. For error reduction, each test was performed in triplicate Results: The results of this study indicate that sakei was able to produce antimicrobial metabolites against gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria. Also, the results of the Annexin test showed that with increasing concentration of sakei metabolites in dose dependent manner, induction of apoptosis in this cell line increases (P

Osteomyelitis is deep tissue inflammation caused by bacterial infection. If such an infection persists, it can lead to dissolution and necrosis of the bone tissue. As a result of the extensive use of antibiotics, drug-resistant bacteria are an increasingly common cause of osteomyelitis, limiting the treatment options available to surgeons. Photodynamic antibacterial chemotherapy has attracted increasing attention as a potential alternative treatment. Its advantages are a broad antibacterial spectrum, lack of drug resistance, and lack of toxic side effects. In this study, we explored the impact of the new photosensitizer LD4 in photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT), both alone and in combination with an antibiotic, on osteomyelitis. A rabbit tibial osteomyelitis model was employed and microbiological, histological, and radiological studies were performed. New Zealand white rabbits (n = 36) were randomly divided into a control group, antibiotic group, PACT group and PACT + antibiotic group for treatment. In microbiological analysis, a reduction in bacterial numbers of more than 99.9% was recorded in the PACT group and the PACT + antibiotic group 5 weeks after treatment (p

Abstract Antibacterial properties of toothpastes enable chemical plaque control in limited‐access tooth regions that are mechanically not sufficiently reached by toothbrushes. Therefore, this study aimed to compare different microbial methods to assess antimicrobial toothpaste properties and evaluate different toothpastes in terms of their antibacterial efficacy against different oral microorganisms in an in vitro setting. Six toothpaste suspensions with varying antibacterial supplements were applied to a multispecies biofilm model (Actinomyces oris, Candida albicans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus oralis, and Streptococcus mutans) as well as to each microorganism. A culture method was used to assess the anti‐biofilm effects and two different agar diffusion assays were performed for testing the antimicrobial effect on each microorganism. The measurements of the culture and diffusion analyses were statistically normalized and compared and toothpastes were ranked according to their antimicrobial efficacy. The results of both agar diffusion assays showed a high correlation across all tested species (Spearman correlation coefficients ρs > 0.95). The results of the multispecies biofilm model, however, substantially differed in its assessment of antibacterial properties (ρs ranging from 0.22 to 0.87) compared to the results of both diffusion assays. Toothpastes with amine fluoride (with and without stannous fluoride), and toothpastes with triclosan resulted in the highest antimicrobial efficacy. Activated carbon supplements in toothpastes were comparable in their antimicrobial action to the negative control NaCl. The appropriate selection of a broad range of oral microorganisms seems crucial when testing the chemical impact of toothpaste and toothpaste supplements.

Featured Application: Application of platelet-rich fibrin provides better pain relief in alveolar osteitis than does the application of aspirin cones; bacterial concentrations in extraction wounds are consistent with the pain relief experienced. The objective was to compare pain relief in alveolar osteitis achieved by the application of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and aspirin cones, and to assess the influence of both treatments on bacterial concentrations in post-extraction wounds. A split-mouth, single-center, non-randomized controlled trial was conducted in 30 patients. Pain relief was assessed using the visual analog scale at three time points (before, 24 h after, and 48 h after intervention). Bacterial concentrations were evaluated from cultures of swab samples collected at the three time points. A Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test was performed to detect differences in distributions of scalar variables between treatment with PRF and aspirin cones. Pain relief at 24 h and 48 h after treatment was significantly higher (p = 0.003) with PRF application than with aspirin cone placement. Additionally, PRF application caused a significantly higher reduction in aerobic bacteria concentration, an average increase, instead of a decrease, in lactic acid bacilli concentration in the first 24 h, and a significantly greater increase in streptococci concentration at 48 h follow-up. PRF provides better pain relief than aspirin cones in alveolar osteitis. Bacterial concentrations in the extraction wounds are consistent with the pain relief achieved after PRF or aspirin application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncontrolled bleeding causes more than 30% of deaths due to injuries worldwide. Modern hemostatic materials based on synthetic and biological macromolecules focus mainly on the time prior to hemostasis, but the prevention of a bacterial infection is also crucial for increasing survival. Silver is known to exhibit potent antimicrobial activity and strong biocidal effects against various types of bacteria. A new method for producing of composite sponges with a pronounced antimicrobial effect based on such biological polymers as alginate and chitosan with the addition of silver nanoparticles has been proposed. The method is based on the combination of cryostructuring, ionotropic gelation and ion substitution methods during the formation of the macroporous structure of the sponge at the gelation stage with subsequent freeze drying. Silver nanoparticles isolated by three fungal cultures were introduced into the sponges in low concentrations. The alginate–chitosan–composite sponges with Ag nanoparticles showed high sorption capacity, microporous structure and increased antimicrobial activity compared to a composite sponge without the inclusion of silver nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were obtained by biological method in a simple, low-cost and environmentally friendly way. The characterization of the synthesized AgNPs was fulfilled using UV-visible Spectrophotometer, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction Diffractrometer (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Zeta sizer and potantial devices. It was determined that AgNPs gave a maximum peak at 440-450 nm absorbance. According to the TEM and FE-SEM results, the morphological structures of the nanoparticles were spherical and their average size was 38 nm. According to the XRD pattern, it was observed that the powder crystal structures of the nanoparticles were cubic and 21.94 nm in size. The zeta size of the nanoparticles was 158.2 nm on average and zeta potential of nanoparticles was - 23.4 mV. Minimum Inhibition Concentrations (MIC) (mg/mL) of the synthesized AgNPs on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 11774, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Candida albicans were determined as 1.25, 0.625, 2.5, 1.25 and 0.312, respectively. AgNO3 and antibiotic MIC values (mg/mL) of the mentioned microorganisms were determined as 2.65;2, 1.32;1, 0.66;2, 1.32;4, 0.66;2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sauerkraut is a traditional fermented vegetable product that has numerous health endorsing properties. It is produced by spontaneous fermentation of cabbage that mainly involves heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. The amount of salt introduces influences the physiochemical, microbial load, and also sensory consistency of sauerkraut. Sauerkraut has a high nutritional and phytochemical profile as well as has some epidemiological attributes. Sauerkraut is rich in vitamins and phenolic compounds, which protect against oxidative stress by serving as powerful free radical scavengers. The sauerkraut is being considered one of the best functional foods across the world due to its therapeutic potential. The current review provides an overview of production technology, nutritional, phytochemical, and different therapeutics (chemo preventive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory) aspects of sauerkraut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles synthesized from microalgae offer a newly discovered process that is open to improvement. In this study supernatant of Phaeodactylum tricornutum (P. tricornutum) culture was used for this purpose. Firstly, the effects of some variables, namely titanium concentrations, titanium:supernatant ratio, pH, incubation time, and mixing speed on nanoparticle synthesis were investigated by using statistical design method in shaken culture as well as bioreactor. The average nanoparticle size synthesized in optimum conditions which were pH 7.5 with 300 rpm for 1 h was found as 50 nm. In the second part, nanoparticles were coated with a chitosan solution to protect their stability and increase their potential. Therefore, the antimicrobial activity showed a reasonable effect on these nanoparticles coated with chitosan. Nanoparticles produced had interestingly shown 99% antistatic properties. According to the cytotoxicity test, these nanoparticles showed a high cytotoxic effect on different cancer cell lines. The results obtained in the present study can be considered promising outcomes for possible future antimicrobial, biogenic and antistatic studies particularly in biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Insufficient effectiveness of traditional drug therapy in a treatment of patients with chronic generalized periodontitis, as well as high social significance of this problem, determines the need to search for new drugs and their compositions aimed at solving it. Aim of the study: To increase the efficacy of complex treatment of periodontitis with the administration of Soderm ®-Forte gel and a new injectable form of Rexod®. Materials and methods: Experiments were performed in 50 male Wistar rats. Experimental periodontitis (EP) was simulated by ligation of the necks of lower incisors. We studied the animals with intact periodontium, untreated EP, and when traditional drug therapy (TDT), as well as the combinations of TDT with Soderm®-Forte gel and additionally with the new injectable dosage form (NIF) of Rexod® were administered. The general condition, behavior, nutrition and body weight of the animals were evaluated. The Schiller-Pisarev test and the Muhlemann-Cowell bleeding index were used, and the amount of crevicular fluid (CF) was measured. The contamination of the marginal gum with microorganisms was determined. Results and discussion: The TDT in EP has a moderate therapeutic effect, which does not lead to a sufficiently high pharmacotherapeutic effect, whereas the combinations of TDT with Soderm®-Forte and, to a greater extent, TDT with Soderm®-Forte and NIF of Rexod® have high therapeutic efficacy, which is statistically confirmed by a sharp decrease in the amount of CF, the Schiller-Pisarev test and the Muhlemann-Cowell bleeding index, as well as absolute suppression of pathogenic microorganisms. Conclusion: The combinations of TDT with Soderm®-Forte gel and NIF of Rexod® in EP in rats can significantly increase the effectiveness of the treatment. The data obtained indicate the expediency of the administration of Soderm®-Forte gel, as well as its combination with NIF of Rexod® in dental practice in the complex therapy of patients with periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal nanoclusters (M NCs) are a new type of functional materials, composed of several to hundreds of atoms with an ultra-small size(<3 nm) .Due to their unique physical and chemical properties as well as good biocompatibility, M NCs have been widely used in biomedical fields such as bioanalysis, drug delivery, imaging and tumor therapy. Recently,the use of M NCs as new antimicrobial nanomaterials to solve bacterial infection has been gradually developed, and it has been more and more applied in antibiotic resistance, detection and treatment of pathogenic bacterial, which provides a new idea for solving the problem of anti-infection. This review introduces the research progress in the synthesis and properties of different M NCs, focuses on the application of the antibacterial effect of single M NCs and the corresponding complexes as well as the mechanism according to the relevant research at home and abroad in recent years, and looks forward to its stability, versatility and synergistic antimicrobial effect as a new class of nano-antibacterial materials in application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Likarska Sprava is the property of J. Likarska Sprava and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cadmium oxide (CdO) had long been investigated for decades as prototypical wide-band-gap transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) possessing excellent n-type ability having its implications in the field of photo electronics. Despite this, there exists an uncertainty on the toxicity of CdO content during the synthesis and product retrieval which limits their use in biological applications. In this context, an approach to enhance the inbuilt properties of CdO particles by the means of loading (in coating form) with gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) to generate Au@CdO nanoconstructs (NCs) has been reported. Thus, formed Au@CdO NCs have been characterized by various spectroscopic and electron microscopic analysis for the structural, optical, and biological properties. For example, the UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed a typical λmax of CdO at 302 nm, and for the Au@CdO, a shift toward 496 nm was observed. The diffraction pattern demonstrated the crystalline phase corresponding to (1 1 1) plane with mean grain sizes of 24.9 and 30.6 nm for the CdO and Au@CdO, respectively. The FTIR and optical studies highlighted the intermolecular bonding with an increased bandgap confirming the efficient coating of Au onto CdO. The FESEM demonstrated spherical-to-elliptical-shaped anisotropic particles following the coating of CdO with Au and the grain size getting increased from 30 to 42 nm. On testing of the photocatalytic activity, we found that the Au@CdO NCs efficiently degraded the Rhodamine B dye (96% in 180 min) following the irradiation under artificial UV light. Furthermore, the Au@CdO NCs showed a significant antimicrobial effect at 80 μg/mL associated with a decline in the cell count. Alongside, the IC50 of Au@CdO against A549 and PBMC cells was fixed at 46.87 and 55.14 μg/mL, respectively. Such multifaceted Au@CdO NCs possessing optical properties might present themselves as the potential candidates for the extended photocatalytic and biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Lippia citriodora were obtained by the Maceration method. The total phenol content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity (based on DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity and FRAP methods) and antimicrobial effect (based on disc diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration) of the extracts were investigated. Total phenols (72.55 vs. 60.32 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (40.5 vs. 32.25 mg QE/g) contents of the ethanolic extract were higher compared to the aqueous extract. Antioxidant activity results revealed that the ethanolic extract was more effective in scavenging DPPH free radicals (45.4 mg/ml vs. 52.5 mg/ml) and ABTS free radicals (41.48 mg/ml vs. 47.65 mg/ml) with a greater reducing power (15.1 μmol Fe/g vs. 12.2 μmol Fe/g) in comparison to the aqueous one. Antimicrobial effect of the extracts against pathogenic microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Candida albicans) showed that Gram-positive organisms were generally more sensitive than the Gram-negative ones, and the antimicrobial activity was more pronounced in the presence of the ethanolic extract. Based on the results, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of L. citriodora could be introduced as natural preservatives to control the oxidation reaction and the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, we propose a simple and versatile methodology to design nanosystems based on biocompatible and multicomponent mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for infection management. This strategy relies on the combination of antibiotic molecules and antimicrobial metal ions into the same nanosystem, affording a significant improvement of the antibiofilm effect compared to that of nanosystems carrying only one of these agents. The multicomponent nanosystem is based on MSNs externally functionalized with a polyamine dendrimer (MSN-G3) that favors internalization inside the bacteria and allows the complexation of multiactive metal ions (MSN-G3-Mn+). Importantly, the selection of both the antibiotic and the cation may be done depending on clinical needs. Herein, levofloxacin and Zn2+ ion, chosen owing to both its antimicrobial and osteogenic capability, have been incorporated. This dual biological role of Zn2+ could have and adjuvant effect thought destroying the biofilm in combination with the antibiotic as well as aid to the repair and regeneration of lost bone tissue associated to osteolysis during infection process. The versatility of the nanosystem has been demonstrated incorporating Ag+ ions in a reference nanosystem. In vitro antimicrobial assays in planktonic and biofilm state show a high antimicrobial efficacy due to the combined action of levofloxacin and Zn2+, achieving an antimicrobial efficacy above 99% compared to the MSNs containing only one of the microbicide agents. In vitro cell cultures with MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts reveal the osteogenic capability of the nanosystem, showing a positive effect on osteoblastic differentiation while preserving the cell viability. A simple and versatile methodology to design biocompatible and multicomponent MSNs based nanosystems for infection management is proposed. These nanosystems, containing two antimicrobial agents, levofloxacin and Zn2+, have been synthetized by external functionalization of MSNs with a polycationic dendrimer (MSNs-G3), which favours its internalization inside the bacteria and lead the complexation with metal ions through the amines of the dendrimer. The nanosystems offer a notable improvement of the antibiofilm effect (above 99%) than both components separately as well as osteogenic capability with positive effect on the osteoblastic differentiation and preserved cell viability. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh Moringa oleifera leaves are very rich in phytonutrients, however the leaves are also highly perishable and require processing for increased shelf-life. The method of processing, specifically drying affects the nutritional value of the product. The present study therefore, analyzed the nutraceutical value and growth of toxic microbes when the leaves were dried under different conditions i.e. room temperature, greenhouse, 50% shade net, and in the oven at 60 oC for 4 h. The experiments were carried out at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The treatments were applied in triplicate and arranged on a completely randomized design (CRD). Data on nutritional value of dried Moringa leaves was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) for parameterization and means separated using protected LSD0.05. The study showed that drying Moringa leaves under shade, room and greenhouse conditions significantly (P<0.05) affects the nutritional value of the product. The results showed highest levels of vitamin C, vitamin A, polyphenols and terpenoids when the leaves were dried under 50% shade net and room temperature conditions. In contrast, the glucosinolate content was significantly (P<0.05) higher when the leaves were dried instantly in the oven (9.1%/wt), followed by drying under greenhouse conditions (8.7%/wt) before oven drying. However, drying of Moringa leaves under shade before oven drying resulted in growth of toxic microbial organisms such as staphylococcus, yeast, E. coli and molds that can potentially affect the safety of the product. Finally, the drying conditions also significantly (P<0.05) affected the moisture content of the powder obtained. The results of this study form an important reference for small-holder Moringa growers and processors in the development of an optimal processing regime for high value Moringa powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, different effective parameters (temperature, reaction time, and pH) on the synthesis of quercetin‐assisted silver nanoparticles (QE‐AgNPs) are optimized. These biogenic NPs are characterized by different physico‐chemical analyses, including transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV‐visible spectroscopy. In addition, the biological properties of QE‐AgNPs are evaluated through antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, hemolysis, and coagulation time assays. The formation of QE‐AgNPs is affected by different parameters. The optimum condition for the synthesis of QE‐AgNPs is attained at 70 °C and pH 7. Prepared QE‐AgNPs show a spherical shape with a crystalline nature and an average particle size of 20 ± 3.6 nm. The role of QE as a reducing and capping agent in the preparation process of QE‐AgNPs is demonstrated using FTIR analysis. These NPs with excellent antioxidant activity (82.3% at a concentration of 400 µg mL−1) and anti‐inflammatory properties (82.5% and 100% at concentrations of 37.25 and 500 µg mL−1, respectively), show good antimicrobial effects, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the results of the hemolytic and coagulation assay of QE‐AgNPs indicate their hemo‐compatibility. Therefore, hemo/bio‐compatible QE‐AgNPs with excellent and unique properties can be employed in different medicinal and pharmacological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, aluminum phosphide tablets have been extensively used as fumigant for grain storage because they could release phosphine that shows highly efficient anti-microorganism. However, phosphine is highly toxic and flammable which usually causes production accidents. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a novel fumigant based on cinnamaldehyde and study its antimicrobial efficacy for grain storage. The novel fumigant tablet was composed of cinnamaldehyde, silica, citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. Results showed that mesoporous silica with ultra-high specific surface area (1036.5 m2/g) served as carrier for cinnamaldehyde. The mixture of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate reacted with moisture to generate carbon dioxide which was helpful to release cinnamaldehyde. As expected, the fumigant tablet displayed a sustained release effect. The in vitro culture experiments showed that cinnamaldehyde had high antimicrobial effect against five fungi including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium and Penicillium. In the accelerated mildew simulation experiment (temperature: 35 °C, humidity: 98%), the blank group without mildew preventive began to go mouldy after five days, the control group with only cinnamaldehyde became mildew one week later, whereas there was no visible mildew growth in the experimental group with the fumigant tablet after one week. The number of fungal colonies in the blank group and the control group after one week was 8.3 × 104 and 6.5 × 103 CFU/g, respectively, while there were no fungi detected in the experimental group. This cinnamaldehyde-based fumigant tablet is a green and safe mildew preventive, which provides an alternative solution to aluminum phosphide tablet for grain storage.

Amaç: İnsanoğlu çok eski yıllardan beri bitkileri birçok hastalığın tedavisinde kullanmışlar ve başarılı sonuçlar almışlardır. Günümüzde birçok bitki ekstresi, özellikle Uzakdoğuda ve bizim ülkemizde birçok hastalığın tedavisinde kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada; keçiboynuzu Ceratonia siliqua , ebegümeci Malva sylvestris , ökse otu Viscum album , sarısabır Aloe vera ve nevruz otu Linaria genistifolia bitkilerinden elde edilen ekstrelerin, antibakteriyel etkisinin belirlenmesi amaçlandı.Gereç ve Yöntem: Bitkiler kurutularak toz haline getirildi. Hazırlanan toz halindeki bitki örneklerinden 20 gram tartılıp 24 saat metanol ile ekstraksiyonu maserasyon yöntemi yapıldı. Bu karışım Whatman kağıdı kullanılarak süzüldü. Daha sonra rotary evaporatörde 50°C’de ekstraksiyonda kullanılan çözücü tamamen uzaklaştırıldı. Bitki ekstreleri analiz edilinceye kadar +4°C’de saklandı. Çalışmada elde edilen bitki ekstrelerinden 25 mg/mL’lik stok hazırlandı Bitki ekstrelerinin antibakteriyel etkileri beş standart suş ile Clinical ve Laboratory Standards Institute önerileri doğrultusunda minimum inhibitör konsantrasyon sıvı mikrodilüsyon yöntemi kullanılarak test edildi. Çalışmada kullanılan standart suşlar: Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC 700603, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 idi. Stok bitki ekstraktlarının Mueller Hinton sıvı besiyeri ile son konsantrasyonu 6.25-0.05 mg/mL arası olacak şekilde mikropleytlerde dilüsyonları yapıldı. Gentamisin çalışmanın kontrolü amacıyla kullanıldı.Bulgular: Çalışmaya dahil edilen 4 bitki ekstresinin ilk konsantrasyonu olan 6.25 mg/mL’de, test edilen bakteri suşlarına antibakteriyel etki gösterdiği saptandı. Sadece Linaria genistifolia ekstresinin Standart E.coli suşunda MİK değeri 3.12 mg/mL olarak belirlendi.Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, test edilen bitki ekstrelerinin MİK değerleri yüksek bulunmuş ve yeterli antibakteriyel etki göstermediği saptanmıştır. Aynı bitkilerin farklı ekstraksiyon yöntemleri kullanılarak tekrar antibakteriyel etkilerinin araştırılmasının uygun olacağı kanaatine varılmıştır

Abstract Introduction There have been limited advances in the treatment of bone and joint infections, which currently involves a combination of surgery and antibiotic administration. There is a timely need in orthopedics to develop more effective and less invasive forms of antimicrobial prophylaxis and treatment. The antibacterial effect of adult tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has recently been investigated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The main mechanism of action is postulated to be via MSC production of the cationic antimicrobial peptide, LL-37. Methods This study examines the antimicrobial activity of adipose-derived human MSCs (ASCs) on S. aureus, specifically examining the role of LL-37 and regulation of its expression. Bacteria colony-forming unit (CFU) assay was used to assess antimicrobial activity. Results Our results showed that the ASC-conditioned medium significantly inhibited the growth of S. aureus under standard culture conditions with or without the continued presence of ASCs. Also, the treatment of ASCs with 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 elevated LL-37 expression and enhanced their antimicrobial activity. In support, treatment with the vitamin D receptor inhibitor, GW0742, blocked the antimicrobial activity of ASCs. Conclusion Our findings clearly demonstrate the antimicrobial activity of adult ASCs against S. aureus and implicate a key regulatory role for vitamin D. Further testing in in vivo models is being pursued to assess the potential application of ASCs as a biocompatible, adjunct treatment for musculoskeletal infections.

Nelly Hérault, 1,* Julia Wagner, 2–4,* Sarah-Luise Abram, 1 Jérôme Widmer, 2 Lenke Horvath, 1 Dimitri Vanhecke, 5 Carole Bourquin, 2–4,* Katharina M Fromm 1,* 1Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Fribourg 1700, Switzerland; 2Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg 1700, Switzerland; 3Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva 1211, Switzerland; 4Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva 1211, Switzerland; 5Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg 1700, Switzerland*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Katharina M FrommUniversity of Fribourg, PER 10 bu. 114, chemin du Musée 9, Fribourg 1700, SwitzerlandTel +41 26 300 8732Email katharina.fromm@unifr.chBackground: Joint arthroplasty has improved the quality of life of patients worldwide, but infections of the prosthesis are frequent and cause significant morbidity. Antimicrobial coatings for implants promise to prevent these infections.Methods: We have synthesized nanocapsules of titanium dioxide in amorphous or anatase form containing silver as antibacterial agent and tested their impact on bacterial growth. Furthermore, we explored the possible effect of the nanocapsules on the immune system. First, we studied their uptake into macrophages using a combination of electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Second, we exposed immune cells to the nanocapsules and checked their activation state by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Silver-containing titanium dioxide nanocapsules show strong antimicrobial activity against both E. coli and S. aureus and even against a multidrug-resistant strain of S. aureus. We could demonstrate the presence of the nanocapsules in macrophages, but, importantly, the nanocapsules did not affect cell viability and did not activate proinflammatory responses at doses up to 20 μg/mL.Conclusion: Our bactericidal silver-containing titanium dioxide nanocapsules fulfill important prerequisites for biomedical use and represent a promising material for the coating of artificial implants.Keywords: silver nanoparticles, titanium dioxide nanocapsules, antimicrobial effect, multidrug-resistant S. aureus, immune cell uptake

The purpose of this work was to study the antimicrobial, antibiofilm-forming and antioxidant properties of alcohol extracts of Arnica montana L. and Achillea millefolium L. The plants for the analysis were gathered in the territory of Velyky Berezny region, Transcarpathia. Ethyl and methyl extracts were produced from inflorescences of Arnica montana L. and Achillea millefolium L. For the purpose of analysis, we used Staphylococcus genus bacteria that had been isolated from the mouth cavities and pharynx of human patients suffering from inflammatory diseases, by plating into differentially diagnostic nutrient media with subsequent identification. All isolates were characterized to be biofilm-forming. The subject of the study was extract’s antimicrobial activity evaluated by the diffusion-into-agar method in standard 96-well plates using the spectrophotometric method and by measuring of antioxidant activity (DPPH test). t was established that Arnica montana L. extracts exerted a more pronounced antimicrobial activity upon the analysed isolates of Staphylococcus genus bacteria. It was furthermore shown that Arnica montana L. extracts displayed an antimicrobial effect even upon MRSA of S. aureus. Extracts of Arnica montana L. and Achillea millefolium L. were shown to possess anti-biofilm forming properties. Ethyl and methyl extracts of Arnica montana L.and Achillea millefolium L. were shown to reveal significant antioxidant activity. Thus, our results indicated a need in further research of possible application of Arnica montana L. and Achillea millefolium L. extracts as anti-staphylococcal agents, which could be employed for the treatment of inflammatory processes in mouth cavity and oropharynx.

This study was targeted to investigate the effect of the combination of aqueous ozone (AO) and sodium citrate (SC) pretreatment on quality of vacuum packaged beef stored at chilling temperature. The steers were randomly divided into five treatment groups, containing the group C (steers without any treatment), DW (steers pretreated with distilled water), AO, SC and AO+SC. During processing, the parameters included total Viable Count (TVC), total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVB-N), pH, meat color, metmyoglobin (Met-Mb), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBArs), Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and purge loss were measured and compared. Firstly, the TVC in beef steaks of group AO+SC was significantly lower than group AO and SC during the whole storage (P

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of adding Propolis to broiler feeds and the effect on some biochemical and biological parameters represented by its effect on the total bacterial count of intestinal flora as well as the antimicrobial effect on Escherichia coli, staphylococcus aureus and lactobacillus. We used 150 broiler chicks type Ross at the first day of age divided randomly into three groups each of 17 chicks with three replications, the first one is control group and the second and third group fed on feeds containing two levels of propolis 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively. Results showed that using propolis at 400 mg/kg in the diet lead to a significant decrease in level of triglycerides which was 34.58 mg/ 100 ml accompanied by a mathematical reduction in total cholesterol and LDL levels, while there was an increase in glucose level. The highest propolis levels were effective in significant reduction in total bacterial count of intestinal flora, especially in the seventh week 4.9 log10, represented by a significant reduction in counts of staphylococcus aureus, lactobacillus and Escherichia coli 2.6, 3.6, 3.1 log10 respectively.

ABSTRACT Tranexamic acid (TXA) is extensively used in orthopedic surgery and traumatology as an antifibrinolytic agent to control intra- and postoperative bleeding and, therefore, indirectly, to reduce postsurgery infection rates. The hypothesis of an additional antibiotic effect against microorganisms associated with periprosthetic joint infection needs to be further evaluated. We aimed to assess whether TXA could reduce bacterial growth using an in vitro model. ATCC and clinical strains of staphylococci and Cutibacterium acnes were tested against TXA in both planktonic and sessile forms. We recorded the percent reduction in the following variables: log CFU/mL by microbiological culture, percentage of live cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and, additionally in sessile cells, metabolic activity by the 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide salt (XTT) assay. Variables were compared between groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the results were reported as median (interquartile range [IQR]). Statistical significance was set at a P value of

Spirulina platensis derived organic nanodots (ND) may be used as an alternative of chemical food preservative that can increase shelf life of food and beverages. Microalgal nanodots were isolated by the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SCE) method. Then SCE extract was subjected to thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and fractions were screened by a well diffusion method to identify the active compound with strong antibacterial ability. A characteristic of ND is the emitting of red colour upon the absorbance of ultra-violet (UV) light. The isolated ND is active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that significantly avoid their auto-aggregation. The nanodots were characterized by using TEM, UV-VIS, FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. FTIR and NMR analysis revealed the presence of hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl and amide groups. In addition, ND is applied in litchi juice as a preservative to extend the shelf life. In general, our results revealed that the sensory quality i.e. colour, aroma and overall appearance were significantly affected by duration of storage. It proves that Spirulina platensis derived organic nanodots act as a strong food and beverage preservative.

Four non-conventional oleaginous and pigmented yeast strains of Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum, Phaffia rhodozyma, and Rhodotorula kratochvilovae were used in this study. Complex yeast extracts were prepared and tested for biological activity, safety, and effect on human health. In this paper, we measured the antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effect of yeast biomass as a whole and their extracts to compare the influence of carotenoids and other bioactive substances in the studied biomass. All yeast extracts exhibited a significant dose-dependent antimicrobial effect against both G+ and G- bacteria and had a strong antioxidant effect. No cytotoxicity in the mouse melanoma B16F1 cell line was found in concentrations up to 20% of rehydrated biomass in cell medium. All of the extracts were cytotoxic at a concentration of 5 mg of extract/g of dry biomass. All the pigmented yeast extracts showed some positive results for apoptosis of murine melanoma cell lines and are therefore strong candidates positively effect human health. Red yeast cell biomass is a prospective material with many attractive biological functions and can be used in the food industry, as a pharmaceutical material, or in the feed industry.