Pectinolytic Activity of Mutagenic Strain of Leuconostoc Mesenteroides Isolated From Orange and Banana Fruit Waste

The aim of this study was to isolate pectinolytic bacteria from fermented banana and orange peels. The bacterial isolates were identified using standard biochemical method.

The bacteria isolates were screened on pectin agar plates. All the isolates showed pectinolytic activity in terms of making zone surrounding their colony on pectin agar medium.

Pectinase activity was determined by dinitrosalicylic (DNS) acid method while protein concentration in the fermentation broth was quantified by Lowry method.

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Toxoplasmosis Molecular Testing Discrepancy in a Case of Asymptomatic Microcephaly

Microcephaly is a congenital anomaly associated with a wide range of etiological factors such as infections, medications/substances, genetic abnormalities and radiation.

Environmental factors that are teratogenic must also be included in the differential diagnosis as common etiologies.

In this report we describe a neonate with microcephaly whose molecular tests showed conflicting results in regards to the etiology of the condition.

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Toxoplasmosis Molecular Testing Discrepancy in a Case of Asymptomatic Microcephaly

Microcephaly is a congenital anomaly associated with a wide range of etiological factors such as infections, medications/ substances, geneticabnormalities and radiation.

Microcephaly

Among the infectious agents, Zika virus infection is one of the latest epidemiologic highlights and has been associated with a large number of microcephaly cases in Brazil, particularly between 2015 and 2016. The Southern region, however, has a much lower incidence of notified cases during this period of time. It is, therefore, imperative that other agents are considered, such as Toxoplasma gondii and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), both endemic in this region. Environmental factors that are teratogenic must also be included in the differential diagnosis as common etiologies. Molecular testing, such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for toxoplasmosis and viral load for HIV are considered the gold standard diagnostic tests for such pathologies. Read more>>>>> 

Myositis Ossificans in a West African Patient

Myositis ossificans (MO), ectopic ossification, occurs in muscles and soft tissue including subcutaneous fat, tendons, and nerves. It occurs as a result of trauma, and affects more young people.

We present a case of MO in a 55-year-old female, without any trauma occurring, admitted for painful tumefaction of thighs evolving since two years.

The diagnosis of was performed by X-ray and CT scan which shows multiple muscular ossifications of the thighs and the right hip. The biopsy confirmed this diagnosis.

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Recurrent Oral Ulceration Unexpectedly Diagnosed as Pemphigus

Ulceration is a breakdown or discontinuity of the epithelium. The common causes of oral ulcerations are trauma from a malpositioned tooth, a sharp tooth cusp, broken restorations,partial denture clasp arms, and orthodontic brackets.

Pemphigus

Lesions produced in this fashion are called traumatic ulcerations. Various autoimmune diseases such as pemphigus, lupus erythematosus, and mucous membrane pemphigoid also manifest as oral ulcerations, including erythema, erosions, and persistent ulcers. On close oral examination, these ulcerations are observed to have irregular margins. RAU is considered as the most common oral mucosal lesion of unknown etiology. These lesions present as recurrent, multiple, small, or ovoid ulcers with yellow floors and are surrounded by erythematous halo, and commonly appear first in childhood or adolescence. Minor types of RAU present as round or oval lesions with a diameter less than 1 cm and heal within 2 weeks. When recurrent aphthous-like lesion occurs in the middle-aged patient for many years, it is definitely uncommon. Read more>>>>>>

Detection and Identification of Bacterial Contamination in Blood Samples from Cancer Patients

Bacterial contamination of blood samples resulting from improper blood drawing technique or mishandling of samples by laboratory staff is a frequent problem in diagnostic laboratories. Factors potentially leading to bacterial growth include poor hand hygiene, lack of glove sterilization, insufficient skin disinfection or skin core removal ofcollected blood during phlebotomy.

Cancer Patients

Gram-positive (Gram+) bacteria account for at least half of all documented microbiological infections in cancer patients. Skin bacteria, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), are the most frequent source of contamination. While these organisms do not typically grow at low temperatures (1-6°C), they survive and readily multiply when plated and stored at room temperature (20-24°C). Skin bacteria, such as Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyrogenes), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and S. epidermidis, can contaminate blood samples. Moreover, bacteria frequently found in mammalian respiratory tracts, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), have also been reported to cause frequent infections in cancer patients. Immunosuppression induced by the underlying cancer or its attendant therapy, such as neutropenia and breakdown of mucosal barriers during long-term vascular catheter placement or graft versus host disease, can synergize to render cancer patients particularly susceptible to Gram+ infections. Read more>>>>>>>

The Prevalence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in the Blood Samples of Patients with Primary Cutaneous Lymphomas

Microbial infection and associated super antigens have been implicated in the pathogenesis of CTCL, and many patients die from complicating bacterial infections.

Cutaneous Lymphomas

It has been postulated that Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of Mycosis fungoides (MF) but published data are limited and controversial. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to analyze the frequency of C. pneumoniae DNA presence in blood samples of cutaneous T-cell and B-cell lymphomas (CTCL, CBCL) cases. Material and Methods: Using Q-PCR method we analyzed the presence of C. pneumoniae DNA in the blood samples obtained from 57 patients with CTCL (55-MF/Sézary Syndrome (SS), 1-primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (CD30+) and 1-NKT cell lymphoma) and 3 patients with cutaneous B-cell lymphomas and 120 individuals from control groups (40 patients with psoriasis, 40 patients with atopic dermatitis and 40 healthy controls). Read more>>>>>>>

Low-Cost Molecular Diagnostics for Clinical Microbiology

Within the scopes of the newly launched journal “Advanced Techniques in Clinical Microbiology” is the continuous discussion among the scientists on the field of the current advancements in clinical techniques that will facilitate “the understanding of the challenges that humans encounter when coming into contact with microbes and how to mitigate them successfully”.

The publication of newly developed diagnostics or bioanalysis devices and concepts would be essential for attainment of that specific aim, since successful diagnosis is essentially the backbone of clinical microbiology.

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Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcal aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen of nosocomial and community acquired infections associating with significant morbidity and mortality rates of 15-60%.

Resistance to methicillin is conferred by the expression of PBP 2a protein which is encoded by the methicillin resistance gene, mecA gene, which is situated on a unique mobile genetic element known as the “staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec” (SCCmec).

The emergence of MRSA from methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) is due to site-specific integration of SCCmec into the orfX locus in the chromosome of a susceptible isolate. This type of resistance was termed “intrinsic resistance” because it was not due to destruction of the antibiotic by β-lactamase

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Operational Efficiency of Urban Malaria Scheme in a District of Central Gujarat, India: An Evaluation Study

The history of malaria elimination dates back to the late nineteenth century with the discovery of Plasmodium parasite and transmission of malaria through mosquito vectors.

Urban Malaria Scheme 

Even today, malaria does not cease to be a major public health problem in India. 75 million cases and 0.8 million deaths were reported from India before the launch of National Malaria Control Program in 1953. India contributes 70% of malaria cases and 69% of malaria deaths in the South-East Asia Region. However, there has been a scale up in malaria control activities due to increased interest in research activities to find newer strategies for malaria control. Thus, in the last 10 years, total malaria cases have reduced by 42%, (1.92 million in 2004 to 1.1 million in 2014) and deaths have reduced by 40.8% (from 949 to 562).

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Aspergillus flavus Disseminated Infection in Paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: A Case Report

Incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFI) has progressively increased over the past few decades. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is associated with the highest morbidity andmortality in immunocompromised patients.

Aspergillus flavus is the second leading cause of IA affecting mostly upper airways and skin. Invasive cutaneous asperigillosis (ICA) is a rare condition characterized by more or less itching macules, papules, plaques or haemorrhagic bullae, potentially evolving into necrotic ulcers covered by a dark eschar. Primary ICA, deriving from fungus direct inoculation into an injured site, can be distinguished from secondary ICA, usually resulting from systemic dissemination of inhaled hyphae through the blood stream. Immunological deficiency in paediatric haemato-oncology patients is due both to the malignancy and chemotherapy regimen, emerging as the main predisposing factors to IFI.

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Sensitivity of Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance in Nigeria (2006-2015)

In 1988, the World Health Assembly committed WHO to eradicating poliomyelitis; and since then, significant progress has been made as the incidence of poliomyelitis hasdeclined by more than 99%.

Acute Flaccid Paralysis

The main strategies which brought about this success included improved routine immunization, supplemental mass immunization, adequate outbreak response capacity and effective surveillance.Nigeria has recorded tremendous progress in polio eradication. The last cases of WPV and cVDPV from AFP cases had onset of paralysis in July 2014 and May 2015 respectively; and the country was removed from the list of polio endemic countries in September 2015.

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Neonatal Hepatitis B Surface Antigenemia Detected Less than 24 Hours Post Immunization

Perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection occurs during delivery from an infected mother; it is associated with few or no symptoms at birth, but has a high risk of chronicsubclinical disease in later childhood or adulthood.

Up to 90% of infants infected perinatally will develop chronic infection. The risk of transmission is 70 to 90% from women seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B antigen at the time of delivery. Prenatal HBsAg screening is routinely offered early in the pregnancy or at delivery if the mother HBV status is unknown. Full term new-born born to mothers with unknown HBV status should receive the HBV vaccine soon after birth and HBV immunoglobulin (HBIG) if mother HBsAg is positive.

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Zika in Pregnancy

Zika in Pregnancy is special issue of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Open Access journal. This issue aims to cover all aspects of the related research to Zika virus inpregnancy. Zika in Pregnancy is a peer-reviewed journal.

Zika

All the articles are extensively reviewed according to the review policy of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Open Access journal. The goal of this special issue is to disseminate current research from the scientific community to the readers from every discipline. The special issue encourages the authors to contribute from all over the world. Zika in pregnancy is planned to up-date the readers about the current level of knowledge about Zika virus in general and specifically with maternal and fetal prospects. Zika in Pregnancy is published in English language and articles in other languages need to be translated with proper editing and should be free of grammatical errors.

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Only the Funeral Industry is Benefitting from HIV/AIDS in Rural Nigeria

We have our hands tied because human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS) is tightening its grips on Nigeria and threatening our populace with heavy burden.

HIV/AIDS

“This genocide of our generation” has more casualties than any other war as we are losing the leaders of tomorrow” since our shift focused on treatment instead of prevention. As of 2014 in Nigeria, the HIV prevalence rate among adults ages 15-49 was 3.17 per cent. Nigeria has the second-largest number of people living with HIV, as 9% of all people living with HIV globally are in Nigeria, 14% of the global deaths from HIV related illness are in Nigeria and with a population of about 170 million and despite the recent drop in HIV prevalence to 4.4%, about 3.8-4.0 million people are now estimated to be HIV positive with growth rate of 1500 per day with an infection every minute.

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Zmpb Gene in Streptococcus Pneumoniae Causing Meningitis

Streptococcus pneumoniae is among the leading and most aggressive (around 30% of attributable mortality) causes of meningitis (Van de Beek et al. O’Brien et al. and the pathogenesis of this infection is not yet clearly understood.

The capsular polysaccharide plays a central role in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal infection; however, other virulence factors need to be considered.

An intense inflmmatory response is observed in infections due to S. pneumoniae and this is at least partially attributed to ZmpB, a zinc metalloprotease present in virtually all pneumococcal strains, ZmpB likely to serve as an important but unknown housekeeping function associated with the human host.

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Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Cryptococcal Meningitis in China (1981-2013): A Review of the Literature

Most of patients with cryptococcal meningitis in China were not HIV victims. Profile of the diseases in patients with non-HIV infection was poorly understood.

We summarized the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of cryptococcal meningitis in China. A comprehensive analysis of the reported cases of cryptococcal meningitis in China was conducted, covering publications from 1981 to 2013 from CNKI database.

Among the 306 reports and 6514 cases about cryptococcal meningitis, there were 21% patients with HIV infection, 39% with other underlying diseases and 40% without underlying diseases.

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Changing Trends in Epidemiology of Candidiasis and Role of Non-Albicans Candida Species

In recent years, the increased incidence of mycosis in general and candidiasis in particular is reported in various studies.

Among various mycotic infections, candidiasis has greatest effect due to its frequency and the severity of its complications.

Candida spp. can elicit infections in immunocompetent as well as immunocompromised individuals but the incidence of candidiasis is more in immunocompromised hosts. Therefore candidiasis can be rightly called as “disease of diseased”.

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Interaction of Helicobacter Pylori with Other Microbiota Species in the Development of Gastric Cancer

Gastric adenocarcinoma is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterial species that selectively colonizes gastric epithelium.

The resulting chronic infection is the most significant risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma identified so far.

In the host, H. pylori interacts with microorganisms, which is likely involved in the development of gastric cancer. To identify H. pylori-associated bacteria and explore the contributions of these inter-bacterial events in the process of gastric cancer, we examined the interactions of H.

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Recent Trends in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

The foundations of pharmaceutical biotechnology mainly lie in the capability of plants, microorganism and animals to produce low and high molecular weight compounds useful as therapeutics.

Although molecules from plants and microorganisms are preferred extraction from plant biomass needs tedious downstream processing while in case of microorganisms it is easy with fewer amounts of impurities.

Pharmaceutical biotechnology is poised to flourish for the last 4-6 decades with the advent of recombinant DNA technology and metabolic engineering supported by the well-developed bioprocess technology. Large scale production and cost effectiveness and affordability could be achieved by way of synergising all these technologies.

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The Effect of nef-Deleted SIV Administration on Disease Progression in SIV Infected Rhesus Macaques

The effect of a live nef-deleted SIVmac 239 construct (SIVΔ nef) was evaluated in rhesus macaques infected with wild-type SIVmac 239 . Rhesus macaques were inoculated by intravenous administration of 100 tissue culture infectious doses 50% (TCID 50 ) of SIVmac 239.

All animals had detectable viremia at 1 week post-inoculation (pi), with peak viremia (6 to 100 million copies viral RNA/ml plasma) two to three weeks pi. From week 4 to week 8 pi, virus levels ranged from ~ 10 4 to ~ 10 6 copies/ml, which is the expected range for SIVmac 239 .

MHC type 1 Phenotyping and week 4 viral load data were used to stratify the animals into 3 groups, which all received 2 consecutive intravenous injections of Placebo or SIV Δnef at weeks 8 and 10 pi.

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Sickle Cell Sperm Selection with Hb-S Mab: A Future Application for Intracytoplasmic Genotypically Selected Sperm Injection

There is no clear scientific consensus on the possibility of characterizing sperm cells based on the expression profile of the Hbb gene which codes for hemoglobin.

Sickle cell births on the other hand is being facilitated by the union of heterozygous carriers whose genetics predispose them to a twenty-five per cent chance of birthing a sickle cell child. Current conventional assisted conception procedures such as IVF/PGD are expensive and ethically controversial. 

This short research review therefore suggests the possibility of being able to further characterize sickle cell sperms with specific sickle cell hemoglobin monoclonal antibodies (Hb-S Mab).This may also have a future application in being able to select sperm cells for micro-injection IVF procedures.

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Antimicrobial and Preservative Activities of Lippia Multiflora Essential Oil on Smoked Mackerel (Scomber Scombrus) Fish

Essential oil extracted from Lippia multiflora was applied on smoked mackerel (Scomber scombrus) fish samples obtained from smoking and selling outlets in Yamoussoukro metropolis.

Microbiological quality determinations include microbial load counts, using enumerations of total aerobic mesophilic flora, total coliforms, yeasts & moulds and Staphylococcus aureus, before and after application of essential oil, and during fish samples preservation studies. The contamination levels of market smoked fish samples were total aerobic mesophilic flora (4.3 log10 CFU/g); total coliforms (1.42 log10 CFU/g); yeasts & moulds (2.45 log10 CFU/g) and Staphylococcus aureus (1.41 log10 CFU/g).

There were no microbial loads recorded for the freshly smoked mackerel fish samples. One ml of L. multiflora essential oil added to 70 g of fish samples inhibited the growth of total aerobic mesophilic flora by 100% in 24 h, while the smoked fish samples were preserved for 3 days without repeated smoking.

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