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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