Results: Candidal growth was found in 21.42% (n = 24) of COPD cases and 1.1% (n = 11) of control cases (p < 0.05) (95% CI 0.45, 0.59). The DMFT score was 8.26 in COPD subjects and 4.6 in controls, the SiC score was 16.42 in COPD subjects and 10.25 in controls, and the CPITN score for both COPD and control cases was score 2.
Conclusion: In conclusion, there was a higher candidal load among subjects suffering from COPD. Theophylline medication can be a risk factor for increased candidal load in COPD patients.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the glucose sensing pathway related genes of C. glabrata and to analyze the regulation pattern of these genes in response to different surrounding glucose concentrations through the quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phylogenetic analysis was carried out on predicted amino acid sequences of C. glabrata and S. cerevisiae to compare their degree of similarity. In addition, the growth of C. glabrata in response to different amounts of glucose (0%, 0.01%, 0.1%, 1% and 2%) was evaluated via the spot dilution assay on prepared agar medium. Besides, the SNF3 and RGT2, which act as putative glucose sensors, and the RGT1 and MIG1, which act as putative transcriptional regulators and selected downstream hexose transporters (HXTs), were analysed through qRT-PCR analysis for the gene expression level under different glucose concentrations.
RESULTS: Comparative analysis of predicted amino acids in the phylogenetic tree showed high similarity between C. glabrata and S cerevisiae. Besides, C. glabrata demonstrated the capability to grow in glucose levels as low as 0.01% in the spot dilution assay. In qRT-PCR analysis, differential expressions were observed in selected genes when C. glabrata was subjected to different glucose concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS: The constructed phylogenetic tree suggests the close evolutionary relationship between C. glabrata and S. cerevisiae. The capability of C. glabrata to grow in extremely low glucose environments and the differential expression of selected glucose-sensing related genes suggested the possible role of these genes in modulating the growth of C. glabrata in response to different glucose concentrations. This study helps deepen our understanding of the glucose sensing mechanism in C. glabrata and serves to provide fundamental data that may assist in unveiling this mechanism as a potential drug target.
METHODOLOGY: All synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, NMR, Mass and elemental analysis followed by in vitro antimicrobial studies against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative (Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacterial and fungal (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) strains by the tube dilution method. The in vitro anticancer evaluation was carried out against the human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT116), using the Sulforhodamine B assay.
RESULTS, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Compound W6 (MICsa, st, kp = 5.19 µM) emerged as a significant antibacterial agent against all tested bacterial strains i.e. Gram-positive (S. aureus), Gram-negative (S. typhi, K. pneumoniae) while compound W1 (MICca, an = 5.08 µM) was most potent against fungal strains (A. niger and C. albicans) and comparable to fluconazole (MIC = 8.16 µM). The anticancer screening demonstrated that compound W17 (IC50 = 4.12 µM) was most potent amongst the synthesized compounds and also more potent than the standard drug 5-FU (IC50 = 7.69 µM).
CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old man was retrieved from the jungle with severe weight loss and abdominal symptoms. He succumbed to death despite 22 days of intensive medical treatment. An autopsy revealed a ruptured gangrenous ileal volvulus with peritonitis and subdiaphragmatic abscess. Further laboratory analysis detected systemic Candida tropicalis and intestinal gramnegative bacterial sepsis, systemic Zika virus viremia, leptospirosis complicating rhabdomyolysis and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, Type I Herpes Simplex virus infection of the tongue and upper gastrointestinal tract. The cause of death was the ruptured ileal volvulus, complicated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to Herpes simplex virus esophagitis in a malnourished patient with resolving leptospirosis and underlying Zika virus co-infection.
CONCLUSION: Rare clinical scenarios of adult-onset intestinal volvulus with concomitant multiple infections precludes clinical diagnosis and early treatment, leading to devastating consequences of clinical outcome. The positive clinical and postmortem correlation is a good learning lesson in many disciplines of medicine and science.
OBJECTIVES: This study focuses on the potential of crude cell free supernatant (CCFS) from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to inhibit of the growth of S. mutans UKMCC 1019.
DESIGN: A total of 61 CCFS from LAB strains were screened for their inhibitory ability against S. mutans UKMCC 1019 by broth microdilution method. The selected LAB with highest antimicrobial activity was identified and its CCFS was characterized for pH stability, temperature tolerance, enzyme sensitivity, metabolism of carbohydrates, enzymatic activities and antimicrobial activity against S. mutans UKMCC 1019 and C. albicans UKMCC 3001 by well diffusion assay. The effect of CCFS on cell structure of S. mutans UKMCC 1019 was observed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
RESULTS: The CCFS from isolate CC2 from Kimchi showed the highest inhibition against S. mutans UKMCC 1019, which was 76.46 % or 4406.08 mm2/mL and it was identified to be most closely related to Enterococcus faecium DSM 20477 based on 16 s rRNA sequencing. The CCFS of E. faecium DSM 20477 had high tolerance to acidic and alkaline environment as well as high temperature. It also shows high antifungal activities against C. albicans UKMCC 3001 with 2362.56 mm2/mL. Under TEM, the cell walls and the cytoplasm membrane of S. mutans UKMCC 1019 were disrupted by the antimicrobial substance, causing cell lysis.
CONCLUSIONS: Hence, the CCFS from E. faecium DSM 20477 is a potential bacteriocin in future for the treatment of dental caries.
METHODS: They have also been used for antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antitubercular activities. Novel synthesised Schiff's base 2-methoxy-4-((3-methylpyridin-2-ylimino)methyl)phenol (SB) and its metal complexes (Zn[II], Cu[II], Co[II] and Ni[II]) were characterised by UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy. Formation of the Schiff base and the metal (Zn[II], Cu[II], Co[II] and Ni[II]) chelates was supported by spectral and analytical data. The ligand and metal complexes have been screened for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and antifungal activity against the fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Further, the synthesised compounds were also screened for antiproliferative activity against the human colorectal carcinoma (HCT116) cell line using the Sulforhodamine B assay.
RESULT: Metal complexes formed were found to enhance the potency of the Schiff base due to coordination with a copper complex, showing better activity than others.
CONCLUSION: Copper complex was observed to be more potent than other complexes against all the pathogenic microbes and cancer cell line (HCT116).