Background: Diabetes has been one of the most prevalent medical illnesses, and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) infections are the main causes of hospitalization in diabetics. The present study aimed to investigate the factors contributing to DFUs in patients referred to Taleghani Hospital in Abadan. Methods: In this study, the data of 316 diabetic patients with DFUs referred to Taleghani Hospital in Abadan from March 21, 2019, to March 19, 2020, were analyzed by SPSS version 22.0. Results: The study revealed that out of the 316 patients, 212 (67.1%) were male and 104 (32.9%) were female. Additionally, 64.3% of them had type 2 diabetes. Most of the patients had third-degree ulcers (60.4%) and 26.9% had amputations. Staphylococcus aureus (34.5%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (30.4%) were the most prevalent bacteria isolated from DFUs. The highest frequency of antibiotic resistance was reported for Cotrimoxazole (33%) and Tetracycline (28.2%). Conclusion: In conclusion, Gram-positive bacteria had a higher prevalence compared to gram-negative bacteria. It is essential to conduct periodic examinations to reduce the risk of health-threatening complications in diabetic patients.
{"title":"Investigation of the Most Common Bacterial Strains in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients","authors":"Mohsen Rezazadeh, Fatemeh Hajian, Esmat Radmanesh, Fatemeh Maghsoudi, Alireza Hazbenejad, Sara Mobarak","doi":"10.34172/ajcmi.3485","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ajcmi.3485","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Diabetes has been one of the most prevalent medical illnesses, and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) infections are the main causes of hospitalization in diabetics. The present study aimed to investigate the factors contributing to DFUs in patients referred to Taleghani Hospital in Abadan. Methods: In this study, the data of 316 diabetic patients with DFUs referred to Taleghani Hospital in Abadan from March 21, 2019, to March 19, 2020, were analyzed by SPSS version 22.0. Results: The study revealed that out of the 316 patients, 212 (67.1%) were male and 104 (32.9%) were female. Additionally, 64.3% of them had type 2 diabetes. Most of the patients had third-degree ulcers (60.4%) and 26.9% had amputations. Staphylococcus aureus (34.5%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (30.4%) were the most prevalent bacteria isolated from DFUs. The highest frequency of antibiotic resistance was reported for Cotrimoxazole (33%) and Tetracycline (28.2%). Conclusion: In conclusion, Gram-positive bacteria had a higher prevalence compared to gram-negative bacteria. It is essential to conduct periodic examinations to reduce the risk of health-threatening complications in diabetic patients.","PeriodicalId":8689,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection","volume":"71 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135155967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Human brucellosis is present on all inhabited continents with high prevalence in many areas of the world, including Kuwait and the Middle East. To implement proper control measures, the identification and characterization of Brucella species and genotypes are required through a reliable and rapid subtyping method. In previous studies, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has shown its potential as an epidemiological typing tool. Using WGS data, this study aimed to identify the species, phage sequences, putative antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors, and genotypes of Brucella melitensis strains isolated from patients in Kuwait and other countries. Methods: Five B. melitensis isolates of Kuwaiti origin and 31 other isolates of B. melitensis originating from 28 countries were analyzed using whole genome-based approaches for genotypic identification and typing. In-silico techniques were used to identify the sequences for phages, antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors, and genotypes using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (wgSNP). Results: The analysis of WGS data demonstrated that all five Kuwaiti isolates belonged to the non-vaccine strains of B. melitensis. Furthermore, the data represented the presence of two phage sequences, two antibiotic resistance genes, and 51 virulence factors in Kuwaiti isolates. Eventually, the genotypes of all isolates were identified based on MLST and wgSNP analysis, and wgSNP analysis suggested the possible areas/countries of origin of Kuwaiti isolates. Conclusion: WGS data can be used to characterize Brucella isolates, and molecular techniques can be applied in-silico to rapidly identify and classify Brucella into species and genotypes and trace the possible origin of the isolates.
{"title":"Genome Investigation of <i>Brucella melitensis</i> Strains Isolated From Brucellosis Patients in Kuwait","authors":"Abu Salim Mustafa, Mohd Wasif Khan, Nazima Habibi","doi":"10.34172/ajcmi.3440","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ajcmi.3440","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Human brucellosis is present on all inhabited continents with high prevalence in many areas of the world, including Kuwait and the Middle East. To implement proper control measures, the identification and characterization of Brucella species and genotypes are required through a reliable and rapid subtyping method. In previous studies, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has shown its potential as an epidemiological typing tool. Using WGS data, this study aimed to identify the species, phage sequences, putative antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors, and genotypes of Brucella melitensis strains isolated from patients in Kuwait and other countries. Methods: Five B. melitensis isolates of Kuwaiti origin and 31 other isolates of B. melitensis originating from 28 countries were analyzed using whole genome-based approaches for genotypic identification and typing. In-silico techniques were used to identify the sequences for phages, antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors, and genotypes using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (wgSNP). Results: The analysis of WGS data demonstrated that all five Kuwaiti isolates belonged to the non-vaccine strains of B. melitensis. Furthermore, the data represented the presence of two phage sequences, two antibiotic resistance genes, and 51 virulence factors in Kuwaiti isolates. Eventually, the genotypes of all isolates were identified based on MLST and wgSNP analysis, and wgSNP analysis suggested the possible areas/countries of origin of Kuwaiti isolates. Conclusion: WGS data can be used to characterize Brucella isolates, and molecular techniques can be applied in-silico to rapidly identify and classify Brucella into species and genotypes and trace the possible origin of the isolates.","PeriodicalId":8689,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135155937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Susan Tatar, Seyedeh Elham Rezatofighi, Mohammad Reza Akhoond
Background: Diarrhea is a life-threatening cause of high mortality, especially among children living in areas with poor sanitation. Enterobacteriaceae is one of the serious causes of bacterial diarrhea in children and adults. In this family, infection with diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) pathotypes in children is associated with extensive health risks and is of particular importance. In this study, we compared the distribution of pathotypes, epidemiological patterns, and antibiotic resistance of DEC in two diarrheal and non-diarrheal groups among children less than 5 years. Methods: In this study, 303 stool samples were collected from patients admitted to Golestan hospitals in Ahvaz and Dr. Ganjavian in Dezful, Khuzestan. To this end, 201 samples from children with diarrhea (case group) and 102 samples from healthy children (control group) were examined. DEC was characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for each stool sample, and DEC isolates were tested with antibiotic resistance tests against different antibiotic agents to identify the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains in both groups. Results: DEC was found in 24% (48 out of 200) of the children with diarrhea and 3.8% (4 out of 103) of the healthy children. Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) was the DEC most frequently associated with diarrhea (32 out of 48, 66.6%), which was followed by enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) 22.9% (11 out of 48, 22.9%), and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) (5 out of 48, 10.4%) from children with diarrhea. Four DEC isolates were identified in healthy children: EAEC (2 out of 4, 50%) and EPEC (2 out of 4, 50%) in the healthy group, but no enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) or enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strains were found in both groups in this study group. In general, DEC isolates exhibited high resistance to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, and 33 (63.4%) isolates of DEC were MDR. Conclusion: A high prevalence of DEC strains was observed in the group of children with diarrhea and healthy children. Accordingly, further attention should be paid to continuous monitoring of the prevalence and pattern of antibiotic resistance of diarrheal bacterial isolates among children and the whole community.
{"title":"Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Diarrheagenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Pathotypes Among Children under 5 Years in Khuzestan, Iran","authors":"Susan Tatar, Seyedeh Elham Rezatofighi, Mohammad Reza Akhoond","doi":"10.34172/ajcmi.3447","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ajcmi.3447","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Diarrhea is a life-threatening cause of high mortality, especially among children living in areas with poor sanitation. Enterobacteriaceae is one of the serious causes of bacterial diarrhea in children and adults. In this family, infection with diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) pathotypes in children is associated with extensive health risks and is of particular importance. In this study, we compared the distribution of pathotypes, epidemiological patterns, and antibiotic resistance of DEC in two diarrheal and non-diarrheal groups among children less than 5 years. Methods: In this study, 303 stool samples were collected from patients admitted to Golestan hospitals in Ahvaz and Dr. Ganjavian in Dezful, Khuzestan. To this end, 201 samples from children with diarrhea (case group) and 102 samples from healthy children (control group) were examined. DEC was characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for each stool sample, and DEC isolates were tested with antibiotic resistance tests against different antibiotic agents to identify the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains in both groups. Results: DEC was found in 24% (48 out of 200) of the children with diarrhea and 3.8% (4 out of 103) of the healthy children. Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) was the DEC most frequently associated with diarrhea (32 out of 48, 66.6%), which was followed by enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) 22.9% (11 out of 48, 22.9%), and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) (5 out of 48, 10.4%) from children with diarrhea. Four DEC isolates were identified in healthy children: EAEC (2 out of 4, 50%) and EPEC (2 out of 4, 50%) in the healthy group, but no enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) or enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strains were found in both groups in this study group. In general, DEC isolates exhibited high resistance to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, and 33 (63.4%) isolates of DEC were MDR. Conclusion: A high prevalence of DEC strains was observed in the group of children with diarrhea and healthy children. Accordingly, further attention should be paid to continuous monitoring of the prevalence and pattern of antibiotic resistance of diarrheal bacterial isolates among children and the whole community.","PeriodicalId":8689,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection","volume":"45 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135155968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Nowadays, there is increasing attention to the discovery of new bioactive substances from marine sources. This research aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Tunisian Ruppia cirrhosa extracts (RCEs) using two different extraction methods. Methods: RCEs were obtained by two different extraction methods: maceration and successive extraction. The determination of polyphenolic contents and antioxidant activity was made by calorimetric assay, and the effect of RCE was observed against pathogenic bacteria and fungi using the solid diffusion method. Results: The successive extraction of R. cirrhosa extract relatively showed higher total phenol (38.1 mg GAE/g) and condensed tannin (18.07 mg CE/g) contents than the maceration extraction (35.43 mg EAG/g and 12.99 mg CE/g, respectively). However, the total flavonoid amount of RCE was higher in the maceration extraction (33.09 mg CE/g) than in the successive extraction (21.27 mg CE/g). The total antioxidant capacity of RCE indicated a decrease in this activity after fractionation. Indeed, the activity of RCE decreased from 47.8 to 37.83 mg GAE/g, and RCE obtained by the two extraction methods showed moderate antioxidant activity using reducing power (IC50=380-490 µg/mL) and β-carotene bleaching (IC50=110-310 μg/mL) assays. Furthermore, RCEs obtained by maceration had the greatest antibacterial activity against all tested strains (IZ=3.33-9.33 mm) except Salmonella typhimurium (IZ=2 mm), Enterococcus faecalis (IZ=6 mm), and Streptococcus aureus (3.67 mm) as compared to those obtained by successive extraction. The strains of Candida had a sensitivity for R. cirrhosa extracts obtained by maceration. Indeed, R. cirrhosa extracts obtained by successive extraction had higher inhibitory activity against Candida krusei deduced through an inhibition diameter of 6 mm. Conclusion: It can be concluded that R. cirrhosa extract is rich in bioactive molecules, and it has an extremely promising biological potential.
{"title":"Variability on the Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of <i>Ruppia cirrhosa</i> Extract Using Two Different Methods of Extraction","authors":"Emna Chaabani, Iness Bettaieb Rebey, Wissem Aidi Wannes, Riadh Ksouri, Abdessalem Shili","doi":"10.34172/ajcmi.3472","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ajcmi.3472","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Nowadays, there is increasing attention to the discovery of new bioactive substances from marine sources. This research aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Tunisian Ruppia cirrhosa extracts (RCEs) using two different extraction methods. Methods: RCEs were obtained by two different extraction methods: maceration and successive extraction. The determination of polyphenolic contents and antioxidant activity was made by calorimetric assay, and the effect of RCE was observed against pathogenic bacteria and fungi using the solid diffusion method. Results: The successive extraction of R. cirrhosa extract relatively showed higher total phenol (38.1 mg GAE/g) and condensed tannin (18.07 mg CE/g) contents than the maceration extraction (35.43 mg EAG/g and 12.99 mg CE/g, respectively). However, the total flavonoid amount of RCE was higher in the maceration extraction (33.09 mg CE/g) than in the successive extraction (21.27 mg CE/g). The total antioxidant capacity of RCE indicated a decrease in this activity after fractionation. Indeed, the activity of RCE decreased from 47.8 to 37.83 mg GAE/g, and RCE obtained by the two extraction methods showed moderate antioxidant activity using reducing power (IC50=380-490 µg/mL) and β-carotene bleaching (IC50=110-310 μg/mL) assays. Furthermore, RCEs obtained by maceration had the greatest antibacterial activity against all tested strains (IZ=3.33-9.33 mm) except Salmonella typhimurium (IZ=2 mm), Enterococcus faecalis (IZ=6 mm), and Streptococcus aureus (3.67 mm) as compared to those obtained by successive extraction. The strains of Candida had a sensitivity for R. cirrhosa extracts obtained by maceration. Indeed, R. cirrhosa extracts obtained by successive extraction had higher inhibitory activity against Candida krusei deduced through an inhibition diameter of 6 mm. Conclusion: It can be concluded that R. cirrhosa extract is rich in bioactive molecules, and it has an extremely promising biological potential.","PeriodicalId":8689,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection","volume":"29 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135155970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-29DOI: 10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3367
M. Gupta, R. Tilak, Namrata Pal, A. Singh, J. Chakravarty, B. Kumar
Background: Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is a life-threatening fungal infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii and neoformans are the causative agents that usually respond well to fluconazole and amphotericin B. However, resistance/ non-responding cryptococcal meningitis cases to fluconazole and amphotericin B have been reported globally. Methods: The causative Cryptococcus was identified by phenotypic and singleplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the putative sugar transporter (STR1) gene. In addition, the phospholipase and proteinase enzymatic activities of the isolates were determined by the plate method using egg yolk agar and bovine serum albumin agar plates, respectively. Finally, the in-vitro minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fluconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B against isolated C. neoformans strains was determined by the broth microdilution method. Results: A total of 50 C. neoformans strains were isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of HIV-infected patients, which were further identified as variety grubii by simplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All the isolated strains producing phospholipase and proteinase enzymes were determined by the calculation of Pz, a ratio of colony diameter and diameter of colony plus the precipitation zone. A comparative high proteinase enzyme activity was observed, and these strains produced medium to high phospholipase (mean Pz 0.3720±0.082, range 0.23-0.56) and proteinase activity (Mean Pz 0.3069±0.086, range 0.012- 0.54). A varied antifungal MIC was detected, and voriconazole had the lowest MIC50 and MIC90 (0.03 & 0.06 µg/mL) in comparison to fluconazole and amphotericin B. Conclusion: Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii is the commonest cause of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in HIV-infected patients. The isolates had varied extracellular hydrolytic enzyme activities. The emergence of C. neoformans strains with higher fluconazole MIC (≥4 mcg/mL) could have resulted in treatment failure.
{"title":"Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii: The In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern in Addition to the Quantification of Phospholipase and Proteinase Enzymatic Activities","authors":"M. Gupta, R. Tilak, Namrata Pal, A. Singh, J. Chakravarty, B. Kumar","doi":"10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3367","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3367","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is a life-threatening fungal infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii and neoformans are the causative agents that usually respond well to fluconazole and amphotericin B. However, resistance/ non-responding cryptococcal meningitis cases to fluconazole and amphotericin B have been reported globally. Methods: The causative Cryptococcus was identified by phenotypic and singleplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the putative sugar transporter (STR1) gene. In addition, the phospholipase and proteinase enzymatic activities of the isolates were determined by the plate method using egg yolk agar and bovine serum albumin agar plates, respectively. Finally, the in-vitro minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fluconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B against isolated C. neoformans strains was determined by the broth microdilution method. Results: A total of 50 C. neoformans strains were isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of HIV-infected patients, which were further identified as variety grubii by simplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All the isolated strains producing phospholipase and proteinase enzymes were determined by the calculation of Pz, a ratio of colony diameter and diameter of colony plus the precipitation zone. A comparative high proteinase enzyme activity was observed, and these strains produced medium to high phospholipase (mean Pz 0.3720±0.082, range 0.23-0.56) and proteinase activity (Mean Pz 0.3069±0.086, range 0.012- 0.54). A varied antifungal MIC was detected, and voriconazole had the lowest MIC50 and MIC90 (0.03 & 0.06 µg/mL) in comparison to fluconazole and amphotericin B. Conclusion: Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii is the commonest cause of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in HIV-infected patients. The isolates had varied extracellular hydrolytic enzyme activities. The emergence of C. neoformans strains with higher fluconazole MIC (≥4 mcg/mL) could have resulted in treatment failure.","PeriodicalId":8689,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90221235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-29DOI: 10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3433
A. Asadzadeh, Masoumeh Abbasi, Zahra Pournuroz Nodeh, Fatemeh Mahmoudi
Background: Streptococcus mutans is one of the most important microorganisms in tooth decay. Sortase A (SrtA) of S. mutans is responsible for the attachment of bacteria to the host cell and biofilm formation. Therefore, it seems necessary to investigate the inhibitors of this enzyme to prevent dental caries. Chalcones are always of interest in the medical community due to their wide range of biological activities. Many studies have reported that chalcone can help prevent caries. The present study was conducted to identify potential SrtA inhibitors with the chalcone skeleton. Methods: The chalcone derivatives were obtained from the ZINC15, LEA3D, and PubChem databases, and then the selected compounds were optimized by HyperChem software. The affinity of these compounds to SrtA and total binding free energy (ΔGbind) were estimated by the AutoDock 4.0 program. Finally, drug-likeness screening and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties of the best ligands were obtained using online servers. Results: Compared to chalcone, four of the studied ligands, including compounds 2, 7, 8, and 9 demonstrated high affinity for binding to S. mutans SrtA, with suitable drug-likeness and ADMET properties. Ligand 9 interacted with the key residues in the active site by the most negative ΔGbind (-4.64 kcal/mol). The best conformation of this ligand had the most overlap with the chalcone. Conclusion: By complementary both in vitro and in vivo studies on the inhibitory effects of compounds 2, 7, 8, and 9, the present study can be useful in controlling tooth decay and dental diseases.
{"title":"Studying the Inhibitory Effects of Some Chalcone Derivatives on Streptococcus mutans Sortase A to Prevent Dental Caries: An In Silico Approach","authors":"A. Asadzadeh, Masoumeh Abbasi, Zahra Pournuroz Nodeh, Fatemeh Mahmoudi","doi":"10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3433","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3433","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Streptococcus mutans is one of the most important microorganisms in tooth decay. Sortase A (SrtA) of S. mutans is responsible for the attachment of bacteria to the host cell and biofilm formation. Therefore, it seems necessary to investigate the inhibitors of this enzyme to prevent dental caries. Chalcones are always of interest in the medical community due to their wide range of biological activities. Many studies have reported that chalcone can help prevent caries. The present study was conducted to identify potential SrtA inhibitors with the chalcone skeleton. Methods: The chalcone derivatives were obtained from the ZINC15, LEA3D, and PubChem databases, and then the selected compounds were optimized by HyperChem software. The affinity of these compounds to SrtA and total binding free energy (ΔGbind) were estimated by the AutoDock 4.0 program. Finally, drug-likeness screening and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties of the best ligands were obtained using online servers. Results: Compared to chalcone, four of the studied ligands, including compounds 2, 7, 8, and 9 demonstrated high affinity for binding to S. mutans SrtA, with suitable drug-likeness and ADMET properties. Ligand 9 interacted with the key residues in the active site by the most negative ΔGbind (-4.64 kcal/mol). The best conformation of this ligand had the most overlap with the chalcone. Conclusion: By complementary both in vitro and in vivo studies on the inhibitory effects of compounds 2, 7, 8, and 9, the present study can be useful in controlling tooth decay and dental diseases.","PeriodicalId":8689,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection","volume":"104 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90797235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-29DOI: 10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3418
Seyed Jafar Adnani Sadati, B. Aghili, A. Siyadatpanah, R. Norouzi
Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic disease and has a global distribution. Today, herbal compounds are highly regarded in order to inactivate hydatid cyst protoscoleces. This study aimed to compare the scolicidal activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Pulicaria gnaphalodes and Alhagi maurorum against hydatid cyst protoscoleces in vitro. Methods: The scolicidal activity of P. gnaphalodes and A. maurorum extracts were evaluated at 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/mL concentrations following 15, 30, and 60 minutes of exposure. Then, they were compared with Albendazole (5 g/100 mL) as positive control and distilled water as negative one in similar doses. The viability of protoscoleces was confirmed with a 0.1% eosin stain test under a light microscope. The experiments were performed twice, and data were analyzed by GraphPad software version 5.0. Results: The results of this study indicated that P. gnaphalodes extract killed 100% of the protoscoleces at a concentration of 200 mg/mL after 30 minutes of exposure, but the hydroalcoholic extract of A. maurorum at the same concentration and time could kill 90% of protoscoleces. Conclusion: The findings of the present study confirmed that P. gnaphalodes had a strong scolicidal effect; however; in vivo studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of P. gnaphalodes plant.
{"title":"Comparison of the Scolicidal Activity of Pulicaria gnaphalodes and Alhagi maurorum Extracts against Protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Lato In Vitro","authors":"Seyed Jafar Adnani Sadati, B. Aghili, A. Siyadatpanah, R. Norouzi","doi":"10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3418","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3418","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic disease and has a global distribution. Today, herbal compounds are highly regarded in order to inactivate hydatid cyst protoscoleces. This study aimed to compare the scolicidal activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Pulicaria gnaphalodes and Alhagi maurorum against hydatid cyst protoscoleces in vitro. Methods: The scolicidal activity of P. gnaphalodes and A. maurorum extracts were evaluated at 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/mL concentrations following 15, 30, and 60 minutes of exposure. Then, they were compared with Albendazole (5 g/100 mL) as positive control and distilled water as negative one in similar doses. The viability of protoscoleces was confirmed with a 0.1% eosin stain test under a light microscope. The experiments were performed twice, and data were analyzed by GraphPad software version 5.0. Results: The results of this study indicated that P. gnaphalodes extract killed 100% of the protoscoleces at a concentration of 200 mg/mL after 30 minutes of exposure, but the hydroalcoholic extract of A. maurorum at the same concentration and time could kill 90% of protoscoleces. Conclusion: The findings of the present study confirmed that P. gnaphalodes had a strong scolicidal effect; however; in vivo studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of P. gnaphalodes plant.","PeriodicalId":8689,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection","volume":"46 21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80990751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-29DOI: 10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3449
M. Alikhani, M. Adabi, F. Keramat, Abbas Moghimbaigi, Sima Kazemi, Somayeh Shiralizadeh
Background: Brucellosis is recognized as one of the most prevalent diseases among humans and animals. This study investigated and followed up brucellosis in seropositive participants in the Famenin (Hamadan province, Iran) cohort of brucellosis and their families by culture and serology methods. Methods: Blood samples were taken from 66 subjects, including 18 subjects in the Famenin brucellosis cohort study with antibody titers≥1:180 and 36 subjects from their families and 12 subjects in the Famenin brucellosis cohort study with antibody titers<1:80. In the serological method, standard tube agglutination test (STAT positive with≥1:80) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) test (positive with≥1:40) were performed using the patient serum. Finally, 8 cc of the blood of all subjects was used for culture in the BACTEC culture medium. Results: Of the 66 serum samples, 20 (30.3%) samples, including 5, 4, and 10 samples at 1:20, 1:40, and 1:80 dilution, respectively, and 1 sample at 1:160 dilution were positive by the STAT, of which 13 (65%) samples belonged to patients’ family members. Using the 2-ME test, 10 (15.2%) serum samples were positive, of which 5 (50%) cases were related to patients’ family members. Eventually, no growth of Brucella was observed in 66 flasks of the BACTEC culture medium. Conclusion: Considering that a definite diagnostic method is not yet accessible, a combination of methods must be applied to diagnose the disease.
{"title":"Investigation and Follow-up of Brucellosis in Seropositive Patients and Their Families in Hamadan Province, Iran","authors":"M. Alikhani, M. Adabi, F. Keramat, Abbas Moghimbaigi, Sima Kazemi, Somayeh Shiralizadeh","doi":"10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3449","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3449","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Brucellosis is recognized as one of the most prevalent diseases among humans and animals. This study investigated and followed up brucellosis in seropositive participants in the Famenin (Hamadan province, Iran) cohort of brucellosis and their families by culture and serology methods. Methods: Blood samples were taken from 66 subjects, including 18 subjects in the Famenin brucellosis cohort study with antibody titers≥1:180 and 36 subjects from their families and 12 subjects in the Famenin brucellosis cohort study with antibody titers<1:80. In the serological method, standard tube agglutination test (STAT positive with≥1:80) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) test (positive with≥1:40) were performed using the patient serum. Finally, 8 cc of the blood of all subjects was used for culture in the BACTEC culture medium. Results: Of the 66 serum samples, 20 (30.3%) samples, including 5, 4, and 10 samples at 1:20, 1:40, and 1:80 dilution, respectively, and 1 sample at 1:160 dilution were positive by the STAT, of which 13 (65%) samples belonged to patients’ family members. Using the 2-ME test, 10 (15.2%) serum samples were positive, of which 5 (50%) cases were related to patients’ family members. Eventually, no growth of Brucella was observed in 66 flasks of the BACTEC culture medium. Conclusion: Considering that a definite diagnostic method is not yet accessible, a combination of methods must be applied to diagnose the disease.","PeriodicalId":8689,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82914050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-29DOI: 10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3394
F. Adeyemi, Omotayo O. Oyedara, A. Wahab, S. Akinde
Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESβL) or metallo-β-lactamase (MβL) production by gram-negative bacteria in immunocompromised patients poses a serious therapeutic challenge for infection control and is associated with infections with a higher morbidity/mortality, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to phenotypically evaluate the production of ESβL as well as MβL in 75 gram-negative bacterial isolates from clinical samples of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals. Methods: Bacterial identification was by chromogenic media, analytical profile index 20 E, and 20 NE kits, and ESβL production was tested by double-disc synergy test (DDST) and combination disc method, while MβL production was screened with imipenem ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) combined disc and EDTA-disc potentiation with ceftazidime. Results: Altogether, 57 isolates (76.0%) produced ESβL either with DDST (6), combination disc method (49), or both (2). DDST detected the ESβL enzyme in 10.7% of the tested isolates which were all Pseudomonas aeruginosa. None of the bacterial isolates revealed MβL production with the imipenem/imipenem-EDTA method, whereas 26.7% of tested isolates produced MβL with EDTA-disc potentiation using ceftazidime out of which 65.0% were P. aeruginosa. Moreover, ESβL/MβL co-production was evident in 22.7% of the tested bacterial isolates with P. aeruginosa constituting 64.7%. Conclusion: ESβL and MβL co-production among the studied isolates indicates a heightened resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, suggesting grave health consequences, especially in immunocompromised individuals with already limiting therapeutic options in the region. The study revealed higher ESβL production compared to MβL production in isolates, with the predominating producing specie being P. aeruginosa, and higher ESβL and MβL detection by the combination disc method and EDTA-disc potentiation using ceftazidime, respectively.
{"title":"ESβL and MβL Production in Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated From HIV Seropositive Individuals","authors":"F. Adeyemi, Omotayo O. Oyedara, A. Wahab, S. Akinde","doi":"10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3394","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3394","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESβL) or metallo-β-lactamase (MβL) production by gram-negative bacteria in immunocompromised patients poses a serious therapeutic challenge for infection control and is associated with infections with a higher morbidity/mortality, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to phenotypically evaluate the production of ESβL as well as MβL in 75 gram-negative bacterial isolates from clinical samples of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals. Methods: Bacterial identification was by chromogenic media, analytical profile index 20 E, and 20 NE kits, and ESβL production was tested by double-disc synergy test (DDST) and combination disc method, while MβL production was screened with imipenem ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) combined disc and EDTA-disc potentiation with ceftazidime. Results: Altogether, 57 isolates (76.0%) produced ESβL either with DDST (6), combination disc method (49), or both (2). DDST detected the ESβL enzyme in 10.7% of the tested isolates which were all Pseudomonas aeruginosa. None of the bacterial isolates revealed MβL production with the imipenem/imipenem-EDTA method, whereas 26.7% of tested isolates produced MβL with EDTA-disc potentiation using ceftazidime out of which 65.0% were P. aeruginosa. Moreover, ESβL/MβL co-production was evident in 22.7% of the tested bacterial isolates with P. aeruginosa constituting 64.7%. Conclusion: ESβL and MβL co-production among the studied isolates indicates a heightened resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, suggesting grave health consequences, especially in immunocompromised individuals with already limiting therapeutic options in the region. The study revealed higher ESβL production compared to MβL production in isolates, with the predominating producing specie being P. aeruginosa, and higher ESβL and MβL detection by the combination disc method and EDTA-disc potentiation using ceftazidime, respectively.","PeriodicalId":8689,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80922410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-29DOI: 10.34172/ajcmi.2023.5454
Z. Sadeghi Dehkordi, Hamidreza Moslemimanesh, A. Sadeghi-Nasab
Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a common zoonotic disease in Iran. Identifying various risk factors of this disease can pave the way for launching control and prevention programs, as well as special health education for target populations. For this purpose, this retrospective study investigated the demographic characteristics and risk factors of human hydatidosis in Hamedan. Methods: The registered demographic characteristics of 98 patients, the risk factors of echinococcosis transmission, and the involved organs were analyzed through the profile form of patients who underwent CE surgery in two main hospitals of Hamedan province during 2014-2018. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test (or Fisher’s exact test), independent t-test, and one-way analysis of variance with Stata 16 software at a significance level of α≥0.05. Results: Forty-eight (48.97%) and 50 (51.02%) cases of the 98 registered CE surgeries were females and males, respectively. The age range of the patients was 8-91 years, with the significantly highest rate in 21-30 years old (23.46%, P<0.05). In addition, 77.78% of urban residents reported contact with contaminated vegetables vs. 58.49% of infected rural reported contact with contaminated vegetables and/ or dogs (P<0.05). The prevalence of infection merely in the liver (60.20%) was significantly higher than in the other organs (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that the targeted health education should be focused on people in their third decade of life and younger. Further, the education of urban residents should be focused more on the health of vegetables and villagers based on the simultaneous explanation of the dangers of contaminated vegetables and dogs.
{"title":"Target Population, Targeted Health Education: A Case-Based Reasoning Proposed for the Control of Human Hydatidosis","authors":"Z. Sadeghi Dehkordi, Hamidreza Moslemimanesh, A. Sadeghi-Nasab","doi":"10.34172/ajcmi.2023.5454","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ajcmi.2023.5454","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a common zoonotic disease in Iran. Identifying various risk factors of this disease can pave the way for launching control and prevention programs, as well as special health education for target populations. For this purpose, this retrospective study investigated the demographic characteristics and risk factors of human hydatidosis in Hamedan. Methods: The registered demographic characteristics of 98 patients, the risk factors of echinococcosis transmission, and the involved organs were analyzed through the profile form of patients who underwent CE surgery in two main hospitals of Hamedan province during 2014-2018. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test (or Fisher’s exact test), independent t-test, and one-way analysis of variance with Stata 16 software at a significance level of α≥0.05. Results: Forty-eight (48.97%) and 50 (51.02%) cases of the 98 registered CE surgeries were females and males, respectively. The age range of the patients was 8-91 years, with the significantly highest rate in 21-30 years old (23.46%, P<0.05). In addition, 77.78% of urban residents reported contact with contaminated vegetables vs. 58.49% of infected rural reported contact with contaminated vegetables and/ or dogs (P<0.05). The prevalence of infection merely in the liver (60.20%) was significantly higher than in the other organs (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that the targeted health education should be focused on people in their third decade of life and younger. Further, the education of urban residents should be focused more on the health of vegetables and villagers based on the simultaneous explanation of the dangers of contaminated vegetables and dogs.","PeriodicalId":8689,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection","volume":"107 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79270243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}