In the current healthcare environment, an alarming rise in multi-drug resistant bacterial infections has led to a global health threat. The lack of new antibiotics has created a need for developing ...alternative strategies.
Understanding the antibacterial mechanisms of cinnamon and its constituents is crucial to enhance it as a potential new source of antibiotic. The objective of this review is to provide a compilation of all described mechanisms of antibacterial action of cinnamon and its constituents and synergism with commercial antibiotics in order to better understand how cinnamon and its constituents can collaborate as alternative treatment to multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.
The relevant references on antibacterial activities of cinnamon and its constituents were searched. Meanwhile, the references were classified according to the type of mechanism of action against bacteria. Relationships of cinnamon or its constituents and antibiotics were also analyzed and summarized.
Cinnamon extracts, essential oils, and their compounds have been reported to inhibit bacteria by damaging cell membrane; altering the lipid profile; inhibiting ATPases, cell division, membrane porins, motility, and biofilm formation; and via anti-quorum sensing effects.
This review describes the antibacterial effects of cinnamon and its constituents, such as cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid, against pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The review also provides an overview of the current knowledge of the primary modes of action of these compounds as well as the synergistic interactions between cinnamon or its constituents with known antibacterial agents. This information will be useful in improving the effectiveness of therapeutics based on these compounds.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Fractal signatures of the COVID-19 spread Abbasi, M.; Bollini, A.L.; Castillo, J.L.B. ...
Chaos, solitons & fractals/Chaos, solitons and fractals,
11/2020, Volume:
140
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
•Identification of the signatures of the fractal structure on real data.•New SIR-like model that includes the fractal structure in the spread of the virus.•Analysis performed on data observed in ...several regions around the world.•Time evolution analysis using the newly developed model.
Recent quantitative approaches for studying several aspects of urban life and infrastructure have shown that scale properties allow the understanding of many features of urban infrastructure and of human activity in cities. In this paper, we show that COVID-19 virus contamination follows a similar pattern in different regions of the world. The superlinear power-law behavior for the number of contamination cases as a function of the city population, with exponent β of the order of 1.15 is always obtained. Due to the strong indication that scaling is a determinant feature of covid-19 spread, we propose an epidemiological model that embodies a fractal structure, allowing a more detailed description of the observed data about the virus spread in different countries and regions. The hypothesis that fractal structures can be formed in cities as well as in larger networks is tested, indicating that indeed self-similarity may be found in networks connecting several cities.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•This is the first cross-sectional multicenter study of prevalence, incidence and risk factors of HBV infection in the male and female prison population in Brazil (n=3.368 prisoners distributed in 12 ...closed prisons).•HBV exposure was observed in 9.8% (95% CI: 8.8 to 10.8) prisoners; 11.2% of them were female and 9.6% male.•High prevalence of HCV (2.4%), HIV (1.6%) and Treponema pallidum (10.7%) infections were observed among prisoners with evidence of HBV exposure.•Despite the low incidence of HBV infection (0.18/100 person-years), preventive measures to interrupt the chain of HBV transmission are required.
Prison populations are at high risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, incidence, HBV associated factors and circulating genotypes/subtypes.
A total of 3,368 prisoners from 12 closed prisons were randomly recruited for a cross-sectional study. In addition, a cohort study was conducted 12 months later and included 1,656 individuals. Participants underwent an interview and blood collection for the detection of HBV serological markers and HBV-DNA phylogenetic analysis.
HBV exposure (anti-HBc+) was 9.8% (95% CI: 8.8-10.8); 11.2% were female and 9.6% were male. HBsAg+ was 0.6%. Only 31.4% of the participants had HBV vaccination-like profile (anti-HBs+ alone; 30.4% male vs. 36.8% female; p=0.004). Most individuals were susceptible to HBV (60.2% female vs. 52.2% male, p=0.001). HBV isolates were classified as genotypes A (45.4%), D (27.3%) and F (27.3%). In males, HBV exposure was associated with increased age. Male prisoners had more evidence of HCV/HBV co-infection (10.7%) than females (3.4%) and the frequency of Treponema pallidum infection among prisoners who had been exposed to HBV was higher in female prisoners when compared with male (39.7% vs. 19.1%). The incidence of HBV was 0.18/100 person-years (95% CI: 0.12%–0.25%).
Our results indicate a high prevalence of HBV exposure in prisoners. Despite the low incidence of this infection, the occurrence of new cases indicates the need to implement preventive measures.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Acinetobacter baumannii has often been associated with colonization and/or infection in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). This study describes a clonal spread of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii ...(CRAB) isolates in an NICU. In total, 21 CRAB isolates were collected from premature newborns. Only polymyxin B was active against such isolates. Nineteen CRAB isolates were clonally related (Cluster C, which belonged to worldwide-disseminated ST1). All newborns had peripheral access and had received β-lactam therapy previously. The implementation of strict infection control measures was of fundamental importance to eradicate the clonal type in the study hospital.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Highlights ► The search for novel vaccines against porcine enzootic pneumonia is mandatory. ► We evaluated mice immunisation with P37, P42, P46 and P95 Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens. ► P42 and ...P95 recombinant subunit vaccines induced strong immune response. ► P46 DNA vaccine induced immune response similar to P42 and P95 subunit vaccines. ► All vaccines induced upregulation of INFγ and downregulation of IL1 and TNFα.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the etiological agent of swine enzootic pneumonia (EP), a chronic respiratory disease which causes significant economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. More ...efficient strategies for controlling this disease are necessary. In this study, we cloned17 genes coding for transmembrane proteins from
M. hyopneumoniae, among which six were successfully expressed in
Escherichia coli and had their immunogenic and antigenic properties evaluated. All proteins were immunogenic in mice and sera from naturally infected pigs reacted with the recombinant proteins, suggesting that they are expressed during infection. These antigens may contribute for the development of new recombinant vaccines and diagnostic tests against EP.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Abstract
The aim of this study was to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from artisanal cheeses and evaluate their probiotic potential and antibiotic susceptibility under
in vitro
conditions. Cheeses ...obtained at different maturation times were analysed for moisture and lipid contents, as well as for the presence of various microorganisms, including coagulase positive staphylococci,
Salmonella
spp.,
Escherichia coli
,
Listeria monocytogenes
, filamentous fungi, yeasts, total mesophilic bacteria, and LAB. After identification, the selected LAB were subjected to human gastrointestinal tract (HGT) conditions to evaluate their survival rates. Of the 18
Lactobacillus
strains isolated, 11 survived the HGT test and presented γ-haemolysis. No resistance was observed against antibiotics.
Lactobacillus fermentum
C1a, C1b, C1c, and C1f, as well as
Lactobacillus paracasei
C1d, C1e, and C1g, were identified as potential starter cultures for the food industry.
Highlights * The search for novel vaccines against porcine enzootic pneumonia is mandatory. * We evaluated mice immunisation with P37, P42, P46 and P95Mycoplasma hyopneumoniaeantigens. * P42 and P95 ...recombinant subunit vaccines induced strong immune response. * P46 DNA vaccine induced immune response similar to P42 and P95 subunit vaccines. * All vaccines induced upregulation of INFγ and downregulation of IL1 and TNFα.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Tin(Sn)-protoporphyrin is a potent competitive inhibitor of heme oxygenase and can also suppress naturally occurring or experimentally induced hyperbilirubinemia in animals. In this study we examined ...the plasma clearance of Sn-protoporphyrin, its persistence in tissues and the time course of heme oxygenase inhibition up to 7 days after administration of doses up to 50 mumol/kg b.w. to adult male rats. After s.c. doses the metalloporphyrin was rapidly and almost completely absorbed. Initial plasma clearance was log-linear with a T 1/2 of approximately 3 h after either i.v. or s.c. administration. Levels of Sn-protoporphyrin in most tissues rose during the first 2 h and persisted for up to 7 days. Concentrations were highest in kidney and liver, were considerably lower in spleen, lung, intestine, adrenal and testes, and as Sn-protoporphyrin concentrations in plasma declined, concentrations in these tissues eventually exceeded simultaneous plasma concentrations. This suggests a varying degree of uptake and binding of the metalloporphyrin in these tissues. There was little or no uptake of Sn-protoporphyrin in heart, brain and red cells. Markedly decreased heme oxygenase activity in liver, kidney and spleen persisted as did Sn-protoporphyrin up to 7 days. The total amount of Sn-protoporphyrin present in tissues and excreta was a fairly constant fraction of the dose (approximately 50%) at time intervals up to 7 days after injection. These results indicate that single doses of Sn-protoporphyrin are rapidly cleared from plasma and persist in tissues and potently inhibit heme oxygenase activity for prolonged periods.
TinIV-protoporphyrin IX (Sn-protoporphyrin) potently inhibits heme degradation to bilirubin in vitro and in vivo, and it completely suppresses neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in experimental animals, ...including primates. It also reduces plasma bilirubin levels in certain naturally occurring or induced forms of jaundice in animals and man. We have examined in this study the fate of that fraction of heme whose degradation to bile pigment is inhibited in vivo by administration of this heme oxygenase (EC 1.14.99.3) inhibitor. In bile-duct-cannulated rats, infused exogenous heme is rapidly converted to biliary bilirubin; a small amount of the infused heme is excreted into bile as well. Sn-protoporphyrin, administered with the exogenous heme, markedly increased (3- to 4-fold) the amount of heme excreted into bile and greatly diminished biliary output of bilirubin. The increase in biliary heme output exceeded the decrease in bilirubin excretion elicited by the inhibitor metalloporphyrin. In the same experimental model, Sn-protoporphyrin substantially decreased the conversion of heme, derived from heat-damaged erythrocytes, to biliary bilirubin. This decrease in biliary bilirubin output was accounted for entirely by a prompt and marked increase in biliary excretion of unmetabolized heme. The enhanced biliary excretion of unmetabolized heme following administration of Sn-protoporphyrin is a newly defined and biologically important response associated with use of this synthetic heme analogue. The features of the action of this compound in vivo--suppression of formation of the potentially neurotoxic metabolite, bilirubin; enhancement of disposal of the untransformed substrate (heme) of the enzyme that it inhibits; and its own elimination without metabolic alteration--define some of the characteristics of a therapeutically useful chemical.
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