Melittin is one of the most studied antimicrobial peptides, and several in vitro experiments have demonstrated its antibacterial efficacy. However, there is evidence showing melittin has ...non-promising effects such as cytotoxicity and hemolysis. Therefore, concerns about unwanted collateral toxicity of melittin lie ahead in the path toward its clinical development. With these considerations, the present study aimed to fill the gap between in vitro and in vivo studies.
In the first step, in vitro toxicity profile of melittin was assessed using cytotoxicity and hemolysis tests. Next, a maximum intraperitoneal (i.p.) sub-lethal dose was determined using BALB/c mice. Besides toxicity, antimicrobial efficacy of melittin against extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Acinetobacter baumannii, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumonia (KPC-KP) pathogens were tested using both in vitro and in vivo methods.
Melittin showed extensive hemolysis (HD
= 0.44 µg/mL), and cytotoxicity (IC
= 6.45 µg/mL) activities with i.p. LD
value of 4.98 mg/kg in BALB/c mice. In vitro antimicrobial evaluation showed melittin MIC range from 8 to 32 µg/mL for the studied pathogens. Treatment of infected mice with repeated sub-lethal doses of melittin (2.4 mg/kg) displayed no beneficial effect on their survival and peritoneal bacterial loads.
These results indicate that melittin at its safe dose could not exhibit antimicrobial activity, which hinders its application in clinical practice.
Antibiotic resistance is already widespread in the world, and it has become a great health problem. Therefore, comprehensive efforts are needed to minimize the resistance. The exploration of ...alternative therapies may offer a more targeted approach with less susceptibility to resistance. Even though antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been introduced as emerging antibiotic sources, they are not widely discussed in the literature. Since
Neisseria
infections show resistance to different types of antibiotics, the purpose of this review was to discuss the currently investigated AMPs with anti-
Neisseria
properties. In the present review, we provide an overview of 24 AMPs with in vitro anti-
Neisseria
properties.
This study aimed to assess the efficacy of methanolic extract of Prosopis farcta (
P. farcta
) against protoscolices. In this study, the liver of sheep infected with hydatid cyst was collected from ...Birjand abattoir and after isolation of hydatid cyst protoscolices, to assess the protoscolicidal effect of
P. farcta
, concentrations of 250, 500, 1000 mg/ml Lit a liter of plant extract with a suspension of protoscolices and their mortality was calculated in 5 to 30 min. The metabolites in the P. farcta extract were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The average of the mortality protoscoleces was 100% after 5 min of incubation with the concentration of 1000 mg/ml of
P. farcta
extract. The mean of the mortality of protoscoleces after 10 min of incubation with the concentration of 500 mg/ml of
P. farcta
extract was 100%. That is,
P. farcta
extract requires a longer length of time to display potent protoscolicidal effects. The results of this investigation revealed that
P. farcta
extract could have a significant scolicidal activity on hydatid cyst protoscoleces. However, further research that must be accomplished particularly in human and animal subjects is required to reach this conclusion.
Otomycosis is a common diseases that can be associated with many complications including involvement of the inner ear and mortality in rare cases. Management of otomycosis can be challenging, and ...requires a close follow-up. Treatment options for otomycosis include local debridement, local and systemic antifungal agents and utilization of topical antiseptics.
This study was designed to compare the recovery rate of otomycosis using two therapeutic methods; topical betadine (Povidone-iodine) and clotrimazole.
In this single-blind clinical trial, 204 patients with otomycosis were selected using a non-probability convenient sampling method and were randomly assigned to two treatment groups of topical betadine and clotrimazole (102 patients in each group). Response to treatment was assessed at 4, 10 and 20 days after treatment. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, Chi-Square and Fisher exact test in SPSS v.18 software, at a significance level of p<0.05.
The results showed that out of 204 patients with otomycosis, fungi type isolated included Aspergillus in 151 cases (74%), and Candida albicans in 53 patients (26%). On the fourth day after treatment, 13 patients (13.1%) in the group treated with betadine and 10 patients (9.8%) in the group treated with clotrimazole showed a good clinical response to treatment (p=0.75). A good response to treatment was reported for 44 (43.1%) and 47 patients (46.1%) on the tenth day after the treatment (p=0.85); and 70 (68.6%) and 68 patients (67.6%) on the twentieth day after treatment (p=0.46) in the groups treated with betadine and clotrimazole, respectively. The response to treatment was thus not significantly different in the two groups.
In the present study the efficacy of betadine and clotrimazole was the same for the treatment of otomycosis. The result of this study supports the use of betadine as an effective antifungal in otomycosis treatment, helping to avoid the emergence of resistant organisms.
A otomicose é uma das doenças comuns associadas a muitas complicações, como envolvimento da orelha interna e mortalidade em casos raros. O tratamento da otomicose pode ser realmente desafiador e requer um acompanhamento rigoroso. As opções de tratamento para otomicose podem incluir desbridamento local, agentes antifúngicos locais e sistêmicos e uso de antissépticos tópicos, os medicamentos tópicos recomendados para o tratamento da otomicose.
Comparar a taxa de recuperação de otomicose utilizando dois métodos terapêuticos de betadina tópica (Povidona-iodo) e clotrimazol.
Neste ensaio clínico simples cego, 204 pacientes com otomicose foram selecionados utilizando-se um método de amostragem de não probabilidade conveniente e randomizados para dois grupos de tratamento, com betadina tópica e com clotrimazol (102 pacientes em cada grupo). A resposta ao tratamento foi avaliada aos 4, 10 e 20 dias após o tratamento. Os dados foram analisados utilizando o teste t independente, qui-quadrado e teste exato de Fisher no software SPSS v.18, com nível de significância de p<0,05.
Os resultados mostraram que dos 204 pacientes com otomicose, os tipos de fungos isolados incluíram Aspergillus em 151 casos (74%) e Candida albicans em 53 pacientes (26%). No quarto dia após o tratamento, 13 pacientes (13,1%) no grupo tratado com betadina e 10 pacientes (9,8%) no grupo tratado com clotrimazol apresentaram boa resposta ao tratamento (p=0,75). Uma boa resposta ao tratamento foi relatada para 44 (43,1%) e 47 pacientes (46,1%) no décimo dia após o tratamento (p=0,85); e 70 (68,6%) e 68 pacientes (67,6%) no vigésimo dia após o tratamento (p=0,46) no grupo tratado com betadina e clotrimazol, respectivamente. Assim, a resposta ao tratamento não foi significativamente diferente nos dois grupos.
No presente estudo, a eficácia da betadina e do clotrimazol foi a mesma no tratamento da otomicose. O resultado deste estudo apoia o uso de betadina como um antifúngico eficaz no tratamento da otomicose que pode ajudar a evitar o surgimento de organismos resistentes.
Hepatitis B virus, with 8 known distinct genotypes, is one of the most serious health problems which results to liver injuries. The surface gene of Hepatitis B virus completely overlaps with the ...polymerase gene. Mutations in the RT gene result in changes in the overlapping hepatitis B surface antigen.
The present study aimed to evaluate the genotypes and prevalence of mutations in a segment of S and RT gene in HBV isolates in Southern Khorasan, Iran.
This was a population-based study comprising 5,235 randomized samples for HBV screening. A nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was followed by direct sequencing, and the sequences blast with present sequences of NCBI database for genotyping. Alignment and phylogenic analysis was performed using MEGA-6 software, and mutation pattern of this segment was finally surveyed in Bioedit software.
The mean age was 39.07 ± 14.04 years, with 52.2% female and 47.8% male. All isolates belonged to HBV genotype D, sub-genotype D1. The most amino acid substitutions of surface protein were Q129H (34.42%) and A168V (8.2%), other escape mutants observed in this study were P127L/T, S117G, T125M, S143L, D144E and E164D. In the RT gene, Q149K was the most frequently identified amino acid substitution (9.83%), followed by L122F (8.19%), N118D/T (6.55%), L157M (4.91%), and H124Y (3.27%).
This finding represents an ongoing dominancy of HBV genotype D in Eastern Iran, corresponding to other parts of Iran. There were a lot of variations in the S gene leading to an escape mutation, some of which affected the corresponding area of the RT region.
The emergence of Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131) as a multidrug-resistant and virulent pathogen represents a major challenge to public health globally. Recently, the O25b/ST131 E. coli ...producing CTX-M-15 with high virulence potential has been reported worldwide, but has received little attention in Iran. This study is the first in Iran to specifically determine the spread of the O25b/ST131 clone producing CTX-M-15 among E. coli isolates belonging to the B2 phylogenetic group. ST131 clone in phylogenetic group B2 was detected based on PCR detection of ST131-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms in mdh and gyrB. O25b/ST131 E. coli clone was confirmed utilizing O25b/ST131 clone allele-specific PCR for the pabB gene. All group B2 E. coli isolates were characterized based on antibiotic susceptibility, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes, and virulence traits. Our results demonstrated that 38 out of the 154 B2 group isolates (24.7%) were identified as belonging to the ST131 clone. Furthermore, of these, 28 isolates (73.6%) were detected as O25b/ST131 clone. Antibiotic resistance of ST131 E. coli isolates to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, cefotaxime, and aztreonam was significantly higher than non-ST131 isolates. Almost all of the O25b/ST131 isolates with the ability for ESBL production were reported as CTX-M-15 producing (95.5%). Our results showed that the most prevalent virulence trait in ST131 clone was ompT (94.7%). This study is the first to report the prevalence of the CTX-M-15-producing O25b/ST131 E. coli in Iran. Our findings reinforce the surveillance of dissemination of ST131 E. coli clone as a major drug-resistant pathogen and an important new public health threat.
Background and Objectives: The ever-increasing of antibiotic resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major threat to public health worldwide. Molecular typing is ...used to determine the source of MRSA infections as well as to control and prevent the spread of these pathogens. The present study aimed to investigate the char- acteristics of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types and antibiotic resistance of community- acquired (CA-) and hospital acquired (HA-) MRSA isolates.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of 109 clinical S. aureus isolates were determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion and microdilution broth methods. MRSA isolates were confirmed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the detection of the mecA gene. SCCmec typing was performed by a mul- tiplex PCR assay among MRSA isolates.
Results: The prevalence of MRSA isolates was 39.4%. Linezolid, vancomycin, and ceftaroline were the most effective agents against MRSA isolates. The incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and resistance to most antibiotics were signifi- cantly higher in MRSA than methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates (P<0.05). SCCmec types I, III, and IV were identified in 27.9%, 23.3%, and 37.2% of MRSA isolates, respectively. SCCmec type I and IV were the most prevalent SCCmec types in HA-MRSA isolates (each was 32.4%). While SCCmec type IV (66.7%) was the most frequently SCCmec type associated with CA-MRSA isolates.
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated a high rate of MDR among MRSA isolates. The high existence of SCCmec type IV was reported among the HA-MRSA isolates, which can indicate the spread of MRSA community isolates to hospital settings. Therefore, appropriate antibiotic stewardship plans and microbiological surveillance initiatives must be implemented in healthcare facilities to monitor and limit the spread of these resistant bugs.
Background: We evaluated the sequential changes of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-13 serum levels with tuberculosis (TB)-related radiographic changes during pulmonary TB (PTB) treatment. Materials and ...Methods: In this cross-sectional study during two consecutive years, forty cases with PTB were recorded, and finally, 24 cases were completed the study. Serum levels of IL-10 and IL-13 were measured on admission time, and 6 months later. Furthermore, chest radiography was performed on admission and 6 months later in the treatment course. Results: Radiography at the baseline indicated pulmonary infiltration in all patients (n = 24). Fifteen (62.5%) cases had abnormal and 9 (37.5%) cases had normal radiography at the end of 6 months treatment course. IL-10 and IL-13 upregulated during the treatment time course, and their relationship with radiographic changes shifted from negative (r = −0.14 and P = 0.71) on admission to positive (r = 0.80 and P < 0.001) at the end of 6 months treatment course in normal radiography group. IL-10 level at the start of the treatment was 121.90 ± 88.81 in patients with normal and 82.68 ± 41.50 in patients with abnormal radiography (P = 0.31). Conclusion: Sequential increase in IL-10 and IL-13 during PTB treatment course may have a role in clearing the TB-related radiographic infiltration and preventing scar formation.
Aim. Limited data exist on acanthocephalan infections of hedgehogs in the world. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of Macracanthorhynchus ingens infection in hedgehogs ...between August 2021 and March 2022 (n = 30) in the east of Iran. Methods. At first, infection with M. ingens was diagnosed based on morphologic features of the adults such as body length, proboscis, and hooks. Spindle-shaped eggs (mean length, 99.1 microns; mean width, 60.1 microns) were obtained from the body cavity of gravid female specimens. Results. The molecular analysis based on 18S rDNA and COX 1 genes confirmed the morphological identification of isolated M. ingens. The prevalence of M. ingens in our sample was 13.3% with 1–10 worms per infected host. Conclusion. In this study, we identify M. ingens as zoonotic species in hedgehog carcasses for the first time that passed eggs and adult worms, indicating parasite maturation and reproduction. There are a few studies on acanthocephalans in Iran. Therefore, more comparative studies are needed to determine the status of these species.
Background and Objectives: Non-fermentative Gram-negative Bacilli (NFGNB) is known as a major cause of healthcare-associated infections with high levels of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this ...study was to investigate the antibiotic resistance profiles and molecular characteristics of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL)-producing NFGNB. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the antibiotic resistance profile of 122 clinical NFGNB isolates was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion and microdilution broth methods. Bacterial isolates were investigated for the detection of MBLs production using the combination disk diffusion Test (CDDT). The existence of blaIMP, blaVIM, and blaNDM genes in all carbapenem-resistant isolates was determined employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Results: High resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was reported to cefotaxime and minocycline, whereas Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were highly resistant to all antibiotics except colistin. Multidrug resistance (MDR)-NFGNB (66% vs. 12.5%, P=0.0004) and extensively drug resistant (XDR)-NFGNB (55.7% vs. 12.5%, P=0.001) isolates were significantly more common in hospitalized patients than in outpatients. The production of MBL was seen in 40% of P. aeruginosa and 93.3% of A. baumannii isolates. It was found that 33.3% and 46.7% of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates, and 13.3% and 28.9% of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates were harboring blaIMP-1 and blaVIM-1 genes, respectively. The incidence of MDR (98.2% vs. 28.3%, P<0.001) and XDR (96.4% vs. 11.7%, P<0.001) in MBL-producing NFGNB isolates was significantly higher than non-MBL-producing isolates. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a higher rate of resistance among NFGNB isolates with an additional burden of MBL production within them, warranting a need for robust microbiological surveillance and accurate detection of MBL producers among the NFGNB.
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