Seminal stains acquired from fabric surfaces stand as pivotal biological evidence of utmost significance for elucidating sexual assault cases. The ability to determine the temporal aspect of a ...forensic incident via the analysis of a biological specimen found at the crime scene is crucial in resolving most cases. This study aimed to investigate the time-dependent change in the microbiota structure of human seminal stains exposed to indoor environmental conditions. Stains on polyester fabric generated using semen samples from five male volunteers were kept indoors for varying durations of up to 20 days, followed by sequencing of the V1–V9 regions of the 16S rRNA gene of the microbial DNA extracted from the stains. The acquired data provided the taxonomic composition, and microbial alterations across different days were examined. The most abundantly detected phyla in all samples were
Firmicutes
,
Proteobacteria
, and
Bacteroidetes
, and the relative abundances of bacteria were observed to change over time. Statistically significant changes at the species level were found for
Treponema medium
,
Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum
,
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
, and
Anaerostipes hadrus
. Alterations observed in the samples between the analyzed time periods were investigated. The changes during the specified time periods were examined, identifying rare bacterial species that were initially present on certain days but later ceased to exist in the environment. Conversely, bacterial species that were absent before exposure but emerged at a later stage were also identified. The findings of this study demonstrate that species-level evaluations, in particular, can provide crucial insights into semen stain age.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which have recently gained attention due to their antimicrobial activity, can also be produced by green synthesis. The aims of this study were to (i) characterise green ...synthesized AgNPs using microwave-assisted aqueous extracts of
(G-AgNPs) and
(H-AgNPs) and (ii) investigate the combined antimicrobial effects of the G- and H-AgNPs in different ratios. Nanoparticle formation and reactions were determined with UV-Vis spectroscopy. The G-AgNPs were 52.0±10.9 nm in size, with a 0.285±0.034 polydispersity index (PDI), and a -17.9±0.9 mV zeta potential. For H-AgNPs these characteristics were 23.9±1.0 nm, 0.280±0.032, and -21.3±2.7 mV, respectively. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that the particles were monodisperse and spherical. The Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results showed the presence of reducing agents that stabilised the AgNPs. Three different nanoformulations (NF-1, NF-2, and NF-3) were prepared by combining these two synthesised nanoparticles in different ratios and their antimicrobial activity was tested against
, and
. Our study is the first to show that combining AgNPs from two different biological sources can produce effective nanoformulations with improved antibacterial activity against
and
. These nanoformulations showed lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (31.25 µg/mL against
with all NFs; 62.5 µg/mL for NF-1 and 125 µg/mL for NF-2/3 against
) than G-AgNPs (62.5 µg/mL for
) or H-AgNPs (125 µg/mL for
) alone. Their high combined inhibitory effect against
(NF-1–3) was synergistic and against
(NF-2 and NF-3) potentially additive. Considering such promising results, we believe our study provides some direction for new research and strategies in antimicrobial therapeutics.
•Examined antibiotic use-related temporal diversity of the saliva microbiota.•A total of 56 saliva samples were collected from 14 participants.•After antibiotic use, salivary microbial composition is ...affected for at least four weeks.•Microbial composition of saliva samples is important in detecting antibiotic use.
The detection of microbial flora changes in saliva samples because of antibiotic use through advanced molecular genetic analysis is important for forensic and clinical applications. This study aims to reveal the variability in the microbial structure of human saliva after antibiotic use with metagenomic analysis techniques from a forensic point of view. Within the scope of the study, saliva samples were collected from patients who were under the effect of regional anesthesia to be administered a standardized course of antibiotic therapy that lasted for a week. The analysis was conducted on 56 saliva samples from 14 individuals over four different time intervals. Isolation of the 16S rRNA region and PCR analysis were performed prior to sequence analysis to determine the microbiome structure of the samples at phylum, genus, and species levels. As expected, changes were observed in bacterial species found in saliva samples after administration of antibiotics and this was linked to the specific type of antibiotics that were administered. This change was statistically significant for Firmicutes, Spirochetes, and Verrucomicrobiota. Furthermore, although the oral microbiome tends to return to its former state at the phylum and genus level within a 4-week period after the start of antibiotic use, it is observed that the change, especially in some bacterial species, still continues. The findings of this study show that because of the inability of stabilization at species-level in a period of 4 weeks from the start of antibiotic use, it is not suitable to assess saliva samples at species-level for forensic identification.
Abstract Juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), a natural antifungal and antibacterial agent derived from walnut trees, possesses significant therapeutic potential limited by its low water ...solubility and instability in varying pH and temperature conditions This study aims to address these limitations by enhancing juglone's solubility, stability, and antimicrobial efficacy through the formation of inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Employing methods such as co-precipitation, freeze-drying, and solvent evaporation, we synthesized these complexes and confirmed their formation using UV-VIS, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The obtained optimum complex was characterized using SEM to reveal its structural properties, while NMR analysis showed significant chemical shift changes, indicative of complex formation between juglone and β-CD; additionally, XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the J-β-CD3-4 inclusion complex, providing direct evidence for its formation. Our findings reveal a notable enhancement in the pH and thermal stability of juglone within the β-CD inclusion complex, in comparison to its free form. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the juglone-β-CD complex surpassed that of juglone alone. The increased water solubility of juglone in the inclusion complex contributed to its enhanced antimicrobial activity. The inhibition zone diameters of J-β-CD3-4 inclusion complex against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans were 7, 22, and 8.5 mm, respectively, relatively higher than juglone. Remarkably, in the broth microdluation method, the MIC and MBC values of the inclusion complex were determined to be much lower than those of free juglone, a significant fourfold decrease for S. aureus, and C. albicans and twofold for E. coli. These results underscore the potential of juglone-β-CD complexation in extending the applicability of juglone, especially in sectors such as food preservation, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, where enhanced stability and efficacy of natural antimicrobial agents are crucial.
In this study, silane and quaternary ammonium functional methacrylate monomers were synthesized and used to construct a copolymer using an emulsion polymerization technique to control the reaction ...rate. The copolymer was then designed using different ratios of silane and quaternary ammonium groups to investigate the relationship between the structure and properties. The presence of the ethoxy silane group in the copolymer series provided covalent bonding through the silanol group onto cotton fabric. The presence of cationic groups also helped to cover the fabric surface. After coating the cotton textile fabric, the resistance of the dye on the fabric surface to friction was assessed and tests were conducted on washing, rubbing, water, and light fastness. Finally, the textile surfaces were investigated for their antibacterial activity against
and
. It was observed that the copolymer series showed >99% killing efficiency against
but had no effect on
.
The aim of this study is to improve the solubility, chemical stability, and in vitro biological activity of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) by forming inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin ...(β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (Hβ-CD) using the solvent evaporation method. The CAPE contents of the produced complexes were determined, and the complexes with the highest CAPE contents were selected for further characterization. Detailed characterization of inclusion complexes was performed by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). pH and thermal stability studies showed that both selected inclusion complexes exhibited better stability compared to free CAPE. Moreover, their antimicrobial activities were evaluated against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) for the first time. According to the broth dilution assay, complexes with the highest CAPE content (10C/β-CD and 10C/Hβ-CD) exhibited considerable growth inhibition effects against both bacteria, 31.25 μg/mL and 62.5 μg/mL, respectively; contrarily, this value for free CAPE was 500 μg/mL. Furthermore, it was determined that the in vitro antioxidant activity of the complexes increased by about two times compared to free CAPE.
Acinetobacter baumannii, a multidrug‐resistant bacterium has become a significant cause of life‐threatening infections acquired in hospitals worldwide. The existing drugs used to treat A. baumannii ...infections are rapidly losing efficacy, and the increasing antimicrobial resistance, which is expected to turn into a global health crisis, underscores the urgency to develop novel prevention and treatment strategies. We reasoned that the discovery of novel virulence targets for vaccine and therapy interventions requires a more enhanced method for the introduction of multiple elements of foreign DNA for genome editing than the current methods of natural transformation techniques. Herein, we employed a novel and a much‐improved enhanced technique for the natural transformation of elements of the genome editing system CRISPR‐Cas9 to suppress specific genomic regions linked to selectively suppress bacterial virulence. We modified the genome of the laboratory‐adapted strain of A. baumannii BAA‐747 by targeting the AmpC, as a marker gene, for disruption by three different genomic manipulation strategies, and created mutant strains of A. baumannii that are, at least, fourfold susceptible to ampicillin. This work has established an optimized enhanced natural transformation system that enables efficient genome editing of pathogenic bacteria in a laboratory setting, providing a valuable future tool for exploring the function of unidentified virulence genes in bacterial genomes.
Phage therapy has regained value as a potential alternative and a complementary anti-infective approach to antibiotics in the fight against bacterial pathogens. Due to their host specificity, ...non-pathogenic nature for humans, and low production cost, phages offer an effective opportunity for utilization in healthcare, agriculture, and food preservation. Well-defined storage conditions are essential for commercialization and dissemination of phage usage. For this purpose, in our study, after the isolation and characterization of two different phages, one lytic and the other lysogenic; storage and shelf-life studies of phages were evaluated in a presence of various protectants (glycerol, sodium azide, DMSO with chloroform) and without any protectant during 8-month period at four different temperatures. The short-time stability of the lytic P. syringae phage and lysogenic MRSA phage, which were determined by STEM analysis to belong to the Straboviridae and Siphoviridae families, respectively were also examined for the different temperatures and the pH levels ranging from 1.0 to 14.0. This study revealed the storage-model of phages that exhibit distinct lifecycles, for the first time and provided a theoretical basis for development and application of phages, has yielded valuable findings contributing to understanding of phage biology.
Traditionally, apricot trees suffering from bacterial canker disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae were treated in orchards through the application of antibiotics or copper‐based drugs. ...However, considering the disadvantages of the long‐term use of chemical pesticides and antibiotics, there has been an increasing interest in phages, which have a lytic effect on bacteria, as biopesticides in recent years. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive examination of phage TE, isolated from wastewater in Turkey, from this perspective. Through scanning electron microscopy and phylogenetic analysis, we classified phage TE as belonging to the order Caudovirales and the family Strabovoridae. The phage TE exhibited a robust host lysis efficiency, with 280 infectious phage particles produced per bacterial cell in just 15 min. In experimental trials, treatment with phage TE resulted in an impressive 82% inhibition of bacterial canker disease in apricot leaves, highlighting its effectiveness as a phage therapy agent. Furthermore, phage TE exhibited long‐term stability when stored at 4°C without cryoprotectant and displayed tolerance to a wide temperature (−20°C to 50°C) and pH (2–12) range but its tolerance to UV‐C was very low. The genome and bioinformatics analyses of P. syringae phage TE have identified distinct protein level differences between other phages of the same species, despite sharing similarities at the nucleotide level. These findings suggest the potential use of phage TE as a biocontrol agent, offering a promising solution to control apricot bacterial canker.
Recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic elevated research interest in microorganism-related diseases, and protective health application importance such as vaccination and immune promoter agents emerged. Among the ...production methods for proteins, recombinant technology is an efficient alternative and frequently preferred method. However, since the production and purification processes vary due to the protein nature, the effect of these differences on the cost remains ambiguous. In this study, brucellosis and its two important vaccine candidate proteins (rOmp25 and rEipB) with different properties were selected as models, and industrial-scale production processes were compared with the SuperPro Designer
for estimating the unit production cost. Simulation study showed raw material cost by roughly 60% was one of the barriers to lower-cost production and 52.5 and 559.8 $/g were estimated for rEipB and rOmp25, respectively.
