scholarly journals Comparison of apoptotic responses in Blastocystis sp. upon treatment with Tongkat Ali and Metronidazole

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonal Girish ◽  
Suresh Kumar ◽  
Norhaniza Aminudin ◽  
Najihah Mohd Hashim
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Viable Cell ◽  
Apoptotic Response ◽  
In Vitro Susceptibility ◽  
Viable Cells ◽  
Choice Of Treatment ◽  
Standardized Treatment ◽  
Blastocystis Sp ◽  
Susceptibility Assay

AbstractBlastocystis sp. infection, although many remain asymptomatic, there is growing data in recent studies that suggests it is a frequent cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in children and adults. This proposes that treatment against this infection is necessary however metronidazole (MTZ), which is the current choice of treatment, has expressed non-uniformity in its efficacy in combating this infection which has led to the study of alternative treatment. In our previous study, it was established that Tongkat Ali fractions exhibited promising anti-protozoal properties which leads to the current aim of the study, to further narrow down the purification process in order to identify the specific active compound promoting the anti-protozoal effect through HPLC analysis. Based on the data analysis and in-vitro susceptibility assay, the collected Tongkat Ali fraction that demonstrated anti-blastocystis property was shown to contain eurycomanone. Previous studies have suggested that there is a mechanism in Blastocystis sp. that regulates the apoptotic process to produce higher number of viable cells when treated. In reference to this, our current study also aims to investigate the apoptotic response of Tongkat Ali extract and eurycomanone across different subtype groups with comparison to MTZ. Based on our investigation, both Tongkat Ali extract and eurycomanone induced the high apoptotic rate however exhibited a reduction in viable cell count (p < 0.05) when compared to MTZ. This study suggests that there is potential in developing a standardized treatment regardless of subtype variations which makes Tongkat Ali extract a promising anti-protozoal treatment against all Blastocystis sp. subtype groups.

scholarly journals Activity of pyrazinamide in a murine model against Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates with various levels of in vitro susceptibility.

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
S P Klemens ◽  
C A Sharpe ◽  
M H Cynamon
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Viable Cell ◽  
Test System ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
In Vitro Susceptibility ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Treatment Of Infection

The activity of pyrazinamide (PZA) against eight isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a murine infection model was evaluated. M. tuberculosis isolates with various degrees of in vitro susceptibility to PZA (MIC range, 32 to > 2,048 micrograms/ml) were used. Four-week-old female mice were infected intravenously with approximately 10(7) viable M. tuberculosis organisms. PZA at 150 mg/kg of body weight was started 1 day postinfection and given 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Infected but untreated mice were compared with PZA-treated mice. Mice were sacrificed at the completion of the treatment period, and viable cell counts were determined from homogenates of spleens and right lungs. PZA had activity in the murine test system against M. tuberculosis isolates for which the MICs were < or = 256 micrograms/ml. However, there was an inconsistent correlation between the absolute MICs and the reductions in organ viable cell counts. Studies with drug-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates with an isogenic background would improve evaluation of drug efficacy in the murine test system. Further evaluation of antimycobacterial agents against monodrug-resistant isolates will provide data that will be useful for development of algorithms for treatment of infection with drug-resistant organisms.

Assessment of the Skin Irritancy Potential of Synthetic Detergents (Syndets)

1984 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
P.J. Dykes ◽  
D.L. Williams ◽  
L.A. Jenner ◽  
R. Marks
Keyword(s):  
Rank Order ◽  
Viable Cell ◽  
Skin Surface ◽  
Test System ◽  
Human Skin Fibroblasts ◽  
Test Systems ◽  
Viable Cells ◽  
Cell Layers

Summary Among the factors which determine the degree of damage to the skin are (a) the resistance of the stratum corneum to the solubilisation of its components, (b) the intrinsic toxicity of the compound, and (c) the susceptibility of the viable cell layers to damage. In this study of the toxicity of syndets we have attempted to compare their properties in vivo and in vitro and relate these to cutaneous irritancy studies in normal volunteers. The “solubilising” effect of a series of syndets has been studied using the forced desquamation technique. Although no differences could be determined in terms of the corneocytes released from the skin surface, the protein solubilised did differ according to the syndet used and a rank order could be obtained. The susceptibility of viable cells to lysis by syndets has been studied in vitro, using human skin fibroblasts. This test system was able to discriminate between the different syndets and gave the same rank order as the in vivo human test. Comparison with the standard cutaneous irritancy test indicated some correlation between the two test systems and the irritancy test. However, the rank order correlation did show some discrepancy, and the use of such test systems as predictors of cutaneous irritancy is still being investigated.

Endogenous Viable Cells in Lyopreserved Amnion Retain Differentiation Potential and Anti-Fibrotic Activity In Vitro

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Mao ◽  
Tyler Hoffman ◽  
Sandeep Dhall ◽  
Amit Singal ◽  
Malathi Sathyamoorthy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Differentiation Potential ◽  
Viable Cells

scholarly journals 146. antifungal Susceptibility Patterns of candida Parapsilosis Bloodstream Isolates in the US, 2008–2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S203-S203
Author(s):  
Brenda L Tesini ◽  
Meghan Lyman ◽  
Brendan R Jackson ◽  
Anita Gellert ◽  
William Schaffner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Species ◽  
Regional Variation ◽  
Antifungal Susceptibility ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
In Vitro Susceptibility ◽  
Fluconazole Resistance ◽  
The Us ◽  
Susceptibility Patterns

Abstract Background Multidrug resistant Candida is an increasing concern. C. parapsilosis in particular has decreased in vitro susceptibility to echinocandins. As a result, fluconazole had been favored for C. parapsilosis treatment. However, there is growing concern about increasing azole resistance among Candida species. We report on antifungal susceptibility patterns of C. parapsilosis in the US from 2008 through 2018. Methods Active, population-based surveillance for candidemia through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Emerging Infections Program was conducted between 2008–2018, eventually encompassing 9 states (GA, MD,OR, TN, NY, CA, CO, MN, NM). Each incident isolate was sent to the CDC for species confirmation and antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST). Frequency of resistance was calculated and stratified by year and state using SAS 9.4 Results Of the 8,704 incident candidemia isolates identified, 1,471 (15%) were C. parapsilosis; the third most common species after C. albicans and C. glabrata. AFST results were available for 1,340 C. parapsilosis isolates. No resistance was detected to caspofungin (MIC50 0.25) or micafungin (MIC50 1.00) with only one (&lt; 1%) isolate resistant to anidulafungin (MIC50 1.00). In contrast, 84 (6.3%) isolates were resistant to fluconazole and another 44 (3.3%) isolates had dose-dependent susceptibility to fluconazole (MIC50 1.00). Fluconazole resistance increased sharply from an average of 4% during 2008–2014 to a peak of 14% in 2016 with a subsequent decline to 6% in 2018 (see figure). Regional variation is also observed with fluconazole resistance ranging from 0% (CO, MN, NM) to 42% (NY) of isolates by site. Conclusion The recent marked increase in fluconazole resistance among C. parapsilosis highlights this pathogen as an emerging drug resistant pathogen of concern and the need for ongoing antifungal resistance surveillance among Candida species. Our data support the empiric use of echinocandins for C. parapsilosis bloodstream infections and underscore the need to obtain AFST prior to fluconazole treatment. Furthermore, regional variation in fluconazole resistance emphasizes the importance of understanding local Candida susceptibility patterns. Disclosures Lee Harrison, MD, GSK (Consultant)Merck (Consultant)Pfizer (Consultant)Sanofi Pasteur (Consultant)

scholarly journals Leishmanicidal Activity of Betulin Derivatives in Leishmania amazonensis; Effect on Plasma and Mitochondrial Membrane Potential, and Macrophage Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 320
Author(s):  
Wilmer Alcazar ◽  
Sami Alakurtti ◽  
Maritza Padrón-Nieves ◽  
Maija Liisa Tuononen ◽  
Noris Rodríguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane Potential ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Leishmania Amazonensis ◽  
Superoxide Production ◽  
In Vitro Susceptibility ◽  
Intracellular Parasites ◽  
Betulin Derivatives

Herein, we evaluated in vitro the anti-leishmanial activity of betulin derivatives in Venezuelan isolates of Leishmania amazonensis, isolated from patients with therapeutic failure. Methods: We analyzed promastigote in vitro susceptibility as well as the cytotoxicity and selectivity of the evaluated compounds. Additionally, the activity of selected compounds was determined in intracellular amastigotes. Finally, to gain hints on their potential mechanism of action, the effect of the most promising compounds on plasma and mitochondrial membrane potential, and nitric oxide and superoxide production by infected macrophages was determined. Results: From the tested 28 compounds, those numbered 18 and 22 were chosen for additional studies. Both 18 and 22 were active (GI50 ≤ 2 µM, cytotoxic CC50 > 45 µM, SI > 20) for the reference strain LTB0016 and for patient isolates. The results suggest that 18 significantly depolarized the plasma membrane potential (p < 0.05) and the mitochondrial membrane potential (p < 0.05) when compared to untreated cells. Although neither 18 nor 22 induced nitric oxide production in infected macrophages, 18 induced superoxide production in infected macrophages. Conclusion: Our results suggest that due to their efficacy and selectivity against intracellular parasites and the potential mechanisms underlying their leishmanicidal effect, the compounds 18 and 22 could be used as tools for designing new chemotherapies against leishmaniasis.

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