scholarly journals Encapsulation of bacteriophage cocktail into chitosan for the treatment of bacterial diarrhea

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Golnar Rahimzadeh ◽  
Majid Saeedi ◽  
Mahmood Moosazadeh ◽  
Seyyed Mohammad Hassan Hashemi ◽  
Amirhossein Babaei ◽  
...  

AbstractThe therapeutic effectiveness of a chitosan encapsulated bacteriophage cocktail as a smart biocontrol agent was evaluated in this study to be used as a preventative and treatment option for gastrointestinal infections. To evaluate the effect of the bacteriophage formulation on the treatment of gastrointestinal infection, rats were infected with Salmonella enterica, Shigella flexneri, and Escherichia coli. The rats were weighed and their stools cultured. The results showed that the group which had the chitosan encapsulated bacteriophage cocktail did not lose weight after 3 days and had significantly lower group weight changes. Weight loss was significant in the rats that had cefixime administered instead. Positive cultured stools were reduced after 4 days compared to 2 days in the treated group with the chitosan encapsulated bacteriophage cocktail. The chitosan encapsulated bacteriophage cocktail can therefore be effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal infections.

1980 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-12
Author(s):  
F. C. Brenner

Abstract Tread wear rates during first wear measured by groove depth and weight changes do not always agree. Sometimes, the groove depth method shows a high rate and the weight loss method a low rate. Reported here are experiments designed to determine if grooves show depth changes without wear. Four tires were measured before mounting on a wheel, after mounting and inflation, and after inflation and storage. The mounted and inflated tires showed shallower shoulder grooves and deeper center grooves than the unmounted tires. In a second experiment, tires were measured immediately after a tread wear test and then stored mounted for two weeks before remeasuring. Each groove became deeper, and there was no change in the crown radius of any tire.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1359
Author(s):  
Noga C Minsky ◽  
Dafna Pachter ◽  
Galia Zacay ◽  
Naama Chishlevitz ◽  
Miriam Ben-Hamo ◽  
...  

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, billions of people have gone into lockdown, facing pandemic related challenges that engender weight gain, especially in the obese. We report the results of an online survey, conducted during Israel’s first quarantine, of 279 adults treated in hospital-based obesity clinics with counseling, medications, surgery, endoscopic procedures, or any combination of these for weight loss. In this study, we assessed the association between changes in dietary and lifestyle habits and body weight, and the benefits of receiving weight management care remotely through telemedicine during lockdown. Compared to patients not receiving obesity care via telemedicine, patients receiving this care were more likely to lose weight (OR, 2.79; p = 0.042) and also to increase participation in exercise (OR, 2.4; p = 0.022). While 40% of respondents reported consuming more sweet or salty processed snacks and 33% reported less vegetables and fruits, 65% reported more homemade foods. At the same time, 40% of respondents reported a reduction in exercise and 52% reported a decline in mood. Alterations in these eating patterns, as well as in exercise habits and mood, were significantly associated with weight changes. This study highlights that lockdown affects health behaviors associated with weight change, and advocates for the use of telemedicine to provide ongoing obesity care during future quarantines in order to promote weight loss and prevent weight gain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles R. Midgett ◽  
Kacey Marie Talbot ◽  
Jessica L. Day ◽  
George P. Munson ◽  
F. Jon Kull

AbstractEnteric infections caused by the gram-negative bacteria enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Vibrio cholerae, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella enterica are among the most common and affect billions of people each year. These bacteria control expression of virulence factors using a network of transcriptional regulators, some of which are modulated by small molecules as has been shown for ToxT, an AraC family member from V. cholerae. In ETEC the expression of many types of adhesive pili is dependent upon the AraC family member Rns. We present here the 3 Å crystal structure of Rns and show it closely resembles ToxT. Rns crystallized as a dimer via an interface similar to that observed in other dimeric AraC’s. Furthermore, the structure of Rns revealed the presence of a ligand, decanoic acid, that inhibits its activity in a manner similar to the fatty acid mediated inhibition observed for ToxT and the S. enterica homologue HilD. Together, these results support our hypothesis that fatty acids regulate virulence controlling AraC family members in a common manner across a number of enteric pathogens. Furthermore, for the first time this work identifies a small molecule capable of inhibiting the ETEC Rns regulon, providing a basis for development of therapeutics against this deadly human pathogen.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shih Lung Woo ◽  
Dina Ben-Nissan ◽  
Zahra Ezzat-Zadeh ◽  
Jieping Yang ◽  
Lijun Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives This study was designed to assess the effects of mixed nut consumption on body weight and composition, and gut microbiome in obese individuals. Primary outcome was change in body weight and composition. Secondary outcomes include gut microbiome composition, inflammatory markers, and plasma lipids. Methods The reported results are from an interim analysis (n = 50) of a randomized, placebo controlled, parallel study. Total enrollment target is 154 overweight/obese subjects (BMI 27–35 kg/m2). Participants were randomly assigned to consume either 1.5oz mixed tree nuts or pretzels with equal calorie content daily for 24 weeks. The study included a 12-week weight loss phase (500 kcal per day less than total daily energy expenditure), followed by a 12-week weight maintenance phase. Body composition, fasting blood, and stool samples were collected at baseline, week 12 and 24. Body composition, and vitals were analyzed, whereas plasma lipid profile, fecal microbiome, and microbiome metabolites analysis is still pending. Results At week 12, subjects from both the pretzel (n = 15, 10 dropouts; P = 0.009) and nut group (n = 22, 3 dropouts; P = 0.038) lost significant amount of weight. The trend of weight changes did not differ between groups (P = 0.530). Subjects from both groups were able to sustain weight loss through 24 weeks (pretzel: 81.43 ± 3.85 kg at baseline vs. 79.43 ± 4.08 kg at week 24, P = 0.028; nut: 84.26 ± 3.78 kg at baseline vs. 82.38 ± 3.72 kg at week 24, P = 0.026). At week 12, fat mass in both groups was significantly decreased (pretzel: P = 0.002; nut: P = 0.012). The trend of fat changes did not differ between groups (P = 0.547). Subjects from both groups were able to sustain fat loss through 24 weeks (pretzel: 30.84 ± 1.75 kg at baseline vs. 29.25 ± 2.12 kg at week 24, P = 0.024; nut: 31.51 ± 1.56 kg vs 30.21 ± 1.81 kg at week 24, P = 0.04). Muscle mass, and blood pressure were not significantly different between both groups. Conclusions Our data suggested that tree nuts could be consumed as part of a healthy weight loss meal plan without concern of causing weight gain. Further analysis of the remaining samples is needed to confirm results. Due to higher dropouts in the pretzel group, future intention-to-treat analysis is also needed to eliminate bias. Funding Sources This study is supported by the International Tree Nut Council.


2001 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anelise Bezerra de Vasconcelos ◽  
Gulnar Azevedo e Silva Mendonça ◽  
Rosely Sichieri

CONTEXT: The relationship between body size and breast cancer still remains controversial in considering menopausal status. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of height, weight and weight changes with breast cancer in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). SAMPLE: 177 incident cases of invasive breast cancer admitted to the main hospital of INCA between May 1995 and February 1996, and 377 controls recruited from among female visitors to the same hospital. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Height and weight were measured and information on maximum weight, weight at ages 18 and 30 years, and potential risk factors were ascertained by interview at the hospital. RESULTS: Height was not related to risk of breast cancer among both pre and postmenopausal women. Nevertheless, women in this study were shorter than in studies that have found a positive association. Premenopausal women in the upper quartile of recent body mass index (BMI) and maximum BMI showed a reduced risk of breast cancer (P for trend <= 0.03). Weight loss between ages 18 and 30 years and from 18 years to present was also associated with breast cancer among premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may merely indicate the known association between leanness and breast cancer. Further studies should explore the role of weight loss on breast cancer risk.


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 744-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyle A. Renecker ◽  
W. M. Samuel

Growth rate and potential, 25 hand-reared mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) were examined. When possible, body weights of all animals were recorded weekly. Female deer matured faster than males, but males attained a larger body size. Regressions of winter weight loss of both sexes on peak autumn weight were highly correlated. Similarly, spring and summer compensatory gain in females could be predicted from the minimum spring weight. Annual cycles of intake and weight gain may have adaptations that improve reproductive success and winter survival.


2010 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 1417-1425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Bulgin ◽  
Benoit Raymond ◽  
James A. Garnett ◽  
Gad Frankel ◽  
Valerie F. Crepin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Subversion of Rho family small GTPases, which control actin dynamics, is a common infection strategy used by bacterial pathogens. In particular, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Shigella flexneri, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) translocate type III secretion system (T3SS) effector proteins to modulate the Rho GTPases RhoA, Cdc42, and Rac1, which trigger formation of stress fibers, filopodia, and lamellipodia/ruffles, respectively. The Salmonella effector SopE is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that activates Rac1 and Cdc42, which induce “the trigger mechanism of cell entry.” Based on a conserved Trp-xxx-Glu motif, the T3SS effector proteins IpgB1 and IpgB2 of Shigella, SifA and SifB of Salmonella, and Map of EPEC and EHEC were grouped together into a WxxxE family; recent studies identified the T3SS EPEC and EHEC effectors EspM and EspT as new family members. Recent structural and functional studies have shown that representatives of the WxxxE effectors share with SopE a 3-D fold and GEF activity. In this minireview, we summarize contemporary findings related to the SopE and WxxxE GEFs in the context of their role in subverting general host cell signaling pathways and infection.


2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 1352-1360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeev Altboum ◽  
Myron M. Levine ◽  
James E. Galen ◽  
Eileen M. Barry

ABSTRACT The genes that encode the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) CS4 fimbriae, csaA, -B, -C, -E, and -D′, were isolated from strain E11881A. The csa operon encodes a 17-kDa major fimbrial subunit (CsaB), a 40-kDa tip-associated protein (CsaE), a 27-kDa chaperone-like protein (CsaA), a 97-kDa usher-like protein (CsaC), and a deleted regulatory protein (CsaD′). The predicted amino acid sequences of the CS4 proteins are highly homologous to structural and assembly proteins of other ETEC fimbriae, including CS1 and CS2, and to CFA/I in particular. The csaA, -B, -C, -E operon was cloned on a stabilized plasmid downstream from an osomotically regulated ompC promoter. pGA2-CS4 directs production of CS4 fimbriae in both E. coli DH5α and Shigella flexneri 2a vaccine strain CVD 1204, as detected by Western blot analysis and bacterial agglutination with anti-CS4 immune sera. Electron-microscopic examination of Shigella expressing CS4 confirmed the presence of fimbriae on the bacterial surface. Guinea pigs immunized with CVD 1204(pGA2-CS4) showed serum and mucosal antibody responses to both the Shigella vector and the ETEC fimbria CS4. Among the seven most prevalent fimbrial antigens of human ETEC, CS4 is the last to be cloned and sequenced. These findings pave the way for CS4 to be included in multivalent ETEC vaccines, including an attenuated Shigella live-vector-based ETEC vaccine.


Author(s):  
Imēne Ben Salem ◽  
Mourad Rekik ◽  
Mohammed Ben Hamouda ◽  
Narjess Lassoued

The current study assessed the effect of the pattern of live weight change on the ovarian function of maiden Barbarine ewes at approximately 1 year of age. For this purpose, a total of 171 weaned ewe lambs (mean live weight  ± s.d. 34.7±3.07 kg and mean age ± SD 196±10 days at weaning) were selected for the experiment. Adjustment of live weight variation  was used. Based on the slope of the curve, animals were grouped into three classes LWCI (n=46),  LWCII (n=91) and LWCIII (n=34) with live weight loss being highest in LWCI and lowest in LWCIII.  Following laparoscopy at 13 months of age, the proportion of ewe lambs found cycling in LWCIII  (85.3%) was higher in comparison to animals in LWCI (43.4%; P<0.001) and tended to be superior to those in LWCII (61.5%; P<0.05). Following synchronisation with progestagen of the females found cycling, levels of plasma IGF-I concentrations between 6 and 42 hrs after removal of sponges were not significantly different between the three classes of live weight, and respectively averaged 94.2, 90.8 and 89.8 µg/l for LWCI, LWCII and LWCIII females. Levels of estradiol were also not significantly different between the three groups (0.73, 0.70 and 0.67 pg/ml for LWCI, LWCII and LWCIII ewe lambs, respectively). It was concluded that, in low input systems of semi-arid and arid Tunisia, mating ewe lambs at the approximate age of 1 year is likely to lead to depressed reproductive performance particularly when the summer live weight-loss is elevated. 


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