Antimicrobial Activity of Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles using Ajuga bracteosa Leaf Extract

Nanoscience and nanotechnology has attracted a lot of attention because of its wide variety of applications. Plant based metallic nanoparticles revolutionized the health sector with targeting nano drug to cure different ailments. Living beings are known to be susceptible to microbial attack followed by multidrug resistance of microorganism put the necessitates for searching more efficient methods of drug delivery or drug production. In the present study, we report the green synthesis of stable hexagonally shaped zinc oxide nanoparticles from leaf extract of Ajuga bracteosa and their antimicrobial efficacy against the selected bacterial (Streptococcus pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungal (Aspergillus fumigates and Trichoderma viride) strains by using agar well diffusion method. Initial colour change and surface-plasmon-resonance (SPR) absorbance bands between 349 nm gave support to the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were further characterized by XRD, EDX, TEM and FTIR techniques. XRD analysis showed that nanoparticles are crystalline in nature. TEM measurements showed that nanoparticles are hexagonally shaped with their average size less than 27 nm. FTIR spectra confirms the presence of phytochemicals which were responsible for reducing, capping and stabilizing the nanoparticles. Antimicrobial results of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles has indicated the good potential of nanoparticles against all tested microorganism in the present study.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in resistant asthmatics

Background: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an immune mediated lung disease caused due to hypersensitivity reaction of antigen Aspergillus fumigates. ABPA is more prevalent in patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis. Thus, the current investigation was done to estimate the prevalence and association of ABPA with resistant asthma, to identify the clinical and laboratory pointers of ABPA and to identify the effect of ABPA and its treatment on the course of resistant asthma.Methods: Current investigation was a prospective and non-blinded study conducted on patients of Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital, Chennai with bronchial asthma, having frequent exacerbation related problems. Demographic, clinical (hematological) and radiological investigations were performed for staging and treatment of all the enrolled patients. Follow up of patients was done periodically to investigate re-admission of respiratory events or other illnesses. All the collected data was statistically analyzed.Results: Prevalence of ABPA in treatment resistant bronchial asthma patients was 19%. Positive family history, history of atopy and recurrent exacerbations were identified as significant risk factors among ABPA patients. Whereas duration and severity of asthma had no significant association with ABPA patients, bronchiectasis and parenchymal damage were significantly observed in patients of ABPA. Skin prick test serum eosinophils and IgE antibody levels were observed as good screening test parameters to identify ABPA. Prednisolone and itraconazole are considered as highly reliable and effective treatment strategies in ABPA.Conclusions: Current investigation revealed that ABPA must be considered as a possible prevailing disease in treatment refractory cases of asthma on conventional steroids.

Prevalence of Otomycosis: An Evaluation among Patients Visiting ENT Clinics

Aim: To look at the relative frequency and prevalence of the otomycosis in individuals visited ENT department of Bahawal Victoria hospital, Bahawalpur. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study conducted at ENT department of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur during 2019-2020. Forty-Two individuals (27 males and 15 females) with a diagnosis of otomycosis on clinical basis were mycologically investigated. To diagnose the condition, ear samples were taken and immediately examined using 10% KOH, followed by culture on Saburo dextrose agar plus Saburo dextrose agar also having chloramphenicol. Different laboratory approaches and differential testing were utilized to determine the kind of fungal species. Ethical approval was taken from Ethical review board of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. Results: Only 42 individuals (66.6%) were identified with otomycosis in this research based on laboratory data, out of 63 people undergoing a clinical diagnosis of otomycosis There were 27 male participants (42.8%) and 15 female participants (23.8%) among them. Penicillium, Aspergillus glaucous, Aspergillus fumigates, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger have 1 (1.5%), 3 (4.7%), 3 (4.7%), 9 (14.6%) and 26 (41.2%) cases respectively. Conclusion: The most prevalent fungus identified was Aspergillus and Candida species. Key Words: Otomycosis, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans

Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles Against Fungal Pathogens

The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against various pathogens is now being well recognized in the agriculture and health sector. Nanoparticles have been shown to exhibit various novel properties and these properties, on other hand, rely upon the size, shape, and morphology of these particles. Moreover, these physical characteristics enable them to interact with microbes, plants, and animals. Smaller-sized particles have shown more toxicity than larger-sized nanoparticles. AgNPs have shown growth inhibition of many fungi like Aspergillus fumigates, A. niger, A. flavus, Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans, and Penicillium species. According to the current hypothesis, AgNPs act by producing reactive oxygen species and free radicals, which cause protein denaturation, nucleic acid and proton pump damage, lipid peroxidation, and cell wall damage. Therefore, they alter the cell membrane permeability, causing cell death. This mini-review summarizes the use of silver nanoparticles against fungal pathogens and fungal biofilm in the agricultural sector.

Biosorption of Cadmium by fungi isolated from Bharalu river, Assam

Heavy metal pollution in the aquatic ecosystem poses a serious threat to the human health and aquatic biodiversity around. There is urgent need to remediate heavy metals contaminated wastewater through eco friendly ways. Fungi and other microorganisms have been reported to have promising potential to remove heavy metals from wastewater through biosorption. Thus the present work aimed to isolate tolerant fungal species from different sites of a polluted river Bharalu in Assam. After preliminary screening, out of a total of 15 fungal isolates obtained, 4 isolates Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigates and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were selected for further study. Tolerance limit of the isolates for Cadmium (Cd) was carried out at concentrations ranging from 100 ppm to 1000 ppm. Results showed that the maximum tolerance was observed in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (approx. 8.8 mm), followed by Aspergillus flavus (approx. 5.8 mm) at 400ppm. The biosorption efficiency at 400ppm revealed that the maximum Cd concentration was absorbed by fungal biomass of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (12.83 mg/g) and the minimum by Aspergillus niger (3.91 mg/g). Molecular identification was carried out followed by PCR amplification of the fungal biomass showing highest absorption. The sequence obtained was submitted in the GenBank using BANkIt with accession number-MN714368 which showed high similarities with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. This results indicated that fungus are promising and potential sources for metal biosorption and detoxification.

BIODIVERSITY OF MOLD FUNGI IN THE AREAS OF THE CITY OF CHEBOKSARY

A study of 12 soil samples in the summer period in the districts of the city of Cheboksary was conducted. The aim of the research was to conduct a mycological analysis of the soil and isolate particularly dangerous micromycetes in the urban environment. Soil samples were taken from the Moskovsky, Kalininsky, Leninsky districts of Cheboksary and Marposadsky highway. The pH of the soil environment of the city of Cheboksary was: Embankment of the Moskovsky district – 7.67, Kirovsky – 7.23; Leninsky – 7.28; Marposadskoe highway – 7.51. In mycological analysis of soil samples on agarized media of Chapek, the highest concentration of micromycetes was recorded in soil samples from the Moskovsky district on the Embankment, where the concentration of fungi of the genus Aspergillus fumigates was 27 %, fungi of the genus Fusarium sporotrichioides and Fusarium graminearum was 15 %. The soil of the Leninsky district was dominated by fungi of the genus Penicillium, their concentration was 23 %, Aspergillus flavus – 18 %. Isolates of fungi of the genus Penicillium spp. were isolated in the soil of the Kalininsky district, and their concentration was – 7 %, Aspergillus flavus – 21 %. The soil from the Marpasad highway was dominated by fungi of the genus Mucor sp. Testing on Paramecium caudatum infusoria showed that the field isolate of Aspergillus fumigates had toxic properties, the evaluation criterion for biotesting was 38 %. Aspergillus flavus showed a 78 % survival rate when tested on infusoria.

Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) mycotic eye infection: reported herd cases in Thi-Qar province, Iraq

Buffaloes are one of the important farm animals in the south of Iraq and play an essential economical role mainly acting as dairy, meat, and draft animals. This study intended to diagnose buffalo mycotic eye infections in Thi-Qar province/Iraq. Some 250 buffaloes in the herd of 3,700 animals suffered from eye infections from December 2017 to November 2018. Eye swabs were collected from each infected eye of the affected buffaloes of both sexes before treatment. The animals were in different age groups. All samples were transferred to the laboratory in transfer media, and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose (SDA) agar with and without 0.05 g/mL and 0.4 g/mL chloramphenicol and cycloheximide, respectively. Later, the agars were incubated at 25o C and 37o C. The total percentage of eye infection was (6.75%), constituting (49.2%) mycotic infections. The predominant clinical manifestations that appeared on the infected buffaloes were eye inflammation represented by congestion, lacrimation, the opacity of cornea and edema, and reduced productivity of the infected animals. Different fungal isolates were identified from the samples including Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium spp., Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp., Candida spp., Cladosporium spp., Rhodotorula spp., Mucor spp. and Rhizopus spp. Calves buffaloes below one-year-old were more prone to mycotic infection than one-year-old or more. Additionally, male buffaloes were more susceptible to infection than females. In conclusion, this study isolated various types of fungus from the inflamed eyes of buffaloes. Fungal eye infection and the potential risk factors for fungal keratitis in buffaloes were also investigated. The study also approved the rapid diagnosis of fungi by direct microscopic detection and culture. The author recommends future studies including large numbers of the buffalo herd in Iraq to determine the epidemiology of this condition in the country.

Microbial Detoxification of Dimethoate and Methomyl Residues in Aqueous Media

The extensive and random application of major organic pollutants, mainly pesticides, threatens ecosystems and human health. The present study was conducted to isolate and identify microorganisms from some water resources contaminated with pesticides. We investigated the ability of the identified microbes to grow in water spiked with dimethoate and methomyl. We also evaluated the potential effect of the identified microbial isolates on dimethoate and methomyl biodegradation in water. In addition, the total detoxification of dimethoate and methomyl residues in water after treatment with the most effective microbial isolates was confirmed using toxicity tests and analyzing biochemical parameters and histopathological changes in the kidney and liver of treated rats. The microbial isolates were identified as Xanthomonas campestris pv. Translucens and Aspergillus fumigates. Results showed that X. campestris pv. Translucens and A. fumigatus grow in media supplemented with dimethoate and methomyl faster than in other media without both pesticides. About 97.8% and 91.2% of dimethoate and 95% and 87.8% of methomyl (initial concentration of both 5 mg L−1) were biodegraded within 32 days of incubation with X. campestris pv. Translucens and A. fumigatus, respectively. There was no remaining toxicity in rats treated with dimethoate- and methomyl-contaminated water with respect to biochemical parameters and histopathological changes. Collectively, the identified bacterial isolate showed high potential for the complete degradation of dimethoate and methomyl residues in water.

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in a patient of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: an unusual presentation

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a complex immunologic pulmonary disorder caused by hypersensitivity to fungus, Aspergillus fumigates. It clinically manifests with non-specific respiratory and systemic symptoms. ABPA is typically seen in patients with long-standing asthma or cystic fibrosis. Pleural involvement in ABPA is uncommon and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax is very rare. Herein, we report a case of 33 years old male patient presented with dyspnoea, low grade fever and productive cough. High Resolution Computed tomography (HRCT) scan of thorax was suggestive of ABPA with secondary pneumothorax.

Characterization of therapeutic targets from Aspergillus fumigates in response to Adjunctive Combination therapy (Ketoconazole with EDTA).

Background: The Kingdom (Fungi) comprises numerous species that are associated with numerous fungal diseases. Moreover, the fungal resistance, stagnation in the development of antifungal agents and unacceptably high mortality rate associated with some resistant fungus indicates that alternative therapeutic options should consider. Objective: The objective of this study was to find out new therapeutic targets of A.fumigatus in response to adjunctive combination i.e. Ketoconazole (KTZ) plus EDTA. Methods: A.fumigatus was cultured in absence and presence of sublethal dose (MIC 50) of EDTA, KTZ and Combination of KTZ plus EDTA. The cytosolic proteins were extracted by mechanical grinding of fungal cells.The protein profile was studied by using proteomic approach and identification of protein was done by MALDI-TOF/MS. The morphologicaleffect of combination on A. fumigatus was studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and toxic effect on erythrocytes by haemolytic assay. Result: The combination of KTZ with EDTA was non-toxic upto 500 µg/ml by MTT assay. It inhibits the expression offollowing proteins-Glutamatedehydrogenase, Phenyl alanyl t-RNA synhetase POD G, CaO19-5601, AN6454.2 (Conserved domain; MFS (Major Facilitator Superfamily), serine/threonine protein kinase and dipeptidyl peptidase (identified by peptide mass finger printing).Some of these proteins are involved in hyphal development. Morphological defects on development of fungus (like disrupted hyphal tips,phialide) were observed. Conclusion: These targets can be used for novel drug development as some of them are involved in fungal virulence and adjunctive combination therapy can be an optimistic approach.