Detection of Polioviruses in Sewage Using Cell Culture and Molecular Methods

The work presented here demonstrates the utility of a two-step algorithm for environmental poliovirus surveillance based on: preselection of sewage samples tested for the presence of enteroviral genetic material-RT-PCR assay and detection of infectious viruses by cell culture technique (L20B for polioviruses and RD for polio and other non-polio enteroviruses). RD and L20B cell lines were tested to determine their sensitivity for isolation of viruses from environmental samples (sewage). Finally, we wanted to determine if sewage concentration affects the results obtained for RT-PCR and cell cultures.

​Antagonistic Activity of Panchagavya and Trichoderma spp. against Wilt Complex causing Pathogens of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Background: Chickpea wilt complex caused by several soil-borne pathogens is the major yield-reducing malady worldwide. Biological control is one of the best, low-cost and ecologically sustainable method for managing plant diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens. Methods: In this present investigation Panchagavya and Trichoderma spp. were evaluated by following poisoned food technique and dual culture technique against wilt complex causing pathogens i.e. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri, Fusarium solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. Result: Among the different isolates of Trichoderma spp. evaluated, Trichoderma viride (AAU isolate) was highly antagonistic to F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (52.78%) and F. solani (65.37%) whereas, Trichoderma asperellum (AAU isolate) was highly antagonistic to M. phaseolina (65.93%). Panchagavya at the highest concentration (50%) showed significantly higher efficacy (80.74, 66.62 and 49.67%) in inhibiting the mycelial growth of all three pathogens and at the lowest concentration it was moderately effective.

Fungal and mycobacterial cultures should not be routinely obtained for diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected periprosthetic joint infections

Aims Fungal and mycobacterial periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) are rare events. Clinicians are wary of missing these diagnoses, often leading to the routine ordering of fungal and mycobacterial cultures on periprosthetic specimens. Our goal was to examine the utility of these cultures and explore a modern bacterial culture technique using bacterial blood culture bottles (BCBs) as an alternative. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with hip or knee PJI between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, USA. We included patients aged 18 years or older who had fungal, mycobacterial, or both cultures performed together with bacterial cultures. Cases with positive fungal or mycobacterial cultures were reviewed using the electronic medical record to classify the microbiological findings as representing true infection or not. Results There were 2,067 episodes of PJI diagnosed within the study period. A total of 3,629 fungal cultures and 2,923 mycobacterial cultures were performed, with at least one of these performed in 56% of episodes (n = 1,157). Test positivity rates of fungal and mycobacterial cultures were 5% (n = 179) and 1.2% (n = 34), respectively. After a comprehensive review, there were 40 true fungal and eight true mycobacterial PJIs. BCB were 90% sensitive in diagnosing true fungal PJI and 100% sensitive in detecting rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM). Fungal stains were performed in 27 true fungal PJI but were only positive in four episodes (14.8% sensitivity). None of the mycobacterial stains was positive. Conclusion Routine fungal and mycobacterial stains and cultures should not be performed as they have little clinical utility in the diagnosis of PJI and are associated with significant costs. Candida species and RGM are readily recovered using BCB. More research is needed to predict rare non- Candida fungal and slowly growing mycobacterial PJI that warrant specialized cultures. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(1):53–58.

Motyw winy Heleny w tradycji epickiej i w dyskursie

The paper takes up the issue of Helen’s guilt for the outbreak of the Trojan war present in the Iliad and in the oral epic tradition. It puts forward a thesis that in order to blame others or to free themselves from blame epic heroes employ the typical in oral culture technique of conducting disputes. Like other characters in the Iliad, Helen, is also under constant social pressure which seeks to find her guilty and, in effect, to activate a mechanism of making a scapegoat of her. To defend herself, she risks self-accusations in order to make it impossible for other people to bring a charge against her. Helen cares about her good opinion in the Trojan society and particularly in the circle of women.

Evaluation Efficiency of Different Isolate of Actinomycetes for Control of Cucumber Seedling Damping-off Disease Caused by Rhizoctonia solani (Khun)

Fayyadh, M.A. and L.K. Awad. 2021. Evaluation Efficiency of Different Isolate of Actinomycetes for Control of Cucumber Seedling Damping-off Disease Caused by Rhizoctonia solani (Khun). Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 39(4): 281-288. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-39.4.281288 This study was conducted in Plant Protection Department, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah during the period 2017-2018 aimed to isolate and identify Actinomycetes from different environmental sources and evaluate their efficiency to control cucumber damping off disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani. 28 isolates of Actinomycetes were isolated from different sources from the Basrah region. All such isolates were gram positive, amylase and catalase positive and they had branched hyphae. Molecular identification following amplification of 16sRNA confirmed that Actinomycetes isolate No 6 isolated from soil had a similarity of 99% with Streptomyces griseus, whereas the isolate No 66 isolated from date palm roots had a similarity of 99% with Brevibacterium celere. The nucleotide sequence of the two isolates has been deposited at NCBI with Genbank accession number LC501385.1 for S. griseus and LC501386.1 for B. celere. The dual culture technique showed that Actinomycetes isolates S. griseus and B. celere had high antagonistic activity against Rhizoctonia solani, which produced inhibition zones of 7 and 15 mm in dimeter, respectively. On the other hand, volatile compoundsreleased from S. griseus and B. celere inhibited the growth of R. solani by 68 and 81.5%, respectively. Pot experiment showed that all actinomycetes isolates significantly reduced cucumber seedling damping–off incidence caused by R. solani. Keywords: Actinomycetes, Rhizoctonia solani, Cucumber, Biological Control

ASSESSMENT OF AIRBORNE FUNGAL SPORES IN INDOOR ENVIRONMENT OF LIBRARIES IN NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY

Background: Polluted indoor environments pose health challenges such as allergy, infections, and toxicity. Most indoor air pollution comes from hazardous non-biological and biological agents. Due to the nature of the indoor environment of libraries, it is prone to colonization by fungal species. Method: Three sampling sites were used for the study and they include Festus Aghagbo Nwako Library, Main campus Awka, Medical Library, Nnewi Campus and Library Complex, Agulu campus. A total of 100 air samples were analyzed Using the Zefon A6 Single-stage microbial air sampler and Malt Extract Agar supplemented with 0.05mg/ml of chloramphenicol while 16 nasal swabs were collected from the staff present using sterile swab sticks. The mould isolates were identified using the slide culture technique while the yeast isolates were subjected to candida chrom agar and integral yeast plus identification. Antifungal susceptibility was performed using the integral yeast plus system and the agar well diffusion technique. Results: Out of the 100 air samples, a total of 625 fungal isolates were identified of which C.lunata 201 (32.16%) was the most predominant, while P. marneffi, P. expansum, A. restrictus, A. infectoria and R. rubra 1(0.16%) occurred the least. All significant at (p≤0.01). A total of 7 fungal spores were isolated from the 16 nasal swabs and appeared thus in descending order of frequency: P. notatum, 3 (42.85%), A. niger, C. lunata, C. albicans and F. aqueductum, 1(14.3%). Antifungal Susceptibility of the 28 yeast isolates indicated that C. famata, C. laurentii and C. luteolus, were all susceptible to commonly used antifungals in the integral yeast plus system with a 100% susceptibility value, while the mould isolates showed relatively moderate susceptibility to selected antifungals. Conclusion: The organisms isolated are well known to be pathogenic especially to immunocompromised individuals. Their presence in the indoor environment of libraries serves as a risk factor to both the library staff and visitors. Adequate precautionary measures and occasional environmental surveillance need to be inculcated in order to reduce the number of fungi in the indoor environment of these libraries.

Lippia graveolens (Lamiales: Verbenaceae) and Oryganum vulgare (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) obtained by means of the in vitro propagation technique

Objective: The objective of this study was to establish the method of propagation of Oryganum vulgare and Lippia graveolens employing a plant tissue culture technique that decreased the phenolization percentages and increased the multiplication coefficients. Design/ methodology/ approach: The in vitro germination percentage was evaluated in both MS and MS medium + activated carbon. Microcuttings (small shoots) of both species were established in base medium added with different antioxidant agents to decrease the phenolization of explants; the treatments were arranged in a completely randomized block design. For the propagation phase, a completely randomized factorial design was used, where the auxin/cytokinin phytoregulators, type of explants (axillary buds and leaves), and the species (Lippia graveolens and Oryganum vulgare) were considered as factors. Results: maximum germination (63.3% ±12.5) was obtained on day 15 ​​in both culture media for L. graveolens and O. vulgare. The use of antioxidant agents mainly activated carbon, increased the in vitro establishment and activation of vegetative buds in both species by up to 90%. There were significant differences in the variables evaluated regarding the treatments, the explant, and the species in the multiplication phase. The combination 1.0/ 0.5 mg L-1 BA/AIB induces callus formation for both species. When used as leaf explants, callus formation was potentiated. Study Limitations / Implications: The results presented are advances from a long-term experiment. Findings/conclusions: The germination of L. graveolens seeds can be achieved in MS medium after 15 days. Microcuttings of both L. graveolens and O. vulgare were successfully established in MS basal medium enriched with 1 g L-1 charcoal that showed low oxidation percentages and induced up to 90% the production of shoots in the explants. The mixture of 1.0/0.5 mg L-1 BA/AIB induces callus formation for both species; when this medium is in contact with leaves as an explant, its formation is potentiated, achieving diameters up to 15 mm. In order to achieve the induction of shoots and roots, buds should be established in MS medium enriched with 0.5 mg L-1 IBA for both species; this mixture encreased the multiplication coefficients

Mitigation of Aflatoxin Contamination in Groundnuts using Trichoderma viride

Groundnuts are often prone to contamination by Microorganisms during pre-harvest or post-harvest storage. One such contaminant is Aspergillus flavus which is abundantly found in soil and air. Several strains of A. flavus are known to produce mycotoxins named as aflatoxins. These aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic agents whose destruction has become a challenging task in the present scenario. Various physical and chemical methods are available to eliminate the growth of Aspergillus flavus but these methods have several demerits. The present study is based on biological control of Aspergillus flavus using Trichoderma viride strain TV 10. Antagonistic studies of Tv 10 against A.flavus were carried out by performing dual culture technique.

Pembentukan Biofilm Pseudomonas aeruginosa pada Beberapa Media Cair

Pseudomonas aeruginosa merupakan bakteri Gram negatif berbentuk batang bersifat patogen oportunistik yang menjadi penyebab utama infeksi nosokomial dan mampu membentuk biofilm pada media pertumbuhan, biofilm sering mengakibatkan pengobatan penyakit infeksi menjadi lebih sulit. Media pertumbuhan bakteri ada beberapa jenis, komposisi dan merek. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui kemampuan P. aeruginosa dalam membentuk biofilm pada beberapa media biakan cair. P. aeruginosa diisolasi dari sampel klinis dari rumah sakit, media cair yang digunakan adalah nutrien broth, laktosa broth, brain-heart infusion (BHI), luria bertani broth, dan tripticase soy broth. Uji pembentukan biofilm menggunakan metode microtiter plate culture technique, kemampuan pembetukan biofilm diukur berdasarakan optical density dengan menggunakan microtiter plate reader pada panjang gelombang 570nm, dengan pewarnaan crystal violet 0,1%, setelah inkubasi 24 jam pada suhu 37oC, dengan replikat 8 kali. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa P. aeruginosa memiliki kemampuan membentuk biofilm pada nutrient broth 0,926±0,081, laktosa broth 0,521±0,041, BHI 1,283±0,031, luria bertani 1,301±0,043, dan media trypticase soy broth 1,563±0,032. Pembentukan biofilm tertinggi pada trypticase soy broth, dan terendah pada laktosa broth, sedangkan pada media BHI dan luria bertani kemampuan pembentukan biofilm yang setara. Kesimpulan penelitian ini adalah P. aeruginosa memiliki kemampuan yang berbeda dalam membentuk biofilm ketika ditumbuhkan pada media cair yang berbeda.Kata kunci : Biofilm, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, media cair