Molecular detection and prevalence of Rotavirus with acute gastroenteritis among the children of rural and urban areas

Rotavirus is the main infective agent of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children under the age of five years and causing significant morbidity as well as mortality throughout the world. The study was carried out to detect the prevalence rate, genotypes strain and risk factors of Rotavirus among the children of rural and urban areas of district Bannu Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. A total of 180 stool samples were collected from children under the age of 5 years from two major hospitals of Bannu from January to December (2015). The samples were analyzed by Reverse-transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for the detection of Rotavirus, positive samples were further processed for genotyping (G and P type) through specific PCR. Of the total, 41 (23%) samples were positive for Rotavirus. The most prevalent G genotypes found were: G3, G8, G9 (each 29%), followed by G10 (15%), and G11 (10%). Whereas the prevalent P genotypes were: P-8 (25%), P-4 and P-10 (each 20%), P-9 (15%), followed by P-6 and P-11 (each 10%). Moreover, Rotavirus infection was more prevalent in summer (23.73%) and winter (22.7%) than spring (20%) and autumn (21.4%). Rotavirus infection exhibited high frequency in June (14%), October (8%) and November (6%). It is concluded that Rotavirus is more prevalent in children and various genotypes (G and P) of Rotavirus are present in the study area. Lack of studies, awareness and rarer testing of Rotavirus are the principal reasons of virus prevalence in district Bannu, Pakistan.

Campylobacter jejuni Virulence Factors Identified by Modulating Their Synthesis on Ribosomes With Altered rRNA Methylation

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of food poisoning worldwide, and remains the main infective agent in gastroenteritis and related intestinal disorders in Europe and the USA. As with all bacterial infections, the stages of adhesion to host tissue, survival in the host and eliciting disease all require the synthesis of proteinaceous virulence factors on the ribosomes of the pathogen. Here, we describe how C. jejuni virulence is attenuated by altering the methylation of its ribosomes to disrupt the composition of its proteome, and how this in turn provides a means of identifying factors that are essential for infection and pathogenesis. Specifically, inactivation of the C. jejuni Cj0588/TlyA methyltransferase prevents methylation of nucleotide C1920 in the 23S rRNA of its ribosomes and reduces the pathogen’s ability to form biofilms, to attach, invade and survive in host cells, and to provoke the innate immune response. Mass spectrometric analyses of C. jejuni TlyA-minus strains revealed an array of subtle changes in the proteome composition. These included reduced amounts of the cytolethal distending toxin (CdtC) and the MlaEFD proteins connected with outer membrane vesicle (OMV) production. Inactivation of the cdtC and mlaEFD genes confirmed the importance of their encoded proteins in establishing infection. Collectively, the data identify a subset of genes required for the onset of human campylobacteriosis, and serve as a proof of principle for use of this approach in detecting proteins involved in bacterial pathogenesis.

Vaccination, Immunity and Breakthrough: Quantitative Effects in Individual Immune Responses Illustrated by a Simple Kinetic Model

The personal risks of infection, as well as the conditions for achieving herd immunity, are strongly dependent on an individual’s response to the infective agents on the one hand, and the individual’s reactions to vaccination on the other hand. The main goal of this work is to illustrate the importance of quantitative individual effects for disease risk in a simple way. The applied model was able to illustrate the quantitative effects, in the cases of different individual reactions, after exposition to viruses or bacteria and vaccines. The model was based on simple kinetic equations for stimulation of antibody production using different concentrations of the infective agent, vaccine and antibodies. It gave a qualitative explanation for the individual differences in breakthrough risks and different requirements concerning a second, third or further vaccinations, reconsidering different efficiencies of the stimulation of an immune reaction.

Determination of anti-streptolysin – O titer in suspected cases of streptococcal infection

The Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus has remained a major human infective agent for hundreds of years. Group 'A' beta hemolytic streptococcus related ailment and sequelae keep on affecting general public and national economy as they mostly influence kids and youthful grown-ups. Current research aimed to determination of anti-streptolysin –o titer in suspected cases of streptococcal infection. : Determination of anti-Streptolysin-O (ASO) titer in suspected cases of streptococcal infection. The measurement of ASO levels was done by semi-quantitative analyzer analyzer on photometric and colorimetric systems. 107 blood samples were taken in our study. This study was conduct in serological section of microbiology department of Teerthanker Mahaveer Hospital & research centre Moradabad. A total 107 samples were tested in this study. Of these, 23(21.5%) were found to be positive for the presence of ASO having titre of >200IU/mL. This study will be useful to evaluate utility of sero-diagnosis in our catering population and found useful in early diagnosis and treatment of these pathogens. Treatment can be initiated at an early stage leading to reduction in complications and associated mortality.

Clinically Relevant Interactions with Anti-Infectives on Intensive Care Units—A Multicenter Delphi Study

Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are at high risk of drug–drug interactions (DDIs) due to polypharmacy. Little is known about type and frequency of DDIs within German ICUs. Clinical pharmacists’ interventions (PI) recorded in a national database (ADKA-DokuPIK) were filtered for ICU patients. Binary DDIs involving ≥1 anti-infective agent with >1 database entry were selected. A modified two-step Delphi process with a group of senior hospital pharmacists was employed to evaluate selected DDIs for clinical relevance by using a five-point scale and to develop guidance for clinical practice. In total, 16,173 PI were recorded, including 1836 (11%) DDIs in the ICU setting. Of the latter, 41% (756/1836) included ≥1 anti-infective agent, 32% (590/1836) were binary DDIs, and 25% (455/1836) were listed at least twice. This translates into 88 different DDIs, 74% (65/88) of which were rated as being clinically relevant by our expert panel. The majority of DDIs (76% [67/88]) included macrolides, antifungals, or fluoroquinolones. This percentage was even higher in DDIs being rated as clinically relevant by the experts (85% [55/65]). It is noted that an inter-professional discussion and approach is needed in the individual patient management of DDIs. The guidance developed might be a tool for decision support.

Common anti-oxidant vitamin C as an anti-infective agent with remedial role on SARS-CoV-2 infection. An update

Coronavirus disease -2019 (COVID-19) has led to a worldwide multifaceted crisis. The medical world agonizes to contend with the problem, but a string of tested medications has been proven unavailing. Vitamin C is well described as a salutary antioxidant and some trials conclude that it may be a potential antiviral drug. In high doses, Vitamin C can alternate crucial steps in the pathogenesis of sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. This dynamic was the driving force behind trials around the world that tried immunonutrition as a weapon against clinical entities. We summarize the mechanisms of action of Vitamin C and its role against infections and the current literature referring to the potential role of Vitamin C in SARS-CoV-2 infection, also as a contingent treatment agent.

Diagnosis of COVID-19 Using Chest X-ray

Covid-19 is also a wide spreading infective agent disease that infects humans. A clinical study of COVID-19 infected patients has shown that these kinds of patients are square measure principally infected from a respiratory organ infection when come in contact with this disease. Chest xray (i.e., radiography) a less complicated imaging technique for identification respiratory organ connected issues. Deep learning is that the foremost undefeated technique of machine learning, that provides helpful analysis to review an oversize quantity of chest x-ray pictures which may critically impact on screening of Covid-19. Throughout this work, we have taken the PA read of chest x-ray scans for covid-19 affected patients conjointly as healthy patients. We have used deep learning-based CNN models and compared their performance. We have equate ResNeXt models and inspect their precision to investigate the model presentation, 6432 chest x-ray scans samples square measure collected from the Kaggle repository. This work solely core on potential ways of cluster covid-19 infected patients.

Antibacterial Properties of Small-Size Peptide Derived from Penetratin against Oral Streptococci

Periodontitis, an infectious disease originating from dental biofilms that causes the irreversible loss of alveolar bone, is accompanied by gradual biofilm formation and the continuous progression of inflammation. A small peptide derived from penetratin, Arg-Gln-Ile-Arg-Arg-Trp-Trp-Gln-Arg-NH2 (RR9), appears to have antibacterial properties against selected strains associated with periodontitis. The purpose of this research is to assess the antibacterial activity and mechanism of RR9 against the initial oral colonizers Streptococci oralis, Streptococci gordonii, and Streptococci sanguinis and to investigate the cytotoxicity of RR9 on human gingival fibroblasts in vitro. The effects of RR9 on the initial oral settlers of planktonic and biofilm states were evaluated by measuring the MIC, MBC, bactericidal kinetics, and antibiofilm activity. Visual evidence and antibacterial mechanisms were identified, and the anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity were measured. The results demonstrated that RR9 can inhibit the growth of streptococci in the planktonic state and during biofilm formation in vitro while keeping a low toxicity against eukaryotic cells. The antibacterial mechanism was proven to be related to the lower expression of sspA in streptococci. RR9 may be used as a potential antimicrobial and anti-infective agent for periodontal disease.

Acute lung toxicity by nitrofurantoin

Nitrofurantoin is a synthetic derivative of imidazolinedione, used to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections. It acts by inhibiting bacterial DNA, RNA and cell wall protein synthesis. It is used prophylactically as a urinary anti-infective agent against most gram-positive organism and for long-term suppression of infections. Nitrofurantoin-associated pulmonary injuries occur in 1% of patients, presenting with dyspnoea and dry cough, and it can mimic interstitial lung disease. We present a case of an 81-year-old woman with shortness of breath and cough 3 days after initiation of nitrofurantoin. CT of the chest revealed bilateral pleural effusion and extensive pulmonary interstitial prominence, suggesting pulmonary fibrosis. According to the Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale score of 6, it was determined that nitrofurantoin was the probable cause, and immediate cessation of the medication showed a marked clinical improvement and resolution after 10 days.