Longitudinal Shedding Patterns and Characterization of Antibiotic Resistant E. coli in Pastured Goats using a Cohort Study

There is a scarcity of information on antibiotic resistance in goats. To understand shedding of resistant Escherichia coli in pastured goats, we collected fecal samples from a mixed age cohort over a one-year period. No antibiotic had been used on the study animals one year prior to and during the study period. Resistant isolates were detected in all age groups and prevalence in goat kids was significantly higher than adults; 43–48% vs 8–25% respectively. The proportion of resistant isolates was higher when animals were congregated near handling facility than on pasture. Most isolates were resistant to tetracycline (51%) and streptomycin (30%), but also to antibiotics that had never been used on the farm; ampicillin (19%). TetB, bla-TEM, (aadA and strpA/strpB) genes were detected in 70%, 43%, (44% and 24%) of tetracycline, ampicillin, and streptomycin resistant isolates respectively. Resistant isolates also harbored virulent genes and some belonged to D and B2 phylogenetic groups. Thus, pastured goats, despite minimal exposure to antibiotics, are reservoirs of resistant E. coli that may contaminate the environment and food chain and spread resistant genes to pathogenic bacteria and some that are potential animal and human pathogens. Environmental sources may play a role in acquisition of resistant bacteria in pastured goats.</jats:p

A DNA Sequence Analysis of Helicobacter pylori in Jeddah City, Western Saudi Arabia

Helicobacter pylori are the type of Gram-negative bacteria which colonize the mucous lining of the human stomach. These bacteria have two major virulence factors: (vacuolating cytotoxin A gene) and (cytotoxin-associated A gene). This study aimed to provide data to determine the prevalent virulence factors (vacA and cagA genes) in Jeddah city, western Saudi Arabia, by sequence analysis. This study included 60 patients with symptoms similar to H. pylori infection. H. pylori were identified by using the 16s rRNA sequence. Then, the screening for specific genes in H. pylori (vacA and cagA) was done by using automated DNA sequencing analysis, and the DNA sequences were compared by BLAST and sequence alignment of the vacA nucleotides that are present in all H. pylori strains using those already reported in GeneBank from various studies. Results indicated that H. pylori infection was detected in 13.3%, while 86.7% were negative samples in our study patients. Interestingly, the vacA gene was found in 8.3%, while the cagA gene was not appear in patient. Also, the female prevalence rate was higher than males (11.7% female versus 1.7% males), and the highest infection was between age 40-49 by 6.7%. In conclusion, this study revealed that the vacA gene was spread in the patients infected with H. pylori in Jeddah, while the cagA gene was not appear in any isolate.</jats:p

Correlative Assessment of Blood Parameters and Periodontal Status in Smokers- A Pilot Project

Platelets  and leukocytes  activated  in response  to periodontal  microorganisms  during  bacteremia  can  go on  to excite other cells, enhancing the likelihood of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Reports also indicate that decrease in the number of erythrocytes may occur secondary to periodontal disease. Smoking is a known risk factor for periodontal disease by virtue of its adverse effects on the blood cells. It was therefore decided to investigate the relationship between the red blood  cel l(RBC),  white  blood  cell (WBC)  and platelet  counts  and periodontal  parameters  among  smokers  and non- smokers; to subsequently assess any implication of the systemic effects. Blood counts(RBC, WBC, platelets) for the present study were obtained from peripheral venous blood of 126 patients , both male and female aged between 18-45 years, in each group as follows: GROUP 1 :Periodontally healthy (n = 42) (non-smokers) GROUP 2: Chronic periodontitis (n = 42)( non- smokers) GROUP 3: Chronic periodontitis (n = 42) ( smokers) The clinical parameters to assess periodontitis included plaque index(PI), bleeding  index(BI)  and  Clinical  Attachment  Loss(  CAL)  and  history  of  smoking  was  elicited  based  on  amount, frequency  and  duration  of  smoking.  ANOVA  tests  followed  by  post  HOC  –Tukey  HSD  test  revealed  that  there  were significant differences between the 3 groups with respect to PI, BI and RBC counts(p&lt;0.05). Pearson correlation test revealed a significant correlation between plaque index and platelet counts in group 1 only(p&lt;0.05). Additionally, a significant correlation was also observed between  WBC  and platelet counts in  all three groups(p&lt;0.05).Variations in  blood  counts in  different periodontal situations may pose a risk of systemic inflammation in smokers and non- smokers.</jats:p

In Vitro and In Silico Investigation of Diterpenoid Alkaloids Isolated from Delphinium chitralense

This study reports the isolation of three new C20 diterpenoid alkaloids, Chitralinine A–C (1–3) from the aerial parts of Delphinium chitralense. Their structures were established on the basis of latest spectral techniques and single crystal X-rays crystallographic studies of chitralinine A described basic skeleton of these compounds. All the isolated Compounds (1–3) showed strong, competitive type inhibition against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in comparison to standard allanzanthane and galanthamine however, chitralinine-C remained the most potent with IC50 value of 11.64 ± 0.08 μM against AChE, and 24.31 ± 0.33 μM against BChE, respectively. The molecular docking reflected a binding free energy of −16.400 K Cal-mol−1 for chitralinine-C, having strong interactions with active site residues, TYR334, ASP72, SER122, and SER200. The overall findings suggest that these new diterpenoid alkaloids could serve as lead drugs against dementia-related diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.</jats:p

Green synthesis of gold nanaoparticles using Delphinium Chitralense tuber extracts, their characterization and enzyme inhibitory potential

Abstract Green synthesis has been introduced as an alternative to chemical synthesis due to the serious consequences. Metal nanoparticles synthesized through green approach have different pharmaceutical, medical and agricultural applications. The present study followed a green and simple route for the preparation of potentially bioactive gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). Au NPs were prepared via green synthesis approach using crude basic alkaloidal portion of the tuber of Delphinium chitralense. The green synthesized Au NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Morphological analysis shows that Au NPs have cubic geometry with different sizes. UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis confirmed the synthesis of Au NPs while XRD proved their pure crystalline phase. The Au NPs showed promising dose dependent inhibition of both AChE and BChE as compared to the crude as well as standard drug.</jats:p