Assessment of Antibacterial Activity of Colebrookia oppositifolia against Waterborne Pathogens Isolated from Drinking Water of the Pothwar Region in Pakistan

An attempt was made to control waterborne pathogens by using medicinal plant extracts. One hundred and twenty-six water samples from filtration plants, tube wells, and water supplies were collected and analyzed for total and faecal Coliform bacteria as well as for total viable count. Results showed that waterborne pathogens were numerous and significantly higher than the World Health Organization's recommended guidelines. The methanolic and aqueous extracts of different parts of Colebrookia oppositifolia (Labiateae) were examined for antibacterial activities in vitro by an agar diffusion method. Antibacterial activity of leaves, shoots, and roots of Colebrookia oppositifolia was assessed against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria that were isolated and identified from water samples by the API 20E method. Extract of roots showed more antibacterial activities against Staph. aureus and B. cereus var. mycoides, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Shigella flexneri at 37°C, than extracts from leaves and shoots. The lowest MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) were observed in roots as compared to shoots and leaves. These results suggest that there is an urgent need for improvement in existing water quality treatment. Secondly, the fruit extract can be practical for protection and to avoid risk of contamination by waterborne pathogens and to promote indigenous solutions for disease-control and environmental management.     

黄花夹竹桃内生真菌抗病原细菌的初步研究

从植物黄花夹竹桃 (Thevetiaperuviana)的根、茎、叶、果实中分离出内生真菌 10 1株。以鼠伤寒沙门氏菌 (Salmonellatyphimurium)、肺炎链球菌 (Streptococcuspneumoniae)、乙型溶血链球菌 (Streptococcushemolyticus)、金黄色葡萄球菌 (Staphyllococcusaureus) 4种人类病原菌为指示菌 ,对其进行抑菌活性筛选 ,结果有 17株内生真菌对 1株或 1株以上人类病原菌有抑菌活性 ,其中平板抑菌圈直径大于 2 0mm的菌株有9株。具有抗菌活性的内生真菌分别来自木霉属 (Trichoderma)、曲霉属 (Aspergillus)等 9个属。     

Synthesis of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Using Cashew Nut Shell Liquid and Its Antibacterial Activity Against Fish Pathogens

This study reveals a green process for the production of multi-morphological silver (Ag NPs) and gold (Au NPs) nanoparticles, synthesized using an agro-industrial residue cashew nut shell liquid. Aqueous solutions of Ag⁺ ions for silver and chloroaurate ions for gold were treated with cashew nut shell extract for the formation of Ag and Au NPs. The nano metallic dispersions were characterized by measuring the surface plasmon absorbance at 440 and 546 nm for Ag and Au NPs. Transmission electron microscopy showed the formation of nanoparticles in the range of 5–20 nm for silver and gold with assorted morphologies such as round, triangular, spherical and irregular. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses of the freeze-dried powder confirmed the formation of metallic Ag and Au NPs in crystalline form. Further analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy provided evidence for the presence of various biomolecules, which might be responsible for the reduction of silver and gold ions. The obtained Ag and Au NPs had significant antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration on bacteria associated with fish diseases.     

Prevalence of Zoonotic Pathogens from Feral Pigs in Major Public Drinking Water Catchments in Western Australia

Australia has the largest number of wild pigs in the world. Their pronounced impacts on agriculture and biodiversity make the estimated 23 million feral pigs one of Australia’s most important vertebrate pest species. The foraging and wallowing behavior of pigs can markedly increase the turbidity of water supplies, but more importantly, they can transmit and excrete a number of infectious waterborne organisms pathogenic to humans. Their persistence in drinking water catchments also makes them potentially significant reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens. In this study, important protozoan parasite pathogens, such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Balantidium, and Entamoeba, were detected from the feces of feral pigs caught in metropolitan drinking water catchment areas. All are potentially important waterborne human pathogens that pose a major threat to drinking water quality. Fortunately, the overall prevalence in feral pigs appears to be relatively low, with ≤13% of pigs detected with parasites. In this study, we combined the findings from the parasitological analysis with the use of 14 highly informative DNA markers to define a series of highly structured populations that indicated very little movement of feral pigs between the populations. The implication of this pattern is that any public health risk may spread very slowly between populations, but may be much higher within watercourses. This study represents an innovative and important new approach to drinking water source protection in Australia.     

茅尾海桐花树根际放线菌的分离鉴定和抗菌活性研究

利用滤纸片扩散法,以大肠杆菌、蜡状芽胞杆菌和绿脓杆菌等为指示菌,对茅尾海桐花树根际土壤中分离的30株放线菌进行抑菌活性分析,发现其中有22株发酵液具有抗菌活性.经复筛有4株放线菌具有较强且广谱的抗菌活性,对大肠杆菌、蜡状芽胞杆菌和绿脓杆菌显示了较强的抑制活性,特别抑制临床多耐药菌肺炎克雷伯氏菌和鲍曼不动杆菌.通过形态特征、16S rRNA基因序列和生理生化分析,这4株放线菌属于链霉菌,其中S3、S4、S14分别与Streptomyces coelicolor (KF742497)、Streptomyces lateritius (AY999855)及Streptom yces variabilis (FJ486480)具有98.8％、98.6％、98.7％的相似性,S4在进化上与Streptomyces intermedius、Streptomyces silaceus和Streptomyces flavorectus在同一个分支,而S3和S14与其他菌株的进化关系较远,在生理生化及形态特征与相关的模式菌株有较明显差异,有可能是新的种.     

Evaluation of the Antiviral Activity of Extracts from Plants Grown in the Qinling Region of China Against Infection by Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)

To investigate their antiviral potential, extracts from 126 plants grown in the Qinling region of China belonging to 103 plant species of 36 families were evaluated for antiviral activity against Tobacco mosaic virus. The activity of each plant extract on infection and replication was determined by local lesion and leaf‐disc methods. Extracts from nine species [Lactuca tatarica (Linn.) C. A. Mey, Rubus flosculosus Focke, Thermopsis lanceolata R. Br, Cotinus coggygria Scop Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, Thlaspi rvense Linn, Rodgersia podophylla A. Gray, Achnatherum splendens (Trin.) Nevski and Rhodiola eurycarpa (Frod.) S. H. Fu] strongly inhibited both infection and viral replication.     

海胆黄多糖SEP对S180的体内抑制作用

研究海胆黄多糖SEP对S180肉瘤的抑制作用及初步机制。MTT法检测SEP对体外培养的S180细胞生长的抑制作用;建立小鼠S180肉瘤模型观察SEP抗肿瘤活性;检测SEP协同ConA/LPS刺激小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖作用;同时,考察SEP对NK细胞和杀伤性T淋巴细胞(cytotoxic T lym-phocyte,CTL)活性的影响;碳粒廓清检测SEP对小鼠单核巨噬细胞吞噬功能的影响。研究表明,海胆黄多糖SEP高中低剂量(16、8、4 mg/kg)显著抑制小鼠180实体瘤生长,增加小鼠脾指数和胸腺指数,协同ConA/LPS刺激小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖,提高小鼠NK细胞和CTL活性,增强小鼠单核巨噬细胞的吞噬功能,通过免疫调节提高小鼠免疫功能达到抑制S180作用。