Investigation and identification of the antimicrobial component of the drug "Tomatol"]

Antimicrobial activity of Tomatol against laboratory strains of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538-P and Candida albicans ATCC 885-653 as well as against clinical isolates of Enterobacter spp., Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia spp. was tested. Tomatol was shown to have a broad antimicrobial spectrum including gram-positive and gram-negative organisms and Candida. The TLC investigation demonstrated that the Tomatol antimicrobial component was that of a complex of organic acids such as succinic, citric, tartaric and others.     

Environmentally benign synthesis and antimicrobial study of novel chalcogenophosphates

We report in this work an environmentally benign zinc mediated synthesis of aryl and benzyl phosphorochalcogenoates in ethanol within a short reaction time. In vitro antimicrobial study along with statistical analysis and seed germination assay were performed. These chalcogenophosphates possess strong antimicrobial activity against the reference strains. The antibacterial activity was determined against four standard strains (Bacilus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The antifungal activity was evaluated against one fungal strain Candida albicans.     

In-vitro antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activities of some coumarins and their metal complexes

A series of new antibacterial and antifungal coumarin-derived compounds and their transition metal complexes [cobalt (II), copper (II), nickel (II) and zinc (II)] have been synthesized, characterized and screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes bacterial strains and for in vitro antifungal activity against Trichophyton longifusus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, Microsporum canis, Fusarium solani, Candida glaberata. The results of these studies show the metal complexes to be more antibacterial and antifungal as compared to the uncomplexed coumarins. The brine shrimp bioassay was also carried out to study their in vitro cytotoxic properties.     

A facile solid-state synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial activities of some 2,6-diarylpiperidin/tetrahydrothiopyran and tetrahydropyran-4-one oximes

Some 2,6-diarylpiperidin/tetrahydrothiopyran/tetrahydropyran-4-one oximes were synthesized in dry media under microwave irradiation and were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity against clinically isolated bacterial strains i.e. S.aureus, beta-H.Streptococcus, E.coli, P.aeruginosa, S.typhii and in vitro antifungal activities against fungal strains i.e. C.albicans, Rhizopus, A.niger and A.flavus. Structure-activity relationships for the synthesized compounds showed that compounds 12 and 15 exerted excellent antibacterial activity against all the tested bacterial strains except 15 against S.aureus and beta-H.streptococcus. Against C.albicans and A.flavus, compound 15 exerted potent antifungal activities while against Rhizopus, compound 16 showed promising activity.     

Salt extends the upper temperature limit for growth of food-poisoning bacteria

Inclusion of NaCl into the growth medium raised the upper temperature limit of growth of the following organisms: Staphylococcus aureus (two strains), Salmonella senftenberg, S. typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium sporogenes, C. perfringens (two strains). The magnitude of the response varied with the culture, the largest being 3.5 degrees with B. cereus cells. The spores of B. cereus were not protected by salt but clostridial spores behaved as the vegetative cells (response of 2.5 degrees). The optimal salt concentration for the protective effect varied with the organism ranging from 0.2 M for the Gram-negative organisms to 1.0 M for S. aureus.     

Investigations on anti-Aspergillus properties of bacterial products

AIMS: To investigate the anti-Aspergillus properties of bacterial products. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the present study, 12 bacterial strains were screened for antifungal activity against Aspergilli. The culture supernatant and lysates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli (BL21, DH5alpha, HB101, XL Blue), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptomyces thermonitrificans, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi were examined for antifungal activity in protein concentration ranging from 1000.0 to 7.8 microg ml-1 using microbroth dilution assay. The lysate of Salm. typhi and E. coli BL21 exhibited the maximum activity against Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Their in vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were found to be 15.6-31.2 microg ml-1 by microbroth dilution and spore germination inhibition assays. In disc diffusion assay, a concentration of 3.1 microg disc-1 of Salm. typhi lysate showed significant activity against Aspergilli. Escherichia coli BL21 exhibited similar activity at 6.2 microg disc-1. The work on identification of molecule endowed with antimycotic properties is in progress. CONCLUSION: The products of Salm. typhi and E. coli demonstrated significant activity against Aspergillus species. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first time that E. coli has been reported for anti-Aspergillus activity. It could be an important source of biologically active compounds useful for developing better new antifungal drugs/or probiotics.     

Growth and spore germination factors of various strains of Bacillus sphaericus

The work was aimed at studying the requirements of sixteen Bacillus sphaericus strains with a different larvicidal activity in amino acids and some other compounds necessary for their growth and spore germination. Most of the strains were found to require arginine, glutamate, methionine, threonine, serine, glycine, alanine and lysine, but they did not assimilate phenylalanine and proline. Arginine, methionine and glutamate were shown to be the most effective inductors of spore germination. Specific differences were detected in the requirements of virulent and avirulent strains. Glucose repressed both spore germination and spore formation.     

The synthesis and antibacterial activity of totarol derivatives. Part 2: Modifications at C-12 and O-13

Alterations of the C-12 and C-13 aromatic ring substituents of totarol (1) afforded the series of derivatives 2-14, and introduction of substituents at C-12 gave exclusively 2a-14a. The majority of these analogues were tested in vitro against the following organisms: beta-lactamase-positive and high level gentamycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and multiresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The results were evaluated in terms of structure-activity relationship which reveals that: (a) the phenolic moiety at C-13, in general, is essential for antibacterial activity at < 32 microg/mL against gram-positive species, and (b) derivatization at C-12 has an undesirable effect on the antibacterial activity of this class of compounds, while (c) all compounds tested are ineffective against the gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae.     

Effect of temperature on antibacterial activity of lidocaine to Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The effect of temperature on the antibacterial activity of lidocaine to Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated in vitro. At 10 C at which S. aureus organisms do not grow and might be metabolically inactive, the antibacterial activity of lidocaine to S. aureus was not observed in a concentration of 1%, which was quite antibacterial to S. aureus at 37 C. On the other hand, at 40 C a conspicuously increased antibacterial activity to S. aureus of lidocaine was observed in a concentration of 0.25% which was not antibacterial to S. aureus organisms at 37 C. Similar results were obtained when P. aeruginosa organisms were examined in place of S. aureus, although P. aeruginosa was found to be less susceptible to lidocaine than S. aureus. The clinical significance of the thermal effect on the antibacterial activity of lidocaine was discussed in brief.     

Antimicrobial activity of N-alkoxycarbonylmethyl-N-alkyl-piperidinium chlorides

The aim of the study was to assay antibacterial and antifungal activity of newly synthesised N-alkoxycarbonylmethyl-N-alkyl-piperidinium chlorides. The compounds tested were found to inhibit the growth of some Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive strains and some representatives of yeast-type Candida. From microbiological experiments two of the compounds tested, N-dodecyloxycarbonylmethyl-N-methyl-piperidinium chloride (3) and N-dodecyl-N-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-piperidinium chloride (6), emerged as more active than the other compounds. Since the resistance of biofilms to biocides should be noted during the design and testing of new antimicrobial agents therefore, we have analysed antibacterial properties of the most active compounds towards biofilms. Our study focused on strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus that served as main model organisms for the biofilm studies.     

Antimicrobial agents

The antimicrobial effectivity of 32 derivatives and analogues of 10-(4-methylpiperazino)-10,11-dihydrodibenzo(b,f)thiepine was investigated and it was found that substituents in rings A and C and in the piperazine residue affect the antimicrobial potency of the compound. The derivative with the chlorine atom in position 3 was found to be most active in suppressing microbial growth. Substitution with chlorine of the ring C in positions 6, 7 and 8 produced derivatives with highest tuberculostatic activity. The growth of Gram-negative microorganisms (with the exception ofKlebsiella pneumoniae), as well as of fungiTrichophyton mentagrophytes, Candida albicans andAspergillus niger, was not suppressed by any of the derivatives. The antimicrobial effect of the active derivatives was demonstrated on strains ofStreptococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus pyogenes aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Klebsiella pneumoniae andSaccharomyces pastorianus.     

The effect of staphylococci on the manifestation of opsonic cooperation in the complement system

The influence of the cultures of 14 Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains on the capacity of factor C3b of the complement for mediating the adhesive reaction of human neutrophils was studied. In experiments with 5 out of 11 S. aureus strains the essential weakening of reactions was registered, while one of the strains considerably enhanced reactions. Out of 3 S. epidermidis strains, the weakening of C3b-dependent reaction was noted in one case. The activity of the cultures did not correlate with the gelatinase properties of staphylococci and was absent in all gelatinase-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The model worked out by the authors may be used for studying the influence of bacterial metabolites and biologically active substances on the effector properties of factor C3b of the complement.     

Detection of the capsule of staphylococci isolated in urological diseases]

In studying the cultures isolated from urological patients the seed material was found to yield a high proportion (40%) of coagulase-negative, white staphylococci. Capsule-forming organisms constituted 58.8% of the isolated Staphylococcus aureus. As the presence of capsules is indicative of pathogenicity of staphylococci, in urological diseases the presence of capsulary strains in urine should be taken into consideration.     

In-vitro Comparison of Erythromycin,Lincomycin, and Clindamycin

The in-vitro antibacterial activities of erythromycin, lincomycin, and clindamycin, a new derivative of lincomycin, were compared. Clindamycin was always more active than lincomycin, and was either as active as erythromycin or more so against betahaemolytic streptococci, Streptococcus viridans, Str. pneumoniae, and erythromycin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. It was also fully active against most erythromycin-resistant strains of Staph. aureus. On the other hand, it was somewhat less active than erythromycin against Haemophilus influenzae and considerably less active than erythromycin against Str. faecalis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.Clinical trials seem to be justified in infections with sensitive organisms for which erythromycin might have been indicated.     

Effect of inhibitors of trypsin-like proteolytic enzymes Bacillus cereus T spore germination.

The germination of Bacillus cereus T spore suspensions is partially prevented by several inhibitors of trypsin-like enzymes. Leupeptin, antipain, and tosyl-lysine-chloromethyl ketone are effective inhibitors, whereas chymostatin, elastatinal, and pepstatin are inactive. A synthetic substrate of trypsin, tosyl-arginine-methyl ester, also inhibits germination. Its inhibitory effect decreases as a function of incubation time in the presence of spores and is abolished by previous hydrolysis with trypsin. Germinating, but not dormant, spore suspensions hydrolyze tosyl-arginine-methyl ester; its hydrolysis is insensitive to chloramphenicol, sulfhydryl reagents, and EDTA. A crude extract of germinated B. cereus spores contains a trypsin-like enzyme whose activity, as measured by hydrolysis of benzoyl-arginine p-nitroanilide, is sensitive to germination-inhibitory compounds such as leupeptin, tosyl-arginine-methyl ester, and tosyl-lysine-chloromethyl ketone. Spore suspensions exposed to the above inhibitors under germination conditions lose only part of their heat resistance and some 10 to 30% of their dipicolinic acid content. Part of the germinating spore population becomes "phase grey" under phase optics. Based on a study of the inhibition of germination by protease inhibitors and the activity of a protease in germination spores and spore extracts, it is suggested that the activity of a trypsin-like enzyme may be involved in the mechanism of the breaking of dormancy in spores of B. cereus T.     

Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of the acetone extract of the lichen Ramalina farinacea and its (+)-usnic acid, norstictic acid, and protocetraric acid constituents

The acetone extract of the lichen Ramalina farinacea and its (+)-usnic acid constituent showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Yersinia enterocolitica, Candida albicans, and Candida glabrata. Norstictic acid was active against Aeromonas hydrophila as well as the above microorganisms except Yersinia enterocolitica. Protocetraric acid showed activity only against the tested yeasts Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. The MIC values of the extract as well as of the three substances were determined. No antifungal activity of the acetone extract has been observed against ten filamentous fungi.     

Chemical compositions and antimicrobial activities of four different Anatolian propolis samples

Propolis means a gum that is gathered by bees from various plants. It is known for its biological properties, having antibacterial, antifungal and healing properties. The aims of this study were to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of four different Anatolian propolis samples on different groups of microorganisms including some oral pathogens and comparison between their chemical compositions. Ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP) were prepared from four different Anatolian propolis samples and examined whether EEP inhibit the growth of the test microorganisms or not. For the antimicrobial activity assays, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by using macrodilution method. The MIC values of the most effective propolis (TB) were 2 microg/ml for Streptococcus sobrinus and Enterococcus faecalis, 4 microg/ml for Micrococcus luteus, Candida albicans and C. krusei, 8 microg/ml for Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterobacter aerogenes, 16 microg/ml for Escherichia coli and C. tropicalis and 32 microg/ml for Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The chemical compositions of EEP's were determined by high-temperature high-resolution gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The main compounds of four Anatolian propolis samples were flavonoids such as pinocembrin, pinostropin, isalpinin, pinobanksin, quercetin, naringenin, galangine and chrysin. Although propolis samples were collected from different regions of Anatolia all showed significant antimicrobial activity against the Gram positive bacteria and yeasts. Propolis can prevent dental caries since it demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms such as Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and C. albicans, which involves in oral diseases.     

性病后慢性前列腺炎病原微生物分析

本文对性病后慢性前列腺炎病原微生物进行了研究。９０例患者前列腺液支原体检出率为２４．４４％（２２／９０）,其中解脲支原体为２２．００％（１８／９０）,人型支原体为４．４４％（４／９０）。另一组２３２例患者进行前列腺液细菌培养鉴定,总检出率为４２．７％（９９／２３２）,以金黄色葡萄球菌为主２４．５％（５７／２３２）,其它菌依次为表皮葡萄球菌７．３％（１７／２３２）,肠球菌４．３％（１０／２３２）,非发酵菌２．６％（６／２３２）,肠杆菌科细菌２．２％（５／２３２）和Ａ群链球菌１．７％（４／２３２）。作者认为,性病后慢性前列腺炎可能为急性尿道炎期,由于治疗不彻底或忽略非特异性性病病原菌的治疗而使条件致病菌上行感染所致。     

In-vitro antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties of metal-based furanyl derived sulfonamides

A new series of antibacterial and antifungal furanyl-derived sulfonamides and their cobalt (II), copper (II), nickel (II) and zinc (II) metal complexes have been synthesized, characterized and screened for their in-vitro antibacterial activity against four Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi) and two Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial strains and, for in-vitro antifungal activity against Trichophyton longifusus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, Microsporum canis, Fusarium solani and Candida glaberata. The results of these studies revealed that all compounds showed significant to moderate antibacterial activity. However, the zinc (II) complexes were found to be comparatively much more active as compared to the others. For antifungal activity generally, compounds (22) and (24) showed significant activity against Escherichia coli (a), (6) against Shigella flexeneri (b), (16) and (22) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (c), (14) and (16) against Salmonella typhi (d), (9) against Staphylococcus aureus (e) and, (14) and (16) against Bacillus subtilis (f) fungal strains. The brine shrimp (Artemia salina) bioassay was also carried out to study their in-vitro cytotoxic properties. Only three compounds, (6), (10) and (23) displayed potent cytotoxic activity with LD50 = 1.8535 x 10(-4), 1.8173 x 10(-4) and 1.9291 x 10(-4) respectively.     

Study of haemolytic activity of some Campylobacter spp. on blood agar plates

A total of 152 strains of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, C. laridis and C. fetus subsp. fetus were tested for haemolysis on blood agar plates. Distinct haemolysis was detected in 92.3% (96/104) of strains of C. jejuni and 21.7% (5/23) of strains of C. coli on sheep blood heart infusion agar after incubation for 4 d microaerobically at 42 degrees C. Haemolysis was also detected on horse blood heart infusion agar. Haemolysis was not detected at 37 degrees C except with one of 50 strains of C. jejuni tested at this temperature, which was weakly positive. Campylobacter laridis was not haemolytic; C. fetus subsp. fetus, which does not grow at 42 degrees C, showed no haemolysis at 37 degrees C. Blood agar (Oxoid, BA Base No. 2) was not suitable for testing for haemolysis by these organisms. A microaerobic gas mixture containing hydrogen is better than that containing nitrogen because the medium has a brighter colour, making haemolysis easier to detect. There was no synergistic haemolysis with Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus agalactiae. The plate haemolysis test as described here may aid differentiation within the thermophilic campylobacters.