Characterization of class I integrons among Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis isolated from humans and poultry

A total of 84 Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) isolates, 42 of human and 42 of poultry origin, were characterized for antimicrobial resistance patterns and class I integrons. Among them, 58 (69%) S. Enteritidis were multidrug-resistant (MDR) and showed resistance to two or more antibiotic classes. By PCR assays and DNA sequencing, 50 (59.5%) S. Enteritidis isolates were found to carry class I integrons. Amplification of internal variable regions of class I integrons revealed five different arrays (0.75 kb only, 1 kb only, 1.3 kb only, both 1 and 1.2 kb, and both 1 and 1.3 kb). The integrons were further sequenced and the dfrA25 (0.75 kb), aadA1 (1 kb), aadA2 (1 kb), bla(PSE1) (1.2 kb) aadA6-orfD (1.3 kb) gene cassette arrays were identified. Ciprofloxacin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the three isolates that showed resistance or reduced susceptibility via the disc diffusion method were 0.5-4 μg mL(-1), although only three isolates exhibited resistance to cefteriaxone (MIC: 128-256 μg mL(-1)) and four isolates were resistant to florfenicol (MIC: 32-128 μg mL(-1)). In conclusion, the high rates of multidrug-resistance and class I integrons found among S. Enteritidis isolates in humans and poultry in Tehran suggest that efforts are needed to confine the prevalence of MDR Salmonella isolates.     

Nucleotide sequences and heterologous expression of tcmG and tcmP, biosynthetic genes for tetracenomycin C in Streptomyces glaucescens.

The nucleotide sequence of the tcmIII, tcmIc, and tcmVII region of the tetracenomycin (TCM) C gene cluster of Streptomyces glaucescens ETH 22794 (GLA.0) revealed the presence of two genes, tcmP and tcmG. The deduced product of tcmG resembles flavoprotein hydroxylases found in several other bacteria, whereas the predicted amino acid sequence of tcmP is not significantly similar to those of any known proteins in the available data bases. Southern blot hybridization revealed an approximately 180-bp deletion in a tcmIII (tcmG) mutant and a 1,800-bp insertion in a tcmVII (tcmP) mutant. Heterologous expression of tcmG and tcmP in Streptomyces lividans and tcmP in Escherichia coli established that tcmP encodes an O-methyltransferase, catalyzing the methylation of the C-9 carboxy group of TCM E to yield TCM A2, and that tcmG is responsible for the hydroxylation of TCM A2 at positions C-4, C-4a, and C-12a to give TCM C. These are the final two steps of TCM C biosynthesis.     

The effects of foot reflexology on pain and physiological indicators in children with leukemia under chemotherapy: a clinical trial study

BackgroundFoot reflexology is a popular complementary medicine method; however, previous studies have shown conflicting results. This study aimed to investigate the impact of foot reflexology on pain and physiological responses caused by intrathecal injection of chemotherapy drugs in children with leukemia.Materials and methodsThis clinical trial included 80 children with leukemia. The participants received 20 min foot reflexology (10 min each foot). The primary measured outcomes included pain and physiological indicators (blood pressure and heart rate).ResultsThe results showed that foot reflexology had a significant effect on reducing pain (p = 0.002) and improving physiological indicators [blood pressure (p = 0.002) and heart rate (p = 0.003)].ConclusionBased on the results of the present study, which shows the positive effect of foot reflexology on the improvement of pain and physiological indicators, foot reflexology can be used as a complementary treatment along with conventional therapies.     

The First Complete Mitochondrial Genome Sequence in the Genus Aphanius (Teleostei)

Journal of Ichthyology - In the present study, for the first time we isolated and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the endangered Farsi killifish Aphanius farsicus by...     

Essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of Diplotaenia damavandica

Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils obtained from leaves, root and the seeds of Diplotaenia damavandica Mozaffarian, Hedge & Lamond, an endemic plant to Iran, was determined against 10 microorganisms using the disk susceptibility test as well as measuring minimum inhibitory concentrations. The results showed that all three oils had antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. The essential oil from the leaves had the highest antimicrobial activity against all test microorganisms including the fungal strains. The essential oils compositions were analyzed and determined by GC and GC-MS. The oils analyses resulted in the identification of 16, 17 and 20 compounds representing 94.2%, 96.4% and 95.1% of the total oils, respectively. The main components of the leaf essential oils were (Z)-beta-ocimene (21.6%), alpha-phellandrene (21.3%) and terpinolene (20%). Dill apiol (30.1%) and gamma-terpinene (16.2%) were the main components of the root and seed essential oils, respectively.     

An RNA species involved in Escherichia coli ribonuclease P activity. Gene cloning and effect on transfer RnA synthesis in vivo

The isolation and characterization of a plasmid capable of complementing the temperature-sensitive transfer RNA biosynthetic mutation rnpA49 (ribonuclease P) is described. The DNA segment responsible for complementation codes for an RNA species, approximately 340 bases long. Hybridization-selection experiments indicated that all rnp mutants were deficient in the production of the complementing RNA at high temperature; these defects were not due to the accumulation of a precursor form of this RNA. Examination of tRNA species synthesized in vivo indicated that the plasmid clone did not completely relieve the deficiency in RNase P activity of rnpA49 since some tRNA precursors still accumulated in strain A49 containing the plasmid. At least one other tRNA precursor was no longer detectable in plasmid-containing rnpA49 cells.     

Novel oral transforming growth factor-β signaling inhibitor potently inhibits postsurgical adhesion band formation

Here, we have investigated the therapeutic potency of EW-7197, a transforming growth factor-β type I receptor kinase inhibitor, against postsurgical adhesion band formation. Our results showed that this pharmacological inhibitor prevented the frequency and the stability of adhesion bands in mice model. We have also shown that downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, reduce submucosal edema, attenuation of proinflammatory cell infiltration, inhibition of oxidative stress, decrease in excessive collagen deposition, and suppression of profibrotic genes at the site of surgery are some of the mechanisms by which EW-7197 elicits its protective responses against adhesion band formation. These results clearly suggest that EW-7197 has novel therapeutic properties against postsurgical adhesion band formation with clinically translational potential of inhibiting key pathological responses of inflammation and fibrosis in postsurgery patients.