<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus plantarum</Emphasis> as a Probiotic Potential from Kouzeh Cheese (Traditional Iranian Cheese) and Its Antimicrobial Activity

The aim of this study is to isolate and identify Lactobacillus plantarum isolates from traditional cheese, Kouzeh, and evaluate their antimicrobial activity against some food pathogens. In total, 56 lactic acid bacteria were isolated by morphological and biochemical methods, 12 of which were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum by biochemical method and 11 were confirmed by molecular method. For analyzing the antimicrobial activity of these isolates properly, diffusion method was performed. The isolates were identified by 318 bp band dedicated for L. plantarum. The isolated L. plantarum represented an inhibitory activity against four of the pathogenic bacteria and showed different inhibition halos against each other. The larger halos were observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis (15 ± 0.3 and 14.8 ± 0.7 mm, respectively). The inhibition halo of Escherichia coli was smaller than that of other pathogen and some L. plantarum did not show any inhibitory activity against E. coli, which were resistant to antimicrobial compounds produced by L. plantarum. The isolated L. plantarum isolates with the antimicrobial activity in this study had strong probiotic properties. These results indicated the nutritional value of Kouzeh cheese and usage of the isolated isolates as probiotic strains.     

The effect of dolichol on the structure and phase behaviour of phospholipid model membranes

The effect of dolichol C(95) on the structure and thermotropic phase behaviour of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine and stearoyloleoylphosphatidylethanolamine has been examined by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The presence of dolichol C(95) had no detectable effects on the temperature of either the gel to ripple or the ripple to liquid-crystal phase transition of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine. A proportionate increase of a few degrees in the temperature of the gel to lamellar liquid-crystal phase transition is observed in dispersions of dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine and significantly there is a decrease in the temperature of the lamellar to non-lamellar phase transition of stearoyloleoylphosphatidylethanolamine. There was no significant change in the bilayer repeat spacing of all three mixed dispersions in gel phase in the presence of up to 20 mol% dolichol C(95). Electron density calculations showed that there was no change of bilayer thickness of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine with incorporation of up to 7.5 mol% dolichol C(95). These data suggest that effect of dolichol on the phospholipid model membranes depend on both the head group and the hydrocarbon chains of the phospholipid molecules. The presence of dolichol in phosphatidylcholine bilayers conforms to a model in which the polyisoprene compound is phase separated into a central domain sandwiched between the two monolayers in gel phase. In bilayers of phosphatidylethanolamines dolichol tends to stabilize the bilayers in gel phase at low temperatures and destabilize the bilayers in lamellar disordered structure at high temperatures. Non-lamellar structures coexist with lamellar disordered phase over a wide temperature range suggesting that dolichol is enriched in domains of non-lamellar structure and depleted from lamellar phase. These findings are useful to understand the function of dolichol in cell membranes.     

Zinc,Manganese, Calcium,Copper, and Cadmium Level in Scalp Hair Samples of Schizophrenic Patients

The purpose of the study was to determine the concentration of trace elements present in scalp hair sample of schizophrenic patients and to find out the relationship between trace elements level and nutritional status or socioeconomic factors. The study was conducted among 30 schizophrenic male patients and 30 healthy male volunteers. Patients were recruited from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University by random sampling. Hair trace element concentrations were determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and analyzed by independent t test, Pearson’s correlation analysis, regression analysis, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mn, Zn, Ca, Cu, and Cd concentrations of schizophrenic patients were 3.8 ± 2.31 μg/gm, 171.6 ± 59.04 μg/gm, 396.23 ± 157.83 μg/gm, 15.40 ± 5.68 μg/gm, and 1.14 ± 0.89 μg/gm of hair sample, while those of control subjects were 4.4 ± 2.32 μg/gm, 199.16 ± 27.85 μg/gm, 620.9 ± 181.55 μg/gm, 12.23 ± 4.56 μg/gm, and 0.47 ± 0.32 μg/gm of hair sample, respectively. The hair concentration of Zn and Ca decreased significantly (p = 0.024; p = 0.000, respectively) and the concentration of Cu and Cd increased significantly (p = 0.021; p = 0.000, respectively) in schizophrenic patients while the concentration of Mn (p = 0.321) remain unchanged. Socioeconomic data reveals that most of the patients were poor, middle-aged and divorced. Mean body mass indices (BMIs) of the control group (22.26 ± 1.91 kg/m²) and the patient group (20.42 ± 3.16 kg/m²) were within the normal range (18.5−25.0 kg/m²). Pearson’s correlation analysis suggested that only Ca concentration of patients had a significant positive correlation with the BMI (r = 0.597; p = 0.000) which was further justified from the regression analysis (R ² = 44%; t = 3.59; p = 0.002) and one-way ANOVA test (F = 3.62; p = 0.015). A significant decrease in the hair concentration of Zn and Ca as well as a significant increase in the hair concentration of Cu and Cd in schizophrenic patients than that of its control group was observed which may provide prognostic tool for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. However, further work with larger population is suggested to examine the exact correlation between trace element level and the degree of disorder.     

Risk Factors for MDR and XDR-TB in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in India

Background

India has a high burden of drug resistant TB, although there are few data on XDR-TB. Although XDR-TB has existed previously in India, the definition has not been widely applied, and surveillance using second line drug susceptibility testing has not been performed. Our objective was to analyze clinical and demographic risk factors associated with isolation of MDR and XDR TB as compared to susceptible controls, at a tertiary center.

Methodology/Findings

Retrospective chart review based on positive cultures isolated in a high volume mycobacteriology laboratory between 2002 and 2007. 47 XDR, 30 MDR and 117 susceptible controls were examined. Drug resistant cases were less likely to be extrapulmonary, and had received more previous treatment regimens. Significant risk factors for XDR-TB included residence outside the local state (OR 7.43, 3.07-18.0) and care costs subsidized (OR 0.23, 0.097-0.54) in bivariate analysis and previous use of a fluoroquinolone and injectable agent (other than streptomycin) (OR 7.00, 95% C.I. 1.14-43.03) and an initial treatment regimen which did not follow national guidelines (OR 5.68, 1.24-25.96) in multivariate analysis. Cavitation and HIV did not influence drug resistance.

Conclusions/Significance

There is significant selection bias in the sample available. Selection pressure from previous treatment and an inadequate initial regimen increases risk of drug resistance. Local patients and those requiring financial subsidies may be at lower risk of XDR-TB.     

Infection with the Lyme disease pathogen suppresses innate immunity in mice with diet‐induced obesity

Obesity is a major global public health concern. Immune responses implicated in obesity also control certain infections. We investigated the effects of high‐fat diet‐induced obesity (DIO) on infection with the Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi in mice. DIO was associated with systemic suppression of neutrophil‐ and macrophage‐based innate immune responses. These included bacterial uptake and cytokine production, and systemic, progressive impairment of bacterial clearance, and increased carditis severity. B. burgdorferi‐infected mice fed normal diet also gained weight at the same rate as uninfected mice fed high‐fat diet, toll‐like receptor 4 deficiency rescued bacterial clearance defects, which greater in female than male mice, and killing of an unrelated bacterium (Escherichia coli) by bone marrow‐derived macrophages from obese, B. burgdorferi‐infected mice was also affected. Importantly, innate immune suppression increased with infection duration and depended on cooperative and synergistic interactions between DIO and B. burgdorferi infection. Thus, obesity and B. burgdorferi infection cooperatively and progressively suppressed innate immunity in mice.     

A novel method for human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell isolation from umbilical cord blood based on immunoaffinity aqueous two-phase partitioning

A novel cell separation process based on immunoaffinity aqueous two phase systems is presented to isolate and purify CD34⁺ stem/progenitor cells directly from the whole umbilical cord blood (UCB). A system, composed of polyethylene glycol and dextran, was evaluated for the selective recovery of CD34⁺ cells from UCB. A monoclonal antibody against the CD34 surface antigen was used for the direct partitioning of CD34⁺ cells in UCB to the PEG-rich phase. The initial population of CD34⁺ cells (0.2% of the initial sample) was enriched to values up to 42% in a single partitioning step, while the majority of contaminant cells were partitioned to the dextran-rich phase (1.37 × 10⁻² < K_P < 2.76 × 10⁻²). This novel selection method allowed a recovery yield of 95% of CD34⁺ cells with a purification factor of 245 and is expected to pave a new way to purify hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells for use in a variety of clinical settings.     

Towards more robust methods of alien gene detection

Because the properties of horizontally-transferred genes will reflect the mutational proclivities of their donor genomes, they often show atypical compositional properties relative to native genes. Parametric methods use these discrepancies to identify bacterial genes recently acquired by horizontal transfer. However, compositional patterns of native genes vary stochastically, leaving no clear boundary between typical and atypical genes. As a result, while strongly atypical genes are readily identified as alien, genes of ambiguous character are poorly classified when a single threshold separates typical and atypical genes. This limitation affects all parametric methods that examine genes independently, and escaping it requires the use of additional genomic information. We propose that the performance of all parametric methods can be improved by using a multiple-threshold approach. First, strongly atypical alien genes and strongly typical native genes would be identified using conservative thresholds. Genes with ambiguous compositional features would then be classified by examining gene context, including the class (native or alien) of flanking genes. By including additional genomic information in a multiple-threshold framework, we observed a remarkable improvement in the performance of several popular, but algorithmically distinct, methods for alien gene detection.     

Investigation of Serum Trace Element,Malondialdehyde and Immune Status in Drug Abuser Patients Undergoing Detoxification

Drug abuser patients (n = 104), age ranging from 19 to 42 years, were randomly recruited to investigate the serum levels of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mg), malondialdehyde (MDA), and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) before and after clinical intervention. Control group also included 104 healthy individuals. Blood samples were analyzed for determining trace elements, MDA, and immunoglobulin using atomic absorption spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, and turbidimetry method, respectively. For serum level of Zn and Fe, the differences between the groups (before intervention, after intervention, and control) were not significant (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were found in serum copper levels between control group, drug abuser patients, and before and after intervention (p < 0.05). The concentration of Mg was found to be significantly higher (p = 0.007) in drug abuser patients than the controls, and after intervention, the level was restored to control value. A displacement of elemental homeostasis was observed in drug abuser patients compared to control, and it was improved after intervention. An increase in serum concentration of MDA was found in drug abuser patients compared to control subjects (p > 0.05) but was not statistically significant. After intervention, the concentration was restored to control value (p > 0.05). The serum concentrations of IgA and IgM were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in drug abuser patients before intervention than the controls, and the level tended to be restored to control level after clinical intervention. Serum IgG level was found to be lower in drug abuser patients compared to controls and further declined significantly (p < 0.05) after intervention. These findings may suggest a possible imbalance in the levels of micronutrients, antioxidants, and immunoglobulin in drug abuser patients, which tend to be restored to control values after detoxification.     

Sugar epitopes as potential universal disease transmission blocking targets

One promising method to prevent vector-borne diseases is through the use of transmission blocking vaccines (TBVs). However, developing several anti-pathogen TBVs may be impractical. In this study, we have identified a conserved candidate carbohydrate target in the midguts of several Arthropod vectors. A screen of the novel GlycoChip glycan array found that the anti-carbohydrate malaria transmission blocking monoclonal antibody (MG96) preferentially recognized D-mannose (alpha) and the type II lactosamine disaccharide. The specificity for D-mannose was confirmed by competition ELISA using alpha-methyl mannoside as inhibitor. Con A, which identifies terminal mannose residues, did not inhibit MG96 reactivity with mosquito midgut lysates, suggesting that Con A has differential recognition of this monosaccharide. However, the jack bean lectin, Jacalin, which recognizes D-mannose (alpha), d-galactose (alpha/beta) and the T antigen, not only displays a similar banding profile to that recognized by MG96 on immunoblot but was also shown to effectively inhibit MG96. Wheat-germ agglutinin, which recognizes N-acetyllactosamine units, only partially inhibited MG96 reactivity. This highlights the contribution of both glycan moieties to the MG96 epitope or glycotope. Enzyme deglycosylation results suggest that MG96 recognizes a mannose alpha1-6 substitution on an O-linked oligosaccharide. Taken together, the data suggest that MG96 recognizes a discontinuous glycotope composed of Manalpha1-6 proximal to Galbeta1-4GlcNAc-alpha-O-R glycans on arthropod vector midguts. As such, these glycotopes may represent potential transmission blocking vaccine targets for a wide range of vector-borne pathogens.     

Ebselen,a promising antioxidant drug: mechanisms of action and targets of biological pathways

Ebselen, an organoselenium compound, mimics glutathione peroxidase activity. It is a multifunctional compound, which catalyzes several essential reactions for the protection of cellular components from oxidative and free radical damage. Based on a number of in vitro and in vivo studies, various mechanisms are proposed to understand the biomedical actions of ebselen in health and diseases. It modulates metallo-proteins, enzymatic cofactors, gene expression, epigenetics, antioxidant defenses and immune systems. Owing to these properties, ebselen is currently under clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of various disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, stroke, atherosclerosis, and cancer. A few ebselen-based pharmaceutical agents are under extensive investigation. As ebselen has been shown to have significant cellular toxicity, appropriate studies are needed to redesign the ebselen-based therapy for clinical trials. This review summarizes current understanding of the biochemical and molecular properties, and pharmacological applications of ebselen and future directions in this area of research.