Comparison of the serum contents of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress mediators between patients with gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria infection

Objective: To compare the serum contents of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress mediators between patients with gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria infection. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with bloodstream bacterial infection in Zigong Third People's Hospital between March 2015 and April 2017 were selected as the research subjects and divided into gram-positive group and gram-negative group according to the results of blood culture and strain identification, and serum levels of inflammatory mediators PCT, IL-1β, IL-6, sTREM-1, TNF-α, NGAL, SAA, HPT and hs-CRP as well as oxidative stress mediators MDA, AOPP, TAC, CAT and SOD were determined. Results: Serum PCT, IL-1β, IL-6, sTREM-1, TNF-α, NGAL, SAA, HPT, hs-CRP, MDA and AOPP levels of gram-negative group were greatly higher than those of gram-positive group while TAC, CAT and SOD levels were greatly lower than those of gram-positive group. Conclusion: The changes of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress mediators in the serum of patients with gram-negative bacteria infection are more significant than those of patients with gram-positive bacteria infection.

Daptomycin and linezolid for severe methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus psoas abscess and bacteremia:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Vancomycin remains a first-line treatment drug as per the treatment guidelines for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)bacteremia.However,a number of gram-positive cocci have developed resistance to several drugs,including glycopeptides.Therefore,there is an urgent need for effective and innovative antibacterial drugs to treat patients with infections caused by drugresistant bacteria.CASE SUMMARY A 24-year-old male was admitted to hospital owing to lumbago,fever,and hematuria.Computed tomography(CT)results showed an abscess in the psoas major muscle of the patient.Repeated abscess drainage and blood culture suggested MRSA,and vancomycin was initiated.However,after day 10,CT scans showed abscesses in the lungs and legs of the patient.Therefore,treatment was switched to daptomycin.Linezolid was also added considering inflammation in the lungs.After 10 d of the dual-drug anti-MRSA treatment,culture of the abscess drainage turned negative for MRSA.On day 28,the patient was discharged without any complications.CONCLUSION This case indicates that daptomycin combined with linezolid is an effective remedy for bacteremia caused by MRSA with pulmonary complications.

Molecular recognition of live methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus cells using DNA aptamers

AIM: To generate DNA-aptamers binding to Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).METHODS: The Cell-Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment(SELEX) technology was used to run the selection against MRSA bacteria and develop target-specific aptamers. MRSA bacteria were targeted while Enterococcus faecalis bacteria were used for counter selection during that process. Binding assays to determine the right aptamer candidates as well as binding assays on clinical samples were performed through flow cytometry and analyzed using the FlowJ o software. The characterization of the aptamers was done by determination of their Kd values and determined by analysis of flow data at different aptamer concentration using Sigma Plot. Finally, the recognitionof the complex Gold-nanoparticle-aptamer to the bacteria cells was observed using transmission electron microscopy(TEM).RESULTS: During the cell-SELEX selection process, 17 rounds were necessary to generate enrichment of the pool. While the selection was run using fixed cells, it was shown that the binding of the pools with live cells was giving similar results. After sequencing and analysis of the two last pools, four sequences were identified to be aptamer candidates. The characterization of those aptamers showed that based on their Kd values, DTMRSA4 presented the best binding with a Kd value of 94.61 ± 18.82 nmol/L. A total of ten clinical samples of MRSA, S. aureus and Enterococcus faecalis were obtained to test those aptamers and determine their binding on a panel of samples. DTMRSA1 and DTMRSA3 showed the best results regarding their specificity to MRSA, DTMRSA1 being the most specific of all. Finally, those aptamers were coupled with gold-nanoparticle and their binding to MRSA cells was visualized through TEM showing that adduction of nanoparticles on the aptamers did not change their binding property.CONCLUSION: A total of four aptamers that bind to MRSA were obtained with Kd values ranking from 94 to 200 nmol/L.

In vitro study on the transmission of multidrug-resistant bacteria from textiles to pig skin

BACKGROUND The survival of microorganisms on textiles and specifically on healthcare profes-sionals’(HCP)attire has been demonstrated in several studies.The ability of microorganisms to adhere and remain on textiles for up to hours or days raises questions as to their possible role in transmission from textile to skin via HCP to patients.AIM To evaluate the presence,survival and transmission of different multidrug-resistant bacteria(MDRB)from HCP attire onto skin.METHODS Three MDRB[methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA);vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium(VRE);carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae,(CRKP)]were inoculated on textiles from scrubs(60%cotton-40%polyester)and white coat(100%cotton)at concentrations of 108 colony-forming units(CFU),105 CFU,and 103 CFU per mL.The inoculation of swatches was divided in time intervals of 1 min,5 min,15 min,30 min,1 h,2 h,3 h,4 h,5 h,and 6 h.At the end of each period,textiles were imprinted onto pig skins and each skin square was inverted onto three different selective chromogenic media.Growth from the pig skin squares was recorded for the 3 MDRB at the three above concentrations,for the whole length of the 6-h experiment.RESULTS MRSA was recovered from pig skins at all concentrations for the whole duration of the 6-h study.VRE was recovered from the concentration of 108 CFU/mL for 6 h and from 105 CFU/mL for up to 3 h,while showing no growth at 103 CFU/mL.CRKP was recovered from 108 CFU/mL for 6 h,up to 30 min from 105 CFU/mL and for 1 min from the concentration of 103 CFU/mL.CONCLUSION Evidence from the current study shows that MRSA can persist on textiles and transmit to skin for 6 h even at low concentrations.The fact that all MDRB can be sustained and transferred to skin even at lower concentrations,supports that textiles are implicated as vectors of bacterial spread.

Antibacterial activity of leaves extracts of Trifolium alexandrinum Linn,against pathogenic bacteria causing tropical diseases

Objective:To investigate antibacterial potential of Trifolium alexandrinum(T.alexandrinum) Linn,against seven gram positive and eleven gram negative hospital isolated human pathogenic bacterial strains responsible for many tropical diseases.Methods:Non-polar and polar extracts of the leaves of T.alexandrinum i.e.,hexane,dichloromethane(DCM),ethyl acetate(EtOAc), methanol(MeOH) and aqueous(AQ) extracts at five different concentrations(1,2,5,10 and 15 mg/ mL) were prepared to evaluate their antibacterial value.NCCL standards were strictly followed to perform antimicrobial disc susceptibility test using disc diffusion method.Results:Polar extracts demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against tested pathogens.EtOAc and MeOH extracts showed maximum antibacterial activity with higher inhibition zone and were found effective against seventeen of the tested pathogens.While AQ plant extract inhibited the growth of sixteen of the test strains.EtOAc and MeOH plant extracts inhibited the growth of all seven gram positive and ten of the gram negative bacterial strains.Conclusions:The present study strongly confirms the effectiveness of crude leaves extracts against tested human pathogenic bacterial strains causing several tropical diseases.Since Egyptian clover is used as a fodder plant,it could be helpful in controlling various infectious diseases associated with cattle as well.

Antibacterial activity of bioceramic coatings on Mg and its alloys created by plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO): A review

Mg and its alloys are suitable choices for implant materials due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility features. However, the high electrochemical activity of this family of biomaterials results in their fast degradation and severe corrosion in the physiological environment,producing hydrogen(H;) gas, and therefore increasing the p H of the environment. To meet the clinical requirements, the degradation rate of Mg biomaterials needs to be reduced. Nevertheless, higher corrosion resistance of Mg results in a low alkaline p H, weakening the antibacterial activity. Therefore, while the rapid degradation problem of Mg-based biomaterials needs to be addressed, good antibacterial properties are also necessary. By using the plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO) surface modification technique, the antibacterial activity of Mg and its alloys can be enhanced while maintaining their corrosion protection properties at a high level. Throughout the PEO process, introducing antibacterial agents into solutions results in a major increase in antibacterial activity of the coatings. Moreover, post-or pre-processing on PEO coatings can provide better protection against bacteria. In this review, the antibacterial activity of PEO coatings applied on Mg and also its alloys will be discussed in more detail.

Causative Microorganisms Isolated from Patients with Intra-Abdominal Infections and Their Drug Resistance Profiles:An 11-Year(2011–2021)Single-Center Retrospective Study

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of causative microorganisms recovered from patients with intra-abdominal infections(IAIs).Methods A total of 2,926 bacterial and fungal strains were identified in samples collected from 1,679 patients with IAIs at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2011 and 2021.Pathogenic bacteria and fungi were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing(AST)was performed using the VITEK 2 compact system and the Kirby–Bauer method.AST results were interpreted based on the M100-Ed31 clinical breakpoints of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.Results Of the 2,926 strains identified,49.2%,40.8%,and 9.5%were gram-negative bacteria,gram-positive bacteria,and fungi,respectively.Escherichia coli was the most prevalent pathogen in intensive care unit(ICU)and non-ICU patients;however,a significant decrease was observed in the isolation of E.coli between 2011 and 2021.Specifically,significant decreases were observed between 2011 and 2021 in the levels of extended-spectrumβ-lactamase(ESBL)-producing E.coli(from 76.9%to 14.3%)and Klebsiella pneumoniae(from 45.8%to 4.8%).Polymicrobial infections,particularly those involving co-infection with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria,were commonly observed in IAI patients.Moreover,Candida albicans was more commonly isolated from hospital-associated IAI samples,while Staphylococcus epidermidis had a higher ratio in community-associated IAIs.Additionally,AST results revealed that most antimicrobial agents performed better in non-ESBL-producers than in ESBL-producers,while the overall resistance rates(56.9%–76.8%)of Acinetobacter baumanmii were higher against all antimicrobial agents than those of other common gram-negative bacteria.Indeed,Enterococcus faecium,Enterococcus faecalis,S.epidermidis,and S.aureus were consistently found to be susceptible to vancomycin,teicoplanin,and linezolid.Similarly,C.albicans exhibited high susceptibility to all the tested antifungal drugs.Conclusion The distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of the causative microorganisms from patients with IAls were altered between 2011 and 2021.This finding is valuable for the implementation of evidence-based antimicrobial therapy and provides guidance for the control of hospital infections.

Improvement of antibacterial activity of copper nanoclusters for selective inhibition on the growth of gram-positive bacteria

In general, copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) possess very low or even virtually no bactericidal effect. Herein,we report a novel CuNCs possessing significantly high antibacterial activity, that is tannic acid (TA)capped CuNCs (TA-CuNCs). TA-CuNCs exhibit strong absorption and excitation-dependent fluorescence within pH 2-12, resulting from the functional groups of TA-CuNCs due to two prototropic equilibria,phenolphenolate and carboxyliccarboxylate. There exists synergistic effect of TA and copper nanoclusters which endows TA-CuNCs remarkable antibacterial capability as a microbicide, as characterized by the effective inhibition on the growth of gram-positive bacteria by damaging the cell membrane. By incubating 1 x 10~7 CFU/mL of gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis with 30 μg/mL of TA-CuNCs for 10 min, the bacteria are completely inhibited, while under same conditions the viabilities of gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa remain 85.0%, 72.0%, respectively. In addition, TA-CuNCs exhibit low cytotoxicity and favorable biocompatibility demonstrated by standard methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay with HepG2 and 293 Tcells, giving rise to cell viability of 94.2% for HepG2 and 96.7% for 293 T by incubating 10~6 cell/mL with 200 μg/mL of TA-CuNCs for 24 h. These results make TA-CuNCs a potential alternative as bactericide for infection treatment caused by gram-positive bacteria.

A widespread response of Gram-negative bacterial acyl-homoserine lactone receptors to Gram-positive Streptomyces γ-butyrolactone signaling molecules

Cell-cell communication is critical for bacterial survival in natural habitats,in which miscellaneous regulatory networks are encompassed.However,elucidating the interaction networks of a microbial community has been hindered by the population complexity.This study reveals thatγ-butyrolactone(GBL)molecules from Streptomyces species,the major antibiotic producers,can directly bind to the acyl-homoserine lactone(AHL)receptor of Chromobacterium violaceum and influence violacein production controlled by the quorum sensing(QS)system.Subsequently,the widespread responses of more Gram-negative bacterial AHL receptors to Gram-positive Streptomyces signaling molecules are unveiled.Based on the cross-talk between GBL and AHL signaling systems,combinatorial regulatory circuits(CRC)are designed and proved to be workable in Escherichia coli(E.coli).It is significant that the QS systems of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria can be bridged via native Streptomyces signaling molecules.These findings pave a new path for unlocking the comprehensive cell-cell communications in microbial communities and facilitate the exploitation of innovative regulatory elements for synthetic biology.

Selective inactivation of Gram-positive bacteria in vitro and in vivo through metabolic labelling

Bacterial infections are grave threats to human health,particularly those caused by the most common Grampositive bacteria.The massive administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat various bacterial infections has led to the evolution and spread of drug resistance.As a universal antimicrobial technique unapt to induce drug resistance,photothermal therapy(PTT)is attracting extensive attention in recent years.However,its unspecific killing capability and side effects towards adjacent mammalian cells severely impede the practical applications.Herein,we proposed a metabolic engineering strategy to selectively inactivate Gram-positive bacteria by PTT.A bioorthogonal photothermal agent was prepared by the conjugation of IR-780 iodide and dibenzocyclooctyne(IR780-DBCO).Upon pre-metabolizing with 3-azido-D-alanine,Gram-positive bacteria rather than Gramnegative ones,such as Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycinresistant Enterococcus faecalis(VRE),could be specifically tied up by the explosive IR780-DBCO via copper-free click chemistry.Thereafter,they spontaneously detonated under 15 min near-infrared light irradiation and inactivated nearly 100% Gram-positive bacteria in vitro.Moreover,superbug VRE-induced infection was significantly inhibited by this approach in a mouse skin wound model.This metabolic labelling-based photothermal ablation strategy specific to Gram-positive microbes would stimulate the development of precise antibacterial candidates for preclinical applications.

Virus-inspired nanoparticles as versatile antibacterial carriers for antibiotic delivery against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria

Infectious diseases become one of the leading causes of human death. Traditional treatment based on classical antibiotics could not provide enough antibacterial activity to combat bacterial infections due to low bioavailability, even leading to antibiotic resistance. In recent years, biomimetic delivery systems have been developed to improve drug therapy for various diseases, such as malignant tumor and cardiovascular disease. In this work, we designed virus-inspired nanodrugs(VNDs) through co-assembly of amphiphilic lipopeptide dendrons and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymers for high-efficiency antibiotic delivery. These VNDs had well-defined and stable nanostructures for tetracycline encapsulation and delivery. The VNDs were capable of promoting antibiotic internalization and enhancing their antibacterial effects against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, no obvious cytotoxicity of VNDs was observed to human cell lines. This work successfully demonstrated the virus-mimetic nanoparticles served as promising and applicable antibiotic delivery platform for antibacterial treatment.

Purification and Antimicrobial Activity of Antimicrobial Protein from Brown-spotted Grouper, Epinephelus fario

Antimicrobial proteins and peptides had been found from a wide variety of organisms in the last few years These molecules have attracted much research interest because of their biochemical diversity, broad specificity on anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungi, anti-protozoan parasites, anti-tumoural, and wound-healing effects. Antimicrobial proteins and peptides play key roles in innate immunity. They interact directly with bacteria and kill them. The brown-spotted grouper, Epinephelusfario, is an important marine fish cultured in southem China. Recently, bacteria and virus have caused high mortality in E. fario cultures, but its endogenous antimicrobial peptides and proteins have not been explored. An antimicrobial component was found from the skin homogenate of E. fario. After the skin homogenate was digested with trypsin, its antimicrobial activity was lost, which showed that the antimicrobial component is a protein. The antimicrobial protein （Efap） was purified from the skin homogenate of E. fario by successive ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Efap was demonstrated to be single protein band by SDS-PAGE, with the apparent molecular weight of 41 kD. Efap exhibited antimicrobial activity both for the Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus subtilis, and for the Gram-negative bacteria, Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio fluvialis, Pasteurella multocida, Aeromonas hydrophila, Eschrrichiu coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Except A. hydrophila, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli （MIC〉20 mol/L）, most of the tested Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to Efap （MIC〈20 mol/L）. Interestingly, Efap showed potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus （MIC 5-10 mol/L） but comparatively weak antimicrobial activity against M. luteus and B. subtilis. The broad antimicrobial activities of Efap suggest that it contributes to the innate host defence of E. fario.

A Rapid and Efficient Method for Preparing Genomic DNA from Microbacterium sp.

A new method was used to preparing genomic DNA from Microbacterium sp.quickly and efficiently.DNA quantity and purity was measured by UV absorbance.Integrity of the genomic DNA was tested by agarose gel eletrophoresis.The DNA prepared by this method was sufficiently pure for PCR.This method saves time and cost,practices easily as well.

Accumulation of Rare Earth Elements in Various Microorganisms

The removal of rare earth elements （REEs） from solution in various microorganisms was examined. Seventy-six strains from 69 species （22 bacteria, 20 actinomycetes, 18 fungi, and 16 yeasts） were tested. Initially, Sm was used to test the removal capabilities of the various organisms. Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus licheniformis, B. subtilis, Brevibacterium helovolum, and Rhodococcus elythropolis, exhibited a particularly high capacity for accumulating Sm. In particular, the B. lichemiformis cells accumulated approximately 316 μmol Sm per gram dry wt. of microbial cells. A full suite of screenings was then conducted to compare the abilities of the organisms to remove Se, Y, La, Er, and, Lu from solution. Tests were done with solutions containing one REE at a time. Accumulation was nearly identical for the various metals and organisms. However, when solutions with equimolar amounts of two REEs were used, preferential removal from solution was observed. When an Eu/Gd solution was used, gram-positive bacteria removed more Eu and Gd as compared to actinomycetes. When Eu/Sm combination was used, gram-positive bacteria removed equal mounts of both metals and some actinomycetes removed more Eu. The selective removal was quantified by calculating separation factors （S. F.）, which indicated that Streptomyces levoris cells accumulated the greatest proportion of Eu. The removal of REEs from a solution containing five metals （Y, La, Sm, Er, and Lu） was then examined. Mucorjavanicus preferentially accumulated Sm and S. flavoviridis preferentially accumulated Lu. The effects of pH and Sm concentration on the accumulation of Sm by B. licheniformis were also examined. Accumulation increased at higher pH and at greater solution concentrations.

Study on the synthesis and antimicrobial activity of novel cationic porphyrins

A novel series of quaternary ammonium cationic derivatives based on tetrapyridyl-porphyrin was synthesized. All the compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activities against S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and antifungal activities against C. albicans, where microorganisms were exposed and unexposed to the irradiation. The results revealed that some of these compounds, especially, 3a and 4a displayed satisfactory antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus and moderate antifungal activity against C. albicans. Unfortunately, Gram-negative bacteria P aeruginasa was resistant to all compounds. The antimicrobial activity was found to be sensitive to the functional groups attached on the aromatic ring and the complex metal in the porphyrin ring, and decreased with the increase of electron-withdrawing capability of the functional groups. These preliminary results suggested that the remarkable antibacterial efficiency against S. aureus makes these substances promising antimicrobial agents.

Actinomycosis of the sigmoid colon:A case report

Abdominal actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative infection caused by Actinomyces species.The ileo-cecal region is most commonly affected,while the left side of the colon is more rarely involved.The infection has a tendency to inf iltrate adjacent tissues and is therefore rarely confined to a single organ.Presentation may vary from non specif ic symptoms and signs to an acute abdomen.A computed tomography scan is helpful in identifying the inflammatory process and the organs involved.It also allows visual guidance for percutaneous drainage of abscesses,thus aiding diagnosis.Culture is difficult because of the anaerobic character and slow growth of actinomycetes.Colonoscopy is usually normal,but may shows signs of external compression.Preoperative diagnosis is rare and is established only in less than 10% of cases.In uncomplicated disease,high dose antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment.Surgery is often performed because of a difficulty in diagnosis.Surgery and antibiotics are required in the case of complicated disease.Combined medical and surgical treatment achieves a cure in about 90% of cases.The authors report a case of sigmoid actinomycosis where diagnosis was made from the histology,and a review of the literature is presented.

Isolation and Antibiotic-Resistant Pattern of Opportunistic Infectious Microbes from the Infected Sites of Oral Cancer Patients Compared to That of Healthy People Oral Microbiota

Introduction: Oral cancer is the third most prominent type of cancer in Bangladesh. During or after oral cancer treatment, immune-compromised cancer patients may be susceptible to an infection by multi-drug-resistant opportunistic microbes. This study aims to identify the prevalent microorganisms from the infected site of oral cancer patients and observe their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Materials and Methods: Clinical samples were collected from the infected sites of oral cancer patients and healthy people. The swabs collected were placed on nutrient agar slant, then incubated for 24 hours at 37ºC. Bacteria from the slant were inoculated in several selective media (Mannitol Salt Agar Media, KF Streptococcus Agar media, Cetrimide Agar, Eosin Methylene Blue Agar). Several biochemical tests identified opportunistic microorganisms. Finally, the antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: The study found that 65.4% of microbes isolated from the patients’ oral cavities were Gram-negative bacteria, and 34.6% were Gram-positive bacteria. Among the patient group isolates (n = 55), the most prevalent organism was Pseudomonas spp. (30;54.54%). Others were Klebsiella spp. (27;49.09%), Staphylococcus spp. (24;43.63%), E. coli (14;25.45%), Streptococcus spp. (14;25.45%), Proteus spp. (12;21.8%) and Enterococcus spp. (6;10.90%). Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative microbes from the patient group have shown high resistance to the commonly used antibiotics. In the control group (n = 50), the most prevalent organism was Staphylococcus spp. (15;30%). Other organisms were Streptococcus spp. (6;12%), Klebsiella spp. (11;22%), E. coli (3;6%), Streptococcus spp. (14;25.45%), Pseudomonas spp. (8;16%). The microbes of the control group showed less resistance to the antibiotics and rather showed sensitivity to them. Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of multi-drug-resistant opportunistic microbes on immune-compromised oral cancer patients compared to microbes isolated from healthy people’s oral cavity.

Bacteriological Profile in Diabetic Foot Patients

One of the complications carried by diabetes clinical pictures is the so-called diabetic foot, regardless of age, genre, ethnic group, and socio-economic level;limb amputation is usually an inevitable means to an end. The present research work had the purpose to determine microorganism responsible of ulcer infection in diabetic foot on its more frequent occurrence. Diabetic foot is a public health issue for its high incidence and its high sanitary costs. The present work consisted on a descriptive-retrospective research to seventy patients who were attended in a privately-owned hospital in Machala-Ecuador. Type III (according to Wagner scale) was determined as most frequent value. Microorganisms with a higher incidence degree were found to be gram-negative bacteria Escherichia Coli 27 (69.28%) and gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aereus 25 (80%).

Etiological analysis on bacterial ocular disease in northern China (1989-1998)

OBJECTIVE: To review the distribution and trends of bacterial culture specimens in Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the bacterial culture-positive rate, the distribution of gram' s stain, and the distribution and change of isolates was performed on 4705 specimens during a 10-year period (1989- 1998). RESULTS: Positive cultures numbered 1339 of the 4705 specimens, with a positive rate of 28.6%. Gram-positive cocci constituted 55.6% of the total isolates, followed by gram-positive bacilli 13.1% . Gram-negative cocci accounted for 2.8%, and gram-negative bacilli 28.5% . In the positive bacteria cultures, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (mainly Staphylococcous epidermidis) was the most common isolate (25.3%), and followed by Pseudomonas 18.8%, Micrococcus 11.7%, Cotynbaccterium 10.1%, and Staphylococcus aureus 8.2% . During the 10-year period, the overall frequency of gram-positive cocci appeared to increase with time while the frequency of gram-negative bacilli decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacilli are still the predominant pathogens of ocular infection in northern China. The frequency of the former increases annually whereas that of the latter decreases. It is important to comprehend the distribution and trends of ocular pathogenic bacteria for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of bacterial infectious ocular disease.

Comparative study between three carbonaceous nanoblades and nanodarts for antimicrobial applications

The design of nanostructured materials occupies a privileged position in the development and management of affordable and effective technology in the antibacterial sector.Here,we discuss the antimicrobial properties of three carbonaceous nanoblades and nanodarts materials of graphene oxide(GO),reduced graphene oxide(RGO),and single-wall carbon nanotubes(SWCNTs)that have a mechano-bactericidal effect,and the ability to piercing or slicing bacterial membranes.To demonstrate the significance of size,morphology and composition on the antibacterial activity mechanism,the designed nanomaterials have been characterized.The minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC),standard agar well diffusion,and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to evaluate the antibacterial activity of GO,RGO,and SWCNTs.Based on the evidence obtained,the three carbonaceous materials exhibit activity against all microbial strains tested by completely encapsulating bacterial cells and causing morphological disruption by degrading the microbial cell membrane in the order of RGO>GO>SWCNTs.Because of the external cell wall structure and outer membrane proteins,the synthesized carbonaceous nanomaterials exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacterial strains than Gram-negative and fungal microorganisms.RGO had the lowest MIC values(0.062,0.125,and 0.25 mg/mL against B.subtilis,S.aureus,and E.coli,respectively),as well as minimum fungal concentrations(0.5 mg/mL for both A.fumigatus and C.albicans).At 12 hr,the cell viability values against tested microbial strains were completely suppressed.Cell lysis and death occurred as a result of severe membrane damage caused by microorganisms perched on RGO nanoblades.Our work gives an insight into the design of effective graphene-based antimicrobial materials for water treatment and remediation.