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Seasonal Variations in Gonadosomatic Index, Hepatosomatic Index, and Condition Factor of Metapenaeus affinis

Samples of Metapenaeus affinis were collected from the Iraqi coastal waters between January 1 and December 1, 2021, to investigate the development of sexual maturity. Seasonal variations in gonadal function were observed in males, with peak rates (0.052) recorded in summer and the lowest rates (0.024) in winter. In females, the highest rates (0.979) occurred in spring, while the lowest (0.549) was in winter. Liver function development correlated with stages of sexual maturity. In males, liver function was highest (0.234) in winter and lowest (0.108) in spring. For females, the highest liver function (0.404) was observed in the fall, and the lowest (0.265) in the summer. The physical condition index is also aligned with sexual maturity stages. In males, the highest values (13.789) were recorded in summer and the lowest (8.697) in spring. For females, the index peaked (9.499) in fall and was at its lowest (8.925) in winter. This study revealed that the shrimp has a broad reproductive cycle. Statistical analyses showed that for females, the condition factor and liver function did not vary significantly across seasons. However, gonadal function showed significant differences between spring and other seasons, with no significant differences between the remaining seasons. In males, the condition factor exhibited significant differences between summer and other seasons, while no significant differences were found among the remaining seasons. Liver function showed significant variation between winter and other seasons, with no differences among the rest. Regarding reproductive function, there were significant differences between spring, summer, and fall, which showed no differences among themselves.

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Rubella serosurvey of pregnant women in Albania: high seroprevalence and implications for prevention

Rubella virus (RV) represents a notable pathogen on a global scale, leading to a relatively harmless illness referred to as rubella. In Albania, rubella has been recognized as an endemic disease since the early years, largely due to inadequate vaccination efforts and the virus's ability to spread rapidly through different interactions. Pregnant women who were not immunized against the rubella virus faced dire consequences, often leading to severe outcomes for their infants, including various congenital conditions such as Congenital Rubella Syndrome. The objective of this research is to conduct a serological surveillance of rubella in Albania between December 2023 and May 2024, examining IgG levels in serum samples and evaluating the overall immunological profile related to rubella infections. The study was conducted at the Institute of Public Health, Tirana where a total of 750 pregnant women from different cities were analyzed. Antirubella IgG antibodies were found in 716 pregnant women examined. The findings indicate that the prevalence of seropositivity reaches 95.46% in instances where antibody levels are at 10 UI/ml, whereas the rate of sero-negativity for IgG is recorded at 4.53% under the same antibody concentration. Updating vaccination initiatives is crucial to ensure that campaigns fulfill their designated aims. Special attention should be given to seronegative pregnant women, who require tailored preventive measures and thorough health education concerning rubella transmission and the sequelae associated with congenital rubella syndrome. Given the public health significance of Rubella, it is imperative that our nation's public health institutions thoroughly evaluate and determine the necessity of ongoing surveillance within the Albanian population, as well as enhance vaccination initiatives and immunization programs.

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Cynomorium coccineum extract inhibits biofilm formation and virulence factors and attenuates quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Cynomorium coccineum extract on several quorum sensing dependent mechanisms, including biofilm formation, the production of virulence factors, and the production of autoinducers in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The impact on biofilm formation has been evaluated using a crystal violet assay and visualized using a light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The effect of the extract on swarming motility, aggregation, hydrophobicity, and exopolysaccharide production has been investigated. The ability of the extract to suppress the production of P. aeruginosa virulence factors, including pyocyanin, rhamnolipids, protease, and chitinase, has been evaluated. The antiquorum sensing mechanism was evaluated in P. aeruginosa by determining the effect on the production of acyl homoserine lactone, and Chromobacterium violaceum, to produce a violacein pigment. The chemical composition of the extract was analyzed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The results of LC-MS analysis showed that C. coccineum extract is rich in quercetin and palmitic acid. The lowest concentration that inhibits 50% of P. aeruginosa’s ability to form biofilm (MBIC50) is 0.39 mg/mL. The extract at 0.78, 0.39, and 0.2 mg/mL exhibited a significant reduction in swarming motility, aggregation ability, surface hydrophobicity, and exopolysaccharide production. At these concentrations, the extract significantly suppressed the production of pyocyanin, rhamnolipids, protease, and chitinase. The ability to inhibit the production of violacein and acyl homoserine lactone indicated the anti-quorum sensing activity of C. coccineum extract. In conclusion, C. coccineum extract can be considered a promising candidate to be developed as an anti-infective drug.

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Cocculus hirsutus trypsin inhibitor (ChTI) as a biocontrol agent for post harvest bacterial disease in tomato

The widespread distribution of proteinase inhibitors (PIs) in various plant parts has made them the most abundant class of defensive proteins. PIs restrict microbial developmental processes by attenuating respective proteases, making them a highly promising area of research. In our current investigation, we evaluated the bactericidal potential of a serine proteinase inhibitor (SPI), specifically the Cocculus hirsutus trypsin inhibitor (ChTI). Recombinant ChTI was expressed, purified using a Sepharose-4B affinity column, and utilized in bioassays against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Pre-incubation of bacterial trypsin-like proteinase (TLP) with 400 TIU/mg of ChTI resulted in TLP inhibition rates of 64%, 61.7%, and 56.4%, with IC50 values of 1.67 µg/ml, 1.74 µg/ml, and 1.90 µg/ml for Xanthomonas axonopodis, Escherichia coli, and Ralstonia solanacearum, respectively. Further evaluation against bacterial pathogens Leuconostoc citreum and Lactobacillius fructivorans, associated with postharvest tomato loss, indicated ChTI's potential in extending tomato shelf life. ChTI-treated tomatoes remained viable for over 20 days compared to 11 days for control fruits. Bacterial populations on treated fruits were significantly reduced, with ChTI inhibiting up to 49% and 36% of TLP for L. citreum and L. fructivorans, respectively. The inhibition pattern of bacterial proteinase was further confirmed through in-gel activity assays and bacterial cell mortality assays conducted by incubating live cells with ChTI. The study confirmed ChTI’s strong affinity for bacterial cell wall proteins, as demonstrated by affinity column purification, SDS-PAGE, and western blotting. Overall, the inhibitory properties of ChTI, demonstrated through bacterial bioassays, indicate its significant antibacterial activity and potential for post-harvest preservation.

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Dominant bacterial pathogens in a river receiving swine farm effluent

Swine production dominates the livestock sector in the Philippines, providing 60% of the nation’s meat supply. Some of the swine industry’s challenges include waste management, resulting in environmental issues such as air pollution, water contamination, and the spread of pathogens that can affect human health. Severe impacts of swine waste on water bodies can lead to eutrophication and render water systems unproductive. This study aimed to isolate and characterize the dominant bacterial pathogens in swine waste effluent in a municipality in southern Iloilo, Philippines. Water samples from the receiving river were collected and cultured to isolate bacteria, followed by genetic identification and phylogenetic analysis to understand the microbial contamination in rivers impacted by the swine farm. Four dominant bacterial strains were isolated and identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. All strains, confirmed as Gram-negative, belong to the Enterobacteriaceae family, specifically Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae. K. pneumoniae, highly resistant and associated with significant health risks, is found in diverse environments and causes severe infections. E. cloacae, an opportunistic pathogen, contributes to water contamination and antibiotic resistance. The study underscores the environmental and public health concerns linked to these bacteria, emphasizing the need for stringent waste management and infection control strategies.

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Phytochemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the Philippine copperleaf (Acalypha wilkesiana) ethanolic extract

The Philippine copper leaf (Acalypha wilkesiana) is a relatively untapped plant with notable ethnopharmacological properties. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the leaf ethanolic extract of A. wilkesiana collected at Central Philippine University Gardens in Iloilo City, Philippines. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, tannins, saponins, proteins, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, carbohydrates, and terpenoids. Quantitatively, the total phenolics and flavonoid contents of the extract were 1,203.7±0.33 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 235.36±2.0 mg of quercetin equivalent (QE)/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity, assessed using the 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, demonstrated a concentration-dependent radical scavenging capacity. The ethanolic extract exhibited strong antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Edwardsiella tarda, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi, with significant inhibition observed at 100 mg/mL. Resolute results from this first study on the phytochemicals, antioxidants, and antimicrobial activity of the Philippine copperleaf clearly demonstrate that it contains potent bioactive compounds with notable antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This underscores its potential for developing new therapeutic agents.

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Non-peroxide antibacterial activity of honey produced by an Afrotropical stingless bee, Meliponula (Axestotrigona) ferruginea

Honey is a medicinal food that is widely utilized in traditional and complementary medicine. Amidst the contemporary challenge of antibiotic resistance, honey emerges as a promising natural antimicrobial agent. The efficacy of honey in therapy hinges on its mechanisms of antimicrobial activity. Therefore, this study investigated the non-peroxide antibacterial properties of honey sourced from Meliponula (Axestotrigona) ferruginea, a stingless bee species that is commonly managed in the African tropics. The findings reveal that stingless bee honey exhibits remarkable inhibitory effect against both resistant and susceptible bacterial strains. Notably, the studied honey samples retained a substantial portion of their antibacterial potency (89.9 - 98.7%) after the removal of hydrogen peroxide. Interestingly, the antibacterial activity of honey did not correlate with its total phenolic and flavonoid content, suggesting the influence of specific bioactive compounds rather than the overall phytochemical content. Stingless bee honey was most effective against Gram-positive bacterial strains, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. These results underscore the therapeutic potential of stingless bee honey for the management of pathogenic bacteria, including resistant strains. Future investigations should focus on elucidating the specific bioactive compounds present in stingless bee honey to bolster its clinical applications.

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Prevalence of multidrug resistance Staphylococcus aureus isolated from secondhand items in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Used clothing has been linked to the spread of disease from one buyer to another, posing a serious risk to the public health. In the current study, the used items were collected from three well-known marketplaces in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The objective was to isolate and identify Staphylococcus aureus, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), using culture-based and molecular techniques. Ninety-nine used items of fifteen distinct kinds were purchased from vendors. All analyzed samples had a prevalence of S. aureus, 22/90 (24.4%), with the highest load in men's sweaters (9.3×103 cfu/ml) and the lowest load in women's jackets (5.0×101 cfu/ml), according to colonial appearance on mannitol salt agar and CHROMagarTM Staphylococcus culture plates. In all, 22 isolates were selected for further molecular analysis. Of the 22 presumptive S. aureus isolates that were recovered from the current investigation, 20 isolates with the nuc gene were identified as S. aureus species, among them 6 isolates with the mecA gene were identified as MRSA. Based on the data acquired on antimicrobial susceptibility, the majority of MSSA isolates (71.43%) and all MRSA isolates (100%) were determined to be multidrug resistant (MDR) with a MARI value between 0.2 and 0.5. In situations when utilizing secondhand products cannot be completely avoided, it has become clear that these items should be well cleaned before use since they may harbor bacteria that cause skin and other illnesses.

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