Inhibition Of Bacterial Growth Research Articles

Examining Metal Complexes Formed from New Schiff Base ‎Ligand ‎Derived from Benzene Carbaldehyde: Evaluation of Anti-‎biofilm and ‎Anti-bacterial Properties

One of the most difficult tasks in modern medical societies is the process of identifying a cure for many infectious diseases caused by drug-resistant microbes. Therefore, it has become necessary to discover new compounds that work in this regard. The currently prepared Schiff base, derived from thiazole, has a biological activity against bacteria and biofilms and its activity increases when it is associated with copper, zinc and platinum ions and forms metal complexes. This study highlights the synthesis and evaluation of novel biological compounds as inhibitors of bacterial growth and biofilms. A three newly complexes are resulting from the reaction of a new Schiff base ligand (LC) with metal ions (Zn, Cu, Pt). The new ligand (LC) was prepared from the reaction of precursor (P) and benzenecarbaldehyde. The prepared compounds were characterized by 1H&13CNMR, FTIR, UV-Vis, Magnetic susceptibility, CHNS and Molar conductivity. It was determined that the anti-bacterial activity of the newly synthesized Lc and (Cu-Lc) was mightily significant towards more antibiotic-resistant bacteria and had low (MIC) values. Like that, anti-biofilm inhibitory of the same compounds showed 100% of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in 16 and 32 mg/ml respectively, whereas (Zn-Lc) were inhibited 100% in 4 mg/ml. On the other hand (Pt-Lc) inhibited 100 % in 2 mg/ ml. Good yield was obtained from the synthesis of new compounds from the starting material. They can be potential candidates as inhibitors of bacteria and biofilms.

Testing the Inhibitory Activity of Bajakah Tampala (Spatholobus littoralis Hassk) Wood Extract from South Kalimantan on the Growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteria

Background: Dental root canal treatment aims to eliminate microorganisms that cause infection in the tooth root canal, one of which is Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. Disinfection of dental root canals with 0.5% - 5.25% NaOCl irrigation solution is still constrained so it is necessary to look for alternatives. The bajakah tampala plant (Spatholubus littoralis Hassk) is known to contain antibacterial compounds, namely flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and polyphenols. Objective: To evaluate the inhibitory activity of bajakah tampala wood extract (Spatholobus littoralis Hassk) from South Kalimantan against the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. Method: Post test-only with control group design. The test groups were 100%, 75%, 50% bajakah tampala wood extract solution and positive control 2.5% NaOCL solution. Extraction using maceration method. Bacterial growth inhibition was tested by well diffusion method. Inhibition zone was measured using a caliper. Results: The growth inhibition from the largest to the smallest was shown by 75%, 100% and 50% bajakah wood extracts with mean inhibition zone diameters of 5.05 mm, 3.84 mm and 2.02 mm respectively, meanwhile the positive control was 16.14 mm. One Way Anova test showed significant difference in inhibition (p<0.05) in all groups. Post hoc test showed no significant difference in the inhibition of 75% bajakah tampala wood extract with 100% extract. The inhibition of 100% and 75% extracts was significantly greater than 50% extract. The inhibition of NaOCL 2.5% was significantly greater than all groups of test extracts. Conclusion: Bajakah tampala wood extract has inhibitory activity against the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

Antibacterial Biocomposite Based on Chitosan/Pluronic/Agarose Noncovalent Hydrogel: Controlled Drug Delivery by Alginate/Tetracycline Beads System.

Designing a wound dressing with controlled uptake, antibacterial, and proper biocompatibility is crucial for the appropriate wound healing process. In this study, alginate/tetracycline (Alg/TC) beads were produced and embedded into chitosan/pluronic/agarose semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel, which serves as a potential biocompatible dressing for treating skin wounds. The effect of pluronic content on the porosity, swelling, mechanical characteristics, and degradation of the hydrogel was investigated. Furthermore, the impact of Alg beads on TC release was subsequently examined. In the absence of Alg beads, faster release was observed. However, after incorporating beads into the hydrogels, the release was sustained. Particularly, the hydrogel containing Alg beads exhibited a nearly linear release, reaching 74% after 2 days in acidic media. The antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility of the hydrogel were also evaluated to assess the capability of the TC-loaded hydrogels for wound dressing applications. The hydrogel demonstrated efficient antibacterial features against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, the sample behavior was evaluated against exposure to yeast. Furthermore, based on biocompatibility studies using HFF2 cells, the TC-loaded hydrogel exhibited remarkable biocompatibility. Overall, this novel composite hydrogel shows remarkable biocompatibility and antibacterial activities which can be used as a great potential wound dressing to prevent wound infections due to its effective inhibition of bacterial growth.

Enhancing Antibiotic Efficacy with Natural Compounds: Synergistic Activity of Tannic Acid and Nerol with Commercial Antibiotics against Pathogenic Bacteria

The search for synergies between natural products and commercial antibiotics is a promising strategy against bacterial resistance. This study determined the antimicrobial capacity of Nerol (NE) and Tannic Acid (TA) against 14 pathogenic bacteria, including ESKAPE pathogens. TA exhibited the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) at 162.5 µg/mL against Pasteurella aerogenes and 187.5 µg/mL against Acinetobacter baumannii (WHO priority 1). NE showed its lowest MIC of 500 µg/mL against both Pasteurella aerogenes and Salmonella enterica. A total of 35 combinations of NE and 13 of TA with eight commercial antibiotics were analyzed. For NE, combinations with Streptomycin and Gentamicin were effective against Salmonella enterica, Bacillus subtilis, and Streptococcus agalactiae, with antibiotic MIC reductions between 75.0 and 87.5%. TA showed six synergies with Chloramphenicol, Ampicillin, Erythromycin, and Streptomycin against Acinetobacter baumannii, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Pasteurella aerogenes, with MIC reductions between 75.0 and 93.7%. Additionally, 31 additive effects with antibiotics for NE and 8 for TA were found. Kinetic studies on these synergies showed complete inhibition of bacterial growth, suggesting that natural products enhance antibiotics by facilitating their access to targets or preventing resistance. Given their safety profiles recognized by the EPA and FDA, these natural products could be promising candidates as antibiotic enhancers.

Exploring Antimicrobial Potency, ADMET, and Optimal Drug Target of a Non-ribosomal Peptide Sevadicin from Bacillus pumilus, through In Vitro Assay and Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

The current study was designed to explore the biosynthetic potential of sevadicin in Bacillus pumilus species and its interaction with bacterial drug target molecules. The non-ribosomal peptide (NRP) cluster in B. pumilus SF-4 was preliminarily confirmed using PCR-based screening, and the bioactivity of strain SF-4 culture extract was assessed against a set of human pathogenic strains. The susceptibility assay showed that strain SF-4 extract had higher inhibitory concentrations (312-375µg/mL) than ciprofloxacin. Genome mining of B. pumilus strains (n = 22) using AntiSMASH and BAGEL identified sevadicin coding biosynthetic gene cluster only in strain SF-4, constitutes of two core biosynthetic genes, three additional biosynthetic genes, two transport-related genes, and one regulatory gene. The molecular docking of sevadicin with various putative bacterial drug targets such as dihydropteroate, muramyl ligase E, topoisomerase, penicillin-binding protein, and in vitro safety analyses were conducted with detailed ADMET screening. The results showed that sevadicin makes hydrophobic interaction with MurE (PDB ID: 1E8C and 4C13) via hydrogen bonding, suggesting bacterial growth inhibition by disrupting the cell wall synthesis pathway and exhibiting a secure biosafety profile. The stability and compactness of sevadicin/MurE complexes were assessed via molecular dynamic simulation using RMSD, RMSF, and Rg. The simulation results revealed the binding stability of sevadicin/MurE complexes and indicated that the complexes can't be easily deformed. In conclusion, the current study explored the biosynthesis of sevadicin in B. pumilus for the first time and found that sevadicin inhibits bacterial growth by inhibiting cell wall synthesis via targeting the MurE enzyme and exhibits no toxicity.

Comparison between Green and Chemical Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: Characterization and Antibacterial Activit

Using chemical reduction and green technology, two different approaches are used in the current work to synthesize silver nanoparticles. Pomegranate peel extract has been utilized in green technology applications. Furthermore, In the chemical approach, polyvinylpyrrolidine and ascorbic acid were utilized as reducing agents, and the optical, structural, and antibacterial characteristics of the two versions were investigated. In comparison to the chemical reduction variant (30.38 nm), the particle sizes in the green technique (19.5 nm) were smaller. Comparing green silver nanoparticles to chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles, SEM pictures showed that the former had formed a distinct crystalline shape and were evenly distributed on the surface. Granules constituted the shape of the particles. Additionally, it spreads topically. Whereas the greenly synthesized variant's absorption band was at 280 nm, the chemically synthesized variant's absorption band was at 300 nm. It was demonstrated by spectroscopic data of green silver nanoparticles that they have the capacity to produce and stabilize silver nanoparticles. Chemically produced green silver nanoparticles were also exposed to FTIR analysis to identify active functional groups. Silver particles can also be stabilized by chemically produced silver nanoparticles. To assess the antibacterial activity, the nanoparticle agar diffusion method was employed. The bacteria detected in the medium were Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In the green form, the bacterial growth inhibition zone was larger and was produced with varying concentrations of 25 ml, 50 ml, 75 ml, and 100 ml, or 13 ml, 10 ml, 9 ml, and 8 ml for Staphylococcus aureus and 15 ml, 12 ml, 10 ml, and 7 ml for E. coli, respectively. Green-produced transcripts exhibited higher antibacterial responses, which were likely caused by the faster rate of nanoparticle stabilization mechanism by organic compounds found in pomegranate fruit peel extract.

Antioxidant dimension and potential as bacterial growth inhibitors in crude extracts of two Artemisia species (Artemisia indica Willd. and Artemisia maritima L.) from Gilgit-Baltistan region, Pakistan

Antioxidant dimension and potential as bacterial growth inhibitors in crude extracts of two Artemisia species (Artemisia indica Willd. and Artemisia maritima L.) from Gilgit-Baltistan region, Pakistan

The Push-Out Bond Strength, Surface Roughness, and Antimicrobial Properties of Endodontic Bioceramic Sealers Supplemented with Silver Nanoparticles.

This study evaluated push-out bond test (POBT), surface roughness, and antimicrobial properties against Enterococcus faecalis of bioceramic sealers supplemented with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The sealers tested were CeraSeal®, EndoSequence® BC SealerTM, and Bio-C® Sealer. The POBT was measured with a Universal Testing Machine, and the type of failure was evaluated with a stereomicroscope. The roughness average (Sa) and peak-valley height (Sy) values were evaluated by atomic force microscopy. The bacterial growth inhibition was evaluated using a disk diffusion test, and antimicrobial activity was determined with the plate microdilution method. The POBT showed no significant difference between sealers with and those without NPs in cervical and apical thirds (p > 0.05). In the middle third, the adhesion force was significant for Endosequence BC Sealer® (p < 0.05). The results showed that the Sa and Sy parameters, when AgNPs were added, did not show a statistically significant difference compared to the groups without nanoparticles (p > 0.05). All tested sealers showed bacterial growth inhibition, but no significant difference was found. Their efficacy, in descending order of antibacterial activity when AgNPs were added, is as follows: EndoSequence® BC SealerTM > Bio-C® Sealer > CeraSeal®. The incorporation of AgNPs into bioceramics improves antimicrobial activity without affecting mechanical properties.

Synergistic effects of oxidative and acid stress on bacterial membranes of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus simulans

Oxidative stress in combination with acid stress has been shown to inactivate a wide spectrum of microorganisms, including multi-resistant bacteria. This occurs e.g. in phagolysosomes or during treatment by cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAP) and possibly depends on the cell membrane. We therefore explored the effects of CAP-generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) on bacterial growth inhibition and membranes in neutral and acidic suspensions. We observed that growth inhibition was most efficient when bacteria were treated by a mix of short and long-lived RONS in an acidic environment. Membrane packing was affected mainly upon contact with short-lived RONS, while also acidity strongly modulated packing. Under these conditions, Gram-negative bacteria displayed large potassium release while SYTOX Green influx remained marginal. Growth inhibition of Gram-negative bacteria correlated well with outer membrane (OM) permeabilization that occurred upon contact with short and/or long-lived RONS in synergy with acidity. In Gram-positive bacteria, CAP impaired membrane potential possibly through pore formation upon contact with short-lived RONS while formation of membrane protein hydroperoxides was probably involved in these effects. In summary, our study provides a wide perspective on understanding inactivation mechanisms of bacteria by RONS in combination with acidity.

A Rhein-Based Derivative Targets Staphylococcus aureus.

The rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria highlights the need for novel antimicrobial agents. This study presents the design and synthesis of a series of rhein (RH)-derived compounds with improved antimicrobial properties. The lead compound, RH17, exhibited a potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolates, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 8 to 16 μg/mL. RH17 disrupted bacterial membrane stability, hindered metabolic processes, and led to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These mechanisms were confirmed through bacterial growth inhibition assays, membrane function assessments, and ROS detection. Notably, RH17 outperformed the parent compound RH and demonstrated bactericidal effects in S. aureus. The findings suggest that RH17 is a promising candidate for further development as an antimicrobial agent against Gram-positive pathogens, addressing the urgent need for new therapies.

In vitro performance of cost differentiated ceftriaxone brands against Escherichia coli: insights from a tertiary referral hospital in Mbeya, Tanzania.

In Tanzania, ceftriaxone is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. However, there is quite a significant variation in cost for numerous ceftriaxone brands, leading to the perception that pricier options are more effective. Yet, limited empirical data support this perception. Five ceftriaxone brands with a wide price range were tested in vitro against a ceftriaxone-sensitive Escherichia coli clinical isolate using microdilution and spectrophotometry. Brands were evaluated across a spectrum of concentrations. Bacterial growth inhibition was measured using optical density. Analysis of variance was used to compare the bacterial optical densities among the brands. All brands were comparable at all tested concentrations, with peak inhibition above 1.95 mg/L. Despite significant price disparities, low-cost and high-cost ceftriaxone brands demonstrated similar in vitro performance against E. coli. This challenges the notion that higher-priced options offer better performance. Further, in vivo studies are recommended to validate these findings.

Antibacterial Efficacy of Saudi Coriandrum sativum L. Seed Extract: A Potential Natural Preservative for Enhancing Food Safety and Shelf Life

Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the antimicrobial activity of an aqueous extract of Saudi Coriandrum sativum L. seeds against bacteria that cause food contamination and food poisoning. Methods: The study utilized an aqueous extract of Saudi Coriandrum sativum L. seeds to assess its antibacterial activity against various bacterial strains associated with food contamination and food poisoning. The bacterial strains tested included Streptococcus sp., Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria were exposed to the extract for a period of 72 hours, after which their growth rates were measured and categorized to determine the extract's effectiveness in inhibiting bacterial proliferation. Results: The bacterial isolates were divided into three groups based on their growth rates after 72 hours of exposure to the aqueous extract. The first group, which demonstrated the highest susceptibility, included Streptococcus sp. and Enterococcus faecalis, with an average growth reduction of 9.2%. The second group, comprising Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, exhibited an average growth reduction of 22.5%. The third group, which included Salmonella enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Listeria monocytogenes, showed the least susceptibility, with an average growth reduction of 45.8%. Conclusions: The aqueous extract of Coriandrum sativum L. seeds has shown effective inhibition of bacterial growth. While additional research is needed to fully assess its potential, the extract could be recommended as a natural preservative in the food industry. It has the potential to extend shelf life, improve food quality, and safeguard consumer health.

Capability lignin from Acacia crassicarpa black liquor as an environmentally benign antibacterial agent to produce antibacterial and hydrophobic textiles

Recently, the growing health awareness of society on the utilization of fabrics has led to an increasing demand for natural-based antibacterial textiles. Lignin, a generous polyphenol compound in nature, is capable of preventing bacterial growth; in particular, it dwells bacteria closely together on human skin, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Propionibacterium acnes, and Staphylococcus aureus. However, the antibacterial properties of lignin are limited by factors such as the lignin concentration, source, and type of bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate the potency of lignin as an antibacterial agent for textiles. Moreover, the thermal properties and wettability of the textile after lignin coating were also investigated. This study showed that lignin isolation methods significantly contributed to the inhibition of bacterial growth in the clear zone diameter. In addition, the lignin structure, lignin concentration, and type of bacteria had notably different antibacterial effects. SEM images showed that lignin was successfully coated on the fiber, and the antibacterial textile was successfully fabricated with clear zones in the range of 0.1–0.5 cm against four different bacteria. Lignin did not significantly improve the thermal stability of the textile, as proven by the TGA results. After the HDTMS coating by dispersion method, the wettability of the lignin-textile improved to that of the hydrophobic material, with a contact angle greater than 119.05° with excellent antibacterial properties (clear zone of 0.1–0.43 cm).

Evaluation of physiochemical and in-vitro characteristics of Ixora Coccinea mediated Co3O4 nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of toxic textile dye effluents

Discharging colored wastewater from the textile industry into water bodies disrupts the natural ecosystem and reduces the productivity of aquatic life. It is challenging to degrade complex dye molecules, including pathogens and bacteria. This research article deals with the photocatalytic activity of cobalt oxide nanoparticles mediated Ixora coccinea plant extract for industry effluent treatment applications. The green synthesized nanoparticles were found to have high crystallinity and purity, cubic crystal structure, and spherical morphology with 21.5 nm crystallite size. Further, the biological properties, such as antibacterial, antioxidant, and bacterial growth inhibition activity, were evaluated. With 88 % and 83 % bacterial growth inhibition, the antibacterial activity showed a maximum bacterial zone inhibition of 31 ± 0.4 mm for positive and 29 ± 0.3 mm for harmful bacterial strains. Then, the level of scavenging free radicals measured about 93.87 %. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated against the textile dyes under direct sunlight irradiation. The maximum dye degradation was achieved for Alizarin red (85.2 %), Crystal violet (90.7 %), Reactive black (94.5 %), and Rhodamine B (96.4 %) dyes at the end of 90 min of irradiation. Moreover, this research paper introduces a method for creating cobalt nanoparticles using natural and sustainable approaches. These nanoparticles have potential in several fields, such as medicine, catalysis, and water remediation.

Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents, Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Toxicities of Ethanol Extracts from Curcuma Mangga, Zingiber Officinale and Zingiber Montanum

The objectives of this study were to determine and to compare total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC), antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities and toxicities of ethanol extracts from Curcuma mangga, Zingiber officinale and Zingiber montanum. The study was performed by determinations of 1) TPC using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method and TFC using colorimetric method of aluminum chloride, 2) antioxidant activities using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assay, 3) antibacterial activities through evaluation inhibition of bacterial growth, MIC and MBC against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, 4) anti-inflammatory activity using Griess reaction to measure nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and 5) toxicities using lethality assay in brine shrimps and MTT assay in the RAW 264.7 cells. The results revealed that all the extracts possess TPC and TFC, antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities which the highest TPC and TFC and strongest activities were found in the Z. montanum extract. However, the extracts showed mildly to moderately toxic to brine shrimps, consider to Artemia salina nauplii, and nontoxic to the RAW 264.7 cells. And also, the results confirm the utilization of these extracts for the treatment and/or management of diseases that related to antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.

Evaluation of the biocide activity of tomatine-rich extracts from tomato cannery residues against fungi and bacteria

Synthetic pesticides are discouraged for their environmental and health impacts, making research into alternatives essential. Several solutions of vegetal origin are being evaluated. The use of residual biomass from the agri-food system is particularly suitable due to its abundance and often unexplored potential. This study focuses on characterizing and assessing the activity of extracts obtained from wastes of the tomato cannery industry (including green fruit, stems, and leaves), which are rich in steroidal glycoalkaloids such as α-tomatine and tomatidine in different proportion. The antimicrobial activity of these extracts was tested on three bacterial strains belonging to the Escherichia coli (EC), Xanthomonas campestris (XC), and Bacillus pumilus (BP) species, as well as the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea (BC). In particular, the mechanism of action of the extracts in relation to their surfactant properties was investigated, with the effect of the analytical standard serving as a reference. Both extracts showed strong inhibition of bacterial and fungal growth in vitro, with values reaching 100 %.The inhibitory effect was mainly due to the presence of α-tomatine in the extracts, which reached its aggregated state of micelle at the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Tomatidine, although known for its biocidal properties, did not contribute significantly due to its limited solubility. However, exceptions to this pattern were observed for extract rich in tomatidine, which exhibited efficacy at doses below the CMC. A possible explanation could be the enhanced solubility of tomatidine (which corresponds to enhanced bioactivity) in the presence of surfactant secreted by BP or as a consequence of the interaction between tomatidine and α-tomatine at the pre-micellar state for BC. In vivo assays with BC showed a reduction in symptoms comparable to that of a commercial fungicide available for organic agriculture, particularly at low concentrations. The relative content of α-tomatidine and tomatidine in the extracts modulated their bioactivity. An excess of tomatidine relative to α-tomatine led to a decrease in biocidal effect due to the chemical interactions among these species.

Inhibitory effects of potassium sorbate and ZnO nanoparticles on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in milk-based beverage

Antibacterial substances have played a crucial role in food preservation. Herein, the inhibitory effects of potassium sorbate and ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in milk-based beverages were examined through the determination of their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) with an automated method for measuring bacterial growth curves. We revealed that the MICs of potassium sorbate and ZnO NPs against E. coli were 16.0 mg/mL and 8.0 mg/mL, respectively. While against S. aureus they were 24.0 mg/mL and 8.0 mg/mL, respectively. ZnO NPs demonstrated higher antibacterial efficacy compared to potassium sorbate. The combination of potassium sorbate and ZnO NPs showed an indifferent effect on E. coli, but an additive effect on S. aureus. The addition of 3 × MIC of either potassium sorbate or ZnO NPs resulted in a complete suppression of bacterial growth for 5 days. This study underscored the efficacy of potassium sorbate and ZnO NPs, either alone or in combination, in combating E. coli and S. aureus, highlighting their potential commercial utility in safeguarding milk-based beverages from spoilage.

Electrospun Cerium Oxide Nanoparticle/Aloe Vera Extract-Loaded Nanofibrous Poly(Ethylene Oxide)/Polyurethane Mats As Diabetic Wound Dressings.

Currently the prevalence of diabetic wounds brings a huge encumbrance onto patients, causing high disability and mortality rates and a major medical challenge for society. Therefore, in this study, we are targeting to fabricate aloe vera extract infused biocompatible nanofibrous patches to facilitate the process of diabetic wound healing. Additionally, clindamycin has been adsorbed onto the surface of in-house synthesized ceria nanoparticles and again used separately to design a nanofibrous web, as nanoceria can act as a good drug delivery vehicle and exhibit both antimicrobial and antidiabetic properties. Various physicochemical characteristics such as morphology, porosity, and chemical composition of the produced nanofibrous webs were investigated. Bacterial growth inhibition and antibiofilm studies of the nanofibrous materials confirm its antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. An in vitro drug release study confirmed that the nanofibrous mat show a sustained drug release pattern (90% of drug in 96 h). The nanofibrous web containing drug loaded nanoceria not only showed superior in vitro performance but also promoted greater wound contraction (95 ± 2%) in diabetes-induced mice in just 7 days. Consequently, it efficaciously lowers the serum glucose level, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and hepatotoxicity markers as endorsed by various ex vivo tests. Conclusively, this in-house-fabricated biocompatible nanofibrous patch can act as a potential medicated suppository that can be used for treating diabetic wounds in the proximate future.

Anti-Biofilm and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of the Truncated Analogs of the Scorpion Venom-Derived Peptide IsCT against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen in humans and a frequent cause of severe nosocomial infections and fatal infections in immunocompromised individuals. Its ability to form biofilms has been the main driving force behind its resistance to almost all conventional antibiotics, thereby limiting treatment efficacy. In an effort to discover novel therapeutic agents to fight P. aeruginosa-associated biofilm infections, the truncated analogs of scorpion venom-derived peptide IsCT were synthesized and their anti-biofilm properties were examined. Among the investigated peptides, the IsCT-Δ6-8 peptide evidently showed the most potential anti-P. aeruginosa biofilm activity and the effect was not due to bacterial growth inhibition. The IsCT-Δ6-8 peptide also exhibited inhibitory activity against the production of pyocyanin, an important virulence factor of P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, the IsCT-Δ6-8 peptide significantly suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators nitric oxide and interleukin-6 in P. aeruginosa LPS-induced macrophages. Due to its low cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, the IsCT-Δ6-8 peptide emerges as a promising candidate with significant anti-biofilm and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings highlight its potential application in treating P. aeruginosa-related biofilm infections.

Investigation into the impact of certain leaf extracts derived from Inula viscosa L. on various strains of pathogenic bacteria in poultry

The study was designed to investigate the efficacy of acetone, ethanol, hexane, diethyl ether, and aqueous extracts from clay plants against four pathogenic bacteria commonly found in poultry: Escherichia coli, Streptococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Clostridium perfringens. The research took place in the microbiology and drug laboratories of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Tartous, as well as the microbiology laboratory at the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering at Tishreen University. Tayon plant leaves were harvested in October and November of 2021 from the Safita region, dried, and stored for future use. The susceptibility tests were carried out on the four bacteria under investigation using the five different extracts. The findings revealed that Escherichia coli, Streptococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Clostridium perfringens were all impacted by the extracts, except for Escherichia coli which displayed resistance to acetone, ethanol, hexane, and diethyl ether extracts, but not to the aqueous extract. Pseudomonas aeruginosa also exhibited resistance to the diethyl ether extract at concentrations of 20 and 40 μl, with no inhibition zone observed. At a concentration of 80 μl, the largest average diameter of the bacterial growth inhibition zone was observed for the acetone extract (4.82, 24.95, 15.41, and 22.14 mm), ethanol (9.32, 28.11, 22.98, and 29.24 mm), hexane (6.42, 18.91, 13.23, and 17.47 mm), diethyl ether (9.33, 21.22, 9.56, and 18.75 mm), and aqueous extract (23.45, 26.22, 15.71, and 24.12 mm), respectively, in comparison to concentrations of 20 and 40 microliters and the control. These results suggest that the plant leaf extracts possess antimicrobial properties against the pathogenic bacterial strains tested, indicating their potential as natural sources of antibiotics in the future.