Intestinal Infections Research Articles

Regional Differences in Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Army Recruits in a Southern Mozambique Training Center: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Due to the high prevalence and diversity of clinical manifestations, intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) represent a public health problem. The objective of the work was to determine the prevalence of IPIs among army recruits at a practice and training center in southern Mozambique. Sociodemographic information was obtained through semi-structured interviews. Single urine and stool samples were collected from 362 recruits. Parasite diagnosis was made by filtration, formaldehyde-ether and Kato-Katz techniques. Positive individuals underwent abdominal ultrasound. Then, descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations were performed, and p-values < 0.05 were considered significant. The prevalence of infection with at least one parasite was 25.1% (95% CI: 20.5-29.6; n = 91). The most common parasites were Entamoeba coli (10.7%; 95% CI: 7.4-13.7; n = 37) and Trichuris trichiura (6.1%; 95% CI: 4.6-9.9; n = 25). Parasitic infection was associated with the origin of the participant (p-value < 0.001), and the province of Sofala had the highest prevalence among the provinces studied (70.6%; 95% CI: 47.0-87.8; 12/17). Since oral fecal transmission occurs for several parasites, routine screening and deworming prior to enrollment at the army training center is recommended to reduce transmission of intestinal parasites among recruits.

The therapeutic potential for targeting CSE/H2S signaling in macrophages against Escherichia coli infection

Macrophages play a pivotal role in the inflammatory response to the zoonotic pathogen E. coli, responsible for causing enteric infections. While considerable research has been conducted to comprehend the pathogenesis of this disease, scant attention devoted to host-derived H2S. Herein, we reported that E. coli infection enhanced the expression of CSE in macrophages, accompanied by a significantly increased inflammatory response. This process may be mediated by the involvement of excessive autophagy. Inhibition of AMPK or autophagy with pharmacological inhibitors could alleviate the inflammation. Additionally, cell model showed that the mRNA expression of classic inflammatory factors (Il-1β, Il-6), macrophage polarization markers (iNOS, Arg1) and ROS production was significantly down-regulated after employing CSE specific inhibitor PAG. And PAG is capable of inhibiting excessive autophagy through the LKB1-AMPK-ULK1 axis. Interestingly, exogenous H2S could suppress inflammation response. Our study emphasizes the importance of CSE in regulating the macrophage-mediated response to E. coli. Increased CSE in macrophages leads to excessive inflammation, which should be considered a new target for drug development to treat intestinal infection.

Management and control of coccidiosis in poultry - A review.

Poultry coccidiosis is an intestinal infection caused by an intracellular parasitic protozoan of the genus Eimeria. Coccidia-induced gastrointestinal inflammation results in large economic losses, hence finding methods to decrease its prevalence is critical for industry participants and academic researchers. It has been demonstrated that coccidiosis can be effectively controlled and managed by employing anticoccidial chemical compounds. However, as a result of their extensive use, anticoccidial drug resistance in Eimeria species has raised concerns. Phytochemical/herbal medicines (Artemisia annua, Bidens pilosa, and garlic) seem to be a promising strategy for preventing coccidiosis, in accordance with the "anticoccidial chemical-free" standards. The impact of herbal supplements on poultry coccidiosis is based on the reduction of oocyst output by preventing the proliferation and growth of Eimeria species in chicken gastrointestinal tissues and lowering intestinal permeability via increased epithelial turnover. This review provides a thorough up-to-date assessment of the state of the art and technologies in the prevention and treatment of coccidiosis in chickens, including the most used phytochemical medications, their mode of action, and the applicable legal framework in the European Union.

Comparison of individual and pooled sampling methods for estimation of Vairimorpha (Nosema) spp. levels in experimentally infected honey bee colonies.

The microsporidian pathogens Vairimorpha apis and V. ceranae are known to cause intestinal infection in honey bees and are associated with decreased colony productivity and colony loss. The widely accepted method for determining Vairimorpha colony infection level for risk assessment and antibiotic treatment is based on spore counts of 60 pooled worker bees using light microscopy. Given that honey bee colonies consist of as many as 1,000 times more individuals, the number of bees collected for Vairimorpha detection may significantly impact the estimated colony infection level, especially in the case of uneven distribution of high- and low-infected individuals within a hive. Hence, we compared the frequency and severity of Vairimorpha infection in individual bees to pooled samples of 60, 120, and 180 bees, as well as compared the Vairimorpha spp. prevalence in pooled samples of 60 and 180 bees. Overall, we did not find significant differences in spore counts in pooled samples containing incremental numbers of bees, although we observed that, in less-infected colonies, a low frequency of highly infected individuals influenced the estimated colony infection level. Moreover, Vairimorpha spp. prevalence did not differ significantly among the pooled bee samples tested. Increasing the number of pooled bees from the recommended 60 bees to 180 bees did not yield a more accurate representation of colony infection level for highly infected colonies, but the clinical importance of a low frequency of highly infected individuals in less-infected colonies needs to be addressed in future studies.

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction method for the diagnosis of unspecified viral acute gastroenteritis

Acute gastroenteritis (AG) can be caused by a wide range of viral pathogens. Detection of dominant pathogens (noro-, rota-, adeno-, enteroviruses) makes it possible to establish the etiology of 40-60% of AG cases. To increase the proportion of their etiological interpretation, it is advisable to conduct research on minor intestinal viruses. This article presents the method of multiplex polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of unspecified viral intestinal infection. It allows detecting the genetic material of astro-, sapo-, parecho-, boka-, picobirna- and aichi viruses in biological material (faeces). The approbation of the method made it possible to detect the presence of these pathogens in 4,89% of patients with AG, in whose biological material were no dominant intestinal viruses.

Evolution of spatial disease clusters via a Bayesian space-time variability modelling

This study proposes to use exceedance posterior probabilities of a space-time random-effects model to study the temporal dynamics of clusters. The local time trends specified for each area is further smoothed over space. We modelled the common spatial and the space-varying temporal trend using a multivariate Markov Random field to incorporate within-area correlations. We estimate the model parameters within a fully Bayesian framework. The exceedance posterior probabilities are further used to classify the common spatial trend into hot-spots, cold-spots, and neutral-spots. The local time trends are classified into increasing, decreasing, and stable trends. The results is a 3×3 table depicting the time trends within clusters. As a demonstration, we apply the proposed methodology to study the evolution of spatial clustering of intestinal parasite infections in Ghana. We find the methodology presented in this paper applicable and extendable to other or multiple tropical diseases which may have different space-time conceptualizations.

Production of Egg Yolk Antibody (IgY) Against Vibrio Cholerae O1: Protective Effect in Mice

Background: Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by Vibrio cholera (V. cholera). The development of antibodies against specific V. cholerae may have a therapeutic effect. In the present research, we investigated the protective effect of egg yolk Immunoglobulin (IgY), which was produced by immunizing hens with formaldehyde-killed V. cholerae O1 and subsequently the isolated IgY was orally administrated to the V. cholerae O1 infected mice for evaluation of its immunizing capability.&#x0D; Methods: In the current study, hens were immunized three times with formaldehyde-killed V. cholerae O1 (1.5×107 CFU/ml) and an equal volume of adjuvant. The IgY was isolated from egg yolk by polyethylene glycol method. The validity and activity of isolated IgY were confirmed with SDS-PAGE and ELISA methods, respectively. Subsequently IgY was orally administered to suckling mice following challenge with V. cholerae O1. ELISA results showed high antibody titer in the serum and egg yolk. Also, SDS-PAGE analysis showed successful purification of IgY and anti-V. cholerae IgY prevented the death of mice infected with V. cholerae O1. The anti-V. cholera IgY was administered at 2, 4, 6 hr intervals after 3 hr of inoculation of mice with V. cholerae O1.&#x0D; Results: Results showed that the rate of surviving mice (2 mg/ml of IgY) were 60% after 4 hr and 40% after 6 hr and the rate of surviving mice (5 mg/ml of IgY) was 70% after 4 hr and 60% after 6 hr.&#x0D; Conclusion: The findings suggested the egg yolk-driven IgY as a natural antibacterial protein, could be effective in the prevention and treatment of cholera disease.

Yersinia deploys type III-secreted effectors to evade caspase-4 inflammasome activation in human cells.

Yersinia are responsible for significant disease burden in humans, ranging from recurrent disease outbreaks (yersiniosis) to pandemics (Yersinia pestis plague). Together with rising antibiotic resistance rates, there is a critical need to better understand Yersinia pathogenesis and host immune mechanisms, as this information will aid in developing improved immunomodulatory therapeutics. Inflammasome responses in human cells are less studied relative to murine models of infection, though recent studies have uncovered key differences in inflammasome responses between mice and humans. Here, we dissect human intestinal epithelial cell and macrophage inflammasome responses to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Our findings provide insight into species- and cell type-specific differences in inflammasome responses to Yersinia.

Effects of Cryptosporidium parvum infection on intestinal fungal microbiota in yaks (Bos grunniens)

During the last decade, researchers had started to focus on the relationship between intestinal parasitic infection and variation of intestinal microflora. Cryptosporidium is a widely known opportunistic and zoonotic pathogen. Several studies have shown that Cryptosporidium infection has impact to alter the gut microflora. However, there are only few studies referring to the fungal microflora changes in response to Cryptosporidium infection in highland ruminants. Therefore, the present study was performed for exploring the alternations of intestinal fungal microbiota in yaks after exposure to Cryptosporidium infection. In present study, Amplicon sequencing of ITS regions was used to study the variations of fungal microflora in yaks. After filtering the raw data, over 45 000 and 62 000 clean data were obtained in uninfected and infected yaks, respectively. By using alpha diversity analysis, it was found that there is no significant difference in the richness and evenness when positive samples were compared with negative ones, whereas intestinal fungal communities in different taxa in yaks were changed. The results of present study depicted that 2-phyla and 21-genera in the infected animals had significantly (P < 0.05) changed. These genera were Septoria, Coniothyrium, Cleistothelebolus, Bensingtonia, Cystobasidium, Filobasidium, Coprotus, Carex, Blumeria, Coprinellus, Leucosporidium, Phialophora, Isolepis, Ascobolus, Thecaphora, Mortierella, Urocystis, Symmetrospora and Lasiobolus. In addition, we found variations in 28 enzymes suggesting that the function of microbiota was also affected. It is concluded that there are drastic changes in the fungal microflora and microbiota functions after exposure to Cryptosporidium infection in yak. Our results help to focus on the prompt way for the development of new therapies to control Cryptosporidiosis.

Intestinal parasitic infections among children aged 12-59 months in Nyamasheke District, Rwanda.

Intestinal parasitic infections are a public health burden and a major cause of illness in developing countries. The diseases lead to various health threats, including growth retardation and mental health-related disorders, especially in children. We assessed the risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections among children aged 12-59 months residing in Nyamasheke District, Rwanda. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using secondary data from 1,048 children aged 12-59 months whose stool samples were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites and whose results were registered in the laboratory information system in 2020. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in children aged 12-59 months was 53.2%. The dominant parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides (13.1%), followed by Giardia lamblia (10.9%), Entamoeba histolytica (7.9%), Trichuris trichiura (6.5%), hookworms (1.7%), and Taenia species (1.4%). A significant association was observed between intestinal parasites and the literacy of mothers or children's caregivers (odds ratio (OR)=5.09, P<0.001). Children from farming households were 2.8-fold more likely to contract intestinal parasitic infections than those from nonfarming households (OR=2.8, P<0.001). A significant association was also observed between intestinal parasites and food safety (OR=4.9, P<0.001). Intestinal parasitic infections were significantly associated with hand hygiene practices after using the toilet and washing fresh fruits before eating (P<0.001). The information gathered will help public health providers and partners develop control plans in highly endemic areas in Rwanda.

Apocynin, an NADPH Oxidase Enzyme Inhibitor, Prevents Amebic Liver Abscess in Hamster.

Amebiasis is an intestinal infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica. Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extraintestinal complication of amebiasis. In animal models of ALA, neutrophils have been shown to be the first cells to come into contact with Entamoeba histolytica during the initial phase of ALA. One of the multiple mechanisms by which neutrophils exhibit amebicidal activity is through reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the enzyme NADPH oxidase (NOX2), which generates and transports electrons to subsequently reduce molecular oxygen into superoxide anion. Previous reports have shown that ROS release in the susceptible animal species (hamster) is mainly stimulated by the pathogen, in turn provoking such an exacerbated inflammatory reaction that it is unable to be controlled and results in the death of the animal model. Apocynin is a natural inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. No information is available on the role of NOX in the evolution of ALA in the hamster, a susceptible model. Our study showed that administration of a selective NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) enzyme inhibitor significantly decreases the percentage of ALA, the size of inflammatory foci, the number of neutrophils, and NOX activity indicated by the reduction in superoxide anion (O2-) production. Moreover, in vitro, the apocynin damages amoebae. Our results showed that apocynin administration induces a decrease in the activity of NOX that could favor a decrease in ALA progression.

The influence of different culture media on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation

Microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus are frequently isolated in samples of urinary, blood, intestinal, and respiratory infections, among others. These bacteria are also associated with microbial biofilm formation. E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus biofilm infections are particularly hard to manage and often associated with nosocomial problems. This study investigated the influence of different culture media on E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus biofilm formation. Bacterial performance was evaluated in brain heart infusion broth, Mueller-Hinton broth, or tryptic soy broth, with or without supplementing with different glucose levels (1-5%). The study quantified biofilm biomass and the count of viable biofilm colonies. This is the first study that compares the biofilm formation of E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in polystyrene using different culture media and with different glucose concentrations. The most robust growth of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus occurred in brain heart infusion broth supplemented with 5% glucose, Mueller-Hinton broth without glucose, and tryptic soy broth with 2% glucose, respectively. Our data demonstrate that behavioral and morphological characteristics of each bacterium require a specific broth to enhance the growth of these microorganisms. These findings will contribute to future tests for therapeutic alternatives with anti-biofilm potential.

Combination of Coptis chinensis polysaccharides and berberine ameliorates ulcerative colitis by regulating gut microbiota and activating AhR/IL-22 pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCoptis chinensis Franch. polysaccharide (CCP) and berberine (BBR) are the primary active components of Coptis chinensis Franch. BBR is clinically used for the treatment of intestinal infections and gastroenteritis. CCP was also reported to be effective for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, whether CCP combined with BBR shows a synergistic effect on the treatment of UC has not been elucidated yet. Aim of the studyThis study aspired to investigate the therapeutic effect and the possible mechanisms of the combination of CCP with BBR on chronic UC. Materials and methodsBy periodic administration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to C57BL/6J mice, chronic UC model mice were induced. CCP (15 mg/kg), BBR (50 mg/kg), and CCP.BBR (a combination of 15 mg/kg CCP and 50 mg/kg BBR) were orally administered to the model mice for 10 days. Changes of body weight, disease activity index, colon length, organ index, histopathological damage, expression of cytokines, and intestinal tight junction proteins were determined to evaluate the therapeutic effects. 16S rDNA sequencing, targeted short-chain fatty acid metabolomics, qPCR, and western blotting were performed to elucidate the potential mechanism. ResultsBoth CCP and BBR alleviated UC via improving colon pathological damage, inhibiting the inflammatory response, and regulating the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins. The combination of CCP with BBR showed a more substantial therapeutic effect via increasing the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) producing bacteria, thereby increasing the contents of SCFAs in vivo and activating AhR/IL-22 pathway. ConclusionThe combination of CCP and BBR showed a synergistic effect on the therapy of chronic UC and the mechanism was associated with regulating gut microbiota and activating AhR/IL-22 pathway.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among children in Kirkuk City, Iraq.

Intestinal parasites are endemic in many developing areas, and they are regarded as one of the most frequent tropical diseases, where they are responsible for adult and child morbidity and mortality. The current study is a survey to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections in patients attending the General Hospital for Pediatrics in Kirkuk City from January 2021 to September 2021. Stool samples were examined by direct smear method with normal saline 0.9 % NaCl and 1% iodine-Lugol solution staining method to determine the outcomes of the current investigation. The results were assessed using the Q-square statistic test. The current study's findings revealed that intestinal parasites were reported in 69(31.7), the most affected group of patients with intestinal parasites, those 1-3 years old (11.4%), Intestinal protozoa infection were (24.3%) significantly more than helminths with (7.4%). The most common protozoa were Entamoeba histolytica (17.9%), the next common protozoan found was Giardia lamblia (6.4%). Intestinal helminth infections were reported in this study (7.4%). Males were more infected with intestinal parasites (18.4%) than females (13.3%). The highest infection rate with intestinal parasites was recorded between August (6.4%) and September (4.6%). Double infection was detected in three cases with Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia. At the same time, no triple infection was reported during this study. Keywords: Intestinal parasitic infections, Intestinal protozoa, Intestinal helminths, Kirkuk

Investigation of the prevalence of intestinal protozoa among health workers

This study was aimed to detection the prevalence of diseases were caused by intestinal protozoa in staff of Al-diwaniyah teaching hospital and maternity and child hospital, and to identify the relationship between the staffs personal hygiene and these diseases. A research was designed from October 2015- March 2016. one hundred twenty stool samples collected from the of health workers in Al- Diwaniyah teaching hospital, and maternity and child hospital under the rate of (20 samples) for each months of study months.The results were showed that infection with the Entamoeba histolytica was (36 cases) which represent (43.2%), the highest rate of infection was during October which has reached (10 cases) which represent (50%), while the number of infection with the Giardia lamblia was (16 cases) which represent (13.3 %), the highest rate of infection was during November which has reached (5 cases) which represented (25%). The detection has declared that not wearing gloves, washing hands and pasteurizing them after diagnosis of patient . The study concluded that the prevalence of intestinal protozoa infection that cause diarrhea that include Entamoeba histolutica and Giardia lamblia, and the infection association with the poor hygiene and also the high rate of infection was during the warm seasons.The study recommended that educating health workers commitment to the rules of public health and attention to personal hygiene, and wash hands and wear gloves when handling patients. Do periodically screened for transitional diseases, including inflammation of intestinal protozoa. And through a questionnaire to determine the medical history of diarrhea For Forty people working in the hospital, The questionnaire showed there were ifection Intestinal parasites in the six months prior to the study. The proportion of amoeba cases was 12 cases and repeated five times. The number of cases withe Giardia was 4 cases and the infection was repeated to one person only. Some of them had bacterial infections that were diagnosed in hospital laboratories But they

Histopathological evaluation of the infection elicited by three species of Myxobolus (Cnidaria: Myxosporea), with identification of Myxobolusxiaoganensis n. sp. isolated from the silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Several parasites infecting the Asian carp species have been broadly spread along with the global fish trade. However, the diversity of specific parasite groups and their pattern of parasitism remain insufficiently elucidated even in their native regions. Here, we conducted a holistic identification and histological analysis of three Myxobolus species. The oblate myxospores of the first isolates were found infecting the spleen of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, measuring 6.4 ± 0.4 (5.4–7.1) μm in length, 8.2 ± 0.4 (7.5–9.0) in width, and 5.9 ± 0.3 (5.2–6.2) in thickness. They were morphologically distinct from other congeners and regarded as a novel species, Myxobolus xiaoganensis n. sp. For the second isolates, we associated the formation of round plasmodia on the gill raker of silver carp with Myxobolus allotypica Chen, 1998. The third isolates, encapsulated in the intestinal serosa membrane of the grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, was proved to be conspecific to Myxobolus huasaensis Chen, 1998. While M. xiaoganensis n. sp. and M. huasaensis exhibited distinct origins, with genetic differences exceeding 4% from other congeners, M. allotypica displayed complete genetic congruence with an item available in Genbank. Histologically, myxospores of M. xiaoganensis n. sp. were scattered in the spleen, and the branchial and intestinal infections of M. allotypica and M. huasaensis were determined, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a non-monophyletic origin of both the Thelohanellus and Myxobolus genera, with a remarkable association of host affinity with myxosporean clustering.

In vitro anti-bactrical activity and its preliminary mechanism of action of the non-medicinal parts of Sanguisorba officinalis L. against Helicobacter pylori infection

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSanguisorba officinalis L. (S. officinalis L.), known as Di Yu (DY) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), are used to treat burns, vomiting of blood, asthma, intestinal infections, and dermatitis. It has been reported that the root of DY has a significant inhibitory effect on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). However, there is currently little research on the composition analysis and anti-H. pylori infection properties of the non-medicinal parts of DY, such as its stems, leaves, and flowers. Aim of studyThe commonly used eradication therapies for H. pylori infection are antibiotic-based therapies. With the increasing antibiotic resistance of H. pylori, it is urgent to find effective alternative therapies. To find alternative therapies and increase the utilization of DY, this study aims to investigate the phytochemistry profile, in vitro anti-H. pylori activity, and preliminary antibacterial mechanism of the non-medicinal parts of DY. Materials and methodsThe non-medicinal parts of DY extracts were obtained by using hot water reflux method. The chemical composition of these extracts was analyzed using colorimetric method, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). The in vitro anti-H. pylori activity was investigated using broth microdilution method, checkerboard dilution method, time-kill curve, time-inhibition curve, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Transcriptional sequencing technology was used to study the effect of DY stems and flowers on the gene expression of H. pylori and explore possible antibacterial mechanisms. ResultsThe non-medicinal parts of DY contain abundant phytochemicals, such as total phenols and total flavonoids, and possess strong inhibitory and bactericidal activity against both standard and clinical strains of H. pylori in vitro. The MIC was 80–1280 μg/mL and the MBC was 80–2560 μg/mL, and the strength of the antibacterial effects was dependent on the concentration of phytochemicals (total polyphenols, gallic acid and ellagic acid). In addition, the combination of non-medicinal parts of DY with antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, and clarithromycin, did not result in any antagonistic effects. All of them could disrupt the morphology, internal microscopic and cell wall structures of H. pylori thereby acting as an inhibitor. The mechanism of action was found to be the disruption of H. pylori morphology, internal microstructure, and cell wall. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the non-medicinal parts of DY significantly regulated the gene expression of H. pylori, especially the metabolic pathway. ConclusionsThis study analyzed the chemical composition of the non-medicinal parts of DY and confirmed its inhibitory and bactericidal activities against H. pylori, both standard and clinical strains. Additional, the mechanism of inhibition involves disrupting the structure of H. pylori cells, altering gene expression, and interfering with bacterial metabolic pathways. This study provides a reference for further resource utilization and the development of H. pylori drugs using the non-medicinal parts of DY.

Liposomes Co-Delivering Curcumin and Colistin to Overcome Colistin Resistance in Bacterial Infections.

Antibiotic colistin is the last line of defense against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections. Emergence of colistin resistance in microbes is a critical challenge. Herein, curcumin is discovered, for the first time, to reverse the resistance phenotype of colistin-resistant bacteria via a checkerboard assay. For the co-delivery of curcumin and colistin, negatively charged poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized liposomes encapsulating both drugs (Lipo-cc) are prepared. Killing kinetics and live/dead assays confirm the antibacterial activity of Lipo-cc against colistin-resistant bacteria, which is more potent than that of the free curcumin and colistin combination. Mechanistical studies reveal that Lipo-cc restores the affinity of colistin for the bacterial membrane and improves the uptake of curcumin, which leads to reduced efflux pump activity, achieving a synergistic effect of colistin and curcumin. At the effective antibacterial dose, Lipo-cc does not exhibit any toxicity. The therapeutic efficacy of Lipo-cc is further demonstrated in an intestinal bacterial infection model induced with colistin-resistant Escherichia coli. Lipo-cc reduces the bacterial burden with over 6-log reduction and alleviated inflammation caused by infection. Importantly, unlike colistin, Lipo-cc does not affect the homeostasis of the intestinal flora. Taken together, Lipo-cc successfully overcame colistin resistance, indicating its potential for the treatment of colistin-resistant bacterial infections.

Electrochemical Detection of Furaltadone Antibiotic Drug by the Rare Earth Metal Tungstate Decorated Screen Printed Carbon Electrode

Furaltadone (FLD) is an antibiotic drug that is widely treated for coccidiosis, intestinal infection, and turkey blackhead. Moreover, excessive use of FLD may have some negative consequences for humans and domestic animals. Therefore, practical, sensitive, selective, and facile detection of FLD is still needed. In this exploration, a Eu2(WO4)3-nanoparticles-modified screen-printed carbon electrode was developed for the low-level detection of FLD. Hydrothermal techniques were used effectively to prepare the Eu2(WO4)3 complex. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction investigations were used to confirm the Eu2(WO4)3. The results revealed that the Eu2(WO4)3 was well formed, crystalline, and uniformly distributed. Furthermore, the electrochemical behavior of the SPCE/Eu2(WO4) electrode was examined by differential pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry studies. The SPCE/Eu2(WO4) electrode demonstrated improved electrocatalytic activity in the detection of FLD with a detection limit of 97 µM (S/N = 3), linear range of 10 nM to 300 µM, and sensitivity of 2.1335 µA µM−1 cm−2. The SPCE/Eu2(WO4) electrode detected FLD in the presence of 500-fold excess concentrations of other interfering pollutant ions. The practical feasibility of the SPCE/Eu2(WO4) electrode was tested on different antibiotic medicines and showed adequate recovery. Moreover, the SPCE/Eu2(WO4) electrode shows appreciable repeatability, high stability, and reproducibility.

Factors Associated with Carriage of Enteropathogenic and Non-Enteropathogenic Viruses: A Reanalysis of Matched Case-Control Data from the AFRIBIOTA Site in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED) is an associate driver of stunting in poor settings, and intestinal infections indirectly contribute to the pathophysiology underlying EED. Our work aimed at assessing whether enteric viral carriage is determinant to stunting. A total of 464 healthy and asymptomatic children, aged 2 to 5 years, were recruited, and classified as non-stunted, moderately stunted, or severely stunted. Among the recruited children, 329 stool samples were obtained and screened for enteric and non-enteric viruses by real-time polymerase chain reaction. We statistically tested for the associations between enteric viral and potential risk factors. Approximately 51.7% of the stool samples were positive for at least one virus and 40.7% were positive for non-enteric adenoviruses. No statistical difference was observed between virus prevalence and the growth status of the children. We did not find any statistically significant association between viral infection and most of the socio-demographic risk factors studied, except for having an inadequate food quality score or an over-nourished mother. In addition, being positive for Ascaris lumbricoides was identified as a protective factor against viral infection. In conclusion, we did not find evidence of a direct link between stunting and enteropathogenic viral carriage in our population.