Growth Of Bacterial Pathogens Research Articles

Pathogenic Bacteria Rapidly Colonise Sinks of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Results of A Prospective Surveillance Study.

Hospital sinks are known to harbour bacteria with the potential to infect patients. To examine bacterial growth in the sinks of a newly constructed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during the transition from an established NICU within the same facility. This was a prospective study of pathogenic bacterial growth in NICU handwashing sinks before and after the new NICU was occupied. Samples from various sink traps were cultured longitudinally and comparison was made between an established NICU and the new NICU. Potentially pathogenic bacteria rapidly colonised sinks in the new NICU within a month of occupation of the unit. During the study period, between 29 June 2021 and 2 September 2022, 62 samples were collected from 11 sinks, of which 43 (69.4%) tested positive. The mean semi-quantitative bacterial growth score was notably higher in the milk preparation room sink than in the patient care area sinks within the new NICU (40.67 vs. 1.768; p = 0.025). The bacterial profiles in the new milk preparation room sink mirrored that of the established NICU with a predominance of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae complex. In handwashing sinks of both established and new NICUs, the dominant colonizing pathogens were Burkholderia cepacia complex, followed by Serratia marcescens and Elizabethkingia species. Cessation of sink use significantly reduced the bioburden of bacteria in the NICU handwashing sink drains. Handwashing sinks were rapidly colonised with pathogenic bacteria in a newly constructed NICU. More diversified and prolific growth of pathogenic bacteria was noted in the milk preparation room sinks.

Antibacterial and safe chitosan-graphene hydrogel films: a promising nanotherapeutic for Staphylococcus aureus wound infections.

Pathogenic bacterial growth at wound sites, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, poses a serious threat during trauma. Delayed treatment can lead to increased inflammation and severe tissue damage. In this study, a chitosan cross-linked polycationic peptide-conjugated graphene-silver (CGrAP) nanocomposite hydrogel film was developed as an antibacterial wound dressing to treat S. aureus infections. The CGrAP hydrogel was synthesized via a Schiff-base reaction between the ε-poly-L-lysine functionalized graphene-silver nanocomposite and chitosan, and then cast into a film. Its antibacterial action is due to electrostatic interactions and ROS generation, finally disrupting the bacterial cells. In vivo studies on Wistar rat model demonstrated superior bacterial eradication and wound healing compared to antibiotic treatment. The CGrAP hydrogel also showed excellent physicochemical properties, including porosity, water uptake and cytocompatibility with L929 fibroblast cells along with no skin irritation or acute dermal toxicity. These results suggest that, CGrAP nanocomposite hydrogel films have strong potential for antibacterial wound dressing development in chronic wound care.

Ammonia nitrogen affects bacterial virulence and conditional pathogenic bacterial growth by regulating biofilm microbial metabolism and EPS secretion in laboratory scale distribution systems.

The control of conditional pathogenic bacteria and inhibition of their virulence factors (VFs) in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) is vital for drinking water safety. This study adopted two groups of DWDSs to investigate how ammonia nitrogen affects bacterial VFs and conditional pathogenic bacterial growth in biofilms. Our results indicated that Acidimicrobium (95,916.62±119.24 TPM), Limnohabitans (30,338.81±139.14 TPM), and Sediminibacterium (10,658.01±48.94 TPM) were predominant in the biofilm bacterial community of DWDSs with NH3-N addition. Under these conditions, the abundances of various bacterial metabolites, such as L-glutamate (1.45-fold), 2-oxoglutarate (1.24-fold), pyruvate (2.10-fold), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP, 5.29-fold), were significantly upregulated, which suggested the upregulation of amino acid, carbohydrate, nucleotide, lipid, pyrimidine and purine metabolism. These metabolic pathways accelerated extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) secretion. The protein concentration in EPS also increased to 187.59±0.58μg/cm2. The increased EPS secretion promoted the amide I CO group of the EPS protein to interact with the surface of the DWDSs, thus enhancing the ability of bacteria (especially conditional pathogenic bacteria) to adhere to the pipe surface to form biofilms. Due to EPS protection, the abundance of the adherence subtype of VFs and the plate counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa increased to 5912.8±21.89 TPM and 655.78±27.10CFU/cm2, respectively. Therefore, NH3-N in DWDSs increased bacterial VFs levels and promoted the growth of some conditional pathogenic bacteria by regulating biofilm microbial metabolic pathways and EPS secretion, ultimately impacting the interaction between EPS and the pipe surface.

Performance of clinical decision aids (CDA) for the care of young febrile infants: a multicentre prospective cohort study conducted in the UK and Ireland

Between 1% and 4% of febrile infants, aged from birth to 90 days of age, presenting to hospital will be diagnosed with an invasive bacterial infection (IBI). Traditional teaching has advocated a treat all approach but more recently a number of clinical decision aids (CDA) have been developed to classify febrile infants into lower and higher risk cohorts, with lower risk infants suitable for management without immediate parenteral antibiotics and lumbar puncture. The aim of this study was to apply these CDA to a UK and Irish cohort. This was a prospective multicentre cohort study of febrile infants presenting to 35 Paediatric Emergency Research in the UK and Ireland (PERUKI) sites between the 6th July 2022 and the 31st August 2023. All infants received standard care as per local policy. IBI was defined as growth of bacterial pathogen in blood or cerebrospinal fluid. The performance of the following CDAs were assessed, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines NG143 (Fever under 5 years), British Society Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC), Aronson rule and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) CDA. A cost comparison of each CDA against a treat all approach was conducted. Trial registration: NCT05259683. 1821 were included in the final analysis. The median age was 46 days (IQR: 30-64 days), with 1108 (61%) being male. Of the 1821 infants, 67 (3.7%) had IBI. The AAP and BSAC CDAs were the most sensitive at 0.99 (95% CI 0.92-1.0) for both with specificities of 0.23 (95% CI 0.21-0.25) and 0.20 (95% CI 0.18-0.22) respectively. The NICE NG143 and Aronson CDA were the most specific CDAs with values of 0.27 (95% CI 0.25-0.30) and 0.30 (95% CI 0.28-0.32) respectively, but their sensitivity was lower. The AAP CDA performed equally well with either procalcitonin (PCT) or C-reactive protein (CRP) as the biomarker of choice. Of the 1821 infants, 77% were admitted, 14% were discharged and 9% were ambulated. All CDAs were cost saving for hospital services when compared to a treat all approach, with the lowest mean cost per patient estimated for Aronson (£1171; bootstrap 95% CI £1129-£1214) and NICE NG143 CDA (£1218; bootstrap 95% CI £1174-£1263). The AAP and BSAC CDAs are highly sensitive at excluding IBI, with a cost saving to hospital services when compared to a treat all approach. The substitution of CRP for PCT made no difference to the performance of the AAP CDA in this cohort and was more costly. The Febrile Infant Diagnostic Assessment and Outcome (FIDO) study is funded by Royal College of Emergency Medicine Doctoral Fellowship (RCEM 02/03/2021). Procalcitonin analysis was supported by the Public Health Agency Northen Ireland Grant (HSC R&D-COM/5745/22). The funders played no part in the conception or design of this study.

Characterization of a Multidrug-resistant Escherichia Coli Lytic Bacteriophage Isolate as a Safe Alternative to Synthetic Antibiotics

The control of pathogenic bacteria depends mainly on the use of antibiotics; however, several problems can arise due to the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics that destroy not only pathogens, but also natural beneficial microbes in the gut micro-flora. Furthermore, the development of antibiotic resistance poses a major challenge in clinical medicine. Therefore, there is an urgent therapeutic need to develop safe alternative bactericidal or bacteriostatic approaches that will selectively kill only pathogens without disrupting the micro-flora. One such approach is the use of bacteriophages to suppress the growth of bacterial pathogens in humans and other animals. Sewage water can be a rich source of pathogenic bacteria and their lytic phages; thus, we sampled sewage water in this study and successfully isolated an Escherichia coli strain and its lytic phage. We demonstrated that the phage could repress bacterial growth of Salmonella enterica (ATCC 14028), Klebsiella oxytoca (ATCC49131), Shigella sonnei (ATCC 25931), and E. coli (ATCC25922). The isolated phage was stable at room temperature, but survival declined with an increase in temperature to 70 °C, and complete inhibition was observed at temperatures 80 °C. In addition, the phage was stable over a pH range of 6–8, and was completely inactivated at pH 14. Keywords: bacteriophage, Escherichia coli strain M00057, EC phage, multidrug- resistance

Nicotine promotes pathogenic bacterial growth and biofilm formation in peri-implant.

Introduction. Peri-implantitis is a plaque-associated disease that leads to implant loss and arises from bacterial biofilms on the surface of the implant. Smoking is a risk factor for peri-implantitis and impedes treatment effectiveness. Additionally, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), IL-6, and IL-22 levels are related to peri-implantitis.Aim. We aimed to investigate the effects of nicotine on inflammatory response, bacterial growth and biofilm formation.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. We hypothesized that nicotine promoted pathogenic bacterial growth and biofilm formation, thereby aggravating inflammation.Methodology. The expression of AHR, IL-6 and IL-22 was measured in peri-implant sulci fluid using quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses. The cementum was incubated with bacterial suspension including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus sanguinis and Fusobacterium nucleatum and treated with 100, 200, 250 and 300 µg ml-1 nicotine, and then, the absorbance and number of colony-forming units were detected. Biofilm formation was evaluated using the tissue culture plate method and safranin O staining. Carbohydrates and proteins were measured by the phenol-sulfuric acid method and the bicinchoninic acid method, respectively.Results. The results indicated that smoking increased the levels of AHR, IL-6 and IL-22. Functionally, nicotine promoted the growth of P. gingivalis, S. sanguinis and F. nucleatum. Additionally, it promoted the biofilm formation of these bacteria and increased the contents of carbohydrates and proteins.Conclusion. Nicotine promoted bacterial growth and biofilm build-up, suggesting that smoking may aggravate the progression of peri-implantitis.

Isolation and Characterization of Multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from Kitchen Sponges: An Under-recognized Public Health Problem.

The domestic kitchen is increasingly being recognized as one of the most important areas with regards to the incidences of foodborne diseases. Kitchen sponges may play a role in foodborne illnesses through cross-contamination as they provide a suitable environment for bacterial pathogen growth and transmission. This study was designed to isolate, characterize, and determine the antibiogram of Enterobacteriaceae contaminating household kitchen sponges in Abakaliki metropolis, Nigeria. A total of 50 household kitchen sponges were randomly collected from 50 different households in Abakaliki metropolis. The samples were analyzed with standard microbiological techniques and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by the disc diffusion method. In total, 28 (56%) out of the 50 kitchen sponges were positive for Salmonella spp. (10), Klebsiella spp. (7), and Escherichia coli (11). In general, isolates were multidrug-resistant with high resistance frequencies (43.7%-100%) to carbapenems, aztreonam, tetracycline, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cephalosporins, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. There was no statistically significant difference in the antimicrobial resistance frequencies between the Enterobacteriaceae isolates (P = 0.982). The multiple antibiotics resistance index values of isolates ranged from 0.4 to 0.8. This study has shown that household kitchen sponges are highly contaminated by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp., and E. coli. The contamination of household kitchen sponges by these multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens is a serious public health problem that requires urgent attention. It is therefore of utmost importance to properly wash and disinfect household kitchen sponges after their use, in order to prevent the spread of difficult-to-treat microbial infections.

Effect of Dietary Benzoic Acid Supplementation on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation, and Rumen Microbiota in Weaned Holstein Dairy Calves

Supplementation with benzoic acid (BA) in animal feed can reduce feeds’ acid-binding capacity, inhibit pathogenic bacterial growth, enhance nutrient digestion, and increase intestinal enzyme activities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of BA on the growth performance, rumen fermentation, and rumen microbiota of weaned Holstein dairy calves. Thirty-two Holstein calves at 60 days of age were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 8): a control group (fed with a basal diet without BA supplementation; CON group) and groups that were supplemented with 0.25% (LBA group), 0.50% (MBA group), and 0.75% (HBA group) BA to the basal diet (dry matter basis), respectively. The experiment lasted for 42 days, starting at 60 days of age and ending at 102 days of age, with weaning occurring at 67 days of age. Supplementation with BA linearly increased the average daily gain of the weaned dairy calves, which was significantly higher in the LBA, MBA, and HBA groups than that in the CON group. The average daily feed intake was quadratically increased with increasing BA supplementation, peaking in the MBA group. Supplementation with BA linearly decreased the feed-to-gain (F/G) ratio, but did not affect rumen fermentation parameters, except for the molar proportion of butyrate and iso-butyrate, which were linearly increased with the dose of BA supplementation. Compared with the CON group, the molar proportions of iso-butyrate in the LBA, MBA, and HBA groups and that of butyrate in the HBA group were significantly higher than those in the CON group. Supplementation with BA had no significant effect on the alpha and beta diversity of the rumen microbiota, but significantly increased the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, and reduced those of the harmful bacteria, such as unclassified_o__Gastranaerophilales and Oscillospiraceae_UCG-002, in the rumen. Functional prediction analysis using the MetaCyc database revealed significant variations in the pathways associated with glycolysis across groups, including the GLYCOLYSIS-TCA-GLYOX-BYPASS, GLYCOL-GLYOXDEG-PWY, and P105-PWY pathways. In conclusion, BA supplementation improved the composition and function of rumen microbiota, elevated the production of butyrate and iso-butyrate, and increased the growth performance of weaned Holstein dairy calves.

Phytochemical-Based Nanoantioxidants Stabilized with Polyvinylpyrrolidone for Enhanced Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Despite the inhibitory effect of phytoncide (Pht) on food-borne pathogenic bacterial growth, the hydrophobic nature and susceptibility to biodegradation under physiological conditions limits its applications. Here, we developed Pht-loaded polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) micelles (Pht@PVP MC) via micelle packing. Pht was solubilized using different types of PVP as micellar vehicles. The as-prepared Pht@PVP MCs were characterized using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The sizes of the Pht@PVP MCs were controlled from 301 ± 51 to 80 ± 3 nm by adjusting the PVP content. The polydispersity index of Pht@PVP MC was between 0.21 ± 0.03 and 0.16 ± 0.04, indicating homogeneous size. A colony-counting method was employed to evaluate the improvement in antibacterial activity after Pht encapsulation in PVP micelles. The reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging activity and anti-inflammatory efficacy of Pht@PVP MC were analyzed in a concentration range of 10-100 μg/mL by evaluating in vitro ROS and nitric oxide levels using DCFDA and Griess reagents. PVP with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties improved the aqueous solubility of Pht and stabilized it via steric hindrance. Higher-molecular-weight PVP at higher concentrations resulted in a smaller hydrodynamic diameter of Pht@PVP MC with uniform size distribution. The spherical Pht@PVP MC maintained its size and polydispersity index in a biological buffer for 2 weeks. Pht@PVP MC exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity compared to bare Pht. The growth of Staphylococcus aureus was effectively inhibited by Pht@PVP MC treatment. Furthermore, biocompatible Pht@PVP MC exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. Overall, Pht@PVP MC is an effective alternative to synthetic antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory chemicals.

Lactobacillus plantarum derived nanoparticles deliver class IIa bacteriocin as a potential natural food preservatives

Lactobacillus plantarum derived nanoparticles deliver class IIa bacteriocin as a potential natural food preservatives

Characterization of zein nanofiber mats encapsulated with Foeniculum vulgare and Carum carvi essential oils as active packaging materials

Characterization of zein nanofiber mats encapsulated with Foeniculum vulgare and Carum carvi essential oils as active packaging materials

Green synthesized chitosan-coated iron oxide nanocomposite using Cissus quadrangularis plant extract for antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer applications

Green synthesized chitosan-coated iron oxide nanocomposite using Cissus quadrangularis plant extract for antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer applications

Antimicrobial, phytochemical, and antioxidant characterization of the leaf extracts of Clematis montana and Clematis grata

Antimicrobial, phytochemical, and antioxidant characterization of the leaf extracts of Clematis montana and Clematis grata

Fitness effects of synthetic and natural diet preservatives on the edible insect Bombyx mori

Silkworm pupae as widely consumed insect products are good biosources of protein and micronutrients. Silkworm rearing throughout the year can be achieved by feeding them an artificial diet instead of native plants, facilitating extensive pupa production. However, artificial diets are prone to spoilage caused by bacterial contamination. Here, we evaluated the antiseptic effect of ethylparaben (EP, chemical preservative) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA, natural preservative) in a silkworm artificial diet. Results showed that both preservatives effectively inhibited pathogenic bacterial growth. Furthermore, the addition of EP or MCFA did not negatively impact the production capacity of silkworms and the homeostasis of gut microbiota. However, the expression of genes involved in detoxification such as Ugt2, and immune response such as Cecropin B, were upregulated after EP consumption. Therefore, natural preservative MCFA emerges as a suitable option from a safety perspective. These findings highlight future directions for improving insect artificial diet formulation.

Enhancing probiotic impact: engineering Saccharomyces boulardii for optimal acetic acid production and gastric passage tolerance.

Saccharomyces boulardii has been a subject of growing interest due to its potential as a probiotic microorganism with applications in gastrointestinal health, but the molecular cause for its probiotic potency has remained elusive. The recent discovery that S. boulardii contains unique mutations causing high acetic acid accumulation and inhibition of bacterial growth provides a possible clue. The natural S. boulardii isolates Sb.P and Sb.A are homozygous for the recessive mutation whi2S270* and accumulate unusually high amounts of acetic acid, which strongly inhibit bacterial growth. However, the homozygous whi2S270* mutation also leads to acetic acid sensitivity and acid sensitivity in general. In the present study, we have constructed a new S. boulardii strain, derived from the widely therapeutically used CMCN I-745 strain (isolated from the pharmaceutical product Enterol), producing even higher levels of acetic acid while keeping the same tolerance toward low pH as the parent Enterol (ENT) strain. This newly engineered strain, named ENT3, has a homozygous deletion of ACH1 and strong overexpression of ALD4. It is also able to accumulate much higher acetic acid concentrations when growing on low glucose levels, in contrast to the ENT wild-type and Sb.P strains. Moreover, we show the antimicrobial capacity of ENT3 against gut pathogens in vitro and observed that higher acetic acid production might correlate with better persistence in the gut in healthy mice. These findings underscore the possible role of the unique acetic acid production and its potential for improvement of the probiotic action of S. boulardii.IMPORTANCESuperior variants of the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii produce high levels of acetic acid, which inhibit the growth of bacterial pathogens. However, these strains also show increased acid sensitivity, which can compromise the viability of the cells during their passage through the stomach. In this work, we have developed by genetic engineering a variant of Saccharomyces boulardii that produces even higher levels of acetic acid and does not show enhanced acid sensitivity. We also show that the S. boulardii yeasts with higher acetic acid production persist longer in the gut, in agreement with a previous work indicating competition between probiotic yeast and bacteria for residence in the gut.

Evaluating the Sputum Bacteriological Profile of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections With Bartlett Score Analysis in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern Karnataka.

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are one of the most commonly encountered infections with significant mortality and morbidity. Sputum is the most frequently obtained sample for LRTI diagnosis. However, sputum samples carry the risk of being non-representative due to the risk of contamination with oral colonizers. To overcome the dilemma with respect to representative sampling, the use of a scoring system such as the Bartlett scoring system is emphasized.This study probes the bacterial profile of sputum samples among patients presenting with LRTIs and their antibiotic susceptibility profile in relation to the Bartlett scoring system. Retrospective data for a period of three years, comprising 4960 sputum samples from patients presenting with LRTI, were collected to study the bacterial profile and antibiogram in comparison with the sputum quality analyzed by the Bartlett scoring system. Out of the 4960 sputum samples analyzed from patients with LRTI, 31.18% yielded the growth of bacterial pathogens, and 98.64% of the sputum samples yielding pathogenic growth had a significant Bartlett score. Sputum samples are non-invasive representative samples of lower airway infective pathologies. Sputum quality assessment by Bartlett scoring serves as a proxy marker to rule out respiratory colonization and aid culture-based diagnosis.

Silver-loaded poly(vinyl alcohol)/polycaprolactone polymer scaffold as a biocompatible antibacterial system

A chronic nonhealing wound poses a significant risk for infection and subsequent health complications, potentially endangering the patient‘s well-being. Therefore, effective wound dressings must meet several crucial criteria, including: (1) eliminating bacterial pathogen growth within the wound, (2) forming a barrier against airborne microbes, (3) promoting cell proliferation, (4) facilitating tissue repair. In this study, we synthesized 8 ± 3 nm Ag NP with maleic acid and incorporated them into an electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix with 1.6 and 3.4 µm fiber sizes. The Ag NPs were anchored to the matrix via electrospraying water-soluble poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA), reducing the average sphere size from 750 to 610 nm in the presence of Ag NPs. Increasing the electrospraying time of Ag NP-treated PVA spheres demonstrated a more pronounced antibacterial effect. The resultant silver-based material exhibited 100% inhibition of gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus growth within 6 h while showing non-cytotoxic effects on the Vero cell line. We mainly discuss the preparation method aspects of the membrane, its antibacterial properties, and cytotoxicity, suggesting that combining these processes holds promise for various medical applications.

Exploration and Characterization of Novel Probiotic Bacteria Isolated from Human Mother's Milk: Evaluation of Antibiotic Resistance and Antimicrobial Activity

The field of probiotics research has experienced a notable upsurge in interest in recent years, particularly in the exploration and characterization of novel probiotic bacteria that hold potential health benefits and disease prevention. This study aimed to isolate and identify new probiotic bacteria from human mother's milk and evaluate their probiotic potential. A total of 10 bacterial strains were isolated from mature human milk and subsequently identified through biochemical evaluation. Five of these strains were selected for further assessment, including investigations into survival ability, hemolytic activity, antibacterial effects, and antibiotic resistance. The results revealed that three out of the five selected strains demonstrated promising characteristics. These strains were identified as Bacillus sp. MM28, MM38, MM39, Lactobacillus MM18, and MM103. Notably, these five strains exhibited non-hemolytic activity, displayed effective antibacterial activity against selected bacterial pathogens, and demonstrated resistance to most of the tested antibiotics. The isolated bacterial strains exhibited favorable probiotic attributes, including antibiotic resistance and the ability to inhibit the growth of bacterial pathogens. Consequently, these strains hold potential as probiotics in both the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Antibacterial effects of chitosan-based hydrogels containing Trachyspermum ammi essential oil on pathogens isolated from dogs with otitis externa

BackgroundGrowing antibiotic resistance has made treating otitis externa (OE) increasingly challenging. On the other hand, local antimicrobial treatments, especially those that combine essential oils (EOs) with nanoparticles, tend to be preferred over systemic ones. It was investigated whether Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) EO, combined with chitosan nanoparticles modified by cholesterol, could inhibit the growth of bacterial pathogens isolated from OE cases in dogs. In total, 57 dogs with clinical signs of OE were examined and bacteriologically tested. Hydrogels of Chitosan were synthesized by self-assembly and investigated. EO was extracted (Clevenger machine), and its ingredients were checked (GC-MS analysis) and encapsulated in chitosan-cholesterol nanoparticles. Disc-diffusion and broth Micro-dilution (MIC and MBC) examined its antimicrobial and therapeutic properties.ResultsStaphylococcus pseudintermedius (49.3%) was the most common bacteria isolated from OE cases, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.7%), Escherichia coli (13.3%), Streptococcus canis (9.3%), Corynebacterium auriscanis (6.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (2.7%), Proteus mirabilis (2.7%), and Bacillus cereus (1.3%). The investigation into the antimicrobial properties of Ajwain EO encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles revealed that it exhibited a more pronounced antimicrobial effect against the pathogens responsible for OE.ConclusionsUsing chitosan nanoparticles encapsulated with EO presents an effective treatment approach for dogs with OE that conventional antimicrobial treatments have not cured. This approach not only enhances antibacterial effects but also reduces the required dosage of antimicrobials, potentially preventing the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

Impact of polyphenol-loaded edible starch nanomaterials on antioxidant capacity and gut microbiota

Starch nanoparticles (SNPs) have the capability to adsorb polyphenol components from apple pomace efficiently, forming bound polyphenols (P-SNPs). These bound polyphenols may have potential bioactivities to affect human health positively. Therefore, in-depth in vivo observation of the antioxidant activity and evaluation of its gut microbiota regulatory function are essential. The results revealed that P-SNPs indicated significant scavenging abilities against DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, the nanomaterials exhibited non-toxic properties, devoid of hepatorenal and intestinal damage, while concurrently stimulating the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) within the gastrointestinal tract. Notably, P-SNPs significantly enhanced antioxidant capacity in serum, liver, and kidney tissues, fostering the proliferation of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bacillus, norank_f__Muribaculaceae) while suppressing pathogenic bacterial growth (Helicobacter, Odoribacter). This study proposes a novel research concept for the scientific use of polyphenols in promoting gut health.