Spread Of Microbes Research Articles

Dissemination of phosphorescent microbial agents by honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in apple orchards

Honey bees are commonly used for pollination in apple orchards. This study aimed to develop a bee-vectoring scheme whereby honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) deliver microbial agents (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MBI600) against fire blight from a dispenser at the entrance of the beehive to apple flowers. The efficiency of disseminating phosphorescent microbial agents (PMA) by honey bees was compared across four apple orchards; (A) with installed insect nets, (B) isolated on an island, (C) adjacent to other apple orchards and apiaries, and (D) near C within 50 m and without beehives. The average detection ratio of PMA on bees visiting flowers was 100 % in orchard (A) and (B), whereas in (C) and (D) it was 54.5 % and 40.0 %, respectively. Detection of PMA on apple blossoms was also 100 % in (A) and (B), but significantly low in (C) and (D) at 52.8 % and 12.9 %. In orchards (A) and (B), PMA adhered to pistils at high ratios of 98.0 % and 96.3 %, while in orchard (C), it was significantly lower at 9.3 %. Phosphorescence intensity in flowers and the proportion of apple pollen loads collected from incoming bees were also investigated. Finally compared to the orchard (A) and (B), open orchard (C) and (D) showed significantly lower microbial agent spread efficiency by honey bee vectoring. For open orchards, supplemental strategy to enhance bee vectoring could include increasing the number of hives in the orchard and temporarily relocating neighbor’s beehives during flowering, or supplying additional dispensers to nearby apiaries.

Monitoring airborne pathogen transmission for enhanced safety at food processing facilities

AbstractFood manufacturing and processing are part of the nation's critical infrastructure. Due to the recent global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the potential contamination of the food chain and the resulting public health implications are of high consequence to society. The current primary food manufacturing and processing facilities already have various mechanisms such as hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system in place. However, the widespread microbial infections in these facilities raise concerns that they will not only threaten the welfare of food processing workers, but also have a potentially greater consequence on the public if the food is contaminated with an infectious agent.Despite the increasingly recognised role of the environment in the spread of microbes, the effect of air properties remains poorly understood. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in meat processing facilities not only provide a means of transport for viruses and bacteria but may also deposit them on surfaces where they can survive for days. To maintain a stable and safe food chain supply during the pandemic, the challenges to ensure safe food supply and protect the workers' health must be quickly addressed through sustainable, safe and economic approaches. With these two imminent challenges in mind, the overall goal of this review article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of the environment in the impaction and resuspension of bioaerosols, focusing on airborne bacteria and viruses. The review includes the latest results of modeling the spread of microbial aerosols in the airflow and the development of preventive measures to mitigate virus contamination in the unique environment of meat processing operations. By understanding how the environmental factors and seasonality affect the infectivity and spread of airborne pathogens, mitigation measures can be designed to minimise future infections within and beyond these facilities.

ScAnalyzer: an image processing tool to monitor plant disease symptoms and pathogen spread in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves

BackgroundPlants are known to be infected by a wide range of pathogenic microbes. To study plant diseases caused by microbes, it is imperative to be able to monitor disease symptoms and microbial colonization in a quantitative and objective manner. In contrast to more traditional measures that use manual assignments of disease categories, image processing provides a more accurate and objective quantification of plant disease symptoms. Besides monitoring disease symptoms, computational image processing provides additional information on the spatial localization of pathogenic microbes in different plant tissues.ResultsHere we report on an image analysis tool called ScAnalyzer to monitor disease symptoms and bacterial spread in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. Thereto, detached leaves are assembled in a grid and scanned, which enables automated separation of individual samples. A pixel color threshold is used to segment healthy (green) from chlorotic (yellow) leaf areas. The spread of luminescence-tagged bacteria is monitored via light-sensitive films, which are processed in a similar manner as the leaf scans. We show that this tool is able to capture previously identified differences in susceptibility of the model plant A. thaliana to the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Moreover, we show that the ScAnalyzer pipeline provides a more detailed assessment of bacterial spread within plant leaves than previously used methods. Finally, by combining the disease symptom values with bacterial spread values from the same leaves, we show that bacterial spread precedes visual disease symptoms.ConclusionTaken together, we present an automated script to monitor plant disease symptoms and microbial spread in A. thaliana leaves. The freely available software (https://github.com/MolPlantPathology/ScAnalyzer) has the potential to standardize the analysis of disease assays between different groups.

Zinc Oxide-Based Nanomaterials for Microbiostatic Activities: A Review.

The world is fighting infectious diseases. Therefore, effective antimicrobials are required to prevent the spread of microbes and protect human health. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-materials are known for their antimicrobial activities. Because of their distinctive physical and chemical characteristics, they can be used in medical and environmental applications. ZnO-based composites are among the leading sources of antimicrobial research. They are effective at killing (microbicidal) and inhibiting the growth (microbiostatic) of numerous microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Although most studies have focused on the microbicidal features, there is a lack of reviews on their microbiostatic effects. This review provides a detailed overview of available reports on the microbiostatic activities of ZnO-based nano-materials against different microorganisms. Additionally, the factors that affect the efficacy of these materials, their time course, and a comparison of the available antimicrobials are highlighted in this review. The basic properties of ZnO, challenges of working with microorganisms, and working mechanisms of microbiostatic activities are also examined. This review underscores the importance of further research to better understand ZnO-based nano-materials for controlling microbial growth.

Isolation, prevalence of bacteria and fungi from carcasses and different locations within Yola abattoir and antimicrobial resistance profile of Escherichia coli O157:H7

The absence of modern slaughtering facilities and an unhygienic environment in Yola abattoir may result in an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microorganisms, leading to economic loss and human death. Hence, this study was carried out to isolate and assess the prevalence of bacteria and fungi within the abattoir environment as well as to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of E. coli O157:H7 from different locations and carcasses. A cross-sectional study was conducted where a simple random sampling method was used for sampling. A total of 156 samples were collected. Isolation and identification of bacteria and fungi were done using standard methods. Pseudomonas was the most dominant bacterial species with a total of 151 isolates, followed by E. coli 143 and Klebsiella with 123 isolates. The highest prevalence in fungi was recorded in Aspergillus flavus at 17.6 %, followed by Aspergillus niger at 15.1 % and Trichophyton rubrum and Penicillium that had 14.5 % respectively. The highest mean air-borne coliform count was in the Lairage, it ranged between 1.1 x 106 CFU/m3 and 1.7 x 106 CFU/m3. A hundred and forty-three E. coli were isolated out of which six (4.2 %) were characterized to be E. coli O157:H7 producing characteristic colorless colonies on cefixime tellurite sorbitol MacConkey (CT-SMAC) agar. All the six E. coli O157:H7 were resistant to at least two antibiotics, ampicillin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid while ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline were effective against the six E. coli O157:H7. The MAR ranged between 0.2 and 0.7. The results obtained in this study showed that there is a need for modern facilities in Yola abattoir, training of workers on hygiene, and a hygienic environment to avoid microbial contamination and spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic strains like E. coli O157:H7 and mycotoxin producer Aspergillus flavus.

Retroperitoneal Abscess as an Extension of Ischiorectal Abscess: A Rare Case Report

Infections of the retroperitoneum can result from primary haematogenous spread of microbes or secondary infections originating from the retroperitoneal area or nearby organs. These abscesses can be caused by a perforated retrocaecal appendix, diverticulitis, perforated duodenal ulcers, iatrogenic gastrointestinal tract perforations, pancreatic cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, genitourinary extravasation due to obstruction, osteomyelitis, postoperative duodenal ulcer perforations, and infections related to pelvic and puerperal conditions, as well as trauma. However, the occurrence of a retroperitoneal abscess as an extension of an ischiorectal abscess is exceedingly rare. Hereby, the authors present a case report of 27-year-old male who presented with persistent lower right quadrant abdominal pain, high-grade fever, and pus discharge from the perianal region for the last five days. He experienced difficulty passing stools and flatus for three days. Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) revealed a perforated appendix with fluid collection in the preperitoneal space on the right-side. Surgery revealed a significant amount of purulent discharge below the rectus muscle, extending along the right abdomen to the psoas muscle and connecting with the ischiorectal fossa. Retroperitoneal abscesses can originate from the perianal or ischiorectal region through various anatomical spaces.

Synergistic and Additive Effects of Menadione in Combination with Antibiotics on Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Insights from Structure-Function Analysis of Naphthoquinones.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) interferes with the effective treatment of infections and increases the risk of microbial spread and infection-related illness and death. The synergistic activities of combinations of antimicrobial compounds offer satisfactory approaches to some extent. Structurally diverse naphthoquinones (NQs) including menadione (-CH3 group at C2) exhibit substantial antimicrobial activities against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. We explored the combinations of menadione with antibiotic ciprofloxacin or ampicillin against Staphylococcus aureus and its biofilms. We found an additive (0.5<FICI 1.0) and synergistic (FICI≤0.5) effect of menadione with ciprofloxacin and ampicillin, respectively. High reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity and inhibition of biofilm formation (>90 %) were also observed. However, preformed biofilms were not affected. Dent formation was also evident in S. aureus treated with the test compounds. The structure-function relationship (SFR) of NQs was used to determine and predict their activity pattern against pathogens. Analysis of 10 structurally distinct NQs revealed that the compounds with -Cl, -Br, -CH3 , or -OH groups displayed the lowest MICs (32-256 μg/mL). Furthermore, 1,4-NQs possessing a halogen or -CH3 moiety showed elevated ROS activity, whereas molecules with an -OH group affected cell integrity. Improved activity of antimicrobial combinations and SFR approaches are significant in antimicrobial therapies.

TEMPO-oxidized nanofibrillated cellulose as potential carrier for sustained antibacterial delivery

Designing a suitable, cost-effective nanocarrier with an ability to capture and deliver antibiotics for restricting microbial spread remains an unmet need. A simple two-stepped strategy involving citric acid-induced hydrolysis of cellulose pulp (NFC) followed by TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical) mediated oxidation to obtain carboxylated nano fibrillated cellulose (TNFC-5) with high carboxyl content (1.12 mmol/g) has been explored. TNFC-5 so obtained was able to capture remarkable extent of antibiotics (drug loading (DL) > 40 % and entrapment efficiency (EE) >80 %) irrespective of their hydrophilicity as in, triclosan (hydrophobic) and ampicillin sodium (hydrophilic). In silico molecular docking study revealed the excess carboxyl content in nanocellulose imparted the strongest binding affinity to antibiotics via H-bonding. A slower and sustained release of triclosan was observed for TNFC-5 than that of NFC, reiterating the enhanced binding efficiency of the drugs with TNFC-5. Well-dispersed triclosan loaded TNFC-5 displayed sustained antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus up to one week. Thus, TNFC-5 has been demonstrated as a green, cheap, and eco-friendly alternative to the other biodegradable nanocarriers for carrying antibiotics with high DL and EE, thereby reducing the wastage of expensive drugs while ensuring a sustained antibacterial effect. Our study established that the drug loaded nanofibers (TNFC-5) might act as a promising candidate to penetrate through biofilm for treating serious bacterial infections by retarding their growth and eventually eradicating bacterial colonies.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the infectious disease epidemiology.

COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a huge impact on different aspects of public health. Mandatory notifications are a fundamental tool to have a general picture of infection disease spread in a population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on infectious disease epidemiology. We collected and analyzed all the infectious disease notifications made in the pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and the pandemic (2020-2022) three-years periods in the provincial territory of Messina, Italy. The total number of notifications significantly decreased by 41% in the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic one, with very high reduction of certain disease notifications such as measles and varicella. Similarly, other airborne infections, such as meningococcal meningitis and tuberculosis, underwent an important decrease. Conversely, an increase was found for some infections such as syphilis and, especially, scabies that reported a percentage value of +159.9%. The COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the possibility of microbial spread following to the lockdown and, in addition, to the constant use of face masks and other personal protective equipment, the frequent hand-washing, more ventilation of the living locals, and less gathering, surely reduced the occasions and the possibility to get many infections. On the other hands, the pandemic had a negative impact on scabies diffusion probably due to different causes among which the worsening of some poor realities, the restrictions that forced people to live in strict contact and, especially, the worsening of the conditions of the elderly living in care homes.

Stevia vs. triple antibiotic paste: An intracanal battle?

Intracanal medicaments are vital in treating the infections of the deciduous dentition due to the large percentage of accessory canals that hasten the microbial spread to the periradicular region. Though countless medicaments have been produced to reduce the microbial load and aid symptomatic relief, they still do not fulfill every function of an ideal medicament. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of Stevia rebaudiana (S. rebaudiana) and triple antibiotic paste (TAP) against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). The present in vitro, parallel, double-blinded study had an equal allocation ratio. The specimens were prepared, randomly divided into 4 groups and inoculated with E. faecalis (ATCC35550). Following incubation, the first 3 groups were treated with S. rebaudiana, triple antibiotic therapy or carbopol gel, respectively, with the 4th negative control group left untreated. The microbial samples were collected before and after treatment, and the counts of colony-forming units (CFUs) were compared. The results were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn's post-hoc and Wilcoxon's signed rank tests. The first 2 groups displayed a significant decrease in CFUs after drug application, while the carbopol and control groups showed an exponential increase. There was no statistically significant difference between the stevia and TAP groups (p = 0.630). Stevia gel was comparable to TAP in terms of antimicrobial efficacy, and can therefore be considered a new alternative in intracanal treatment.

A novel optimized polyoxometalate-modified silver nanocomposite. Application to the development of antibacterial textiles

Antimicrobial textiles are used in various settings ranging from households to different industries, health areas, and shops. These materials are used in the manufacture of air filters, food packaging, sportswear; and hygiene, medical, storage, ventilation, and water purification systems. In healthcare medical centers, textiles like bed sheets and curtains are surfaces prone to contamination with microorganisms. The growth of microbes on the surface of textile materials can be inhibited by biocidal and biostatic compounds to prevent the spread of microbes. This work describes the development and characterization of a new antibacterial nanocomposite composed of silver nanoparticles functionalized with polyoxometalates. The experimental conditions for the synthesis were optimized using design of experiment tools. The resulting nanocomposite (formulation) was extensively characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy, and the bioactivity of the material was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative models. The novel formulation was supported in an eco-friendly fabric to obtain a textile material with broad applicability and lasting antibacterial properties.

Evaluation of Association Between Infection of Endodontic Origin, Their Management and Systemic Health: A Narrative Literature Review

Objective: The most common dental condition is root canal infection. A focal infection is a localised or widespread infection that is caused by the systemic spread of microbes or their metabolites from one or more different foci of infection. A focus of infection, which is described as "a restricted area that is continuously infected with hazardous bacteria," may exist everywhere in the body. In the literature on medicine and dentistry, the tonsils, adenoids, oral tissues, and other structures have all been considered as potential infection sites. This review will evaluate the current research on the dynamic relationships between infections of endodontic origin, endodontic therapy, and overall health in light of new information that has since come to light. Methods and materials: A comprehensive search was conducted for all non-grey literature published using the online platforms PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus, web of sciences. To make sure that all pertinent studies were found, the succeeding search keywords were applied.: “endodontic infections”, “systemic conditions”, “management”, “apical periodontitis”, “diabetes”, “hypertension”. Furthermore, all appropriate scientific papers on role of endodontic infections and their management in different systemic diseases were included. 18 articles were included in the review. Results: Articles showed that the advancement and progression of CVDs have been linked to higher concentrations of inflammatory markers in individuals with periodontitis at root apex, according to a number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Persistent periodontitis at root apex may influence the onset and development of atherosclerosis through a number of different possible mechanisms. The literature provides significant support for the notion that people with DM had higher rates of apical periodontitis, larger periapical lesions, and more periapical infections than patients without diabetes. Conclusion: There is growing evidence that prolonged apical periodontitis-related bacteraemia and reduced inflammatory cytokines may have a deleterious impact on systemic health, including CVD development, autoimmune disorders, and diabetic metabolic dysregulation. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.22 (Special Issue) 2023 p.78-88

Microbial bowel infections-induced biochemical and biological abnormalities and their effects on young Egyptian swimmers

Swimmers’ personal hygiene affects the spread of microbes in pools. The present study aimed to determine the incidence of microbial infections among young Egyptian swimmers and its impact on swimmers’ scores. From January 2020 to June 2021, 528 public club swimmers were examined cross-sectionally. Swimmers were divided into two groups according to their star tests and their scores in the competition (group 1 with a high score and group 2 with a low score). Stool samples, biochemical and biological parameters were assessed. Microbial infections were 54% for intestinal parasitosis and 2.8% for Helicobacter pylori. The rate of intestinal parasitosis was higher among Gp2 as compared to Gp1. The results also revealed higher prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia lamblia, Entameba histolytica, and Cyclospora among Gp2 than Gp1. Swimming frequency, and duration influenced the infectious status that induced anemia, abnormal blood pressure, and heart rate. Infected swimmers with cryptosporidiosis had higher alanine transaminase levels, white blood cells, and differential cells but lower aspartate transaminase levels. Giardiasis showed higher reduction in the biochemical markers including ferritin, lactoferrin, iron, and transferrin among Gp 2, compared to Gp 1 and thus affected the swimmers’ scores. Thus, raising swimmers’ hygiene awareness and targeting health education is obliged.

Approximation of circle number π by spread‐plating Escherichia coli

Ideally, microbial spread plating results in randomly distributed colonies on the agar surface. This can be seen as a Monte Carlo simulation and enables probabilistic approximation of circle number π. We perform π approximation in a microbiology undergraduate course to awaken the students' ambition for a good spread plating technique.

Evaluation of the Bactericidal Activity of Gramicidin S Against &lt;i&gt;Streptococcus pneumoniae&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Staphylococcus aureus&lt;/i&gt; Clinical Isolates with Single and Multiple Exposure

Background . Sore throat of infectious and inflammatory origin is one of the most common reasons for the prescription of antimicrobial drugs. The use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) for topical therapy may be a promising solution, due to the peculiarities of AMPs’ mechanism of action, taking into account the high importance of microbial resistance spread problem in relation to systemic etiotropic drugs. The aim of the study was to assess the formation of resistance to AMP Gramicidin S (GS) of clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus , including strains resistant to antimicrobial drugs during repeated exposure, in the setting close to their actual use in clinical practice. Materials and methods . The object under study is AMP GS. The test microorganisms are reference strains of S.pneumoniae (ATCC 6303), S.aureus (ATCC 6538–P), and 10 strains of clinical isolates of each type of microorganisms, types with antimicrobial resistance (including MRSA). At the first stage, the antimicrobial activity of GS was evaluated by the method of microdilutions in plates by estimating the value of the minimum inhibitory and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC, respectively). At the second stage, using reference strains and 4 clinical isolates of each microorganism, including types with antimicrobial resistance, resistance was formed in two ways simultaneously (with liquid and solid media) for 7 consecutive passages over 7 days with GS at concentrations equal to 0.5 and 1.0 MIC. The number of surviving microorganisms was estimated and the MIC and MBC were determined at each passage. Results . At the first stage, the MIC of GS in relation to S.pneumoniae was 8 µg/ml for 5 strains, 16 µg/ml for 5 strains, and 4 µg/ml for one. For 10 out of 11 strains of S.aureus , including MRSA, the MIC of GS was 4 µg/ml (for 1 strain — 8 µg/ml). For 4 strains of S.pneumoniae , MBC of GS was equal to MIC (16 µg/ml), for 7 strains MBC was 4–8 times higher than MIC, and mostly amounted to 32 µg/ml (for 1 strain — 64 µg/ml). MBC for 6 strains of S.aureus was equal to MIC (4 µg/ml), for the 5 remaining strains MBC was 2–8 times higher than MIC, but did not exceed 64 µg/ml. At the second stage, it was found that the estimated values of GS MIC and MBC with repeated exposure to GS remained at the same level for 7 passages in all strains, including those resistant to antibiotics in liquid and solid media. Conclusions . Gramicidin S demonstrated high bactericidal activity against reference strains and clinical isolates of leading pathogenic microorganisms S.pneumoniae and S.aureus , including strains resistant to systemic antimicrobial drugs, while MIC and MBC did not exceed concentrations contained in single doses of drugs used in clinical practice. During repeated exposure (7 passages in 7 days), there were no signs of the formation of resistance of test strains of pathogens, including those resistant to systemic antimicrobial medicines from the groups of beta-lactams, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, etc.

One-Pot Synthesis of Polyvinyl Alcohol-Piperazine Cross-Linked Polymer for Antibacterial Applications

The spread of microbes which cause infectious diseases are of great concern on human health. Therefore, a water-soluble cross-linked polymer based on polyvinyl alcohol was synthesized via an economical, facile, and aqueous-based approach. The resultant cross-linked polymer was characterized by different techniques such as FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, TGA, and DSC. The IR spectrum has been recorded in the range 400–4000 cm−1. From thermal studies, i.e. TGA, cross-linking polymer PVA-E-Pz showed two step degradation and from DSC, glass transition temperature (Tg) was exhibited at 86.05 °C. The antimicrobial properties of the cross-linked polymer were studied using the well-diffusion technique and optical density method against gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus. Polymer coated fabric was also evaluated for antimicrobial activity against both the bacteria, even after 25 wash cycles the coated fabric showed about 90% antibacterial activity. Samples showed good antimicrobial activity against both the micro-organisms, but more activity was exhibited against gram-negative bacteria. The coating durability and surface morphology of the coated fabric were also analyzed. Cytotoxicity studies revealed that PVA-E-Pz was non-toxic against human dermal fibroblast cell lines. This material might be a good fit for advanced wound dressing and textile applications. The proposed strategy provides a low-cost, environmentally friendly method for creating a new cross-linked polymer with antimicrobial activity.Graphical

An Efficient UV-C Disinfection Approach and Biological Assessment Strategy for Microphones

Hygiene is a basic necessity to prevent infections, and though it is regarded as vital in general, its importance has been stressed again during the pandemic. Microbes may spread through touch and aerosols and thereby find their way from host to host. Cleaning and disinfection of possibly contaminated surfaces prevents microbial spread, thus reducing potential illnesses. One item that is used by several people in a way that promotes close contact by touch and aerosol formation is the microphone. A microphone is a complex piece of equipment with respect to shape and various materials used to fabricate it and, hence, its disinfection is challenging. A new device has been developed to efficiently sterilize microphones by using UV-C and a biological assessment has been done to identify its efficacy and translatability. For this investigation, a contamination procedure was developed by using M13 bacteriophage as a model to illustrate the effectiveness of the disinfection. The susceptibility to UV-C irradiation of M13 in solution was compared to that of the PR8 H1N1 influenza virus, which has a similar UV-C susceptibility as SARS-CoV-2. It was found that 10 min of UV-C treatment reduced the percentage of infectious M13 by 99.3% based on whole microphone inoculation and disinfection. UV-C susceptibility of M13 and influenza in suspension were found to be very similar, indicating that the microphone sterilization method and device function are highly useful and broadly applicable.

Bacterial Contamination Associated with Mobile Phones

Bacterial cells adhere to mobile phone surfaces and could form organized colonies. Once the bacteria move to the mobile phone they can live well because these surfaces are hard to clean. This research, included isolation of pathogenic bacteria from mobile phones of Knowledge University students. A total of 100 mobile phones of Knowledge university staff and students were selected for this study. The single sterile swab stick was moistened with sterile normal saline solution and moved over the surfaces of mobile phones. The swab sticks were immediately transported to the laboratory. All swabs were cultured in (Nutrient agar), Then incubated for 24 hours. The obtained bacterial colonies were subjected to Gram stain, and colonial characteristics for their identification. Biochemical Examination for selected colonies has been done. From a total 100 mobile phone swabs. A total of 138 bacterial isolates were recognized as: 47 bacterial colonies of Staphylococcus aureus, 33 bacterial colonies of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 23 bacterial colonies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 19 bacterial colonies of Escherichia coli, 7 bacterial colonies of Streptococcus spp., 6 bacterial colonies of Bacillus subtilis, 2 bacterial colonies of Neisseria and 1 bacterial colonies of Enterobacter aerogene. The study revealed that bacteria can survive on mobile phones of students and the contaminated mobile phones are able to transport microbes that may be able to produce disease. There is a need for preventive care to reduce the impact of contaminated mobile phones on the spread of microbes and control measures should be applicable for this reason.

On the Spread of Microbes That Manipulate Reproduction in Marine Invertebrates.

AbstractBacterial symbionts are functionally integral to animal reproduction and development, some of which have evolved additional mechanisms to override these host programs. One habitat that is increasingly recognized to contain phylogenetically related lineages of reproductive manipulators is the ocean. The reproduction of marine invertebrates often occurs by free spawning instead of by the physical contact of copulation in terrestrial systems. We developed an integrated model to understand whether and when microbes that manipulate host reproduction by cytoplasmic incompatibility, feminization, and male killing spread within populations of free-spawning marine invertebrates. Our model supports three primary findings. First, sex ratio distortion leads to suboptimal fertilization and zygote production in planktotrophs (feeding larvae) but enhance these processes in lecithotrophs (nonfeeding larvae). Second, feminization and a combination of male killing plus enhanced growth are effective at spreading reproductive manipulators while also inducing a female-biased sex ratio. Third, the majority of free-spawning marine invertebrates could be infected across a range of life history combinations, with infections harming species with smaller eggs and longer pelagic durations while benefiting species with larger eggs and shorter pelagic durations. Together, this supports the general premise that microbes may manipulate the reproduction of free-spawning marine invertebrates (e.g., by inducing changes in developmental life history) and that these types of manipulations overlap considerably with terrestrial systems.

Non-Thermal Plasma Treatment Coupled with a Photocatalyst for Antimicrobial Performance of Ihram Cotton Fabric.

All Muslim pilgrims must wear Ihram clothes during the Hajj and Umrah seasons, which presents a great challenge regarding how to eliminate the spread of microbes attached to the cotton fabric of Ihram from the surrounding environment. Targeted fashion research of the recent past presents a new industrial treatment, which has led us to study the impact of heat directed from an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), coupled with photocatalytic nanomaterials, for the antibacterial treatment of Escherichia coli (E. coli) attached to cotton fabric samples, to improve pollutant remediation. The average rates of heat transfer to the bacterial colonies attached to cotton fabric samples, as a function of the laminar mode, were 230 and 77 mW for dry and wet argon discharges, respectively. The jet temperatures (TJ) and heat transfer (QH) decreased more for wet argon discharge than for dry argon discharge. This is because, due to the wettability by TiO2 photocatalyst concentration dosage increases from 0 to 0.5 g L−1, a proportion of the energy from the APPJ photons is expended in overcoming the bandgap of TiO2 and is used in the creation of electron–hole pairs. In the Weibull deactivation function used for the investigation of the antibacterial treatment of E. coli microbes attached to cotton fabric samples, the deactivation kinetic rate of E. coli increased from 0.0065 to 0.0152 min−1 as the TiO2 precursor concentration increased. This means that the sterilization rate increased despite (TJ) and (QH) decreasing as the wettability by TiO2 photocatalyst increases. This may be due to photocatalytic disinfection and the generation of active substances, in addition to the effect of the incident plume of the non-thermal jet.