ISSN 2736-1756
Research Article
Trichosporon identification methods for isolates obtained from different clinical specimens
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Trichosporon identification methods for isolates obtained from different clinical specimens
Noha El-Mashad1*, Mohamed Taha Mahmoud2 and Heba allah El-Shewehy3
1Department of Clinical Pathology, Mansoura University, Egypt.
2Department of Microbiology (Mycology), Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511 Zagazig, Egypt.
3Medical Science (Mycology) Egypt.
Accepted 15 January, 2019
Abstract
Trichosporon is a medically important genus that includes the causative agents of both deep- seated, mucosa-associated infection and superficial infection. In this study, we aimed to present data on the phenotypic and molecular identification of Trichosporon species recovered from various clinical specimens representing both superficial and systemic infections. 397 samples (65 blood cultures, 192 nail scrapings, 140 skin scrapings) were included for isolation, phenotypic and genotypic identification of Trichosporon species. Cases of hematological malignancies, onychomycosis, and Tinea pedis were positive for yeast isolates with percentage of 10.7, 16.6, 20.7%, respectively. Based on the morphologic characters of isolated colonies on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), microscopic examination of colonies on rice agar, and stained smears, yeasts identified as Trichosporon were: 9(4.68%) from nail samples, and 5(3.6%) from skin samples and 0(0.0%) from blood cultures. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Trichosporon genus specific primers for 68 yeast isolates was positive in 16 samples (14 were previously identified by morphology and 2 nail scrapings were falsely diagnosed negative) at 170 bp. We subsequently performed 2 PCR runs on the identified 16 samples using specific primers for each of T. asahii and T. mucoides. Their sequences included ITS1, ITS2. They yielded specific amplification of a DNA fragment at 430 bp in 13(16) samples, which is specific for Trichosporon asahii, and 0(0.0%) sample was positive for Trichosporon mucoides specific primers. Occurance of trichosporonosis is not rare in human. T. asahii species is common in our locality. Molecular methods for identification of Trichosporon are more precise. The standardization of laboratory methods for trichosporon identification and antifungal susceptibility tests are necessary to investigate for both superficial and systemic trichosporonosis.
Key words: Trichosporon asahii, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Trichosporon mucoides.
Noha El-Mashad*, Mohamed Taha Mahmoud and Heba allah El-Shewehy
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Species distribution and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of coagulase-negative Staphylococci other than Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from various clinical specimens
O. Bouchami*, W. Achour, and A. Ben Hassen
Laboratory Department, Centre National de Greffe de Moelle Osseuse, Tunis, Tunisia.
Accepted 19 January, 2019
Abstract
This study was undertaken to determine the species distribution and antibiotic resistance patterns of coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) other than Staphylococcus epidermidis. A total of 142 CoNS (except S. epidermidis) strains were isolated from a variety of clinical specimens in neutropenic patients at the Bone Marrow Transplant Centre of Tunisia between 2002 and 2004. All CoNS isolates were further identified by Api ID32 STAPH and ITS-PCR and antibiotic sensitivity was performed by disc diffusion method. Staphylococcus haemolyticus was the commonest species (38%) followed by Staphylococcus hominis (36%). All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and 8 (6%) strains showed a reduced sensitivity to teicoplanin. Resistance to penicillin G and methicillin was 84 and 60%, respectively. Methicillin-resistant CoNS strains were determined to be more resistant to antibiotics than methicillin-susceptible CoNS strains. The mecA gene was detected by PCR in 65% (92/142) CoNS isolates. Out of 92 mecA-positive isolates, 90 were phenotypically methicillin-resistant and two were methicillin-susceptible. Phylogenetic analysis, carried out to study the evolution of mecA genes between different Staphylococcal species, revealed a high homology for such genes among Staphylococci.
Key words: Coagulase-negative Staphylococci, methicillin-resistance, mecA gene.
W. Achour, and A. Ben Hassen, O. Bouchami*
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility patterns of some bacterial isolates from a street vended fruit product
Kalsoom Farzana1*, Muhammad Rouf Akram1 and Seema Mahmood2
1Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, P.C. 60800, Pakistan.
2Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, P.C. 60800, Pakistan.
Accepted 11 January, 2019
Abstract
The study is aimed to evaluate the food safety status of a street vended fruit product locally known as fruit chat. Sample collection was carried out from four groups of vendors which were discriminated based on their mobility, vending practice and storage facility. The extent of prevalence for Enterobacter species, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis was assessed in fruit chat samples. Bacterial isolates were identified through biochemical characterization. The degree of susceptibility of these isolates was evaluated against six different antibiotics that is, amikacin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, ceftriaxone and co-trimoxazol using disc diffusion method. Results indicated a higher (105 to 1010 CFU/g) total plate count (TPC) and total coliforms count (TCC) ranged from 104 to 109 CFU /g in samples collected from mobile vendors without covering. Mobility of vendors and, use of no covering, resulted in significant (P≤0.05) contamination. However, fruit chat samples collected from stationary vendors with refrigeration facilities exhibited considerably lower bacterial count. The study clearly indicated that consumption of fruit chats from street vendors can be a potential risk for food borne outbreaks because of their contamination level by pathogenic bacteria. Bacterial species had shown variable susceptibility and resistance patterns in response to different antibiotics used in the study. However, all bacterial species had shown greater sensitivity for amikacin, whereas, bacterial strains appeared to develop resistance against other commonly used antibiotics. The mounting resistance against antibiotics is currently one of the foremost challenges to treat food borne infections. Therefore, both preventative and effective curative measures should be adopted. Firstly, the safety status of street vended food products can be enhanced by improving hygienic conditions during the preparation of food stuff. Secondly, the use of effective antibiotics will be of significant importance to cure food borne infections as well as to avoid growing resistance in pathogenic bacteria.
Key words: Safety status, street vended fruit product, bacterial prevalence, antibiotics susceptibility.
Muhammad Rouf Akram and Seema Mahmood, Kalsoom Farzana*
Research Article
Pollen germination, tube growth and longevity in some cultivars of Vitis vinifera L.
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Pollen germination, tube growth and longevity in some cultivars of Vitis vinifera L.
Yavar Sharafi1* and Ali Bahmani2
1Islamic Azad University, Maragheh Branch, Department of Horticultural Science, Maragheh, Iran.
2University of Maragheh, Department of Horticultural Science, Maragheh, Iran.
Accepted 23 January, 2019
Abstract
The grapevines (Vitis vinifera, L.) are cultured widely in Maragheh and are made one of the most important commercial fruit crops of its regions. Most of the cultivars are growing with their fruits or are used in rasine, juice and fresh fruits forms. However, pollination is the main factor affecting fruit set and knowledge about pollen traits of cultivars is necessary to plan the vineyards establishment and breeding programs. This study was accomplished to investigate pollen traits of 15 main grape cultivars ('Fakhri', 'Hosaini', 'Khalili', 'Keshmeshi' ('Sefide bidaneh), 'Lale bidaneh', 'Garmian', 'Gizil uzum', 'Sahebi', 'Jigh jigha', 'Shahani', 'Soltanin', 'Rish baba', 'Syahe malahi', 'Razeghi' ('Peikami') and 'Tabarzeh') which are grown in Maragheh. Pollens of cultivars gathered and cultured in the in vitro medium contained sucrose, boric acid and agar. Pollen germination percentage and tube growth were studied by light microscope. Experiment was carried out based on completely randomized design was (CRD) and data were analyzed with SAS software. Pollen germination percentage and tube growth rate showed significant differences among all of the studied cultivars. Finally, cultivars 'Fakhri', 'Khalili', 'Keshmeshi' 'Lale bidane' and 'Rish baba' showed the highest range of pollen germination, tube growth rate, longevity and selected for vineyards establishment and breeding programs.
Key words: Grapevine, vineyards, pollen germination, pollen tube growth, pollen longevity, breeding programs
Ali Bahmani, Yavar Sharafi*
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Optimization of bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus plantarum YJG, isolated from the mucosa of the gut of healthy chickens
Bing Han, Zhanqiao Yu, Baosheng Liu, Qingshan Ma and Rijun Zhang*
Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China.
Accepted 7 January, 2019
Abstract
The objective was to develop an optimal, albeit low-cost medium for bacteriocin production, thereby facilitating industrial production. Soybean meal and peptide, two low-cost nitrogen sources often applied in industrial fermentation, were used to replace their expensive counterparts in De Man Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS). Two factors were first chosen from the 11 considered in the Plankett-Burman (PB) design. Then, the path of steepest ascent and central composite design (CCD) were used to approach the optimum region of the response and determine the maximum activity of the bacteriocin. Optimal concentration of glucose (36.3 g/l) and NaCl (1.41 g/l) stimulated the production of bacteriocins. And the optimal equation was then verified by 50 L fermentor. Under optimized conditions, Lactobacillus plantarum YJG produced a 1.4 fold higher production of bacteriocin than the common MRS, with 40.6% cost savings relative to non-optimized conditions.
Key words: Lactobacillus plantarum YJG, bacteriocin, response surface methodology, central composite design, optimization.
Zhanqiao Yu, Bing Han, Qingshan Ma and Rijun Zhang*, Baosheng Liu
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Potential of Beauveria bassiana as a biological control agent against two important and destructive stored pests’ C. maculatus and S. granarius adults
Golnaz Shams1*, Mohammad Hassan Safaralizadeh2, Sohrab Imani1, Mahmoud Shojai1 and Shahram Aramideh2
1Department of Entomology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2Department of Plant Protection, Agricultural Faculty, Urmia University, Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran.
Accepted 03 Jaunary, 2019
Abstract
This research was carried out to evaluate the suppressive efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana against adults of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Sitophilus granarius (L.) on stored grains in darkness (27±2°C and 65±5% RH) . The insects were inoculated by following immersion in five aqueous suspensions with concentrations determined with preliminary tests and compared with untreated wheat and cowpea as control. Probit analysis showed that the lowest LT 50 values in suspensions with highest concentrations (2.3 × 107 conidia ml-1) were 6.63 and 10.45 days for C. maculatus and S. granarius, respectively. On the other hand, the LC50 values on day 9 post-treatment were 3.17 × 106 and 6.08 × 107 con.ml-1 for C. maculatus and S. granarius, respectively. Comparison of Lc50, LT 50 values and mortalities indicated that in both assays, B. bassiana was consistently more virulent for C. maculatus than S. granarius. The overall results showed that these two pests were controlled successfully with entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana.
Key words: Callosobruchus maculatus, Beauveria bassiana, Sitophilus granarius, stored grain.
Mohammad Hassan Safaralizadeh, Sohrab Imani, Mahmoud Shojai and Shahram Aramideh, Golnaz Shams*