Egyptian Society of Biological SciencesEgyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, G. Microbiology2090-08722220101201The presence of persistent coliform and E. coli contamination sequestered within the leaves of the popular fresh salad vegetable “Jarjeer / Rocket” (Eruca sativa L.).181670210.21608/eajbsg.2010.16702ENDennis J.RussellDepartment of Biology and Chemistry, American University of Sharjah, PO Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesSarahAbdul MajidDepartment of Biology and Chemistry, American University of Sharjah, PO Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesDanielTobiasDepartment of Biology and Chemistry, American University of Sharjah, PO Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.Journal Article20181015Tests of Jarjeer/rocket (<em>Eruca sativa </em>L.) salad greens after multiple washings in water and mild disinfectant revealed a significant number of sequestered total coliforms and <em>E. coli</em> remained in the fresh greens. Presumptive tests of 64 locally purchased fresh jarjeer greens resulted in finding 100% of the samples were contaminated by coliforms and <em>E. coli.</em> Jarjeer greens had 2,509,273 CFU/g and 224,250 <em>E. coli</em>/g when washed once. Washing the greens three times reduced the number of CFU by 95% and <em>E. coli</em> by 83%, but <em>E. coli</em> counts remained high 9,741 / g or 292,230 per 30 g normally eaten portion. After macerating the thrice washed jarjeer the number of CFU increased to 2,129,774 / g and <em>E. coli</em> 56,292/g, which indicated the bacteria are sequestered in the leaves and could not be washed off. Disinfection with diluted chlorine bleach reduced CFU by 68% and <em>E. coli</em> by 84%, but upon maceration CFUs increased from 42,059/g to 833,812/g and <em>E. coli </em>from 5/g to 2,150/g, which indicates washing with a disinfectant cannot rid the greens of coliforms. Counts on parsley and lettuce were significantly lower than on jarjeer. Results indicate there is sequestered fecal contamination of fresh jarjeer salad greens that remained on and inside epidermal cells even after multiple washings. These data show that there is probably a persistent health threat when eating these fresh salad greens, but further testing for the presence of <em>Salmonella</em> and other pathogens is required.Egyptian Society of Biological SciencesEgyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, G. Microbiology2090-08722220101201Effect of heavy metals on soil microbial processes and population9141670310.21608/eajbsg.2010.16703ENAbdousalam AhmedAlgaidiFaculty of Agriculture, Sebha University, LibyaJournal Article20181015The effect of different toxic heavy metals ions was studied on the CO<sub>2 </sub>production of microorganisms in uncultivated sandy clay soil. The soils were treated by C, N and P in the form of sodium nitrate, potassium phosphate and glucose respectively. The inhibitions appeared even affecting three weeks, but highly significant effects could be estimated after six-week incubation period. Cobalt ions had smallest effect on decreasing CO<sub>2</sub>-production in uncultivated soil samples at the different incubation intervals .The strongest inhibition of the gas production was detected by the influence of cadmium ions.Egyptian Society of Biological SciencesEgyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, G. Microbiology2090-08722220101201Pulmonary Nocardiosis; Similarity to Tuberculosis (A Bacteriological and Proteomics Study)15251670410.21608/eajbsg.2010.16704ENMogahid M.El HassanCollege of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.Nageeb S.SaeedDepartment of Laboratories and Medical Researches, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, SudanMohamed E.HamidDepartment of Microbiology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. P O. Box 641M.GoodfellowSchool of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UKJournal Article20181015<strong>Objective</strong>: The aims of the present study were to decide the occurrence of nocardia spp. among Sudanese patients suspected with tuberculosis and to investigate all proteins expressed by the genome of <em>Nocardia africana</em> (formerly isolated from patients with pulmonary infection misdiagnosed as MDR and their structures and functions compared to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
<strong>Materials and Methods</strong>: Three hundred and twenty-nine patients, presented with pulmonary infection were included in this study. Those patients were examined for the presence of acid- fast bacilli. Two tubes of Lownstein- Jensen (L.J) medium were inoculated with 20 ml of the neutralized sputum sample. All cultures were incubated at 37°C for 8 weeks before being discarded. Phenotypic characterizations were performed. For nocardia proteom poly acrylamide gele lectrophoresis (PAGE)-based analyses of the four nocardia strains <em>N</em>.<em> farcinica</em> SD1828, <em>N</em>.<em> africana</em> SD 925, and N. asteroides N317 are discussed. In-gel tryptic digestion of these isolates was also performed, then the resulting peptides were introduced to MALDI-TOF peptide mass fingerprints were searched using MASCOT software.
<strong>Results:</strong> Ten isolates showed rapid growth pattern within 2-3 days after inoculation, further conventional methods suggested that all these isolates were belonging to the family nocardiacea. Two Dimentional Poly Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) using pH strips 3-10 revealed that the soluble proteins were visible in a much smaller pI range. All strains exhibited similar protein distributions. A similarity analysis revealed that mycobacterium sequences are of high relevance for the investigated strains.
<strong>Conclusions:</strong> Nocardia revealed considerable occurrence among patients with pulmonary infections (3.3%) giving clinical symptoms similar to those occur by M. tuberculosis infection, this may be due to similarities in functional proteins expressed by their genomes. This finding suggested that pulmonary nocardiosis might occur in patients who suffer from chronic lung disease in Sudan. It is important, therefore, that clinicians in Chest Units should consider this condition, especially when patients with respiratory infections fail to respond to antitubercular therapy.Egyptian Society of Biological SciencesEgyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, G. Microbiology2090-08722220101201Bacteriological and serological study on synovial Fluid in septic arthritis patients27351670510.21608/eajbsg.2010.16705ENShehab A.LafiMicrobiology Department, College of Medicine, Al-Anbar University West of IRAQOmaima T.M.Al-MashhadaniMicrobiology Department College of Medicine Al-Anbar University ,
Ramadi ,West of Iraq.Waleed I.Al-ObaidiMicrobiology Department College of Medicine Al-Anbar University ,
Ramadi ,West of Iraq.Journal Article20181015<strong>Background</strong>
Septic arthritis is the microbial infection of the joint constituents. Various microorganisms can be involved in arthritis like bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms like Mycoplasma. bacterial pathogens are the most significant.
<strong>Aims of the study:</strong>
1- To study the most important macroscopic and microscopic characters of synovial fluid samples in patients with septic arthritis.
2-Iisolation and identification of bacteria involved in septic arthritis.
3- To perform some serological tests for patients with septic arthritis, like (CRP, ASOT, RF).
4- To study of white blood cell count, sugar and protein in synovial fluid of patients with septic arthritis.
<strong>Materials & Methods:</strong>
One hundred patients from both sexes and different age groups (1-80) years were included in this study. They were attending Department of Orthopedics and Joints Diseases in Ramadi GeneralHospital and Private Clinics of Orthopedics and Joints diseases during the period from May 2008 to January 2009. synovial fluid aspirates and blood specimens were taken from each one , these specimens were manipulated soon following bacteriological ,serological and biochemical required tests.
<strong>Results: </strong>
Twenty five (25) patients were suffering from septic arthritis and seventy five (75) of them were affected with aseptic type, males represented 67% of total patients.
The highest rate of arthritis was found within age group (19-49) years old while septic arthritis was higher within Age group (50-80) years old patients. Synovial fluid from 22 patients showed poor mucin while that from 23 patients had low viscosity and 10 patients showed purulent synovial fluid. Gram positive bacteria were most common pathogens, regarding single infections <em>Staphylococcus aureus </em> took the first rank of isolation (11 isolates) with (55%) followed by <em>Staphylococcus epidermidis </em>and <em>Escherichia coli</em>. Other bacteria were showing lower rate of isolation. patients with septic arthritis were showing more WBCs in their synovial fluid. The mean values of C- reactive protein within age groups (19-49) and (50-80) years of septic arthritis were 26 mg/L and 27 mg/L respectively. (17) patients with aseptic arthritis and one patient of septic arthritis showed positive rheumatoid factor test.
One child and another one patient within the same age group (19-49) years old were showed positive titer of ASOT test.
Mean sugar values in synovial fluid of septic type were lower than that of a septic type while all patients were showing higher protein values in synovial fluid.Egyptian Society of Biological SciencesEgyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, G. Microbiology2090-08722220101201Secondary Bacterial Infections Complicating Psoriasis37421670610.21608/eajbsg.2010.16706ENShehab A.LafiMicrobiology Department, College of Medicine, AL-Anbar UniversityAbdullah S.HasanDermatology Department, College of Medicine, Al-Anbar UniversityMuntaha M.Al-AlowssiMicrobiology Department, College of Medicine, AL-Anbar UniversityJournal Article20181015<strong>Background</strong>: Psoriasis is a chronic lifelong skin disease most commonly causing erythematous popular and scaly plaques depending on lesion type. Secondary bacterial invaders complicate such lesions. Objectives of this study were to detect the types of aerobic and anaerobic bacterial invaders commonly complicate psoriatic lesions.
<strong>Patients and Methods</strong>: Swabs were taken from different lesions of different sites of patients with psoriasis. Specimens were examined bacteriologically as soon as possible (within one hour) by direct gram stained smears were examined microscopically and indirectly by cultivation aerobically and anaerobic using suitable culture media and cultivation environments. Bacterial isolates were diagnosed and confirmed using suitable diagnostic techniques.
<strong>Results</strong>: Psoriasis was found higher in individuals of age group (18-40) years old and majority of them (38; 48.7%) were showing distributed psoriatic lesions whole over the body. <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> took the first rank of isolation 23 (29.5%). <em>Proteus </em>spp. and <em>Staphylococcus epidermidis </em>became next 11 and 9 for each respectively. Other bacterial isolates were showed lower rate of isolation like <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>, <em>Bacillus </em>spp. Enteric bacteria were primarily isolated from children. Also,<em> E. coli </em>and <em>Enterococcus fecalis. </em>Anaerobic bacteria represented by <em>Propionobacter </em>spp., <em>Fusarium </em>spp. and <em>Clostridium perfringens </em>were isolated within few numbers (3, 2, 1) for each respectively.
<strong>Conclusion</strong>: Secondary bacterial infections of different types complicate psoriatic lesions on different sites of the body, so we recommended the follow up of perfect sanitation and disinfection with suitable antimicrobial regimen to reduce infection hazards.Egyptian Society of Biological SciencesEgyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, G. Microbiology2090-08722220101201The bactericidal efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma technology on some bacterial strains43471670710.21608/eajbsg.2010.16707ENRaja M.MomanDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, AL-Fateh University for Medical Sciences and Plasma Research laboratoryHmedaNajmaldeenDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, AL-Fateh University for Medical Sciences and Plasma Research laboratoryJournal Article20181015Plasma, a mix of ionized gas molecules and free electrons, is often referred to as the fourth state of matter. There are different applications of plasma in our life starts from easy lighting to disease fighting and it’s nothing new. Fluorescent lights, air conditions and plasma televisions use it. One of its different types is atmospheric cold plasma, the possible applications for sterilization using cold plasmas range from the food industry to planetary space missions. The same technique could also be used on space craft leaving Earth to avoid transporting micro-organisms from Earth to other planets or moons.
The use of toxic chemicals to sterilize medical instruments may soon be a thing of the past because the use of cold plasma to sterilize heat-sensitive reusable medical tools in a rapid, safe, and effective way is bound to replace the present method which uses a toxic gas as ethylene oxide, in addition to its use for air purification. Lately it is tested to prepare surfaces for bonding and kill bacteria on delicate living tissues.
We report the results of an interdisciplinary collaboration formed to assess the sterilizing capabilities of the cold atmospheric plasma. This newly-invented source of plasma is capable of operating at atmospheric pressure in air and other gases, and of providing antimicrobial activity at room temperature as judged by viable plate counts. Plasma exposures have reduced log numbers of three tested bacterial strains namely, <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> seeded on solid surfaces of Muller-Hinton agar at room temperature. Initial experimental data showed ≥5 log<sub>10</sub> CFU reduction of bacteria when 5×10<sup>6</sup> cfu.ml<sup>-1</sup> of samples seeded on MHA plates. Results showed >5 log<sub>10</sub> CFU reduction with <em>E. coli</em> when exposed for up to 360 sec to plasma while the same exposure time was required for 5 log<sub>10</sub> CFU reduction killing with <em>S. aureus</em> samples, the least affected by this treatment was <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> cell suspensions where there was a very few reduction in number of survivals (≤ 10% of the whole population) after the same exposure time application. For all microorganisms tested, a biphasic curve was generated when the number of survivors versus time was plotted in dose-response curves.
In conclusion we can report that the atmospheric cold plasma generated by this method has proven sterilization (kill) capability against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in different extents depending on special strain characteristics.Egyptian Society of Biological SciencesEgyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, G. Microbiology2090-08722220101201Evaluation of Apoptotic proteins (p53 and Bcl-2) expression in trophoblastic tissue of women infected with Toxoplasma gondii diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction49571670810.21608/eajbsg.2010.16708ENNidhalAbdulmohaimenAl-Nahrain college of medicine/Dept. microbiologySafaaMezbanAl-Nahrain college of medicine/Dept. microbiologyJournal Article20181015Background: Gene amplification methods (PCR, LCR, NASBA, etc.) are now used widely in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Certain types of oncogene products, are known to be physiologically expressed in the placenta among these products are Bcl-2 and p53 proteins.
Aim: Use of gene amplification (Polymerase Chain Reaction/ PCR) in the investigation and diagnosis of toxoplasmosis .And to evaluate Bcl-2 and p53 as an anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins in the trophoblastic tissue of <em>T.gondii </em>positive, negative and induced aborted women.
Materials and methods: A total of forty pregnant women, their age ranged from (20 − 50) years, were enrolled in the current study and were further classified into three categories:<em> Toxoplasma gondii </em>positive patients: with spontaneous miscarriage (20 women), <em>Toxoplasma gondii </em>negative patients: with spontaneous miscarriage (10 women) and control group (women with induced abortion for medical causes) (10 women).
Venous blood was collected from all women, for the detection of specific anti-<em>Toxoplasma gondii </em>IgM in the serum using the ELISA test. polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) was used for the detection of <em>Toxoplasma gondii </em>DNA in trophoplastic tissue as a diagnostic methods for <em>T.gondii </em>for both positive and negative groups,and for immunohistochemical analysis for the detection of apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and p53).
Results: Twelve (40%) samples out of the (30) were negative for anti-<em>Toxoplasma gondii </em>IgM while the rest 18 (60%) were positive for IgM, but when using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) two of the negative samples in ELISA were found to be positive for toxoplasma B1 specific gene. The highest percentage of Bcl-2 was found in the <em>T.gondii </em>negative group (34.90%±3.44) and control group (38.19%±0.79, while the lowest percentage (10.93%±1.44) was found in the <em>T.gondii </em>positive group.
There was no statistical difference (p ≤ 0.363) in the mean percentage of Bcl-2 between <em>T. gondii </em>negative and control group; while there was a high significant differences (p=0.000) in the mean percentage of Bcl-2 in <em>T. gondii </em>positive group compared to cotrols. In addition a high significant differences (p= 0.000) in the mean percentage of Bcl-2 was found between <em>T. gondii </em>positive and negative groups.
The highest percentage of expression of p53 protein was found in the <em>T.gondii </em>positive group (31.56%±1.28) and the lowest percentage was in both <em>T.gondii </em>negative and control groups (18.93±1.054 and 11.73±1.810 respectively).
There was statistical difference (p ≤ 0.003) in the mean percentage of p53 between <em>T.gondii </em>negative and control groups .In addition there was high significant differences (p=0.000) in the mean percentage of p53 between <em>T.gondii </em>positive group and control groups and between <em>T.gondii </em>positive and negative groups.
Conclusiocn:This assures the specificity and sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction as a molecular method for diagnosis of: <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>. And high levels of p53 protein found in positive samples for <em>toxoplasma gondii </em>infection might indicated the important role of this protein in cell death and induction of apoptosis that lead to the end of pregnancy with abortion. Low levels of Bcl-2 in aborted women infected with <em>T.gondii </em>might indicated that Bcl-2 have no role in preventing or initiate apoptosis.Egyptian Society of Biological SciencesEgyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, G. Microbiology2090-08722220101201Serological Detection of the Thermoactinomyces vulagris Antigen in Farmer’s lung disease Patients using ELISA method59641670910.21608/eajbsg.2010.16709ENBasima A.AbdullaBiology Dep., College of Science, Mousal UniversityEssra G.Al-SammakBiology Dep., College of Science, Mousal UniversityAnmar A.Al-TaieBiology Dep., College of Science, Mousal UniversityJournal Article20181015Serological detection of IgG antibodies to antigens one soil isolate 0f thermophilic actinomycetes belonged to the species <em>Thermoactinomyces vulgaris</em> in (70) sera of patients with farmer’s lung disease and hay fever patients compared with control normal peoples in the same environmental condition were carried out using ELISA method. The results indicated that (19) sera from symptomatic patients having IgG level between (1.007-1.626 ) I.U/ml, four of them having farmer’s lung disease and the remaining have hay fever as diagnosed by clinical . The IgG level between (0.293-0.944) I.U/ml indicated negative and which was found in(16) patients two of them having farmer’s lung disease and the remaning have hay fever. The IgG level of normal people were devided in two groups: first account positive control was between (1.089-2.147) I.U/ml and the second account negative was between (0.819-0.959) I.U/ml.
The present study has demonstrated the usefulness of estimation of specific IgG antibodies activity to thermophilic actinomyces by ELISA for the diagnosis of farmer’s lung disease as a screening test of large number of samples with sufficient high sensitivity.Egyptian Society of Biological SciencesEgyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, G. Microbiology2090-08722220101201Studies on contamination and quality of fresh fish meats during storage65741671010.21608/eajbsg.2010.16710ENGamal El-Deen M. R.El-ShameryDept of Micro, Fac of Science, Taiz Univ, Republic of YemenJournal Article20181015The aimed of this study showed the possibility<br />to evaluate the quality and find out the degree of contamination of local fresh<br />fish meats, this fish its common name in Yemen is (Gahsh), and its scientific<br />name is (Lethrinus elongatus). The samples taken from Taiz city<br />markets [Republic of Yemen], and stored at room temperature, the<br />microbiological, physical and chemical changes were followed by examination of<br />samples during storage at zero time as (control samples) and every day. The<br />results illustrate the microbial contamination increasing and the evaluation of<br />the physical and chemical characteristics quality were decreased and<br />deteriorated during storage. As well as isolation seventeen species of bacteria<br />identified and classification to six groups of <br />Bacillus spp obtained <br />from prior samples. On other hand the population of<br />Aerobic, Anaerobic, Spore formers, Yeast and Moulds Enterobacteriaceae, Coli<br />form groups, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus <br />spp, Streptococcus spp,<br />Clostridium spp,<br />Bacillus spp, Enterococcus spp and Proteolysis bacteria, were increased by the<br />following percentages: 68.56%, 43.2%, 26.75%, 28.82%, 49.59%, 16.66%, 15.00%, <br />30.53%, 24.24%,16.92%, 14.52%,<br />14.49%, and 50.50% respectively. The<br />nutrition chemical characteristics i.e [Moisture, Protein and Fat content] were<br />decreased as following percentages: 0.81 %, 0.54% and 0.63 % respectively, and<br />the Carbohydrate content increasing as 43.97%. The chemical indicates for<br />spoilage i.e [Total volatile nitrogen, Tri<br />methyl amine, Ammonia nitrogen, Thiobarabituric acid, Total energy value and<br />Water holding capacity] increasing as following percentages: 147.87%, 114.74%,<br />82.55%, 62.57%, 1.43 % and 16.36% respectively. The pH value and Bound water<br />decreased as 7.00% and 3.89% respectively, as compared<br />with the control samples.