Cornmeal-induced resistance to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin in enterococci

Triclosan is used as an antibacterial agent in household items and personal care products. Since this compound is found in maternal milk of humans and bodies of wild animals, there is growing concern among some consumer groups and scientific community that triclosan is adverse for humans and wild animals. In order to estimate adverse actions of triclosan, the effects of triclosan on intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration and cellular thiol content were studied in rat thymocytes by the use of flow cytometer with appropriate fluorescent probes. Triclosan at 1-3 μM (sublethal concentrations) increased the intensity of FluoZin-3 fluorescence (intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration) and decreased the intensity of 5-chloromethylfluorescein (5-CMF) fluorescence (cellular thiol content). Negative correlation (r = −0.985) between triclosan-induced changes in FluoZin-3 and 5-CMF fluorescences was found. Removal of external Zn²⁺ did not significantly affect the triclosan-induced augmentation of FluoZin-3 fluorescence, suggesting an intracellular Zn²⁺ release by triclosan. These actions of triclosan were similar to those of H₂O₂ and triclosan significantly potentiated the cytotoxicity of H₂O₂. Therefore, the results may suggest that triclosan at sublethal concentrations induces oxidative stress that decreases cellular thiol content, resulting in an increase in intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration by Zn²⁺ release from intracellular store(s). Since recent studies show many physiological roles of intracellular Zn²⁺ in cellular functions, the triclosan-induced disturbance of cellular Zn²⁺ homeostasis may induce adverse actions on the cells.     

Evaluation of 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives as antibacterial agents: activity and mechanistic studies

● All 1,4-naphthoquinone hybrids exhibited significant antimicrobial activity. ● Presence of a hydroxyl group on aromatic B-ring of juglone was crucial for activity. ● Juglone can cause DNA damage by producing ROS and downregulation of RecA. ● Juglone has the potential to become a disinfectant. The diverse and large-scale application of disinfectants posed potential health risks and caused ecological damage during the 2019-nCoV pandemic, thereby increasing the demands for the development of disinfectants based on natural products, with low health risks and low aquatic toxicity. In the present study, a few natural naphthoquinones and their derivatives bearing the 1,4-naphthoquinone skeleton were synthesized, and their antibacterial activity against selected bacterial strains was evaluated. In vitro antibacterial activities of the compounds were investigated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Under the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ≤ 0.125 μmol/L for juglone (1a), 5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (1f), and 7-methyl-5-acetoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (3c), a strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus was observed. All 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives exhibited a strong antibacterial activity, with MIC values ranging between 15.625 and 500 μmol/L and EC₅₀ values ranging between 10.56 and 248.42 μmol/L. Most of the synthesized compounds exhibited strong antibacterial activities against S. aureus. Among these compounds, juglone (1a) showed the strongest antibacterial activity. The results from mechanistic investigations indicated that juglone, a natural naphthoquinone, caused cell death by inducing reactive oxygen species production in bacterial cells, leading to DNA damage. In addition, juglone could reduce the self-repair ability of bacterial DNA by inhibiting RecA expression. In addition to having a potent antibacterial activity, juglone exhibited low cytotoxicity in cell-based investigations. In conclusion, juglone is a strong antibacterial agent with low toxicity, indicating that its application as a bactericidal agent may be associated with low health risks and aquatic toxicity.     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil from the seeds of Enterolobium contortisiliquum (leguminosae)

Seeds of Enterolobium contortisiliquum were subjected to steam distillation to obtain a light yellow essential oil in a yield of 3 ml/kg of seeds. The major components of the oil were identified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and were furfural, limonene, linalool, estragole, carvone, and apiole with carvone representing more than 50% of the total composition. Antimicrobial activities of the essential oil were determined against four species of gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus) and two gram negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia Marcescencs). The essential oil inhibited the growth of all tested bacteria but was most effective against the gram positive bacteria. Chemicals that are responsible for the antibacterial effect of the essential oil were determined using the bio-autography thin layer chromatography (TLC) technique. The active compounds responsible for the activity were found to be carvone and estragole.     

Triclosan,a commonly used bactericide found in human milk and in the aquatic environment in Sweden

High levels of the commonly used, effective bactericide Triclosan was found in three out of five randomly selected human milk samples. It was also found in the bile of fish exposed to municipal wastewater and in wild living fish from the receiving waters of the three wastewater treatment plants.     

一株拮抗烟草青枯病菌的真菌的筛选与鉴定

为寻找烟草青枯病的生防微生物,研究采用平板涂布法从重庆烟田健康土壤中分离根际微生物,纯化后得到了59株真菌。用滤纸片法从中筛选出1株对青枯雷尔氏菌（Ralstonia solanacearum）有稳定拮抗效果的真菌,其抑菌圈为10.0 mm。其抑制活性优于或接近于近期发现的其他生防微生物。测定该株活性真菌的全细胞脂肪酸组成,进行菌落和分生孢子形态学观察,以及rDNA ITS区测序,结果表明：该菌株全细胞脂肪酸属性未被收录于TSBA6脂肪酸数据库,而根据形态学观察结果,以及对所获rDNA ITS区序列的分析,鉴定该株真菌为烟曲霉（Aspergillus fumigatus）。     

Microwave mediated synthesis and characterization of CeO2-GO hybrid composite for removal of chromium ions and its antibacterial efficiency

A facile fabrication and processing of cerium oxide-graphene oxide(CeO_2-GO) hybrid nanocomposites without the use of any surfactant or any organic solvents using chemical method and treatment with microwave irradiation technique are reported. In-situ hexagonal nano cerium oxide particles embedded on the layered surface of GO sheets were investigated for the photodegradation of dyes, removal of chromium Cr(VI) ions and against antibacterial studies. The results imply that hybrid nanocomposites shows enhanced 5-folds of photocatalytic activities in UV(ultraviolet) light irradiation and exhibited rapid efficiency in the elimination of chromium ion better than the pure GO and CeO_2, which are inhibited by competent photosensitive electron inoculation and controlling the electron–hole recombination. The synergetic effect of CeO_2-GO composites played a vital role in showing better results against model bacterium than GO and CeO_2 are due to higher physical interaction endorsed to the stress of membranes acute by piercing edges,large surface area, and higher adsorptive conditions of graphene oxide sheets tailored with ceria particles. The amount of charge transferred at the interface increases with the concentration of O atoms, demonstrating the interaction between CeO_2 and GO is much stronger than CeO_2 and GO are due to the decrease of the average equilibrium distance between the interfaces. The CeO_2-GO interface staggered band alignments existing between the CeO_2 surfaces and GO which shows an excellent synergism. The structure and morphology of composites were tested by X-ray diffraction(XRD), Fourier transform infrared(FTIR), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscope(HR-TEM).     

Toxicity of twenty-two plant essential oils against pathogenic bacteria of vegetables and mushrooms

Toxicity of twenty-two essential oils to three bacterial pathogens in different horticultural systems: Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (causing blight of bean), Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (bacterial wilt and canker of tomato), and Pseudomonas tolaasii (causal agent of bacterial brown blotch on cultivated mushrooms) was tested. Control of bacterial diseases is very difficult due to antibiotic resistance and ineffectiveness of chemical products, to that essential oils offer a promising alternative. Minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations are determined by applying a single drop of oil onto the inner side of each plate cover in macrodilution assays. Among all tested substances, the strongest and broadest activity was shown by the oils of wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), oregano (Origanum vulgare), and lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus. Carvacrol (64.0–75.8%) was the dominant component of oregano oils, while geranial (40.7%) and neral (26.7%) were the major constituents of lemongrass oil. Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli was the most sensitive to plant essential oils, being susceptible to 19 oils, while 11 oils were bactericidal to the pathogen. Sixteen oils inhibited the growth of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis and seven oils showed bactericidal effects to the pathogen. The least sensitive species was Pseudomonas tolaasii as five oils inhibited bacterial growth and two oils were bactericidal. Wintergreen, oregano, and lemongrass oils should be formulated as potential biochemical bactericides against different horticultural pathogens.     

Cow dung-derived biochars engineered as antibacterial agents for bacterial decontamination

Disposal of the pollutants arising from farming cattle and other livestock threatens the environment and public safety in diverse ways. Herein, we report on the synthesis of engineered biochars using cow dung as raw material, and investigating these biochars as antibacterial agents for water decontamination. By coating the biochars with N-halamine polymer and loading them with active chlorine (i.e., Cl⁺), we were able to regulate them on demand by tuning the polymer coating and bleaching conditions. The obtained N-halamine-modified biochars were found to be extremely potent against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. We also investigated the possibility of using these N-halamine-modified biochars for bacterial decontamination in real-world applications. Our findings indicated that a homemade filter column packed with N-halamine-modified biochars removed pathogenic bacteria from mining sewage, dairy sewage, domestic sewage, and artificial seawater. This proposed strategy could indicate a new way for utilizing livestock pollutants to create on-demand decontaminants.     

Whole blood is the sample matrix of choice for monitoring systemic triclocarban levels

The antibacterial triclocarban (TCC) concentrates in the cellular fraction of blood. Consequently, plasma levels are at least two-fold lower than the TCC amount present in blood. Utilizing whole blood sampling, a low but significant absorption of TCC from soap during showering is demonstrated for a small group of human subjects.