March 2017

Isolation and characterization of potential probiotic enterococci strains from soft cheese flora

This study was conducted to determine the in-vitro probiotic properties of Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from soft cheese. To evaluate the safety of Enterococcus strains, we compared the pathogenic genes, antimicrobial susceptibility of the probiotic strains to those of clinical isolates, and their antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogenic and spoilage bacteria. Enterococcus strains were identified...

Author(s): Luciana Furlaneto Maia, Amanda Giazzi, Claudia Brandalize, Marly Sayuri Katsuda, Kátia Real Rocha, Márcia Regina Terra and Márcia Cristina Furlaneto

March 2017

Phenotypic and genotypic detection of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance among clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from Mansoura University Children Hospital, Egypt

Widespread use of Macrolide, lincosamide and Streptogramin B (MLSB) family of antibiotics in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has led to an increased resistance to MLSB antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of MLSB resistance among clinical isolates of methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from Mansoura University Children...

Author(s): Nashwa M. Al-Kasaby and Noha Tharwat Abou El-Khier

March 2017

Antibacterial effects of Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.) Guill. & Perr. and Terminalia glaucescens Planch. Ex Benth. on rapidly growing mycobacteria species

The development of effective and less toxic antimicrobial agents is required for the treatment of respiratory tract infections. This study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical and antibacterial activities of Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.) (Guill. & Perr.) and Terminalia glaucescens (Planch. ex Benth.) against non-tuberculous mycobacteria species. The methanol, dichloromethane and aqueous extracts were screened...

Author(s): Temitope O. Lawal, Titilayo B. Bamiduro, Jumbo M. Ofonmbuk, Taiwo O. Elufioye, Bolanle A. Adeniyi and Gail B. Mahady

March 2017

Fungal diversity and community structure in gut, mound and surrounding soil of fungus-cultivating termites

The fungus-cultivating termites (Macrotermitinae) form part of diverse termite fauna in Africa, but information on their fungal symbionts is inadequate and poorly understood. In this study, the fungal communities and structure between termite gut, mound and surrounding soil were determined using the 454 pyrosequencing-based analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene sequences. Genomic DNA was extracted and...

Author(s): Huxley Mae Makonde, Romano Mwirichia, Edith Mnyazi Muwawa, Hans-Peter Klenk  and Hamadi Iddi Boga

March 2017

In silico analysis of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-borne alphavirus

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alpha virus, which belongs to the family, Togaviridae. This virus is known to cause an acute onset of high fever, severe arthralgia and rash, and is usually accompanied by headache and severe joint pain. The present study aimed to construct an updated phylogenetic tree of currently published data and perform a phylogeographic analysis of Chikungunya virus obtained during...

Author(s): Khalil H. Al Ali, Hatem Qadhy Makhdoom and Mouhanad Al Ali