An Antimicrobial Copper-Plastic Composite Coating: Characterization and In Situ Study in a Hospital Environment.

A method has been proposed for creating an operationally durable copper coating with antimicrobial properties for the buttons of electrical switches based on the gas dynamic spray deposition of copper on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. It is shown that during the coating process, a polymer film is formed on top of the copper layer. Comparative in situ studies of microbial contamination have shown that the copper-coated buttons have a significant antimicrobial effect compared to standard buttons.

Study of the Antibacterial Activity of Superhydrophilic and Superhydrophobic Copper Substrates against Multi-Drug-Resistant Hospital-Acquired Isolates.

The global spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) hospital-acquired pathogens is a serious problem for healthcare units. The challenge of the spreading of nosocomial infections, also known as hospital-acquired pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, must be addressed not only by developing effective drugs, but also by improving preventive measures in hospitals, such as passive bactericidal coatings deposited onto the touch surfaces. In this paper, we studied the antibacterial activity of superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic copper surfaces against the strain PA103 and its four different polyresistant clinical isolates with MDR.

Encapsulated Methionine γ-Lyase: Application in Enzyme Prodrug Therapy of Infection.

Lung disease caused by is the leading reason for death in cystic fibrosis patients. Therapeutic efficacy of the pharmacological pairs, the naked/encapsulated mutant form of methionine γ-lyase and the substrates, sulfoxides of S-substituted l-cysteine, generating thiosulfinates, was evaluated on the murine model of experimental sepsis caused by the multidrug-resistant 203-2 strain. The pairs containing the naked enzyme and substrates did not have antibacterial activity.

Antibacterial Effect of Thiosulfinates on Multiresistant Strains of Bacteria Isolated from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis.

The multiresistance of 155B, 122, and 48B strains isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis was established. The antibacterial effect of allicin, dimethyl thiosulfinate, and dipropyl thiosulfinate on multidrug-resistant strains was shown. Thiosulfinates can have both bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects depending on the microorganism and the concentration.

Staphylococcus simulans Recombinant Lysostaphin: Production, Purification, and Determination of Antistaphylococcal Activity.

Staphylococcus simulans lysostaphin is an endopeptidase lysing staphylococcus cell walls by cleaving pentaglycine cross-bridges in their peptidoglycan. A synthetic gene encoding S. simulans lysostaphin was cloned in Escherichia coli cells, and producer strains were designed.

The effect of mutation in the clpX gene on the synthesis of N-acyl-homoserine lactones and other properties of Burkholderia cenocepacia 370.

In order to study the regulation of N-acyl-homoserine lactones synthesis (AHLs, the signal molecules of Quorum Sensing regulation) in Burkholderia cenocepacia strain 370 we obtained mutants with increased AHL production. One of the mutants, named BC-B6, was obtained by TnMod-RKm(r) plasposon mutagenesis. The plasposon insertion was located within the clpX gene encoding the ATPase subunit ClpX of the ClpXP protease.

[ANTIBIOTICS SENSITIVITY OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS, PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA AND BACTERIA OF BURKHOLDERIA CEPACIA COMPLEX, PERSISTING IN LUNGS OF PATIENTS WITH MUCOVISCIDOSIS (MV)].

Aim: Study the spectrum of resistance to antibiotics and its variability of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC), persisting in lungs of MV patients.

Materials And Methods: 312 strains of S. aureus, 213 strains of P.

[The express diagnostic of microorganisms affecting respiratory tract of patients with mucoviscidosis].

The shared bacteria Burkholderia capacia complex and Achromobacter sp. infect the respiratory tract of patients with mucoviscidosis brining on disorders of respiratory patency. Burkholderia capacia complex is characterized by transmissivity and higher lethality of patients infected by Burkholderia.

[Characterization of genotypes for Burkholderia cepacia complex strains isolated from patients in hospitals of Russian Federation].

88 cultures of microorganisms referred to the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) during initial identification were analyzed by multilocus sequencing (Multilocus Sequence Typing, MLST). 13 genotypes (sequence type, ST) were detected, 9 of them (708, 709, 710, 711, 712, 714, 727, 728, 729) were identified for the first time. Two new alleles for the gene trpB (357, 358), one of the genes atpD (306) and gltB (352) were detected and registered.

[Persistence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in patients of Federal Scientific Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs].

Aim: Study genetic diversity of P. aeruginosa strains persisting in patients of Federal Scientific Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, and main factors facilitating persistence of strains in the hospital.

Materials And Methods: 136 P.

[Burkholderia cepacia persistence in patients with mucoviscidosis].

Aim: Study features of persistence of Burkholderia cepacia in mucoviscidosis patients.

Materials And Methods: In the period from 2008 to 2009, 56 B. cepacia strains isolated from children with mucoviscidosis were obtained.

[Mutants of Burkholderia cenocepacia with a change in synthesis of N-acyl-homoserine lactones--signal molecules of Quorum Sensing regulation].

By means of plasposon mutagenesis, mutants of Burkholderia cenocepacia 370 with the change in production of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL), signal molecules of the Quorum Sensing system of regulation, were obtained. To localize plasposon insertions in mutant strains, fragments of chromosomal DNA containing plasposons were cloned, adjacent DNA regions sequenced, and a search for homologous nucleotide sequences in the GeneBank was initiated. It has been shown that the insertion of plasposon into gene lon encoding lon proteinase drastically decreases AHL synthesis.

[Genetic diversity of Staphylococcus aureus strains that colonize nose mucous membrane of children living in a large industrial city].

Aim: Study of genetic diversity of Staphylococcus aureus strains that colonize nose mucous membrane of children living in an ecologically unfavorable district of Krasnoyarsk.

Materials And Methods: 20 S.aureus strains isolated from mucous membrane of anterior part of nose of children were genotyped by RAPD-PCR (random ampliphied polymorphic DNA) with an oligonucleotide primer (10 Sh1 nucleotide).

Bactericidal effects of non-thermal argon plasma in vitro, in biofilms and in the animal model of infected wounds.

Non-thermal (low-temperature) physical plasma is under intensive study as an alternative approach to control superficial wound and skin infections when the effectiveness of chemical agents is weak due to natural pathogen or biofilm resistance. The purpose of this study was to test the individual susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria to non-thermal argon plasma and to measure the effectiveness of plasma treatments against bacteria in biofilms and on wound surfaces. Overall, Gram-negative bacteria were more susceptible to plasma treatment than Gram-positive bacteria.

[Microbial population of lower respiratory tract in children from different age groups with cystic fibrosis].

Aim: To study microflora of lower respiratory tract of children from different age groups with cystic fibrosis during follow-up for determination of its variability and possible sources of infectious complications.

Materials And Methods: One hundred forty-one medical histories of patients from different age groups with cystic fibrosis living in various regions of Russian Federation were analyzed. Eighty-four children with cystic fibrosis living in Moscow and Moscow region treated as outpatients and inpatients were prospectively followed.

[Genotypic features of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains circulating in surgical hospital].

Aim: To study genetic diversity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains circulating in intensive care unit (ICU), to determine the source of these strains and duration of circulation of epidemically-significant clone in the hospital.

Materials And Methods: Genotyping of 106 P. aeruginosa strains isolated from patients, clinical specimens and fomites was performed by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis with oligonucleotide primer Sh1 of 10 bp long.

[Role of "quorum sensing" regulatory system in formation of biofilms by Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa].

Aim: To study influence of chemically synthesized lactones with different length of carbonic chain on formation of biofilms by Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-four strains of B. cepacia including reference strains and clinical isolates as well as etalon strain PA103 of P.

[Preclinical tests of Staphylococcus aureus somatic antigen as the basis for drugs for treatment of staphylococcal skin infections].

Aim: To analyze results of conducted preclinical animal tests of ointment and gel preparations based on the somatic antigen ("Somatin") of Staphylococcus aureus.

Materials And Methods: Contents of ointment and gel as well as method of "Somatin" extraction from cytosomatin ointment are presented. Standard serum was obtained by immunization of rabbits by "Somatin".

[Biofilm formation by strains of Burkholderia cepacia complex in dependence of their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics].

Biofilm formation was studied in 54 strains of Burkholderia cepacia complex isolated in 7 Moscow hospitals. 80% of strains (biofilm groups I and II) had the capacity to biofilm formation and only 16.7% of strains (group III) were not capable to biofilm formation.

Human angiogenin lacks specific antimicrobial activity.

The antimicrobial activities of commercially available human angiogenin were studied against two pathogens, namely, Candida albicans and Streptococcus pneumoniae. In contrast to the data published earlier, antimicrobial action of angiogenin was rather limited and comparable to that of bovine serum albumin.

[The role of "quorum sensing" regulation system in symbiotic interaction of bacteria Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa during mixed infection].

Data concerning mechanisms of strengthening virulence of bacteria B.cepacia and P.aeruginosa during experimental mixed-infection are submitted.

[Virulent properties of hospital strains of bacteria of the Burkholderia cepacia complex, isolated in hospitals of Moscow].

The results of the study of hospital strains of the B. cepacia complex, isolated in hospitals of Moscow, with the use of phenotypical and molecular-genetic methods are presented. The phenotypical methods made it possible to differentiate Russian strains and classify them with a group of genomovars (I, III, IV).

[Antibiotic resistance and putative origin of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella strains isolated from the children with intestinal dysbacteriosis].

The results of the statistical treatment of data on the analyses of 766 children, the residents of Moscow, for dysbacteriosis are presented; of these children, 34 were aged up to 1 month and 732, from 1 month to 1 year. This study revealed that in the fist year of life in children with dysbacteriosis the dominating bacterial species were S. aureus, bacteria of the genus Klebsiella and fungi of the genus Candida.

[Epidemiological aspects of the present-day demographic situation in Russia].

Study of reference rate in healthcare institutions in 1991 - 2001 demonstrated a steady growth of general mortality and disease incidence among the population (by 22.7% and 8.1%, respectively).

[Microbiological aspects of enteric dysbacteriosis in patients of different age groups, visiting outpatient clinics of Moscow].

The analysis of the intestinal microflora in 2,378 patients of different age revealed changes in the state of enteric microflora in all examined patients. In the maximum percent of cases a decrease in the amount of bifidobacteria was observed in children of up to 1 month old and in the amount of lactobacilli, in children aged 6 - 14 years. In patients of all age groups the representatives of such facultative microflora as Staphylococcus aureus or fungi of the genus Candida dominated.