Analyzing Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria from Wastewater in Pakistan Using Whole-Genome Sequencing.

Wastewater is a major source of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (ARB) and a hotspot for the exchange of Antibiotic-Resistant Genes (ARGs). The occurrence of Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteria (CRB) in wastewater samples is a major public health concern. This study aimed to analyze Antibiotic resistance in bacteria from wastewater sources in Pakistan.

Production of bimodal molecular weight levan by a Lactobacillus reuteri isolate from fish gut.

An exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesizing potentially probiotic Gram-positive bacterial strain was isolated from fish (Tor putitora) gut, and its EPS was structurally characterized. The isolate, designated as FW2, was identified as Lactobacillus reuteri through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. This isolate produces fructan-type EPS using sucrose as a substrate.

Preparation, characterization and evaluation of glycerol plasticized chitosan/PVA blends for burn wounds.

Chitosan like natural polymers have been widely used in burn wound management. Novel low molecular weight chitosan-PVA soft membranes have been studied for antibacterial and wound healing properties. The effectiveness of antibacterial activity was carried against bacterial pathogens while wound healing nature of chitosan was conducted in second degree burns on rabbits as model animal.

Chitosan: A potential biopolymer for wound management.

It has been seen that slow healing and non-healing wounds conditions are treatable but still challenging to humans. Wound dressing usually seeks for biocompatible and biodegradable recipe. Natural polysaccharides like chitosan have been examined for its antimicrobial and healing properties on the basis of its variation in molecular weight and degree of deacetylation.

Bioactivity of Variant Molecular Weight Chitosan Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Human Wounds.

Chitosan available from crab shells is usually of high molecular weight which may result in reduced efficiency for its antibacterial activity. One of the techniques for improving chitosan antibacterial efficiency is reducing its molecular weight. The irradiation of chitosan by gamma radiations is considered to be one of the most effective and widely used methods for improving its antibacterial activity.

Metal nanoparticle assisted polymerase chain reaction for strain typing of Salmonella Typhi.

Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S. Typhi) is the causative agent of typhoid fever and remains a major health threat in most of the developing countries. The prompt diagnosis of typhoid directly from the patient's blood requires high level of sensitivity and specificity.

Characterization and potential applications of gamma irradiated chitosan and its blends with poly(vinyl alcohol).

Naturally available chitosan (CHI), of high molecular weight, results in reduced efficiency of these polymers for antibacterial activity. In this regard, irradiation is a widely used method for achieving reduction in molecular weight of polymers, which may improve some of its characteristics. Chitosan was extracted from crab shells and degraded by gamma radiations.

Polyhexamethylene biguanide functionalized cationic silver nanoparticles for enhanced antimicrobial activity.

Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), a broad spectrum disinfectant against many pathogens, was used as a stabilizing ligand for the synthesis of fairly uniform silver nanoparticles. The particles formed were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, dynamic light scattering, electrophoretic mobility, and TEM to measure their morphology and surface chemistry. PHMB-functionalized silver nanoparticles were then evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against a gram-negative bacterial strain, Escherichia coli.

Production of tylosin in solid-state fermentation by Streptomyces fradiae NRRL-2702 and its gamma-irradiated mutant (gamma-1).

Aims: To develop solid-state fermentation system (SSF) for hyper production of tylosin from a mutant gamma-1 of Streptomyces fradiae NRRL-2702 and its parent strain.

Methods And Results: Various agro-industrial wastes were screened to study their effect on tylosin production in SSF. Wheat bran as solid substrate gave the highest production of 2500 microg of tylosin g(-1) substrate by mutant gamma-1 against parent strain (300 microg tylosin g(-1) substrate).

Change in colony morphology and kinetics of tylosin production after UV and gamma irradiation mutagenesis of Streptomyces fradiae NRRL-2702.

Tylosin is a macrolide antibiotic used as veterinary drug and growth promoter. Attempts were made for hyper production of tylosin by a strain of Streptomyces fradiae NRRL-2702 through irradiation mutagenesis. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of wild-type strain caused development of six morphologically altered colony types on agar plates.