Characterization of pathogens involved in ventilator associated pneumonia in surgical and medical intensive care units - A single center experience.

In the present study 60 samples were collected from lower respiratory tract of patients suffering from Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) admitted in surgical and medical Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. Recovered pathogens were characterized and their susceptibility pattern against commonly used antibacterial agents investigated. Most frequent bacterial pathogen found was methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (40%) followed by members of Enterobacteriaceae (22%; of which Escherichia coli (50%), Klebsiella pneumonia (30%), Enterobacter cloacae (10%) and Citrobacter freundii (10%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 20% and Acinetobacter baumannii 18%.

Synthesis of secondary metabolites by Cladosporium resinae (NRL-6437) under different growth media and chemical inducers and their pharmaceutical activity.

The role of different growth media and chemical enhancer on synthesis of secondary metabolites Cladosporium resinae (NRL-6437) was investigated for their in vitro biological activities. Cladosporium resinae (NRL-6437) were grown in various nutrient media (Czapeak-dox Broth (CB), Czapeak Yeast-extract Broth (CYB), Yeast Extract Sucrose (YES), Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) and Czapeak-dox (supplemented with glucose and starch) Broth (CGSB) for the production of metabolites. Two chemical epigenetic modifiers (suberoyl-anilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and 5-azacytidine (5-AZA) were also used for the expression of silent genes for secondary metabolite production.

In vitro activity of antimicrobial agents against streptococcus pyogenes isolated from different regions of Khyber Pakhtun Khwa Pakistan.

The present study investigates the antibiotic resistance of S. pyogenes of 600 isolates collected from different body parts including throat and sputum were analyzed for their antimicrobial susceptibility to 5 antibiotics using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Based on different identification tests including, gram staining, beta hemolysis, catalase test and bacitracin sensitivity test, a total of 138 isolates were confirmed as S.

Cloning and characterization of novel methylsalicylic acid synthase gene involved in the biosynthesis of isoasperlactone and asperlactone in Aspergillus westerdijkiae.

Aspergillus westerdijkiae is the main producer of several biologically active polyketide metabolites including isoasperlactone and asperlactone. A 5298bp polyketide synthase gene "aomsas" has been cloned in Aspergillus westerdijkiae by using gene walking approach and RACE-PCR. The predicted amino acid sequence of aomsas shows an identity of 40-56% with different methylsalicylic acid synthase genes found in Byssochlamys nivea, P.

Regulation and role of a STE12-like transcription factor from the plant pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum.

In phytopathogenic fungi, STE12-like genes encode transcription factors essential for appressorium-mediated host penetration. However, their regulation and downstream targets are still unknown. In the present study, a STE12-like gene (CLSTE12) from Colletotrichum lindemuthianum was isolated.

Soil solarization: a safe, affective and practicable technique for the control of soil born fungi and nematodes.

A technique i.e., Soil Solarization and Amendments (neem, chicken farmyard manure, farmyard manure and biokhad viz synthetic bio fertilizer), towards the natural cropping system has been evaluated for its effectiveness and practicability at the National Agricultural Research Center Islamabad Pakistan.