Development of a fast and precise potency test for BCG vaccine viability using flow cytometry compared to MTT and colony-forming unit assays.

In a precarious world of rapidly growing pandemics, the field of vaccine production has witnessed considerable growth. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live-attenuated vaccine and a part of the immunization program in 157 countries. The quality control is based on a potency test through viable cell enumeration.

A combined inactivated cholera and hepatitis A vaccine-induced potent protective immunity in a mouse model.

Cholera and hepatitis A are serious infections spread by consuming contaminated food or water. Vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent them. Inactivated vaccines are available for both diseases.

Antibiotic sensitivity/resistance pattern of hospital acquired blood stream infection in children cancer patients: A retrospective study.

Background: The literature shows a growing emphasis on understanding the local patterns of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We aimed to evaluate the spectrum of local microorganisms that cause bloodstream infections (BSI) and their AMR patterns in an Egyptian institution treating children with cancer.

Methods: We conducted a single-centre, retrospective, study on children with confirmed primary, hospital-acquired, BSIs over one year.

Chitosan and alginate salt as biomaterials are potential natural adjuvants for killed cholera vaccine.

Chitosan and alginate salts are natural biopolymers that have gained recent attention in the biomedical sectors. Their properties allow them to become potential candidates as safe, cheap, and effective vaccine adjuvants. The present study aimed to enhance the immunogenic response of a current injectable killed cholera vaccine (KCV) using chitosan and alginate salt as natural adjuvants against alum.

Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Biofilm Potentials of Bacteriocins Produced by Non-Pathogenic Enterococcus sp.

The incidence of cancer is increasing worldwide; likewise, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant biofilm-forming pathogens has led to a tremendous increase in morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the probiotic properties of bacteriocin-producing Enterococcus sp. with a focus on their anti-biofilm and anticancer activities.

Automated preparation for identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing: evaluation of a research use only prototype, the BD Kiestra IdentifA/SusceptA system.

Objective: The current BD Kiestra™ total laboratory automation (TLA) system automates specimen inoculation, incubation, and digital visualization of cultures prior to initiation of manual or semi-automated identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). The current study aimed to compare the performance, in a clinical setting, of a fully automated research-use-only prototype, BD Kiestra™ IdentifA/SusceptA (automated system), to our current BD Kiestra™ TLA which utilizes manual or semi-automated IDs and ASTs (current system).

Methods: Clinical samples yielding significant growth after processing by the BD Kiestra™ TLA were tested in parallel for ID and AST by both systems.

Alginate-coated chitosan nanoparticles act as effective adjuvant for hepatitis A vaccine in mice.

The numerous recent hepatitis A outbreaks emphasize the need for vaccination; despite the effectiveness of the current ones, developments are needed to overcome its high cost plus some immune response limitations. Our study aims to evaluate the use of chitosan and alginate-coated chitosan nanoparticles as an adjuvant/carrier for the hepatitis A vaccine (HAV) against the traditional adjuvant alum. Immune responses towards (HAV-Al) with alum, (HAV-Ch) with chitosan, and (HAV-aCNP) with alginate-coated chitosan nanoparticles, were assessed in mice.

Correction: Bioassay- and metabolomics-guided screening of bioactive soil actinomycetes from the ancient city of Ihnasia, Egypt.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Bioassay- and metabolomics-guided screening of bioactive soil actinomycetes from the ancient city of Ihnasia, Egypt.

Literature surveys, taxonomical differences, and bioassay results have been utilized in the discovery of new natural products to aid in Actinomycetes isolate-selection. However, no or less investigation have been done on establishing the differences in metabolomic profiles of the isolated microorganisms. The study aims to utilise bioassay- and metabolomics-guided tools that included dereplication study and multivariate analysis of the NMR and mass spectral data of microbial extracts to assist the selection of isolates for scaling-up the production of antimicrobial natural products.

CPO Complete, a novel test for fast, accurate phenotypic detection and classification of carbapenemases.

Carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs) are Gram-negative bacteria that are typically resistant to most or all antibiotics and are responsible for a global pandemic of high mortality. Rapid, accurate detection of CPOs and the classification of their carbapenemases are valuable tools for reducing the mortality of the CPO-associated infections, preventing the spread of CPOs, and optimizing use of new β-lactamase inhibitor combinations such as ceftazidime/avibactam, meropenem/vaborbactam and imipenem/relebactam. The current study evaluated the performance of CPO Complete, a novel, manual, phenotypic carbapenemase detection and classification test.

Activity of Cefepime-Zidebactam against Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Gram-Negative Pathogens.

This study compared the activity of cefepime + zidebactam (FEP-ZID) and selected currently available antibacterial agents against a panel of multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates chosen to provide an extreme challenge for antibacterial activity. FEP⁻ZID had a very broad and potent in vitro spectrum of activity, and was highly active against many MDR isolates of , , and . Notably, it inhibited isolates producing carbapenemases of Ambler classes A, B, and D, and isolates with multiple resistance mechanisms including combinations of upregulated efflux, diminished or non-functional OprD porins, and AmpC overproduction.

Comparison of the Carba NP, Modified Carba NP, and Updated Rosco Neo-Rapid Carb Kit Tests for Carbapenemase Detection.

The accurate detection of carbapenemase-producing organisms is a major challenge for clinical laboratories. The Carba NP test is highly accurate but inconvenient, as it requires frequent preparation of fresh imipenem solution. The current study was designed to compare the Carba NP test to two alternative tests for accuracy and convenience.

A dysfunctional tricarboxylic acid cycle enhances fitness of Staphylococcus epidermidis during β-lactam stress.

Unlabelled: A recent controversial hypothesis suggested that the bactericidal action of antibiotics is due to the generation of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS), a process requiring the citric acid cycle (tricarboxylic acid [TCA] cycle). To test this hypothesis, we assessed the ability of oxacillin to induce ROS production and cell death in Staphylococcus epidermidis strain 1457 and an isogenic citric acid cycle mutant. Our results confirm a contributory role for TCA-dependent ROS in enhancing susceptibility of S.