Isolation and characterization of a monoaromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa from crude oil.

The present study reports on the isolation and characterization of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PTz-5 from crude oil from oil field sampled in Assam, India. It was capable to utilize hexadecane, benzene or toluene as a sole source of carbon aerobically. Strain PTz-5 was able to produce extracellular lipase that catalyzed triglycerides to free fatty acid and glycerol.

Development of a simple latex agglutination assay for detection of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) by using polyclonal antibody against STEC.

Rabbit antiserum raised against the whole-cell antigen of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strain VT3 (stx1+ stx2+ eae+) was repeatedly adsorbed with heat-killed cells of different non-STEC strains and other enteric bacteria. Thus, the antiserum obtained was designated VT3 antiserum. VT3 antiserum reacted with intimin type gamma.

Antibacterial, antisecretory and antihemorrhagic activity of Azadirachta indica used to treat cholera and diarrhea in India.

Indigenous uses of Azadirachta indica A. juss (Maliaceae) (locally known as neem) leaves in different parts of India for curing gastrointestinal disorder such as diarrhea and cholera is wide spread. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antisecretory activity of neem extract against Vibrio cholerae, a causative agent of watery diarrhea such as cholera.