Comparative activity against pathogenic bacteria of the root,stem, and leaf of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Raphanus sativus</Emphasis> grown in India

Aqueous, methanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform extracts of the root, stem, and leaf of Raphanus sativus were studied for antibacterial activity against food-borne and resistant pathogens. All extracts except the aqueous extracts had significant broad-spectrum inhibitory activity. The ethyl acetate extract of the root had the potent antibacterial activity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.016–0.064 mg/ml and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 0.016–0.512 mg/ml against health-damaging bacteria. This was followed by the ethyl acetate extracts of the leaf and stem with MICs of 0.064–0.256 and 0.128–0.256 mg/ml, respectively and MBCs of 0.128–2.05 and 0.256–2.05 mg/ml, respectively. The ethyl acetate extracts of the different parts of R. sativus retained their antibacterial activity after heat treatment at 100°C for 30 min, and their antibacterial activity was enhanced when pH was maintained in the acidic range. Hence this study, for the first time, demonstrated that the root, stem, and leaf of R. sativus had significant bactericidal effects against human pathogenic bacteria, justifying their traditional use as anti-infective agents in herbal medicines.     

Antimicrobial activity of crude extracts from mangrove fungal endophytes

The aim of this work was to select endophytic fungi from mangrove plants that produced antimicrobial substances. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) or minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFC) of crude extracts from 150 isolates were determined against potential human pathogens by a colorimetric microdilution method. Ninety-two isolates (61.3%) produced inhibitory compounds. Most of the extracts (28–32%) inhibited Staphylococcus aureus (MIC/MBC 4–200/64–200 μg ml⁻¹). Only two extracts inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC/MBC 200/>200 μg ml⁻¹). 25.5 and 11.7% inhibited Microsporum gypseum and Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC/MFC 4–200/8–200 μg ml⁻¹ and 8–200/8–200 μg ml⁻¹, respectively), while 7.5% were active against Candida albicans (MIC/MFC 32–200/32–200 μg ml⁻¹). None of the extracts inhibited Escherichia coli. The most active fungal extracts were from six genera, Acremonium, Diaporthe, Hypoxylon, Pestalotiopsis, Phomopsis, and Xylaria as identified using morphological and molecular methods. Phomopsis sp. MA194 (GU592007, GU592018) isolated from Rhizophora apiculata showed the broadest antimicrobial spectrum with low MIC values of 8–32 μg ml⁻¹against Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts and M. gypseum. It was concluded that endophytic fungi from mangrove plants are diverse, many produce compounds with antimicrobial activity and could be suitable sources of new antimicrobial natural products.     

Species of Agave with antimicrobial activity against selected pathogenic bacteria and fungi

The in vitro antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and molds were examined in extracts of the Agave species A. lecheguilla, A. picta, A. scabra and A. lophanta using an agar diffusion technique. The extracts of A. picta produced zones of inhibition of 9–13 mm for E. coli, L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and V. cholerae, while B. cereus and Y. enterocolitica were not inhibited. The other Agave species did not show any detectable inhibitory activity against the bacteria tested; however, all four Agave sp. were inhibitory against all yeast and molds analyzed as evident by 9–20 mm zones of inhibition. The minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) of the active extract ranged from 1.8 to 7.0 mg/ml for the sensitive bacteria, and 2.0–3.0 mg/ml for yeast. In the case of molds, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the active extracts ranged from 3.0 to 6.0 mg/ml. Together, these data suggest that the Agave sp. analyzed are potential antimicrobial candidates with a broad range of activity.     

红海榄内生细菌多样性及其抑制鱼类致病菌活性研究

红海榄为红树科红海属植物,广泛分布于热带海岸的红树林中,为真红树植物的典型代表。该研究以广西山口红树林国家级自然保护区红海榄为对象,应用稀释涂布法和三线法从红海榄各组织中分离出17株内生细菌,通过各菌株形态特征观察及利用16S rRNA序列基因和韦恩图分析其内生细菌多样性。结果表明:17株内生细菌分属3个门5科7属8种,Micromonospora和Mangrovibacter属为其优势类群。进一步分析发现红海榄根茎叶等组织的内生细菌类群差别较大,仅有1个相同菌属,17株菌中有3株菌与已有细菌物种典型菌株的全长16S rRNA基因相似性低于97%,代表着潜在的新属或新种。运用纸片法研究8株内生细菌发酵液的乙酸乙酯提取物对鱼类致病菌副溶血弧菌活性抑制效果,发现3株内生细菌(H003、H013、H009,浓度5 mg·m L-1)的代谢产物对副溶血弧菌具有较强的抑菌活性,其抑菌圈直径分别达到(8.4±0.07)、(8.2±0.07)、(8.3±0.14)mm。该研究结果表明红海榄中具有较好的内生细菌多样性和抑菌活性,为今后研究其内生细菌的化学多样性及其应用提供了重要的物质基础。     

Effect of essential oils on pathogenic and biofilm-forming Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains

Abstract

In this study, the effect of three essential oils (EOs) – clove oil (CO), thyme oil (TO), and garlic oil (GO), which are generally recognized as safe – on the planktonic growth, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), motility, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing (QS) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was investigated. All three EOs showed bacteriostatic activity, with MICs in the range 0.02%–0.09% (v/v). CO and TO completely controlled planktonic growth at 0.28% and 0.08% (v/v), which is four times their MIC (4?×?MIC), after 10?min, whereas GO completely controlled growth at 0.36% (v/v) (4?×?MIC) after treatment for 20?min. V. parahaemolyticus motility was significantly reduced by all three EOs at 4?×?MIC (0.28% for CO, 0.08% for TO, and 0.36% for GO), whereas QS was controlled and biofilm formation reduced by all three EOs at 8?×?MIC (0.56% for CO, 0.16% for TO, and 0.72% for GO) after 30?min of treatment. These results suggest that CO, TO, and GO have a significant inhibitory effect on V. parahaemolyticus cells in biofilm sand thus represent a promising strategy for improving food safety. These results provide the evidence required to encourage further research into the practical use of the proposed EOs in food preparation processes.     

Antimicrobial activity of an endophytic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xylaria</Emphasis> sp.YX-28 and identification of its antimicrobial compound 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin

An endophytic Xylaria sp., having broad antimicrobial activity, was isolated and characterized from Ginkgo biloba L. From the culture extracts of this fungus, a bioactive compound P3 was isolated by bioactivity-guided fractionation and identified as 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin by nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, and mass spectrometry spectral data. The compound showed strong antibacterial and antifungal activities in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus [minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) 16 μg·ml⁻¹], Escherichia coli (MIC, 10 μg·ml⁻¹), Salmonella typhia (MIC, 20 μg·ml⁻¹), Salmonella typhimurium (MIC, 15 μg·ml⁻¹), Salmonella enteritidis (MIC, 8.5 μg·ml⁻¹), Aeromonas hydrophila (MIC, 4 μg·ml⁻¹), Yersinia sp. (MIC, 12.5 μg·ml⁻¹), Vibrio anguillarum (MIC, 25 μg·ml⁻¹), Shigella sp. (MIC, 6.3 μg·ml⁻¹), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (MIC, 12.5 μg·ml⁻¹), Candida albicans (MIC, 15 μg·ml⁻¹), Penicillium expansum (MIC, 40 μg·ml⁻¹), and Aspergillus niger (MIC, 25 μg·ml⁻¹). This is the first report of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin in fungus and of the antimicrobial activity of this metabolite. The obtained results provide promising baseline information for the potential use of this unusual endophytic fungus and its components in the control of food spoilage and food-borne diseases.     

Bioactive metabolites from Alternaria brassicicola ML-P08, an endophytic fungus residing in Malus halliana

A total of 48 strains were isolated from the normal tissues of Malus halliana and the EtOAc extracts of their cultures were subjected to primary antimicrobial screening against four test bacteria and three fungi. As a result, 22 strains exhibited antimicrobial activity against at least one test microbe. Among them, Alternaria brassicicola ML-P08 showing strong activity (MICs: 0.31–2.50 mg/ml) was selected for further investigation on its secondary metabolites. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the EtOAc extract of its liquid culture afforded seven compounds, which were identified as alternariol (1), alternariol 9-methyl ether (2), altechromone A (3), herbarin A (4), cerevisterol (5), 3β,5α-dihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (6) and 3β-hydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-5,8,22-trien-7-one (7), respectively, by spectral means (MS, IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR). In vitro antimicrobial assay showed that compound 3 was substantially active against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Candida albicans with the MICs of 3.9, 3.9, 1.8, and 3.9 μg/ml, respectively. Compound 4 also showed pronounced antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum and C. albicans with MICs of both 15.6 μg/ml. In addition, compound 1 exhibited strong xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity with the IC₅₀ of 15.5 μM, comparable to that of positive control, allopurinol (IC₅₀: 10.7 μM).     

Isolation and characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from seafoods along the southwest coast of India

The work was aimed to study the microbial quality of the seafood sold in the domestic markets and incidence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Samples comprising of shellfish, finfish, and cephalopods were collected from various fish markets in and around Cochin. Presumed V. parahaemolyticus were identified by standard biochemical tests, and further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction targeting species-specific tl gene (450 bp). About 81% of the samples were found to exceed the limits specified for total plate count while total presumptive V. parahaemolyticus count was above the limit in 71% of the samples ranging from 5.5 × 10⁵ to 9.7 × 10⁷ and 0.31 × 10² to 7.8 × 10⁶ cfu/g, respectively. Pathogenicity of the identified isolates was confirmed by Kanagawa phenomenon and urease activity. A total of 10% of the isolates exhibited weak haemolysis on Wagatsuma agar, and 1% of the isolates showed urease activity using Christensen’s urea agar. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis revealed two major clusters based on the species rather than seasonality. The gel pattern revealed 8–10 bands ranging from 0.45 to 3.0 kb. Antibiogram results revealed 85% of the strains sensitive to chloramphenicol and nitrofurantoin. Multiple antibiotic resistance index was found to be 0.4 thus suggesting the risk potential involved in consuming seafoods. The present study has clearly demonstrated the need to adopt seafood safety measures for the products meant for human consumption.     

Occurrence and distribution of virulent strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafoods marketed from Cochin (India)

This study was aimed for the detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus by biochemical and molecular methods in seafood samples collected from the markets of Cochin located at the southwest coast of India. A total of seventy-two V. parahaemolyticus cultures were isolated by selecting sucrose and cellobiose non-fermenting colonies. All the biochemically confirmed strains were found to have 368-bp toxR gene fragment, while an additional 24% of the samples were confirmed as V. parahaemolyticus by toxR based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from enrichment broths. PCR based methods are used to detect tdh, trh, and orf8 genes for the identification of pathogenic and pandemic V. parahaemolyticus. Only one out of two urease positive isolates amplified the trh (500bp) gene. About 10% of the isolates showed weak haemolysis and none were found to amplify tdh (269 bp) and orf8 (746 bp) genes, thus indicating the meager incidence of pandemic strains from this area. The incidence of trh positive isolates from market samples signals towards the adoption of stringent seafood safety measures for the products meant for human consumption.     

Extracts of Acacia farnesiana and Artemisia ludoviciana inhibit growth, enterotoxin production and adhesion of Vibrio cholerae

Summary Extracts of 32 medicinal plants commonly used in Mexico were evaluated for their effects on the growth of Vibrio cholerae strains O1 and O139. Of these, the ethanolic extracts of Acacia farnesiana and Artemisia ludoviciana effectively inhibited bacterial growth. The effects of these plant extracts on enterotoxin production and adhesion of V. cholerae to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were determined. The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) for growth was 4.0–7.0 mg/ml for A. farnesiana and 4.0–6.0 mg/ml in A. ludoviciana spp. mexicana. Cholera toxin was inhibited when lower concentrations (50% or 75% of the MBC) of extracts were added to the media. Pre-exposing bacteria or CHO cells to various concentrations of extracts affected in a different manner the adhesion between bacteria and CHO cells.     

A potential antimicrobial treatment against ESBL-producing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella pneumoniae</Emphasis> using the tellurium compound AS101

Due to the extensive spread of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, the non-toxic immunomodulator, ammonium trichloro (dioxoethylene-o, o′) tellurate (AS101), was introduced for the first time in this study. Eleven strains of K. pneumoniae were tested: five were extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains and six were non-ESBL-producing strains. The MIC and MBC of ten strains were 9 μg/ml AS101 and 18 μg/ml for one strain. AS101 treatment inhibited bacterial growth in a dose-dependent manner on protein-rich media. No inhibition by AS101 was observed on poorer media. In combination with β-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) or cysteamine, AS101 inhibited bacterial growth in both types of media. Growth inhibition was also shown following AS101 treatment at both lag and log phases. Our data indicate that AS101 enters the bacterium through its porins, causing bacterial destruction. The mechanism of cell death was characterized using several techniques: (a) scanning electron microscopy showed that bacteria treated with AS101 or in combination with cysteamine exhibited evidence of cell-wall damage; (b) X-ray microanalysis demonstrated damage to Na/K pumps; and (c) transmission electron microscopy demonstrated cell lysis. These phenomena suggest that AS101 has antibacterial potential against K. pneumoniae infections. B. Sredni and Y. Nitzan were equal collaborators in this research.     

Antibacterial activities of essential oils from eight Greek aromatic plants against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus

Aromatic plants have been used widely to extend the shelf life of foods but at the same time research is undergoes for their properties as antibacterial agents in clinical use. Although there are promising results for the antimicrobial properties of various essential oils against environmental or food-isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus, limited work has been done concerning these properties against clinical isolates of this pathogen. S. aureus is responsible for an increase number of nosocomial infections and at the same time exhibits increased resistance to synthetic agents.In this study, essential oils from eight aromatic plants common in Greece were isolated by hydrodistillation, analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for their chemical components and tested for their antimicrobial activities against 24 clinical isolates of S. aureus. The methods used were disk diffusion and broth dilution in order to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).Our results showed that essential oils from Origanum vulgare and Origanum dictamnus were active against S. aureus when tested by disk diffusion, but exhibited increased MIC values (>256 mg/L) with the dilution method. In contrast, the reference strain NCTC 6571 showed to be extremely sensitive in most of the oils tested (MICs 0.25−32.0 mg/L) and resistant only to the essential oil from Ocimum basilicum. Therefore, there is no evidence of a potential clinical use for those essential oils and further research is needed in order to determine if they could substitute efficiently synthetic antibiotics or, perhaps be used in combination.     

基于高通量共聚焦激光扫描显微镜方法定量分析副溶血性弧菌生物被膜结构

【目的】副溶血性弧菌是水产品中常见的食源性致病菌,生物被膜的形成对副溶血性弧菌的环境生存和传播至关重要。这项工作的目的是评估临床和环境中分离出的44株副溶血性弧菌菌株形成的生物被膜的结构多样性。【方法】该研究基于共聚焦激光扫描显微镜的高通量方法,使用与高分辨率成像兼容的96孔微量滴定板,结合结构分析软件ISA-2来研究生物被膜形成和结构,分析22株食品与22株临床来源的副溶血性弧菌菌株形成的生物被膜结构参数(生物体积、平均厚度、粗糙系数)。【结果】CLSM图像显示,44株副溶血性弧菌菌株在培养48h后能够形成3D结构,进一步比较分析了临床来源菌株与环境来源菌株形成的生物被膜结构异同,发现临床菌株生物被膜的变异系数比环境菌株生物被膜的变异系数小,且同时携带tdh和trh两种毒力因子的菌株生物被膜变异性最小。凝聚层次聚类分析结果显示,副溶血性弧菌生物被膜可以分为致密且表面光滑(39%)、斑驳且表面粗糙(27%)、疏松且表面坑洼(34%),临床菌株易形成致密且表面光滑和斑驳且表面粗糙的生物被膜,而环境菌株易形成致密且表面光滑和疏松且表面坑洼的生物被膜。【结论】该研究深入了解了副溶血性弧菌生物被膜结构差异性,为今后对临床和环境来源的副溶血性弧菌生物被膜采取不同的防控和清除措施提供了理论支撑。     

Root-promoting rhizobacteria in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> cuttings

Cloned Eucalyptus spp. plantations are based in greenhouse production of plants generated by vegetative propagation. Diverse studies have demonstrated that rhizospheric bacteria can stimulate plant growth, and more recently that they can increase rooting in vegetative material. Considering this potential, the objective of this study was to verify the effect of bacterial strains on rooting Eucalyptus globulus. A total of 132 bacterial strains isolated from the rhizosphere of E. globulus and Eucalyptus nitens were studied. The bacterial inoculums in a concentration of 4 × 10⁸ cfu/ml were applied to the rooting substrate at the cutting installation and 45 days after by irrigation. Rooting was evaluated on days 60 and 75 after cutting installation, considering the number of roots as well as their fibrosity and roots biomass. Of the 132 strains evaluated, 26 significantly increased cutting rooting in a range of 191.4–69.4% with respect to the control. Additionally, some strains stimulated the development of fine roots and incremented the roots biomass. The strains identificated that produced a rooting effect were: Bacillus firmus, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, B. subtilis/amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus circulans, Brevibacillus brevis, Paenibacillus lautus and Stenotrophomona maltophilia. These first trials suggest the potential of these bacteria to be used in clonal production programs for E. globulus.     

Development of a haemolysin gene‐based multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of Vibrio campbellii,Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Aim: To develop a haemolysin (hly) gene‐based species‐specific multiplex PCR for simple and rapid detection of Vibrio campbellii, V. harveyi and V. parahaemolyticus. Methods and Results: The complete hly genes of three V. campbellii strains isolated from diseased shrimps were sequenced and species‐specific PCR primers were designed based on these sequences and the registered hly gene sequences of Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Specificity and sensitivity of the multiplex PCR was validated with 27 V. campbellii, 16 V. harveyi, and 69 V. parahaemolyticus, 18 other Vibrio species, one Photobacterium damselae and nine other bacterial species. The detection limits of all the three target species were in between 10 and 100 cells per PCR tube. Conclusions: Specificity and sensitivity of the multiplex PCR is 100% each and sufficient to be considered as an effective tool in a prediction system to prevent potential disease outbreak by these Vibrio species. Significance and Impact of the Study: Because there is lack of simple, rapid and cost‐effective method to differentiate these closely related V. campbellii, V. harveyi and V. parahaemolyticus species, the multiplex PCR developed in this study will be very effective in epidemiological, ecological and economical points of view.     

Acaricidal effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corymbia citriodora</Emphasis> oil containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis>-menthane-3,8-diol against nymphs of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ixodes ricinus</Emphasis> (Acari: Ixodidae)

The toxicity of para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), the main arthropod-repellent compound in the oil of the lemon eucalyptus, Corymbia citriodora, was evaluated against nymphs of Ixodes ricinus using five methods (A–E) of a contact toxicity bioassay. Mortality rates were estimated by recording numbers of dead nymphs at 30 min intervals during the first 5 h after the start of exposure and at longer intervals thereafter. The mortality rate increased with increasing concentration of PMD and duration of exposure with a distinct effect after 3.5 h. From the results obtained by methods A, C and E, the LC₅₀ range was 0.035–0.037 mg PMD/cm² and the LC₉₅ range was 0.095–0.097 mg PMD/cm² at 4 h of exposure; the LT₅₀ range was 2.1–2.8 h and the LT₉₅ range was 3.9–4.2 h at 0.1 mg PMD/cm². To determine the duration of toxic activity of PMD, different concentrations (0.002, 0.01, 0.1 mg PMD/cm²) were tested and mortality was recorded at each concentration after 1 h; thereafter new ticks were tested. This test revealed that the lethal activity of PMD remained for 24 h but appeared absent after 48 h. The overall results show that PMD is toxic to nymphs of I. ricinus and may be useful for tick control.     

Occurrence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio parahaemolyticus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio alginolyticus</Emphasis> in the German Bight over a seasonal cycle

Bacteria of the genus Vibrio are an important component of marine ecosystems worldwide. The genus harbors several human pathogens, for instance the species Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a main cause for foodborne gastroenteritis in Asia and the USA. Pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus strains emerged also in Europe, but little is known about the abundance, pathogenicity and ecology of V. parahaemolyticus especially in Northern European waters. This study focuses on V. parahaemolyticus and its close relative Vibrio alginolyticus in the North Sea (Helgoland Roads, Germany). Free-living, plankton-attached and shellfish-associated Vibrio spp. were quantified between May 2008 and January 2010. CFUs up to 4.3 × 10³ N l⁻¹ and MPNs up to 240 N g⁻¹ were determined. Phylogenetic classification based on rpoB gene sequencing revealed V. alginolyticus as the dominant Vibrio species at Helgoland Roads, followed by V. parahaemolyticus. We investigated the intraspecific diversity of V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus using ERIC-PCR. The fingerprinting disclosed three distinct groups at Helgoland Roads, representing V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus and one group in between. The species V. parahaemolyticus occurred mainly in summer months. None of the strains carried the virulence-associated genes tdh or trh. We further analyzed the influence of nutrients, secchi depth, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a and phytoplankton on the abundance of Vibrio spp. and the population structure of V. parahaemolyticus. Spearman Rank analysis revealed that particularly temperature correlated significantly with Vibrio spp. numbers. Based on multivariate statistical analyses we report that the V. parahaemolyticus population was structured by a complex combination of environmental parameters. To further investigate these influences is the key to understanding the dynamics of Vibrio spp. in temperate European waters, where this microbial group and especially the pathogenic species, are likely to gain in importance.     

Isolation and identification of antimicrobial agent-producing bacterium from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus baccata</Emphasis> rhizosphere antagonistic against clinically significant microbes

A bacterium identified as Pseudomonas fluorescence was isolated from Taxus baccata rhizosphere. Ethyl acetate extract from its culture filtrate yielded an active antimicrobial compound that was purified by TLC. The active metabolites were resolved by column chromatography on silica gel (60–120 mesh). The compound was further characterized on the basis of spectral data (UV, IR and ¹HNMR), which indicated the presence of an aromatic ring and phenolic functionality. The compound showed significant antimicrobial activity against two-gram positive bacteria (B. subtilis and S. aureus), four-gram negative bacteria (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. flexneri and P. aeruginosa), and one pathogenic fungus (Candida albicans). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the compound ranged between 75μg to 250 μg/ml.     

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of crude preparations of Brevibacillus laterosporus SA14 bioactive material compared to vancomycin and oxacillin, against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Secondary metabolites, particularly bioactive compounds, from probiotic bacteria, are good candidates for replacing antibiotics to which bacteria have become resistant. In order to compare bioactive crude material from strain SA14 of Brevibacillus laterosporus with two antibiotics, the MICs of this bioactive crude and those of antibiotics vancomycin and oxacillin, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), were determined. The result indicated that the MIC (3.6–19.2 μg/ml) of bioactive crude was higher than vancomycin (MIC = 1.28–2.56 μg/ml) when tested against MRSA. Interestingly, all tested strains of MRSA were susceptible to bioactive crude and were approximately 5.2-fold more potent than oxacillin (MIC > 100 μg/ml). Its activity against MRSA gives support for further evaluation, and the development of this substance for therapeutic use.     

In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia catechu</Emphasis> and Its Phytochemical Analysis

Acacia catechu, commonly known as catechu, cachou and black cutch is an important medicinal plant and an economically important forest tree. The methanolic extract of this plant was found to have antimicrobial activities against six species of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms: Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The maximum zone of inhibition (20 mm) was found to be exhibited against S. aureus. For this organism the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the crude extract was 1,000 μg/ml. The extract was found to be equally effective against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of the extract was found to be decreased during purification. The chemical constituents of organic plant extracts were separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and the plant extracts were purified by column chromatography and were further identified by Gas chromatography–mass selection (GC–MS) analysis. The composition of A. catechu extract had shown major components of terpene i.e. camphor (76.40%) and phytol (27.56%) along with other terpenes in minor amounts which are related with their high antibacterial and antifungal properties.