Objectives: To investigate the pathway for disease modifying effect of the PRP in osteoarthritis of knee. Design: Two experimental models (group I and II) of Twelve Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs each were enrolled as a part of a prospective controlled experimental study. One knee was enrolled for intervention and the other knee of the same animal used as control, the intervention being three intra-articular allogenic PRP injections given at a weekly interval. Equal volume of isotonic saline injection were given simultaneously in the control knees. Six animals from each model (subgroup IA, IIA) were euthanized at three months and the remaining six (subgroup IB, IIB) at six months post intervention. Samples of synovial fluid were collected from each knee joint for COMP level analysis by ELISA and bilateral knee joints were harvested for histopathological assessment of articular cartilage and synovium at the time of euthanasia. Results: Mean synovial fluid COMP concentration was significantly lower in PRP treated knees (p<0.05) at three months. On histological examination mean synovitis scores and synovial vascularity were significantly lower in PRP treated knees as compared to controls at both three and six months (p < 0.05). Additionally mean articular cartilage degeneration was significantly lower in PRP treated knees in group 1 only (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our preliminary data from the study has shown some evidence of positive influence of PRP in knee OA, possibly due to its anti-inflammatory effect and disease modifying effect, shown by short-term chondro-protective effect in PRP injected knees. Level of evidence: V.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in humans. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), which are the most frequent agents causing community as well as hospital-acquired UTIs, have become highly drug-resistant, thus making the treatment of these infections challenging. Recently, the use of bacteriophages (or ‘phages’) against multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) microorganisms has garnered significant global attention. Bacterial biofilms play a vital role in the pathogenesis of UTIs caused by UPEC. Phages have the potential to disrupt bacterial biofilms using lytic enzymes such as EPS depolymerases and endolysins. We isolated a lytic phage (590B) from community sewage in Chandigarh, which was active against multiple MDR and XDR biofilm-forming UPEC strains. During whole-genome sequencing, the 44.3 kb long genome of phage 590B encoded 75 ORFs, of which 40 were functionally annotated based on homology with similar phage proteins in the database. Comparative analysis of associated phage genomes indicated that phage 590B evolved independently and had a distinct taxonomic position within the genus Kagunavirus in the subfamily Guernseyvirinae of Siphoviridae. The phage disrupted biofilm mass effectively when applied to 24 h old biofilms formed on the Foley silicon catheter and coverslip biofilm models. To study the effect of intact biofilm architecture on phage predation, the biofilms were disrupted. The phage reduced the viable cells by 0.6–1.0 order of magnitude after 24 h of incubation. Regrowth and intact bacterial cells were observed in the phage-treated planktonic culture and biofilms, respectively, which indicated the emergence of phage-resistant bacterial variants. The phage genome encoded an endolysin which might have a role in the disruption and inhibition of bacterial biofilms. Moreover, the genome lacked genes encoding toxins, virulence factors, antibiotic resistance, or lysogeny. Therefore, lytic phage 590B may be a good alternative to antibiotics and can be included in phage cocktails for the treatment of UTIs caused by biofilm-forming MDR and XDR UPEC strains.
Escherichia
phage 590B, which was isolated from community sewage water in Chandigarh, India, exhibited lytic activity against an extensively drug-resistant uropathogenic
Escherichia coli
isolate. The genome of the phage is linear, double-stranded, and 44.39 kb long. Phage 590B is a member of the
Siphoviridae
family and is closest to phage vB_EcoS_XY2, which was isolated in China.
Phage vB_SenA_SM5, active against multiple isolates of multidrug-resistant
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhi, was isolated from the sewage water of a tertiary-care referral hospital in Chandigarh, India. It has a 154.4-kb-long double-stranded DNA genome, belongs to the family
Ackermannviridae
, and is closest to
Salmonella
phage Chennai, which was isolated in southern India.
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