Due to the expanded bacterial genetic tolerance to antibiotics through different mechanisms, infectious diseases of MDR bacteria are difficult for treatment. Consequently, we synthesized drug conjugated nanoparticles to dissolve this problem. Moreover, the present study aims to display the cell death status treated with cefotaxime-CS-AgNPs and also, apoptosis pathways of human RPE-1 normal cells and human MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Methods: Here, we demonstrate the possibility to synthesize AgNPs and conjugate them with cefotaxime to survey the probability of cefotaxime-CS-AgNPs as an antimicrobial agent against cefotaxime-resistant strains E. coli and MRSA. Results: TEM showed the size of AgNPs, CS-AgNPs and cefotaxime-CS-AgNPs ranged from 7.42 to 18.3 nm, 8.05-23.89 nm and 8.48-25.3 nm, respectively, with a spherical shape. The cefotaxime-CS-AgNPs enhanced the high antimicrobial properties compared to AgNPs or pure antibiotic. The MIC of Cefotaxime-CS-AgNPs ranged from 3 µg/mL to 8 µg/mL against tested E. coli and MRSA bacteria. Consequently, the highest reduction in the MIC of cefotaxime-CS-AgNPs was noted against tested strains ranging from 22% to 96%. Comparing cefotaime-CS-AgNPs to AgNPs we showed that cefotaime-CS-AgNPs have no cytotoxic effect on normal cells at even 12 µg/mL for 24 hrs. The IC50 for the AgNPs and cefotaxime-CS-AgNPs was 12 µg/mL for human RPE-1 normal cells and human MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. The pro-apoptotic genes p53, p21, and Bax of cancer cell lines significantly upregulated followed by downregulated by anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 after 48 hrs at 24 µg/mL, and this concentration represents the most effective dose. Conclusion: Results enhanced the conjugating utility in old unresponsive cefotaxime to AgNPs to restore its efficiency against previous strains and demonstrated potential therapeutic applications of cefotaxime-CS-AgNPs. Moreover, this research gives remarkable insights for designing nanoscale delivery and curative systems that have a pronounced cytotoxic activity on cancer cells and are safe to normal cells.

Aim: The study is aimed to detect the presence of cagA, iceA1, and iceA2 virulence genes in H. pylori from gastric biopsies, and to deduce the correlation between these genotypes and the two clinical outcomes peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and gastritis. Materials and methods: Thirty three Saudi patients 15 males and 18 females, 20 to 90 years were assigned into two groups PUD and gastritis. Genomic DNAs were extracted from biopsy specimens and used to detect the presence of cagA, and iceA genes by PCR typing system. Fisher's and Phi coefficient association tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Genotyping show that both cagA and iceA genes were amplified from 27 specimens (81.7%). The prevalence of cagA+ and cagA-genotypes or iceA+ and iceA-genotypes did not differ significantly between males and females (p=0.070). Within the PUD and gastritis groups, the percentages of specimens positive for cagA gene were 76.9 % and 85 %, while those positive for iceA+ were 92.3% and 75% respectively. All cagA+/iceA+ combined genotypes was statically correlated with peptic ulcer (77%). This correlation was not observed within H. pylori specimens typed from gastritis. Patients with either PUD or gastritis were most likely infected by several strains of H. pylori. Conclusion: Different strains of H. pylori have virulent genotypes evidenced by PCR-based genotyping from biopsy specimens at a reasonable cost and time. These virulence strains spread at Taif province, may result in sever clinical outcomes such as ulcers which may be developed to cancer, the situation which necessitates further studies.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and their conjugates have been gaining a great deal of recognition in the medical field. Meanwhile, extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-producing bacteria are also demonstrating a challenging problem for health care. The aim of this study was the biosynthesis of AuNP using Rosa damascenes petal extract and conjugation of ceftriaxone antibiotic (Cef-AuNP) in inhibiting ESBL-producing bacteria and study of in vitro anticancer activity. Characterization of the synthesized AuNP and Cef-AuNP was studied. ESBLproducing strains, Acinetobacter baumannii ACI1 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PSE4 were used for testing the efficacy of Cef-AuNP. The cells of MCF-7 breast cancer were treated with previous AuNP and Cef-AuNP at different time intervals. Cytotoxicity effects of apoptosis and its molecular mechanism were evaluated. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy established the formation of AuNP and Cef-AuNP. Transmission electron microscope demonstrated that the formed nanoparticles were of different shapes with sizes of 15~35 nm and conjugation was established by a slight increase in size. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of Cef-AuNP against tested strains were obtained as 3.6 and 4 μg/ml, respectively. Cef-AuNP demonstrated a decrease in the MIC of ceftriaxone down to more than 27 folds on the studied strains. The biosynthesized AuNP displayed apoptotic and time-dependent cytotoxic effects in the cells of MCF-7 at a concentration of 0.1 μg/ml medium. The Cef-AuNP have low significant effects on MCF-7 cells. These results enhance the conjugating utility in old unresponsive ceftriaxone with AuNP to restore its efficiency against otherwise resistant bacterial pathogens. Additionally, AuNP may be used as an alternative chemotherapeutic treatment of MCF-7 cancer cells.

The global spread of antimicrobial-resistant infectious diseases and cancer are the most widespread public health issue and has led to high mortality rates. This study aims to evaluate and verify the antibacterial and antitumor activities of Shaoka and Manuka honey against pathogenic bacteria, human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. Shaoka hone was analyzed using HPLC, UV–vis, and GC/MC, while antibacterial activity was measured by agar diffusion, broth microdilution methods, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Antitumor activity was investigated morphologically and by MTT assay. According to the presented data of HPLC analysis, Shaoka honey was generally richer in polyphenolic components, the antibacterial activity showed that Shaoka honey is equivalent or relatively more active than Manuka honey against a broad spectrum of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. It inhibited the growth of ESBL Escherichia coli in the absence or presence of catalase enzyme with a concentration approximately 8.5%–7.3% equivalent to phenol, which supported the highest level of non-peroxide-dependent activity. The minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) ranged between 5.0% and 15.0% honey (w/v). TEM observation revealed distorted cell morphology, cytoplasmic shrinkage, and cell wall destruction of treated bacteria. The selected honey exerted cytotoxicity on both cancer cell lines, inhibiting cell proliferation rate and viability percent in HepG2 and MCF-7 cancer cells, by different degrees depending on the honey quality, Shaoka honey competed Manuka inhibitory effects against both cancer cells. The obtained data confirmed the potential for use of Saudi Shaoka honey as a remedy, this well introduces a new honey template as medical-grade honey for treating infectious disease and cancer.

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Antimicrobial activity of alcoholic and aqueous extracts from Rosa damascena was evaluated against 10 pathogenic microorganisms. Minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and the diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ) were determined by in vitro bioassays using hole-plate diffusion method and broth micro-dilution method (BMD) against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Psuedomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, E. coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 55143, Acinetobacter calcaoceuticus, Salmonella enteritidis and Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404. While hexane extracts showed very low activity against the test microorganisms, ethanol, methanol and water extracts significantly exhibited antimicrobial activity and inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as A. niger at all tested concentrations. The most active antimicrobial effect was recorded for ethanol extract of R. damascena against P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 at MIC and MBC of 62.5 µg/ml (DIZ = 34 mm), E. coli ATCC25922 at MIC and MBC of 62.5 µg/ml (DIZ = 30 mm). MIC and MBC data obtained from the antimicrobial studies were analyzed for significant difference at p<0.05 using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The extracted oil of Damascus rose petals were characterized by GC/MS; analysis reported that 30 compounds were present. The predominant components were citronellol (14.8-29.0%), geraniol (11.3-16.2%) and nerol (11.6%) while the phenyl ethyl alcohol was 1.2%. This study sheds the light on the efficacy of plant extracts to combat pathogens which will help as natural antimicrobial agents.

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