Candida spp. is one among the major causes of nosocomial infection, with candidemia gaining increasing prevalence worldwide in parallel with mortality rates ranging from 10-49%. Epidemiology and predisposing factors of candidemia have changed since the number of patients receiving transplants and immunosuppressive therapy, the use of broadspectrum antimicrobials, and the number of AIDS patients have increased. Candidemia is more common among patients with subcutaneous and cutaneous candida infections, through percutaneous inoculation. Major predisposing factors for invasive candidiasis includes neutropenia, haematological malignancies, bone marrow transplantation, total parenteral nutrition, chemotherapy, invasive procedures, and immune-suppressive agents. This study analyses the risk factors of immunocompromised patients with candidemia and antibiogram of Candida spp. isolated from ICU patients. To evaluate the prevalence, distribution and antibiogram of Candida spp., associated risk factors, and outcome in candidemia patients. Blood samples received from patients with clinically suspected fungal infections were subjected to gram staining, culture, sugar assimilation & fermentation, Candida Chrome agar (CCA) & Corn meal agar for identification and speciation. Antifungal susceptibility tests were performed by disk-diffusion tests. Among a total of 337 samples received, 22 (6.5%) samples were positive for candida infections, of which Candida tropicalis 9 (41%) was the predominant isolate followed by C. albicans 5 (23%), Candida glabrata 4 (18%), Candida parapsilosis 2 (9%) and Candida krusei 2 (9%). Male patients had a higher prevalence of candidemia 15 (68.2%). Among the age group of 51-70 years, uncontrolled DM(Diabetes mellitus) and CKD (chronic kidney disease) were found to be the predominant co-morbidities with candidemia.

Objective: The aim of the study was focused on determining the phytochemicals, antibacterial, antiadherence, antifungal and antioxidant activities of Glycyrrhiza glabra, Matricaria chamomilla and Eclipta alba and also their mechanism of action towards human oral pathogens. Methods:Qualitative analysis and quantitative estimation of phenols and flavonoids were performed in methanolic extracts. Antibacterial, anti adherence, antifungal assays were performed by plate assays. Antioxidant assays were done by ABTS and DPPH methods. SEM, TEM and flow cytometry analysis were executed to find out the mechanism of action of plant extract. Results:The total phenol contents were 0.85, 1.24, 0.64 GAE/g and the total flavonoid contents were 356, 231.34 and 88 µg QE/mg for G. glabra, M. chamomilla and E. alba respectively.Matricaria chamomilla possesses highest antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS assays) among the all extracts tested. E. alba showed a highest zone of inhibition against S. aureus (21.6 mm) whereas G. glabra and M. chamomilla revealed the better result of 21 mm and 19.8 mm respectively against S. mutans.Glycyrrhiza glabra showed antifungal activity against Candida parapsilosis whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans showed resistance towards all the extracts tested. The MIC, MBC and antiadherence tests were also performed. Sorbitol assay confirmed that G. glabra has no impact on the fungal cell wall. To confirm the mode of action SEM, TEM and flow cytometric analysis were performed which showed the cell elongation and damage in cytoplasmic membrane resulting in oozing of cellular constituents. Conclusion:This work concluded that all the plant extracts showed potent activities among the various tests. Oral care product can be developed if the active constituents responsible for the activities were analysed.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is the fifth-most tropical cereal crop cultivated next to maize, wheat, rice, and barley, with a total estimated production of 57.9 million tons (FAOSTAT, 2019). It is a genetically diverse C4 photosynthetic plant, versatile, droughtresistant cereal grains grown on arid and semiarid regions in the world (Girard & Awika, 2018). Sorghum grain contains almost all bioactive components, including phenolic acid derivatives, flavonoids, condensed tannins, and carotenoids. The pericarp of sorghum is mainly composed of nondigestible polysaccharides, flavonoids, phenolic acid derivatives, and tannins. At the same time, endosperm comprises starch, proteins, vitamins, and minerals with high iron and zinc levels (de Morais Cardoso et al., 2017). As whole grains contain

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The present study was conducted to develop gluten-free crackers using six different white varieties of sorghum, namely CO30, K12, Parbhani Moti (PM), Parbhani Shakti (PS), ICSV15021 and M35-1. The physico-chemical, mineral and functional properties of developed crackers were studied. The crackers from soft wheat flour serve as a control. Highest protein (7.35 g/100 g), iron (6.63 mg/100 g) and potassium (199.86 mg/100 g) were found in ICSV15021 crackers, whereas highest total dietary fibre (9.01 g/ 100 g), magnesium (31.13 mg/100 g), copper (1.47 mg/100 g), zinc (1.92 g/100 g) and manganese (1.32 mg/100 g) were found in PS crackers. All exhibited A-type crystallinity pattern except PS crackers (V-type pattern). Overall acceptability of K12 sorghum crackers was found to be similar to control. In conclusion, this study evidenced that gluten-free sorghum crackers exhibited higher nutrients and mineral composition and can be regarded as health-promoting functional food, which is also cost-effective than commercially available gluten-free products.

Introduction: Bacterial isolates and control strains stocking is an integral part of clinical microbiology laboratories. This is an essential step in maintaining quality. Preserving the strains without altering the character is an essentiality. There are different stock culture preparations studied in past showing varied level of performance. Aim: To evaluate the performance in terms of longevity and phenotypic character preservation of Peptone Glycerol Broth (PGB) in comparison to Brucella Glycerol Broth (BGB) and Skim Milk (SKM). Materials and Methods: The present study was a prospective analytical study. Three quality control strains and seven clinical isolates with different types of resistance were stocked in triplicates with cryobead based peptone broth with 15% glycerol, Brucella Broth (BB) with 15% glycerol and 10% SKM and stored at -80°C. Isolates were revived in monthly pattern, quarterly pattern and once after 10 months to assess the variations in viability and loss of phenotypic properties arising out of repeated freeze thaw and contaminations. Viability was assessed by time taken to produce observable confluent growth on revival. Metabolic characters and antibiotic susceptibility testing were compared before and after stock revival at intervals. Results: The phenotypic characters like metabolic features and antibiotic susceptibility were preserved with all three preparations both with repeated freeze thaw and single freeze thaw at the end of 10 months. PGB and BGB had a 100% revival rate of stored isolates with a confluent growth at 24 hours in comparison to 93.56% with SKM. Conclusion: Cryobead preparation of peptone broth-15% glycerol can be used as an effective preparation for stock culture maintenance of non-fastidious bacteria and yeast.

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The study was aimed to find an alternate approach for chemicals used in agriculture to avoid microbial infections. Fungal pathogens cause different types of plant diseases and affect a majority of edible crops by destroying the tissues of the plant in a direct or indirect mechanism. So, an alternative approach led to the development of biocontrol agents using endophytic  bacteria. A total of 8 endophytic bacteria were isolated from the root, stem, and leaves of radish (Raphanus sativus). The antagonistic activity of these bacteria against the 2 isolated plant pathogenic fungi was determined in vitro. Two out of eight bacteria showed more than 50% inhibitory activity against one fungus, were further characterized using the 16s rRNA sequencing method. On the basis of the phylogenetic tree of the 16s rRNA method, the endophytic bacterial samples were identified as Tonsilliphilus suis  and Exiguobacterium aurantiacum against plant pathogenic Aspergillus flavus  isolated from Raphanus sativus, which makes them highly suitable as an alternative for chemical fertilizers to provide resistance to plant pathogenic fungi. The cell wall degrading activities such as protease activity, amylase activity, and plant growth-promoting properties such as Hydrogen cyanide (HCN), Indole acetic acid (IAA), ammonia production of these endophytic bacteria were evaluated. The results show that T. suis  is the most effective strain for radish growth development.