Proteus mirabilis is the third most common bacterium that can cause complicated UTI, especially in catheterized patients. Urovirulence genes of P. mirabilis strains are poorly identified among UTI patients. e aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of the uropathogenic P. mirabilis strains isolated from UTI patients by the detection of several P. mirabilis virulence genes and to characterize the antibiotic susceptibility profile of P. mirabilis isolates. P. mirabilis isolates were collected from urine specimens of patients suffering from UTI. Virulence genes in P. mirabilis, namely, hpmA, hpmB, rsbA, luxS, ureC1, hlyA, rpoA, atfA, atfC, mrpA, and pm1 were detected in the isolates via PCR detection method. All P. mirabilis virulence genes were detected in more than 90% of the isolates except hlyA gene, which was detected in only 23.8% of the isolates. e rate of susceptibility for ceftriaxone was 96.8%, followed by norfloxacin (82.5%), gentamicin (71.4%), ciprofloxacin (69.8%), cephalexin (52.4%), nalidixic acid (42.9%), sulfamethoxazole (39.7%), ampicillin (36.5%), and nitrofurantoin (3.2%). Significant associations (P < 0.05) were detected between antimicrobial susceptibility of each of the following antibiotics and the presence virulence genes. Cephalexin antimicrobial susceptibility was significantly associated with the presence each of ureC1 and atfC. Sulfamethoxazole antimicrobial susceptibility was significantly associated with the presence atfA. Ceftriaxone antimicrobial susceptibility was significantly associated with the presence each of hpmA, ureC1, rpoA, atfC, mrpA, and pm1. Nitrofurantoin antimicrobial susceptibility was significantly associated with the presence each of hpmA, ureC1, rpoA, atfA, atfC, mrpA, and pm1. In conclusion, an association between the presence of urovirulence genes of P. mirabilis and increasing P. mirabilis resistance to antimicrobials has been demonstrated.

Background: Virus nanoparticles have been extensively studied over the past decades for theranostics applications. Viruses are well-characterized, naturally occurring nanoparticles that can be produced in high quantity with a high degree of similarity in both structure and composition. Objectives: The plant virus cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) has been innovatively used as a nanoscaffold. Utilization of the internal cavity of empty virus-like particles (VLPs) for the inclusion of therapeutics within the capsid has opened many opportunities in drug delivery and imaging applications. Methods: The encapsidation of magnetic materials and anticancer drugs was achieved. CPMV denotes molecules attached to the external surface of CPMV and CPMV denotes molecules within the interior of the capsid. Results: Here, the generation of novel VLPs incorporating iron-platinum nanoparticles TCPMVFePt and cisplatin (Cis) (TCPMVCis) is reported. TCPMVCis have a cytotoxic IC50 of TCPMVCis on both A549 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines of 1.8 μM and 3.9 µM respectively after 72 hours of incubation. The TCPMVFePt were prepared as potential MRI contrast agents. Conclusions: Cisplatin loaded VLP (TCPMVCis) is shown to enhance cisplatin cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines, and its potency increased 2.3-folds.

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Stem cell (SC) biology is an exciting area of science with applications in regenerative medicine in a variety of organ systems. SCs are critical to life, as they help construct our tissues and organs as we develop, and later act as a repair system to replenish lost or dying cells. SCs are distinguished from other cell types by their ability to differentiate into other cell types and self-renew. Several types of SCs have therapeutic and research purposes, including embryonic, adult or somatic, induced pluripotent and cord blood SCs. SC transplantation, including bone marrow and umbilical cord blood, can be used as a curative therapy for selected malignant and nonmalignant

Study question Is there any association between male infertility and the polymorphic variants of Mitochondrial Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Hydride dehydrogenase (NADH) Subunit 3 and 4L (MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L)? Summary answer The genotypes and allele frequencies of the study population have shown a lack of statistically significant association between MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L SNPs and male infertility. What is known already Male infertility is a multifactorial condition associated with different genetic abnormalities in at least 15%–30% of cases. The rate of mutations in the mtDNA is high due to the lack of histones and DNA repair mechanisms. Moreover, mtDNA is more vulnerable compared to nuclear DNA due to the lack of an efficient repairing system and high exposure to oxidative species produced by the mitochondria. Eventually, this leads to abnormal sperm function, structure and even infertility. Study design, size, duration Prospective study was carried out between 2018 and 2019. 112 semen samples were collected in this study. Participants/materials, setting, methods The present study was carried out at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Saarland,Germany. After semen analysis, samples were purified. Mitochondrial DNA was extracted using a QIAamp DNA Mini Kit, then, the mitochondrial DNA was amplified by using the REPLI-g Mitochondrial DNA Kit. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L genes. After that samples were purified and sequenced using the Sanger method in the Microsynth Seq Lab in Germany. Main results and the role of chance Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MT-ND3 (rs2853826, rs28435660, rs193302927, rs28358278, rs41467651, rs3899188, rs28358277 and rs28673954) and seven SNPs in MT-ND4L (rs28358280, rs28358281, rs28358279, rs2853487, rs2853488, rs193302933 and rs28532881) were detected and genotyped. The genotypes and allele frequencies of the study population have shown a lack of statistically significant association between MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L SNPs and male infertility. Besides, no statistically significant difference was found between the asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, teratozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and oligoteratozoospermia subgroups of subfertile males. However, rs28358278 genotype of the MT-ND3 gene was reported in the subfertile group but not in the fertile group, which implies a possible role of this SNP in male infertility. Limitations, reasons for caution The size number of the study samples. Wider implications of the findings Further studies are required to evaluate these findings. Moreover, the subfertile individuals who exhibit a polymorphism at rs28358278 require further monitoring and evaluation. Trial registration number Basic Science