Biofilm formation is often associated with increased Candida resistance toward antifungal agents. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the incidence of biofilm formation among Candida isolates and to investigate the effect of high doses of fluconazole {FLC}, voriconazole {VOC} and amphotericin B {AMB}, singly and in combination on mature biofilms. Moreover, it aimed to assess the expression of selected genes (CDR1, KRE1 and SKN1) responsible for Candida biofilm resistance. The study included 49 patients; samples were collected from the King Khalid Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Isolates were prepared for biofilm formation and quantification using 0.4% (w/v) crystal violet. Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) and fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) were conducted by the broth microdilution method. Biofilm eradication was evaluated using counting, XTT stain intensity and observed under the inverted microscope. Selected genes were evaluated in Candida biofilms under the effect of antifungal exposure using QPCR. The major isolates were Candida albicans (65.3%) followed by Candida tropicalis and Candida glabrata. 77.6% of the strains were biofilm formers. AMB showed susceptibility in 87.8% of isolates, followed by VOC (77.6%) and FLC (67.3%). MIC50 and MIC90 were (0.03, 0.125), (0.5, 8), (2, >128) μg/ml for AMB, VOC and FLC, respectively. 34.7% and 18.4% of the isolates were antagonistic to AMB/FLC and AMB/VOC, respectively. Mature biofilms of ten selected isolates were found resistant to FLC (1000 μg/ml). VOR and AMB concentration required to inhibit biofilm formation was 16-250 fold higher than the MIC for planktonic cells. Isolates showed significant reduction with antifungal combination when compared with the untreated controls (p value ⩽ 0.01), or using fluconazole alone (p value ⩽ 0.05). High doses of the antifungals were employed to assess the effect on the persisters' selected gene expression. Marked over expression of SKN1 and to a lesser extent KRE1 was noticed among the mature biofilms treated with AMB alone or in combination after 1 h of exposure, and SKN1 expression was even more sharply induced after 24 h. No statistically significant over expression of CDR1 was observed in biofilms after exposure to high doses of FLC, VOC or any of the combinations used.

To investigate the changes which might occur due to feeding silage of salt tolerant plants in physiological and haematological profile of Barki ewes and their newly born lambs during neonatal period (1 st month post-partum), a total of forty-eight adult Barki ewes (2.5-3 years old and 38.39 kg average body weight) and their lambs (with a mean birth weight of 3.35 kg) were used. These ewes were randomly divided into two equal groups. The first group was fed a control roughage diet of Berseen hay while the second one was fed silage made from four salt tolerant plants (Atriplex halimus (50%), Beta vulgaris (25%), Pearl millet (15%) and Carthamus tinctorius hay (10%). Commercial concentrate mixture was used as the concentrate portion of the ration to ewes of the two groups. All ewes of both groups were naturally mated. The two groups fed these diets for an adaptation period of 21 days before mating season and continued all over the pregnancy period and then after parturition till weaning their lambs. Throughout the first month after parturition, live body weight changes, thermo-respiratory responses and haematological profile were recorded at intervals of five days for all ewes and their lambs. In addition, milk yield was estimated from all ewes in both groups immediately after birth and every week during the first month after birth. In general, statistical analysis showed a significant (P<0.01) effect of measurement intervals on all the studied hematological parameters in both Barki ewes and their lambs except for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration of dams. However, all of these parameters didn't affected by type of maternal nutrition especially in lambs. There were no significant effects of type of feeding on rectal, skin, and coat temperatures at all times of measurement in lambs or their dams. However, Regardless of feeding type both ewes and lambs had higher (P<0.01) respiration rate at the first day of birth than at 7, 14, 21, 28 days post-partum. In conclusion, results of the present study indicated that feeding Barki ewes on silage from the experimental salt tolerant plants can not affect their productivity with no health challenges to them or to their lambs.

are well acknowledged as a major cause of gastrointestinal ailments and gastric cancers. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential activity of against , focusing on the determination of the most active extract responsible for the anti-helicobacter activity to produce new active drug from natural source. total alcohol and successive extracts were tested against. All extracts showed promising anti activities. The most effective extract was diethyl ether extract, it showed 75% growth inhibition of the clinical Isolates bacterial, in addition it showed high count reduction on the selected organisms in the different concentrations used (2xMIC, MIC & ½ MIC) compared with the untreated controls as well as the other extracts (chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol). The oral median lethal dose (LD) of the alcohol extract of the plant by doses up to 5000 mg/kg didn't showed any mortality or morbidity, in addition no side effects were recorded on both liver and kidney functions this means that the extract was safe for use.

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Introduction Nasal colonization with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) may be a preliminary risk factor for systemic infection. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of ica A and D genes and biofilm formation among hospital-acquired nasal colonizing CoNS strains isolated from neonates in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Antibiotic sensitivity patterns and some relevant risk factors were estimated.Methods This study assessed nasal colonization with CoNS among neonates at days one and three of admission to NICUs of Beni-Suef University Hospital and Beni-Suef General Hospital from November 2015 to May 2016. The isolates were screened and identified; susceptibility testing was performed. Biofilm formation was examined using the Congo red agar method. Isolates identified as CoNS were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of mecA and icaA and icaD genes.Results A total of 340 nasal swabs were collected from 170 neonates. The incidence of nasal colonization with CoNS was 50%. The species most frequently isolated were S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in 86% of isolates. It was found that there was a strong association between the presence of mecA gene and phenotypic resistance to methicillin and also the presence of the icaA gene and biofilm formation.Conclusions Neonates admitted to NICUs can become reservoirs for CoNS strains, leading to potential dissemination of MDR strains into the community.

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