The outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera and non-cholera (vibriosis) is continuously increasing in the environment due to fecal and sewage discharge in water sources. Cholera and vibriosis are caused by different species of Vibrio genus which are responsible for acute diarrheal disease and soft tissue damage. Although incidences of cholera and vibriosis have been reported from the Vaishali district of Bihar, India, clinical or environmental strains have not been characterized in this region. Out of fifty environmental water samples, twelve different biochemical test results confirmed the presence of twenty Vibrio isolates. The isolates were found to belong to five different Vibrio species, namely V. proteolyticus, V. campbellii, V. nereis, V. cincinnatiensis, and V. harveyi. From the identified isolates, 65% and 45% isolates were found to be resistant to ampicillin and cephalexin, respectively. Additionally, two isolates were found to be resistant against six and four separately selected antibiotics. Furthermore, virulent hlyA and ompW genes were detected by PCR in two different isolates. Additionally, phage induction was also noticed in two different isolates which carry lysogenic phage in their genome. Overall, the results reported the identification of five different Vibrio species in environmental water samples. The isolates showed multiple antibacterial resistance, phage induction, and virulence gene profile in their genome.
The present study aimed to prepare and characterize eggplant peel extract (EPE) with suitability for application in the food industry. EPE was prepared via ultrasound-assisted extraction method employing ethanol as an extraction solvent, then reconstituted in water. The total phenolic content, anthocyanin content, and antioxidant activity of EPE in an organic and aqueous solvent were determined. In EPE, the major anthocyanin, delphinidin-3-rutinoside, was quantified via LC-MS/MS. The agar well diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination method were used to analyze the antibacterial activity of EPE against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the total phenolic content, anthocyanin content, and antioxidant activity of EPE when reconstituted in water. The inhibition zones of EPE (at 100 mg/mL concentration) ranged from 15.6 to 21.6 mm, whereas MIC ranged from 2.34 to 4.68 mg/mL against all tested bacteria. The lower values of MIC for B. cereus and S. aureus indicated that EPE was more effective for gram-positive bacterial strains. The water-reconstituted EPE with significant antioxidant and antibacterial activity would have potential food industrial applications, like food packaging, nutraceuticals, and functional foods.
Vaccination is considered the most appropriate way to control visceral leishmaniasis (VL). With this background, the r-LdODC protein as well as its derived HLA-DRB1-restricted synthetic peptides (P1: RLMPSAHAI, P2: LLDQYQIHL, P3: GLYHSFNCI, P4: AVLEVLSAL, and P5: RLPASPAAL) were validated in BALB/c mice against visceral leishmaniasis. The study was initiated by immunization of the r-LdODC protein as well as its derived peptides cocktail with adjuvants (r-CD2 and MPL-A) in different mice groups, separately. Splenocytes isolated from the challenged and differentially immunized mice group exhibited significantly higher IFN-γ secretion, which was evidenced by the increase in the expression profile of intracellular CD4+IFN-γ T cells. However, the IL-10 secretion did not show a significant increase against the protein and peptide cocktail. Subsequently, the study confirmed the ability of peptides as immunoprophylactic agents, as the IE-I/AD-I molecule overexpressed on monocytes and macrophages of the challenged mice group. The parasitic load in macrophages of the protein and peptides cocktail immunized mice groups, and T cell proliferation rate, further established immunoprophylactic efficacy of the r-LdODC protein and peptide cocktail. This study suggests that the r-LdODC protein, as well as its derived HLA-DRB1-restricted synthetic peptides, have immunoprophylactic potential and can activate other immune cells’ functions towards protection against visceral leishmaniasis. However, a detailed study in a humanized mice model can explore its potential as a vaccine candidate.
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