IntroductionAround 9% of India’s children under six are diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders. Low-resource, rural communities often lack programmes for early identification and intervention. The Prechtl General Movement Assessment (GMA) is regarded as the best clinical tool to predict cerebral palsy in infants <5 months. In addition, children with developmental delay, intellectual disabilities, late detected genetic disorders or autism spectrum disorder show abnormal general movements (GMs) during infancy. General Movement Assessment in Neonates for Early Identification and Intervention, Social Support and Health Awareness (G.A.N.E.S.H.) aims to (1) provide evidence as to whether community health workers can support the identification of infants at high-risk for neurological and developmental disorders and disabilities, (2) monitor further development in those infants and (3) initiate early and targeted intervention procedures.MethodsThis 3-year observational cohort study will comprise at least 2000 infants born across four districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Community health workers, certified for GMA, video record and assess the infants’ GMs twice, that is, within 2 months after birth and at 3–5 months. In case of abnormal GMs and/or reduced MOSs, infants are further examined by a paediatrician and a neurologist. If necessary, early intervention strategies (treatment as usual) are introduced. After paediatric and neurodevelopmental assessments at 12–24 months, outcomes are categorised as normal or neurological/developmental disorders. Research objective (1): to relate the GMA to the outcome at 12–24 months. Research objective (2): to investigate the impact of predefined exposures. Research objective (3): to evaluate the interscorer agreement of GMA.Ethics and disseminationG.A.N.E.S.H. received ethics approval from the Indian Government Chief Medical Officers of Varanasi and Mirzapur and from the Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service in Varanasi. GMA is a worldwide used diagnostic tool, approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Graz, Austria (27-388 ex 14/15). Apart from peer-reviewed publications, we are planning to deploy G.A.N.E.S.H. in other vulnerable settings.
Objectives: To explore the endophytic actinobacteria from the root tissue of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken and its assessment for antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against human pathogens. Methods: Surface sterilized root tissues of B. pinnatum have been seeded in different isolation media, to obtain colonies of endophytic actinobacteria. A polyphasic approach has been used to identify the isolate. Cross streak and disc diffusion methods have been used to perform the antimicrobial activity. However, the crystal violet assay assessed the antibiofilm activity, and its visualization was done under the light and fluorescent microscope. Findings: By polyphasic approach, Actinobacteria strain BpR-2 GER has been confirmed to be the member of genus Streptomyces, further through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain has been identified as Streptomyces rochei that has 100% sequence similarity with Streptomyces rochei NRRL B-2410 (MUMD01000370). The isolate has exhibited extensive antagonistic interaction with Clinical and MTCC (Microbial Type Culture Collection) pathogens ranging from 9.75±0.71 to 19.38±1.30 mm. The highest zone of inhibition was recorded against Gram-positive bacteria B. subtilis (MTCC-441) of 19.38±1.30 mm and Gram-negative bacteria Proteus mirabilis (Clinical) of 16.25±0.71 mm. The strain has also exhibited significant antibiofilm potential against the MTCC-7443 (85.13±0.003 to 88.28±0.003%) and Clinical (85.13±0.003 to 88.28±0.003%) strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Novelty: This is the first report of S. rochei BpR-2 GER, a root endophyte of B. pinnatum with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and a significant antibiofilm property.
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