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PurposeThe purpose of this study was to perform molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolates causing a variety of eye infections from two major eye care hospitals in India.MethodsTwenty-four isolates from Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India, and nine isolates from LV Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar, India, representing severe to nonsevere eye infections like microbial keratitis to lacrimal sac abscess, were characterized. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing, multilocus sequence typing, accessory gene regulator typing, staphylococcal protein A typing, and pulsed field gel electrophoresis were used, along with determination of the presence of Panton–Valentine leucocidin toxin and endotoxin gene cluster among each sequence type.ResultsThe majority of eye infections, both severe and nonsevere, were caused by sequence type (ST)772, positive for the Panton–Valentine leucocidin gene, and carrying methicillin-resistant staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type V cassette (22/33, 67%). Some of the other sequence types that caused severe eye infections were ST1 (9%), 5 (3%), 72 (6%), 88 (3%), 121 (3%), and 672 (3%). This is the first report of the presence of ST1 and 88 in India.ConclusionAlthough the number of isolates included in this study was small, most of the eye infections were caused by community-associated S. aureus where patients had no history of hospitalization or treatment in the past year. In the case of six severe infections, patients were admitted for surgeries and there is probability of hospital infection. In addition, only methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates carrying staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type V were detected. Epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 15 (ST22) is a major ST found in health care as well as community settings in non-eye infections in India, but only one methicillin-sensitive S. aureus isolate belonging to ST22 was detected. Predominantly ST772, along with a few other STs, caused the 33 eye infections studied.

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Aims: An attempt was made to evaluate the effectiveness of partially purified antibacterial peptide (ppABP) produced by Bacillus licheniformis Me1 for food preservation by means of active packaging. Methods and Results: The active packaging films containing ppABP were developed using two different packing materials [low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and cellulose films] by two different methods: soaking and spread coating. The activated films showed antibacterial activity against pathogens. The release study of ppABP from coated film showed that the LDPE films liberated ppABP as soon as it comes in contact with water, while gradual release of coated ppABP was observed in case of cellulose films. The activated films showed residual activity in different simulating conditions, such as pH of food and storage temperatures. The activated films demonstrated its biopreservative efficacy in controlling the growth of pathogens in cheese and paneer. Conclusions: The ppABP-activated films were found to be effective for biopreservation. The ppABP from active films got diffused into the food matrix and reduced the growth rate and maximum growth population of the target micro-organism. Significance and impact of the Study: Both types of ppABP-activated films can be used as a packaging material to control spoilage and pathogenic organisms in food, thereby extending the shelf life of foods.

Background: Liver plays a vital role in the elimination of xenobiotics that can induce hepatotoxicity in living organisms.Silver nanoparticles have evolved recently as an alternative in various industries and are used for their biomedical applications. Rhizophora apiculata is a least studied mangrove-based plant that has been used in the traditional medicine of Southeast Asia for its healing properties. It is a well-known fact that the generation of free radicals has been associated with oxidative stress. Methods: Hence, in this study we used carbon tetrachloride as a hepatotoxin to induce liver damage. The protective effects of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Rhizophora apiculata on hepatotoxin-induced liver damage in experimental mice were assessed. Results: The results of the assessment indicate that silver nanoparticles were effective in protecting the liver from damages induced by carbon tetrachloride. Conclusion: Among existing literature, this is the first ever approach for hepatoprotective effect of nanoparticles derived using plant extract from mangrove ecosystem.