Enhanced Nitrogen Fixing in Sesbania grandiflora by Azospirillum (BPL7) sp. Isolated from Godavari Belt Region,Andhra Pradesh,India

Biological nitrogen fixation is the key to sustain productivity in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Among several biological nitrogen fixers, Azospirillum is the free-living bacterium, which is involved in the nitrogen fixation, promoting the lateral root formation and in some cases they form nodules in the roots. Efficient nitrogen fixing, Azospirillum BPL7 strain was isolated from the Godavari belt region of Andhra Pradesh. Out of 19 strains isolated, the BPL7 strain had shown better growth-promoting characteristics and nitrogen fixing activity in five test plants viz. Sesbania grandiflora, Zea mays, Oryza sativa, Sesamum indicum and Solanum melongena plantlets under laboratory conditions. The morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics in comparison with type strain Azospirillum brasilense (NCIM No. 5135) has proved it as an Azospirillum sp. The nature of oxidation and fermentation of different carbon compounds by Azospirillum BPL7 strain matched with that of the type strain. Moreover, the biometric observations viz. shoot and root length, shoot and root dry weight and nitrogen fixation among all the plants reflected that a few plants have dominated while a few were equivalent and still a few were inferior to the type strain is clearly expounded in the results. Therefore, upon observation of the results pertaining to the various characteristics in comparison with type strain and plant growth promoting aspects related to S. grandiflora, the isolated strain Azospirillum BPL7 was confirmed as Azospirillum brasilense and found to be the best nitrogen fixing bacteria among all the isolates including the type strain.     

中国麻风分枝杆菌种型分布与特征

目的了解中国目前传播的麻风分枝杆菌(M.leprae)菌种及单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)型分布与特征。方法对来自中国22个省市171例麻风患者皮损组织样本,采用巢式PCR扩增麻风分枝杆菌特异16S rRNA保守片段,并对PCR阳性产物直接测序,经BLAST进行序列比对;采用PCR产物限制性酶切基因多态性方法对麻风分枝杆菌进行SNP分型。结果 171例标本扩增片段与来自巴西的麻风分枝杆菌Br4923相似性达99%,均为M.leprae,未检出M.lepromatosis。在85例SNP分型标本中,SNP3型、SNP1型和SNP2型分别占78.8%(67/85)、20%(17/85)和1.2%(1/85),未检出SNP4型。130例16S rRNA序列存在C251T位碱基变异,不同临床型别标本中16S rRNA序列突变及SNP型别分布差异无统计学意义;16S rRNA基因C251T突变与麻风分枝杆菌菌株的SNP分型有一定的关联,存在突变的菌株多为SNP3型,少见SNP1型,未见SNP2型;不同地区的SNP型别分布之间差异有统计学意义,内陆地区的SNP3型菌株分布率97.1%(34/35)显著高于沿海66%(33/50)(χ~2=11.96,P0.01)。不同地区的16S rRNA序列突变率差异也有统计学意义,内陆地区的16S rRNA突变率94.8%(92/97)显著高于沿海51.4%(38/74)(χ~2=43.56,P0.01)。结论麻风分枝杆菌16S rRNA基因序列突变C251T与SNP分型有关,可提示不同基因型麻风分枝杆菌的地理分布。未发现麻风分枝杆菌M.lepromatosis菌种。     

Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with BMD and their effect on 1, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 levels in pre- and postmenopausal South Indian women from Andhra Pradesh

BackgroundOsteoporosis is a multifactorial disorder with a strong genetic component and vitamin D receptor gene has been suggested as a candidate gene for osteoporosis. Therefore the present study was aimed to investigate the role of the VDR Fok 1 gene polymorphism and its influence on vitamin D3 levels and BMD in pre- and postmenopausal osteoporotic women of Indian ethnicity.Methods427osteoporotic women and 460 age matched controls were included in the study. VDR FOK1 gene polymorphism was assessed by the PCR-RFLP method. Serum vitamin D3 was measured by the HPLC method.ResultsThe frequency of ff genotype and f allele was significantly high in pre- and postmenopausal osteoporotic women in comparison with controls (p < 0.001).In each case individuals with ff genotype had significantly low BMD in comparison with Ff and FF genotypes. No significant association was found between the genotypes and vitamin D3 levels.ConclusionThe VDR Fok 1 gene is associated with low bone mass in all our study subjects. The genotype ff of the VDR Fok 1 gene is associated with osteoporosis. Further ff genotype associated significantly with low bone mass. Therefore the f allele of VDR Fok1 gene is an important risk factor for osteoporosis.     

Distribution of Legionella species and serogroups in patients with culture-confirmed Legionella pneumonia

Legionella species are consistently identified as some of the most common causative agents of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or nosocomial pneumonia. Although the number of reported Legionella infection cases is gradually increasing in Japan, most cases are diagnosed by a urinary antigen test, which identifies only L. pneumophila serogroup 1. Therefore, assessment of pneumonia-causing Legionella species and serogroups would be important. The Japan Society for Chemotherapy Legionella committee has collected the isolates and clinical information on cases of sporadic community-acquired Legionella pneumonia throughout Japan. Between December 2006 and March 2019, totally 140 sporadic cases were identified, in which L. pneumophila was the most frequently isolated species (90.7%) followed by L. bozemanae (3.6%), L. dumofii (3.6%), L. micdadei (1.4%), and L. longbeachae (0.7%). Among 127 isolates of L. pneumophila, 111 isolates were of serogroup 1, two of serogroup 2, four of serogroup 3, one of serogroup 4, one of serogroup 5, seven of serogroup 6, and one was of serogroup 10. We also assessed in vitro activity of antibiotics against these isolates and showed that quinolones and macrolides have potent anti-Legionella activity. Our study showed that pneumonia-causing Legionella species and serogroup distribution was comparable to that reported in former surveillances. L. pneumophila was the most common etiologic agent in patients with community-acquired Legionella pneumonia, and L. pneumophila serogroup 1 was the predominant serogroup.     

Different biosynthetic pathways to fosfomycin in Pseudomonas syringae and Streptomyces species

Fosfomycin is a wide-spectrum antibiotic that is used clinically to treat acute cystitis in the United States. The compound is produced by several strains of streptomycetes and pseudomonads. We sequenced the biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for fosfomycin production in Pseudomonas syringae PB-5123. Surprisingly, the biosynthetic pathway in this organism is very different from that in Streptomyces fradiae and Streptomyces wedmorensis. The pathways share the first and last steps, involving conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to phosphonopyruvate (PnPy) and 2-hydroxypropylphosphonate (2-HPP) to fosfomycin, respectively, but the enzymes converting PnPy to 2-HPP are different. The genome of P. syringae PB-5123 lacks a gene encoding the PnPy decarboxylase found in the Streptomyces strains. Instead, it contains a gene coding for a citrate synthase-like enzyme, Psf2, homologous to the proteins that add an acetyl group to PnPy in the biosynthesis of FR-900098 and phosphinothricin. Heterologous expression and purification of Psf2 followed by activity assays confirmed the proposed activity of Psf2. Furthermore, heterologous production of fosfomycin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a fosmid encoding the fosfomycin biosynthetic cluster from P. syringae PB-5123 confirmed that the gene cluster is functional. Therefore, two different pathways have evolved to produce this highly potent antimicrobial agent.     

Distribution of Candida species isolated from blood cultures in hospitals in Osaka,Japan

BackgroundCandida species are clinically important causes of bloodstream infections because their mortality is very high. Given that some species of Candida are azole-resistant, identifying the distributions of Candida species could facilitate the formulation of an appropriate empirical antifungal therapy. It has been shown that the distribution varies depending on the continent, country, city, and hospital. In this paper, we describe the distributions of species in hospitals in northern Osaka, Japan.MethodWe evaluated blood culture results obtained from six tertiary hospitals in the northern Osaka area between 2004 and 2011. We also obtained comorbidity information from the patients' hospital medical records. Kaplan–Meier curves were drawn to compare the risk of death related to the different species.ResultsOf the 165 cases of candidemia confirmed by blood culture, 66% were male and the mean age was 62 years (range = 0–96). Overall, Candida albicans comprised 70 cases (43%), followed by Candida parapsilosis with 36 cases (22%), Candida glabrata with 25 cases (15%), Candida tropicalis with 11 cases (7%), Candida krusei with 10 cases (6%), and other Candida species with 13 cases (8%). C. tropicalis had higher associated mortality than other species, although it was not statistically significant.ConclusionsC. albicans was the most frequently isolated species, but the proportion of non-albicans Candida species was not negligible. The relatively high frequency of non-albicans Candida species distinguished the Japanese distribution from other areas. This characteristic distribution may have important implications when formulating an empirical antifungal therapy for Japanese clinical practice.     

合肥市某区3～14岁儿童青少年乙肝疫苗接种率及乙肝标志物的分布

目的了解本地区3～14年儿童青少年的乙肝疫苗接种率和乙肝病毒携带状况。方法采用单纯随机抽样方法抽取本地区3～14岁人群8 454人,进行乙肝疫苗接种率的调查及乙肝标志物的检测。结果 8 454名儿童青少年的乙肝疫苗平均接种率为96.92%,其中3～6、7～10、11～14岁三组的疫苗接种率分别为99.89%、98.15%、92.18%,随着年龄的增长接种率呈不断下降趋势;乙肝表面抗原携带率为1.24%,男性和女性的乙肝表面抗原携带率分别为1.69%和0.79%,差异具有统计学意义(χ2=14.040,P<0.05);抗-HBs阳性率为66.53%,不同年龄组(3～6、7～10、11～14岁)的阳性率分别为77.53%、64.00%、57.99%,随着年龄的增长阳性率呈下降趋势。结论随着国家将乙肝疫苗纳入计划免疫措施的不断实施,保持了人群较高的接种率,免疫效果明显,是控制HBV感染最有效的措施。     

Distribution of the multidrug resistance gene cfr in Staphylococcus species isolates from swine farms in China

A total of 149 porcine Staphylococcus isolates with florfenicol MICs of ≥ 16 μg/ml were screened for the presence of the multiresistance gene cfr, its location on plasmids, and its genetic environment. In total, 125 isolates carried either cfr (16 isolates), fexA (92 isolates), or both genes (17 isolates). The 33 cfr-carrying staphylococci, which included isolates of the species Staphylococcus cohnii, S. arlettae, and S. saprophyticus in which the cfr gene has not been described before, exhibited a wide variety of SmaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. In 18 cases, the cfr gene was located on plasmids. Four different types of cfr-carrying plasmids--pSS-01 (n = 2; 40 kb), pSS-02 (n = 3; 35.4 kb), pSS-03 (n = 10; 7.1 kb), and pBS-01 (n = 3; 16.4 kb)--were differentiated on the basis of their sizes, restriction patterns, and additional resistance genes. Sequence analysis revealed that in plasmid pSS-01, the cfr gene was flanked in the upstream part by a complete aacA-aphD-carrying Tn4001-like transposon and in the downstream part by a complete fexA-carrying transposon Tn558. In plasmid pSS-02, an insertion sequence IS21-558 and the cfr gene were integrated into transposon Tn558 and thereby truncated the tnpA and tnpB genes. The smallest cfr-carrying plasmid pSS-03 carried the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance gene erm(C). Plasmid pBS-01, previously described in Bacillus spp., harbored a Tn917-like transposon, including the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance gene erm(B) in the cfr downstream region. Plasmids, which in part carry additional resistance genes, seem to play an important role in the dissemination of the gene cfr among porcine staphylococci.     

328例宫颈病变妇女高危型人乳头瘤病毒感染及基因型分析

目的 了解高危型人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)在不同年龄段和不同宫颈病变(宫颈炎、宫颈湿疣、CIN I-Ⅲ和宫颈癌)妇女中的感染状况及基因型分布.方法 应用凯普导流杂交技术(HybriMax)检测328例不同宫颈病变患者13种HPV高危基因型.结果 328例不同宫颈病变患者高危型HPV感染212例(64.6%),单一感染158例(74.5%),多重感染54例(25.5%).其中宫颈炎、宫颈湿疣、CIN I-Ⅲ和宫颈癌患者高危型HPV感染率分别为26.0%(25/96),62.5%(40/64),85.2%(115/135)和97.0%(32/33),差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).在212例阳性标本中共检出11种高危型HPV,分别为HPV-16、18、31、33、39、51、52、56、58、59、68.宫颈癌患者主要基因型及感染率依次为HPV-16(72.7%)、HPV-58(9.1%)、HPV-59(6.1%)、HPV-18(3.0%)和HPV-52(3.0%).高危型HPV在20～30岁,31～40岁,41～50岁和＞50岁各年龄组的感染率分别为60.0%,79.4%,70.1%和44.3%.结论 高危型HPV感染基因型以HPV-16,58和52最常见,20～50岁为感染的高峰人群,高危型HPV持续感染及多重感染是导致宫颈癌变的主要原因之一.     

浙江省不同地区病毒性肝炎感染分布特点的研究

在随机抽样的基础上，对我省不同地区的五型病毒性肝炎进行了流行病学分析。结果表明，我省人群存在甲、乙、丙、丁、戊五型肝炎的流行，主要是甲型和乙型，感染率分别高达７５．０６％和６７．３８％，甲肝感染率以山区半山区为最高８２．３６％；乙肝、丁肝感染率海岛分别为８３．２９％、７．４５％，超过其它地区（Ｐ＜０．０１）；城市点ＨＣＶ感染率明显高于农村点，而农村点ＨＡＶ、ＨＢＶ、ＨＤＶ、ＨＥＶ感染率高于城市点；海岛人群的ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性率２１．７０％是大城市７．９２％的２．７４倍，Ⅰ类农村的ＨＢＶ、ＨＣＨ、ＨＤＶ感染率均高于其它类型地区。     

郑州地区不同人群HCV感染及HCV基因型研究

目的 :了解郑州地区不同人群 HCV感染情况及基因分型。方法 :应用酶联免疫检测技术 (EL ISA)检测郑州地区 2 6 6 5例不同人群血清的抗 - HCV情况 ,再对 6 4例抗 - HCV阳性血清用逆转录 -套式多聚酶链反应检测 HCV-RNA。然后对其中 5 3例 HCV- RNA阳性者用限制性片段长度多态性分析法进行基因分型。结果 :抗 - HCV阳性在郑州地区总人口中的发生率是 0 .5 6 %～ 0 .78% ,原发性肝癌患者抗 - HCV的发生率明显高于其他各组。HCV基因型分布HCV- ,HCV- 和 HCV- / ,分别为 90 .5 6 % ,5 .6 6 %和 1.89%。结论 :原发性肝癌患者其 HCV的感染危险较高 ;HCV- 型是本地区的优势株 ;HCV各基因型在不同人口中的分布没有明显差异。(P>0 .0 5 ) HCV基因型可能与丙型肝炎病情轻重有关。     

Distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Candida species causing candidemia from 1996 to 1999

Susceptibilities to amphotericin B and fluconazole of 383 Candida species isolated from blood were determined. Candida albicans was the most common species (55.6%), followed by Candida parapsilosis (17.5%), Candida tropicalis (16.5%), Candida glabrata (5.2%), Candida guilliermondii (2.3%), and others (2.9%). All but three isolates, Candida ciferrii, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata, one each, were susceptible to amphotericin B. A total of 367 (95.8%) and 15 (4.2%) isolates were susceptible and susceptible-dose dependent to fluconazole, respectively. Only one isolate, a C. glabrata, was resistant to fluconazole. Few patients (13%) having prior fluconazole treatments may explain the low rate of resistance to fluconazole in this study.     

Distribution and drug susceptibilities of Candida species causing candidemia from a medical center in central Taiwan

Invasive fungal infections have increased significantly in the past few decades because of the increase in high-risk populations. To investigate the distribution and drug susceptibilities of such infections, we analyzed all 152 Candida isolates causing candidemia from 2004 to 2006 at the China Medical University Hospital, a medical center in central Taiwan. Candida albicans was the most common species, accounting for 52.6 % of the isolates, followed by C. tropicalis (19.7 %), C. parapsilosis (14.5 %), C. glabrata (8.6 %), C. guilliermondii (3.9 %), and C. pelliculosa (0.7 %). All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, anidulafungin, micafungin, and voriconazole according to minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) after a 24-h incubation; 0.7 %, 6.6 %, and 7.9 % of isolates were resistant to amphotericin B, fluconazole, and voriconazole, respectively, after 48-h incubation. Both C. albicans and C. parapsilosis had high degrees of agreement for azoles between 24- and 48-h incubation periods, whereas C. glabrata (38.5–46.2 %) and C. tropicalis (56.7–63.3 %) did not. The majority of the isolates with high azole MICs displayed a trailing growth phenotype. Hence, the MICs of different drugs after 24-h incubation may be considered for prognosis of candidemia.     

医院间护士锐器伤分布差异的多因素研究

目的：了解医院间导致护士锐器伤发生的危险因素，为宏观上针对单位制定预防锐器伤的政策提供依据。方法：采用多元线性逐步回归法对13所医院护士锐器伤的发生率与床护比、年人均手术量、使用后针头处理方法等13项院间因素进行分析。结果：床护比、年人均手术量、静脉导管使用量、套管针使用量、真空采血针头的使用量与医院间护士锐器伤发生率相关，前3项为锐器伤发生的可能危险因素，后两项为保护性因素。结论：工作超负荷与锐器伤发生相关，配备足够的护理编制可减少锐器伤的发生；安全产品的使用可降低锐器伤的发生率。     

A comparative assessment of in vitro cytotoxic activity and phytochemical profiling of Andrographis nallamalayana J.L.Ellis and Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS approach

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees and Andrographis nallamalayana J.L.Ellis have traditionally been used to treat various ailments such as mouth ulcers, intermittent fever, inflammation, snake bite. This study compares the comparative in vitro cytotoxic activity, and phytochemical profiling of methanol extract of A. nallamalayana (ANM) and A. paniculata (APM). UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis has been performed. The cytotoxic activity of crude methanol extracts were evaluated against three different cancer cell lines (HCT 116, HepG2, and A549 cell line). Both plants'' extract exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against tested cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. IC₅₀ of ANM and APM in HCT 116 cell was 11.71 ± 2.48 μg ml⁻¹ and 45.32 ± 0.86 μg ml⁻¹ and in HepG2 cell line was 15.65 ± 2.25 μg ml⁻¹ and 60.32 ± 1.05 μg ml⁻¹ respectively. Cytotoxicity of these two extracts was comparatively similar in A549 cells. ANM induced cytotoxicity involved programmed cell death, externalisation of phosphatidylserine, ROS generation, up-regulation and down-regulation of major apoptotic markers. HRMS analysis of ANM and APM resulted in the identification of 59 and 42 compounds, respectively. Further, using the MS/MS fragmentation approach, 20 compounds, of which 18 compounds were identified for the first time from ANM, which belongs to phenolic acids, flavonoids, and their glycosides. Three known compounds, echioidinin, skullcapflavone I and 5,2′,6′-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone 2′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, were isolated from A. nallamalayana and their crystal structures were reported for the first time. Subsequently, seven major compounds were identified in A. nallamalayana by direct comparison (retention time and UV-spectra) with authentic commercial standards and isolated compounds using HPLC-UV analysis. The cytotoxicity of phytochemicals from both the plants using in silico tools also justify their in vitro cytotoxic activity. It is the first report on the comparative characterisation of phytochemicals present in the methanolic extract of both the species of Andrographis, along with the cytotoxic activity of A. nallamalayana.

A comparative study of two Andrographis species have been done, and it was found that Andrographis nallamalayana J.L.Ellis is phytochemically and biologically different from Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees.     

探讨某地区临床用红细胞悬液输血感染HBV、HCV残存风险

目的探讨某地患者输注血液制品后存在输血感染HBV、HCV的可能性,为血源检测是否应增加病毒核酸扩增方法提供数据。方法对本地区临床用10459份红细胞悬液进行HBV、HCV实时荧光PCR检测。结果 HBV阳性率为0.105%,HCV阳性率为0.028%。结论我国在对血源筛检过程中,应增加病毒核酸检测项目。