Quorum sensing (QS) is a perfectly orchestrated molecular communication system. It is a boon for Klebsiella pneumoniae, and bane for the host. This system is believed to make K. pneumoniae a leading cause of multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial infections. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm potential of medicinal plant extracts through interfering with QS of K. pneumoniae. The effect of different concentrations of ethanolic extracts of cinnamon and clove on K. pneumoniae was determined by analyzing the growth curve, survival assay (MTT), Qualitative and quantitative biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, along with studying gene expression of the genes encoding the above traits, using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The low concentrations of the plant extracts did not affect neither on the bacterial growth, nor on the viability of K. pneumoniae, supported with growth curves. Additionally, the biofilm production was inhibited even by lower plant concentrations, and both cinnamon and clove extracts were able to render the MDR bacteria to be more susceptible to antibiotics. At the molecular levels, the bacterium treated with either clove or cinnamon or in combination showed under expression of the biofilm formation regulation gene (bssS), the carbapenem resistance gene (bla), as well as the QS target gene (LuxS). Both clove and cinnamon ethanolic extracts exerted potent impacts on reducing pathogenic traits regulated by QS in K. pneumoniae. Finally, the study recommends further exploration of clove and cinnamon extracts separately or in combination to develop alternative therapies against MDR K. pneumoniae infections.
Endophytic fungi live inside plants or any part of them without creating any visible pathogenic signs. Endophytic fungi are found within medicinal plants and have shown strong biologic activity, such as anticancer and antioxidant activities, as well as producing extracellular enzymes. In this study, different fungal strains were isolated from the leaves of the medicinal plant Ziziphus spina, including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium sp., Rhizopus sp., and Mucor sp. Extracellular enzymes have been quantified using agar plate-based methods in which fungi were grown in specified growth media to detect the enzymes produced. The results showed that A. niger has the highest ability to produce amy
... Show MoreIn the analysis of multiple linear regression, the problem of multicollinearity and auto-correlation drew the attention of many researchers, and given the appearance of these two problems together and their bad effect on the estimation, some of the researchers found new methods to address these two problems together at the same time. In this research a comparison for the performance of the Principal Components Two Parameter estimator (PCTP) and The (r-k) class estimator and the r-(k,d) class estimator by conducting a simulation study and through the results and under the mean square error (MSE) criterion to find the best way to address the two problems together. The results showed that the r-(k,d) class estimator is the best esti
... Show MoreIn present work, new tetra-dentate ligand, titled 3,5-bis ((E)-5-Bromo-2-hydroxy benzylidene amino) benzoic acid (H3L), was prepared via an acid-catalyzed condensation process. New four metallic ligand complexes with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions, were also prepared from the refluxing of equivalent moles. Ligand's structure and its complexes; were confirmed by numerous characterization methods, including Ultraviolet-Visible, Infrared, Mass Spectrometer, 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectra, atomic absorption, magnetic moments, and molar conductivity measurements. The results of the spectroscopic analyzes proved that the prepared ligand acts as tetradentate bi-ionic ligand and it was bond
... Show MoreThe ligand [Potassium (E)-(4-(((2-((1-(3-aminophenyl) ethylidene) amino)-4-oxo-1,4- dihydropteridin-6-yl) methyl) amino)benzoyl)-L-glutamate] was prepared from the condensation reaction of folic acid with (3-aminoacetophenone) through Schiff reaction to give a new Schiff base ligand [H2L]. The ligand [H2L] was characterized by elemental analysis CHN, atomic absorption (A.A), (FT-I.R.), (U.V.-Vis), TLC, E.S. mass (for spectroscopes), molar conductance, and melting point. The new Schiff base ligand [H2L], reacts with Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cr(III) and Cd(II) metal ions and (2-aminophenol), (metal : derivative ligand : 2-aminophenol) to give a series of new mixed complexes in the general formula:- K3[M2(HL)(HA)2], (where M=Mn(II) and
... Show MoreBiogas is one of the most important sources of renewable energy and is considered as an environment friendly energy source. The major goal of this research is to see if rice husk (Rh) waste and pomegranate peels (PP) waste are suitable for anaerobic digestion and what effect NaOH pre-treatment has on biogas generation. Rice husk and pomegranate peels were tested in anaerobic digestion under patch anaerobic conditions as separate wastes as well as blended together in equal proportions. The cumulative biogas output for the blank test (no pretreatment) was 1923 and 2526 ml, respectively using a single rice husk (Rh) and pomegranate peel (PP) substrates. The 50% rice husk digestion and 50% of pomegranate peels for blank test gave the result 224
... Show MoreIn this research, the preparation of bidentate Schiff base was carried out via the condensation reaction of both the salicylaldehyde with 1-phenyl-2,3-dimethyl-4-amino-5-oxo-pyrazole to form the ligand (L). The mentioned ligand was used to prepare complexes with transition metal ions Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II). The resulting complexes were separated and characterized by FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopic technique. Elemental analysis for Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen elements, electronic spectra of the ligand and complexes were obtained, and the magnetic susceptibility tests were also achieved to measure the dipole moments. The molar conductivities were also measured and determination of chlorine content in the complexes and
... Show MoreThe present study was Conducted to evaluate the effect of amixture of three species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( Glomus etunicatum , G. leptotichum and Rhizophagus intraradices ) in Influence on the percentage of the components of NPK and protein of tomato leaves and roots infected with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Lycopersici wich cause Fusarial wilt disease , planted for 8 weeks in the presence of the organic matter ( peatmose) , using pot cultures in aplastic green house , Results indicated significant increase in the percentage of the elements of NK and protein of tomato leaves and roots In the control treatment (C), While the percentage of the element P was after infection with the pathogen 4 weaks after mycorrhizal colonization in al
... Show MoreNew complexes of the type [ML2(H2O)2] ,[FeL2(H2O)Cl] and [VOL2] were M=Co(II),Ni(II) and Cu(II) ,L=4-(2-methyl-4-oxoquinazoline-3(4H)-yl) benzoic acid were synthesized and characterized by element analysis, magnetic susceptibility ,molar conductance ,FT-IR and UV-visible. The studies indicate that the L acts as doubly monodentate bridge for metal ions and form mononuclear complexes. The complexes are found to be octahedral except V(IV) complex is square pyrimde shape . The structural geometries of compounds were also suggested in gas phase by theoretical treatments, using Hyper chem-6 program for the molecular mechanics and semi-empirical calculations, addition heat of formation(?Hf ?) and binding energy (?Eb)for the free ligan
... Show MoreAbstract The present study was Conducted to evaluate the effect of amixture of three species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( Glomus etunicatum , G. leptotichum and Rhizophagus intraradices ) in Influence on the percentage of the components of NPK and protein of tomato leaves and roots infected with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Lycopersici wich cause Fusarial wilt disease , planted for 8 weeks in the presence of the organic matter ( peatmose) , using pot cultures in aplastic green house , Results indicated significant increase in the percentage of the elements of NK and protein of tomato leaves and roots In the control treatment (C), While the percentage of the element P was after infection with the pathogen 4 weaks after mycorrhiza
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