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.
Extraction of copper (Cu) from aqueous solution utilizing Liquid Membrane technology (LM) is more effective than precipitation method that forms sludge and must be disposed of in landfills. In this work, we have formulated a liquid surfactant membrane (LSM) that uses kerosene oil as the main diluent of LSM to remove copper ions from the aqueous waste solution through di- (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid - D2EHPA- as a carrier. This technique displays several advantages including one-stage extraction and stripping process, simple operation, low energy requirement, and. In this study, the LSM process was used to transport Cu (II) ions from the feed phase to the stripping phase, which was prepared, using H2SO4. For LSM p
... Show MoreThe research aims to measure the accounting conservatism practice of listed companies in the Iraq stock exchange using Basu model to measure the degree of accounting conservatism in a sample of companies of (21) companies for the period from 2007 to 2011, the researcher found that most of the listed companies in the market exercised accounting conservatism when measurement and disclosure of the result of the activity and financial position and there is a variation in the degree of accounting conservatism between economic sectors , which included banking , investment , insurance , industry , agriculture , tourism and hotels.
Because the practice of accounting conservatism properly
... Show MoreA pot culture experiment was conducted at the greenhouse of soil and water resources department in College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad in Abo-Ghraib at season 2009-2010 to investigate the effects of using foliar application of some macro and micronutrients in induce antioxidant enzymes in wheat grown under salt stress . Doar85 planted under three levels of salt stress, and three combinations of foliar application were used from nutrients (K+ Ca) at 3000 and 1500 mg.L-1 respectively, and (Fe + Zn + Mn) at 30, 20, and 10 mg.L-1 respectively , and ( K+ Ca) + (Fe+ Zn + Mn). The results showed that increasing levels of sodium chloride in the irrigation of water significantly increased at p<0.05 level SOD and POD activity
... Show MoreThe inhibitive power of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) was investigated toward the corrosion of carbon steel in 0.2N H2SO4 solution in the temperature range of 30-60˚C and PVA concentration range of 150-2000 ppm.
The corrosion rate was measured using both the weight loss and the electrochemical techniques. The weight loss results showed that PVA could serve as a corrosion inhibitor but its inhibition power was found to be low for the corrosion of carbon steel in the acidic media. Electrochemical analysis of the corrosion process of carbon steel in an electrochemical corrosion cell was investigated using 3-Electrode corrosion cell. Polarization technique was used for carbon steel corrosion in 0.2N H
Infection at the site of vascular anastomosis is a serious complication of vascular surgery and is associated with a high limb loss and mortality rate. The classical method of management is ligation of the injured artery, adequate wound debridement and restoration of circulation. The latter is achieved by either in situ or extra-anatomic bypass. If the distal circulation is not maintained, subsequent amputation is most likely.
Objectives: In this study we tried to assess the efficacy of extra-anatomic synthetic bypass grafts in the treatment of vascular infection in the groin to save the limb and avoid the inevitable amputation.
Methods: Between January 2006 and December 2007, ten male patients aged twenty to thirty five years (mea
The present study is concerned with the writer's ideologies towards violence against women. The study focuses on analyzing violence against women in English novel to see the extent the writers are being affected and influenced by their genders. It also focuses on showing to what extent the writer's ideologies are reflected in their works. Gender influences social groups ideologies; therefore, when a writer discusses an issue that concerns the other gender, they will be either subjective or objective depending on the degree of influence, i.e., gender has influenced their thoughts as well as behaviors. A single fact may be presented differently by different writers depending on the range of a
... Show MoreThis research is carried out to investigate the externally post-tensioning technique for strengthening RC beams. In this research, four T-section RC beams having the same dimensions and material properties were casted and tested up to failure by applying two mid-third concentrated loads. Three of these beams are strengthened by using external tendons, while the remaining beam is kept without strengthening as a control beam. Two external strands of 12 mm diameter were fixed at each side of the web of the strengthened beams and located at depth of 200 mm from top fiber of the section (dps). So that the depth of strands to overall depth of the section ratio (dps
... Show MoreThe mucilage from the seeds of Lallemantia royleana family Labiatae was extracted and subjected to preformulation study for evaluation of its suitability for use as suspending agent. Furosemide suspensions were prepared using (1.5% w/v) of the extracted Lallemantia royleana mucilage, (1.5% w/v) chitosan and (0.35% w/v) xanthan gum. The mucilage was white in color and the average yield of dried mucilage obtained from L.royleana nutlets was 14 % w/w of the seeds used. It is sparingly soluble in water but swells in contact with it, giving a highly viscous solution. It is slightly acidic to neutral. It was found that the extracted natural mucilage of Lallemantia royleana exhibited a higher viscosity profil
... Show MoreSediment samples were collected from main water processing and supply plants in Baghdad, and tested for radioactivity from both natural and artificial sources. These stations are: East Dijla (Tigris), Al-Kadisia, Al-Karama, Al-Rasheed, Al-Sader, Al-Wathba, and Al-Wihda supply stations. Qualitative measurements were made, and the results showed that most sediments exhibited natural radioactive level and sometimes less than the international regular standards. Specially, K-40 and Ra-226 results were much less than the standards for radioactive concentrations. Ac-228 concentration was found rather than Th-232 (in Al-Sader and Al-Wihda samples) but with low concentrations of about 10-15 Bg/kg and detection confidence ~45% , and Ce-141 and Be
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