This study aimed to isolate and identify Cryptococcus species from three distinct sources: sputum samples of pigeon fanciers, dried pigeon droppings, and eucalyptus tree leaves. A total of 150 specimens were collected over a two-month period, comprising 50 samples each from human sputum, pigeon droppings collected across various areas of Baghdad, and eucalyptus leaves obtained from the Baghdad College of Veterinary Medicine. All samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenicol and incubated at 25°C for 2–3 days. From the initial cultures, 20 isolates presumptively identified as Cryptococcus spp. were obtained: 6 isolates (12%) from human sputum, 9 isolates (18%) from pigeon droppings, and 5 isolates (10%) from eucalyptus leaves, giving an overall recovery rate of 13.3%. Molecular identification using PCR was employed to detect two key virulence genes: CAP64 (associated with capsule formation) and LAC1 (involved in melanin production). These genes were detected in 13 out of 14 confirmed Cryptococcus isolates (92.85%). Specifically, 75% of C. neoformans isolates from human samples carried these genes, while the C. albidus isolate lacked them. All Cryptococcus isolates from pigeon droppings and eucalyptus leaves tested positive for both virulence genes (100%).
Background: Eucalyptus extracts and derivatives are natural substances with potent antimicrobial properties. This study investigated the in- vitro effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on the antifungal activity of alcoholic and aqueous Eucalyptus extracts against Candida albicans, a common oral pathogen. Materials and Method: Ten isolates of Candida albicans were isolated from dental students’ salivary samples. The alcoholic and aqueous extracts were prepared from fresh Eucalyptus leaves using maceration. The sensitivity of Candida albicans isolates to various concentrations of Eucalyptus extracts ranging from 50 to 250 (mg/mL) was evaluated via agar well diffusion method, while the agar streaking method was used to assess the minimum
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The varied applications of polystyrene in various fields of life led to examining the cause of radiation influence on some rheological behavior of commercial Polystyrene (PS) solution in the chloroform (CHCl3) solvent. Polystyrene grains shape samples were irradiated using the radioactive element Cesium- 137 with (9 µci) activity for 10, 20, and 30 minutes. The viscosity of the polymer solution depends on the concentration and size (i.e. molecular weight) of the dissolved polymer. Experimental data showed that the radiation dose affected the value of viscosity (shear, relative, specific, and reduced). The viscosity value significantly reduced at 10 min radiation dose and when increasing the dose, the viscosity value increased
... Show MoreNew Schiff-base ligands bearing tetrazole moiety and their polymeric metal complexes with Co(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions are reported. Ligands were prepared in a multiple-step reaction. The reaction of sodium 2,6- diformylphenolate and cyclohexane-1,3-dione with 5-amino-2-fluorobenzonitrile resulted in the isolation of two precursors sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate 1 and 5,5'- (1E,1'E)-cyclohexane-1,3-diylidenebis- (azan-1-yl-1-ylidene)bis(2-fluorobenzonitrile) 2, respectively. The reaction of precursors with azide gave the required ligands; sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(4-fluoro-3-(1H-tetrazol-5- yl)phenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate (NaL) and (N,N'E,N,N'E)-N,N'-(cyclohexane-1,3-diylidene)bis(4- fluoro-3-
... Show MoreNew Schiff-base ligands bearing tetrazole moiety and their polymeric metal complexes with Co(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions are reported. Ligands were prepared in a multiple-step reaction. The reaction of sodium 2,6- diformylphenolate and cyclohexane-1,3-dione with 5-amino-2-fluorobenzonitrile resulted in the isolation of two precursors sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate 1 and 5,5'- (1E,1'E)-cyclohexane-1,3-diylidenebis- (azan-1-yl-1-ylidene)bis(2-fluorobenzonitrile) 2, respectively. The reaction of precursors with azide gave the required ligands; sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(4-fluoro-3-(1H-tetrazol-5- yl)phenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate (NaL) and (N, N'E, N, N'E)-N, N'-(cyclohexane-1,3-diylidene)bis(4- fluor
... Show MoreThe inhibitory action of four lactobacilli isolates Lactobacillus bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, L. plantarum and L. fermentum, isolated from four different samples; yoghurt, vinegar, saliva and vagina respectively, on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus adhesion to uroepithelial cells were investigated. Results showed that all Lactobacillus isolates or their supernatant were able to reduce the number of the uropathogens attached to uroepithelial cells. However, inhibition level of lactobacilli cells was higher than their supernatant. Nevertheless, the human indigenous lactobacilli (L. fermentum and L. plantarum) were more competitive than food lactobacilli (L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus).
The present study was carried to evaluate antibacterial activity of Acetone, Alcholic (cold and hot) and Aqueaus(water) extracts of Citrus aurantifoliaseeds,against growth of some bacteria isolated from burns infections(Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumonia,Staphylococcusaureus)fromKindy HospitalIn Baghdad from March to June 2012.Antibiotic Sensitivity was done for all isolated bacteria used in this study.Results showed variation in antibacterial activity of different extracts against all tested bacteria by well diffusion technique in agar and measuring the diameter of inhibition zone, at concentration 250Mg-ml. Acetone extract had the greatest inhibitory effect followed by hot alcoholci extract, and then cold alcohol
... Show MoreThe aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors that influence the perforation, regardless of the presence of H. pylori infection, in a sample of Iraqi patients with peptic ulcers, admitted to Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital. A total of 90 patients who had perforated peptic ulcer participated in this study. The diagnosis was based on history, clinical examination, laboratory and radiological investigations and was confirmed intraoperatively. A number of probable risk factors for perforation were investigated. Eighty participants were males and 10 were females (male to female ratio 8:1). About 42.2% of patients were in their fifth decade of life. Forty-nine (54.4%) patients were asymptomatic be
Opportunistic fungal infections due to the immune- compromised status of renal transplant patients are related to high rates of morbidity and mortality regardless of their minor incidence. Delayed in identification of invasive fungal infections (IFIs), will lead to delayed treatment and results in high mortality in those populations. The study aimed to assess the frequency of invasive fungal infection in kidney transplant recipients by conventional and molecular methods. This study included 100 kidney transplant recipients (KTR) (75 males, and 25 females), collected from the Centre of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation in the Medical City of Baghdad. Blood samples were collected during the period from June 2018 to April 2019. Twent
... Show MoreBackground:SARS-CoV-2 infection has caused a global pandemic that continues to negatively impact human health. A large group of microbial domains including bacteria co-evolved and interacted in complex molecular pathogenesis along with SARS-CoV-2. Evidence suggests that periodontal disease bacteria are involved in COVID-19, and are associated with chronic inflammatory systemic diseases. This study was performed to investigate the association between bacterial loads of Porphyromonas gingivalis and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Fifty patients with confirmed COVID-19 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, their age ranges between 20-76 years, and 35 healthy volunteers (matched accordingly with age and sex to th
... Show MoreIn accordance with epidemic COVID-19, the elevated infection rates, disinfectant overuse and antibiotic misuse what led to immune suppression in most of the population in addition to genotypic and phenotypic alterations in the microorganisms, so a great need to reevaluate the genetic determinants that responsible for bacterial community (biofilm) has been raised. A total of 250 clinical specimens were obtained from patients in Baghdad hospitals and streaked on Mannitol salt agar medium. The results revealed that 156 isolates appeared as round yellow colonies, indicating that they were mostly identified as Staphylococcus aureus from 250 specimens. The antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates for methicillin 37.17% (n=58), Amoxic
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