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Agar Plates (agar + plate)
Kinds of Agar Plates Selected AbstractsEffectiveness of dentine bonding agents against cariogenic bacteria in vitro: a comparison of two methodsMOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2003O. A. Schmidlin Data obtained from studies on the antimicrobial properties of bonding agents are the subject of controversy, probably because of methodological differences. This study compared two commonly used in vitro methods, the disc agar diffusion test and the well agar diffusion test. Agar plates were seeded with Streptococcus sobrinus, Lactobacillus gasseri, or Actinomyces naeslundii. For the well diffusion test, wells cut out of the agar were filled with the test material, and for the disc method, discs impregnated with the test material were applied to the agar; the discs and wells were both 9 mm in diameter. After incubation, measurements of the zones of inhibition showed little agreement between the two methods when bonding agents were tested; the mean differences (± sdiff) in the zones of inhibition between the methods were 0.7 ± 3.4 mm (P = 0.40, one sample t -test against zero), 4.9 ± 4.4 mm (P = 0.97), and 0.8 ± 4.3 mm (P = 0.47) for S. sobrinus, L. gasseri, and A. naeslundii, respectively. Mean differences were less contrasting when chlorhexidine and pure components were tested (P < 0.05 for S. sobrinus and L. gasseri). These results indicate the need for a gold standard method to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of bonding agents. [source] RAPA: a novel in vitro method to evaluate anti-bacterial skin cleansing productsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010S. A. Ansari Synopsis Development of efficacious anti-bacterial skin cleansing products has been limited by the availability of a pre-clinical (in vitro) method to predict clinical efficacy adequately. We report a simple and rapid method, designated as rapid agar plate assay (RAPA), that uses the bacteriological agar surface as a surrogate substrate for skin and combines elements of two widely used in vivo (clinical) methods (Agar Patch and Cup Scrub). To simulate the washing of the human hand or forearm skin with the test product, trypticase soy agar plates were directly washed with the test product and rinsed under running tap water. After air-drying the washed plates, test bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli) were applied and the plates were incubated at 37°C for 18,24 h. Using S. aureus as the test organism, anti-bacterial bar soap containing triclocarbanilide showed a strong linear relationship (R2 = 0.97) between bacterial dose and their per cent reduction. A similar dose-response relationship (R2 = 0.96) was observed for anti-bacterial liquid hand soap against E. coli. RAPA was able to distinguish between anti-bacterial products based on the nature and level of actives in them. In limited comparative tests, results obtained by RAPA were comparable with the results obtained by clinical agar patch and clinical cup scrub methods. In conclusion, RAPA provides a simple, rugged and reproducible in vitro method for testing the relative efficacy of anti-bacterial skin cleansing products with a likelihood of comparable clinical efficacy. Further testing is warranted to improve the clinical predictability of this method. Résumé Le développement des produits de nettoyage de peau antibactérienne efficace a été limité par la disponibilité d'une méthode (in vitro) préclinique pour prévoir en juste proportion l'efficacité clinique. Nous rapportons une méthode simple et rapide, indiquée comme analyse rapide de plat d'agar (RAPA) ce des utilisations la surface bactériologique d'agar comme substrat de remplacement pour la peau et combinons des éléments de deux méthodes (cliniques) in vivo employées couramment (correction d'agar et la tasse frottent). Pour simuler le lavage de la peau humaine de main ou d'avant-bras avec le produit d'essai, des plats de l'agar de soja de trypticase ont été directement lavés avec le produit d'essai et rincés sous l'eau du robinet courante. Après l'air séchant les plats lavés, les bactéries d'essai (S. doré Ou Escherichia coli) étaient appliquées et des plats ont été incubées au °C 37 pendant 18,24 heures. Utilisant S. doré Comme organization d'essai, le triclocarbanilide contenant du savon de barre antibactérienne a montré un rapport linéaire fort (R2 = 0.97) entre la dose bactérienne et leur réduction de pour cent. On a observé un rapport semblable de réponse à dose donnée (R2 = 0.96) pour le savon liquide antibactérien de main contre E. coli. RAPA pouvait distinguer les produits antibactériens basés sur la nature et le niveau des actives dans eux. Dans les essais comparatifs limités, résultats obtenus par RAPA étaient comparables aux résultats obtenus par la correction clinique d'agar et la tasse clinique frottent des méthodes, en conclusion, RAPA fournit à une méthode in vitro simple, raboteuse et reproductible pour examiner l'efficacité relative des produits de nettoyage de peau antibactérienne la probabilité de l'efficacité clinique comparable. Davantage d'essai est justifié pour améliorer la prévisibilité clinique de cette méthode. [source] Isolation of a low-temperature adapted lipolytic enzyme from uncultivated micro-organismJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008C. Roh Abstract Aims:, The aim of the study was to isolate a novel lipolytic enzyme from the activated sludge of uncultured micro-organisms. Methods and Results:, The metagenomic DNA was directly extracted from the activated sludge, and a metagenomic library was constructed by using the pUC vector. The library was screened for lipolytic enzyme activity on 1% tributyrin agar plate. A clone among c. 100 000 recombinant libraries showed the lipolytic activity. The putative lipolytic gene encoding lipo1 from the metagenomic library was subcloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 using the pET expression system. The expressed recombinant enzyme was purified by Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography and characterized using general substrates of lipolytic property. The gene consisted of 972 bp encoding a polypeptide of 324 amino acids with a molecular mass of 35·6 kDa. Typical residues essential for lipolytic activity such as penta-peptide (GXSXG) and catalytic triad sequences (Ser166, Asp221 and His258) were detected. The deduced amino acid sequence of lipo1 showed low identity with amino acid sequences of esterase/lipase (32%, ZP_01528487) from Pseudomonas mendocina ymp and esterase (31%, AAY45707) from uncultured bacterium. This lipolytic enzyme exhibited the highest activity at pH 7·5 and 10°C. At thermal stability analysis, lipo1 was more unstable at 40°C than 10°C. Conclusions:, An activity based strategy has been an effective method for fishing out a low-temperature adapted lipolytic enzyme from the metagenomic library. This lipo1 enzyme can be considered to belong to the hormone-sensitive lipase family due to the enzyme's oxyanion hole by the sequence HGGG. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Lipo1 is a novel psychrophilic esterase obtained directly from the metagenomic library. Owing its support of significant activity at low temperature, this enzyme is expected to be useful for potential application as a biocatalyst in organic chemistry. [source] Effect of environmental factors on expression and activity of chitinase genes of vibrios with special reference to Vibrio choleraeJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007R. Bhowmick Abstract Aims:, The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and inducibility of chitinase genes in vibrios and the effect of environmental factors on the expression level and activity of chitinase genes in Vibrio cholerae strains. Methods and Results:, Chitin agar plate assays showed that V. cholerae strains were more chitinolytic than non- cholerae vibrios. All of the identified or putative chitinase genes were expressed in V. cholerae (four strains) but not in non- cholerae vibrios (seven species/strains) under standard laboratory growth conditions. In non- cholerae vibrios, these genes were induced by chitin, its monomer N -acetyl- d -glucosamine and on exposure to rabbit intestine, while in V. cholerae strains, these genes showed significant variation in expression levels. To study the effects of environmental factors on the expression and activity of chitinase genes in V. cholerae, bacteria were cultured in different pH, temperature, sodium chloride and nutrients. RT-PCR analysis showed that lower temperatures and higher pH, salinity and nutrition favoured expression of these genes, while their activity increased under higher nutrition content and salinity. Conclusions:, Chitinase genes are distributed in all the relatively small number of strains studied here, and biotic and abiotic factors have significant role in the induction, expression level and activity of this gene family in vibrios. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Chitinases have important applications especially in recycling of chitin. Vibrios can be used as chitinolytic agents, using suitable culture conditions that maximize the expression and activity of these genes. [source] Relevance of incubation temperature for Vibrio salmonicida vaccine productionJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2002D.J. Colquhoun Aims:,To investigate the relationships between water temperature, bacterial growth, virulence and antigen expression in Vibrio salmonicida, the causal agent of cold water vibriosis in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Methods and Results:,The significance of sea temperature was investigated using historical clinical and oceanographic data. An upper threshold for disease of approx. 10°C was established. The effects of culture temperature and media type on bacterial growth were studied on solid and in liquid media. The highest rates of cell division were identified at 15°C on solid media and 10°C in liquid media. Outer membrane protein (OMP) expression and serological response in Atlantic salmon were studied using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A novel 76-kDa OMP produced in unshaken cultures at 10°C was not found to stimulate a specific humoral response. Conclusions:,Diagnostic agar plate-based incubation of suspected V. salmonicida should be carried out at 15°C. High yield broth cultures for vaccine production should be incubated at 10°C or lower. Significance and Impact of the Study:,This study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first to identify different optimal temperatures in a bacterial species cultured on physically different types of media. The evidence presented suggests that V. salmonicida and possibly other bacteria destined for vaccine use in poikilothermic organisms should be cultured at temperatures consistent with that at which disease occurs. [source] Isolation and characterization of a Lactobacillus amylovorus mutant depleted in conjugated bile salt hydrolase activity: relation between activity and bile salt resistanceJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000J.P. Grill Growth experiments were conducted on Lactobacillus amylovorus DN-112 053 in batch culture, with or without pH regulation. Conjugated bile salt hydrolase (CBSH) activity was examined as a function of culture growth. The CBSH activity increased during growth but its course depended on bile salts type and culture conditions. A Lact. amylovorus mutant was isolated from the wild-type strain of Lact. amylovorus DN-112 053 after mutagenesis with N-methyl-N,-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. An agar plate assay was used to detect mutants without CBSH activity. In resting cell experiments, the strain showed reduced activity. Differences between growth parameters determined for wild-type and mutant strains were not detected. Comparative native gel electrophoresis followed by CBSH activity staining demonstrated the loss of proteins harbouring this activity in the mutant. Four protein bands corresponding to CBSH were observed in the wild-type strain but only one was detected in the mutant. The specific growth rate of the mutant strain was affected more by bile salts than the wild-type strain. Nevertheless, bile was more toxic for the wild-type strain. In viability studies in the presence of nutrients, it was demonstrated that glycodeoxycholic acid exerted a higher toxicity than taurodeoxycholic acid in a pH-dependent manner. No difference was apparent between the two strains. In the absence of nutrients, the wild-type strain died after 2 h whereas no effect was observed for the mutant. The de-energization experiments performed using the ionophores nigericin and valinomycin suggested that the chemical potential of protons (Z,pH) was involved in Lactobacillus bile salt resistance. [source] Removal of chromium (VI) through biosorption by the Pseudomonas spp. isolated from tannery effluentJOURNAL OF BASIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Jatin Srivastava Dr. Abstract Heavy metal contamination of the rivers is a world wide environmental problem and its removal is a great challenge. Kanpur and Unnao two closely located districts of Uttar Pradesh India are known for their leather industries. The tanneries release their treated effluent in the near by water ways containing Cr metal that eventually merges with the river Ganges. Untreated tannery effluent contains 2.673 ± 0.32 to 3.268 ± 0.73 mg l,1 Cr. Microbes were isolated, keeping the natural selection in the view, from the tannery effluent since microbes present in the effluent exposed to the various types of stresses and metal stress is one of them. Investigations include the exposure of higher concentrations of Cr(VI) 1.0 to 4.0 mg l,1 to the bacteria (presumably the Pseudomonas spp.) predominant on the agar plate. The short termed study (72 h) of biosorption showed significant reduction of metal in the media especially in the higher concentrations with a value from 1.0 ± 0.02, 2.0 ± 0.01, 3.0 ± 0, and 4.0 ± 0.09 at zero h to 0.873 ± 0.55, 1.840 ± 1.31, 2.780 ± 0.03 and 3.502 ± 0.68 at 72 h respectively. The biosorption of metal show in the present study that the naturally occurring microbes have enough potential to mitigate the excessive contamination of their surroundings and can be used to reduce the metal concentrations in aqueous solutions in a specific time frame. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Assessing the antifungal activity and toxicity profile of amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC; Abelcet®) in combination with caspofungin in experimental systemic aspergillosisJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2004Olena Sivak Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the antifungal activity and renal and hepatic toxicity of amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC; Abelcet®) following co-administration of Caspofungin to rats infected with Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillus fumigatus inoculum (1.3,2.3,×,107 colony forming units [CFU]) was injected via the jugular vein; 48 h later male albino Sprague,Dawley rats (350,400 g) were administered either a single intravenous (IV) dose of Fungizone® (1 mg AmpB/kg), ABLC (1 or 5 mg AmpB/kg), or an equivalent volume of normal saline (NS) (vehicle control) once daily for 4 days. Rats were further randomized into groups to receive 3 mg/kg Caspofungin or physiologic saline IV once daily for 4 days. To assess antifungal activity, brain, lung, heart, liver, spleen, and kidney sections were homogenized with NS (2 mL; 1 g of each tissue/mL) and a 0.1-mL aliquot was spread plated onto a Sabouraud dextrose agar plate. The plates were incubated for 48 h at 37°C, at which time the numbers of CFU were determined and corrected for tissue weight. To assess renal and hepatic toxicity, serum creatinine and aspartate aminotransferase levels were determined. Fungizone and ABLC at a dosing regimen of 1 mg/kg i.v. once daily for four consecutive days and Caspofungin at a dosing regimen of 3 mg/kg i.v. once daily for four consecutive days had similar effectiveness in decreasing the total number of Aspergillus fumigatus CFUs found in all organs analyzed compared to non-treated controls. A combination of ABLC (1 mg/kg i.v.,×,4 days) and Caspofungin (3 mg/kg i.v.,×,4 days) significantly decreased the total number of Aspergillus fumigatus CFUs found in all organs analyzed compared to Caspofungin alone and non-treated controls. ABLC at a dosing regiment of 5 mg/kg i.v. once daily for four consecutive days was more effective in decreasing the total number of Aspergillus fumigatus CFUs found in all organs analyzed compared to Fungizone or ABLC alone at 1 mg/kg and Caspofungin alone at 3 mg/kg. However, a combination of ABLC (5 mg/kg i.v.,×,4 days) and Caspofungin (3 mg/kg i.v.,×,4 days) was not more effective than ABLC at 5 mg/kg or the combination of ABLC at 1 mg/kg and Caspofungin 3 mg/kg in reducing the total number of Aspergillus fumigatus CFUs compared to controls. Except for non-treated infected control rats, none of the treatment groups tested displayed a greater than 50% increase in serum creatinine concentrations from baseline. In addition, only ABLC at a dosing regimen of 1 mg/kg i.v. once daily for four consecutive days displayed a greater than 50% increase in AST concentration from baseline. Taken together, these findings suggest that ABLC at 5 mg/kg once daily,×,4 days appears to be the best therapeutic choice in this animal model. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 93:1382,1389, 2004 [source] A Simple Technique for Purifying Fungal Cultures Contaminated with Bacteria and MitesJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 9 2001S. S. Ko A simple technique was developed for purifying fungal cultures contaminated with bacteria and mites. It was based on the observation that the growth of bacteria and movement of mites were confined to the upper surface of the agar. A culture contaminated with bacteria and mites was transferred to a piece of clean paper with the upper surface facing down. Small thin pieces (approximately 3 mm × 3 mm × 0.5 mm) of agar were removed from the exposed surface and transferred to a V-8 agar plate. Colonies that developed from these agar pieces were free from bacteria and mites. [source] Bactericidal effect of a 405-nm diode laser on Porphyromonas gingivalisLASER PHYSICS LETTERS, Issue 5 2009Y. Kotoku Abstract The study was conducted to determine the effect of 405-nm diode laser irradiation on periodontopathic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis in vitro. A diluted suspension of P. gingivalis was irradiated directly with a 405-nm diode laser under conditions of 100 mW-10 sec, 100 mW-20 sec, 200 mW-5 sec, 200 mW-10 sec, 200 mW-20 sec, 400 mW-5 sec, 400 mW-10 sec, and 400 mW-20 sec. The energy density ranged from 2.0 to 16.0 J/cm2. The irradiated bacterial suspension was spread on a blood agar plate and growth of the colonies was examined after an anaerobic culture for 7 days. Bacterial growth was inhibited under all irradiation conditions, but the bactericidal effect of the 405-nm diode laser depended on the energy density. More than 97% of bacterial growth was inhibited with irradiation at an energy density > 4.0 J/cm2. The mechanism of the bactericidal effect is photochemical, rather than photothermal. These findings suggest that a 405-nm diode laser has a high bactericidal effect on P. gingivalis. (© 2009 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA) [source] Cloning and identification of EDD gene from ultraviolet-irradiated HaCaT cellsPHOTODERMATOLOGY, PHOTOIMMUNOLOGY & PHOTOMEDICINE, Issue 6 2006Nishma Gupta Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the most important external stimuli that affects skin by inducing cancer, inflammation and cell death. To identify the regulation of genes regulated by UV during transformation, normal human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT, was exposed to multiple doses of UVA+B (UVA , 150,200 mJ/cm2 and UVB , 15,20 mJ/cm2× 6). Malignant transformation was confirmed by formation of colonies on soft agar and DNA methylation assay. To identify the genes involved in this process, random amplification of polymorphic DNA using RNA from unexposed and multiple exposed cells was performed after each exposure. A few up-regulated genes were identified, cloned and sequenced. One of the genes had homology to EDD (E3 identified by differential display) that was up-regulated at second exposure but was down-regulated in colony-forming cells (cells that received six or more exposures) as determined by RT-PCR. This is a progesterone-induced gene and progesterone treatment reduced the extent of colony formation on soft agar plate. It is possible that hormone therapy may have some effects on skin cancer in vivo. [source] Alloiococcus otitidis,otitis media pathogen or normal bacterial flora?,APMIS, Issue 9 2008KRISTER TANO During the last decade a new potential otitis media pathogen, Alloiococcus otitidis, has been studied. It is still not clear whether this bacterium really is a pathogen, although it has been found in a high percentage of middle ear effusions in children. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of A. otitidis in the nasopharynx and outer ear canals, and to develop a culture method that would make it possible to isolate A. otitidis from these locations. Nasopharyngeal samples (n=129) from children below 6 years were investigated by conventional culture on blood agar plates with 6% saline and rabbit antisera against A. otitidis, and by a PCR method. In the same way, we investigated 10 samples from vestibulum nasi of healthy persons, 68 samples from outer ear canals of patients with acute or chronic ear problems, and 24 samples from outer ear canals of healthy persons. In a rat model of acute otitis media, we instilled living A. otitidis into rat middle ears through the tympanic bulla and evaluated the outcome clinically by otomicroscopy at days 3, 6 and 14. Of the 129 nasopharyngeal cultures, 9 were positive for A. otitidis by PCR, but none by the culture method. Of the 68 samples from patients with running ears, 4 were positive for A. otitidis by PCR, but none by the culture method. Of the 24 healthy ear canals, 7 were positive for A. otitidis by PCR and 3 of them also by the culture method. No A. otitidis could be found from the vestibulum nasi. The rat experiment showed that the reactions in the middle ears were mild; we could not provoke a purulent acute otitis media in any of the rats. There was a 7% prevalence of A. otitidis in children below 6 years. The highest prevalence (29%) was found in outer ear canals of healthy persons, which strongly suggests that A. otitidis is part of the normal bacterial flora of the outer ear canal. The doubtful pathogenicity is also confirmed by the fact that,in the rat model,A. otitidis elicited only a mild response in the middle ear. It was possible to isolate A. otitidis using a blood agar plate with 6% saline. [source] Growth-induced changes in the proteome of Helicobacter pyloriELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 5-6 2006Christina Uwins Abstract Helicobacter pylori is a major human pathogen that is responsible for a number of gastrointestinal infections. We have used 2-DE to characterise protein synthesis in bacteria grown either on solid agar-based media or in each of two broth culture media (Brucella and brain heart infusion (BHI) broth). Significant differences were observed in the proteomes of bacteria grown either on agar-based or in broth media. Major changes in protein abundance were identified using principal component analysis (PCA), which delineated the profiles derived for the three key growth conditions (i.e. agar plates, Brucella and BHI broth). Proteins detected across the gel series were identified by peptide mass mapping and Edman sequencing. A number of proteins associated with protein synthesis in general as well as specific amino acid synthesis were depressed in broth-grown bacteria compared to plate-grown bacteria. A similar reduction was also observed in the abundance of proteins involved in detoxification. Two of the most abundant spots, identified as UreB and GroEL, in plate-grown bacteria showed a >140-fold drop in abundance in bacteria grown in Brucella broth compared to bacteria grown on agar plates. Two protein spots induced in bacteria grown in broth culture were both identified as glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase based on their N -terminal amino acid sequences derived by Edman degradation. The underlying causes of the changes in the proteins abundance were not clear, but it was likely that a significant proportion of the changes were due to the alkaline pH of the broth culture media. [source] Bacteria associated with the rapid tissue necrosis of stony coralsENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 7 2007G. M. Luna Summary The rapid tissue necrosis (RTN) is a common disease of both wild and captive stony corals, which causes a fast tissue degradation (peeling) and death of the colony. Here we report the results of an investigation carried out on the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis, affected by an RTN-like disease. Total abundance of prokaryotes in tissue samples, determined by epifluorescence microscopy, was significantly higher in diseased than in healthy corals, as well as bacterial counts on MB2216 agar plates. Further experiments performed by fluorescent in situ hybridization using a 16S rDNA Vibrio -specific probe showed that vibrios were significantly more abundant in diseased than in healthy corals. Accordingly, bacterial counts on TCBS agar plates were higher in diseased than in healthy tissues. 16S rDNA sequencing identified as Vibrio colonies from diseased tissues only. Cultivated vibrios were dominated by a single ribotype, which displayed 99% of similarity with Vibrio harveyi strain LB4. Bacterial ribotype richness, assessed by terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 16S rDNA, was significantly higher in diseased than in healthy corals. Using an in silico software, we estimated that a single terminal restriction fragment, putatively assigned to a Vibrio sp., accounted for >,15% and < 5% of the total bacterial assemblage, in diseased and healthy corals respectively. These results let us hypothesize that the RTN in stony corals can be an infectious disease associated to the presence of Vibrio harveyi. However, further studies are needed to validate the microbial origin of this pathology. [source] A strain isolated from gas oil-contaminated soil displays chemotaxis towards gas oil and hexadecaneENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 10 2003Mariana P. Lanfranconi Summary In this report we describe the isolation of a strain from soil contaminated with gas oil by taking bacteria from a chemotactic ring on gas oil-containing soft agar plates. Partial 16 S rDNA sequencing of the isolated strain showed 99.1% identity with Flavimonas oryzihabitans. It was not only able to degrade different aliphatic hydrocarbons but it was also chemotactic towards gas oil and hexadecane, as demonstrated by the use of three different chemotaxis methods, such as agarose plug and capillary assays and swarm plate analysis. In addition, the strain was chemotactic to a variety of carbon sources that serve as growth substrates, including glucose, arabinose, mannitol, glycerol, gluconate, acetate, succinate, citrate, malate, lactate and casaminoacids. This is the first report on chemotaxis of a hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium towards a pure alkane, such as hexadecane. The fact that environmental isolates show chemotaxis towards contaminant/s present in the site of isolation suggests that chemotaxis might enhance biodegradation by favouring contact between the degrading microorganism and its substrate. [source] Antibiotic-Loaded PLGA Nanofibers for Wound Healing Applications,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 4 2010David A. Soscia Incorporating antibiotics into biocompatible nanoscale non-woven fibrous mats could provide utility for wound healing applications and for incorporation into wound dressing materials. In this study, the antibiotic chloramphenicol (Cm) was incorporated into electrospun poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibers, which were then tested for inhibition of bacterial growth for multiple bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). In addition, the cytotoxicity of Cm-PLGA nanofibers was examined for two types of mammalian cells including mouse embryonic stem cells and fibroblasts. Electrospun PLGA nanofibers containing Cm were able to reduce bacterial growth on solid agar plates for all species except for P. aeruginosa. In liquid culture, Cm-loaded nanofibers inhibited growth for E. coli, B. cereus and S. typhimurium by 93% or greater, while P. aeruginosa and S. aureus growth was inhibited by 42% and 56%, respectively. Cm-loaded nanofibers showed limited cytoxicity on fibroblasts and embryonic stem cells, with viability greater than 96% for all conditions tested. These results suggest that Cm can be successfully incorporated into electrospun nanofibers and that these fibers could be used for wound healing applications with minimal cytotoxicity to the surrounding tissue. [source] Helicobacter pylori HP1034 (ylxH) is required for motilityHELICOBACTER, Issue 5 2004Karin Van Amsterdam ABSTRACT Background.,Helicobacter pylori motility is essential for the colonization and persistence in the human gastric mucosa. So far, more than 50 genes have been described to play a role in flagellar biosynthesis. H. pylori YlxH (HP1034) is annotated as an ATP-binding protein. However, H. pylori YlxH shows similarity to proteins involved in the flagellar biosynthesis of other bacterial species. Moreover, H. pylori ylxH is found adjacent to genes involved in flagellar biosynthesis in the sequenced genomes of H. pylori 26695 and J99. We therefore aimed to determine the role of YlxH in H. pylori motility. Materials and methods., Motility, flagellar biosynthesis and transcriptional regulation of genes encoding flagellar proteins was compared between H. pylori 11A and a knockout of ylxH in H. pylori 11A. Results., The ylxH knockout in H. pylori 11A was nonmotile on soft agar plates, whereas H. pylori 11A was motile. Furthermore, the H. pylori 11A ylxH knockout lacked flagella, while H. pylori 11A possessed two to three flagella. Transcription of H. pylori flaG (HP0751), fliM (HP1031) and fliA (HP1032) was reduced in the H. pylori 11A ylxH¯ knockout, whereas transcription of flaA (HP0601) was not altered. However, Western blot analysis showed substantially reduced amounts of the major flagellin subunit FlaA in the H. pylori 11A ylxH knockout compared to H. pylori 11A. Conclusions.,H. pylori YlxH is essential for the assembly of flagella and hence for the motility of H. pylori. [source] Recovery of Enterococcus faecalis after single- or multiple-visit root canal treatments carried out in infected teeth ex vivoINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 10 2005N. Vivacqua-Gomes Abstract Aim, To assess the presence of Enterococcus faecalis after root canal treatment in single or multiple visits in an ex vivo model. Methodology, Forty-five premolar teeth were infected ex vivo with E. faecalis for 60 days. The canals were then prepared using a crowndown technique with System GT and Gates,Glidden burs and irrigated with 2% chlorhexidine gel. The specimens were divided into five groups (G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5) according to the time elapsed between chemical,mechanical preparation and root canal filling, the irrigant solution used and the use or nonuse of a calcium hydroxide intra-canal medicament. The teeth were then root-filled and incubated for 60 days at 37 °C. Dentine chips were removed from the canal walls with sequential sterile round burs at low speed. The samples obtained with each bur were immediately collected in separate test tubes containing Brain,Heart Infusion broth. These samples were placed onto agar plates and colony forming units were counted after 24 h at 37 °C. Data were ranked and analysed using the Kruskal,Wallis statistical test. Results,Enterococcus faecalis was recovered from 20% (three of 15 specimens) of G1 (chlorhexidine irrigation and immediate root filling in a single visit), 25% (four of 15 specimens) of G2 (chlorhexidine irrigation and filling after 14 days use of a calcium hydroxide dressing in multiple visits), 40% (two of five specimens) of G3 (chlorhexidine irrigation and filling after 7 days), 60% (three of five specimens) of G4 (saline irrigation and filling after 7 days) and from 100% (five of five specimens) of G5 (saline irrigation and immediate filling without sealer). Conclusions, Neither single- nor multiple-visit root canal treatment ex vivo, eliminated E. faecalis completely from dentinal tubules. Up to 60 days after root filling, E. faecalis remained viable inside dentinal tubules. When no sealer was used, E. faecalis presented a higher growth rate. [source] In vitro antimicrobial activity of several concentrations of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine gluconate in the elimination of Enterococcus faecalisINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 6 2001B. P. F. A. Gomes Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to assess, in vitro, the effectiveness of several concentrations of NaOCl (0.5%, 1%, 2.5%, 4% and 5.25%) and two forms of chlorhexidine gluconate (gel and liquid) in three concentrations (0.2%, 1% and 2%) in the elimination of E. faecalis. Methodology A broth dilution test using 24-well cell culture plates was performed and the time taken for the irrigants to kill bacterial cells was recorded. Isolated 24 h colonies of pure cultures of E. faecalis grown on 10% sheep blood plus Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar plates were suspended in sterile 0.85% NaCl solution. The cell suspension was adjusted spectrophotometrically to match the turbidity of a McFarland 0.5 scale. One mL of each tested substance was placed on the bottom of wells of 24-well cell culture plates (Corning, NY), including the control group (sterile saline). Six wells were used for each time period and irrigant concentration. Two mL of the bacterial suspension were ultrasonically mixed for 10 s with the irrigants and placed in contact with them for 10, 30, and 45 s; 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, and 30 min; and 1 and 2 h. After each period of time, 1 mL from each well was transferred to tubes containing 2 mL of freshly prepared BHI + neutralizers in order to prevent a residual action of the irrigants. All tubes were incubated at 37°C for 7 days. The tubes considered to have positive growth were those which presented medium turbidity during the incubation period. Data were analysed statistically by the Kruskal,Wallis test, with the level of significance set at P < 0.05. Results All irrigants were effective in killing E. faecalis, but at different times. Chlorhexidine in the liquid form at all concentrations tested (0.2%, 1% and 2%) and NaOCl (5.25%) were the most effective irrigants. However, the time required by 0.2% chlorhexidine liquid and 2% chlorhexidine gel to promote negative cultures was only 30 s and 1 min, respectively. Conclusions Even though all tested irrigants possessed antibacterial activity, the time required to eliminate E. faecalis depended on the concentration and type of irrigant used. [source] RAPA: a novel in vitro method to evaluate anti-bacterial skin cleansing productsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010S. A. Ansari Synopsis Development of efficacious anti-bacterial skin cleansing products has been limited by the availability of a pre-clinical (in vitro) method to predict clinical efficacy adequately. We report a simple and rapid method, designated as rapid agar plate assay (RAPA), that uses the bacteriological agar surface as a surrogate substrate for skin and combines elements of two widely used in vivo (clinical) methods (Agar Patch and Cup Scrub). To simulate the washing of the human hand or forearm skin with the test product, trypticase soy agar plates were directly washed with the test product and rinsed under running tap water. After air-drying the washed plates, test bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli) were applied and the plates were incubated at 37°C for 18,24 h. Using S. aureus as the test organism, anti-bacterial bar soap containing triclocarbanilide showed a strong linear relationship (R2 = 0.97) between bacterial dose and their per cent reduction. A similar dose-response relationship (R2 = 0.96) was observed for anti-bacterial liquid hand soap against E. coli. RAPA was able to distinguish between anti-bacterial products based on the nature and level of actives in them. In limited comparative tests, results obtained by RAPA were comparable with the results obtained by clinical agar patch and clinical cup scrub methods. In conclusion, RAPA provides a simple, rugged and reproducible in vitro method for testing the relative efficacy of anti-bacterial skin cleansing products with a likelihood of comparable clinical efficacy. Further testing is warranted to improve the clinical predictability of this method. Résumé Le développement des produits de nettoyage de peau antibactérienne efficace a été limité par la disponibilité d'une méthode (in vitro) préclinique pour prévoir en juste proportion l'efficacité clinique. Nous rapportons une méthode simple et rapide, indiquée comme analyse rapide de plat d'agar (RAPA) ce des utilisations la surface bactériologique d'agar comme substrat de remplacement pour la peau et combinons des éléments de deux méthodes (cliniques) in vivo employées couramment (correction d'agar et la tasse frottent). Pour simuler le lavage de la peau humaine de main ou d'avant-bras avec le produit d'essai, des plats de l'agar de soja de trypticase ont été directement lavés avec le produit d'essai et rincés sous l'eau du robinet courante. Après l'air séchant les plats lavés, les bactéries d'essai (S. doré Ou Escherichia coli) étaient appliquées et des plats ont été incubées au °C 37 pendant 18,24 heures. Utilisant S. doré Comme organization d'essai, le triclocarbanilide contenant du savon de barre antibactérienne a montré un rapport linéaire fort (R2 = 0.97) entre la dose bactérienne et leur réduction de pour cent. On a observé un rapport semblable de réponse à dose donnée (R2 = 0.96) pour le savon liquide antibactérien de main contre E. coli. RAPA pouvait distinguer les produits antibactériens basés sur la nature et le niveau des actives dans eux. Dans les essais comparatifs limités, résultats obtenus par RAPA étaient comparables aux résultats obtenus par la correction clinique d'agar et la tasse clinique frottent des méthodes, en conclusion, RAPA fournit à une méthode in vitro simple, raboteuse et reproductible pour examiner l'efficacité relative des produits de nettoyage de peau antibactérienne la probabilité de l'efficacité clinique comparable. Davantage d'essai est justifié pour améliorer la prévisibilité clinique de cette méthode. [source] Infectious gastroenteritis caused by Vibrio harveyi (V. carchariae) in cultured red drum, Sciaenops ocellatusJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 1 2003P.-C. Liu Summary An outbreak of serious mortality among the cultured red drum Sciaenops ocellatus (L.) characterized by a swollen intestine containing transparent yellow fluid (ascites and gastroenteritis) occurred in July 2000 in Taiwan. A motile strain Rd 0700 was isolated from head kidney and/or the intestinal yellow fluid on tryptone soya agar (TSA) supplemented with 2% (w/v) NaCl and/or thiosulfate citrate bile salt (TCBS) sucrose agar plates. Applying biochemical characteristics, this strain was characterized and identified as Vibrio harveyi (V. carchariae). The bacteria could be re-isolated from kidney, liver, and the transparent yellow fluid of swollen intestine of fish after bacterial challenge. The LD50 values of the organism and its extracellular products (ECP) were 2.9×107 colony forming units (CFU) and 3.85 ,g protein g,1 fish body weight, respectively. All moribund/dead fish exhibited gastroenteritis except those killed within 12 h. This is a first report showing that intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the ECP from V. carchariae is lethal to red drum and can reproduce gastroenteritis in the fish. [source] Investigation of critical inter-related factors affecting the efficacy of pulsed light for inactivating clinically relevant bacterial pathogensJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2010H.P. Farrell Abstract Aims:, To investigate critical electrical and biological factors governing the efficacy of pulsed light (PL) for the in vitro inactivation of bacteria isolated from the clinical environment. Development of this alternative PL decontamination approach is timely, as the incidence of health care,related infections remains unacceptably high. Methods and Results:, Predetermined cell numbers of clinically relevant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were inoculated separately on agar plates and were flashed with ,60 pulses of broad-spectrum light under varying operating conditions, and their inactivation measured. Significant differences in inactivation largely occurred depending on the level of the applied lamp discharge energy (range 3·2,20 J per pulse), the amount of pulsing applied (range 0,60 pulses) and the distance between light source and treatment surface (range 8,20 cm) used. Greater decontamination levels were achieved using a combination of higher lamp discharge energies, increased number of pulses and shorter distances between treatment surface and the xenon light source. Levels of microbial sensitivity also varied depending on the population type, size and age of cultures treated. Production of pigment pyocynanin and alginate slime in mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa afforded some protection against lethal action of PL; however, this was evident only by using a combination of reduced amount of pulsing at the lower lamp discharge energies tested. A clear pattern was observed where Gram-positive bacterial pathogens were more resistant to cidal effects of PL compared to Gram negatives. While negligible photoreactivation of PL-treated bacterial strains occurred after full pulsing regimes at the different lamp discharge energies tested, some repair was evident when using a combination of reduced pulsing at the lower lamp discharge energies. Strains harbouring genes for multiple resistances to antibiotics were not significantly more resistant to PL treatments. Slight temperature rises (,4·2°C) were measured on agar surfaces after extended pulsing at higher lamp discharge energies. Presence of organic matter on treatment surface did not significantly affect PL decontamination efficacy, nor did growth of PL-treated bacteria on selective agar diminish survival compared to similarly treated bacteria inoculated and enumerated on nonselective agar plates. Conclusions:, Critical inter-related factors affecting the effective and repeatable in vitro decontamination performance of PL were identified during this study that will aid further development of this athermal process technology for applications in health care and in industry. Very rapid reductions (c. 7 log10 CFU cm,2 within ,10 pulses) occurred using discharge energy of 20 J for all tested clinically relevant bacteria under study when treated at 8 cm distance from xenon light source. While no resistant flora is expected to develop for treatment of microbial pathogens on two-dimensional surfaces, careful consideration of scale up factors such as design and operational usage of this PL technique will be required to assure operator safety. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Findings and conclusions derived from this study will enable further development and optimization of this decontamination technique in health care and in food preparation settings, and will advance the field of nonthermal processing technologies. [source] Modelling the photosensitization-based inactivation of Bacillus cereusJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Y. Le Marc Abstract Aims:, To study and to develop a model for the photo-destruction of the foodborne pathogen Bacillus cereus, initially treated with a precursor of endogenous photosensitizers (5-aminolevulinic acid, ALA). Materials and methods:, The cells were incubated in the presence of ALA (3 or 7·5 mmol l,1) for incubation times ranging from 2 to 60 min, inoculated onto the surface of LB Agar plates and submitted to light irradiation. The Weibull model was used to describe the survival curves of B. cereus. Quadratic equations were used to describe the effects of ALA concentration and incubation time on the Weibull model parameters. Results:, ALA-based photosensitization proved to be an effective tool for inactivation of B. cereus. The decrease in viable counts observed after 20 min of irradiation, ranged from 4 to 6 log CFU g,1. Conclusions:, The developed model proved to be a parsimonious and robust solution to describe the observed data. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The study demonstrates the effectiveness of photosensitization on B. cereus on agar plates. The model developed may be useful to optimize inactivation treatments by photosensitization. [source] In vitro inhibitory effect of gossypol from gossypol-acetic acid, and (+)- and (,)-isomers of gossypol on the growth of Edwardsiella ictaluriJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004M. Yildirim-Aksoy Abstract Aim:, This study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effect of gossypol from gossypol-acetic acid, and (+)- and (,)-isomers of gossypol on the growth of Edwardsiella ictaluri. Methods and Results:, Inhibitory effect of various concentrations of gossypol on the growth of E. ictaluri was determined. Bacterial recovery was performed by preincubation of bacteria in medium containing various concentrations of gossypol and subsequent activation of bacteria by inoculating on gossypol-free plates. Concentrations of racemic gossypol, (+)-gossypol and (,)-gossypol of 1·5 ,g ml,1 or higher significantly reduced the number of bacterial colonies compared with that of the control. The growth of E. ictaluri was completely inhibited on agar plates supplemented with 3 ,g ml,1, regardless of the forms of gossypol. The inhibitory effect of (+)-gossypol was higher than that of (,)-gossypol or gossypol-acetic acid. Recovery of E. ictaluri was <50% for all three forms of gossypol at concentrations of 5 ,g ml,1. Bacterial recovery remained relatively constant (6·5%) at gossypol concentrations from 10 to 100 ,g ml,1. Complete killing of E. ictaluri was not reached at gossypol levels up to 100 ,g ml,1. Conclusion:, Gossypol-acetic acid, and (+)- and (,)-optical isomers have anti-bacterial effect against E. ictaluri. The results suggest the action is bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The therapeutic effect of gossypol against E. ictaluri may be useful in controlling enteric septicaemia of catfish. [source] Cytotoxic Bacillus spp. belonging to the B. cereus and B. subtilis groups in Norwegian surface watersJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Ø. Østensvik Abstract Aims:, To investigate the presence and numbers of Bacillus spp. spores in surface waters and examine isolates belonging to the B. cereus and B. subtilis groups for cytotoxicity, and to discuss the presence of cytotoxic Bacillus spp. in surface water as hazard identification in a risk assessment approach in the food industry. Methods and Results:, Samples from eight different rivers with variable degree of faecal pollution, and two drinking water sources, were heat shocked and examined for the presence of Bacillus spp. spores using membrane filtration followed by cultivation on bovine blood agar plates. Bacillus spp. was present in all samples. The numbers varied from 15 to 1400 CFU 100 ml,1. Pure cultures of 86 Bacillus spp. isolates representing all sampling sites were characterized using colony morphology, atmospheric requirements, spore and sporangium morphology, and API 50 CHB and API 20E. Bacillus spp. representing the B. cereus and B. subtilis groups were isolated from all samples. Twenty-one isolates belonging to the B. cereus and B. subtilis groups, representing eight samples, were screened for cytotoxicity. Nine strains of B. cereus and five strains belonging to the B. subtilis group were cytotoxic. Conclusions:, The presence of cytotoxic Bacillus spp. in surface water represents a possible source for food contamination. Filtration and chlorination of surface water, the most common drinking water treatment in Norway, do not remove Bacillus spores efficiently. This was confirmed by isolation of spores from tap water samples. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Contamination of food with water containing low numbers of Bacillus spores implies a risk for bacterial growth in foods. Consequently, high numbers of Bacillus spp. may occur after growth in some products. High numbers of cytotoxic Bacillus spp. in foods may represent a risk for food poisoning. [source] Coinfection with Campylobacter species: an epidemiological problem?JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2001J.F. Richardson Aims: To determine the frequency of coinfection with multiple strains in sporadic cases of human Campylobacter infection. Method and Results: During 1999 10 single colonies of Campylobacter were cultured from each of 53 positive faecal samples. Five isolates were taken from nonselective agar after passive filtration of faecal suspensions and five isolates were taken from selective agar plates. All isolates were sero- and phage typed and their antibiotic resistance determined. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and flagellin gene typing were performed on selected isolates. One patient was infected with Camp. coli, the remainder with strains of Camp. jejuni. The majority of patients was infected with a single strain of Campylobacter, but from each of four samples, 7·5%, two strains of Camp. jejuni, confirmed by molecular typing, were identified. Conclusions: Coinfection occurs in sporadic cases of campylobacteriosis. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study has implications in outbreak investigation when distinct strains have been isolated from epidemiologically related patients and/or the suspected source or vehicle. [source] Predictive models of the combined effects of curvaticin 13, NaCl and pH on the behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313 in brothJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2000A. Bouttefroy Thirty-three strains of Listeria monocytogenes belonging to different serotypes were tested for their sensitivity to curvaticin 13, an antilisterial bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus curvatus SB13, using the well diffusion method in Institut Pasteur agar plates at 37 °C. No relationship between serotype and sensitivity was observed. The sensitivity of this species was strain-dependent and a large variation in tolerance to curvaticin 13 was observed. The combined effects of curvaticin 13 (0,160 AU ml,1), NaCl (0,6% w/v), pH values (5·0,8·2) and incubation time (0,24 h) were investigated on L. monocytogenes ATCC 15313 in trypcase soy,yeast extract broth at 22 °C. For this study, two Doehlert matrices were used in order to investigate the main effects of these factors and their different interactions. The results were analysed using the Response Surface Methodology. Curvaticin 13 had a major inhibitory effect and the response was NaCl concentration-, time- and pH-dependent. This inhibitory activity was the same at pH values between 6·6 and 8·2. Curvaticin 13 was bactericidic at acidic pH values, but the surviving cells resumed growth. For a short incubation time (12 h), the effectiveness of curvaticin 13 was maximal in the absence of NaCl. For longer incubation times (12,48 h), with high NaCl (6%) and curvaticin 13 concentrations (160 AU ml,1), the inhibition of L. monocytogenes was greater than that observed with NaCl or curvaticin 13 alone. [source] Synthesis, characterization, and thermal and antimicrobial studies of newly developed transition metal,polychelates derived from polymeric Schiff baseJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009Nahid Nishat Abstract Monomeric Schiff base derived from salicylaldehyde and 1,3-diaminopropane was subjected to polycondensation reaction with formaldehyde and piperazine in basic medium. The resin was found to form polychelates readily with Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) metal ions. The materials were characterized by elemental analysis, spectral studies (IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and UV,visible), magnetic moment measurements, and thermal analysis. The electronic spectra and magnetic moment measurements of the synthesized polychelates confirmed the geometry of the central metal ion. Metal,resin bonds were registered in the IR spectra of the polychelates. The thermogravimetric analysis data indicated that the polychelates were more stable than the corresponding polymeric Schiff base. All the synthesized metal,polychelates showed excellent antibacterial activities against the selected bacteria. The antimicrobial activities were determined by using the shaking flask method, where 25 mg/mL concentrations of each compound were tested against 105 CFU/mL bacteria solutions. The number of viable bacteria was calculated by using the spread-plate method, where 100 ,L of the incubated antimicrobial agent in bacteria solutions were spread on agar plates, and the number of bacteria was counted after 24 h of incubation period at 37°C. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009 [source] Antibacterial effect of silver-zeolite containing root-canal filling materialJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro antibacterial effect of two experimental glass ionomer cements (GICs) on Streptococcus milleri, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis after 24 and 48 h incubation by using the agar diffusion inhibitory test. Silver zeolite (SZ) was added at 0.2 and 2% mass fraction concentration to GIC (Endion). The control group was Endion with no SZ. Each of them were prepared to uniform size using a custom-made Teflon mold, and the GIC materials were prepared to form disks (n = 5 per group). The effect of these materials on the growth of three bacteria associated with endodontic infections was determined using the agar diffusion inhibitory test. The amounts of silver ion release from these materials were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometry at 10 min, 24- and 48-h periods. The pH of samples was measured with a pH-meter at 10 min, 24- and 48-h periods. After the incubation period, the agar plates were evaluated and the degrees of bacterial inhibition were measured in millimeters. A comparison of the mean of the test materials was statistically different in each group of specimens (p < 0.05). Between the two tested materials 2% SZ containing GIC showed the largest zone of inhibition on the agar plates of all the tested strains (p < 0.05). The most inhibition in bacterial growth occurred in E. faecalis. Adding 2% SZ to GIC resulted in a significant increase in the silver release into deionized water. This study demonstrated that GIC had an inhibitory affect on Streptococcus milleri, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis and that adding SZ increases that affect proportional to its concentration. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009 [source] Ciprofloxacin-releasing bioabsorbable polymer is superior to titanium in preventing Staphylococcus epidermidis attachment and biofilm formation in vitroJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006Sanna-Mari Niemelä Abstract Antibiotic coating systems have been successfully used to prevent bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. Our purpose was to evaluate whether bioabsorbable polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) 80/20 on its own, and PLGA together with ciprofloxacin (PLGA+C) have any advantages over titanium in preventing Staphylococcus epidermidis attachment and biofilm formation in vitro. Cylindrical specimens of titanium, PLGA, and PLGA+C in triplicate were examined for S. epidermidis ATCC 35989 attachment and biofilm formation after incubation with a bacterial suspension of about 105 cfu/mL for 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days, using scanning electron microscopy. Growth inhibition properties of PLGA and PLGA+C cylinders were tested on agar plates. On days 1, 3, and 21, no bacterial attachment was seen in 19.5, 9.2, and 41.4% of the titanium specimens; in 18.4, 28.7, and 34.5% of the PLGA specimens; and in 57.5, 62.1, and 57.5% of the PLGA+C specimens, respectively. During the whole study period, no biofilm was observed on 74,93% of the titanium specimens, 58,78% of the PLGA specimens, and 93,100% of the PLGA+C specimens. PLGA+C showed clear bacterial growth inhibition on agar plates, while PLGA and titanium did not show any inhibition. PLGA+C bioabsorbable material was superior to titanium in preventing bacterial attachment and biofilm formation and may have clinical applicability, for example, in prevention of infection in trauma surgery or in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006 [source] | |||||||||||||||||||