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Topic Review
Mycobacterium Avium-Intracellulare Infection
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection (MAI) is an atypical mycobacterial infection, i.e. one with nontuberculous mycobacteria or NTM, caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), which is made of two Mycobacterium species, M. avium and M. intracellulare. This infection causes respiratory illness in birds, pigs, and humans, especially in immunocompromised people. In the later stages of AIDS, it can be very severe. It usually first presents as a persistent cough. It is typically treated with a series of three antibiotics for a period of at least six months. M. avium, M. intracellulare, and M. chimaera are each saprotrophic organisms present in soil and water; entry into hosts is usually via the gastrointestinal tract, but also can be via the lungs. MAC infections can cause fevers, diarrhea, malabsorption, as well as loss of appetite and weight loss, and can disseminate to the bone marrow. MAI is typically resistant to standard mycobacterial therapies.
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Bloodstream Infections
Bloodstream infections (BSIs), which include bacteremias when the infections are bacterial and fungemias when the infections are fungal, are infections present in the blood. Blood is normally a sterile environment, so the detection of microbes in the blood (most commonly accomplished by blood cultures) is always abnormal. A bloodstream infection is different from sepsis, which is the host response to bacteria. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream as a severe complication of infections (like pneumonia or meningitis), during surgery (especially when involving mucous membranes such as the gastrointestinal tract), or due to catheters and other foreign bodies entering the arteries or veins (including during intravenous drug abuse). Transient bacteremia can result after dental procedures or brushing of teeth. Bacteremia can have several important health consequences. The immune response to the bacteria can cause sepsis and septic shock, which has a high mortality rate. Bacteria can also spread via the blood to other parts of the body (which is called hematogenous spread), causing infections away from the original site of infection, such as endocarditis or osteomyelitis. Treatment for bacteremia is with antibiotics, and prevention with antibiotic prophylaxis can be given in high risk situations.
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Sep 2022
Biography
Tanvir Rahman
Dr. Md. Tanvir Rahman is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Science at Bangladesh Agricultural University. He is also an Adjunct Visiting Professor of Xinxiang University, Henan, China. Dr. Rahman completed DVM from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in 1993. Later he completed MSc and PhD from University of Guelph, Canada and University of War
  • 1.4K
  • 20 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Heat-stable Enterotoxin b
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is known to cause travelers’ diarrhea and diarrhea in farm animals. The global burden of ETEC infection is extensive and remains a major public health issue. In 2006, the World Health Organization estimated annually 400–500 million diarrheal episodes in newborns and children and 400 million in individuals 15 years or older, all ETEC related. ETEC can be characterized by its capability to produce and secrete several virulence factors, including colonization factors (adhesins) and enterotoxins. Adhesins allow for the attachment of the bacteria to intestinal epithelial cells. These can be characterized as filamentous appendages on the surface of the bacteria called fimbriae, on which adhesins can be found. The loss of these colonization factors may render the bacteria unable to colonize and cause infection. Colonization of the intestinal tract allows for specific delivery of enterotoxins which disrupt normal intestinal fluid homeostasis. ETEC enterotoxins are differentiated by their heat stability. They are classified into heat-labile (LT-I and LT-II) and heat-stable (STa and STb) enterotoxins.
  • 1.4K
  • 16 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Nanomaterials for Wound Healing and Infection Control
Wound healing has been intensely studied in order to develop an "ideal" technique that achieves expeditious recovery and reduces scarring to the minimum, thus ensuring function preservation. The classic approach to wound management is represented by topical treatments, such as antibacterial or colloidal agents, in order to prevent infection and promote a proper wound-healing process. Nanotechnology studies submicroscopic particles (maximum diameter of 100 nm), as well as correlated phenomena. Metal nanoparticles (e.g., silver, gold, zinc) are increasingly being used in dermatology, due to their beneficial effect on accelerating wound healing, as well as treating and preventing bacterial infections. Other benefits include: ease of use, less frequent dressing changes and a constantly moist wound environment. This entry highlights recent findings regarding nanoparticle application in wound management.
  • 1.4K
  • 18 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Nanocellulose Functional Material
Nanocellulose is generally defined as cellulose particles or fibers with dimensions in the nanometer range. It can be derived from different cellulose sources, such as wood pulp, agricultural residues, or bacterial cultures, using various methods including mechanical treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, or chemical processes.
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Applications of Nanotechnology in Food & Cosmetics Preservation
Cosmetic and food products containing water are prone to contamination during the production, storage, and transit process, leading to product spoilage and degraded organoleptic characteristics. The efficient preservation of food and cosmetics is one of the most important issues the industry is facing today. The use of nanotechnology in food and cosmetics for preservation purposes offers the possibility to boost the activity of antimicrobial agents and/or promote their safer distribution into the end product upon incorporation into packaging or film constructions.
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Outer Membrane Porins in Gram-Negative Bacteria
Gram-negative bacteria depend on their cell membranes for survival and environmental adaptation. They contain two membranes, one of which is the outer membrane (OM), which is home to several different outer membrane proteins (Omps). One class of important Omps is porins, which mediate the inflow of nutrients and several antimicrobial drugs. The microorganism’s sensitivity to antibiotics, which are predominantly targeted at internal sites, is greatly influenced by the permeability characteristics of porins.
  • 1.4K
  • 14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Pectobacterium Brasiliense
Pectobacterium brasiliense (Pbr) is a worldwide-distributed bacterial plant pathogen causing soft rot of a wide range of economically important crops.
  • 1.4K
  • 04 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Scalindua
"Candidatus Scalindua" is a bacterial genus, and a proposed member of the order Planctomycetes. These bacteria lack peptidoglycan in their cell wall and have a compartmentalized cytoplasm. They are ammonium oxidizing bacteria found in marine environments.
  • 1.4K
  • 25 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Prebiotic Potential of Dietary Beans and Pulses
Dietary pulses, including dry beans, lentils, chickpeas, and dry peas, have the highest proportion of fiber among different legume cultivars and are inexpensive, easily accessible, and have a long shelf-life. The inclusion of pulses in regular dietary patterns is an easy and effective solution for achieving recommended fiber intake and maintaining a healthier gut and overall health. Dietary pulses-derived resistant starch (RS) is a relatively less explored prebiotic ingredient. Several in vitro and preclinical studies have elucidated the crucial role of RS in fostering and shaping the gut microbiota composition towards homeostasis thereby improving host metabolic health. 
  • 1.4K
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Yogurt with Incorporated Probiotics
Probiotics are commonly added to yogurt to provide many health benefits for the consumer. A description is provided for some commonly used probiotics in yogurt. A GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list of probiotic bacteria that can be added to yogurt or similar types of products is provided. Additionally, prebiotics, synbiotics (combination of prebiotics and probiotics), postbiotics, paraprobiotics, and psychobiotics can be added to yogurt. Probiotic yogurt can come in various forms in addition to spoonable yogurt, and yogurt can be used as an ingredient in other food products. Many useful functional ingredients can be applied to probiotic yogurt. The safety of probiotics must be addressed, especially for critically ill patients and other susceptible populations.
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Africa Vaccine Technology Transfer
The rampant spread of the COVID-19 infection poses a grave and formidable challenge to global healthcare, with particular concern to the inhabitants of the African continent. In response to these pressing concerns, different strategies have been employed to combat the emergence of this insidious disease, encompassing crucial measures such as physical distancing, the utilization of face masks, meticulous hand hygiene, and widespread vaccination campaigns.
  • 1.4K
  • 15 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Inteins in Science
Inteins are mobile genetic elements that apply standard enzymatic strategies to excise themselves post-translationally from the precursor protein via protein splicing. Since their discovery in the 1990s, recent advances in intein technology allow for them to be implemented as a modern biotechnological contrivance. Radical improvement in the structure and catalytic framework of cis- and trans-splicing inteins devised the development of engineered inteins that contribute to various efficient downstream techniques. 
  • 1.4K
  • 26 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Hydrodynamics on Microbial Adhesion and Biofilm Formation
Studying microbial adhesion and biofilm growth is crucial for understanding the physiology of sessile organisms and forming the basis for the development of novel antimicrobial materials. Fluid hydrodynamics is one of the most important factors affecting cell adhesion, as well as biofilm structure and behavior. Therefore, to simulate the relevant biofilms of different fields (environment, industry, and medicine) in the laboratory, it is of utmost importance to select an adequate biofilm platform and be able to operate it at hydrodynamic conditions that are as close as possible to those encountered in a real scenario.
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Colistin Resistance in Bacteria
Colistin is an old polypeptide antibiotic of the group E, discovered in 1947 by Y. Koyama from Paenibacillus polymyxa subspecies colistinus cultures. It is a bactericidal, narrow-spectrum molecule directed against most GNB, but ineffective against Gram-positive bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, and mycoplasmas.
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Gut-Brain Axis in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex behavioral syndrome that is characterized by speech and language disorders, intellectual impairment, learning and motor dysfunctions. Several genetic and environmental factors are suspected to affect the ASD phenotype including air pollution, exposure to pesticides, maternal infections, inflammatory conditions, dietary factors or consumption of antibiotics during pregnancy.  Many children with ASD shows abnormalities in gastrointestinal (GI) physiology, including increased intestinal permeability, overall microbiota alterations, and gut infection. Moreover, they are “picky eaters” and the existence of specific sensory patterns in ASD patients could represent one of the main aspects in hampering feeding. GI disorders are associated with an altered composition of the gut microbiota. Gut microbiome is able to communicate with brain activities through microbiota-derived signaling molecules, immune mediators, gut hormones as well as vagal and spinal afferent neurons. Since the diet induces changes in the intestinal microbiota and in the production of molecules, such as the SCFA, we wanted to investigate the role that nutritional intervention can have on GI microbiota composition and thus on its influence on behavior, GI symptoms and microbiota composition and report which are the beneficial effect on ASD condition.
  • 1.4K
  • 23 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Pandemrix
Pandemrix is an influenza vaccine for influenza pandemics, such as the 2009 flu pandemic. The vaccine was developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and patented in September 2006. The vaccine was one of the H1N1 vaccines approved for use by the European Commission in September 2009, upon the recommendations of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). The vaccine is only approved for use when an H1N1 influenza pandemic has been officially declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) or European Union (EU). The vaccine was initially developed as a pandemic mock-up vaccine using an H5N1 strain. Pandemrix was found to be associated with an increased risk of narcolepsy following investigations by Swedish and Finnish health authorities and had higher rates of adverse events than other vaccines for H1N1. This resulted in several legal cases. Stanford University studies suggested that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease and that it appears to be triggered by upper airway respiratory infections.
  • 1.4K
  • 06 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Paracoccidioidomycosis
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is systemic mycosis caused by fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides. This disease is endemic in Latin America that mainly affects workers in rural areas and causes some degree of disability for working-age people. For people who develop symptoms, PCM usually affects the  lungs, skin, mucous membranes, lymph nodes, and internal organs. Paracoccidioides spp. are thermally dimorphic fungi that present infective mycelia at 25 °C and differentiate into pathogenic yeast forms at 37 °C. 
  • 1.4K
  • 14 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is an advanced technique that uses minimum fragmented ions from complex molecules for mass spectrometry (MS) analysis (tissue profiling by mass spectrometry). It is able to analyze spatially resolved tissue or tumor sections at the molecular level. It has become a valuable tool for tumor and tissue imaging, due to its ease of operation and high mass resolution, but it still has vast room for development in the instrumentation of larger proteins in some tissues. 
  • 1.4K
  • 23 Mar 2022
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