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Topic Review
Haemophilus Influenzae
Haemophilus influenzae (formerly called Pfeiffer's bacillus or Bacillus influenzae) is a Gram-negative, coccobacillary, facultatively anaerobic capnophilic pathogenic bacterium of the family Pasteurellaceae. The bacterium was argued by some to be the cause of influenza. H. influenzae was first described in 1892 by Richard Pfeiffer during an influenza pandemic when he incorrectly described Haemophilus influenzae as the causative microbe, which explains why the bacteria retains "influenza" in its name. H. influenzae is responsible for a wide range of localized and invasive infections, but influenza is caused by viruses. This species was the first free-living organism to have its entire genome sequenced.
  • 1.5K
  • 23 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Bifunctional Beta-Lactam Antibiotics
The molecular structure of β-lactam antibiotics can be modified either to introduce another β-lactam ring (the pharmacophore conferring bactericidal activities to these molecules), or to add other pharmacophores that modify their pharmacological properties and spectrum of action.
  • 1.5K
  • 07 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that causes nosocomial and community-acquired infections. The spread of resistant strains of K. pneumoniae represents a growing threat to human health, due to the exhaustion of effective treatments. K. pneumoniae releases outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). OMVs are a vehicle for the transport of virulence factors to host cells, causing cell injury. Previous studies have shown changes of gene expression in human bronchial epithelial cells after treatment with K. pneumoniae OMVs. These variations in gene expression could be regulated through microRNAs (miRNAs), which participate in several biological mechanisms. Thereafter, miRNA expression profiles in human bronchial epithelial cells were evaluated during infection with standard and clinical K. pneumoniae strains. Microarray analysis and RT-qPCR identified the dysregulation of miR-223, hsa-miR-21, hsa-miR-25 and hsa-let-7g miRNA sequences. Target gene prediction revealed the essential role of these miRNAs in the regulation of host immune responses involving NF-ĸB (miR-223), TLR4 (hsa-miR-21), cytokine (hsa-miR-25) and IL-6 (hsa-let-7g miRNA) signalling pathways. The current study provides the first large scale expression profile of miRNAs from lung cells and predicted gene targets, following exposure to K. pneumoniae OMVs. Our results suggest the importance of OMVs in the inflammatory response.
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Morel Cultivation Industry in China
Morels are one of the most highly prized edible and medicinal mushrooms worldwide. Therefore, historically, there has been a large international interest in their cultivation. Numerous ecological, physiological, genetic, taxonomic, and mycochemical studies have been previously developed. At the beginning of 21th century, China finally achieved artificial cultivation and started a high-scale commercial development in 2012. Due to its international interest, its cultivation scale and area expanded rapidly in this country. However, along with the massive industrial scale, a number of challenges, including the maintenance of steady economic profits, arise. In order to contribute to the solution of these challenges, formal research studying selection, species recognition, strain aging, mating type structure, life cycle, nutrient metabolism, growth and development, and multi-omics has recently been boosted.
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Clostridium perfringens as foodborne pathogen
Clostridium perfringens (Cp.) is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, nonmotile rod that forms subterminal spores. This bacterium has characteristics that contribute to its ability to cause foodborne illness by the thermotolerant spores. Meat and poultry products are identified as the main source of infection for humans. The diversity of toxins produced by Cp. has allowed it to be the cause of various diseases in humans and animals, due their rapid growth rate in warm food. In humans, it is associated with diseases related to food consumption that has been prepared or preserved in inadequate hygienic conditions, meanwhile the toxin causes necrotic enteritis in broilers.
  • 1.5K
  • 21 Oct 2020
Biography
Debasis Mitra
Dr. Debasis Mitra is an Indian Researcher, known for his numerous contributions to the application and formulation of beneficial plant growth-promoting microorganisms at the laboratory and field level for sustainable crop production, protection and development. Dr. Debasis Mitra is currently working as an Assistant Professor (Research) in the Department of Microbiology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be
  • 1.5K
  • 26 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Parvovirus
Parvovirus is the common name applied to all the viruses in the Parvoviridae taxonomic family. Parvovirus can also be used specifically for members of one of the two Parvoviridae subfamilies: Parvovirinae, which infect vertebrate hosts, and Densovirinae, which infect invertebrate hosts, are more commonly referred to as densoviruses. In subfamily Parvovirinae there are eight genera, containing a total of 58 recognized species, while in subfamily Densovirinae there are 5 genera and a total of 21 species. Parvoviruses are linear, nonsegmented, single-stranded DNA viruses, with an average genome size of 5-6 kilo base pairs (kbp). They are classified as group II viruses in the Baltimore classification of viruses. Parvoviruses are among the smallest viruses (hence the name, from Latin parvus meaning small) and are 23–28 nm in diameter. Parvoviruses can infect and may cause disease in many animals, from arthropods such as insects and shrimp, to echinoderms such as starfish, and to mammals including humans. Because most of these viruses require actively dividing cells to replicate, the type of tissue infected varies with the age of the animal. The gastrointestinal tract and lymphatic system can be affected at any age, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and immunosuppression, but cerebellar hypoplasia is only seen in cats that were infected with feline parvovirus (FPV) in the womb or at less than two weeks of age, and disease of the myocardium is seen in puppies infected with canine parvovirus 2 (CPV2) between the ages of three and eight weeks.
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Genus Ochrobactrum
Ochrobactrum spp. are found in a wide range of environments including soils and water. They are non-enteric, Gram-negative organisms that are closely related to the genus Brucella. Several species of this genus have now been characterised and implicated as opportunistic pathogens in multiple outbreaks. This entry gives a brief overview of the Genus Ochrobactrum.
  • 1.4K
  • 27 Nov 2020
Topic Review
COVID-19-Associated Candidiasis
The recent global pandemic of COVID-19 has predisposed a relatively high number of patients to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which carries a risk to develop secondary infections. Candida species are major constituents of the human mycobiome and the main cause of invasive fungal infections with a high mortality rate, and are also increasingly reported as complication of severe COVID-19. Despite the marked immune dysregulation in COVID-19, no prominent defects have been reported in immune cells that are critically required for immunity to Candida. This suggests that relevant clinical factors, including prolonged ICU stays, use of central venous catheters and often broad-spectrum antibiotics may dominate over immune-mediated mechanisms to drive susceptibility to candidemia in the setting of COVID-19. Although diagnostic performance evaluations are often lacking in COVID-19 patients, a combination of serological and molecular techniques may present promising diagnostic options for identification of COVID-19-associated candidiasis. Clinical awareness and screening of invasive candidiasis is needed, as those are difficult to diagnose, particular in the setting of severe COVID-19. Echinocandins and azoles are the primary antifungal used to treat invasive candidiasis, yet therapeutic failures exerted by prominent nosocomial pathogens such as C. auris and C. glabrata calls for the development of new antifungal drugs with novel mechanisms of action.
  • 1.4K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Intestinal Mucus
Overlying gastrointestinal epithelial cells is the transparent mucus layer that separates the lumen from the host. The dynamic mucus layer serves to lubricate the mucosal surface, to protect under-lying epithelial cells, and as a transport medium between luminal contents and epithelial cells. Furthermore, it provides a habitat for commensal bacteria and signals to the underlying immune system. Mucins are highly glycosylated proteins, and their glycocode is tissue-specific and closely linked to the resident microbiota. 
  • 1.4K
  • 19 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Lactobacillus reuteri
At the turn of the 20th century, L. reuteri was recorded in scientific classifications of lactic acid bacteria.
  • 1.4K
  • 12 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Bottle Conditioning
Bottle conditioning refers to a method of adding fermenting wort or yeast suspension in sugar solution into beer in its final package. Additionally denoted as bottle refermentation, this technique has been originally developed to assure beer carbonation, and has further significance related to formation of distinctive sensory attributes and enhancement of sensory stability, which are the phenomena associated with ongoing yeast metabolic activities in the final package.
  • 1.4K
  • 23 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Satellite
A satellite is a subviral agent that depends on the coinfection of a host cell with a helper virus for its replication. Satellites can be divided into two major classes: satellite viruses and satellite nucleic acids. Satellite viruses, which are most commonly associated with plants, are also found in mammals, arthropods, and bacteria. They encode structural proteins to enclose their genetic material, which are therefore distinct from the structural proteins of their helper viruses. Satellite nucleic acids, in contrast, do not encode their own structural proteins, but instead are encapsulated by proteins encoded by their helper viruses. The genomes of satellites range upward from 359 nucleotides in length for satellite tobacco ringspot virus RNA (STobRV). Most viruses have the capability to use host enzymes or their own replication machinery to independently replicate their own viral RNA. Satellites, in contrast, are completely dependent on a helper virus for replication. The symbiotic relationship between a satellite and a helper virus to catalyze the replication of a satellite genome is also dependent on the host to provide components like replicases to carry out replication. A satellite virus of mamavirus that inhibits the replication of its host has been termed a virophage. However, the usage of this term remains controversial due to the lack of fundamental differences between virophages and classical satellite viruses.
  • 1.4K
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Staphylococcus Aureus and Septic Arthritis
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections are a major healthcare challenge and new treatment alternatives are needed. S. aureus septic arthritis, a debilitating joint disease, causes permanent joint dysfunction in almost 50% of the patients. S. aureus bacteremia is associated with higher mortalities than bacteremia caused by most other microbes and can develop to severe sepsis and death. The key to new therapies is understanding the interplay between bacterial virulence factors and host immune response, which decides the disease outcome. S. aureus produces numerous virulence factors that facilitate bacterial dissemination, invasion into joint cavity, and cause septic arthritis. Monocytes, activated by several components of S. aureus such as lipoproteins, are responsible for bone destructions. In S. aureus sepsis, cytokine storm induced by S. aureus components leads to the hyperinflammatory status, DIC, multiple organ failure, and later death. 
  • 1.4K
  • 10 May 2021
Topic Review
Food Safety Culture in Nigeria
Food safety culture describes a collection of learned and shared attitudes, values and beliefs that form the foundation of the hygienic behaviors used within a particular food handling environment. Sharman et al. defines food safety culture as a long-term paradigm in a food handling organization deeply rooted in beliefs, behaviors and assumptions which impact the food safety performance within the organization.
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Probiotics
Probiotics and prebiotics are microbiota-management instruments for improving human health once they may be beneficial for maintaining a healthy community of gut microbiota and bowel function. Probiotic’s main target is the gut, via the gastrointestinal tract, although direct application to other body zones such as the vaginal tract, the oral cavity, and skin have been studied.
  • 1.4K
  • 16 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Microbiota for HPV Infection
The microbiome is able to modulate immune responses, alter the physiology of the human organism, and increase the risk of viral infections and development of diseases such as cancer. Herein, we address changes in the cervical microbiota as potential biomarkers to identify the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) development and invasive cervical cancer in the context of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Campylobacter Upsaliensis
Campylobacter upsaliensis is a gram negative bacteria in the Campylobacter genus. C. upsaliensis is found worldwide, and is a common cause of Campylobacteriosis in humans, as well as gastroenteritis in dogs. Human infections are primarily associated with raw or undercooked meat and contaminated water sources, however there is some zoonotic risk associated with the spread from dogs. C. upsaliensis primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract as it damages gastrointestinal epithelial cells. There are many methods for detecting C.upsaliensis including PCR and ELISA, however there is no current gold standard in detection techniques. Infection is typically self limiting, however there is antimicrobial therapy available.
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Planctomycetes
The Planctomycetes are a phylum of widely distributed bacteria, occurring in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. They play a considerable role in global carbon and nitrogen cycles, with many species of this phylum capable of anaerobic ammonium oxidation, also known as anammox. Many planctomycetes occur in relatively high abundance as biofilms, often associating with other organisms such as macroalgae and marine sponges. Planctomycetes are included in the PVC superphylum along with Verrucomicrobia, Chlamydiae, Lentisphaerae, Kiritimatiellaeota, and Candidatus Omnitrophica. The phylum Planctomycete is composed of the classes Planctomycetia and Phycisphaerae. First described in 1924, members of the Planctomycetes were identified as eukaryotes and were only later described as bacteria in 1972. Early examination of members of the Planctomycetes suggested a cell plan differing considerably from other bacteria, although they are now confirmed as Gram-negative bacteria, but with many unique characteristics. Bacteria in the Planctomycetes are often small, spherical cells, but a large amount of morphological variation is seen. Members of the Planctomycetes also display distinct reproductive habits, with many species dividing by budding, in contrast to all other free-living bacteria, which divide by binary fission. Interest is growing in the Planctomycetes regarding biotechnology and human applications, mainly as a source of bioactive molecules. In addition, some Planctomycetes were recently described as human pathogens. The species Gemmata obscuriglobus has been identified specifically as comprising bacteria with unique characteristics among the Planctomycetes, such as their ability to synthesize sterols.
  • 1.4K
  • 16 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Zearalenone
Zearalenone (ZEN), a mycotoxin categorized as a xenoestrogen poses structural similarity wif natural estrogens that enables its binding to the estrogen receptors leading to hormonal misbalance and numerous reproductive diseases. 
  • 1.4K
  • 20 Feb 2021
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