Quorum sensing (QS) is a perfectly orchestrated molecular communication system. It is a boon for Klebsiella pneumoniae, and bane for the host. This system is believed to make K. pneumoniae a leading cause of multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial infections. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm potential of medicinal plant extracts through interfering with QS of K. pneumoniae. The effect of different concentrations of ethanolic extracts of cinnamon and clove on K. pneumoniae was determined by analyzing the growth curve, survival assay (MTT), Qualitative and quantitative biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, along with studying gene expression of the genes encoding the above traits, using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The low concentrations of the plant extracts did not affect neither on the bacterial growth, nor on the viability of K. pneumoniae, supported with growth curves. Additionally, the biofilm production was inhibited even by lower plant concentrations, and both cinnamon and clove extracts were able to render the MDR bacteria to be more susceptible to antibiotics. At the molecular levels, the bacterium treated with either clove or cinnamon or in combination showed under expression of the biofilm formation regulation gene (bssS), the carbapenem resistance gene (bla), as well as the QS target gene (LuxS). Both clove and cinnamon ethanolic extracts exerted potent impacts on reducing pathogenic traits regulated by QS in K. pneumoniae. Finally, the study recommends further exploration of clove and cinnamon extracts separately or in combination to develop alternative therapies against MDR K. pneumoniae infections.
This study was aimed to one of the most prevalent causes for endodontic treatment failure is the presence of Enterococcus faecalis bacterium within teeth root canals. To achieve successful treatment, it is so important to study E. faecalis behavior. The aim of study was to investigate biofilm production and antibiotic sensitivity of E. faecalis isolated from root canals. Results showed isolation of E. feacalis (65%) of samples, identified by specific gene by PCR technique. Most isolates were sensitive to Imipenem and resistant to Erythromycin, Clindamycin, Tetracycline and Trimethoprim. Strong biofilm production was detected among 29.5% of highest antibiotic resistant isolates. The results may indicate that infected root canals with E. feac
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Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most frequent endocrine illnesses affecting reproductive - age women. L-carnitine has important roles in oxidative stress, energy production and glucose metabolism. It affects insulin resistance as decreased plasma carnitine level has been well reported in type II diabetes mellitus. Hence, it means L-carnitine may reduce insulin resistance which is found in PCO disease. Objective: This study aims to measure the level of L-carnitine and insulin resistance in both obese and non- obese patients with PCOS. Patients and Methods: Sixty women within the reproductive age with PCOS (30 obese and 30 non- obese) were recruited from the Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic in Baghdad T
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This study was conducted to determine the activity of plant Sesbania rostrata and two isolate from arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (A,B) as a bioremediation of soil polluted by cadmium and lead elements in north and south of Baghdad city. The results showed that the average of soil pollution by cadmium and lead elements in north of Baghdad was less than the average of soil pollution in the south of Baghdad which recorded 10.0, 9.0 mg/kg and 27.0, 25.0 mg/kg respectively. The plant Sesbania recorded ability to accumulate the lead element in shoot system 19.65 mg/kg and in root system 27.2 mg/kg and for cadmium element 19.6, 24.6 mg/kg in shoot and root respectively. The results showed that the isolate A from soil pollution is more effected
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This study investigated the outcome of Alstonia boonei stem bark on liver enzymes after inducing the Wistar albino rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). This effect of plant extract was compared with silymarin – a drug commonly used for the treatment of chronic hepatocyte disorder. The plant sample was extracted with ethanol; acute toxicity study of the extract was performed on eighteen Wistar mice, while 30 rats were sacrificed for liver enzymes assay. The rats were divided into six clusters: each cluster has five rats, culster 1 served as control and was given 2 mL/kg b.w - distilled water; clusters 2 – 6 were CCl4 induced. Cluster 2 was untreated but served as the negative control while cluster 3 wa
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An experiment was conducted in the plastic house of the Botanical Garden in the Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad during one growth season. The experiment included the study of the effect of three concentrations of citric acid (0, 75, 150) mg. L-1 and four concentrations of malic acid (0, 50, 100, 150) mg. L-1 and their interaction in some of the growth and yield parameters of the broad bean plant, plant height, dry weight, number of leaves, total chlorophyll content, the number of flowers and pods and the weight of the pod. The experiment was carried out in full random design (4× 3) and with three duplicates, the results showed a significant effect of citric and malic aci
... Show MoreIn cognitive radio system, the spectrum sensing has a major challenge in needing a sensing method, which has a high detection capability with reduced complexity. In this paper, a low-cost hybrid spectrum sensing method with an optimized detection performance based on energy and cyclostationary detectors is proposed. The method is designed such that at high signal-to-noise ratio SNR values, energy detector is used alone to perform the detection. At low SNR values, cyclostationary detector with reduced complexity may be employed to support the accurate detection. The complexity reduction is done in two ways: through reducing the number of sensing samples used in the autocorrelation process in the time domain and through using the Slid
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The current study was conducted to evaluate the effect a mixture of threespecies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus etunicatum, G. leptotichum andRhizophagus intraradices) double and triple mixture and organic matter by usingplastic pots in the greenhouse at some mycorrhiza and physiological limitationscharacteristics in tomato plant after four and eight weeks of cultivation. Theresults of the determinants mycorrhiza significant increase the percentage ofmycorrhizal frequency F% dry weight of roots mycorrhiza (g.plant-1) andorganic matter in all mycorrhiza single, double and triple mixture after four andeight weeks cultivation treatments. The highest percentage of mycorrhizalfrequency and increase the dry weight of the root in the trea
... Show MoreThe aim of this study was to compare the effect of conventional implant site preparation technique and a combination of conventional/piezosurgery preparation on implant stability measured at different time intervals, insertion torque, and preparation time. A randomized controlled study was designed, it included 26 patients who received 54 dental implants randomly assigned to 2 groups; in the control group, implants were installed after conventional preparation with drills whereas the study group received implants after mixed conventional/piezosurgery preparation. The outcome variables included: implant stability measured immediately after implant insertion, at 8 weeks and 16 weeks postoperatively, insertion torque and preparation time. All
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Image of landsate-7 taken by thematic mapper was used and classified using supervised method. Results of supervised classification indicated presence of nine land cover classes. Salt-soils class shows the highest reflectance value while water bodies' class shows the lowest values. Also the results indicated that soil properties show different effects on reflectance. There was a high significant positive relation of carbonate, gypsum, electric conductivity and silt content, while there was a week positive relation with sand and negative relation with organic matter, water content, bulk density and cataion exchange capacity.