This study aimed to isolate and identify Cryptococcus species from three distinct sources: sputum samples of pigeon fanciers, dried pigeon droppings, and eucalyptus tree leaves. A total of 150 specimens were collected over a two-month period, comprising 50 samples each from human sputum, pigeon droppings collected across various areas of Baghdad, and eucalyptus leaves obtained from the Baghdad College of Veterinary Medicine. All samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenicol and incubated at 25°C for 2–3 days. From the initial cultures, 20 isolates presumptively identified as Cryptococcus spp. were obtained: 6 isolates (12%) from human sputum, 9 isolates (18%) from pigeon droppings, and 5 isolates (10%) from eucalyptus leaves, giving an overall recovery rate of 13.3%. Molecular identification using PCR was employed to detect two key virulence genes: CAP64 (associated with capsule formation) and LAC1 (involved in melanin production). These genes were detected in 13 out of 14 confirmed Cryptococcus isolates (92.85%). Specifically, 75% of C. neoformans isolates from human samples carried these genes, while the C. albidus isolate lacked them. All Cryptococcus isolates from pigeon droppings and eucalyptus leaves tested positive for both virulence genes (100%).
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a considerable problem aecting the health of people each year. It is caused by various Gram-positive (G+ve) and Gram-negative (G-ve) pathogens. It is an important illness in the world aecting all age groups across their life span. Objectives: To identify the most common aerobic bacteria that cause UTIs and their antibiotic susceptibility and antimicrobial activity of plant extracts of the males' patients. Materials and methods: The study involved 35 midstream urine samples from the male students (University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq) with suspicious symptoms of UTI, during the period from January-March 2018. Each urine sample was cultured rst on Mannitol Salt Agar and MacConkey agar plates to dierentiate
... Show MoreBackground: Eucalyptus extracts and derivatives are natural substances with potent antimicrobial properties. This study investigated the in- vitro effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on the antifungal activity of alcoholic and aqueous Eucalyptus extracts against Candida albicans, a common oral pathogen. Materials and Method: Ten isolates of Candida albicans were isolated from dental students’ salivary samples. The alcoholic and aqueous extracts were prepared from fresh Eucalyptus leaves using maceration. The sensitivity of Candida albicans isolates to various concentrations of Eucalyptus extracts ranging from 50 to 250 (mg/mL) was evaluated via agar well diffusion method, while the agar streaking method was used to assess the minimum
... Show MoreTo detect the amount of rifampicin in bulk and medicinal dosage formulations, an accurate and costeffective UV spectrophotometric technique has been developed using the area under the peak to estimate the presence of rifampicin. This range of wavelengths (300–356 nm) was chosen. The method showed linearity in the 2–22 μg/mL range, with R2 being2 0.9996. The developed method’s linearity, detection limit, quantification limit, precision, repeatability, and accuracy were all statistically and experimentally validated. The suggested methodology can be used for routine quality control analysis of rifampicin in pure form and in capsule dosage form, as demonstrated by the satisfactory recovery percentage results. This study explores the str
... Show MoreThe purpose of this study was to determine the influence of environmental pH on production of biofilms and virulence genes expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Among 303 clinical and environmental samples 109 (61 + 48) isolates were identified as clinical and environmental P. aeruginosa isolates, respectively. Clinical samples were obtained from patients in the Al-Yarmouk hospital in Baghdad city, Iraq. Waste water from Al-Yarmouk hospital was used from site before treatment unit to collect environmental samples. The ability of prod
The varied applications of polystyrene in various fields of life led to examining the cause of radiation influence on some rheological behavior of commercial Polystyrene (PS) solution in the chloroform (CHCl3) solvent. Polystyrene grains shape samples were irradiated using the radioactive element Cesium- 137 with (9 µci) activity for 10, 20, and 30 minutes. The viscosity of the polymer solution depends on the concentration and size (i.e. molecular weight) of the dissolved polymer. Experimental data showed that the radiation dose affected the value of viscosity (shear, relative, specific, and reduced). The viscosity value significantly reduced at 10 min radiation dose and when increasing the dose, the viscosity value increased
... Show MoreThe inhibitory action of four lactobacilli isolates Lactobacillus bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, L. plantarum and L. fermentum, isolated from four different samples; yoghurt, vinegar, saliva and vagina respectively, on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus adhesion to uroepithelial cells were investigated. Results showed that all Lactobacillus isolates or their supernatant were able to reduce the number of the uropathogens attached to uroepithelial cells. However, inhibition level of lactobacilli cells was higher than their supernatant. Nevertheless, the human indigenous lactobacilli (L. fermentum and L. plantarum) were more competitive than food lactobacilli (L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus).
New Schiff-base ligands bearing tetrazole moiety and their polymeric metal complexes with Co(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions are reported. Ligands were prepared in a multiple-step reaction. The reaction of sodium 2,6- diformylphenolate and cyclohexane-1,3-dione with 5-amino-2-fluorobenzonitrile resulted in the isolation of two precursors sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate 1 and 5,5'- (1E,1'E)-cyclohexane-1,3-diylidenebis- (azan-1-yl-1-ylidene)bis(2-fluorobenzonitrile) 2, respectively. The reaction of precursors with azide gave the required ligands; sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(4-fluoro-3-(1H-tetrazol-5- yl)phenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate (NaL) and (N,N'E,N,N'E)-N,N'-(cyclohexane-1,3-diylidene)bis(4- fluoro-3-
... Show MoreNew Schiff-base ligands bearing tetrazole moiety and their polymeric metal complexes with Co(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions are reported. Ligands were prepared in a multiple-step reaction. The reaction of sodium 2,6- diformylphenolate and cyclohexane-1,3-dione with 5-amino-2-fluorobenzonitrile resulted in the isolation of two precursors sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate 1 and 5,5'- (1E,1'E)-cyclohexane-1,3-diylidenebis- (azan-1-yl-1-ylidene)bis(2-fluorobenzonitrile) 2, respectively. The reaction of precursors with azide gave the required ligands; sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(4-fluoro-3-(1H-tetrazol-5- yl)phenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate (NaL) and (N, N'E, N, N'E)-N, N'-(cyclohexane-1,3-diylidene)bis(4- fluor
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