Study of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic contaminaiton of currency notes in circulation

A total of 100 currency notes of various denominations in circulation were randomly studied for bacterial, fungal and protozoal contamination. All except four notes yielded one or more bacteria. Bacterial culture yielded single isolate in 33 notes, two in 44 notes, three in 12 notes and four in 7 notes. The predominant bacterial isolate was Bacillus sps followed by Coagulase negative Staphylococci and Micrococcus sps. Other bacteria that are either potential or confirmed pathogens included K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, Pseudomonas sps and S. typhi. Only two notes were positive for Acid fast bacilli. 28 samples did not yield any fungal growth. Overall 118 fungal isolates were isolated, of which 34 could not be identified. All the fungi isolated were saprophytes. Saline and Iodine wet mount did not reveal any parasitic forms. We recommend that currency notes must be handled with caution.

Marinomonas ushuaiensis sp. nov., isolated from coastal sea water in Ushuaia, Argentina, sub-Antarctica

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, psychrophilic, motile, non-spore-forming bacterium, strain U1T, was isolated from Ushuaia located at the southernmost tip of Argentina. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain U1T was found to be closely related to Marinomonas communis (DSM 5604T) and Marinomonas primoryensis (IAM 15010T). At the DNA–DNA level, however, the values for similarity were 41 and 25 %, respectively. The major fatty acids present were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 1 ω7c, iso-C17 : 1 and C18 : 1 ω7c and the G+C content of the DNA was 43·6 mol%. All of the above characteristics support the affiliation of strain U1T to the genus Marinomonas. Furthermore, on the basis of phenotypic features, chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, it appears that strain U1T is distinct from the four Marinomonas species with validly published names. Strain U1T, therefore, represents a novel species, for which the name Marinomonas ushuaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of M. ushuaiensis is U1T (=MTCC 6143T=DSM 15871T=JCM 12170T).

Altered pattern of lipids in plasma and erythrocyte membranes of rheumatoid arthritis patients

The present study has investigated the levels of lipids, lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL and LDL cholesterol), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and vitamin E in plasma and erythrocyte membranes of twenty two clinically diagnosed adult rheumatoid arthritis patients and an equal number of age matched healthy subjects. The levels of lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol were markedly reduced in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as compared to healthy subjects. The altered lipid pattern may be related to decreased lipoprotein cholesterol, fatty acids and impairment in antioxidant defence mechanism.

Planococcus stackebrandtii sp. nov., isolated from a cold desert of the Himalayas, India

The taxonomic position of a bacterium isolated from a cold desert of the Himalayas, India, was analysed by using a polyphasic approach. The isolated strain, designated K22-03T, had phenotypic characteristics that matched those of the genus Planococcus and it represents a novel species. The almost-complete 16S rRNA gene sequence (1464 bases) of the novel strain was compared with those of previously studied Planococcus type strains and confirmed that the strain belongs to the genus Planococcus. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain K22-03T differs from all other species of Planococcus by at least 2·5 %. DNA–DNA hybridization showed that it had low genomic relatedness with Planomicrobium mcmeekinii (MTCC 3704T, 23 %), Planococcus psychrophilus (MTCC 3812T, 61 %), Planococcus antarcticus (MTCC 3854T, 45 %) and Planomicrobium okeanokoites (MTCC 3703T, 51 %), the four species with which it was most closely related based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis (97–97·5 % similarity). Therefore, strain K22-03T should be recognized as a novel species, for which the name Planococcus stackebrandtii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K22-03T (=MTCC 6226T=DSM 16419T=JCM 12481T).

Deinococcus indicus sp. nov., an arsenic-resistant bacterium from an aquifer in West Bengal, India

An arsenic- and radiation-resistant bacterium, strain Wt/1a(T), was isolated from water from an arsenic-contaminated aquifer located in the Chakdah district of West Bengal, India. The bacterium stains Gram-negative and is rod-shaped, non-motile, non-sporulating and red-pigmented. Cell-wall peptidoglycan contains ornithine as the diamino acid, MK-8 is the major menaquinone, C(15 : 1) and C(16 : 1) are the major fatty acids and the DNA G+C content of the organism is 65.8 mol%. Based on these phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain Wt/1a(T) was identified as a member of the genus Deinococcus. Strain Wt/1a(T) exhibited maximum 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (95 %) with Deinococcus grandis; however, strain Wt/1a(T) exhibited only 14 % similarity to D. grandis IAM 13005(T) at the DNA-DNA level. Furthermore, strain Wt/1a(T) (compared to D. grandis IAM 13005(T)) is more resistant to arsenate and arsenite, is positive for arginine dihydrolase, utilizes a number of carbon sources and exhibits quantitative differences in fatty acid composition and qualitative differences in lipid composition. Strain Wt/1a(T) is identified as a novel species of the genus Deinococcus, for which the name Deinococcus indicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Deinococcus indicus is Wt/1a(T) (=MTCC 4913(T)=DSM 15307(T)).

Bacillus indicus sp. nov., an arsenic-resistant bacterium isolated from an aquifer in West Bengal, India

Strain Sd/3T (=MTCC 4374T=DSM 15820T), an arsenic-resistant bacterium, was isolated from a sand sample obtained from an arsenic-contaminated aquifer in Chakdah district in West Bengal, India (23° 3′ N 88° 35′ E). The bacterium was Gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-motile, endospore-forming and yellowish-orange pigmented. It possessed all the characteristics that conform to the genus Bacillus, such as it had A4 β murein type (l-orn-d-Asp) peptidoglycan variant, MK-7 as the major menaquinone and iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acids. Based on its chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain Sd/3T was identified as a species of the genus Bacillus. It exhibited maximum similarity (95 %) at the 16S rRNA gene level with Bacillus cohnii; however, DNA–DNA similarity with B. cohnii was 60·7 %. Strain Sd/3T also exhibited a number of phenotypic differences from B. cohnii (DSM 6307T). These data suggest that Sd/3T represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus. The name Bacillus indicus sp. nov. is proposed.

Comparison of methods for detecting Blastocystis hominis

In order to determine the comparative sensitivity of two methods of detecting Blastocystis hominis and to investigate the seasonality of infection with this enteric protozoan parasite, the present study was conducted. In each of two 3-month periods representing winter, spring (February-April) and summer (July-September), 500 routine stool submissions were examined for B. hominis using microscopy following either formol-ether concentration or in vitro culture using Jones' medium. The organism was detected in 39 of the 1,000 samples investigated using the in vitro culture technique and in none of the samples using the formol-ether concentration technique. In 82% of the B. hominis-positive samples, no concurrent bacterial or parasitic pathogens were found, and diarrhoea was the most commonly recorded symptom among patients. Infection was more prevalent in summer than in winter/spring, occurring primarily in the 71-80-year age group. Cysts were detected in 20.5% of positive samples, but only following Ficoll-Paque concentration of formol-ether concentrates. Cyst excretion was more prevalent in summer than in winter/spring.

Hemophilia A: role of FVIIIC/vWF Ag in assisting linkage analysis for carrier detection

Carrier detection for hemophilia A was carried out in 52 females from 30 families presenting to the Haematology Department AIIMS, using linkage analysis and factor VIIIC (FVIIIC)-von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen assay. The allelic frequency for the marker Bcl 1 and Xba 1 was 0.58 and 0.54, respectively, for the positive alleles and 0.42 and 0.46, respectively, for the negative alleles. The heterozygosity frequency of Bcl I and Xba 1 was 0.65 and 0.55, respectively. Of the 52 females, 30 were mothers of hemophilic patients and 22 were sisters of hemophilic patients. Of the 30 mothers, positive family history was present in 14. In these patients, the defective X chromosome was tracked in 10, and in four the defective X chromosome could not be tracked because the mothers were homozygous for the marker used. Of the 16 mothers without a family history of disease, three were observed to be carriers based on linkage analysis and reduced factor VIII levels in mother/sister. Possible defective X chromosome was tracked in 11 mothers and five were noninformative because they did not show heterozygosity for the markers used. Using linkage analysis, nine of the 22 sisters were found to be definite carriers, 10 noncarriers, and three were noninformative. It is thus concluded that using Bcl 1 and Xba 1 linkage analysis, carrier status can be definitely ascertained in 50% females and this level of information can be increased to 61.5% by measuring FVIIIC/vWF antigen levels in them.

Analysis of glycoconjugates in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to examine the levels of glycoconjugates in plasma, erythrocyte membranes and buccal mucosa of healthy subjects and oral cancer patients.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study was conducted on 48 adult male oral cancer patients with various clinical stages (stage II to stage IV; 16 of each) and 16 disease-free healthy subjects who underwent surgical removal of impacted teeth or vestibuloplasty without inflammation.

RESULTS

The plasma and tumor tissues glycoconjugates levels were significantly increased, whereas the erythrocyte membranes glycoconjugates were significantly decreased in oral cancer patients as compared to healthy subjects. The levels of glycoconjugates were gradually increased from stage II to stage IV in plasma and tumor tissues and decreased in erythrocyte membranes from stage II to stage IV of oral cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

The increased plasma glycoconjugates can be due to the expense of erythrocyte membrane glycoconjugates or tumor tissue itself.

Polio eradication--a success in sight

India took a giant step closer to eradicating polio through the strategy of National Immunization Days-PPI. In order to validate the reported coverage for 1999-2000, UNICEF had undertaken the CES for PPI on the request from GOI. The paper is a presentation of findings from 15 states, carrying the data as of Aug. 31, 2000. The modified cluster sampling has been used in this study. Data reveals that out of 15, 10 states have more than 95% coverage for at least 3 doses, MP and Gujarat at the top with 99% coverage. Despite this high coverage level, huge number of children is still unreached. Nearly 5 lakh children are left out in UP alone. Ironically, higher proportion of urban clusters have zero dose children. Apart from lack of awareness about date and need of additional doses, lack of positive attitude among parents are major cause of not getting any of the doses. Qualitative research pinpointed some more reasons for non-compliance--apprehension about side effect, knowledge and traditional barriers. According to the service providers and influencers, lack of proper training and monetary compensation are major demotivating factors.