Antibiograms of Gut Flora of Poultry Farms Workers Reveal Higher Resistance Levels as Compared to Non-Workers

Introduction

Antibiotics are being used in humans and animals for treatment and control of bacterial infections. Excessive use of antibiotics in the production of poultry is a popular practice, but it poses serious health issues by transferring resistance from farm to humans via food or direct exposure.

Study Objective

The objective of this study was to carry out a comparison of the resistance and sensitivity profile of isolated isolates from sewage of toilets that were in use of workers inside the farm and from sewage of household toilets.

Methodology

In this study, a total of 320 sewage samples were collected. The antibiotic susceptibility profile was checked by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, and the statistical analysis was carried out by MS excel. Chi-square test was performed to determine whether the antibiograms from two sample types were statistically different from each other or not.

Results

From 320 sewage samples, a total of 296 bacterial isolates were isolated among which the leading bacterium was E. coli. The proportion of resistance, ESBL production and MDR was significantly higher in bacteria isolated from sewage of toilets under use of poultry farm workers as compared to the sewage from domestic use toilets.

Conclusion

Resistance significantly increased in the bacteria isolated from toilets under use of poultry farm workers as compared to the ones isolated from control sewage samples.

Natural Polymer-Based Graphene Oxide Bio-nanocomposite Hydrogel Beads: Superstructures with Advanced Potentials for Drug Delivery

The current study sought to create graphene oxide-based superstructures for gastrointestinal drug delivery. Graphene oxide has a large surface area that can be used to load anti-cancer drugs via non-covalent methods such as surface adsorption and hydrogen bonding. To enhance the bio-applicability of graphene oxide, nano-hybrids were synthesized by encapsulating the graphene oxide into calcium alginate hydrogel beads through the dripping-extrusion technique. These newly developed bio-nanocomposite hybrid hydrogel beads were evaluated in structural analysis, swelling study, drug release parameters, haemolytic assay, and antibacterial activity. Doxorubicin served as a model drug. The drug entrapment efficiency was determined by UV-spectroscopy analysis and was found to be high at ⁓89% in graphene oxide hybrid hydrogel beads. These fabricated hydrogel beads ensure the drug release from a hybrid polymeric matrix in a more controlled and sustained pattern avoiding the problems associated with a non-hybrid polymeric system. The drug release study of 12 h shows about 83% release at pH 6.8. In vitro drug release kinetics proved that drug release was a Fickian mechanism. The cytotoxic effect of graphene oxide hybrid alginate beads was also determined by evaluating the morphology of bacterial cells and red blood cells after incubation. Additionally, it was determined that the sequential encapsulation of graphene oxide in alginate hydrogel beads hides its uneven edges and lessens the graphene oxide's negative impacts. Also, the antibacterial study and biocompatibility of fabricated hydrogel beads made them potential candidates for gastrointestinal delivery.

TLR3 and its roles in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most prevalent non—infectious disease and leads to several complications including nephropathy and retinopathy. The mechanisms and signaling molecules responsible for the development and progression of T2D, as well as its associated complications are yet to be identified. It would appear that genetic backgrounds and immunological parameters of people susceptible to T2D may play important roles in induction of T2D. TLRs participate in several cellular pathways which can induce activation of proliferation. However, in contradiction, these pathways can also be associated with apoptosis. The multiple roles of TLRs and their signaling molecules associated with T2D pathways makes them candidates for the induction of immune—regulated diseases like T2D. TLR3 has been identified as an intracellular ligand and subsequently activates signaling molecules via the TRIF pathway. Therefore, the alteration of expression of TLR3 and their functions may lead to inappropriate induction of immune system functions that are related to T2D disease. The aim of this review was to collect recent data regarding the roles of TLR3 in the progression and pathogenesis of T2D.