Microbiology

In view of the increasing interest in the bioecological and nutritional control of diseases, use of probiotics alone or in combination with prebiotics (synbiotics) appears as a therapeutic option for various diseases. In this study, an attempt was made to explore the protective potential of Lactobacillus acidophilus as a probiotic, inulin as a prebiotic and both L. acidophilus and inulin as synbiotic against Salmonella-induced liver damage in a murine model. The probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation resulted in decreased bacterial translocation in the liver of mice challenged with Salmonella typhimurium and decreased levels of serum aminotransferases, suggesting their protective role against Salmonella infection. Mice supplemented with these preparations before Salmonella challenge also revealed decreased levels of lipid peroxidation, increased levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione, along with reduced levels of nitric oxide. Thus, bacteriological and biochemical alterations correlated well with the histological evidence. Protection afforded by supplementation with the probiotic alone was found to be more effective. None of the observations was suggestive of the synergistic effect in the synbiotic-supplemented animals. Thus, it is indicated that the probiotic and the prebiotic used in the present study may act by different mechanisms involved in affording protection against Salmonella-induced liver damage.

This study describes the in vivo activity of Lactobacillus acidophilus in Giardia lamblia infected BALB/c mice. Experimentally, it was observed that daily administration of lactobacilli 7 days before or in simultaneous inoculation with Giardia trophozoites efficiently reduced G. lamblia infection in mice. More specifically, excretion of Giardia cysts were reduced significantly in probiotic-treated groups, and resolution of infection was observed by day 21 post-inoculation. It was also observed that the lactobacillus count increased tremendously and continuously in faeces of all probiotic-fed mice, and was significantly higher as compared with that in control mice. Histological analysis of microvilli membrane integrity revealed that probiotic administration also protected mice against parasiteinduced mucosal damage, whereas Giardia-infected mice had severe villous atrophy, oedema, vacuolation and ileitis. Immunologically, the anti-Giardia serum IgG level was not stimulated significantly by probiotic treatment administered both prior to and simultaneous with Giardia infection, but remained high after the infection peak. Taken together, the data demonstrates the anti-giardial effect of the probiotic in vivo by modulation of the intestinal epithelial cells, inhibiting the colonization of Giardia trophozoites and thereby reducing the severity of Giardia infection. © Versita Sp. z o.o.

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of live Staphylococcus aureus commonly present in the cervix of females on sperm motility and agglutination in vitro. Highly motile samples of spermatozoa (40 x 10 6 /ml) from normozoospermic males were co-incubated for 4h with 10 7 cells/ml of live S. aureus. After 30 minutes, 1, 2 and 4h of incubation, sperm motility and agglutination was checked by light microscopic examination (X 400). From the onset, it was apparent that the live bacteria reduced the motility of spermatozoa. The promptness with which the decreased motility was observed to occur in the live S. aureus group was striking. After 30 minutes of mixing the ejaculate with the live bacteria, decrease in motility and clumping of the spermatozoa was noted. Interestingly, no agglutination and immobilization was observed in other experiments in which the bacteria were killed by heat, lysozyme or antibiotics and mixed with the ejaculate. Certainly, it seems evident that live S. aureus can significantly depress the motility and agglutinate human spermatozoa in vitro. The mechanism by which this alteration takes place is not obvious, however, detrimental effect on sperm motility by live staphylococci may be an as yet unrecognized component of fertility problems.

In the present study, an attempt has been made to assess the probiotic characteristics of lactobacilli and yeast strains isolated from whey beverage under conditions simulating the in vivo stresses encountered in the gastrointestinal tract i.e. acid, alkaline, proteolytic enzymes and bile stress. The therapeutic potential of probiotics Lactobacillus casei or Lactobacillus yoghurt was assessed in Giardia infected mice. All the isolated strains well tolerated the gastrointestinal stresses. It was found that probiotic supplementation of either L. casei or L. yoghurt, one day after Giardia infection, reduced the severity of infection compared to Giardia infected mice. Pathophysiologically, the morphological and cellular changes in the small intestine were least in probiotic treated mice compared to severely inflamed, oedematous, vacuolated epithelial cells in Giardia infected mice. It can be concluded that L. yoghurt possessed better probiotic properties and has the potential to reduce the severity of Giardia infection in mice.

The purpose of the present work is to improve the antimalarial activity of arteether through enhancing its solubility subsequently bioavailability by incorporating the drug into the cyclodextrins cavity. The effect of hydrophilic polyvinyl propylene (PVP) polymer on the complexation and solubilizing efficiencies of cyclodextrins (CDs) is also elucidated. Inclusion of arteether molecule in solid state was evidenced by Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Powder X-ray diffractometery (PXRD), and in solution state by NMR and solution calorimetry. A 1:1 stoichiometry was proposed by the phase solubility studies both in presence and absence of PVP. The most plausibe mode of inclusion of arteether into the CD cavity is revealed by molecular modeling studies utalizing Fast Rigid Exhaustive Docking acronym. Solution calorimetry was used further to confirm 1:1 stiochiometry in presence or absence of PVP by determining the enthalpy of interaction between the drug and cyclodextrins. The inclusion of drug was found to be exothermic process accompanied by small positive value of entropy (ΔS˚). The methylated-β-CD showed the best ability to solublize arteether which is approximately at par with β-CD in the presence of PVP. Better complexation efficiency of β-CD in presence of PVP is also reflected by the higher numerical values of stability constant (K). Compelete eradication of the parasite from the blood and highest anti-malarial pharmacological activity was observed in the complexes of arteether with M--CD while 83.7% was observed for ternary complexes of -CD in presence of PVP.

The gut microflora is an important constituent in the intestinal mucosal barrier and has been introduced as the concept of probiotic therapy that beneficially affects the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to explore the protective potential of various lactobacilli strains for murine giardiasis. By experimentation, it was found that the probiotic supplementation of either Lactobacillus casei, L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, or L. rhamnosus GG, 7 days prior to inoculation with G. lamblia trophozoites, reduced the rate of cyst excretion compared with Giardia-infected mice. Interestingly, L. GG was found to be the most effective probiotic in reducing the duration of giardia cycle and acts as an effective prophylactic probiotic for murine giardiasis but needs to be clinically correlated due to entirely different human microflora.

Malaria leads to pathophysiological and biochemical alterations in placenta and blood of pregnant mice. A significant decrease in the sugar, protein and lipid levels in the placental homogenate of pregnantinfected mice was observed compared to the pregnant mice. However, serum protein content was not altered much in the pregnant-infected mice as compared to the levels in control mice. The serum lipid level enhanced significantly in both pregnant and non pregnant-infected mice. The enzymatic activities of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase altered significantly in malaria-infected placenta. Our study clearly highlights the possible role of these enzymes in damaging the placenta which in turn may jeoparadise the fetal growth together with altered biochemistry of placenta. Therefore biochemical along with pathological alterations occurring during malaria infection in pregnancy may account for compromised maternal fetal relationship.

The purpose of the present work is to improve the antimalarial activity of arteether through enhancing its solubility subsequently bioavailability by incorporating the drug into the cyclodextrins cavity. The effect of hydrophilic polyvinyl propylene (PVP) polymer on the complexation and solubilizing efficiencies of cyclodextrins (CDs) is also elucidated. Inclusion of arteether molecule in solid state was evidenced by Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Powder X-ray diffractometery (PXRD), and in solution state by NMR and solution calorimetry. A 1:1 stoichiometry was proposed by the phase solubility studies both in presence and absence of PVP. The most plausibe mode of inclusion of arteether into the CD cavity is revealed by molecular modeling studies utalizing Fast Rigid Exhaustive Docking acronym. Solution calorimetry was used further to confirm 1:1 stiochiometry in presence or absence of PVP by determining the enthalpy of interaction between the drug and cyclodextrins. The inclusion of drug was found to be exothermic process accompanied by small positive value of entropy (ΔS˚). The methylated-β-CD showed the best ability to solublize arteether which is approximately at par with β-CD in the presence of PVP. Better complexation efficiency of β-CD in presence of PVP is also reflected by the higher numerical values of stability constant (K). Compelete eradication of the parasite from the blood and highest anti-malarial pharmacological activity was observed in the complexes of arteether with M--CD while 83.7% was observed for ternary complexes of -CD in presence of PVP.