New MSPQC Method for Rapid Identification and Quantification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

A new method for the rapid identification and quantification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using multichannel series piezoelectric quartz crystal (MSPQC) was proposed. The identification of P. aeruginosa was based on the development of acetamide broth, which can selective culture P. aeruginosa and performed perfectly in MSPQC. The quantitative detection of P. aeruginosa was based on the fact that the frequency detection time (FDT) detected by MSPQC in developed medium had a linear relationship with the logarithm of its initial concentration in the range of 10–10⁸ colony ? forming units (cfu) ml^–1 (R=?0.984). The detection limit was 10 cfu ml^–1.     

New MSPQC-PLS method for the early clinic identification of commonly encountered Candida species

The early clinic identification of commonly encountered Candida species became more important with the increasing human candidiasis. In this paper, a new MSPQC-PLS (multi-channel series piezoelectric quartz crystal biosensor combined with partial least square) method was proposed for early identification of the most frequent Candida species encountered in human pathology. This method was based on these fact that (1) MSPQC method is a real-time monitoring method based on the sensitive frequency response to the change of electric parameters of the culture media caused by the growth of microorganisms; (2) various Candida species produce significantly different types of frequency curves in 1 or 2 days’ culture period; (3) this difference can be identified by the partial least square technique. Using the proposed method, three species (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis) from a collection of 53 clinical strains of Candida, isolated from hospitalized patients, were identified with a classification rate of 98.1%. New proposed MSPQC-PLS method is simple, rapid and convenient to perform. It can identify clinical Candida species directly without passing through pure culture process. This will save identification time greatly. It could be popularized in clinical microbiology laboratories.     

A New Bacteriophage-Modified Piezoelectric Sensor for Rapid and Specific detection of Mycobacterium

Detection of tuberculosis and related diseases caused by mycobacteria is costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. Here a new phage-modified piezoelectric system for rapid and specific detection of mycobacteria was developed. In this system, interdigital gold electrode immobilized with lytic phage was used as a probe in place of a steel electrode in the multi-channel series piezoelectric quartz crystal (MSPQC) system. The probe was directly connected to the piezoelectric detection system. Mycobacterium was specifically captured to the phage-modified electrode and then lysed by immobilized phage, which caused the electrode electrical properties change. This change can be sensitively monitored by the piezoelectric detection system. The detection time of Mycobacterium smegmatis was less than 2 hours and a detection limit of 10³cfu mL^?1 was obtained. Additionally, it was successfully used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The developed system using phage-modified interdigital electrode showed high specificity and reproducibility for mycobacterium detection. Compared with the MSPQC system, the proposed system was faster and more specific.     

Rapid Detection of Escherichia Coliform Using A Series Electrode Piezoelectric Crystal Sensor

Abstract

A series electrode piezoelectric crystal sensor was used to determine Escherichia coliform (E. coli.). This method is simple and rapid, and requires only a single sample dilution. E. coli. in the range of 10 - 10⁶ cells per ml can be estimated by this method. The procedure is a frequency detection time (FDT) method. The factors which affect the determination are discussed. Thirty samples in pure culture were tested by this method and the results fell within the 95% confidence limits of the standard plate count values. A correlation coefficient of 0.93 was obtained between the frequency detection time and logarithm of initial bacterial concentration. This corresponds to the criteria used to evaluate E. coli. with the added advantage of single dilution and more rapid results.     

Development of an HPLC–UV–ELSD Method for Quantification of Multiple Components of a Chinese Medicine Made from Radix salvia miltiorrhiza and Panax notoginseng

‘Fufang Danshen tablet’ (FDT), made from Radix salvia miltiorrhiza and Panax notoginseng, is a widely used botanical drug derived from traditional Chinese medicine. Quantification of the active components of Radix salvia miltiorrhiza and Panax notoginseng is very important for regulation of FDT products. In this study HPLC hyphenated with ultraviolet (UV) detection and evaporative light-scattering detection (ELSD) was used for simultaneous determination of nine active components (three salvianolic acids, three tanshinones, and three saponins) of FDT products. Separation was performed on a 250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5.0 μm particle-size, C₁₈ column with linear gradient elution. UV detection at 280 and 254 nm was used for detection of the three salvianolic acids and the three tanshinones, respectively. ELSD was used for detection of the three saponins, which were difficult to analyze by use of UV detection. The linearity of the calibration plots was excellent over the concentration ranges investigated (values of R ² were >0.99 for all the analytes) and recovery measured at three concentrations was between 92.2 and 107.7%. The validated method was successfully used for simultaneous determination of these components in FDT products.     

MDN-0171, a new medermycin analogue from Streptomyces albolongus CA-186053

A new medermycin derivative, MDN-0171 (1), and two known structurally related compounds, medermycin (2) and antibiotic G15-F (3) were isolated from the acetone extract of culture broths of the marine-derived Streptomyces albolongus strain CA-186053. Their structures were determined using a combination of spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and electrospray-time of flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF MS). Compounds 2 and 3 accounted for the antimicrobial activity (against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) previously detected in the crude extract of this actinomycete.     

In vitro anti-acne activity of phytoactives from the stem bark of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam. and characterisation of pyranocycloartobiloxanthone A as a mixture of two anomers

This study is aimed to isolate the phytoactives from the stem bark of Artocarpus hirsutus and evaluate their in vitro anti-acne activity. The ethanolic stem bark extract of A. hirsutus provided two major phytoactive constituents: (i) pyranocycloartobiloxanthone A, (1) and (ii) Artonine E, (2) whose structures were determined by NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis. The present study is the first to report compound 1 as a mixture of two anomers (α and β), approximately 70:30 ratio. Both compounds 1 and 2 were isolated for the first time from this plant. In vitro anti-acne activity of compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated by agar well diffusion method and the minimum inhibition was determined by broth micro dilution method. The result of anti-microbial activity (MIC = 2.0 μg/mL each) is comparable to antibiotic, Clindamycin (MIC = 0.03 μg/mL) and clearly demonstrate their potential as anti-acne agents.     

A new antibacterial benzophenone glycoside from Psidium guajava (Linn.) leaves

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of methanol extract from the leaves of Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) yielded a new benzophenone glycoside, Guajaphenone A (2) together with two known compounds, Garcimangosone D (1) and Guaijaverin (3). Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The isolated compounds were screened against standard strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using broth dilution assay method, and the MIC values determined and compared with reference antibiotic ceftriaxone. They were found to have significant antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with all of them showing better activities against S. aureus, but displaying weaker activities, in comparison to ceftriaxone. However, despite reduced effect of these compounds against the organisms, this work opens the perspective to use these molecules as ‘leads’ for the design of novel and selective drug candidates for some tropical infectious diseases.     

Biologically active oligostilbenes from the stems of Vatica mangachapoi and chemotaxonomic significance

Phytochemical investigation of the stems of Vatica mangachapoi (Dipterocarpaceae) led to the isolation and structural elucidation of twenty-seven oligostilbenes (1–27), including a new natural compound 1. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including NMR, MS and ECD data, and the known compounds were identified by comparisons with those reported in the literature. The absolute configuration of 1 was first time determined by a combination of NOESY spectrum and quantum chemical computation. Among of isolates were tested for their anti-osteoporosis and anti-HIV-1 activities in vitro by the MTT method. Moreover, the chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was summarised.     

Rapid Flow-Injection Method for the Determination of Colistin by Sensitized Chemiluminescence Using the Acidic Permanganate–Sulfite System

Abstract

A simple, rapid, and sensitive chemiluminescence method for the determination of colistin (Polymyxin E), a cyclic polypeptide with antibiotic effect produced by certain strains of Bacillus polymyxa, has been developed by combining a flow-injection technique and the bacteria's sensitizing effect on the chemiluminescence reaction between sulfite and acidic permanganate. The optimum conditions for chemiluminescence emission were established. The chemiluminescence was proportional to the log of concentration of colistin over the range 4–100 µg mL^?1 (3.5–87 µM). The detection limit was 1.2 µg mL^?1 (1.0 µM) of colistin. The method has been satisfactorily used for the determination of colistin in pharmaceuticals.     

Monitoring Environmental WasteWater Using A Piezoelectric Impedance Microbial Sensing Technique

A new method was proposed for monitoring antibiotics and other pollutants based on the assessment of the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with a piezoelectric impedance analysis technique. During the growth process of S. aureus, the motional resistance variation ( jR₁) increases and the frequency shift ( jf) of the piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) decreases correspondingly. The two responses can conveniently be used in process analysis. Under the given experimental conditions, a linear relationship between the resistance detection time (RDT) and logarithm value of the concentration of penicillin was obtained in the range of 0.01-10 µg/ml with a detection limit of 4 2 10^-3µg/ml. Other antibiotics and pollutants also have the similar linear relationships. The proposed method is simple, convenient and sensitive. Particularly, it does not need the immobilization of the microorganism. This method was used for monitoring of wastewater from a hospital.     

Comparative Spectrophotometrc Analysis of Rifampicin by Chelate Formation and Charge-Transfer Complexation

Abstract

Simple, rapid, and accurate spectrophotometrc procedures for the determination of the antibiotic rifampicin, in capsules, are presented. A chelate formation of the antibiotic with cupric ion and charge-transfer complexation with halogenated quinones are carried out. Linear correlations between absorbance and concentration over the range of 40-100 μg ml^?1 were computed. The reaction pathways were proposed. The utility of copper chelate as a stability indicating procedure as well as a method to determine rifampicin In spiked urine samples is demonstrated.     

The application of HPLC‐MS/MS to studies of pharmacokinetics and interconversion of isoliquiritigenin and neoisoliquiritigenin in rats

A specific and sensitive HPLC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneously quantification of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) and neoisoliquiritin (NIS) in rat plasma by oral administration. Analytes were analyzed on an Agilent 6460 LC‐MS/MS system (Agilent, USA) using an Agilent Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ column (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 μm). Gradient elution was applied for the analyte separation using a mobile phase composed of 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution and methanol at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with a total running time of 12 min. The calibration curves for ISL and NIS showed good linearity in the concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 4.000 μg/mL with correlation coefficients >0.998. The precision, accuracy, recovery and stability were deemed acceptable. The method was applied to the pharmacokinetics study of ISL and NIS in rats by single and combination administration. The result showed that C_max and AUC_0→t of ISL were markedly increased from 0.53 to 1.20 μg/mL, and from 69.63 to 200.74 min μg/mL by combination administration. The mean t_1/2 value was also prolonged from 64.55 to 203.74 min in the combination group. These results indicated that NIS may have been metabolized to ISL which increased the absorption and extended the elimination of ISL. However, little difference was found for NIS pharmacokinetics parameters between single NIS and the combination group, which suggested that there was no significant biotransformation of ISL to NIS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimization of Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) for the Isolation of Antioxidants from Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) by Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Abstract

The recovery of antioxidants from basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) was modeled with the aid of response surface methodology (RSM) using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Face-centered central design (FCCD) was employed to optimize the MAE operational parameters including the extraction time (1 to 7?min), extraction temperature (30 to 120?°C), solid-to-solvent ratio (0.1 to 0.4), and solvent concentration (20 to 80% ethanol, v/v), and to obtain the best possible combinations of these parameters for a high antioxidant yield from basil. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was expressed in trolox (TR) equivalents per gram of dried sample (DS). Three of the operational parameters (temperature, extraction time and solvent concentration) were shown to have significant effect on the extraction efficiency of antioxidants in basil extracts (p?<?0.05). The solvent concentration was shown to be the most significant factor on antioxidant yield obtained by MAE. There was a close relationship between experimental and predicted values using the proposed method. This optimized MAE method shows an application potential for the efficient extraction of antioxidants from basil in the food and pharmaceutical industries.     

A Rapid Method for Determination of Growth of Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans by Series Piezoelectric Quartz Crystal

ABSTRACT

A rapid and simple method for monitoring the growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans is put forward by using a series piezoelectric quartz crystal (SPQC). The SPQC was applied to continuously determine the variation of frequency shift during the culture of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, with a conductive electrode as the probe. The frequency shift as a function of time agrees with a typical 'S - shape' model, a piezoelectric sensor responding well to the growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. The fundamentals for determination of the bacterial growth activity using the SPQC is also described; the frequency shift is only dependent on the electrical conductivity of the solution and the dielectric constant.     

Full MP2 study of solvent implicit and explicit effect on tautomers of Dithio-Biuret

Dithio biuret conformers were optimised and frequency calculations were performed at MP2/6–311++G(d,p) level of theory. Classification of conformers was done to five different tautomers and the most stable conformer of each tautomer was selected. Tautomer 3 having trans conformation of amino and thiocarbonyl functional group was the most stable tautomer in the gas phase. Optimisation and frequency calculations were also done in four different solvents as follows: benzene, acetonitrile, DMSO and water. Stability of tautomers were compared in these solvents to explore effect of polarity on stabilisation of tautomers. Inter-conversion of selected tautomers was investigated both in the gas phase and in four different media. Results showed that when solvent is used as an implicit media, it has negligible effect on proton transfer. Water-explicit effect was also investigated and the results exhibited high dependency of proton transfer mechanism on water molecules when they participate in breaking and formation of bonds.     

Measurement of Cefixime in Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Cefixime is a new cephalosporin antibiotic for oral administration. A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to measure cefixime in small volumes of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to conduct a pharmacokinetics study in pediatric patients. The assay involved precipitation of serum proteins with 6% trichloroacetic acid, using 7-hydroxycoumarin as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation was accomplished using ultrasphere C8 column and mobile phase containing 15% acetonitrile in a buffer at a detection wave length of 280 nm. The retention time of cefixime and 7-hydroxycoumarin was about 5 and 9 minutes, respectively. The method was suitable for quantitation of cefixime at a concentration ranging from 0.05 to 10 μg/ml. The coefficient of variation was less than 3%. The technique was used successfully to measure cefixime in serum and CSF obtained from an infant receiving cefixime.     

Identification and characterization of fluvastatin metabolites in rats by UHPLC/Q‐TOF/MS/MS and in silico toxicological screening of the metabolites

The present study reports the in vivo and in vitro identification and characterization of metabolites of fluvastatin, the 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐glutaryl‐coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). In vitro studies were conducted by incubating the drug with human liver microsomes and rat liver microsomes. In vivo studies were carried out by administration of the drug in the form of suspension to the Sprague–Dawley rats followed by collection of urine, faeces and blood at different time points up to 24 h. Further, samples were prepared by optimized sample preparation method, which includes freeze liquid extraction, protein precipitation and solid phase extraction. The extracted and concentrated samples were analysed using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography–quadruple time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 15 metabolites were observed in urine, which includes hydroxyl, sulphated, desisopropyl, dehydrogenated, dehydroxylated and glucuronide metabolites. A few of the metabolites were also present in faeces and plasma samples. In in vitro studies, a few metabolites were observed that were also present in in vivo samples. All the metabolites were characterized using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography–quadruple time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry in combination with accurate mass measurement. Finally, in silico toxicity studies indicated that some of the metabolites show or possess carcinogenicity and skin sensitization. Several metabolites that were identified in rats are proposed to have toxicological significance on the basis of in silico evaluation. However, these metabolites are of no human relevance. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New adenine analogues and a pyrrole alkaloid from Selaginella delicatula

Phytochemical study on the n-BuOH extract of Selaginella delicatula lead to the isolation, characterization and structure elucidation of two new adenine analogues, delicatulines A (1) and B (2), one new pyrrole alkaloid (4), and five known compounds (3, 5–8). These new substances all contain an aliphatic chain in their parent nucleus, which were unusual to find in plants. In the present study, they were identified from Selaginellaceae for the first time. The structures and absolute configurations of these new compounds were determined by a combination of NMR and CD spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1, 3 and 4 were evaluated for their inhibitory activities on HBV surface antigen and HBV DNA in HepAD38 cells. The results showed that these compounds had only weak or no inhibitive effects on HBV.     

Development of an Optical Fiber Fluorescence Setup for in situ PAHs Detection in Porous Media. Application to Pyranine Transport in Sand Columns

Abstract

An optical method based on fluorescence spectroscopy was developed for in-situ non-destructive, real time, organic pollutant detection and quantification in soil. Optical fiber-based light-induced fluorescence probes allowing in-situ specific chemical detection were constructed. Pyranine was chosen as a model fluorescent Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH). The effect of sand particles on fluorescence measurements was established: the fluorescence intensity in water-saturated sand was eight times lower than in aqueous solutions, due to light scattering by the sand particles. To adapt the method to dynamic pollutant concentration measurements in soil, two different designs of light diffusers were constructed and compared. A light distributor with a quartz window was chosen for its higher sensitivity and reproducibility. The probes were introduced into two different columns: short ones used to study the effect of the measurement location in the column and longer ones to study pyranine transport. It was shown that, in columns, the measurement location plays an important role; measurements near the walls, in particular, were different from those performed more towards the center of the column in a given section. As a consequence, one should avoid measurements near the circumference. Preliminary results were successfully compared to a chemical transport model and revealed that the methodology is a powerful tool to measure in-situ concentration changes; on the other hand, fluorescent measurements can be used efficiently to determine transport parameters and give results comparable with those obtained with classical breakthrough curve fittings.