is-teicoplanin-resistance-detected-automated-system-staphylococcus

Is Teicoplanin Resistance Detected By The Automated System In <em>Staphylococcus</em> spp Strains Reliable?

A total of 467 Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and 66 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) isolates collected between June 2022 and December 2024 ...

changes-lower-respiratory-tract-bacterial-isolates-icu-patients

Changes In Lower Respiratory Tract Bacterial Isolates In ICU Patients Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

To compare the distribution of bacterial pathogens isolated from lower respiratory tract specimens in COVID-19&#8211;negative intensive care unit patients ...

Harran University

University of Harran Faculty of Medicine

We aimed to investigate the relationship between quantitative Plasmodium vivax parasitaemia and serum cytokine levels in a highly endemic region of Turkey, where such a relation has not been investigated before. Active screening was done in a total of 1316 people residing in 33 villages of Sanliurfa province, Turkey. The study population consisted of 79 consecutive patients with P. vivax malaria, and a control group included 89 healthy subjects. Thick blood smears were examined for malaria parasite and parasite count. Serum samples were analysed for IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12 by the ELISA method. Compared to controls, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-12, were significantly higher in patients with parasitaemia. There was a significant positive correlation between serum IL-10 and IL-12 levels and the parasite burden (r = 0.264, P = 0.024 and r = 0.264, P = 0.024, respectively). Serum IL-8 levels showed a significant negative correlation with parasite burden (r =-0.356, P = 0.002). There was a positive correlation between IL-8 levels and age, while the opposite was observed for IL-12. High fever was correlated with IL-6 and IL-10 levels. Compared to controls, patients with a parasite count greater than 5000/microL had a significantly higher IL-1beta and IL-10 levels (P < 0.05), while the difference was not significant for patients with a parasite count less than 1000/microL. Thus, we can conclude that pro-inflammatory response against P. vivax gains more importance during periods of increased parasite burden.

Parasite density and serum cytokine levels in Plasmodium vivax malaria in Turkey.

Amoebiasis is a significant health problem in developing countries. Humans are infected by two morphologically identical species of Entamoeba. Entamoeba histolytica causes amebic colitis and liver abscess, and Entamoeba dispar is noninvasive. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the E. histolytica/E. dispar complex using the ELISA method on stools of patients. A total of 1600 stool specimens were examined using Lugol preparations and the modified Ritchie method. A total of 583 (36.4%) of the stool specimens were found to be positive for one or more than one parasite. Twenty two subjects (3.8%) of the study population with intestinal parasites harbored two parasites and one subject (0.2%), three parasites. A total of 87 stool specimens that were doubtful using the Lugol method were examined by the E. histolytica specific sensu-lato antigen based ELISA test and the trichrome staining method. Of these 87 specimens, 23 (26.4%) specimens were positive for E. histolytica/E. dispar trophozoites/cysts microscopically using trichrome staining and 19 (21.7%) of the stool specimens were found to be positive for the E. histolytica/E. dispar complex by the ELISA test.

[Parasitic fauna and the frequency of Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar detected by ELISA in stool samples in Sanliurfa, Turkey].

During recent decades, studies from Western countries suggest that there has been a significant increase in the incidence and prevalence of atopic diseases. Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between geohelminth infection and allergy leading to the suggestion that geohelminths protect against allergy. Geohelminth parasites modulate allergic inflammation directed against parasite antigens and the same mechanisms may affect responses to inhalant aeroallergens. Recently, it has been demonstrated that helminths induce suppressed host immune responses by the priming for regulatory T cells. New treatments being considered for the treatment of asthma include live infections with hookworms. Insights provided by how geohelminths modulate inflammatory responses may allow the development of new treatments that mimic these effects.

[Allergic diseases and parasitosis].

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the validity of the conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Western blotting test for the diagnosis of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) using serum samples obtained from 51 patients with parasitologically proven nontreated CL (NonT-CL patients) and 62 patients under treatment for CL (UT-CL patients). Additionally, 29 serum samples obtained from patients with parasitologically and serologically proven visceral leishmaniasis (VL) were also used as positive controls, and serum samples from 43 blood donors were used as negative controls. All sera were diluted to the same dilution (1/100). Leishmania infantum MON-1 was used as the antigen in the conventional ELISA. The sera of 27 (93.1%) of 29 VL patients were seropositive by ELISA, while the sera of 40 (78.4%) of 51 NonT-CL patients and 43 (69.3%) of 62 UT-CL patients were seropositive by the conventional ELISA. The absorbance values of the CL patients' sera were significantly lower than the absorbance values of the VL patients' sera. Bands between 15 and 118 kDa were detected in two groups of CL patients. Among all bands, the 63-kDa band was found to be more sensitive (88.5%). When we evaluated the Western blotting results for the presence of at least one of the diagnostic antigenic bands, the sensitivity was calculated to be 99.1%. By using serological tests, a measurable antibody response was detected in most of the CL patients in Sanliurfa, Turkey. It is also noted that this response can be changed according to the sizes, types, and numbers of lesions that the patient has. The Western blot test was found to be more sensitive and valid than the conventional ELISA for the serodiagnosis of ACL. In some instances, when it is very difficult to demonstrate the presence of parasites in the smears, immunodiagnosis can be a valuable alternative for the diagnosis of ACL.

Serodiagnosis of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) caused by Leishmania tropica in Sanliurfa Province, Turkey, where ACL Is highly endemic.

Plasmodium vivax is the second most prevalent global Plasmodium species causing malaria after P. falciparum. These two Plasmodium spp. co-exist in most endemic areas, apart from west and central Africa, which has only P. falciparum. However, southeastern Turkey is one of the exceptional regions with the sole presence of P. vivax infection, where a thorough epidemiologic survey has not been performed. Here, we report for the first time the identification of naturally acquired antibodies against the 19-kd C-terminal region of the merozoite surface protein-1 of P. vivax (PvMSP1(19)), using ELISA, from residents in the Sanliurfa region of southeastern Turkey. Among the 82 samples from patients with patent P. vivax malaria, 85% of the individuals were sero-reactive to PvMSP1(19). Particularly, 69.5% of the subjects were positive for IgM, 53.6% were positive for IgG (predominantly IgG1 and IgG3), and 7.3% were positive for IgA.

Analysis of naturally acquired antibody responses to the 19-kd C-terminal region of merozoite surface protein-1 of Plasmodium vivax from individuals in Sanliurfa, Turkey.

The 200-kD merozoite surface protein of Plasmodium vivax (PvMSP-1) is one of the leading vaccine candidates against P. vivax malaria. However, the gene encoding PvMSP-1 (pvmsp1) is highly polymorphic and is a major obstacle to effective vaccine development. To further understand polymorphism in pvmsp1, we obtained 30 full-length pvmsp1 sequences from southeastern Turkey. Comparative analysis of sequences from Turkey and other areas showed substantially limited polymorphism. Substitutions were found at 280 and 162 amino acid sites in samples from other regions and those from Turkey, respectively. Eight substitutions were unique to Turkey. In one of them, D/E at position 1706 in the C-terminal 19-kD region, the K/E change at 1709 was the only polymorphism previously known. Limited diversity was also observed in microsatellites. Data suggest a recent population bottleneck in Turkey that may have obscured a signature for balancing selection in the C-terminal 42-kD region, which was otherwise detectable in other areas.

Limited polymorphism of the Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 gene in isolates from Turkey.

In this case-control epidemiological study, we aimed to investigate the effects of intestinal parasites on the anemia of children and show the association between intestinal parasites and anemia.

[The effects of intestinal parasites on anemia of children].

Today, almost 2 million new leishmaniasis cases are noted annually; 1.5 million of these are cutaneous (CL), and others are visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In Sanliurfa, CL cases caused by Leishmania tropica but not by other agents such as L. infantum and L. major. L. tropica is a unique parasite species in Sanliurfa and is the causative agent of anthroponotic CL (transmitted from human to vector to human). Our aim was to report 3 new CL cases due to L. major ( 2 autochthonous and 1 imported) identified in Sanliurfa. Lesion aspiration samples taken from patients were inoculated into NNN culture. Following successful isolation in NNN, promastigotes were obtained by mass culture using RPMI + 20% FCS medium. Parasites species were identified as L. major using ITS-1 PCR-RFLP analysis. This is the first report of autochthonous CL cases caused by L. major in Sanliurfa, and it is estimated that the number of such cases will increase in this region. Public health measures should be taken for L. major infections, while researchers should plan field studies to identify the vectors and reservoirs of L. major.

[Is the agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sanliurfa changing? First cases of Leishmania major].

The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for and relationship among parasitic infections, growth retardation, and psychomotor developmental delays in children aged 6 years and below.

Risk Factors and Relationship Between Intestinal Parasites and the Growth Retardation and Psychomotor Development Delays of Children in Şanlıurfa, Turkey.

 Four novel thymol-benzimidazolium-chalcone hybrids were designed based on a molecular hybridization strategy that integrates bioactive scaffolds known for their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This approach aims to enhance biological activity through synergistic effects and multi-target interactions, as supported by previous studies on phenolic and benzimidazole derivatives. The inclusion of both antioxidant and antibacterial evaluations was motivated by the well-established role of oxidative stress in bacterial pathogenicity and resistance mechanisms.  Their antibacterial potential was initially screened using the disk diffusion method and subsequently evaluated by determining MIC and MBC values against eight clinical  isolates.  Among the tested compounds, compound  emerged as the most potent derivative, exhibiting MIC values ranging from 0.25 to 1 µg/mL. Morphological analysis confirmed significant disruption of bacterial cell integrity, and further investigation demonstrated strong antibiofilm activity accompanied by downregulation of key biofilm- and resistance-associated genes (, , and ). Molecular docking studies were performed against selected target proteins, including 1MWT, 3VSL, 3ZG5 (sortase A), and 2ZCS, which are associated with bacterial cell wall biosynthesis, DNA replication, virulence, and metabolic pathways. Compound  exhibited the highest binding affinity, with a docking score of -11.953 kcal/mol against 2ZCS.  Overall, these findings highlight the potential of thymol-based benzimidazolium-chalcone hybrids as promising multifunctional agents with combined antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant properties.

Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Potential of Thymol-Benzimidazolium-Chalcone Hybrids Against Clinical MRSA Strains: Insights from Gene Expression Profiling and Molecular Docking.

ArticleTotal : 2	Year
Publication title	2026
Publication title	2026

Article	Year
Parasite density and serum cytokine levels in Plasmodium vivax malaria in Turkey. Parasite immunology\| PubMed ID: 16629705	2006
[Parasitic fauna and the frequency of Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar detected by ELISA in stool samples in Sanliurfa, Turkey]. Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi\| PubMed ID: 17124656	2006
[Allergic diseases and parasitosis]. Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi\| PubMed ID: 17124666	2006
Serodiagnosis of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) caused by Leishmania tropica in Sanliurfa Province, Turkey, where ACL Is highly endemic. Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI\| PubMed ID: 17761525	2007
Analysis of naturally acquired antibody responses to the 19-kd C-terminal region of merozoite surface protein-1 of Plasmodium vivax from individuals in Sanliurfa, Turkey. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene\| PubMed ID: 18458304	2008
Limited polymorphism of the Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 gene in isolates from Turkey. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene\| PubMed ID: 21118926	2010
[The effects of intestinal parasites on anemia of children]. Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi\| PubMed ID: 25016113	2014
[Is the agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sanliurfa changing? First cases of Leishmania major]. Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi\| PubMed ID: 25732888	2014
Risk Factors and Relationship Between Intestinal Parasites and the Growth Retardation and Psychomotor Development Delays of Children in Şanlıurfa, Turkey. Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi\| PubMed ID: 26809913	2015
Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Potential of Thymol-Benzimidazolium-Chalcone Hybrids Against Clinical MRSA Strains: Insights from Gene Expression Profiling and Molecular Docking. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)\| PubMed ID: 42192699	2026

Salim Yakut

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