The rapid emergence of MDR E. coli strains has posed a great challenge in human health, wherein the AcrB efflux pump acts as a crucial mediator of antibiotic resistance. Presented here is an in-depth computational analysis of three potent candidates-camalexin, 2-chloro-4-pyrrolidinopyridine, and 2,2-dimethylthiazolidine-along with Ciprofloxacin, an accepted antibiotic and target molecule of AcrB efflux pump (PDB ID: 4DX5) subjected simultaneously. By employing InstaDock v1.1 software for thorough molecular dock analysis, DS Visualizer software analysis, & SwissDrug Design software tools analysis of various data parameters including drug binding affinities, pharmacokinetic properties, polypharmacology predictions, & acute toxicity data (LD50 values), this analysis compares & contrasts computationally predicted data parameters of several drug candidates & Ciprofloxacin effectively. This analysis concludes that, in spite of Ciprofloxacin having a higher binding affinity, there are drug candidates that lead to superior pharmacokinetic properties & toxicity effects computationally, indicating the possibility of having a higher therapeutic index potentially. This result forms a rationale & hypothesis indicating the necessity of scrutinizing these newly identified drug candidates toward AcrB pump as a therapeutic strategy toward overcoming MDR in Escherichia coli effectively.

Microbiological analysis of Garri samples taken from Wudil Market, Kano State, revealed levels of bacterial, fungal, and coliform contamination. The mean bacterial load ranged from 1.25 × 10⁴ to 8.63 × 10⁴ CFU/g, of which P10 contained the highest. The mean fungal load ranged from 1.08 × 10⁴ to 5.01 × 10⁴ CFU/g, also highest in P10. Most Probable Number (MPN) total coliform counts ranged from 29 to 120 MPN/g in samples. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Bacillus spp. were the bacterial isolates recovered, with S. aureus and E. coli being most prevalent (35% each). Fungal isolates were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium spp., and Cladosporium spp., of which A. niger was the most frequent (32%). These findings indicate that Garri retailed in the study area holds public health-relevant microorganisms, which means that there may be associated hazards from its intake and further highlights the need for proper amplified hygiene in processing, storage, and handling.

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease commonly managed using salbutamol inhalers. Prolonged exposure to inhaled medications may induce genotoxic alterations, including micronucleus (MN) formation in buccal epithelial cells. Limited data exist regarding such effects among Sudanese asthmatic patients. Objective: To assess the frequency of micronuclei in buccal mucosa among asthmatic patients using salbutamol inhalers and compare the findings with healthy controls in Shendi City. Methods: A descriptive comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 participants: 50 asthmatic patients using salbutamol inhalers and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Buccal smears were collected, fixed with 95% ethanol, and stained using the Papanicolaou technique. Micronuclei were examined microscopically, and data were analyzed using SPSS employing Chi-square and ANOVA tests. Results: Micronucleus positivity was detected in all asthmatic patients (100%) compared with 80% among controls (p = 0.000). MN frequency increased significantly with age group 20–40 years (52%, p = 0.026) and with duration of inhaler use (p = 0.000). No significant association was found between MN frequency and gender (p = 0.072). Conclusion: Long-term use of salbutamol inhalers is associated with a significant increase in micronucleus frequency in buccal epithelial cells, suggesting potential genotoxic effects. Further studies using DNA-specific stains, such as Feulgen, are recommended to validate these findings.

Backgrounds: Rubella (German measles) is a common mild illness signs’ by fever, mild intoxication, rash, swelling, and soreness of the lymph nodes. It affects children and teenagers worldwide and can also affect young adults. Rubella virus infects pregnant women, and can be transmitted to the fetus and causing birth defects or Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). The study designed to scrutinize the role of the Rubella virus in spontaneous abortion by comparing Immunological and molecular tests used in diagnosing the virus in Iraqi aborted women. Methods: A total of sixty women were enrolled from two Baghdad maternity hospitals from December 2023 to February 2024. Thirty serum samples were gathered from spontaneously miscarriage women, and thirty from healthy as a control group. Serological tests, Chemi-Luminescence (TORCH) and Enzyme Immunoassay were performed for diagnosis of Rubella virus infection followed by molecular detection by Reverse Transcriptase-PCR. Results: Revealed that out of 30 specimens, 26 tested positive for rubella virus. Both Enzyme Immunoassay and Chemi-Luminescence assay detected anti-Rubella virus IgG, but the Immunoassay test showed superiority over the Chemi-Luminescence assay by 54%, and IgM anti-Rubella virus was slightly high by only 3%. Conclusions: Molecular detection was more reliable diagnostic method of rubella virus.

Ovis aries (Sheep) is one of the earliest animals domesticated by man. They are distributed worldwide with higher concentrations in tropical areas and in dry zones. The study was aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of Ovis aries (Sheep) in Kano Main Abattoir, Kano State, Northern Nigeria. A total of 230 fecal samples were collected from male and female sheep brought to the Abattoir for slaughter from January through July, 2023. Flotation technique was employed for the detection/isolation of gastrointestinal parasites eggs in the fecal samples using microscope. The result indicated six parasites ova from different genera in the samples examined. These include; Strongyloides sp, Haemonchus sp, Trichuris sp, Eimeria sp, Monieza sp and Entamoeba sp. Haemonchus sp. was the most prevalent parasite encountered 34 (26.8%), followed by Strongyloides sp 23 (18.1%), Eimeria sp 22 (17.3%), Trichuris sp 21 (16.1%) while Entamoeba sp 16 (12.6%) and Moniezia sp was the least prevalent 11 (8.7%). It was also found that female sheep are more susceptible to gastrointestinal parasite than male counterpart. Similarly, more parasites are found among adult sheep than younger ones. Statistical analysis of the result showed no significant difference in the prevalence of gastrointestinal among different categories of sheep examined at p<0.05.

This study investigated the microbial dynamics, diversity, and succession patterns of yoghurt enriched with baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit pulp during a 15-hour fermentation period. Baobab pulp was incorporated at 10% (w/v) into pasteurized milk, and fermentation was carried out at 45°C. Microbial analyses included serial dilution, cultural characterization, biochemical tests, and molecular identification using 16S and 18S rRNA sequencing. Results showed a progressive and significant (p < 0.05) increase in microbial populations over time. Total bacterial counts rose from 1.2 × 10² CFU/mL at 0 hours to 6.00 × 10⁵ CFU/mL at 15 hours, while Lactobacillus populations increased from 0 to 5.62 × 10⁵ CFU/mL. Fungal counts also increased significantly from 0 to 1.32 × 10⁴ CFU/mL across the fermentation period. The predominant beneficial bacteria identified were Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Leuconostoc sp., confirming active lactic acid fermentation. Fungal isolates included Aspergillus niger, Mucor sp., Botrytis cinerea, and Penicillium maximae. The detection of Staphylococcus aureus suggests possible contamination, emphasizing the need for strict hygiene during processing. Overall, the findings demonstrate that baobab-enriched yoghurt supports robust fermentative microbial activity and contains diverse microbial communities, while highlighting the importance of aseptic production conditions to ensure product safety and quality.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is a important source of morbidity with mortality worldwide. The increasing prevalence from antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among HAI pathogens complicates empirical therapy and infection control. This study characterizes the antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial isolates recovered from HAIs at a tertiary-care hospital. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of bacterial isolates obtained from patients with HAIs between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. Clinical specimens (blood, urine, wound/tissue, respiratory secretions, and catheter tips) submitted to the microbiology laboratory were included if cultures met criteria for HAI. Species identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) were performed using standard laboratory methods and interpreted according to CLSI/EUCAST guidelines. Data were analyzed for pathogen distribution, resistance rates to key antibiotic classes, multidrug resistance (MDR) prevalence, and trends by specimen type and ward. A total of 400 non-duplicate isolates from 380 patients met inclusion criteria. Gram-negative bacteria comprised 72% (n=288) of isolates; Gram-positive bacteria comprised 28% (n=112). The most common organisms were Escherichia coli (22%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (18%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%), Acinetobacter baumannii complex (10%), Staphylococcus aureus (9%), and Enterococcus spp. (6%). Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was observed in 56% of E. coli isolates and 62% of K. pneumoniae isolates. For carbapenems, resistance rates were 14% in E. coli, 24% in K. pneumoniae, 28% in P. aeruginosa, and 46% in A. baumannii. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) phenotype was detected in 48% of Enterobacterales. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) accounted for 36% of S. aureus isolates. Overall MDR (resistance to ≥3 antibiotic classes) prevalence was 39%. Intensive care unit (ICU) isolates had significantly higher MDR rates (58%) compared to general wards (31%) (p<0.001). This study reveals high rates of resistance among common HAI pathogens, particularly Gram-negative organisms and ICU isolates. Strengthened antimicrobial stewardship, targeted infection control measures, and continual local surveillance are essential to optimize empirical therapy and limit AMR spread.