scholarly journals Electrochemical Detection of Waterborne Bacteria Using Bi-Functional Magnetic Nanoparticle Conjugates

Biosensors ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Dharanivasan Gunasekaran ◽  
Yoram Gerchman ◽  
Sefi Vernick

Detection of microbial contamination in water is imperative to ensure water quality. We have developed an electrochemical method for the detection of E. coli using bi-functional magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) conjugates. The bi-functional MNP conjugates were prepared by terminal-specific conjugation of anti-E. coli IgG antibody and the electroactive marker ferrocene. The bi-functional MNP conjugate possesses both E. coli-specific binding and electroactive properties, which were studied in detail. The conjugation efficiency of ferrocene and IgG antibodies with amine-functionalized MNPs was investigated. Square-wave voltammetry enabled the detection of E. coli concentrations ranging from 101–107 cells/mL in a dose-dependent manner, as ferrocene-specific current signals were inversely dependent on E. coli concentrations, completely suppressed at concentrations higher than 107 cells/mL. The developed electrochemical method is highly sensitive (10 cells/mL) and, coupled to magnetic separation, provides specific signals within 1h. Overall, the bi-functional conjugates serve as ideal candidates for electrochemical detection of waterborne bacteria. This approach can be applied for the detection of other bacteria and viruses.

2004 ◽  
Vol 91 (04) ◽  
pp. 779-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oonagh Shannon ◽  
Jan-Ingmar Flock

Summary S. aureus produces and secretes a protein, extracellular fibrinogen binding protein (Efb), which contributes to virulence in wound infection. We have shown here that Efb is a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Efb can bind specifically to platelets by two mechanisms; 1) to fibrinogen naturally bound to the surface of activated platelets and 2) also directly to a surface localized component on the platelets. This latter binding of Efb is independent of fibrinogen. The specific binding of Efb to the putative receptor on the platelet surface results in a stimulated, non-functional binding of fibrinogen in a dose dependent manner, distinct from natural binding of fibrinogen to platelets. The natural binding of fibrinogen to GPIIb/IIIa on activated platelets could be blocked by a monoclonal antibody against this integrin, whereas the Efb-mediated fibrinogen binding could not be blocked. The enhanced Efb-dependent fibrinogen binding to platelets is of a nature that does not promote aggregation of the platelets; instead it inhibits aggregation. The anti-thrombotic action of Efb may explain the effect of Efb on wound healing, which is delayed in the presence of Efb.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Masoura ◽  
Paolo Passaretti ◽  
Tim W. Overton ◽  
Pete A. Lund ◽  
Konstantinos Gkatzionis

Abstract Honey has been valued as a powerful antimicrobial since ancient times. However, the understanding of the underlying antibacterial mechanism is incomplete. The complexity and variability of honey composition represent a challenge to this scope. In this study, a simple model system was used to investigate the antibacterial effect of, and possible synergies between, the three main stressors present in honey: sugars, gluconic acid, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which result from the enzymatic conversion of glucose on honey dilution. Our results demonstrated that the synergy of H2O2 and gluconic acid is essential for the antibacterial activity of honey. This synergy caused membrane depolarization, destruction of the cell wall, and eventually growth inhibition of E. coli K-12. The presence of H2O2 stimulated the generation of other long-lived ROS in a dose-dependent manner. Sugars caused osmosis-related morphological changes, however, decreased the toxicity of the H2O2/gluconic acid. The susceptibility of catalase and general stress response sigma factor mutants confirmed the synergy of the three stressors, which is enhanced at higher H2O2 concentrations. By monitoring cellular phenotypic changes caused by model honey, we explained how this can be bactericidal even though the antimicrobial compounds which it contains are at non-inhibitory concentrations.


Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuyang Li ◽  
Xingtao Chen ◽  
Xiaomei Wang ◽  
Yi Xiong ◽  
Yonggang Yan ◽  
...  

Zinc can enhance osteoblastic bone formation and stimulate osteogenic differentiation, suppress the differentiation of osteoclast precursor cells into osteoclasts, and inhibit pathogenic bacterial growth in a dose-dependent manner. In this study, simonkolleite, as a novel zinc resource, was coated on poly (amino acids) (PAA) via suspending PAA powder in different concentrations of zinc chloride (ZnCl2) solution, and the simonkolleite-coated PAA (Zn–PAA) was characterized by SEM, XRD, FT-IR and XPS. Zinc ions were continuously released from the coating, and the release behavior was dependent on both the concentration of the ZnCl2 immersing solution and the type of soak solutions (SBF, PBS and DMEM). The Zn–PAA was cultured with mouse bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) through TranswellTM plates, and the results indicated that the relative cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralization of BMSCs were significantly higher with Zn–PAA as compared to PAA. Moreover, the Zn–PAA was cultured with RAW264.7 cells, and the results suggested an inhibiting effect of Zn–PAA on the cell differentiation into osteoclasts. In addition, Zn–PAA exhibited an antibacterial activity against both S. aureus and E. coli. These findings suggest that simonkolleite coating with certain contents could promote osteogenesis, suppress osteoclast formation and inhibit bacteria, indicating a novel way of enhancing the functionality of synthetic bone graft material and identifying the underline principles for designing zinc-containing bone grafts.


2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 722-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Yan ◽  
Joy G. Waite-Cusic ◽  
Periannan Kuppusamy ◽  
Ahmed E. Yousef

ABSTRACTIntracellular free iron ofEscherichia coliwas determined by whole-cell electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry. Ultrahigh pressure (UHP) increased both intracellular free iron and cell lethality in a pressure-dose-dependent manner. The iron chelator 2,2′-dipyridyl protected cells against UHP treatments. A mutation that produced iron overload conditions sensitizedE. colito UHP treatment.


The Analyst ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 143 (23) ◽  
pp. 5771-5778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolei Song ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Su Liu ◽  
Xue Zhang ◽  
Haiwang Wang ◽  
...  

An isothermal electrochemical method for the highly sensitive detection of mercury ions (Hg2+) was established based on Hg2+-triggered exonuclease III-aided target recycling amplification.


Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 767
Author(s):  
Assmaa Anter ◽  
Mohamed Abd El-Ghany ◽  
Marwa Abou El Dahab ◽  
Noha Mahana

There is strong correlation between changes in abundance of specific bacterial species and several diseases including schistosomiasis. Several studies have described therapeutic effects of curcumin (CUR) which may arise from its regulative effects on intestinal microbiota. Thus, we examined the impact of CUR on the diversity of intestinal microbiota with/without infection by Schistosoma mansoni cercariae for 56 days. Enterobacteriaceae was dominating in a naive and S. mansoni infected mice group without CUR treatment, the most predominant species was Escherichia coli with relative density (R.D%) = 80.66% and the least one was Pseudomonas sp. (0.52%). The influence of CUR on murine microbiota composition was examined one week after oral administration of high (40) and low (20 mg/kg b.w.) CUR doses were administered three times, with two day intervals. CUR induced high variation in the Enterobacteriaceae family, characterized by a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in E. coli and asignificant (p < 0.001) increase in Pseudomonas sp. in both naïve and S. mansoni-infected mice, compared to untreated mice, in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, our study showed the effects of high CUR doses on S. mansoni infection immunological and parasitological parameters. These data support CUR’s ability to promote Pseudomonas sp. known to produce schistosomicidal toxins and offset the sequelae of murine schistosomiasis.


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 670-673
Author(s):  
Sharon Churchill ◽  
Perry Churchill

A rat liver bacteriophage λ expression library was probed using polyclonal antibodies raised to purified rat liver D-β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (BDH). A clone was selected that contained a 1.2-kb insert. The insert placed in an expression plasmid was utilized to transform Escherichia coli. These cells were shown to possess phosphatidylcholine-dependent BDH activity. Cells transformed with only the plasmid had no detectable BDH activity in the presence of phosphatidylcholine. The expressed activity in E. coli could be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by BDH antiserum.Key words: D-β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, cloning, expression.


2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (11) ◽  
pp. 3451-3461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeus Saldaña ◽  
Ayşen L. Erdem ◽  
Stephanie Schüller ◽  
Iruka N. Okeke ◽  
Mark Lucas ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Although the bundle-forming pilus (BFP) of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) mediates microcolony formation on epithelial cells, the adherence of BFP-deficient mutants is significantly abrogated, but the mutants are still adherent due to the presence of intimin and possibly other adhesins. In this study we investigated the contribution of the recently described E. coli common pilus (ECP) to the overall adherence properties of EPEC. We found that ECP and BFP structures can be simultaneously observed in the course (between zero time and 7 h during infection) of formation of localized adherence on cultured epithelial cells. These two pilus types colocalized at different levels of the microcolony topology, tethering the adhering bacteria. No evidence of BFP disappearance was found after prolonged infection. When expressed from a plasmid present in nonadherent E. coli HB101, ECP rendered this organism highly adherent at levels comparable to those of HB101 expressing the BFP. Purified ECP bound in a dose-dependent manner to epithelial cells, and the binding was blocked with anti-ECP antibodies, confirming that the pili possess adhesin properties. An ECP mutant showed only a modest reduction in adherence to cultured cells due to background expression levels of BFP and intimin. However, isogenic mutants not expressing EspA or BFP were significantly less adherent when the ecpA gene was also deleted. Furthermore, a ΔespA ΔecpA double mutant (unable to translocate Tir and to establish intimate adhesion) was at least 10-fold less adherent than the ΔespA and ΔecpA single mutants, even in the presence of BFP. A Δbfp ΔespA ΔecpA triple mutant showed the least adherence compared to the wild type and all the isogenic mutant strains tested, suggesting that ECP plays a synergistic role in adherence. Our data indicate that ECP is an accessory factor that, in association with BFP and other adhesins, contributes to the multifactorial complex interaction of EPEC with host epithelial cells.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Thushari Gunawardana ◽  
Khawaja Ashfaque Ahmed ◽  
Kalhari Goonewardene ◽  
Shelly Popowich ◽  
Shanika Kurukulasuriya ◽  
...  

Immunoprotective function of oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODN) has been demonstrated in neonatal chickens against common bacterial pathogens such as E.coli and Salmonella sp. Our recent study reported that CpG-ODN administration enriches immune compartments in neonatal chicks. However, a causal relationship between CpG-ODN-induced immune enrichment and protective mechanisms remains unestablished. In this study, we investigated in ovo administered CpG-ODN-mediated immune cell recruitment in the immunological niches in lymphoid (spleen) and nonlymphoid (lungs) organs using various doses of CpG-ODN and examined whether the immunological profiles have any correlation with immunoprotection against E.coli infection. Eighteen-day-old embryonated eggs were injected with either 5, 10, 25, and 50 μg of CpG-ODN or saline (n=~40 per group). On the day of hatch (72 hr after CpG-ODN treatment), we collected the spleen and lungs (n=3‐4 per group) and examined the recruitment of macrophages/monocytes, their expression of MHCII and CD40, and the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets in the immunological niches in the spleen and lungs using flow cytometry. We observed the dose-dependent recruitment of immune cells, wherein 25 μg and 50 μg of CpG-ODN induced significant enrichment of immunological niches in both the spleen and the lungs. Four days after the CpG-ODN treatment (1-day after hatch), chicks were challenged with a virulent strain of E. coli (1×104 or 1×105 cfu, subcutaneously). Clinical outcome and mortality were monitored for 8 days postchallenge. We found that both 25 μg and 50 μg of CpG-ODN provided significant protection and reduced clinical scores compared to saline controls against E. coli infection. Overall, the present study revealed that CpG-ODNs orchestrate immunological niches in neonatal chickens in a dose-dependent manner that resulted in differential protection against E. coli infection, thus supporting a cause and effect relationship between CpG-ODN-induced immune enrichment and the antibacterial immunity.


1984 ◽  
Vol 247 (5) ◽  
pp. H775-H783
Author(s):  
W. McBride ◽  
A. Mukherjee ◽  
Z. Haghani ◽  
E. Wheeler-Clark ◽  
J. Brady ◽  
...  

We have further defined the binding characteristics of [3H]nitrendipine to myocardial microsomal membranes of cats, dogs, rats, and rabbits and to canine coronary vasculature (1.5-3.0 mm OD), and we have studied nitrendipine's effect on contractile responses in isolated feline cardiac muscle and canine coronary arteries. [3H]nitrendipine binding is rapid, saturable, and reversible in all four species and in all of these tissues. Feline myocardium has a single binding site with a dissociation constant (KD) of 1.94 nM. Canine myocardium may have two classes of binding sites, with the high-affinity site having a KD of 0.17 nM. Nitrendipine depresses contractility in isolated feline cardiac muscle and canine coronary arteries in a dose-dependent manner [half-maximal dose (ED50) 0.20 microM in isolated feline cardiac muscle and 1.6-6.3 nM for potential dependent contractile responses in isolated canine coronary arteries] and severely blunts the contractile response to increases in extracellular calcium concentration in isolated feline papillary muscles. In contrast to verapamil and D 600, nitrendipine does not prevent the treppe phenomenon. In isolated feline cardiac muscle and large canine coronary arteries, the minimal nitrendipine concentration required for specific binding and for depression of contractile responses is similar. However, only in large canine coronary arteries is the ED50 for nifedipine's depression of contractility similar to the KD for [3H]nitrendipine binding in the respective tissue.


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