Microbial cells embedded in a self-produced extracellular biofilm matrix cause chronic infections, e. g. by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. The antibiotic killing of bacteria in biofilms is generally known to be reduced by 100-1000 times relative to planktonic bacteria. This makes such infections difficult to treat. We have therefore proposed that biofilms can b...

This study experimentally investigates the mechanical and durability performance of bacteria concrete in terms density, compressive strength, split tensile water absorption capacity. The specimens were produced with a ratio 1:2:4, w/c 0.45, having dosage level ranging from 1 to 6% by weight water. To investigate usefulness level, cubic cylindrical cast tested after 28 days curing Universal Test...

Leptospirosis is considered a neglected infectious disease of human and veterinary concern. Although extensive investigations on host-pathogen interactions have been pursued by several research groups, mechanisms of infection, invasion and persistence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. remain to be elucidated. We have reported the ability of leptospires to bind human plasminogen (PLG) and to generat...

The cuticle is a proteinaceous layer covering the avian egg and is believed to form a defence to microorganism ingress. In birds that lay eggs in challenging environments, the cuticle is thicker, suggesting evolutionary pressure; however, in poultry, selection pressure for this trait has been removed because of artificial incubation. This study aimed to quantify cuticle deposition and to estima...

Plant parasitic nematodes cause significant damage and losses to vegetable crops. Control of plant parasitic nematodes with pesticides is often restricted due to their high toxicity and negative impact on the environment. The need for environmentally safe control strategies has increased interest in developing biological control measures. The objective of this research was to study the effect o...

A 72-year-old patient underwent the placement of 2 screw-type implants. After 5 months the patient died of a massive stroke, and a block section of the portion of the mandible containing the implants was done. The specimen was treated to obtain thin ground sections. A 1- to 5-micron gap was present between the implant and the healing cover screw, and this space was filled by bacteria and calcul...

The mammalian intestine harbors complex societies of beneficial bacteria that are maintained in the lumen with minimal penetration of mucosal surfaces. Microbial colonization of germ-free mice triggers epithelial expression of RegIIIgamma, a secreted C-type lectin. RegIIIgamma binds intestinal bacteria but lacks the complement recruitment domains present in other microbe-binding mammalian C-typ...

It is commonly thought that biological media cannot exhibit an appreciable nonlinear optical response. We demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, a tunable optical nonlinearity in suspensions of cyanobacteria that leads to robust propagation and strong self-action of a light beam. By deliberately altering the host environment of the marine bacteria, we show experimentally that nonline...

Lactoferrin (Lf), a member of the transferrin family of iron-binding proteins, is now known to have a number of properties, including antibacterial activity towards a broad spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The mechanism of the antibacterial activity of Lf is complex and involves beside iron-chelation, direct action on bacteria and/or the activation of the immune system. Lac...