The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott extracts. Results showed that the total phenols and flavonoids contents of the extracts ranged from 24.57 to 316.11 mg GAE/g and from 1.80 to 12.41μg QE/mg, respectively. Ethyl acetate (EaES) and aqueous (AqES) extracts from seeds showed the highest DPPH scavenging capacity (IC50= 5.51 and 23.43 μg/mL). EaES from seeds, stem bark and fruit pod were the most active in inhibiting β-carotene oxidation. While, aqueous extracts have the ability to chelate ferrous ions. Significant antibacterial activity was obtained against Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeroginosa; and inhibition zones varied between 10 to 29.5 mm. MIC and MBC ranged from 0.7–11.25 mg/mL and 5.63–22.5 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, synergistic effects were obtained, where inhibition zones varied between 7 and 50 mm. These results support the use of this species in traditional medicine in many physiological disorders and could be used where antioxidant and antibacterial are warranted.

This study aimed to determine the incidence and the molecular mechanisms of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in patients from the Sétif University Hospital, Algeria. Nonduplicate clinical bacterial isolates recovered from patients attending the University Hospital of Sétif were collected between April and October 2018. Species identification was performed by MALDI-TOF/MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry) method. The susceptibility of the isolates to carbapenems was determined using the disc diffusion method. The carbapenem resistant isolates were screened for the presence of common carbapenemase genes (blaKPC, blaOXA-48, blaVIM, blaIMP, and blaNDM) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (blaCTX, blaTEM, and blaSHV) using PCR and sequencing technique. A total of 123 nonrepetitive Enterobacteriaceae isolates were obtained. Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 52/42.28%), Escherichia coli (n = 24/19.51%), and Enterobacter cloacae (n = 19/15.45%) were the most prevalent species. The Carba-NP test showed that 6 out of 123 isolates carried carbapenemase enzymes. OXA-48 was found in five isolates (four K. pneumoniae and one E. coli) and NDM-5 in one E. cloacae isolate. We reported for the first time in Algeria the presence of NDM-5 carbapenemase enzyme in a clinical E. cloacae isolate.

Antibiotics are becoming ineffective against resistant bacteria. The use of essential oils (EOs) may constitute an alternative solution to fight against multidrug-resistant bacteria. This study aims to determine the chemical composition of EOs from five populations of the endemic Algerian Origanum glandulosum Desf. and to investigate their potential antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant uropathogenic E. coli strains. The EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and their composition was investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The antibacterial activity was evaluated by the disc diffusion method against eight E. coli strains (six uropathogenic resistant and two referenced susceptible strains). Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC/MBC) were obtained by the broth microdilution method. The main EO components were thymol (15.2–56.4%), carvacrol (2.8–59.6%), γ-terpinene (9.9–21.8%) and p-cymene (8.5–13.9%). The antibacterial tests showed that all the EOs were active against all the strains, including the multidrug-resistant strains. The EO from the Bordj location, which contained the highest amount of carvacrol (59.6%), showed the highest antibacterial activity (inhibition diameters from 12 to 24.5 mm at a dilution of 1/10). To our knowledge, this is the first description of the activity of O. glandulosum EOs against resistant uropathogenic strains. Our study suggests that O. glandulosum EO could be used in some clinical situations to treat or prevent infections (e.g., urinary tract infections) with multidrug-resistant strains.

Objectives: We aimed to develop here a specific real-time PCR assay with TaqMan® probe to detect efficiently bacterial strains harboring the new plasmid mediated-colistin resistance mcr-8 gene. Methods: Specific primers and probe for mcr-8 gene were designed from sequences alignment of all mcr genes variants. Specificity of the designed primers and probe were first checked par BlastN analysis and by in silico PCR. The analytical sensitivity and specificity tests were performed in vitro on a panel of 290 genomic DNA of Gram-negative bacteria and 250 metagenomic DNA from human stool samples. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed here using MiSeq technology. Results: Designed primers and probe were 100% specific tomcr-8 gene by BlastN and in silico PCR analysis. Real-time PCR screening of a collection of clinical isolates resulted to one positive Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate (KP95). WGS confirmed that this isolate harbored the mcr-8 gene and other resistance genes such as blaOXA-48, blaCTX-M-15 β-lactamases. Our real-time PCR was highly sensitive on a 10-fold dilution serie from a calibrated inoculum at 108 CFU/mL with a limit of detection at 55 CFU/mL. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, we propose here, the first real-time PCR assay targeting mcr-8 gene with high specificity and sensitivity, able to detect mcr-8 gene in less than 2 h from any DNA sample. This real-time PCR assay allowed the first description of a clinical K. pneumoniae strain harboring the mcr-8 gene in Algeria.

The worldwide dissemination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacteriaceae is a major public health issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MDR Escherichia coli (MDR-EC) isolates, in inpatients/outpatients with urinary tract infections at Sétif University Hospital (Algeria). Bacterial cultures were obtained from 426 of the 3,944 urine samples collected from January 2015 to February 2017. Among these cultures, 215 E. coli isolates were identified by mass spectrometry, and 38 (17.7%) were MDR-EC (disk diffusion method): 36 produced only extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL), one ESBL and a carbapenemase, and one only a cephalosporinase (double-disk synergy test). Multiplex PCR and sequencing analyses showed that 37 ESBL-producing isolates harbored genes encoding CTX-M enzymes (CTX-M-15 in 33 isolates, 89.19%; and CTX-M-14 group in four isolates, 10.81%). One CTX-M-15-producing isolate co-expressed also an OXA-48-like carbapenemase. Phylogenetic group analysis of the 37 ESBL-producing and 178 non-ESBL-producing isolates indicated that the most common phylogenetic group was B2 (54.05% of ESBL-producing and 48.31% of non-ESBL-producing isolates), followed by A and D for ESBL-, and by B1, A, and F for non-ESBL-producing isolates. This is the first report highlighting the presence of MDR-EC isolates that produce both CTX-M and OXA-48-like enzymes in Sétif, Algeria.

Three new Schiff-bases compounds (I-III) were synthesized by a condensation reaction in 1:2 M ratios of 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfide and pyrrol/thiophene/furan-2-carboxaldehyde in ethanol. The structural determinations of the Schiff-bases were identified with the help of elemental analysis then confirmed by UV Vis, FT-IR and H-1 NMR. The products were obtained in excellent yields. On the other hand, the in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the synthesized compounds were investigated using disc diffusion method. Schiff bases synthesized individually exhibited varying degrees of inhibitory effects on the growth of the tested microbial species. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aristolochia longa L. (Aristolochiacea) is a native plant of Algeria used in traditional medicine. This study was devoted to the determination of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins contents of A. longa L. extracts. Extracts were prepared from aerial parts (stems and leaves), fruits and tubers by using various solvents with different polarities such as acetone, methanol and distilled water. Acetone extracts from the aerial parts presented the highest contents of polyphenols (525.43 +/- 29.6 mu g/mg) followed by fruit aqueous extract (518.54 +/- 14.93 mu g/mg), while the aerial parts methanol extract shown the highest flavonoid content (52.37 +/- 0.94 mu g/mg) and exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity of DPPH and reducing power (55.04 +/- 1.29 mu g/mL and 0.2 +/- 0.019 mg/mL, respectively), therefore the aerial parts acetone extract showed the highest antioxidant capacity in the beta-carotene bleaching inhibition test with 57%. For antimicrobial activity, the fruit methanol extract was too efficient against the bacterial strains tested, whereas no effect was observed when these extracts were tested against fungi. The protein denaturation was found in the aerial parts acetone extract to be 78.35 +/- 6.18% followed by fruit methanol extract, 68.04 +/- 4.72% at the dose 500 mu g/mL, with regards to standards diclofenac sodium. These preliminary results could be used to justify the traditional use of this plant and its bioactive substances could be exploited for therapeutic purposes.

The main complication of central venous catheter (CVC) in hemodialysis is infection. Identifying CVC related infection (CVC-RI) risk factors and causative micro-organisms is important for setting prevention policies. There were no data regarding CVC-RI in hemodialysis in Algeria. To determine rates of CVC-RI in hemodialysis in Setif university hospital, risk factors and causative microorganisms, we conducted a prospective study from November 2014 to May 2015 involving patients with CVC in hemodialysis. Micro-organisms isolated from semi quantitative culture of CVC and blood culture were identified and tested for antibiotic susceptibility using the automated MicroScan system (DADE Behring, Sacramento, CA, USA). Chi-square test was performed to compare demographic and clinical variables (age, sex, comorbidities, duration of CVC, insertion site) in the groups of patients with and without CVC-RI. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All analyses were performed using SPSS V17 for Windows statistical package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). 94 patients and 152 CVC procedures were analyzed. 34 CVC-RI were documented with an incidence of 16.6 per 1000 CVC-days. Incidence of CVC related bloodstream infection (CVC-RBI) was 10.8 per 1000 CVC-days. Independent risk factors associated with CVC-RI were diabetes (P = 0.01) and duration of catheterization (P= 0.01). Causative micro-organisms were: Klebsiella pneumoniae 26.5%, coagulase-negative staphylococci 23.5% and Staphylococcus aureus 23.5%. Micro-organisms were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Mortality was statistically associated to inadequate antibiotic therapy. The duration of CVC should be reduced by creation of fistulas. More compliance to hygiene measure is needed for decreasing CVC-RI and resistance rate.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to characterize the molecular support of antibiotic resistance in MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae recovered from inanimate surfaces between March 2012 to February 2014 in three teaching hospitals (Setif, Bejaia and Constantine) in Algeria.Results: Forty-four K. pneumoniae producing ESBL were detected and bla(CTX-M-15) and bla(CTX-M-3) were detected respectively in 41 and 3 isolates. These K. pneumoniae isolates producing ESBL were also resistant to gentamicin (87%), tobramicin (87%), ciprofloxacin (66%) and ofloxacin (62%). Aminoglycosides resistance genes detected were 16S rRNA methylase (armA), aminoglycoside acetyl-transferase (aac(6')-Ib), aminoglycoside nucleotidyl-transferase (aadA2) and aminoglycoside, phosphoryl-transferase (ant''Ih-aac(6')-IId). Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes detected were aac(6')-Ib-cr (34 isolates) and qnrB genes in (34 isolates). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) resulted in 12 different sequence types (STs) regrouped into 5 clonal complexes (CC147, CC17, CC37, CC2 and CC23), one clonal group (CG485) and 4 singletons (ST1426, ST405, ST1308, ST873).Conclusion: Here, we report the detection of the ESBLs encoding gene linked with plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) and aminoglycosides resistance recovered from inanimate surfaces in hospital environment. (C) 2017 International Society for Chemotherapy of Infection and Cancer. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objective: To evaluate the essential oils (EO) composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant power of a local plant, Daucus gracilis (D. gracilis). Methods: The aerial parts of D. gracilis were subjected to hydro distillation by a Clevenger apparatus type to obtain the EO which had been analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and screened for antimicrobial activity against five bacteria and three fungi by agar diffusion method. The mechanism of action of the EO was determined on the susceptible strains by both of time kill assay and lysis experience. The minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined by agar macro-dilution and micro-dilution methods. Anti-oxidative properties of the EO were also studied by free diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and reducing power techniques. Results: The EO yielded 0.68 (v/w). The chemical analysis presented two dominant constituents which were the elemicin (35.3%) and the geranyl acetate (26.8%). D. gracilis EO inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus and Proteus mirabilis significantly with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 17.15 μg/mL by the agar dilution method and 57.05 μg/mL and 114.1 μg/mL, respectively by liquid micro-dilution. A remarkable decrease in a survival rate as well as in the absorbance in 260 nm was recorded, which suggested that the cytoplasm membrane was one of the targets of the EO. The EO showed, also, important anti-oxidative effects with an IC50 of 0.002 mg/mL and a dose-dependent reducing power. Conclusions: D. gracilis EO showed potent antimicrobial and anti-oxidative activities and had acted on the cytoplasm membrane. These activities could be exploited in the food industry for food preservation.

To evaluate the essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of an Algerian endemic plant, Daucus aristidis Coss. (Apiaceae) (D. aristidis) (synonym Ammiopsis aristidis Batt.) collected in pre-flowering stage in East of Algeria. The aerial parts of D. aristidis Coss were collected. Essential oil (in pre-flowering stage) obtained by hydrodistillation was investigated for the first time by gas chromatograph and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer and evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity by the disc diffusion method at various dilutions of the oil. The main components of D. aristidis oil in pre-flowering stage were α-pinene (20.13%), cedrol (20.11%) and E-asarone (18.53%). D. aristidis oil exhibited an antibacterial activity against almost all the strains tested except for Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603 K6 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 49452 which exhibited a resistance against the oil with all dilutions. Also, the oil of D. aristidis had no activity against all fungi tested. This is the first report on the volatile constituents and antimicrobial activity of D. aristidis in pre-flowering stage. The studied essential oil possesses moderate antibacterial activity against almost all strains tested but no antifungal activity.

Objective: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of different leaf extracts of Plantago major , using in vitro methods. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of different extracts (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions) from Plantago major leaves and their synergistic effect with standard antibiotic (Gentamicin) were evaluated using the disc diffusion method. The total phenolic and total flavonoid content of these extracts was determined according to the Folin-Ciocalteu procedure and Aluminum chloride colorimetric assay respectively. Antioxidant properties were determined via the DPPH free radical scavenging, β-carotene bleaching assay and ferrous ion chelating activity. Results: The total phenols and total flavonoid content of the extracts ranged from 5.79 to 114.45 mg GAE/g dry extract and from 1.24 to 5.48 µg QAE/mg dry extract respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest DPPH scavenging capacity (IC 50 = 12.85±0.27 µg/ml) and relative antioxidant activity of 70.48% in the β-carotene bleaching assay. While, aqueous and petroleum ether fractions have the lowest activities. On the other hand, only the aqueous fraction has a capacity of chelating iron (IC 50 = 1.02±0.02 mg/ml). The findings indicated also that an ethyl acetate fraction was the most active in vitro against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria strains. High inhibition zone of 16.7±1 mm and 14.3±0.6 was exhibited on Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus . Moderate one of 13.3±0.6 and 11.3±0.6 mm was obtained against Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Acinetobacter bowie . However, lowest antibacterial activity was obtained against Klebsiella pneumonia , Proteus mirabilis and Salmonella typhimurium . Furthermore, synergistic antibacterial activity was either obtained by the combination of standard antibiotic (Gentamicin) with the tested extracts. Conclusion: Our results showed a potent antioxidant and antibacterial activities of this species. This plant could be exploited as a potential source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents for dreadful human diseases and oxidation prevention.

BACKGROUND:Investigation of several outbreaks of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection has demonstrated that contamination of the inanimate hospital environment could be implicated in the spread of these multidrug-resistant strains.AIM:To investigate the occurrence of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii on inanimate surfaces and possible dissemination in the hospital environment in Algeria as a potential source of infection in humans.METHODS:A. baumannii strains were isolated from the hospital environment and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using disc diffusion and E-test methods. Carbapenemase activity was detected using microbiological tests, including modified Hodge test, modified Carba NP test, and EDTA test. Carbapenem resistance determinants were studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing. Clonal relatedness was determined using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST).RESULTS:A total of 67 A. baumannii isolates were obtained from 868 environmental samples and identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Among them, 61 isolates were resistant to imipenem with minimum inhibitory concentration >32 μg/mL and positive by the modified Hodge test and modified Carba NP test. In addition, the activity of carbapenemase was inhibited by EDTA in 32 strains. PCR and sequencing showed the presence of blaOXA-23 gene in 29 strains, and the blaNDM-1 gene in 32 isolates. MLST demonstrated the presence of five types of ST (ST19, ST2, ST85, ST98, and ST115).CONCLUSION:Our study demonstrated the dissemination of carbapenemase-producing A. baumannii strains recovered from inanimate surfaces in a hospital environment, surrounding patients, healthcare workers and visitors, in Algeria as a potential source for nosocomial infection.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to characterize the molecular support of resistance to carbapenems, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates recovered between January 2011 and April 2013 from Algerian hospitals.Methods: Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion and Etest methods. Carbapenemase activity was detected using both MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry assay and via microbiological tests. Carbapenem, aminoglycoside and fluoroquinolone resistance determinants were studied by PCR and sequencing. Clonal relationships between strains were determined using Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST).Results: A total of 47 imipenem-resistant A. baumannii were isolated and identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. All imipenem-resistant strains were positive in the modified Hodge test, and EDTA inhibited the activity of metallo-beta-lactamases enzymes in 11 strains. The bla(OXA-23) gene was detected in 33 strains and the bla(OXA-24) gene in 10 strains. The metallo-beta-lactamase bla(NDM-1) gene was detected in 11 isolates (23.4%) from Algiers and Setif, including 7 that co-expressed a bla(OXA-23) gene. Resistance to aminoglycosides was due to the production of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes, AAC(3)-Ia, AADA, ANT(2 '')-I, APH(3')-VI, and 16S rRNA methylases, ArmA. The fluoroquinolone resistance was mainly associated with mutations at Ser83Leu and Ser80Leu of the gyrA and parC genes, respectively. MLST revealed five sequence types (STs), 1, 2, 19, 25, and 85. The imipenem-resistant A. baumannii ST2 was the predominant clone (35/47).Conclusions: Here we report for the first time clinical multidrug-resistant A. baumannii isolates harboring 16S rRNA methylase gene, armA, and rapid spread of metallo-beta-lactamase NDM-1 isolated from patients in Algeria. (C) 2014, Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objective: toevaluate Metallo-betalactamase (MBL) inhibitory effect and antimicrobial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Terminaliachebula dried fruits. Methods: effect of EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), methanolic and aqueous extracts of dried fruits of T. chebula on Metallo-betalactamase activity was studied in vitro by using cephaloridin asasubstrate. The degree of inhibition was determined byIC 50 and the antimicrobial activities of both extracts against Acinetobacter baumannii were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed by the presence or absence of inhibition zones, MIC and MBC values. Results: EDTA, methanolic and aqueous extracts inhibit metallo-betalactamases activity withIC 50 (3.98 mM, 18.45 and 19.68µg/ml), respectively. Polyphenols in aqueousand methanolic extracts are 513.094±3.061 and 496±2.856 µg GAE/mg, respectively. Conclusion: These results indicate that both extracts of T. chebula are rich in polyphenols and have a strong inhibitory effect on metallo-betalactamases in a competitive manner compared to EDTA. In addition, both extracts of T. chebula were also screened for their remarkable antibacterial and bactericidal activity against Acinetobacter baumannii confirmed by low minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration (MIC and MBC).

We report class A carbapenemase (KPC)-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis in a 6-month-old child in Algeria. Multilocus sequence typing showed that the sequence type obtained corresponded to ST512, an allelic single-locus variant of the pandemic ST258 widely distributed in KPC producers from Europe. To our knowledge, this is the first report of KPC-3-producing K. pneumoniae ST512 in a North African country.

Nowadays, the consumers preference to use natural products has resulted in the exploitation of many plants, essential oils and/or extracts as potent ingredients used by the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. [ 2 ] The essential oils comprise secondary metabolites extracted from different parts of aromatic plants with potent antimicrobial [ 3 – 5 ] and antioxidant properties that are being used as natural remedy in phytotherapy.

Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed on 71 Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates, and presence of antibiotic resistance genes was screened for by PCR amplification and sequencing. Resistance rates were very high for aminoglycosides (22-80%), fluoroquinolones (>90%), and cephalosporins (>90%) but remained low for rifampin (2.8%) or null for colistin. Antibiotic resistance encoding genes detected were as follows: blaTEM-128 gene (74.6%), aph(3')-VI (50.7 %), aadA (63.4%), ant(2″)-I (14.1%), aac(3)-Ia (91.1%), aac(6')-Ib (4.2%), mutation Ser83Leu in gyrA (94.4%), double mutations Ser83Leu and Ser80Leu (or Ser84Leu) in gyrA and parC (69.0%), and mutation I581N in RRDR of the rpoB gene.