Publications (12)9.55 Total impact
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Article: [The estimation of systemic chemotherapy treatment administered in breast cancer on lysozyme activity in tears--preliminary report].
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ABSTRACT: Estimation of cytostatics influence used in breast cancer treatment on lysozyme activity in human tears depend on time of treatment. 8 women were treated at the base of chemotherapy schema: docetaxel with doxorubicin and 4 women treated with schema CMF: cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil. Lysozyme activity in tears was assessed by measurement of diameter zone of Micrococcus lysodeicticus growth inhibition. It was revealed that both chemotherapy schema caused statistically significant reduction of diameter zone of M. lysodeicticus growth inhibition, after first and second course of chemotherapy treatment. After second chemotherapy course CMF schema induced loss of lysozyme activity in patient's tears (zero mm of M. lysodeicticus diameter zone growth inhibition). Systemic chemotherapy administered in breast cancer induce reduction of lysozyme activity in tears, that may cause higher morbidity of ocular surface infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria.Klinika oczna 01/2012; 114(1):33-7. -
Article: [The synergism of antifungals and essential oils against Candida spp. evaluated by a modified gradient-diffusion method].
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ABSTRACT: The usefulness of modified method of MIC Test Strip, for determining the synergistic effect of essential oils in the liquid or volatile phase with fluconazole and voriconazole, was evaluated. Geranium oil used against C. albicans in agar dilution test, at a concentration of 1/2 MIC caused a drop in the value of fluconazole MIC from 12.0 mg/l to 0.064 mg/l and voriconazole from 0.125 mg/l to 0.006 mg/l. A similar effect of drug combinations with essential oils was obtained in the case of C. glabrata study. Volatile Clove oil and cytronelal, applied in subMIC concentrations, also caused a reduction offluconazole and voriconazole MICs. Thus, utility of this simple methods developed by us for testing the effectiveness of combinations of known drugs and new compounds with antifungal activity, has been confirmed.Medycyna doświadczalna i mikrobiologia 01/2011; 63(2):163-9. -
Article: Antibiofilm activity of selected plant essential oils and their major components.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to examine the antibiofilm activity of selected essential oils (EO): Lavandula angustifblia (LEO), Melaleuca alternifolia (TTO), Melissa officinalis (MEO) and some of their major constituents: linalool, linalyl acetate, alpha-terpineol, terpinen-4-ol. Biofilms were formed by Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Escherichia coli NCTC 8196 on the surface of medical biomaterials (urinary catheter, infusion tube and surgical mesh). TTC reduction assay was used for the evaluation of mature biofilm eradication from these surfaces. Moreover, time-dependent eradication ofbiofilms preformed in polystyrene 96-well culture microplates was examined and expressed as minimal biofilm eradication concentration (evaluated by MTT reduction assay). TTO, alpha-terpineol and terpinen-4-ol as well as MEO, showed stronger anti-biofilm activity than LEO and linalool or linalyl acetate. Among the biomaterials tested, surgical mesh was the surface most prone to persistent colonization since biofilms formed on it, both by S. aureus and E. coli, were difficult to destroy. The killing rate studies of S. aureus biofilm treated with TTO, LEO, MEO and some of their constituents revealed that partial (50%) destruction of 24-h-old biofilms (MBEC50) was achieved by the concentration 4-8 x MIC after 1 h, whereas 2-4 x MIC was enough to obtain 90% reduction in biomass metabolic activity (MBEC90) after just 4 h of treatment. A similar dose-dependent effect was observed for E. coli biofilm which, however, was more susceptible to the action of phytochemicals than the biofilms of S. aureus. It is noteworthy that an evident decrease in biofilm cells metabolic activity does not always lead to their total destruction and eradication.Polish journal of microbiology / Polskie Towarzystwo Mikrobiologów = The Polish Society of Microbiologists 01/2011; 60(1):35-41. · 0.76 Impact Factor -
Article: Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oil from Salvia sclarea plants regenerated in vitro.
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ABSTRACT: The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of dried aerial parts of Salvia sclarea L. plants, regenerated in vitro and reproduced from seeds, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The oils from in vitro and in vivo plants were compared in respect to their chemical composition as well as antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. The chemical profiles of both oils were very similar, although the yield of essential oil from in vitro plants was lower (0.1%, v/w) than the oil yield isolated from in vivo S. sclarea plants (0.2%, v/w). Both oils showed antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. The oil from in vitro regenerated plants of S. sclarea exhibited stronger cytotoxic action against NALM-6 cell lines in comparison with the essential oil from in vivo plants.Molecules 02/2009; 14(4):1438-47. · 2.39 Impact Factor -
Article: [The optimization of methods utilized for testing the antibacterial activity of essential oils].
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ABSTRACT: The antibacterial activity of essential oils: Lavandulae aetherleum, Limonis aetherleum and Melaleucae aetherleum was determined against Staphylococcus aureus Gram (+) and Escherichia coli Gram (-) bacteria, using four methods: agar diffusion (paper disk and agar wells) and broth dilution (turbidimetric and rezazurin reduction assay). This study revealed that the sensitivity of the agar diffusion techniques was much lower than the broth dilution methods. This was mainly due to partitioning of the oil components in the agar according to their affinity with water. This limitation could be lessened by the selection of suitable oil emulsifier/solvent, which itself not influence the bacterial growth. By initial oil solubilization with 96% ethanol (1:1), the increase of agar dilution methods sensitivity could be achieved. The broth microdilution methods, using 0.5% Tween 20 or 0.15% agar to emulsify the oils, were optimized and shown to be most accurate for testing their antimicrobial activity. By introducing resazurin, as an MIC endpoint indicator, the sensitivity of these methods was further enhanced.Medycyna doświadczalna i mikrobiologia 01/2009; 61(3):281-7. -
Article: [Activity of indolicidin, alone or together with oxacillin, against Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis].
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ABSTRACT: Difficulties in the treatment of staphylococcal infections as well as the increasing frequency of isolating resistant clinical strains have prompted a search, among the products of immune systems of plants and animals, for more effective antistaphylococcal therapies. This study examined the activity of indolicidin towards the planktonic cultures and biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis strains representing different clinical sources and various profiles of drug sensitivity. The synergistic effect between the peptide and oxacilin was also studied.Medycyna doświadczalna i mikrobiologia 02/2008; 60(3):191-6. -
Article: Staphylokinase production by clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains.
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ABSTRACT: One of virulence factors produced by Staphylococcus aureus is staphylokinase (SAK), which enhances their proteolytic activity leading to tissue damage and improving bacterial invasiveness. In the present study we estimated the ability to produce staphylokinase by 95 S. aureus reference strains and clinical isolates from the airways of cystic fibrosis patients, from skin lesions and from infected bones. We would like to verify any relationship between SAK production and the types of clinical isolates as well as other biochemical properties and activities of these staphylococcal strains, which can be important for their pathogenicity. More than 62% of all tested strains were able to produce secreted type of SAK. Staphylokinase production was significantly more common in the isolates from skin and soft tissue infections than in any other group of tested staphylococci. The general tendencies in the selected properties or activities of both SAK(-) and SAK(+) isolates were similar. Our data confirm phenotypic dissimilarity in SAK production of S. aureus strains isolated from various types of infections. It is compatible with the biological role of staphylokinase and with hypothetical model of staphylokinase mediated bacterial invasion of host tissues. Thus, the estimation of SAK production by S. aureus isolates may be regarded as the parameter describing potential invasiveness of staphylococci and can be useful as a medical recommendation for the eradication of staphylococci carrier state.Polish journal of microbiology / Polskie Towarzystwo Mikrobiologów = The Polish Society of Microbiologists 02/2007; 56(2):97-102. · 0.76 Impact Factor -
Article: Phenotypic and molecular characteristics of typical and atypical Escherichia coli O157, clinical and food isolates.
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ABSTRACT: Enrichment, colony isolation and confirmation are three general phases of a standard diagnostic method. E. coli O 157 (the main member of EHEC group) differs metabolically from other strains of E. coli in a number of ways. Most isolates are slow- or non-fermenters of sorbitol and lack the enzyme beta-glucuronidase (GUD). But, a variety of atypical strains of E. coli O157 (sorbitol-fermenting variants, nonmotile and GUD-positive) have been reported. The discovery of these atypical pathogenic strains brings into question the validity of testing for the pathogen only by biotyping. Using classical cultivation and immunomagnetic separation, we have isolated from food a few atypical E. coli O157 (sorbitol-fermenting strains, GUD positive, nonmotile O157 strain which does not agglutinate with O157 latex and does not produce Shiga toxin). On the other hand, non-O157 VTEC (O26 serotype) producing Shiga toxin was isolated from meat. Molecular markers of E. coli O157 and virulence-associated factors of strains with aberrant biochemical properties were studied by PCR. This method helped us in the final identification of isolates. Since it was suggested that the production of verotoxins (VT) is accompanied by the production of enterohemolysin (Ehly) such correlation has also been evaluated in respect to the collection of VTEC of human, animal and food origin.Acta microbiologica Polonica 02/2003; 52(2):149-58. -
Article: Colony-blot assay with anti-p60 antibodies as a method for quick identification of Listeria in food.
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ABSTRACT: The present study evaluated the ability to isolate Listeria from foods, using shortened procedure of sample enrichment followed by immunomagnetic separation or filtration methods, and serological identification of isolated bacteria by colony-blot and Western blot methods with anti-p60 antibodies. By these rapid methods, identification of Listeria was achieved in much shorter time (40-48 h) than with standard cultivation and biochemical identification procedures. The rapid methods used are easy to perform and, what is most important, their specificity is very high and fulfills the expectations. The possibility to select Listeria colonies growing on non-selective media by blotting with anti-p60 antiserum seems to be particularly valuable in examination of food samples containing/not too many Listeria (1-10 CFU/25 g). However, the blot method using anti-PepD mAb specific to unique region of L. monocytogenes p60 is necessary to distinguish L. monocytogenes from other Listeria species.International Journal of Food Microbiology 02/2002; 72(1-2):63-71. · 3.33 Impact Factor -
Article: In vitro propagation and chemical and biological studies of the essential oil of Salvia przewalskii Maxim.
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ABSTRACT: The procedure of Salvia przewalskii shoot multiplication and the ability of regenerated plants to produce essential oil is reported. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation from leaves and flowering stems of field-grown plants, and their chemical composition was examined by GC, GC-MS and 1H NMR. The differences in yield as well as qualitative and quantitative composition between the oils isolated from in vitro and in vivo plants were observed. S. przewalskii essential oil was tested for its antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. It was found that cytotoxicity against human leukemia HL-60 cells and antimicrobial activity (especially, against Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis strains) of oils isolated from in vitro plants were higher than those for oils from in vivo S. przewalskii plants.Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung C 62(11-12):839-48. · 0.77 Impact Factor -
Article: A surface-active agent from Saccharomyces cerevisiae influences staphylococcal adhesion and biofilm development.
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ABSTRACT: Bacterial biofilms which are responsible for a number of diseases are very difficult to control effectively because of their high resistance to antibiotics and the host defence system. The use of natural products decreasing or preventing initial adhesion of bacteria and biofilm formation is one of the alternative therapeutic strategies taken into consideration. We ask the question, whether a crude extract from the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (mannoprotein), which possesses surfactant activity, may be used as inhibitor of Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis biofilm development. By using the "bactericidal spot assay" it was demonstrated that mannoprotein had no direct antibiotic activity against the tested strains. The influence of this extract on initial adhesion, biofilm formation and dispersal of preformed biofilms was studied using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay. In this assay, live bacteria with an active electron transport system reduce the tetrazolium salt to a water-soluble purple formazan product, and optical density reading (A550) values are directly dependent on their cell numbers. Yeast-derived surfactant, when adsorbed in the microplate wells or present in the medium, was effective both in decreasing the initial deposition of staphylococci and in reducing the amount of growing biofilm, quantitated after 24 h of co-incubation with the bacteria. It also changed the parameters of biofilm morphology analyzed by PHLIP - the confocal laser scanning microscopy image quantification package. Mannoprotein also accelerated the detachment of mature staphylococcal biofilms, preformed in optimal conditions. It was concluded that mannoprotein anti-biofilm action reflects its influence on cell surface hydrophobicity.Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung C 62(5-6):433-8. · 0.77 Impact Factor -
Article: Synthetic 3-arylideneflavanones as inhibitors of the initial stages of biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis.
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ABSTRACT: The antimicrobial activity of twenty two synthetic flavonoids is reported. Among them three 3-arylideneflavanones, 2b, 2c, and 2i, were shown to be highly active against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Enterococcus faecalis reference strains, with MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) values ranging from 4.68 microg/ml (14.3 microM) to 37.5 microg/ml (119.7 microM). The synergy of oxacillin and vancomycin with 2c, evaluated as fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was shown (against planktonic culture of S. aureus A3 and E. faecium 138/09 clinical strains). The presence of 2c in the culture medium diminished the initial adhesion of bacteria to an abiotic surface. Such an effect resulted in a decrease in biofilm formation during prolonged culture. Unfortunately, 2e failed to eradicate the S. aureus mature biofilm which was already preformed, however, decreased the number of live biofilm cells. The biofilm of E. faecalis was more susceptible to the action of 3-arylideneflavanone 2c than the S. aureus biofilm. The finding that 3-arylideneflavanones are lipophilic, cause bacterial aggregation, and influence the integrity of membranes making them permeable to SYTO 9/propidium iodide dyes may implicate the cytoplasmic membrane as a target site for these compounds activity.Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung C 66(3-4):104-14. · 0.77 Impact Factor
