Mounir Salem-Bekhet

• Associate Professor, Microbiology and Immunology
• King Saud University

Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are the bacterial shells of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria devoid of internal contents. This study aimed to utilize S. aureus BGs loaded with pre-prepared nanoparticles (NPs) of DTX as a novel delivery system targeting BC with minimal toxicity. A novel protocol for S. aureus ghost preparation using 7% v/v tween 80 a...

One of the most commonly occurring foodborne, tissue cyst-forming protozoan zoonotic parasites with public health and veterinary relevance is Sarcocystis species. This research was conducted using traditional and molecular techniques to identify the incidence of Sarcocystis spp. in 750 slaughtered bovine animals of varying age and sex (375 cattle a...

Meat is among the most popular foods because of its high dietary component. However, it is contaminated with various food spoilage bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, identified as a primary contributor to food spoilage and foodborne illnesses. This investigation evaluates the total aerobic and psychrotrophic counts, anti-bacterial resistan...

Background: Escherichia coli belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family and is found in the digestive systems of humans and various animals as normal flora. Objective: This study aims to identify the optimal conditions necessary for the synthesis of hemolysin by E. coli isolated from a variety of clinical contexts. Methods: A total of 120 specimens w...

Rice is recognized worldwide as a primary staple food crop which provides calories approximately half of growing world population and the maintenance of its high productivity is of utmost importance in the context of global food security. The objective of this research was to examine the variability and correlation between yield-related characteris...

Meat products are one of the nutritious diet options available to consumers. However, meat products have the potential to serve as a reservoir of food-borne infections, such as those caused by Aeromonas species, which pose a significant risk to public health. A total of 270 samples, 30 of each minced beef, meatball, beef burger, chicken nuggets, ch...

The dissemination of resistant pathogens through food supply chains poses a significant public health risk, spanning from farm to fork. This study analyzed the distribution of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) across various sources within the animal-based food supply chain. A total of 500 samples were collected from livestock, poultry,...

Adsorption of Thiamazole (TZOL, a medication to treat hyperthyroidism) on the transition metal (TM) doped fullerenes (MF) is investigated to gain insight into the potential development of a smart drug delivery platform. In this computational study, molecular models of adsorbed TZOL on TM-doped and undoped fullerenes were optimized and their structu...

The gas sensing and removal prospective was investigated in the current work to analyze a beryllium oxide (BeO) fullerene for the adsorptions of ammonia (NH3), phosphine (PH3), and arsine (AsH3) toxic gases along with applications density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The optimization of models yielded the formations of interacting BeO-NH3,...

The adsorption of pyrazinamide (PZA) drug by the assistance of FeC20, FeC19, and FeC18 iron-decorated metallofullerenes were analyzed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations regarding the drug delivery developmental issues. Formations of PZA@FeC20, PZA@FeC19, and PZA@FeC18 conjugated systems were analyzed by the structural and electronic...

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder marked by elevated blood sugar levels, leading to organ dysfunction. Curcumin, derived from turmeric, exhibits promise in managing type II diabetes. Amphipathic polymer prodrugs were synthesized by conjugating curcumin with chitosan through succinic anhydride. Nanomicelles, formed via dialysis of am...

Herbal medicine combined with nanoparticles has caught much interest in clinical dental practice, yet the incorporation of chitosan with Salvadora persica (S. persica) extract as an oral care product has not been explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effectiveness of Salvadora persica(S. persica) and Chitosan nanoparticles (C...

Due the importance of developing successful drug delivery platforms, the current research work done to assess the iron-decorated C24 fullerene-like nanocages for the adsorption of naproxen (NPX) drug along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. NPX is among the important non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in which its enhan...

By the importance of developing novel drug delivery platforms, the current research work was done to assess the metronidazole (MET) adsorption by an iron-enhanced nanocone (FeCON) along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations regarding the MET@FeCON conjugated complex systems formations. Comparing the results by a pure nanocone (CON) mode...

Assessing a facile detection platform of kidney failure through the creatinine biomarker adsorption by a zinc-doped nanocone (ZnCone) was done in this work along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The singular models and bimolecular complexes were optimized by assigning the creatinine adsorbate and the ZnCone adsorbent. The Zn-doped...

Dissemination of resistant pathogens via food supply chains is a notable public health danger from farm to fork. The proposed work analysed the distribution of E. coli among various sources of animal-based food supply chain. Overall, 500 samples were heaped up from livestock, poultry sectors, environment, fisheries, and dairy. Standard microbiologi...

Our study focused on developing and optimizing β-CD-based microparticulate carrier systems to enhance lovastatin's solubility and systemic availability (LST). Specifically, we designed solid dispersions, inclusion complexes, and hydrogel microparticles as carrier systems. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies were conducted to ensu...

Skin Cutaneous Melanoma (SKCM) is a form of cancer that originates in the pigment‐producing cells, known as melanocytes, of the skin. Delay wound healing is often correlated with the occurrence of and progression of SKCM. In this comprehensive study, we investigated the intricate roles of two important wound healing genes in SKCM, including Matrix...

Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC) is a malignant tumor that carries a substantial risk of morbidity and mortality. The MMP family assumes a crucial role in tumor invasion and metastasis. This study aimed to uncover the mechanistic relevance of the MMP gene family as a therapeutic target and diagnostic biomarker in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Car...

Background Salmonella-related foodborne illnesses are a significant public health concern. Naturally, antibacterial food components have been shown to limit microbial growth proliferation with various degrees of efficacy. Aims To examine the occurrence, microbial load, and effect of apple vinegar on Salmonella serovars in beef and beef products....

The purpose current research is to formulate a smart drug delivery system for solubility enhancement and sustained release of hydrophobic drugs. Drug solubility-related challenges constitute a significant concern for formulation scientists. To address this issue, a recent study focused on developing PEG-g-poly (MAA) co-polymeric nanogels to enhance...

Background: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are essential for the growth of various cells. The development of automated and precise machine-learning tools for the quick prediction of HSPs is significant because conventional methods are expensive, and there is abundant protein sequence information accessible in the post-genomic era, which can be easily u...

The current density functional theory (DFT) work was done for assessing beryllium oxide, magnesium oxide, and calcium oxide nanocages; assigned by BeO, MgO, and CaO, for a facile detection of hazardous phosgene oxime (CX) substance in order to approach novel materials developments for the hazardous substances detections. The results indicated meani...

Gastric cancer (GC) is a serious public health issue due to its frequency and severity. It is, for both sexes, one of the most common causes of cancer-related death and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Recent data show that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been detected in different histopathological subtypes of gastric carcinoma...

We are looking into viral components that may contribute to breast cancer in order to find possible therapeutic targets. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which has been found to cause nasopharyn-geal carcinoma and Burkitt lymphoma, is thought to play a role in breast cancer. Our series' patients had a median age of 49, with nearly half being under the...

The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is on the rise, making it a significant global health concern. Environmental risk factors are crucial to the development of SCC. This study sought to examine comprehensively the impact of these factors on the onset of SCC. We conducted a cross‐sectional study involving 480 participants at Beijing terti...

This study aimed to enhance the production of the intracellular L-asparaginase bacterial enzyme, which is known to impede the growth of cancer cells, by optimizing the culture conditions. In the present study, we exploited the ability of a new Actinomycete strain isolated from a food byproduct, wheat bran, to produce the desired enzyme. Streptomyce...

Infected burned skin is a life-threatening condition, which may lead to sepsis. The aims of this work are to formulate a biofilm composed of silver sulfadiazine (SSD), chitosan (CS), and sodium alginate (SA), and to evaluate its wound-healing effectiveness. A full factorial design was used to formulate different matrix formulations. The prepared bi...

An iron-doped boron nitride (FBN) nanocage was investigated for adsorbing/sensing the hydroxyurea (Hyd) anticancer for the smart and targeted drug delivery processes. Optimizations were done under density functional theory (DFT) calculations and the properties were obtained. Interaction of Hyd with each of FBN and BN nanocages yielded four configur...

Eucalyptus, a therapeutic plant mentioned in the ancient Algerian pharmacopeia, specifically two species belonging to the Myrtaceae family, E. radiata and E. cinerea, were investigated in this study for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The study used aqueous extracts (AE) obtained from these plants, and the extrac...

Assessing an idea of metal-doped fullerenes (MF) as promising drug carriers of hydroxycarbamide (Hyd) anticancer was done in this work by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A model of carbon fullerene was doped by each of iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) transition metal atoms to provide enhanced FeF, NiF, and ZnF doped f...

Bacterial resistance to different antimicrobial agents is growing with alarming speed, especially when bacterial cells are living in biofilm. Hybrid nanoparticles, synthesized through the green method, hold promise as a potential solution to this challenge. In this study, 66 actinomycete strains were isolated from three distinct marine sources: mar...

In current work, quince seed mucilage and β-Cyclodextrin based pH regulated hydrogels were developed using aqueous free radical polymerization to sustain Capecitabine release patterns and to overcome its drawbacks, such as high dose frequency, short half-life, and low bioavailability. Developed networks were subjected to thermal analysis, Fourier t...

Milk contaminated with aflatoxin can lead to liver cancer. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a serious animal feed contaminant, is transformed into Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and secreted in milk. In this study, a biological method using probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), was used to...

Eucalyptus, a therapeutic plant mentioned in the ancient Algerian pharmacopeia, specifically two species belonging to the Myrtaceae family - E. radiata and E. cinerea, were investigated in this study for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The study used aqueous extracts (AE) obtained from these plants, and the extra...

This comprehensive review article discusses the biomedical applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with unique inherent chemical and physical attributes. The findings of different researchers in the field of CNT, their functionalization, and their biomedical applications are focused on. In-vitro and in-vivo drug delivery have been investigated, mai...

The study aimed to investigate the antitumor efficacy of anti-LMP1 antibodies in EBV-positive nasopharyngeal and stomach cell lines and xenograft models. The study also examined the NF-κB expression and cell cycle activation of NPC-serum-exosome-associated LMP1. Anti-LMP1 antibody treatment before or during cell implantation prevented tumor growth...

Background & objectives: This study aimed to create a controlled delivery system for Tapentadol Hydrochloride by developing interpenetrating networks (IPNs) of Natrosol-Pectin copolymerized with Acrylic Acid and Methylene bisacrylamide, and to analyze the effects of various ingredients on the physical and chemical characteristics of the IPNs. Met...

Lung cancer is a fatal disease caused by an abnormal proliferation of cells in the lungs. Similarly, chronic kidney disorders affect people worldwide and can lead to renal failure and impaired kidney function. Cyst development, kidney stones, and tumors are frequent diseases impairing kidney function. Since these conditions are generally asymptomat...

The study aimed to investigate the antitumor efficacy of anti-LMP1 antibodies in EBV-positive nasopharyngeal and stomach cell lines and xenograft models. The study also exam-ined the NF-κB expression and cell cycle activation of NPC serum exosome-associated LMP1. An-ti-LMP1 antibody treatment before or during cell implantation prevented tumor growt...

Zinc molybdate nanoparticles with molybdate are synthesized through green method with different salt precursors using Moringa oleifera leaf extract. Those nanoparticles had structural, vibrational, and morphological properties, which were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The crystalline size of synthesized zinc molybdate was 24.9 nm. Fourier...

Background: Analytical techniques are a crucial method used in quality control procedures. Fusidic acid (FU), an antibacterial drug, is available on the market in a semisolid dosage form. This work aimed to develop a simple, sensitive, and robust UPLC assay for FU. Method: The effect of the formic acid concentration (X1 (1%, 0.55%, and 0.1%)), and...

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease that is often fatal in affected patients and represents a major public health problem. At present, no vaccine is available, and the drug treatments used are costly, long, and have numerous side effects, they also present variable effectiveness, frequent relapses, and a more and more marked resistance towards t...

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of an aqueous natural extract obtained from Rosa sempervirens leaves were assessed. The ability of the extract to scavenge DPPH, •OH, and H2O2 radicals, chelate ferrous ions, reduce ferric ions, and protect β-carotene-linoleic acid in emulsion from peroxidation was investigated in vitro. Furthermore,...

Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) continues to pose huge therapeutic challenges in the treatment of infections, primarily urinary infections, due to its multidrug resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, there is a need for research on this topic to investigate ways to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance, ide...

Essential oils (EOs) obtained by hydro-distillation from different parts of twigs (EOT), leaves (EOL), and fruits (EOF) of Eucalyptus gunnii Hook. f. were screened for their chemical composition, insecticidal, repellence, and antibacterial properties. Based on GC and GC/MS analysis, 23 constituents were identified across the twigs, leaves, and frui...

This research was carried out to create a pH-responsive polymeric system for the targeted drug delivery of Diloxanide furoate. It relied on sodium alginate (Na-Alg) and Carbopol 934P as building blocks. Using an aqueous free radical polymerization method, SCH1-SCH12 was created with varying polymer, MAA, and MBA input ratios. Positive outcomes were...

Acyclovir has a short half-life and offers poor bioavailability. Its daily dose is 200 mg five times a day. A tamarind gum and β-cyclodextrin-based pH-responsive hydrogel network for sustained delivery of acyclovir was developed using the free-radical polymerization technique. Developed networks were characterized by FTIR, DSC, TGA, PXRD, EDX, and...

Abstract: Acyclovir has a short half-life and offers poor bioavailability. Its daily dose is 200mg five times a day. Tamarind gum and β-cyclodextrin based pH-responsive hydrogel network for sustained delivery of Acyclovir was developed using the free radical polymerization technique. Developed networks were characterized for FTIR, DSC, TGA, PXRD, E...

A field experiment was carried out at Al-Bahariya Oasis, Giza, Egypt, during three successive seasons to find out the effect of application of bentonite (BN) as a natural clay deposit at either 6 or 12 kg/palm tree and humic substances (HS) as organic amendment at either 0.75 or 1.0 L/palm tree incorporated with Bacillus polymyxa (BP) as a bioferti...

A new sesquiterpene lactone, 3β,10α-dihydroxy-10β-(hydroxymethyl)-8α-(4-hydroxymethacrylate)-1αH,5αH,6βH,7αH-guai-4(15), 11(13)-dien-6,12-olide (1), along with twenty-one known compounds, were identified from the aerial parts of Centaurothamnus maximus. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences...

Surfactant-stabilized mucoadhesive nanogels (NGs) for vaginal delivery of fluconazole (FLZ) were studied and evaluated in this work. FLZ-NG formulations were prepared using two different types of mucoadhesive polymers, Carbopol 934 (Ca934) and Pluronic F-127 (PF127). A rheology study revealed a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic flow behavior (shear thinn...

The determination of an anthracycline-based antitumor drug, doxorubicin (DOX), in the bacterial ghost (BG) matrix of Salmonella typhimurium and commercial injectable dosage form was performed using a rapid, sensitive, and environmentally greener “high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)” assay. DOX was determined chromatographically on a Nucle...

This review tries to summarize the purpose of steadily developing surface-functionalized nanoparticles for various bio-applications and represents a fascinating and rapidly growing field of research. Due to their unique properties—such as novel optical, biodegradable, low-toxicity, biocompatibility, size, and highly catalytic features—these materia...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic autoimmune disease that causes disability due to progressive inflammation and destruction of the tissues around the joints. Methotrexate is mainly used to prevent the progression of joint destruction and reduce the deformity. The major challenge in treating RA with methotrexate is the systemic side e...

Background Bacterial ghosts are the evacuated bacterial cellular membranes from most of the genetic and protein contents which preserved their surface characters. Recently, bacterial ghosts exploited for different biomedical applications, for instance, vaccination. The purpose of this study is to measure the immunogenic protective response of bacte...

The application of plant extracts or plant-derived compounds in the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs) was researched. Determining the exact metabolite implicated in the formation of NPs would necessitate comprehensive investigations. Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) are gaining a lot of attention because of their unique properties and effect...

Conjunctivitis and endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis mostly occurred after ophthalmic surgery. Therefore, the present study aimed to maximize the ocular delivery of ciprofloxacin (CPX) using colloidal lipid-based carrier to control the post-surgical infection. In this study, CPX was formulated as ophthalmic liposomal drops. Two different phospho...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious disease that affects millions of people throughout the world, despite considerable advances in therapy. The formation of colorectal adenomas and invasive adenocarcinomas is the consequence of a succession of genetic and epigenetic changes in the normal colonic epithelium. Genetic and epigenetic processes associa...

Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are empty cell envelopes of nonliving evacuated bacterial cells. They are free from their cytoplasmic contents; however, they sustain their cellular 3D morphology and antigenic structures, counting on bioadhesive properties. Lately, they have been tested as an advanced drug delivery system (DDS) for different materials like D...

This study investigated the effect of cefepime at sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) on in vitro biofilm formation (BF) by clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The effect of cefepime at sub-MIC levels (½–¹/256 MIC) on in vitro BF by six clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa was phenotypically assessed following 24 and 48 h of cha...

Background The effectiveness of the best combination between different antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs stills an interest in the treatment of COVID19 infection. Patients and methods A prospective randomized cohort study comprised 108 adult patients with confirmed PCR COVID 19 infection with systemic hyper inflammation state, divided into two...

Mucormycosis in patients who have COVID-19 or who are otherwise immunocompromised has become a global problem, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Infection is debilitating and fatal, leading to loss of organs and emotional trauma. Radiographic manifestations are not specific, but diagnosis can be made through microscopic examination of ma...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s13205-020-02318-x.].

We develop a suitable delivery system for niaouli essential oil (NEO) using a nanoemulsification method for acne vulgaris. Prepared nanoemulsions (NEs) were characterized for droplet dimension, rheology, surface charge, and stability. The ability of NEO formulations against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis was investigated and...