Background: Bacillus species are the predominant soil bacteria because of their resistant-endospore formation and production of essential antibiotics such as bacitracin. Objectives: The aim of this study was to isolate Bacillus spp. from riverside soil and investigate their antimicrobial characteristics against some pathogenic bacteria. Materials and Methods: Fifty soil samples were collected from different sites of Bahmanshir riverside in Abadan city, Iran, and analyzed for the presence of Bacillus species. The media used in this research were nutrient broth and agar. Bacillus species were identified by their phenotypic and biochemical characteristics. The antimicrobial effects of Bacillus extract against the target bacteria including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae and Corynebacterium diphtheriae were examined. Results: The identified Bacillus species included B.cereus (86.6%), B.subtilis (6.6%), B. thuringiensis (3.3%), and B. pumilus (3.3%). Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of the extracted compounds was carried out against five different bacteria. Antibiotic production tests indicated that two Bacillus strains belong to B. cereus, which showed antimicrobial properties. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these compounds ranged between 8.34-33.34 mg/mL for the target bacteria. Conclusions: This study indicated that some Bacillus species have the potential to produce antimicrobial compounds which can be used to control microbial infections. Keywords: Soil; Bacteria; Anti-Infective Agents; Bacillus

Context: LHX4 is a LIM homeodomain transcription factor involved in pituitary ontogenesis. Only a few heterozygous LHX4 mutations have been reported to be responsible for congenital pituitary hormone deficiency. Subjects and Methods: A total of 136 patients with congenital hypopituitarism associated with malformations of brain structures, pituitary stalk, or posterior pituitary gland was screened for LHX4 mutations. Results: Three novel allelic variants that cause predicted changes in the protein sequence of LHX4 (2.3%) were found (p.Thr99fs, p.Thr90Met, and p.Gly370Ser). On the basis of functional studies, p.Thr99fs mutation was responsible for the patients’ phenotype, whereas p.Thr90Met and p.Gly370Ser were likely polymorphisms. Patients bearing the heterozygous p.Thr99fs mutation had variable phenotypes: two brothers presented somato-lactotroph and thyrotroph deficiencies, with pituitary hypoplasia and poorly developed sella turcica; the youngest brother (propositus) also had corpus callosum hypoplasia and ectopic neurohypophysis; their father only had somatotroph deficiency and delayed puberty with pituitary hyperplasia. Functional studies showed that the mutation induced a complete loss of transcriptional activity on POU1F1 promoter and a lack of DNA binding. Cotransfection of p.Thr99fs mutant and wild-type LHX4 failed to evidence any dominant negative effect, suggesting a mechanism of haploinsufficiency. We also identified prolactin and GH promoters as potential target genes of LHX4 and found that the p.Thr99fs mutant was also unable to transactivate these promoters. Conclusions: The present report describes three new exonic LHX4 allelic variants with at least one being responsible for congenital hypopituitarism. It also extends the phenotypical heterogeneity associated with LHX4 mutations, which includes variable anterior pituitary hormone deficits, as well as pituitary and extrapituitary abnormalities.

This study investigated the molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant classic Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-cKp) and carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-hvKp) isolates in southwestern Iran. From 2019 to 2021, 136 (88.9%) cKp and 17 (11.1%) hvKp isolates were identified using biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibiotic resistance, beta-lactamases, and clonal relatedness of carbapenem-resistant isolates were investigated using disk diffusion, PCR, and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR), respectively. The different markers of hvKp isolates were as follows: string test (35.3%, n = 6/17), magA (11.8%, n = 2/17), rmpA (11.8%, n = 2/17), rmpA2 (52.9%, n = 9/17), iucA (52.9%, n = 9/17), and peg344 (35.3%, n = 6/17). Also, 55.1% (n = 75/136) of cKp and 47.1% (n = 8/17) of hvKp isolates were CR-cKp and CR-hvKp, respectively. All CR-hvKp (100.0%, n = 8) isolates were MDR. Colistin, tetracycline, and tigecycline were the most effective antibiotics. The occurrence of beta-lactamase genes in 75 CR-cKp and 8 CR-hvKp isolates was as follows: bla_NDM (41.3, 25.0%), bla_IMP (4.0, 0.0%), bla_VIM (8.0, 0.0%), bla_GES (14.7, 25.0%), bla_{OXA–48–like} (20.0, 0.0%), bla_CTX–M (26.7, 12.5%), bla_SHV (24.0, 12.5%), bla_TEM (10.7, 0.0%), bla_FOX (6.7, 0.0%), bla_DHA (6.7, 0.0%), bla_CMY (5.3, 0.0%), bla_LAT (12.0, 0.0%), and bla_ACT (8.0, 0.0%). ERIC-PCR showed a high diversity among isolates. In this study, the occurrence of MDR CR-hvKp isolates harboring bla_NDM and bla_GES was detected for the first time in southwestern Iran. To prevent the spread of CR-hvKp and reduce selection pressure, long-term surveillance and more effective treatment strategies should be implemented.

Background: Functional constipation is a common and annoying gastrointestinal disorder among children worldwide in which the intestinal microbiota composition plays a fundamental role. This study aimed to compare the quantity of main intestinal Lactobacillus species in constipated children and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 40 children fulfilling Rome IV criteria for functional constipation and 40 healthy volunteers. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method with species-specific primers was used to investigate seven main Lactobacillus species in fecal samples. Results: Lactobacillus strains of the patient group were different from the healthy controls, main differences being noticeable decrease in the population quantity of Lactobacillus reuteri (mean 10^2.61 CFU/gram feces) and lower abundance of Lactobacillus fermentum (p< 0.0001). Conclusion: Lactobacillus species might be quantitatively altered in childhood functional constipation. Our findings on the different species of Lactobacillus population showed significantly decreased quantity in the patient group compared with the healthy subjects.

Background: The mouth provides an environment that allows the colonization and growth of a wide variety of microorganisms, especially bacteria. One of the most effective ways to reduce oral microorganisms is using mouthwashes. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effects of chlorhexidine mouthwashes (manufacture by Livar, Behsa, Boht) on common oral microorganisms. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, isolated colonies of four bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, S. sanguinis, S. salivarius and Lactobacillus casei, were prepared for an antimicrobial mouth rinse test. The tube dilution method was used for determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC). Results: The MICs for Kin gingival, Behsa and Boht mouthwashes were 0.14, 0.48 and 1000 micrograms/mL using the tube method for S. mutans, respectively. The MBCs for the mentioned mouthwashes were 0.23, 1.9 and 2000 micrograms/mL for S. mutans, respectively. The MICs for Kin gingival, Behsa and Boht mouthwashes were 0.073, 0.48 and 250 micrograms/mL using the tube method for S. sanguinis, respectively. The MBCs for the mentioned mouthwashes were 0.14, 1.9 and 1000 micrograms/mL for S. sanguinis, respectively. Conclusions: The Kin Gingival chlorhexidine mouthwash has a greater effect than Behsa and Boht mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and is recommended to be used for plaque chemical inhibition. Keywords: Chlorhexidine; Mouthwashes; Minimum Inhibitory Concentration