Wheat and flour contain essential nutrients such as carbohydrate, minerals, fats and proteins which may aid proliferation of microorganisms in products made from cereal grains and kept under improper storage condition. This study was conducted to determine the microbial load of bread and flour sold in packed and unpacked forms by the local and super markets in Dhaka city. Socioeconomic background, awareness of the microbiological contamination, spoilage of bread and flour and hygiene status of the salespeople were also studied to determine any correlation between the contamination of bread and flour sold by local and super markets. About 20 samples of flour (n=10) and bread (n=10) were included in this study to determine the load of total heterotrophic bacteria (THB), total Staphylococcus aureus (TSA), total Enterobacteriaceae (TE), total coliforms (TC), total yeast and mold (TYM). Equal number of unpacked (local market) and packed (supermarket) bread and flour samples were included in this study. TC, TSA and THB counts were found to be 1.0 log 10 cfu/g higher in unpacked (local market) flour samples compared to those of packed (supermarket) samples. TSA counts were significantly higher in unpacked (local market) samples compared to the packed samples (p<0.05). Food handlers of both the groups did not have adequate knowledge and training on food contamination and spoilage. However, salespeople in the supermarkets were found to be more educated, experienced than those in the local markets. This study demonstrates that unpacked (local market) bread and flour are more contaminated than the packed (supermarket) samples and may pose risk of foodborne infection to consumers.

The present study was carried out to investigate the microbiological quality and antibiotic resistance patterns of pathogenic bacteria isolated from vegetable samples. A total of 14 vegetable samples, 7 from local and 7 from super shops, were randomly collected from different locations of Dhaka city. Concentrations of total heterotrophic bacteria, total coliform, faecal coliform, Pseudomonas spp., Listeria spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were enumerated from each sample by serial dilution and spread plate technique. Presence of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Vibrio spp. were determined by enrichment and selective plating methods. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of the isolated bacteria were determined using Imipenem (10 ?g), Ceftriaxone (30 ?g), Sulphamethoxazole (25 ?g), Ampicillin (10 ?g), Gentamicin (10 ?g), Aztreonam (30 ?g), Cefuroxime (30 ?g) and Oxacillin (5 ?g) antibiotic discs. The local market vegetables showed higher proportions of E. coli (4/7, 57.14%) but the super shop vegetables showed higher proportions of Pseudomonas spp. (5/7, 71.42%) and Listeria spp. (5/7, 71.42%). Pathogenic bacteria isolated form the super shops showed increased resistance against (5/8, 62.5%) antibiotics tested against the pathogenic bacteria. Contamination of vegetables by a range of pathogenic bacteria in local and super market vegetables is a serious threat to public health if they are consumed raw or unprocessed. Higher antibiotic resistance in pathogens isolated form supermarket vegetables needs to be investigated in order to monitor and control spread of infections with drug resistant bacteria. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sjm.v4i1.22755 Stamford Journal of Microbiology, Vol.4(1) 2014: 13-18

Bacterial infections are often found to cause morbidity and mortality around the globe. Indiscriminate use of antibiotic for treatment of such infections is reported to cause selective pressure and increase in drug resistance. Emergence of antibiotic resistance is a growing concern for people of all age having bacterial infections. It is important to determine the trend of antibiotic resistance patterns of pathogenic bacteria isolated from clinical samples for appropriate treatment of patients. A retrospective study was conducted on patient samples collected from 1 July 2018 to 15 March 2019. A total of 500 urine, 136 blood, 120 stool, 172 swab, 90 Sputum and 60 pus samples were randomly collected from both male and female patients of different age groups who reported to a diagnostic centre in Dhaka city. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated and identified from the collected samples following standard methods. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of isolated bacteria were also determined by disc diffusion test. Proportion of UTI in female patients (71.67%) was found to be higher than the male (28.33%) patients and mostly caused by Escherichia coli (73.33%). Among Gram negative bacteria, E. coli (51%) was found to be predominant followed by Pseudomonas spp. (11.47%), Klebsiella (9.84%) and Salmonella Typhi (9.84%). Among Gram positive organism Staphylococcus aureus (9.0%), beta haemolytic streptococci (5.74%) and enterococci (3.28%) were found to be present. Among the tested antibiotics imipenem was found to be the most effective (93.02%) followed by gentamycin (76.03%) against all isolated bacteria. Amoxycillin was found to be least effective (21.29%) against all isolated bacteria. Increase in antibiotic resistance was possibly due to indiscriminate use of antibiotic for treatment of various infections. Prudent use of antimicrobial drugs will help reduce spread of resistant bacteria and complication of treatment of infected patients. Stamford Journal of Microbiology, Vol.9(1) 2019: 1-4

It is still a common belief that plasmids are circular. However, linear plasmids have been reported to exist more than a decade ago. Two types of linear plasmids are known. One type contains covalently closed ends and are commonly found in Borrelia, the causative agent of tick fever. The other type is characterized by the covalent attachment of proteins at the 5' ends and exists in a number of bacterial genera including Streptomyces, Rhodococcus, Mycobacterium and Planobispora. Recently, a linear plasmid in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi of the Enterobacteriaceae family have been reported for the first time. This paper reviews various postulated mechanisms of replication of linear plasmids and focuses on the components of the replication machinery of linear plasmids studied to date.

Natural therapy has its inherent attraction in that there are limited side-effects. Spirulina platensis, a naturally occurring algae, has been reported to have more than one therapeutic advantage. It is also used as a source of natural protein and vitamins in many parts of the world. In the present investigation, the antimicrobial activity of S. platensis against clinical isolates of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (n=17) and Paratyphi (n=3) was investigated. Ethanolic and chloroform extracts of S. platensis (40 mg/mL) were investigated for antimicrobial effect. Variable zones of inhibition were observed for the former extract whereas the latter did not show any inhibitory effect on growth of the test organism. Diameters of the zones of inhibition were 9.7-14.0 mm for S. Paratyphi and 9.5-16.0 mm for S. Typhi. The presence of zones of inhibition at the concentration of 40 mg/ml of the extract used is promising towards developing a natural remedy against infections with S. enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi.Stamford Journal of Microbiology, Vol.5(1) 2015: 22-25