Background: The contaminated contact lens provides Pseudomonas aeruginosa an ideal site for attachment and biofilm production. Continuous contact of the eye to the biofilm-infested lens can lead to serious ocular diseases, such as keratitis (corneal ulcers). The biofilms also prevent effective penetration of the antibiotics, which increase the chances of antibiotic resistance. Methods: For this study, 22 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were obtained from 36 contact lenses and 14 contact lens protective fluid samples. These isolates were tested against eight commonly used antibiotics using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The biofilm forming potential of these isolates was also evaluated using various qualitative and quantitative techniques. Finally, a relationship between biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance was also examined. Results:The isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa tested were found resistant to most of the antibiotics tested. Qualitative and quantitative biofilm analysis revealed that most of the isolates exhibited strong biofilm production. The biofilm production was significantly higher in isolates that were multi-drug resistant (p < 0.0001).

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a causative agent of gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcers and gastric adenocarcinoma. More than 50% world population is colonized by H. pylori, which is closely related to the chronic gastritis and gastric ulcer infection. In this study, a total of 214 gastritis patient's serum samples were screened for anti-H. pylori IgG antibody. A 96-well plate coated with 20 μg/ml antigen and hundred-fold diluted patient's serum was allowed to react. After extensive washing with buffer, 1:2,500 diluted conjugated secondary antibody was added. Later substrate was added to observe positivity by measuring the intensity of color. Statistical analyses were performed, and p value of <0.01 was taken as significant; 84% male patients and 89% female patients, respectively, tested positive for H. pylori, while agewise distribution was 35-45 years males (40%) and 35-55 years females (52%) were found highest number of H. pylori infected patients. In-house ELISA based on surface whole cell antigen (wELISA) showed a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 100%, accuracy 94% and κ value 0.86 with significant correlation R-0.77020; p < 0.0001. We conclude that H. pylori local isolates surface antigen was satisfactory for diagnosis as different parameters were adjusted according to the local H. pylori isolates. Fluctuations in serum antibody titer predict the variation in an individual's response of the host against H. pylori. In-house wELISA could provide a reliable and a clinically useful method for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection in patients of Karachi, Pakistan.

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Plants have been explored extensively all over the globe in quest of a novel bioactive compound that could a good therapeutic candidate treating infectious diseases especially against drug resistant microbes. Qualitative phytochemical analyses of Carica papaya leaf extract reveal that except steroids and tannins all the possible phytochemical constituents including carbohydrates, proteins, anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids were present. Two ways of Carica papaya leaf extract preparations i.e crushed and boiled were tested for their antifungal activity against 6 saprophytic fungi Penicillium sp, Aspergilus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium sp, Rhizopus and Helminthosporum, 5 dermatophytic fungi Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton tonsurans and 6 yeasts including Candida albicans, Candida albicans ATCC 0383, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida galbrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida kruzei. The activity was found against majority of fungi but was much better in case of crushed leaf extract.