KUISCID has become the only center from Turkey for which poster presentations from four different projects are accepted by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). We congragulate our presenters: Laboratory Specialist Dr. Gulen Esken and graduate students Cansel Vatansever, Jale Boral, and Gizem Babuçcu.
Dr. Gülen Esken: Anti-viral effect of NAC-Ag2 nanoclusters on SARS-CoV-2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly contagious and pathogenic agent which caused novel pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVİD-19). Nowadays, clinical consequences of this disease are very diverse, and its treatment is a worldwide challenge. Silver Nanoparticles have demonstrated great potential advantages in antiviral activity. N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine coated Ag2S quantum dots (NAC-Ag2S) have shown therapeutic effect on different human cancer cell lines. The aim of this study is to test antiviral activity of NAC-Ag2S on SARS-CoV-2. This study described anti-viral activity of NAC-Ag2S against SARS CoV-2 infection. However, the NAC-Ag2S had no effect on viral attachment and penetration process. Probably inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication. Our findings support that NAC-Ag2S could be used as a supportive treatment against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Cansel Vatansever: Eradication of Colistin Induced K.pneumoniae Persisters
Klebsiella pneumoniae has become a worldwide emerging threat because of high fatality of infections. Colistin, combined with amikacin and meropenem has been commonly recommended for treatment of MDR K.pneumoniae infections. In addition to resistant isolates, persister cells become an issue. Persister cells have been noticed because of their role in antibiotic resistance and recurrence of infections. Mostly traditional antimicrobial treatment is inefficient for elimination of persisters. The aim of the study was determining the killing activity of colistin, meropenem and amikacin on two different K.pneumoniae persisters. According to result of the study, Most effective antimicrobial is amikacin for colistin induced persisters. Combination therapy with amikacin might to be the best approach during the treatment of K.pneumoniae. The special form of persister cells grown in particular conditions displays the require for persister cell specific targeted therapy.
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Jale Boral: ‘Adaptation of Acinetobacter baumannii to continuous exposure of Colistin In Vivo and In Vitro’
On this poster titled as ‘Adaptation of Acinetobacter baumannii to continuous exposure of Colistin In Vivo and In Vitro’ morphological and molecular differences among susceptible, resistant and tolerant isolates of A. baumannii have been observed. The obtained results have shown that A. baumannii is capable of adapting its membrane permeability and gene expression levels of pmrA, pmrB, pmrC towards gaining and losing resistance both in vivo and in vitro.
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Gizem Babucçu: Evaluation of the Early Neutrophil Response to Candida albicans
Candida albicans is the most common fungus in human infections, normally can be found in human as a part our microbiota. Due to some factors (endogenous or exogenous) this pathogen can cause life treating and fatal bloodstream infections (candidemia). Neutrophils are the most effective and important defence elements in candidemia. The different responses of neutrophils to commensal (silent mode of C. albicans), colonization (accumulation on the epithelial surface), and infection phases of C. albicans have not yet been fully elucidated. Özlem Doğan and her team aim to investigate the early response of neutrophils against C. albicans different morphotypes, in molecular and cellular aspects. All the experiments show that neutrophils trying to defeat principally the hyphae form of C. albicans by using their oxidative mechanism, granular enzymes, and phagocytic effects. The interraction between C. albicans and neutrophils occurs with the perfect timing which is the neutrophil activation peaked at the first 1 hour of interaction.
