Mohammed Alqasmi

Olea europaea subsp. laperrinei, endemic to the central Sahara in Algeria, Niger, and Sudan, is recognized for its therapeutic and nutritional benefits, notably its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This study investigates the phytochemical composition and biological activities of its leaf extracts obtained via aqueous and ethanolic extraction. Total phenols, flavonoids, and tannins were quantified by UV–visible spectrophotometry, while individual phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-UV. Antioxidant capacity was measured using DPPH radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide neutralization, and β-carotene bleaching assays. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against nine bacterial strains. The ethanolic extract exhibited higher total phenol (134.72 ± 9.25 mg GAE/g VP) and flavonoid (26.08 ± 1.57 mg QE/g VP) contents, while tannin levels were similar in both extracts. Twenty-seven phenolic compounds, including oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, rutin, and quercetin, were identified. The ethanolic extract showed superior antioxidant capacity, with an EC₅₀ of 7.48 ± 0.39 µg/mL (DPPH) and IC₅₀ values of 214.04 ± 2.89 µg/mL (H₂O₂) and 185.63 ± 3.84 µg/mL (β-carotene). Both extracts exhibited antibacterial effects, with inhibition zones up to 23.33 ± 0.76 mm and MIC values as low as 0.78 mg/mL. These findings highlight the potential of Laperrine olive leaves as natural antioxidant and antibacterial agents.

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) is the primary treatment for hydrocephalus, significantly improving patients’ outcomes. However, it is marred by high failure rates due to infections, which account for a third of these malfunctions and escalate morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Method: This study focused on evaluating VPS infection rates, pathogens, their resistance patterns, and the impact on clinical outcomes using retrospective data from multiple hospitals in Saudi Arabia. It included data from hydrocephalus patients who underwent VPS and only considered positive cultures that were confirmed from CSF or shunt tip samples. Results: This study excluded patients with prior infections before VPS placement or those treated with alternatives to VPS. Out of 317 patients who met the inclusion criteria, the analysis revealed that 23 patients (7.26%) suffered from VPS infections, mostly within the first two weeks post-surgery (58.06% of cases), with a significant discrepancy in infection rates between hospitals. Infections predominantly involved Gram-positive bacteria (58.08%), especially coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus (25.81% and 12.90%, respectively). There was also a substantial presence of Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, accounting for 35.46% and 6.46%, respectively. Despite general antibiotic susceptibility, resistance was significant in certain cases, including multidrug-resistant isolates like Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter ursingii. Importantly, patients with VPS infections had a tenfold increase in the length of hospital stay (70.84 days, SD ± 139.5) compared to non-infected patients (7.69 days, SD ± 20.72), indicating high morbidity and associated treatment costs. Conclusions: Our results emphasize the importance of better VPS infection control and standardized hospital protocols to decrease the incidence of VPS-related infections, both in Saudi Arabia and globally.

Biofilms represent complex three-dimensional microbial communities that can harbor strains highly resistant to antimicrobial agents. These structures, which form on both biotic and abiotic surfaces, are associated with food spoilage and increased complications in hospitalized patients. Consequently, there is significant interest in developing novel biofilm and infection control strategies, particularly those focusing on natural molecules with dual antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties. In this study, olive tree twigs from three varieties of Olea europea chemlal (CH), Azeradj (AZ), and wild-type Olea europaea sylvestris (W) were collected from the Kabylia region in Algeria. The samples underwent systematic extraction and were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, antimicrobial properties via disk diffusion assay, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and antibiofilm capabilities. Results demonstrated that olive tree twig extracts exhibited substantial antioxidant activity and significant antibacterial and antibiofilm potential. The antioxidant activity, measured through DPPH radical scavenging, showed IC50 values ranging from 38.12 ± 1.52 µg/mL to 148.7 ± 1.23 µg/mL. When tested against six pathogenic bacterial strains, including both ATCC reference strains and milk isolates, the MIC values ranged from 1.18 mg/mL to 4.71 mg/mL. Notably, sub-inhibitory concentrations significantly reduced biofilm formation across most tested strains, with inhibition rates varying from 21% to 90.43%. The effectiveness of biofilm inhibition was dependent on the bacterial strain, olive tree variety, and extract concentration used. Statistical analysis confirmed the significance of these results (p < 0.05). Given the demonstrated antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm properties of these olive tree twig extracts, they show promise for further development as surface disinfectants and potential applications in food safety and infection control. Additional research is warranted to fully characterize their mechanisms of action and optimize their practical applications.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a significant global health challenge, necessitating alternative therapeutic strategies beyond conventional antibiotics. Phage therapy offers a promising alternative due to its high specificity for bacteria, ability to access complex infection sites, minimal off-target effects, and synergistic potential with antibiotics. This study aims to evaluate the awareness and possible adoption of phage therapy among doctors in Saudi Arabia to inform future research and its clinical integration. An anonymous online survey was distributed via email by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) and further promoted through local networks of clinicians. The inclusion criteria include active doctors who are working in Saudi Arabia and registered with the SCFHS. The survey yielded 102 valid responses from over 20 specialties and subspecialties. Results revealed doctors’ significant concerns about AMR's impact on their practice and a moderate familiarity with phage therapy. Key pathogens identified for phage therapy included methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium, and Streptococcus species. Priority clinical conditions were infections in immunocompromised patients, diabetic foot infections, blood infections, and infective endocarditis. Despite limited awareness of AMR alternatives, there was optimism about phage therapy's future role. Enhancing research, development, and access to phage therapy could provide major clinical and economic benefits.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) poses a significant threat to individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), as this bacterium is highly adaptable and resistant to antibiotics. While early-stage Pa infections can often be eradicated with aggressive antibiotic therapy, chronic infections are nearly impossible to eliminate and require treatments that focus on long-term bacterial suppression. Without such suppression, these persistent infections can severely damage the lungs, leading to serious complications and a reduced life expectancy for CF patients. Evidence for a specific treatment regimen for managing Pa infections in CF patients remains limited. This narrative review provides a detailed analysis of antimicrobial therapies assessed in completed phase IV trials, focusing on their safety and efficacy, especially with prolonged use. Key antibiotics, including tobramycin, colistin, meropenem, aztreonam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin, are discussed, emphasizing their use, side effects, and delivery methods. Inhaled antibiotics are preferred for their targeted action and minimal side effects, while systemic antibiotics offer potency but carry risks like nephrotoxicity. The review also explores emerging treatments, such as phage therapy and antibiofilm agents, which show promise in managing chronic infections. Nonetheless, further research is necessary to enhance the safety and effectiveness of existing therapies while investigating new approaches for better long-term outcomes.

This study investigates the colonization of endophytic fungi in nettle leaf tissues and evaluates their antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Using an inverted optical microscope, extensive fungal colonization was observed in all leaf parts, with hyphae prevalent in epidermal cells, parenchyma cells, and vascular tissues. 144 endophytic fungal isolates were isolated from 800 leaf fragments, indicating an 18% retention rate. ANOVA analysis revealed significant differences (p Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Inhibition zones ranged from 9. 5 to 15. 16 mm, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) between 0. 19 to 25 mg/mL. Alternaria sp. exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against MRSA. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging test and FRAP method. All extracts showed substantial free radical scavenging properties, with IC50 values close to those of standards like BHT. Alternaria sp. had the highest antioxidant activity, followed by Epicocum sp. and Ulocladium sp. The FRAP method confirmed high reducing potential, with Alternaria sp. again exhibiting the highest activity. These findings highlight the potential of endophytic fungi in nettle leaves as sources of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents, with significant implications for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria remain a global public health issue due to the barrier imposed by their outer membrane and their propensity to form biofilms. It is becoming imperative to develop new antibacterial strategies. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of Origanum vulgare essential oil (OEO), alone and in combination with antibiotics, as well as its antibiofilm action against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative strains. OEO components were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar diffusion test and the microdilution method. Interactions between OEO and antibiotics were examined using the checkerboard method, while antibiofilm activity was analyzed using the crystal violet assay. Chemical analysis revealed that carvacrol was the major compound in OEO (61.51%). This essential oil demonstrated activity against all the tested strains, with inhibition zone diameters (IZDs) reaching 32.3 ± 1.5 mm. The combination of OEO with different antibiotics produced synergistic and additive effects, leading to a reduction of up to 98.44% in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). In addition, this essential oil demonstrated an ability to inhibit and even eradicate biofilm formation. These results suggest that OEO could be exploited in the development of new molecules, combining its metabolites with antibiotics.

The present study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle methanolic leaf extracts from geographically distinct regions and to assess their antimicrobial properties along with their ability to induce oxidative stress. The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids including chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, synapic acid, p-coumaric acid, apigenin, hyperoside, isoamnétine-3-O-beta-D-glucotrioside, quercetin, and isoquercetin in various amounts depending on the origin of tested extracts. The assessment of antibacterial activity showed the effectiveness of the A. altissima extracts particularly against Gram-positive bacteria, with inhibition zone diameters reaching 14 ± 1 mm and minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 4 to 72.2 mg/mL. These bioactive substances also exhibited strong antibiofilm activity with an eradication percentage reaching 67.07%. Furthermore, they increased ROS production to levels two to five times higher than the control group, altered the membrane integrity and caused lipid peroxidation with MDA production exceeding 2.5 µmol/mg protein in the Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. A decrease in the levels of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT was also observed, indicating an impairment of the bacterial response to the oxidative stress caused by the tested extracts. These findings highlight the antibacterial properties of A. altissima leaf extracts depending on their origins and promote their exploitation and application in the agro-food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Achillea fragrantissima, a desert plant commonly known as yarrow, is traditionally used as an antimicrobial agent in folklore medicine in Saudi Arabia. The current study was undertaken to determine its antibiofilm activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR-P. aeruginosa) using in vitro and in vivo studies. A biofilm model induced through an excision wound in diabetic mice was used to evaluate its effect in vivo. The skin irritation and cytotoxic effects of the extract were determined using mice and HaCaT cell lines, respectively. The Achillea fragrantissima methanolic extract was analyzed with LC-MS to detect different phytoconstituents, which revealed the presence of 47 different phytoconstituents. The extract inhibited the growth of both tested pathogens in vitro. It also increased the healing of biofilm-formed excision wounds, demonstrating its antibiofilm, antimicrobial, and wound-healing action in vivo. The effect of the extract was concentration-dependent, and its activity was stronger against MRSA than MDR-P. aeruginosa. The extract formulation was devoid of a skin irritation effect in vivo and cytotoxic effect on HaCaT cell lines in vitro.

The study developed a simple and inexpensive method to induce biofilm formation in-vivo for the evaluation of the antibiofilm activity of pharmacological agents using Swiss albino mice. Animals were made diabetic using streptozocin and nicotinamide. A cover slip containing preformed biofilm along with MRSA culture was introduced into the excision wound in these animals. The method was effective in developing biofilm on the coverslip after 24 h incubation in MRSA broth which was confirmed by microscopic examination and a crystal violet assay. Application of preformed biofilm along with microbial culture induced a profound infection with biofilm formation on excision wounds in 72 h. This was confirmed by macroscopic, histological, and bacterial load determination. Mupirocin, a known antibacterial agent effective against MRSA was used to demonstrate antibiofilm activity. Mupirocin was able to completely heal the excised wounds in 19 to 21 days while in the base-treated group, healing took place between 30 and 35 days. The method described is robust and can be reproduced easily without the use of transgenic animals and sophisticated methods such as confocal microscopy.