Browsing by Author "Essam T."

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Biomonitoring detoxification efficiency of an algal-bacterial microcosm system for treatment of coking wastewater: Harmonization between Chlorella vulgaris microalgae and wastewater microbiome
(Elsevier B.V., 2019) Hassan M.; Essam T.; Mira A.; Megahed S.; Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Faculty of Pharmacy; Cairo University; Cairo; Egypt; Department of Genomics and Health; Center for Advanced Research in Public Health; FISABIO FoundationValencia; Spain; Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Faculty of Pharmacy; October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA); Cairo; Egypt
Nowadays, due to worldwide water shortage, water utilities are forced to re-evaluate treated wastewater. Consequently, wastewater treatment plants need to conduct biomonitoring. Coking wastewater (CWW) has toxic, mutative and carcinogenic components with threatening effect on the environment. CWW was selected as a model for complex highly toxic industrial wastewater that should be treated. CWW from Egypt was treated in a nine-liter photobioreactor using an algal-bacterial system. The photobioreactor was operated for 154 days changing different parameters (toxic load and light duration) for optimization. Optimized conditions achieved significant reduction (45%) in the operation cost. The algal-bacterial system was monitored using chemical assays (chemical oxygen demand and phenol analysis), bioassays (phytotoxicity, Artemia-toxicity, cytotoxicity, algal-bacterial ratio and settleability) and Illumina-MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. The algal-bacterial system detoxified (in terms of phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity and Artemia-toxicity) CWW introduced as influent through all phases. A significant difference was recorded in the microbial diversity between influent and effluent samples. Four phyla dominated influent samples; Proteobacteria (77%), Firmicutes (11%), Bacteroidetes (5%) and Deferribacteres (3%) compared to only two in effluent samples; Proteobacteria (66%) and Bacteroidetes (26%). The significant relative-abundance of versatile aromatic degraders (Comamonadaceae and Pseudomonadaceae families) in influent samples conformed to the nature of CWW. Microbial community shifted and promoted the activity of catabolically versatile and xenobiotics degrading families (Chitinophagaceae and Xanthomonadaceae). Co-culture of microalgae had a positive effect on the biodegrading bacteria that was reflected by enhanced treatment efficiency, significant increase in relative abundance of bacterial genera with cyanide-decomposing potential and negative effect on waterborne pathogens. � 2019 Elsevier B.V.
Illumina sequencing and assessment of new cost-efficient protocol for metagenomic-DNA extraction from environmental water samples
(Elsevier Editora Ltda, 2018) Hassan M.; Essam T.; Megahed S.; Cairo University; Faculty of Pharmacy; Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Cairo; Egypt; October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA); Faculty of Pharmacy; Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Cairo; Egypt
In this study, the development and assessment of a modified, efficient, and cost-efficient protocol for mDNA (metagenomic DNA) extraction from contaminated water samples was attempted. The efficiency of the developed protocol was investigated in comparison to a well-established commercial kit (Epicentre, Metagenomic DNA Isolation Kit for Water). The comparison was in terms of degree of shearing, yield, purity, duration, suitability for polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing in addition to the quality of next-generation sequencing data. The DNA yield obtained from the developed protocol was 2.6 folds higher than that of the commercial kit. No significant difference in the alpha (Observed species, Chao1, Simpson and PD whole tree) and beta diversity was found between the DNA samples extracted by the commercial kit and the developed protocol. The number of high-quality sequences of the samples extracted by the developed method was 20% higher than those obtained by the samples processed by the kit. The developed economic protocol successfully yielded high-quality pure mDNA compatible with complex molecular applications. Thus we propose the developed protocol as a gold standard for future metagenomic studies investigating a large number of samples. � 2018 Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia
Nanoparticles as tool for enhanced ophthalmic delivery of vancomycin: a multidistrict-based microbiological study, solid lipid nanoparticles formulation and evaluation
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2016) Yousry C.; Fahmy R.H.; Essam T.; El-laithy H.M.; Elkheshen S.A.; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy; Faculty of Pharmacy; Cairo University; Kasr El-Aini St; Cairo; Egypt; Department of Microbiology and Immunology; and Biotechnology Center; Faculty of Pharmacy; Cairo University; Kasr El-Aini St; Cairo; Egypt; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy; Faculty of Pharmacy; October University for Modern Sciences and Arts; Cairo; Egypt; Department of Pharmaceutical Technology; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Industries; Future University in Egypt; Cairo; Egypt
Context: A microbiological multidistrict-based survey from different Egyptian governorates was conducted to determine the most prevalent causative agents of ocular infections in the Egyptian population. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was then performed to identify the most potent antimicrobial agent. Vancomycin (VCM) proved the highest activity against gram-positive Staphylococcus bacteria, which are the most commonly isolated causative agents of ocular infection. However, topically applied VCM suffers from poor ocular bioavailability because of its high molecular weight and hydrophilicity. Objective: The aim of the present study was to develop VCM-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) using water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion, solvent evaporation technique to enhance ocular penetration and prolong ophthalmic residence of VCM. Method: Two consecutive full factorial designs (24 followed by 32) were adopted to study the effect of different formulation and process parameters on SLN formulation. The lipid type and structure, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) molecular weight and concentration, sonication time, as well as lipid:drug ratio were studied as independent variables. The formulated SLN formulae were evaluated for encapsulation efficiency (EE%), particle size (PS), and zeta potential as dependent variables. Results: The statistically-optimized SLN formula (1:1 ratio of glyceryltripalmitate:VCM with 1% low molecular weight PVA and 1 min sonication time) had average PS of 277.25 nm, zeta potential of ?20.45, and 19.99% drug encapsulation. Scanning and transmission electron micrographs showed well-defined, spherical, homogenously distributed particles. Conclusion: The present study suggests that VCM incorporation into SLNs is successfully achievable; however, further studies with different nanoencapsulation materials and techniques would be valuable for improving VCM encapsulation. � 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Studying the influence of formulation and process variables on Vancomycin-loaded polymeric nanoparticles as potential carrier for enhanced ophthalmic delivery
(Elsevier B.V., 2017) Yousry C.; Elkheshen S.A.; El-laithy H.M.; Essam T.; Fahmy R.H.; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy; Faculty of Pharmacy; Cairo University; Kasr El-Aini St; Cairo; Egypt; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Industries; Future University in Egypt; Cairo; Egypt; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy; Faculty of Pharmacy; University of Modern Science and Art; Cairo; Egypt; Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Faculty of Pharmacy; Cairo University; Kasr El-Aini St; Cairo; Egypt; Department of Pharmaceutics; Faculty of Pharmacy; Ahram Canadian University; 6th of October City; Cairo; Egypt
Ocular topically applied Vancomycin (VCM) suffers poor bioavailability due to its high molecular weight and hydrophilicity. In the present investigation, VCM-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) were developed aiming to enhance its ocular bioavailability through prolonging its release pattern and ophthalmic residence. PNPs were prepared utilizing double emulsion (W/O/O), solvent evaporation technique. 23 � 41 full factorial design was applied to evaluate individual and combined influences of polymer type, Eudragit� RS100, sonication time, and Span�80 concentration on PNPs particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and zeta potential. Further, the optimized formulae were incorporated in 1% Carbopol�-based gel. In-vivo evaluation of the optimized formulae was performed via Draize test followed by microbiological susceptibility testing on albino rabbits. Results revealed successful formulation of VCM-loaded PNPs was achieved with particle sizes reaching 155 nm and up to 88% encapsulation. Draize test confirmed the optimized formulae as non-irritating and safe for ophthalmic administration. Microbiological susceptibility testing confirmed prolonged residence, higher Cmax. with more than two folds increment in the AUC(0.25�24) of VCM-PNPs over control groups. Thus, VCM-loaded PNPs represent promising carriers with superior achievements for enhanced Vancomycin ophthalmic delivery over the traditional use of commercially available VCM parenteral powder after constitution into a solution by the ophthalmologists. � 2017 Elsevier B.V.