Introduction: Microbial keratitis is a potentially vision-threatening ocular infection that may be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites. The etiological and epidemiological features of keratitis depend on host factors, geographical location and the climate. Several risk factors like age, sex, immune status and socio-economic background determine its pathogenesis. Therefore, knowledge of above features plus local organisms and resistance patterns help in rapid identification and appropriate selection of antimicrobial therapy. Aims and objective: To analyse the aetiology and predisposing factors associated with microbial keratitis. Material and methods: Corneal scraping from 100 suspected cases of infectious keratitis were included in the study. They were processed by standard microbiological procedures for isolation and speciation of different microbial agents. Result: Of the 100 patients investigated bacterial growth was found in 26 (26%) patients while fungal growth in 39 (39%) patients. Filamentous fungi isolated predominantly (95%), of which Aspergillus spp (25.6%) was commonest followed by Fusarium spp (17.9%), Penicillium spp (10.2%) etc. C. albicans were found in 2 (5%) patients. Of the positive bacterial culture Staphylococcus aureus (26.9%) were predominant followed by CONS and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.3%), E.coli (11.5%) etc. Trauma was commonest predisposing factor. Conclusion: An understanding of the epidemiological features, risk factors, and etiological agents for microbial keratitis in a specific region is important in rapid recognition, timely institution of therapy, optimal management, and prevention of this disease.

Scrub typhus is a febrile disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi (Previously called Rickettsia) and is carried to humans by an arthropod vector of the Trombiculidae family (Leptotrombidium deliense and L. akamushi). Scrub typhus is a Rickettsial infection re-emerging with increased reports from different places in India and other South East Asian countries with considerable mortality and morbidity. Our aim of the present study is to report the magnitude of scrub typhus antibodies and to assess the clinical features and outcomes of paediatric scrub typhus in children attending a tertiary care hospital, Katuri Medical College, Guntur, from August 2014 to February 2017 with differential diagnosis and scrub typhus was diagnosed by positive IgM antibodies against O. Tsutsugamushi. A total of 87 children diagnosed as scrub typhus on the basis of eschar and specific tests were included in the study. They presented with subacute fever 100%, with eschar 29.68% hepatomegaly 36.90%, splenomegaly 45.31%, lymphadenopathy 56.25%, cough 25%, vomiting 48.43%, rigor 100% and Pain abdomen 23%. The counts of blood leucocyte were usually normal but 18.75% of patients exhibited thrombocytopenia. Elevated SGOT /SGPT and bilirubin were seen. There was 96.85% correlation between ELISA and immunochromatographic method. Scrub typhus cases were misdiagnosed due limited awareness of disease and no specific clinical presentation, and lack of proper diagnostic facilities. The clinical features of Scrub typhus mimics with other common infectious conditions, that should be ruled out diagnostically. Both ELISA and Immunochromatography test (ICT) found to be effective in diagnosis. Empirical treatment should be started with Doxycycline and Azithromycin, in suspected cases of Scrub typhus, as the patients responds well to with these antibiotics.

The main criteria of this research were to produce Biosurfactant by bacteria isolated from the soil sample contaminated with crude oil. To carry out this work we have isolated organism from the garage soil (crude oil spill). This strain was subjected to screening test (Bath Assay) for biosurfactant production. The isolated strain was characterised by 16s RNA sequencing (NCIM-CSIR-NCL) found to be resembling Lysinibacillus tabacifolii strain K3514. Crude oil used was waste engine oil as a source of carbon for Biosurfactant production. Biosurfactant are extracellular surface-active compounds produced by bacteria, fungi and yeast. Most microbial surfactant are complex molecules, comprising different structures that include lipopolypeptide, glycolipid, polysaccharide protein complexes, fatty acids and phospholipids. Fermenter production of biosurfactant was carried out in MSM and in Whey broth with waste crude oil from garage as a source of carbon. Biosurfactant was extracted and purified in solvent system Ethyl acetate: methanol (4:1). The biosurfactant produced was dissolved in chloroform and separated on TLC (thin layer chromatography). The separated spots were characterised by GC- MS (Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometer).