Background: The burden of dengue infection in India has increased at an alarming rate as India accounts for third of global dengue infections. Kolkata is an endemic region for dengue infection. The present study describes the evolutionary analysis of dengue virus serotype 1 and 3 strains by analysing the C-prM-E region of circulating viruses in Kolkata. Methodology: C-prM-E region sequencing was performed in 7 DENV1 and 7 DENV3 strains from dengue hemorrhagic fever. MEGA software was used to develop the maximum likelihood tree. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was done using the best fit model for each dataset. Selection pressure on structural genes was determined using the Datamonkey online platform. Result: 5 DENV1 strains grouped with American/African and 2 with Asian genotype. All DENV-3 strains were clustered with Genotype III. Mutations at the B and T cell epitopes were revealed. The nucleotide substitution rate of DENV1 was 7.42 ×10?4 substitutions/site/year and DENV3 was 7.19 ×10?4 substitutions/site/year. TMRCA of DENV1 and DENV3 viruses was estimated 132 years and 107 years respectively. Selection pressure analysis revealed that purifying negative selection was the main driving force acting on dengue virus evolution. Conclusion: The study on viral genetic diversity and evolutionary aspects will be useful for the continuous monitoring of disease burden, viral epidemiology as well as for the planning of proper prophylactic measures to control the spread of dengue infection. Several mutations at the antibody binding sites of the envelope region may help the virus to evade the host immune system

Introduction: Mucormycosis is a life-threatening angioinvasive infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales and class of Mucormycetes. It is common in covid and diabeticketoacidosis patients. Main sources of mucormycosis in hospital settings are mechanical supply of oxygen and environmental contamination. It is rapid grower, angioinvasive and destructive for human body, so rapid diagnosis and treatment is necessary. Methods: This study was conducted for suspected samples received at microbiology laboratory of civil hospital during May and June 2021. Samples are treated with KOH preparations and findings were noted down. All findings are compared with biopsy findings and radiological findings and results are noted down. Result: A total of 1070 samples were screened from which 204 samples were found positive for fungal elements resembling mucormycosis showing that it was more prevalent among all fungal infections in that time period. Highest number of positive samples are tissue samples. More number of samples are of male patients than female patients. Age group of 31-60 years are more affected from this disease. More number of positive patients are diabetic considering it as a risk factor for this disease. Conclusion: After pandemic wave of covid 19 there was increasing prevalence of mucormycosis patients showing some relation of it to covid 19 infection. Mucormycosis was most prevalent fungal infection among all fungal infections in that post covid 19 pandemic wave. As it was fatal to human beings it was necessary to detect this fungal infection by any rapid proven method and KOH preparation method was proven as best method for rapid detection

Background: In December 2019, SARS-CoV-2, a novel Coronavirus was identified in Wuhan, China. In a short span of time, this virus spread across the globe infecting millions, and causing Coronavirus disease (COVID) which ranged from minimal symptoms to severe pneumonia. Superinfection is a usual complication viral infection; thus, post-mortem examination of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases are valuable tool for studying the microbiological profile of the same. Methods: Between November 2020 and April 2021, serial post-mortem examinations were conducted at Department of Forensic Medicine, B.J.Medical College, Ahmedabad. The autopsies were conducted in patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) infection who died at Civil Hospital Ahmedabad. Post-mortem lung swabs from 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases were sent to the Bacteriology laboratory of B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad. We are reporting the identification of microorganisms isolated from the aforementioned specimens. The identification was carried out by routine microbiological methods namely, gram stain, culture and biochemical reactions. Results: Of the 30 samples, 20 were from males and 10 from females with a mean age of 65 years. 25 out of the 30 cases had one or more co-morbidities. The CRP levels were found to be elevated in 21 cases. Lymphopenia was seen in 19 of the cases. Microorganisms were isolated from all specimen and E. coli (56.7%) was found to be the most common isolate. Conclusion: This study has highlighted the need for continuous research with regard to epidemiology, clinical spectrum and microbiological profile of superinfections, that may enable better patient management

Introduction: The first approved oxazolidinone group of drugs, Linezolid is nowadays have been used for multidrug resistant bacterial infection, including Staphylococci, Streptococci, Enterococci infections. Resistance to Linezolid is not common but now a days some cases of Linezolid resistance have been reported. So, this study is done to see the prevalence of Linezolid resistance in gram positive pathogenic cocci isolated from various clinical samples in tertiary care Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted over a period of 20 months (January 2020 to August 2021). Various samples like blood, pus, swabs, CSF, body fluids, etc. are included in this study. From positive growth of these samples gram positive pathogenic cocci were isolated and confirmed. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were done according to CLSI guidelines 2021. Results: Total 54266 samples were tested out of which gram-positive cocci were 5548 (10.22%). Out of these only 53 (0.95%) isolates were Linezolid resistant. The most commonly found Linezolid resistance is in Enterococcus fecium-29(54.72%). Conclusion: Linezolid which was the promising agent against multi drug resistant gram-positive cocci such as VRE, MRSA is now showing resistance. Its detection in clinical samples is necessary for deciding treatment protocols by clinicians

Background and Objectives: Indiscriminate use of antimicrobials has caused emergence of Multidrug Resistance bacteria (MDR). Resistance to several antibiotics including Colistin is great challenge in therapy. NFGNB being common cause of Hospital Acquired Infections and their resistance to various antimicrobial drugs, significantly influences morbidity, mortality and high cost of treatment of infected patients. This study aims to find out the prevalence of colistin resistance among non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria isolated from various clinical specimens received at Bacteriology Laboratory, Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad. Methods: The study was conducted over a period of 1 year from October 2020 to October 2021. Total 41390 samples received. NFGNB were isolated by standard microbiological identification technique. The isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Modified Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion method. Colistin sensitivity is screened on Colistin Screen Agar (CSA) and resistance is confirmed by BMD (Broth Micro Dilution). Result: Among 41390 samples tested, 17491 had positive culture growth, 7610 isolates had gram-negative bacterial growth, out of which 4393 were non fermenters, in which 53 screened for Colistin resistance. Interpretation and Conclusion: This study provides prevalence of colistin resistance among non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria. P. aeruginosa causing hospital associated infections shows emergence of resistance to commonly used antimicrobials agents and colistin is last resort to treat MDR organisms. CL resistance in MDR organisms is a serious threat and hence there is a need of awareness among clinicians about judicious use of antibiotics and strict infection control practices needs to be followed

Chilli anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum capsici, is one of the most destructive diseases that causes considerable loss in chilli production. In the absence of resistant cultivars, the management of chilli anthracnose disease has relied principally on the application of chemical fungicides. The present study evaluated the effects of chemical fungicides on chilli anthracnose disease and investigated the effect of the yield of chilli plants. The experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2017 and 2018 under natural epiphytotic conditions. The susceptible variety Bullet was used for the experiment. The pathogenicity test was conducted in the laboratory. Two sprays at 15-day intervals of Trifloxysytrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% WG @ 350 g/ha was the most effective, followed by Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC @ 1000 ml/ha and Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3% SC @ 1000 ml/ha. The results of the present study demonstrated a promising approach to chemical management against anthracnose disease of chilli