• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.651-661
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• 2019

Targeting the pathogen viability using drugs is associated with development of drug resistance due to selective pressure. Hence, there is an increased interest in developing agents that target bacterial virulence. In this study, the inhibitory effect of ciclopirox, an antifungal agent with iron chelation potential, on the microbial virulence factors was evaluated in 26 clinical MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates collected from Alexandria Main University Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Egypt. Treatment with 9 ㎍/ml ciclopirox inhibited the hemolytic activity in 70% isolates, reduced pyocyanin production, decreased protease secretion in 46% isolates, lowered twitching and swarming motility, and decreased biofilm formation by 1.5- to 4.5-fold. The quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that treatment with ciclopirox downregulated the expression levels of alkaline protease (aprA) and pyocyanin (phzA1). Ciclopirox is used to treat hematological malignancies and the systemic administration of ciclopirox is reported to have adequate oral absorption with a satisfactory drug safety profile. It is important to calculate the appropriate clinical dose and therapeutic index to reposition ciclopirox from a topical antifungal agent to a promising virulence-modifying agent agent against P. aeruginosa, a problematic Gram-negative pathogen.

• Journal of Mycology and Infection
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

Background: Scalp seborrheic dermatitis is a common disease characterized by flaking and itching of the scalp. Conventional treatment options, such as the use of topical corticosteroids and antifungal agents, may cause adverse effects and reduce user satisfaction rates; thus, it is important to explore other treatment options for scalp seborrheic dermatitis. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new-formula shampoo containing natural ingredients, including the extract of Rosa centifolia petals, epigallocatechin gallate, zinc pyrithione, and climbazole. Methods: A total of 50 patients with scalp seborrheic dermatitis were enrolled and divided into two groups: the new-formula shampoo-treated group and the 1.5% ciclopirox olamine shampoo-treated group. Clinical severity scores, sebum secretion, and inflammatory cytokines were assessed. In addition, patient satisfaction and adverse events were assessed using a questionnaire. Results: The new-formula shampoo was comparable with ciclopirox in reducing the clinical severity scores and sebum secretion. Patients' improvement scores and user satisfaction rates were higher in the new-formula shampoo group than in the 1.5% ciclopirox olamine shampoo-treated group. The inflammatory cytokine levels considerably changed in both groups during the course of the study. Conclusion: Thus, the new-formula shampoo can be considered a treatment option for patients with scalp seborrheic dermatitis.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 2001

These studies were carried out to understand the mechanisms of genes which are related in cell cycle progression at G1/S phase. Mutants involved in cell cycle progression and regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated and characterized. To isolate new mutants, we screened the sensitivity to ciclopirox olamine (CPO) which inhibits the cell cycle traverse at or very near the G1/S phase boundary in HeLa cell and budding yeast. As results, we isolated 30 mutants and named cos(ciclopirox olamine sensitivity: cos27∼cos57) mutants. To determine the phenotype of mutants, we examined the sensitivity to methyl-methane sulfonate (MMS) and hydroxyurea (HU). Several mutants were sensitive to MMS and HU. According to these Phenotypes, cos mutants were grouped into four. Group I mutants are cos27, cos28, cos32, cos33, cos36, cos37, cos40, cos42, cos46, cos50, cos52 and cos53 which show MMS, HU sensitivities and might act at a checkpoint pathway during S phase. Group II mutants are cos43 and cos48 which show MMS sensitivities and might act at a checkpoint pathway during Gl or G2 phase. Group III mutants are cos35, cos47, cos54, cos55 and cos56 which show HU sensitivities and might act at a progress pathway during S phase. Finally, Group IV mutants are cos29, cos30, cos31, cos34, cos38, cos39, cos41, cos44, cos45, cos49, cos51 and cos57 which show only CPO sensitivities. Moreover, we examined the terminal phenotype of mutants under fluorescent microscope and then found one of S phase checkpoint related mutant(cos37). Furthermore, we constructed the heterozygote strain between mutant and wild type haploid strains to study their genetic analysis of cos mutants.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.270.3-271
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• 2000