Varanasi, Sep 4 : Botanical researchers in Banaras Hindu University have identified a plant associated with fungus, having bioactivity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains.Dr.
Surendra Kumar Gond and his research scholar Sandip Chowdhury have identified and described Pestalotiopsis microspora an endophytic fungus with anti-MRSA properties that is found in the bark of Dillenia pentagyna.
The results of this research have been recently published in the journal ‘Journal of Basic Microbiology.’
Dr.Gond stated that the current situation of increasing in infections caused by bacteria is a difficult research and scientific endeavor for scientists and researchers.
There is a pressing need to find new natural compounds that can fight the development of multidrug resistant microorganisms.
According to him, Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of healthcare-associated infection, is an adaptable organism having ability to evolve resistance to many antibiotics by the lateral movement of genetic information between organisms.
He stated that the extract of the fungus was extremely effective in preventing the development of MRSA.The bioactive compounds found in the fungal extract were identified by using GCMS (gas mass spectrometry using chromatography) method.
Additionally to that, the fungal extract showed in-vitro human bloodclot activity at different levels.
The project of research was financed by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), New Delhi.
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