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Frontiers in Microbiology 2021Water resources contaminated with pathogenic species are usually a source of devastating infection outbreaks that have been a public health concern in both developed...
Water resources contaminated with pathogenic species are usually a source of devastating infection outbreaks that have been a public health concern in both developed and developing countries over the decades. The present study assessed the prevalence of six medically significant species in some water resources in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa for 12 months. We detected vibrios in all the 194 water samples analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence of , , , , , and in freshwater samples was 34, 19, 9, 2, 3, and 2%, and that in brackish water samples was 44, 28, 10, 7, 46, and 51%, respectively. The population of the presumptive spp. isolated from freshwater (628) and brackish water (342) samples that were confirmed by PCR was 79% (497/628) and 85% (291/342), respectively. Twenty-two percent of the PCR-confirmed isolates from freshwater ( = 497) samples and 41% of the PCR-confirmed isolates from brackish water samples ( = 291) fall among the species of interest. The incidences of , , , , , and amidst these spp. of interest that were recovered from freshwater samples were 75, 14, 4, 6, 1, and 1%, whereas those from brackish water samples were 24, 7, 3, 3, 47, and 18%, respectively. Our observation during the study suggests pollution as the reason for the unusual isolation of medically important vibrios in winter. Correlation analysis revealed that temperature drives the frequency of isolation, whereas salinity drives the composition of the targeted species at our sampling sites. The finding of the study is of public health importance going by the usefulness of the water resources investigated. Although controlling and preventing most of the factors that contribute to the prevalence of medically important bacteria, such as species, at the sampling points might be difficult, regular monitoring for creating health risk awareness will go a long way to prevent possible -related infection outbreaks at the sampling sites and their immediate environment.
PubMed: 34149632
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.617703 -
Italian Journal of Food Safety Mar 2023The genus includes bacteria with different morphological and metabolic characteristics responsible for different human and animal diseases. An accurate identification...
The genus includes bacteria with different morphological and metabolic characteristics responsible for different human and animal diseases. An accurate identification is essential to assess the risks in regard to aquatic organisms and consequently to public health. The Multilocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) scheme developed on the basis of 4 housekeeping genes (B, H, A and A) was applied to identify 92 strains isolated from crustaceans in 2011. Concatenated sequences were used for the phylogenetic and population analyses and the results were compared with those from biochemical identification tests. From the phylogenetic analysis, 10 clusters and 4 singletons emerged, whereas the population analysis highlighted 12 subpopulations that were well supported by phylogeny with few exceptions. The retrospective analysis allowed correct re-attribution of isolated species, indicating how, for some pathogens, there may be an overestimation of phenotypic identification (. ). Use of the PubMLST database highlighted a possible genetic link between Sequence Type (ST) 529 and ST195 () isolated from a human case in Norway during 2018. In addition to the identification of major risk groups of , and , MLSA could be a valid support for species considered a minor risk, such as , and . Due to the increased incidence of vibriosis in Europe, the application of different tools will also have to be considered to investigate the possible epidemiological links of the various species in the perspective of to protect the consumer.
PubMed: 37064522
DOI: 10.4081/ijfs.2023.11045 -
Journal of Basic Microbiology Oct 2016Vibrio mimicus is an estuarine bacterium, while it can cause severe diarrhea, wound infection, and otitis media in humans. This pathogen secretes a relatively important...
Vibrio mimicus is an estuarine bacterium, while it can cause severe diarrhea, wound infection, and otitis media in humans. This pathogen secretes a relatively important toxin named V. mimicus metalloprotease (VMP). In this study, we clarified regulation of the VMP production according to the quorum-sensing master regulatory protein named LuxR. First, the full length of luxR gene, encoding LuxR, was detected in V. mimicus strain E-37, an environmental isolate. Next, the putative consensus binding sequence of LuxR protein could be detected in the upstream (promoter) region of VMP encoding gene, vmp. Finally, the effect of disruption of luxR gene on the expression of vmp and production of VMP was evaluated. Namely, the expression of vmp was significantly diminished by luxR disruption and the production of VMP was severely altered. Taken together, here we report that VMP production is under the positive regulation of the quorum-sensing master regulatory protein, LuxR.
Topics: Base Sequence; Binding Sites; DNA, Bacterial; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Metalloproteases; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Quorum Sensing; Repressor Proteins; Trans-Activators; Vibrio mimicus
PubMed: 27160384
DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201600002 -
Cureus Aug 2023Malaria is referred to as a "rainy season disease" and is brought on by species. , a spirochete, cause zoonosis leptospirosis. It is pretty uncommon for both diseases...
Malaria is referred to as a "rainy season disease" and is brought on by species. , a spirochete, cause zoonosis leptospirosis. It is pretty uncommon for both diseases to coinfect one another. Before assuming a fever is caused by a vector-borne disease, it is essential to first rule out other possible causes, regardless of the patient's risk factors. This case report demonstrates an unusual coinfection and how it manifests. The patient can avoid many deadly consequences with early detection and prompt treatment. There have been reports of coinfections between malaria and various infectious diseases, including dengue, hantavirus, and filariasis. Recently, a few case reports of coinfection with leptospirosis and malaria have also been published. Leptospirosis and malaria are both spreadable diseases that are prevalent throughout the world, particularly in the tropics. We discuss a case of coinfection with meningoencephalitis, leptospirosis, and malaria in a young male who required intensive care unit (ICU) care. It is difficult to distinguish between single infections and coinfections due to the wide variability in presentation, which may further confound the clinical features. Furthermore, when a coinfection is present but has not yet been identified, the clinical course may worsen because there is no effective treatment. This case report demonstrates the uncommon coinfection appearance and related symptoms. The case study also examined the management of patients with leptospirosis, meningoencephalitis, and life-threatening malaria coinfections as well as the clinical course of such coinfections. A meningeal infection or inflammation that resembles both meningitis and encephalitis is referred to as meningoencephalitis.
PubMed: 37746455
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43879 -
MSphere Aug 2021Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine Gram-negative bacterium that is a leading cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis. Pandemic strains of V. parahaemolyticus rely on a...
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine Gram-negative bacterium that is a leading cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis. Pandemic strains of V. parahaemolyticus rely on a specialized protein secretion machinery known as the type III secretion system 2 (T3SS2) to cause disease. The T3SS2 mediates the delivery of effector proteins into the cytosol of infected cells, where they subvert multiple cellular pathways. Here, we identify a new T3SS2 effector protein encoded by VPA1328 (VP_RS21530) in V. parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that VPA1328 is part of a larger family of uncharacterized T3SS effector proteins with homology to the VopG effector protein in Vibrio cholerae AM-19226. These VopG-like proteins are found in many but not all T3SS2 gene clusters and are distributed among diverse species, including V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae, V. mimicus, and V. diabolicus and also in Shewanella baltica. Structure-based prediction analyses uncovered the presence of a conserved C-terminal kinase domain in VopG orthologs, similar to the serine/threonine kinase domain found in the NleH family of T3SS effector proteins. However, in contrast to NleH effector proteins, in tissue culture-based infections, VopG did not impede host cell death or suppress interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion, suggesting a yet undefined role for VopG during V. parahaemolyticus infection. Collectively, our work reveals that VopG effector proteins, a new family of likely serine/threonine kinases, is widely distributed in the T3SS2 effector armamentarium among marine bacteria. Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading bacterial cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis worldwide. The pathogen relies on a type III secretion system to deliver a variety of effector proteins into the cytosol of infected cells to subvert cellular function. In this study, we identified a novel Vibrio parahaemolyticus effector protein that is similar to the VopG effector of Vibrio cholerae. VopG-like effectors were found in diverse species and contain a conserved serine/threonine kinase domain that bears similarity to the kinase domain in the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and NleH effectors that manipulate host cell survival pathways and host immune responses. Together our findings identify a new family of effector proteins and highlight the role of horizontal gene transfer events among marine bacteria in shaping T3SS gene clusters.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Caco-2 Cells; Computational Biology; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Humans; Interleukin-8; Multigene Family; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Protein Transport; Serine; Type III Secretion Systems; Vibrio parahaemolyticus
PubMed: 34346702
DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00599-21 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Apr 2021By characterizing the trajectories of antibiotic resistance gene transfer in bacterial communities such as the gut microbiome, we will better understand the factors that...
By characterizing the trajectories of antibiotic resistance gene transfer in bacterial communities such as the gut microbiome, we will better understand the factors that influence this spread of resistance. Our aim was to investigate the host network of a multidrug resistance broad-host-range plasmid in the culturable gut microbiome of zebrafish. This was done through and conjugation experiments with as the donor of the plasmid pB10:: When this donor was mixed with the extracted gut microbiome, only transconjugants of were detected. In separate matings between the same donor and four prominent isolates from the gut microbiome, the plasmid transferred to two of these four isolates, and , but not to and When these and transconjugants were the donors in matings with the same four isolates, the plasmid now also transferred from to was unable to donate the plasmid, and was unable to acquire it. Finally, when the donor was added to zebrafish through their food, plasmid transfer was observed in the gut, but only to , a rare member of the gut microbiome. This work shows that the success of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance spread in a gut microbiome depends on the donor-recipient species combinations and therefore their spatial arrangement. It also suggests that rare gut microbiome members should not be ignored as potential reservoirs of multidrug resistance plasmids from food. To understand how antibiotic resistance plasmids end up in human pathogens, it is crucial to learn how, where, and when they are transferred and maintained in members of bacterial communities such as the gut microbiome. To gain insight into the network of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance sharing in the gut microbiome, we investigated the transferability and maintenance of a multidrug resistance plasmid among the culturable bacteria of the zebrafish gut. We show that the success of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance spread in a gut microbiome can depend on which species are involved, as some are important nodes in the plasmid-host network and others are dead ends. Our findings also suggest that rare gut microbiome members should not be ignored as potential reservoirs of multidrug resistance plasmids from food.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Male; Plasmids; Zebrafish
PubMed: 33637574
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02735-20 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jan 2024is a serious pathogen in aquatic animals, resulting in significant economic losses. The cAMP receptor protein (CRP) often acts as a central regulator in highly...
is a serious pathogen in aquatic animals, resulting in significant economic losses. The cAMP receptor protein (CRP) often acts as a central regulator in highly pathogenic pathogens. SCCF01 is a highly pathogenic strain isolated from yellow catfish; the gene deletion strain (Δ) was constructed by natural transformation to determine whether this deletion affects the virulence phenotypes. Their potential molecular connections were revealed by qRT-PCR analysis. Our results showed that the absence of the gene resulted in bacterial and colony morphological changes alongside decreases in bacterial growth, hemolytic activity, biofilm formation, enzymatic activity, motility, and cell adhesion. A cell cytotoxicity assay and animal experiments confirmed that contributes to pathogenicity, as the LD of the Δ strain was 73.1-fold lower compared to the WT strain. Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis revealed the inhibition of type II secretion system genes, flagellum genes, adhesion genes, and metalloproteinase genes in the deletion strain. This resulted in the virulence phenotype differences described above. Together, these data demonstrate that the gene plays a core regulatory role in virulence and pathogenicity.
PubMed: 38338079
DOI: 10.3390/ani14030437 -
Virulence Dec 2020is a foodborne pathogen, which is widely distributed in the aquatic environment. Moreover, it is often involved in aquatic animal diseases. In recent years, is an...
is a foodborne pathogen, which is widely distributed in the aquatic environment. Moreover, it is often involved in aquatic animal diseases. In recent years, is an emerging pathogen in some species of Siluriformes. The strain SCCF01 was isolated from yellow catfish (). In this study, we aimed to perform genomic analysis of strain SCCF01 to identify genetic features and evolutionary relationships. Information on gene function and classification was obtained by functional annotation, and circular graph of strain SCCF01 genome, which was created by Circos v0.64. Information on virulence genes (adhesion, flagellum system, exotoxin, and secretory system, etc.) was obtained by virulence genes annotation. Genome element prediction showed that most of the mobile elements were distributed in chromosome I. Therefore, chromosome I of SCCF01 genome has more plasticity than chromosome II and might be larger in size. Genomic linear relationship between the strain of s and strain SCCF01 was analyzed by linear pairwise comparison but was unable to determine the relationship. Gene family analysis predicted that the evolutionary direction of strain SCCF01 was: clinical strain → environmental strain → SCCF01 strain. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the strain SCCF01 was more closely related to environmental strains. According to gene family analysis and phylogenetic analysis, we speculated that strain SCCF01 has probably diverged from environmental strains.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Adhesion; Catfishes; Exotoxins; Flagella; Fresh Water; Genes, Bacterial; Genomics; Interspersed Repetitive Sequences; Phylogeny; Vibrio mimicus; Virulence; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 31826705
DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2019.1702797 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021Antimicrobial and multidrug-resistant bacteria are a major problem worldwide and, consequently, the surveillance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and assessment of the...
Antimicrobial and multidrug-resistant bacteria are a major problem worldwide and, consequently, the surveillance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and assessment of the dissemination routes are essential. We hypothesized that migratory birds, coming from various environments, would carry more numerous strains than sedentary species, with increased risk to be passed to their contacts or environment in habitats they transit or nest in. Similarly, we presumed that strains from migratory birds will show multidrug resistance. A total of 170 oral and rectal swabs were collected from wild birds captured in different locations of the Danube Delta (Malic, Sfantu-Gheorghe, Letea Forest) and processed using standardized selective media. strains were confirmed by serology and molecular methods and, subsequently, their susceptibility was evaluated. The prevalence of species by host species, habitat type, and location was interpreted. The isolated species were identified as 14.33%, 13.33% 12% 17.33%, 10.88% with and (16%) also being prevalent. Of the 76 spp. isolates, 18.42% were resistant towards at least three antimicrobials, and 81.57% demonstrated a multidrug resistance phenotype, including mainly penicillins, aminoglycosides, and macrolides. The results of the present study indicate higher numbers of strains in migratory (74.66%) than in sedentary birds (25.33%), confirming our hypothesis. Furthermore, the increased pathogenicity of spp. strains, isolated from wild migratory and sedentary birds, was confirmed by their increased multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index (0.09-0.81).
PubMed: 33809945
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10030333 -
Radiology Case Reports Jun 2021Burns are one of the most common and devastating forms of trauma. Burns are a significant problem with high associated morbidity and mortality worldwide. Burn wound...
Burns are one of the most common and devastating forms of trauma. Burns are a significant problem with high associated morbidity and mortality worldwide. Burn wound infection is a serious complication, which plays an important role in increasing the overall fatality rate in burn patients. In this study, we report a case of the polymicrobial burn wound infection involving in a 56-year-old male, who was transferred from an outside hospital to the inpatient burn unit after sustaining traumatic and burn injuries in a firework explosion accident. The patient underwent surgical treatment and antibiotics with good improvement. Although rare, our case study will help to underscore the important role of as a human pathogen.
PubMed: 33897927
DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.03.021