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Ugeskrift For Laeger Nov 2023In this case report, a previously healthy six-year-old presented with fever and altered mental status, and was found to have bacteremia with Listeria monocytogenes,...
In this case report, a previously healthy six-year-old presented with fever and altered mental status, and was found to have bacteremia with Listeria monocytogenes, acquired from premade fish balls. Invasive L. monocytogenes infection usually occurs in immunocompromised or newborns but may occasionally occur in healthy children with food-borne gastroenteritis. L. monocytogenes should be considered in patients with severe infection and symptoms of gastroenteritis, particularly since ceftriaxone, the Danish standard treatment for meningitis in children, does not cover L. monocytogenes.
Topics: Child; Humans; Bacteremia; Ceftriaxone; Gastroenteritis; Listeria monocytogenes; Meningitis, Listeria
PubMed: 37987449
DOI: No ID Found -
EFSA Journal. European Food Safety... Dec 2023This report by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control presents the results of the zoonoses monitoring and...
This report by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control presents the results of the zoonoses monitoring and surveillance activities carried out in 2022 in 27 Member States (MSs), the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) and 11 non-MSs. Key statistics on zoonoses and zoonotic agents in humans, food, animals and feed are provided and interpreted historically. In 2022, the first and second most reported zoonoses in humans were campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis, respectively. The number of cases of campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis remained stable in comparison with 2021. Nineteen MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) achieved all the established targets in poultry populations for the reduction of prevalence for the relevant serovars. samples from carcases of various animal species, and samples for quantification from broiler carcases, were more frequently positive when performed by the competent authorities than when own checks were conducted. Yersiniosis was the third most reported zoonosis in humans, followed by Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) and infections. and West Nile virus infections were the most severe zoonotic diseases, with the most hospitalisations and highest case fatality rates. In 2022, reporting showed an increase of more than 600% compared with 2021 in locally acquired cases of human West Nile virus infection, which is a mosquito-borne disease. In the EU, the number of reported foodborne outbreaks and cases, hospitalisations and deaths was higher in 2022 than in 2021. The number of deaths from outbreaks was the highest ever reported in the EU in the last 10 years, mainly caused by and to a lesser degree by . and in particular Enteritidis remained the most frequently reported causative agent for foodborne outbreaks. Norovirus (and other calicivirus) was the agent associated with the highest number of outbreak human cases. This report also provides updates on brucellosis, (Q fever), echinococcosis, rabies, toxoplasmosis, trichinellosis, infection with complex (focusing on and ) and tularaemia.
PubMed: 38089471
DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8442 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Jun 2024Bacteriocins have the potential to effectively improve food-borne infections or gastrointestinal diseases and hold promise as viable alternatives to antibiotics. This...
Bacteriocins have the potential to effectively improve food-borne infections or gastrointestinal diseases and hold promise as viable alternatives to antibiotics. This study aimed to explore the antibacterial activity of three bacteriocins (nisin, enterocin Gr17, and plantaricin RX-8) and their ability to attenuate intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammatory responses induced by Listeria monocytogenes, respectively. Bacteriocins have shown excellent antibacterial activity against L. monocytogenes without causing any cytotoxicity. Bacteriocins inhibited the adhesion and invasion of L. monocytogenes on Caco-2 cells, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), and cell migration showed that bacteriocin improved the permeability of Caco-2 cells. These results were attributed to the promotion of tight junction proteins (TJP) assembly, specifically zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, and claudin-1. Furthermore, bacteriocins could alleviate inflammation by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways and reducing the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Among three bacteriocins, plantaricin RX-8 showed the best antibacterial activity against L. monocytogenes and the most pronounced protective effect on the intestinal barrier due to its unique structure. Based on our findings, we hypothesized that bacteriocins may inhibit the adhesion and invasion of L. monocytogenes by competing adhesion sites. Moreover, they may further enhance intestinal barrier function by inhibiting the expression of L. monocytogenes virulence factors, increasing the expression of TJP and decreasing the secretion of inflammatory factors. Therefore, bacteriocins will hopefully be an effective alternative to antibiotics, and this study provides valuable insights into food safety concerns. KEY POINTS: • Bacteriocins show excellent antibacterial activity against L. monocytogenes • Bacteriocins improve intestinal barrier damage and inflammatory response • Plantaricin RX-8 has the best protective effect on Caco-2 cells damage.
Topics: Listeria monocytogenes; Bacteriocins; Humans; Caco-2 Cells; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Inflammation; NF-kappa B; Bacterial Adhesion; Tight Junction Proteins; Cytokines; Listeriosis; Cell Movement
PubMed: 38896287
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13228-w -
Journal of Medical Microbiology Mar 2024Listeriosis is a foodborne infection in humans caused by Consumption of contaminated food can lead to severe infection in vulnerable patients, that can be fatal....
Listeriosis is a foodborne infection in humans caused by Consumption of contaminated food can lead to severe infection in vulnerable patients, that can be fatal. Clinical manifestations include sepsis and meningitis, and in pregnancy-associated infection, miscarriage and stillbirth. Diagnosis is confirmed by culture and identification of the pathogen from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, vaginal swab, placenta or amniotic fluid. Treatment regimens recommend amoxicillin, ampicillin or an aminoglycoside. Virulence factors mediate bacterial adhesion and invasion of gut epithelial cells. Other factors mediate biofilm formation and tolerance to low temperatures and high salt concentrations facilitating persistence and survival in the environment.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Ampicillin; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Food Microbiology
PubMed: 38506266
DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001800 -
Microorganisms Sep 2023The prevalence of in 30 samples of poultry was determined using culture-dependent (isolation on OCLA and confirmation by conventional polymerase chain reaction -PCR-,...
The prevalence of in 30 samples of poultry was determined using culture-dependent (isolation on OCLA and confirmation by conventional polymerase chain reaction -PCR-, OCLA&PCR) and culture-independent (real-time polymerase chain reaction, q-PCR) methods. was detected in 15 samples (50.0%) by OCLA&PCR and in 20 (66.7%) by q-PCR. The concentrations (log cfu/g) of (q-PCR) ranged from 2.40 to 5.22 (total cells) and from <2.15 to 3.93 (viable cells). The two methods, q-PCR using a viability marker (v-PCR) and OCLA&PCR (gold standard), were compared for their capacity to detect viable cells of , with the potential to cause human disease. The values for sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of the v-PCR were 100%, 66.7% and 83.3%, respectively. The agreement between the two methods (kappa coefficient) was 0.67. The presence of nine virulence genes (, , , , , , , and ) was studied in 45 isolates (three from each positive sample) using PCR. All the strains harbored between six and nine virulence genes. Fifteen isolates (33.3% of the total) did not show the potential to form biofilm on a polystyrene surface, as determined by a crystal violet assay. The remaining strains were classified as weak (23 isolates, 51.1% of the total), moderate (one isolate, 2.2%) or strong (six isolates, 13.3%) biofilm producers. The strains were tested for susceptibility to a panel of 15 antibiotics. An average of 5.11 ± 1.30 resistances per isolate was observed. When the values for resistance and for reduced susceptibility were taken jointly, this figure rose to 6.91 ± 1.59. There was a prevalence of resistance or reduced susceptibility of more than 50.0% for oxacillin, cefoxitin, cefotaxime, cefepime ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin and nitrofurantoin. For the remaining antibiotics tested, the corresponding values ranged from 0.0% for chloramphenicol to 48.9% for rifampicin. The high prevalence and level of with numerous virulence factors in poultry underline how crucial it is to follow correct hygiene procedures during the processing of this foodstuff in order to reduce the risk of human listeriosis.
PubMed: 37764076
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092232 -
Journal of Veterinary Research Dec 2023is one of the most dangerous food-borne pathogens and is responsible for human listeriosis, a severe disease with a high mortality rate, especially among the elderly,...
is one of the most dangerous food-borne pathogens and is responsible for human listeriosis, a severe disease with a high mortality rate, especially among the elderly, pregnant women and newborns. Therefore, this bacterium has an important impact on food safety and public health. It is able to survive and even grow in a temperature range from -0.4°C to 45°C, a broad pH range from 4.6 to 9.5 and at a relatively low water activity (a < 0.90), and tolerates salt content up to 20%. It is also resistant to ultraviolet light, biocides and heavy metals and forms biofilm structures on a variety of surfaces in food-production environments. These features make it difficult to remove and allow it to persist for a long time, increasing the risk of contamination of food-production facilities and ultimately of food. In the present review, the key mechanisms of the pathogen's survival and stress adaptation have been presented. This information may grant better understanding of bacterial adaptation to food environmental conditions.
PubMed: 38130454
DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2023-0068 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Cancer receives enduring international attention due to its extremely high morbidity and mortality. Immunotherapy, which is generally expected to overcome the limits of... (Review)
Review
Cancer receives enduring international attention due to its extremely high morbidity and mortality. Immunotherapy, which is generally expected to overcome the limits of traditional treatments, serves as a promising direction for patients with recurrent or metastatic malignancies. Bacteria-based vectors such as take advantage of their unique characteristics, including preferential infection of host antigen presenting cells, intracellular growth within immune cells, and intercellular dissemination, to further improve the efficacy and minimize off-target effects of tailed immune treatments. can reshape the tumor microenvironment to bolster the anti-tumor effects both through the enhancement of T cells activity and a decrease in the frequency and population of immunosuppressive cells. Modified has been employed as a tool to elicit immune responses against different tumor cells. Currently, vaccine alone is insufficient to treat all patients effectively, which can be addressed if combined with other treatments, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, reactivated adoptive cell therapy, and radiotherapy. This review summarizes the recent advances in the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of vaccine in anti-tumor immunity, and discusses the most concerned issues for future research.
Topics: Humans; Listeria monocytogenes; Neoplasms; Immunotherapy; T-Lymphocytes; Vaccines; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37868979
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1278011