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Frontiers in Microbiology 2023is an opportunistic, global pathogen that naturally inhabits sea water and is responsible for most vibriosis-related deaths. We investigated the genetic characteristics...
is an opportunistic, global pathogen that naturally inhabits sea water and is responsible for most vibriosis-related deaths. We investigated the genetic characteristics of isolated from the clinical blood culture specimen of a patient with hepatitis B virus cirrhosis in 2018 (named as VV2018) by whole genome sequencing (WGS). VV2018 belonged to a novel sequencing type 620 (ST620) and comprised two circular chromosomes, containing 4,389 potential coding sequences (CDSs) and 152 RNA genes. The phylogenetic tree of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using 26 representative genomes revealed that VV2108 grouped with two other strains isolated from humans. The pan-genome of was constructed using 26 representative genomes to elucidate their genetic diversity, evolutionary characteristics, and virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles. The pan-genome analysis revealed that VV2018 shared a total of 3,016 core genes (≥99% presence), including 115 core virulence factors (VFs) and 5 core antibiotic resistance-related genes, and 309 soft core genes (≥95 and <99% presence) with 25 other strains. The gene might account for the cefazolin resistance, and comparative analysis of the genetic context of revealed that two genes upstream and downstream of were conserved. The glycosylation () like genes were found in VV2018 compared with Pgl-related proteins in that might affect the adherence of the strain in hosts. The comparative analysis of VV2018 would contribute to a better understanding of the virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles of . Meanwhile much work remains to be done to better understand the function of -like genes in .
PubMed: 38029170
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1240835 -
Microbiology Spectrum May 2024is a genus of halophilic, gram-negative bacteria found in estuaries around the globe. Integral parts of coastal cultures often involve contact with vectors of...
UNLABELLED
is a genus of halophilic, gram-negative bacteria found in estuaries around the globe. Integral parts of coastal cultures often involve contact with vectors of pathogenic spp. (e.g., consuming raw shellfish). High rates of mortality from certain spp. infections demonstrate the need for an improved understanding of spp. dynamics in estuarine regions. Our study assessed meteorological, hydrographic, and biological correlates of and at 10 sites in the Eastern Mississippi Sound System (EMSS) from April to October 2019. During the sampling period, median abundances of and were 2.31 log MPN/L and 2.90 log MPN/L, respectively. spp. dynamics were largely driven by site-based variation, with sites closest to freshwater inputs having the highest abundances. The E-W wind scalar, which affects Ekman transport, was a novel spp. correlate observed. A potential salinity effect on bacterial-particle associations was identified, where was associated with larger particles in conditions outside of their optimal salinity. Additionally, abundances were correlated to those of harmful algal species that did not dominate community chlorophyll. Correlates from this study may be used to inform the next iteration of regionally predictive models and may lend additional insight to spp. ecology in similar systems.
IMPORTANCE
spp. are bacteria found in estuaries worldwide; some species can cause illness and infections in humans. Relationships between spp. abundance, salinity, and temperature are well documented, but correlations to other environmental parameters are less understood. This study identifies unique correlates (e.g., E-W wind scalar and harmful algal species) that could potentially inform the next iteration of predictive models for the EMSS region. Additionally, these correlates may allow existing environmental monitoring efforts to be leveraged in providing data inputs for future Vibrio risk models. An observed correlation between salinity and /particle-size associations suggests that predicted environmental changes may affect the abundance of spp. in certain reservoirs, which may alter which vectors present the greatest vibrio risk.
Topics: Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Vibrio vulnificus; Estuaries; Alabama; Population Dynamics; Salinity; Vibrio Infections; Seawater; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 38578091
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03674-23 -
Gut Pathogens Nov 2023We report a 36-year-old male patient died of V. vulnificus-induced septicaemia and multiple organ failure syndrome after oyster consumption at a restaurant. We isolated...
We report a 36-year-old male patient died of V. vulnificus-induced septicaemia and multiple organ failure syndrome after oyster consumption at a restaurant. We isolated and identified V. vulnificus vv16015 from the patient's blood sample and antibiotic susceptibility tests indicated sensitivity to all 21 antibiotics. Oyster samples were subsequently collected from the restaurant's supplier and three strains of V. vulnificus were isolated. Whole genome sequencing and analysis revealed vv16015 to be distantly related to these strains and confirmed that V. vulnificus contamination was present in the seafood of the restaurant and supplier. Using a Galleria mellonella larvae infection model, the virulence of vv16015 was determined to be higher than that of comparison strains isolated from a surviving patient (vv15018) and an oyster (vv220015). The human and environment distribution of V. vulnificus in Shenzhen is sporadic and heterogeneous, and vv16015 is highly virulent compared to other strains.
PubMed: 38007445
DOI: 10.1186/s13099-023-00580-x -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023This research comparatively investigates the in vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from (pink water lily) leaves against pathogenic bacteria. The experimental...
This research comparatively investigates the in vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from (pink water lily) leaves against pathogenic bacteria. The experimental extracts are aqueous, acetonic, and 95% ethanolic extracts; and the pathogenic bacteria being studied include , , , and , which are commonly found in freshwater fish and brackish aquatic animals. The ethanolic extract achieves the highest bacterial inhibitory effects against and . The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the ethanolic extract against and are 10 mg/mL; and 2.5 mg/mL against and . The ethanolic extract is effective against . The high-performance liquid chromatography results show that, in the phenolic acids group, gallic acid is the most dominant (0.600-3.21% /), followed by sinapic acid (0.37-0.83% /). In the flavonoids group, catechin is the most dominant (0.02-1.08% /), followed by rutin (0.002-0.03% /). Essentially, the ethanolic extract can potentially be used as a natural antibiotic agent to treat bacterial infections in fish and aquatic animals.
PubMed: 37896051
DOI: 10.3390/plants12203588 -
Yakugaku Zasshi : Journal of the... 2024Iron is necessary for all living organisms, and bacteria that cause infections in human hosts also need ferrous ions for their growth and proliferation. In the human... (Review)
Review
Iron is necessary for all living organisms, and bacteria that cause infections in human hosts also need ferrous ions for their growth and proliferation. In the human body, most ferric ions (Fe) are tightly bound to iron-binding proteins such as hemoglobin, transferrin, lactoferrin, and ferritin. Pathogenic bacteria express highly specific iron uptake systems, including siderophores and specific receptors. Most bacteria secrete siderophores, which are low-molecular weight metal-chelating agents, to capture Fe outside cell. Siderophores are mainly classified as either catecholate or hydroxamate. Vibrio vulnificus, a Gram-negative pathogenic bacterium, is responsible for serious infections in humans and requires iron for growth. A clinical isolate, V. vulnificus M2799, secretes a catecholate siderophore, vulnibactin, that captures ferric ions from the environment. In our study, we generated deletion mutants of the genes encoding proteins involved in the vulnibactin mediated iron-utilization system, such as ferric-vulnibactin receptor protein (VuuA), periplasmic ferric-vulnibactin binding protein (FatB), ferric-vulnibactin reductase (VuuB), and isochorismate synthase (ICS). ICS and VuuA are required under low-iron conditions for ferric-utilization in M2799, but the alternative proteins FatB and VuuB can function as a periplasmic binding protein and a ferric-chelate reductase, respectively. VatD, which functions as ferric-hydroxamate siderophores periplasmic binding protein, was shown to participate in the ferric-vulnibactin uptake system in the absence of FatB. Furthermore, the ferric-hydroxamate siderophore reductase IutB was observed to participate in ferric-vulnibactin reduction in the absence of VuuB. We propose that ferric-siderophore periplasmic binding proteins and ferric-chelate reductases represent potential targets for drug discovery in the context of infectious diseases.
Topics: Iron; Siderophores; Humans; Drug Discovery; Bacterial Infections; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Hydroxamic Acids; Iron-Binding Proteins
PubMed: 38825472
DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.23-00197-2 -
Biomaterials Jul 2023The use of appropriately designed immunotherapeutic bacteria is an appealing approach to tumor therapy because the bacteria specifically target tumor tissue and deliver...
The use of appropriately designed immunotherapeutic bacteria is an appealing approach to tumor therapy because the bacteria specifically target tumor tissue and deliver therapeutic payloads. The present study describes the engineering of an attenuated strain of Salmonella typhimurium deficient in ppGpp biosynthesis (SAM) that could secrete Vibrio vulnificus flagellin B (FlaB) conjugated to human (hIL15/FlaB) and mouse (mIL15/FlaB) interleukin-15 proteins in the presence of L-arabinose (L-ara). These strains, named SAMphIF and SAMpmIF, respectively, secreted fusion proteins that retained bioactivity of both FlaB and IL15. SAMphIF and SAMpmIF inhibited the growth of MC38 and CT26 subcutaneous (sc) tumors in mice and increased mouse survival rate more efficiently than SAM expressing FlaB alone (SAMpFlaB) or IL15 alone (SAMpmIL15 and SAMphIL15), although SAMpmIF had slightly greater antitumor activity than SAMphIF. The mice treated with these bacteria showed enhanced macrophage phenotype shift, from M2-like to M1-like, as well as greater proliferation and activation of CD4 T, CD8 T, NK, and NKT cells in tumor tissues. After tumor eradication by these bacteria, ≥50% of the mice show no evidence of tumor recurrence upon rechallenge with the same tumor cells, indicating that they had acquired long-term immune memory. Treatment of mice of 4T1 and B16F10 highly malignant sc tumors with a combination of these bacteria and an immune checkpoint inhibitor, anti-PD-L1 antibody, significantly suppressed tumor metastasis and increased mouse survival rate. Taken together, these findings suggest that SAM secreting IL15/FlaB is a novel therapeutic candidate for bacterial-mediated cancer immunotherapy and that its antitumor activity is enhanced by combination with anti-PD-L1 antibody.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Interleukin-15; Salmonella typhimurium; Neoplasms; Proteins; Immunotherapy; Cell Line, Tumor
PubMed: 37148758
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122135 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jul 2023Oysters play an important role in coastal ecology and are a globally popular seafood source. However, their filter-feeding lifestyle enables coastal pathogens, toxins,...
Oysters play an important role in coastal ecology and are a globally popular seafood source. However, their filter-feeding lifestyle enables coastal pathogens, toxins, and pollutants to accumulate in their tissues, potentially endangering human health. While pathogen concentrations in coastal waters are often linked to environmental conditions and runoff events, these do not always correlate with pathogen concentrations in oysters. Additional factors related to the microbial ecology of pathogenic bacteria and their relationship with oyster hosts likely play a role in accumulation but are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether microbial communities in water and oysters were linked to accumulation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, or fecal indicator bacteria. Site-specific environmental conditions significantly influenced microbial communities and potential pathogen concentrations in water. Oyster microbial communities, however, exhibited less variability in microbial community diversity and accumulation of target bacteria overall and were less impacted by environmental differences between sites. Instead, changes in specific microbial taxa in oyster and water samples, particularly in oyster digestive glands, were linked to elevated levels of potential pathogens. For example, increased levels of V. parahaemolyticus were associated with higher relative abundances of cyanobacteria, which could represent an environmental vector for spp. transport, and with decreased relative abundance of and other key members of the oyster digestive gland microbiota. These findings suggest that host and microbial factors, in addition to environmental variables, may influence pathogen accumulation in oysters. Bacteria in the marine environment cause thousands of human illnesses annually. Bivalves are a popular seafood source and are important in coastal ecology, but their ability to concentrate pathogens from the water can cause human illness, threatening seafood safety and security. To predict and prevent disease, it is critical to understand what causes pathogenic bacteria to accumulate in bivalves. In this study, we examined how environmental factors and host and water microbial communities were linked to potential human pathogen accumulation in oysters. Oyster microbial communities were more stable than water communities, and both contained the highest concentrations of Vibrio parahaemolyticus at sites with warmer temperatures and lower salinities. High oyster V. parahaemolyticus concentrations corresponded with abundant cyanobacteria, a potential vector for transmission, and a decrease in potentially beneficial oyster microbes. Our study suggests that poorly understood factors, including host and water microbiota, likely play a role in pathogen distribution and pathogen transmission.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Water; Ostreidae; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Vibrio vulnificus; Bivalvia; Bacteria
PubMed: 37318344
DOI: 10.1128/aem.00318-23 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jul 2023V. vulnificus is one of the deadliest waterborne pathogens, yet little is known of the ecological and environmental forces that drive outbreaks. As a nationally...
V. vulnificus is one of the deadliest waterborne pathogens, yet little is known of the ecological and environmental forces that drive outbreaks. As a nationally notifiable disease, all cases of V. vulnificus diagnosed in the United States are reported to the state in which they occurred, as well as to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Given that the state of Florida is a 'hotspot' for V. vulnificus in the United States, we examined the prevalence and incidence of cases reported to the Florida Department of Health (2008-2020). Using a dataset comprised of 448 cases of disease caused by V. vulnificus infection, we identified meteorological variables that were associated with clinical cases and deaths. Combined with data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), we first utilized correlation analysis to examine the linear relationships between satellite meteorological measurements such as wind speed, air temperature, water temperature, and sea-level pressure. We then measured the correlation of those meteorological variables with coastal cases of V. vulnificus, including the outcome, survival, or death. We also constructed a series of logistic regression models to analyze the relationship between temporal and meteorological variables during months that V. vulnificus cases were reported versus months when V. vulnificus cases were not reported. We report that between 2008 and 2020, V. vulnificus cases generally increased over time, peaking in 2017. As water temperature and air temperature increased, so too did the likelihood that infection with V. vulnificus would lead to patient death. We also found that as mean wind speed and sea-level pressure decreased, the probability that a V. vulnificus case would be reported increased. In summary, we discuss the potential factors that may contribute to the observed correlations and speculate that meteorological variables may increase in their public health relevance in light of rising global temperatures.
Topics: Humans; Air Pressure; Temperature; United States; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio vulnificus; Wind; Tropical Climate; Weather; Florida
PubMed: 37410780
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011461 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Sep 2023Members of the genus are ecologically significant bacteria native to aquatic ecosystems globally, and a few can cause diseases in humans. Vibrio-related illnesses have...
Members of the genus are ecologically significant bacteria native to aquatic ecosystems globally, and a few can cause diseases in humans. Vibrio-related illnesses have increased in recent years, primarily attributed to changing environmental conditions. Therefore, understanding the role of environmental factors in the occurrence and growth of pathogenic strains is crucial for public health. Water, oyster, and sediment samples were collected between 2009 and 2012 from Chester River and Tangier Sound sites in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA, to investigate the relationship between water temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll with the incidence and distribution of (VP) and (VV). Odds ratio analysis was used to determine association between the likelihood of VP and VV presence and these environmental variables. Results suggested that water temperature threshold of 20°C or higher was associated with an increased risk, favoring the incidence of . A significant difference in salinity was observed between the two sampling sites, with distinct ranges showing high odds ratio for incidence, especially in water and sediment, emphasizing the impact of salinity on VP and VV incidence and distribution. Notably, salinity between 9-20 PPT consistently favored the incidence across all samples. Relationship between chlorophyll concentrations and VP and VV incidence varied depending on sample type. However, chlorophyll range of 0-10 μg/L was identified as critical in oyster samples for both vibrios. Analysis of odds ratios for water samples demonstrated consistent outcomes across all environmental parameters, indicating water samples offer a more reliable indicator of . incidence.
PubMed: 37808627
DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.25.559351 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024is a free-living marine bacterium associated with the contamination of fish and shellfish-the most consumed seafood in Asia. Owing to its potentially lethal clinical...
is a free-living marine bacterium associated with the contamination of fish and shellfish-the most consumed seafood in Asia. Owing to its potentially lethal clinical consequences, the consumption of seafood contaminated with has become a growing public health concern. This systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression aimed to integrate data on the prevalence of seafood-borne specifically in Asia and assess the potential risk factors that can influence the outcomes. A comprehensive literature search of four electronic databases yielded 279 relevant studies, among which 38 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. These selected studies were subjected to risk-of-bias assessment and data extraction by three independent researchers. A meta-analysis of the eligible studies estimated the overall prevalence of seafood-borne in Asia to be 10.47% [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.8-15.8%], with bivalve shellfish, such as oysters, mussels, clams, and cockles being the most contaminated seafood. The highest prevalence was reported in Japan, where 47.6% of the seafood samples tested positive for . The subgroup and meta-regression analyses identified three potential covariates-detection method, publication year, and country-associated with between-study heterogeneity. Furthermore, data visualization displayed the variations in prevalence across the studies, associated with differences in sample type, sample size, and sampling stage. This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence of in fish and shellfish across the entire Asian continent and highlights the potential factors that cause variation in the prevalence rates among the studies. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing hygiene measures throughout the seafood supply chain to mitigate infection risks and ensure the safety of consumers.
PubMed: 38511007
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1363560