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Heliyon Aug 2023is usually transmitted by consumption of raw or undercooked seafood or exposure to seawater and can causes gastroenteritis, wound infection, and even sepsis. However,...
is usually transmitted by consumption of raw or undercooked seafood or exposure to seawater and can causes gastroenteritis, wound infection, and even sepsis. However, atypical or unclear sources of infection have been reported. Here, we report a case of infection presenting as septicemia in a 53-year-old man with hepatitis B virus-associated cirrhosis. The source of infection remained unclear as the patient reported no consumption of seafood or contact with seawater. Treatment with antibiotics was initiated prior to confirmation of infection. This report provides an important reference for the diagnosis and treatment of infection.
PubMed: 37600364
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18905 -
Vaccines Jul 2023Intracranial sarcoma is an uncommon aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate. Although postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is the most...
Intracranial sarcoma is an uncommon aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate. Although postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is the most recommended treatment strategy, it does not significantly improve survival rates. In this study, we used an attenuated strain engineered to secrete Vibrio vulnificus flagellin B (SLpFlaB) as an immunotherapy to assist with the antitumor effects of RT on intracranial sarcoma. In vitro, the expression of γH2AX and cleaved caspase-3 was analyzed by Western blot. In vivo detection of SLpFlaB colonization time in tumors was measured using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS). Tumor growth delay and elimination were demonstrated in an intracranial mouse model, and the distribution of macrophages, M1 macrophages, and CD8 cells after treatment was measured using FACS analysis. Our findings in vitro suggest that combination therapy increases S-180 radiosensitivity, the expression of DNA double-strand breaks, and programmed cell death. In vivo, combination treatment causes intracranial sarcoma to be eliminated without tumor recurrence and redistribution of immune cells in the brain, with data showing the enhanced migration and infiltration of CD8 T cells and macrophages, and an increased proportion of M1 macrophage polarization. Compared to RT alone, the combination therapy enhanced the radiosensitivity of S-180 cells, promoted the recruitment of immune cells at the tumor site, and prevented tumor recurrence. This combination therapy may provide a new strategy for treating intracranial sarcomas.
PubMed: 37515090
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071275 -
Italian Journal of Food Safety May 2024In this study, two Mediterranean coastal lagoons (Lesina and Varano) of southern Italy, located in the north of the Apulia region, were investigated for the presence of...
In this study, two Mediterranean coastal lagoons (Lesina and Varano) of southern Italy, located in the north of the Apulia region, were investigated for the presence of Shiga toxin (STEC) and potentially enteropathogenic species in parallel with norovirus (NoV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to evaluate the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria and viruses in the water and sediments of these ecosystems. From March 2022 to February 2023, a total of 98 samples were collected: 49 water samples and 49 sediment samples. STEC strains were isolated in three samples (3.1%), of which one (2%) was water ( and positive) and two (4.1%) were sediment (both positive) samples. spp. were detected in twenty samples (20.4%), of which nine were water (18.4%) and eleven were sediment (22.4%) samples. The species detected included , , and . NoV was detected in 25 (25.5%) samples, while none of the water or sediment samples were positive for HAV, HEV, and SARS-CoV-2. The results of this study provide an overview of the presence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in areas influenced by anthropogenic pressure. Monitoring the circulation of these pathogens could be useful to evaluate the water flowing into the lagoons, in particular discharge waters (, urban, agricultural, and livestock runoff), considering the presence of fish and shellfish farms in these sites.
PubMed: 38887590
DOI: 10.4081/ijfs.2024.12218 -
Journal of Microbiology and... Jan 2024Chemical and physical elements affecting the production of bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) of the human pathogen were quantitatively assessed to optimize the...
Chemical and physical elements affecting the production of bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) of the human pathogen were quantitatively assessed to optimize the conditions for the BEV production by using the western blot quantification for an outer membrane porin OmpU and by fluorescent dye FM4-64. When cells were cultured at 37°C in an enriched medium (2 × Luria Bertani; 2 × LB) in the presence of EDTA, they produced about 70% more BEVs. BEVs were purified from the cells cultured in the established optimal conditions by the density gradient ultracentrifugation. The dynamic light scattering measurement of the purified BEVs showed that the diameter of them ranged from approximately 25 nm to 161 nm. We hypothesized that there may be some features in nucleotide sequences specific to RNAs packaged in BEVs compared to those in cellular RNA molecules. We compared the nucleotide sequences and abundance of sRNAs between in the cellular fraction and in BEVs through next-generation sequencing (NGS). While no distinct feature was observed in the nucleotide sequences of sRNAs between two groups, the length of sRNA fragments from BEVs were significantly shorter than those in cytoplasm.
Topics: Humans; Vibrio vulnificus; RNA; Extracellular Vesicles; RNA, Bacterial
PubMed: 38044684
DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2310.10002 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Detecting and identifying the origins of foodborne pathogen outbreaks is a challenging. The Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel method offers a potential solution by...
Detecting and identifying the origins of foodborne pathogen outbreaks is a challenging. The Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel method offers a potential solution by enabling efficient screening and identification of various bacteria in one reaction. In this study, new NGS panel primer sets that target 18 specific virulence factor genes from six target pathogens (, , , , , and ) were developed and optimized. The primer sets were validated for specificity and selectivity through singleplex PCR, confirming the expected amplicon size. Crosscheck and multiplex PCR showed no interference in the primer set or pathogenic DNA mixture. The NGS panel analysis of spiked water samples detected all 18 target genes in a single reaction, with pathogen concentrations ranging from 10 to 10 colony-forming units (CFUs) per target pathogen. Notably, the total sequence read counts from the virulence factor genes showed a positive association with the CFUs per target pathogen. However, the method exhibited relatively low sensitivity and occasional false positive results at low pathogen concentrations of 10 CFUs. To validate the detection and identification results, two sets of quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analyses were independently performed on the same spiked water samples, yielding almost the same efficiency and specificity compared to the NGS panel analysis. Comparative statistical analysis and Spearman correlation analysis further supported the similarity of the results by showing a negative association between the NGS panel sequence read counts and qPCR cycle threshold (Ct) values. To enhance NGS panel analysis for better detection, optimization of primer sets and real-time NGS sequencing technology are essential. Nonetheless, this study provides valuable insights into applying NGS panel analysis for multiple foodborne pathogen detection, emphasizing its potential in ensuring food safety.
PubMed: 37520347
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1179934 -
Molecular Therapy. Oncology Mar 2024Cancer immunotherapy based on bioengineering of bacteria can effectively increase anticancer immune responses. However, few studies have investigated the antitumor...
Cancer immunotherapy based on bioengineering of bacteria can effectively increase anticancer immune responses. However, few studies have investigated the antitumor potential of engineering . Here, we genetically engineered to overexpress flagellin B (FlaB) protein in a murine CT26 tumor model. We found that a large number of FlaB-expressing colonized tumor tissues, enhanced T cell infiltration and secretion of cytokines and cytotoxic proteins in tumors, and significantly restrained tumor growth. Our results also showed that programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor-infiltrating immune cells was elevated after treatment with FlaB-expressing . In addition, combination therapy with FlaB-expressing and PD-L1 blockade synergistically improved antitumor efficacy by enhancing infiltration of CD8 cells. Furthermore, serum liver biochemical indices of mice increased in the short term in both the and the FlaB-expressing treatment groups but gradually recovered in the later stage of treatment so that FlaB protein expression did not increase the toxicity of . Taken together, our results suggest that could serve as an engineered bacterium for bacterium-based cancer immunotherapy.
PubMed: 38596299
DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200770 -
Heliyon Mar 2024is a pathogen that can cause serious and fatal infections, primarily associated with a history of contact with the sea or aquatic organisms or products. However, with...
is a pathogen that can cause serious and fatal infections, primarily associated with a history of contact with the sea or aquatic organisms or products. However, with global climate change and increased global seafood trade, . infections are also occurring in non-coastal areas. In this report, we present the successful diagnosis and treatment of a case of necrotizing wound caused by . infection in an inland city in southwest China. In addition, we review the epidemiology and distribution of . in China and related vaccine research, which may provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of . infection.
PubMed: 38533013
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28012 -
Microorganisms Feb 2024This study aimed to explore the phenotype and relationship of drug resistance genes in livestock and poultry farm wastewater and drinking water reservoirs to provide...
This study aimed to explore the phenotype and relationship of drug resistance genes in livestock and poultry farm wastewater and drinking water reservoirs to provide evidence for the transmission mechanisms of drug resistance genes, in order to reveal the spread of drug resistance genes in wastewater from intensive farms in Central China to urban reservoirs that serve as drinking water sources and provide preliminary data for the treatment of wastewater from animal farms to reduce the threat to human beings. DNA extraction and metagenomic sequencing were performed on eight groups of samples collected from four water reservoirs and four related wastewaters from animal farms in Central China. Metagenomic sequencing showed that the top 20 AROs with the highest abundance were _gene, _gene, , , , _gene_, _gene, , _gene, _gene, , , , , _gene, , _gene, , , and . The resistance genes mentioned above belong to the following categories of drug resistance mechanisms: antibiotic target replacement, antibiotic target protection, antibiotic inactivation, and antibiotic efflux. The resistomes that match the top 20 genes are and ; ; ; and . ; ; and ; and ; , , , , , , , , , and ; and ; , , , , , and ; and ; and ; , , and ; , , , , , , and . Unreported drug resistance genes and drug-resistant bacteria in Central China were identified in 2023. In the transmission path of drug resistance genes, the transmission path from aquaculture wastewater to human drinking water sources cannot be ignored. For the sake of human health and ecological balance, the treatment of aquaculture wastewater needs to be further strengthened, and the effective blocking of drug resistance gene transmission needs to be considered.
PubMed: 38399800
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020396 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023In the human pathogen , the quorum-sensing (QS) signal molecule cyclo-(L-phenylalanine-L-proline) (cFP) plays a critical role in triggering a signaling pathway involving...
In the human pathogen , the quorum-sensing (QS) signal molecule cyclo-(L-phenylalanine-L-proline) (cFP) plays a critical role in triggering a signaling pathway involving the components LeuO-vHUαβ-RpoS-KatG via the membrane signal receptor ToxR. In this study, we investigated the impact of iron on the expression of these signaling components. We found that the transcription of the membrane sensor protein ToxR was not significantly affected by Fur-iron. However, Fur-iron repressed the transcription of genes encoding all the downstream cytoplasmic components in this pathway by binding to the upstream regions of these genes. Consequently, the expression of genes regulated by the alternative sigma factor RpoS, as well as the resistance to hydrogen peroxide conferred by KatG, were repressed. Additionally, we observed that in , genes dependent on ToxR showed higher expression levels in a -deletion mutant compared to the wild type. These findings indicate that iron, in association with Fur, represses virtually all the cytoplasmic components responsible for the ToxR-dependent cFP-signaling pathways in these two pathogenic species. This study, along with our previous reports demonstrating the repression of components involved in AI-2 dependent QS signaling by Fur-iron, highlights the crucial role of iron in quorum-sensing regulation, which is closely associated with the pathogenicity of this human pathogen.
PubMed: 37860134
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1273095 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Apr 2024is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria found in various aquatic environments, including saltwater and freshwater. bacteremia can lead to sepsis, a potentially...
BACKGROUND
is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria found in various aquatic environments, including saltwater and freshwater. bacteremia can lead to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition in which the immune system enters overdrive in response to the disease, causing widespread inflammation and damage to tissues and organs. had the highest case fatality rate (39%) of all reported foodborne infections in the United States and a high mortality rate in Asia, including Taiwan. Numerous scoring systems have been created to estimate the mortality risk in the emergency department (ED). However, there are no specific scoring systems to predict the mortality risk of bacteremia. Therefore, this study modified the existing scoring systems to better predict the mortality risk of bacteremia.
METHODS
Cases of bacteremia were diagnosed based on the results from at least one blood culture in the ED. Patient data were extracted from the electronic clinical database, covering January 2012 to December 2021. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.This study used univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate the mortality risk.
RESULTS
This study enrolled 36 patients diagnosed with bacteremia, including 23 males (63.9%) and 13 females (36.1%), with a mean age of 65.1 ± 15.7 years. The in-hospital mortality rate amounted to 25% (9/36), with 31.5% in (6/19) and 17.6% in non- (3/17). The non-survivors demonstrated higher MEDS (10.3 ± 2.4) than the survivors (6.2 ± 4.1) ( = 0.002). Concerning the qSOFA, the survivors scored 0.3 ± 0.5, and the non-survivors displayed a score of 0.6 ± 0.7 ( = 0.387). The AUC of the ROC for the MEDS and qSOFA was 0.833 and 0.599, respectively. This study modified the scoring systems with other predictive factors, including BUN and pH. The AUC of the ROC for the modified MEDS and qSOFA reached up to 0.852 and 0.802, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The MEDS could serve as reliable indicators for forecasting the mortality rate of patients grappling with bacteremia. This study modified the MEDS and qSOFA to strengthen the predictive performance of mortality risk for bacteremia. We advocate the prompt initiation of targeted therapeutic interventions and judicious antibiotic treatments to curb fatality rates.
PubMed: 38673012
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14040385