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Frontiers in Pharmacology 2021Acne vulgaris is a common adolescent skin condition which is mainly caused by overcolonization and subsequent inflammation. Our previous studies have demonstrated that...
Acne vulgaris is a common adolescent skin condition which is mainly caused by overcolonization and subsequent inflammation. Our previous studies have demonstrated that Cath-MH, an antimicrobial peptide from the skin of the frog , possesses potential antimicrobial, LPS-binding, and anti-septicemic properties. However, its protective effects and potential mechanisms against acne vulgaris are still unclear. In the present study, its anti- effects were measured by two-fold broth dilution method, agglutination assay, scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy experiments. Its treatment potential for acne vulgaris was further evaluated in mice ear inoculated by . In addition, the binding ability between Cath-MH and LTA was measured by the Circular Dichroism and antibacterial assay. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory efficiency of Cath-MH was evaluated in LTA- and LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Cath-MH was found to kill with a MIC value of about 1.56 μM by membrane disruption mechanism. It also exhibited agglutination activity against . Cath-MH was able to bind LTA as well as LPS, inhibit LTA/LPS-stimulated TLR2/4 expression, and subsequently decreased the inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells. As expected, Cath-MH alleviated the formation of edema and the infiltration of inflammatory cells in acne mouse model with concurrent suppression of growth and inflammatory cytokines expression . The potent inhibition activity combined with powerful anti-inflammatory effect of Cath-MH indicates its potential as a novel therapeutic option for acne vulgaris.
PubMed: 34955858
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.788358 -
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Jul 2021Sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) pathologies such as instability are rare; therefore, SCJ surgery is performed infrequently. Complications of these surgeries can be...
BACKGROUND
Sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) pathologies such as instability are rare; therefore, SCJ surgery is performed infrequently. Complications of these surgeries can be devastating. This study evaluated complications, and particularly infections, after SCJ surgery.
METHODS
A retrospective cohort of 68 patients who underwent SCJ surgery with a minimum follow-up of 1 year was reviewed. Patients' characteristics, intraoperative, and postoperative complications were retrieved. In case of a reoperation, relevant data from the reoperation and microbiological findings were collected.
RESULTS
Twenty-two men and 46 women with a mean age of 37.5 years (range, 13-70 years) were analyzed. A complication occurred in 26 of 68 patients (38.2%). In 16 patients (23.5%), this was an infection. Cutibacterium acnes was the pathogen in 14 of these infections. Infection occurred more often in men than in women (P = .02). A total of 26 reoperations were performed in our cohort: 14 due to clinical signs of infection, 9 due to instability, 1 due to complaints of SCJ osteoarthritis, and 2 due to other causes.
CONCLUSION
Complications after SCJ surgery occur more often than previously described. C. acnes infections are often seen. When left untreated, these complications can lead to persistent complaints or recurrent instability due to failure of reconstruction. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to identify infections at an early stage, or better, to prevent them. The use of benzoyl peroxide gel preoperatively seems effective in reducing early C. acnes infections in this type of surgery.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis; Propionibacterium acnes; Reoperation; Retrospective Studies; Sternoclavicular Joint; Young Adult
PubMed: 33038497
DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2020.09.015 -
Cancers Oct 2022The oncogenesis and progression of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a complicated process involving several key molecules and factors, yet whether microbiota are...
BACKGROUND
The oncogenesis and progression of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a complicated process involving several key molecules and factors, yet whether microbiota are present in EOC, and their role in the development of EOC, remains greatly unknown.
METHODS
In this study, 30 patients were enrolled to compare the similarities and differences of intratumour microbiota among patients with epithelial benign ovarian tumours (EBOTs) and patients with EOC based on the high-throughput sequencing method. Subsequently, we further isolated the specific EOC-related bacteria and defined as a key strain in facilitating EOC progression. More importantly, we constructed a mouse EOC model to evaluate the effect of the strain on EOC using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR.
RESULTS
The high-throughput sequencing showed that the intratumour microbiota in EOC tissues had a higher microbial diversity and richness compared to EBOT tissues. The abundance of previously considered pathogens, , , , , and , was increased in the EOC tissues. Meanwhile, we discovered the facilitating role of the strain in the progression of EOC, which may be partially associated with the increased inflammatory response to activate the hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway. This microbial-induced EOC progression mechanism is further confirmed using the inhibitor GANT61.
CONCLUSIONS
This study profiled the intratumour microbiota of EBOT and EOC tissues and demonstrated that the diversity and composition of the intratumour microbiota were significantly different. Furthermore, through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we confirmed the molecular mechanism of intratumour microbiota promotion of EOC progression in mice, which induces inflammation to activate the Hh signalling pathway. This could provide us clues for improving EOC treatment.
PubMed: 36358596
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215178 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021Acne vulgaris is the most common dermatological disorder worldwide affecting more than 80% of adolescents and young adults with a global prevalence of 231 million cases...
Acne vulgaris is the most common dermatological disorder worldwide affecting more than 80% of adolescents and young adults with a global prevalence of 231 million cases in 2019. The involvement of the skin microbiome disbalance in the pathophysiology of acne is recognized, especially regarding the relative abundance and diversity of a well-known dominant human skin commensal. Biofilms, where bacteria are embedded into a protective polymeric extracellular matrix, are the most prevalent life style for microorganisms. and its biofilm-forming ability is believed to be a contributing factor in the development of acne vulgaris, the persistence of the opportunistic pathogen and antibiotic therapy failures. Degradation of the extracellular matrix is one of the strategies used by bacteria to disperse the biofilm of competitors. In this study, we report the identification of an endogenous extracellular nuclease, BmdE, secreted by able to degrade biofilm both and . This, to our knowledge, may represent a novel competitive mechanism between two closely related species in the skin. Antibiotics targeting have been the mainstay in acne treatment. Extensive and long-term use of antibiotics has led to the selection and spread of resistant bacteria. The extracellular DNase BmdE may represent a new bio-therapeutical strategy to combat biofilm in acne vulgaris.
Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Biofilms; Deoxyribonucleases; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix; Humans; Propionibacterium acnes
PubMed: 35155271
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.809792 -
International Immunopharmacology Jul 2021Quercetin is a well-known antioxidant and a plant polyphenolic of flavonoid group found in many fruits, leaves, and vegetables. Propionibacterium acnes is a key skin...
Quercetin is a well-known antioxidant and a plant polyphenolic of flavonoid group found in many fruits, leaves, and vegetables. Propionibacterium acnes is a key skin pathogen involved in the progression of acne inflammation. Although quercetin has been applied to treat various inflammatory diseases, the effects of quercetin on P. acnes-induced skin inflammation have not been explored. This study investigated the effects of quercetin on P. acnes-induced inflammatory skin disease in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that quercetin suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT, THP-1 and RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, quercetin reduced the production of TLR-2 and the phosphorylation of p38, ERK and JNK MAPKs in P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT and THP-1 cells. It also suppressed MMP-9 mRNA levels in two cell lines exposed to P. acnes in vitro. In the case of in vivo, P. acnes was intradermally injected into the ears of mice and it resulted in cutaneous erythema, swelling, and a granulomatous response. Treatment with quercetin markedly reduced ear thickness and swelling. These results suggested that quercetin can be a potential therapeutic agent against P. acnes-induced skin inflammation and may have diverse pharmaceutical and cosmetics applications.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Gene Expression Regulation; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Humans; Inflammation; Keratinocytes; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Propionibacterium acnes; Quercetin; RAW 264.7 Cells; Signal Transduction; Skin; THP-1 Cells
PubMed: 33812252
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107557 -
Communications Biology Sep 2022Human skin is populated by trillions of microbes collectively called the skin microbiome. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes are among the most abundant...
Human skin is populated by trillions of microbes collectively called the skin microbiome. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes are among the most abundant members of this ecosystem, with described roles in skin health and disease. However, knowledge regarding the health beneficial effects of these ubiquitous skin residents is still limited. Here, we profiled the staphylococcal and C. acnes landscape across four different skin sites of 30 individuals (120 skin samples) using amplicon-based next-generation sequencing. Relative abundance profiles obtained indicated the existence of phylotype-specific co-existence and exclusion scenarios. Co-culture experiments with 557 staphylococcal strains identified 30 strains exhibiting anti-C. acnes activities. Notably, staphylococcal strains were found to selectively exclude acne-associated C. acnes and co-exist with healthy skin-associated phylotypes, through regulation of the antimicrobial activity. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of skin-resident staphylococci and suggest that selective microbial interference is a contributor to healthy skin homeostasis.
Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Humans; Microbiota; Propionibacterium acnes; Skin; Staphylococcus
PubMed: 36071129
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03897-6 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2023The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has risen rapidly, leading to a great threat to global public health. A promising solution to this problem is the...
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has risen rapidly, leading to a great threat to global public health. A promising solution to this problem is the exploitation of phage endolysins. In the present study, a putative N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine type-2 amidase (NALAA-2, EC 3.5.1.28) from bacteriophage PAC1 was characterized. The enzyme (Ami1) was cloned into a T7 expression vector and expressed in BL21 cells. Kinetics analysis using turbidity reduction assays allowed the determination of the optimal conditions for lytic activity against a range of Gram-positive and negative human pathogens. The peptidoglycan degradation activity of Ami1 was confirmed using isolated peptidoglycan from . The antibacterial activity of Ami1 was investigated using live cells growing on agar plates. Two engineered variants of Ami1 were designed by fusion to its N-terminus two short antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). One AMP was selected by searching the genomes of bacteriophages using bioinformatics tools, whereas the other AMP sequence was selected from the antimicrobial peptide databases. Both engineered variants exhibited improved lytic activity towards and the enterococci species and . The results of the present study suggest that Ami1 is a new antimicrobial agent and provide proof of concept that bacteriophage genomes are a rich source of AMP sequences that can be further exploited for designing novel or improved endolysins.
Topics: Humans; Propionibacterium acnes; Peptidoglycan; Escherichia coli; Endopeptidases; Siphoviridae; Bacteriophages; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 37239874
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108523 -
Microorganisms Oct 2021is a potential etiologic agent of sarcoidosis and a dysregulated immune response to the commensal bacterium is suspected to cause granuloma formation. -derived...
is a potential etiologic agent of sarcoidosis and a dysregulated immune response to the commensal bacterium is suspected to cause granuloma formation. -derived insoluble immune complexes were recently demonstrated in sinus macrophages of sarcoidosis lymph nodes, suggesting local proliferation of the bacterium in affected organs. In the present study, we developed a method for detecting -derived immune complexes in human blood by measuring the concentration of -specific lipoteichoic acid (PLTA) detectable after an antigen retrieval pretreatment of plasma samples. Before pretreatment, anti-PLTA antibody was detected and PLTA could not be detected, in all plasma samples from 51 sarcoidosis patients and 35 healthy volunteers. After pretreatment, however, a significant level of PLTA (>105 ng/mL) was detected in 33 (65%) sarcoidosis patients and 5 (14%) control subjects, with 86% specificity and 65% sensitivity for sarcoidosis. In both groups, plasma anti-PLTA antibody titers did not differ between samples with and without detection of PLTA. PLTA levels were abnormally increased (>202 ng/mL) in 21 (41%) sarcoidosis patients. These findings suggest that -derived circulating immune complexes present in human blood are abnormally increased in many sarcoidosis patients, presumably due to local proliferation of the bacterium in the affected organs.
PubMed: 34835320
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112194 -
ACS Nano Dec 2022Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) has been known as a highly prevalent and disabling disease, which is one of the main causes of low back pain and disability....
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) has been known as a highly prevalent and disabling disease, which is one of the main causes of low back pain and disability. Unfortunately, there is no effective cure to treat this formidable disease, and surgical interventions are typically applied. Herein, we report that the local administration of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing micellar nanoparticles can efficiently treat IVDD associated with Modic changes in a rat model established by infection with (). By covalent incorporation of palladium(II) meso-tetraphenyltetrabenzoporphyrin photocatalyst and coumarin-based NO donors into the core of micellar nanoparticles, we demonstrate that the activation of the UV-absorbing coumarin-based NO donors can be achieved under red light irradiation via photoredox catalysis, although it remains a great challenge to implement photoredox catalysis reactions in biological conditions due to the complex microenvironments. Notably, the local delivery of NO can not only efficiently eradicate pathogens but also inhibit the inflammatory response and osteoclast differentiation in the intervertebral disc tissues, exerting antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiosteoclastogenesis effects. This work provides a feasible means to efficiently treat IVDD by the local administration of NO signaling molecules without resorting to a surgical approach.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Nitric Oxide; Intervertebral Disc; Signal Transduction; Acne Vulgaris; Propionibacterium acnes
PubMed: 36469724
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c06328 -
European Spine Journal : Official... Dec 2019Recent research shows an increasing recognition that organisms not traditionally considered infectious in nature contribute to disease processes. Propionibacterium acnes... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Recent research shows an increasing recognition that organisms not traditionally considered infectious in nature contribute to disease processes. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a gram-positive, aerotolerant anaerobe prevalent in the sebaceous gland-rich areas of the human skin. A ubiquitous slow-growing organism with the capacity to form biofilm, P. acnes, recognized for its role in acne vulgaris and medical device-related infections, is now also linked to a number of other human diseases. While bacterial culture and molecular techniques are used to investigate the involvement of P. acnes in such diseases, definitive demonstration of P. acnes infection requires a technique (or techniques) sensitive to the presence of biofilms and insensitive to the presence of potential contamination. Fortunately, there are imaging techniques meeting these criteria, in particular, fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence coupled with confocal laser scanning microscopy, as well as immunohistochemistry.
METHODS
Our literature review considers a range of microscopy-based studies that provides definitive evidence of P. acnes colonization within tissue from a number of human diseases (acne vulgaris, degenerative disc and prostate disease and atherosclerosis), some of which are currently not considered to have an infectious etiology.
RESULTS/CONCLUSION
We conclude that P. acnes is an opportunistic pathogen with a likely underestimated role in the development of various human diseases associated with significant morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. As such, these findings offer the potential for new studies aimed at understanding the pathological mechanisms driving the observed disease associations, as well as novel diagnostic strategies and treatment strategies, particularly for degenerative disc disease. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Biofilms; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Humans; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Microscopy; Propionibacterium acnes
PubMed: 31359216
DOI: 10.1007/s00586-019-06086-y