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Archives of Razi Institute Jun 2023Probiotics have been used for over a century to prevent and treat diseases. They can reduce the effects of gastroenteritis and are now used to treat acute diarrhea. This...
Probiotics have been used for over a century to prevent and treat diseases. They can reduce the effects of gastroenteritis and are now used to treat acute diarrhea. This study aimed to evaluate the co-aggregative effects of probiotics bacteria against diarrheal causative bacteria. For this purpose, 11 isolates of probiotic bacteria were used in the current study, including three , one , two , three , and two isolates. All isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility, autoaggregation ability, adhesion ability, antibacterial activity, acid tolerance, and bile salts tolerance. The results showed that most of them had the ability to autoaggregate after 4 h, with the highest percentage of 57.14% for . For the antibiotic susceptibility test, all the isolates showed resistance against trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, except one isolate. Moreover, all the isolates, except one, were susceptible to both vancomycin and tetracycline. All tested isolates had adhesion ability with different survival rates, which reached 34.57% for in acidic conditions. Besides, the highest survival rate was 85.17%, which belonged to , for bile salt tolerance. Probiotic isolates had an antibacterial effect against diarrhea-causative bacteria with an inhibition diameter of 17-49 mm for different spp. and spp. isolates. Furthermore, the co-aggregation ability of probiotic isolates against diarrhea-causative bacteria was studied, and results showed that probiotic isolates had a co-aggregative effect against diarrhea-causative bacteria, , , and , after 24 h of incubation. The highest co-aggregative effect of probiotics isolates belonged to and against with a co-aggregation percentage of 100%, while the lowest co-aggregation rate was 14.29% against . The findings revealed the probiotic properties and co-aggregative effects of probiotic bacteria against diarrhea-causative bacteria.
Topics: Animals; Escherichia coli; Lactobacillus; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bile Acids and Salts; Diarrhea; Probiotics
PubMed: 38028859
DOI: 10.22092/ARI.2022.359870.2494 -
The Indian Journal of Medical Research Aug 2023During the course of a retrospective survey on healthcare associated infections (HAIs) due to carbapenem-resistant organisms, an unusual prevalence of HAIs due to...
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES
During the course of a retrospective survey on healthcare associated infections (HAIs) due to carbapenem-resistant organisms, an unusual prevalence of HAIs due to carbapenem-resistant Providencia stuartii (CRPS) was found. Hence this study aimed to conduct the occurrence of P. stuartii associated HAIs with special reference to the drug resistance profiling of these isolates.
METHODS
Of the eight total HAI cases (7.5% of total HAIs and 33.3% of HAIs due to Enterobacterales) of CRPS infections included in this study, three were reported from ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), three were surgical site infections (SSIs), one was a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) and one was a bloodstream infection. All the eight CRPS isolates were tested for extended-spectrum β-lactamases production, AmpC hyperproduction as well as carbapenem resistance. Typing of the isolates was performed by repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction (REP-PCR).
RESULTS
All the eight isolates of CRPS were found to be AmpC hyperproducers, carbapenemase producers, and harboured chromosomally located bla in seven isolates and bla genes in one. All the cases with CRPS infections had prior history of colistin therapy along with prolonged hospital stay (>20 days). The cases were located in five different wards/intensive care unit (ICU) within the hospital in one year. However, strain typing by REP-PCR revealed 100 per cent similarity and clonal relatedness in all the seven isolates carrying bla genes. Interestingly, routine hospital surveillance revealed a high carriage of P. stuartii in the axilla of patients admitted to the ICU.
INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS
The study findings suggest CRPS as an important cause of HAIs. This organism often goes unnoticed due to the burden of carbapenem resistance in other Enterobacterales and non-fermenters.
Topics: Humans; Retrospective Studies; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Bacterial Proteins; beta-Lactamases; Carbapenems; Cross Infection; Hospitals; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 37787258
DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_3668_20 -
International Journal of Food... Nov 2023Tolerance of gram negative pathogens toward last resort colistin is mediated by mcr genes and alterations in chromosomal mgrB via modification of lipopolysaccharide...
BACKGROUND
Tolerance of gram negative pathogens toward last resort colistin is mediated by mcr genes and alterations in chromosomal mgrB via modification of lipopolysaccharide through the PmrAB and PhoPQ component system. Proteus sp., Morganella sp., Neisseria sp., Burkholderia sp. and Providencia sp. are intrinsic resistant to colistin drug. Recent reports have shown that colistin intrinsic resistant organisms harbor and act as reservoirs for mcr genes.
AIM
To evaluate the presence of mcr-1 to mcr-5 genes and alterations in mgrB gene in intrinsic colistin-resistant gram negative bacteria isolated from chicken meat samples in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India.
METHODS
One hundred chicken meat samples were collected during 2019-20. Samples were enriched and plated on MacConkey agar supplemented with colistin (2 μg/ml). The bacterial isolates were then identified using biochemical tests. DNA were extracted from isolates using the thermal lysis method. mcr-1 to mcr-5 and mgrB genes was detected using conventional PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis methods.
RESULT AND CONCLUSION
The presence of mcr-1 to mcr-5 genes was found to be 23 % (23/100). mcr-1 and mcr-5 genes were not detected in sample isolates. 17/23 samples positive for mcr genes were also found to be carrying alterations in mgrB gene. Phenotypic characterization of these isolates revealed that these bacteria were belonging to colistin intrinsic resistant gram negative bacteria such as Proteus sp., Providencia sp., and Morganella sp. Intrinsic resistant bacteria could act as a potential reservoir and disseminate mcr genes to the colistin sensitive non-intrinsic pathogens of clinical importance in the environment.
Topics: Animals; Colistin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chickens; India; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Meat; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 37459831
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110323 -
Placenta Sep 2022During pregnancy, the developing foetus requires large amounts of cholesterol from the maternal plasma, which is mediated by proteins such as the receptor for... (Review)
Review
During pregnancy, the developing foetus requires large amounts of cholesterol from the maternal plasma, which is mediated by proteins such as the receptor for low-density lipoproteins (LDLR). The quantity of LDLR available in the syncytiotrophoblast plasma membrane is an important factor for the uptake, metabolism, and transfer of cholesterol to foetal circulation. Because of the relevance of this receptor for cellular and systemic cholesterol metabolism in non-placental cells, the study of mechanisms associated with LDLR trafficking, such as the availability in the cell membrane, endocytosis, recycling, sorting, and degradation, have been extensively studied. Multiple protein groups are required for proper LDL/LDLR trafficking. Changes in the function of these proteins are related to hypercholesterolemia, the main risk factor associated with cardiovascular disease. It is well known that the placenta plays an essential role as a barrier between maternal lipids and the foetus and that imbalances in maternal cholesterol levels during pregnancy are frequent and associated with cardiovascular disease in the offspring. However, there is little information regarding lipoprotein trafficking in this system. In this review, we summarize the available information on LDLR trafficking, emphasizing the few reports related to receptor biology in placental cells from normal and pathological pregnancies. We conclude that extensive research on the cell biology of the placenta is required to unravel the endocytic trafficking of proteins such as LDLR in a highly specialized cell such as the syncytiotrophoblast.
Topics: Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Female; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Lipoproteins, LDL; Pregnancy; Receptors, LDL; Trophoblasts
PubMed: 35926304
DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.07.013 -
Bulletin of Entomological Research Oct 2023The honey bee is associated with a diverse community of microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protists), commonly known as the microbiome. Here, we present data on...
The honey bee is associated with a diverse community of microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protists), commonly known as the microbiome. Here, we present data on honey bee microbiota from two localities having different surrounding landscapes - mountain (the Rhodope Mountains) and lowland (the Danube plain). The bacterial communities of abdomen of adult bees were studied using amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The composition and dominance structure and their variability within and between localities, alpha and beta diversity, and core and differential taxa were compared at different hierarchical levels (operational taxonomic units to phylum). Seven genera (, , , , , , and ), known to include core gut-associated phylotypes or species clusters, dominated (92-100%) the bacterial assemblages. Significant variations were found in taxa distribution across both geographical regions and within each apiary. (Firmicutes) prevailed significantly in the mountain locality followed by and (Proteobacteria). Bacteria of four genera, core ( and ) and non-core ( and ), dominated the bee-associated assemblages of the Danube plain locality. Several ubiquitous bacterial genera (e.g., , , and ), some species known also as potential and opportunistic bee pathogens, had been found in the lowland locality. Beta diversity analyses confirmed the observed differences in the bacterial communities from both localities. The occurrence of non-core taxa contributes substantially to higher microbial richness and diversity in bees from the Danube plain locality. We assume that the observed differences in the microbiota of honey bees from both apiaries are due to a combination of factors specific for each region. The surrounding landscape features of both localities and related vegetation, anthropogenic impact and land use intensity, the beekeeping management practices, and bee health status might all contribute to observed differences in bee microbiota traits.
Topics: Animals; Bees; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Microbiota; Bacteria
PubMed: 37545319
DOI: 10.1017/S0007485323000378 -
Vaccines Jan 2022Antibiotic resistance (AR) is the resistance mechanism pattern in bacteria that evolves over some time, thus protecting the bacteria against antibiotics. AR is due to...
Antibiotic resistance (AR) is the resistance mechanism pattern in bacteria that evolves over some time, thus protecting the bacteria against antibiotics. AR is due to bacterial evolution to make itself fit to changing environmental conditions in a quest for survival of the fittest. AR has emerged due to the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial drugs, and few antibiotics are now left to deal with these superbug infections. To combat AR, vaccination is an effective method, used either therapeutically or prophylactically. In the current study, an in silico approach was applied for the design of multi-epitope-based vaccines against , a major cause of traveler's diarrhea. A total of six proteins: fimbrial protein, flagellar hook protein (FlgE), flagellar basal body L-ring protein (FlgH), flagellar hook-basal body complex protein (FliE), flagellar basal body P-ring formation protein (FlgA), and Gram-negative pili assembly chaperone domain proteins, were considered as vaccine targets and were utilized for B- and T-cell epitope prediction. The predicted epitopes were assessed for allergenicity, antigenicity, virulence, toxicity, and solubility. Moreover, filtered epitopes were utilized in multi-epitope vaccine construction. The predicted epitopes were joined with each other through specific GPGPG linkers and were joined with cholera toxin B subunit adjuvant via another EAAAK linker in order to enhance the efficacy of the designed vaccine. Docking studies of the designed vaccine construct were performed with MHC-I (PDB ID: 1I1Y), MHC-II (1KG0), and TLR-4 (4G8A). Findings of the docking study were validated through molecular dynamic simulations, which confirmed that the designed vaccine showed strong interactions with the immune receptors, and that the epitopes were exposed to the host immune system for proper recognition and processing. Additionally, binding free energies were estimated, which highlighted both electrostatic energy and van der Waals forces to make the complexes stable. Briefly, findings of the current study are promising and may help experimental vaccinologists to formulate a novel multi-epitope vaccine against .
PubMed: 35214648
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020189 -
Environmental Microbiology Dec 2020Soil biomes are vast, exceptionally diverse and crucial to the health of ecosystems and societies. Soils also contain an appreciable, but understudied, diversity of...
Soil biomes are vast, exceptionally diverse and crucial to the health of ecosystems and societies. Soils also contain an appreciable, but understudied, diversity of opportunistic human pathogens. With climate change and other forms of environmental degradation potentially increasing exposure risks to soilborne pathogens, it is necessary to gain a better understanding of their ecological drivers. Here we use the Galleria mellonella insect virulence model to selectively isolate pathogenic bacteria from soils in Cornwall (UK). We find a high prevalence of pathogenic soil bacteria with two genera, Providencia and Serratia, being especially common. Providencia alcalifaciens, P. rustigianii, Serratia liquefaciens and S. plymuthica strains were studied in more detail using phenotypic virulence and antibiotic resistance assays and whole-genome sequencing. Both genera displayed low levels of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic resistance gene carriage. However, Serratia isolates were found to carry the recently characterized metallo-β-lactamase blaSPR-1 that, although not conferring high levels of resistance in these strains, poses a potential risk of horizontal transfer to other pathogens where it could be fully functional. The Galleria assay can be a useful approach to uncover the distribution and identity of pathogenic bacteria in the environment, as well as uncover resistance genes with an environmental origin.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Humans; Moths; Prevalence; Soil Microbiology; Virulence; beta-Lactamases
PubMed: 32990385
DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15243 -
Microbiology Resource Announcements Jan 2023Whole-genome sequence data for clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria from the African continent are scarce. In this report, we present the draft genome sequence...
Antibiotic Profiles and Draft Genome Sequences of Kerstersia gyiorum, Providencia stuartii, Providencia vermicola, and Alcaligenes faecalis Strains Recovered from Soft Tissue Biopsy Samples in Ghana.
Whole-genome sequence data for clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria from the African continent are scarce. In this report, we present the draft genome sequence data and antibiograms of four species, namely, Kerstersia gyiorum, Providencia vermicola, Providencia stuartii, and Alcaligenes faecalis, that were recovered from human soft tissue biopsy samples.
PubMed: 36453948
DOI: 10.1128/mra.00893-22 -
BMJ Case Reports Jul 2021Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation. We report a case of...
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation. We report a case of VAP caused by in a postoperative 58-year-old man with prepyloric perforation. The patient's ICU stay was complicated by VAP. As the organism was carbapenem resistant, high-dose extended infusion of meropenem along with cefepime was started. Early identification and treatment helped in successful weaning of the patient from the ventilator. is an emerging nosocomial pathogen with an increase in resistance pattern. This case highlights the rarity and importance of as a cause of VAP.
Topics: Carbapenems; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated; Providencia; Ventilators, Mechanical
PubMed: 34226257
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243908 -
Infection and Drug Resistance 2022The aim of this study was to gain a deeper genomics and bioinformatics understanding of diversification of accessory genetic elements (AGEs) in .
PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to gain a deeper genomics and bioinformatics understanding of diversification of accessory genetic elements (AGEs) in .
METHODS
Herein, the complete genome sequences of five isolates from China were determined, and seven AGEs were identified from the chromosomes. Detailed genetic dissection and sequence comparison were applied to these seven AGEs, together with additional 10 chromosomal ones from GenBank (nine of them came from ).
RESULTS
These 17 AGEs were divided into four groups: Tn and its six derivatives, Tn and its two derivatives, Tn and its one derivative, and Tn and its four derivatives. These AGEs display high-level diversification in modular structures that had complex mosaic natures, and particularly different multidrug resistance (MDR) regions were presented in these AGEs. At least 52 drug resistance genes, involved in resistance to 15 different categories of antimicrobials and heavy metal, were found in 15 of these 17 AGEs.
CONCLUSION
Integration of these AGEs into the chromosomes would contribute to the accumulation and distribution of drug resistance genes and enhance the ability of isolates to survive under drug selection pressure.
PubMed: 35510160
DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S354934