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Biotechnology Advances Nov 2019Lignin is one of the most abundant renewable resources on earth and is readily produced as a sidestream during biomass fractioning. So far, these large quantities of... (Review)
Review
Lignin is one of the most abundant renewable resources on earth and is readily produced as a sidestream during biomass fractioning. So far, these large quantities of lignin have been severely underutilized, thereby wasting this valuable renewable. Recent technological advances in lignin recovery, breakdown, and conversion have now started forming the first sustainable value chains to take advantage of lignin. Microbial cell factories, inspired by nature's miscellaneous set of lignin-degrading microbes, are at the heart of these novel processes. Recent success stories in which the enzymes and pathways of these microbes were harnessed for biobased production from lignin hold great promise for a sustainable upgrading of this renewable polymer into value-added compounds.
Topics: Biomass; Delivery of Health Care; Lignin
PubMed: 30959173
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.02.016 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2022The biocatalytic conversion of fatty acids to α-ketoacids was accomplished by the action of two enzymes combined in a simultaneous one-pot two-step cascade. In the...
The biocatalytic conversion of fatty acids to α-ketoacids was accomplished by the action of two enzymes combined in a simultaneous one-pot two-step cascade. In the first step, P450 monooxygenase from Sphingomonas paucimobilis used hydrogen peroxide in the so-called peroxygenase mode for the regio- and enantioselective formation of α-hydroxyacids. In the next step, these hydroxyacid intermediates were further oxidized to the corresponding α-ketoacids by an α-hydroxyacid oxidase from Aerococcus viridans at the expense of molecular oxygen, thereby regenerating hydrogen peroxide used in the first step. Overall, the cascade was designed to employ catalytic quantities of hydrogen peroxide and proceeded at room temperature in dilute aqueous HO solutions (≤0.01%). This setup could be applied to the conversion of a range of fatty acids (C6:0 to C10:0) and was scaled up to allow the production of 2-oxooctanoic acid in 91% isolated yield.
Topics: Biocatalysis; Fatty Acids; Hydrogen Peroxide; Keto Acids; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 34813071
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1826-4_16 -
Cureus Feb 2022Septic arthritis, also known as infectious arthritis, is inflammation of the joints due to a wide range of pathogens, such as bacterial, fungal, mycobacterial, viral,...
Septic arthritis, also known as infectious arthritis, is inflammation of the joints due to a wide range of pathogens, such as bacterial, fungal, mycobacterial, viral, or/and other pathogens; however, some opportunistic pathogens tend to affect immunocompromised patients and rarely infect immunocompetent patients. For example, is an opportunistic pathogen with a particular tropism toward bones and soft tissues that rarely causes infections in immunocompetent humans. We present a case of causing septic arthritis in a 34-year-old man who is medically free and with no history of previous surgeries or any other comorbidities. He was treated successfully by both pharmacological treatment and surgical intervention. To our knowledge, there are only four cases published in the literature involving as a causative organism of septic arthritis affecting immunocompetent patients.
PubMed: 35308729
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.22167 -
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia E... Oct 2021Breast surgery is considered a clean surgery; however, the rates of infection range between 3 and 15%. The objective of the present study was to intraoperatively...
OBJECTIVE
Breast surgery is considered a clean surgery; however, the rates of infection range between 3 and 15%. The objective of the present study was to intraoperatively investigate the presence of autochthonous microbiota in the breast.
METHODS
Pieces of breast tissue collected from 49 patients who underwent elective breast surgery (reconstructive, diagnostic, or oncologic) were cultured. The pieces of breast tissue were approximately 1 cm in diameter and were removed from the retroareolar area, medial quadrant, and lateral quadrant. Each piece of tissue was incubated in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth for 7 days at 37°C, and in cases in which the medium became turbid due to microorganism growth, the samples were placed in Petri dishes for culturing and isolating strains and for identifying species using an automated counter.
RESULTS
Microorganism growth was observed in the samples of 10 of the 49 patients (20.4%) and in 11 of the 218 pieces of tissue (5%). The detected species were , and No patient with positive samples had clinical infection postoperatively.
CONCLUSION
The presence of these bacteria in breast tissue in approximately 20% of the patients in this series suggests that breast surgery should be considered a potential source of contamination that may have implications for adverse reactions to breast implants and should be studied in the near future for their oncological implications in breast implant-associated large-cell lymphoma etiology.
Topics: Bacteria; Breast; Breast Implants; Humans; Microbiota
PubMed: 34784632
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736300 -
IDCases 2022is an aerobic, yellow-pigmented, glucose non-fermenting, gram negative bacillus that is a rare cause of human infection found mostly in the immunocompromised and also...
is an aerobic, yellow-pigmented, glucose non-fermenting, gram negative bacillus that is a rare cause of human infection found mostly in the immunocompromised and also in intravenous (IV) drug users. We report a case of a 31-year-old female with current IV drug use, who presented with chest pain and was diagnosed with tricuspid valve endocarditis with bacteremia and pulmonary infarction of the right middle lobe. The patient initially presented with sharp right sided chest pain. She was treated with meropenem and levofloxacin based on the susceptibility profile. Our purpose is to highlight the treatment options and raise awareness of this uncommon organism. Even though Sphingomonas is considered to be of low-pathogenicity, it can be fatal if not treated properly and not diagnosed early.
PubMed: 35070718
DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01399 -
International Journal of Food... Sep 2019In Africa, fermented foods and beverages play significant roles in contributing to food security. Endotoxins are ubiquitous heat stable lipopolysaccharide (LPS)...
In Africa, fermented foods and beverages play significant roles in contributing to food security. Endotoxins are ubiquitous heat stable lipopolysaccharide (LPS) complexes situated in the outer cell membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. This study evaluated the microbiological quality of fermented foods (ogiri, ugba, iru, ogi and ogi baba) and beverages (mahewu and umqombothi) from selected Nigerian and South African markets. The bacterial diversity of the fermented foods was also investigated and the identity of the isolates confirmed by biochemical and molecular methods. Isolate grouping was established through hierarchal clustering and the samples were further investigated for endotoxin production with the chromogenic Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate assay. The total aerobic count of the samples ranged from 5.7 to 10.8 Log CFU/g. Fourteen bacteria genera were detected with most of the isolates being members of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Escherichia coli were the dominant Gram-negative bacterial species detected. There were considerable variations in the concentrations of endotoxins produced and the lowest endotoxin concentration was found in ogi (4.3 × 10 EU/g) and the highest in iru (5.5 × 10 EU/g) while, 44% of umqombothi samples had endotoxins. Ogi baba samples had better microbial quality than other samples due to its reduced bacterial load and endotoxin levels. There was a strong positive (r = 0.714, r = 0.996) and significant (p < 0.01) correlation between the endotoxin levels and bacterial loads of the samples. Some previously unreported species of bacteria found in the fermented foods included Aeromonas haemolyticus and Rhizobium radiobacter. This is the first comprehensive report on endotoxins in fermented foods and beverages in Africa. Furthermore, the occurrence of pathogenic bacteria and toxins in the foods and beverages is of serious concern that calls for immediate action.
Topics: Bacteria; Bacterial Load; Beverages; Biological Warfare; Endotoxins; Fermented Foods; Nigeria; South Africa
PubMed: 31229696
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2019.108251 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jun 2022The indiscriminate use and overuse of various antibiotics have caused the rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in poultry products and the surrounding...
The indiscriminate use and overuse of various antibiotics have caused the rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in poultry products and the surrounding environment, giving rise to global public health issues. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) found in the environment of poultry farms and to evaluate the risk of contamination in these farms based on multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index values. Soil and effluent samples were collected from 13 poultry farms. The VITEK 2 system was used for bacterial identification and susceptibility testing of the isolates. The identified Gram-negative isolates were Acinetobacter spp., spp., Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus spp., spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Sphingomonas paucimobilis. The results showed that Enterobacter spp. spp., and spp. exhibited the highest MDR rates and MAR indices; 14% of K. pneumoniae isolates (3/21 isolates) were resistant to 13 antibiotics and found to be extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria. As for the tested antibiotics, 96.6% of the isolates (28/29 isolates) demonstrated resistance to ampicillin, followed by ampicillin-sulbactam (55.9% [33/59 isolates]) and cefazolin (54.8% [57/104 isolates]). The high percentage of MDR bacteria and the presence of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae strains suggested the presence of MDR genes from the poultry farm environment, which poses an alarming threat to the effectiveness of the available antibiotic medicines to treat infectious diseases. Therefore, the use of antibiotics should be regulated and controlled, while studies addressing One Health issues are vital for combating and preventing the development and spread of ARB. The occurrence and spread of ARB due to high demand in poultry industries are of great public health concern. The widespread emergence of antibiotic resistance, particularly MDR among bacterial pathogens, poses challenges in clinical treatment. Some pathogens are now virtually untreatable with current antibiotics. However, those pathogens were rarely explored in the environment. In alignment with the concept of One Health, it is imperative to study the rate of resistance in the environment, because this domain plays an important role in the dissemination of bacteria to humans, animals, and other environmental areas. Reliable data on the prevalence of MDR bacteria are crucial to curb the spread of bacterial pathogens that can cause antimicrobial-resistant infections.
Topics: Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Farms; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Poultry; beta-Lactamases
PubMed: 35467407
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02694-21 -
Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports Apr 2021Sphingomonas paucimobilis is an opportunistic pathogen and a rare cause of human infection. This case report shows bacteremia with pyogenic spondylodiscitis in...
INTRODUCTION
Sphingomonas paucimobilis is an opportunistic pathogen and a rare cause of human infection. This case report shows bacteremia with pyogenic spondylodiscitis in lumbosacral spine caused by Sphingomonas and discusses its clinical diagnosis, treatment, and literature reviews.
CASE REPORT
Patient presented with severe low back pain, inability to walk and fever following a L5-S1 decompression elsewhere, which corresponded clinico-radiologically with a picture of a spondylodiscitis on radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. His blood culture was positive for S. paucimobilis. He was treated successfully by surgical debridement, stabilization, and fusion along with intravenous Linezolid followed by oral therapy, based on the antibiotic susceptibility profile. Repeat blood culture was negative after 7 weeks of antibiotic therapy. Patient improved symptomatically with radiographs showing good fusion at 1 year follow-up. S. paucimobilis, though a low virulence organism, is an emerging pathogen and should be dealt with cautiously.
CONCLUSION
This reiterates the importance of culture as unusual organisms may be isolated and appropriate antibiotics form the mainstay of treatment.
PubMed: 34327174
DOI: 10.13107/jocr.2021.v11.i04.2166 -
Journal of Infection in Developing... Feb 2022Sphingomonas paucimobilis, previously known as Pseudomonas paucimobilis, is a Gram-negative rod. It is emerging as an opportunistic pathogen that can infect individuals...
INTRODUCTION
Sphingomonas paucimobilis, previously known as Pseudomonas paucimobilis, is a Gram-negative rod. It is emerging as an opportunistic pathogen that can infect individuals in community or hospital settings. It is believed that the natural habitat of this organism is soil and water, including water sources in the hospital environment.
CASE REPORT
We describe the case of a 46-year-old patient in whom S. paucimobilis was identified in the implanted bone flap after craniotomy. The postoperative bone flap was implanted in the right hypochondria and replaced after 8 weeks. There was a hypochondriac abscess in the area under the bone. Specimens from the thickened fascia and bone flap were cultured. The Gram stain showed Gram-negative rods and these rods were identified as S. paucimobilis. The patient was treated with a combination of Gentamicin 240 mg and Levofloxacin 750 mg once daily because the bacteria were resistant to carbapenem, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and anti-pseudomonal penicillin.
CONCLUSIONS
Although S. paucimobilis characteristically presents low virulence, for better patient management and outcome, the diagnosis should be immediately followed by appropriate antibiotic therapy guided by susceptibility test results of each case.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Craniotomy; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Humans; Middle Aged; Sphingomonas
PubMed: 35298437
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.15369 -
Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science Jan 2022This report describes a case of coinfection of Sphingomonas paucimobilis meningitis and Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia in a 66-year-old immunocompetent female...
This report describes a case of coinfection of Sphingomonas paucimobilis meningitis and Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia in a 66-year-old immunocompetent female patient. The patient had undergone traditional procedures, including acupuncture, which possibly caused the coinfection. During treatment with susceptible antibiotics for bacterial meningitis, she developed hydrocephalus on the third day. Consequently, the patient recovered with a mild neurological deficit of grade 4 motor assessment in both upper and lower extremities at discharge. S. paucimobilis and L. monocytogenes are rare pathogens in developed countries, occurring only during environmental outbreaks. S. paucimobilis meningitis is rarely reported. Hence, the various presentations of S. paucimobilis meningitis and the antibiotic regimen for its treatment are hereby reported, in addition to a review of other similar reported cases. This case is a possible traditional procedure-related infection. Appropriate oversight and training should be emphasized regarding preventive measures of this kind of infection. A team approach with neurologists and neurosurgeons is imperative in treating patients with hydrocephalus-complicated meningitis.
PubMed: 34092053
DOI: 10.12701/yujm.2021.01074