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Biotechnology Reports (Amsterdam,... Dec 2020Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are induced by exogenous organisms including extraintestinal pathogenic such as (ExPEC), and , which are closely related. These...
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are induced by exogenous organisms including extraintestinal pathogenic such as (ExPEC), and , which are closely related. These organisms can colonize in the urinary tract and cause UTIs. In this study, a cross-reactive multi-epitope vaccine was designed by two constructs to stimulate the immune system (CD8+ and CD4 + T cells) against ExPEC, and strains. Uropathogenic (UPEC), and are the main bacterial cause of UTI. They were used for designing experimental candidate vaccine, and their immunogenicity and protectivity were assessed. In this study, conserved antigens from their bacterial genomes were considered, and informatics-based immunological vaccine with cross-protective T and B-cells epitopes was designed and evaluated. The vaccine candidate was used as a broad immune system inducer, and its cross-protective immunity and protectivity were confirmed in experiments.
PubMed: 33304840
DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2020.e00564 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2022and are common single- and polymicrobial urinary tract infections which can survive under various oxygen levels, including inside of stone matrices. Therefore, we...
and are common single- and polymicrobial urinary tract infections which can survive under various oxygen levels, including inside of stone matrices. Therefore, we aimed to investigate and compare the calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) lithogenic activities including COM crystal growth and aggregation under microaerobic conditions of and isolated from the same stone matrix. The crystal growth was analyzed at the delta crystal area while the crystal aggregation was analyzed as the number of crystal aggregates. The results showed that compared to blank control, , and the co-culture of and were able to significantly promote COM crystal growth under microaerobic conditions. Interestingly, the delta crystal area in the co-culture under microaerobic conditions was larger than that of alone and alone. In addition, only alone and the co-culture were able to significantly increase COM aggregates. This study demonstrated that single- and co-culture of and could promote COM crystal growth and aggregation under microaerobic conditions. The co-culture of and may provide the combination effect on COM crystal interactions. The bacterial surfaces and the important effects on bacteria-crystal interactions should be further evaluated.
PubMed: 36359494
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12112651 -
Clinical Medicine (London, England) May 2023
Topics: Humans; Urinary Tract Infections; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Syndrome
PubMed: 37236799
DOI: 10.7861/clinmed.2023-0132 -
SAGE Open Medicine 2023This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of water sources in Ishaka division, Bushenyi district.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of water sources in Ishaka division, Bushenyi district.
METHODS
Water from taps, wells and springs were sampled for the cross-sectional investigation. The enumeration and identification of microbes ( and total coliforms) in water samples were carried out using a variety of methods. was enumerated using the membrane filtration method; and using a two-step enrichment method; using the surface spread method and total coliforms using the most probable number technique. Mannitol salt agar was used for enumeration of and violet red bile agar was used for enumeration of total coliforms and ; xylose lysine deoxycholate agar was used for both spp. and spp. API-20E was used to phenotypically identify the Enterobacteriaceae contaminants in water. These included spp. and .
RESULTS
counts in the water from springs and wells ranged from 0 to 314 cfu/mL ( = 0.173) and 0 to 3 cfu/mL ( = 0.269), respectively, while tap water had no incidence of . Highest level of bacterial contamination in water sources, beyond acceptable WHO (0 cfu/100 mL) limits for drinking water, was reported: spp., 34 (54.8%), followed by total coliforms, 24 (38.7%), spp., 22 (35.5%) and least were spp. (8.1%) and spp. (8.1%).
CONCLUSION
It is therefore concluded that spring and well community water sources in Ishaka division, Uganda, are significantly contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and thus unsafe for drinking without adequate water treatment (disinfection and filtration).
PubMed: 38020800
DOI: 10.1177/20503121231194239 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022Indwelling urinary catheterization can lead to the development of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), an important type of nosocomial infection, as... (Review)
Review
Indwelling urinary catheterization can lead to the development of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), an important type of nosocomial infection, as well as other medical issues among institutionalized adults. Recently, was highlighted as the important cause of CAUTIs. The pathogenicity of is dependent on two multicellular types of surface colonization: the adherence and swarming motility. Adhesion, mostly mediated by fimbrial and nonfimbrial adhesins, is important for the initiation of biofilm formation. Moreover, the production of urease frequently results in biofilm crystallization, which leads to the blockage of catheters. The heterologous polymeric matrix of the biofilm offers protection against antibiotics and the host immune system. displays remarkable motility abilities. After contact with solid surfaces, hyper-flagellated cells are able to rapidly migrate. The importance of swarming motility in CAUTIs development remains controversial; however, it was indicated that swarming cells were able to co-express other virulence factors. Furthermore, flagella are strong immunomodulating proteins. On the other hand, both biofilm formation and swarming motility implicates multiple inter- and intraspecies interactions, which might contribute to the pathogenicity.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Humans; Life Style; Proteus mirabilis; Urease; Urinary Tract Infections; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 36118021
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.864305 -
Virus Research Mar 2023The crystalline formation of biofilms by Proteus blocks the urine flow which often complicates the health care of catheterized patients. Bacteriophages has been...
The crystalline formation of biofilms by Proteus blocks the urine flow which often complicates the health care of catheterized patients. Bacteriophages has been highlighted as a promising tool to control biofilm-mediated bacterial infections. Here, we isolated and characterized two newly isolated lytic phages capable of infecting clinical isolates of P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris. Moreover, insights regarding the biological and molecular characterization were analysed. Both RP6 and RP7 phages showed a Proteus-genus-specific profile, administering no lytic activity against other family of Enterobacteriaceae. The optimal MOI value of the RP6 and RP7 phages were determined as 0.1 and 0.01, respectively. The one-step growth curve showed that RP6 and RP7 phages have a short latent period of 20 min and large burst size of 220-371 PFU/ML per infected host cell. Bacteria growth was reduced immediately after the phages were added, which is shown by the optical density (OD) measurement after 24 hr. Proteus phage RP6 and RP7 were found to eradicate both the planktonic and mature biofilms produced by the Proteus isolates tested. Genome sequence of Proteus phage RP6 was found to be 58,619 bp, and a G-C content of 47%. Also, Proteus phage RP7 genome size was 103,593 bp with G-C ratio of 38.45%. A total of 70 and 172 open reading frame (ORF) was encoded in RP6 and RP7 phage genomes, respectively. Interestingly, there were no tRNA encoded by Proteus phage RP6 genome even though there is a significant G-C content difference between the phage and its host. Additionally, the exhibition of highly lytic activity and absence of virulence and antibiotic-resistant genes in both Proteus RP6 and RP7 phages emphasized that this newly isolated phages are promising for potential therapeutic phages.
Topics: Humans; Bacteriophages; Sewage; Proteus; Proteus mirabilis; Genome, Viral; Biofilms; Hospitals
PubMed: 36717023
DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199049 -
Human Molecular Genetics Sep 2019Proteus syndrome is a mosaic, progressive overgrowth disorder caused by a somatic activating variant c.49G > A p.(E17K) in AKT1. The presentation in affected...
Proteus syndrome is a mosaic, progressive overgrowth disorder caused by a somatic activating variant c.49G > A p.(E17K) in AKT1. The presentation in affected individuals is variable, with a diversity of tissues demonstrating abnormalities. Common manifestations include skin and bony overgrowth, vascular malformations (VMs), cysts and benign tumors. We used two methods to create mouse models that had endogenously-regulated mosaic expression of the Proteus syndrome variant. Variant allele fractions (VAFs) ranged from 0% to 50% across numerous tissues in 44 Proteus syndrome mice. Mice were phenotypically heterogeneous with lesions rarely observed before 12 months of age. VMs were the most frequent finding with a total of 69 found in 29 of 44 Proteus syndrome mice. Twenty-eight cysts and ectasia, frequently biliary, were seen in 22 of 44 Proteus syndrome mice. Varying levels of mammary hyperplasia were seen in 10 of 16 female Proteus syndrome mice with other localized regions of hyperplasia and stromal expansion noted in several additional animals. Interestingly, 27 of 31 Proteus syndrome animals had non-zero blood VAF that is in contrast to the human disorder where it is rarely seen in peripheral blood. Identification of variant-positive cells by green fluorescent protein (GFP) staining in chimeric Proteus syndrome mice showed that in some lesions, hyperplastic cells were predominantly GFP/Akt1E17K-positive and showed increased pAKT signal compared to GFP-negative cells. However, hyperplastic mammary epithelium was a mixture of GFP/Akt1E17K-positive and negative cells with some GFP/Akt1E17K-negative cells also having increased pAKT signal suggesting that the variant-positive cells can induce lesion formation in a non-cell autonomous manner.
Topics: Alleles; Animals; Biopsy; Disease Models, Animal; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Loci; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Humans; Mice; Mutation; Phenotype; Proteus Syndrome; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
PubMed: 31194862
DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz116 -
Journal of the American Academy of... Feb 2021Proteus syndrome is an overgrowth disorder caused by a mosaic activating AKT1 variant. Hair abnormalities in Proteus syndrome have rarely been reported, and frequencies... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Proteus syndrome is an overgrowth disorder caused by a mosaic activating AKT1 variant. Hair abnormalities in Proteus syndrome have rarely been reported, and frequencies of such findings have not been elucidated.
OBJECTIVE
To define the types and frequencies of hair findings in individuals with Proteus syndrome.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted of individuals with clinical features of Proteus syndrome and a confirmed pathogenic variant in AKT1 evaluated between November 1996 and June 2019 at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. Medical records were reviewed for patterning, density, and color of hair on the body and scalp.
RESULTS
Of 45 individuals evaluated, 29 (64%) had asymmetric hypertrichosis on the body. This included unilateral blaschkoid hypertrichotic patches overlying normal skin or epidermal nevi in 16 (36%), unilateral nonblaschkoid hypertrichotic patches in 11 (24%), and unilateral limb hypertrichosis in 10 (22%). Diffuse, scattered, or patchy changes in scalp hair density or color were present in 11 individuals (24%).
LIMITATIONS
The retrospective, observational design, and limited longitudinal follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS
Asymmetric variations in hair distribution, thickness, length, and color contribute to the overall mosaic appearance of the skin in Proteus syndrome, an observation that provides novel insights into the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) signaling in skin appendage development.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA Mutational Analysis; Female; Hair Follicle; Humans; Hypertrichosis; Male; Mosaicism; Mutation; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Prevalence; Proteus Syndrome; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Retrospective Studies; Signal Transduction; Young Adult
PubMed: 32035943
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.01.078 -
Cureus May 2024An uncommon congenital hamartomatous disorder called Proteus syndrome is characterized by multifocal tissue expansion originating from all three germinal layers....
An uncommon congenital hamartomatous disorder called Proteus syndrome is characterized by multifocal tissue expansion originating from all three germinal layers. Diagnosis mainly relies on clinical and radiological criteria. Here, we present a case of a 13-year-old female child exhibiting bony, soft tissue, and vascular abnormalities, along with developmental delay. We conclude by highlighting the importance of imaging studies in conjunction with physical examination, which are characterized by general and specific criteria to diagnose this rare condition until a specific gene test becomes available.
PubMed: 38860105
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60072 -
European Journal of Obstetrics,... Feb 2022Urinary tract infections (UTI) among women form a substantial part of medical practice and both patients and medical professionals have an interest in non-antibiotic...
OBJECTIVE
Urinary tract infections (UTI) among women form a substantial part of medical practice and both patients and medical professionals have an interest in non-antibiotic treatments and preventative measures. This research provides preliminary data on a multi-functional composition, DAPAD, which explored several biologic activities of relevance to UTI.
STUDY DESIGN
This formulation included D-mannose, citric acid, three prebiotic compounds, and extracts of dandelion and astragalus. Studies performed employed 4 bacterial strains that have relevance to UTI including E. coli, Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus agalactiae and Enterococcus faecalis.
RESULTS
Key findings from in vitro studies included: DAPAD at full- and half-strength inhibited growth of all UTI bacteria. Evidence for D-mannose agglutination of E. coli was demonstrated. D-mannose also showed unexpected effects on bacterial membrane integrity with vital staining and modest growth restriction. We did not demonstrate growth inhibition by dandelion or astragalus extracts but the latter showed diminished cytokine elaboration by bladder epithelial cells.
CONCLUSION
DAPAD is a multifunctional composition that may warrant further development as a UTI treatment or preventive if supported by clinical evaluation.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Enterococcus faecalis; Escherichia coli; Female; Humans; Proteus mirabilis; Urinary Tract Infections
PubMed: 34979364
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.12.031