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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The discovery and investigation of new natural compounds with antimicrobial activity are new potential strategies to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance. The...
The discovery and investigation of new natural compounds with antimicrobial activity are new potential strategies to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance. The presented study reveals, for the first time, the promising antibacterial potential of two fractions from mucus with an MW < 20 kDa and an MW > 20 kDa against five bacterial pathogens- 1085, 1897, 8691, 3915, and 8754. Using de novo sequencing, 16 novel peptides with potential antibacterial activity were identified in a fraction with an MW < 20 kDa. Some bioactive compounds in a mucus fraction with an MW > 20 kDa were determined via a proteomic analysis on 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and bioinformatics. High homology with proteins and glycoproteins was found, with potential antibacterial activity in mucus proteins named aspernin, hemocyanins, H-lectins, and L-amino acid oxidase-like protein, as well as mucins (mucin-5AC, mucin-5B, mucin-2, and mucin-17). We hypothesize that the synergy between the bioactive components determined in the composition of the fraction > 20 kDa are responsible for the high antibacterial activity against the tested pathogens in concentrations between 32 and 128 µg/mL, which is comparable to vancomycin, but without cytotoxic effects on model eukaryotic cells of . Additionally, a positive effect, by reducing the levels of intracellular oxidative damage and increasing antioxidant capacity, on cells was found for both mucus extract fractions of . These findings may serve as a basis for further studies to develop a new antibacterial agent preventing the development of antibiotic resistance.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Mucus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Peptides; Enterococcus faecalis; Enterococcus faecium; Bacillus cereus; Animals; Propionibacterium acnes; Salmonella enterica
PubMed: 38930951
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122886 -
NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes Jun 2024It is becoming increasingly apparent that commensal skin bacteria have an important role in wound healing and infection progression. However, the precise mechanisms...
It is becoming increasingly apparent that commensal skin bacteria have an important role in wound healing and infection progression. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning many of these probiotic interactions remain to be fully uncovered. In this work, we demonstrate that the common skin commensal Cutibacterium acnes can limit the pathogenicity of the prevalent wound pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo. We show that this impact on pathogenicity is independent of any effect on growth, but occurs through a significant downregulation of the Type Three Secretion System (T3SS), the primary toxin secretion system utilised by P. aeruginosa in eukaryotic infection. We also show a downregulation in glucose acquisition systems, a known regulator of the T3SS, suggesting that glucose availability in a wound can influence infection progression. C. acnes is well known as a glucose fermenting organism, and we demonstrate that topically supplementing a wound with glucose reverses the probiotic effects of C. acnes. This suggests that introducing carbon source competition within the wound microenvironment may be an effective way to prevent or limit wound infection.
Topics: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Glucose; Animals; Type III Secretion Systems; Propionibacterium acnes; Wound Infection; Mice; Pseudomonas Infections; Skin; Carbon; Wound Healing; Antibiosis; Disease Progression; Humans
PubMed: 38918415
DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00518-4 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Cutibacterium acnes is a known opportunistic pathogen in orthopedic implant-associated infections (OIAIs). The species of C. acnes comprises distinct phylotypes....
Cutibacterium acnes is a known opportunistic pathogen in orthopedic implant-associated infections (OIAIs). The species of C. acnes comprises distinct phylotypes. Previous studies suggested that C. acnes can cause single- as well as multi-typic infections, i.e. infections caused by multiple strains of different phylotypes. However, it is not known if different C. acnes phylotypes are organized in a complex biofilm community, which could constitute a multicellular strategy to increase biofilm strength and persistency. Here, the interactions of two C. acnes strains belonging to phylotypes IB and II were determined in co-culture experiments. No adverse interactions between the strains were observed in liquid culture or on agar plates; instead, biofilm formation in both microtiter plates and on titanium discs was significantly increased when combining both strains. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that both strains co-occurred throughout the biofilm. Transcriptome analyses revealed strain-specific alterations of gene expression in biofilm-embedded cells compared to planktonic growth, in particular affecting genes involved in carbon and amino acid metabolism. Overall, our results provide first insights into the nature of dual-type biofilms of C. acnes, suggesting that strains belonging to different phylotypes can form biofilms together with additive effects. The findings might influence the perception of C. acnes OIAIs in terms of diagnosis and treatment.
Topics: Biofilms; Propionibacteriaceae; Humans; Coculture Techniques; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Gene Expression Profiling; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
PubMed: 38914744
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65348-y -
Journal of Microorganism Control 2024Cutibacterium acnes is an opportunistic pathogen recognized as a contributing factor to acne vulgaris. The accumulation of keratin and sebum plugs in hair follicles...
Cutibacterium acnes is an opportunistic pathogen recognized as a contributing factor to acne vulgaris. The accumulation of keratin and sebum plugs in hair follicles facilitates C. acnes proliferation, leading to inflammatory acne. Although numerous antimicrobial cosmetic products for acne-prone skin are available, their efficacy is commonly evaluated against planktonic cells of C. acnes. Limited research has assessed the antimicrobial effects on microorganisms within keratin and sebum plugs. This study investigates whether an antibacterial toner can penetrate keratin and sebum plugs, exhibiting bactericidal effects against C. acnes. Scanning electron microscopy and next-generation sequencing analysis of the keratin and sebum plug suggest that C. acnes proliferate within the plug, predominantly in a biofilm-like morphology. To clarify the potential bactericidal effect of the antibacterial toner against C. acnes inside keratin and sebum plugs, we immersed the plugs in the toner, stained them with LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability Kit to visualize microorganism viability, and observed them using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results indicate that most microorganisms in the plugs were killed by the antibacterial toner. To quantitatively evaluate the bactericidal efficacy of the toner against C. acnes within keratin and sebum, we immersed an artificial plug with inoculated C. acnes type strain and an isolate collected from acne-prone skin into the toner and obtained viable cell counts. The number of the type strain and the isolate inside the artificial plug decreased by over 2.2 log and 1.2 log, respectively, showing that the antibacterial toner exhibits bactericidal effects against C. acnes via keratin and sebum plug penetration.
Topics: Sebum; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Humans; Keratins; Acne Vulgaris; Biofilms; Microbial Viability; Propionibacteriaceae; Propionibacterium acnes; Hair Follicle; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
PubMed: 38880618
DOI: 10.4265/jmc.29.2_63 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... May 2024Different animal behavioral phenotypes maintained and selectively bred over multiple generations may be underscored by dissimilar gut microbial community compositions or...
Different animal behavioral phenotypes maintained and selectively bred over multiple generations may be underscored by dissimilar gut microbial community compositions or not have any significant dissimilarity in community composition. Operating within the microbiota-gut-brain axis framework, we anticipated differences in gut microbiome profiles between zebrafish () selectively bred to display the bold and shy personality types. This would highlight gut microbe-mediated effects on host behavior. To this end, we amplified and sequenced a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene from the guts of bold and shy zebrafish individuals (n=10) via Miseq. We uncovered no significant difference in within-group microbial diversity nor between-group microbial community composition of the two behavioral phenotypes. Interestingly, though not statistically different, we determined that the gut microbial community of the bold phenotype was dominated by and . In contrast, the shy phenotype was dominated by , and The absence of any significant difference in gut microbiota profiles between the two phenotypes would suggest that in this species, there might exist a stable "core" gut microbiome, regardless of behavioral phenotypes, and or possibly, a limited role for the gut microbiota in modulating this selected-for host behavior. This is the first study to characterize the gut microbial community of distinct innate behavioral phenotypes of the zebrafish (that are not considered dysbiotic states) and not rely on antibiotic or probiotic treatments to induce changes in behavior. Such studies are crucial to our understanding of the modulating impacts of the gut microbiome on normative animal behavior.
PubMed: 38853862
DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596447 -
World Journal of Hepatology May 2024The gut-liver axis and bacterial translocation are important in cirrhosis, but there is no available universal biomarker of cellular bacterial translocation, for which...
BACKGROUND
The gut-liver axis and bacterial translocation are important in cirrhosis, but there is no available universal biomarker of cellular bacterial translocation, for which presepsin may be a candidate.
AIM
To evaluate the relationship of the blood presepsin levels with the state of the gut microbiota in cirrhosis in the absence of obvious infection.
METHODS
This study included 48 patients with Child-Pugh cirrhosis classes B and C and 15 healthy controls. The fecal microbiome was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Plasma levels of presepsin were measured. A total of 22 patients received a probiotic () for 3 months.
RESULTS
Presepsin levels were higher in patients with cirrhosis than in healthy individuals [342 (91-2875) 120 (102-141) pg/mL; = 0.048]. Patients with elevated presepsin levels accounted for 56.3% of all included patients. They had lower levels of serum albumin and higher levels of serum total bilirubin and overall severity of cirrhosis as assessed using the Child-Pugh scale. Patients with elevated presepsin levels had an increased abundance of the main taxa responsible for bacterial translocation, namely Bacilli and Proteobacteria (including the main class Gammaproteobacteria and the minor taxa Xanthobacteraceae and Stenotrophomonas), and a low abundance of bacteria from the family Lachnospiraceae (including the minor genus Fusicatenibacter), which produce short-chain fatty acids that have a positive effect on intestinal barrier function. The presepsin level directly correlated with the relative abundance of Bacilli, Proteobacteria, and inversely correlated with the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Propionibacteriaceae. After 3 months of taking the probiotic, the severity of cirrhosis on the Child-Pugh scale decreased significantly only in the group with elevated presepsin levels [from 9 (8-11) to 7 (6-9); = 0.004], while there were no significant changes in the group with normal presepsin levels [from 8 (7-8) to 7 (6-8); = 0.123]. A high level of presepsin before the prescription of the probiotic was an independent predictor of a greater decrease in Child-Pugh scores ( = 0.046), as well as a higher level of the Child-Pugh scale ( = 0.042), but not the C-reactive protein level ( = 0.679) according to multivariate linear regression analysis.
CONCLUSION
The level of presepsin directly correlates with the abundance in the gut microbiota of the main taxa that are substrates of bacterial translocation in cirrhosis. This biomarker, in the absence of obvious infection, seems important for assessing the state of the gut-liver axis in cirrhosis and deciding on therapy targeted at the gut microbiota in this disease.
PubMed: 38818295
DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i5.822 -
Medicine May 2024Acne is a prevalent inflammatory condition of the pilosebaceous unit, which seriously affects the appearance and mental health of patients. Bibliometrics is the...
BACKGROUND
Acne is a prevalent inflammatory condition of the pilosebaceous unit, which seriously affects the appearance and mental health of patients. Bibliometrics is the statistical analysis of academic literature in a certain field. We aimed to characterize the 100 most cited articles on acne from a bibliometric perspective, as well as explore the frontier hotspots and trends of acne.
METHODS
A search was conducted on the Web of Science database on August 8, 2023. we employed the terms "acne," "acne Vulgaris," and "common acne" in our search. The top 100 articles with the most citations throughout the time frame of 2014 to 2023 were discovered and assessed. The visualization study was carried out using bibliometric tools such as CiteSpace 6.2.R4, VOSviewer 1.6.18, and MapChart.
RESULTS
The top 100 most cited articles were published between 2014 and 2021, originated from a diverse range of 48 countries, with a predominant focus on the United States of America (USA) and Germany. The top 100 papers were cited between 50 and 712 times. Dreno B, from Nantes University, was the most frequently nominated author. With 12 papers, the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology contributed the most to the top 100 list. Alongside the term "acne", the following terms or phrases were observed frequency in the top 100 articles, Cutibacterium acnes, sebaceous, western diet, antibiotic resistance, staphylococcus-epidermidis, insulinlike growth factor 1, benzoyl peroxide, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Alongside the term "acne", terms or phrases such as Cutibacterium acnes, sebaceous, western diet, antibiotic resistance, staphylococcus-epidermidis, insulinlike growth factor 1, benzoyl peroxide, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, etc also have a high frequency in the top 100 articles.
CONCLUSION
This analysis summarizes the shifting trends of acne research over the last decades. Research on acne is currently flourishing. The related pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies have been the focus of current research and developmental trends in future research.
Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Bibliometrics; Humans; Biomedical Research; Propionibacterium acnes
PubMed: 38788015
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037657 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024Acne vulgaris is a prevalent skin disorder affecting many young individuals, marked by keratinization, inflammation, seborrhea, and colonization by (). Ellagitannins,...
Acne vulgaris is a prevalent skin disorder affecting many young individuals, marked by keratinization, inflammation, seborrhea, and colonization by (). Ellagitannins, known for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, have not been widely studied for their anti-acne effects. Chestnut ( Mill., ), a rich ellagitannin source, including castalagin whose acne-related bioactivity was previously unexplored, was investigated in this study. The research assessed the effect of leaf extract and castalagin on human keratinocytes (HaCaT) infected with , finding that both inhibited IL-8 and IL-6 release at concentrations below 25 μg/mL. The action mechanism was linked to NF-κB inhibition, without AP-1 involvement. Furthermore, the extract displayed anti-biofilm properties and reduced CK-10 expression, indicating a potential role in mitigating inflammation, bacterial colonization, and keratosis. Castalagin's bioactivity mirrored the extract's effects, notably in IL-8 inhibition, NF-κB inhibition, and biofilm formation at low μM levels. Other polyphenols, such as flavonol glycosides identified via LC-MS, might also contribute to the extract's biological activities. This study is the first to explore ellagitannins' potential in treating acne, offering insights for developing chestnut-based anti-acne treatments pending future in vivo studies.
Topics: Humans; Hydrolyzable Tannins; Fagaceae; Acne Vulgaris; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Keratinocytes; NF-kappa B; HaCaT Cells; Propionibacterium acnes; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Interleukin-8
PubMed: 38731983
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094764 -
MSphere May 2024are part of the human skin microbiota and are opportunistic microorganisms that become pathogenic in immunodeficient states. These lipophilic bacteria willingly inhabit...
UNLABELLED
are part of the human skin microbiota and are opportunistic microorganisms that become pathogenic in immunodeficient states. These lipophilic bacteria willingly inhabit areas of the skin where sebaceous glands are abundant; hence, there is a need to thoroughly understand their metabolism. Lipids are no longer considered only structural elements but also serve as signaling molecules and may have antigenic properties. Lipidomics remains a major research challenge, mainly due to the diverse physicochemical properties of lipids. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a large comparative lipidomic analysis of eight representatives of the genus, including four phylotypes of and two strains of , , and . Lipidomic analysis was performed by liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in both positive and negative ion modes, allowing the detection of the widest range of metabolites. Fatty acid analysis by gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC-MS) corroborated the lipidomic data. As a result, 128 lipids were identified, among which it was possible to select marker compounds, some of which were characteristic even of individual phylotypes. These include phosphatidylcholine PC 30:0, sphingomyelins (SM 33:1, SM 35:1), and phosphatidylglycerol with an alkyl ether substituent PG O-32:0. Moreover, cardiolipins and fatty acid amides were identified in spp. for the first time. This comparative characterization of the cutibacterial lipidome with the search for specific molecular markers reveals its diagnostic potential for clinical microbiology.
IMPORTANCE
(previously ) represents an important part of the human skin microbiota, and its role in clinical microbiology is growing due to opportunistic infections. Lipidomics, apart from protein profiling, has the potential to prove to be a useful tool for defining the cellular fingerprint, allowing for precise differentiation of microorganisms. In this work, we presented a comparative analysis of lipids found in eight strains of the genus , including a few phylotypes. Our results are one of the first large-scale comprehensive studies regarding the bacterial lipidome, which also enabled the selection of phylotype-specific lipid markers. The increased role of lipids not only as structural components but also as diagnostic markers or potential antigens has led to new lipid markers that can be used as diagnostic tools for clinical microbiology. We believe that the findings in our paper will appeal to a wide range of researchers.
Topics: Lipidomics; Humans; Propionibacteriaceae; Chromatography, Liquid; Lipids; Skin; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Fatty Acids; Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 38712970
DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00054-24 -
Yakugaku Zasshi : Journal of the... 2024Signal-transducing adaptor protein-2 (STAP-2) is a unique scaffold protein that regulates several immunological signaling pathways, including LIF/LIF receptor and...
Signal-transducing adaptor protein-2 (STAP-2) is a unique scaffold protein that regulates several immunological signaling pathways, including LIF/LIF receptor and LPS/TLR4 signals. STAP-2 is required for Fas/FasL-dependent T cell apoptosis and SDF-1α-induced T cell migration. Conversely, STAP-2 modulates integrin-mediated T cell adhesion, suggesting that STAP-2 is essential for several negative and positive T cell functions. However, whether STAP-2 is involved in T cell-antigen receptor (TCR)-mediated T cell activation is unknown. STAP-2 deficiency was recently reported to suppress TCR-mediated T cell activation by inhibiting LCK-mediated CD3ζ and ZAP-70 activation. Using STAP-2 deficient mice, it was demonstrated that STAP-2 is required for the pathogenesis of Propionibacterium acnes-induced granuloma formation and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Here, detailed functions of STAP-2 in TCR-mediated T cell activation, and how STAP-2 affects the pathogenesis of T cell-mediated inflammation and immune diseases, are reviewed.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Apoptosis; CD3 Complex; Cell Adhesion; Cell Movement; Chemokine CXCL12; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Inflammation; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck); Propionibacterium acnes; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; Signal Transduction; T-Lymphocytes; ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase
PubMed: 38692923
DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.23-00154-4