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Journal of Investigative Medicine High... 2024Brain abscess is a life-threatening infection that can occur secondary to contiguous or hematogenous spread. Several underlying conditions can lead to brain abscesses,...
Brain abscess is a life-threatening infection that can occur secondary to contiguous or hematogenous spread. Several underlying conditions can lead to brain abscesses, such as dental infection, otitis media, sinusitis, and immunosuppression. Esophageal perforation leading to brain abscesses is extremely rare. We report a rare case of a 32-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with progressive headaches and upper-extremity weakness. Upon further evaluation, computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple brain abscesses secondary to infection. The patient eventually underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), which showed a perforation in the middle third of the esophagus. This case highlights the importance of considering esophageal perforation as a predisposing condition for brain abscesses.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Streptococcus intermedius; Esophageal Perforation; Brain Abscess; Streptococcal Infections; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 38504423
DOI: 10.1177/23247096241239572 -
Georgian Medical News Jan 2024Houttuynia cordata is an herbal plant distributed throughout Asia. H. cordata has many bioactive properties, including antibacterial properties. The antibacterial...
Houttuynia cordata is an herbal plant distributed throughout Asia. H. cordata has many bioactive properties, including antibacterial properties. The antibacterial effects of H. cordata on S. mutans remain unknown. Therefore, we treated S. mutans with 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, or 40 mg/mL H. cordata extract at 37°C for 24 h. The antibacterial effect of H. cordata against S. mutans was confirmed using colony forming unit assay and disk diffusion assays. The results of the cell concentration assay demonstrated that H. cordata inhibited the growth of S. mutans in a dose-dependent manner. Prominent growth inhibition was observed after treatment with 10 mg/mL H. cordata extract, and these findings were statistically significant. In addition, no colonies of S. mutans were detected after treatment with 40 mg/mL H. cordata. Disk diffusion assays revealed that 20 mg/mL of H. cordata created a zone of growth inhibition of 11 mm. Therefore, our findings suggest the possibility of using H. cordata in the treatment and prevention of dental caries.
Topics: Plant Extracts; Houttuynia; Streptococcus mutans; Dental Caries; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drugs, Chinese Herbal
PubMed: 38501613
DOI: No ID Found -
Shanghai Kou Qiang Yi Xue = Shanghai... Dec 2023To observe the anti-caries effect of transgenic tomato anti-caries vaccine after immunization with SD rats by gavage and to explore its immunity mechanism initially.
PURPOSE
To observe the anti-caries effect of transgenic tomato anti-caries vaccine after immunization with SD rats by gavage and to explore its immunity mechanism initially.
METHODS
SD rats were used to establish an experimental caries model. The transgenic anti-caries tomatoes expressing the target protein were cultivated and identified. The SIgA and IgG contents of specific anti-PAcA in saliva and blood samples of SD rats were detected by ELISA. Then, the SD rats were sacrificed, the maxillary and mandibular bones were taken for Keyes dental caries score, and spleens were taken for the analysis of RNA-seq. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 18.0 software package.
RESULTS
The target protein concentration in the transgenic tomato anti-caries vaccine was 36.28 μg/mL. After vaccine immunization of SD rats, group D (8 mL/kg) produced the highest levels of specific SIgA and IgG antibodies at week 6 and was significantly different from the other groups(P<0.05), and caries counting score was also significantly different than the other groups (P<0.05). The spleen mRNA of SD rats in group D was extracted and sequenced by RNA-seq, and 40 genes with significant differences in mRNA expression were obtained(P-adjust<0.05, |Fold Change|≥1.5). 26 genes were significantly upregulated, including IGFBP6 and COL15A1. The upregulated gene GO enrichment was enriched to humoral immune response, B-cell activation, and immunoglobulin receptor binding; KEGG enrichment was enriched to 56 signaling pathways, including PI3K-AKT and NF-κB, and F<0.001. Fourteen genes were significantly downregulated, but the analysis of downregulated gene GO and KEGG enrichment was not statistically significant(F>0.1).
CONCLUSIONS
Transgenic tomato anti-caries vaccine may reduce caries occurrence by upregulating the activation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway mediated by IGFBP6 in SD rats.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Solanum lycopersicum; Streptococcus mutans; Dental Caries; Cariostatic Agents; Dental Caries Susceptibility; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Vaccines, DNA; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Immunoglobulin G; RNA, Messenger
PubMed: 38494961
DOI: No ID Found -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Apr 2024Plasmalogen is a specific glycerophospholipid present in both animal and bacterial organisms. It plays a crucial function in eukaryotic cellular processes and is closely...
UNLABELLED
Plasmalogen is a specific glycerophospholipid present in both animal and bacterial organisms. It plays a crucial function in eukaryotic cellular processes and is closely related to several human diseases, including neurological disorders and cancers. Nonetheless, the precise biological role of plasmalogen in bacteria is not well understood. In this study, we identified SMU_438c as the enzyme responsible for plasmalogen production in under anaerobic conditions. The heterologous expression of SMU_438c in a plasmalogen-negative strain, , resulted in the production of plasmalogen, indicating that this enzyme is sufficient for plasmalogen production. Additionally, the plasmalogen-deficient exhibited significantly lower acid tolerance and diminished its colonization in flies compared to the wild-type strain and complemented strain. In summary, our data suggest that plasmalogen plays a vital role in bacterial stress tolerance and colonization.
IMPORTANCE
This study sheds light on the biological role of plasmalogen, a specific glycerophospholipid, in bacteria, particularly in . Plasmalogens are known for their significant roles in eukaryotic cells and have been linked to human diseases like neurological disorders and cancers. The enzyme SMU_438c, identified as essential for plasmalogen production under anaerobic conditions, was crucial for acid tolerance and colonization in by , underscoring its importance in bacterial stress response and colonization. These findings bridge the knowledge gap in bacterial physiology, highlighting plasmalogen's role in microbial survival and offering potential insights into microbial pathogenesis and host-microbe interactions.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Plasmalogens; Streptococcus mutans; Acids; Drosophila; Neoplasms; Nervous System Diseases; Biofilms
PubMed: 38456674
DOI: 10.1128/aem.01500-23 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024Streptococci are primary colonizers of the oral cavity where they are ubiquitously present and an integral part of the commensal oral biofilm microflora. The role oral... (Review)
Review
Streptococci are primary colonizers of the oral cavity where they are ubiquitously present and an integral part of the commensal oral biofilm microflora. The role oral streptococci play in the interaction with the host is ambivalent. On the one hand, they function as gatekeepers of homeostasis and are a prerequisite for the maintenance of oral health - they shape the oral microbiota, modulate the immune system to enable bacterial survival, and antagonize pathogenic species. On the other hand, also recognized pathogens, such as oral and , which trigger the onset of dental caries belong to the genus . In the context of periodontitis, oral streptococci as excellent initial biofilm formers have an accessory function, enabling late biofilm colonizers to inhabit gingival pockets and cause disease. The pathogenic potential of oral streptococci fully unfolds when their dissemination into the bloodstream occurs; streptococcal infection can cause extra-oral diseases, such as infective endocarditis and hemorrhagic stroke. In this review, the taxonomic diversity of oral streptococci, their role and prevalence in the oral cavity and their contribution to oral health and disease will be discussed, focusing on the virulence factors these species employ for interactions at the host interface.
Topics: Humans; Dental Caries; Streptococcus; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus sobrinus; Mouth; Biofilms
PubMed: 38456080
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1357631 -
Le Infezioni in Medicina 2024Viridans Group Streptococci (VGS) are a group of distinct species that can cause bacteraemia and other invasive infections. They are also among the common organisms...
BACKGROUND
Viridans Group Streptococci (VGS) are a group of distinct species that can cause bacteraemia and other invasive infections. They are also among the common organisms causing infective endocarditis. Data on the epidemiology and clinical profile of VGS is limited, especially from India.
METHODS
We conducted an electronic medical record-based retrospective analysis of patients with VGS bacteraemia admitted to our hospital between January 2012 to December 2021. Blood cultures were incubated by BacT/ALERT system and bacterial identification and susceptibility testing were done by using the VITEK 2 microbial identification system. Susceptibility test reporting was as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. The incidence, clinical profile, source of bacteraemia, co-morbidities and antimicrobial resistance among VGS bacteraemia were analyzed.
RESULTS
VGS were isolated in 219 patients, accounting for 3.2% of positive blood cultures during the period studied. The median age of the patients was 58 years and 69% were males. Diabetes mellitus was the most common co-morbidity (55%) followed by chronic kidney disease and chronic liver disease. Patients with haematological malignancy and neutropenia were few. Intra-abdominal infections were the most common source of infection and was noted in 26%. Infective endocarditis was diagnosed in only 10% of the cases. was the most common species isolated followed by and . 9.58% of the isolates could not be identified up to the species level. Overall penicillin susceptibility was 71% and ceftriaxone susceptibility was 92%, with individual species variation. In-hospital mortality was 19%.
CONCLUSIONS
VGS are an important cause of bacteraemia and was associated with 19% mortality in our study. High rates of penicillin and ceftriaxone resistance are a reason of concern. Molecular diagnostics like matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) identification must be increasingly applied for species identification considering that a substantial number of isolates were not identified to species level.
PubMed: 38456022
DOI: 10.53854/liim-3201-5 -
BMC Oral Health Mar 2024This study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of periodontal ligament (PDL) stem cell-derived exosome-loaded Emodin (Emo@PDL-Exo) in antimicrobial photodynamic...
BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of periodontal ligament (PDL) stem cell-derived exosome-loaded Emodin (Emo@PDL-Exo) in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus as the cariogenic bacteria.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
After isolating and characterizing PDL-Exo, the study proceeded to prepare and verify the presence of Emo@PDL-Exo. The antimicrobial effect, anti-biofilm activity, and anti-metabolic potency of Emo, PDL-Exo, and Emo@PDL-Exo were then evaluated with and without irradiation of blue laser at a wavelength of 405 ± 10 nm with an output intensity of 150 mW/cm for a duration of 60 s. In addition, the study assessed the binding affinity of Emodin with GtfB and SlpA proteins using in silico molecular docking. Eventually, the study examined the generation of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes in the gene expression levels of gelE and sprE.
RESULTS
The study found that using Emo@PDL-Exo-mediated aPDT resulted in a significant decrease in L. acidophilus and S. mutans by 4.90 ± 0.36 and 5.07 log CFU/mL, respectively (P < 0.05). The study found that using Emo@PDL-Exo for aPDT significantly reduced L. acidophilus and S. mutans biofilms by 44.7% and 50.4%, respectively, compared to untreated biofilms in the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the metabolic activity of L. acidophilus and S. mutans decreased by 58.3% and 71.2%, respectively (P < 0.05). The molecular docking analysis showed strong binding affinities of Emodin with SlpA and GtfB proteins, with docking scores of -7.4 and -8.2 kcal/mol, respectively. The study also found that the aPDT using Emo@PDL-Exo group resulted in the most significant reduction in gene expression of slpA and gtfB, with a decrease of 4.2- and 5.6-folds, respectively, compared to the control group (P < 0.05), likely due to the increased generation of endogenous ROS.
DISCUSSION
The study showed that aPDT using Emo@PDL-Exo can effectively reduce the cell viability, biofilm activity, and metabolic potency of S. mutans and L. acidophilus. aPDT also significantly reduced the expression levels of gtfB and slpA mRNA due to the increased endogenous ROS generation. The findings suggest that Emo@PDL-Exo-mediated aPDT could be a promising antimicrobial approach against cariogenic microorganisms.
Topics: Humans; Photosensitizing Agents; Emodin; Reactive Oxygen Species; Exosomes; Molecular Docking Simulation; Periodontal Ligament; Photochemotherapy; Anti-Infective Agents; Streptococcus mutans; Biofilms; Stem Cells
PubMed: 38454402
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04062-7 -
Archives of Oral Biology May 2024This systematic review summarizes the current knowledge on the association between the oral microbiota and dental caries in adolescents. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review summarizes the current knowledge on the association between the oral microbiota and dental caries in adolescents.
DESIGN
An electronic search was carried out across five databases. Studies were included if they conducted research on generally healthy adolescents, applied molecular-based microbiological analyses and assessed caries status. Data extraction was performed by two reviewers and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was applied for quality assessment.
RESULTS
In total, 3935 records were reviewed which resulted in a selection of 20 cross-sectional studies (published 2005-2022) with a sample size ranging from 11 to 614 participants including adolescents between 11 and 19 years. The studies analyzed saliva, dental biofilm or tongue swabs with Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization, (q)PCR or Next-Generation Sequencing methods. Prevotella denticola, Scardoviae Wiggsiae, Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus mutans were the most frequently reported species presenting higher abundance in adolescents with caries. The majority of the studies reported that the microbial diversity was similar between participants with and without dental caries.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review is the first that shows how the oral microbiota composition in adolescents appears to differ between those with and without dental caries, suggesting certain taxa may be associated with increased caries risk. However, there is a need to replicate and expand these findings in larger, longitudinal studies that also focus on caries severity and take adolescent-specific factors into account.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Dental Caries; Cross-Sectional Studies; Streptococcus mutans; Saliva; Microbiota; DNA
PubMed: 38447351
DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2024.105933 -
Biofouling Feb 2024This scoping review focused on exploring the efficacy of flavonoids against bacteria associated with dental caries and periodontal diseases. Inclusion criteria comprise... (Review)
Review
This scoping review focused on exploring the efficacy of flavonoids against bacteria associated with dental caries and periodontal diseases. Inclusion criteria comprise studies investigating the antibacterial effects of flavonoids against bacteria linked to caries or periodontal diseases, both pure or diluted in vehicle forms. The search, conducted in August 2023, in databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, LILACS, and Gray Literature. Out of the initial 1125 studies, 79 met the inclusion criteria, majority studies. Prominent flavonoids tested included epigallocatechin-gallate, apigenin, quercetin, and myricetin. Predominant findings consistently pointed to bacteriostatic, bactericidal, and antibiofilm activities. The study primarily investigated bacteria associated with dental caries, followed by periodontopathogens. A higher number of publications presented positive antibacterial results against in comparison to . These encouraging findings underline the potential applicability of commercially available flavonoids in materials or therapies, underscoring the need for further exploration in this field.
Topics: Humans; Dental Caries; Biofilms; Periodontal Diseases; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Flavonoids; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Streptococcus mutans
PubMed: 38425046
DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2024.2321965 -
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Apr 2024group isolates with reduced carbapenem susceptibility have been reported, but its isolation rate in Japan is unknown. We collected 356 clinical α-hemolytic...
group isolates with reduced carbapenem susceptibility have been reported, but its isolation rate in Japan is unknown. We collected 356 clinical α-hemolytic streptococcal isolates and identified 142 of them as using partial sequencing. The rate of meropenem non-susceptibility was 17.6% (25/142). All 25 carbapenem-non-susceptible isolates harbored amino acid substitutions in/near the conserved motifs in PBP1A, PBP2B, and PBP2X. Carbapenem non-susceptibility is common among group isolates in Japan.
Topics: Penicillin-Binding Proteins; Streptococcus mitis; Carbapenems; Japan; Amino Acid Substitution; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Streptococcus; Viridans Streptococci; Bacterial Proteins
PubMed: 38415648
DOI: 10.1128/aac.01179-23