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Germs Sep 2023The annual incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) is 3-9 cases per 100000 in developed countries and most cases are due to staphylococci and streptococci. IE due to...
INTRODUCTION
The annual incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) is 3-9 cases per 100000 in developed countries and most cases are due to staphylococci and streptococci. IE due to Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) is very rare.
CASE REPORT
We present a case of a 38-year-old female with bacteremia and infective endocarditis of the native mitral valve. She presented with fever, chills, and abdominal pain. A computed tomographic scan of the abdomen showed splenic abscesses. Blood cultures and broad-range PCR from the splenic abscess sample were negative. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a mobile filamentous structure on the atrial side of the anterior mitral leaflet which was suggestive for infective endocarditis. Karius test (cell-free microbial DNA testing) showed Gram-positive anaerobic cocci She was successfully treated with antibiotics.
CONCLUSIONS
In cases of infection with fastidious organisms like GPACs, the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) can allow the correct identification of culprit pathogens and streamlined treatment.
PubMed: 38146378
DOI: 10.18683/germs.2023.1396 -
Nutrients Jan 2023Dietary methionine restriction (MR) has been shown to decrease plasma trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) levels in high-fat diet mice; however, the specific mechanism used is...
Dietary methionine restriction (MR) has been shown to decrease plasma trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) levels in high-fat diet mice; however, the specific mechanism used is unknown. We speculated that the underlying mechanism is related with the gut microbiota, and this study aimed to confirm the hypothesis. In this study, we initially carried out an in vitro fermentation experiment and found that MR could reduce the ability of gut microbiota found in the contents of healthy mice and the feces of healthy humans to produce trimethylamine (TMA). Subsequently, mice were fed a normal diet (CON, 0.20% choline + 0.86% methionine), high-choline diet (H-CHO, 1.20% choline + 0.86% methionine), or high-choline + methionine-restricted diet (H-CHO+MR, 1.20% choline + 0.17% methionine) for 3 months. Our results revealed that MR decreased plasma TMA and TMAO levels in H-CHO-diet-fed mice without changing hepatic FMO3 gene expression and enzyme activity, significantly decreased TMA levels and expression of choline TMA-lyase () and its activator , and decreased CutC activity in the intestine. Moreover, MR significantly decreased the abundance of TMA-producing bacteria, including ( phylum) and ( phylum), and significantly increased the abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria and SCFA levels. Furthermore, both MR and sodium butyrate supplementation significantly inhibited bacterial growth, down-regulated gene expression levels in TMA-producing bacteria, including and and decreased TMA production from bacterial growth under in vitro anaerobic fermentation conditions. In conclusion, dietary MR alleviates choline-induced TMAO elevation by manipulating gut microbiota in mice and may be a promising approach to reducing circulating TMAO levels and TMAO-induced atherosclerosis.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Choline; Methionine; Methylamines; Bacteria; Racemethionine
PubMed: 36615863
DOI: 10.3390/nu15010206 -
Microbiology (Reading, England) Jul 2003Here, a rapid and reliable two-step multiplex PCR assay for identifying 14 Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) species originally classified in the genus... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Rapid identification of Gram-positive anaerobic coccal species originally classified in the genus Peptostreptococcus by multiplex PCR assays using genus- and species-specific primers.
Here, a rapid and reliable two-step multiplex PCR assay for identifying 14 Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) species originally classified in the genus Peptostreptococcus (Anaerococcus hydrogenalis, Anaerococcus lactolyticus, Anaerococcus octavius, Anaerococcus prevotii, Anaerococcus tetradius, Anaerococcus vaginalis, Finegoldia magna, Micromonas micros, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Peptoniphilus asaccharolyticus, Peptoniphilus harei, Peptoniphilus indolicus, Peptoniphilus ivorii and Peptoniphilus lacrimalis) is reported. Fourteen type strains representing 14 GPAC species were first identified to the genus level by multiplex PCR (multiplex PCR-G). Since three of these genera (Finegoldia, Micromonas and Peptostreptococcus) contain only a single species, F. magna, M. micros and P. anaerobius, respectively, these organisms were identified to the species level directly by using the multiplex PCR-G. Then six species of the genus Anaerococcus (A. hydrogenalis, A. lactolyticus, A. octavius, A. prevotii, A. vaginalis and A. tetradius) were further identified to the species level using multiplex PCR assays (multiplex PCR-Ia and multiplex PCR-Ib). Similarly, five species of the genus Peptoniphilus (Pn. asaccharolyticus, Pn. harei, Pn. indolicus, Pn. ivorii and Pn. lacrimalis) were identified to the species level using multiplex PCR-IIa and multiplex PCR-IIb. The established two-step multiplex PCR identification scheme was applied to the identification of 190 clinical isolates of GPAC species that had been identified previously to the species level by 16S rRNA sequencing and phenotypic tests. The identification obtained from multiplex PCR assays showed 100 % agreement with 16S rDNA sequencing identification, but only 65 % (123/190) agreement with the identification obtained by phenotypic tests. The multiplex PCR scheme established in this study is a simple, rapid and reliable method for the identification of GPAC species. It will permit a more accurate assessment of the role of various GPAC species in infection and of the degree of antimicrobial resistance in each of the group members.
Topics: Base Sequence; DNA Primers; DNA, Bacterial; DNA, Ribosomal; Gram-Positive Cocci; Peptostreptococcus; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Bacterial; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sensitivity and Specificity; Species Specificity
PubMed: 12855723
DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.26227-0