-
European Heart Journal. Case Reports Dec 2023Infective endocarditis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Oral trauma through dental procedures can result in infective endocarditis through...
BACKGROUND
Infective endocarditis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Oral trauma through dental procedures can result in infective endocarditis through displacement of commensal organisms into the bloodstream. is an oral commensal and is rarely implicated as a cause of infective endocarditis but should be considered in febrile patients with a recent history of odontological procedures.
CASE SUMMARY
We present a case of a previously healthy 26-year-old woman who presented with a 2-month history of fevers. Blood cultures on admission were positive for . Echocardiography demonstrated a congenital bicuspid aortic valve with vegetations and abscess, supporting a diagnosis of infective endocarditis. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain revealed a small cerebral empyema. She was treated with intravenous antibiotics and underwent an aortic valve replacement.
DISCUSSION
Bicuspid aortic valve predisposes to infective endocarditis, and these patients have higher incidence of requiring cardiac surgery belongs to the viridans group streptococci that are recognized as causative organisms for infective endocarditis particularly where dental sources are suspected. Patients with infective endocarditis may develop neurological sequelae including cerebrovascular accidents or central nervous system infections. If risk of haemorrhagic transformation is low, surgical intervention for valve replacement should not be delayed.
PubMed: 38089121
DOI: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytad590 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jan 2024The construction of arrayed mutant libraries has advanced the field of bacterial genetics by allowing researchers to more efficiently study the exact function and...
The construction of arrayed mutant libraries has advanced the field of bacterial genetics by allowing researchers to more efficiently study the exact function and importance of encoded genes. In this study, we constructed an arrayed clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference (CRISPRi) library, known as rrayed CRISRi (SNAP), as a resource to study >250 essential and growth-supporting genes in . SNAP will be made available to the research community, and we anticipate that its distribution will lead to high-quality, high-throughput, and reproducible studies of essential genes.
Topics: Streptococcus mutans; Genes, Essential; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats; Gene Library; CRISPR-Cas Systems
PubMed: 38054713
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03149-23 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jan 2024Cytoplasmic Clp-related proteases play a major role in maintaining cellular proteome in bacteria. ClpX/P is one such proteolytic complex that is important for conserving...
Cytoplasmic Clp-related proteases play a major role in maintaining cellular proteome in bacteria. ClpX/P is one such proteolytic complex that is important for conserving protein homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the role of ClpX/P in , an important oral pathogen. We identified several putative substrates whose cellular levels are regulated by ClpX/P in and subsequently discovered several recognition motifs that are critical for degradation. Our study is the first comprehensive analysis of determining ClpX/P motifs in streptococci. We believe that identifying the substrates that are regulated by ClpX/P will enhance our understanding about virulence regulation in this important group of pathogens.
Topics: ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; Escherichia coli Proteins; Streptococcus mutans; Molecular Chaperones; Proteolysis
PubMed: 38051052
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03457-23 -
BMC Oral Health Dec 2023This study aimed to formulate and characterize the experimental lollipops containing chitosan- zinc oxide nanoparticles (CH-ZnO NPs) and investigate their antimicrobial...
Formulation and antibacterial properties of lollipops containing of chitosan- zinc oxide nano particles on planktonic and biofilm forms of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus.
This study aimed to formulate and characterize the experimental lollipops containing chitosan- zinc oxide nanoparticles (CH-ZnO NPs) and investigate their antimicrobial effects against some cariogenic bacteria. The CH-ZnO NPs were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, and Transmission electron microscope (TEM). Then, four groups were made, including lollipops coated with 2 and 4 ml of CH-ZnO NPs, 0.7 ml CH-ZnO NPs incorporated lollipops, and those with no CH-ZnO NPs. Their antibacterial effectiveness against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus was evaluated by direct contact test and tissue culture plate method in planktonic and biofilm phases, respectively. Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (CHX) was used as a positive control group. In the planktonic phase, the antibacterial properties of both groups coated with CH-ZnO NPs were comparable and significantly higher than incorporated ones. There was no significant difference between CHX and the lollipops coated with 4 ml of NPs against S. mutans and CHX and two coated groups against L. acidophilus. None of the experimental lollipops in the biofilm phase could reduce both bacteria counts. The experimental lollipops coated with 2 and 4 ml of CH-ZnO NPs could reveal favorable antimicrobial properties against two cariogenic bacteria in the planktonic phase.
Topics: Humans; Streptococcus mutans; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Chitosan; Zinc Oxide; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Biofilms; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 38041064
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03604-9 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Dec 2023Differentiating among nonpneumococcal viridans group streptococci (VGS) is challenging in conventional laboratories. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the performance of...
Differentiating among nonpneumococcal viridans group streptococci (VGS) is challenging in conventional laboratories. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the performance of the latest Bruker Biotyper matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) system in identifying VGS by comparing the results to those of the specific gene sequencing approach. Clinical isolates were initially identified using the BD Phoenix system to identify species. The optochin test was used to distinguish nonpneumococcal VGS from . The species of individual reference strains and clinical isolates were determined by comparing the sequences of the 16S rDNA, , , , or genes with those in the GenBank sequence databases. We evaluated the performance of the Bruker Biotyper MALDI-TOF MS in VGS identification using two different machines with three databases. We collected a total of 103 nonpneumococcal VGS and 29 . blood isolates at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Among these isolates, only seven could not be identified at the species level by the specific gene sequencing approach. We found that none of the nonpneumococcal VGS isolates were misidentified as pneumococci by the latest Biotyper system, and vice versa. However, certain strains, especially those in the mitis and bovis groups, could still not be correctly identified. The latest Bruker Biotyper 4.1 (DB_10833) showed significant improvement in identifying VGS strains. However, a specific gene sequencing test is still needed to precisely differentiate the species of strains in the mitis and bovis groups.
Topics: Humans; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; Viridans Streptococci; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Databases, Nucleic Acid; Taiwan
PubMed: 38038480
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01143-23 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a major public health issue as one of the leading causes of liver disease and transplantation worldwide. The instrumental...
BACKGROUND
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a major public health issue as one of the leading causes of liver disease and transplantation worldwide. The instrumental role of the gut microbiota is emerging but still under investigation. Endogenous ethanol (EtOH) production by gut bacteria and yeasts is an emerging putative mechanism. Microbial metagenomics and culture studies targeting enterobacteria or yeasts have been reported, but no culturomics studies have been conducted so far.
AIM
To assess fecal EtOH and other biochemical parameters, characterize NASH-associated dysbiosis and identify EtOH-producing gut microbes associated with the disease, fecal samples from 41 NASH patients and 24 controls were analyzed. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for EtOH, glucose, total proteins, triglyceride and total cholesterol. Viable bacteria were assessed with microbial culturomics. Microbial genetic material was assessed using 16S metagenomics targeting the hypervariable V3V4 region.
RESULTS
Fecal EtOH and glucose was elevated in the stools of NASH patients (p < 0.05) but not triglyceride, total cholesterol or proteins. In culturomics, EtOH-producing and were enriched in NASH. V3V4 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing confirmed the enrichment in EtOH-producing bacteria including , and , species previously associated with NASH and other dysbiosis-associated diseases. Strikingly, was identified only by culturomics. The well-known was identified in controls but never isolated in patients with NASH (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Elevated fecal EtOH and glucose is a feature of NASH. Several different EtOH-producing gut bacteria may play an instrumental role in the disease. Culturomics and metagenomics, two complementary methods, will be critical to identify EtOH-producing bacteria for future diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for NASH. Suppression of EtOH-producing gut microbes and administration are options to be tested in NASH treatment.
Topics: Humans; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Ethanol; Streptococcus mutans; Limosilactobacillus fermentum; Dysbiosis; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Glucose; Cholesterol
PubMed: 38035329
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1279354 -
Cureus Oct 2023Streptococci belonging to the viridans group are gram-positive bacteria residing as commensals in the upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genital tracts in humans....
Streptococci belonging to the viridans group are gram-positive bacteria residing as commensals in the upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genital tracts in humans. Though they are largely known to be commensals, they may also cause life-threatening infections like infective endocarditis, septicemia, pyogenic infections, pneumonia, and meningitis. The viridans group streptococci (VGS) are usually identified by biotyping; however, species discrimination is not always possible by phenotypic characterization. We identified 53 isolates from blood cultures of patients with infective endocarditis and compared the results of biotyping with 16s rRNA gene sequencing for species identification. Organisms belonging to the mitis group were the most common. 16s rRNA gene polymerase chain reaction and sequencing were useful in identifying the etiological agents at the species level. was the most common etiological agent.
PubMed: 38022358
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47125 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2023In the last decade, Ficin, a proteolytic enzyme extracted from the latex sap of the wild fig tree, has been widely investigated as a promising tool for the treatment of...
In the last decade, Ficin, a proteolytic enzyme extracted from the latex sap of the wild fig tree, has been widely investigated as a promising tool for the treatment of microbial biofilms, wound healing, and oral care. Here we report the antibiofilm properties of the enzyme immobilized on soluble carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) and CMCh itself. Ficin was immobilized on CMCh with molecular weights of either 200, 350 or 600 kDa. Among them, the carrier with a molecular weight of 200 kDa bound the maximum amount of enzyme, binding up to 49% of the total protein compared to 19-32% of the total protein bound to other CMChs. Treatment with pure CMCh led to the destruction of biofilms formed by , , , and , while no apparent effect on was observed. A soluble Ficin was less efficient in the destruction of the biofilms formed by and . By contrast, treatment with CMCh200-immobilized Ficin led to a significant reduction of the biofilms of the primary colonizers and In model biofilms obtained by the inoculation of swabs from teeth of healthy volunteers, the destruction of the biofilm by both soluble and immobilized Ficin was observed, although the degree of the destruction varied between artificial plaque samples. Nevertheless, combined treatment of oral biofilm by enzyme and chlorhexidine for 3 h led to a significant decrease in the viability of biofilm-embedded cells, compared to solely chlorhexidine application. This suggests that the use of either soluble or immobilized Ficin would allow decreasing the amount and/or concentration of the antiseptics required for oral care or improving the efficiency of oral cavity sanitization.
Topics: Humans; Ficain; Chlorhexidine; Chitosan; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus gordonii; Biofilms
PubMed: 38003281
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216090 -
Sweet Orange Juice Processing By-Product Extracts: A Caries Management Alternative to Chlorhexidine.Biomolecules Nov 2023Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases globally in both children and adults. This study investigated the potential of industrial sweet orange waste...
Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases globally in both children and adults. This study investigated the potential of industrial sweet orange waste extracts (ISOWE) as a substitute for chlorhexidine (CHX) in managing dental caries. First, the cytotoxicity of ISOWE (40, 80, 120 mg/mL) and CHX (0.1 and 0.2%) on buccal epithelial cells was determined. ISOWE exhibited no overall toxicity, whereas CHX strongly affected cell viability. The combination of ISOWE and CHX significantly enhanced cell proliferation compared to CHX alone. Next, the antimicrobial efficacy of ISOWE, CHX, and their combination was assessed against a 7-day complex biofilm model inoculated with oral samples from human volunteers. CHX exhibited indiscriminate antimicrobial action, affecting both pathogenic and health-associated oral microorganisms. ISOWE demonstrated lower antimicrobial efficacy than CHX but showed enhanced efficacy against pathogenic species while preserving the oral microbiome's balance. When applied to a cariogenic biofilm, the combined treatment of ISOWE with 0.1% CHX showed similar efficacy to 0.2% CHX treatment alone. Overall, the findings suggest that ISOWE is a promising natural anti-cariogenic agent with lower toxicity and enhanced selectivity for pathogenic species compared to CHX.
Topics: Child; Humans; Chlorhexidine; Citrus sinensis; Dental Caries; Dental Caries Susceptibility; Streptococcus mutans; Anti-Infective Agents
PubMed: 38002290
DOI: 10.3390/biom13111607 -
BMC Microbiology Nov 2023Dental caries is a chronic oral disease caused by microbial infections, which result in erosion of the dental enamel and cause irreversible damage. Therefore, proper...
BACKGROUND
Dental caries is a chronic oral disease caused by microbial infections, which result in erosion of the dental enamel and cause irreversible damage. Therefore, proper disease management techniques and the creation of an environment that prevents intraoral growth and biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans in the early stages, are crucial to prevent the potential progression of dental plaque to disease. Here, we aimed to investigate antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects of the Bacillus velezensis ID-A01 supernatant (ID23029) against S. mutans, and its inhibitory effects on acidogenesis.
RESULTS
A killing kinetics assay showed a peak lethality percentage of 94.5% after 6 h of exposure to ID23029. In sucrose-exposed conditions, ID23029 inhibited lactic acid formation, preventing the pH from falling below the threshold for enamel demineralization, and inhibited up to 96.6% of biofilm formation. This effect was maintained in the presence of lysozyme. Furthermore, ID23029 retained up to 92% lethality, even at an intraoral concentration at which lysozyme is ineffective against S. mutans.
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the potential of the B. velezensis ID-A01 supernatant for the prevention and treatment of dental caries. Its eventual use in dental practice is encouraged, although further studies are required to confirm its beneficial effects.
Topics: Humans; Muramidase; Streptococcus mutans; Dental Caries; Anti-Infective Agents; Biofilms
PubMed: 37996837
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-03114-2