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Microbiome Feb 2019Host microbiomes play a role in hormone production and subsequent fertility in humans, but this is less well understood in non-model organisms. This is of particular...
BACKGROUND
Host microbiomes play a role in hormone production and subsequent fertility in humans, but this is less well understood in non-model organisms. This is of particular relevance to species in zoo-based conservation breeding programmes, as relationships between host microbiome composition and reproductive output may allow for the development of microbial augmentation strategies to improve success. Here, we characterise faecal bacterial communities of breeding and non-breeding eastern black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and quantify progestagen and glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations through enzyme immunoassays to identify such relationships.
RESULTS
We identified significant differences in black rhino gut microbiome composition according to ID, institution, breeding success and ovarian cycle phase. In particular, the gut microbiome during pregnancy and post-parturition was significantly altered. Around a third of bacterial genera showed more than ± 10% correlation with either progestagen and/or glucocorticoid concentration, and in general, microbial genera correlated with both hormones in the same direction. Through a combination of analyses, we identified four genera (Aerococcaceae, Atopostipes, Carnobacteriaceae and Solobacterium) that were significantly associated with breeding success, pregnancy and/or post-parturition, and higher faecal progestagen metabolite concentrations. These genera had a lower-than-average relative abundance in the gut microbiome.
CONCLUSION
Our results indicate that many members of the gut microbiome of black rhino are associated with hormone production and breeding success, and some members of the rare microbiota appear to be particularly important. Although the directionality of the relationship is unclear, the variation in gut microbiome communities represents a potential biomarker of reproductive health. We identified four genera that were associated with multiple indicators of reproductive output; these could be candidate probiotics to improve the breeding success of black rhino in zoo-based conservation breeding programmes. Further work is required to understand the efficacy and feasibility of this, either directly through microbial augmentation (e.g. probiotics) or indirectly via dietary manipulation or prebiotics.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Breeding; DNA, Ribosomal; Feces; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Glucocorticoids; Menstrual Cycle; Perissodactyla; Pregnancy; Progestins; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 30770764
DOI: 10.1186/s40168-019-0639-0 -
PloS One 2015Aerococcus viridans is a wide spread bacterium in the environment and clinically this organism is associated with different diseases in animals and humans. However, the...
Aerococcus viridans is a wide spread bacterium in the environment and clinically this organism is associated with different diseases in animals and humans. However, the geno- and phenotypic characterization of A. viridans associated with bovine mastitis has not yet been reported. The objectives of this study were to investigate the genetic and phenotypic diversity of A. viridans isolates using three different molecular methods including 16S rRNA gene sequencing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) along with biochemical tests, including antimicrobial susceptibility test. In total, 60 A. viridans strains were cultured from dairy herds presenting with subclinical mastitis. The results of biochemical tests revealed that most of the isolates (75.0%) were accurately identified by API Rapid 20 Strep system and the majority of A. viridans strains (96.7%) were found to be catalase negative, while two (3.3%) isolates were weakly positive. All isolates were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, followed by streptomycin (96.7%), tetracycline (65.0%) and clindamycin (56.7%) by minimum inhibition concentration-determining broth microdilution technique. As compared to the sequence of 16S rRNA gene, both PFGE and RAPD showed their capacities to discriminate the intra-species diversity of A. viridans. Furthermore, most of the isolates obtained from the same herd or region belonged to the same major RAPD group, which indicated that RAPD is an appropriate assay for tracking the origins of isolates and epidemiological studies of A. viridans. This is a novel approach to use three molecular techniques and to compare their efficiency regarding the genetic diversity of A. viridans. The data suggest that A. viridans associated with subclinical mastitis has a considerable phenotypic and genotypic diversity.
Topics: Aerococcus; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cattle; Chromosomes, Bacterial; DNA, Bacterial; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Female; Genes, Bacterial; Genotyping Techniques; Mastitis, Bovine; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phenotype; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; Restriction Mapping
PubMed: 25919289
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125001 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Jun 2014Aerococcus urinae may cause urinary tract infections, bacteremia, and endocarditis. No standardized susceptibility test methods or interpretive criteria have been...
Aerococcus urinae may cause urinary tract infections, bacteremia, and endocarditis. No standardized susceptibility test methods or interpretive criteria have been proposed for this organism. This study reports the MIC results for 128 A. urinae isolates tested by broth microdilution. The isolates had low MICs to amoxicillin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, linezolid, meropenem, penicillin, rifampin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and vancomycin. However, 55% of the isolates had MICs to clindamycin of >0.25 μg/ml, 44% had MICs to erythromycin of >0.25 μg/ml, and 16% had MICs to levofloxacin of >2 μg/ml.
Topics: Aerococcus; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 24671781
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00418-14 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Nov 2022Aerococcus urinae is a bacterium of emerging clinical interest that most commonly causes urinary tract infections (UTI) but can also result in invasive infections. It is...
BACKGROUND
Aerococcus urinae is a bacterium of emerging clinical interest that most commonly causes urinary tract infections (UTI) but can also result in invasive infections. It is a catalase-negative, alpha-haemolytic gram-positive coccus that grows in clusters or tetrads and usually causes urinary tract infections. While rare, infective endocarditis must be considered when A. urinae is isolated in blood culture. The mortality rate of A. urinae infective endocarditis is similar to overall endocarditis mortality. We report a rare case of aortic root abscess caused by A. urinae.
CASE PRESENTATION
An 82-year-old Caucasian man presented to hospital with behavioural change and severe malnutrition and was managed for psychotic depression. On day 34 of his inpatient stay, a febrile episode prompted blood cultures, which grew Aerococcus. urinae. Investigations revealed a bicuspid aortic valve, aortic valve endocarditis and aortic root abscess. He also had prostatomegaly. He underwent aortic valve replacement, received 6 weeks of intravenous ceftriaxone and recovered.
CONCLUSION
Infective endocarditis should be considered in patients with persistent Aerococcus urinae bacteraemia. Accurate identification with mass spectrometry is recommended to avoid misidentification as staphylococcus, streptococcus or enterococcus, which is a possibility with conventional laboratory methods.
Topics: Male; Humans; Aged, 80 and over; Aerococcus; Abscess; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Endocarditis; Urinary Tract Infections; Stomatognathic Diseases
PubMed: 36397095
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-022-03564-8 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2023() is a swine pathogen that can cause sepsis, meningitis, endocarditis, and other infectious diseases; it is also a zoonotic pathogen that has caused a global surge in...
() is a swine pathogen that can cause sepsis, meningitis, endocarditis, and other infectious diseases; it is also a zoonotic pathogen that has caused a global surge in fatal human infections. The widespread prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains and the decline in novel antibiotic candidates have necessitated the development of alternative antimicrobial agents. In this study, AVPL, the () phage lysin, was found to exhibit efficient bactericidal activity and broad lytic activity against multiple serotypes of . A final concentration of 300 μg/mL AVPL reduced counts by 4-4.5 log10 within 1 h in vitro. Importantly, AVPL effectively inhibited 48 h biofilm formation and disrupted preformed biofilms. In a mouse model, 300 μg/mouse AVPL protected 100% of mice from infection following the administration of lethal doses of multidrug-resistant type 2 (SS2) strain SC19, reduced the bacterial load in different organs, and effectively alleviated inflammation and histopathological damage in infected mice. These data suggest that AVPL is a valuable candidate antimicrobial agent for treating infections.
Topics: Animals; Swine; Humans; Mice; Bacteriophages; Aerococcus; Streptococcus suis; Streptococcal Infections; Bacteremia; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38068990
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316670 -
Medicine Dec 2017Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) complicated with multiple organ abscesses is an uncommon manifestation. Because of the low incidence of the disease, F-18... (Review)
Review
Unusual synchronous liver and brain abscesses infected by rare Aerococcus viridians in a patient with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations on FDG PET/CT: A case report and literature review.
RATIONALE
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) complicated with multiple organ abscesses is an uncommon manifestation. Because of the low incidence of the disease, F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) imaging studies for PAVMs complicated with multiple organ abscesses are scarce.
PATIENT CONCERNS
We report a case of a 54-year-old man presenting with PAVMs complicated with synchronous multiple organ abscesses founded by F-FDG PET/CT. F-FDG PET/CT revealed tortuous stripes and mass opacities with no significant FDG uptake in the left upper lung lobe. However, hypermetabolic lesions located in the anterior inferior segment of right hepatic lobe [with maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 10.7], and in the right basal ganglia with SUVmax of 14.1 were found by F-FDG PET/CT.
DIAGNOSES
A diagnosis of synchronous liver and brain abscesses infected by rare Aerococcus viridans was determined by tissue culture.
INTERVENTIONS
Vancomycin was provided intravenously, and oral linezolidate tablets were prescribed for anti-inflammatory treatment for 1 month. Liver and head magnetic resonance imaging was performed during the follow-up.
OUTCOMES
The lesion in the right basal ganglia was reduced, and the lesion in the right liver had disappeared, indicating the lesions were abscesses.
LESSONS
The present case indicated that the possibility of abscesses should be considered with patients with PAVMs, and whole-body F-FDG PET/CT is suggested to identify possible accompanying abscesses in multiple organs for PAVMs patients.
Topics: Aerococcus; Arteriovenous Malformations; Brain Abscess; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Humans; Liver Abscess; Male; Middle Aged; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Pulmonary Artery; Radiopharmaceuticals
PubMed: 29245306
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000009048 -
European Journal of Pediatrics Feb 2023Aerococcus urinae (A. urinae) is primarily recognized as a common pathogen in the geriatric population, causing urinary tract infection (UTI), sepsis, and endocarditis,...
Aerococcus urinae (A. urinae) is primarily recognized as a common pathogen in the geriatric population, causing urinary tract infection (UTI), sepsis, and endocarditis, predominantly in female patients. In the paediatric population, only a few case reports exist suggesting A. urinae causes malodorous urine in otherwise healthy boys. In this study, we investigated the spectrum of clinical and laboratory presentations of A. urinae detection in children. A retrospective, single-centre, case series including all patients with the detection of A. urinae during a 7-year study period. Patients with detection of A. urinae only in non-urogenital skin swabs were excluded. A total of 40 samples from 33 patients were identified of which 20 patients were included in the final analysis. The median (IQR) age was 6.8 (2.9-9.5) years; 18 (90%) patients were boys. Four patients were diagnosed with a UTI, six had malodorous urine without UTI, three were diagnosed with balanitis and seven showed A. urinae colonization in the urine culture. Urogenital disorders were present in 12 patients. Additional pathogens were detected in 13 patients. Recurrence of detection during our study period was observed in four (20%) patients. Conclusion: Beyond malodorous urine, A. urinae detection is associated with more severe presentations including UTI in the paediatric population. Pre-existing urogenital disorders were frequent, and therefore, a nephro-urological investigation should be considered in all cases of A. urinae detection in the paediatric population. What is Known: • Aerococcus urinae (A. urinae) is known to be a common pathogen in the geriatric population, causing urinary tract infection (UTI), sepsis, and endocarditis, predominantly in female patients. • In the paediatric population, A. urinae is mainly described as a low-grade pathogen. Some case reports describe A. urinae as the cause of extraordinary malodorous urine in otherwise healthy boys. What is New: • Beyond malodorous urine, A. urinae detection is associated with more severe presentations including UTI in the paediatric population. • A. urinae was mainly detected in boys with pre-existing urogenital disorders; therefore, a nephro-urological investigation should be considered in cases of A. urinae detection in the paediatric population.
Topics: Aged; Male; Humans; Child; Female; Retrospective Studies; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Urinary Tract Infections; Aerococcus; Sepsis; Endocarditis; Urinary Tract; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections
PubMed: 36472648
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-022-04730-2 -
BMC Microbiology Jan 2011The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for the single-cell detection and enumeration of lactic acid...
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for the single-cell detection and enumeration of lactic acid bacteria, in particular organisms belonging to the major phylogenetic groups and species of oral lactobacilli and to Abiotrophia/Granulicatella.
RESULTS
As lactobacilli are known for notorious resistance to probe penetration, probe-specific assay protocols were experimentally developed to provide maximum cell wall permeability, probe accessibility, hybridization stringency, and fluorescence intensity. The new assays were then applied in a pilot study to three biofilm samples harvested from variably demineralized bovine enamel discs that had been carried in situ for 10 days by different volunteers. Best probe penetration and fluorescent labeling of reference strains were obtained after combined lysozyme and achromopeptidase treatment followed by exposure to lipase. Hybridization stringency had to be established strictly for each probe. Thereafter all probes showed the expected specificity with reference strains and labeled the anticipated morphotypes in dental plaques. Applied to in situ grown biofilms the set of probes detected only Lactobacillus fermentum and bacteria of the Lactobacillus casei group. The most cariogenic biofilm contained two orders of magnitude higher L. fermentum cell numbers than the other biofilms. Abiotrophia/Granulicatella and streptococci from the mitis group were found in all samples at high levels, whereas Streptococcus mutans was detected in only one sample in very low numbers.
CONCLUSIONS
Application of these new group- and species-specific FISH probes to oral biofilm-forming lactic acid bacteria will allow a clearer understanding of the supragingival biome, its spatial architecture and of structure-function relationships implicated during plaque homeostasis and caries development. The probes should prove of value far beyond the field of oral microbiology, as many of them detect non-oral species and phylogenetic groups of importance in a variety of medical conditions and the food industry.
Topics: Abiotrophia; Animals; Base Sequence; Biofilms; Cattle; DNA, Bacterial; Dental Plaque; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Lactobacillaceae; Molecular Sequence Data; Mouth; Oligonucleotide Probes; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Single-Cell Analysis; Species Specificity; Streptococcus mutans
PubMed: 21247450
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-11-14 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Oct 2019The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of isolates from blood stream infection known to be blood culture contaminants in pediatric...
The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of isolates from blood stream infection known to be blood culture contaminants in pediatric patients. Microbiological reports and medical records of all blood culture tests issued from 2002 to 2012 ( = 76,331) were retrospectively reviewed. Evaluation for potential contaminants were done by reviewing medical records of patients with the following isolates: coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, viridans group Streptococcus, , and species. Repeated cultures with same isolates were considered as a single case. Cases were evaluated for their status as a pathogen. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus had clinical significance in 23.8% of all cases. Its rate of being a true pathogen was particularly high in patients with malignancy (43.7%). Viridans group Streptococcus showed clinical significance in 46.2% of all cases. Its rate of being a true pathogen was similar regardless of the underlying morbidity of the patient. The rate of being a true pathogens for remaining isolates was 27.7% for and 19.0% for species. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and viridans group Streptococcus isolates showed high probability of being true pathogens in the pediatric population, especially in patients with underlying malignancy.
Topics: Aerococcus; Bacillus; Bacteremia; Blood Culture; Child, Preschool; Corynebacterium; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Micrococcus; Pediatrics; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcus; Viridans Streptococci
PubMed: 31627324
DOI: 10.3390/medicina55100696 -
TheScientificWorldJournal 2021Recently, the interest in donkey milk has increased considerably because it proved high nutritive and functional values of their ingredients. Its chemical composition is...
Recently, the interest in donkey milk has increased considerably because it proved high nutritive and functional values of their ingredients. Its chemical composition is widely studied, but its microbiota, especially lactic acid bacteria, remains less studied. This study focuses on analyzing, isolating, and identifying lactic acid bacteria and evaluating their capacity to produce biomolecules with antibacterial activity. Among 44 strains identified, 43 are Gram-positive, and most are catalase-negative and cocci-shaped. Five strains were selected to evaluate their antibacterial activity against , and . Different induction methods allowed to amplify the antibacterial effects against these pathogenic strains.
Topics: Aerococcus; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Culture Media, Conditioned; Dairying; Enterococcus; Enterococcus faecalis; Equidae; Escherichia coli; Female; Food Microbiology; Lactation; Leuconostoc mesenteroides; Listeria monocytogenes; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Milk; Morocco; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 34421400
DOI: 10.1155/2021/6664636