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Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews Aug 2018A respiratory infection caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be life-threatening. In recent years, there has been tremendous effort put towards therapeutic... (Review)
Review
A respiratory infection caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be life-threatening. In recent years, there has been tremendous effort put towards therapeutic application of bacteriophages (phages) as an alternative or supplementary treatment option over conventional antibiotics. Phages are natural parasitic viruses of bacteria that can kill the bacterial host, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Inhaled phage therapy involves the development of stable phage formulations suitable for inhalation delivery followed by preclinical and clinical studies for assessment of efficacy, pharmacokinetics and safety. We presented an overview of recent advances in phage formulation for inhalation delivery and their efficacy in acute and chronic rodent respiratory infection models. We have reviewed and presented on the prospects of inhaled phage therapy as a complementary treatment option with current antibiotics and as a preventative means. Inhaled phage therapy has the potential to transform the prevention and treatment of bacterial respiratory infections, including those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; Bacteriophages; Humans; Lung Diseases; Phage Therapy
PubMed: 30096336
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.08.001 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Dec 2022All modern advances notwithstanding, pneumonia remains a common infection with substantial morbidity and mortality. Understanding of the etiology of pneumonia continues... (Review)
Review
All modern advances notwithstanding, pneumonia remains a common infection with substantial morbidity and mortality. Understanding of the etiology of pneumonia continues to evolve as new techniques enable identification of already known organisms and as new organisms emerge. We now review the etiology of pneumonia (at present often called "community-acquired pneumonia") beginning with classic bacteriologic techniques, which identified Streptococcus pneumoniae as the overwhelmingly common cause, to more modern bacteriologic studies, which emphasize Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, , Pseudomonas, and normal respiratory flora. Urine antigen detection is useful in identifying and pneumococcus. The low yield of bacteria in recent studies is due to the failure to obtain valid sputum samples before antibiotics are administered. The use of high-quality sputum specimens enables identification of recognized ("typical") bacterial pathogens as well as a role for commensal bacteria ("normal respiratory flora"). Nucleic acid amplification technology for viruses has revolutionized diagnosis, showing the importance of viral pneumonia leading to hospitalization with or without coinfecting bacterial organisms. Quantitative PCR study of sputum is in its early stages of application, but regular detection of high counts of bacterial DNA from organisms that are not seen on Gram stain or grown in quantitative culture presents a therapeutic dilemma. This finding may reflect the host microbiome of the respiratory tract, in which case treatment may not need to be given for them. Finally, host transcriptional signatures might enable clinicians to distinguish between viral and bacterial pneumonia, an important practical consideration.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Bacteriology; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Pneumonia, Viral; Bacteria; Community-Acquired Infections
PubMed: 36165783
DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00015-22 -
PloS One 2018Probiotics are live microorganisms which confer health benefits to the host, and may be isolated from several sources, such as vegetable foodstuffs. Sauerkraut is a...
Probiotics are live microorganisms which confer health benefits to the host, and may be isolated from several sources, such as vegetable foodstuffs. Sauerkraut is a cabbage product resulting from fermentation by a lactic acid bacteria microbial succession, and is a potential source for probiotics. The aim of the present study was the isolation and characterization of probiotic microorganisms from sauerkraut fermentations. Four distinct fermentations were performed, from which lactic acid bacteria were recovered. Overall, 114 isolates were obtained, phenotypically and genotypically characterized, identified to the genus level and evaluated regarding safety and probiotic potential. Representative bacteria were selected for further analysis, 52% being Lactobacillus spp. and 33% belonging to Leuconostoc spp. genus. One isolate revealed to be β-hemolytic, 42% possessed potentially mobile antimicrobial resistance, 88% were resistant to bile and 20% to low pH. The six most promising candidates were further characterized and presented antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, three being resistant to lower pH values. Thus, global analysis of data gathered during this study highlighted the identification of three Lactobacillus strains with putative probiotic potential, suggesting the applicability of sauerkraut fermentations as a source for probiotic isolation. Due to their origin these strains should be suited for future application in the food industry, namely vegetable products such as sauerkraut itself.
Topics: Brassica; Cluster Analysis; Colony Count, Microbial; Fermentation; Food Microbiology; Food-Processing Industry; Lactobacillales; Lactobacillus; Leuconostoc; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Probiotics; Species Specificity
PubMed: 30192827
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203501 -
Molecular Plant Pathology Aug 2012Many plant bacteriologists, if not all, feel that their particular microbe should appear in any list of the most important bacterial plant pathogens. However, to our... (Review)
Review
Many plant bacteriologists, if not all, feel that their particular microbe should appear in any list of the most important bacterial plant pathogens. However, to our knowledge, no such list exists. The aim of this review was to survey all bacterial pathologists with an association with the journal Molecular Plant Pathology and ask them to nominate the bacterial pathogens they would place in a 'Top 10' based on scientific/economic importance. The survey generated 458 votes from the international community, and allowed the construction of a Top 10 bacterial plant pathogen list. The list includes, in rank order: (1) Pseudomonas syringae pathovars; (2) Ralstonia solanacearum; (3) Agrobacterium tumefaciens; (4) Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae; (5) Xanthomonas campestris pathovars; (6) Xanthomonas axonopodis pathovars; (7) Erwinia amylovora; (8) Xylella fastidiosa; (9) Dickeya (dadantii and solani); (10) Pectobacterium carotovorum (and Pectobacterium atrosepticum). Bacteria garnering honourable mentions for just missing out on the Top 10 include Clavibacter michiganensis (michiganensis and sepedonicus), Pseudomonas savastanoi and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. This review article presents a short section on each bacterium in the Top 10 list and its importance, with the intention of initiating discussion and debate amongst the plant bacteriology community, as well as laying down a benchmark. It will be interesting to see, in future years, how perceptions change and which bacterial pathogens enter and leave the Top 10.
Topics: Bacteria; Plant Pathology; Plants
PubMed: 22672649
DOI: 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2012.00804.x -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Dec 2020Bacterial co-pathogens are commonly identified in viral respiratory infections and are important causes of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of bacterial infection... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Bacterial co-pathogens are commonly identified in viral respiratory infections and are important causes of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of bacterial infection in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 is not well understood.
AIMS
To determine the prevalence of bacterial co-infection (at presentation) and secondary infection (after presentation) in patients with COVID-19.
SOURCES
We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, OVID Epub and EMBASE databases for English language literature from 2019 to April 16, 2020. Studies were included if they (a) evaluated patients with confirmed COVID-19 and (b) reported the prevalence of acute bacterial infection.
CONTENT
Data were extracted by a single reviewer and cross-checked by a second reviewer. The main outcome was the proportion of COVID-19 patients with an acute bacterial infection. Any bacteria detected from non-respiratory-tract or non-bloodstream sources were excluded. Of 1308 studies screened, 24 were eligible and included in the rapid review representing 3338 patients with COVID-19 evaluated for acute bacterial infection. In the meta-analysis, bacterial co-infection (estimated on presentation) was identified in 3.5% of patients (95%CI 0.4-6.7%) and secondary bacterial infection in 14.3% of patients (95%CI 9.6-18.9%). The overall proportion of COVID-19 patients with bacterial infection was 6.9% (95%CI 4.3-9.5%). Bacterial infection was more common in critically ill patients (8.1%, 95%CI 2.3-13.8%). The majority of patients with COVID-19 received antibiotics (71.9%, 95%CI 56.1 to 87.7%).
IMPLICATIONS
Bacterial co-infection is relatively infrequent in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The majority of these patients may not require empirical antibacterial treatment.
Topics: Asia; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; COVID-19; Coinfection; Critical Illness; Data Management; Female; Humans; Male; Pandemics; Prevalence; Respiratory Tract Infections; United States
PubMed: 32711058
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.07.016 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2019Alterations to the gut microbiota have been previously suggested to be tightly linked to chronic systemic inflammation, which is a major contributing factor to...
Alterations to the gut microbiota have been previously suggested to be tightly linked to chronic systemic inflammation, which is a major contributing factor to complications and disease progression in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nevertheless, the effect of gut dysbiosis on the pathogenesis and/or production of inflammatory factors in CKD has not been extensively studied to date. In the present study, we conducted 16S ribosomal DNA pyrosequencing using fecal microbiota samples and analyzed the production of serum inflammatory factors in 50 patients with CKD and 22 healthy control (HC) subjects. The results revealed that compared to the HC subjects, patients with CKD exhibited a significant reduction in the richness and structure of their fecal microbiota. At the phylum level, compared to the HC group, patients with CKD also presented reduced abundance of Actinobacteria but increased abundance of Verrucomicrobia. Moreover, the genera , and were enriched in the fecal samples of patients with CKD, while and were enriched in those of the HC subjects. The abundance of in the CKD group was significantly lower than that in the HC group (3.08 vs. 0.67%); this decrease in the abundance of , an important probiotic, in patients with CKD is a striking discovery as it has not been previously reported. Finally, we analyzed whether these changes to the fecal microbiota correlated with CKD clinical characteristics and/or the production of known inflammatory factors. Altered levels of the microbiota genera , and were shown to be correlated with CKD disease-severity indicators, including the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Most notably, was significantly negatively correlated with the production of interleukin-10. The results of the present study suggest that microbiota dysbiosis may promote chronic systemic inflammation in CKD. Furthermore, they support that modifying the gut microbiota, especially , may be a promising potential therapeutic strategy to attenuate the progression of, and/or systemic inflammation in, CKD.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Bacteria; Biomarkers; China; Cytokines; DNA, Bacterial; Dysbiosis; Feces; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal Tract; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Middle Aged; Probiotics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Verrucomicrobia
PubMed: 31245306
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00206 -
Molecular Plant Pathology Jan 2018The growing impact of phloem-limited pathogens on high-value crops has led to a renewed interest in understanding how they cause disease. Although these pathogens cause... (Review)
Review
The growing impact of phloem-limited pathogens on high-value crops has led to a renewed interest in understanding how they cause disease. Although these pathogens cause substantial crop losses, many are poorly characterized. In this review, we present examples of phloem-limited pathogens that include intracellular bacteria with and without cell walls, and viruses. Phloem-limited pathogens have small genomes and lack many genes required for core metabolic processes, which is, in part, an adaptation to the unique phloem environment. For each pathogen class, we present multiple case studies to highlight aspects of disease caused by phloem-limited pathogens. The pathogens presented include Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (citrus greening), Arsenophonus bacteria, Serratia marcescens (cucurbit yellow vine disease), Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris (Aster Yellows Witches' Broom), Spiroplasma kunkelii, Potato leafroll virus and Citrus tristeza virus. We focus on commonalities in the virulence strategies of these pathogens, and aim to stimulate new discussions in the hope that widely applicable disease management strategies can be found.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Insect Vectors; Phloem; Viruses
PubMed: 27997761
DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12526 -
Viruses Apr 2018The ability of agriculture to continually provide food to a growing world population is of crucial importance. Bacterial diseases of plants and animals have continually... (Review)
Review
The ability of agriculture to continually provide food to a growing world population is of crucial importance. Bacterial diseases of plants and animals have continually reduced production since the advent of crop cultivation and animal husbandry practices. Antibiotics have been used extensively to mitigate these losses. The rise of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria, however, together with consumers’ calls for antibiotic-free products, presents problems that threaten sustainable agriculture. Bacteriophages (phages) are proposed as bacterial population control alternatives to antibiotics. Their unique properties make them highly promising but challenging antimicrobials. The use of phages in agriculture also presents a number of unique challenges. This mini-review summarizes recent development and perspectives of phages used as antimicrobial agents in plant and animal agriculture at the farm level. The main pathogens and their adjoining phage therapies are discussed.
Topics: Agriculture; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; Bacteriophages; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Phage Therapy
PubMed: 29693561
DOI: 10.3390/v10050218 -
Journal of Bacteriology Nov 2020This minireview presents the career of biophysicist Howard Berg from his first interest in bacterial chemotaxis and motility through the present. After a summary of some... (Review)
Review
This minireview presents the career of biophysicist Howard Berg from his first interest in bacterial chemotaxis and motility through the present. After a summary of some of his early work, a series of reminiscences of students, postdocs, colleagues, and family members is presented. In sum, these recollections capture the effect that Howard's scientific life has had on the field of bacterial chemotaxis and motility and on the careers and lives of those who have interacted with him.
Topics: Bacteria; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biology; Biophysics; Chemotaxis; History, 20th Century; Humans
PubMed: 32958632
DOI: 10.1128/JB.00494-20 -
World Journal of Microbiology &... Apr 2016Bacterial metabolism determines the effectiveness of biological treatment of wastewater. Therefore, it is important to define the relations between the species structure... (Review)
Review
Bacterial metabolism determines the effectiveness of biological treatment of wastewater. Therefore, it is important to define the relations between the species structure and the performance of full-scale installations. Although there is much laboratory data on microbial consortia, our understanding of dependencies between the microbial structure and operational parameters of full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) is limited. This mini-review presents the types of microbial consortia in WWTP. Information is given on extracellular polymeric substances production as factor that is key for formation of spatial structures of microorganisms. Additionally, we discuss data on microbial groups including nitrifiers, denitrifiers, Anammox bacteria, and phosphate- and glycogen-accumulating bacteria in full-scale aerobic systems that was obtained with the use of molecular techniques, including high-throughput sequencing, to shed light on dependencies between the microbial ecology of biomass and the overall efficiency and functional stability of wastewater treatment systems. Sludge bulking in WWTPs is addressed, as well as the microbial composition of consortia involved in antibiotic and micropollutant removal.
Topics: Bacteria; Biomass; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Microbial Consortia; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Wastewater; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 26931606
DOI: 10.1007/s11274-016-2012-9