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Scientific Reports May 2024Bartonella quintana, the causative agent of trench fever, is an intracellular bacterium that infects human erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells. For many years,... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Bartonella quintana, the causative agent of trench fever, is an intracellular bacterium that infects human erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells. For many years, humans were considered the only natural hosts for B. quintana; however, it was recently discovered that wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) also serve as hosts for B. quintana. To elucidate the genetic characteristics of the B. quintana strain MF1-1 isolated from a Japanese macaque, we determined the complete genome sequence of the strain and compared it with those of strain Toulouse from a human and strain RM-11 from a rhesus macaque. General genomic features and orthologous gene cluster profiles are similar among the three strains, and strain MF1-1 is genetically closer to strain RM-11 than strain Toulouse based on the average nucleotide identity values; however, a significant inversion of approximately 0.68 Mb was detected in the chromosome of strain MF1-1. Moreover, the Japanese macaque strains lacked the bepA gene, which is responsible for anti-apoptotic function, and the trwL2, trwL4, and trwL6 genes, which may be involved in adhesion to erythrocytes of rhesus macaque and human. These features likely represent the genomic traits acquired by Japanese macaque strains in their host-associated evolution.
Topics: Animals; Macaca mulatta; Humans; Genome, Bacterial; Macaca fuscata; Bartonella quintana; Phylogeny; Genomics; Trench Fever
PubMed: 38740807
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61782-0 -
Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2024The availability of genes and protein sequences for parasites has provided valuable information for drug target identification and vaccine development. One such parasite...
BACKGROUND
The availability of genes and protein sequences for parasites has provided valuable information for drug target identification and vaccine development. One such parasite is Bartonella quintana, a Gram-negative, intracellular pathogen that causes bartonellosis in mammalian hosts.
OBJECTIVE
Despite progress in understanding its pathogenesis, limited knowledge exists about the virulence factors and regulatory mechanisms specific to B. quintana.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
To explore these aspects, we have adopted a subtractive proteomics approach to analyse the proteome of B. quintana. By subtractive proteins between the host and parasite proteome, a set of proteins that are likely unique to the parasite but absent in the host were identified. This analysis revealed that out of the 1197 protein sequences of the parasite, 660 proteins are non-homologous to the human host. Further analysis using the Database of Essential Genes predicted 159 essential proteins, with 28 of these being unique to the pathogen and predicted as potential putative targets. Subcellular localisation of the predicted targets revealed 13 cytoplasmic, eight membranes, one periplasmic, and multiple location proteins. The three-dimensional structure and B cell epitopes of the six membrane antigenic protein were predicted. Four B cell epitopes in KdtA and mraY proteins, three in lpxB and BQ09550, whereas the ftsl and yidC proteins were located with eleven and six B cell epitopes, respectively.
MAINS CONCLUSIONS
This insight prioritises such proteins as novel putative targets for further investigations on their potential as drug and vaccine candidates.
Topics: Proteomics; Bartonella quintana; Bacterial Vaccines; Bacterial Proteins; Humans; Computer Simulation; Virulence Factors; Proteome
PubMed: 38655925
DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760230040 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Acute febrile illnesses (AFI) in developing tropical and sub-tropical nations are challenging to diagnose due to the numerous causes and non-specific symptoms. The...
INTRODUCTION
Acute febrile illnesses (AFI) in developing tropical and sub-tropical nations are challenging to diagnose due to the numerous causes and non-specific symptoms. The proliferation of rapid diagnostic testing and successful control campaigns against malaria have revealed that non- pathogens still contribute significantly to AFI burden. Thus, a more complete understanding of local trends and potential causes is important for selecting the correct treatment course, which in turn will reduce morbidity and mortality. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) in a laboratory setting can be used to identify known and novel pathogens in individuals with AFI.
METHODS
In this study, plasma was collected from 228 febrile patients tested negative for malaria at clinics across Senegal from 2020-2022. Total nucleic acids were extracted and converted to metagenomic NGS libraries. To identify viral pathogens, especially those present at low concentration, an aliquot of each library was processed with a viral enrichment panel and sequenced. Corresponding metagenomic libraries were also sequenced to identify non-viral pathogens.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Sequencing reads for pathogens with a possible link to febrile illness were identified in 51/228 specimens, including (but not limited to): (N = 7), West Nile virus (N = 3), (N = 2), (N = 1), human herpesvirus 8 (N = 1), and Saffold virus (N = 1). Reads corresponding to were detected in 19 specimens, though their presence in the cohort was likely due to user error of rapid diagnostic testing or incorrect specimen segregation at the clinics. Mosquito-borne pathogens were typically detected just after the conclusion of the rainy season, while tick-borne pathogens were mostly detected before the rainy season. The three West Nile virus strains were phylogenetically characterized and shown to be related to both European and North American clades. Surveys such as this will increase the understanding of the potential causes of non-malarial AFI, which may help inform diagnostic and treatment options for clinicians who provide care to patients in Senegal.
PubMed: 38655084
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1362714 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications play a crucial role in maintaining translational fidelity and efficiency, and they may function as regulatory elements in stress...
Transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications play a crucial role in maintaining translational fidelity and efficiency, and they may function as regulatory elements in stress response and virulence. Despite their pivotal roles, a comprehensive mapping of tRNA modifications and their associated synthesis genes is still limited, with a predominant focus on free-living bacteria. In this study, we employed a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating comparative genomics, mass spectrometry, and next-generation sequencing, to predict the set of tRNA modification genes responsible for tRNA maturation in two intracellular pathogens- Houston I and Toulouse, which are causative agents of cat-scratch disease and trench fever, respectively. This analysis presented challenges, particularly because of host RNA contamination, which served as a potential source of error. However, our approach predicted 26 genes responsible for synthesizing 23 distinct tRNA modifications in and 22 genes associated with 23 modifications in . Notably, akin to other intracellular and symbiotic bacteria, both Bartonella species have undergone substantial reductions in tRNA modification genes, mostly by simplifying the hypermodifications present at positions 34 and 37. exhibited the additional loss of four modifications and these were linked to examples of gene decay, providing snapshots of reductive evolution.
PubMed: 38544857
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1369018 -
Microbiology Spectrum Apr 2024Vector-borne infections may underlie some rheumatic diseases, particularly in people with joint effusions. This study aimed to compare serum and synovial fluid... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
UNLABELLED
Vector-borne infections may underlie some rheumatic diseases, particularly in people with joint effusions. This study aimed to compare serum and synovial fluid antibodies to and spp. in patients with rheumatic diseases. This observational, cross-sectional study examined paired synovial fluid and serum specimens collected from 110 patients with joint effusion between October 2017 and January 2022. Testing for antibodies to (using CDC criteria) and spp. two indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assays was performed as part of routine patient care at the Institute for Specialized Medicine (San Diego, CA, USA). There were 30 participants (27%) with positive two-tier serology and 26 participants (24%) with IFA seroreactivity (≥1:256) to and/or . Both IgM and IgG were detected more frequently in synovial fluid than serum: 27% of patients were either IgM or IgG positive in synovial fluid, compared to 15.5% in serum ( = 0.048). Conversely, and antibodies were detected more frequently in serum than synovial fluid; overall only 2% of patients had positive IFA titers in synovial fluid, compared to 24% who had positive IFA titers in serum ( < 0.001). There were no significant associations between or spp. seroreactivity with any of the clinical rheumatological diagnoses. This study provides preliminary support for the importance of synovial fluid antibody testing for documenting exposure to but not for documenting exposure to spp.
IMPORTANCE
This study focuses on diagnostic testing for two common vector-borne diseases in an affected patient population. In it, we provide data showing that antibodies to , but not spp., are more commonly found in synovial fluid than serum of patients with joint effusion. Since Lyme arthritis is a common-and sometimes difficult to diagnose-rheumatic disease, improving diagnostic capabilities is of utmost importance. While our findings are certainly not definitive for changes to practice, they do suggest that synovial fluid could be a useful sample for the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease, and future prospective studies evaluating this claim are warranted.
Topics: Humans; Bartonella; Borrelia burgdorferi; Synovial Fluid; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prospective Studies; Lyme Disease; Immunoglobulin G; Antibodies, Bacterial; Immunoglobulin M; Rheumatic Diseases
PubMed: 38483477
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01653-23 -
Journal of Infection and Public Health Apr 2024Bartonellosis is a vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in humans, especially in immunocompromised individuals. However, there is no complete data about the geographical... (Review)
Review
Bartonellosis is a vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in humans, especially in immunocompromised individuals. However, there is no complete data about the geographical distribution of different species of Bartonella, as well as the status of its reservoirs, vectors, and human cases in most parts of the world. In this study, published reports related to Bartonella species from WHO-EMRO region countries were searched in different databases until October 2023. The eighteens different species of Bartonella were reported in WHO-EMRO countries including Bartonella henselae, Bartonella quintana, Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella bovis, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella vinsonii, Bartonella doshiae, Bartonella taylorii, Bartonella rochalimae, Bartonella tribocorum, Bartonella rattimassiliensis, candidatus Bartonella merieuxii, candidatus Bartonella dromedarii, Bartonella acomydis, Bartonella jaculi, Bartonella coopersplainsensis and Bartonella koehlerae. Also, only human cases of B. henselae and B. quintana infections were reported from WHO-EMRO countries. The infections of Bartonella are important in the WHO-EMRO region, but they have been neglected by clinicians and healthcare systems.
Topics: Humans; Bartonella; World Health Organization; Mediterranean Region
PubMed: 38417187
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.02.009 -
Open Forum Infectious Diseases Feb 2024is a louse-borne gram-negative bacillus that remains a poorly characterized cause of bacteremia, fever, and infective endocarditis. Due to the link with pediculosis,... (Review)
Review
is a louse-borne gram-negative bacillus that remains a poorly characterized cause of bacteremia, fever, and infective endocarditis. Due to the link with pediculosis, transmission is tied to poverty, conflict, overcrowding, and inadequate water access to maintain personal hygiene. Although these risk factors may be present globally, we argue that a substantial burden of undocumented infection occurs in Africa due to the high prevalence of these risk factors. Here, we describe the neglected burden of infection, endocarditis, and vector positivity in Africa and evaluate whether meets criteria to be considered a neglected tropical disease according to the World Health Organization.
PubMed: 38370291
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad672 -
Frontiers in Nephrology 2023Although is the leading cause of acute infective endocarditis (IE) in adults, spp. has concomitantly emerged as the leading cause of "blood culture-negative IE"... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Although is the leading cause of acute infective endocarditis (IE) in adults, spp. has concomitantly emerged as the leading cause of "blood culture-negative IE" (BCNE). Pre-disposing factors, clinical presentation and kidney biopsy findings in Bartonella IE-associated glomerulonephritis (GN) show subtle differences and some unique features relative to other bacterial infection-related GNs. We highlight these features along with key diagnostic clues and management approach in Bartonella IE-associated GN.
METHODS
We conducted a pooled analysis of 89 cases of Bartonella IE-associated GN (54 published case reports and case series; 18 published conference abstracts identified using an English literature search of several commonly used literature search modalities); and four unpublished cases from our institution.
RESULTS
and are the most commonly implicated species causing IE in humans. Subacute presentation, affecting damaged native and/or prosthetic heart valves, high titer anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), mainly proteinase-3 (PR-3) specificity, fastidious nature and lack of positive blood cultures of these Gram-negative bacilli, a higher frequency of focal glomerular crescents compared to other bacterial infection-related GNs are some of the salient features of Bartonella IE-associated GN. C3-dominant, but frequent C1q and IgM immunofluorescence staining is seen on biopsy. A "full-house" immunofluorescence staining pattern is also described but can be seen in IE -associated GN due to other bacteria as well. Non-specific generalized symptoms, cytopenia, heart failure and other organ damage due to embolic phenomena are the highlights on clinical presentation needing a multi-disciplinary approach for management. Awareness of the updated modified Duke criteria for IE, a high index of suspicion for underlying infection despite negative microbiologic cultures, history of exposure to animals, particularly infected cats, and use of send-out serologic tests for spp. early in the course of management can help in early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment.
CONCLUSION
Diagnosis of IE-associated GN can be challenging particularly with BCNE. The number of Bartonella IE-associated GN cases in a single institution tends to be less than IE due to gram positive cocci, however Bartonella is currently the leading cause of BCNE. We provide a much-needed discussion on this topic.
PubMed: 38288381
DOI: 10.3389/fneph.2023.1322741 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jan 2024Transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications play a crucial role in maintaining translational fidelity and efficiency, and they may function as regulatory elements in stress...
Transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications play a crucial role in maintaining translational fidelity and efficiency, and they may function as regulatory elements in stress response and virulence. Despite their pivotal roles, a comprehensive mapping of tRNA modifications and their associated synthesis genes is still limited, with a predominant focus on free-living bacteria. In this study, we employed a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating comparative genomics, mass spectrometry, and next-generation sequencing, to predict the set of tRNA modification genes responsible for tRNA maturation in two intracellular pathogens- Houston I and Toulouse, which are causative agents of cat-scratch disease and trench fever, respectively. This analysis presented challenges, particularly because of host RNA contamination, which served as a potential source of error. However, our approach predicted 26 genes responsible for synthesizing 23 distinct tRNA modifications in and 22 genes associated with 23 modifications in . Notably, akin to other intracellular and symbiotic bacteria, both species have undergone substantial reductions in tRNA modification genes, mostly by simplifying the hypermodifications present at positions 34 and 37. exhibited the additional loss of four modifications and these were linked to examples of gene decay, providing snapshots of reductive evolution.
PubMed: 38260440
DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.08.574729 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Jan 2024
Review
Topics: Humans; Bartonella quintana; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Mitral Valve; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Aortic Valve; Endocarditis; Bartonella Infections; Bartonella; Trench Fever
PubMed: 38230945
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00402-23