Publications by authors named "A S Zinkernagel"
Group A streptococcal (GAS; aka Streptococcus pyogenes) meningitis is a fulminant disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the invasiveness of GAS in meningitis, we compared GAS isolates derived from five cases of meningitis to otitis and colonizing isolates. We did not observe differences in adherence to and invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells, virulence factors activity, or barrier disruption.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening biofilm-associated infection, yet the factors driving biofilm formation remain poorly understood. Here, we identified the Fsr quorum sensing (QS) system of as a potent negative regulator of IE pathogenesis. Using microfluidic and models, we show that Fsr is induced in late IE when bacteria become shielded from blood flow.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The ability to detect pathogenic bacteria before the onsets of severe respiratory symptoms and to differentiate bacterial infection allows to improve patient-tailored treatment leading to a significant reduction in illness severity, comorbidity as well as antibiotic resistance. As such, this study refines the application of the non-invasive Secondary Electrospray Ionization-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (SESI-HRMS) methodology for real-time and early detection of human respiratory bacterial pathogens in the respiratory tract of a mouse infection model.
Methods: A real-time analysis of changes in volatile metabolites excreted by mice undergoing a lung infection by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae were evaluated using a SESI-HRMS instrument.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to assess improvements in health-related quality of life, as measured by the Short Form-36 (SF-36) scores, for patients in a Swiss Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) program from before discharge to 7-14 days after discharge.
- - It involved a cohort of 33 patients from a public hospital in Switzerland, who completed a shortened version of the SF-36 questionnaire and additional questions on satisfaction at two different times.
- - Results indicated significant improvements in three out of four domains (emotional role, social functioning, emotional well-being) and a high patient satisfaction rate, suggesting OPAT programs positively impact patients' health-related quality of life.