Phylogenetic Distribution of CRISPR-Cas Systems in .

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) genes (CRISPR-Cas) are present in many bacterial genomes with functions beyond adaptive immunity. We aimed to characterize the CRISPR-Cas system in the pathogenic Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus lugdunensis and determine its association with sequence types (STs) determined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and oxacillin susceptibility. Primers were designed to detect and sequence types IIIA and IIC CRISPR-Cas in 199 isolates.

Clinical characteristics of recurrent pneumonia in children with or without underlying diseases.

Background: Recurrent pneumonia is uncommon in children and few studies investigate the clinical impact of underlying diseases on this issue. This study aimed to explore the difference in clinical manifestations, pathogens, and prognosis of recurrent pneumonia in children with or without underlying diseases.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of pediatric recurrent pneumonia from 2007 to 2019 in National Taiwan University Hospital.

RSV pneumonia with or without bacterial co-infection among healthy children.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of childhood pneumonia, but there is limited understanding of whether bacterial co-infections affect clinical severity.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at National Taiwan University Hospital from 2010 to 2019 to compare clinical characteristics and outcomes between RSV with and without bacterial co-infection in children without underlying diseases, including length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ventilator use, and death.

Results: Among 620 inpatients with RSV pneumonia, the median age was 1.

Clinical characteristics of influenza with or without Streptococcus pneumoniae co-infection in children.

Background/purpose: Influenza is frequently complicated with bacterial co-infection. This study aimed to disclose the significance of Streptococcus pneumoniae co-infection in children with influenza.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of pediatric patients hospitalized for influenza with or without pneumococcal co-infection at the National Taiwan University Hospital from 2007 to 2019.

Clustering of Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies pasteurianus bacteremia and meningitis in neonates.

Background/purpose: Although Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies pasteurianus (SGSP) is a rare pathogen in children, it can cause invasive infections among neonates and infants. Herein, we report bacteremia/meningitis caused by SGSP in three neonates and review the literature on bacteremia and/or meningitis caused by this organism.

Methods: Three neonates, referred from an obstetrics clinic within a 2-month period, presented with invasive SGSP infections.

Photodynamic Inactivation Potentiates the Susceptibility of Antifungal Agents against the Planktonic and Biofilm Cells of Candida albicans.

Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) has been shown to be a potential treatment modality against infection. However, limited light penetration might leave some cells alive and undergoing regrowth. In this study, we explored the possibility of combining PDI and antifungal agents to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of and drug-resistant clinical isolates.

The neuroprotective effect of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in fibrin glue against chronic focal cerebral ischemia in conscious rats.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a transforming growth factor-beta which has shown beneficial effects in rats after acute focal cerebral ischemia (FCI). To study the effects of GDNF on chronic FCI injury in conscious rats, we used fibrin glue (GDNF-fibrin glue) and fibrin glue free (GDNF-only)-GDNF topically applied to the ischemic brain after right middle cerebral artery (MCA) ligation. Infarct brain volume and functional motor deficits were measured before and after FCI injury.