Co-Infection in COVID-19 Patients: Virulence Genes and Their Influence on Respiratory Epithelial Cells in Light of Risk of Severe Secondary Infection.

Pandemics from viral respiratory tract infections in the 20th and early 21st centuries were associated with high mortality, which was not always caused by a primary viral infection. It has been observed that severe course of infection, complications and mortality were often the result of co-infection with other pathogens, especially . During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was also noticed that patients infected with had a significantly higher mortality rate (61.

Both biofilm cytotoxicity and monocytes' adhesion may be used as estimators of enterococcal virulence.

Our study aimed to identify markers of enterococci's virulence potential by evaluating the properties of strains of different sites of isolation. Enterococcal strains were isolated as commensals from faeces and as invasive strains from the urine and blood of patients from the University Clinical Centre, Gdańsk, Poland. Changes in monocytes' susceptibility to the cytotoxic activity of isolates of different origins and their adherence to biofilm were evaluated using a flow cytometer.

From the Friend to the Foe- Diverse Impact on the Human Immune System.

is a bacterium which accompanies us from the first days of our life. As a commensal it produces vitamins, metabolizes nutrients, and maintains intestinal pH. All of that happens in exchange for a niche to inhabit.

Changes in the Protein Profile in Staphylococcal Strains from Patients Infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Virus.

strains are particularly often isolated from patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the current research was to determine whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection affects the protein profile of . Bacteria were isolated from the forty swabs collected from the patients in the hospitals of the Pomeranian region.

Changes of urine isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilm affect monocytes' response.

The Gram negative rods as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae belong to the most common etiology agents of urinary tract infections. The aim of our study was to assess the diversity of biofilm formed in different urinary tract diseases and their impact on monocytes' adherence and activation. The bacteria were obtained from patients with different kidney problems.

Proliferation rate and penicillin binding of enterococcal isolates from patients with immunosupression.

Low proliferation rate of bacterial populations was recently assumed to be a reason for higher resistance to antibiotics and appearance of many chronic infections. Slowly growing populations, called 'small colony variants' (SCVs) have been described in many bacterial species to make from as low as 0·02% up to 46% of population. Thirty enterococcal strains from urine and faeces of renal transplant recipients with asymptomatic, insignificant bacteriuria were studied.

Do the oral strains from denture wearers have a greater pathogenicity potential?

We used flow cytometry to compare the phagocytic activity of monocytes against strains (both biofilm and planktonic cells) isolated from denture wearers and non-wearers. Staphylococcal strains were cultured in Brain Heart Infusion broth in both planktonic and biofilm form and were stained with a fluorescent reporter (propidium iodide) and incubated with monocytes. The fluorescence of the monocytes containing phagocytized bacteria was determined by flow cytometry and normalized to that of the bacterial strains used in the experiment.

The high PMNs phagocytosis resistance of enterococcal isolates from RTx patients.

Infections caused by opportunistic pathogens such as enterococci remain difficult to manage, especially in immunocompromised patients. Because of infections' limited symptoms in such patients the additional problems are to find proper diagnostic criteria and the management of infection. Here we aimed to compare the resistance of commensal enterococcal strains and RTx patients' isolates, to PMNs phagocytosis.

Prophages in enterococcal isolates from renal transplant recipients: renal failure etiologies promote selection of strains.

Infections caused by commensal bacteria may be fatal for the patients under immunosuppressive therapy. This results also from difficulty in identification of high risk strains. Enterococcal infections are increasingly frequent but despite many studies on virulence traits, the difference between commensal and pathogenic strains remains unclear.

Low metabolic activity of biofilm formed by isolated from healthy humans and wild mallards .

It is widely known that virulence is related to its biofilm formation. Although Enterococci are common commensal organisms of the gastrointestinal tract, the difference between commensal and pathogen strains remain unclear. In this study, we compare the biochemical profile of the biofilms formed by two groups of medical and two groups of commensal strains.

Changes of PBP5 gene expression in enterococcal isolates from renal transplantation recipients.

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in expression of PBP5 gene associated with immunosuppression. A linear locked nucleic acid (LNA) probe was used to measure resistance gene expression by the Flow-FISH method. Expression of the PBP5 gene measured by Flow-FISH was higher in enterococcal strains isolated from renal transplantation (RTx) recipients than in commensal strains.

Increased pheromone cCF10 expression in Enterococcus faecalis biofilm formed by isolates from renal transplant patients.

Renal transplant recipients are at a high risk of developing infectious complications even caused by commensal bacteria. This is because of various physiological non-immunological, and immunological protective mechanisms are not fully efficient in RTx patients. Therefore, rapid and precise diagnostic tools are essential in this particular group of patients.

Flow cytometry approach study of Enterococcus faecalis vancomycin resistance by detection of Vancomycin@FL binding to the bacterial cells.

We studied the usefulness of flow cytometry for detection of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecalis by direct binding of commercially available fluorescent vancomycin to cells obtained from culture. The cells were stained with Vancomycin@FL, sonicated and additionally stained with propidium iodide (PI). Regarding to inductive mechanism of vanA-mediated vancomycin resistance, resistant reference strain was also pre-incubated with vancomycin.

Heterogeneity of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) characterized by flow cytometry.

We used fluorescent penicillin Bocillin FL for characterization of control methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains belonging to one of four heterogenic classes and comparing them with clinical MRSA isolates. Significant differences in percentage of fluorescent cells and reduction of Bocillin FL binding after incubation with methicillin between control strains from classes I and IV were observed, whereas the strains from classes II and III were differed after incubation with methicillin. According to this criteria, 55.

Living donor liver graft salvage after rupture of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm.

Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm (HAP) is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of liver transplantation (LTx). It is often associated with a local infection. Prompt diagnosis and intervention are necessary.

[The prevalence of tetracycline resistance genes in clinical and commensal strains of Enterococcus faecalis isolated in Gdańsk].

The common use of antibiotics is responsible for selecting of drug resistance not only in pathogenic, clinical bacteria but also in commensal, not pathogenic strains which could cause the rapid dissemination of the resistance to these antibacterial agents. However, information regarding the antibiotic resistance of commensal bacteria is very scarce, and the data is based mostly on phenotypical research. Therefore the use of genotyping methods for detection of tetracycline resistance genes, in commensal and medical isolates of bacteria, is essential, for understanding the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Flow cytometry as a rapid test for detection of penicillin resistance directly in bacterial cells in Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus.

We studied the usefulness of flow cytometry for detection of penicillin resistance in E. faecalis and S. aureus by direct binding of commercially available fluorescent penicillin, Bocillin FL, to cells obtained from culture.

[Non-specific adherence of Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from healthy voluntaries and infection of urinary tract].

Enterococcus faecalis is a component of human and animal gastrointestinal microflora. However, the adhesion is considered to be the key step in the pathogenesis of enterococcal infections and the first step of biofilm formation. We aimed to compare and evaluate adherence of strains considered to be commensal flora (isolated from healthy volunteers) and strains isolated as a pathogen from medical samples in Gdańsk Region The additional aim of this study was to analyze influence of subinhibitory concentration of gentamycin and cAD1 pheromone.

Cytidine deamination assay to differentiate Staphylococcus aureus from other staphylococci.

Aims: Adoption of the property of cytidine (cytosine-beta-d-riboside) deamination in staphylococci to distinguish Staphylococcus aureus from other staphylococci.

Methods And Results: A total of 560 staphylococcal strains were examined. The test demonstrated a sensitivity of 97.

Split liver transplantation for acute Wilson's disease: new option for urgent recipient?

Wilson's disease is a rare metabolic disorder that may lead to fulminant hepatitis and subsequent liver failure. Herein, we present a case of split liver transplantation performed on a patient with acute Wilson's disease. A 27-year-old female with acute presentation of Wilson's disease and advanced neurological impairment, received a Right Split liver Graft (Segments: IV, V, VI, VII and VIII) transplant.

A genetic association study of the functional A118G polymorphism of the human mu-opioid receptor gene in patients with acute and chronic pain.

In this prospective, observational study we explored whether A118G single nucleotide polymorphism in the human mu-opioid receptor (MOR) gene could explain the inter-individual differences in opioid analgesic requirements in patients with acute postoperative pain and chronic pain. The frequency of the wild-type A118 MOR (major) and variant G118 MOR (minor) alleles in the subjects with chronic, noncancer pain (n = 121) and opioid-naïve subjects with acute postoperative pain (n = 101), serving as the control group, were examined. The relationships among the A118G MOR genotype, opioid requirements, and the numerical pain score were analyzed in both groups.

[Flow cytometric analysis of Enterococcus faecalis aph2"(+) response to aph2" (-) strains with high and low gene transfer rate].

Resistance genes, as aph2" are usually encoded on conjugate plasmids and spread with high rate 2 among Gram-positive cocci. The conjugation is inducted by recipient strains by secreting specific pheromone involved in formation of mating aggregates with donor cells. The project aimed to check if strain with lower rate of gene transfer differ also from strains with high gene transfer in ability to aggregate to donor strains.

Minilaparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis.

Background: Minilaparoscopic appendectomy for appendicitis is not a well-established procedure. This approach provides less abdominal wall trauma, fewer complications, and excellent cosmetic results. Our aim was to show the feasibility and safety of the minilaparoscopic approach.