Early and specific targeted mass spectrometry-based identification of bacteria in endotracheal aspirates of patients suspected with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Rapid and reliable pathogen identification is compulsory to confirm ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in order to initiate appropriate antibiotic treatment. In the present proof of concept, the effectiveness of rapid microorganism identification with a targeted bottom-up proteomics approach was investigated in endotracheal aspirate (ETA) samples of VAP patients. To do so, a prototype selected-reaction monitoring (SRM)-based assay was developed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer tracking proteotypic peptide surrogates of bacterial proteomes.

SEPSIS project: a protocol for studying biomarkers of neonatal sepsis and immune responses of infants in a malaria-endemic region.

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis outreaches all causes of neonatal mortality worldwide and remains a major societal burden in low and middle income countries. In addition to limited resources, endemic morbidities, such as malaria and prematurity, predispose neonates and infants to invasive infection by altering neonatal immune response to pathogens. Nevertheless, thoughtful epidemiological, diagnostic and immunological evaluation of neonatal sepsis and the impact of gestational malaria have never been performed.

Immune Profiling Panel: A Proof-of-Concept Study of a New Multiplex Molecular Tool to Assess the Immune Status of Critically Ill Patients.

Background: Critical illness such as sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome defined as a dysregulated host response to infection and is characterized by patients exhibiting impaired immune response. In the field of diagnosis, a gap still remains in identifying the immune profile of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: A new multiplex immune profiling panel (IPP) prototype was assessed for its ability to semiquantify messenger RNA immune-related markers directly from blood, using the FilmArray System, in less than an hour.

Influenza A Virus Infection in Cats and Dogs: A Literature Review in the Light of the "One Health" Concept.

Influenza A viruses are amongst the most challenging viruses that threaten both human and animal health. Constantly evolving and crossing species barrier, the emergence of novel zoonotic pathogens is one of the greatest challenges to global health security. During the last decade, considerable attention has been paid to influenza virus infections in dogs, as two canine H3N8 and H3N2 subtypes caused several outbreaks through the United States and Southern Asia, becoming endemic.

Maternal malaria but not schistosomiasis is associated with a higher risk of febrile infection in infant during the first 3 months of life: A mother-child cohort in Benin.

Background: Malaria and schistosomiasis represent two of the most prevalent and disabling parasitic infections in developing countries. Few studies have evaluated the effect of maternal schistosomiasis and malaria in the peri-conceptional period on infant's risk of infection.

Methods: In Benin, women were followed from the preconception period until delivery.

Poor maternal anthropometric status before conception is associated with a deleterious infant growth during the first year of life: a longitudinal preconceptional cohort.

Background: According to the Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases concept, exposures in the preconception period may be critical. For the first time, we evaluated the effect of preconception poor anthropometric status on infant's growth in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: A mother-child cohort was followed prospectively from preconception to 1 year old in Benin.

Class 1 integrons in Acinetobacter baumannii: a weak expression of gene cassettes to counterbalance the lack of LexA-driven integrase repression.

Integrons recruit resistance genes through integrase-driven recombination events that are regulated by the bacterial SOS response and require the repressor LexA. Class 1 integrons genes are expressed from a common promoter, Pc, of which at least 5 predominant variants, classified from weak to strong, have been described. In Escherichia coli, there is an intertwined regulation between gene cassette expression and integrase activity: the stronger the promoter, the weaker the integrase.

Rapid quantification of Staphylococcus aureus from endotracheal aspirates of ventilated patients: a proof-of-concept study.

Major concern for intubated patients is ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Early detection of VAP and its causative microorganism(s) is a key challenge for clinicians. Diagnosis is based on clinical, radiological, and microbiological elements, the latter being provided 24-48h after sampling.

IgG1 anti-cell wall and IgG2 anti-phosphopeptidomannan antibodies in the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis and heavy Candida colonization.

We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the usefulness of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses against Candida cell wall fragments (CW) and phosphopeptidomannan (PPM) for the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis (IC). We analyzed 54 patients with IC (n = 19), Candida heavy colonization (HC; n = 16), and controls (no IC or HC, n = 19).In nonneutropenic patients (n = 47), the sensitivity and specificity values of IgG1 anti-CW and IgG2 anti-PPM in IC were 88%, 59%, and 88%, 94%, respectively.

Challenges in the culture-independent analysis of oral and respiratory samples from intubated patients.

The spread of microorganisms in hospitals is an important public health threat, and yet few studies have assessed how human microbial communities (microbiota) evolve in the hospital setting. Studies conducted so far have mainly focused on a limited number of bacterial species, mostly pathogenic ones and primarily during outbreaks. We explored the bacterial community diversity of the microbiota from oral and respiratory samples of intubated patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit and we discuss the technical challenges that may arise while using culture-independent approaches to study these types of samples.

Fungal diagnostics: review of commercially available methods.

Fungi and yeasts are critical causes of acute infection. As such, the detection and identification of these organisms are crucial in the diagnosis of affected patient populations. There is a vast array of commercial tests currently available for diagnostic purposes.

Isotope Coded Protein Labeling analysis of plasma specimens from acute severe dengue fever patients.

Background: Dengue fever is the most important arthropod born viral disease of public health significance. Although most patients suffer only from flu-like symptoms, a small group of patient experiences more severe forms of the disease. To contribute to a better understanding of its pathogenesis this study aims to identify proteins differentially expressed in a pool of five viremic plasma from severe dengue patients relative to a pool of five non-severe dengue patients.