Relative fitness of wild-type and phage-resistant pyomelanogenic and effects of combinatorial therapy on resistant formation.

Bacteriophages, the natural predators of bacteria, are incredibly potent candidates to counteract antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, the rapid development of phage-resistant mutants challenges the potential of phage therapy. Understanding the mechanisms of bacterial adaptations to phage predation is crucial for phage-based prognostic applications.

Beyond paraneoplastic neurological syndromes: Anti-neuronal antibodies in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Anti-neuronal antibodies target antigens produced by tumour cells and cells of nervous system. These antibodies are formed as a result of autoimmune response elicited by the underlying malignancy, when proteins restricted to immune privileged neurons are presented by the tumour. Previous studies have shown presence of anti-neuronal antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus and neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE) but information on individual antibodies and their pathogenic role is lacking.

A cross sectional study on molecular prevalence of Orientia tsutsugamushi in household rat population of South India.

This study aimed to assess the molecular prevalence of mite-borne zoonotic pathogen O. tsutsugamushi in household rats of South India through nested polymerase chain reaction amplification of O. tsutsugamushi 47-kDa htrA gene and to determine the most suitable sample type for screening of O.

Comparison of rituximab efficacy in treatment-naive and refractory inflammatory myopathies: experiences from a tertiary care centre.

Objectives: To find out if Rituximab (RTX) is effective in "treatment naive" idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), and whether there could be differential treatment responses between the "treatment naive" and treatment "refractory" IIM.

Methods: Data obtained from a prospectively maintained database comprising patients with IIM treated with rituximab. Patient details were obtained at baseline, 3-months, 6-months intervals, and subsequent follow up visits.

Heterogeneity and Hierarchy of Immune Response to Primary Immunization in HIV-Infected Children on HAART and the Impact of an Additional Dose of Vaccine.

The nature of vaccine response inferiority is not well studied in children living with HIV (CLHIV). The authors investigated Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus toxoid (DPT) vaccination responses following primary immunization in CLHIV (n = 42) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 38) and the effect of an additional vaccine dose. Antibody responses, CD4 and HBV-specific T/B cells were analysed using CMIA/ELISA and flow-cytometry.

Polymerase Spiral Reaction (PSR) as a point-of-care diagnostic assay: A systematic review.

Introduction: The current systematic review aimed to collect and analyze the comprehensive evidence regarding Polymerase Spiral Reaction (PSR) and to estimate its diagnostic performance and usefulness as a point-of-care (PoC) assay.

Methods: Literature was retrieved systematically from 2015 to 2023 from PubMed and Scopus. Studies were screened and selected against pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Unveiling angular sweep total fluorescence Spectroscopy:A novel multidimensional technique for analysis of complex multi-fluorophoric systems.

Analyzing multi-fluorophoric real systems without pre-processing is challenging, often addressed with unconventional fluorescence techniques and chemometrics. In this context, we introduce a novel addition - 'Angular Sweep Total Fluorescence Spectroscopy (ASTFS),' to the arsenal of multidimensional steady-state fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. ASTFS utilizes a series of variable angle synchronous fluorescence spectra, strategically covering the fluorescence region between the first and second-order Rayleigh scattering ridges.

Climate influences scrub typhus occurrence in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India: analysis of a 15-year dataset.

Climate is one of the major factors determining the prevalence and seasonality of vector borne diseases like scrub typhus (ST). We analyzed, the association of the meteorological factors like temperature, rainfall and humidity with scrub typhus using the 15 years scrub typhus data from a tertiary care hospital in Vellore, South India. Demographic data of permanent residents of Vellore, who had IgM ELISA results for scrub typhus for the time period of May 2005 to April 2020 were included.

Genotyping of Orientia tsutsugamushi circulating in and around Vellore (South India) using TSA 56 gene.

Purpose: The immunodominant TSA 56 gene of Orientia tsutsugamushi, (scrub typhus agent) has four variable regions (VD-I to VD-IV) making it useful for genotyping. This study was undertaken to determine Orientia tsutsugamushi genotypes circulating in and around Vellore using complete and partial TSA 56 gene.

Methods: Of the 162 patients positive by 47 ​kDa qPCR, on 21 samples PCR to amplify the complete TSA 56 gene (≈1605 bp: Long protocol) and the partial gene sequence using the Horinouchi (≈650bp) and the Furuya (≈480 bp) protocol was performed.

Clinical profile of anti-NXP-2 antibody-positive inflammatory myositis and outcome in an Indian population.

Introduction: Myositis-specific antibodies (MSA) play an important role in the clinical presentation and prognosis of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM). Anti-NXP-2 is one of the newly described MSA.

Objective: We aimed to describe various clinical presentations associated with anti-NXP2 antibodies and assess response to treatment.

Genomic analysis of Brucella melitensis reveals new insights into phylogeny and evolutionary divergence.

Purpose: Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by genus Brucella. The disease is often transmitted to humans by direct or indirect contact with infected livestock or from laboratory exposure. In this study two clinical isolates of Brucella melitensis were subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS) using Ion Torrent PGM and Oxford Nanopore MinIon platform.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlation of Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacteroides fragilis: Lessons Learnt.

Background is an opportunistic pathogen causing severe infections, including bacteremia. There have been increased reports of antimicrobial resistance in . However, phenotypic testing of susceptibility is time consuming and not cost effective for anaerobes.

Clinical Spectrum and Microbial Etiology of Bone and Joint Infections in Children: A Retrospective Analysis from South India.

Acute infections of bone and joints are medical emergencies. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for limb salvage and prevention of deformities. Data from developing countries are essential to develop region-specific treatment guidelines including choice of empiric antibiotics.

Intravenous Doxycycline, Azithromycin, or Both for Severe Scrub Typhus.

Background: The appropriate antibiotic treatment for severe scrub typhus, a neglected but widespread reemerging zoonotic infection, is unclear.

Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we compared the efficacy of intravenous doxycycline, azithromycin, or a combination of both in treating severe scrub typhus. Patients who were 15 years of age or older with severe scrub typhus with at least one organ involvement were enrolled.

Purpura Fulminans and Spotted Fever: A Case Series from South India.

Purpura fulminans (PF) is associated with acute infections such as meningococcal, staphylococcal, streptococcal, and rickettsial infections. However, there are only a few reports of association of PF with rickettsial fever from India. In this case series of seven adults with PF, four were definitive cases of spotted fever as the ompA real-time polymerase chain reaction was positive.

Geography and prevalence of rickettsial infections in Northern Tamil Nadu, India: a cross-sectional study.

Rickettsial infections and Q fever are a common cause of acute febrile illness globally. Data on the role of climate and altitude on the prevalence of these infections in lacking from Southern India. In this study, we determined the sero-prevalence of scrub typhus (ST), spotted fever (SF), murine typhus (MT) and Q Fever (QF) in 8 eight geographical regions of North Tamil Nadu by detecting IgG antibodies using ELISA.

EAST in Children with Allergic rhinitis: Experience from Indian Tertiary Centre.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is recognized as a growing global health disease with considerable importance among children and adolescents. This study aims to study the clinical and sensitization profile of children with allergic rhinitis using EAST. All children presenting to pediatric ENT outpatient with a clinical diagnosis of AR were prospectively recruited.

Generation of a Large Repertoire of Monoclonal Antibodies against Dengue Virus NS1 Antigen and the Development of a Novel NS1 Detection Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

Commercial dengue virus (DENV) nonstructural-1 (NS1) Ag detection immunoassays often perform poorly, particularly in secondary DENV infection. To develop a highly sensitive NS1 ELISA, we generated a large repertoire of anti-DENV NS1 mouse mAbs (n = 95) that falls into 36 mAb classes based on binding specificities. The identified mAb pair, capable of efficiently detecting NS1 from four DENV serotypes in an immunoassay, was selected based on multiparametric analysis.

Upward trends of syphilis in the non-pregnant adults: A six-year report on clinical and epidemiological profile of syphilis from a tertiary care center, India.

Since 2000, a resurgence of syphilis has been noted in many developed and developing countries, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Incidence and prevalence of syphilis in pregnant women have been reduced drastically by mandatory screening in early pregnancy. Insufficient data in other populations especially from developing countries limit targeted public health interventions.

Association of a Single Post-Operative Day Three C-Reactive Protein Value with Anastomotic Complications after Colorectal Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

Early detection and treatment of a colorectal anastomotic leak reduces leak-associated morbidity. The primary objective of this study was to assess the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a tool to facilitate the early diagnosis of large bowel anastomotic leak. We conducted a prospective observational study at a specialized colorectal unit of a tertiary referral teaching center where we recorded CRP levels pre-operatively and on day three for 113 patients undergoing a large bowel anastomosis.

Performance of EAST in diagnosing inhalant allergens in children with allergic rhinitis.

The performance of enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (EAST) for identifying six indoor allergens was evaluated using skin prick test (SPT) as reference tests in 154 children with allergic rhinitis. Sensitivity of EAST ranged from 9% (cat) to 54% (HDM) with specificity of 74%(cockroach) to 100% (cat) with an agreement ranged from 58 to 86%. Cut off values ​> ​0.

The incidence of infection in rural South India.

Scrub typhus is a common bacterial infection in Asia caused by . This serological cohort study estimated the incidence of infection in a rural population in South India. Participants were enrolled through systematic sampling in 46 villages at baseline, and revisited the following year.

Rituximab therapy for neuro - inflammatory disorders - Real world experience from South India.

Background And Objectives: To determine the real-world data regarding the use of Rituximab (RTX) in neuroinflammatory disorders (NIDS) and assess the outcomes following RTX treatment.

Methods: A cohort of consecutive patients with NIDS started on RTX (2018-2020) was included. The outcomes assessed were the proportion with favourable clinical response (FCR) as defined by clinical remission/ improvement using disease specific disability scores, comparative efficacy based on timing of initiation and B cell kinetics.