Molecular Detection of Carbapenemases in Acinetobacter baumannii Strains of Portugal and Association With Sequence Types, Capsular Types, and Virulence.

Purpose: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is an important nosocomial pathogen. The capsular type (K-type) is considered a major virulence factor, contributing to the evasion of host defenses. The global spread and dissemination dynamics between K-types, sequence types (ST), antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factors remain largely unknown in Portugal.

A Decade of Antimicrobial Resistance in Human and Animal spp. Isolates.

: spp. remain a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, with resistance to antibiotics posing significant challenges to treatment and public health. This study examines profiles in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for isolates from human and animal sources over the past decade.

Photodynamic activation of phytochemical-antibiotic combinations for combatting Staphylococcus aureus from acute wound infections.

Staphylococcus aureus is characterized by its high resistance to conventional antibiotics, particularly methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains, making it a predominant pathogen in acute and chronic wound infections. The persistence of acute S. aureus wound infections poses a threat by increasing the incidence of their chronicity.

Exploring coaggregation mechanisms involved in biofilm formation in drinking water through a proteomic-based approach.

Aim: Coaggregation, a highly specific cell-cell interaction mechanism, plays a pivotal role in multispecies biofilm formation. While it has been mostly studied in oral environments, its occurrence in aquatic systems is also acknowledged. Considering biofilm formation's economic and health-related implications in engineered water systems, it is crucial to understand its mechanisms.

In Vitro Effect of Essential Oils and Antiseptics (Chlorhexidine Gluconate and Povidone-Iodine) against Bacterial Isolates from Equine Wounds.

Considering the increasing antibiotics resistance, there has been a propensity to replace them with antiseptics when it comes to wound management and treatment. Nevertheless, in recent years, there have been reports regarding resistance to antiseptics by some bacterial strains. There is also concern about the environmental impact of these substances.

Nutraceutical Potential of ' Spent Mushroom Substrate: A Comprehensive Study on Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Antibacterial Effects.

, commonly known as shiitake mushroom, is renowned for its potential health advantages. This research delves into the often-overlooked by-product of shiitake cultivation, namely spent mushroom substrate (SMS), to explore its nutraceutical properties. The SMS samples were collected and subjected to different extraction methods, namely short or long agitation, and ultrasound-assisted extractions using different temperatures and distilled water or a 50% (/) ethanol as solvents.

Hydrocinnamic acid and perillyl alcohol are effective against Escherichia coli biofilms when used alone and combined with antibiotics.

Aims: The use of phytochemicals to improve the effectiveness of antibiotics is a promising strategy for the development of novel antimicrobials. In this study, the antibiofilm activity of perillyl alcohol and hydrocinnamic acid, both phytochemicals present in several plants, and two antibiotics from different classes (amoxicillin and chloramphenicol) was tested, alone and in combination, against Escherichia coli.

Methods And Results: Each molecule was tested at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), 5 × MIC, and 10 × MIC, and characterized concerning biomass removal, metabolic inactivation, and cellular culturability.

Phylogenetic and Antimicrobial Pattern as an Indicator of Anthropogenic Impact on Threatened Freshwater Mussels.

Freshwater bivalves are widely used as accumulation indicators and monitoring tools for assessing contaminant effects on different levels of biological integration. This pilot study aimed to explore the phylogenetic diversity of isolated from freshwater mussels ( and ) and characterize their phenotypes and antibiotic resistance profiles. Samples were collected in the Rabaçal and Tua Rivers, in the Douro basin, Portugal-two sites representing different levels of anthropogenic contamination.

An Overview of Cefiderocol's Therapeutic Potential and Underlying Resistance Mechanisms.

Antimicrobial resistance continues to increase globally and treatment of difficult-to-treat (DTT) infections, mostly associated with carbapenem-resistant (CR) , CR , and CR- and third-generation-cephalosporins-resistant remains a challenge for the clinician. The recent approval of cefiderocol has broaden the armamentarium for the treatment of patients with DTT infections. Cefiderocol is a siderophore cephalosporin that has shown excellent antibacterial activity, in part due to its innovative way of cell permeation.

Equine Gram-Negative Oral Microbiota: An Antimicrobial Resistances Watcher?

Horses are considered as reservoirs of multidrug resistant bacteria that can be spread through the environment and possibly to humans. The aim of this study was to characterize the oral Gram-negative microbiota of healthy horses and evaluate their antimicrobial susceptibility profile in a One Health approach. For this purpose, samples were collected from the gingival margin of healthy horses, free of antimicrobial therapy, cultured in selective mediums, identified, and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility.

Biofilm Production by Critical Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens from an Equine Wound.

As in human medicine, in veterinary medicine, chronic wounds are often related to polymicrobial infections and the presence of a biofilm, which compromises the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches. In this study, a Lusitano mare presented a 21-day-old chronic wound that was only being treated with an antiseptic. A swab sample was collected, and three isolates of and one of were isolated.

Drinking-water isolated Delftia acidovorans selectively coaggregates with partner bacteria and facilitates multispecies biofilm development.

Coaggregation plays an important role in the development of multispecies biofilms in different environments, often serving as an active bridge between biofilm members and other organisms that, in their absence, would not integrate the sessile structure. The ability of bacteria to coaggregate has been reported for a limited number of species and strains. In this study, 38 bacterial strains isolated from drinking water (DW) were investigated for their ability to coaggregate, in a total of 115 pairs of combinations.

Hydrocinnamic Acid and Perillyl Alcohol Potentiate the Action of Antibiotics against .

The treatment of bacterial infections has been troubled by the increased resistance to antibiotics, instigating the search for new antimicrobial therapies. Phytochemicals have demonstrated broad-spectrum and effective antibacterial effects as well as antibiotic resistance-modifying activity. In this study, perillyl alcohol and hydrocinnamic acid were characterized for their antimicrobial action against .

Role of Goats in the Epidemiology of .

Since its first description in the late 1930s, Q fever has raised many questions. , the causative agent, is a zoonotic pathogen affecting a wide range of hosts. This airborne organism leads to an obligate, intracellular lifecycle, during which it multiplies in the mononuclear cells of the immune system and in the trophoblasts of the placenta in pregnant females.

Exploring the Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Clinical Isolates in Portugal.

While antibiotic resistance is rising to dangerously high levels, resistance mechanisms are spreading globally among diverse bacterial species. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, mainly due to the production of antibiotic-inactivating enzymes, is currently responsible for most treatment failures, threatening the effectiveness of classes of antibiotics used for decades. This study assessed the presence of genetic determinants of β-lactam resistance in 102 multi-drug resistant (MDR) K.

Occurrence and seasonality of Campylobacter spp. in Portuguese dairy farms.

The growing idea that natural products are better for consumption is creating behaviors that can lead to food safety problems and an increase of healthcare costs. One of the trending products is raw milk, which in some countries is sold by vending machines outside dairy farms. Campylobacteriosis is the most common gastrointestinal infection in humans in the European Union since 2005.

Genomic epidemiological analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae from Portuguese hospitals reveals insights into circulating antimicrobial resistance.

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) bacteria are an increasing threat to public health and represent one of the most concerning pathogens involved in life-threatening infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To understand the epidemiology of AMR of Kp in Portugal, we analysed whole genome sequencing, susceptibility testing and other meta data on 509 isolates collected nationwide from 16 hospitals and environmental settings between years 1980 and 2019. Predominant sequence types (STs) included ST15 (n = 161, 32%), ST147 (n = 36, 7%), ST14 (n = 26, 5%) or ST13 (n = 26, 5%), while 31% of isolates belonged to STs with fewer than 10 isolates.

Antimicrobial, Antibiofilm, and Antioxidant Properties of and Against Multidrug-Resistant ESKAPE Pathogens.

Multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens (, and ) has become the most recurrent global cause of skin and soft-tissue infections, belonging to the WHO priority pathogens list. Successful therapy remains challenging and entails the assessment of novel and successful antibiotics. In this study, mushrooms are considered a valuable and unique source of natural antimicrobial compounds.

Multidrug-resistant strains in the oral microbiota of healthy horses.

Background: Many emergent pathogenic agents are cross-transmitted from animals to humans. Horses are considered as potential reservoirs of commensal, zoonotic, and multidrug-resistant bacteria. Equine bites could lead to infections caused by these agents, considering equine species as a public health concern.

Multiresistant bacteria: Invisible enemies of freshwater mussels.

Freshwater mussels are among the most endangered groups of fauna anywhere in world. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of resistant strains. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria play a key role in increasing the risk allied with the use of surface water and in spread of resistance genes.

Biofilms in Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Impact, Risk Factors and Control Strategies.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication from diabetes , with a huge economic, social and psychological impact on the patients' life. One of the main reasons why DFUs are so difficult to heal is related to the presence of biofilms. Biofilms promote wound inflammation and a remarkable lack of response to host defences/treatment options, which can lead to disease progression and chronicity.

Bacterial coaggregation in aquatic systems.

The establishment of a sessile community is believed to occur in a sequence of steps where genetically distinct bacteria can become attached to partner cells via specific molecules, in a process known as coaggregation. The presence of bacteria with the ability to autoaggregate and coaggregate has been described for diverse aquatic systems, particularly freshwater, drinking water, wastewater, and marine water. In these aquatic systems, coaggregation already demonstrated a role in the development of complex multispecies sessile communities, including biofilms.

Prevalence and serotypes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in dairy cattle from Northern Portugal.

The prevalence of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was determined by evaluating its presence in faecal samples from 155 heifers, and 254 dairy cows in 21 farms at North of Portugal sampled between December 2017 and June 2019. The prevalence of STEC in heifers (45%) was significantly higher than in lactating cows (16%) (p<0.05, Fisher exact test statistic value is <0.

Phenolic Profile and Bioactive Potential of Stems and Seed Kernels of Sweet Cherry Fruit.

Every year, large quantities of stems and pits are generated during sweet cherry processing, without any substantial use. Although stems are widely recognized by traditional medicine, detailed and feasible information about their bioactive composition or biological value is still scarce, as well as the characterization of kernels. Therefore, we conducted a study in which bioactivity potential of extracts from stems and kernels of four sweet cherry cultivars ( (grown under net cover (C) and without net cover (NC)), , and ) were examined.

Genomic Epidemiology of Carbapenemase Producing Strains at a Northern Portuguese Hospital Enables the Detection of a Misidentified KPC-3 Producing Strain.

The evolutionary epidemiology, resistome, virulome and mobilome of thirty-one multidrug resistant clinical isolates from the northern Vila Real region of Portugal were characterized using whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. The genomic population structure was dominated by two main sequence types (STs): ST147 ( = 17; 54.8%) and ST15 ( = 6; 19.