Publications by authors named "Mary L Delaney"

Introduction And Hypothesis: Studies within the past decade have suggested associations among composition of the urinary microbiota, local immune responses, and urinary incontinence symptoms. To investigate these relationships, we evaluated the structure of the urinary microbiome, local inflammatory markers, and patient responses prior to and at 6-weeks after treatment with anticholinergic medication for urgency urinary incontinence (UUI).

Methods: Using a prospective pilot study, we enrolled women who presented with UUI symptoms and were prescribed treatment with anticholinergics.

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Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are an urgent global health threat. Inferring the dynamics of local CRE dissemination is currently limited by our inability to confidently trace the spread of resistance determinants to unrelated bacterial hosts. Whole-genome sequence comparison is useful for identifying CRE clonal transmission and outbreaks, but high-frequency horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of carbapenem resistance genes and subsequent genome rearrangement complicate tracing the local persistence and mobilization of these genes across organisms.

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Here, we present a protocol for the use of negative pressure isolator systems to maintain defined association and contain BSL-2 pathogens in germ-free and gnotobiotic mouse studies. We describe setup and operation of negative pressure isolators with integrated microbiologic procedures, using the BSL-2 pathogen as a working example. This approach supports experimental systems with defined-association mice and enables high-resolution mechanistic studies of pathogen-commensal interactions and their impacts on host phenotypes.

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Leveraging systems biology approaches, we illustrate how metabolically distinct species of Clostridia protect against or worsen Clostridioides difficile infection in mice by modulating the pathogen's colonization, growth, and virulence to impact host survival. Gnotobiotic mice colonized with the amino acid fermenter Paraclostridium bifermentans survive infection with reduced disease severity, while mice colonized with the butyrate-producer, Clostridium sardiniense, succumb more rapidly. Systematic in vivo analyses revealed how each commensal alters the gut-nutrient environment to modulate the pathogen's metabolism, gene regulatory networks, and toxin production.

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Background: Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) are among the most prevalent hospital-associated infections (HAIs), particularly for intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The risks for developing active CDI from asymptomatic carriage of C. difficile are not well understood.

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Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), the leading cause of maternal mortality, is particularly problematic in low resource settings where access to safe blood supplies and definitive medical treatment is limited. We describe the continued development of an autotransfusion device designed to treat PPH by collection, filtration and infusion of maternal blood. Previous study has demonstrated that the device effectively moves blood through a filtration apparatus and removes up to 97% of aerobic bacteria but had poor anaerobic bacteria reduction.

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Background: Biofilm on the surface of endotracheal tubes (ETTs) is associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia. The use of silver-coated ETTs has been suggested to reduce the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia by preventing biofilm formation. However, mucus accumulation can reduce the antibacterial activity of silver-coated ETTs by isolating bacterial colonies from the silver surface.

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We report a case of Acetobacter indonesiensis pneumonia in a 51-year-old woman after bilateral lung transplantation. We found 2 other A. indonesiensis pneumonia cases reported in the literature.

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Article Synopsis
  • Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) pose a critical threat due to diverse species and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, often transferred through mobile genetic elements.
  • Researchers analyzed CRE samples from hospitals in Boston and California, discovering a prevalence of the ST258 lineage of Klebsiella pneumoniae, but little evidence of widespread outbreaks.
  • Significant variation in resistance mechanisms was found, including newly identified mechanisms, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance and intervention strategies to effectively manage CRE transmission in healthcare settings.
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Predicting dynamics of host-microbial ecosystems is crucial for the rational design of bacteriotherapies. We present MDSINE, a suite of algorithms for inferring dynamical systems models from microbiome time-series data and predicting temporal behaviors. Using simulated data, we demonstrate that MDSINE significantly outperforms the existing inference method.

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Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most commonly reported microbiological syndrome among women of childbearing age. BV is characterized by a shift in the vaginal flora from the dominant Lactobacillus to a polymicrobial flora. BV has been associated with a wide array of health issues, including preterm births, pelvic inflammatory disease, increased susceptibility to HIV infection, and other chronic health problems.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates how tracheal intubation affects mucus clearance and leads to secretions clogging the tracheal tube (TT) in critically ill patients.
  • - Researchers performed a three-phase analysis involving the collection of tracheal tubes post-extubation, correlation of CT imaging with airflow resistance, and reviews of chest CT scans from intubated patients.
  • - Findings indicate that TTs commonly experience significant narrowing after prolonged intubation, which correlates with increased airflow resistance, suggesting that high-resolution CT could be a useful tool for assessing secretions within TTs.
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Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization predicts later infection, with both host and pathogen determinants of invasive disease.

Methods: This nested case-control study evaluates predictors of MRSA bacteremia in an 8-intensive care unit (ICU) prospective adult cohort from 1 September 2003 through 30 April 2005 with active MRSA surveillance and collection of ICU, post-ICU, and readmission MRSA isolates. We selected MRSA carriers who did (cases) and those who did not (controls) develop MRSA bacteremia.

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Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) feminine hygiene products come with little warning about possible side effects. This study evaluates in-vitro their effects on Lactobacillus crispatus, which is dominant in the normal vaginal microbiota and helps maintain a healthy mucosal barrier essential for normal reproductive function and prevention of sexually transmitted infections and gynecologic cancer.

Methods: A feminine moisturizer (Vagisil), personal lubricant, and douche were purchased OTC.

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Objectives: Complex interactions of vaginal microorganisms with the genital tract epithelium shape mucosal innate immunity, which holds the key to sexual and reproductive health. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a microbiome-disturbance syndrome prevalent in reproductive-age women, occurs commonly in concert with trichomoniasis, and both are associated with increased risk of adverse reproductive outcomes and viral infections, largely attributable to inflammation. To investigate the causative relationships among inflammation, BV and trichomoniasis, we established a model of human cervicovaginal epithelial cells colonised by vaginal Lactobacillus isolates, dominant in healthy women, and common BV species (Atopobium vaginae, Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella bivia).

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Unlabelled: Several broad-spectrum microbicides, including cellulose sulfate (CS), have passed conventional preclinical and phase I clinical safety evaluation and yet have failed to protect women from acquiring HIV-1 in phase II/III trials. Concerns have been raised that current preclinical algorithms are deficient in addressing the complexity of the microflora-regulated vaginal mucosal barrier. We applied a novel microflora-colonized model to evaluate CS and hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), which is used as a "universal placebo" in microbicide trials.

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The fetal response to intrauterine inflammatory stimuli appears to contribute to the onset of preterm labor as well as fetal injury, especially affecting newborns of extremely low gestational age. To investigate the role of placental colonization by specific groups of microorganisms in the development of inflammatory responses present at birth, we analyzed 25 protein biomarkers in dry blood spots obtained from 527 newborns delivered by Caesarean section in the 23rd to 27th gestation weeks. Bacteria were detected in placentas and characterized by culture techniques.

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Background: Antimicrobials are essential in acne therapy. In the last decades, Propionibacterium acnes has become resistant to different antibiotics.

Objective: To determine antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of P.

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Intestinal health requires the coexistence of eukaryotic self with the gut microbiota and dysregulated host-microbial interactions can result in intestinal inflammation. Here, we show that colitis improved in T-bet(-/-)Rag2(-/-) mice that consumed a fermented milk product containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DN-173 010 strain.

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Disruption of homeostasis between the host immune system and the intestinal microbiota leads to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whether IBD is instigated by individual species or disruptions of entire microbial communities remains controversial. We characterized the fecal microbial communities in the recently described T-bet(-/-) ×Rag2(-/-) ulcerative colitis (TRUC) model driven by T-bet deficiency in the innate immune system.

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Background: Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome (mTSS) is thought to be associated with the vaginal colonization with specific strains of Staphylococcus aureus TSST-1 in women who lack sufficient antibody titers to this toxin. There are no published studies that examine the seroconversion in women with various colonization patterns of this organism. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence of Staphylococcus aureus colonization at three body sites (vagina, nares, and anus) and serum antibody to toxic shock syndrome toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus among a small group of healthy, menstruating women evaluated previously in a larger study.

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Background: A modest number of prospective studies of the composition of the intestinal microbiota and eczema in early life have yielded conflicting results.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the bacterial diversity of the gut and the development of eczema in early life by methods other than stool culture.

Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 21 infants at 1 and 4 months of life.

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Objective: The overtly healthy, nonpregnant uterus harbors bacteria, Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. The extent of colonization remains elusive, as are relationships between isolated microorganisms, preterm labor and fetal inflammation.

Study Design: Biopsy specimens of chorion parenchyma from 1083 placentas delivered before the beginning of the 28th week of gestation were cultured, and the placentas were examined histologically.

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Objective: The objective of the study was to quantify and identify aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as well as Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma in the chorionic parenchyma.

Study Design: A sample of the chorionic parenchyma from neonates delivered between 23-27 completed weeks was cultured and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods using universal bacterial primers for the presence of bacteria and mycoplasmas.

Results: The culture positive rate was higher for vaginal deliveries (333/489; 68%) than for cesarean sections (363/876; 41%).

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Objective: To investigate the association between a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene polymorphism, vaginal TNF-alpha level, and microbial flora in pregnant women.

Methods: Vaginal samples from 203 women at 18-22 weeks' gestation were analyzed for microflora. TNFA-308G>A polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease analysis and TNF-alpha concentration was determined by ELISA.

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