The Impact of Trehalose Dimycolate on the Clinical Course of Complex Pulmonary Disease.

The clinical implications of trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM) in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease have not been studied. To examine the presence of TDM in clinical isolates obtained from patients with complex (MAC) pulmonary disease (PD) and its impact on disease severity and treatment outcomes. We analyzed clinical isolates from patients with diagnoses of MAC PD at Seoul National University Hospital between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021.

The Klebsiella mannose phosphotransferase system promotes proliferation and the production of extracellular polymeric substances from mannose, facilitating adaptation to the host environment.

Objectives: Klebsiella spp., an opportunistic infectious organism, is commensal in the nasal and oral cavities of humans. Recently, it has been reported that oral Klebsiella spp.

An Experimental Study on the Addition of Bacteria to Residual Anticancer Drugs: Evaluation of the Effect on Bacterial Growth.

Using anticancer drugs as examples, we examined the possibility of reusing residual drugs. The use of residual drugs is not widespread owing to concerns regarding bacterial contamination. We combined anticancer drugs and bacteria to investigate their effects on bacterial growth.

sp. nov., a scotochromogenic slow-glowing species isolated from respiratory specimens.

Scotochromogenic slow-growing mycobacteria were isolated from the sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 12 patients in Japan. From a comparison of the whole-genome sequences, the representative strain IWGMT90018-18076 and the unknown strains obtained from the patients were found to represent a novel species related to the complex. The average nucleotide identity values of IWGMT90018-18076 with , and were 86.

Neutrophil S100A9 supports M2 macrophage niche formation in granulomas.

Mycobacterium infection gives rise to granulomas predominantly composed of inflammatory M1-like macrophages, with bacteria-permissive M2 macrophages also detected in deep granulomas. Our histological analysis of bacillus Calmette-Guerin-elicited granulomas in guinea pigs revealed that S100A9-expressing neutrophils bordered a unique M2 niche within the inner circle of concentrically multilayered granulomas. We evaluated the effect of S100A9 on macrophage M2 polarization based on guinea pig studies.

The mycobacterial desaturase DesA2 is associated with mycolic acid biosynthesis.

Mycolic acids are critical for the survival and virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. Double bond formation in the merochain of mycolic acids remains poorly understood, though we have previously shown desA1, encoding an aerobic desaturase, is involved in mycolic acid desaturation. Here we show that a second desaturase encoded by desA2 is also involved in mycolate biosynthesis.

MadR mediates acyl CoA-dependent regulation of mycolic acid desaturation in mycobacteria.

has a lipid-rich cell envelope that is remodeled throughout infection to enable adaptation within the host. Few transcriptional regulators have been characterized that coordinate synthesis of mycolic acids, the major cell wall lipids of mycobacteria. Here, we show that the mycolic acid desaturase regulator (MadR), a transcriptional repressor of the mycolate desaturase genes and , controls mycolic acid desaturation and biosynthesis in response to cell envelope stress.

Fusobacterium watanabei sp. nov. As additional species within the genus Fusobacerium, isolated from human clinical specimens.

Eight spindle-shaped bacteria were isolated from clinical samples in Japan and investigated for their taxonomic position. Phylogenetic trees (based on 16S rRNA, rpoB, zinc protease, and gyrB gene sequence comparisons) showed distinct clustering of eight strains with the type strain of Fusobacterium nucleatum and its closely related species. In silico whole genome comparison analysis based on average nucleotide index based on BLAST (ANIb) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) data between our clinical isolates (PAGU 1795, PAGU 1796, and PAGU 1797) and the type strain of the closely related species showed values of less than 92.

Fundamental Cell Morphologies Examined With Cryo-TEM of the Species in the Novel Five Genera Robustly Correlate With New Classification in Family .

A recent study proposed the novel classification of the family based on the genome analysis of core proteins in 150 species. The results from these analyses supported the existence of five distinct monophyletic groups within the genus . That is, has been divided into two novel genera for rapid grower and , and into three genera for slow grower , , and an emended genus , which include all the major human pathogens.

Spodiobacter cordis gen. nov. sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from patients with infective endocarditis.

Two gram-negative, catalase-negative, oxidase-positive strains (PAGU 1467 and PAGU 1468) isolated from patients with infective endocarditis were investigated to determine their taxonomic status. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the two strains were members of the Bergeyella-Chryseobacterium-Riemerella branch of the family Flavobacteriaceae. Strains PAGU 1467 and PAGU 1468 were highly related to each other (98.

Mycobacterium shigaense sp. nov., a slow-growing, scotochromogenic species, is a member of the Mycobacterium simiae complex.

Among non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), the Mycobacterium simiae complex is one of the largest groups, consisting of 18 species of slow-growing mycobacteria. In 2009, a case of NTM-associated infectious skin disease was reported in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The patient presented with scattered nodules on the chest, back and extremities, and an M.

Naturally occurring a loss of a giant plasmid from Mycobacterium ulcerans subsp. shinshuense makes it non-pathogenic.

Mycobacterium ulcerans is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer (BU), a WHO-defined neglected tropical disease. All Japanese BU causative isolates have shown distinct differences from the prototype and are categorized as M. ulcerans subspecies shinshuense.

Mycobacterium stephanolepidis sp. nov., a rapidly growing species related to Mycobacterium chelonae, isolated from marine teleost fish, Stephanolepis cirrhifer.

A previously undescribed rapidly growing, non-pigmented mycobacterium was identified based on biochemical and nucleic acid analyses, as well as growth characteristics. Seven isolates were cultured from samples collected from five thread-sail filefish (Stephanolepis cirrhifer) and two farmed black scraper (Thamnaconus modestus). Bacterial growth occurred at 15-35 °C on Middlebrook 7H11 agar.

Mycobacterium abscessus glycopeptidolipids inhibit macrophage apoptosis and bacterial spreading by targeting mitochondrial cyclophilin D.

Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB) is a species of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and a major causative pathogen of pulmonary diseases especially in patients with cystic fibrosis. MAB infection is notoriously difficult to treat because of its intrinsic or inducible resistance to most antibiotics. The rough (R) morphotype of MAB, lacking cell surface glycopeptidolipids (GPLs), is associated with more severe and persistent infection than the smooth (S) type; however, the mechanisms underlying the R type's virulence and the relation with GPLs remain unclear.

Characterization of O-antigen polysaccharide backbone derived from nitric oxide-inducing Mesorhizobium loti MAFF 303099 lipopolysaccharide.

Mesorhizobium loti is a member of rhizobia and establishes nitrogen-fixing symbioses with several Lotus species. Recently, we reported that M. loti MAFF 303099 bacterial cells and their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preparations are involved in the beginning of the symbiotic process by inducing transient nitric oxide (NO) production in the roots of L.

Microarray analysis of macrophage response to infection with Streptococcus oralis reveals the immunosuppressive effect of hydrogen peroxide.

Oral streptococci including mitis group streptococci are commensal residents and are also the first to colonize the oral cavity. However, various species of these oral streptococci have the potential to invade the host and occasionally lead to severe infectious disease such as cardiovascular diseases. Oral streptococci have close interactions with the host immune system including macrophages at the oral mucosal surface.

Identification of a Desaturase Involved in Mycolic Acid Biosynthesis in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Mycolic acids are unique long chain fatty acids found in the cell walls of mycobacteria including the tubercle bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The introduction of double bonds in mycolic acids remains poorly understood, however, genes encoding two potential aerobic desaturases have been proposed to be involved in this process. Here we show that one of these genes, desA1, is essential for growth of the saprophytic Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Characterization of Mycolic Acids in Total Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Fractions from Mycobacterium Species by High Resolution MALDI-TOFMS.

Mycolic acids (MAs) are characteristic components of bacteria in the suborder Corynebacterineae, such as Mycobacterium. MAs are categorized into subclasses based on their functional bases (cyclopropane ring, methoxy, keto, and epoxy group). Since MAs have heterogeneity among bacterial species, analyzing of MAs are required in the chemotaxonomic field.

Porphyromonas bronchialis sp. nov. Isolated from Intraoperative Bronchial Fluids of a Patient with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Porphyromonas strains, including Porphyromonas-like strains, have been isolated from oral and various other systemic infections. The characterization of such strains is a crucial issue, because such information contributes to both the taxonomy of anaerobic bacteria and the clinical aspects of infectious diseases. We previously isolated four Porphyromonas-like strains from intraoperative bronchial fluids of a patient with non-small cell lung cancer.

Glycopeptidolipid of Mycobacterium smegmatis J15cs Affects Morphology and Survival in Host Cells.

Mycobacterium smegmatis has been widely used as a mycobacterial infection model. Unlike the M. smegmatis mc(2)155 strain, M.

Porphyromonas pogonae sp. nov., an anaerobic but low concentration oxygen adapted coccobacillus isolated from lizards (Pogona vitticeps) or human clinical specimens, and emended description of the genus Porphyromonas Shah and Collins 1988.

During the process of identifying a Gram-negative coccobacillus isolated from a human clinical specimen, we found that the isolate's 16S rRNA gene had very close sequence identity with that of a variant Porphyromonas isolated from polymicrobial infections in the central bearded dragon, a species of lizard [2]. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the human isolate and of six isolates from lizards were nearly identical (99.9-100%).

Glycerol monomycolate is a novel ligand for the human, but not mouse macrophage inducible C-type lectin, Mincle.

An array of lipidic compounds that constitute the cell wall of mycobacteria is recognized by host receptors. Examples include trehalose dimycolate (TDM), which is a major surface-exposed glycolipid of mycobacteria, that interacts with the macrophage inducible C-type lectin, Mincle, and exerts its highly potent adjuvant functions. Recent evidence has suggested that glycerol monomycolate (GroMM), another mycolate-containing lipid species produced by mycobacteria, can stimulate innate immune cells; however, its specific host receptors have yet to be identified.

Bacterial sphingophospholipids containing non-hydroxy fatty acid activate murine macrophages via Toll-like receptor 4 and stimulate bacterial clearance.

Sphingobacterium spiritivorum has five unusual sphingophospholipids (SPLs). Our previous study determined the complete chemical structures of these SPLs. The compositions of the long-chain bases/fatty acids in the ceramide portion, isoheptadecasphingosine/isopentadecanoate or isoheptadecasphingosine/2-hydroxy isopentadecanoate, are characteristic.

The polyketide synthase-associated multidrug tolerance in Mycobacterium intracellulare clinical isolates.

Background: Intrinsic multidrug resistance of the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex presents a serious problem in the treatment of the diseases caused by these bacteria. Recently, it was shown that deletion of a polyketide synthase, Pks12, in an M. avium laboratory strain decreases this intrinsic resistance.

The mannan of Candida albicans lacking β-1,2-linked oligomannosides increases the production of inflammatory cytokines by dendritic cells.

Mannans are mannose polymers attached to cell wall proteins in all Candida species, including the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Mannans are sensed by pattern recognition receptors expressed on innate immune cells. However, the detailed structural patterns affecting immune sensing are not fully understood because mannans have a complex structure that includes α- and β-mannosyl linkages.