High frequency of acquired virulence factors in carbapenemase-producing isolates from a large German university hospital, 2013-2021.

Carbapenemase-producing (CP-Kp) isolates are a public health concern as they can cause severe hospital-acquired infections that are difficult to treat. It has recently been shown that CP-Kp can take up virulence factors from hypervirulent lineages. In this study, 109 clinical CP-Kp isolates from the University Hospital Cologne were examined for the presence of acquired virulence factors using whole-genome sequencing and phenotypic tests, and results were linked to clinical data.

Experimental vaccination by single dose sporozoite injection of blood-stage attenuated malaria parasites.

Malaria vaccination approaches using live Plasmodium parasites are currently explored, with either attenuated mosquito-derived sporozoites or attenuated blood-stage parasites. Both approaches would profit from the availability of attenuated and avirulent parasites with a reduced blood-stage multiplication rate. Here we screened gene-deletion mutants of the rodent parasite P.

OXA-48-like carbapenemases in - novel genetic environments and a challenge for detection.

OXA-48-like enzymes represent the most frequently detected carbapenemases in Enterobacterales in Western Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In contrast to other species, the presence of OXA-48-like in leads to an unusually susceptible phenotype with low MICs for carbapenems and piperacillin-tazobactam, which is easily missed in the diagnostic laboratory. So far, there is little data available on the genetic environments of the corresponding genes, -like, in In this study susceptibility phenotypes and genomic data of 13 OXA-48-like-producing were investigated (OXA-48,  = 9; OXA-181,  = 3; OXA-162,  = 1).

Emergence of OXA-48-like producing species, Germany, 2011 to 2022.

BackgroundCarbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales are a public health threat worldwide and OXA-48 is the most prevalent carbapenemase in Germany and western Europe. However, the molecular epidemiology of OXA-48 in species other than and remains poorly understood.AimTo analyse the molecular epidemiology of OXA-48 and OXA-48-like carbapenemases in species (spp.

Surface water in Lower Saxony: A reservoir for multidrug-resistant .

The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E and CPE, respectively) is a threat to modern medicine, as infections become increasingly difficult to treat. These bacteria have been detected in aquatic environments, which raises concerns about the potential spread of antibiotic resistance through water. Therefore, we investigated the occurrence of ESBL-E and CPE in surface water in Lower Saxony, Germany, using phenotypic and genotypic methods.

Proteus mirabilis - analysis of a concealed source of carbapenemases and development of a diagnostic algorithm for detection.

Objectives: To analyse carbapenemases in Proteus mirabilis and assess the performance of carbapenemase detection assays.

Methods: Eighty-one clinical P. mirabilis isolates with high-level resistance at least to ampicillin (>32 mg/L) or previous detection of carbapenemases were selected and investigated by three susceptibility testing methods (microdilution, automated susceptibility testing, and disk diffusion), six phenotypic carbapenemase assays (CARBA NP, modified carbapenemase inactivation method [CIM], modified zinc-supplemented CIM, simplified CIM, faropenem, and carbapenem-containing agar), two immunochromatographic assays, and whole-genome sequencing.

Handwriting kinematics during learning to write with the dominant left hand in converted left-handers.

Converting left-handers to their non-dominant right hand was previously widespread, particularly for handwriting. The present study aimed to explore the extent to which adult, converted left-handers can learn writing with their dominant left hand during a 2-year training program. Eleven converted left-handers participated in the training.

Neurofilament light chain plasma levels are associated with area of brain damage in experimental cerebral malaria.

Neurofilament light chain (NfL), released during central nervous injury, has evolved as a powerful serum marker of disease severity in many neurological disorders, including infectious diseases. So far NfL has not been assessed in cerebral malaria in human or its rodent model experimental cerebral malaria (ECM), a disease that can lead to fatal brain edema or reversible brain edema. In this study we assessed if NfL serum levels can also grade disease severity in an ECM mouse model with reversible (n = 11) and irreversible edema (n = 10).

activity of mecillinam, temocillin and nitroxoline against MDR Enterobacterales.

Background: With increasing resistance to common antibiotics the treatment of urinary tract infections has become challenging and alternative therapeutic options are needed. In the present study, we evaluate the activity of three older and less frequently used antibiotics against MDR Enterobacterales.

Methods: Susceptibility of mecillinam, temocillin and nitroxoline was assessed in Enterobacterales isolated from urinary specimens with elevated MICs of third-generation cephalosporins.

Sensory environment affects Icelandic threespine stickleback's anti-predator escape behaviour.

Human-induced changes in climate and habitats push populations to adapt to novel environments, including new sensory conditions, such as reduced visibility. We studied how colonizing newly formed glacial lakes with turbidity-induced low-visibility affects anti-predator behaviour in Icelandic threespine sticklebacks. We tested nearly 400 fish from 15 populations and four habitat types varying in visibility and colonization history in their reaction to two predator cues (mechano-visual versus olfactory) in high versus low-visibility light treatments.

SPOT: a web-tool enabling swift profiling of transcriptomes.

Unlabelled: The increasing number of single cell and bulk RNAseq datasets describing complex gene expression profiles in different organisms, organs or cell types calls for an intuitive tool allowing rapid comparative analysis. Here, we present Swift Profiling Of Transcriptomes (SPOT) as a web tool that allows not only differential expression analysis but also fast ranking of genes fitting transcription profiles of interest. Based on a heuristic approach the spot algorithm ranks the genes according to their proximity to the user-defined gene expression profile of interest.

Antioxidant action and enzyme activity modulation by bioaccessible polyphenols from jambolan (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels).

Jambolan is rich in antioxidant polyphenols; however, the bioactivity of these compounds remains poorly investigated. We compared changes in polyphenols and antioxidant capacity by ABTS and FRAP assays of jambolan pulp during in vitro digestion and chemical extraction and evaluated the effects of these changes on oxidative stress in wild and mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Digestion and chemical extraction were performed with enzyme saline solutions, deionized water, and 50% (v/v) aqueous acetone solution.

Systematic Comparison of Three Commercially Available Combination Disc Tests and the Zinc-Supplemented Carbapenem Inactivation Method (zCIM) for Carbapenemase Detection in Isolates.

Detection of carbapenemases in is crucial for patient treatment and infection control. Among others, combination disc tests (CDTs) with different inhibitors (e.g.

OXA-484, an OXA-48-Type Carbapenem-Hydrolyzing Class D β-Lactamase From .

OXA-48-like carbapenemases are among the most frequent carbapenemases in Gram-negative worldwide with the highest prevalence in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Here, we investigated the so far uncharacterized carbapenemase OXA-484 from a clinical isolate belonging to the high-risk clone ST410 regarding antibiotic resistance pattern, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and genetic support. OXA-484 differs by the amino acid substitution 214G compared to the most closely related variants OXA-181 (214R) and OXA-232 (214S).

Comparison of Two Commercially Available qPCR Kits for the Detection of .

is an emerging pathogen with resistance to many commonly used antifungal agents. Infections with require rapid and reliable detection methods to initiate successful medical treatment and contain hospital outbreaks. Conventional identification methods are prone to errors and can lead to misidentifications.

Gliding motility protein LIMP promotes optimal mosquito midgut traversal and infection by Plasmodium berghei.

Substrate-dependent gliding motility is key to malaria transmission. It mediates host cell traversal, invasion and infection by Plasmodium and related apicomplexan parasites. The 110 amino acid-long cell surface protein LIMP is essential for P.

Evaluation of CARBA PAcE, a novel rapid test for detection of carbapenemase-producing .

Carbapenemase-producing (CPE) are an increasing threat to global health. Fast detection is crucial for patient management and outbreak control. Recently, a new commercial colorimetric test, CARBA PAcE, was released that has not yet been scientifically evaluated.

Impact of river dynamics on the genetic variation of Gypsophila repens (Caryophyllaceae): a comparison of heath forest and more dynamic gravel bank populations along an alpine river.

Alpine rivers are, despite anthropogenic water flow regulation, still often highly dynamic ecosystems. Plant species occurring along these rivers are subject to ecological disturbance, mainly caused by seasonal flooding. Gypsophila repens typically grows at higher altitudes in the Alps, but also occurs at lower altitudes on gravel banks directly along the river and in heath forests at larger distances from the river.

Advancing breeding in stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) to produce two reproductive cycles per year.

The effects of photoperiod and temperature manipulation on reproductive cycles in threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus were examined. The experimental "advanced group" conditions were adjusted to simulate two reproductive seasons within a calendar year by adjusting light and temperature cycles. G.

Efficacy and patient satisfaction of single-session transoral incisionless fundoplication and laparoscopic hernia repair.

Background And Aims: Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) is an effective endoscopic treatment for refractory GERD with small or absent hiatal hernia (< 2 cm in length and width). The single-session laparoscopic hernia repair followed by transoral incisionless fundoplication (HH + TIF) aims to repair mechanical defects in the lower esophageal sphincter that leads to GERD in patients with hiatal hernias ≥ 2 cm. The procedure effectively treats GERD without causing added post-surgical dysphagia and gas bloating commonly associated with partial laparoscopic fundoplication.

Evolutionarily distant I domains can functionally replace the essential ligand-binding domain of TRAP.

Inserted (I) domains function as ligand-binding domains in adhesins that support cell adhesion and migration in many eukaryotic phyla. These adhesins include integrin αβ heterodimers in metazoans and single subunit transmembrane proteins in apicomplexans such as TRAP in and MIC2 in . Here we show that the I domain of TRAP is essential for sporozoite gliding motility, mosquito salivary gland invasion and mouse infection.

Differences in pain treatment between surgeons and anaesthesiologists in a physician staffed prehospital emergency medical service: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Although pain treatment is an important objective in prehospital emergency medicine the incidence of oligoanalgesia is still high in prehospital patients. Given that prehospital emergency medicine in Germany is open for physicians of any speciality, the prehospital pain treatment may differ depending on the primary medical education. Aim of this study was to explore the difference in pain treatment between surgeons and anaesthesiologists in a physician staffed emergency medical service.

Inter-subunit interactions drive divergent dynamics in mammalian and Plasmodium actin filaments.

Cell motility is essential for protozoan and metazoan organisms and typically relies on the dynamic turnover of actin filaments. In metazoans, monomeric actin polymerises into usually long and stable filaments, while some protozoans form only short and highly dynamic actin filaments. These different dynamics are partly due to the different sets of actin regulatory proteins and partly due to the sequence of actin itself.