Publications by authors named "Sebastien Faucher"

Copper is frequently found in drinking water due to its presence in the natural environment and the widespread usage of copper pipes. This toxic metal has a well-known antimicrobial activity, an activity harnessed in copper‑silver ionization (CSI) to eliminate the opportunistic pathogen Legionella pneumophila from engineered water systems. Despite utilizing the antimicrobial properties of copper in Legionella control, little is known about how copper containing environments affect L.

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Precise and rapid methods are needed to improve monitoring approaches of L. pneumophila (Lp) in cooling towers (CTs) to allow timely operational adjustments and prevent outbreaks. The performance of liquid culture (ASTM D8429-21) and an online qPCR device were first compared to conventional filter plate culture (ISO 11731-2017), qPCR and semi-automated qPCR at three spiked concentrations of Lp (serogroup 1) validated by flow cytometry (total/viable cell count).

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Waterborne transmission of the bacterium has emerged as a major cause of severe nosocomial infections of major public health impact. The major route of transmission involves the uptake of aerosolized bacteria, often from the contaminated hot water systems of large buildings. Public health regulations aimed at controlling the mesophilic pathogen are generally concerned with acute pasteurization and maintaining high temperatures at the heating systems and throughout the plumbing of hot water systems, but is often able to survive these treatments due to both bacterium-intrinsic and environmental factors.

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is the etiological agent responsible for salmonellosis. Here, we report the draft whole genome sequences of 13 . subsp.

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Because it can grow in buildings with complex hot water distribution systems (HWDS), healthcare facilities recognize the waterborne bacterium as a major nosocomial infection threat and often try to clear the systems with a pasteurization process known as superheat-and-flush. After this treatment, many facilities find that the contaminating populations slowly recover, suggesting the possibility of evolution favoring increased survival in high-temperature conditions. To mimic this process in a controlled environment, an adaptive laboratory evolution model was used to select a wild-type strain of for survival to transient exposures to temperatures characteristic of routine hot water use or failed pasteurization processes in HWDS.

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Legiolert is a rapid culture-based enzymatic method for the detection and quantification of Legionella pneumophila in potable and nonpotable water samples. We aimed to assess the ability of this assay to detect diverse sequence types and validated a simple method to preserve samples. We used this assay on 253 potable and 165 nonpotable cooling tower water samples from various buildings in Québec, Canada, and performed sequence-based typing on 96 isolates.

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is a Gram-negative bacterium found in natural and man-made water systems where it replicates within amoebas and ciliates. In humans, once inside the lungs, replicates in alveolar macrophages and causes Legionnaires' disease, a severe pneumonia. The Icm/Dot type IVb secretion system is a major virulence factor required for intracellular multiplication.

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Legionella pneumophila is a natural inhabitant of water systems. From there, it can be transmitted to humans by aerosolization resulting in severe pneumonia. Most large outbreaks are caused by cooling towers colonized with L.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Sim'Cup, a simulation-based challenge, adapted from in-person to virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, involved participants piloting avatars in high-fidelity simulations while safely at home.
  • Twenty-seven participants took part in two e-Sim'Cup events, where they experienced real-time scenarios, provided instructions through smartphones, and engaged in debriefings to enhance learning.
  • Feedback from participants indicated a high level of satisfaction and perceived improvement in communication and clinical skills despite some technical challenges, with a combined Educational Practices Questionnaire score reflecting effective educational practices.
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Intermittent reduction of temperature set-points and periodic shutdowns of water heaters have been proposed to reduce energy consumption in buildings. However, the consequences of such measures on the occurrence and proliferation of () in hot water systems have not been documented. The impact of single and repeated heat shocks was investigated using an environmental strain of and a reference strain of .

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  • The study focused on isolating and characterizing bacterial species from cooling towers that can inhibit the growth of the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires' disease, which is often spread through these systems.
  • Researchers sampled two cooling towers and identified seven distinct bacterial isolates that showed inhibitory effects on the target bacteria, suggesting a diverse and possibly novel microbial community.
  • Genome analysis revealed a variety of antimicrobial gene products in these isolates, indicating that they could be used to help control outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease by creating a less favorable environment for the harmful bacteria.
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Processing of Russian olive water kefir (RWK), as a fermented functional drink made with Russian olive juice and water kefir grains with high antioxidant activity, into powder is crucial for improving its stability for the commercialization of this product. For the first time, this study aimed to encapsulate water kefir microorganisms and bioactive compounds in RWK using carrier materials to develop a synbiotic functional powder using spray drying as an encapsulation method. The goal was maximizing antioxidant activity, product yield, and survival rate of water kefir microorganisms in the produced Russian olive water kefir powder.

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Aptamers can serve as efficient bioreceptors for the development of biosensing detection platforms. Aptamers are short DNA or RNA oligonucleotides that fold into specific structures, which enable them to selectively bind to target analytes. The method used to identify aptamers is Systematic Evolution of Ligands through Exponential Enrichment (SELEX).

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  • The study assessed the susceptibility of bacterial isolates from both clinical and environmental sources to copper exposure in large-building water systems.
  • Three isolates lost their ability to grow after 672 hours of exposure to high copper concentrations, while others showed varying levels of resistance, particularly those associated with biofilms.
  • Genome sequencing revealed genetic similarities among certain strains, suggesting that environmental factors contribute to their adaptation, pointing to a need for more thorough evaluations of disinfection methods in healthcare facilities.
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() is an inhabitant of natural and human-made water systems, where it replicates within amoebae and ciliates and survives within biofilms. When -contaminated aerosols are breathed in, can enter the lungs and may infect human alveolar macrophages, causing severe pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease. is often found in hot water distribution systems (HWDS), which are linked to nosocomial outbreaks.

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Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is a waterborne bacterium able to infect human alveolar macrophages, causing Legionnaires' disease. Lp can survive for several months in water, while searching for host cells to grow in, such as ciliates and amoeba. In Lp, the sigma factor RpoS is essential for survival in water.

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Background: Cooling towers are a major source of large community-associated outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease, a severe pneumonia. This disease is contracted when inhaling aerosols that are contaminated with bacteria from the genus Legionella, most importantly Legionella pneumophila. How cooling towers support the growth of this bacterium is still not well understood.

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We describe a strain of isolated from a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen from an 83-year-old patient in the province of Québec. Identification was done using 16S rRNA sequencing. The strain could replicate efficiently in human THP-1 macrophages and maintained a low level of cytotoxicity.

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Article Synopsis
  • Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is a bacterium linked to Legionnaires' Disease (LD), and fast detection in water systems is crucial to prevent outbreaks.
  • Current detection methods are slow and require expert skills, highlighting the need for a quicker approach like biosensors.
  • The study identifies two specific aptamers that can bind to Lp, demonstrating potential for rapid and effective detection in water systems.
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  • Legionella pneumophila is a waterborne bacterium that causes Legionnaires' Disease, with cooling towers being a primary source of outbreaks due to their ideal growth conditions.
  • Several factors, including water temperature, pipe material, and disinfection practices, influence the colonization of cooling towers, but the specifics of L. pneumophila's growth dynamics in these systems are not completely understood.
  • A lab-scale cooling tower experiment revealed that L. pneumophila thrives in protozoan hosts within biofilms, with its abundance in water samples reaching 11% but significantly lower (≤0.5%) in the biofilm, indicating a cycle of growth and release tied to host cell interactions.
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  • Legionnaires' disease is a serious pneumonia primarily caused by Legionella pneumophila, often outbreaks originate from cooling towers.
  • The study used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the bacterial communities in cooling towers, finding that the water source influenced these communities and their relationship with Legionella.
  • Continuous chlorine treatment not only decreased microbial diversity but also increased Pseudomonas levels, which inhibited the growth of Legionella, suggesting that both cleaning methods and existing bacteria play a role in controlling Legionnaires' disease outbreaks.
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  • Recent research indicates that Legionella pneumophila (Lp) levels are higher at faucets in hot water systems than in main supply lines, suggesting environmental factors may influence this.
  • This study examined Lp concentrations in a hospital’s hot water system, comparing samples from faucets and upstream pipes before and after temperature adjustments.
  • Out of 47 isolates from positive samples, two sequence types (STs) were identified, with ST378 predominating, indicating low genetic diversity and potential adaptation strategies within the system.
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  • Legionella pneumophila can enter a viable but non-culturable state to survive harsh conditions, making them hard to detect.
  • Despite being non-culturable, these bacteria still show signs of life, like respiration and maintaining their cell wall.
  • The paper presents a method for identifying these bacteria using Syto 9 and propidium iodide staining with flow cytometry.
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is a murine pathogen used to model the intestinal infection caused by Enteropathogenic and Enterohemorrhagic (EPEC and EHEC), two diarrheal pathogens responsible for morbidity and mortality in developing and developed countries, respectively. During infection, these bacteria must sense and adapt to the gut environment of the host. In order to adapt to changing environmental cues and modulate expression of specific genes, bacteria can use two-component signal transduction systems (TCS).

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