Immunostimulatory activity of lipoteichoic acid with three fatty acid residues derived from JCM 15950.

Unlabelled: Some strains of lactic acid bacteria can regulate the host's intestinal immune system. Bacterial cells and membrane vesicles (MVs) of JCM 15950 promote immunoglobulin A (IgA) production in murine Peyer's patch cells via toll-like receptor (TLR) 2. This study aimed to investigate the role of lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a ligand of TLR2, in the immunostimulatory activity of these bacterial cells and their MVs.

Preparation and Structural Analysis of Lipoteichoic Acid on Cell Membranes Derived from Lactic Acid Bacteria.

Gram-positive bacteria, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB), possess lipoteichoic acid (LTA) on the cell surface. LTA is an amphiphilic molecule typically composed of hydrophilic glycerolphosphate polymer and hydrophobic anchor glycolipid moieties. It is involved in physiological properties of the cell surface and also plays roles in interactions with the host.

Traces of pandemic fluoroquinolone-resistant clone ST131 transmitted from human society to aquatic environments and wildlife in Japan.

Transmission of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria among humans, animals, and the environment is a growing concern worldwide. The distribution of an international high-risk fluoroquinolone-resistant clone, ST131, has been documented in clinical settings. However, the transmission of ST131 from humans to surrounding environments remains poorly elucidated.

Lipoteichoic acid composed of poly-glycerolphosphate containing l-lysine and involved in immunoglobulin A-inducing activity in Apilactobacillus genus.

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in the gram-positive bacterial cell wall acts as an immunomodulatory factor in host cells. The chemical structures vary among bacterial species and strains, and may be related to biological activities. In our previous work, much higher immunoglobulin A (IgA)-inducing activity was observed in cells of the Apilactobacillus genus (Apilactobacillus kosoi 10H, Apilactobacillus apinorum JCM 30765, and Apilactobacillus kunkeei JCM 16173) than other lactic acid bacteria, and their LTA was responsible for the activity.

The clarithromycin-binding proteins NIPSNAP1 and 2 regulate cytokine production through mitochondrial quality control.

The mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin (CAM), remains to be clarified. The CAM-binding proteins 4-nitrophenylphosphatase domain and non-neuronal synaptosomal associated protein 25 (SNAP25)-like protein homolog (NIPSNAP) 1 and 2 are involved in the immune response and mitochondrial homeostasis. However, the axis between CAM-NIPSNAP-mitochondria and Toll-like receptor (TLR) and their molecular mechanisms remain unknown.

Affinity of β-Lactam Antibiotics for Penicillin-Binding Protein 2 Having Wild, Cefixime-Reduced-Susceptible, and Cephalosporin (Ceftriaxone)-Resistant Alleles.

Multidrug-resistant is a serious concern worldwide. Resistance to β-lactam antibiotics occurs through mutations in penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), acquisition of β-lactamases, and alteration of antibiotic penetration. Mosaic structures of , which encodes PBP2, play a major role in resistance to β-lactams, especially cephalosporins.

Human pathogenic bacteria on high-touch dry surfaces can be controlled by warming to human-skin temperature under moderate humidity.

Healthcare-associated infections have become a major health issue worldwide. One route of transmission of pathogenic bacteria is through contact with "high-touch" dry surfaces, such as handrails. Regular cleaning of surfaces with disinfectant chemicals is insufficient against pathogenic bacteria and alternative control methods are therefore required.

Serotype replacement and an increase in non-encapsulated isolates among community-acquired infections of during post-vaccine era in Japan.

Objectives: It is feared that the serotype replacement of occurred by the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines as periodical inoculation leads to reduced efficacy of the approved vaccines and altered antimicrobial susceptibility.

Methods: We determined serotypes of 351 isolates collected at a commercial clinical laboratory in Hokkaido prefecture, Japan, from December 2018 to February 2019 by using the polymerase chain reaction procedure of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance gene profiles were also examined.

High prevalence of colistin heteroresistance in specific species and lineages of Enterobacter cloacae complex derived from human clinical specimens.

Background: Colistin (CST) is a last-line drug for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. CST-heteroresistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) has been isolated. However, integrated analysis of epidemiology and resistance mechanisms based on the complete ECC species identification has not been performed.

Pseudo-outbreak of at a general hospital in Japan.

Background: is a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium that is widely distributed in soil and water systems, but it is sometimes pathogenic to humans. Although cases of infections are rare, 22 isolates of were identified at a single hospital in Japan. We suspected a nosocomial outbreak; thus, we conducted transmission pattern and genotype analyses.

Rapid, simple, and cost-effective plaque assay for murine norovirus using microcrystalline cellulose.

Murine norovirus (MNV) is used widely as a practical alternative to human norovirus (HuNoV). Plaque-forming assays for MNV are important for developing therapeutic agents against HuNoV infections. Although agarose-overlay MNV assays have been reported, recent improvements in cellulose derivatives suggest that they could be optimized further, particularly with respect to improving the overlay material.

Discovery of Biologically Optimized Polymyxin Derivatives Facilitated by Peptide Scanning and Screening Chemistry.

Peptides can be converted to highly active compounds by introducing appropriate substituents on the suitable amino acid residue. Although modifiable residues in peptides can be systematically identified by peptide scanning methodologies, there is no practical method for optimization at the "scanned" position. With the purpose of using derivatives not only for scanning but also as a starting point for further chemical functionalization, we herein report the "scanning and direct derivatization" strategy through chemoselective acylation of embedded threonine residues by a serine/threonine ligation (STL) with the help of screening chemistry.

Synthesis of macrocyclic nucleoside antibacterials and their interactions with MraY.

The development of new antibacterial drugs with different mechanisms of action is urgently needed to address antimicrobial resistance. MraY is an essential membrane enzyme required for bacterial cell wall synthesis. Sphaerimicins are naturally occurring macrocyclic nucleoside inhibitors of MraY and are considered a promising target in antibacterial discovery.

Wall teichoic acid-dependent phagocytosis of intact cell walls of elicits IL-12 secretion from macrophages.

Selected lactic acid bacteria can stimulate macrophages and dendritic cells to secrete IL-12, which plays a key role in activating innate and cellular immunity. In this study, we investigated the roles of cell wall teichoic acids (WTAs) displayed on whole intact cell walls (ICWs) of in activation of mouse macrophages. ICWs were prepared from whole bacterial cells of several lactobacilli without physical disruption, and thus retaining the overall shapes of the bacteria.

Colistin Susceptibility in Companion Animal-Derived spp., and spp. in Japan: Frequent Isolation of Colistin-Resistant Complex.

Transmission of colistin-resistant from companion animals to humans poses a clinical risk as colistin is a last-line antimicrobial agent for treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria including . In this study, we investigated the colistin susceptibility of 285 (including 140 , 86 spp., and 59 spp.

Investigating the role of heat shock protein 47 in fibrosis in Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that share similar genetic risk factors. However, while fibrotic stricture of the intestine is a major characteristic of CD; it is rarely observed in UC. Deposition of collagen in the extracellular matrix contributes to the formation of fibrotic strictures in CD, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown.

Role of Lipoteichoic Acid from the Genus in Inducing a Strong IgA Response.

Lactic acid bacterium-containing fermentates provide beneficial health effects by regulating the immune response. A naturally fermented vegetable beverage, a traditional Japanese food, reportedly provides health benefits; however, the beneficial function of its bacteria has not been clarified. Apilactobacillus kosoi is the predominant lactic acid bacterium in the beverage.

A hydroxypropyl methylcellulose plaque assay for human respiratory syncytial virus.

Quantifying proliferative virus particles is one of the most important experimental procedures in virology. Compared with classical overlay materials, newly developed cellulose derivatives enable a plaque-forming assay to produce countable clear plaques easily. HEp-2 cells are widely used in plaque assays for human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Solid-Phase Total Synthesis of Plusbacin A.

The total synthesis of the depsipeptide natural product plusbacin A () utilizing solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) was disclosed. A 3-hydroxy-proline derivative compatible with Fmoc SPPS was prepared by a diastereoselective Joullié-Ugi three-component reaction (JU-3CR)/hydrolysis sequence. After peptide elongation on the solid support, cleavage of the peptide from the resin, followed by macrolactamization and global deprotection, gave plusbacin A ().

Establishment of a reference panel of Helicobacter pylori strains for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Background: Eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori gastritis is covered by national health insurance since 2013 in Japan. However, eradication failure due to the increase of antimicrobial resistance has become a serious problem. The present study aims to establish a reference panel of Japanese H.

Self-reported Smell and Taste Disorders in Patients With COVID-19: A Japanese Single-center Study.

Background/aim: Smell and taste disorders are among the most common symptoms of COVID-19. However, the relationship between smell and taste disorders and systemic symptoms is not fully understood in Japan.

Patients And Methods: Questionnaires were mailed to 105 of 111 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized at our hospital between March and July 2020 in Japan.