Publications by authors named "Shitikov E"

The combined use of lytic bacteriophages with antibiotics is currently being explored as a strategy to enhance the effectiveness of infectious disease therapies, including those caused by . In this study, we investigated the synergistic potential of bacteriophage vB_SauM-515A1 ( family) and the first-line antibiotic linezolid against the methicillin-resistant strain SA0413Rev. A checkerboard assay revealed a significant synergistic effect against planktonic cells (FIC = 0.

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and its bacteriophages are among the most studied model microorganisms. Bacteriophages for various strains can typically be easily isolated from environmental sources, and many of these viruses can be harnessed to combat infections in humans and animals. However, some relatively rare strains pose significant challenges in finding suitable phages.

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  • The study focuses on how gut microbiota, particularly commensal bacteria like lactobacilli, interact with the host immune system's cytokines, which are critical in managing inflammation and gut health.
  • Using next-generation RNA sequencing, researchers examined the transcriptional responses of lactobacillus strains K32 and R19-3 to various cytokines, revealing significant changes in gene expression linked to metabolism and stress response, especially upon exposure to IL-8 and IL-10.
  • The findings highlight a complex adaptation mechanism where these bacteria adjust their gene expression in response to inflammatory signals, paving the way for potential probiotic therapies for conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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In the context of the antimicrobial therapy crisis, the significance of studying and implementing alternative treatment methods, particularly phage therapy, is increasingly evident. This study aimed to investigate the resistance of clinical Staphylococcus aureus ST239 strains to Herelleviridae phages through comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. Analysis of resistant and sensitive S.

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The issue of antibiotic resistance in healthcare worldwide has led to a pressing need to explore and develop alternative approaches to combat infectious diseases. Among these methods, phage therapy has emerged as a potential solution to tackle this growing challenge. Virulent phages of the family, known for their ability to cause lysis of , a clinically significant pathogen frequently associated with multidrug resistance, have proven to be one of the most effective viruses utilized in phage therapy.

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  • The study focuses on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing 14717-15-cluster, which is a multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent strain found mainly in the Far Eastern region of Russia.
  • Researchers collected and analyzed M. tuberculosis DNA from worldwide locations between 1996 and 2020, developing a PCR assay to identify specific mutations related to this deadly strain.
  • Phylogenomic analysis confirmed the strain's prevalence in Asian Russia and highlighted unique mutations that could enhance its pathogenicity, suggesting the need for further research on these mutations' biological effects.
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The development of whole-genome sequencing technologies is gradually leading to a more detailed description of the population structure of the complex (MTBC). In this study, we correlated previously published classifications on a collection of more than 10,000 genomes and proposed a new, comprehensive nomenclature that unifies the existing ones. In total, we identified 169 lineages and sublineages of / and 9 animal-adapted species.

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Phage therapy is now seen as a promising way to overcome the current global crisis in the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, phages are highly strain-specific, and in most cases one will have to isolate a new phage or search for a phage suitable for a therapeutic application in existing libraries. At an early stage of the isolation process, rapid screening techniques are needed to identify and type potential virulent phages.

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  • * The study introduces a new bacteriophage called vB_KpnP_Klyazma, which was isolated from river water and shows lytic activity against certain bacterial strains with a specific capsule type.
  • * A key finding is that the phage's receptor-binding protein, a polysaccharide depolymerase, can modify bacterial capsular polysaccharides, opening potential uses in antimicrobial therapy even if it doesn't kill bacteria directly.
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Transmission-driven multi-/extensively drug resistant (M/XDR) tuberculosis (TB) is the largest single contributor to human mortality due to antimicrobial resistance. A few major clades of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex belonging to lineage 2, responsible for high prevalence of MDR-TB in Eurasia, show outstanding transnational distributions. Here, we determined factors underlying the emergence and epidemic spread of the W148 clade by genome sequencing and Bayesian demogenetic analyses of 720 isolates from 23 countries.

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  • Transcriptomics, specifically through RNA-Seq, was used to analyze gene expression in bifidobacteria during different growth phases, highlighting their importance in human gut health.
  • The study found that during the lag phase, there is increased expression of ABC transporters as bifidobacteria prepare for division, while the exponential phase is characterized by the activation of genes related to amino acid synthesis and energy metabolism to support rapid growth.
  • In the stationary phase, gene expression shifts to promote defense mechanisms, indicating a strategy for survival under nutrient scarcity as the rate of cell division decreases.
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G-quadruplexes (G4), non-canonical secondary DNA structures, are intensively investigated for a long time. In eukaryotic organisms they play an important role in the regulation of gene expression and DNA repair. G4 have also been found in the genomes of numerous bacteria and archaea, but their functional role has not yet been fully explored.

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In light of the ever-increasing number of multidrug-resistant bacteria worldwide, bacteriophages are becoming a valid alternative to antibiotics; therefore, their interactions with host bacteria must be thoroughly investigated. Here, we report genome-wide transcriptional changes in a clinical SA515 strain for three time points after infection with the vB_SauM-515A1 kayvirus. Using an RNA sequencing approach, we identify 263 genes that were differentially expressed (DEGs) between phage-infected and uninfected host samples.

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  • G-quadruplexes (G4s) are unique DNA structures that may be targeted by antimicrobial compounds known as G4-stabilizing ligands, but their precise antibacterial mechanisms remain unclear.
  • A study utilized genome-wide RNA-sequencing to assess how bacterial genes respond to two G4 ligands, BRACO-19 and TMPyP4, revealing significant changes in gene expression profiles.
  • BRACO-19 affected genes related to replication, repair, and iron metabolism, while TMPyP4 influenced transcription factors and the arginine biosynthesis system, suggesting that different G4 ligands can impact various biological pathways.
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There is growing concern about the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant To effectively control antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens, it is necessary to develop new antimicrobials and to understand the resistance mechanisms to existing antibiotics. In this study, we discovered the unexpected onset of drug resistance in caused by amino acid substitutions in the periplasmic chaperone SurA and the β-barrel assembly machinery component BamA. Here, we investigated the i19.

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  • The study investigates the virulence of two clinical strains of the Beijing genotype associated with drug-resistant tuberculosis in C57BL/6 mice, highlighting their correlation to global health issues.
  • Strains 267/47 (pre-XDR) and 120/26 (MDR) showed differing survival rates in infected mice, with 10% and 40% survival, respectively, compared to 70% for the H37Rv strain.
  • Comparison of immune responses revealed significant differences in cytokine gene expression, particularly with downregulated pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes in mice infected with the more virulent strain 267/47.
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  • * Researchers isolated and characterized three bacteriophages that infect multidrug-resistant bacteria with a specific capsule type, K23, showcasing similarities in their receptor-binding proteins.
  • * The study revealed that recombinant depolymerases derived from these phages can target and help protect against infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains, highlighting the potential of bacteriophages in antimicrobial therapy.
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  • Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant health threat, with finding new drugs and treatments being crucial for its control.
  • Imidazo[1,2-][1,2,4,5]tetrazines have shown effectiveness against TB strains, but resistance arises from mutations that enhance operon expression, complicating treatment.
  • Research indicates that these compounds may disrupt mycobacterial iron metabolism by upregulating genes related to siderophore synthesis in response to different drug concentrations.
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) species are classic examples of genetically monomorphic microorganisms due to their low genetic variability. Whole-genome sequencing made it possible to describe both the main species within the complex and M. tuberculosis lineages and sublineages.

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Recent advances in MS/MS technology have made it possible to use proteomic data to predict protein-coding sequences. This approach is called proteogenomics, and it allows to correctly translate start and stop sites and to reveal new open reading frames. Here, we focus on using proteogenomics to improve the annotation of Mycobacteriumtuberculosis strains.

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  • Bifidobacteria, important members of the gut microbiota, adapt to the host's immune response, but their survival mechanisms during inflammation are not well understood.
  • The study proposes a new method using high-throughput sequencing and transcriptome analysis to identify genes affected by pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNFα in bifidobacteria.
  • Findings revealed that these cytokines influence gene expression without significantly affecting growth, leading to the identification of potential regulatory pathways that help bifidobacteria resist inflammatory responses, highlighting their anti-inflammatory role in the gut.
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The Twort-like myoviruses ( genus) of are promising agents for bacteriophage therapy due to a broad host range and high killing activity against clinical isolates. This work improves the current understanding of the phage infection physiology by transcriptome analysis. The expression profiles of a typical member of the genus (vB_SauM-515A1) were obtained at three time-points post-infection using RNA sequencing.

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Bacteriophage therapy is considered one of the most promising therapeutic approaches against multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are very efficiently controlled with therapeutic bacteriophage cocktails, containing a number of individual phages infecting a majority of known pathogenic S. aureus strains.

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is one of the most dangerous pathogens. Bacterial resistance to antituberculosis drugs grows each year, but searching for new drugs is a long process. Testing for available drugs to find active against mycobacteria may be a good alternative.

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Beijing genotype Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains associate with increased virulence, resistance and/or higher transmission rates. This study describes a specific Beijing strain predominantly identified in the Panamanian province of Colon with one of the highest incidences of tuberculosis in the country. Retrospective mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit/variable number of tandem repeats analysis of 42 isolates collected between January and August 2018 allowed to identify a cluster (Beijing A) with 17 (40.

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