CRISPR-Cas-assisted phage engineering for personalized antibacterial treatments.

Background: In the age of modern medicine, CRISPR-Cas system-aided phage engineering has emerged as a major game changer for developing personalized antibacterial treatments. Modifying genomic DNA at a specific location leads to the inactivation of target genes, the acquisition of novel genetic features, and the correction of lethal gene mutations. Phages can be modified to precisely detect and control bacteria because of the vast possibilities of CRISPR-Cas-based genetic engineering.

The genomic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Non-typhoidal in humans and food animals in Northern India.

Introduction: Non-typhoidal (NTS) serovars are the leading global cause of gastroenteritis and have established reservoirs in food animals.

Gap Statement: Due to a lack of surveillance, there is limited information on the distribution of NTS serovars in India.

Aim: Here, we investigated the epidemiology, sequence types, serovar distribution, phylogenetic relatedness, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of NTS in humans and animals across a large geographic area in Northern India.

Machine learning reveals the rules governing the efficacy of mesenchymal stromal cells in septic preclinical models.

Background: Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) are the preferred candidates for therapeutics as they possess multi-directional differentiation potential, exhibit potent immunomodulatory activity, are anti-inflammatory, and can function like antimicrobials. These capabilities have therefore encouraged scientists to undertake numerous preclinical as well as a few clinical trials to access the translational potential of MSCs in disease therapeutics. In spite of these efforts, the efficacy of MSCs has not been consistent-as is reflected in the large variation in the values of outcome measures like survival rates.

Identification of Inhibitors for Flagellar Assembly Protein FliN of Uropathogenic using Virtual Screening and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.

() is a gram-negative bacterial pathogen that poses a significant clinical and epidemiologic challenge. The selection pressure brought by the insufficient use of antibiotics has resulted in the emergence of multi-drug-resistant in the past ten years. Computational and bioinformatics methods for screening inhibitors have significantly contributed to discovering novel antibacterial agents.

Antimicrobial resistance in food-borne pathogens at the human-animal interface: Results from a large surveillance study in India.

Background: The burden of foodborne diseases and antimicrobial resistance carried by key foodborne pathogens in India is unknown due to a lack of an integrated surveillance system at the human-animal interface.

Methods: We present data from the WHO-AGISAR (Advisory Group on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance), India project. Concurrent human and animal sampling was done across a large area across north India.

Phenotypic and genomic characterization of a small colony variant of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from urine of a prostate cancer case.

Small colony variants (SCVs) in Klebsiella pneumoniae are rare and understudied. We report an SCV of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from the urine of a prostate cancer patient undergoing prolonged radiotherapy. The strain was non-lactose fermenting, non-mucoid, slow-growing, multi-drug resistant, and showed atypical biochemical reactions and biofilm formation.

Regional variations in antimicrobial susceptibility of community-acquired uropathogenic in India: Findings of a multicentric study highlighting the importance of local antibiograms.

Objectives: Evidence-based prescribing is essential to optimize patient outcomes in cystitis. This requires knowledge of local antibiotic resistance rates. Diagnostic and Antimicrobial Stewardship (DASH) to Protect Antibiotics (https://dashuti.

Genome sequence of pan drug-resistant enteroaggregative Escherichia coli belonging to ST38 clone from India, an emerging EAEC/UPEC hybrid pathotype.

Here, we report the genomic characterization of a pan drug-resistant (PDR) enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) isolated from an immunocompromised infant who had diarrhea. The isolate belonged to the sequence type (ST) 38, which is a known enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC)/uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) hybrid strain having multi-drug resistance (MDR). The strain carried genes encoding multiple resistances to carbapenems, third-generation cephalosporins, polymyxin, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, sulphonamides, and multiple efflux pump genes.

Association of Putative Virulence Genes with HEp-2 Cell Adherence and Biofilm Production in Enteroaggregative Strains Isolated from Acute Diarrheal and Healthy Children, India.

Enteroaggregative  (EAEC) is an emerging enteric pathogen that causes acute and chronic diarrhea in developed and industrialized countries in children. EAEC colonizes the human intestine and this ability to form colonies and biofilm is an important step in pathogenesis. Here, we investigated the relationship between known or putative 22 EAEC virulence genes and biofilm formation in isolates derived from acute diarrhea and healthy children and their aggregative adherence (AA) pattern with Hep-2 cell lines.

Exploring the Prevalence, Predictors, and Impact of Bacterial Infections to Guide Empiric Antimicrobial Decisions in Cirrhosis (EPIC-AD).

Background/aims: This study delved into cirrhosis-related infections to unveil their epidemiology, risk factors, and implications for antimicrobial decisions.

Methods: We analyzed acutely decompensated cirrhosis patients (n = 971) from North India between 2013-2023 at a tertiary center. Microbiological and clinical features based on infection sites (EASL criteria) and patient outcomes were assessed.

Diarrheal woes in transplantation from real world settings with special focus on clostridium difficile infection.

Background: Diarrhea is the major cause of discomfort and morbidity of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The cause of diarrhea may be infective or non-infective.

Methods: This is a prospective single center observational study from North India conducted over a period of approximately 4 years among 105 patients who underwent HSCT (autologous-72, allogeneic-33).

Neisseria mucosa: A not so Benign Culprit of urinary tract infection: A case report.

Neisseria mucosa is saprophytic human commensal but reported as a causative agent in a couple of urinary tract infections [UTI] in susceptible individuals. In the present case, a young girl with long standing neurological problems presented with bladder outlet obstruction and fever. Her urine culture yielded Neisseria mucosa which was susceptible to broad spectrum penicillins, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin.

Diptheroids can cause nosocomial UTI and be multidrug resistant: A case report of Corynebacterium striatum, first from India.

Gram positive bacilli in the urine are usually dismissed as contaminants in urine specimens as these are commensal flora of skin and mucous membranes. Corynebacterium species were misidentified in the past due to complex biochemicals but the advent of modern diagnostics has made their identification quicker and accurate. Corynebacterium species have recently emerged as pathogens of nosocomial outbreak potential.

Differential invasiveness & expression of antimicrobial peptides in serotypes.

Background & Objectives: The study of Shigella pathogenesis at present is severely hampered by the lack of a relevant animal model that replicates human bacillary dysentery. Different Shigella serogroups cause varying severity of clinical illness. Ex vivo colonization of Shigella flexneri, S.

Extensively Drug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Associated with Complicated Urinary Tract Infection in Northern India.

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp), which is associated with hospital-acquired infections, is extensively drug-resistant (XDR), making treatment difficult. Understanding the genetic epidemiology of XDR-Kp can help determine its potential to be hypervirulent (hv) through the presence of siderophores. We characterized the genomes of 18 colistin-resistant XDR-Kp isolated from 14 patients with complicated tract infection at an Indian healthcare facility.

Are non-lactose-fermenting important diarrhoeal pathogens in children and adults?

Introduction: Diarrhoeagenic (DEC) remains one of the major causes of acute diarrhoea episodes in developing countries. The percentage of acute diarrhoea cases caused by DEC is 30-40 % in these countries. Approximately 10% of isolates obtained from stool specimens have been reported to be non-lactose-fermenting (NLF).

Exploring Synergistic Combinations in Extended and Pan-Drug Resistant (XDR and PDR) Whole Genome Sequenced .

Unlabelled: The diminishing antimicrobial options for the treatment of XDR and PDR is an increasing concern. In this study, we assessed the in vitro synergy of the fosfomycin (FOS) with meropenem (MEM), amikacin (AK), tigecycline (TGC), and colistin (CL) in whole genome sequenced isolates. Non-replicate whole genome sequenced (illumina next-generation sequencing platform, Clevergene, India), (7 XDR, 1PDR) were subjected to in vitro synergy testing by checkerboard (CB) and time kill assay (TKA) after MIC determination, with glucose-6-phosphate being incorporated in all runs.

Phage VMJ710 Can Prevent and Treat Disease Caused by Pathogenic MDR O1 in an Infant Mouse Model.

Cholera, a disease of antiquity, is still festering in developing countries that lack safe drinking water and sewage disposal. , the causative agent of cholera, has developed multi-drug resistance to many antimicrobial agents. In aquatic habitats, phages are known to influence the occurrence and dispersion of pathogenic .

Evaluation of an automated rapid urine culture method for urinary tract infection: Comparison with gold standard conventional culture method.

Purpose: Urinary tract infection is one of the most prevalent disease affecting people from all age groups. For its diagnosis, conventional culture and antibiotic susceptibility is the gold standard. However, its major limitation is that the results take minimum of 24 ​h and antibiotic susceptibility is available after 48 ​h.

In Vitro and In Vivo Studies of Heraclenol as a Novel Bacterial Histidine Biosynthesis Inhibitor against Invasive and Biofilm-Forming Uropathogenic .

Globally, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most frequent bacterial infections. Uropathogenic (UPEC) are the predominant etiological agents causing community and healthcare-associated UTIs. Biofilm formation is an important pathogenetic mechanism of UPEC responsible for chronic and recurrent infections.

Genome Analysis and Antibiofilm Activity of Phage 590B against Multidrug-Resistant and Extensively Drug-Resistant Uropathogenic Isolates, India.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in humans. Uropathogenic (UPEC), which are the most frequent agents causing community as well as hospital-acquired UTIs, have become highly drug-resistant, thus making the treatment of these infections challenging. Recently, the use of bacteriophages (or 'phages') against multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) microorganisms has garnered significant global attention.

Identification of novel inhibitors against utilizing HisC as a target from histidine biosynthesis pathway.

is a gram-negative bacterial pathogen that poses a significant challenge both clinically and epidemiologically. Large numbers of multi-drug resistant have emerged in the last decade, because of the selection pressure generated by the inadequate use of antibiotics. Although research to combat antibiotic resistance has been going on extensively but still lags in the rate of development of newer antibiotics.