Antibiotic Resistance Hotspot: Comparative Genomics Reveals Multiple Strains of Multidrug-Resistant in Edible Snails.

The demand for terrestrial snails as a food source is still on the increase globally, yet this has been overlooked in disease epidemiology and the spread of antimicrobial resistance. This study conducted genomic analyses of twenty strains isolated from live edible snails traded in two hubs. The isolates were subjected to MALDI-TOF MS, antimicrobial resistance testing, whole genome sequencing, and analyses for in-depth characterization.

Complex Infection-Control Measures with Disinfectant Switch Help the Successful Early Control of Carbapenem-Resistant Outbreak in Intensive Care Unit.

A carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) outbreak in an intensive care unit (ICU) was contained by an improved infection-control measure that included a disinfectant policy. In our retrospective cohort study, we describe the epidemiological investigations and infection-control measures during this outbreak. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize patient demographics, neurological diseases, surgical treatment, underlying diseases, infection, and outcomes.

DiscovEpi: automated whole proteome MHC-I-epitope prediction and visualization.

Background: Antigen presentation is a central step in initiating and shaping the adaptive immune response. To activate CD8 T cells, pathogen-derived peptides are presented on the cell surface of antigen-presenting cells bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. CD8 T cells that recognize these complexes with their T cell receptor are activated and ideally eliminate infected cells.

Molecular characterization, virulence and antimicrobial and biocidal susceptibility of selected bacteria isolated from the cloaca of nestling ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) from Mono Lake, California, USA.

In the present study, the presence of the Enterobacterales, Staphylococcus spp., Mammaliicoccus spp., and Enterococcus spp.

Enhancing Dental Alginate with , and Green Silver Nanoparticles: A Nature-Enhanced Approach for Superior Infection Control.

Objectives: The study addresses the challenge of cross-infection in dentistry, focusing on improving disinfection protocols for dental hydrocolloid gel materials. This research aimed to incorporate chlorhexidine, natural plant extracts, and green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into dental alginate to enhance safety and hygiene standards in dental practices.

Methods: Conventional dental alginate served as the control, with experimental groups including alginate modified with 0.

Decoding the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of microbiota using pan-body pan-disease microbiomics.

The human microbiome emerges as a promising reservoir for diagnostic markers and therapeutics. Since host-associated microbiomes at various body sites differ and diseases do not occur in isolation, a comprehensive analysis strategy highlighting the full potential of microbiomes should include diverse specimen types and various diseases. To ensure robust data quality and comparability across specimen types and diseases, we employ standardized protocols to generate sequencing data from 1931 prospectively collected specimens, including from saliva, plaque, skin, throat, eye, and stool, with an average sequencing depth of 5.

Exploring microbial diversity and biosynthetic potential in zoo and wildlife animal microbiomes.

Understanding human, animal, and environmental microbiota is essential for advancing global health and combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We investigate the oral and gut microbiota of 48 animal species in captivity, comparing them to those of wildlife animals. Specifically, we characterize the microbiota composition, metabolic pathways, AMR genes, and biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) encoding the production of specialized metabolites.

Molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance of clinical Bacteroides and related genera from a tertiary care center in Türkiye (Turkey).

Objectives: This study was conducted to measure the prevalence of antibiotic resistance, and corresponding resistance genes among Bacteroides and related genera in a tertiary hospital.

Methods: We examined 138 clinical strains of Bacteroides, Phocaeicola and Parabacteroides species isolated between July 2018 and June 2022. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted using agar dilution.

A host-adapted auxotrophic gut symbiont induces mucosal immunodeficiency.

Harnessing the microbiome to benefit human health requires an initial step in determining the identity and function of causative microorganisms that affect specific host physiological functions. We show a functional screen of the bacterial microbiota from mice with low intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels; we identified a Gram-negative bacterium, proposed as , that induces and degrades IgA in the mouse intestine. Mice harboring are susceptible to infections and show poor mucosal repair.

Colonization with resistant bacteria in hospital employees: an epidemiological surveillance and typing study.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, molecular epidemiology, and risk factors for gut colonization with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in healthcare workers (HCWs). In September/October 2022, we performed a cross-sectional study among HCW from 14 institutions in Northeastern Switzerland. HCWs reported risk factors for antimicrobial resistance (covering the last 12-24 months) and provided rectal swabs.

Extracellular Release of a Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase Correlates With Periodontal Disease Severity.

Aim: Periodontal disease is driven by oral pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, and the release of inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines (e.g.

Stroke of Consistency: Streamlining Multicenter Protocols for Enhanced Reproducibility of Infarct Volumes in Preclinical Stroke Research.

Background: The discrepancy between experimental research and clinical trial outcomes is a persistent challenge in preclinical studies, particularly in stroke research. A possible factor contributing to this issue is the lack of standardization across experimental stroke models, leading to poor reproducibility in multicenter studies. This study addresses this gap by aiming to enhance reproducibility and the efficacy of multicenter studies through the harmonization of protocols and training of involved personnel.

Protocol for lipid mediator profiling and phenotyping of human M1- and M2-monocyte-derived macrophages during host-pathogen interactions.

Here, we present a protocol for primary, human immune cell isolation and stimulation for lipid mediator profiling. We describe steps for the isolation of monocytes from human leukocyte concentrates via density centrifugation and differentiation/polarization toward M1- or M2-monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). We detail stimulation approaches of MDMs with live bacteria or influenza A virus for lipid mediator profiling and sample preparation for subsequent analysis, such as enzyme expression, mRNA analysis, or surface marker determination.

Antimicrobial Biomaterials Based on Physical and Physicochemical Action.

Developing effective antimicrobial biomaterials is a relevant and fast-growing field in advanced healthcare materials. Several well-known (e.g.

Exploration of compounds to inhibit the Panton-Valentine leukocidin of Staphylococcus aureus.

The Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) of Staphylococcus aureus is associated with necrotizing infections. After binding to complement 5a receptor (C5aR/CD88) and CD45 it causes cytolysis in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) as well as inflammasome activation in monocytes. The objective of this study was to test if (ant)agonists of C5aR and CD45 can attenuate the effect of PVL on PMNs and monocytes.

Development of Fragment-Based Inhibitors of the Bacterial Deacetylase LpxC with Low Nanomolar Activity.

In a fragment-based approach using NMR spectroscopy, benzyloxyacetohydroxamic acid-derived inhibitors of the bacterial deacetylase LpxC bearing a substituent to target the uridine diphosphate-binding site of the enzyme were developed. By appending privileged fragments via a suitable linker, potent LpxC inhibitors with promising antibacterial activities could be obtained, like the one-digit nanomolar LpxC inhibitor ()- [ (LpxC C63A) = 9.5 nM; (LpxC): 5.

The impact of agar depth on antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disc diffusion.

The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) specifies the agar depth (4±0.5 mm) when performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Since the infrastructure to produce standardized agar may be lacking in settings with limited resources, we wanted to examine to what extent variation in agar depth affects the inhibition zone diameters of quality control (QC) strains and AST of clinical isolates.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Long-Acting Rilpivirine and Cabotegravir for Treatment of HIV-1 Infection-A Case Series of Five Patients With One Virologic Failure After Development of Two-Class Resistance.

Virologic failure of long-acting rilpivirine/cabotegravir is rare but may result in severely limited treatment options. Known risk factors cannot predict all cases. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) may help identify patients at risk, but reliable thresholds are missing.