A simplified pyrazinamidase test for pyrazinamide antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Unlabelled: Pyrazinamide (PZA) is an important first-line drug for tuberculosis (TB) treatment by eradicating the persisting complex (MTBC). Due to cost and technical challenges, end TB strategies are hampered by the lack of a simple and reliable culture-based PZA antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for routine use. We initially developed a simplified chromogenic pyrazinamidase (PZase) test in the TB reference laboratory using a training set MTBC isolates with various drug-resistant profiles, and validated its performance using consecutive BACTEC MGIT 960 (MGIT)-culture-positive culture in 10 clinical laboratories.

[Strengthening and standardizing the preventive treatment for tuberculosis in comprehensive medical facilities].

Preventive treatment of high-risk groups for tuberculosis is an important part of tuberculosis prevention and control strategies, and comprehensive medical facilities have an important role to play. This issue of the journal published the "Expert consensus on tuberculosis preventive treatment for individuals at high risk of developing active diseases from latent tuberculosis infection in comprehensive medical facilities". The consensus defined the target population for tuberculosis preventive treatment, recommended the timing of treatment initiation and optional treatment regimens for different groups, and put forward suggestions for the management of preventive treatment.

Ependymal cells: roles in central nervous system infections and therapeutic application.

Ependymal cells are arranged along the inner surfaces of the ventricles and the central canal of the spinal cord, providing anatomical, physiological and immunological barriers that maintain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) homeostasis. Based on this, studies have found that alterations in gene expression, cell junctions, cytokine secretion and metabolic disturbances can lead to dysfunction of ependymal cells, thereby participating in the onset and progression of central nervous system (CNS) infections. Additionally, ependymal cells can exhibit proliferative and regenerative potential as well as secretory functions during CNS injury, contributing to neuroprotection and post-injury recovery.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis clusters and transmission in Taiwan: a population-based cohort study.

Introduction: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remains a challenge in the TB program of Taiwan, where 0.5% of new cases and 2.1% of previously treated cases were resistant to at least rifampin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH).

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation study of spirocyclic POM analogues as novel MmpL3 anti-tubercular agent.

We present the development of a phenyl oxazole methyl (POM) core structure with spirocyclic derivatives as part of our efforts to discover innovative anti-tuberculosis agents. Derivatives of spirocyclic POM were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on M.tuberculosis (M.

Trehalose catalytic shift is an intrinsic factor in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that enhances phenotypic heterogeneity and multidrug resistance.

Drug-resistance (DR) in many bacterial pathogens often arises from the repetitive formation of drug-tolerant bacilli, known as persisters. However, it is unclear whether (Mtb), the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), undergoes a similar phenotypic transition. Recent metabolomics studies have identified that a change in trehalose metabolism is necessary for Mtb to develop persisters and plays a crucial role in metabolic networks of DR-TB strains.

PARK2 as a susceptibility factor for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.

Background: The genetic signatures associated with the susceptibility to nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) are still unknown. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing to explore gene expression profiles and represent characteristic factor in NTM-PD.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from patients with NTM-PD and healthy individuals (controls).

Define SNP thresholds for delineation of tuberculosis transmissions using whole-genome sequencing.

Unlabelled: For facilitating tuberculosis (TB) control, we used a whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based approach to delineate transmission networks in a country with an intermediate burden of TB. A cluster was defined as isolates with identical genotypes, and an outbreak was defined as clustered cases with epidemiological links (epi-links). To refine a cluster predefined using space oligonucleotide typing and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit variable tandem repeat typing, we analyzed one pansusceptible TB (C1) and three multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB (C2-C4) clusters from different scenarios.

Granulomatous lymphadenitis in Taiwan: Unraveling infantile peak and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin lymphadenitis.

Background: Granulomatous lymphadenitis, a histopathological diagnosis, often indicates infections, such as those caused by mycobacterial and fungal agents.

Methods: We conducted an analysis of 1098 granulomatous lymphadenitis cases, examining age distribution, lymph node locations, and laterality. Molecular detection of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) was performed on archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens.

Anti-tuberculosis activity of morusin: a promising flavonoid from white mulberry.

TB has remained a significant public health concern from historical times to the present day. Each year, growing drug resistance problems necessitate the discovery of new drugs and drug precursors for TB treatment. Morusin is an important flavone found in the bark of white mulberry ( L.

Resazurin microplate test method for rapid determination of colistin resistance in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii isolates.

Background: Colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates are extremely important pathogens for hospital-acquired infections.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of the resazurin microplate assay (REMA) for the rapid determination of colistin resistance.

Methods: Susceptibility for colistin was investigated in vitro by the broth microdilution method (BMD) and the resazurin microplate assay (REMA) on 106 carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates.

α-Amylase and mycobacterium-TB H37Rv antagonistic efficacy of novel pyrazole-coumarin hybrids: an and investigation.

The present investigation of minutiae to acquire structural information of the novel pyrazole-coumarin hybrids () synthesized using ultrasound methods and characterized using different spectroscopic techniques: mass, H-NMR, C-NMR and IR spectroscopy, and theoretically explored using the DFT approach with a B3LYP/6-311G (d, p) basis set, and there antagonistic efficacy against α-amylase and mycobacterium-TB H37Rv are described in this article. Pyrazole-coumarin hybrids () showed α-amylase inhibition ranging from IC (0.32-0.

Genetic surveillance and outcomes of pyrazinamide and fluoroquinolones-resistant tuberculosis in Taiwan.

Background: Pyrazinamide (PZA) and fluoroquinolone (FQ), particularly moxifloxacin (MXF), are essential drugs in the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended short-course regimen to treat drug-susceptible tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: To understand the extent of PZA and MXF susceptibility in general TB cases in Taiwan, we conducted retrospective analyses of 385 conservative Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates identified from 4 TB laboratories in different regions of Taiwan. The case information was obtained from the TB registry.

Detoxification of aflatoxin M1 in different milk types using probiotics.

The aim of this study, research the potential use of probiotics in reducing the toxic effect of Aflatoxin M1 in cow milk, goat milk, sheep milk, and Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Milk and Phosphate-buffered saline were contaminated with Aflatoxin M1 at a concentration of 100 ppt. Then, various study groups were formed by adding Lactobacillus acidophilus DSMZ 20079, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and Bifidobacterium bifidum DSMZ 20456 probiotic bacteria at a density of 108 CFU/ml.

Clinical and Laboratory Predictors of Mortality in Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Retrospective Study from India.

Objective: Wide arrays of laboratory parameters have been proposed by many studies for prognosis in COVID-19 patients. In this study, we wanted to determine if the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium-Coronavirus Clinical Characterization Consortium score in addition to certain clinical and laboratory parameters would help in predicting mortality. We wanted to determine if a greater severity score on chest x-ray at presentation translated to poor patient outcomes using the COVID-19 chest radiography score.

Nitrate Reductase Assay for Rapid Determination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of nitrate reductase assay (NRA), a rapid, colorimetric method for the determination of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from the culture collection of the Akdeniz University Hospital Central Laboratory, Antalya, Türkiye.

Materials And Methods: Identification for all 290 S aureus isolates at the species level was performed via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight. Isolates were tested with NRA for methicillin resistance.

The Effect of Inoculum Size on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) requires a standardized amount of inoculum to produce reproducible susceptibility results. The most critical step in the application of DST in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates is the preparation of the bacterial inoculum. In this study, the effect of bacterial inoculum prepared in various McFarland turbidities on primary antituberculosis drug susceptibility of M.

Safety and Immunogenicity of the ID93 + GLA-SE Tuberculosis Vaccine in BCG-Vaccinated Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Trial.

Introduction: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2a trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the ID93 + glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant (GLA)-stable emulsion (SE) vaccine in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative, previously Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-vaccinated, and QuantiFERON-TB-negative healthy adults in South Korea.

Methods: Adults (n = 107) with no signs or symptoms of tuberculosis were randomly assigned to receive three intramuscular injections of 2 μg ID93 + 5 μg GLA-SE, 10 μg ID93 + 5 μg GLA-SE, or 0.9% normal saline placebo on days 0, 28, and 56.

Whole-genome sequencing-based analyses of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Taiwan.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) posed challenges to global TB control. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is recommended for predicting drug resistance to guide DR-TB treatment and management. Nevertheless, data are lacking in Taiwan.

Efflux pump effects on drug resistance.

Resistance and tolerance to antituberculosis drugs have become serious problems in disease treatment. This multi-phase study investigated the contributions of efflux pumps to drug resistance. In the first phase, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels of antibiotics were determined.

Predictors for False-Negative Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Results in Hemodialysis Patients with Latent Tuberculosis Infection.

The present study aimed to clinically evaluate the effect of T-cell dysfunction in hemodialysis (HD) patients with latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) who were false-negatives in the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test. Whole blood samples from a total of 20 active TB patients, 83 HD patients, and 52 healthy individuals were collected, and the QFT-GIT test was used for measuring (MTB)-specific interferon gamma (IFN-γ) level. The positive rate of the IFN-γ release assays (IGRAs) in HD patients was lower than the negative rate.

Effect of teriparatide on drug treatment of tuberculous spondylitis: an experimental study.

Tuberculous spondylitis often develops catastrophic bone destruction with uncontrolled inflammation. Because anti-tuberculous drugs do not have a role in bone formation, a combination drug therapy with a bone anabolic agent could help in fracture prevention and promote bone reconstruction. This study aimed to investigate the influence of teriparatide on the effect of anti-tuberculous drugs in tuberculous spondylitis treatment.