BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic presents a significant challenge to the medical profession,increasing in the presence of microbial coinfection.Bacterial and Fungal co-infections increase the ...BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic presents a significant challenge to the medical profession,increasing in the presence of microbial coinfection.Bacterial and Fungal co-infections increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19.AIM To study the bacterial profile in patients with COVID-19 who needed admission to receive treatment in the main centres concerned with managing COVID-19 disease in the Kingdom of Bahrain.METHODS The study was a retrospective observational analysis of the bacterial profile and the bacterial resistance in patients with confirmed COVID-19 disease who needed admission to receive treatment in the main centres assigned to manage patients with COVID-19 disease in the Kingdom of Bahrain from February to October 2020.We used the electronic patients’records and the microbiology laboratory data to identify patients’demographics,clinical data,microbial profile,hospital or community-acquired,and the outcomes.RESULTS The study included 1380 patients admitted with confirmed COVID-19 disease during the study period.51%were admitted from February to June,and 49%were admitted from July to October 2020,with a recurrence rate was 0.36%.There was a significant increase in bacterial and fungal co-infection in the second period compared to the first period.The most common isolated organisms were the gram-negative bacteria(mainly Klebsiella pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii,and Escherichia coli),the grampositive bacteria(mainly coagulase negative Staphylococci,Enterococcus faecium,Enterococcus faecalis,Staphylococcus aureus)and fungaemia(Candida galabrata,Candida tropicalis,Candida albicans,Aspergillus fumigatus,Candida parapsilosis,Aspergillus niger).The hospital-acquired infection formed 73.8%,61.6%,100%gram-negative,gram-positive and fungaemia.Most of the hospital-acquired infection occurred in the second period with a higher death rate than communityacquired infections.CONCLUSION Bacterial and fungal co-infections in patients admitted with confirmed COVID-19 disease pose higher morbidity and mortality risks than those without coinfections.We should perform every effort to minimize these risks.展开更多
Microbial co-infections are another primary concern in patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),yet it is an untouched area among researchers.Preliminary data and systematic reviews only show the type of patho...Microbial co-infections are another primary concern in patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),yet it is an untouched area among researchers.Preliminary data and systematic reviews only show the type of pathogens responsible for that,but its pathophysiology is still unknown.Studies show that these microbial co-infections are hospital-acquired/nosocomial infections,and patients admitted to intensive care units with invasive mechanical ventilation are highly susceptible to it.Patients with COVID-19 had elevated inflammatory cytokines and a weakened cell-mediated immune response,with lower CD4+T and CD8+T cell counts,indicating vulnerability to various co-infections.Despite this,there are only a few studies that recommend the management of coinfections.展开更多
Natural product(NPT)derived from traditional Chinese medicine has a rich history as an integral part of Chinese healthcare for thousands of years.Recently,the application of NPT in sonodynamic antibacterial therapy(SD...Natural product(NPT)derived from traditional Chinese medicine has a rich history as an integral part of Chinese healthcare for thousands of years.Recently,the application of NPT in sonodynamic antibacterial therapy(SDAT)has emerged as a promising area of research.This perspective summarizes the recent NPT-based sonosensitizers in SDAT.Currently,common NPT-based sonosensitizers include curcumin,chlorophyll derivatives,hypericin,and berberine.Compared with other sonosensitizers,natural sources of NPT-based sonosensitizers with reactive oxide species production performance under ultrasound conditions,low biotoxicity,and other additional biological activity make them have application prospects in bacterial removal.Finally,the potential benefits and challenges of NPT-based nanosonosensitizers were also discussed.展开更多
BACKGROUND Edwardsiella tarda(E.tarda)belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae and is generally seen to cause infections mainly in fish,but is also capable of infecting humans.Extraintestinal infections occur in patie...BACKGROUND Edwardsiella tarda(E.tarda)belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae and is generally seen to cause infections mainly in fish,but is also capable of infecting humans.Extraintestinal infections occur in patients with certain risk factors,including immunocompromised status.We recently diagnosed a case of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP)due to E.tarda in an immuno-compromised dialysis patient.CASE SUMMARY Patient was a 55-year-old male,with a history of diabetic nephropathy being treated with hemodialysis three times a week.He was referred to our hospital due to an increased volume of ascites,and blood examination revealed increased inflammatory reaction.At our emergency department,he developed fever,disturbance of consciousness,abdominal distension,and abdomen-wide pain.In addition,a dialysis shunt was confirmed in his right forearm,and the shunt site showed no signs of inflammation.No wounds were confirmed on or in his body.A blood examination revealed increased values of white blood cells,C-reactive protein,and creatinine.Plain chest and abdominal computed tomography scanning revealed increased ascites volume.Abdominal paracentesis was performed and a Gram stain revealed Gramnegative bacillus.These findings prompted diagnosis of SBP.The patient was admitted and treated with cefmetazole,causing fever resolution and symptom improvements.Later,E.tarda was identified in ascites culture.The patient improved with decreased inflammatory response and was discharged on the 12th day of hospitalization.The antibiotic was terminated after 14 days of treatment.SBP in this case may have developed from chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus.CONCLUSION We report the first known case of SBP due to E.tarda in an immuno-compromised dialysis patient.展开更多
Background:The bacterial biofilm poses a significant challenge to traditional antibiotic therapy.There is a great need to develop novel antibiofilm agents combined with biofilm disrupting and bacteria-killing without ...Background:The bacterial biofilm poses a significant challenge to traditional antibiotic therapy.There is a great need to develop novel antibiofilm agents combined with biofilm disrupting and bacteria-killing without the dependence of antibiotic.Methods:Herein,we prepared ultrasound/magnetic field-responsive ferroferric oxide nanoparticles(Fe_(3)O_(4))/glucose oxidase microbubbles(FGMB)to form a cascade catalytic system for effective removing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.FGMB were prepared through interfacial self-assembly of Fe_(3)O_(4) nanoparticles(NPs)and glucose oxidase(GOx)at the gas-liquid interface stabilized by surfactants.Under ultrasound/magnetic field stimulation,FGMB disrupted biofilm architecture through microbubble collapse-induced microjets and magnetically driven displacement.Simultaneously,ultrasound-triggered rupture of FGMB released GOx and Fe_(3)O_(4) NPs.Glucose can be oxidized by GOx to generate gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide which was subsequently catalyzed into hydroxyl radicals by Fe_(3)O_(4) NPs,enabling chemical eradication of biofilm-embedded bacteria.Results:Optical microscopy images demonstrated that FGMB have spherical structure with average size of approximately 17μm.FGMB showed a 65.4%decrease in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm biomass and 1.1 log bacterial inactivation efficiency(91.2%),suggesting effective biofilm elimination.In vitro experimental results also indicate that FGMB have good biocompatibility.Conclusion:This antibiofilm strategy integrated dual modes of physical biofilm disruption with chemical bacteria-killing shows great potential as a versatile,non-resistant strategy for bacterial biofilm elimination.展开更多
The global burden of bacterial infections,exacerbated by antimicrobial resistance(AMR),necessitates innovative strategies.Bacterial protein vaccines offer promise by eliciting targeted immunity while circumventing AMR...The global burden of bacterial infections,exacerbated by antimicrobial resistance(AMR),necessitates innovative strategies.Bacterial protein vaccines offer promise by eliciting targeted immunity while circumventing AMR.However,their clinical translation is hindered by their inherently low immunogenicity,often requiring potent adjuvants and advanced delivery systems.Biomembrane nanostructures(e.g.,liposomes,exosomes,and cell membrane-derived nanostructures),characterized by superior biocompatibility,intrinsic targeting ability,and immune-modulating properties,could serve as versatile platforms that potentiate vaccine efficacy by increasing antigen stability,enabling codelivery of immunostimulants,and facilitating targeted delivery to lymphoid tissues/antigen-presenting cells.This intrinsic immunomodulation promotes robust humoral and cellular immune responses to combat bacteria.This review critically reviews(1)key biomembrane nanostructure classes for bacterial protein antigens,(2)design strategies leveraging biomembrane nanostructures to enhance humoral and cellular immune responses,(3)preclinical efficacy against diverse pathogens,and(4)translational challenges and prospects.Biomembrane nanostructure-driven approaches represent a paradigm shift in the development of next-generation bacterial protein vaccines against resistant infections.展开更多
Rice-fish coculture(RFC)has aroused extensive concern for its contribution to food security and resource conservation,but whether it can improve soil phosphorus(P)availability and affect microbe-mediated P turnover re...Rice-fish coculture(RFC)has aroused extensive concern for its contribution to food security and resource conservation,but whether it can improve soil phosphorus(P)availability and affect microbe-mediated P turnover remains elusive.Herein,we conducted a microcosm experiment to assess the impacts of RFC combined with(50 mg P kg^(-1)as KH2PO4)and without inorganic P addition on P fractions,P availability,and phoD-harboring bacterial community composition.The results revealed that RFC without P addition significantly improved P availability and phosphatase activity in paddy soil,while soil available P(AP),pH,and microbial biomass P(MBP)contributed to regulating P fractions.Moreover,the phoD-harboring bacterial abundance was linked to phosphatase activity,AP,total carbon(TC),and total P(TP)contents,and the ratios of TC to total nitrogen(TN)and TN to TP.We also found that the keystone taxa of phoD-harboring bacteria contributed to phosphatase production as well as organic P mineralization,thereby improving P availability.Our findings suggest that RFC without P addition is beneficial for promoting the expression of phoD-harboring bacterial functions to improve the capacity of P mineralization.Overall,our study provides insights into the responses of phoD-harboring bacterial functions for P turnover to RFC combined with and without P addition,showing the potential utilization of P resources in agricultural soil and the contribution of phosphatase activity to P acquisition in agriculture ecosystem.展开更多
Adenosine triphosphate(ATP)-binding cassette(ABC)transporter systems are divided into importers and exporters that facilitate the movement of diverse substrate molecules across the lipid bilayer,against the concentrat...Adenosine triphosphate(ATP)-binding cassette(ABC)transporter systems are divided into importers and exporters that facilitate the movement of diverse substrate molecules across the lipid bilayer,against the concentration gradient.These transporters comprise two highly conserved nucleotide-binding domains(NBDs)and two transmembrane domains(TMDs).Unlike ABC exporters,prokaryotic ABC importers require an additional substrate-binding protein(SBP)as a recognition site for specific substrate translocation.The discovery of a large number of ABC systems in bacterial pathogens revealed that these transporters are crucial for the establishment of bacterial infections.The existing literature has highlighted the roles of ABC transporters in bacterial growth,pathogenesis,and virulence.These roles include importing essential nutrients required for a variety of cellular processes and exporting outer membrane-associated virulence factors and antimicrobial substances.This review outlines the general structures and classification of ABC systems to provide a comprehensive view of the activities and roles of ABC transporters associated with bacterial virulence and pathogenesis during infection.展开更多
Wild peanut(Arachis)species are promising sources of disease resistance for improving peanut cultivars.The objective of this study was to assess cross-compatibility among cultivated and wild peanuts in crosses between...Wild peanut(Arachis)species are promising sources of disease resistance for improving peanut cultivars.The objective of this study was to assess cross-compatibility among cultivated and wild peanuts in crosses between eight peanut cultivars and 27 wild species carrying the A,B,E,Ex,F,K,P,and H genomes.Embryo culture and chromosome doubling led to polyploids representing hybrids between cultivated peanut and A.stenosperma,A.macedoi,A.duranensis,A.villosa,and A.diogoi.The first two showed greater resistance to bacterial wilt than their cultivated parents.DNA markers were developed for verifying the hybrids and for identifying translocation or introgression lines with alien chromosome fragments.展开更多
Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb) and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) co-infection has become a public health issue worldwide. Up to now, there have been many unresolved issues either in the clinical diagnosis and tr...Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb) and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) co-infection has become a public health issue worldwide. Up to now, there have been many unresolved issues either in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of M.tb/HIV coinfection or in the basic understanding of the mechanisms for the impairments to the immune system by interactions of these two pathogens. One important reason for these unsolved issues is the lack of appropriate animal models for the study of M.tb/HIV coinfection. This paper reviews the recent development of research on the animal models of M.tb/HIV co-infection, with a focus on the non-human primate models.展开更多
Solar-driven Fenton-like reactions are promising strategies for degrading pharmaceutical wastewater to address environmental challenges and antibiotic pollution.However,its efficacy is limited by suboptimal light abso...Solar-driven Fenton-like reactions are promising strategies for degrading pharmaceutical wastewater to address environmental challenges and antibiotic pollution.However,its efficacy is limited by suboptimal light absorption efficiency,rapid charge recombination,and inadequate interfacial charge transfer.In this study,an inorganic/organic S-scheme photo-Fenton system of pseudobrookite/carbon nitride(FTOCN)was synthesized via a hydrothermally coupled calcination process for the effective purification of tetracycline antibiotics under visible-light irradiation.The optimized FTOCN-2 heterostructure exhibits a significantly enhanced TC degradation capacity of 90%within 60 min.The rate constant of FTOCN-2 is 1.6 and 5.2 times greater than those of FTO and CN,respectively.Furthermore,FTOCN exhibits high antibacterial efficacy,highlighting its potential application in the purification of natural water.Measurements via a range of analytical techniques,including Kelvin probe force microscopy,density functional theory calculations,in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy,corroborate the S-scheme mechanism.This study provides a novel perspective for the development of photo-Fenton systems with S-scheme heterojunctions for water purification.展开更多
Bacterial blight(BB),caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae(Xoo),poses a significant threat to rice production,particularly in Asia and West Africa.Breeding resistance against BB in elite rice varieties is cruci...Bacterial blight(BB),caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae(Xoo),poses a significant threat to rice production,particularly in Asia and West Africa.Breeding resistance against BB in elite rice varieties is crucial to advancing rice breeding program and supporting smallholder farmers.Transcription Activator-Like effectors(TALes)are key virulence factors in Xoo,with some targeting the susceptibility(S)genes such as the sugar transporter SWEET genes in rice.Among these,SWEET14 is an important S gene,with its promoter bound by the TALe TalC which exists across all sequenced African Xoo isolates.In the present study,we utilized CRISPR/Cas9-based cytidine and adenine base editors to alter the effector binding element(EBE)of TalC in the promoter of SWEET14 in rice cultivars Kitaake,IR24,and Zhonghua 11.Mutations with C to T changes in EBE led to reduced SWEET14 induction by TalC-containing Xoo strains,resulting in resistance to African Xoo isolates reliant on TalC for virulence.Conversely,A to G changes retained SWEET14 inducibility and susceptibility to Xoo in edited lines.Importantly,no off-target mutations were detected at predicted sites,and the edited lines exhibited no obvious defects in major agronomic traits in Kitaake.These results underscore the effectiveness of base editing systems for both molecular biology research and crop improvement endeavors.展开更多
BACKGROUND Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO)is suspected and excluded frequently in functional gastrointestinal(GI)disorders.Children presenting with various esophago-gastro-duodenal(upper GI)symptoms are ra...BACKGROUND Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO)is suspected and excluded frequently in functional gastrointestinal(GI)disorders.Children presenting with various esophago-gastro-duodenal(upper GI)symptoms are rarely subjected to investig-ations for SIBO.AIM To estimate the frequency of SIBO in children having functional upper GI sym-ptoms(as cases)and to compare the result of the SIBO status to that of the con-trols.METHODS Children aged 6 to 18 who presented with upper GI symptoms were selected for the study.All children were subjected to upper GI endoscopy before being advised of any proton pump inhibitors(PPIs).Children with normal endoscopy were assigned as cases,and children having any endoscopic lesion were design-ated as controls.Both groups were subjected to a glucose-hydrogen breath test by Bedfont Gastrolyser.RESULTS A total of 129 consecutive children who were naive to PPIs and had normal ba-seline investigations were included in the study.Among them,67 patients had endoscopic lesions and served as the control group,with six cases being excluded due to the presence of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies.Sixty-two children with normal endoscopy results formed the case group.In the case group,35 children(59%)tested positive for hydrogen breath tests,compared to 13 children(21%)in the control group.The calculated odds ratio was 5.38(95%confidence interval:2.41-12.0),which was statistically significant.Further analysis of symptoms revealed that nausea,halitosis,foul-smelling eructation,and epigastric fullness were positive predictors of SIBO.CONCLUSION It is worthwhile to investigate and treat SIBO in all children presenting with upper GI symptoms that are not explained by endoscopy findings.展开更多
Honey, an apicultural product with a complex chemical composition, contains numerous bioactive compounds with potential antimicrobial effects. This study investigated the effect of Apis mellifera honey from Brazil’s ...Honey, an apicultural product with a complex chemical composition, contains numerous bioactive compounds with potential antimicrobial effects. This study investigated the effect of Apis mellifera honey from Brazil’s Central-West Region, combined with antibiotics, on bacterial membrane permeability, exploring the contributions of bioactive compounds and the botanical origin of honey. Six fresh Apis mellifera honey samples and their fractions (hexane and ethyl acetate) were analyzed, for a total of 18 samples. The bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, Helicobacter pylori and Enterococcus faecalis were used for antibacterial activity tests, which included minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination and synergistic effect (checkerboard) assays. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were quantified, and the botanical origin was determined based on pollen analysis. The tested honey samples significantly affected bacterial membrane permeability when combined with rifampicin and clarithromycin. Although many honey-derived bioactive compounds, when isolated, did not exhibit significant activity against these bacteria, the additive or synergistic effect of multiple compounds acting on different targets appears to potentiate the antibacterial action. Descriptive statistical analysis, including means and 95% confidence intervals, confirmed the relevance of the findings. This study has provided an important discovery: Honey has an effect on bacterial membrane permeability, although the specific mechanisms involved in this process require further investigation.展开更多
The presence of the blood–brain barrier limits the drug concentration in the brain,while low concentrations of antibiotics make it difficult to kill infecting bacteria and tends to induce drug resistance,making the c...The presence of the blood–brain barrier limits the drug concentration in the brain,while low concentrations of antibiotics make it difficult to kill infecting bacteria and tends to induce drug resistance,making the clinical treatment of bacterial meningitis challenging.Herein,a nose-to-brain delivery strategy of small-sized nanozyme has been fabricated for combating bacterial meningitis,to overcome the low drug concentration and drug resistance.This strategy was achieved by a proteinsupported Au nanozyme(ANZ).With a particle size of less than 10 nm,it possesses both glucose oxidase-like and peroxidase-like activities and can generate large amounts of reactive oxygen species through a cascade effect without the addition of external H_(2)O_(2).Benefiting from the cascade catalytic amplification effect generated by its dual enzymelike activities,ANZ shows significant broad-spectrum antibacterial activity without inducing bacterial resistance in vitro.Notably,small-sized ANZ exhibits higher brain entry efficiency and greater accumulation after intranasal administration compared to oral or intravenous administration.In a mouse model of bacterial meningitis,the mice treated with ANZ had lower bacterial loads in the brain and higher survival and clinical behavior scores compared to the classical antibiotic ceftriaxone.Additionally,the meningitis mice exhibited undamaged cognitive and behavioral abilities,indicating the excellent biocompatibility of ANZ.The above results demonstrate that nose-to-brain delivery of ANZ exhibits high intracerebral accumulation,strong antibacterial efficacy and does not lead to bacterial resistance.It holds broad prospects for the treatment of bacterial meningitis.展开更多
Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is the primary causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia, which has increasingly become resistant to macrolides, complicating treatment regimens, especially with the co-inf...Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is the primary causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia, which has increasingly become resistant to macrolides, complicating treatment regimens, especially with the co-infection factor. Its worldwide prevalence has fluctuated due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigated co-infection patterns in children diagnosed with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). Methods: From June 2022 to December 2023, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data for hospitalized children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in Wuhan, China. We collected data on age, sex, clinical information, and pathogenic results. We also collected sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples to test respiratory pathogens and macrolide resistance using targeted microbial next-generation sequencing (tNGS). We analyzed the data using SPSS. Results: The study involved 417 patients diagnosed with MPP, of whom 86.33% had co-infections. Co-infections were notably linked to lobar pneumonia, prominent imaging shadows and higher macrolide resistance rate. Key bacterial pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, rhinoviruses, and human adenoviruses (HADV). In MPP cases, Candida albicans was the fungal pathogen related to co-infections. The co-infection with HADV and human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) correlated with prolonged fever, whereas Bordetella pertussis was linked to prolonged cough. In contrast, Candida albicans exhibited a weaker association with diffuse large-area infiltration on chest imaging, and its co-infection was less likely to result in severe disease. Conclusion: These results offer valuable insight into Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children, highlighting the impact of co-infections on the disease’s clinical outcomes.展开更多
BACKGROUND Bacterial contamination during colonoscopy is a significant concern,yet few studies have evaluated bacterial aerosols.This study aimed to determine whether covering the biopsy hole check valve with enzymoly...BACKGROUND Bacterial contamination during colonoscopy is a significant concern,yet few studies have evaluated bacterial aerosols.This study aimed to determine whether covering the biopsy hole check valve with enzymolysis gauze(refers to sterile gauze soaked in a multi-enzyme cleaning solution)reduces bacterial air pollution in endoscopy rooms.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of an enzymolysis gauze cover in reducing bacterial aerosols from the biopsy valve.METHODS This prospective,single-blind trial included 80 patients undergoing elective diagnostic colonoscopy.During the procedure,the biopsy hole check valve was either covered or left uncovered with enzymolysis gauze.Air samples(100 L)were collected at a distance of 30 cm from the biopsy hole check valve and approximately 140 cm above the floor using a percussive air sampling instrument.Gram-positive bacteria were cultured on standard 90 mm colimycin nalidixic agar blood plates.The primary outcome measures were bacterial load and species identification.RESULTS Covering the biopsy hole check valve with enzymolysis gauze reduced bacterial load near the check valve from 50 colony-forming unit(CFU)/m^(3)[interquartile range(IQR):30-80]to 20 CFU/m^(3)(IQR:10-20).At the end of the procedure each day,covering the valve also decreased bacterial load in the endoscopy room from 35 CFU/m^(3)(IQR:33-85)to 10 CFU/m^(3)(IQR:5-10).The predominant bacteria identified were Gram-positive cocci.CONCLUSION Applying enzymolysis gauze to cover the biopsy hole check valve significantly reduces bacterial aerosol contamination in endoscopy rooms during colonoscopy.展开更多
The conversion of saline-alkali soils into paddy fields for long-term rice cultivation involves multiple disturbances,and as a result,soil microbial communities are altered to adapt to changing environmental condition...The conversion of saline-alkali soils into paddy fields for long-term rice cultivation involves multiple disturbances,and as a result,soil microbial communities are altered to adapt to changing environmental conditions.However,a comprehensive understanding of the succession of soil bacterial communities that occurs during this process is still lacking.In the present study,we utilized data obtained from paddy fields of different rice cultivation years(0-23 years)to investigate the compositional and functional succession of soil bacterial communities.We focused on core bacterial taxa that were specifically enriched at different successional stages.Generalized joint attribute modeling(GJAM)was used to identify core bacterial taxa.Results indicated that the bare saline-alkali soil(0 year,prior to any rice cultivation)shared few core amplicon sequence variants(ASVs)with paddy fields.In the bare saline-alkali soil,Longimicrobiaceae from the phylum Gemmatimonadetes was dominant,while the dominance was subsequently replaced by Burkholderiaceae and Pedosphaeraceae--phyla affiliated with Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia--after 5 and 23 years of rice cultivation,respectively.The relative abundances of nitrogen metabolism functions in the core bacterial communities of the bare saline-alkali soil were higher than those at other successional stages,while sulfur metabolism functions exhibited the opposite trend.These indicated that the role of the core bacterial taxa in mediating nutrient cycling also evolved and adapted to changing soil conditions as rice cultivation was established.Redundancy analysis(RDA)indicated that the composition of the core bacterial community in paddy fields with rice cultivation for 0,2 and 4,6,8,10,and 12,and 20 and 23 years were driven by soil nitrate nitrogen content,pH,available phosphorus content,and the ratio of total carbon to total nitrogen,respectively.In summary,the present study provides insights into the succession of soil bacterial communities and core bacterial taxa that occurs during long-term rice cultivation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat,and understanding local trends in bacterial isolates and their susceptibility patterns is crucial for effective infection control and antimicrobial st...BACKGROUND Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat,and understanding local trends in bacterial isolates and their susceptibility patterns is crucial for effective infection control and antimicrobial stewardship.The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has introduced additional complexities,potentially influencing these patterns.AIM To analyze trends in bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at Salmaniya Medical Complex from 2018 to 2023,with a specific focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends.METHODS A retrospective analysis of microbiological data was conducted,covering the period from 2018 to 2023.The study included key bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli(E.coli),Klebsiella pneumoniae,Acinetobacter baumannii,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Staphylococcus aureus,among others.The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of these isolates were assessed using standard laboratory methods.To contextualize the findings,the findings were compared with similar studies from other regions,including China,India,Romania,Saudi Arabia,the United Arab Emirates,Malaysia,and United States.RESULTS The study revealed fluctuating trends in the prevalence of bacterial isolates,with notable changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.For example,a significant increase in the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus was observed during the pandemic years,while the prevalence of E.coli showed a more variable pattern.Antibiotic resistance rates varied among the different pathogens,with a concerning rise in resistance to commonly used antibiotics,particularly among Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli.Additionally,the study identified an alarming increase in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant(MDR)strains,especially within Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli isolates.The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends was evident,with shifts in the frequency,resistance patterns,and the emergence of MDR bacteria among several key pathogens.CONCLUSION This study highlights the dynamic nature of bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at Salmaniya Medical Complex,particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.The findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring and effective anti-microbial stewardship programs to combat the evolving threat of antibiotic resistance.Further research and policy initiatives are required to address the identified challenges and improve patient outcomes in the face of these ongoing challenges.展开更多
The co-infection of corona and influenza viruses has emerged as a significant threat to global public health due to their shared modes of transmission and overlapping clinical symptoms.This article presents a novel ma...The co-infection of corona and influenza viruses has emerged as a significant threat to global public health due to their shared modes of transmission and overlapping clinical symptoms.This article presents a novel mathematical model that addresses the dynamics of this co-infection by extending the SEIR(Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered)framework to incorporate treatment and hospitalization compartments.The population is divided into eight compartments,with infectious individuals further categorized into influenza infectious,corona infectious,and co-infection cases.The proposed mathematical model is constrained to adhere to fundamental epidemiological properties,such as non-negativity and boundedness within a feasible region.Additionally,the model is demonstrated to be well-posed with a unique solution.Equilibrium points,including the disease-free and endemic equilibria,are identified,and various properties related to these equilibrium points,such as the basic reproduction number,are determined.Local and global sensitivity analyses are performed to identify the parameters that highly influence disease dynamics and the reproduction number.Knowing the most influential parameters is crucial for understanding their impact on the co-infection’s spread and severity.Furthermore,an optimal control problem is defined to minimize disease transmission and to control strategy costs.The purpose of our study is to identify the most effective(optimal)control strategies for mitigating the spread of the co-infection with minimum cost of the controls.The results illustrate the effectiveness of the implemented control strategies in managing the co-infection’s impact on the population’s health.This mathematical modeling and control strategy framework provides valuable tools for understanding and combating the dual threat of corona and influenza co-infection,helping public health authorities and policymakers make informed decisions in the face of these intertwined epidemics.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic presents a significant challenge to the medical profession,increasing in the presence of microbial coinfection.Bacterial and Fungal co-infections increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19.AIM To study the bacterial profile in patients with COVID-19 who needed admission to receive treatment in the main centres concerned with managing COVID-19 disease in the Kingdom of Bahrain.METHODS The study was a retrospective observational analysis of the bacterial profile and the bacterial resistance in patients with confirmed COVID-19 disease who needed admission to receive treatment in the main centres assigned to manage patients with COVID-19 disease in the Kingdom of Bahrain from February to October 2020.We used the electronic patients’records and the microbiology laboratory data to identify patients’demographics,clinical data,microbial profile,hospital or community-acquired,and the outcomes.RESULTS The study included 1380 patients admitted with confirmed COVID-19 disease during the study period.51%were admitted from February to June,and 49%were admitted from July to October 2020,with a recurrence rate was 0.36%.There was a significant increase in bacterial and fungal co-infection in the second period compared to the first period.The most common isolated organisms were the gram-negative bacteria(mainly Klebsiella pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii,and Escherichia coli),the grampositive bacteria(mainly coagulase negative Staphylococci,Enterococcus faecium,Enterococcus faecalis,Staphylococcus aureus)and fungaemia(Candida galabrata,Candida tropicalis,Candida albicans,Aspergillus fumigatus,Candida parapsilosis,Aspergillus niger).The hospital-acquired infection formed 73.8%,61.6%,100%gram-negative,gram-positive and fungaemia.Most of the hospital-acquired infection occurred in the second period with a higher death rate than communityacquired infections.CONCLUSION Bacterial and fungal co-infections in patients admitted with confirmed COVID-19 disease pose higher morbidity and mortality risks than those without coinfections.We should perform every effort to minimize these risks.
文摘Microbial co-infections are another primary concern in patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),yet it is an untouched area among researchers.Preliminary data and systematic reviews only show the type of pathogens responsible for that,but its pathophysiology is still unknown.Studies show that these microbial co-infections are hospital-acquired/nosocomial infections,and patients admitted to intensive care units with invasive mechanical ventilation are highly susceptible to it.Patients with COVID-19 had elevated inflammatory cytokines and a weakened cell-mediated immune response,with lower CD4+T and CD8+T cell counts,indicating vulnerability to various co-infections.Despite this,there are only a few studies that recommend the management of coinfections.
基金supported by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students(X2025102911746,X2025102910483).
文摘Natural product(NPT)derived from traditional Chinese medicine has a rich history as an integral part of Chinese healthcare for thousands of years.Recently,the application of NPT in sonodynamic antibacterial therapy(SDAT)has emerged as a promising area of research.This perspective summarizes the recent NPT-based sonosensitizers in SDAT.Currently,common NPT-based sonosensitizers include curcumin,chlorophyll derivatives,hypericin,and berberine.Compared with other sonosensitizers,natural sources of NPT-based sonosensitizers with reactive oxide species production performance under ultrasound conditions,low biotoxicity,and other additional biological activity make them have application prospects in bacterial removal.Finally,the potential benefits and challenges of NPT-based nanosonosensitizers were also discussed.
文摘BACKGROUND Edwardsiella tarda(E.tarda)belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae and is generally seen to cause infections mainly in fish,but is also capable of infecting humans.Extraintestinal infections occur in patients with certain risk factors,including immunocompromised status.We recently diagnosed a case of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP)due to E.tarda in an immuno-compromised dialysis patient.CASE SUMMARY Patient was a 55-year-old male,with a history of diabetic nephropathy being treated with hemodialysis three times a week.He was referred to our hospital due to an increased volume of ascites,and blood examination revealed increased inflammatory reaction.At our emergency department,he developed fever,disturbance of consciousness,abdominal distension,and abdomen-wide pain.In addition,a dialysis shunt was confirmed in his right forearm,and the shunt site showed no signs of inflammation.No wounds were confirmed on or in his body.A blood examination revealed increased values of white blood cells,C-reactive protein,and creatinine.Plain chest and abdominal computed tomography scanning revealed increased ascites volume.Abdominal paracentesis was performed and a Gram stain revealed Gramnegative bacillus.These findings prompted diagnosis of SBP.The patient was admitted and treated with cefmetazole,causing fever resolution and symptom improvements.Later,E.tarda was identified in ascites culture.The patient improved with decreased inflammatory response and was discharged on the 12th day of hospitalization.The antibiotic was terminated after 14 days of treatment.SBP in this case may have developed from chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus.CONCLUSION We report the first known case of SBP due to E.tarda in an immuno-compromised dialysis patient.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22375101)the Natural Science of Colleges and Universities in Jiangsu Province(24KJB430027).
文摘Background:The bacterial biofilm poses a significant challenge to traditional antibiotic therapy.There is a great need to develop novel antibiofilm agents combined with biofilm disrupting and bacteria-killing without the dependence of antibiotic.Methods:Herein,we prepared ultrasound/magnetic field-responsive ferroferric oxide nanoparticles(Fe_(3)O_(4))/glucose oxidase microbubbles(FGMB)to form a cascade catalytic system for effective removing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.FGMB were prepared through interfacial self-assembly of Fe_(3)O_(4) nanoparticles(NPs)and glucose oxidase(GOx)at the gas-liquid interface stabilized by surfactants.Under ultrasound/magnetic field stimulation,FGMB disrupted biofilm architecture through microbubble collapse-induced microjets and magnetically driven displacement.Simultaneously,ultrasound-triggered rupture of FGMB released GOx and Fe_(3)O_(4) NPs.Glucose can be oxidized by GOx to generate gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide which was subsequently catalyzed into hydroxyl radicals by Fe_(3)O_(4) NPs,enabling chemical eradication of biofilm-embedded bacteria.Results:Optical microscopy images demonstrated that FGMB have spherical structure with average size of approximately 17μm.FGMB showed a 65.4%decrease in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm biomass and 1.1 log bacterial inactivation efficiency(91.2%),suggesting effective biofilm elimination.In vitro experimental results also indicate that FGMB have good biocompatibility.Conclusion:This antibiofilm strategy integrated dual modes of physical biofilm disruption with chemical bacteria-killing shows great potential as a versatile,non-resistant strategy for bacterial biofilm elimination.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82573571)the Shanghai 2025 Basic Research Plan Natural Science Foundation(25ZR1401393)the First Batch of Open Topics of the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Nautical Medicine and Translation of Drugs and Medical Devices(2025QN13)。
文摘The global burden of bacterial infections,exacerbated by antimicrobial resistance(AMR),necessitates innovative strategies.Bacterial protein vaccines offer promise by eliciting targeted immunity while circumventing AMR.However,their clinical translation is hindered by their inherently low immunogenicity,often requiring potent adjuvants and advanced delivery systems.Biomembrane nanostructures(e.g.,liposomes,exosomes,and cell membrane-derived nanostructures),characterized by superior biocompatibility,intrinsic targeting ability,and immune-modulating properties,could serve as versatile platforms that potentiate vaccine efficacy by increasing antigen stability,enabling codelivery of immunostimulants,and facilitating targeted delivery to lymphoid tissues/antigen-presenting cells.This intrinsic immunomodulation promotes robust humoral and cellular immune responses to combat bacteria.This review critically reviews(1)key biomembrane nanostructure classes for bacterial protein antigens,(2)design strategies leveraging biomembrane nanostructures to enhance humoral and cellular immune responses,(3)preclinical efficacy against diverse pathogens,and(4)translational challenges and prospects.Biomembrane nanostructure-driven approaches represent a paradigm shift in the development of next-generation bacterial protein vaccines against resistant infections.
基金supported by the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province,China(No.2021B0202030002)the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province,China(No.2019B030301007)+2 种基金the Guangdong Provincial Special Project of Rural Revitalization Strategy,China(No.(2021)12)the Joint Team Project of Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture,China(No.NT2021010)the Innovation Team Construction Project of Modern Agricultural Industry Technology Systems of Guangdong Province,China(No.2022KJ105).
文摘Rice-fish coculture(RFC)has aroused extensive concern for its contribution to food security and resource conservation,but whether it can improve soil phosphorus(P)availability and affect microbe-mediated P turnover remains elusive.Herein,we conducted a microcosm experiment to assess the impacts of RFC combined with(50 mg P kg^(-1)as KH2PO4)and without inorganic P addition on P fractions,P availability,and phoD-harboring bacterial community composition.The results revealed that RFC without P addition significantly improved P availability and phosphatase activity in paddy soil,while soil available P(AP),pH,and microbial biomass P(MBP)contributed to regulating P fractions.Moreover,the phoD-harboring bacterial abundance was linked to phosphatase activity,AP,total carbon(TC),and total P(TP)contents,and the ratios of TC to total nitrogen(TN)and TN to TP.We also found that the keystone taxa of phoD-harboring bacteria contributed to phosphatase production as well as organic P mineralization,thereby improving P availability.Our findings suggest that RFC without P addition is beneficial for promoting the expression of phoD-harboring bacterial functions to improve the capacity of P mineralization.Overall,our study provides insights into the responses of phoD-harboring bacterial functions for P turnover to RFC combined with and without P addition,showing the potential utilization of P resources in agricultural soil and the contribution of phosphatase activity to P acquisition in agriculture ecosystem.
基金supported by the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia under the Research University Grant(No.GUP-2020-030)awarded to Sylvia CHIENG.
文摘Adenosine triphosphate(ATP)-binding cassette(ABC)transporter systems are divided into importers and exporters that facilitate the movement of diverse substrate molecules across the lipid bilayer,against the concentration gradient.These transporters comprise two highly conserved nucleotide-binding domains(NBDs)and two transmembrane domains(TMDs).Unlike ABC exporters,prokaryotic ABC importers require an additional substrate-binding protein(SBP)as a recognition site for specific substrate translocation.The discovery of a large number of ABC systems in bacterial pathogens revealed that these transporters are crucial for the establishment of bacterial infections.The existing literature has highlighted the roles of ABC transporters in bacterial growth,pathogenesis,and virulence.These roles include importing essential nutrients required for a variety of cellular processes and exporting outer membrane-associated virulence factors and antimicrobial substances.This review outlines the general structures and classification of ABC systems to provide a comprehensive view of the activities and roles of ABC transporters associated with bacterial virulence and pathogenesis during infection.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(32272153)Henan Province Science and Technology R&D Joint Fund(232301420025)+4 种基金National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFD1200200)the Key Research Project of the Shennong Laboratory(SN01-2022-03)Independent Innovation Foundation of Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences(2024ZC024)China Agriculture Research System(CARS-13)Henan Provincial Agriculture Research System(S2012-5).
文摘Wild peanut(Arachis)species are promising sources of disease resistance for improving peanut cultivars.The objective of this study was to assess cross-compatibility among cultivated and wild peanuts in crosses between eight peanut cultivars and 27 wild species carrying the A,B,E,Ex,F,K,P,and H genomes.Embryo culture and chromosome doubling led to polyploids representing hybrids between cultivated peanut and A.stenosperma,A.macedoi,A.duranensis,A.villosa,and A.diogoi.The first two showed greater resistance to bacterial wilt than their cultivated parents.DNA markers were developed for verifying the hybrids and for identifying translocation or introgression lines with alien chromosome fragments.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(81201261,81301428)the National Science Foundation for Post-doctoral Scientists of China(2013M5317456)the National Science and Technology Major Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2012ZX10004501-001-004)
文摘Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb) and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) co-infection has become a public health issue worldwide. Up to now, there have been many unresolved issues either in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of M.tb/HIV coinfection or in the basic understanding of the mechanisms for the impairments to the immune system by interactions of these two pathogens. One important reason for these unsolved issues is the lack of appropriate animal models for the study of M.tb/HIV coinfection. This paper reviews the recent development of research on the animal models of M.tb/HIV co-infection, with a focus on the non-human primate models.
文摘Solar-driven Fenton-like reactions are promising strategies for degrading pharmaceutical wastewater to address environmental challenges and antibiotic pollution.However,its efficacy is limited by suboptimal light absorption efficiency,rapid charge recombination,and inadequate interfacial charge transfer.In this study,an inorganic/organic S-scheme photo-Fenton system of pseudobrookite/carbon nitride(FTOCN)was synthesized via a hydrothermally coupled calcination process for the effective purification of tetracycline antibiotics under visible-light irradiation.The optimized FTOCN-2 heterostructure exhibits a significantly enhanced TC degradation capacity of 90%within 60 min.The rate constant of FTOCN-2 is 1.6 and 5.2 times greater than those of FTO and CN,respectively.Furthermore,FTOCN exhibits high antibacterial efficacy,highlighting its potential application in the purification of natural water.Measurements via a range of analytical techniques,including Kelvin probe force microscopy,density functional theory calculations,in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy,corroborate the S-scheme mechanism.This study provides a novel perspective for the development of photo-Fenton systems with S-scheme heterojunctions for water purification.
基金supported by a sub-award to the University of Missouri from the Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf funded by the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation(OPP1155704)(Bing Yang)and the China Scholar Council(Chenhao Li,as a joint Ph.D.student).
文摘Bacterial blight(BB),caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae(Xoo),poses a significant threat to rice production,particularly in Asia and West Africa.Breeding resistance against BB in elite rice varieties is crucial to advancing rice breeding program and supporting smallholder farmers.Transcription Activator-Like effectors(TALes)are key virulence factors in Xoo,with some targeting the susceptibility(S)genes such as the sugar transporter SWEET genes in rice.Among these,SWEET14 is an important S gene,with its promoter bound by the TALe TalC which exists across all sequenced African Xoo isolates.In the present study,we utilized CRISPR/Cas9-based cytidine and adenine base editors to alter the effector binding element(EBE)of TalC in the promoter of SWEET14 in rice cultivars Kitaake,IR24,and Zhonghua 11.Mutations with C to T changes in EBE led to reduced SWEET14 induction by TalC-containing Xoo strains,resulting in resistance to African Xoo isolates reliant on TalC for virulence.Conversely,A to G changes retained SWEET14 inducibility and susceptibility to Xoo in edited lines.Importantly,no off-target mutations were detected at predicted sites,and the edited lines exhibited no obvious defects in major agronomic traits in Kitaake.These results underscore the effectiveness of base editing systems for both molecular biology research and crop improvement endeavors.
文摘BACKGROUND Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO)is suspected and excluded frequently in functional gastrointestinal(GI)disorders.Children presenting with various esophago-gastro-duodenal(upper GI)symptoms are rarely subjected to investig-ations for SIBO.AIM To estimate the frequency of SIBO in children having functional upper GI sym-ptoms(as cases)and to compare the result of the SIBO status to that of the con-trols.METHODS Children aged 6 to 18 who presented with upper GI symptoms were selected for the study.All children were subjected to upper GI endoscopy before being advised of any proton pump inhibitors(PPIs).Children with normal endoscopy were assigned as cases,and children having any endoscopic lesion were design-ated as controls.Both groups were subjected to a glucose-hydrogen breath test by Bedfont Gastrolyser.RESULTS A total of 129 consecutive children who were naive to PPIs and had normal ba-seline investigations were included in the study.Among them,67 patients had endoscopic lesions and served as the control group,with six cases being excluded due to the presence of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies.Sixty-two children with normal endoscopy results formed the case group.In the case group,35 children(59%)tested positive for hydrogen breath tests,compared to 13 children(21%)in the control group.The calculated odds ratio was 5.38(95%confidence interval:2.41-12.0),which was statistically significant.Further analysis of symptoms revealed that nausea,halitosis,foul-smelling eructation,and epigastric fullness were positive predictors of SIBO.CONCLUSION It is worthwhile to investigate and treat SIBO in all children presenting with upper GI symptoms that are not explained by endoscopy findings.
文摘Honey, an apicultural product with a complex chemical composition, contains numerous bioactive compounds with potential antimicrobial effects. This study investigated the effect of Apis mellifera honey from Brazil’s Central-West Region, combined with antibiotics, on bacterial membrane permeability, exploring the contributions of bioactive compounds and the botanical origin of honey. Six fresh Apis mellifera honey samples and their fractions (hexane and ethyl acetate) were analyzed, for a total of 18 samples. The bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, Helicobacter pylori and Enterococcus faecalis were used for antibacterial activity tests, which included minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination and synergistic effect (checkerboard) assays. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were quantified, and the botanical origin was determined based on pollen analysis. The tested honey samples significantly affected bacterial membrane permeability when combined with rifampicin and clarithromycin. Although many honey-derived bioactive compounds, when isolated, did not exhibit significant activity against these bacteria, the additive or synergistic effect of multiple compounds acting on different targets appears to potentiate the antibacterial action. Descriptive statistical analysis, including means and 95% confidence intervals, confirmed the relevance of the findings. This study has provided an important discovery: Honey has an effect on bacterial membrane permeability, although the specific mechanisms involved in this process require further investigation.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32172855)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Nos.2632024ZD07,2632024TD02)the Open Project of Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Resources(Clinical Resources)Coordination Service Platform(No.TC2023B001)。
文摘The presence of the blood–brain barrier limits the drug concentration in the brain,while low concentrations of antibiotics make it difficult to kill infecting bacteria and tends to induce drug resistance,making the clinical treatment of bacterial meningitis challenging.Herein,a nose-to-brain delivery strategy of small-sized nanozyme has been fabricated for combating bacterial meningitis,to overcome the low drug concentration and drug resistance.This strategy was achieved by a proteinsupported Au nanozyme(ANZ).With a particle size of less than 10 nm,it possesses both glucose oxidase-like and peroxidase-like activities and can generate large amounts of reactive oxygen species through a cascade effect without the addition of external H_(2)O_(2).Benefiting from the cascade catalytic amplification effect generated by its dual enzymelike activities,ANZ shows significant broad-spectrum antibacterial activity without inducing bacterial resistance in vitro.Notably,small-sized ANZ exhibits higher brain entry efficiency and greater accumulation after intranasal administration compared to oral or intravenous administration.In a mouse model of bacterial meningitis,the mice treated with ANZ had lower bacterial loads in the brain and higher survival and clinical behavior scores compared to the classical antibiotic ceftriaxone.Additionally,the meningitis mice exhibited undamaged cognitive and behavioral abilities,indicating the excellent biocompatibility of ANZ.The above results demonstrate that nose-to-brain delivery of ANZ exhibits high intracerebral accumulation,strong antibacterial efficacy and does not lead to bacterial resistance.It holds broad prospects for the treatment of bacterial meningitis.
文摘Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is the primary causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia, which has increasingly become resistant to macrolides, complicating treatment regimens, especially with the co-infection factor. Its worldwide prevalence has fluctuated due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigated co-infection patterns in children diagnosed with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). Methods: From June 2022 to December 2023, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data for hospitalized children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in Wuhan, China. We collected data on age, sex, clinical information, and pathogenic results. We also collected sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples to test respiratory pathogens and macrolide resistance using targeted microbial next-generation sequencing (tNGS). We analyzed the data using SPSS. Results: The study involved 417 patients diagnosed with MPP, of whom 86.33% had co-infections. Co-infections were notably linked to lobar pneumonia, prominent imaging shadows and higher macrolide resistance rate. Key bacterial pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, rhinoviruses, and human adenoviruses (HADV). In MPP cases, Candida albicans was the fungal pathogen related to co-infections. The co-infection with HADV and human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) correlated with prolonged fever, whereas Bordetella pertussis was linked to prolonged cough. In contrast, Candida albicans exhibited a weaker association with diffuse large-area infiltration on chest imaging, and its co-infection was less likely to result in severe disease. Conclusion: These results offer valuable insight into Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children, highlighting the impact of co-infections on the disease’s clinical outcomes.
基金Supported by the Construction Fund of Key Medical Disciplines of Hangzhou,No.2025HZGF05the Key R and D Program of Zhejiang Province,No.2023C03054 and No.2024C03048+1 种基金the Key Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine(Digestive Diseases)in Zhejiang Province,No.2024-XK-61the Zhejiang Province Medical and Health Science and Technology Plan Project,No.2021KY848.
文摘BACKGROUND Bacterial contamination during colonoscopy is a significant concern,yet few studies have evaluated bacterial aerosols.This study aimed to determine whether covering the biopsy hole check valve with enzymolysis gauze(refers to sterile gauze soaked in a multi-enzyme cleaning solution)reduces bacterial air pollution in endoscopy rooms.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of an enzymolysis gauze cover in reducing bacterial aerosols from the biopsy valve.METHODS This prospective,single-blind trial included 80 patients undergoing elective diagnostic colonoscopy.During the procedure,the biopsy hole check valve was either covered or left uncovered with enzymolysis gauze.Air samples(100 L)were collected at a distance of 30 cm from the biopsy hole check valve and approximately 140 cm above the floor using a percussive air sampling instrument.Gram-positive bacteria were cultured on standard 90 mm colimycin nalidixic agar blood plates.The primary outcome measures were bacterial load and species identification.RESULTS Covering the biopsy hole check valve with enzymolysis gauze reduced bacterial load near the check valve from 50 colony-forming unit(CFU)/m^(3)[interquartile range(IQR):30-80]to 20 CFU/m^(3)(IQR:10-20).At the end of the procedure each day,covering the valve also decreased bacterial load in the endoscopy room from 35 CFU/m^(3)(IQR:33-85)to 10 CFU/m^(3)(IQR:5-10).The predominant bacteria identified were Gram-positive cocci.CONCLUSION Applying enzymolysis gauze to cover the biopsy hole check valve significantly reduces bacterial aerosol contamination in endoscopy rooms during colonoscopy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32371734,42007034,41920104008,and U22A20593)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA28020400)+2 种基金the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.2023205)the Young Scientist Group Project of Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology of China(No.2022QNXZ04)the Science and Technology Development Project of Jilin Province of China(No.YDZJ202101ZYTS006).
文摘The conversion of saline-alkali soils into paddy fields for long-term rice cultivation involves multiple disturbances,and as a result,soil microbial communities are altered to adapt to changing environmental conditions.However,a comprehensive understanding of the succession of soil bacterial communities that occurs during this process is still lacking.In the present study,we utilized data obtained from paddy fields of different rice cultivation years(0-23 years)to investigate the compositional and functional succession of soil bacterial communities.We focused on core bacterial taxa that were specifically enriched at different successional stages.Generalized joint attribute modeling(GJAM)was used to identify core bacterial taxa.Results indicated that the bare saline-alkali soil(0 year,prior to any rice cultivation)shared few core amplicon sequence variants(ASVs)with paddy fields.In the bare saline-alkali soil,Longimicrobiaceae from the phylum Gemmatimonadetes was dominant,while the dominance was subsequently replaced by Burkholderiaceae and Pedosphaeraceae--phyla affiliated with Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia--after 5 and 23 years of rice cultivation,respectively.The relative abundances of nitrogen metabolism functions in the core bacterial communities of the bare saline-alkali soil were higher than those at other successional stages,while sulfur metabolism functions exhibited the opposite trend.These indicated that the role of the core bacterial taxa in mediating nutrient cycling also evolved and adapted to changing soil conditions as rice cultivation was established.Redundancy analysis(RDA)indicated that the composition of the core bacterial community in paddy fields with rice cultivation for 0,2 and 4,6,8,10,and 12,and 20 and 23 years were driven by soil nitrate nitrogen content,pH,available phosphorus content,and the ratio of total carbon to total nitrogen,respectively.In summary,the present study provides insights into the succession of soil bacterial communities and core bacterial taxa that occurs during long-term rice cultivation.
文摘BACKGROUND Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat,and understanding local trends in bacterial isolates and their susceptibility patterns is crucial for effective infection control and antimicrobial stewardship.The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has introduced additional complexities,potentially influencing these patterns.AIM To analyze trends in bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at Salmaniya Medical Complex from 2018 to 2023,with a specific focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends.METHODS A retrospective analysis of microbiological data was conducted,covering the period from 2018 to 2023.The study included key bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli(E.coli),Klebsiella pneumoniae,Acinetobacter baumannii,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Staphylococcus aureus,among others.The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of these isolates were assessed using standard laboratory methods.To contextualize the findings,the findings were compared with similar studies from other regions,including China,India,Romania,Saudi Arabia,the United Arab Emirates,Malaysia,and United States.RESULTS The study revealed fluctuating trends in the prevalence of bacterial isolates,with notable changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.For example,a significant increase in the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus was observed during the pandemic years,while the prevalence of E.coli showed a more variable pattern.Antibiotic resistance rates varied among the different pathogens,with a concerning rise in resistance to commonly used antibiotics,particularly among Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli.Additionally,the study identified an alarming increase in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant(MDR)strains,especially within Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli isolates.The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends was evident,with shifts in the frequency,resistance patterns,and the emergence of MDR bacteria among several key pathogens.CONCLUSION This study highlights the dynamic nature of bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at Salmaniya Medical Complex,particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.The findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring and effective anti-microbial stewardship programs to combat the evolving threat of antibiotic resistance.Further research and policy initiatives are required to address the identified challenges and improve patient outcomes in the face of these ongoing challenges.
基金supported by NASA Oklahoma Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research(EPSCoR)Infrastructure Development,“Machine Learning Ocean World Biosignature Detection from Mass Spec”(PI:BrettMcKinney),Grant No.80NSSC24M0109Tandy School of Computer Science,University of Tulsa.
文摘The co-infection of corona and influenza viruses has emerged as a significant threat to global public health due to their shared modes of transmission and overlapping clinical symptoms.This article presents a novel mathematical model that addresses the dynamics of this co-infection by extending the SEIR(Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered)framework to incorporate treatment and hospitalization compartments.The population is divided into eight compartments,with infectious individuals further categorized into influenza infectious,corona infectious,and co-infection cases.The proposed mathematical model is constrained to adhere to fundamental epidemiological properties,such as non-negativity and boundedness within a feasible region.Additionally,the model is demonstrated to be well-posed with a unique solution.Equilibrium points,including the disease-free and endemic equilibria,are identified,and various properties related to these equilibrium points,such as the basic reproduction number,are determined.Local and global sensitivity analyses are performed to identify the parameters that highly influence disease dynamics and the reproduction number.Knowing the most influential parameters is crucial for understanding their impact on the co-infection’s spread and severity.Furthermore,an optimal control problem is defined to minimize disease transmission and to control strategy costs.The purpose of our study is to identify the most effective(optimal)control strategies for mitigating the spread of the co-infection with minimum cost of the controls.The results illustrate the effectiveness of the implemented control strategies in managing the co-infection’s impact on the population’s health.This mathematical modeling and control strategy framework provides valuable tools for understanding and combating the dual threat of corona and influenza co-infection,helping public health authorities and policymakers make informed decisions in the face of these intertwined epidemics.
