To access the variance of antibiotic-resistance,we investigated the susceptibility of 30 antimicro-bial agents in Campylobacters isolated from 1994 to 1998 using the agar dilution method.All Campylobacter wassusceptib...To access the variance of antibiotic-resistance,we investigated the susceptibility of 30 antimicro-bial agents in Campylobacters isolated from 1994 to 1998 using the agar dilution method.All Campylobacter wassusceptible to aminoglycoside,imipenem,polymycin B,clarithromycin,josamycin and medemycin.Of the 200strains of Campylobacters,3%were resistant to erythromycin;44.5%to fluoroquinolones.Complete cross-resistanceamong the fluoroquinolones was observed.The rate of resistance to erythromycin and gentamycin rentained rela-tively lower and stable over the past five years,so these two drugs remain to be the choice for the treatment of Cam-pylobacter infections.The rate of drug resistance to fluoroquinolones of Campylobacters in Beijing area is so highthat the application of these drugs should be modulated strictly.展开更多
Campylobacter is one of the most common food-borne bacterial enteropathogens. We planned to investigate the prevalence and antibiotic resistogram of Campylobacter in poultry in and around Chandigarh. Poultry samples (...Campylobacter is one of the most common food-borne bacterial enteropathogens. We planned to investigate the prevalence and antibiotic resistogram of Campylobacter in poultry in and around Chandigarh. Poultry samples (n = 127) were obtained from slaughter houses/retail outlets and cultured microaerophilically on Campylobacter media. The isolates were identified phenotypically and by molecular investigation. Identification of specific genes to look for resistance to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, tetracyclin and streptomycin was also done. Campylobacter was isolated from 57/127 (44.9%) of the samples. The most frequent serotypes identified were B: 2, S: 27, Z5: 52 and Z7: 57. All culture isolates (100%) were reconfirmed as Campylobacter by 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction. Molecular identification of isolates revealed the presence of C. jejuni in 45 (79.0%), C. coli in 1 (1.8%) and co-infection of C. coli and C. jejuni in 11 (19.3%). No C. lari and C. upsaliensis were detected. Antibiogram typing showed nalidixic acid resistance in 36.8%, ciprofloxacin resistance in 35.0% and 31.5% resistance for both streptomycin and tetracyclin. A high level of Campylobacter prevalence was found among the poultry with C. jejuni being the most commonly isolated species. Resistance to major antibiotics among Campylobacter isolates from poultry was also very high. The study of prevalence of Campylobacter in poultry and its resistance to major antibiotics will help to plan risk burden strategies throughout the food chain.展开更多
BACKGROUND ChatGPT was developed in November 2022 with studies showing its impressive performance in academic examinations,serving as a promising tool to answer questions even on controversial topics.Artificial intell...BACKGROUND ChatGPT was developed in November 2022 with studies showing its impressive performance in academic examinations,serving as a promising tool to answer questions even on controversial topics.Artificial intelligence(AI)achieving surface-level performance does not necessarily equate to a deep understanding of human cognition.The development of artificial wisdom,therefore,necessitates a shift from simply mimicking intelligent behavior to modeling the underlying mechanisms of human wisdom,including emotional understanding,ethical considerations,and contextual awareness.Several theories exist behind the death of Alexander the Great,but no definitive conclusion has been made.AIM To evaluate whether a hybrid approach,combining generative AI(ChatGPT)with human clinical judgment,can meaningfully reassess the cause of death of Alexander the Great.METHODS This is a cross-sectional study using ChatGPT(version 4 Pro).A search was performed with search terms describing the symptoms experienced by Alexander the Great and possible causes of his death:West Nile virus(WNV)encephalitis,poisoning,acute pancreatitis due to excessive alcohol consumption,typhoid fever,and malaria.The historical data and symptomatology were analyzed,weighing evidence and context in a manner akin to human wisdom.RESULTS The most likely cause of death of Alexander the Great,as generated by ChatGPT,was typhoid fever complicated by Guillain-Barrésyndrome(GBS).The hypothesis was based on the alignment between Alexander’s reported symptoms,such as prolonged high fever,severe abdominal pain,neurological decline,and the known clinical presentation of typhoid fever.However,after carefully reviewing the sources mentioned by ChatGPT,many did not back up the idea that typhoid caused GBS and instead pointed to Campylobacter jejuni as the more likely trigger.Other possible causes of death suggested by ChatGPT including acute pancreatitis from excessive alcohol consumption,infectious causes(WNV encephalitis,malaria),and poisoning were less likely.CONCLUSION While ChatGPT initially concluded typhoid fever with GBS as the most plausible cause of death,expert reappraisal of the sources and pathophysiology suggested that C.jejuni-associated GBS was more likely.This study exemplifies how incorporating AI’s pattern recognition with human scrutiny can yield responsible interpretations of historical records.展开更多
Death of infants from diarrhoea is a common occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa. This is attributed to unhygienic practices which aid the proliferation of diarrhoea-causing microorganisms. Among these microorganisms, Cam...Death of infants from diarrhoea is a common occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa. This is attributed to unhygienic practices which aid the proliferation of diarrhoea-causing microorganisms. Among these microorganisms, Cam- pylobacter species have been reported as one of the causal agents, Campylobacter spp. are human intestinal pathogens of global importance and their pathogenicity mechanisms are not well understood. This study was designed to investigate the molecular characterisation of Campylobacter gotten from cultural methods in Osun State. Campylobacters isolated were biochemically characterized and biotyped. Confirmation of Campylobacter was done using flaA gene, hippuricase O for Campylobacter jejuni and aspartokinase gene for Campylobacter coli and single locus sequencing glnA gene were performed by PCR. Twenty five samples were amplified by PCR out of 57 Campylobacter strains that were positive for cultural methods from 815 stool samples with diarrhoea and 100 stool samples without diarrhoea. No Campylobacter was isolated from stools of children in the control group. Twenty-five isolates comprising of 18 Campylobater jejuni and 7 C. coli were identified. The nucleotide sequence of the gln A for all the isolated Campylobacter spp. showed 91.0% similarity with the ones in the GenBank. The C. jejuni was classified into biotypes I (44.4%) and II (55.6%) and all C. coli were of biotype I.展开更多
Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is highly associated with the occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases,including gastric inflammation,peptic ulcer,gastric cancer,and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid-tissue lym...Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is highly associated with the occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases,including gastric inflammation,peptic ulcer,gastric cancer,and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid-tissue lymphoma.Although alternative therapies,including phytomedicines and probiotics,have been used to improve eradication,current treatment still relies on a combination of antimicrobial agents,such as amoxicillin,clarithromycin,metronidazole,and levofloxacin,and antisecretory agents,such as proton pump inhibitors(PPIs).A standard triple therapy consisting of a PPI and two antibiotics(clarithromycin and amoxicillin/metronidazole)is widely used as the first-line regimen for treatment of infection,but the increased resistance of H.pylori to clarithromycin and metronidazole has significantly reduced the eradication rate using this therapy and bismuth-containing therapy or 10-d sequential therapy has therefore been proposed to replace standard triple therapy.Alternatively,levofloxacin-based triple therapy can be used as rescue therapy for H.pylori infection after failure of first-line therapy.The increase in resistance to antibiotics,including levofloxacin,may limit the applicability of such regimens.However,since resistance of H.pylori to amoxicillin is generally low,an optimized high dose dual therapy consisting of a PPI and amoxicillin can be an effective first-line or rescue therapy.In addition,the concomitant use of alternative medicine has the potential to provide additive or synergistic effects against H.pylori infection,though its efficacy needs to be verified in clinical studies.展开更多
AIM:To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method to detect and quantify Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) from stool specimens.METHODS:Primers and a probe for real-time PCR were designed based on the spec...AIM:To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method to detect and quantify Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) from stool specimens.METHODS:Primers and a probe for real-time PCR were designed based on the specific DNA sequence of the hipO gene in C.jejuni.The specificity of the primers and probe were tested against a set of Campylobacter spp.and other enteric pathogens.The optimal PCR conditions were determined by testing a series of conditions with standard a C.jejuni template.The detection limits were obtained using purified DNA from bacterial culture and extracted DNA from the stool specimen.Two hundred and forty-two specimens were analyzed for the presence of C.jejuni by direct bacterial culture and real-time PCR.RESULTS:The optimal PCR system was determined using reference DNA templates,1 × uracil-DNA glycosylase,3.5 mmol/L MgCl 2,1.25 U platinum Taq polymerase,0.4 mmol/L PCR nucleotide mix,0.48 μmol/L of each primer,0.2 μmol/L of probe and 2 μL of DNA template in a final volume of 25 μL.The PCR reaction was carried as follows:95 ℃ for 4 min,followed by 45 cycles of 10 s at 95 ℃ and 30 s at 59 ℃.The detection limit was 4.3 CFU/mL using purified DNA from bacterial culture and 10 3 CFU/g using DNA from stool specimens.Twenty(8.3%,20/242) C.jejuni strains were isolated from bacterial culture,while 41(16.9%,41/242) samples were found to be positive by realtime PCR.DNA sequencing of the PCR product indicated the presence of C.jejuni in the specimen.One mixed infection of C.jejuni and Salmonella was detected in one specimen and the PCR test for this specimen was positive.CONCLUSION:The sensitivity of detection of C.jejuni from stool specimens was much higher using this PCR assay than using the direct culture method.展开更多
Objective To investigate genetic and antibiotic resistance characteristics of Campylobacter jejuni(C. jejuni) isolated from Shenzhen. Methods Multilocs sequence typing and agar dilution methods were used to define the...Objective To investigate genetic and antibiotic resistance characteristics of Campylobacter jejuni(C. jejuni) isolated from Shenzhen. Methods Multilocs sequence typing and agar dilution methods were used to define the genotype and antibiotic resistance of C. jejuni, respectively. Results In total, 126 C. jejuni strains were isolated. The prevalence of C. jejuni was 5.3% in diarrheal patients. The prevalence in poultry meat(36.5%) was higher than that in cattle meat(1.1%). However, the prevalence in poultry cloacal swabs(27.0%) was lower than that in cattle stool(57.3%). Sixty-two sequence types were obtained, among which 27 of the STs and 10 alleles were previously unreported. The most frequently observed clonal complexes were ST-21(11.9%), ST-22(10.3%), and ST-403(7.1%). ST-21, ST-45, ST-354, ST-403, and ST-443 complexes overlapped between isolates from patients and cattle, whereas ST-45 and ST-574 complexes overlapped between isolates from patients and poultry. All C. jejuni were resistant to at least one antibiotic. The highest resistance rate was toward ciprofloxacin(89.7%), followed by tetracycline(74.6%), and nalidixic acid(69.0%). Conclusion This is the first report of the genotypes and antibiotic resistance of C. jejuni in Shenzhen. Overlapping clonal complexes were found between isolates from patients and cattle, and between patients and poultry.展开更多
As a respiratory tract virus,SARS-CoV-2 infected people through contacting with the upper respiratory tract first.Previous studies indicated that microbiota could modulate immune response against pathogen infection.In...As a respiratory tract virus,SARS-CoV-2 infected people through contacting with the upper respiratory tract first.Previous studies indicated that microbiota could modulate immune response against pathogen infection.In the present study,we performed metagenomic sequencing of pharyngeal swabs from eleven patients with COVID-19 and eleven Non-COVID-19 patients who had similar symptoms such as fever and cough.Through metagenomic analysis of the above two groups and a healthy group from the public data,there are 6502 species identified in the samples.Specifically,the Pielou index indicated a lower evenness of the microbiota in the COVID-19 group than that in the Non-COVID-19 group.Combined with the linear discriminant analysis(LDA)and the generalized linear model,eighty-one bacterial species were found with increased abundance in the COVID-19 group,where 51 species were enriched more than 8 folds.The top three enriched genera were Streptococcus,Prevotella and Campylobacter containing some opportunistic pathogens.More interestingly,through experiments,we found that two Streptococcus strains,S.suis and S.agalactiae,could stimulate the expression of ACE2 of Vero cells in vitro,which may promote SARS-CoV-2 infection.Therefore,these enriched pathogens in the pharynxes of COVID-19 patients may involve in the virus-host interactions to affect SARS-CoV-2 infection and cause potential secondary bacterial infections through changing the expression of the viral receptor ACE2 and/or modulate the host’s immune system.展开更多
Investigation of the possible role of Campylobacter concisus(C. concisus) in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is an emerging research area. Despite the association found between C. concisus and IBD, it has been difficu...Investigation of the possible role of Campylobacter concisus(C. concisus) in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is an emerging research area. Despite the association found between C. concisus and IBD, it has been difficult to explain how C. concisus, a bacterium that is commonly present in the human oral cavity, may contribute to the development of enteric diseases. The evidence presented in this review shows that some C. concisus strains in the oral cavity acquired zonula occludens toxin(zot) gene from a virus(prophage) and that C. concisus Zot shares conserved motifs with both Vibrio cholerae Zot receptor binding domain and human zonulin receptor binding domain. Both Vibrio cholerae Zot and human zonulin are known to increase intestinal permeability by affecting the tight junctions. Increased intestinal permeability is a feature of IBD. Based on these data, we propose that a primary barrier function defect caused by C. concisus Zot is a mechanism by which zot-positive C. concisus strains may trigger the onset and relapse of IBD.展开更多
BACKGROUND The bacteria Campylobacter jejuni(C. jejuni) is commonly associated with GuillaneBarré syndrome(GBS) and irritable bowel syndrome(IBS), but studies have also linked it with Miller Fisher syndrome, reac...BACKGROUND The bacteria Campylobacter jejuni(C. jejuni) is commonly associated with GuillaneBarré syndrome(GBS) and irritable bowel syndrome(IBS), but studies have also linked it with Miller Fisher syndrome, reactive arthritis and other disorders, some of which are autoimmune. It is possible that C. jejuni and its toxins may be crossreactive with some human tissues and food antigens, potentially leading to autoimmune responses.AIM To measure the immune reactivity of C. jejuni and C. jejuni cytolethal distending toxin(Cdt) antibodies with tissue and food antigens to examine their role in autoimmunities.METHODS Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) methodology, specific antibodies made against C. jejuni and C. jejuni Cdt were applied to a variety of microwell plates coated with 45 tissues and 180 food antigens. The resulting immunoreactivities were compared to reactions with control wells coated with human serum albumin(HSA) which were used as negative controls and with wells coated with C. jejuni lysate or C. jejuni Cdt which served as positive controls.RESULTS At 3 SD above the mean of control wells coated with HSA or 0.41 OD, the mouse monoclonal antibody made against C. jejuni showed moderate to high reactions with zonulin, somatotropin, acetylcholine receptor, β-amyloid and presenilin.This immune reaction was low with an additional 25 tissue antigens including asialoganglioside, and the same antibody did not react at all with another 15 tissue antigens. Examining the reaction between C. jejuni antibody and 180 food antigens, we found insignificant reactions with 163 foods but low to high immune reactions with 17 food antigens. Similarly, we examined the reaction of C. jejuni Cdt with the same tissues and food antigens. The strongest reactions were observed with zonulin, intrinsic factor and somatotropin. The reaction was moderate with 9 different tissue antigens including thyroid peroxidase, and reaction was low with another 10 different antigens, including neuronal antigens.The reaction of C. jejuni Cdt antibody with an additional 23 tissue antigens was insignificant. Regarding the reaction of C. jejuni Cdt antibody with different food antigens, 160 out of 180 foods showed insignificant reactions, while 20 foods showed reactions ranging from low to high.CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that C. jejuni and its Cdt may play a role in inflammation and autoimmunities beyond the gut.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC) number using a new rat model.METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to two groups.The first group received gavage with Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) 81-176.T...AIM:To investigate the interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC) number using a new rat model.METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to two groups.The first group received gavage with Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) 81-176.The second group was gavaged with placebo.Three months after clearance of Campylobacter from the stool,precise segments of duodenum,jejunum,and ileum were ligated in self-contained loops of bowel that were preserved in anaerobic bags.Deep muscular plexus ICC(DMP-ICC) were quantified by two blinded readers assessing the tissue in a random,coded order.The number of ICC per villus was compared among controls,Campylobacter recovered rats without small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO),and Campylobacter recovered rats with SIBO.RESULTS:Three months after recovery,27% of rats gavaged with C.jejuni had SIBO.The rats with SIBO had a lower number of DMP-ICC than controls in the jejunum and ileum.Additionally there appeared to be a density threshold of 0.12 DMP-ICC/villus that was associated with SIBO.If ileal density of DMP-ICC was < 0.12 ICC/villus,54% of rats had SIBO compared to 9% among ileal sections with > 0.12(P<0.05).If the density of ICC was < 0.12 DMP-ICC/villus in more than one location of the bowel,88% of these had SIBO compared to 6% in those who did not(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:In this post-infectious rat model,the development of SIBO appears to be associated with a reduction in DMP-ICC.Further study of this rat model might help understand the pathophysiology of postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome.展开更多
Objective To determine the distribution of two important virulence factors[lipooligosaccharide(LOS)and capsular polysaccharide(CPS)]in Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni)isolated from different sources in China and to deve...Objective To determine the distribution of two important virulence factors[lipooligosaccharide(LOS)and capsular polysaccharide(CPS)]in Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni)isolated from different sources in China and to develop a rapid screening method for Guillain–Barrésyndrome(GBS)-associated strains.Methods Whole-genome sequencing was carried out for 494 C.jejuni strains.The Ortho MCL software was used to define the LOS/CPS gene clusters.CPS genotyping was performed with serotype-specific sequence alignment using the BLAST software.Real-time Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was developed with the unique sequences of specific CPS types.Results Nine novel and 29 previously confirmed LOS classes were identified.LOS classes A,B,and C were the most common(48.2%,238/494)among the 494 strains.Twenty-six capsular types were identified in 448 strains.HS2,HS4c,HS5/31,HS19,and HS8/17 were the most frequent CPS genotypes(58.7%,263/448).Strains of 17 CPS genotypes(strain number>5)had one or two prevalent LOS classes(P<0.05).Multiplex real-time PCR for rapid identification of HS2,HS19,and HS41 was developed and validated with strains of known serotypes.Conclusion Our results describe the genetic characteristics of the important virulence factors in C.jejuni strains in China.The multiplex real-time PCR developed in this study will facilitate enhanced surveillance of GBS-associated strains in China.展开更多
Campylobacter jejuni(C. jejuni),a Gram-negative microaerophilic bacterium,is a predominant cause of bacterial foodborne gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. Despite its importance as a major foodborne pathogen,our und...Campylobacter jejuni(C. jejuni),a Gram-negative microaerophilic bacterium,is a predominant cause of bacterial foodborne gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. Despite its importance as a major foodborne pathogen,our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying C. jejuni stress survival and pathogenesis is limited. Inorganic polyphosphate(poly P) has been shown to play significant roles in bacterial resistance to stress and virulence in many pathogenic bacteria. C. jejuni contains the complete repertoire of enzymes required for poly P metabolism. Recent work in our laboratory and others have demonstrated that poly P controls a plethora of C. jejuni properties that impact its ability to survive in the environment as well as to colonize/infect mammalian hosts. This review article summarizes the current literature on the role of poly P in C. jejuni stress survival and virulence and discusses on how poly P-related enzymes can be exploited for therapeutic/prevention purposes. Additionally,the review article identifies potential areas for future investigation that would enhance our understanding of the role of poly P in C. jejuni and other bacteria,which ultimately would facilitate design of effective therapeutic/preventive strategies to reduce not only the burden of C. jejuni-caused foodborne infections but also of other bacterial infections in humans.展开更多
Objective:To determine antibiotic resistance patterns and virulence potential of Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) isolates from clinical human diarrheal infections,cattle and healthy broilers.Methods:Antibiotic sensitiv...Objective:To determine antibiotic resistance patterns and virulence potential of Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) isolates from clinical human diarrheal infections,cattle and healthy broilers.Methods:Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of C.jejuni isolates were determined by Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion assay.These isolates were then subjected to virulence profiling for the detection of map A(membrane-associated protein).cadF(fibronectin binding protein).wlaN(beta-1.3-galaclosyltransferase) and neu AB(sialic acid biosynthesis gene).Further C.jejuni isolates were grouped by random amplification of polymorphic DNA(RAPD) profiling.Results:A total of436 samples from poultry(n=88).cattle(n=216) and humans(n=132) from different locations were collected.Results revealed percentage of C.jejuni isolates were 35.2%(31/88).25.0%(54/216) and 11.3%(15/132) among poultry,cattle and clinical human samples respectively.Antibiotic susceptibility results showed that similar resistance patterns to cephalothin was ie.87.0%,87.1%and 89%among humans,poultry and cattle respectively,followed by sulfamethoxazolc+trimcthoprim 40.0%,38.7%and 31.0%in humans,poultry and cattle and Ampicillin 40%,32%and 20%in humans,poultry and cattle respectively.Beta-lactamase activity was detected in 40.00%humans.20.37%cattle and 32.25%in poultry C.jejuni isolates.CadF and mapA were present in all poultry,cattle and human C jejuni isolates.wlauN was not detected in any isolate and neu AB was found in 9/31(36%) poultry isolates.RAPD profiling results suggested high diversity of C.jejuni isolates.Conclusions:Detection of multidrug resistant C.jejuni strains from poultry and cattle is alarming as they can be potential hazard to humans.Moreover,predominant association of virulence factors,cadF and map A(100%each) in C.jejuni isolates from all sources and neuAB(36%) with poultry isolates suggest the potential source of transmission of diverse types of C.jejuni to humans.展开更多
Celiac disease （CD） is an entropathy with malabsortive condition in which an allergic reaction to the cereal grain-protein （gluten） causes small intestine rnucosal injury. CD is a multifactorial disorder in which ...Celiac disease （CD） is an entropathy with malabsortive condition in which an allergic reaction to the cereal grain-protein （gluten） causes small intestine rnucosal injury. CD is a multifactorial disorder in which both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the disease development. Mechanisms have been described to explain the pathology of CD. T cells specific for multiple gluten peptides are found in virtually all patients. Generation of such a broad T cell response may be a prerequisite for disease development. CD is associated with multiple extraintestinal presentations, including neurological deficits. Recent studies have shown a significant correlation between anti-ganglioside antibodies and neurological disorders in patients with underlying CD. Gangliosides are glycosphingolipids which are abundant in nervous system and in other tissues including gastrointestinal tract. It is not known what triggers the release of anti-ganglioside antibodies in people with gluten sensitivity. But, the mechanism is likely to involve the intestinal immune system response to ingested gliadin, a component of wheat gluten. Studies showed that mechanisms different from gluten exposure may be implicated in antibody formation, and other environmental factors may also exist. In addition, considering the fact that genetic predisposition dysregulating mucosal immune responses in the presence of certain environmental triggers like gastrointestinal infections may be strong etiological factors for developing chronic intestinal inflammation including CD, the hypothesis raised in our mind that antiganglioside antibody formation in CD may play a role not only in development of neurological complications in celiac patients, but also in development of CD itself. As presence of Campylobacter jejuni in other diseases with antigangliosides antibody formation has been established, we propose the possible role of Campylobacter jejuni in development of CD in association with other genetic and environmental factors by the mechanism that molecular mimicry of gangliosides-like epitopes common to both lipo-polysacharide coats of certain strains of Campylobacter jejuni and gangliosides in cell structure of gastrointestinal mucosa may cause an autoimmune response and consequently lead to atrophy and degeneration of mucosa possibly by apoptosis.展开更多
文摘To access the variance of antibiotic-resistance,we investigated the susceptibility of 30 antimicro-bial agents in Campylobacters isolated from 1994 to 1998 using the agar dilution method.All Campylobacter wassusceptible to aminoglycoside,imipenem,polymycin B,clarithromycin,josamycin and medemycin.Of the 200strains of Campylobacters,3%were resistant to erythromycin;44.5%to fluoroquinolones.Complete cross-resistanceamong the fluoroquinolones was observed.The rate of resistance to erythromycin and gentamycin rentained rela-tively lower and stable over the past five years,so these two drugs remain to be the choice for the treatment of Cam-pylobacter infections.The rate of drug resistance to fluoroquinolones of Campylobacters in Beijing area is so highthat the application of these drugs should be modulated strictly.
文摘Campylobacter is one of the most common food-borne bacterial enteropathogens. We planned to investigate the prevalence and antibiotic resistogram of Campylobacter in poultry in and around Chandigarh. Poultry samples (n = 127) were obtained from slaughter houses/retail outlets and cultured microaerophilically on Campylobacter media. The isolates were identified phenotypically and by molecular investigation. Identification of specific genes to look for resistance to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, tetracyclin and streptomycin was also done. Campylobacter was isolated from 57/127 (44.9%) of the samples. The most frequent serotypes identified were B: 2, S: 27, Z5: 52 and Z7: 57. All culture isolates (100%) were reconfirmed as Campylobacter by 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction. Molecular identification of isolates revealed the presence of C. jejuni in 45 (79.0%), C. coli in 1 (1.8%) and co-infection of C. coli and C. jejuni in 11 (19.3%). No C. lari and C. upsaliensis were detected. Antibiogram typing showed nalidixic acid resistance in 36.8%, ciprofloxacin resistance in 35.0% and 31.5% resistance for both streptomycin and tetracyclin. A high level of Campylobacter prevalence was found among the poultry with C. jejuni being the most commonly isolated species. Resistance to major antibiotics among Campylobacter isolates from poultry was also very high. The study of prevalence of Campylobacter in poultry and its resistance to major antibiotics will help to plan risk burden strategies throughout the food chain.
文摘BACKGROUND ChatGPT was developed in November 2022 with studies showing its impressive performance in academic examinations,serving as a promising tool to answer questions even on controversial topics.Artificial intelligence(AI)achieving surface-level performance does not necessarily equate to a deep understanding of human cognition.The development of artificial wisdom,therefore,necessitates a shift from simply mimicking intelligent behavior to modeling the underlying mechanisms of human wisdom,including emotional understanding,ethical considerations,and contextual awareness.Several theories exist behind the death of Alexander the Great,but no definitive conclusion has been made.AIM To evaluate whether a hybrid approach,combining generative AI(ChatGPT)with human clinical judgment,can meaningfully reassess the cause of death of Alexander the Great.METHODS This is a cross-sectional study using ChatGPT(version 4 Pro).A search was performed with search terms describing the symptoms experienced by Alexander the Great and possible causes of his death:West Nile virus(WNV)encephalitis,poisoning,acute pancreatitis due to excessive alcohol consumption,typhoid fever,and malaria.The historical data and symptomatology were analyzed,weighing evidence and context in a manner akin to human wisdom.RESULTS The most likely cause of death of Alexander the Great,as generated by ChatGPT,was typhoid fever complicated by Guillain-Barrésyndrome(GBS).The hypothesis was based on the alignment between Alexander’s reported symptoms,such as prolonged high fever,severe abdominal pain,neurological decline,and the known clinical presentation of typhoid fever.However,after carefully reviewing the sources mentioned by ChatGPT,many did not back up the idea that typhoid caused GBS and instead pointed to Campylobacter jejuni as the more likely trigger.Other possible causes of death suggested by ChatGPT including acute pancreatitis from excessive alcohol consumption,infectious causes(WNV encephalitis,malaria),and poisoning were less likely.CONCLUSION While ChatGPT initially concluded typhoid fever with GBS as the most plausible cause of death,expert reappraisal of the sources and pathophysiology suggested that C.jejuni-associated GBS was more likely.This study exemplifies how incorporating AI’s pattern recognition with human scrutiny can yield responsible interpretations of historical records.
文摘Death of infants from diarrhoea is a common occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa. This is attributed to unhygienic practices which aid the proliferation of diarrhoea-causing microorganisms. Among these microorganisms, Cam- pylobacter species have been reported as one of the causal agents, Campylobacter spp. are human intestinal pathogens of global importance and their pathogenicity mechanisms are not well understood. This study was designed to investigate the molecular characterisation of Campylobacter gotten from cultural methods in Osun State. Campylobacters isolated were biochemically characterized and biotyped. Confirmation of Campylobacter was done using flaA gene, hippuricase O for Campylobacter jejuni and aspartokinase gene for Campylobacter coli and single locus sequencing glnA gene were performed by PCR. Twenty five samples were amplified by PCR out of 57 Campylobacter strains that were positive for cultural methods from 815 stool samples with diarrhoea and 100 stool samples without diarrhoea. No Campylobacter was isolated from stools of children in the control group. Twenty-five isolates comprising of 18 Campylobater jejuni and 7 C. coli were identified. The nucleotide sequence of the gln A for all the isolated Campylobacter spp. showed 91.0% similarity with the ones in the GenBank. The C. jejuni was classified into biotypes I (44.4%) and II (55.6%) and all C. coli were of biotype I.
文摘Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is highly associated with the occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases,including gastric inflammation,peptic ulcer,gastric cancer,and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid-tissue lymphoma.Although alternative therapies,including phytomedicines and probiotics,have been used to improve eradication,current treatment still relies on a combination of antimicrobial agents,such as amoxicillin,clarithromycin,metronidazole,and levofloxacin,and antisecretory agents,such as proton pump inhibitors(PPIs).A standard triple therapy consisting of a PPI and two antibiotics(clarithromycin and amoxicillin/metronidazole)is widely used as the first-line regimen for treatment of infection,but the increased resistance of H.pylori to clarithromycin and metronidazole has significantly reduced the eradication rate using this therapy and bismuth-containing therapy or 10-d sequential therapy has therefore been proposed to replace standard triple therapy.Alternatively,levofloxacin-based triple therapy can be used as rescue therapy for H.pylori infection after failure of first-line therapy.The increase in resistance to antibiotics,including levofloxacin,may limit the applicability of such regimens.However,since resistance of H.pylori to amoxicillin is generally low,an optimized high dose dual therapy consisting of a PPI and amoxicillin can be an effective first-line or rescue therapy.In addition,the concomitant use of alternative medicine has the potential to provide additive or synergistic effects against H.pylori infection,though its efficacy needs to be verified in clinical studies.
基金Supported by The General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81271789the Major State Basic Research Development Program,No.2013CB127204
文摘AIM:To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method to detect and quantify Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) from stool specimens.METHODS:Primers and a probe for real-time PCR were designed based on the specific DNA sequence of the hipO gene in C.jejuni.The specificity of the primers and probe were tested against a set of Campylobacter spp.and other enteric pathogens.The optimal PCR conditions were determined by testing a series of conditions with standard a C.jejuni template.The detection limits were obtained using purified DNA from bacterial culture and extracted DNA from the stool specimen.Two hundred and forty-two specimens were analyzed for the presence of C.jejuni by direct bacterial culture and real-time PCR.RESULTS:The optimal PCR system was determined using reference DNA templates,1 × uracil-DNA glycosylase,3.5 mmol/L MgCl 2,1.25 U platinum Taq polymerase,0.4 mmol/L PCR nucleotide mix,0.48 μmol/L of each primer,0.2 μmol/L of probe and 2 μL of DNA template in a final volume of 25 μL.The PCR reaction was carried as follows:95 ℃ for 4 min,followed by 45 cycles of 10 s at 95 ℃ and 30 s at 59 ℃.The detection limit was 4.3 CFU/mL using purified DNA from bacterial culture and 10 3 CFU/g using DNA from stool specimens.Twenty(8.3%,20/242) C.jejuni strains were isolated from bacterial culture,while 41(16.9%,41/242) samples were found to be positive by realtime PCR.DNA sequencing of the PCR product indicated the presence of C.jejuni in the specimen.One mixed infection of C.jejuni and Salmonella was detected in one specimen and the PCR test for this specimen was positive.CONCLUSION:The sensitivity of detection of C.jejuni from stool specimens was much higher using this PCR assay than using the direct culture method.
基金supported by Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen[SZSM201803081]Shenzhen Technology and Innovation Plan,China[JCYJ 20140416095154399]Nanshan District Technology and Innovation Plan,Shenzhen,China[2016064]
文摘Objective To investigate genetic and antibiotic resistance characteristics of Campylobacter jejuni(C. jejuni) isolated from Shenzhen. Methods Multilocs sequence typing and agar dilution methods were used to define the genotype and antibiotic resistance of C. jejuni, respectively. Results In total, 126 C. jejuni strains were isolated. The prevalence of C. jejuni was 5.3% in diarrheal patients. The prevalence in poultry meat(36.5%) was higher than that in cattle meat(1.1%). However, the prevalence in poultry cloacal swabs(27.0%) was lower than that in cattle stool(57.3%). Sixty-two sequence types were obtained, among which 27 of the STs and 10 alleles were previously unreported. The most frequently observed clonal complexes were ST-21(11.9%), ST-22(10.3%), and ST-403(7.1%). ST-21, ST-45, ST-354, ST-403, and ST-443 complexes overlapped between isolates from patients and cattle, whereas ST-45 and ST-574 complexes overlapped between isolates from patients and poultry. All C. jejuni were resistant to at least one antibiotic. The highest resistance rate was toward ciprofloxacin(89.7%), followed by tetracycline(74.6%), and nalidixic acid(69.0%). Conclusion This is the first report of the genotypes and antibiotic resistance of C. jejuni in Shenzhen. Overlapping clonal complexes were found between isolates from patients and cattle, and between patients and poultry.
基金financial supports of CAS(project No 153B42KYSB20170004)the Wuhan National Biosafety Lab for this study。
文摘As a respiratory tract virus,SARS-CoV-2 infected people through contacting with the upper respiratory tract first.Previous studies indicated that microbiota could modulate immune response against pathogen infection.In the present study,we performed metagenomic sequencing of pharyngeal swabs from eleven patients with COVID-19 and eleven Non-COVID-19 patients who had similar symptoms such as fever and cough.Through metagenomic analysis of the above two groups and a healthy group from the public data,there are 6502 species identified in the samples.Specifically,the Pielou index indicated a lower evenness of the microbiota in the COVID-19 group than that in the Non-COVID-19 group.Combined with the linear discriminant analysis(LDA)and the generalized linear model,eighty-one bacterial species were found with increased abundance in the COVID-19 group,where 51 species were enriched more than 8 folds.The top three enriched genera were Streptococcus,Prevotella and Campylobacter containing some opportunistic pathogens.More interestingly,through experiments,we found that two Streptococcus strains,S.suis and S.agalactiae,could stimulate the expression of ACE2 of Vero cells in vitro,which may promote SARS-CoV-2 infection.Therefore,these enriched pathogens in the pharynxes of COVID-19 patients may involve in the virus-host interactions to affect SARS-CoV-2 infection and cause potential secondary bacterial infections through changing the expression of the viral receptor ACE2 and/or modulate the host’s immune system.
文摘Investigation of the possible role of Campylobacter concisus(C. concisus) in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is an emerging research area. Despite the association found between C. concisus and IBD, it has been difficult to explain how C. concisus, a bacterium that is commonly present in the human oral cavity, may contribute to the development of enteric diseases. The evidence presented in this review shows that some C. concisus strains in the oral cavity acquired zonula occludens toxin(zot) gene from a virus(prophage) and that C. concisus Zot shares conserved motifs with both Vibrio cholerae Zot receptor binding domain and human zonulin receptor binding domain. Both Vibrio cholerae Zot and human zonulin are known to increase intestinal permeability by affecting the tight junctions. Increased intestinal permeability is a feature of IBD. Based on these data, we propose that a primary barrier function defect caused by C. concisus Zot is a mechanism by which zot-positive C. concisus strains may trigger the onset and relapse of IBD.
文摘BACKGROUND The bacteria Campylobacter jejuni(C. jejuni) is commonly associated with GuillaneBarré syndrome(GBS) and irritable bowel syndrome(IBS), but studies have also linked it with Miller Fisher syndrome, reactive arthritis and other disorders, some of which are autoimmune. It is possible that C. jejuni and its toxins may be crossreactive with some human tissues and food antigens, potentially leading to autoimmune responses.AIM To measure the immune reactivity of C. jejuni and C. jejuni cytolethal distending toxin(Cdt) antibodies with tissue and food antigens to examine their role in autoimmunities.METHODS Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) methodology, specific antibodies made against C. jejuni and C. jejuni Cdt were applied to a variety of microwell plates coated with 45 tissues and 180 food antigens. The resulting immunoreactivities were compared to reactions with control wells coated with human serum albumin(HSA) which were used as negative controls and with wells coated with C. jejuni lysate or C. jejuni Cdt which served as positive controls.RESULTS At 3 SD above the mean of control wells coated with HSA or 0.41 OD, the mouse monoclonal antibody made against C. jejuni showed moderate to high reactions with zonulin, somatotropin, acetylcholine receptor, β-amyloid and presenilin.This immune reaction was low with an additional 25 tissue antigens including asialoganglioside, and the same antibody did not react at all with another 15 tissue antigens. Examining the reaction between C. jejuni antibody and 180 food antigens, we found insignificant reactions with 163 foods but low to high immune reactions with 17 food antigens. Similarly, we examined the reaction of C. jejuni Cdt with the same tissues and food antigens. The strongest reactions were observed with zonulin, intrinsic factor and somatotropin. The reaction was moderate with 9 different tissue antigens including thyroid peroxidase, and reaction was low with another 10 different antigens, including neuronal antigens.The reaction of C. jejuni Cdt antibody with an additional 23 tissue antigens was insignificant. Regarding the reaction of C. jejuni Cdt antibody with different food antigens, 160 out of 180 foods showed insignificant reactions, while 20 foods showed reactions ranging from low to high.CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that C. jejuni and its Cdt may play a role in inflammation and autoimmunities beyond the gut.
基金Supported by A grant from Beatrice and Samuel A Seaver Foundation as well as the Shoolman Foundation
文摘AIM:To investigate the interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC) number using a new rat model.METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to two groups.The first group received gavage with Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) 81-176.The second group was gavaged with placebo.Three months after clearance of Campylobacter from the stool,precise segments of duodenum,jejunum,and ileum were ligated in self-contained loops of bowel that were preserved in anaerobic bags.Deep muscular plexus ICC(DMP-ICC) were quantified by two blinded readers assessing the tissue in a random,coded order.The number of ICC per villus was compared among controls,Campylobacter recovered rats without small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO),and Campylobacter recovered rats with SIBO.RESULTS:Three months after recovery,27% of rats gavaged with C.jejuni had SIBO.The rats with SIBO had a lower number of DMP-ICC than controls in the jejunum and ileum.Additionally there appeared to be a density threshold of 0.12 DMP-ICC/villus that was associated with SIBO.If ileal density of DMP-ICC was < 0.12 ICC/villus,54% of rats had SIBO compared to 9% among ileal sections with > 0.12(P<0.05).If the density of ICC was < 0.12 DMP-ICC/villus in more than one location of the bowel,88% of these had SIBO compared to 6% in those who did not(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:In this post-infectious rat model,the development of SIBO appears to be associated with a reduction in DMP-ICC.Further study of this rat model might help understand the pathophysiology of postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China[2021YFC2301000]the Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen[SZSM201803081]。
文摘Objective To determine the distribution of two important virulence factors[lipooligosaccharide(LOS)and capsular polysaccharide(CPS)]in Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni)isolated from different sources in China and to develop a rapid screening method for Guillain–Barrésyndrome(GBS)-associated strains.Methods Whole-genome sequencing was carried out for 494 C.jejuni strains.The Ortho MCL software was used to define the LOS/CPS gene clusters.CPS genotyping was performed with serotype-specific sequence alignment using the BLAST software.Real-time Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was developed with the unique sequences of specific CPS types.Results Nine novel and 29 previously confirmed LOS classes were identified.LOS classes A,B,and C were the most common(48.2%,238/494)among the 494 strains.Twenty-six capsular types were identified in 448 strains.HS2,HS4c,HS5/31,HS19,and HS8/17 were the most frequent CPS genotypes(58.7%,263/448).Strains of 17 CPS genotypes(strain number>5)had one or two prevalent LOS classes(P<0.05).Multiplex real-time PCR for rapid identification of HS2,HS19,and HS41 was developed and validated with strains of known serotypes.Conclusion Our results describe the genetic characteristics of the important virulence factors in C.jejuni strains in China.The multiplex real-time PCR developed in this study will facilitate enhanced surveillance of GBS-associated strains in China.
基金Supported by Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center,the Ohio State University,and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative,No.2012-68003-19679
文摘Campylobacter jejuni(C. jejuni),a Gram-negative microaerophilic bacterium,is a predominant cause of bacterial foodborne gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. Despite its importance as a major foodborne pathogen,our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying C. jejuni stress survival and pathogenesis is limited. Inorganic polyphosphate(poly P) has been shown to play significant roles in bacterial resistance to stress and virulence in many pathogenic bacteria. C. jejuni contains the complete repertoire of enzymes required for poly P metabolism. Recent work in our laboratory and others have demonstrated that poly P controls a plethora of C. jejuni properties that impact its ability to survive in the environment as well as to colonize/infect mammalian hosts. This review article summarizes the current literature on the role of poly P in C. jejuni stress survival and virulence and discusses on how poly P-related enzymes can be exploited for therapeutic/prevention purposes. Additionally,the review article identifies potential areas for future investigation that would enhance our understanding of the role of poly P in C. jejuni and other bacteria,which ultimately would facilitate design of effective therapeutic/preventive strategies to reduce not only the burden of C. jejuni-caused foodborne infections but also of other bacterial infections in humans.
基金British Council for providing funds for this project (Grant SP019) through their strategic partnership awards(INSPIRE Program)
文摘Objective:To determine antibiotic resistance patterns and virulence potential of Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) isolates from clinical human diarrheal infections,cattle and healthy broilers.Methods:Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of C.jejuni isolates were determined by Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion assay.These isolates were then subjected to virulence profiling for the detection of map A(membrane-associated protein).cadF(fibronectin binding protein).wlaN(beta-1.3-galaclosyltransferase) and neu AB(sialic acid biosynthesis gene).Further C.jejuni isolates were grouped by random amplification of polymorphic DNA(RAPD) profiling.Results:A total of436 samples from poultry(n=88).cattle(n=216) and humans(n=132) from different locations were collected.Results revealed percentage of C.jejuni isolates were 35.2%(31/88).25.0%(54/216) and 11.3%(15/132) among poultry,cattle and clinical human samples respectively.Antibiotic susceptibility results showed that similar resistance patterns to cephalothin was ie.87.0%,87.1%and 89%among humans,poultry and cattle respectively,followed by sulfamethoxazolc+trimcthoprim 40.0%,38.7%and 31.0%in humans,poultry and cattle and Ampicillin 40%,32%and 20%in humans,poultry and cattle respectively.Beta-lactamase activity was detected in 40.00%humans.20.37%cattle and 32.25%in poultry C.jejuni isolates.CadF and mapA were present in all poultry,cattle and human C jejuni isolates.wlauN was not detected in any isolate and neu AB was found in 9/31(36%) poultry isolates.RAPD profiling results suggested high diversity of C.jejuni isolates.Conclusions:Detection of multidrug resistant C.jejuni strains from poultry and cattle is alarming as they can be potential hazard to humans.Moreover,predominant association of virulence factors,cadF and map A(100%each) in C.jejuni isolates from all sources and neuAB(36%) with poultry isolates suggest the potential source of transmission of diverse types of C.jejuni to humans.
文摘Celiac disease （CD） is an entropathy with malabsortive condition in which an allergic reaction to the cereal grain-protein （gluten） causes small intestine rnucosal injury. CD is a multifactorial disorder in which both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the disease development. Mechanisms have been described to explain the pathology of CD. T cells specific for multiple gluten peptides are found in virtually all patients. Generation of such a broad T cell response may be a prerequisite for disease development. CD is associated with multiple extraintestinal presentations, including neurological deficits. Recent studies have shown a significant correlation between anti-ganglioside antibodies and neurological disorders in patients with underlying CD. Gangliosides are glycosphingolipids which are abundant in nervous system and in other tissues including gastrointestinal tract. It is not known what triggers the release of anti-ganglioside antibodies in people with gluten sensitivity. But, the mechanism is likely to involve the intestinal immune system response to ingested gliadin, a component of wheat gluten. Studies showed that mechanisms different from gluten exposure may be implicated in antibody formation, and other environmental factors may also exist. In addition, considering the fact that genetic predisposition dysregulating mucosal immune responses in the presence of certain environmental triggers like gastrointestinal infections may be strong etiological factors for developing chronic intestinal inflammation including CD, the hypothesis raised in our mind that antiganglioside antibody formation in CD may play a role not only in development of neurological complications in celiac patients, but also in development of CD itself. As presence of Campylobacter jejuni in other diseases with antigangliosides antibody formation has been established, we propose the possible role of Campylobacter jejuni in development of CD in association with other genetic and environmental factors by the mechanism that molecular mimicry of gangliosides-like epitopes common to both lipo-polysacharide coats of certain strains of Campylobacter jejuni and gangliosides in cell structure of gastrointestinal mucosa may cause an autoimmune response and consequently lead to atrophy and degeneration of mucosa possibly by apoptosis.
