Infectious Medicine最新文献

Background

The Alere PBP2a SA Culture Colony Test is an FDA-cleared in vitro immunochromatographic assay for rapid detection of penicillin-binding protein2a (PBP2a) in Staphylococcus aureus.

Methods

We investigated the performance of the PBP2a SA Culture Colony Test with 78 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) isolates from different body sites, with the Vitek 2 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test (AST) as a reference standard.

Results

The CoNS species were 62 S. epidermidis; 6 S. lugdenensis; 3 S. hominis; 2 S. capitis; 2 S. haemolyticus; and 1 each of S. simulans, S. auricularis, and S. warneri. Of the 78 CoNS isolates, 68 showed concordance in the PBP2a IC assay and Vitek 2 AST. Discordance was seen for 10 S. epidermidis isolates, which showed negative in the PBP2a assay, despite oxacillin-resistance detection using the Vitek 2 AST (66.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity). All non-S. epidermidis CoNS were identified with 100% concordance using the PBP2a IC assay and Vitek 2 AST.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that, while the PBP2a IC assay has low sensitivity in determining the susceptibility of S. epidermidis to oxacillin, it highly accurately predicted the susceptibility of non-S. epidermidis CoNS to oxacillin. The diagnostic accuracy for non-S. epidermidis CoNS needs further assessment with more isolates to confirm our findings.

Background

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a leading cause of viral encephalitis worldwide. JEV exhibits significant neuroinvasiveness and neurotoxicity, resulting in considerable damage to the nervous system. Japanese encephalitis is associated with high morbidity and mortality rate, seriously harming both human health and livestock production. The current lack of specific antiviral drugs means that the development of new therapeutic agents for JEV has become urgent.

Methods

Anti-JEV drugs were screened from 111 inhibitors of neurotransmitter receptor-related molecules by high content technology. The antiviral effects of clomipramine HCl were evaluated through plaque assay, real-time quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence assay and western blotting assay. Bioinformatic tools were utilized to cluster the altered signaling pathway members after clomipramine HCl treatment. Finally, the anti-JEV mechanism was deeply resolved in vivo via such molecular biology and virological detection techniques.

Results

In this study, we screened nine compounds with significant anti-JEV activity, of which clomipramine HCl demonstrated the most potent antiviral effect and exhibited dose-dependent activity. Mechanistically, clomipramine HCl may activate endoplasmic reticulum stress and modulate the unfolded protein response, thus inhibiting the assembly stage of JEV infection.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of clomipramine HCl as a promising approach for JEV infection protection, which may lead to new host-directed antiviral approaches to such mosquito-borne viruses.

Background

Given the preventable nature of most healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), it is crucial to understand their characteristics and temporal patterns to reduce their occurrence.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of medical record cover pages from a Chinese hospital information system was conducted for surgery inpatients from 2010 to 2019. Association rules mining (ARM) was employed to explore the association between disease, procedure, and HAIs. Joinpoint models were used to estimate the annual HAI trend. The time series of each type of HAI was decomposed to analyze the temporal patterns of HAIs.

Results

The study included data from 623,290 surgery inpatients over 10 years, and a significant decline in the HAI rate was observed. Compared with patients without HAIs, those with HAIs had a longer length of stay (29 days vs. 9 days), higher medical costs (96226.57 CNY vs. 22351.98 CNY), and an increased risk of death (6.42% vs. 0.18%). The most common diseases for each type of HAI differed, although bone marrow and spleen operations were the most frequent procedures for most HAI types. ARM detected that some uncommon diagnoses could strongly associate with HAIs. The time series pattern varied for each type of HAI, with the peak occurring in January for respiratory system infections, and in August and July for surgical site and bloodstream infections, respectively.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that HAIs impose a significant burden on surgery patients. The differing time series patterns for each type of HAI highlight the importance of tailored surveillance strategies for specific types of HAI.

Background

Vibrio cholerae N-acetylglucosamine-binding protein (GbpA) is a four-domain, secretory colonization factor which is essential for chitin utilization in the environment, as well as in adherence to intestinal cells. GbpA is also involved in inducing intestinal inflammation by enhancing mucin and interleukin-8 secretion. The underlying cell signaling mechanism involved in the induction of the pro-inflammatory response and IL-8 secretion has yet to be deciphered in detail.

Methods

Herein, the process through which GbpA triggers the induction of IL-8 in intestinal cells was investigated by examining the role of GbpA in intestinal cell line HT 29.

Results

GbpA, specifically through the fourth domain, forms a binding connection with Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and additionally, recruits TLR1 along with CD14 within a lipid raft micro-domain to initiate the signaling pathway. Notably, disruption of this micro-domain complex resulted in a reduction in IL-8 secretion. The lipid raft association served as the catalyst that invoked a downstream cellular inflammatory signaling pathway. This cascade involved the activation of various MAP kinases and NFκB and assembly of the AP-1 complex. This coordinated activation of signaling molecules eventually leads to enhanced IL-8 transcription via increased promoter activity. These findings suggested that GbpA is a crucial protein in V. cholerae, capable of inciting a pro-inflammatory response during infection by orchestrating the formation of the GbpA-TLR1/2-CD14 lipid raft complex. Activation of AP-1 and NFκB in the nucleus eventually enhanced IL-8 transcription through increased promoter activity.

Conclusion

Collectively, these findings indicated that GbpA plays a pivotal role within V. cholerae by triggering a pro-inflammatory response during infection. This response is instrumented by the formation of the GbpA-TLR1/2-CD14 lipid raft complex.

In 2022, just before the COVID-19 pandemic ended, many countries noticed a viral monkeypox outbreak. Monkeypox virus, a zoonotic pathogen, causes a febrile illness in humans and resembles smallpox. Prevention strategies encompass vaccination, strict infection control measures, and avoiding contact with infected persons. As monkeypox and related poxviruses continue to pose challenges, ongoing surveillance, early diagnosis, prompt isolation, and effective control measures are crucial for limiting transmission and mitigating the impact of outbreaks on public health. This review provides valuable insights into the evolution of the monkeypox virus and its various modes of transmission, including postmortem transmission, and offers an overall perspective on the guidelines issued by the Government of India to prevent and effectively control the spread of this disease.

Background

Fujian Province has one of the highest reported incidences of hepatitis B virus infection in China. This study aimed to provide a theoretical framework for preventing and controlling hepatitis B in Fujian Province, and to assess the trends and the spatial-temporal distribution patterns of hepatitis B in this region.

Methods

Data on hepatitis B cases were extracted from the National Notifiable Infectious Disease Surveillance System. Spatial autocorrelation analysis, trend surface analysis, and spatial-temporal scanning statistics were used to identify the spatial and aggregation patterns at the county level. The Joinpoint was used to assess the reported incidence trends.

Results

The average reported incidence of hepatitis B in Fujian from 2012 to 2021 was 14.46/10,000 population, with 583,262 notified cases. The age-adjusted reported incidence of hepatitis B decreased from 17.44/10,000 population in 2012 to 11.88/10,000 population in 2021, with an average reduction in the annual percentage change of 4.5%. There were obvious spatial-temporal aggregation characteristics in hepatitis B cases, and a high-incidence area was located in eastern Fujian. Spatio-temporal scanning statistics revealed four levels of aggregation of hepatitis B reporting rates. The first level of aggregation area included Minhou, Gulou, Jin'an, Taijiang, and nine other districts and counties.

Conclusion

The incidence of hepatitis B is declining in Fujian Province. Spatial clusters of hepatitis B cases in Fujian Province were identified, and high-risk areas in eastern Fujian still exist. Closely monitoring the general patterns in the occurrence of hepatitis B and implementing focused control and preventative strategies are important.

Background

Swift and accurate detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which is a prominent causative pathogen associated with seafood contamination, is required to effectively combat foodborne disease and wound infections. The toxR gene is relatively conserved within V. parahaemolyticus and is primarily involved in the expression and regulation of virulence genes with a notable degree of specificity. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, simple, and constant temperature detection method for V. parahaemolyticus in clinical and nonspecialized laboratory settings.

Methods

In this study, specific primers and CRISPR RNA were used to target the toxR gene to construct a reaction system that combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with CRISPR‒Cas13a. The whole-genome DNA of the sample was extracted by self-prepared sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) nucleic acid rapid extraction reagent, and visual interpretation of the detection results was performed by lateral flow dipsticks (LFDs).

Results

The specificity of the RPA-CRISPR/Cas13a-LFD method was validated using V. parahaemolyticus strain ATCC-17802 and six other non-parahaemolytic Vibrio species. The results demonstrated a specificity of 100%. Additionally, the genomic DNA of V. parahaemolyticus was serially diluted and analysed, with a minimum detectable limit of 1 copy/µL for this method, which was greater than that of the TaqMan-qPCR method (10² copies/µL). The established methods were successfully applied to detect wild-type V. parahaemolyticus, yielding results consistent with those of TaqMan-qPCR and MALDI-TOF MS mass spectrometry identification. Finally, the established RPA-CRISPR/Cas13a-LFD method was applied to whole blood specimens from mice infected with V. parahaemolyticus, and the detection rate of V. parahaemolyticus by this method was consistent with that of the conventional PCR method.

Conclusions

In this study, we describe an RPA-CRISPR/Cas13a detection method that specifically targets the toxR gene and offers advantages such as simplicity, rapidity, high specificity, and visual interpretation. This method serves as a valuable tool for the prompt detection of V. parahaemolyticus in nonspecialized laboratory settings.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that seriously endangers human health. Skeletal tuberculosis is the most common type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous arthritis is the second most common type of skeletal tuberculosis. We report a case series of patients with tuberculous arthritis, two of whom had no joint disease in the past and presented as monoarthritis. The final patient had a history of rheumatoid arthritis, with polyarthritis that was aggravated during treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs. This series of cases can contribute to early diagnosis and treatment with appropriate infection control measures.

China has been continuously improving its monitoring methods and strategies to address key infectious diseases (KIDs). After the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in 2003, China established a comprehensive reporting system for infectious diseases (IDs) and public health emergencies. The relatively lagging warning thresholds, limited warning information, and outdated warning technology are insufficient to meet the needs of comprehensive monitoring for modern KIDs. Strengthening early monitoring and warning capabilities to enhance the public health system has become a top priority, with increasing demand for early warning thresholds, information, and techniques, thanks to constant innovation and development in molecular biology, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and other identification and analysis technologies. A panel of 31 experts has recommended a fourth-generation comprehensive surveillance system targeting KIDs (41 notifiable diseases and emerging IDs). The aim of this surveillance system is to systematically monitor the epidemiology and causal pathogens of KIDs in hosts such as humans, animals, and vectors, along with associated environmental pathogens. By integrating factors influencing epidemic spread and risk assessment, the surveillance system can serve to detect, predict, and provide early warnings for the occurrence, development, variation, and spread of known or novel KIDs. Moreover, we recommend comprehensive ID monitoring based on the fourth-generation surveillance system, along with a data-integrated monitoring and early warning platform and a consortium pathogen detection technology system. This series of considerations is based on systematic and comprehensive monitoring across multiple sectors, dimensions, factors, and pathogens that is supported by data integration and connectivity. This expert consensus will provides an opportunity for collaboration in various fields and relies on interdisciplinary application to enhance comprehensive monitoring, prediction, and early warning capabilities for the next generation of ID surveillance. This expert consensus will serve as a reference for ID prevention and control as well as other related activities.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is one of the most common class C infectious diseases, posing a serious threat to public health worldwide. Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) have been regarded as the major pathogenic agents of HFMD; however, since an outbreak caused by coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) in France in 2008, CV-A6 has gradually become the predominant pathogen in many regions. CV-A6 infects not only children but also adults, and causes atypical clinical symptoms such as a more generalized rash, eczema herpeticum, high fever, and onychomadesis, which are different from the symptoms associated with EV-A71 and CV-A16. Importantly, the rate of genetic recombination of CV-A6 is high, which can lead to changes in virulence and the rapid evolution of other characteristics, thus posing a serious threat to public health. To date, no specific vaccines or therapeutics have been approved for CV-A6 prevention or treatment, hence it is essential to fully understand the relationship between recombination and evolution of this virus. Here, we systematically review the genetic recombination events of CV-A6 that have occurred worldwide and explore how these events have promoted virus evolution, thus providing important information regarding future HFMD surveillance and prevention.