Pub Date : 2021-02-03eCollection Date: 2021-01-01DOI: 10.1155/2021/6165950
Rahma Udu, Job Oyweri, Jeremiah Gathirwa
Background: Chemotherapy plays a crucial role in malaria control. However, the main obstacle to treatment has been the rise of parasite resistance to most antimalarial drugs. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) remain the most effective antimalarial medicines available today. However, malaria parasite tolerance to ACTs is now increasingly prevalent especially in Southeast Asia presenting the danger of the spread of ACTs resistance to other parts of the world. Consequently, this creates the need for alternative effective antimalarials. Therefore, this study sought out to determine antimalarial potential, safety, and resistance development of the extracts in a mouse model.
Method: Methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were obtained by solvent extraction. The extracts were assayed for acute toxicity in vivo. Additionally, the two extracts were evaluated for antimalarial activity in vivo against Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain by the 4-day suppressive test at 500, 250, and 125 mg/kg/day. Packed cell volume was evaluated to determine anemia manifestation. Finally, continuous drug pressure experiment at 500 mg/kg and DNA amplification via PCR were conducted. The amplicons underwent through Sanger sequencing.
Results: There was no toxicity realized in the animals at 2000 mg/kg. Importantly, high parasitemia suppression of 75.52% and 75.30% using a dose of 500 mg/kg of methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively, was noted. The extracts were able to reverse packed cell volume reduction. Nigella sativa-resistant phenotype was selected as delayed parasite clearance. However, there was no change in the nucleotide sequences of PbMDR1 and PbCRT genes.
Conclusion: The results provide room for future exploitation of the plant as an antimalarial.
{"title":"Antimalarial Activity of <i>Nigella sativa</i> L. Seed Extracts and Selection of Resistance in <i>Plasmodium berghei</i> ANKA in a Mouse Model.","authors":"Rahma Udu, Job Oyweri, Jeremiah Gathirwa","doi":"10.1155/2021/6165950","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6165950","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chemotherapy plays a crucial role in malaria control. However, the main obstacle to treatment has been the rise of parasite resistance to most antimalarial drugs. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) remain the most effective antimalarial medicines available today. However, malaria parasite tolerance to ACTs is now increasingly prevalent especially in Southeast Asia presenting the danger of the spread of ACTs resistance to other parts of the world. Consequently, this creates the need for alternative effective antimalarials. Therefore, this study sought out to determine antimalarial potential, safety, and resistance development of the extracts in a mouse model.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were obtained by solvent extraction. The extracts were assayed for acute toxicity <i>in vivo</i>. Additionally, the two extracts were evaluated for antimalarial activity <i>in vivo</i> against <i>Plasmodium berghei</i> ANKA strain by the 4-day suppressive test at 500, 250, and 125 mg/kg/day. Packed cell volume was evaluated to determine anemia manifestation. Finally, continuous drug pressure experiment at 500 mg/kg and DNA amplification via PCR were conducted. The amplicons underwent through Sanger sequencing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was no toxicity realized in the animals at 2000 mg/kg. Importantly, high parasitemia suppression of 75.52% and 75.30% using a dose of 500 mg/kg of methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively, was noted. The extracts were able to reverse packed cell volume reduction. <i>Nigella sativa</i>-resistant phenotype was selected as delayed parasite clearance. However, there was no change in the nucleotide sequences of <i>Pb</i>MDR1 and <i>Pb</i>CRT genes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results provide room for future exploitation of the plant as an antimalarial.</p>","PeriodicalId":16788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2021-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7875626/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25404672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-11-24eCollection Date: 2020-01-01DOI: 10.1155/2020/9238696
James P Chambers, Jieh Yu, James J Valdes, Bernard P Arulanandam
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, and host cell entry is the first step in the viral life cycle. The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) entry process into susceptible host tissue cells is complex requiring (1) attachment of the virus via the conserved spike (S) protein receptor-binding motif (RBM) to the host cell angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, (2) S protein proteolytic processing, and (3) membrane fusion. Spike protein processing occurs at two cleavage sites, i.e., S1/S2 and S2'. Cleavage at the S1/S2 and S2' sites ultimately gives rise to generation of competent fusion elements important in the merging of the host cell and viral membranes. Following cleavage, shedding of the S1 crown results in significant conformational changes and fusion peptide repositioning for target membrane insertion and fusion. Identification of specific protease involvement has been difficult due to the many cell types used and studied. However, it appears that S protein proteolytic cleavage is dependent on (1) furin and (2) serine protease transmembrane protease serine 2 proteases acting in tandem. Although at present not clear, increased SARS-CoV-2 S receptor-binding motif binding affinity and replication efficiency may in part account for observed differences in infectivity. Cleavage of the ACE2 receptor appears to be yet another layer of complexity in addition to forfeiture and/or alteration of ACE2 function which plays an important role in cardiovascular and immune function.
{"title":"SARS-CoV-2, Early Entry Events.","authors":"James P Chambers, Jieh Yu, James J Valdes, Bernard P Arulanandam","doi":"10.1155/2020/9238696","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2020/9238696","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, and host cell entry is the first step in the viral life cycle. The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) entry process into susceptible host tissue cells is complex requiring (1) attachment of the virus via the conserved spike (S) protein receptor-binding motif (RBM) to the host cell angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, (2) S protein proteolytic processing, and (3) membrane fusion. Spike protein processing occurs at two cleavage sites, i.e., S<sub>1</sub>/S<sub>2</sub> and S<sub>2</sub>'. Cleavage at the S<sub>1</sub>/S<sub>2</sub> and S<sub>2</sub>' sites ultimately gives rise to generation of competent fusion elements important in the merging of the host cell and viral membranes. Following cleavage, shedding of the S<sub>1</sub> crown results in significant conformational changes and fusion peptide repositioning for target membrane insertion and fusion. Identification of specific protease involvement has been difficult due to the many cell types used and studied. However, it appears that S protein proteolytic cleavage is dependent on (1) furin and (2) serine protease transmembrane protease serine 2 proteases acting in tandem. Although at present not clear, increased SARS-CoV-2 S receptor-binding motif binding affinity and replication efficiency may in part account for observed differences in infectivity. Cleavage of the ACE2 receptor appears to be yet another layer of complexity in addition to forfeiture and/or alteration of ACE2 function which plays an important role in cardiovascular and immune function.</p>","PeriodicalId":16788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2020-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7707962/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38355937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Staphylococcus species are considered as one of the major pathogens causing outbreaks of food poisoning. The aim of this work was to assess the toxinogenic and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the strains of Staphylococcus spp isolated from three types of fermented dairy products (yoghourt, millet dêguê, and couscous dêguê). The isolation of the Staphylococcus strains was performed on selective media, and their identification was done using biochemical and molecular methods. The susceptibility at 15 antibiotics tested was assessed using the disc diffusion method. The immunodiffusion method was used to evaluate the toxin (luk-E/D, luk-S/F, ETA, and ETB) production. Biofilm formation was qualitatively researched on microplates. Less than half (42.77%) of the collected samples were contaminated with Staphylococcus spp. The yoghourt and millet dêguê samples collected in the afternoon were more contaminated than those collected in the morning. The S. aureus, S. capitis, and S. xylosus strains, respectively, were the most present. S. aureus was the only coagulase-positive species identified in our samples. The highest resistance to antibiotics was observed with penicillin (100%) irrespective of the nature of the sample. S. aureus strains were highly (71.4%) resistant to methicillin. The S. aureus strains were the most biofilm-forming (27.6%), followed by S. capitis strains. Panton and Valentine's leukocidin (luk-S/F) was produced by only S. aureus strains at a rate of 8.33%. Only coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) produced Luk-E/D. The high rates of Staphylococci contamination indicate bad hygiene quality during the production and distribution of dairy products. It is, therefore, necessary to improve the quality of fermented milk products.
{"title":"Toxin Production and Resistance of <i>Staphylococcus</i> Species Isolated from Fermented Artisanal Dairy Products in Benin.","authors":"Majoie Géroxie Tohoyessou, Wassiyath Mousse, Haziz Sina, Fernique Kona, Tania Azanghadji, Nathalie Guessennd, Farid Baba-Moussa, Thomas Dadie, Adolphe Adjanohoun, Lamine Baba-Moussa","doi":"10.1155/2020/7938149","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2020/7938149","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Staphylococcus</i> species are considered as one of the major pathogens causing outbreaks of food poisoning. The aim of this work was to assess the toxinogenic and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the strains of <i>Staphylococcus</i> spp isolated from three types of fermented dairy products (yoghourt, millet <i>dêguê</i>, and couscous <i>dêguê</i>). The isolation of the <i>Staphylococcus</i> strains was performed on selective media, and their identification was done using biochemical and molecular methods. The susceptibility at 15 antibiotics tested was assessed using the disc diffusion method. The immunodiffusion method was used to evaluate the toxin (luk-E/D, luk-S/F, ETA, and ETB) production. Biofilm formation was qualitatively researched on microplates. Less than half (42.77%) of the collected samples were contaminated with <i>Staphylococcus</i> spp. The yoghourt and millet <i>dêguê</i> samples collected in the afternoon were more contaminated than those collected in the morning. The <i>S. aureus</i>, <i>S. capitis,</i> and <i>S. xylosus</i> strains, respectively, were the most present. <i>S. aureus</i> was the only coagulase-positive species identified in our samples. The highest resistance to antibiotics was observed with penicillin (100%) irrespective of the nature of the sample. <i>S. aureus</i> strains were highly (71.4%) resistant to methicillin. The <i>S. aureus</i> strains were the most biofilm-forming (27.6%), followed by <i>S. capitis</i> strains. Panton and Valentine's leukocidin (luk-S/F) was produced by only <i>S. aureus</i> strains at a rate of 8.33%. Only coagulase-negative <i>Staphylococcus</i> (CNS) produced Luk-E/D. The high rates of <i>Staphylococci</i> contamination indicate bad hygiene quality during the production and distribution of dairy products. It is, therefore, necessary to improve the quality of fermented milk products.</p>","PeriodicalId":16788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2020-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7649661/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38623564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
With the continued spread of COVID-19 across the world, rapid diagnostic tools, readily available respurposable drugs, and prompt containment measures to control the SARS-CoV-2 infection are of paramount importance. Examples of recent advances in diagnostic tests are CRISPR technology, IgG assay, spike protein detection, and use of artificial intelligence. The gold standard reverse transcription polymerase chain (RT-PCR) has also been upgraded with point-of-care rapid tests. Supportive treatment, mechanical ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remain the primary choice, while therapeutic options include antivirals, antiparasitics, anti-inflammatories, interferon, convalescent plasma, monoclonal antibody, hyperimmunoglobulin, RNAi, and mesenchymal stem cell therapy. Different types of vaccines such as RNA, DNA, and lentiviral, inactivated, and viral vector are in clinical trials. Moreover, rapidly deployable and easy-to-transport innovative vaccine delivery systems are also in development. As countries have started easing down on the lockdown measures, the chance for a second wave of infection demands strict and rational control policies to keep fatalities minimized. An improved understanding of the advances in diagnostic tools, treatments, vaccines, and control measures for COVID-19 can provide references for further research and aid better containment strategies.
{"title":"Stopping the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review on the Advances of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Control Measures.","authors":"Md Hasanul Banna Siam, Nahida Hannan Nishat, Ahsan Ahmed, Mohammad Sorowar Hossain","doi":"10.1155/2020/9121429","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2020/9121429","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the continued spread of COVID-19 across the world, rapid diagnostic tools, readily available respurposable drugs, and prompt containment measures to control the SARS-CoV-2 infection are of paramount importance. Examples of recent advances in diagnostic tests are CRISPR technology, IgG assay, spike protein detection, and use of artificial intelligence. The gold standard reverse transcription polymerase chain (RT-PCR) has also been upgraded with point-of-care rapid tests. Supportive treatment, mechanical ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remain the primary choice, while therapeutic options include antivirals, antiparasitics, anti-inflammatories, interferon, convalescent plasma, monoclonal antibody, hyperimmunoglobulin, RNAi, and mesenchymal stem cell therapy. Different types of vaccines such as RNA, DNA, and lentiviral, inactivated, and viral vector are in clinical trials. Moreover, rapidly deployable and easy-to-transport innovative vaccine delivery systems are also in development. As countries have started easing down on the lockdown measures, the chance for a second wave of infection demands strict and rational control policies to keep fatalities minimized. An improved understanding of the advances in diagnostic tools, treatments, vaccines, and control measures for COVID-19 can provide references for further research and aid better containment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":16788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2020-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/9121429","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38554083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-07-27eCollection Date: 2020-01-01DOI: 10.1155/2020/3062821
Duchel Jeanedvi Kinouani Kinavouidi, Christian Aimé Kayath, Etienne Nguimbi
Biosurfactants are amphipathic molecules produced by many microorganisms, usually bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. They possess the property of reducing the tension of the membrane interfaces. No studies have been conducted on Shigella species showing the role of biosurfactant-like molecules (BLM) in pathogenicity. The aim of this study is to assess the ability of Shigella environmental and clinical strains to produce BLM and investigate the involvement of biosurfactants in pathogenicity. Our study has shown that BLM are secreted in the extracellular medium with EI24 ranging from 80% to 100%. The secretion is depending on the type III secretion system (T3SS). Moreover, our results have shown that S. flexneri, S. boydii, and S. sonnei are able to interact with hydrophobic areas with 17.64%, 21.42%, and 22.22% hydrophobicity, respectively. BLM secretion is totally prevented due to inhibition of T3SS by 100 mM benzoic and 1.5 mg/ml salicylic acids. P. aeruginosa harboring T3SS is able to produce 100% of BLM in the presence or in the absence of both T3SS inhibitors. The secreted BLM are extractable with an organic solvent such as chloroform, and this could entirely be considered a lipopeptide or polypeptide compound. Secretion of BLM allows some Shigella strains to induce multicellular phenomena like "swarming."
生物表面活性剂是由许多微生物(通常是细菌、真菌和酵母)产生的两亲分子。它们具有降低膜界面张力的特性。目前还没有关于志贺氏菌种类的研究表明生物表面活性剂样分子(BLM)在致病性中的作用。本研究的目的是评估志贺氏菌环境菌株和临床菌株产生BLM的能力,并研究生物表面活性剂在致病性中的作用。我们的研究表明,BLM在EI24的细胞外培养基中分泌的范围为80%至100%。分泌取决于III型分泌系统(T3SS)。此外,我们的研究结果表明,flexneri, S. boydii和S. sonnei能够与疏水区相互作用,分别为17.64%,21.42%和22.22%。100 mM苯甲酸和1.5 mg/ml水杨酸对T3SS的抑制作用完全阻止了BLM的分泌。携带T3SS的铜绿假单胞菌在存在或不存在T3SS抑制剂的情况下都能产生100%的BLM。分泌的BLM可以用有机溶剂(如氯仿)提取,这完全可以被认为是脂肽或多肽化合物。BLM的分泌允许一些志贺氏菌菌株诱导多细胞现象,如“蜂群”。
{"title":"Invasion of Epithelial Cells Is Correlated with Secretion of Biosurfactant via the Type 3 Secretion System (T3SS) of <i>Shigella flexneri</i>.","authors":"Duchel Jeanedvi Kinouani Kinavouidi, Christian Aimé Kayath, Etienne Nguimbi","doi":"10.1155/2020/3062821","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3062821","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biosurfactants are amphipathic molecules produced by many microorganisms, usually bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. They possess the property of reducing the tension of the membrane interfaces. No studies have been conducted on <i>Shigella</i> species showing the role of biosurfactant-like molecules (BLM) in pathogenicity. The aim of this study is to assess the ability of <i>Shigella</i> environmental and clinical strains to produce BLM and investigate the involvement of biosurfactants in pathogenicity. Our study has shown that BLM are secreted in the extracellular medium with EI24 ranging from 80% to 100%. The secretion is depending on the type III secretion system (T3SS). Moreover, our results have shown that <i>S. flexneri</i>, <i>S. boydii,</i> and <i>S. sonnei</i> are able to interact with hydrophobic areas with 17.64%, 21.42%, and 22.22% hydrophobicity, respectively. BLM secretion is totally prevented due to inhibition of T3SS by 100 mM benzoic and 1.5 mg/ml salicylic acids. <i>P. aeruginosa</i> harboring T3SS is able to produce 100% of BLM in the presence or in the absence of both T3SS inhibitors. The secreted BLM are extractable with an organic solvent such as chloroform, and this could entirely be considered a lipopeptide or polypeptide compound. Secretion of BLM allows some <i>Shigella</i> strains to induce multicellular phenomena like \"swarming.\"</p>","PeriodicalId":16788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2020-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/3062821","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38268452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: American cockroaches contaminated with pathogens inside hospital manholes can be one of the major problems that health care systems face.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the fungal infections of American cockroaches in the Esfahan hospital sewage network. The principle goal of the study was about the roaches as a vector of fungi and other pathogens.
Method: The type of study was descriptive-analytical. A total of 55 American cockroach specimens from the manhole walls of the sewerage system of 7 large hospitals were captured. Samples were taken from the surface of the body, digestive tract, and haemocoel of cockroaches. The specimens were then cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar separately, and fungi were identified according to the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics.
Results: All cockroaches collected from hospitals were infected with fungi. Among the 24 (13 infected and 11 noninfected) (44%) female cockroaches and 31 (18 infected and 13 noninfected) (56%) male cockroaches, it was identified that 40.00% was infected with Aspergillus niger, 3.64% with Rhizopus, 7.27% with Penicillium, and 5.45% with Mucor. 6 cockroaches had no yeast contamination. 17 (30.91%) cockroaches were contaminated with Candida glabrata, 23 (41.82%) cockroaches were contaminated with Candida krusei, and 22 (40%) cockroaches were contaminated with other yeast species. The results of this study showed that Candida krusei had the highest prevalence among the isolated fungi with 35.37% of the digestive system and Aspergillus niger with 70.97% of the surface of the cockroach body.
Conclusion: The results emphasized the role played by cockroaches as potential pathogenic vectors in hospital environments. Therefore, suitable management is needed for controlling this insect to prevent disease transmission in hospitals.
{"title":"Study on <i>Periplaneta americana</i> (Blattodea: Blattidae) Fungal Infections in Hospital Sewer System, Esfahan City, Iran, 2017.","authors":"Maryam Khodabandeh, Leila Shirani-Bidabadi, Mahboobe Madani, Alireza Zahraei-Ramazani","doi":"10.1155/2020/4296720","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/4296720","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>American cockroaches contaminated with pathogens inside hospital manholes can be one of the major problems that health care systems face.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this study was to investigate the fungal infections of American cockroaches in the Esfahan hospital sewage network. The principle goal of the study was about the roaches as a vector of fungi and other pathogens.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The type of study was descriptive-analytical. A total of 55 American cockroach specimens from the manhole walls of the sewerage system of 7 large hospitals were captured. Samples were taken from the surface of the body, digestive tract, and haemocoel of cockroaches. The specimens were then cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar separately, and fungi were identified according to the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All cockroaches collected from hospitals were infected with fungi. Among the 24 (13 infected and 11 noninfected) (44%) female cockroaches and 31 (18 infected and 13 noninfected) (56%) male cockroaches, it was identified that 40.00% was infected with <i>Aspergillus niger</i>, 3.64% with <i>Rhizopus</i>, 7.27% with <i>Penicillium</i>, and 5.45% with <i>Mucor</i>. 6 cockroaches had no yeast contamination. 17 (30.91%) cockroaches were contaminated with <i>Candida glabrata</i>, 23 (41.82%) cockroaches were contaminated with <i>Candida krusei</i>, and <i>22</i> (40%) cockroaches were contaminated with other yeast species. The results of this study showed that <i>Candida krusei</i> had the highest prevalence among the isolated fungi with 35.37% of the digestive system and <i>Aspergillus niger</i> with 70.97% of the surface of the cockroach body.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results emphasized the role played by cockroaches as potential pathogenic vectors in hospital environments. Therefore, suitable management is needed for controlling this insect to prevent disease transmission in hospitals.</p>","PeriodicalId":16788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2020-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/4296720","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38300658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-07-03eCollection Date: 2020-01-01DOI: 10.1155/2020/8174240
Amy Spallone, Luboslav Woroch, Keith Sweeney, Roberta Seidman, Luis A Marcos
Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a disease caused by the larval pork tapeworm Taenia solium, has emerged as an important infection in the United States. In this study, we describe the spectrum of NCC infection in eastern Long Island, where there is a growing population of immigrants from endemic countries. A retrospective study was designed to identify patients diagnosed with NCC using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in the electronic medical records at Stony Brook University Hospital between 2005 and 2016. We identified 52 patients (56% male, median age: 35 years) diagnosed with NCC in the only tertiary medical center in Suffolk County. Twenty-five cases were reported in the last three years of the study. Forty-eight (94%) patients self-identified as Hispanic or Latino in the electronic medical record. Twenty-two (44%) and 28 (56%) patients had parenchymal and extraparenchymal lesions, respectively. Nineteen (41.3%) patients presented with seizures to the emergency department. Six patients (11.7%) had hydrocephalus, and five of them required frequent hospitalizations and neurosurgical interventions, including permanent ventriculoperitoneal shunts or temporary external ventricular drains. No deaths were reported. The minimum accumulated estimated cost of NCC hospitalizations during the study period for all patients was approximately 1.4 million United States dollars (USD). In conclusion, NCC predominantly affects young, Hispanic immigrants in Eastern Long Island, particularly in zip codes correlating to predominantly Hispanic communities. The number of cases diagnosed increased at an alarming rate during the study period. Our study suggests a growing need for screening high-risk patients and connecting patients to care in hopes of providing early intervention and treatment to avoid potentially detrimental neurological sequelae.
{"title":"The Burden of Neurocysticercosis at a Single New York Hospital.","authors":"Amy Spallone, Luboslav Woroch, Keith Sweeney, Roberta Seidman, Luis A Marcos","doi":"10.1155/2020/8174240","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8174240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a disease caused by the larval pork tapeworm <i>Taenia solium</i>, has emerged as an important infection in the United States. In this study, we describe the spectrum of NCC infection in eastern Long Island, where there is a growing population of immigrants from endemic countries. A retrospective study was designed to identify patients diagnosed with NCC using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in the electronic medical records at Stony Brook University Hospital between 2005 and 2016. We identified 52 patients (56% male, median age: 35 years) diagnosed with NCC in the only tertiary medical center in Suffolk County. Twenty-five cases were reported in the last three years of the study. Forty-eight (94%) patients self-identified as Hispanic or Latino in the electronic medical record. Twenty-two (44%) and 28 (56%) patients had parenchymal and extraparenchymal lesions, respectively. Nineteen (41.3%) patients presented with seizures to the emergency department. Six patients (11.7%) had hydrocephalus, and five of them required frequent hospitalizations and neurosurgical interventions, including permanent ventriculoperitoneal shunts or temporary external ventricular drains. No deaths were reported. The minimum accumulated estimated cost of NCC hospitalizations during the study period for all patients was approximately 1.4 million United States dollars (USD). In conclusion, NCC predominantly affects young, Hispanic immigrants in Eastern Long Island, particularly in zip codes correlating to predominantly Hispanic communities. The number of cases diagnosed increased at an alarming rate during the study period. Our study suggests a growing need for screening high-risk patients and connecting patients to care in hopes of providing early intervention and treatment to avoid potentially detrimental neurological sequelae.</p>","PeriodicalId":16788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2020-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/8174240","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38268453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-06-29eCollection Date: 2020-01-01DOI: 10.1155/2020/9451591
Jessica Bechler, Luiz E Bermudez
Mycobacterium avium is a human and animal pathogen that infects the host through the mucosal surfaces. Past work has demonstrated that the bacterium can interact with both the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Those surfaces in the body are covered by a bilayer of a glycoprotein, mucin, which works as a physical barrier and a gel which contains antibacterial and antivirus properties. This current work shows that different strains of M. avium, in contrast to Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Listeria monocytogenes, are not able to bind to mucins, MUC2 and MUC5b, the main mucins in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, respectively. The lack of binding is due to the characteristics of the cell wall and is impaired by altering lipids, proteins, or glycolipids. M. avium, in contrast to E. coli, interacts with epithelial cells equally in the presence or absence of the mucin, suggesting that the cell wall of the pathogen can facilitate the bacterial movement through the mucin layer, towards the mucosal wall. In conclusion, the study has shown that M. avium can avoid the mucin barrier, which explains its ability to interact with the mucosal epithelium, even in absence of motion-related structures.
{"title":"Investigating the Role of Mucin as Frontline Defense of Mucosal Surfaces against <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> Subsp. <i>hominissuis</i>.","authors":"Jessica Bechler, Luiz E Bermudez","doi":"10.1155/2020/9451591","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/9451591","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Mycobacterium avium</i> is a human and animal pathogen that infects the host through the mucosal surfaces. Past work has demonstrated that the bacterium can interact with both the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Those surfaces in the body are covered by a bilayer of a glycoprotein, mucin, which works as a physical barrier and a gel which contains antibacterial and antivirus properties. This current work shows that different strains of <i>M</i>. <i>avium</i>, in contrast to <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, are not able to bind to mucins, MUC2 and MUC5b, the main mucins in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, respectively. The lack of binding is due to the characteristics of the cell wall and is impaired by altering lipids, proteins, or glycolipids. <i>M</i>. <i>avium</i>, in contrast to <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i>, interacts with epithelial cells equally in the presence or absence of the mucin, suggesting that the cell wall of the pathogen can facilitate the bacterial movement through the mucin layer, towards the mucosal wall. In conclusion, the study has shown that <i>M</i>. <i>avium</i> can avoid the mucin barrier, which explains its ability to interact with the mucosal epithelium, even in absence of motion-related structures.</p>","PeriodicalId":16788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2020-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/9451591","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38160554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diabetic foot infection is among the most common complications of diabetes mellitus which significantly causes hospitalization and is the most prevalent etiology of nontraumatic amputation worldwide. The current study aimed at assessing the frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of diabetic foot infection of patients from the Bandar Abbas area, in the south of Iran. In this study, a total of 83 diabetic patients with diabetic infected foot wounds referring to Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, from 2017 to 2018 were assessed. Samples were obtained from wound sites and evaluated by aerobic culture and also an antibiogram test for antibiotic susceptibility. Factors including age, sex, type of diabetes, the medication used for diabetes, previous history of diabetic foot infection, duration of wound incidence, fever, and laboratory indices were recorded for each subject. The most prevalent detected bacteria were Escherichia coli (20.5%), Enterococcus sp. (16.9%), Klebsiella sp. (12%), Staphylococcus aureus (8.4%), Enterobacter sp. (7.2%), and Acinetobacter sp. (6%). The results of antibiogram tests revealed the most and the least antibiotic sensitivity for E. coli sp. as meropenem and ciprofloxacin, for Enterococcus sp. as gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, for Klebsiella sp. as amikacin and cotrimoxazole, and for Enterobacter sp. as cotrimoxazole and both amikacin and ciprofloxacin. Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to vancomycin and doxycycline, and Acinetobacter sp. was 100% resistant to all antibiotics except amikacin and gentamycin. A significant statistical association was found between the C-reactive protein and the patients' diabetic foot infection organisms (P=0.019). Findings of the study revealed E. coli sp. as the most common bacteria which are infecting the foot lesions in the studied population. The highest antibiotic susceptibility was seen for vancomycin, linezolid, and carbapenem.
{"title":"Frequency and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Diabetic Foot Infection of Patients from Bandar Abbas District, Southern Iran.","authors":"Arman Ahmadishooli, Parivash Davoodian, Saeed Shoja, Bita Ahmadishooli, Habib Dadvand, Hosein Hamadiyan, Reza Shahriarirad","doi":"10.1155/2020/1057167","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1057167","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diabetic foot infection is among the most common complications of diabetes mellitus which significantly causes hospitalization and is the most prevalent etiology of nontraumatic amputation worldwide. The current study aimed at assessing the frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of diabetic foot infection of patients from the Bandar Abbas area, in the south of Iran. In this study, a total of 83 diabetic patients with diabetic infected foot wounds referring to Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, from 2017 to 2018 were assessed. Samples were obtained from wound sites and evaluated by aerobic culture and also an antibiogram test for antibiotic susceptibility. Factors including age, sex, type of diabetes, the medication used for diabetes, previous history of diabetic foot infection, duration of wound incidence, fever, and laboratory indices were recorded for each subject. The most prevalent detected bacteria were <i>Escherichia coli</i> (20.5%), <i>Enterococcus sp.</i> (16.9%), <i>Klebsiella sp.</i> (12%), <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (8.4%), <i>Enterobacter sp.</i> (7.2%), and <i>Acinetobacter sp.</i> (6%). The results of antibiogram tests revealed the most and the least antibiotic sensitivity for <i>E. coli sp.</i> as meropenem and ciprofloxacin, for <i>Enterococcus sp.</i> as gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, for <i>Klebsiella sp.</i> as amikacin and cotrimoxazole, and for <i>Enterobacter sp.</i> as cotrimoxazole and both amikacin and ciprofloxacin. <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> was sensitive to vancomycin and doxycycline, and <i>Acinetobacter sp</i>. was 100% resistant to all antibiotics except amikacin and gentamycin. A significant statistical association was found between the C-reactive protein and the patients' diabetic foot infection organisms (<i>P</i>=0.019). Findings of the study revealed <i>E. coli sp.</i> as the most common bacteria which are infecting the foot lesions in the studied population. The highest antibiotic susceptibility was seen for vancomycin, linezolid, and carbapenem.</p>","PeriodicalId":16788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2020-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/1057167","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38068406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: The spectrums of infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are manifold and are associated with worse outcomes. A study on the prevalence of these pathogens and their sensitivity patterns will give updated information which is very helpful for health personnel responsible in the management of patients and timely monitoring of the emergence of resistant bacteria. Hence, the study aimed at assessing the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and associated factors among patients with wound infection at Dessie Referral Hospital.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 266 patients at Dessie Referral Hospital from February to May 2016. Wound swab samples were collected aseptically using Levine's technique and transported to Dessie Regional Laboratory by using brain-heart infusion transport media. Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus was done based on cultural and biochemical profiles. Drug susceptibility test was performed using the disc diffusion technique as per the standard and interpreted based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20.
Result: Staphylococcus isolates from 266 processed wound swabs were 92 (34.58%). Of these, 26 (28.3%) were identified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus and 66 (71.7%) were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus among the study population was 9.8%. The isolated methicillin-resistant S. aureus showed full resistance to penicillin (100%) followed by erythromycin and ciprofloxacin (16, 61.5%) and cotrimoxazole and gentamicin (14, 53.8%). From the total S. aureus isolates, 20 (21.7%) of them showed multidrug resistance. Of these methicillin-resistant S. aureus, 18 (69.8%) showed high multidrug resistance. Patients who are farmers in occupation (AOR = 6.1, 95% CI (1.086-33.724)), admitted in the hospital (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI (1.429-8.857)), and have low BMI (<18.5) (AOR = 13.89, 95% CI (4.919-39.192)) were among the risk factors significantly associated with wound infection due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus.
Conclusion: All methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were 100% resistant to penicillin and showed high multidrug resistance. Therefore, antibiotic susceptibility test should be performed prior to treatment.
{"title":"Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and Associated Risk Factors among Patients with Wound Infection at Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia.","authors":"Yeterefwork Tsige, Senait Tadesse, Tsehaynesh G/Eyesus, Mulugeta Mihrete Tefera, Anteneh Amsalu, Marta Alemayhu Menberu, Baye Gelaw","doi":"10.1155/2020/3168325","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3168325","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The spectrums of infections due to methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> are manifold and are associated with worse outcomes. A study on the prevalence of these pathogens and their sensitivity patterns will give updated information which is very helpful for health personnel responsible in the management of patients and timely monitoring of the emergence of resistant bacteria. Hence, the study aimed at assessing the prevalence of methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and associated factors among patients with wound infection at Dessie Referral Hospital.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 266 patients at Dessie Referral Hospital from February to May 2016. Wound swab samples were collected aseptically using Levine's technique and transported to Dessie Regional Laboratory by using brain-heart infusion transport media. Isolation of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> was done based on cultural and biochemical profiles. Drug susceptibility test was performed using the disc diffusion technique as per the standard and interpreted based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong><i>Staphylococcus</i> isolates from 266 processed wound swabs were 92 (34.58%). Of these, 26 (28.3%) were identified as methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> and 66 (71.7%) were methicillin-sensitive <i>S. aureus</i>. The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> among the study population was 9.8%. The isolated methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> showed full resistance to penicillin (100%) followed by erythromycin and ciprofloxacin (16, 61.5%) and cotrimoxazole and gentamicin (14, 53.8%). From the total <i>S. aureus</i> isolates, 20 (21.7%) of them showed multidrug resistance. Of these methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i>, 18 (69.8%) showed high multidrug resistance. Patients who are farmers in occupation (AOR = 6.1, 95% CI (1.086-33.724)), admitted in the hospital (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI (1.429-8.857)), and have low BMI (<18.5) (AOR = 13.89, 95% CI (4.919-39.192)) were among the risk factors significantly associated with wound infection due to methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>All methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> isolates were 100% resistant to penicillin and showed high multidrug resistance. Therefore, antibiotic susceptibility test should be performed prior to treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":16788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2020-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2020/3168325","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38068407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}