Pub Date : 2024-09-09DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00823-24
Jing Liu, Jiaqing Guo, Melanie A Whitmore, Isabel Tobin, Dohyung M Kim, Zijun Zhao, Guolong Zhang
Eimeria maxima is a major cause of coccidiosis in chickens and a key predisposing factor for other economically significant diseases such as necrotic enteritis. However, a detailed understanding of the intestinal microbiome response to E. maxima infection is still lacking. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the dynamic changes of the intestinal microbiome for 14 days post-infection (dpi) with E. maxima. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed with the ileal and cecal digesta collected from mock and E. maxima-infected chickens at the prepatent (3 dpi), acute (5 and 7 dpi), and recovery phases (10 and 14 dpi) of infection. Although no notable changes were observed at 3 dpi, significant alterations of the microbiota occurred in both the ileum and cecum at 5 and 7 dpi. By 14 dpi, the intestinal microbiota tended to return to a healthy state. Notably, Lactobacillus was enriched in response to E. maxima infection in both the ileum and cecum, although individual Lactobacillus, Ligilactobacillus, and Limosilactobacillus species varied in the temporal pattern of response. Concurrently, major short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium, were progressively suppressed by E. maxima in the cecum. On the other hand, opportunistic pathogens such as Escherichia, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus were significantly enriched in the ileum during acute infection.
Importance: We have observed for the first time the dynamic response of the intestinal microbiota to Eimeria maxima infection, synchronized with its life cycle. Minimal changes occur in both the ileal and cecal microbiota during early infection, while significant alterations coincide with acute infection and disruption of the intestinal mucosal lining. As animals recover from coccidiosis, the intestinal microbiota largely returns to normal. E. maxima-induced intestinal inflammation likely creates an environment conducive to the growth of aerotolerant anaerobes such as Lactobacillus, as well as facultative anaerobes such as Escherichia, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus, while suppressing the growth of obligate anaerobes such as short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria. These findings expand our understanding of the temporal dynamics of the microbiota structure during Eimeria infection and offer insights into the pathogenesis of coccidiosis, supporting the rationale for microbiome-based strategies in the control and prevention of this condition.
Eimeria maxima 是鸡球虫病的主要病因,也是坏死性肠炎等其他经济意义疾病的主要诱发因素。然而,目前仍缺乏对 E. maxima 感染后肠道微生物组反应的详细了解。本研究旨在全面调查感染 E. maxima 后 14 天(dpi)肠道微生物组的动态变化。在感染前(3 dpi)、急性期(5 dpi 和 7 dpi)和恢复期(10 dpi 和 14 dpi),对模拟鸡和感染了 E. maxima 的鸡的回肠和盲肠消化物进行了细菌 16S rRNA 基因测序。虽然在 3 dpi 没有观察到明显的变化,但在 5 和 7 dpi 回肠和盲肠的微生物群发生了显著变化。到 14 dpi 时,肠道微生物群趋于恢复到健康状态。值得注意的是,回肠和盲肠中的乳酸杆菌对E. maxima感染都有富集作用,尽管单个乳酸杆菌、ligilactobacillus和Limosilactobacillus物种在反应的时间模式上有所不同。与此同时,产生短链脂肪酸的主要细菌(如粪杆菌)在盲肠中逐渐被 E. maxima 抑制。另一方面,在急性感染期间,回肠中的机会致病菌(如埃希氏菌、肠球菌和葡萄球菌)明显增多:重要意义:我们首次观察到肠道微生物群对大肠埃默氏菌感染的动态反应,并与其生命周期同步。在早期感染期间,回肠和盲肠微生物群发生的变化极小,而在急性感染和肠粘膜破坏时,回肠和盲肠微生物群会发生显著变化。当动物从球虫病中恢复过来时,肠道微生物群基本恢复正常。大肠埃希氏菌诱发的肠道炎症很可能创造了一个有利于耐气厌氧菌(如乳酸杆菌)以及兼性厌氧菌(如埃希氏菌、肠球菌和葡萄球菌)生长的环境,同时抑制了强制性厌氧菌(如产短链脂肪酸的细菌)的生长。这些发现拓展了我们对艾美耳菌感染期间微生物群结构的时间动态的了解,并提供了对球虫病发病机理的见解,支持了在控制和预防这种疾病时采用基于微生物组的策略的合理性。
{"title":"Dynamic response of the intestinal microbiome to <i>Eimeria maxima-</i>induced coccidiosis in chickens.","authors":"Jing Liu, Jiaqing Guo, Melanie A Whitmore, Isabel Tobin, Dohyung M Kim, Zijun Zhao, Guolong Zhang","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.00823-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00823-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Eimeria maxima</i> is a major cause of coccidiosis in chickens and a key predisposing factor for other economically significant diseases such as necrotic enteritis. However, a detailed understanding of the intestinal microbiome response to <i>E. maxima</i> infection is still lacking. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the dynamic changes of the intestinal microbiome for 14 days post-infection (dpi) with <i>E. maxima</i>. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed with the ileal and cecal digesta collected from mock and <i>E. maxima-</i>infected chickens at the prepatent (3 dpi), acute (5 and 7 dpi), and recovery phases (10 and 14 dpi) of infection. Although no notable changes were observed at 3 dpi, significant alterations of the microbiota occurred in both the ileum and cecum at 5 and 7 dpi. By 14 dpi, the intestinal microbiota tended to return to a healthy state. Notably, <i>Lactobacillus</i> was enriched in response to <i>E. maxima</i> infection in both the ileum and cecum, although individual <i>Lactobacillus</i>, <i>Ligilactobacillus</i>, and <i>Limosilactobacillus</i> species varied in the temporal pattern of response. Concurrently, major short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, such as <i>Faecalibacterium</i>, were progressively suppressed by <i>E. maxima</i> in the cecum. On the other hand, opportunistic pathogens such as <i>Escherichia</i>, <i>Enterococcus</i>, and <i>Staphylococcus</i> were significantly enriched in the ileum during acute infection.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>We have observed for the first time the dynamic response of the intestinal microbiota to <i>Eimeria maxima</i> infection, synchronized with its life cycle. Minimal changes occur in both the ileal and cecal microbiota during early infection, while significant alterations coincide with acute infection and disruption of the intestinal mucosal lining. As animals recover from coccidiosis, the intestinal microbiota largely returns to normal. <i>E. maxima</i>-induced intestinal inflammation likely creates an environment conducive to the growth of aerotolerant anaerobes such as <i>Lactobacillus</i>, as well as facultative anaerobes such as <i>Escherichia</i>, <i>Enterococcus</i>, and <i>Staphylococcus</i>, while suppressing the growth of obligate anaerobes such as short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria. These findings expand our understanding of the temporal dynamics of the microbiota structure during <i>Eimeria</i> infection and offer insights into the pathogenesis of coccidiosis, supporting the rationale for microbiome-based strategies in the control and prevention of this condition.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-09DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00706-24
Alefiya Neemuchwala, Karen Johnson, Kirby Cronin, Sandra Zittermann, Analyn Peralta, Vanessa G Allen, Samir N Patel
<p><p>Azithromycin-resistant shigellosis is increasing globally. This retrospective analysis of <i>Shigella flexneri</i> serotype 2a isolates from 2016 to 2018 in Ontario found nearly half were azithromycin (47.7%, 72/151) and ciprofloxacin (50.7%, 77/152) resistant. Moreover, 34.7% (25/72) of azithromycin-resistant isolates were also ciprofloxacin-resistant. Four isolates were ceftriaxone-resistant, although all azithromycin-resistant isolates were ceftriaxone-susceptible. Overall, 83.6% (127/152) of all <i>S. flexneri</i> 2a isolates were recovered from males and 97.2% (70/72) of the azithromycin-resistant cases were males. Among the azithromycin-resistant cases, some (8/72) reported international travel. Phylogenetic analysis of azithromycin-resistant isolates revealed two large male-dominated clusters, and one cluster may have been due to importation of resistant strain. Comparison of plasmids isolated from the clusters in Ontario revealed the presence of incFII plasmid with high percentage of similarity to plasmids present in global outbreaks affecting mostly males including men who have sex with men (MSM). These two large azithromycin-resistant clusters are suggestive of an outbreak among MSM, though disease exposure or sexual orientation of patients was unknown. The presence of plasmid-borne azithromycin resistance in ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates is a public health concern. Antimicrobial surveillance is important for patient management, understanding the spread of novel resistance types in local communities which sometimes is introduced by travel. We found ongoing multidrug-resistant outbreaks spanning multiple years affecting males. Reduction of future outbreaks in high-risk communities like MSM requires consorted information flow between laboratory, public health, and physicians. We impart genomic and antimicrobial characteristics of multidrug <i>S. flexneri</i> 2a which may serve as reference by clinicians and public health.IMPORTANCEOral ciprofloxacin and azithromycin are generally considered as the first-line therapy of shigellosis. Here, we report the emergence and transmission of azithromycin and ciprofloxacin-resistant <i>S. flexneri</i> serotype 2a among male adults in Ontario during 2016-2018. The percentage of azithromycin and ciprofloxacin resistance among <i>S. flexneri</i> 2a is higher compared to previous reports from Canada and United States. Here, we show the genetic basis of the antimicrobial resistance among these unique groups of <i>S. flexneri</i> 2a isolates. We describe a domestically acquired azithromycin-resistant and ciprofloxacin-resistant <i>S. flexneri</i> 2a lineage in Ontario. Combining whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data with travel-associated data helped in understanding dissemination and transmission. We employed WGS, which not only helped us in understanding the genetic-relationship between isolates but also mine information regarding plasmids. In the future, linking WGS, travel-related data, and clini
{"title":"Characterization of azithromycin-resistant <i>Shigella flexneri</i> serotype 2a isolates using whole genome sequencing in Ontario from 2016 to 2018.","authors":"Alefiya Neemuchwala, Karen Johnson, Kirby Cronin, Sandra Zittermann, Analyn Peralta, Vanessa G Allen, Samir N Patel","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.00706-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00706-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Azithromycin-resistant shigellosis is increasing globally. This retrospective analysis of <i>Shigella flexneri</i> serotype 2a isolates from 2016 to 2018 in Ontario found nearly half were azithromycin (47.7%, 72/151) and ciprofloxacin (50.7%, 77/152) resistant. Moreover, 34.7% (25/72) of azithromycin-resistant isolates were also ciprofloxacin-resistant. Four isolates were ceftriaxone-resistant, although all azithromycin-resistant isolates were ceftriaxone-susceptible. Overall, 83.6% (127/152) of all <i>S. flexneri</i> 2a isolates were recovered from males and 97.2% (70/72) of the azithromycin-resistant cases were males. Among the azithromycin-resistant cases, some (8/72) reported international travel. Phylogenetic analysis of azithromycin-resistant isolates revealed two large male-dominated clusters, and one cluster may have been due to importation of resistant strain. Comparison of plasmids isolated from the clusters in Ontario revealed the presence of incFII plasmid with high percentage of similarity to plasmids present in global outbreaks affecting mostly males including men who have sex with men (MSM). These two large azithromycin-resistant clusters are suggestive of an outbreak among MSM, though disease exposure or sexual orientation of patients was unknown. The presence of plasmid-borne azithromycin resistance in ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates is a public health concern. Antimicrobial surveillance is important for patient management, understanding the spread of novel resistance types in local communities which sometimes is introduced by travel. We found ongoing multidrug-resistant outbreaks spanning multiple years affecting males. Reduction of future outbreaks in high-risk communities like MSM requires consorted information flow between laboratory, public health, and physicians. We impart genomic and antimicrobial characteristics of multidrug <i>S. flexneri</i> 2a which may serve as reference by clinicians and public health.IMPORTANCEOral ciprofloxacin and azithromycin are generally considered as the first-line therapy of shigellosis. Here, we report the emergence and transmission of azithromycin and ciprofloxacin-resistant <i>S. flexneri</i> serotype 2a among male adults in Ontario during 2016-2018. The percentage of azithromycin and ciprofloxacin resistance among <i>S. flexneri</i> 2a is higher compared to previous reports from Canada and United States. Here, we show the genetic basis of the antimicrobial resistance among these unique groups of <i>S. flexneri</i> 2a isolates. We describe a domestically acquired azithromycin-resistant and ciprofloxacin-resistant <i>S. flexneri</i> 2a lineage in Ontario. Combining whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data with travel-associated data helped in understanding dissemination and transmission. We employed WGS, which not only helped us in understanding the genetic-relationship between isolates but also mine information regarding plasmids. In the future, linking WGS, travel-related data, and clini","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The plasmid-mediated gene mcr-1 that makes bacteria resistant to the antibiotic colistin is spreading quickly, which means that colistin is no longer working well to treat Gram-negative bacterial infections. Herein, we utilized a computer-aided high-throughput screening drugs method to identify the natural product apigenin, a potential mcr-protein inhibitor, which effectively enhanced the antimicrobial activity of colistin. Several assays, including a checkerboard minimum inhibitory concentration assay, a time-kill assay, the combined disk test, molecular simulation dynamics, and animal infection models assay, were conducted to verify whether apigenin enhanced the ability of colistin to fight Gram-negative bacterial infections. The results showed that apigenin improved the antimicrobial activity of colistin against multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infection. Moreover, apigenin not only did not increase the toxic effect of colistin but also had the ability to effectively inhibit the frequency of bacterial resistance mutations to colistin. Studies clearly elucidated that apigenin could interfere with the thermal stability of the protein by binding to the mcr-1 protein. Additionally, the combination of apigenin and colistin could exert multiple effects, including disrupting bacterial membranes, the generation of bacterial nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, as well as inhibiting bacterial adenosine triphosphate production. Furthermore, the addition of apigenin was able to significantly inhibit colistin-stimulated high expression levels of the bacterial mcr-1 gene. Finally, apigenin exhibited a characteristic anti-inflammatory effect while enhancing the antimicrobial activity of colistin against mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli (E. coli) infected animals. In conclusion, as a potential lead compound, apigenin is promising in combination with colistin in the future treatment of mcr-1-positive E. coli infections.IMPORTANCEThis study found that apigenin was able to inhibit the activity of the mcr-1 protein using a high-throughput virtual screening method. Apigenin effectively enhanced the antimicrobial activity of colistin against multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, including mcr-1-positive strains, in vitro and in vivo. This study will provide new options and strategies for the future treatment of multidrug-resistant pathogen infections.
{"title":"High-throughput screening identification of apigenin that reverses the colistin resistance of mcr-1-positive pathogens.","authors":"Feng Tang, Wenjing Peng, Xu Kou, Zeliang Chen, Libo Zhang","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.00341-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00341-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The plasmid-mediated gene mcr-1 that makes bacteria resistant to the antibiotic colistin is spreading quickly, which means that colistin is no longer working well to treat Gram-negative bacterial infections. Herein, we utilized a computer-aided high-throughput screening drugs method to identify the natural product apigenin, a potential <i>mcr</i>-protein inhibitor, which effectively enhanced the antimicrobial activity of colistin. Several assays, including a checkerboard minimum inhibitory concentration assay, a time-kill assay, the combined disk test, molecular simulation dynamics, and animal infection models assay, were conducted to verify whether apigenin enhanced the ability of colistin to fight Gram-negative bacterial infections. The results showed that apigenin improved the antimicrobial activity of colistin against multidrug-resistant <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> infection. Moreover, apigenin not only did not increase the toxic effect of colistin but also had the ability to effectively inhibit the frequency of bacterial resistance mutations to colistin. Studies clearly elucidated that apigenin could interfere with the thermal stability of the protein by binding to the <i>mcr</i>-1 protein. Additionally, the combination of apigenin and colistin could exert multiple effects, including disrupting bacterial membranes, the generation of bacterial nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, as well as inhibiting bacterial adenosine triphosphate production. Furthermore, the addition of apigenin was able to significantly inhibit colistin-stimulated high expression levels of the bacterial mcr-1 gene. Finally, apigenin exhibited a characteristic anti-inflammatory effect while enhancing the antimicrobial activity of colistin against mcr-1-positive <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>) infected animals. In conclusion, as a potential lead compound, apigenin is promising in combination with colistin in the future treatment of mcr-1-positive <i>E. coli</i> infections.IMPORTANCEThis study found that apigenin was able to inhibit the activity of the <i>mcr</i>-1 protein using a high-throughput virtual screening method. Apigenin effectively enhanced the antimicrobial activity of colistin against multidrug-resistant <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i>, including mcr-1-positive strains, <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. This study will provide new options and strategies for the future treatment of multidrug-resistant pathogen infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Insect gut microbes play important roles in digestion, metabolism, development, and environmental adaptation. Parasitoid wasps are one of the most important biological control agents in pest control, while the gut microbial species compositions and the associated functions have been poorly investigated. Two endoparasitoid wasps, Cotesia vestalis and Diadromus collaris, parasitize the larval stage and pupal stage of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, respectively. Using whole-genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we characterized the gut microbial composition, diversity, and potential functional roles associated with the two parasitoid wasp larvae. The results reveal that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes are the dominant phyla in the gut of C. vestalis and D. collaris larvae, with Rhizobium and Enterococcus being the dominant genera. The putative microbial functions associated with the two parasitoid wasps might play a virtual role in assisting in consuming the host's nutritional composition. The enriched CAZymes family genes are primarily involved in the degradation and synthesis of chitin. Despite the richness of microbial species and communities, the microbes species and the microbial community structure exhibit significant similarity between the two parasitoid wasps and between the parasitoid wasp and the host P. xylostella. Notably, the prevalence of the genus Enterococcus shared among them suggests a possible link of gut microbes between the host and their associated parasitoids. Our study offers insights into the gut microbe-based interactions between the host and parasitoid wasps for the first time, potentially paving the way for the development of an ecologically friendly biocontrol strategy against the pest P. xylostella.IMPORTANCEEndoparasitoid wasps spend the majority of their lifespan within their host and heavily rely on the host's nutrition for survival. There is limited understanding regarding the composition and physiological impacts of gut microbial communities in parasitoid wasps, particularly during the larval stage, which is directly linked to the host. Based on a thorough characterization of the gut microbe and comprehensive comparative analysis, we found the microbial species of the larval parasitoid wasp Cotesia vestalis and the pupal parasitoid wasp Diadromus collaris were similar, sharing 159 genera and 277 species, as were the microbial community structure. Certain of the dominant microbial strains of the two parasitoid wasps were similar to that of their host Plutella xylostella larvae, revealing host insect may affect the microbial community of the parasitoid wasps. The putative microbial functions associated with the parasitoid wasp larvae play an important role in dietary consumption.
{"title":"Characterization of larval gut microbiota of two endoparasitoid wasps associated with their common host, <i>Plutella xylostella</i> (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).","authors":"Na-Na Hu, Zi-Qi Wang, Si-Jie Zhang, Zhi-Zhi Wang, Xue-Xin Chen","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.01208-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01208-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insect gut microbes play important roles in digestion, metabolism, development, and environmental adaptation. Parasitoid wasps are one of the most important biological control agents in pest control, while the gut microbial species compositions and the associated functions have been poorly investigated. Two endoparasitoid wasps, <i>Cotesia vestalis</i> and <i>Diadromus collaris</i>, parasitize the larval stage and pupal stage of the diamondback moth, <i>Plutella xylostella</i>, respectively. Using whole-genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we characterized the gut microbial composition, diversity, and potential functional roles associated with the two parasitoid wasp larvae. The results reveal that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes are the dominant phyla in the gut of <i>C. vestalis</i> and <i>D. collaris</i> larvae, with <i>Rhizobium</i> and <i>Enterococcus</i> being the dominant genera. The putative microbial functions associated with the two parasitoid wasps might play a virtual role in assisting in consuming the host's nutritional composition. The enriched CAZymes family genes are primarily involved in the degradation and synthesis of chitin. Despite the richness of microbial species and communities, the microbes species and the microbial community structure exhibit significant similarity between the two parasitoid wasps and between the parasitoid wasp and the host <i>P. xylostella</i>. Notably, the prevalence of the genus <i>Enterococcus</i> shared among them suggests a possible link of gut microbes between the host and their associated parasitoids. Our study offers insights into the gut microbe-based interactions between the host and parasitoid wasps for the first time, potentially paving the way for the development of an ecologically friendly biocontrol strategy against the pest <i>P. xylostella</i>.IMPORTANCEEndoparasitoid wasps spend the majority of their lifespan within their host and heavily rely on the host's nutrition for survival. There is limited understanding regarding the composition and physiological impacts of gut microbial communities in parasitoid wasps, particularly during the larval stage, which is directly linked to the host. Based on a thorough characterization of the gut microbe and comprehensive comparative analysis, we found the microbial species of the larval parasitoid wasp <i>Cotesia vestalis</i> and the pupal parasitoid wasp <i>Diadromus collaris</i> were similar, sharing 159 genera and 277 species, as were the microbial community structure. Certain of the dominant microbial strains of the two parasitoid wasps were similar to that of their host <i>Plutella xylostella</i> larvae, revealing host insect may affect the microbial community of the parasitoid wasps. The putative microbial functions associated with the parasitoid wasp larvae play an important role in dietary consumption.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-09DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01899-24
Claudia Silva-Andrade, María Rodriguez-Fernández, Daniel Garrido, Alberto J M Martin
{"title":"Correction for Silva-Andrade et al., \"Using metabolic networks to predict cross-feeding and competition interactions between microorganisms\".","authors":"Claudia Silva-Andrade, María Rodriguez-Fernández, Daniel Garrido, Alberto J M Martin","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.01899-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01899-24","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-09DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01055-24
Thao T Truong, Karissa Crawford, Ichih Wang-McGuire, Kendal Jensen, Aisha Mushtaq, Nicole A P Lieberman, Frederick S Buckner, Wesley C Van Voorhis, Brad T Cookson, Stephen J Salipante, Joshua A Lieberman
Leishmaniasis is a rare disease in the United States, with an estimated annual incidence of dozens of cases occurring primarily in travelers, migrants, and military personnel. True disease incidence is unknown, since leishmaniasis is not a nationally notifiable condition. Here, we describe the results of molecular leishmaniasis over a 1-year interval (September 2021 to August 2022) when our laboratory served as the primary national reference laboratory for molecular diagnosis of civilian leishmaniasis. We tested 218 specimens submitted from 36 states yielding 94 of the 186 (50.5%) positive cases with species or species complex-level identification and 18 novel mini-exon alleles. Most species belonged to subgenus Viannia (75.6%) and associated with cutaneous or mucocutaneous disease. Cases were associated with recent travel (18.1%), travel timing unspecified (7.4%), migration (7.4%), remote travel (2.1%), military (1.1%), or unknown history (63.8%). These data illustrate the clinical utility of molecular testing for leishmaniasis and provide unique insight into disease epidemiology.
Importance: Leishmaniasis is a disfiguring, neglected parasitic infection endemic to the Southern United States and the Americas. Despite significant populations at risk-travelers, military and foreign service members, and migrating persons-the epidemiology of the disease in the United States is poorly understood. Moreover, few clinical laboratories in the United States can test for the disease. Here, we present results from 1 year of testing for this disease at a major reference laboratory. These findings are particularly relevant because they coincide with a temporary "pause" on all clinical testing at the CDC. Our findings suggest at least several hundred cases occur each year in the United States. In particular, mucosal leishmaniasis may be more common than previously reported. We also highlight greater genetic diversity in Leishmania species endemic to the Americas than has been previously sampled, with implications for diagnostic specificity.
{"title":"Descriptive and molecular epidemiology of leishmaniasis diagnosed from clinical samples in the United States, 2021-2022.","authors":"Thao T Truong, Karissa Crawford, Ichih Wang-McGuire, Kendal Jensen, Aisha Mushtaq, Nicole A P Lieberman, Frederick S Buckner, Wesley C Van Voorhis, Brad T Cookson, Stephen J Salipante, Joshua A Lieberman","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.01055-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01055-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leishmaniasis is a rare disease in the United States, with an estimated annual incidence of dozens of cases occurring primarily in travelers, migrants, and military personnel. True disease incidence is unknown, since leishmaniasis is not a nationally notifiable condition. Here, we describe the results of molecular leishmaniasis over a 1-year interval (September 2021 to August 2022) when our laboratory served as the primary national reference laboratory for molecular diagnosis of civilian leishmaniasis. We tested 218 specimens submitted from 36 states yielding 94 of the 186 (50.5%) positive cases with species or species complex-level identification and 18 novel mini-exon alleles. Most species belonged to subgenus <i>Viannia</i> (75.6%) and associated with cutaneous or mucocutaneous disease. Cases were associated with recent travel (18.1%), travel timing unspecified (7.4%), migration (7.4%), remote travel (2.1%), military (1.1%), or unknown history (63.8%). These data illustrate the clinical utility of molecular testing for leishmaniasis and provide unique insight into disease epidemiology.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Leishmaniasis is a disfiguring, neglected parasitic infection endemic to the Southern United States and the Americas. Despite significant populations at risk-travelers, military and foreign service members, and migrating persons-the epidemiology of the disease in the United States is poorly understood. Moreover, few clinical laboratories in the United States can test for the disease. Here, we present results from 1 year of testing for this disease at a major reference laboratory. These findings are particularly relevant because they coincide with a temporary \"pause\" on all clinical testing at the CDC. Our findings suggest at least several hundred cases occur each year in the United States. In particular, mucosal leishmaniasis may be more common than previously reported. We also highlight greater genetic diversity in <i>Leishmania</i> species endemic to the Americas than has been previously sampled, with implications for diagnostic specificity.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-09DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00694-24
Karl A Glen, Iain L Lamont
<p><p><i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> is a highly problematic opportunistic pathogen that causes a range of different infections. Infections are commonly treated with β-lactam antibiotics, including cephalosporins, monobactams, penicillins, and carbapenems, with carbapenems regarded as antibiotics of last resort. Isolates of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> can contain horizontally acquired <i>bla</i> genes encoding β-lactamase enzymes, but the extent to which these contribute to β-lactam resistance in this species has not been systematically quantified. The overall aim of this research was to address this knowledge gap by quantifying the frequency of β-lactamase-encoding genes in <i>P. aeruginosa</i> and by determining the effects of β-lactamases on susceptibility of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> to β-lactams. Genome analysis showed that β-lactamase-encoding genes are present in 3% of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> but are enriched in carbapenem-resistant isolates (35%). To determine the substrate antibiotics, 10 β-lactamases were expressed from an integrative plasmid in the chromosome of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> reference strain PAO1. The β-lactamases reduced susceptibility to a variety of clinically used antibiotics, including carbapenems (meropenem, imipenem), penicillins (ticarcillin, piperacillin), cephalosporins (ceftazidime, cefepime), and a monobactam (aztreonam). Different enzymes acted on different β-lactams. β-lactamases encoded by the genomes of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> clinical isolates had similar effects to the enzymes expressed in strain PAO1. Genome engineering was used to delete β-lactamase-encoding genes from three carbapenem-resistant clinical isolates and increased susceptibility to substrate β-lactams. Our findings demonstrate that acquired β-lactamases play an important role in β-lactam resistance in <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, identifying substrate antibiotics for a range of enzymes and quantifying their contributions to resistance.IMPORTANCE<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> is an extremely problematic pathogen, with isolates that are resistant to the carbapenem class of β-lactam antibiotics being in critical need of new therapies. Genes encoding β-lactamase enzymes that degrade β-lactam antibiotics can be present in <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, including carbapenem-resistant isolates. Here, we show that β-lactamase genes are over-represented in carbapenem-resistant isolates, indicating their key role in resistance. We also show that different β-lactamases alter susceptibility of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> to different β-lactam antibiotics and quantify the effects of selected enzymes on β-lactam susceptibility. This research significantly advances the understanding of the contributions of acquired β-lactamases to antibiotic resistance, including carbapenem resistance, in <i>P. aeruginosa</i> and by implication in other species. It has potential to expedite development of methods that use whole genome sequencing of infecting bacteria to inform antibiotic treatment, allowing more effect
铜绿假单胞菌是一种问题严重的机会性病原体,可引起一系列不同的感染。治疗感染通常使用β-内酰胺类抗生素,包括头孢菌素类、单内酰胺类、青霉素类和碳青霉烯类,其中碳青霉烯类被视为最后的抗生素。铜绿假单胞菌的分离株中可能含有水平获得的编码β-内酰胺酶的 bla 基因,但这些基因在多大程度上导致了该菌种对β-内酰胺类药物产生耐药性,尚未进行系统的量化研究。本研究的总体目标是通过量化铜绿假单胞菌中β-内酰胺酶编码基因的频率以及确定β-内酰胺酶对铜绿假单胞菌对β-内酰胺类药物敏感性的影响来填补这一知识空白。基因组分析表明,3%的铜绿假单胞菌中存在β-内酰胺酶编码基因,但在耐碳青霉烯类的分离株中富集(35%)。为了确定底物抗生素,从铜绿假单胞菌参考菌株 PAO1 染色体的整合质粒中表达了 10 种 β-内酰胺酶。这些β-内酰胺酶降低了铜绿假单胞菌对多种临床常用抗生素的敏感性,包括碳青霉烯类(美罗培南、亚胺培南)、青霉素类(替卡西林、哌拉西林)、头孢菌素类(头孢他啶、头孢吡肟)和单内酰胺类(阿曲南)。不同的酶作用于不同的 β-内酰胺。铜绿假单胞菌临床分离株基因组编码的β-内酰胺酶与菌株PAO1表达的酶具有相似的作用。我们利用基因组工程技术删除了三种耐碳青霉烯类药物临床分离株中的β-内酰胺酶编码基因,从而提高了它们对底物β-内酰胺类药物的敏感性。我们的研究结果表明,获得性β-内酰胺酶在铜绿假单胞菌的β-内酰胺耐药性中发挥着重要作用,同时还确定了一系列酶的底物抗生素,并量化了它们对耐药性的贡献。铜绿假单胞菌(包括耐碳青霉烯类抗生素的分离株)中可能存在编码能降解β-内酰胺类抗生素的β-内酰胺酶的基因。在这里,我们发现β-内酰胺酶基因在耐碳青霉烯类抗生素的分离物中有较高的代表性,这表明它们在抗药性中起着关键作用。我们还发现,不同的β-内酰胺酶会改变铜绿假单胞菌对不同β-内酰胺类抗生素的敏感性,并量化了选定酶对β-内酰胺类药物敏感性的影响。这项研究极大地促进了人们对获得性β-内酰胺酶对铜绿假单胞菌抗生素耐药性(包括对碳青霉烯类抗生素的耐药性)的影响的了解,并对其他物种产生了影响。它有可能加快开发使用感染细菌全基因组测序的方法,为抗生素治疗提供信息,从而更有效地使用抗生素,并促进新抗生素的开发。
{"title":"Characterization of acquired β-lactamases in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> and quantification of their contributions to resistance.","authors":"Karl A Glen, Iain L Lamont","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.00694-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00694-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> is a highly problematic opportunistic pathogen that causes a range of different infections. Infections are commonly treated with β-lactam antibiotics, including cephalosporins, monobactams, penicillins, and carbapenems, with carbapenems regarded as antibiotics of last resort. Isolates of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> can contain horizontally acquired <i>bla</i> genes encoding β-lactamase enzymes, but the extent to which these contribute to β-lactam resistance in this species has not been systematically quantified. The overall aim of this research was to address this knowledge gap by quantifying the frequency of β-lactamase-encoding genes in <i>P. aeruginosa</i> and by determining the effects of β-lactamases on susceptibility of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> to β-lactams. Genome analysis showed that β-lactamase-encoding genes are present in 3% of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> but are enriched in carbapenem-resistant isolates (35%). To determine the substrate antibiotics, 10 β-lactamases were expressed from an integrative plasmid in the chromosome of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> reference strain PAO1. The β-lactamases reduced susceptibility to a variety of clinically used antibiotics, including carbapenems (meropenem, imipenem), penicillins (ticarcillin, piperacillin), cephalosporins (ceftazidime, cefepime), and a monobactam (aztreonam). Different enzymes acted on different β-lactams. β-lactamases encoded by the genomes of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> clinical isolates had similar effects to the enzymes expressed in strain PAO1. Genome engineering was used to delete β-lactamase-encoding genes from three carbapenem-resistant clinical isolates and increased susceptibility to substrate β-lactams. Our findings demonstrate that acquired β-lactamases play an important role in β-lactam resistance in <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, identifying substrate antibiotics for a range of enzymes and quantifying their contributions to resistance.IMPORTANCE<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> is an extremely problematic pathogen, with isolates that are resistant to the carbapenem class of β-lactam antibiotics being in critical need of new therapies. Genes encoding β-lactamase enzymes that degrade β-lactam antibiotics can be present in <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, including carbapenem-resistant isolates. Here, we show that β-lactamase genes are over-represented in carbapenem-resistant isolates, indicating their key role in resistance. We also show that different β-lactamases alter susceptibility of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> to different β-lactam antibiotics and quantify the effects of selected enzymes on β-lactam susceptibility. This research significantly advances the understanding of the contributions of acquired β-lactamases to antibiotic resistance, including carbapenem resistance, in <i>P. aeruginosa</i> and by implication in other species. It has potential to expedite development of methods that use whole genome sequencing of infecting bacteria to inform antibiotic treatment, allowing more effect","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-09DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00493-24
Jianyu Chen, Wenyin Du, Yuehe Li, Huiliu Zhou, Dejia Ouyang, Zhenjiang Yao, Jinjian Fu, Xiaohua Ye
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a clinically significant opportunistic pathogen, which can colonize multiple body sites in healthy individuals and cause various life-threatening diseases in both children and adults worldwide. The genetic backgrounds of S. aureus that cause infection versus asymptomatic carriage vary widely, but the potential genetic elements (k-mers) associated with S. aureus infection remain unknown, which leads to difficulties in differentiating infection isolates from harmless colonizers. Here, we address the disease-associated k-mers by using a comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) to compare the genetic variation of S. aureus isolates from clinical infection sites (272 isolates) with nasal carriage (240 isolates). This study uncovers consensus evidence that certain k-mers are overrepresented in infection isolates compared with carriage isolates, indicating the presence of specific genetic elements associated with S. aureus infection. Moreover, the random forest (RF) model achieved a classification accuracy of 77% for predicting disease status (infection vs carriage), with 68% accuracy for a single highest-ranked k-mer, providing a simple target for identifying high-risk genotypes. Our findings suggest that the disease-causing S. aureus is a pathogenic subpopulation harboring unique genomic variation that promotes invasion and infection, providing novel targets for clinical interventions.
Importance: Defining the disease-causing isolates is the first step toward disease control. However, the disease-associated genetic elements of Staphylococcus aureus remain unknown, which leads to difficulties in differentiating infection isolates from harmless carriage isolates. Our comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) found consensus evidence that certain genetic elements are overrepresented among infection isolates than carriage isolates, suggesting that the enrichment of disease-associated elements may promote infection. Notably, a single k-mer predictor achieved a high classification accuracy, which forms the basis for early diagnostics and interventions.
{"title":"Genome-based model for differentiating between infection and carriage <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>.","authors":"Jianyu Chen, Wenyin Du, Yuehe Li, Huiliu Zhou, Dejia Ouyang, Zhenjiang Yao, Jinjian Fu, Xiaohua Ye","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.00493-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00493-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) is a clinically significant opportunistic pathogen, which can colonize multiple body sites in healthy individuals and cause various life-threatening diseases in both children and adults worldwide. The genetic backgrounds of <i>S. aureus</i> that cause infection versus asymptomatic carriage vary widely, but the potential genetic elements (k-mers) associated with <i>S. aureus</i> infection remain unknown, which leads to difficulties in differentiating infection isolates from harmless colonizers. Here, we address the disease-associated k-mers by using a comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) to compare the genetic variation of <i>S. aureus</i> isolates from clinical infection sites (272 isolates) with nasal carriage (240 isolates). This study uncovers consensus evidence that certain k-mers are overrepresented in infection isolates compared with carriage isolates, indicating the presence of specific genetic elements associated with <i>S. aureus</i> infection. Moreover, the random forest (RF) model achieved a classification accuracy of 77% for predicting disease status (infection vs carriage), with 68% accuracy for a single highest-ranked k-mer, providing a simple target for identifying high-risk genotypes. Our findings suggest that the disease-causing <i>S. aureus</i> is a pathogenic subpopulation harboring unique genomic variation that promotes invasion and infection, providing novel targets for clinical interventions.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Defining the disease-causing isolates is the first step toward disease control. However, the disease-associated genetic elements of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> remain unknown, which leads to difficulties in differentiating infection isolates from harmless carriage isolates. Our comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) found consensus evidence that certain genetic elements are overrepresented among infection isolates than carriage isolates, suggesting that the enrichment of disease-associated elements may promote infection. Notably, a single k-mer predictor achieved a high classification accuracy, which forms the basis for early diagnostics and interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-09DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01107-24
A Dal Lin, D O Kulek, G A Gonçalves, L Kraft, J F C Neto, G Vizentainer, M Pillonetto
{"title":"Building of a new Spectra for the identification of <i>Phytobacter</i> spp., an emerging Enterobacterales, using MALDI Biotyper.","authors":"A Dal Lin, D O Kulek, G A Gonçalves, L Kraft, J F C Neto, G Vizentainer, M Pillonetto","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.01107-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01107-24","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogen capable of causing diseases ranging from mild to life-threatening, has a large arsenal of virulence factors. Notably, extracellular vesicles have emerged as significant players in the pathogenesis of this organism. However, the full range of their functions is still being studied, and difficulties related to vesicle purification (long protocols, low yields, and specialized instruments) have become a major obstacle for their characterization. In this context, the utility of rapid new methods of vesicle isolation from clinical strains is still unknown. Here, we analyze the utility of the ExoBacteria OMV isolation kit for a collection of clinical strains of P. aeruginosa. We first phenotypically characterized 15 P. aeruginosa strains to ensure that our samples were heterogeneous. We then determined the best conditions for purifying vesicles from P. aeruginosa PAO1 reference strain by the rapid method and used them to isolate vesicles from clinical strains. Our results indicated that M9 minimal medium is the best for obtaining high purity with the rapid isolation kit. Although we were able to isolate vesicles from at least four strains, the low yield and the large number of strains with unpurifiable vesicles showed that the kit was not practical or convenient for clinical strains. Our findings suggest that although fast procedures for vesicle purification can be of great utility for Escherichia coli, the more complex phenotypes of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa are a challenge for these protocols and new alternatives/optimizations need to be developed.IMPORTANCEPseudomonas aeruginosa is recognized as an opportunistic pathogen in humans and animals. It can effectively colonize various environments thanks to a large set of virulence factors that include extracellular vesicles. Different methods were recently developed to reduce the time and effort associated with vesicle purification. However, the utility of rapid vesicle isolation methods for clinical strains of P. aeruginosa (which are recognized as being highly diverse) is not yet known. In this context, we analyzed the utility of the ExoBacteria OMV Isolation kit for vesicle purification in P. aeruginosa clinical strains. Our findings showed that the kit does not seem to be convenient for research on clinical strains due to low vesicle recovery. Our results underscore the importance of developing new rapid vesicle purification protocols/techniques for specific clinical phenotypes.
{"title":"Analysis of the utility of a rapid vesicle isolation method for clinical strains of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>.","authors":"Tania Henriquez, Francesco Santoro, Donata Medaglini, Lucia Pallecchi, Ilaria Clemente, Claudia Bonechi, Agnese Magnani, Eugenio Paccagnini, Mariangela Gentile, Pietro Lupetti, Massimiliano Marvasi, Alessandro Pini, Luisa Bracci, Chiara Falciani","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.00649-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00649-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, a pathogen capable of causing diseases ranging from mild to life-threatening, has a large arsenal of virulence factors. Notably, extracellular vesicles have emerged as significant players in the pathogenesis of this organism. However, the full range of their functions is still being studied, and difficulties related to vesicle purification (long protocols, low yields, and specialized instruments) have become a major obstacle for their characterization. In this context, the utility of rapid new methods of vesicle isolation from clinical strains is still unknown. Here, we analyze the utility of the ExoBacteria OMV isolation kit for a collection of clinical strains of <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. We first phenotypically characterized 15 <i>P</i>. <i>aeruginosa</i> strains to ensure that our samples were heterogeneous. We then determined the best conditions for purifying vesicles from <i>P. aeruginosa</i> PAO1 reference strain by the rapid method and used them to isolate vesicles from clinical strains. Our results indicated that M9 minimal medium is the best for obtaining high purity with the rapid isolation kit. Although we were able to isolate vesicles from at least four strains, the low yield and the large number of strains with unpurifiable vesicles showed that the kit was not practical or convenient for clinical strains. Our findings suggest that although fast procedures for vesicle purification can be of great utility for <i>Escherichia coli</i>, the more complex phenotypes of clinical isolates of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> are a challenge for these protocols and new alternatives/optimizations need to be developed.IMPORTANCE<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> is recognized as an opportunistic pathogen in humans and animals. It can effectively colonize various environments thanks to a large set of virulence factors that include extracellular vesicles. Different methods were recently developed to reduce the time and effort associated with vesicle purification. However, the utility of rapid vesicle isolation methods for clinical strains of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> (which are recognized as being highly diverse) is not yet known. In this context, we analyzed the utility of the ExoBacteria OMV Isolation kit for vesicle purification in <i>P. aeruginosa</i> clinical strains. Our findings showed that the kit does not seem to be convenient for research on clinical strains due to low vesicle recovery. Our results underscore the importance of developing new rapid vesicle purification protocols/techniques for specific clinical phenotypes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}