Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jamie VanPelt, Shannon Stoffel, Michael W. Staude, Kayla Dempster, Heath A. Rose, Sarah Graney, Erin Graney, Sara Braynard, Elizaveta Kovrigina, David A. Leonard, Jeffrey W. Peng
Summary: This study reveals the real-time deactivation mechanisms of carbapenem-hydrolyzing beta-lactamase OXA-24/40 in Acinetobacter baumannii using NMR. The enzyme was found to have two deactivation mechanisms stemming from distinct active site environments, with mutagenesis showing that a conserved active site arginine stabilizes the environment for beta-lactone formation. These results have implications for the broader family of carbapenem-hydrolyzing beta-lactamases in clinical settings globally.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Feilong Zhang, Ziyao Li, Xinmeng Liu, Guolan Luo, Yongli Wu, Chen Li, Jiankang Zhao, Yulin Zhang, Yanning Hu, Binghuai Lu
Summary: The carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) strain GX34, recovered from a patient with severe pneumonia, was found to be susceptible only to amikacin, tigecycline, and colistin. The strain belonged to K51-ST16 and carried plasmid-encoded NDM-4 and OXA-181, located on two different plasmids. The transferability and stability of these plasmids were confirmed, and comparative genomic analysis indicated a potential for dissemination of the bla(NDM-4) and bla(OXA-181) genes.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alicja Sloczynska, Matthew E. Wand, Stefan Tyski, Agnieszka E. Laudy
Summary: The study revealed the widespread presence of CHDL-type carbapenemases and insertion elements upstream of bla(CHDL) genes among Polish A. baumannii clinical isolates, contributing significantly to their carbapenem resistance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Carlos R. Kiffer, Thais F. T. Rezende, Daniela Testoni Costa-Nobre, Ana Silvia Scavacini Marinonio, Lucas Hidemitsu Shiguenaga, Debora Nicole Oliveira Kulek, Lavinia Nery Villa Stangler Arend, Ivson Cassiano de Oliveira Santos, Bruna Ribeiro Sued-Karam, Claudio Marcos Rocha-de-Souza, Leticia Kraft, Andre Abreu, Renata Tigulini de Souza Peral, Ana Paula D'Alincourt Carvalho-Assef, Marcelo Pillonetto
Summary: A seven-year surveillance in Brazil revealed a significant increase in resistance genes during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly bla(NDM) in Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, there was a decrease in bla(KPC) in Enterobacterales and bla(SPM) in P. aeruginosa. These findings are important for informing Antimicrobial Resistance public policies.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Lei Wang, Dunpo Sun, Li Chen, Ping Zhou, Kun Wang, Fang Wang, Xingqi Lei, Yan Wang, Yingzhi Lu, Guanhong Huang, Xuzhu Gao
Summary: A rapid and accurate detection method using RPA-LFS was developed for A. baumannii and CRAB, showing potential for replacing existing detection methods. The detection accuracy of this method with clinical samples is comparable to that of qPCR.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Flora Cruz-Lopez, Adrian Martinez-Melendez, Licet Villarreal-Trevino, Rayo Morfin-Otero, Hector Maldonado-Garza, Elvira Garza-Gonzalez
Summary: This review examines the contamination of CRAB on corporal surfaces of patients and healthcare workers, as well as environmental sites in healthcare-related settings. It summarizes the published data on potential reservoirs, contamination frequency, resistance mechanisms, and measures for eliminating CRAB from hospital surfaces.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Nichole K. Stewart, Marta Toth, Maha A. Alqurafi, Weirui Chai, Thu Q. Nguyen, Pojun Quan, Mijoon Lee, John D. Buynak, Clyde A. Smith, Sergei B. Vakulenko
Summary: The substitution of the canonical hydroxyethyl group of carbapenems by a hydroxymethyl significantly enhances stability against inactivation by the major CHDL of Acinetobacter baumannii, providing a novel strategy for designing next-generation, carbapenemase-stable carbapenems to fight multidrug-resistant infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens.
Article
Microbiology
Carina Mueller, Sandra Reuter, Julia Wille, Kyriaki Xanthopoulou, Danuta Stefanik, Hajo Grundmann, Paul G. Higgins, Harald Seifert
Summary: This study conducted molecular epidemiology and global distribution research on 313 carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from 114 study centers in 47 countries. The results revealed a wide variation in the distribution of carbapenemase encoding genes among different geographical regions.
Article
Immunology
Swati Sharma, Tuhina Banerjee, Ghanshyam Yadav, Ashok Kumar
Summary: This study investigated the susceptibility profile of 356 clinical isolates of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and examined the association between drug synergy and molecular determinants. The majority of CRAB isolates showed multidrug resistance and carried multiple carbapenemase encoding genes. The study also suggests that tigecycline, minocycline, and polymyxins could be potential treatment options for CRAB isolates with more than one carbapenemase encoding genes.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Zhiren Wang, Henan Li, Jiangang Zhang, Hui Wang
Summary: The co-occurrence of chromosomal and plasmid bla(OXA-23) in carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii did not enhance carbapenem resistance but was accompanied by increased fitness and virulence characteristics. Transposons carrying bla(OXA-23) were found at different insertion sites in both the chromosomal and plasmid sequences.
Article
Microbiology
Sana Azaiez, Marisa Haenni, Asma Ben Cheikh, Mohamed Sahbi Chalbi, Aziza Messaoudi, Lamia Tilouch, Sana Bahri, Antoine Drapeau, Estelle Saras, Mariem Mtibaa, Rania Zouaoui, Houyem Said, Jean-Yves Madec, Agnese Lupo, Wejdene Mansour
Summary: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) strains spread rapidly in hospitals, causing severe and difficult-to-treat infections. A study found a high occurrence of CRAB in the intensive care units (ICUs) of Sahloul University hospital in Tunisia. Surfaces of items and medical personnel in the ICUs were found to be potential reservoirs for CRAB strains. Patients in the ICUs were infected with CRAB strains closely related to those found in the hospital environment. Urgent hygiene measures are needed to prevent further spread of CRAB and protect the health of patients and personnel in the ICUs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. Sahoo, R. K. Sahoo, M. Gaur, D. U. Behera, A. Sahu, A. Das, S. Dey, S. Dixit, E. Subudhi
Summary: This study determined the impact of untreated wastewater on the prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in the surroundings of Cuttack City. The results showed intense anthropogenic activity and high pollution load in both urban wastewater and receiving river water. The presence of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii in the river indicates the risk of dissemination downstream.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sonja Mertins, Paul G. Higgins, Caroline Thunissen, Henri Magein, Quentin Gilleman, Pascal Mertens, Maria Gonzalez Rodriguez, Liza Marie Maus, Harald Seifert, Martin Kroenke, Alexander Klimka
Summary: There is a need for a rapid detection method for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAb) to enable appropriate antimicrobial treatment and prevent transmission. This study aimed to expand the OXA-detection abilities of a rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) to include OXA-40- and OXA-58-like carbapenemases, which confer carbapenem resistance to the majority of CRAb isolates worldwide.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Erkison Ewomazino Odih, Anderson O. Oaikhena, Anthony Underwood, Yaovi Mahuton Gildas Hounmanou, Oyinlola O. Oduyebo, Abayomi Fadeyi, Aaron O. Aboderin, Veronica O. Ogunleye, Silvia Argimon, Vitus Nnaemeka Akpunonu, Phillip O. Oshun, Abiodun Egwuenu, Tochi J. Okwor, Chikwe Ihekweazu, David M. Aanensen, Anders Dalsgaard, Iruka N. Okeke
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the diversity and genetic mechanisms of carbapenem resistance among Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from hospitals in southwestern Nigeria. The study found that these strains exhibited high levels of phenotypic resistance and harbored multiple carbapenemase resistance genes. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening surveillance of A. baumannii in Nigeria and other similar settings.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rebekah Liepa, Riti Mann, Marwan Osman, Monzer Hamze, Cindy Gunawan, Mohammad Hamidian
Summary: The genetic context of antibiotic resistance genes on the carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Cl415, recovered in 2017 in Lebanon, was determined. The strain belongs to a subclade of the global clone 2 (GC2) with a wide geographical distribution. The resistance gene complement of Cl415 was found in the chromosome with four copies of oxa23 located in AbaR4 and a novel variant of the AbGRI2 resistance island.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Felipe Vasquez-Ponce, Sebastian Higuera-Llanten, Juan Paras-Silva, Nicolas Gamboa-Acuna, Jimena Cortes, Andres Opazo-Capurro, Juan A. Ugalde, Manuel Alcalde-Rico, Jorge Olivares-Pacheco
Summary: The genetic characterization of clinically relevant class 1 integrons carried by multidrug resistant bacteria isolated from the intestinal microbiota of aquaculture salmon treated with high concentrations of antibiotics was investigated. The prevalence of conserved integron elements and variable regions (VRs) was determined in 82 multidrug resistant bacterial isolates. Whole genome sequencing and genetic analysis were performed in VR-positive isolates. The results showed a low prevalence of integron conserved elements, and only a few isolates carried VRs with gene cassettes. The study also revealed the presence of clinically relevant VRs and antibiotic resistance genes in plasmids, indicating the potential for easy transfer. The findings highlight the importance of controlling antibiotic use in aquaculture to prevent the escalation of antibiotic resistance.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bruno S. Lopes, Alfizah Hanafiah, Ramesh Nachimuthu, Saravanan Muthupandian, Zarith Nameyrra Md Nesran, Sandip Patil
Summary: Antibiotic resistance caused by ESKAPE pathogens resulted in more than one million deaths globally in 2019. The use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is crucial in combating this crisis, but their stability and potential toxic side effects need to be addressed. Developing new AMP analogues and using a one health approach, along with phage therapies and breakthroughs in antimicrobial peptide synthesis, can help tackle the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Article
Environmental Sciences
Julio A. Benavides, Sylvain Godreuil, Andres Opazo-Capurro, Oumar O. Mahamat, Nestor Falcon, Katarina Oravcova, Daniel G. Streicker, Carlos Shiva
Summary: ESBL-E. coli with multidrug resistance and virulence genes were found in wild vampire bats, suggesting possible cross-species exchanges with livestock. E.coli isolates from bats and livestock shared common sequence types, indicating potential long-term maintenance and transmission of resistant bacteria. This study highlights the role of wild mammals in maintaining and sharing multidrug-resistant bacteria with domestic animals.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mario Quezada-Aguiluz, Alejandro Aguayo-Reyes, Cinthia Carrasco, Daniela Mejias, Pamela Saavedra, Sergio Mella-Montecinos, Andres Opazo-Capurro, Helia Bello-Toledo, Jose M. Munita, Juan C. Hormazabal, Gerardo Gonzalez-Rocha
Summary: This study found that the prevalence of cMLSB resistance phenotype in all HA-MRSA isolates in Chile, with ermA being the predominant gene identified among these isolates.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
M. Lopez-Cantillo, A. Opazo-Capurro, C. Lopez-Joven, B. Vidal-Veuthey, L. Collado
Summary: This study evaluates the occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni and other related bacteria in retail beef liver and their antibiotic resistance. It suggests that beef liver could be an underestimated route for resistant C. jejuni transmission to humans.
LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Barbara P. Brito, Jonathan Koong, Aniela Wozniak, Andres Opazo-Capurro, Joyce To, Patricia Garcia, Mehrad Hamidian
Summary: Treating infections caused by carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAb) has become a global challenge. However, there is scarce literature on A. baumannii molecular epidemiology and resistance emergence in South American strains. In this study, the genomic context and evolutionary pathways of carbapenem resistance genes in Chilean hospitals were analyzed, revealing a complex picture of antibiotic resistance gene acquisition events.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Naveed Ahmed, Saman Habib, Moazza Muzzammil, Ali A. Rabaan, Safaa A. Turkistani, Mohammed Garout, Muhammad A. Halwani, Mohammed Aljeldah, Basim R. Al Shammari, Amal A. Sabour, Maha A. Alshiekheid, Areeg N. K. Abdalla, Jeehan H. Alestad, Saad Alhumaid, Bruno Silvester Lopes, Chan Yean Yean
Summary: This study investigated symptomatic patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR results and found various bacterial pathogens in these patients, leading to severe symptoms and discomfort.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Zahid Hayat Mahmud, Salman Zahir Uddin, M. Moniruzzaman, Sobur Ali, Monir Hossain, Md Tamzid Islam, Dorin Teresa D. Costa, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Md Shafiqul Islam, Md Zakiul Hassan, Li-Ann Ong, Catrin E. Moore, Katrina J. Charles, Dinesh Mondal, Bruno Silvester Lopes, Shahana Parveen
Summary: The emergence of virulent extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) including carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in hospital-acquired infections has led to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. A study conducted in tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh revealed that these bacterial strains exhibited high levels of antibiotic resistance, could form biofilms, and contained various antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. The findings are important for improving patient care, infection control, and the development of public health policies.
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Sandip Patil, Hongyu Chen, Bruno Silvester Lopes, Sixi Liu, Feiqiu Wen
Editorial Material
Immunology
Carolina Silva Nodari, Andres Opazo-Capurro, Santiago Castillo-Ramirez, Vittoria Mattioni Marchetti
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Felipe Morales-Leon, Maximiliano Matus-Kohler, Pablo Araya-Vega, Felipe Aguilera, Ignacio Torres, Rodrigo Vera, Camila Ibarra, Sebastian Venegas, Helia Bello-Toledo, Gerardo Gonzalez-Rocha, Andres Opazo-Capurro
Summary: The study investigated the genomic features of a carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate collected in Chile. The isolate exhibited resistance to carbapenems and belonged to a high-risk virulent clone. The findings are important for understanding the spread and control of this pathogen in Chile.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Asif Sukri, Alfizah Hanafiah, Sandip Patil, Bruno S. Lopes
Summary: Alternative therapies such as probiotics, nanoparticles, and natural products from plants, as well as advancements in H. pylori vaccines, have been reviewed in this study. Probiotics and natural products from plants demonstrated inhibitory effects on H. pylori growth, immune response improvement, inflammation reduction, and mitigation of H. pylori virulence factors. Limited data was available regarding the nanoparticle activity against H. pylori, but promising anti-biofilm activity was observed. Preclinical studies of H. pylori vaccine candidates showed promising results in inducing immune responses. Overall, alternative therapies and vaccines show potential in combating H. pylori.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chandrasekaran Karthikeyan, Tippabattini Jayaramudu, Dariela Nunez, Nery Jara, Andres Opazo-Capurro, Kokkarachedu Varaprasad, Kyobum Kim, Murali M. Yallapu, Rotimi Sadiku
Summary: Metal nanoparticles, such as ZnO and TiO2, have been widely used as antibacterial and anticancer agents, but their toxicity on normal cells limits their clinical applications. In this study, a biocompatible and multifunctional hybrid nanomaterial (HNM) was developed using a double precipitation method. The HNM, composed of antimicrobial chitosan, curcumin, ZnO, and TiO2, showed improved biocidal properties and controlled toxicity, making it a potential innovative biocidal agent for clinical and healthcare applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Juliette Hayer, Marilia Salgado-Caxito, Andres Opazo-Capurro, Paulina Gonzalez Munoz, Javier Millan, Ana Pineiro, Jose M. Munita, Lina Rivas, Julio A. Benavides
Summary: This study reports the first multiple clonal cross-species transmission of ESBL-E. coli in domestic and potentially wild animals in Latin America. The findings suggest that the spread of antimicrobial resistance across animal species can still occur and highlights the need for preventive measures to limit the circulation of these bacteria in agricultural settings.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Diego Belmonte, Claudio Mella, Gabriela Sanchez-Sanhueza, Andres Opazo-Capurro, Hector Aguilar-Bolados, Bruno Boury, Bruno F. F. Urbano
Summary: The size and shape of nanoparticles, such as graphene oxide (GO) platelets, have a significant impact on the properties of nanocomposites, including their mechanical strength and antibacterial effects. The current study demonstrates that increasing GO sheets in gelatin hydrogels improves mechanical strength and bactericidal capacity, particularly against drug-resistant strains. Therefore, the lateral dimensions of GO sheets play a crucial role in determining the properties of hydrogels.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
