Article
Microbiology
A. E. Shea, A. E. Frick-Cheng, S. N. Smith, H. L. T. Mobley
Summary: This study demonstrates that phenotypic characteristics can be used to predict the severity of urinary tract infection caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains. These characteristics can help differentiate UPEC from other E. coli strains and reduce the overuse of antibiotics.
Article
Microbiology
Rongrong Wu, Ashok Kumar Kumawat, Isak Demirel
Summary: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) are common in humans. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a proinflammatory metabolite, has been linked to vascular inflammation and chronic kidney disease. This study investigated the effects of TMAO on UTIs and found that it aggravated the release of inflammatory mediators and enhanced UPEC colonization of bladder epithelial cells. These findings suggest a potential role of TMAO in infectious diseases, providing a basis for further research on the link between diet, gut microbiota, and UTIs.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Vanesa Garcia, Luz Leston, Ana Parga, Isidro Garcia-Menino, Javier Fernandez, Ana Otero, John E. Olsen, Ana Herrero-Fresno, Azucena Mora
Summary: This study investigated 31 strains of Escherichia coli from different sources using genomic comparison, bladder-cell, and biofilm formation assays. It found that animal-derived and human extraintestinal infection strains had high genomic similarity and exhibited similar pathogenic characteristics in cell and biofilm assays. These results highlight the potential role of food-producing animals as a source of urinary tract infections.
Article
Microbiology
Ivana Kerkez, Paul M. Tulkens, Tanel Tenson, Francoise Van Bambeke, Marta Putrins
Summary: Research shows that commonly used antibiotics for urinary tract infections are much less effective against intracellular UPEC compared to extracellular UPEC. Except fluoroquinolones, most antibiotics were unable to achieve a bactericidal effect intracellularly at clinically achievable concentrations. Fluoroquinolones ciprofloxacin and finafloxacin killed almost all extracellular bacteria at concentrations close to the MIC, but significantly higher concentrations were needed for intracellular bacteria.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Manuel G. Ballesteros-Monrreal, Margarita M. P. Arenas-Hernandez, Edwin Barrios-Villa, Josue Juarez, Maritza Lizeth alvarez-Ainza, Pablo Taboada, Rafael de la Rosa-lopez, Enrique Bolado-Martinez, Dora Valencia
Summary: Urinary tract infections caused by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli in women in Sonora, Mexico show diverse bacterial morphotypes, virulence genes, and phenotypes, with high resistance to various antibiotics. The presence of morphotypes in urine sediment is crucial in urine analysis, and the clinical isolates of UPEC in this study have the potential to cause different types of UTIs.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Shuyu Zhang, Guoshi Xu, Juan Wu, Xiao Liu, Yong Fan, Jun Chen, Gordon Wallace, Qi Gu
Summary: In recent years, significant advancements have been made in microphysiological constructs and systems (MPCs and MPSs), providing alternatives to animal models for drug discovery and personalized medicine. However, current approaches mainly focus on the in vitro recapitulation of the human anatomical structure and physiological-biochemical indices at a single or a few simple levels.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hanie Kavand, Rohollah Nasiri, Anna Herland
Summary: Advanced in vitro cell culture systems and microphysiological systems (MPSs) are breakthrough technologies in biomedicine that replicate features of human tissues. The use of advanced functional materials and devices could enable better reproduction of in vivo-like functionality and real-time monitoring of tissue function, leading to more accurate mimicry of human physiology.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yao Teng, Zixuan Zhao, Farah Tasnim, Xiaozhong Huang, Hanry Yu
Summary: This study introduces a new drug testing platform, SteatoChip, which improves the formation and function of HepaRG organoids by in situ differentiation and perfusion in a uniform size distribution, showing enhanced hepatic differentiation and improved functionality, potentially accelerating drug development for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Article
Immunology
Christen K. Robinson, Panatda Saenkham-Huntsinger, Braden S. Hanson, L. Garry Adams, Sargurunathan Subashchandrabose
Summary: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial infection, especially in women, children, and the elderly. In the mouse model, vaginal inoculation of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) can cause UTI, and the different stages of the estrous cycle can affect bacterial colonization in mice.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Leandra S. Baptista, Constance Porrini, Gabriela S. Kronemberger, Daniel J. Kelly, Cecile M. Perrault
Summary: Medicine today faces the challenge of increasing untreatable diseases and a decrease in successful drug development. In vitro preclinical tests, particularly using 3D cell culture and human stem cell biology, can help predict the potential of new drugs and avoid expensive clinical trial phases. Integrating organoid culture with microsystems, such as microphysiological systems or organ-on-a-chip, can improve drug development by emulating physiological conditions and reducing costs.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Mridu Malik, Yang Yang, Parinaz Fathi, Gretchen J. Mahler, Mandy B. Esch
Summary: Traditional animal models for drug identification are facing criticism for their reliability in predicting drug toxicity and efficacy in humans. Multi-organ microphysiological systems (MPS) are considered as alternative models which can simulate diseases and evaluate the efficacy and safety of drug candidates, but accuracy in organ scaling and flow rates is crucial.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Ashok Kumar Kumawat, Geena Varghese Paramel, Kartheyaene Jayaprakash Demirel, Isak Demirel
Summary: The study showed that renal fibroblasts, but not renal epithelial cells, release IL-1 beta during a UPEC infection, which is dependent on factors like NLRP3, caspase-1, and caspase-4. Additionally, the UPEC virulence factor alpha-hemolysin was found to be necessary for IL-1 beta release.
Article
Neurosciences
Paula Barreras, David Pamies, Thomas Hartung, Carlos A. Pardo
Summary: Microphysiological systems (MPS), including organoids and spheroids, have become valuable tools in studying and modeling neuroinfectious diseases. These systems, derived from induced pluripotent cells or embryonic stem cells, replicate the structural and physiological aspects of the human brain, allowing for the study of viral infections, cell-pathogen interactions, cytopathological effects, and therapeutic compound screening. This review provides an overview of the different methodologies and applications of MPS in studying specific infections such as Zika, Dengue, JC virus, and influenza viruses. It also highlights the limitations and potential of these models in disease modeling and antiviral agent screening.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monika Karczewska, Patryk Strzelecki, Krystyna Bogucka, Katarzyna Potrykus, Agnieszka Szalewska-Palasz, Dariusz Nowicki
Summary: Urinary tract infections are common bacterial diseases worldwide, with UPECs being the most prominent group among the pathogens responsible. In this study, we examined 118 UPEC isolates to determine their genetic background, antibiotic resistance, and their ability to form biofilms and induce stress responses. Our findings showed that these UPEC strains expressed unique attributes and had a significant ability to form biofilms and accumulate multi-resistance traits, which were crucial for the development of severe infections in a Galleria mellonella model.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Ian T. Whelan, E. Moeendarbary, David A. Hoey, Daniel J. Kelly
Summary: The emerging microphysiological systems (MPS) technology allows for the engineering of more physiologically relevant vasculature in vitro, potentially impacting the development of bone research. Engineering vasculature within the specific design constraints of the bone niche is challenging. Researchers are working towards providing technical guidance for the biofabrication of vascularised bone tissue within MPS devices.
Article
Microbiology
Carlos Flores, Marina Santos, Sara B. Pereira, Rita Mota, Federico Rossi, Roberto De Philippis, Narciso Couto, Esther Karunakaran, Phillip C. Wright, Paulo Oliveira, Paula Tamagnini
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Sara B. Pereira, Marina Santos, Jose P. Leite, Carlos Flores, Carina Eisfeld, Zsofia Buttel, Rita Mota, Federico Rossi, Roberto De Philippis, Luis Gales, Joao H. Morais-Cabral, Paula Tamagnini
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carlos Flores, Paula Tamagnini
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2019)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
David S. Reece, Olivia A. Burnsed, Kaley Parchinski, Elizabeth E. Marr, Roger M. White, Giuliana E. Salazar-Noratto, Angela S. P. Lin, Nick J. Willett, Robert E. Guldberg
TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Rita Mota, Ricardo Vidal, Carolina Pandeirada, Carlos Flores, Alessandra Adessi, Roberto De Philippis, Claudia Nunes, Manuel A. Coimbra, Paula Tamagnini
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Benjamin Oliver Murray, Robin Andrew Dawson, Lolwah Mohammad Alsharaf, Jody Anne Winter
Article
Microbiology
Marina Santos, Sara B. Pereira, Carlos Flores, Catarina Principe, Narciso Couto, Esther Karunakaran, Sara M. Cravo, Paulo Oliveira, Paula Tamagnini
Summary: The absence of a putative EPS-related protein, KpsM, has a pleiotropic effect on the physiological functions of cyanobacteria, impacting the export of EPS and carbon fluxes. The mutant strain with disrupted EPS secretion exhibits transcriptomic and proteomic adjustments, highlighting the importance of EPS as a major carbon sink in cyanobacteria. Additionally, the accumulation of polyhydroxybutyrate in the mutant cells suggests its potential use as a chassis for the production of compounds of interest.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
A. L. Gard, R. J. Luu, C. R. Miller, R. Maloney, B. P. Cain, E. E. Marr, D. M. Burns, R. Gaibler, T. J. Mulhern, C. A. Wong, J. Alladina, J. R. Coppeta, P. Liu, J. P. Wang, H. Azizgolshani, R. Fennell Fezzie, J. L. Balestrini, B. C. Isenberg, B. D. Medoff, R. W. Finberg, J. T. Borenstein
Summary: This study integrates human primary airway epithelial cells into a custom-engineered 96-device platform, and applies it to evaluate viral infection kinetics and antiviral agent dosing for influenza A virus and coronavirus infections across various human primary cell populations. This new capability can help address the rapid assessment of therapeutic efficacy against respiratory viruses, including coronaviruses.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elizabeth E. Marr, Thomas J. Mulhern, Michaela Welch, Philip Keegan, Celia Caballero-Franco, Bryce G. Johnson, Marion Kasaian, Hesham Azizgolshani, Timothy Petrie, Joseph Charest, Elizabeth Wiellette
Summary: The intestinal epithelium performs various specialized functions as the primary interface between luminal contents and internal organs. One essential function is to maintain a barrier against pathogens, irritating substances, and the microbiota in order to prevent inflammatory disease and sepsis. Animal models for studying intestinal permeability are costly and not entirely representative of human biology. In this study, we present a model that integrates primary human colon stem cells into a microfluidic organ-on-chip platform to create a high-throughput system for predicting damage and healing of the human colon epithelial barrier. We have successfully demonstrated pharmacologically induced barrier damage using molecular permeability assays and transepithelial resistance measurement. Additionally, we have developed an Inflammatory Bowel Disease-relevant model through cytokine-induced damage, which can be used for studying disease mechanisms and potential therapeutics.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Infectious Diseases
Carlos Flores, Nazila Jafari, Jefferson Ling, Amanda Loh, Ramon Garcia Maset, Marloes Hoedek, Richard Leung, Angeline Aw, Ian J. White, Raymond Fernando, Jennifer L. Rohn
JAC-ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
H. Azizgolshani, J. R. Coppeta, E. M. Vedula, E. E. Marr, B. P. Cain, R. J. Luu, M. P. Lech, S. H. Kann, T. J. Mulhern, V. Tandon, K. Tan, N. J. Haroutunian, P. Keegan, M. Rogers, A. L. Gard, K. B. Baldwin, J. C. de Souza, B. C. Hoefler, S. S. Bale, L. B. Kratchman, A. Zorn, A. Patterson, E. S. Kim, T. A. Petrie, E. L. Wiellette, C. Williams, B. C. Isenberg, J. L. Charest
Summary: Drug development lacks predictive and human-relevant in vitro models. The Organ-on-chip (OOC) technology provides advanced culture capabilities to generate human-based tissue in vitro, but faces challenges in throughput and compatibility. This study presents an OOC platform with advanced culture capabilities supporting multiple human tissue models for drug screening and gene expression analysis.