Article
Immunology
Hamza Rasheed, Muhammad Ijaz, Arslan Ahmed, Muhammad Umar Javed, Syed Faizan Ali Shah, Farwa Anwaar
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is a global issue that limits therapeutic options for infections. S. aureus, a member of the ESKAPE group, has the ability to escape the biocidal action of antimicrobial agents. Current methods for identifying antibiotic-resistant genes in S. aureus, including phenotypic and genotypic methods, may not always produce consistent results. This study examined the discrepancies between phenotypic and genotypic identification of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus using equine nasal swab samples. The results showed that the presence or absence of a single gene is not a true marker of resistance or sensitivity, as there are multiple resistance determinants and mechanisms, including the phenomenon of silencing antibiotic resistance determinants.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maryam Shahid, Riaz Hussain, Zeeshan Nawaz, Bilal Aslam, Muhammad Zishan Ahmad, Abu Baker Siddique, Hira Ahsan, Aiman Fatima, Iahtasham Khan, Bilal Mustafa, Rashid Iqbal, Khalid M. Al Syaad, Ashwag Shami
Summary: The occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus-induced subclinical mastitis has significant implications for public health. This study found a high prevalence of this bacterium in dairy cows, as well as antimicrobial resistance and multiple virulence genes.
Article
Microbiology
Jiayue Ma, Xiaorui Song, Mingchao Li, Zengyuan Yu, Weyland Cheng, Zhidan Yu, Wancun Zhang, Yaodong Zhang, Adong Shen, Huiqing Sun, Lifeng Li
Summary: Bacterial drug resistance, particularly carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infection, is a global public health threat due to limited therapy options. The prevalence of CRE transmission has increased worldwide, further intensified by the transmission of COVID-19. Various factors can induce CRE resistance, including carbapenemase, porin, efflux pump, penicillin-binding protein alteration, and biofilm production. Clinical and laboratory methods to detect and study CRE resistance mechanisms are being developed. The clinical treatment of CRE infection faces challenges due to limited antibiotic options, but new antibiotics and treatment methods are being developed. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the epidemiology, resistance mechanisms, screening, and clinical treatments of CRE infection to guide clinical prevention, control, and treatment.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhigang Yu, Hesamoddin Rabiee, Jianhua Guo
Summary: The study demonstrated that sulfidated nano zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) coupled with persulfate (PS) was effective in simultaneously removing antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater treatment plants. The synergistic effect between S-nZVI and PS significantly enhanced the removal efficiency of ARB and ARGs, with complete inactivation of ARB and degradation of extracellular ARGs.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Pongthep Tabut, Rapeepan Yongyod, Ratchadaporn Ungcharoen, Anusak Kerdsin
Summary: This study examined the antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in surface water, wastewater, and discharge water in the Namsuay watershed in Thailand. The results showed that E. coli was resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics and carried various antibiotic resistance genes. E. coli isolates from discharge water had higher prevalence of antibiotic resistance and harboured more resistance genes.
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Lynn M. Pezzanite, Lyndah Chow, Alyssa Strumpf, Valerie Johnson, Steven W. Dow
Summary: Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells possess intrinsic antimicrobial properties and can have enhanced effects through immune activation, making them a potential therapeutic approach for drug-resistant infections. This review explores the use of cellular therapies in veterinary medicine for treating bacterial infections, emphasizing on the antimicrobial activity of MSC and the potential of activated cellular therapy (ACT).
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Roberta Magnano San Lio, Martina Barchitta, Andrea Maugeri, Maria Clara La Rosa, Giuliana Favara, Antonella Agodi
Summary: This scoping review examines the research conducted on biosensors for the detection of microorganisms, ARGs, and/or antibiotics in clinical and environmental samples. The review finds that the focus of biosensor research varies, with a primary emphasis on clinical and bacterial samples for microorganism and/or ARG detection, and environmental samples for antibiotic detection. The characteristics of the biosensors described in the review are diverse. However, there is a limited number of studies assessing the efficacy and validation of these biosensors, as well as a lack of comparative analyses against conventional molecular techniques.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sudipti Arora, Sakshi Saraswat, Ankur Rajpal, Harshita Shringi, Rinki Mishra, Jasmine Sethi, Jayana Rajvanshi, Aditi Nag, Sonika Saxena, A. A. Kazmi
Summary: The study highlights the efficacy of vermifiltration technology in reducing antibiotic resistant bacteria and pathogens in clinical laboratory wastewater treatment. Earthworms and VF-associated microbial communities play a significant role in the removal of BOD, COD, coliforms, pathogens, and in shifting resistance patterns. Molecular profiling confirmed the mechanisms behind resistance patterns, with biofilm formation aiding in pathogen removal and resulting in a change in resistance profiles.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ruiying Song, Hu Li, Zhao Kang, Rongwei Zhong, Yangyang Wang, Ying Zhang, Guangzhou Qu, Tiecheng Wang
Summary: The study showed that surface plasma technology can effectively inactivate antibiotic-resistant bacteria (AR E. coli) and reduce the levels of associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in water. The technology works by damaging cell membranes, disrupting biological processes, altering protein structures, and causing DNA damage to achieve bacterial inactivation, as well as inhibiting the horizontal transfer of resistance genes.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Silvia Bonetta, Andrea Di Cesare, Cristina Pignata, Raffaella Sabatino, Manuela Macri, Gianluca Corno, Marco Panizzolo, Sara Bonetta, Elisabetta Carraro
Summary: This study examines the fate of antibiotic resistance in the urban water cycle in Italy, focusing on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Plate counting and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) were used to quantify ARB (resistant to tetracycline, ampicillin, and sulfonamides) and measure the abundance of selected ARGs. The results show higher concentrations of ARB and ARGs in WWTPs compared to DWTPs, indicating that WWTPs are hotspots for antibiotic resistance spread. Although significant reductions were observed after treatment, none of the detected ARB or ARGs were completely removed from drinking water. Therefore, it is important to integrate culture-dependent and culture-independent methods to investigate antibiotic resistance dynamics in aquatic ecosystems involved in the urban water cycle, and to monitor the presence of ARB and ARGs, especially in drinking water, as it represents a potential route of transmission to humans.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sasikaladevi Rathinavelu, Manoj Kumar Shanmugam, Sathyanarayana N. Gummadi, Indumathi M. Nambi
Summary: Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are significant components of environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and wastewater treatment plants contribute to the presence of AMR in the environment. Traditional tertiary treatment technologies are ineffective in disinfecting ARB or removing ARGs, highlighting the need to evaluate advanced wastewater treatment technologies. This study evaluated the potential of a Ti/Sb-SnO2/PbO2 anode in disinfecting ARB, inhibiting regrowth, removing intracellular and extracellular ARGs, and eliminating transformation efficiency.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Dina Yamin, Vuk Uskokovic, Abubakar Muhammad Wakil, Mohammed Dauda Goni, Shazana Hilda Shamsuddin, Fatin Hamimi Mustafa, Wadha A. Alfouzan, Mohammed Alissa, Amer Alshengeti, Rana H. Almaghrabi, Mona A. Al Fares, Mohammed Garout, Nawal A. Al Kaabi, Ahmad A. Alshehri, Hamza M. Ali, Ali A. Rabaan, Fatimah Abdullah Aldubisi, Chan Yean Yean, Nik Yusnoraini Yusof
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a global public health concern, and accurate detection of resistant bacteria is crucial for effective treatment and prevention. This manuscript provides an overview of current and emerging technologies, including traditional methods, molecular techniques, and innovative approaches, highlighting their advantages, limitations, and potential future applications.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Aysegul Copur Cicek, Ayse Erturk, Nebahat Ejder, Erva Rakici, Ugur Kostakoglu, Ilknur Esen Yildiz, Songul Ozyurt, Emine Sonmez
Summary: Researching carbapenem-resistant isolates revealed a high prevalence of bacteria carrying beta-lactamase and metallo-beta-lactamase genes, with more resistance genes and coexistence found in hospital-acquired samples. There was no difference between community and hospital-associated isolates in PFGE results, but a significant difference was observed in terms of fatality rates, indicating the importance of other microorganisms coexisting with resistance genes in patient outcomes.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiamin Hu, Ziyun Li, Ling Li, Yuqing Sun, Lulu Shi, Weiwei Li, Jian Zhang, Yan Wu, Hai Xu, Mingyu Wang
Summary: Recent advances have shown that atmospheric particulate matters carry a significant amount of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and contribute to the transmission of bacterial pathogenesis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A study conducted on relatively 'clean' air samples demonstrated that antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria are prevalent even in cleaner air conditions. The presence of complex class 1 integrons containing novel antibiotic resistant gene cassette arrays in airborne bacteria suggests the danger of horizontal transfer of AMR in the air.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jessica D. Podoll, Emma Rosen, Wei Wang, Yuefeng Gao, Jing Zhang, Xiang Wang
Summary: Novel antibacterial agents are urgently needed to combat antibiotic resistance. Researchers have discovered a small molecule that can make methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sensitive to beta-lactam antibiotics again, with low potential for resistance development. This molecule, known as trypyricins, belongs to a new class of broad-spectrum antibacterials and shows promise as an antibiotic adjuvant in fighting resistant bacteria.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiabao Xu, Xiaofei Yi, Guilan Jin, Di Peng, Gaoya Fan, Xiaogang Xu, Xin Chen, Huabing Yin, Jonathan M. Cooper, Wei E. Huang
Summary: Accurate and rapid identification of infectious bacteria is crucial in medicine. Raman microspectroscopy shows potential in label-free identification at the single-cell level. In this study, machine learning methods and data processing techniques were used to achieve high-accuracy bacterial identification, opening up new possibilities for high-speed Raman microspectroscopic clinical diagnostics.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Peng Liang, Bo Liu, Yun Wang, Kunxiang Liu, Yinping Zhao, Wei E. Huang, Bei Li
Summary: We developed a laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) technology to accurately isolate single live microbial cells. The cultivation recovery rates of the ejected single cells were 63% for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 22% for E. coli DH5 alpha, and 74% for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). With coupled LIFT with a fluorescence microscope, we demonstrated that single cells of GFP-expressing E. coli JM109 were sorted according to fluorescence signal from a complex community of soil bacteria and subsequently cultured with 25% cultivation recovery rate. This single-cell live sorting technology could isolate single microbes with specific functions, revealing their roles in the natural community.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Spectroscopy
Lihao Zhang, Chengjian Li, Di Peng, Xiaofei Yi, Shuai He, Fengxiang Liu, Xiangtai Zheng, Wei E. Huang, Liang Zhao, Xia Huang
Summary: Breast cancer subtype classification is crucial and can be accurately and rapidly done using Raman spectroscopy combined with machine learning techniques. The study demonstrates that Raman spectral features can serve as cancer cell biomarkers, and the combination of Raman spectroscopy and machine learning can reveal differences among subtypes.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Xiaoyu Liu, Yarong Wu, Ying Zhu, Peiyao Jia, Xue Li, Xinmiao Jia, Wei Yu, Yujun Cui, Ruifu Yang, Wei Xia, Yingchun Xu, Qiwen Yang
Summary: This study retrospectively screened 14 colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, of which 6 were multidrug-resistant strains. The study revealed that the up-regulated expression of certain genes was associated with colistin resistance, and mgrB mutation was found to be the most common molecular mechanism of colistin resistance. In addition, the presence of hypervirulence genes and biofilm-producing genes was also identified. This suggests that colistin-resistant and hypervirulent multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae could pose a severe challenge to public health.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Boon Lim, Yutong Yin, Hua Ye, Zhanfeng Cui, Antonis Papachristodoulou, Wei E. Huang
Summary: Advances in synthetic biology have enabled the reprogramming of bacteria to specifically target tumors and release anticancer drugs in a controlled manner. SimCells, chromosome-free bacteria controlled by gene circuits, have been engineered to display antibodies on their surface and effectively bind and induce death of cancer cells expressing specific biomarkers. These findings highlight the potential of SimCells for targeted cancer therapy and the application of synthetic biology in medicine.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Weiming Tu, Wei E. Huang
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jingkai Wang, Siyu Meng, Kaicheng Lin, Xiaofei Yi, Yixiang Sun, Xiaogang Xu, Na He, Zhiqiang Zhang, Huijie Hu, Xingwang Qie, Dayi Zhang, Yuguo Tang, Wei E. Huang, Jian He, Yizhi Song
Summary: A novel culture-independent phenotyping method based on single-cell Raman spectroscopy was proposed for rapid discrimination between fungal and bacterial infections. Three Raman biomarkers were identified for distinguishing yeast and bacterial pathogens. A two-step protocol combining these biomarkers achieved an overall accuracy of 94.9% in differentiating fungal infections from bacterial infections. The method was able to identify fungi in urinary tract infection samples within half an hour and has the potential to be adopted in routine clinical practice.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Spectroscopy
Xia Huang, Chengjian Li, Lei Li, Zhiliang Lu, Lihao Zhang, Wei E. Huang, Liang Zhao
Summary: The Raman Deuterium Isotope Probing (Raman-DIP) method was used to study the effects of the GSK2334470 drug on human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7 cells) in vitro. The cytotoxicity of the drug was evaluated using the Raman-DIP method and CCK-8 assay, and both methods determined that a concentration of 10 μM was cytotoxic and inhibited cell regeneration. The Raman-DIP method accurately monitored the inhibition of cell proliferation by GSK2334470, and combining the results with fingerprint range information improved the evaluation of the drug's sensitivity.
JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Tong Yu, Archana Chandrabhan Jadhav, Jiabao B. Xu, Adrian L. L. Harris, Venugopal Nair, Wei E. E. Huang
Summary: Understanding the development of cancer resistance to therapies is crucial. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a promising oncolytic agent, but some colon cancer cells show resistance to NDV reinfection. By using Raman spectroscopic and stable isotopic techniques, we found that the resistant cells slow down their replication and divert energy to protein and lipid synthesis. Understanding metabolic reprogramming could aid in developing precision cancer treatments that target resistant cells at the single-cell level.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jochem R. Nielsen, Ruud A. Weusthuis, Wei E. Huang
Summary: Enzymes in commercial bioproduction require high efficiency, robustness, and specificity. Enzyme engineering techniques like random mutagenesis and directed evolution are often used to achieve these properties. Growth-coupling selection strategies can be used to select enzyme variants based on improved cofactor oxidation or reduction rates. This review summarizes the metabolic engineering involved in creating strains auxotrophic for the oxidized or reduced state of redox cofactors and highlights the successful applications of this technique in enzyme engineering.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jiabao Xu, Yanjun Luo, Jingkai Wang, Weiming Tu, Xiaofei Yi, Xiaogang Xu, Yizhi Song, Yuguo Tang, Xiaoting Hua, Yunsong Yu, Huabing Yin, Qiwen Yang, Wei E. Huang
Summary: Integrating AI and new diagnostic platforms in clinical microbiology laboratories can improve efficiency by reducing turnaround time and cost. Using single-cell Raman spectroscopy and AI, rapid identification of infectious fungi with high accuracy was achieved.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ying Zhu, Yue Kang, Hui Zhang, Wei Yu, Ge Zhang, Jingjia Zhang, Wei Kang, Simeng Duan, Yingchun Xu, Qiwen Yang
Summary: This study investigated the resistance mechanisms and distribution and proportions of virulence genes, including exoU, in 182 imipenem-nonsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa (INS-PA) strains collected from China in 2019. The results showed that there was no prevalent sequence type or concentrated evolutionary multilocus sequence typing (MLST) type on the INS-PA phylogenetic tree in China. All of the INS-PA isolates harbored beta-lactamases with/without other antimicrobial mechanisms, such as gross disruption of oprD and overexpression of efflux genes. The study also found that exoU-positive isolates had higher virulence compared to exoU-negative isolates, and the southeast region of China had the highest proportion of exoU-positive strains. The most frequent exoU-positive strains belonged to sequence type 463 (ST463) and showed multiple resistance mechanisms and higher virulence. These findings highlight the complexity of resistance mechanisms in INS-PA and the emergence of highly resistant and virulent strains in southeast China, which pose a challenge for clinical treatment and may lead to higher mortality rates.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tingting Teng, Wei E. Huang, Guanghe Li, Xinzi Wang, Yizhi Song, Xiaoyi Tang, Dunzhu Dawa, Bo Jiang, Dayi Zhang
Summary: In this study, an assembly technology for manufacturing Acinetobacter-based biosensor arrays using magnetic nanoparticle functionalization was developed to solve the low throughput and complicated operation problems. The biosensor array showed high viability, sensitivity, and specificity in sensing multiple contaminants in a high-throughput manner, and remained acceptable for at least 20 days. Positive correlations were found between the biosensor estimation and chemical analysis, indicating the feasibility of this magnetic nanoparticle-functionalized biosensor array for online environmental monitoring at contaminated sites.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Menghan Wu, Xinning Liu, Weiming Tu, Juntao Xia, Yina Zou, Xiaoqiang Gong, Peng Yu, Wei E. Huang, Hui Wang
Summary: In this study, a new perspective on the rationality of oriented propionate production using mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) with lactate as feedstock was proposed. The feasibility of the food waste-lactate-propionate route to reverse the original butyrate-type fermentation situation and mechanisms for maintaining stability were verified.
