Article
Microbiology
Jin Lee, Nicole Ammerman, Anusha Agarwal, Maram Naji, Si-Yang Li, Eric Nuermberger
Summary: This study assessed the in vitro bactericidal activity of single drugs against Mycobacterium abscessus populations and found that the combination of bedaquiline and rifabutin had potential bactericidal activity against nutrient-starved M. abscessus, further enhanced by the addition of amikacin.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Dereje A. Negatu, Matthew D. Zimmerman, Veronique Dartois, Thomas Dick
Summary: This study screened the bioactive forms of oral beta-lactams against Mycobacterium abscessus in vitro, both with and without the bioactive form of the oral beta-lactamase inhibitor avibactam ARX1796. The results showed that sulopenem was equally effective without avibactam, while tebipenem, cefuroxime, and amoxicillin required avibactam for optimal activity. Furthermore, systematic pairing of the four beta-lactams revealed strong synergistic bactericidal effects when combined with amoxicillin in the presence of avibactam. These findings highlight the potential clinical value of these all-oral beta-lactam combinations.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Bubacarr J. B. Touray, Mostafa Hanafy, Yashdeep Phanse, Rachel Hildebrand, Adel M. Talaat
Summary: A nanoadjuvant system called QTAP, consisting of Quil-A and DOTAP, was developed for efficient delivery of mRNA vaccine constructs. The system showed high transfection efficiency and protein translation ability. In mice experiments, QTAP nanovaccines induced strong antibody and cytokine responses, and effectively reduced mycobacterial counts in the lungs and spleens. Overall, QTAP is a highly efficient transfection agent that improves the immunogenicity of mRNA vaccines against pulmonary tuberculosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yutaka Morita, Yoshihiro Kondo, Eiji Takeuchi
Summary: In this case report, we present a rare pulmonary infection caused by M. peregrinum and discuss the relevant literature. Limited information is currently available on pulmonary infections caused by M. peregrinum, highlighting the need for further case reports and clarification of its clinical features.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yasuhiko Matsumoto, Hanako Fukano, Naoki Hasegawa, Yoshihiko Hoshino, Takashi Sugita
Summary: The virulence of M. abscessus clinical isolates can be quantitatively evaluated using a silkworm infection model. The LD50 values of different isolates can differ significantly, and this model allows for a quick assessment of M. abscessus virulence.
Article
Immunology
Eliza Gil, Nicola Sweeney, Veronica Barrett, Stephen Morris-Jones, Robert F. Miller, Victoria J. Johnston, Michael Brown
Summary: Nontuberculous mycobacteria can cause disseminated infections in immunocompromised patients. Successful treatment of patients co-infected with HIV was achieved with bedaquiline as part of combination therapy.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hossein Meghdadi, Azar Dokht Khosravi, Mohammad Hashemzadeh, Mohammad Reza Tabandeh
Summary: This study aimed to differentiate NTM clinical isolates by evaluating multiple genes and using MLSA technique to concatenate these genes. It was found that MLSA technique could identify all isolates to the species level.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Uday S. Ganapathy, Martin Gengenbacher, Thomas Dick
Summary: Benzoxaboroles, including the clinical candidate epetraborole, have shown activity against Mycobacterium abscessus, expanding the options for developing benzoxaborole-based candidates to treat M. abscessus lung disease.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Rebekah M. Dedrick, Bailey E. Smith, Madison Cristinziano, Krista G. Freeman, Deborah Jacobs-Sera, Yvonne Belessis, A. Whitney Brown, Keira A. Cohen, Rebecca M. Davidson, David van Duin, Andrew Gainey, Cristina Berastegui Garcia, C. R. Robert George, Ghady Haidar, Winnie Ip, Jonathan Iredell, Ameneh Khatami, Jessica S. Little, Kirsi Malmivaara, Brendan J. McMullan, David E. Michalik, Andrea Moscatelli, Jerry A. Nick, Maria G. Tupayachi Ortiz, Hari M. Polenakovik, Paul D. Robinson, Mikael Skurnik, Daniel A. Solomon, James Soothill, Helen Spencer, Peter Wark, Austen Worth, Robert T. Schooley, Constance A. Benson, Graham F. Hatfull
Summary: Bacteriophage therapy shows potential as an adjunctive treatment for nontuberculous Mycobacterium infections. This study observed no adverse reactions, favorable outcomes in at least 50% of patients, and no evidence of phage resistance.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lenka Ryskova, Rudolf Kukla, Radka Bolehovska, Libor Prokes, Milan Vajda, Tomas Kucera, Ivo Pavlik, Pavel Bostik, Pavel Ryska
Summary: This article reports a case of osteomyelitis caused by Mycobacterium chelonae. Molecular typing of the pathogen helped establish the correct diagnosis and confirmed bone involvement. The patient recovered after appropriate medication treatment.
Article
Microbiology
Abdeldjalil Madani, Dereje A. Negatu, Abdellatif El Marrouni, Randy R. Miller, Christopher W. Boyce, Nicholas Murgolo, Christopher J. Bungard, Matthew D. Zimmerman, Veronique Dartois, Martin Gengenbacher, David B. Olsen, Thomas Dick
Summary: Tricyclic pyrrolopyrimidines (TPPs) are a new class of antibacterials that inhibit the ATPase activity of DNA gyrase to combat Mycobacterium abscessus.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Arthur W. Baker, Eileen K. Maziarz, Sarah S. Lewis, Jason E. Stout, Deverick J. Anderson, Peter K. Smith, Jacob N. Schroder, Mani A. Daneshmand, Barbara D. Alexander, Richard J. Wallace, Daniel J. Sexton, Cameron R. Wolfe
Summary: Retrospective analysis of clinical data on patients with post-cardiac surgery Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies abscessus infection revealed significant morbidity and mortality. Urgent need for new treatment strategies and strict compliance with infection prevention guidelines.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Elena Pfeuffer-Jovic, Jan Heyckendorf, Udo Reischl, Rainer M. Bohle, Thorsten Bley, Andreas Buck, Heinrike Wilkens, Hans-Joachim Schaefers, Heinz-Jakob Langen, Matthias Held
Summary: A 57-year-old Caucasian woman initially diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic vasculopathy was later found to have granulomatous pulmonary arterial vasculitis. Treatment with anti-inflammatory and anti-mycobacterial therapy for over 12 months resulted in improvement, as confirmed by regular PET-CT scans. After 10 months of therapy, the last PET-CT showed no tracer uptake.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Wassihun Wedajo Aragaw, Christine Roubert, Evelyne Fontaine, Sophie Lagrange, Matthew D. Zimmerman, Veronique Dartois, Martin Gengenbacher, Thomas Dick
Summary: Cyclohexyl-griselimycin, a preclinical candidate for treating tuberculosis, has shown activity against the drug-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus in vitro and in a mouse model. This discovery provides a new lead compound for M. abscessus drug development and supports the strategy of screening chemical matter from TB drug discovery to expedite the discovery of novel antibiotics against M. abscessus.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jickky Palmae Sarathy, Matthew D. Zimmerman, Martin Gengenbacher, Veronique Dartois, Thomas Dick
Summary: The antituberculosis candidate OPC-167832 was found to be active against Mycobacterium abscessus, but its moderate potency and lack of efficacy in a mouse model makes it unsuitable for repurposing. The study identifies OPC-167832-DprE1 as a lead-target couple for optimizing treatment of M. abscessus.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Bram Danneels, Monique Blignaut, Guillaume Marti, Simon Sieber, Peter Vandamme, Marion Meyer, Aurelien Carlier
Summary: The symbiotic relationships between plants of the Rubiaceae and Primulaceae families and Burkholderia bacteria are unique and intimate. This study assembled and analyzed 17 new endophyte genomes, revealing that all endophytes, despite their taxonomic diversity, contained gene clusters linked to the production of specialized metabolites. Acquisition of secondary metabolite gene clusters through horizontal gene transfer is proposed to be a prerequisite for the evolution of a stable association between these endophytes and their hosts.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amanda Hettiarachchi, Margo Cnockaert, Marie Joossens, David Laureys, Jessika De Clippeleer, Nicolas J. Vereecken, Denis Michez, Guy Smagghe, Dirk C. de Graaf, Peter Vandamme
Summary: This study analyzed the cultivable bacterial communities of different compartments in the invasive insect Vespa velutina, as well as the nest samples, using both cultivation and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The bacterial symbionts in Vespa velutina were dominated by Convivina, Fructobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, Lactococcus, Sphingomonas, and Spiroplasma. Lactococcus lactis and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were generalist core lactic acid bacteria (LAB) symbionts, while Convivina species and Fructobacillus fructosus were highly specialized core LAB symbionts with reduced genome sizes. Sphingomonas and Spiroplasma were non-LAB core symbionts, but they were not isolated. Convivina bacteria were particularly enriched in the hornet crop and included Convivina intestini, a species adapted to amino acid metabolism, and Convivina praedatoris sp. nov., which was adapted to carbohydrate metabolism.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tina Tuerlings, Amanda Hettiarachchi, Marie Joossens, Benoit Geslin, Nicolas J. J. Vereecken, Denis Michez, Guy Smagghe, Peter Vandamme
Summary: The study characterized the gut microbiota of invasive bee Megachile sculpturalis from native and invaded regions. The microbiota communities in bees from invaded regions were similar and different from those in Japan. Core amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) represented micro-organisms commonly present in bee-associated niches. The absence of known bee pathogens and presence of microparasite infections suggest a potential role of pathogen pressure and natural enemies in the invasion success of M. sculpturalis.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Louise Vermote, Jonas De Roos, Margo Cnockaert, Peter Vandamme, Stefan Weckx, Luc De Vuyst
Summary: Belgian lambic beers are produced using traditional craftsmanship, relying on wooden barrels for spontaneous fermentation and maturation. These barrels play a crucial role in establishing a stable microbial ecosystem, minimizing batch-to-batch variations, and preventing flavor deviations. They provide an inoculation source of necessary microorganisms and a microaerobic environment for successful lambic beer production.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Juan Guzman, Miyoung Won, Anja Poehlein, Atena Sadat Sombolestani, Daniela Mayorga-Ch, David Laureys, Jessika De Clippeleer, Peter Kaempfer, Rolf Daniel, Andreas Vilcinskas, Peter Vandamme, Soon- Wo Kwon
Summary: In this study, two strains of bacteria were isolated from wasps in Germany and Korea. Molecular and phenotypic analysis showed that these strains are closely related to known species but also have distinct characteristics. Therefore, it is proposed to name these strains Aristophania vespae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Peter Vandamme, Charlotte Peeters, Amanda Hettiarachchi, Margo Cnockaert, Aurelien Carlier
Summary: Strain LMG 31809 T was isolated from a top soil sample in Belgium and classified as a rare biosphere bacterium that occurs at low abundances in multiple soil and water ecosystems. It represents a new species within a new genus, Govania unica gen. nov., sp. nov, belonging to the class Alphaproteobacteria. The strain is strictly aerobic and uses organic acids and possibly aromatic compounds as growth substrates. Its whole-genome sequence has a size of 3.21 Mbp with a G + C content of 58.99 mol%.
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Delphine Planas, Timothee Bruel, Isabelle Staropoli, Florence Guivel-Benhassine, Francoise Porrot, Piet Maes, Ludivine Grzelak, Matthieu Prot, Said Mougari, Cyril Planchais, Julien Puech, Madelina Saliba, Riwan Sahraoui, Florent Femy, Nathalie Morel, Jeremy Dufloo, Rafael Sanjuan, Hugo Mouquet, Emmanuel Andre, Laurent Hocqueloux, Etienne Simon-Loriere, David Veyer, Thierry Prazuck, Helene Pere, Olivier Schwartz
Summary: Convergent evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 lineages have led to the emergence of several new subvariants, including BA.2.75.2, BA.4.6, and BQ.1.1. These subvariants carry additional mutations in the spike protein, potentially increasing transmissibility and evading immune responses. The study found that the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies and serum from vaccinated individuals against these subvariants varies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joren Raymenants, Caspar Geenen, Lore Budts, Jonathan Thibaut, Marijn Thijssen, Hannelore De Mulder, Sarah Gorissen, Bastiaan Craessaerts, Lies Laenen, Kurt Beuselinck, Sien Ombelet, Els Keyaerts, Emmanuel Andre
Summary: The impact of indoor climate, human behaviour, ventilation, and air filtration on respiratory pathogen detection and concentration in indoor air is poorly understood. In this study, 341 indoor air samples from 21 community settings in Belgium were tested for 29 respiratory pathogens. The results showed that pathogen detection and concentration varied significantly and were influenced by CO2 levels, natural ventilation, and portable air filtration. The findings highlight the importance of ventilation and air filtration in reducing transmission risk.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Joren Raymenants, Liesbeth Van Gestel, Jasmine Coppens, Tessa De Block, Eugene Bangwen, Jojanneke Rutgers, Matilde Hens, Elise De Vos, Sandra Coppens, Els Keyaerts, Emmanuel Andre, Antonio Mauro Rezende, Marjan Van Esbroeck, Koen Vercauteren, Laurens Liesenborghs
Summary: Despite primarily transmitted via direct (sexual) contact, mpox virus (MPXV) can be detected in ambient air. This study demonstrates the potential use of air sampling for diagnosing and surveilling MPX in a sexual health clinic. PCR tests for ambient air samples were positive for all six MPXV-infected patients, while positive results with higher cycle threshold (C-t) values were also obtained for three ambient air samples from 14 uninfected patients. Genomic sequencing confirmed the matching sequences between air and clinical samples from two positive patients.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sarah Denayer, Francois E. Dufrasne, Bert Monsieurs, Reinout Van Eycken, Sarah Houben, Lucie Seyler, Thomas Demuyser, Els Van Nedervelde, Marc Bourgeois, Benedicte Delaere, Koen Magerman, Door Jouck, Benedicte Lissoir, Catherine Sion, Marijke Reynders, Evelyn Petit, Nicolas Dauby, Marc Hainaut, Lies Laenen, Piet Maes, Guy Baele, Simon Dellicour, Lize Cuypers, Emmanuel Andre, Simon Couvreur, Ruben Brondeel, Cyril Barbezange, Nathalie Bossuyt, Steven Van Gucht
Summary: Using SARI sentinel surveillance for genomic monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to accurately reflect variants of concern detected in the population and provides a cost-effective solution for long-term monitoring of circulating respiratory viruses.
INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Amanda Hettiarachchi, Margo Cnockaert, Marie Joossens, Antoine Gekiere, Ivan Meeus, Nicolas J. Vereecken, Denis Michez, Guy Smagghe, Peter Vandamme
Summary: We characterized the microbial communities in different parts of four wild solitary bee species and found that the dominant bacteria were endosymbionts such as Wolbachia and Spiroplasma. Other bacterial and yeast genera were associated with environmental sources. The bacterial communities varied between bee species, gut compartments, and ovaries, suggesting a selective process influenced by floral and host traits. Many of the gut symbionts identified in this study exhibited metabolic versatility.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Charlotte Moens, Patrice Filee, Adrien Boes, Christian Alie, Francois Dufrasne, Emmanuel Andre, Sylvie Marche, David Fretin
Summary: In this study, a new multiplexed serological assay based on Luminex technology was developed for the detection of bovine tuberculosis. The assay included a panel of seven antigens and showed better performance than the traditional assays using four antigens. The specificity and sensitivity values varied with different cut-offs, and the analysis of antigen profiles revealed serodominant proteins in infected cattle.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Nikola Sklenovska, Mandy Bloemen, Valentijn Vergote, Anne-Sophie Logist, Bert Vanmechelen, Lies Laenen, Emmanuel Andre, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Elke Wollants, Marc Van Ranst, Piet Maes, Tony Wawina-Bokalanga
Summary: Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis with circulation in animals and humans in some African countries. Despite the long-known identification of monkeypox virus (MPXV) as a human pathogen, the availability of accurate diagnostic assays and comparative performance studies remains limited. In this study, we developed a real-time PCR test and evaluated its performance against a commercial detection assay. Our results demonstrate the validity and accuracy of the developed test for confirming MPXV infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caspar Geenen, Joren Raymenants, Sarah Gorissen, Jonathan Thibaut, Jodie Mcvernon, Natalie Lorent, Emmanuel Andre
Summary: This study found significant limitations in the digital proximity tracing system based on the dominant framework. Data collected from a test and trace program targeting 50,000 university students revealed low success rates, with only 4.3% of exposed contacts receiving notifications. Conventional contact tracing detected ten times more cases, and digitally traced contacts had a lower infection risk, albeit with a 1.2-day delay in digital contact notifications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Christoph Rudin, Nena Bollen, Samuel L. Hong, Fanny Wegner, Lida Politi, Kassiani Mellou, Caspar Geenen, Sarah Gorissen, Bruno Verhasselt, Keith Durkin, Coralie Henin, Anne -Sophie Logist, Simon Dellicour, Tobias Resa, Tanja Stadler, Piet Maes, Lize Cuypers, Emmanuel Andre, Adrian Egli, Guy Baele
Summary: Through contact tracing and phylogenetic investigation in Belgium and Switzerland, the study confirms a connection between the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and an international water polo tournament, but no direct link to infections from South Africa, indicating that the event was not a superspreading event. This suggests a limited impact of this sporting event on the number of infections in the two countries.
