Article
Immunology
Claudia E. Coipan, Ingrid H. Friesema, Maaike J. C. van den Beld, Thijs Bosch, Sabine Schlager, Menno van der Voort, Christina Frank, Christina Lang, Angelika Fruth, Eelco Franz
Summary: This study describes the recent detection of 3 Shiga toxin-producing enteroaggregative Escherichia coli O104:H4 isolates from patients and 1 from pork in the Netherlands that were genetically highly similar to isolates from the 2011 large-scale outbreak in Europe. Our findings highlight the importance of safeguarding food supply production chains to prevent future outbreaks.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Martin B. Koeppel, Jana Glaser, Tobias Baumgartner, Stefanie Spriewald, Roman G. Gerlach, Benedikt von Armansperg, John M. Leong, Baerbel Stecher
Summary: This study established a set of chromosomal stx2 reporter assays to investigate the expression and regulation of Stx2 in the gut, utilizing two systems based on sfGFP and gluc for detection at single-cell level or in culture supernatant. This new reporter tools are envisioned to be highly useful in analyzing the impact of environmental and host factors on Stx2 release and identifying risk factors and new therapies in Stx-mediated pathologies.
Article
Microbiology
Claudia Carolina Carbonari, Elizabeth Sandra Miliwebsky, Gisela Zolezzi, Natalia Lorena Deza, Nahuel Fittipaldi, Eduardo Manfredi, Ariela Baschkier, Beatriz Alejandra D'Astek, Roberto Gustavo Melano, Carla Schesi, Marta Rivas, Isabel Chinen
Summary: This study describes the epidemiology and genetic diversity of STEC O145 strains isolated in Argentina between 1998 and 2020. These strains are associated with severe food-borne diseases and the high incidence of hemolytic uremic syndrome. The study highlights the importance of monitoring STEC O145 to prevent disease outbreaks.
Article
Pediatrics
Valentina Capone, Maria Cristina Mancuso, Giacomo Tamburini, Giovanni Montini, Gianluigi Ardissino
Summary: The presence of hemoglobinuria/hematuria in children with Stx2+ bloody diarrhea is a sensitive and specific marker for early identification of HUS, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 85%. Monitoring with urine dipstick/urinalysis is strongly recommended to identify HUS in these patients.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Yang Liu, Hatim Thaker, Chunyan Wang, Zhonggao Xu, Min Dong
Summary: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) is a clinical syndrome involving hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury (AKI). Early diagnosis is crucial for improving prognosis and reducing mortality and sequelae. The review provides an overview of diagnostic methods and preventive and therapeutic strategies for treating STEC-HUS.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Khadizha M. Emirova, Olga M. Orlova, Ekaterina M. Chichuga, Alexander L. Muzurov, Piotr P. Avdonin, Pavel V. Avdonin
Summary: This study investigates the role of moderate decrease in ADAMTS13 activity in the pathogenesis of STEC-HUS and suggests that reduced ADAMTS13 activity may serve as a predictor of disease severity.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Megin C. Nichols, Paul Gacek, Quyen Phan, Kelly J. Gambino-Shirley, Lauren M. Gollarza, Morgan N. Schroeder, Alexandra Mercante, Jocelyn Mullins, Anna Blackstock, Mark E. Laughlin, Samantha M. Olson, Eugene Pizzo, Tu Ngoc Nguyen, Laurn Mank, Kimberly Holmes-Talbot, Alycia McNutt, Diane Noel, Anthony Muyombwe, Jafar H. Razeq, Mary Jane Lis, Bruce Sherman, Wayne Kasacek, Laura Whitlock, Nancy Strockbine, Haley Martin, Eshaw Vidyaprakash, Patrick McCormack, Matthew Cartter
Summary: The study aimed to identify sources of STEC O157 infection at Farm X and recommend public health measures. A case-control study found that patients were more likely to have sat on hay bales at the doe barn, and environmental samples from Farm X showed extensive contamination with STEC O157. Handwashing stations with soap, running water, and disposable towels should be provided at farms, and access to animal areas should be limited for children at risk. National recommendations are needed to reduce disease transmission.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julie Haendiges, Karen Jinneman, Narjol Gonzalez-Escalona
Summary: This study compared the performance of sequencing using different library preparation chemistries (Nextera XT and Nextera DNA Prep), and found that Nextera DNA Prep outperformed in sequence quality, assembly quality, and uniformity of genome coverage. Comprehensive detection of virulence genes is essential for assessing virulence potential.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Gema Ariceta, Bradley P. Dixon, Seong Heon Kim, Gaurav Kapur, Teri Mauch, Stephan Ortiz, Marc Vallee, Andrew E. Denker, Hee Gyung Kang, Larry A. Greenbaum
Summary: Ravulizumab rapidly improved hematologic and kidney parameters in complement inhibitor-naive children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, showing no unexpected safety concerns.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wouter J. C. Feitz, Samuel Suntharalingham, Meraj Khan, Carolina G. Ortiz-Sandoval, Nades Palaniyar, Lambert P. van den Heuvel, Nicole C. A. J. van de Kar, Christoph Licht
Summary: Stx2a induces NET formation in neutrophils through the NOX-dependent pathway, with neutrophils from acute STEC-HUS patients showing lower ROS and NET formation compared to the recovery phase and healthy controls.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Manon Martins, Frank Bridoux, Jean Michel Goujon, Marie Sophie Meuleman, David Ribes, Eric Rondeau, Mary -Jane Guerry, Yahsou Delmas, Benedicte Levy, Didier Ducloux, Christine Kandel-Aznar, Awena Le Fur, Cyril Garrouste, Francois Provot, Jean -Baptiste Gibier, Eric Thervet, Patrick Bruneval, Marion Rabant, Alexandre Karras, Marie Agnes Dragon Durey, Veronique Fremeaux-Bacchi, Sophie Chauvet
Summary: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) with kidney involvement associated with monoclonal gammopathy is a rare condition that severely affects patients' quality of life. The complement system plays a role in the pathogenesis of this disease, but HUS associated with monoclonal gammopathy has distinct characteristics compared to atypical HUS.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF KIDNEY DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
K. Minary, C. Tanne, T. Kwon, C. Faudeux, S. Clave, L. Langevin, C. Pietrement, C. Enoch, C. Parmentier, P. Mariani-Kurkdjian, FX. Weilli, G. Jones, N. Djouadi, D. Morin, M. Fila
Summary: In spring 2019, an outbreak of STEC HUS associated with E. coli O26:H11 occurred in France. The outbreak was linked to the consumption of raw cow's milk cheese. The patients presented with severe clinical symptoms, particularly involving the central nervous system and the heart. However, most cases had a favorable outcome after one month. The young age of the patients highlights the importance of improving information and caregiver awareness regarding at-risk foods for young children as preventative measures against STEC infections.
ARCHIVES DE PEDIATRIE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tae Yeul Kim, Tae-Min La, Taesoo Kim, Sun Ae Yun, Sang-Won Lee, Hee Jae Huh, Nam Yong Lee
Summary: This study conducted whole-genome sequencing of a stx-negative, eae-positive E. coli isolate and found that it was genetically closely related to EHEC strains but distant from EPEC strains in cgMLST analysis. Comparative genomic analysis using WGS can help differentiate stx-negative and eae-positive isolates as EHEC-LST or EPEC, addressing the challenge of misdiagnosis in routine laboratories.
Article
Pediatrics
Melissa Muff-Luett, Keia R. Sanderson, Rachel M. Engen, Rima S. Zahr, Scott E. Wenderfer, Cheryl L. Tran, Sheena Sharma, Yi Cai, Susan Ingraham, Erica Winnicki, Donald J. Weaver, Tracy E. Hunley, Stefan G. Kiessling, Meredith Seamon, Robert Woroniecki, Yosuke Miyashita, Nianzhou Xiao, Abiodun A. Omoloja, Sarah J. Kizilbash, Asif Mansuri, Mahmoud Kallash, Yichun Yu, Ashley K. Sherman, Tarak Srivastava, Carla M. Nester
Summary: This study investigated the broader use and outcomes of pediatric patients exposed to eculizumab, revealing a significant number of patients receiving off-label indications for C5 blockade. Although adverse events related to the medication were low, the cohort mortality rate was relatively high. Prospective studies in homogeneous disease cohorts are needed to confirm the role of C5 blockade in kidney outcomes.
PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Nicolas Garimano, Maria Lujan Scalise, Fernando Gomez, Maria Marta Amaral, Cristina Ibarra
Summary: This study investigates the effects of sugars derived from colonic mucus on the growth, adhesion, and production of the virulence factor Stx2 in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). The results show that different sugars have varying impacts on EHEC growth, adhesion, and Stx2 production and translocation. These findings provide insights into the role of commensal microbiota in E. coli pathogenicity and the development of severe disease.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Elina Larissa Petersen, Alina Gossling, Gerhard Adam, Martin Aepfelbacher, Christian-Alexander Behrendt, Ersin Cavus, Bastian Cheng, Nicole Fischer, Juergen Gallinat, Simone Kuehn, Christian Gerloff, Uwe Koch-Gromus, Martin Haerter, Uta Hanning, Tobias B. Huber, Stefan Kluge, Johannes K. Knobloch, Piotr Kuta, Christian Schmidt-Lauber, Marc Luetgehetmann, Christina Magnussen, Carola Mayer, Kai Muellerleile, Julia Muench, Felix Leonard Naegele, Marvin Petersen, Thomas Renne, Katharina Alina Riedl, David Leander Rimmele, Ines Schaefer, Holger Schulz, Enver Tahir, Benjamin Waschki, Jan-Per Wenzel, Tanja Zeller, Andreas Ziegler, Goetz Thomalla, Raphael Twerenbold, Stefan Blankenberg
Summary: This study comprehensively assessed organ-specific functions in individuals after mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection and found subclinical multi-organ affection related to pulmonary, cardiac, thrombotic, and renal function. However, there were no signs of structural brain damage, neurocognitive impairment, or quality-of-life impairment.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Laura Carlsen, Henning Buettner, Martin Christner, Gefion Franke, Daniela Indenbirken, Birte Knobling, Marc Luetgehetmann, Johannes Knobloch
Summary: This study investigated the diversity and epidemiology of multi-resistant Enterobacterales in the wastewater of a large hospital. The results showed a high diversity of Enterobacterales in the wastewater, with a significant proportion carrying carbapenemase genes, highlighting the problem of antibiotic resistance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hannah Benthien, Beate Fresenborg, Linda Paetzold, Mohamed Ibrahem Elhawy, Sylvaine Huc-Brandt, Christoph Beisswenger, Gabriela Krasteva-Christ, Soren L. Becker, Virginie Molle, Johannes K. Knobloch, Markus Bischoff
Summary: This study reveals the essential role of SpoVG in the biofilm formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis on artificial surfaces. SpoVG promotes biofilm formation by modulating the expression of ica genes. However, SpoVG is largely dispensable for biofilm formation of this skin commensal under in vivo conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Manja Czech-Sioli, Thomas Gunther, Alexis Robitaille, Hannes Roggenkamp, Henning Buttner, Daniela Indenbirken, Martin Christner, Marc Lutgehetmann, Johannes Knobloch, Martin Aepfelbacher, Adam Grundhoff, Nicole Fischer
Summary: Understanding the entry and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for effective prevention and preparedness measures in healthcare settings. Epidemiologic data and contact tracing can identify most healthcare-associated infections, but sequencing data reveal weaknesses in identifying staff contacts. High testing frequency and genomic surveillance play a significant role in detecting, containing, and preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections in healthcare settings.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Johannes Hengelbrock, Johannes Rauh, Jona Cederbaum, Maximilian Kaehler, Michael Hoehle
Summary: To evaluate the quality of care in hospitals, it is crucial to identify performance outliers. Classifying healthcare providers as outliers or non-outliers is an uncertain decision because the true quality is unknown. This study proposes a Bayesian decision theoretical framework to determine the optimal decision rules for classifying healthcare providers, considering the expected consequences. The methodology is applied to the analysis of hip replacement surgeries in German hospitals, illustrating the dependency of outlier classification on underlying utilities.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. K. Knobloch, G. Franke, M. J. Knobloch, B. Knobling, G. Kampf
Summary: Regulations for measures to protect against SARS-CoV-2 transmission vary worldwide, with Germany having strict regulations on respirator use. This review examined the fit test results of different respirator designs, finding that three-panel folded dome-shaped respirators had the best fit, followed by other designs such as rigid-dome-shaped and duckbill-shaped respirators. Respirators with ear loops had poor fit. Single-use respirators were not found to be superior to surgical masks in preventing viral respiratory infections. The mandatory use of respirators was considered disproportionate and lacking evidence, and further research should be conducted to identify scenarios where they may be beneficial.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Natalia Torow, Timothy W. Hand, Mathias W. Hornef
Summary: The mucosal immune system of neonates develops through phases influenced by environmental cues and evolutionary developmental programming. The response to exogenous stimuli during early life is tightly regulated, determining future immune responses to diet, microbiota, and pathogens. Early-life exposures, such as breastfeeding and environmental/microbial stimuli, play a role in shaping immunological and metabolic homeostasis and the risk of developing diseases like asthma/allergy and obesity.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
A. Mayr, J. K. Knobloch, G. Hinterberger, V. Seewald, I. Wille, J. Kaltseis, B. Knobling, E. M. T. Klupp, E. Samardzic, C. Lass-Florl
Summary: In this study, a touch-transfer method was used to simulate bacterial transmission under dry conditions and examine the efficacy of antimicrobial surfaces. The results showed that despite the confirmed antimicrobial activity of these surfaces, insufficient activity was observed under dry conditions for a contact time of 4 hours. Therefore, further standardization of the touch-transfer method is needed to better understand the efficacy of these surfaces.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Birte Knobling, Gefion Franke, Laura Carlsen, Cristina Belmar Campos, Henning Buettner, Eva M. Klupp, Philipp Maximilian Maurer, Johannes K. Knobloch
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of naturally occurring variations in the expression of virulence factors in clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates on tolerance against UV-C radiation. The results showed no direct correlation between the strength of expression of virulence factors and UV-C tolerance. Therefore, UV-C disinfection is effective against a wide spectrum of S. aureus strains regardless of variations in virulence factor expression.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Marcel S. Woo, Christina Mayer, Thomas Theo Brehm, Gabriele Andersen, Angelika Weigel, Bernd Loewe, Ansgar W. Lohse, Marylyn M. Addo, Christian Gerloff, Johannes K. M. Knobloch, Julian Schulze zur Wiesch, Manuel A. Friese
BRAIN COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
B. Knobling, A. Ulatowski, G. Franke, C. Belmar Campos, H. Buttner, E. M. Klupp, P. M. Maurer, F. H. H. Brill, J. K. Knobloch
Summary: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of automatic UV-C disinfection and manual disinfection through field trials. The results show that manual disinfection has slightly higher microbial reduction values and disinfection success compared to automatic UV-C disinfection.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eva-Maria Klupp, Birte Knobling, Gefion Franke, Cristina Belmar Campos, Philipp M. Maurer, Johannes K. Knobloch
Summary: This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of examination gloves with light-activated antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive microorganisms. The results showed low antimicrobial activity of these gloves against Gram-positive microorganisms, but the lack of activity against Gram-negative microorganisms was confirmed.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
B. Knobling, G. Franke, C. Belmar Campos, H. Buettner, M. Christner, E. M. Klupp, P. M. Maurer, J. K. Knobloch
Summary: This study analyzed the susceptibility of clinical isolates of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) to UV-C radiation. The results showed that UV-C doses reported in the literature may be effective for commonly used reference strains, but may be insufficient for clinical isolates of VRE. Therefore, future studies should use the most tolerant clinical isolates to validate automated UV-C devices or longer exposure times should be expected to ensure efficacy in real-world settings.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Laura Carlsen, Henning Buettner, Martin Christner, Lukas Cordts, Gefion Franke, Armin Hoffmann, Birte Knobling, Marc Luetgehetmann, Jacqueline Nakel, Thomas Werner, Johannes K. Knobloch
Summary: This study investigated wastewater isolates of different Enterobacterales species from a tertiary care hospital. The results revealed the presence of highly related clonal lineages in the wastewater, indicating continuous release of genes encoding carbapenemases from hospital wastewater to the urban wastewater system.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Norbert Blank, Ina Koetter, Marc Schmalzing, Juergen Rech, Karoline Krause, Birgit Koehler, Dorothee Kaudewitz, Martin Nitschke, Christian S. Haas, Hanns-Martin Lorenz, Martin Krusche
Summary: This study investigated the clinical symptoms and genetic variants of patients with autoimmune orphan diseases who received anti-IL-1 targeted therapy. The results showed that most patients experienced inflammatory attacks before the age of 18, with an average delay of 17.8 years in starting anti-IL-1 therapy. Genetic analysis confirmed the diagnosis in a majority of patients and identified some variants of unknown significance. Additionally, some patients had secondary AA amyloidosis at the initiation of anti-IL-1 therapy. Turkish-Armenian ancestry was found to be associated with higher disease activity in familial Mediterranean fever.
RHEUMATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)