Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Shun Bai, Yuan Li, Yangyang Wan, Tonghang Guo, Qi Jin, Ran Liu, Wenjuan Tang, Meiying Sang, Yuanyuan Tao, Baoguo Xie, Yun Zhao, Wei Li, Xiangdong Xu, Qiuling Yue, Xuechun Hu, Bo Xu
Summary: Leukocytospermia was associated with a reduction in semen quality, but was not significantly associated with sexually transmitted infections. The study found no significant difference in semen parameters between LCS with and without STIs.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY AND ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Giulia Collodel, Cinzia Signorini, Fabiola Nerucci, Laura Gambera, Francesca Iacoponi, Elena Moretti
Summary: This study examines the relationship between seminal plasma composition and sperm pathologies, revealing a positive correlation between testosterone and estradiol levels with sperm quality, as well as a positive association between iron metabolism indicators and low sperm quality and necrosis.
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kamil Gill, Tomasz Machalowski, Patryk Harasny, Michal Kups, Marta Grabowska, Ewa Duchnik, Olimpia Sipak, Monika Fraczek, Maciej Kurpisz, Rafal Kurzawa, Malgorzata Piasecka
Summary: Our research aimed to verify the relationship between male infertility, sperm morphology, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in semen, and leukocytospermia. The results showed that infertile groups had lower semen characteristics and higher SDF, ORP levels than fertile controls. The risk for SDF and ORP were significantly higher in infertile groups. Surprisingly, leukocytospermic subjects had lower ORP levels and lower risk for high ORP than leukocytospermic-negative men. These findings suggest a relationship between male infertility, SDF, and oxidative stress, and the assessment of SDF and oxidative stress should be independent of leukocytospermia.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qian Wang, Abdullah Alowaifeer, Patricia Kerner, Narayanaganesh Balasubramanian, Angela Patterson, William Christian, Angela Tarver, John E. Dore, Roland Hatzenpichler, Brian Bothner, Timothy R. McDermott
Summary: Reports of biogenic methane synthesis associated with various organisms have accumulated, but understanding of the process at the genetic and enzyme levels remains limited. The methane paradox of CH4 supersaturation in oxic surface waters in marine and freshwater environments challenges the traditional view of strictly anaerobic CH4 synthesis. Recent interest in the phenomenon highlights the importance of comprehending sources and sinks of this potent greenhouse gas.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Anne-Marie Luther, Thu Quynh Nguyen, Jutta Verspohl, Dagmar Waberski
Summary: This study aims to investigate the potential of using a commercial extender containing an organic bactericidal supplement, instead of conventional antibiotics, to control bacterial growth and maintain the quality of boar spermatozoa during long-term semen storage.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Holly C. Evans, Thu T. N. Dinh, Madison L. Hardcastle, Alicia A. Gilmore, Muhammet R. Ugur, Mustafa Hitit, Frank Dean Jousan, Molly C. Nicodemus, Erdogan Memili
Summary: Understanding the lipid profile of sperm cells through lipidomics research is crucial for improving cryopreservation techniques and reproductive technologies. This information can be used to address challenges in reproduction faced by livestock, humans, and endangered species.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biology
Eva Tvrda, Michal Duracka, Filip Benko, Norbert Lukac
Summary: Bacterial colonization in male reproductive tissues and its impact on sperm quality has gained attention. The presence of bacteria in semen can lead to male infertility. The molecular basis of bacteriospermia-associated suboptimal semen quality is complex and requires further understanding.
OPEN LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Mehrdad Gholami, Mahmood Moosazadeh, Mohammad Reza Haghshenash, Hamed Jafarpour, Tahoora Mousavi
Summary: Bacterial and viral infections may play a significant role in male infertility, particularly in impairing sperm quality.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Andrology
Florian Dittmar, Jens Rosellen, Leo Reiser, Moritz Fritzenwanker, Arne Hauptmann, Thorsten Diemer, Hans-Christian Schuppe, Florian Wagenlehner, Adrian Pilatz
Summary: This study aimed to assess the impact of hematospermia in patients with acute epididymitis and its association with clinical, microbiological, and semen parameters. The study found that 15% of patients with acute epididymitis had self-reported hematospermia, while none of the patients with isolated hematospermia developed epididymitis within the next 4 weeks.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaoyan Zhang, Yingying Guo, Guangliang Liu, Yanwei Liu, Jianbo Shi, Ligang Hu, Lixia Zhao, Yanbin Li, Yongguang Yin, Yong Cai, Guibin Jiang
Summary: The widely distributed marine bacterium Alteromonas sp. KD01 is capable of extracellularly reducing Hg(II) through a superoxide-dependent mechanism. The generation of superoxide by Alteromonas sp. KD01 and the role of NADH in Hg(II) reduction were demonstrated. This finding provides insights into Hg(II) reduction by superoxide in various aerobic environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Honghong Guo, Jie Gu, Xiaojuan Wang, Zilin Song, Mubasher Nasir, Xiaxia Tuo
Summary: Cyromazine has a significant impact on nitrogen conversion during composting, by reducing the abundance of amoA and nirK genes, severely damaging nitrogen fixation capacity at high concentrations, but also increasing the diversity of nitrifying and denitrifying microbial communities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gabriel Capson-Tojo, Shengli Lin, Damien J. Batstone, Tim Hulsen
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of different dissolved oxygen concentrations on the performance of enriched purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) cultures in treating wastewater. The results showed that the presence of oxygen suppressed photoheterotrophic growth of PPB and led to dominant chemoheterotrophy under aerobic conditions. This suggests that PPB cannot outcompete other microbes under aerobic or microaerobic conditions, despite their aerobic capabilities.
Article
Cell Biology
Fatemeh Eini, Maryam Azizi Kutenaei, Fayegheh Zareei, Zeinolabedin Sharifian Dastjerdi, Maryam Hosseinzadeh Shirzeyli, Ensieh Salehi
Summary: The study found that among the 172 infertile male patients investigated, 60 (34.88%) patients had positive cultures for pathogenic bacteria of different species. Leukocytospermia was significantly higher in infected samples compared to non-infected samples, and sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were significantly lower in infected samples. Additionally, sperm DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in infected samples compared to non-infected samples. The results also showed a significant correlation between sperm DNA fragmentation and leukocytospermia.
BMC MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tao Li, Zhi-Jing Xu, Ning-Yi Zhou
Summary: Aminobacter sp. NyZ550 can grow on metformin as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy under oxic conditions. The hydrolysis of metformin by strain NyZ550 results in the accumulation of guanylurea as a dead-end product. An engineered microbial mixture consisting of strain NyZ550 and Pseudomonas putida PaW340 expressing a guanylurea hydrolase was constructed for complete elimination of metformin and guanylurea.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Kexin Zhang, Shumin Wang, Dawei Yao, Xinyu Zhang, Qian Zhang, Wenjuan Liu, Ying Li, Yansong Yin, Sha An, Ruiling Zhang, Zhong Zhang
Summary: The gut microenvironment in housefly larvae contains a diverse microbial community, including the newly isolated strains Klebsiella pneumoniae KX and K. pneumoniae KY. Supplementation with these strains individually promoted larval growth, but no synergistic effect was observed when they were administered together. High-throughput sequencing revealed changes in the gut microbiota composition, with an increase in Klebsiella abundance and a decrease in Provincia, Serratia, and Morganella abundance. When both strains were increased simultaneously, a balance in total bacterial abundance was achieved. These findings emphasize the essential role of K. pneumoniae in regulating gut microbiota composition in insects.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Silvia Corbellini, Maria Antonia De Francesco, Arnaldo Caruso
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Maria Antonia De Francesco, Claudio Poiesi, Franco Gargiulo, Carlo Bonfanti, Patrizia Pollara, Simona Fiorentini, Francesca Caccuri, Valentina Carta, Lucia Mangeri, Simone Pellizzeri, Damiano Rizzoni, Paolo Malerba, Massimo Salvetti, Maria Lorenza Muiesan, Federico Alberici, Francesco Scolari, Andrea Pilotto, Alessandro Padovani, Michela Bezzi, Raffaella Chiappini, Chiara Ricci, Maurizio Castellano, Marialma Berlendis, Giulia Savio, Giovanni Montani, Maurizio Ronconi, Sergio Bove, Emanuele Foca, Lina Tomasoni, Francesco Castelli, Angelo Rossini, Riccardo Inciardi, Marco Metra, Arnaldo Caruso
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2021)
Letter
Immunology
Ramona Pezzotta, Maria Antonia De Francesco, Arnaldo Caruso
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Antonia De Francesco, Caterina Pollara, Franco Gargiulo, Mauro Giacomelli, Arnaldo Caruso
Summary: The study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the detection rates of influenza viruses, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, and human coronaviruses significantly decreased, while rhinovirus showed a significant increase. Coinfections between different respiratory viruses were observed before the pandemic, but during the pandemic only coinfection between SARS-CoV-2 and rhinovirus was detected. Understanding how preventive strategies for COVID-19 may affect the transmission dynamics of other respiratory viruses is crucial for future preventive recommendations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Maria Antonia De Francesco, Arnaldo Caruso
Summary: Psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn's disease, are interconnected conditions with shared clinical features and pathogenic mechanisms. Changes in gut and/or skin microbiota play a role in both diseases, with the gut microbiota being a key driver in Crohn's disease pathogenesis. Genetic predispositions and dysregulated immune responses, particularly involving T helper 17 cells, contribute to the manifestation of these diseases.
Article
Infectious Diseases
S. Corbellini, E. Scaltriti, G. Piccinelli, F. Gurrieri, M. Mascherpa, G. Boroni, C. Amolini, A. Caruso, M. A. De Francesco
Summary: This study describes the isolation of Enterobacteriaceae strains co-producing bla(NDM-5)and bla(OXA-1), which exhibit resistance to various antibiotics and carry multiple virulence genes. The findings highlight the significance of continuous surveillance of clinically important multidrug-resistant pathogens.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Benedetta Fumarola, Stefano Calza, Stefano Renzetti, Issa El Hamad, Maria C. Pezzoli, Ilaria Izzo, Melania Degli Antoni, Annacarla Chiesa, Maria De Francesco, Eugenia Quiros-Roldan, Arnaldo Caruso, Francesco Castelli, Emanuele Foca
Summary: This study evaluated the clinical, viro-immunological, and therapeutic characteristics of HIV-2 infected patients and HIV-1/HIV-2 dual-infected patients in Italy. The results showed that HIV-2 infected patients had a favorable immunological condition at diagnosis, and treatment with cART had significant benefits. Furthermore, a decrease in CD4+ lymphocytes remained the strongest predictor of death and AIDS.
MEDITERRANEAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Maria A. De Francesco, Giorgio Tiecco, Erika Scaltriti, Giorgio Piccinelli, Silvia Corbellini, Francesca Gurrieri, Verena Crosato, Giovanni Moioli, Valentina Marchese, Emanuele Foca, Davide A. Bertelli, Francesco Castelli, Arnaldo Caruso
Summary: This article describes a case of pyogenic liver abscess caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae, with complications of endophthalmitis and other metastatic infections. The case involves an immunocompetent Chinese individual with no recent travel history to Asia.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Antonia De Francesco, Franco Gargiulo, Serena Zaltron, Angiola Spinetti, Francesco Castelli, Arnaldo Caruso
Summary: A case study is reported here of a patient co-infected with HIV/HBV/HCV who did not respond to DAA combination therapy. Sequencing analysis revealed a recombinant virus with a crossover point located inside the NS3 region, highlighting the potential role of HCV recombination in virus fitness and evolution.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Anna Carannante, Paola Vacca, Stefano Fontana, Ivano Dal Conte, Valeria Ghisetti, Marco Cusini, Grazia Prignano, Caterina Vocale, Anna Maria Barbui, Elena Stroppiana, Marina Busetti, Antonella Mencacci, Marina Rotondi, Maria Antonia De Francesco, Carmen Luciana Bonanno, Patrizia Innocenti, Maria Agnese Latino, Eleonora Riccobono, Federica Poletti, Ines Clotilde Casonato, Graziella Soldato, Luigina Ambrosio, Stefano Boros, Andrea Ciammaruconi, Florigio Lista, Paola Stefanelli
Summary: This study analyzed the trend of antimicrobial resistance in a 7-year isolate collection in Italy and found an increasing resistance to ceftriaxone monotherapy or ceftriaxone plus azithromycin. It also observed a rise in azithromycin and ciprofloxacin resistance. These findings are important for monitoring the spread of drug-resistant gonorrhea.
MICROBIAL DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Maria Antonia De Francesco, Anna Bertelli, Silvia Corbellini, Erika Scaltriti, Francesco Risso, Roberto Allegri, Giorgio Tiecco, Francesco Castelli, Arnaldo Caruso
Summary: Two E. coli strains responsible for neonatal and adult meningitis were identified and characterized for antibiotic susceptibility and genomic features. Traditional PCR failed to identify these isolates, but MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry confirmed them as E. coli strains. Genomic analysis revealed their sequence types and the presence of virulence factors, including ibe genes responsible for brain endothelial cell invasion.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Michela Padovani, Anna Bertelli, Silvia Corbellini, Giorgio Piccinelli, Francesca Gurrieri, Maria Antonia De Francesco
Summary: This study evaluated the activity of the antimicrobial agent Cefiderocol against a range of pathogens and analyzed the resistance mechanism in two resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. The results demonstrated good effectiveness of Cefiderocol against most pathogens, but with a higher resistance rate observed. Active surveillance is necessary to control the spread of these pathogens and prevent the emergence of resistance to new drugs.
Review
Biology
Anna Bertelli, Valentina Carta, Lucia Mangeri, Arnaldo Caruso, Maria Antonia De Francesco
Summary: Europe has experienced a significant spread of the varicella-zoster virus, with complications and severe forms of chickenpox limited after the introduction of an effective vaccine. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to this infection, both for themselves and their fetus. This review focuses on the danger of the varicella-zoster virus during pregnancy, discussing treatment and vaccination issues, and collecting European epidemiological data on this specific population.
Article
Virology
Maria Antonia De Francesco, Liana Signorini, Simone Piva, Simone Pellizzeri, Benedetta Fumarola, Silvia Corbellini, Giorgio Piccinelli, Francesca Simonetti, Valentina Carta, Lucia Mangeri, Michela Padovani, Daniela Vecchiati, Nicola Latronico, Francesco Castelli, Arnaldo Caruso
Summary: Patients with severe COVID-19 have a higher risk of acquiring bacterial and fungal superinfections, which are associated with a worse prognosis. A study of 1911 ICU patients found that 66.3% of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 had superinfections, compared to 30% of COVID-19-negative patients. Factors such as BMI, ICU stays, and mechanical ventilation were found to increase the risk of superinfection acquisition.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Maria Antonia De Francesco