Review
Environmental Sciences
Dong Ding, Bin Wang, Xiaoan Zhang, Junxi Zhang, Huanhuan Zhang, Xinxin Liu, Zhan Gao, Zengli Yu
Summary: Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to human health, and reducing the spread and burden of antibiotic resistance requires implementing control strategies.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Silvia Galafassi, Raffaella Sabatino, Maria Belen Sathicq, Ester M. Eckert, Diego Fontaneto, Giulia Dalla Fontana, Raffaella Mossotti, Gianluca Corno, Pietro Volta, Andrea Di Cesare
Summary: Microplastic particles (MPs) are prevalent pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, with a significant number reaching open waters and potentially contributing to the spread of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. Studies have shown that the bacterial community on MPs differs from planktonic bacteria in treated wastewater, with potentially pathogenic bacteria showing higher abundances in the latter. However, only the sul2 resistance gene was found to be more abundant in the plastisphere compared to the planktonic bacterial community.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sander van der Linden
Summary: The spread of misinformation poses a significant threat to public health and global pandemic management. This review provides an overview of the psychology of misinformation, covering susceptibility, spread, and intervention measures.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael J. Landis, Ignacio Quintero, Martha M. Munoz, Felipe Zapata, Michael J. Donoghue
Summary: Geographical features have an impact on species dispersal, extinction, and speciation. This study uses a Bayesian hierarchical modeling framework to transform regional features into evolutionary rates. The results show that distance between regions affects dispersal rates and speciation rates.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hong Bai, Liang-Ying He, Dai-Ling Wu, Fang-Zhou Gao, Min Zhang, Hai-Yan Zou, Mao-Sheng Yao, Guang-Guo Ying
Summary: The study indicated the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the air from animal farms, posing potential exposure risks. The airborne pathogens and resistance genes can spread through atmospheric dispersion modeling, potentially endangering the health of workers and surrounding residents.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wen-Xin Xue, Jing-Tao Sun, Johan Witters, Marilou Vandenhole, Wannes Dermauw, Sabina A. Bajda, Eba A. Simma, Nicky Wybouw, Ernesto Villacis-Perez, Thomas Van Leeuwen
Summary: The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae has evolved resistance to most classes of pesticides, but different populations show genetic differentiation and reproductive compatibility variation. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing sustainable crop management strategies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fabienne Benz, Alex R. Hall
Summary: Antibiotic resistance on plasmids is a pressing global health problem. The stability of plasmids varies among clinical plasmids and bacteria, and this variability can rapidly change the likelihood of different bacterium-plasmid combinations spreading.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Anna Markowicz
Summary: The expansion in applications of newly synthesised nanoparticles has led to their contamination in various environments, posing a potential hazard to the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Studies suggest that metallic nanoparticles may influence the emergence and evolution of resistance through mutations and horizontal transfer between bacterial species. Investigating the co-selection ability and pressure exerted on bacteria by metallic nanoparticles is crucial in understanding the complexity of antibiotic resistance dissemination. This review summarises current research on mutations and three main horizontal gene transfer modes facilitated by nanoparticles, highlighting knowledge gaps and the need for more environmentally relevant studies.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yusuke Hashimoto, Masato Suzuki, Sae Kobayashi, Yuki Hirahara, Jun Kurushima, Hidetada Hirakawa, Takahiro Nomura, Koichi Tanimoto, Haruyoshi Tomita
Summary: Linear plasmids with high self-transmissibility and the ability to acquire and maintain antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, particularly through transposition with IS1216E, have been identified in clinical multidrug-resistant enterococci. These plasmids play a crucial role in the spread and maintenance of AMR genes among enterococci.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Matias C. Salomao, Maristela P. Freire, Carolina S. Lazari, Ana P. Cury, Flavia Rossi, Aluisio A. C. Segurado, Silvia F. Costa, Anna S. Levin, Icaro Boszczowski
Summary: This study demonstrates that implementing early contact precautions and promptly identifying patients colonized with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) may lead to a significant reduction in cross-transmission in emergency departments (EDs).
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tanmoy Saha, Jayanta Mondal, Sachin Khiste, Hrvoje Lusic, Zhang-Wei Hu, Ruparoshni Jayabalan, Kevin J. Hodgetts, HaeLin Jang, Shiladitya Sengupta, Somin Eunice Lee, Younggeun Park, Luke P. Lee, Aaron Goldman
Summary: This research presents two innovative delivery strategies combining nanotechnology with cancer medicine to target different drug resistance mechanisms, bypassing resistance barriers through engineering strategies, and inducing cell killing through multimodal mechanisms including nanophotonic mechanisms.
Review
Ecology
Peter E. Jones, Jeroen S. Tummers, Shams M. Galib, Darragh J. Woodford, John B. Hume, Luiz G. M. Silva, Raul R. Braga, Carlos Garcia de Leaniz, Jean R. S. Vitule, Jelger E. Herder, Martyn C. Lucas
Summary: Aquatic invasive species pose a significant threat to freshwater biodiversity, leading to the increased use of exclusion barriers as a management strategy. However, the effectiveness of these barriers is context dependent and can impact native organisms. Global studies show that barriers have been successful in limiting the passage of AIS, but more research is needed to understand their long-term impacts on native species and to improve their effectiveness as a management tool.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lewis C. E. Mason, David R. Greig, Lauren A. Cowley, Sally R. Partridge, Elena Martinez, Grace A. Blackwell, Charlotte E. Chong, P. Malaka De Silva, Rebecca J. Bengtsson, Jenny L. Draper, Andrew N. Ginn, Indy Sandaradura, Eby M. Sim, Jonathan R. Iredell, Vitali Sintchenko, Danielle J. Ingle, Benjamin P. Howden, Sophie Lefevre, Elisabeth Njamkepo, Francois-Xavier Weill, Pieter-Jan Ceyssens, Claire Jenkins, Kate S. Baker
Summary: This study aimed to identify the genetic basis and international dissemination of drug-resistant S. sonnei. The results revealed an internationally connected outbreak in 2018, with the strain carrying a low-fitness cost resistance plasmid similar to those observed in travel-associated sublineages of S. flexneri. This highlights the persistent threat of horizontally transmitted antimicrobial resistance and emphasizes the importance of early and open international sharing of genomic surveillance data.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
Manhar Dhanak, Adriana McKinney, Siddhartha Verma, John Frankenfield
Summary: This study examines the effectiveness of plexiglass barriers in impeding the spread of aerosol-size airborne droplets through flow visualization and particle count measurements. The results show that barriers can reduce the forward momentum of droplet-laden airflow, but some aerosols can still spread around the barriers. The height of the barrier and the presence of an opening at the bottom can significantly affect its effectiveness. Additionally, ambient background airflows can dramatically alter aerosol dispersion.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Chaoyu Tong, Hong Hu, Gang Chen, Zhengyan Li, Aifeng Li, Jianye Zhang
Summary: Disinfectant resistance has become a severe threat to life and health safety and resource allocation, with efflux pumps and qac genes being common resistance mechanisms. Studying resistance factors can lead to breakthrough methods for dealing with reduced disinfectant effectiveness.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Heimo Lagler, Christine Bangert, Tamara Quint, Zoe Osterreicher, Alina Nussbaumer-Proll, Sabine Eberl, Maria Weber, Matthias Karer, Morten O. A. Sommer, Markus Zeitlinger
Summary: This study compared three commonly used methods for sampling Staphylococcus aureus on atopic dermatitis skin lesions and investigated the effectiveness of skin disinfection. The results showed significant differences in quantifying S. aureus load between different sampling methods, highlighting the importance of method selection. Skin disinfection led to a reduction in S. aureus load, but complete eradication was not achieved. This data suggests the need for further clinical studies on the effectiveness of topical anti-staphylococcal antibiotics and consideration of alternative disinfection regimes in atopic dermatitis patients.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sang-Woo Lee, Kim Tai Tran, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Charlotte Held Gotfredsen, Mads Hartvig Clausen, Blanca Lopez Mendez, Guillermo Montoya, Anders Bach, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: CRISPR/Cas9 activity can be controlled by a small-molecule ligand identified in this study, which inhibits Cas9:gRNA complex formation by directly binding to apo-Cas9. These molecules may serve as Cas9 modulators in various applications.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hitesh P. Gelli, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: Using cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) is an effective strategy to improve drug absorption. Among the 9 most promising CPPs studied, 4 of them significantly increased the paracellular permeability of the intestinal barrier without compromising cellular health. Furthermore, these 4 CPPs also affected the growth of the majority of tested commensal strains.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Max van't Hof, Omkar S. Mohite, Jonathan M. Monk, Tilmann Weber, Bernhard O. Palsson, Morten O. A. Sommer
Summary: The study developed an updated metabolic model, iHM1533, of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) with extended representation of secondary metabolites. The model was validated and improved, and it successfully predicted targets for optimizing secondary metabolite production. This model provides a better understanding of the metabolic capabilities of EcN and aids future metabolic engineering efforts.
BMC BIOINFORMATICS
(2022)
Article
Dermatology
Jonathan I. I. Silverberg, Lars E. E. French, Richard B. B. Warren, Bruce Strober, Kim Kjoller, Morten O. A. Sommer, Philippe Andres, Jakob Felding, Anne Weiss, Deniz Tutkunkardas, Tine Skak-Nielsen, Emma Guttman
Summary: This study examined the PDE4 enzymatic activity and anti-inflammatory effects of orismilast in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. The results showed that orismilast selectively and potently inhibited PDE4 and demonstrated broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory activity. These findings support the clinical development of oral orismilast as a novel treatment option for chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Richard B. B. Warren, Bruce Strober, Jonathan I. I. Silverberg, Emma Guttman, Philippe Andres, Jakob Felding, Deniz Tutkunkardas, Kim Kjoller, Morten O. A. Sommer, Lars E. E. French
Summary: This study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of orismilast for psoriasis treatment. The phase 2a trial found that orismilast significantly improved the condition of patients with psoriasis. The phase 1 trial tested new formulations to minimize gastrointestinal adverse reactions.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rebecca M. Lennen, Hyun Gyu Lim, Kristian Jensen, Elsayed T. Mohammed, Patrick V. Phaneuf, Myung Hyun Noh, Sailesh Malla, Rosa A. Borner, Ksenia Chekina, Emre Ozdemir, Ida Bonde, Anna Koza, Jerome Maury, Lasse E. Pedersen, Lars Y. Schoning, Nikolaus Sonnenschein, Bernhard O. Palsson, Alex T. Nielsen, Morten O. A. Sommer, Markus J. Herrgard, Adam M. Feist
Summary: This study used an automated platform to evolve Escherichia coli to grow optimally in the presence of 11 industrial chemicals and uncovered the tolerance mechanisms. The results showed that cells are tolerized through frequent mutation of membrane transporters, cell wall-associated proteins, transcription and translation machineries, and stress signaling proteins. Osmotic stress plays a significant role in tolerance, and pre-tolerized starting isolates can greatly enhance the subsequent production of chemicals.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip Wismer, Sarah Aparecida Soares, Kasper Alnor Einarson, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of virtual reality (VR) behaviometrics for assessing compliance and physical laboratory skills. By employing machine learning and classical statistics, significant behavioral predictors were identified from a logistic regression model, accurately classifying students and biopharma company employees as experts or novices in pH meter handling tasks with 77% accuracy. Specifically, the game score and number of interactions in VR tasks requiring practical skills were found to be performance predictors. The study offers biopharma companies and academic institutions the potential to assess performance using an automatic, reliable, and simple alternative to traditional in-person assessment methods. Integrating this assessment into training tools eliminates the need for tedious post-training evaluations.
Article
Immunology
Anne Weiss, Rodinde Hendrickx, Eva Stensgaard, Mads Jellingso, Morten O. A. Sommer
Summary: Immunocompromised patients, including dialysis and kidney transplant patients, have faced an increased risk of mortality due to COVID-19 despite available countermeasures. Additional protection measures are necessary for this vulnerable population.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Troels Holger Vaaben, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: Advanced microbial therapeutics, which engineer microbial cells to produce and deliver therapeutics in the human body, offer precise and self-regulating treatment options. This study characterized sensors in probiotic Escherichia coli that respond to physiological conditions and molecules found in the human body, demonstrating their functionality in vivo and their potential for advanced microbiome therapeutics.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Karl Alex Hedin, Vibeke Kruse, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: The human gastrointestinal tract plays a crucial role in human health and microorganisms engineered for therapeutic purposes have emerged as a novel approach to managing diseases. To prevent the spread of these microorganisms outside the treated individual, safe and robust biocontainment strategies are necessary.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Akanksha Rajput, Siddharth M. Chauhan, Omkar S. Mohite, Jason C. Hyun, Omid Ardalani, Leonie J. Jahn, Morten O. A. Sommer, Bernhard O. Palsson
Summary: Lactobacillaceae is an important microbial family in the food industry. Through a comprehensive pangenome analysis, we found the characteristics of core, accessory, and rare genomes, as well as a richness of biosynthetic gene clusters.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarunas Tumas, Trine Sundebo Meldgaard, Troels Holger Vaaben, Sara Suarez Hernandez, Annemette Tengstedt Rasmussen, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Sine Reker Hadrup, Morten O. A. Sommer
Summary: In this study, we optimized the delivery of biologically active IL-2 using engineered E. coli Nissle 1917. The engineered strain showed high biological activity of microbially produced IL-2 (mi-IL2) in vitro and demonstrated strong immune cell activation in a 3D tumor spheroid model. Furthermore, the engineered strain selectively colonized tumors in a murine CT26 tumor model and resulted in a modest reduction in tumor growth rate and increased levels of IL-2 in the tumor. This study provides a workflow for researchers interested in utilizing E. coli Nissle for microbial therapy against cancer.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Chrysoula Dimopoulou, Mareike Bongers, Mikael Pedersen, Martin Bahl, Morten O. A. Sommer, Martin F. Laursen, Tine R. Licht
Summary: We successfully transferred the ability to produce the health-beneficial microbial metabolite indole lactic acid (ILA) into Escherichia coli, and demonstrated its expression in vitro and in vivo. The expanding knowledge of gut microbiota's metabolic activities and their impact on health has led to growing interest in engineered probiotics. Tryptophan metabolites, especially ILA, are potential therapeutic agents with multiple beneficial effects. Our study engineered an E. coli strain that produces ILA and showed its robust production in a mouse model, offering efficient options for therapeutic interventions against gastrointestinal inflammation.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Valeria Iannone, Ambrin Farizah Babu, Johnson Lok, Carlos Gomez-Gallego, Giuseppe D'Auria, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Troels Holger Vaaben, Mareike Bongers, Santtu Mikkonen, Maija Vaittinen, Ida Tikkanen, Mikko Kettunen, Anton Klavus, Ratika Sehgal, Dorota Kaminska, Jussi Pihlajamaki, Kati Hanhineva, Hani El-Nezami, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer, Marjukka Kolehmainen
Summary: This study found that Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 expressing aldafermin, combined with dietary changes, can alleviate symptoms of MASLD, including reducing body weight, liver steatosis, plasma aspartate aminotransferase, and plasma cholesterol levels. RNA sequencing and metabolomics analysis revealed the downregulation of amino acid metabolism and related receptor signaling pathways, which may be implicated in the reduction of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2023)
