Article
Microbiology
Dalmasso Guillaume, Beyrouthy Racha, Brugiroux Sandrine, Ruppe Etienne, Guillouard Laurent, Bonnin Virginie, Saint-Sardos Pierre, Ghozlane Amine, Gaumet Vincent, Barnich Nicolas, Delmas Julien, Bonnet Richard
Summary: Without the use of antibiotics, the plasmid-mediated resistance gene mcr-1 enhances the colonization ability of Escherichia coli in the gut, but impairs its lethal effect. This improvement in gut fitness is associated with a downregulation of intestinal inflammatory markers and the preservation of intestinal microbiota composition.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kyung-Hyo Do, Jae-Won Byun, Wan-Kyu Lee
Summary: This study isolated pathogenic E. coli from pigs with diarrhea in Korea post-antibiotic ban, revealing an overall increasing trend in antibiotic resistance among the bacteria. Most isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, highlighting the need for effective control measures in piggeries to address enteric colibacillosis.
PAKISTAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tatjana Kirtikliene, Aiste Mierauskaite, Ilona Razmiene, Nomeda Kuisiene
Summary: This study characterized 256 beta-lactam-resistant, bacteremia-causing E. coli isolates collected from 12 healthcare institutions in Lithuania in 2014 and 2018. The results showed variability and diversity in resistance and virulence genes, providing phylogenetic classification, genetic profiling, and clustering data. These findings can improve clinical control of multidrug-resistant infections in healthcare institutions and contribute to the prevention of potential outbreaks.
Article
Microbiology
Muhammad Moman Khan, Rafal Kolenda, Peter Schierack, Joerg Weinreich, Stefan Roediger, Jakob Schierack, Michael Stubbe, Davaa Lkhagvasuren, Sebastian Guenther, Katharina Schaufler
Summary: The research found that E. coli in cormorants from the pristine West-Mongolian steppe maintained high diversity under minimal anthropogenic influences, with most belonging to phylogroup B1. Surprisingly, some strains with relatively few virulence-associated genes displayed high isolation frequency and adhesion rate.
Article
Microbiology
Fengwei Jiang, Yan Yang, Zhao Mao, Wentong Cai, Ganwu Li
Summary: The study showed that microaerobic conditions enhance the expression of virulence factors in a porcine Shiga toxin-producing ETEC strain and investigated the role of the aerobic respiration control regulator ArcA in pathogenicity and virulence regulation in STEC/ETEC. Deletion of arcA in a mouse model caused less severe pathology, and the arcA mutant displayed lower colonization levels and weight gain. ArcA positively regulated the expression of key virulence factors and competed with H-NS to counteract repression. Overall, ArcA plays a key role in the pathogenicity and virulence expression of porcine STEC/ETEC.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jocelyn Susan Bel, Neelam Khaper, Sreekumari Kurissery, Kam Tin Leung
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics of Escherichia coli from freshwater sediments, sewage, and O157 isolates. The findings showed that sediment E. coli were better biofilm formers, while sewage E. coli exhibited higher antibiotic resistance.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Yan Jia, Wei Mao, Bo Liu, Shuangyi Zhang, Jinshan Cao, Xiaojing Xu
Summary: This study investigated the drug resistance and virulence genes of Escherichia coli isolated from cases of calf diarrhea in cattle farms. The results showed that these isolates had high drug resistance rates and carried various virulence genes.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Isabela Sguilla Rotta, Wellington Francisco Rodrigues, Celso Tadeu Barbosa Dos Santos, Hilario Cuquetto Mantovani, Adriana Goncalves De Oliveira, Alessandra Barbosa Ferreira Machado, Aline Dias Paiva
Summary: This study evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility, presence of gene-encoding virulence factors and CRISPR systems, as well as lytic enzyme production ability among clinical E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates. The results showed that the isolates demonstrated multidrug resistance and contained a high prevalence of virulence genes and CRISPR loci. This study highlights the coexistence of virulence genes, CRISPR loci, and antibiotic resistance determinants in clinical enterococcal isolates.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Rodrigo H. S. Tanabe, Regiane C. B. Dias, Henrique Orsi, Daiany R. P. de Lira, Melissa A. Vieira, Luis F. dos Santos, Adriano M. Ferreira, Vera L. M. Rall, Alessandro L. Mondelli, Tania A. T. Gomes, Carlos H. Camargo, Rodrigo T. Hernandes
Summary: In this study, we characterized 112 uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) isolates from Botucatu, Brazil. We identified the presence of hybrid UPEC/DEC and observed antibiotic resistance. Our findings are important for understanding the pathogenicity and resistance profiles of these hybrid strains.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sadaf Tariq, Sobia Tabassum, Sadia Aslam, Mika Sillanpaa, Wahidah H. Al-Qahtani, Shafaqat Ali
Summary: This study found that drinking water from different sources is contaminated with potential DEC pathotypes, which may cause diarrheal diseases. PCR analysis showed that some samples carry virulence genes, with eaeA and sth genes being the most commonly detected.
Article
Microbiology
Christa Ewers, Lisa Goepel, Ellen Prenger-Berninghoff, Torsten Semmler, Katharina Kerner, Rolf Bauerfeind
Summary: This study reports the occurrence of mcr-2 genes in E. coli isolates from Germany. The discovery of a new mcr-2 allele and a novel plasmid backbone suggests the presence of previously undetected mcr-2 variants and mobilizable vehicles.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alexandra Tabaran, Virginie Soulageon, Flore Chirila, Oana Lucia Reget, Marian Mihaiu, Mihai Borzan, Sorin Daniel Dan
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is a global concern and this study found that bovines in Romania may serve as reservoirs for multi-drug resistant E. coli, highlighting the need for surveillance of antimicrobial usage in farm animals.
Article
Microbiology
Connor D. LaMontagne, Elizabeth C. Christenson, Anna T. Rogers, Megan E. Jacob, Jill R. Stewart
Summary: The study found a correlation between resistance bacteria and the presence of virulence genes in the environment. It also revealed a negative correlation between antibiotic resistance and the presence of virulence genes. Although no significant association was found between commercial hog operations and virulence, some sub-significant associations should be further studied.
Article
Immunology
Uriel A. Angulo-Zamudio, Javier Gutierrez-Jimenez, Luis Monroy-Higuera, Hector Flores-Villasenor, Nidia Leon-Sicairos, Jorge Velazquez-Roman, Jorge E. Vidal, Gabriela Tapia-Pastrana, Adrian Canizalez-Roman
Summary: Escherichia coli strains, including diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC), are significant causes of childhood diarrhea in developing countries. The study revealed that the presence of E. coli strains with SVG, regardless of being DEC or non-DEC, may be associated with diarrhea in Mexican children.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ana P. Vale, Lynae Shubin, Juliana Cummins, Finola C. Leonard, Gerald Barry
Summary: Marine mammals serve as sentinels for understanding the health of marine and coastal environments, highlighting the presence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. This study detected resistance genes and virulence factors in E. coli isolates from rescued seals, emphasizing the importance of marine mammals in monitoring AMR.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, Anne Kaman, Michael Erhart, Christiane Otto, Janine Devine, Constanze Loeffler, Klaus Hurrelmann, Monika Bullinger, Claus Barkmann, Nico A. Siegel, Anja M. Simon, Lothar H. Wieler, Robert Schlack, Heike Hoelling
Summary: The German COPSY study is a longitudinal study that examines the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents. The study found that during the pandemic, the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children and adolescents decreased, and there was an increase in emotional problems, peer-related mental health problems, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and psychosomatic complaints. Socially disadvantaged children and children of mentally burdened parents were more at risk of impaired mental health, while female gender and older age were associated with fewer mental health problems. A positive family climate and social support supported the mental health of children and adolescents during the pandemic.
EUROPEAN CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jonas Schmidt, Sandro Berghaus, Frithjof Blessing, Holger Herbeck, Josef Blessing, Peter Schierack, Stefan Rodiger, Dirk Roggenbuck, Folker Wenzel
Summary: Nanopore sequencing has great potential for clinical diagnostics, but further validation and certification are required.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Andre Hajek, Freia De Bock, Christina Merkel, Sarah Eitze, Cornelia Betsch, Michael Bosnjak, Lothar H. Wieler, Hans-Helmut Koenig
Summary: This study aimed to shed light on attitudes towards influenza vaccination in Germany in 2021/2022 based on the COSMO survey. The results showed that about one-third of respondents and healthcare workers plan to get a flu shot this year. Among the at-risk group of people aged 60 and older, more than half plan to get vaccinated. Correlates, such as gender, were identified, with women having a lower likelihood of planning to get a flu shot. The study concludes that physicians should inform women, especially during the pandemic, about the advantages of influenza vaccination and communicate the proven protective effect convincingly.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Romano Weiss, Sanaz Karimijafarbigloo, Dirk Roggenbuck, Stefan Roediger
Summary: Neural networks, also known as artificial neural networks, are crucial tools in deep-learning applications, and their popularity has soared since the early 2000s. This review focuses on the use of deep learning in biomedical data analysis, particularly in the analysis of biomarkers in bioimage data. The article also provides quantitative insights into the usage of network types in different scientific fields based on a data analysis of neural network publications.
Article
Microbiology
Charlotte Huber, Silver A. Wolf, Wilma Ziebuhr, Mark A. Holmes, Julia Assmann, Antina Luebke-Becker, Andrea Thuermer, Torsten Semmler, Julian Brombach, Astrid Bethe, Markus Bischoff, Lothar H. Wieler, Lennard Epping, Birgit Walther
Summary: Previous research found limited differences between MSSA and MRSA isolated from pig farming environments, mainly related to the absence of SCCmec and some single nucleotide polymorphisms. LA-MRSA were shown to discard replicative SCCmec elements through homologous recombination to save energy from an evolutionary perspective. MRSA exhibited differential global transcriptomic responses when exposed to specific pig-farm associated conditions.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Steffi Lopens, Ewa Wunsch, Malgorzata Milkiewicz, Nadja Roeber, Grit Zarske, Abdullah Nasser, Karsten Conrad, Martin Laass, Stefan Roediger, Marcin Krawczyk, Dirk Roggenbuck, Piotr Milkiewicz
Summary: In this study, a new third-generation ELISA for the detection of PR3-ANCA was evaluated and found to be a diagnostic and prognostic marker for PSC.
Article
Biology
Sumeet K. Tiwari, Boas C. L. van der Putten, Thilo M. Fuchs, Trung N. Vinh, Martin Bootsma, Rik Oldenkamp, Roberto La Ragione, Sebastien Matamoros, Ngo T. Hoa, Christian Berens, Joy Leng, Julio Alvarez, Marta Ferrandis-Vila, Jenny M. Ritchie, Angelika Fruth, Stefan Schwarz, Lucas Dominguez, Maria Ugarte-Ruiz, Astrid Bethe, Charlotte Huber, Vanessa Johanns, Ivonne Stamm, Lothar H. Wieler, Christa Ewers, Amanda Fivian-Hughes, Herbert Schmidt, Christian Menge, Torsten Semmler, Constance Schultsz
Summary: This study analyzes the genetic determinants of host specificity in E. coli and identifies specific genes associated with different hosts. The nan-9 gene cluster shows a strong association with the human host, while previously known sialic acid regulon genes show no significant association with any host.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Simone Scheithauer, Alexander Dilthey, Anna Bludau, Sandra Ciesek, Victor Corman, Tjibbe Donker, Tim Eckmanns, Richard Egelkamp, Hajo Grundmann, Georg Haecker, Martin Kaase, Berit Lange, Alexander Mellmann, Martin Mielke, Mathias Pletz, Bernd Salzberger, Andrea Thuermer, Andreas Widmer, Lothar H. Wieler, Thorsten Wolff, Soeren Gatermann, Torsten Semmler
Summary: The deficit of genomic pathogen surveillance infrastructure in Germany has been revealed during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Establishing an efficient and adaptable genomic pathogen surveillance network is urgently needed to prepare for future pandemics. This paper proposes measures based on global and country-specific best practices to achieve integrated genomic pathogen surveillance, which includes linking epidemiological data with pathogen genomic data, sharing and coordinating resources, making surveillance data available to decision-makers, public health service, and the scientific community, and engaging all stakeholders.
BUNDESGESUNDHEITSBLATT-GESUNDHEITSFORSCHUNG-GESUNDHEITSSCHUTZ
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Christopher Irrgang, Tim Eckmanns, Max von Kleist, Esther-Maria Antao, Katharina Ladewig, Lothar Wieler, Nils Koerber
Summary: Societal health is facing new challenges due to climate change, demographic ageing, and globalization. The One Health approach aims to understand health holistically by linking human, animal, and environmental sectors. Artificial intelligence techniques offer opportunities for cross-sectoral assessment of health threats. This article discusses the applications and challenges of AI techniques in the context of One Health, using antimicrobial resistance as an example.
BUNDESGESUNDHEITSBLATT-GESUNDHEITSFORSCHUNG-GESUNDHEITSSCHUTZ
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Bernd Salzberger, Alexander Mellmann, Anna Bludau, Sandra Ciesek, Victor Corman, Alexander Dilthey, Tjibbe Donker, Tim Eckmanns, Richard Egelkamp, Soeren G. Gatermann, Hajo Grundmann, Georg Haecker, Martin Kaase, Berit Lange, Martin Mielke, Mathias W. Pletz, Torsten Semmler, Andrea Thuermer, Lothar H. Wieler, Thorsten Wolff, Andreas F. Widmer, Simone Scheithauer
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of effective infection surveillance and infrastructure. Germany's genomic pathogen sequencing infrastructure was inadequate due to a lack of equipment, resources, data management, and coordination. The authors propose the establishment of comprehensive genomic pathogen surveillance in Germany, including sequencing, data collection, data linkage, and target pathogens, to better address future epidemics and pandemics and learn from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Carmen Koschollek, Katja Kajikhina, Charbel El Bcheraoui, Lothar H. Wieler, Niels Michalski, Claudia Hovener
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among migrants and ethnic minorities in Germany, and discuss potential explanations for these associations. The results showed that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is determined by socio-economic factors rather than migrant status.
Article
Microbiology
Ruth Offergeld, Karina Preussel, Thomas Zeiler, Konstanze Aurich, Barbara I. Baumann-Baretti, Sandra Ciesek, Victor M. Corman, Viktoria Dienst, Christian Drosten, Siegfried Goerg, Andreas Greinacher, Marica Grossegesse, Sebastian Haller, Hans-Gert Heuft, Natalie Hofmann, Peter A. Horn, Claudia Houareau, Ilay Guelec, Carlos Luis Jimenez Klingberg, David Juhl, Monika Lindemann, Silke Martin, Hannelore K. Neuhauser, Andreas Nitsche, Julia Ohme, Sven Peine, Ulrich J. Sachs, Lars Schaade, Richard Schaefer, Heinrich Scheiblauer, Martin Schlaud, Michael Schmidt, Markus Umhau, Tanja Vollmer, Franz F. Wagner, Lothar H. Wieler, Hendrik Wilking, Malte Ziemann, Marlow Zimmermann, Matthias an der Heiden
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance is crucial for infection control measures and understanding underreporting. A study in Germany analyzed blood donor samples collected from April 2020 to April 2021, September 2021, and April/May 2022. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 increased over time, reaching 100% in April/May 2022. Neutralizing capacity was also observed in the majority of positive specimens. The study revealed low levels of underreporting, indicating an effective testing and notification system in Germany.
Article
Medical Informatics
Anatol-Fiete Naeher, Carina N. Vorisek, Sophie A. Klopfenstein, Moritz Lehne, Sylvia Thun, Shada Alsalamah, Sameer Pujari, Dominik Heider, Wolfgang Ahrens, Iris Pigeot, Georg Marckmann, Mirjam A. Jenny, Bernhard Y. Renard, Max von Kleist, Lothar H. Wieler, Felix Balzer, Linus Grabenhenrich
Summary: Substantial opportunities for global health intelligence and research can be achieved through the combined and optimised use of secondary data within data ecosystems. This includes data from emerging sources such as the internet, wearables, mobile phone apps, electronic health records, and genome sequencing. Guidance on available sources and approaches for processing secondary data, as well as criteria for assessing reusability, can support policy decision making and improve early detection and prevention of emerging health threats.
LANCET DIGITAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Benjamin F. Maier, Annika H. Rose, Angelique Burdinski, Pascal Klamser, Hannelore Neuhauser, Ole Wichmann, Lars Schaade, Lothar H. Wieler, Dirk Brockmann
Summary: After the winter of 2021/2022, a considerable number of people in Germany have been infected with or vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 variant. However, due to under-reporting and unknown overlap between the vaccinated and recovered populations, the exact extent is difficult to estimate. This study provides estimates of the share of immunologically naive individuals in each age group for the German population by integrating infectious-disease modeling and vaccine uptake data. The study shows that a significant proportion of the population in Germany remains immunologically naive, highlighting the impact of the Omicron waves.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julika Loss, Juliane Wurm, Gianni Varnaccia, Anja Schienkiewitz, Helena Iwanowski, Anne-Kathrin Mareike Loer, Jennifer Allen, Barbara Wess, Angelika Schaffrath Rosario, Stefan Damerow, Tim Kuttig, Hanna Perlitz, Anselm Hornbacher, Bianca Finkel, Carolin Krause, Jan Wormsbaecher, Anna Sandoni, Ulrike Kubisch, Kiara Eggers, Andreas Nitsche, Aleksandar Radonic, Kathrin Trappe, Oliver Drechsel, Kathleen Klaper, Andrea Franke, Antje Huether, Udo Buchholz, Walter Haas, Lothar H. Wieler, Susanne Jordan
Summary: In daycare centres, close contact between children and employees increases the risk of infection transmission. This study aimed to investigate the role of daycare centres in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the spread of the virus to associated households. The results showed that the secondary attack rate varied among daycare groups, and the household secondary attack rate was high. Additionally, children in daycare centres were less likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 compared to employees.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2022)
