Article
Microbiology
Jan Tkadlec, Anh Vu Le, Marie Brajerova, Anna Soltesova, Jozef Marcisin, Pavel Drevinek, Marcela Krutova
Summary: The epidemiology of MRSA is characterized by the rise and fall of epidemic clones. This study aimed to gain data on the current epidemiology of MRSA in Slovakia, and it identified the presence of epidemic HA-MRSA clones and the emergence of the global epidemic USA300 CA-MRSA clone. The extensive spread of the USA300 clone in Slovakia is a significant finding.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Sofiya Tsimbalyuk, Aleksander Shornikov, Parul Srivastava, Van Thi Bich Le, Imani Warren, Yogesh B. B. Khandokar, Misty L. L. Kuhn, Jade K. K. Forwood
Summary: Polyamines play diverse roles in numerous pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms, affecting the transcription and translation of key genes and proteins. The bacterial SpeG enzyme exhibits a unique structure and function compared to other SSATs, and its role in different bacterial pathogens varies. This study provides new insight into the structure and function of the SpeG enzyme, shedding light on its molecular role in pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Koh Shinohara, Yuki Uehara, Katsuji Teruya, Takashi Sasaki, Tadashi Baba, Hidemasa Nakaminami, Pegah Kananizadeh, Yuh Morimoto, Yoshimi Kikuchi, Shinichi Oka
Summary: Although MRSA clone USA300 infection is rare in Japan, a uniquely evolved clone psi USA300 has been found. An outbreak of a distinct USA300 clone was reported in an HIV/AIDS referral hospital in Tokyo. This study investigated the origin and diversity of USA300-related clones causing regional outbreaks among PLWHIV in Tokyo. Whole-genome sequencing of MRSA isolates collected from PLWHIV in Tokyo revealed that 82.1% were identified as USA300, with 95.6% of them being psi USA300. One clade (Cluster A) was found to have acquired 29 lineage-specific mutations in a stepwise manner. The psi USA300 clone spread among PLWHIVs in Tokyo in the early 2010s, with stepwise acquisition of lineage-specific nonsynonymous mutations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Parya Shokrollahi, Alka Hasani, Mohammad Aghazadeh, Mohammad Yousef Memar, Akbar Hasani, Maryam Zaree, Mohammad Ahangarzadeh Rezaee, Javid Sadeghi
Summary: This article introduces the clone USA3000 of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), and discusses the structure, distribution, mechanism of action, and pathogenetic features of the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) and copper and mercury resistance genes (COMER) in this clone. The study reveals the significant roles of ACME and COMER in enhancing biofilm capacity and persistent infections, and identifies the emergence of two independent clones with ACME and COMER genes that spread to other regions.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Meiji Soe Aung, Noriko Urushibara, Mitsuyo Kawaguchiya, Nobuhide Ohashi, Mina Hirose, Yuuki Kimura, Kenji Kudo, Masahiko Ito, Nobumichi Kobayashi
Summary: This study collected a total of 279 MRSA isolates from patients with bloodstream infection in northern Japan. The major lineages identified were CC5-MRSA-IIa and CC1-MRSA-IVa, with a lower prevalence of CC8-MRSA-IVa. Compared to previous studies, there was an increased proportion of CC1-MRSA-IVa and the emergence of a novel variant of the USA300 clone.
MICROBIAL DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Emiliano Cohen, Or Kriger, Sharon Amit, Maya Davidovich, Galia Rahav, Ohad Gal-Mor
Summary: Horizontal acquisition of mobile genetic elements is a powerful evolutionary driving force that can profoundly affect the epidemiology of pathogens and their interactions with the environment and host.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aisling M. Towell, Cecile Feuillie, Pauline Vitry, Thaina M. Costa, Marion Mathelie-Guinlet, Sanja Kezic, Orla M. Fleury, Maeve A. McAleer, Yves F. Dufrene, Alan D. Irvine, Joan A. Geoghegan
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus interacts with the host protein corneodesmosin on atopic dermatitis corneocytes, taking advantage of the aberrant display of corneodesmosin caused by low natural moisturizing factor levels. The bacterial proteins FnBPB and ClfB bind to the N-terminal region of corneodesmosin, facilitating strong adherence of S. aureus to atopic dermatitis corneocytes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Allison N. Dammann, Anna B. Chamby, Francisco J. Gonzalez, Molly E. Sharp, Karina Flores, Ifrah Shahi, Sophia Dongas, Thomas A. Hooven, Adam J. Ratner
Summary: This study found that specific capsule types may provide an advantage in GBS vaginal colonization, but the success of certain GBS lineages may involve both capsule and non-capsule genetic elements.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Perri Klass, Adam J. Ratner
Summary: The article discusses Peter Ludvig Panum's investigation of a measles epidemic in the Faroe Islands in 1846, highlighting the unique geography and isolated population that facilitated the analysis of disease spread. It also mentions the potential lessons for studying Covid-19 in the Faroes today.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Yi-Pin Lin, Danielle M. Tufts, Matthew Combs, Alan P. Dupuis, Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz, Andrew D. Hirsbrunner, Alexander J. Diaz, Jessica L. Stout, Anna M. Blom, Klemen Strle, April D. Davis, Laura D. Kramer, Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis, Maria A. Diuk-Wasser
Summary: Understanding the factors influencing pathogen emergence and spillover risk is important for predicting disease outbreaks. This study investigated the adaptation of the Lyme disease pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi, to different hosts by infecting American robins and white-footed mice with strains of different genotypes. The results showed that strain-dependent variation in pathogen burden and persistence in hosts was associated with early survival and transmission to larvae. This suggests the role of directional selective pressure and multiple-niche polymorphism in maintaining pathogen diversity. These findings contribute to our understanding of host adaptation in microparasites.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thaina M. da Costa, Albertus Viljoen, Aisling M. Towell, Yves F. Dufrene, Joan A. Geoghegan
Summary: This study identifies a novel loricrin-binding protein, FnBPB, in Staphylococcus aureus and demonstrates through single-molecule force spectroscopy that FnBPB strengthens the adhesion of S. aureus to human corneocytes through its strong binding to loricrin.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Filippo Prencipe, Aishah Alsibaee, Zainab Khaddem, Padraig Norton, Aisling M. Towell, Afnan F. M. Ali, Gerard Reid, Orla M. Fleury, Timothy J. Foster, Joan A. Geoghegan, Isabel Rozas, Marian P. Brennan
Summary: Colonization of S. aureus can lead to systemic infections, which are difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. We have identified a small molecule inhibitor of the S. aureus clumping factors that has potential as a colonization inhibitor.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Matthew Combs, Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz, Alan P. Dupuis, April D. Davis, Patricia Lederman, Tristan A. Nowak, Jessica L. Stout, Klemen Strle, Volker Fingerle, Gabriele Margos, Alexander T. Ciota, Maria A. Diuk-Wasser, Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis, Yi-Pin Lin
Summary: The study reveals a correlation between different host-adapted phenotypes of the Lyme disease-causing agent B. burgdorferi and polymorphic loci related to evasion of host immune responses. Analysis of the genomes and complement evasion genes of 20 strains identified ospC loci as being correlated with host-specific complement evasion phenotypes. This study provides important insights into the immunological and genomic determinants of host association, laying the foundation for further research in this field.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Marie E. Wang, Adam J. Ratner
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felicia Kuperwaser, Gal Avital, Michelle J. Vaz, Kristen N. Noble, Allison N. Dammann, Tara M. Randis, David M. Aronoff, Adam J. Ratner, Itai Yanai
Summary: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a pathobiont that ascends to the placenta and causes adverse pregnancy outcomes by producing the toxin beta-hemolysin/cytolysin (beta-h/c). This study shows that GBS modulates the state of innate immune cells by subverting host inflammation through beta-h/c, leading to worse outcomes.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Sarah Geoghegan, Francia Acosta, Laura C. Stephens, Hanah Gillan, Sandra Valera, Richard J. Drew, Maeve Eogan, Adam J. Ratner, Andrew P. Steenhoff, Karina M. Butler, Kristen A. Feemster
Summary: This study investigated the attitudes of maternity care providers towards the introduction of a GBS vaccine in three countries, showing variability in provider attitudes influenced by geographic and provider type. There is an opportunity to improve awareness and recommendation for GBS vaccine through targeted educational efforts with antenatal providers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz, Kalvis Brangulis, Alan P. Dupuis, Thomas M. Hart, Maxime Zamba -Campero, Tristan A. Nowak, Jessica L. Stout, Inara Akopjana, Andris Kazaks, Janis Bogans, Alexander T. Ciota, Peter Kraiczy, Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis, Yi-Pin Lin
Summary: Modern infectious disease outbreaks often involve changes in host tropism. The Lyme disease-causing bacterium Bb is an ideal model to investigate the molecular mechanisms of host tropism. Our research shows that minor sequence variation in the bacterial outer surface protein CspZ may confer dramatic differences in host-specific infectivity. We also identified the evolutionary mechanisms driving host tropism emergence.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Telmo O. Paiva, Albertus Viljoen, Thaina M. da Costa, Joan A. Geoghegan, Yves F. Dufrene
Summary: Attachment of Staphylococcus aureus to human skin corneocyte cells is mediated by bacterial cell-surface protein adhesins, including fibronectin-binding protein B (FnBPB). Using single-molecule experiments, it is demonstrated that FnBPB binds to corneodesmosin (CDSN) on atopic dermatitis patient corneocytes through a sophisticated two-site mechanism.
ACS NANOSCIENCE AU
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Michal Paret, Rebecca Trillo, Jennifer Lighter, Ilan Youngster, Adam J. Ratner, Rebecca Pellett Madan
Summary: Large outbreaks of measles occurred in Israel and New York City during 2018-2019, mainly due to travel of unimmunized children between the two communities. The majority of measles cases occurred in eligible but unvaccinated children. Moreover, over 25% of children in both measles-positive and -negative groups remained unimmunized for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine one year after the outbreak.
JOURNAL OF THE PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ifrah Shahi, Cristina N. Llaneras, Sofya S. Perelman, Victor J. Torres, Adam J. Ratner
Summary: This study conducted a CRISPR-Cas9 forward genetic screen to identify host genes involved in beta hc pore formation and cell death, but no clear candidate genes were found. The results suggest that beta hc may not require a single nonessential host factor for cell death.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Kathleen Chiotos, Molly Hayes, David W. Kimberlin, Sarah B. Jones, Scott H. James, Swetha G. Pinninti, April Yarbrough, Mark J. Abzug, Christine E. MacBrayne, Vijaya L. Soma, Daniel E. Dulek, Surabhi B. Vora, Alpana Waghmare, Joshua Wolf, Rosemary Olivero, Steven Grapentine, Rachel L. Wattier, Laura Bio, Shane J. Cross, Nicholas O. Dillman, Kevin J. Downes, Carlos R. Oliveira, Kathryn Timberlake, Jennifer Young, Rachel C. Orscheln, Pranita D. Tamma, Hayden T. Schwenk, Philip Zachariah, Margaret L. Aldrich, David L. Goldman, Helen E. Groves, Nipunie S. Rajapakse, Gabriella S. Lamb, Alison C. Tribble, Adam L. Hersh, Emily A. Thorell, Mark R. Denison, Adam J. Ratner, Jason G. Newland, Mari M. Nakamura
Summary: Although COVID-19 is usually mild in children, some may develop severe or critical illness. Supportive care is typically enough for most cases, but for severe cases, remdesivir is suggested, with a duration of 5 days. It is not recommended to use hydroxychloroquine or other protease inhibitors for COVID-19 in children.
JOURNAL OF THE PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES SOCIETY
(2021)