Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arnon Chukamnerd, Kamonnut Singkhamanan, Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong, Prasit Palittapongarnpim, Yohei Doi, Rattanaruji Pomwised, Chanida Sakunrang, Kongpop Jeenkeawpiam, Mingkwan Yingkajorn, Sarunyou Chusri, Komwit Surachat
Summary: This study conducted whole-genome sequencing to understand the molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in Southern Thailand. The most prevalent sequence type (ST) was ST2 and almost all isolates carried the bla(OXA-23) gene. Various antimicrobial resistance genes, mobile genetic elements, and virulence genes were identified. These findings provide crucial information for the control and treatment of CRAB infections.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Virology
Qihang Tu, Mingfang Pu, Yahao Li, Yuer Wang, Maochen Li, Lihua Song, Mengzhe Li, Xiaoping An, Huahao Fan, Yigang Tong
Summary: This paper describes the different drug resistances and basic properties of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), and analyzes the interaction between phages and their hosts. It also focuses on A. baumannii phage therapies, discussing the chance and challenge of phage therapy. The aim of this paper is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of A. baumannii phages and theoretical support for their clinical application.
Article
Microbiology
Marina Tyumentseva, Yulia Mikhaylova, Anna Prelovskaya, Aleksandr Tyumentsev, Lyudmila Petrova, Valeria Fomina, Mikhail Zamyatin, Andrey Shelenkov, Vasiliy Akimkin
Summary: This study analyzed clinical multidrug-resistant A. baumannii isolates using whole-genome sequencing, revealing specific characteristics of isolates with different CRISPR/Cas systems and comparing antibiotic resistance and virulence gene acquisition patterns. The data presented will contribute to further investigations in the field of antimicrobial resistance and CRISPR/Cas studies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tingting Guo, Jie Yang, Xiaoli Sun, Yuhang Wang, Liying Yang, Guimei Kong, Hongmei Jiao, Guangyu Bao, Guocai Li
Summary: This study analyzed the genomic characteristics of the A. baumannii strain AB3 and found that it carries a complete type I-Fb CRISPR-Cas system, which provides immunity against invasive bacteriophages and plasmids. Additionally, the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the strain was found to be comparable to strains without the CRISPR-Cas system. This suggests that the CRISPR-Cas system may regulate endogenous genes to inhibit the expression of drug-resistance genes.
Article
Microbiology
Yue Gao, Henan Li, Hongbin Chen, Jiangang Zhang, Ruobing Wang, Zhiren Wang, Hui Wang
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive genomic analysis of 456 clinical strains of ST208 A. baumannii from a wide temporal and geographic range, with a focus on the horizontal transfer mechanisms of bla(OXA-23). The study described experimental evidence of the potential circular intermediate of Tn2009 and detected for the first time the tandem structure of five copies of bla(OXA-23) in Tn2009. The interbacterial transfer of genetic elements carrying resistance to last-line antibiotic carbapenems highlights the essential need to enhance epidemiologic surveillance.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jovana Kabic, Katarina Novovic, Dusan Kekic, Anika Trudic, Natasa Opavski, Ivica Dimkic, Branko Jovcic, Ina Gajic
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and resistance mechanisms of colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (ColRAB) isolates in Serbia, assess their genetic relatedness to other circulating A. baumannii isolates in the neighbouring European countries, and analyse the global genomic epidemiology of ColRAB isolates. The findings reveal the central role of the twocomponent regulating system, PmrAB, and increased expression of the pmrC gene in colistin resistance in A. baumannii. The study also highlights the global dissemination of several high-risk clonal lineages of ColRAB isolates.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Santiago Castillo-Ramirez
Summary: A recent study published in mBio sequenced the genomes of 313 carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates from over 100 hospitals in almost 50 countries, providing an updated view of the global distribution of major international clones and their carbapenemase genes. Future global genomic epidemiology studies can be enhanced by considering both human and non-human isolates and their antibiotic resistance profiles.
Article
Microbiology
Anna Schmitz, Dennis Hanke, Dorte Lueschow, Stefan Schwarz, Paul G. Higgins, Andrea T. Fessler
Summary: Acinetobacter baumannii is a common cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. In this study, 643 samples from turkeys were examined for the presence of A. baumannii. The isolates were characterized and tested for antimicrobial and biocide susceptibility. Whole-genome sequencing revealed diverse isolates that were still susceptible to many antimicrobial agents.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cunwei Liu, Lei Wang, Ping Wang, Di Xiao, Qinghua Zou
Summary: In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of tigecycline resistance in A. baumannii strains. Proteomic and genomic analyses revealed the upregulation of proteins associated with efflux pump, biofilm formation, iron acquisition, stress response, and metabolic ability in tigecycline-resistant strains. Genomic analysis also identified changes in the genome that explained the increased level of efflux pump. These findings enhance our understanding of tigecycline resistance and provide potential targets for the treatment of multiple drug-resistant A. baumannii.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xingchen Bian, Xiaofen Liu, Xuefei Zhang, Xin Li, Jing Zhang, Huajun Zheng, Sichao Song, Xiang Li, Meiqing Feng
Summary: Acinetobacter baumannii is a common nosocomial pathogen with high carbapenem resistance rates in Chinese hospitals. The predominant clone carrying bla(OXA-23) gene is CC208. Multi-drug resistant A. baumannii isolates exhibit various virulence factors related to bacterial motility and polysaccharide biosynthesis.
Article
Microbiology
Valeria Mateo-Estrada, Jose Luis Fernandez-Vazquez, Julia Moreno-Manjon, Ismael L. Hernandez-Gonzalez, Eduardo Rodriguez-Noriega, Rayo Morfin-Otero, Maria Dolores Alcantar-Curiel, Santiago Castillo-Ramirez
Summary: This study used whole-genome sequencing to uncover the transmission dynamics of extensive and multidrug-resistant A. baumannii in a tertiary hospital over a decade, showing that accessory genome variation can be a powerful tool for conducting genomic epidemiology.
Article
Microbiology
Samira M. Hamed, Amira F. A. Hussein, Mohamed H. Al-Agamy, Hesham H. Radwan, Mai M. Zafer
Summary: This study investigated the diversity and genetic configuration of genomic resistance islands (RIs) in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii (A.baumannii). The study revealed a wide range of multidrug-resistant and extensive drug-resistant phenotypes in the isolates, which belonged to high-risk global clones GC1, GC2, and GC9. Multiple resistance genes and resistance determinants were identified.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Bernardetta Segatore, Alessandra Piccirilli, Sabrina Cherubini, Luigi Principe, Giovanni Alloggia, Maria Lina Mezzatesta, Mario Salmeri, Stefano Di Bella, Roberta Migliavacca, Aurora Piazza, Elisa Meroni, Paolo Fazii, Daniela Visaggio, Paolo Visca, Venere Cortazzo, Giulia De Angelis, Arianna Pompilio, Mariagrazia Perilli
Summary: The in vitro activity of the sulbactam-durlobactam (SUL-DUR) combination was evaluated against carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAb) clinical strains collected from multiple regions in Italy. The combination showed effectiveness against most isolates, with only a few exhibiting resistance due to the presence of additional resistance genes and mutations. The isolates also showed the presence of multidrug efflux pump genes associated with multidrug resistance.
Article
Infectious Diseases
T. Kostyanev, B. B. Xavier, M. Garcia-Castillo, C. Lammens, J. Bravo-Ferrer Acosta, J. Rodriguez-Bano, R. Canton, Y. Glupczynski, H. Goossens
Summary: This study investigated the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from the EURECA clinical trial. The isolates mainly harbored bla(OXA-23) or blaOXA-72 genes, with the majority belonging to international clone II and showing high diversity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andrey Shelenkov, Yulia Mikhaylova, Lyudmila Petrova, Irina Gaidukova, Mikhail Zamyatin, Vasiliy Akimkin
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted bacterial antimicrobial resistance and population structures in healthcare facilities, requiring detailed epidemiological investigations for confirmation. A study in Moscow's COVID-19 ICU characterized multidrug-resistant A. baumannii isolates, revealing genomic similarity with previously identified clones in the same facility.
Article
Microbiology
L. Blasco, I Bleriot, M. Gonzalez de Aledo, L. Fernandez-Garcia, O. Pacios, H. Oliveira, M. Lopez, C. Ortiz-Cartagena, F. Fernandez-Cuenca, A. Pascual, L. Martinez-Martinez, J. Pachon, J. Azeredo, M. Tomas
Summary: The emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria has led to the need for alternatives to antibiotic therapy, and phage therapy has been identified as a potential solution. In this study, the adaptation process was used to develop a phage specifically targeting Acinetobacter baumannii. The adapted phage demonstrated an increased host range and expressed a depolymerase, which enhanced its antimicrobial activity. When combined with another phage, the phage cocktail showed strong antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against A. baumannii strains.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Olga Pacios, Laura Fernandez-Garcia, Ines Bleriot, Lucia Blasco, Anton Ambroa, Maria Lopez, Concha Ortiz-Cartagena, Felipe Fernandez Cuenca, Jesus Oteo-Iglesias, Alvaro Pascual, Luis Martinez-Martinez, Pilar Domingo-Calap, Maria Tomas
Summary: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a pathogen that worsens the prognosis of immunocompromised patients. Two lytic phages infecting clinical strains of K. pneumoniae (vB_KpnM-VAC13 and vB_KpnM-VAC66) were compared and annotated, with phenotypic characterization of vB_KpnM-VAC66. Genomic analysis showed similarities and differences between the two phages, with potential for therapeutic applications in addressing multidrug resistant pathogens.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ines Bleriot, Lucia Blasco, Olga Pacios, Laura Fernandez-Garcia, Anton Ambroa, Maria Lopez, Concha Ortiz-Cartagena, Felipe Fernandez Cuenca, Jesus Oteo-Iglesias, Alvaro Pascual, Luis Martinez-Martinez, Pilar Domingo-Calap, Thomas K. Wood, Maria Tomas
Summary: This study demonstrates the important role of the PemK/PemI TA system in phage inhibition. Overexpression of the PemK toxin leads to dormancy of bacteria, resulting in inhibition of phage infections.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Roberto Vazquez, Roberto Diez-Martinez, Pilar Domingo-Calap, Pedro Garcia, Diana Gutierrez, Maite Muniesa, Maria Ruiz-Ruigomez, Rafael Sanjuan, Maria Tomas, Maria Angeles Tormo-Mas, Pilar Garcia
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a major challenge for humanity, and phage therapy is being considered as an alternative to antibiotics. However, the development of antibiotics hindered the wide application of phage therapy in the West. Nevertheless, due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance, phage therapy is experiencing a revival, and some countries are adopting regulations to promote its short-term implementation in clinical practice. The Phage Therapy Work Group from FAGOMA in Spain has contacted the Spanish Drugs and Medical Devices Agency to advocate for the regulation of phage therapy in the country.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucia Blasco, Manuel Gonzalez de Aledo, Concha Ortiz-Cartagena, Ines Bleriot, Olga Pacios, Maria Lopez, Laura Fernandez-Garcia, Antonio Barrio-Pujante, Marta Hernandez-Garcia, Rafael Canton, Maria Tomas
Summary: Phage tail-like bacteriocins (PTLBs) are large proteomic structures that function in bacterial competition by making pores in the membrane of competitors. PTLBs identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are known as R-type and F-type pyocins, which have a narrow spectrum of action determined by the tail fiber and related to the lipopolysaccharide type of the target competitor strain.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ines Bleriot, Lucia Blasco, Olga Pacios, Laura Fernandez-Garcia, Maria Lopez, Concha Ortiz-Cartagena, Antonio Barrio-Pujante, Felipe Fernandez-Cuenca, Alvaro Pascual, Luis Martinez-Martinez, Jesus Oteo-Iglesias, Maria Tomas
Summary: In this study, the proteins isolated from 21 novel lytic phages of Klebsiella pneumoniae were analyzed to search for defense mechanisms against bacteria and to determine the infective capacity of the phages. Moreover, the defense mechanisms of clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae infected by phages were investigated through a proteomic study. The findings of this study provide insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in the phage-host bacterial interactions and highlight the importance of further research in this field.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lucia Blasco, Inmaculada Lopez-Hernandez, Miguel Rodriguez-Fernandez, Javier Perez-Florido, Carlos S. Casimiro-Soriguer, Sarah Djebara, Maya Merabishvili, Jean-Paul Pirnay, Jesus Rodriguez-Bano, Maria Tomas, Luis Eduardo Lopez Cortes
Summary: This article describes a case study of a patient with a multidrug-resistant prosthetic vascular graft infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was successfully treated with a combination of phages (PT07, 14/01, and PNM) and ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA). After phage therapy, a new infection with a wild-type strain of P. aeruginosa occurred, but this strain was susceptible to β-lactams and quinolones. Microbiology and whole genome sequencing techniques were used to analyze the clinical strains. The clinical isolates before and after phage therapy showed a clonal relationship with important genomic changes that may have contributed to resistance to this therapy. Phenotypic studies revealed a decrease in the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) to β-lactams and quinolones, as well as an increase in biofilm production and phage-resistant mutants in the clinical isolate of P. aeruginosa after phage therapy.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Virology
Laura Fernandez-Garcia, Thomas K. Wood
Summary: The overlap between phage-defense systems (PDs) and toxin/antitoxin systems (TAs) has become clear as new PDs are discovered, as both systems use similar means to reduce cellular metabolism. They both have members that deplete energetic compounds and nucleic acids, and inflict membrane damage. Additionally, both systems reduce host metabolism to limit phage propagation and interaction of multiple defense systems.
Article
Microbiology
Manuel Gonzalez de Aledo, Lucia Blasco, Maria Lopez, Concha Ortiz-Cartagena, Ines Bleriot, Olga Pacios, Marta Hernandez-Garcia, Rafael Canton, Maria Tomas
Summary: This research aims to study the nature, composition, and role of prophages found within a set of circulating strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with special attention to high-risk clones. Prophages have the ability to influence bacterial pathogenesis, making the basic research of prophages a topic of growing interest. The abundance of viral defense and regulatory proteins within prophage genomes detected in this study emphasizes the importance of characterizing the most frequent prophages in circulating clinical strains and in high-risk clones for potential phage therapy.
Article
Microbiology
Concha Ortiz-Cartagena, Daniel Pablo-Marcos, Laura Fernandez-Garcia, Lucia Blasco, Olga Pacios, Ines Bleriot, Maria Siller, Maria Lopez, Javier Fernandez, Belen Aracil, Pablo Arturo Fraile-Ribot, Sergio Garcia-Fernandez, Felipe Fernandez-Cuenca, Marta Hernandez-Garcia, Rafael Canton, Jorge Calvo-Montes, Maria Tomas
Summary: Carbapenems are crucial for combating multidrug-resistant pathogens. A new LAMP-CRISPR-Cas13a-based assay has been developed to detect OXA-48 and GES carbapenemases in clinical samples, offering rapid and accurate detection without the need for RNA extraction.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)