Article
Critical Care Medicine
Anthony J. Fischer, Sachinkumar B. Singh, Mason M. LaMarche, Lucas J. Maakestad, Zoe E. Kienenberger, Tahuanty A. Pena, David A. Stoltz, Dominique H. Limoli
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are both abundant in sputum cultures of cystic fibrosis patients. Contrary to common assumption, there is no rapid replacement of S. aureus by P. aeruginosa. Many CF patients have long-term coinfection with these organisms.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Aridgides, John Dessaint, Graham Atkins, James Carroll, Alix Ashare
Summary: Data on adverse events in research bronchoscopy with BAL in CF patients is lacking. We investigated safety of bronchoscopy in adult CF patients, finding that CF subjects had similar adverse event profiles to healthy controls, but with higher rates of fevers, particularly in those with lower FEV1 values. Our data suggest that research bronchoscopy with BAL is safe in CF subjects, especially if limited to those with an FEV1 > 65% predicted.
Review
Immunology
Lalitha Biswas, Friedrich Goetz
Summary: Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder characterized by recurrent lung infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The interactions between these pathogens play a significant role in their survival, antibiotic resistance, and disease progression. Understanding these interactions is crucial for the treatment and prevention of cystic fibrosis.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sylvie Letoffe, Yongzheng Wu, Sophie E. Darch, Christophe Beloin, Marvin Whiteley, Lhousseine Touqui, Jean-Marc Ghigo
Summary: This study demonstrates that hydrogen cyanide (HCN) released by Pseudomonas aeruginosa inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, particularly in low-oxygen environments. These findings are significant for understanding infectious diseases like cystic fibrosis in polymicrobial communities.
Article
Microbiology
Eryn E. Bernardy, Vishnu Raghuram, Joanna B. Goldberg
Summary: The interaction between Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients is key to understanding the severity of respiratory infections. The survival of S. aureus is significantly higher when coinfected with P. aeruginosa, suggesting that interactions between these two bacteria promote coexistence in the CF lung environment.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biology
Min Lu, Yongli Li, Mei X. Wu
Summary: Multidrug-resistant bacteria pose a significant threat and are depleting treatment options. This study explores the combination of blue-laser and thymol to eradicate these bacteria, successfully preventing systematic dissemination in mice. The strategy leverages the unique properties of bacteria to transform harmless thymol into a powerful sterilizer when activated by blue-laser excitation.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samuel L. Neff, Thomas H. Hampton, Charles Puerner, Liviu Cengher, Georgia Doing, Alexandra J. Lee, Katja Koeppen, Ambrose L. Cheung, Deborah A. Hogan, Robert A. Cramer, Bruce A. Stanton
Summary: Researchers have developed an application called CF-Seq, which allows users to filter studies and view differential gene expression analyses using a compendium of 128 studies and 1,322 samples.
Article
Microbiology
Laura J. Dunphy, Kassandra L. Grimes, Nishikant Wase, Glynis L. Kolling, Jason A. Papin
Summary: In a synthetic cystic fibrosis media, distinct species-specific metabolic signatures were revealed for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, indicating potential nutrient competition's impact on community dynamics. Both bacteria consumed similar nutrients, suggesting metabolic competition's role in coinfection dynamics. Furthermore, unique metabolites produced by each species may serve as species-specific biomarkers for cystic fibrosis lung infections.
Article
Immunology
Wusheng Deng, Yanmei Lei, Xiujia Tang, Dingbin Li, Jinhua Liang, Jing Luo, Liuyuan Liu, Wenshu Zhang, Liumei Ye, Jinliang Kong, Ke Wang, Zhaoyan Chen
Summary: This study investigated whether DNase I can inhibit the early formation of biofilms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa- or Staphylococcus aureus-induced empyema models. The results showed that DNase I significantly inhibited early biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting bacterial growth. Therefore, DNase I has therapeutic potential against empyema biofilms.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Marie K. Wieneke, Felix Dach, Claudia Neumann, Dennis Gorlich, Lena Kaese, Theo Thissen, Angelika Duebbers, Christina Kessler, Joerg Grosse-Onnebrink, Peter Kuester, Holger Schueltingkemper, Bianca Schwartbeck, Johannes Roth, Jerzy-Roch Nofer, Janina Treffon, Julia Posdorfer, Josefine Marie Boecken, Mariele Strake, Miriam Abdo, Sophia Westhues, Barbara C. Kahl
Summary: Through a 1-year observational prospective study with 14 CF patients with long-term S. aureus infection, we found that a highly diverse and dynamic S. aureus population was associated with P. aeruginosa coinfection and inflammation in CF patients.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kotaro Iwasaki, Yasuo Matsuzawa, Hiroki Wakabayashi, Moe Shioya, Sho Hayakawa, Ichiro Tatsuno
Summary: The relationship between the lower airway microbiota and respiratory illness in humans is receiving attention. This study characterized the lower airway microbiota in Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD), a subclass of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD). Analysis revealed that Pseudomonas and MAC tended to exist exclusively in the two patient groups.
Article
Microbiology
Samantha L. Durfey, Sudhakar Pipavath, Anna Li, Anh T. Vo, Anina Ratjen, Suzanne Carter, Sarah J. Morgan, Matthew C. Radey, Brenda Grogan, Stephen J. Salipante, Michael J. Welsh, David A. Stoltz, Christopher H. Goss, Edward F. McKone, Pradeep K. Singh
Summary: Studies show that chronic CF infections may persist despite improvements induced by CFTR modulators and aggressive antibiotic treatment. Combining CFTR modulators with intensive antibiotics may be most effective for patients with higher CFTR activity. Challenges remain in improving the health of people with CF.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Gennaro De Pascale, Flavio De Maio, Simone Carelli, Giulia De Angelis, Margherita Cacaci, Luca Montini, Giuseppe Bello, Salvatore Lucio Cutuli, Gabriele Pintaudi, Eloisa Sofia Tanzarella, Rikardo Xhemalaj, Domenico Luca Grieco, Mario Tumbarello, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Brunella Posteraro, Massimo Antonelli
Summary: Our study showed that COVID-19 patients with SA-VAP had a higher incidence of late-onset, methicillin-resistant, and bacteremic infections compared to non-COVID-19 patients. While no significant differences were observed in ICU mortality, clinical cure, and microbiological eradication between the two groups, SAPS II score and initial inappropriate antimicrobial therapy were independently associated with ICU mortality. Additionally, lung microbiota composition was significantly different between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients with SA-VAP, with certain bacteria being enriched in the COVID-19 group.
Article
Immunology
Nina Erdmann, Theresa Schilling, Julia Hentschel, Thomas Lehmann, Philipp von Bismarck, Tobias Ankermann, Franziska Duckstein, Michael Baier, Carlos Zagoya, Jochen G. Mainz
Summary: This study compared upper airway inflammation and pathogen colonization during stable phases and exacerbations in CF patients and healthy controls. The study found that CF patients had weaker inflammatory responses compared to healthy controls during both stable and exacerbation phases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aubin Souche, Francois Vandenesch, Anne Doleans-Jordheim, Karen Moreau
Summary: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a severe genetic disease causing impaired lung function and premature death. Chronic infections with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) are common in CF lungs. SA and PA are able to adapt to the host immune response through various strategies, including bypassing the airway epithelia, evading recognition, modulating host immune cell proliferation, and inhibiting the immune response. These mechanisms not only benefit the bacteria but also promote coinfections in CF lungs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Respiratory System
T. Spencer Poore, Jennifer L. Taylor-Cousar, Edith T. Zemanick
Summary: Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, resulting in dysfunction of the CFTR protein. Although cardiovascular disorders in individuals with CF are usually considered secondary to lung disease, CFTR has been found in vascular endothelium and smooth muscle, suggesting a direct impact on cardiovascular function. With improved CF treatments and increased life expectancy, the risk of vascular disease associated with CFTR dysfunction, chronic inflammation, nutritional health, and CF-related diabetes may increase.
JOURNAL OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
T. Spencer Poore, Maxene Meier, Elinor Towler, Stacey L. Martiniano, John T. Brinton, Emily M. DeBoer, Scott D. Sagel, Brandie D. Wagner, Edith T. Zemanick
Summary: Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) and frequent detection of fungi in airway samples tend to be older and more likely to have other bacterial infections. During follow-up, they are more likely to have chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections. Those with frequent fungi and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) have worse outcomes, indicating the potential contribution of fungi to CF pulmonary disease.
PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pierre-Hugues Stefanuto, Rosalba Romano, Christiaan A. Rees, Mavra Nasir, Louit Thakuria, Andre Simon, Anna K. Reed, Nandor Marczin, Jane E. Hill
Summary: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a major determinant of morbidity and mortality following lung transplantation, with delineating its basic mechanisms and molecular signatures remaining a fundamental challenge. This study found that the pulmonary volatile organic compound (VOC) spectrum relates to PGD and postoperative outcomes, providing a potential method for differentiating patients with different grades of PGD.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
David T. J. Broderick, David W. Waite, Robyn L. Marsh, Carlos A. Camargo, Paul Cardenas, Anne B. Chang, William O. C. Cookson, Leah Cuthbertson, Wenkui Dai, Mark L. Everard, Alain Gervaix, J. Kirk Harris, Kohei Hasegawa, Lucas R. Hoffman, Soo-Jong Hong, Laurence Josset, Matthew S. Kelly, Bong-Soo Kim, Yong Kong, Shuai C. Li, Jonathan M. Mansbach, Asuncion Mejias, George A. O'Toole, Laura Paalanen, Marcos Perez-Losada, Melinda M. Pettigrew, Maxime Pichon, Octavio Ramilo, Lasse Ruokolainen, Olga Sakwinska, Patrick C. Seed, Christopher J. van der Gast, Brandie D. Wagner, Hana Yi, Edith T. Zemanick, Yuejie Zheng, Naveen Pillarisetti, Michael W. Taylor
Summary: In this study, a meta-analysis of individual participant data from 20 studies involving 2624 children revealed that respiratory diseases were associated with decreased bacterial diversity in nasal and lower airway samples, as well as higher abundance of specific nasal taxa including Streptococcus and Haemophilus. Machine learning showed varying success rates in assigning samples to diagnostic groupings depending on the anatomical site, with positive predictive value ranging from 43 to 100 and sensitivity ranging from 8 to 99%.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
John D. Rice, Rachel L. Johnson, Elizabeth Juarez-Colunga, Edith T. Zemanick, Margaret Rosenfeld, Brandie D. Wagner
Summary: Cystic fibrosis and other chronic lung disease clinical trials often use time to first pulmonary exacerbation (PEx) or total PEx count as endpoints. However, these outcomes may not fully capture the patterns and covariates influencing multiple exacerbations. This study proposes a smoothed hazard model for gap times between PEx to better understand the risk of subsequent exacerbations. The analysis suggests that a change point may occur around 1.8 years after the end of a PEx. Models incorporating covariates reveal that certain mutations, gender, and previous PEx count significantly increase the risk of another PEx.
BIOMETRICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Editorial Material
Critical Care Medicine
Jordana E. Hoppe, Edith T. Zemanick, Stacey L. Martiniano
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Trenton J. Davis, Tarek R. Firzli, Emily A. Higgins Keppler, Matthew Richardson, Heather D. Bean
Summary: Missing data is a significant issue in metabolomics, and this study identifies the primary types of missingness and compares strategies for imputation using real-world data sets. The study introduces a within-replicate imputation approach and an R package for analysis. The results show the effectiveness of Gibbs sampler imputation and Random Forest for handling missing data types and suggest that within-replicate imputation improves peak quantification reproducibility for biomarker discovery.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrea Hahn, Aszia Burrell, Hollis Chaney, Iman Sami, Anastassios C. Koumbourlis, Robert J. Freishtat, Keith A. Crandall, Edith T. Zemanick
Summary: This retrospective observational study found that sub-therapeutic and broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure leads to a decrease in microbial diversity, but did not find a long-term association with better recovery of lung function.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Carrie L. Jenkins, Heather D. Bean
Summary: Staphylococci can grow in various environments, but their most common niche is the skin and mucous membranes of mammals and birds. Staphylococcus aureus causes severe infections in mammals, while Staphylococcus epidermidis can also cause deadly infections. Current diagnostic methods for staph infections rely on culture-based techniques, but obtaining viable bacterial samples for identification is a challenge. The use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for pathogen detection and identification, particularly through breath tests, is an area of active research. This review discusses the limitations of existing infection diagnostics, the advantages of VOC-based diagnostics, and the tools and applications of VOC biomarkers for diagnosing staph infections in humans and animals.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Gabriella Shumyatsky, Aszia Burrell, Hollis Chaney, Iman Sami, Anastassios C. Koumbourlis, Robert J. Freishtat, Keith A. Crandall, Edith T. Zemanick, Andrea Hahn
Summary: This study conducted a stratified functional analysis of bacterial genes at three distinct time points during the treatment of exacerbations in cystic fibrosis patients. The results showed that the metabolic potential of bacterial species provides more insight into changes across clinical states.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Emily A. Higgins A. Keppler, Marley C. Caballero Van Dyke, Heather L. Mead, Douglas F. Lake, D. Mitchell Magee, Bridget M. Barker, Heather D. Bean
Summary: This study investigates the feasibility of using breath-based diagnostics to detect coccidioidal infection by using a murine lung infection model. The researchers identified certain volatile organic compounds that were significantly correlated with cytokine abundance and were able to differentiate infected mice with different levels of cytokine production based on the infection strain.
Article
Respiratory System
J. Kirk Harris, Brandie D. Wagner, Charles E. Robertson, Mark J. Stevens, Conor Lingard, Drucy Borowitz, Daniel H. Leung, Sonya L. Heltshe, Bonnie W. Ramsey, Edith T. Zemanick
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the changes in oropharyngeal microbiota in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) early in life and its relationship with growth, antibiotic use, and other clinical variables. The results showed that age had a greater impact on the oropharyngeal microbiota of CF infants than clinical variables such as antibiotic use.
JOURNAL OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
D. R. Vandevanter, E. T. Zemanick, M. W. Konstan, C. L. Ren, K. Odem-Davis, I. Emerman, J. Young, N. Mayer-Hamblett
Summary: This study assessed the feasibility of enrolling CF patients using ETI in clinical trials of new modulators and inhaled antimicrobials (inhABX). The results showed that study designs and previous clinical trial experience influenced the willingness of participants. This has implications for the feasibility of future clinical trials.
JOURNAL OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS
(2023)
Review
Respiratory System
Kamyron D. Jordan, Edith T. Zemanick, Jennifer L. Taylor-Cousar, Jordana E. Hoppe
Summary: Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that causes multi-organ disease due to dysfunctional CFTR protein. Previous treatments focused on symptom relief, but the introduction of highly effective CFTR modulators has improved the health of 90% of CF patients. Studies have shown that the use of elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ETI) in children aged 6-11 leads to significant clinical improvements with a favorable safety profile.
EXPERT REVIEW OF RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Matthew G. Drake, Nirav G. Shah, May Lee, Anna Brady, Geoffrey R. Connors, Brendan J. Clark, Patricia A. Kritek, Jennifer W. McCallister, Kristin M. Burkart, Isabel Pedraza, Daniel Jamieson, Jennifer L. Ingram, Lauren Lynch, Samir S. Makani, Jennifer Siegel-Gasiewski, Eileen M. Larsson, Edith T. Zemanick, Deborah R. Liptzin, Ryan Good, Laura E. Crotty Alexander
Summary: The RBC program developed by the American Thoracic Society has successfully improved PCCM-bound trainees' knowledge, procedural skills, and confidence. Evaluations indicate that the course content and effectiveness have been well-received by participants, guiding ongoing refinement of the curriculum to meet the evolving educational needs of rising PCCM trainees.
