Article
Microbiology
Lin Gan, Hanyu Fu, Ziyan Tian, Jinghua Cui, Chao Yan, Guanhua Xue, Zheng Fan, Bing Du, Junxia Feng, Hanqing Zhao, Yanling Feng, Ziying Xu, Tongtong Fu, Xiaohu Cui, Rui Zhang, Shuheng Du, Shiyu Liu, Yao Zhou, Qun Zhang, Ling Cao, Jing Yuan
Summary: This study screened two phages, pKp11 and pKp383, that could effectively treat ST11 and ST383 multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. These phages showed a broad host range, high lytic activity, and high environmental adaptability. They were able to reduce bacterial loads, inflammation, and pathogenic injuries in a mouse infection model. These findings highlight the potential of phage therapy as a new approach for treating multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae infections.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yinshu Li, Dezhong Li, Yulei Liang, Junling Cui, Kun He, Dandan He, Jianhua Liu, Gongzheng Hu, Li Yuan
Summary: A multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae-ST859-K19 strain, LYS105A, was isolated from a diseased peacock in a Chinese zoo. It was found that multiple resistance genes, including bla(CTX-M-3), aac(6 ')-Ib-cr5, and qnrB91, were located on a novel composite transposon, Tn7131, of a mobile plasmid, indicating easy horizontal transfer of resistance genes in strain LYS105A.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Lilan Sun, Lang Sun, Xue Li, Xinxin Hu, Xiukun Wang, Tongying Nie, Youwen Zhang, Xuefu You
Summary: ML-7 hydrochloride (ML-7) has been identified as a potential novel tigecycline adjuvant to combat tigecycline-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. ML-7 exhibits synergistic bactericidal activities with tigecycline, inhibits efflux pump function, disrupts proton motive force, reduces intracellular ATP levels, and leads to accumulation of ROS. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis reveals the enrichment of ML-7-related genes in ABC transporters.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Suyeon Park, Hyunkeun Kim, Kwan Soo Ko
Summary: In hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, tigecycline resistance is associated with decreased virulence due to reduced production of capsular polysaccharides (CPS). Transcriptomic analyses revealed downregulation of ompK35 expression in tigecycline-resistant mutants, which overexpressed ompR and negatively regulated ompK35 expression. Tigecycline-resistant and ompR-overexpressed mutants exhibited reduced hypermucoviscosity and virulence, while deletion of ompR restored these phenotypes in tigecycline-resistant mutants.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Veronica Franca Diniz Rocha, Matheus Sales Barbosa, Helena Ferreira Leal, Giulyana Evelyn Oliveira Silva, Nabila Monalisa Mendes Dantas Sales, Adriano de Souza Santos Monteiro, Jailton Azevedo, Allan Roberto Xavier Malheiros, Ledilce Almeida Ataide, Beatriz Meurer Moreira, Mitermayer Galvao Reis, Fabianna Marcia Maranhao Bahia, Joice Neves Reis
Summary: This study investigated the genetic relationship, antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and resistance mechanisms to ColR-CRKP isolates from patients infected/colonized in a tertiary hospital in Salvador, Bahia/Brazil. The study found a prolonged outbreak of ColR-CRKP in the region, suggesting possible cross-transmission.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Wenjun Zhu, Yaping Tian, Lin Xiang, Linna Cao, Lirong He
Summary: One of the urgent issues in bacterial resistance is multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The lack of available therapeutic options for K. pneumoniae infections leads to negative effects on morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Carrimycin, a macrolide antibiotic, showed effective treatment of a patient with multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae infection. When other antibiotics failed to bring satisfactory results, carrimycin improved the patient's condition and led to hospital discharge. Therefore, carrimycin can be considered as a treatment option for multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae infections that do not respond to conventional anti-infective treatments.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yanxian Yang, Ruowen He, Yiping Wu, Mingyang Qin, Jieyun Chen, Yu Feng, Runping Zhao, Lei Xu, Xilong Guo, Guo-Bao Tian, Min Dai, Bin Yan, Li-Na Qin
Summary: Two strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying the tet(X4) gene were identified with high resistance to tigecycline and tetracycline. The plasmids carrying the tet(X4) gene can transfer between K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. ISCR2 and IS1R may play a role in the horizontal transfer of the tet(X4) gene. Effective measures should be taken to prevent the transmission of tet(X4)-producing K. pneumoniae in humans or animals.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Feiyang Zhang, Qin Li, Jiawei Bai, Manlin Ding, Xiangjin Yan, Guangxi Wang, Baoli Zhu, Yingshun Zhou
Summary: This study revealed that 8.39% of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were amikacin-heteroresistant, with potential association with increased expression of aminoglycoside resistance genes. The majority of heteroresistant phenotypes were unstable, with partial or full reversion of minimal inhibitory concentrations to the level of susceptibility.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Shiyi Shi, Mengxin Xu, Yining Zhao, Luozhu Feng, Qi Liu, Zhuocheng Yao, Yao Sun, Tieli Zhou, Jianzhong Ye
Summary: The study aimed to clarify the synergistic antibacterial activity of the combination of tigecycline and rifampicin, and investigated its impact on mutational resistance development and efficacy in an in vivo model using Galleria mellonella. Through a checkerboard test, it was found that the combination showed synergistic antibacterial activity against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The study establishes a paradigm for evaluating drug-resistant mutant suppression in antimicrobial combination therapy.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Shayla Hesse, Natalia Malachowa, Adeline R. Porter, Brett Freedman, Scott D. Kobayashi, Donald J. Gardner, Dana P. Scott, Sankar Adhya, Frank R. DeLeo
Summary: This study demonstrates that prompt treatment with two bacteriophages can effectively treat Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 bacteremia, with combination phage therapy showing the greatest increase in survival and the lowest frequency of phage resistance among bacteria. These findings support the utility of phage therapy as an approach for refractory ST258 infections and highlight the potential for enhancing treatment through strategic phage selection.
Article
Immunology
Xinqian Ma, Shining Fu, Yifan Wang, Lili Zhao, Wenyi Yu, Yukun He, Wentao Ni, Zhancheng Gao
Summary: This study used proteomics analysis to investigate the impact and mechanism of tigecycline and aminoglycoside combination therapy on carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). The study found that the proteomic responses to tigecycline and aminoglycosides were different in monotherapy, with tigecycline dominating the proteomic alterations in combination therapy. Adaptive responses to tigecycline were associated with the upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation and translation-related proteins, while tigecycline might perturb adaptive responses to aminoglycosides through inhibition of heat shock response.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yuan Tian, QiaoYu Zhang, LiRong Wen, JianSen Chen
Summary: The study revealed a high prevalence of heteroresistance to both polymyxin B (PMB) and tigecycline (TGC) among clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). The combination of PMB and TGC demonstrated early bactericidal activity against dual-heteroresistant K. pneumoniae strains. Upregulated expression of pmrA, phoP, and acrB genes could be related to heteroresistance mechanisms.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Ying Qu, Wenji Wang, Qinhong Lu, Jihai Qiu, Dongguo Wang, Liman Ma
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the genetic features of the tmexCD1-toprJ1 gene cassette in Klebsiella pneumoniae strain F4_plasmid pA. The study revealed that strain F4 was resistant to antibiotics, especially tigecycline, due to the presence of the oqxAB gene and tmexCD1-toprJ1 gene cassette. Plasmid transfer assays confirmed the presence of tmexCD1-toprJ1 and bla(DHA-1) genes in plasmids pA and pB. Furthermore, plasmid pA exhibited genetic intermixing with TnAs1, Tn5393, TnAs3, and In641 genes, while plasmid pB showed structural overlap with TnAs3 and In641 genes.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Xi Jin, Qiong Chen, Fang Shen, Yan Jiang, Xueqing Wu, Xiaoting Hua, Ying Fu, Yunsong Yu
Summary: This study reported a case of hv-CRKP-associated infection and revealed the in-host evolution of resistance to tigecycline and polymyxin during clinical therapy. The results suggest that the hypervirulent ST11-KL64 clone poses a potential threat to anti-infection treatment with rapid and diverse evolution of resistance.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karolina Stojowska-Swedrzynska, Adrianna Lupkowska, Dorota Kuczynska-Wisnik, Ewa Laskowska
Summary: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common pathogen responsible for various infections, and its multidrug resistance has been recognized as a significant public health threat. Heteroresistance, a frequent phenotype in pathogens, may be associated with an increased risk of recurrent infections and treatment failure in K. pneumoniae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Theodoros Tasopoulos, Georgia Vrioni, Olga Naka, Theodora Diamantatou, Panagiotis Zoidis, Athanasios Tsakris
Summary: This in vitro study investigated the adherence of Candida albicans to five long-term silicone-based soft denture lining materials using artificial saliva. The results showed that Molloplast B had significantly earlier adherence of C. albicans cells compared to the other materials, and the number of cells increased over time. The study suggests that long-term silicone denture liners accumulate a significant amount of C. albicans and their coverage increases progressively over time.
JOURNAL OF PROSTHODONTICS-IMPLANT ESTHETIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE DENTISTRY
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Maria Kantzanou, Maria A. Karalexi, Kalliopi Theodoridou, Evangelos Kostares, Georgia Kostare, Thalia Loka, Georgia Vrioni, Athanassios Tsakris
Summary: This review analyzed published data on the prevalence of Leishmania spp. infection among people with HIV and found a prevalence rate of 6%. The study also identified age, sex, and CD4 cell count as determinants that affect the prevalence rates. The research provides important insights into the burden of Leishmaniasis in the context of HIV.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Infectious Diseases
Athanasios Tsakris, James Hurley, Alan Johnson, Russell Lewis
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Helena C. Maltezou, Sophia Hatziantoniou, Kalliopi Theodoridou, Konstantinos Vasileiou, Cleo Anastassopoulou, Athanasios Tsakris
Summary: The aim of this study was to estimate the rates of anaphylaxis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents in Europe. The results showed that the rate of anaphylaxis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents is low, and continuous monitoring is needed to guide vaccination policies.
Article
Microbiology
Maria Siopi, Ilektra Peroukidou, Maria-Ioanna Beredaki, Bram Spruijtenburg, Theun de Groot, Jacques F. Meis, Georgia Vrioni, Athanasios Tsakris, Spyros Pournaras, Joseph Meletiadis
Summary: There is significant variation in minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for amphotericin B (AMB) and C. auris depending on the antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) method. The Sensititre YeastOne (SYO) method, which is widely used in routine laboratory testing, has limited data regarding its performance for the AFST of C. auris. In this study, SYO overestimated AMB resistance in C. auris isolates when colorimetric MICs were used.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Maria Mavrouli, Spyridon Mavroulis, Efthymios Lekkas, Athanassios Tsakris
Summary: Earthquakes have the potential to cause infectious diseases, and it is important to establish disease surveillance systems for prevention and immediate response.
Article
Microbiology
Amalia Papanikolopoulou, Panagiotis Gargalianos-Kakolyris, Athina Stoupis, Nikos Moussas, Anastasia Pangalis, Kalliopi Theodoridou, Genovefa Chronopoulou, Nikos Pantazis, Maria Kantzanou, Helena C. Maltezou, Athanasios Tsakris
Summary: This study investigated the association between the incidence of CRPA bacteremia, antibiotic consumption, and infection control measures in a hospital from 2013 to 2018. The findings showed a significant decrease in the consumption of certain antibiotics and a decrease in the incidence of CRPA in most clinics and departments. Increased isolation rates of MDR carrier patients were correlated with a decreased incidence of CRPA bacteremia in the adults ICU. Interestingly, an increase in the use of hand-hygiene solutions was associated with a decrease in antibiotic consumption. In conclusion, multimodal infection control interventions resulted in a significant reduction of CRPA bacteremia.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
John G. G. Routsias, Dionysia Marinou, Maria Mavrouli, Athanasios Tsakris, Vassiliki Pitiriga
Summary: This study evaluated the levels of human beta-defensins in patients with inflammation and found that hBD2 levels were significantly elevated in patients with an infection. Therefore, hBD2 has the potential to serve as a diagnostic biomarker for infection and may also reflect the efficacy of antibiotic treatment.
Article
Microbiology
Maria Katsiari, Angeliki Mavroidi, Nikolaos Kesesidis, Eleftheria Palla, Konstantina Zourla, Kyriakos Ntorlis, Konstantinos Konstantinidis, Maria Laskou, Konstantinos Strigklis, Anastasios Sakkalis, Charikleia Nikolaou, Evangelia D. Platsouka, Ioannis Karakasiliotis, Georgia Vrioni, Athanasios Tsakris
Summary: The first five ICU cases of C. auris in Greece were reported. All C. auris isolates showed resistance to fluconazole, and three of them exhibited resistance to amphotericin B. Environmental screening also indicated the dissemination of C. auris in the ICU. The study confirms the emergence of C. auris as a yeast pathogen in the region during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Maria Mavrouli, Spyridon Mavroulis, Efthymios Lekkas, Athanassios Tsakris
Summary: On 6 February 2023, two major earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, causing severe damage to structures and infrastructure in densely populated areas. The authors visited the affected area shortly after the earthquakes to assess the potential impact on public health. Field data revealed that risk factors for infectious diseases were present in the affected residential areas from the early stages of the emergency. Collapsed health facilities, cold winter conditions, destroyed infrastructure, overcrowded shelters, poor sanitation, and adverse socio-economic conditions, along with ongoing crises and disasters, could worsen the public health situation and delay the recovery process. Efficient disease surveillance and other prevention measures are crucial for early warning and management of infectious diseases in earthquake-affected areas.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Konstantina Gartzonika, Lida Politi, Angeliki Mavroidi, Andreas G. Tsantes, Nicholas Spanakis, Efthalia Priavali, Georgia Vrioni, Athanasios Tsakris
Summary: This study describes the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of a large-scale outbreak of NDM-1-producing Enterobacter cloacae complex in Greece, which is the largest clonal outbreak of its kind in Europe. The presence of NDM-1 gene was confirmed in the isolates and it was found to be associated with other resistance genes through genetic sequencing.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fotini Boufidou, Snezana Medic, Vicky Lampropoulou, Nikolaos Siafakas, Athanasios Tsakris, Cleo Anastassopoulou
Summary: We are reviewing the current state of knowledge on the virological and immunological correlates of long COVID, focusing on the possible association between SARS-CoV-2 reinfections and long COVID. The severity of reinfections depends on the severity of the initial episode and a combination of genetic factors and the pathogenicity of the variant. The risk of long COVID and complications increases with the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections, especially in the elderly.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Vassiliki C. Pitiriga, Myrto Papamentzelopoulou, Kanella E. Konstantinakou, Kalliopi Theodoridou, Irene V. Vasileiou, Athanasios Tsakris
Summary: The study compared the levels of T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 between cohorts of subjects with hybrid immunity, vaccinated naive subjects, and convalescent unvaccinated subjects. The findings suggest that natural cellular immunity, either alone or combined with vaccination, confers stronger and more durable protection compared to vaccine-induced cellular immunity.
Article
Microbiology
Joseph Papaparaskevas, Alexandra Procopiou, John Routsias, Georgia Vrioni, Athanasios Tsakris
Summary: Brucellosis remains prevalent in Greece, with the majority of isolates identified as B. melitensis. All eight pathogenicity-associated genes were present in almost all Brucella isolates, though the ure gene was absent in some B. melitensis isolates.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Angeliki Mavroidi, Konstantina Gartzonika, Nick Spanakis, Elisavet Froukala, Christos Kittas, Georgia Vrioni, Athanasios Tsakris
Summary: In this study, comparative genomics of two representative outbreak isolates of multidrug-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex were performed. It was found that these two isolates harbored multiple antibiotic resistance genes and various virulence factors, with differences in the genetic makeup of the bacterial cell surface and genomic islands. Additionally, diverse modes of acquisition and ongoing evolution of plasmids carrying beta-lactamase genes between the two strains were observed.
