Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ulri N. Lee, Xiaojing Su, Damielle L. Hieber, Wan-Chen Tu, Anika M. McManamen, Meg G. Takezawa, Grant W. Hassan, Tung Ching Chan, Karen N. Adams, Ellen R. Wald, Gregory P. DeMuri, Erwin Berthier, Ashleigh B. Theberge, Sanitta Thongpang
Summary: In this study, a novel lollipop-inspired sampling platform (CandyCollect) was developed to capture bacteria in saliva, improving the testing experience for strep throat. The device can be used in clinics or at home, integrating with telemedicine.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaolan Zhang, Yue Wang, Hui Zhu, Zhaohua Zhong
Summary: This study focuses on the role of an esterase (Sse) secreted by Streptococcus pyogenes in pathogenesis. By generating a gene knockout strain and conducting transcriptome analysis, the study reveals that Sse plays a crucial role in GAS virulence and metabolic pathways.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Irfan A. Rather, Mohammad Younus Wani, Majid Rasool Kamli, Jamal S. M. Sabir, Khalid Rehman Hakeem, Ahmad Firoz, Yong-Ha Park, Yan-Yan Hor
Summary: This study demonstrates the anti-biofilm and anti-virulence properties of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KAU007 against Streptococcus pyogenes. The results show that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KAU007 inhibits the growth and survival of S. pyogenes, as well as the formation of biofilm and the production of virulence-associated factors. This research provides a basis for further investigation into the use of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KAU007 as an antibacterial agent to combat streptococcal infections.
Review
Immunology
Shyra Wilde, Anders F. Johnson, Christopher N. LaRock
Summary: Group A Streptococcus is a major human pathogen with a natural tropism for the oropharynx and skin. Its virulence factors cause excessive inflammation, leading to severe infections, toxic shock syndrome, and post-infection autoimmune disease. Understanding how these factors induce inflammation and promote disease may lead to new therapeutic targets for severe infections.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Andrea L. Herrera, Michael S. Chaussee
Summary: The study found that the Streptococcal peptide of virulence (SpoV) is essential for GAS virulence, and targeting this peptide has therapeutic potential.
Article
Microbiology
Meredith B. Finn, Kathryn M. Ramsey, Simon L. Dove, Michael R. Wessels
Summary: The study reveals that the CsrRS system in Group A Streptococcus regulates gene expression by modulating the phosphorylation of CsrR, affecting the bacteria's ability to adapt to the human host. Analysis indicates that CsrR influences the expression of multiple genes by binding to regulated promoters and controlling the expression of intermediate transcription regulators.
Article
Immunology
Yujiro Hirose, Piotr Kolesinski, Masanobu Hiraoka, Satoshi Uchiyama, Raymond H. Zurich, Monika Kumaraswamy, Elisabet Bjanes, Partho Ghosh, Shigetada Kawabata, Victor Nizet
Summary: This study shows that the M87 protein of Streptococcus pyogenes strain emm87 acts as a virulence factor by modulating the interaction between the bacteria and innate immune cells, contributing to bacterial resistance and the release of mature IL-1 beta.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Joseph S. Rom, Yoann Le Breton, Emrul Islam, Ashton T. Belew, Najib M. El-Sayed, Kevin S. McIver
Summary: This study investigated the importance of the delta subunit of GAS RNA polymerase for virulence, showing its significant impact on gene expression and virulence in GAS.
Review
Immunology
Sean J. Buckley, Robert J. Harvey
Summary: The study highlights the potential and challenges of genotype-phenotype association studies in Group A Streptococcus, emphasizing the importance and limitations of GWAS and ML in this field. A novel quality control protocol for collecting high-quality virulence phenotype and clinical outcome data for the bacterium is proposed.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Roshika Roshika, Ira Jain, Josette Medicielo, Jasmin Wachter, Jessica L. Danger, Paul Sumby
Summary: The study found that serotype M28 isolates of group A Streptococcus (GAS) enhance their colonization ability in the female reproductive tract through the RD2 pathogenicity island, and introducing RD2 into other serotypes also increases colonization rates in mice. However, the impact of RD2 on survival and adherence to human vaginal epithelial cells varies depending on the serotype.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nadia Mazarakis, Rachel A. Higgins, Jeremy Anderson, Zheng Quan Toh, Rodney B. Luwor, Kenneth J. Snibson, Tom C. Karagiannis, Lien Anh Ha Do, Paul Licciardi
Summary: L-sulforaphane (LSF) is an isothiocyanate derived from cruciferous vegetables known for its anticarcinogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Research shows that LSF has inhibitory effects on common respiratory pathogens such as Haemophilus influenzae, but not on Streptococcus pneumoniae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Trond Bruun, Eivind Rath, Martin Bruun Madsen, Oddvar Oppegaard, Michael Nekludov, Per Arnell, Ylva Karlsson, Anshu Babbar, Francois Bergey, Andreas Itzek, Ole Hyldegaard, Anna Norrby-Teglund, Steinar Skrede
Summary: This study identified several risk factors associated with streptococcal NSTI, including blunt trauma. Septic shock was more common in NSTI caused by GAS compared to cases caused by SD, and factors associated with mortality in GAS NSTI included age, septic shock, and lack of IVIG administration.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Maria Daoutidou, Stavros Plessas, Athanasios Alexopoulos, Ioanna Mantzourani
Summary: Herbal and plant extracts showed strong antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens, even at low concentrations, and could be used as natural preservatives in meat products.
Review
Microbiology
Nikolai Siemens, Rudolf Luetticken
Summary: Streptococcus pyogenes is a human pathogen causing a range of infectious diseases. Understanding the transcriptional regulation of its virulence factors is crucial for developing new therapies and prevention methods to improve global epidemiology of GAS infections.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Thor Bech Johannesen, Charlotte Munkstrup, Sofie Marie Edslev, Sharmin Baig, Stine Nielsen, Tjede Funk, Dennis Karsten Kristensen, Lars Hervig Jacobsen, Signe Fischer Ravn, Niels Bindslev, Sophie Gubbels, Marianne Voldstedlund, Pikka Jokelainen, Soren Hallstrom, Astrid Rasmussen, Karl Gustaf Kristinsson, David Fuglsang-Damgaard, Ram B. Dessau, Agnieszka Barbara Olsen, Christian Salgaard Jensen, Annette Skovby, Svend Ellermann-Eriksen, Thoger Gorm Jensen, Esad Dzajic, Claus Ostergaard, Steen Lomborg Andersen, Steen Hoffmann, Peter HenrikAndersen, Marc Stegger
Summary: A highly virulent sub-lineage of the Streptococcus pyogenes M1 clone has been rapidly expanding in Denmark, accounting for 30% of new invasive group A streptococcal infections. The study investigates whether the high incidence rates observed in winter 2022/23 are due to a shift in variant composition or the impact of COVID-19-related restrictions on population immunity and carriage of group A Streptococcus.
Article
Immunology
Brian M. Forde, Haakon Bergh, Thom Cuddihy, Krispin Hajkowicz, Trish Hurst, E. Geoffrey Playford, Belinda C. Henderson, Naomi Runnegar, Julia Clark, Amy Jennison, Susan Moss, Anna Hume, Hugo Leroux, Scott A. Beatson, David L. Paterson, Patrick N. A. Harris
Summary: This study implemented a program of routine sequencing of multi-drug resistant organisms and used custom analysis pipeline to automate reporting and support infection control interventions. The results showed the identification of transmission events within three hospitals, highlighting the feasibility of routine WGS for MDR pathogens.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sydney P. Thomas, Erce Denizer, Simone Zuffa, Brookie M. Best, Lars Bode, Christina D. Chambers, Pieter C. Dorrestein, George Y. Liu, Jeremiah D. Momper, Victor Nizet, Shirley M. Tsunoda, Adriana H. Tremoulet
Summary: Antibiotics are crucial for perinatal care, but they can harm the host gut microbiota. Current studies mainly focus on the effects of antibiotics on infants directly or through maternal use, with limited knowledge about the risks of antibiotics in human milk to infants.
Article
Virology
Dann Turner, Andrey N. Shkoporov, Cedric Lood, Andrew D. Millard, Bas E. Dutilh, Poliane Alfenas-Zerbini, Leonardo J. van Zyl, Ramy K. Aziz, Hanna M. Oksanen, Minna M. Poranen, Andrew M. Kropinski, Jakub Barylski, J. Rodney Brister, Nina Chanisvili, Rob A. Edwards, Francois Enault, Annika Gillis, Petar Knezevic, Mart Krupovic, Ipek Kurtboke, Alla Kushkina, Rob Lavigne, Susan Lehman, Malgorzata Lobocka, Cristina Moraru, Andrea Moreno Switt, Vera Morozova, Jesca Nakavuma, Alejandro Reyes Munoz, Janis Rumnieks, B. L. Sarkar, Matthew B. Sullivan, Jumpei Uchiyama, Johannes Wittmann, Tong Yigang, Evelien M. Adriaenssens
Summary: This article summarizes the activities of the Bacterial Viruses Subcommittee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses from March 2021 to March 2022. It provides an overview of the new classifications proposed in 2021, approved by the Executive Committee, and ratified by vote in 2022. The taxonomy of bacterial viruses underwent significant changes, including the abolition of the paraphyletic morphological families Podoviridae, Siphoviridae, and Myoviridae, as well as the order Caudovirales, and the establishment of a binomial nomenclature system for species. Additionally, one order, 22 families, 30 subfamilies, 321 genera, and 862 species were newly created, promoted, or moved.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ericka Anderson, Bipin Nair, Victor Nizet, Geetha Kumar
Summary: The complexity of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis and its global impact on healthcare requires understanding of the underlying forces and implementation of innovative solutions. Future therapeutic interventions should focus on host-pathogen interactions to enhance the innate immune system and reduce pathogen virulence. Interrupting pathogen survival strategies and using clonotyping assays to identify 'super clones' can guide targeted antibiotic regimens. Innovative alternatives to traditional antibiotics, such as bacteriophage therapy and repurposing drugs, are being successfully used to combat AMR. Policy changes, including shorter durations of antibiotic treatment and increased surveillance measures, can enhance patient safety and global prevention and control programs.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Bishoy Maher Zaki, Nada A. A. Fahmy, Ramy Karam Aziz, Reham Samir, Ayman El-Shibiny
Summary: The study isolated six bacteriophages from urban and medical sewage, with phage vB_Kpn_ZCKp20p having the broadest host range and showing high lytic efficiency. The phage also exhibited stability at high temperatures and wide pH range, and possessed antibiofilm activity without cytotoxicity to human skin fibroblasts. Genomic analysis suggests that vB_Kpn_ZCKp20p represents a new species but belongs to the same genus as Klebsiella phages ZCKP8 and 6691. Overall, vB_Kpn_ZCKp20p shows potential as a novel phage for treating biofilm-forming K. pneumoniae and could be a promising source for antibacterial and antibiofilm products.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Elisabet Bjanes, Jiarong Zhou, Tariq Qayum, Nishta Krishnan, Raymond H. Zurich, Nitasha D. Menon, Alexandria Hoffman, Ronnie H. Fang, Liangfang Zhang, Victor Nizet
Summary: This study reports a vaccine platform that combines gold nanoparticles coated with immunogenic Acinetobacter baumannii outer membrane vesicles (Ab-OMVs). It induces high levels of IgG antibodies in rabbits, enhances neutrophil killing of A. baumannii, and provides passive protection against sepsis in mice. Active immunization with the Ab-NP vaccine in mice protects against sepsis and pneumonia, activates B cells and dendritic cells, improves neutrophil responses, and mitigates cytokine storm.
ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Budi Permana, Scott A. Beatson, Brian M. Forde
Summary: GraphSNP is an interactive visualization tool that allows users to generate SNP distance networks, explore SNP distance distributions, identify clusters of related organisms, and reconstruct transmission routes.
BMC BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lucy Catteau, Yvan Diaz Iglesias, Hannah Tsunemoto, Joseph Pogliano, Francoise Van Bambeke, Victor Nizet, George Sakoulas
Summary: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) endocarditis, which does not respond to conventional therapy, can be effectively treated with the combination of nafcillin and daptomycin. In vitro studies have shown that nafcillin enhances the killing of MRSE by daptomycin, both in planktonic cells and biofilms. Nafcillin also sensitizes MRSE to killing by human neutrophils and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide LL-37. Clinical studies are needed to determine the optimal timing for the use of these regimens to improve clinical outcomes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mark R. R. Davies, Nadia Keller, Stephan Brouwer, Magnus G. G. Jespersen, Amanda J. J. Cork, Andrew J. Hayes, Miranda E. E. Pitt, David M. P. De Oliveira, Nichaela Harbison-Price, Olivia M. M. Bertolla, Daniel G. G. Mediati, Bodie F. F. Curren, George Taiaroa, Jake A. A. Lacey, Helen V. V. Smith, Ning-Xia Fang, Lachlan J. M. Coin, Kerrie Stevens, Steven Y. C. Tong, Martina Sanderson-Smith, Jai J. J. Tree, Adam D. D. Irwin, Keith Grimwood, Benjamin P. P. Howden, Amy V. V. Jennison, Mark J. J. Walker
Summary: A new variant of Streptococcus pyogenes serotype M1 (M1(UK)) has been reported in the UK, which exhibits enhanced expression of the superantigen SpeA. A single SNP in the 5' leader sequence of ssrA is responsible for the upregulation of SpeA expression. This variant has also been observed in Australia and is associated with epidemic scarlet fever in Asia.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tirthankar Mohanty, Christofer A. Q. Karlsson, Yashuan Chao, Erik Malmstrom, Eleni Bratanis, Andrietta Grentzmann, Martina Morch, Victor Nizet, Lars Malmstrom, Adam Linder, Oonagh Shannon, Johan Malmstrom
Summary: This study used pharmacoproteomics to evaluate the time-dependent treatment effects of meropenem and methylprednisolone on a murine Escherichia coli sepsis model. Three distinct proteome response patterns were identified, which depended on the underlying proteotype for each organ. The findings provide insights for guiding treatment timing, dosage, and potential combination therapies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Budi Permana, Patrick N. A. Harris, Naomi Runnegar, Margaret Lindsay, Belinda C. Henderson, E. G. Playford, David L. Paterson, Scott A. Beatson, Brian M. Forde
Summary: An outbreak of vanB-type VREfm ST78 occurred in a large tertiary Australian hospital. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a complex transmission route involving unknown environmental reservoirs. This genomic analysis provided detailed information on the local epidemiology of the outbreak strain and facilitated better targeted control measures for VREfm.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Nehal A. Saif, Yomna A. Hashem, Heba M. Amin, Ramy K. Aziz
Summary: Gut bacteria degrade polysaccharides to provide nutritional advantages to hosts. Fucose, a mucin degradation product, is proposed as a communication molecule between resident microbiota and external pathogens. However, the role and variants of the fucose utilization pathway remain unclear.
Article
Immunology
Jonathan G. Williams, Ronald Sluyter, Martina L. Sanderson-Smith
Summary: This study characterized the human neutrophil response to Streptococcus pyogenes using in vitro experiments. The results showed that neutrophil antimicrobial defense against GAS was reduced during early infection, neutrophil death was delayed, and infection induced inflammation. Different strains of GAS also showed differential expression of cell-surface proteins.
Article
Biology
Sarah R. Rudd, Leticia Silva Miranda, Hannah R. Curtis, Yves Bigot, Mercedes Diaz-Mendoza, Robert Hice, Victor Nizet, Hyun-Woo Park, Gregor Blaha, Brian A. Federici, Dennis K. Bideshi
Summary: This paper introduces three important commercial bacterial insecticides derived from different subspecies of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), including their sources and uses. It also explores the unique features of Bt subspecies israelensis, such as the structure of the parasporal body (PB) and the multilaminar fibrous matrix (MFM), as well as the functions and structural similarities of two proteins, Bt152 and Bt075. Additionally, a novel molecular process for targeting Cry and Cyt proteins has been identified.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Kate M. Miller, Timothy C. Barnett, Daniel Cadarette, David E. Bloom, Jonathan R. Carapetis, Jeffrey W. Cannon
Summary: The introduction of a Strep A vaccine could potentially reduce antibiotic prescribing for sore throat by 32-87% depending on changes to prescribing and consumption behaviors.