Immunopathology of human tuberculosis (TB) in a subgroup of patients is characterized by aberrantly high concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, for example Interleukin (IL)-6. Concomitant (co-)infections by parasites can affect host immunity, but the impact on immunopathology in TB patients is poorly defined. Here we characterized a group of patients with TB ( n = 76) from Ghana with different protozoan and helminth co-infections. Plasma cytokines were measured at the onset of disease and anti-mycobacterial treatment efficacy was monitored during disease course. A subgroup of TB patients had co-infections with protozoan (n = 19) or helminth (n = 16) parasites. Plasma analyses for candidate cytokines identified lower levels of IL-6 in parasite co-infected patients with TB. Moreover, it took less time for co-infected patients to become sputum-negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis during treatment. These results indicated an influence of parasite co-infections on immunopathology in TB and suggested positive effects on treatment efficacy.

The permeability of the outer membrane barrier modulates the susceptibility of microorganisms to antimicrobial agents. Loss or structural alterations of porins contribute to decreased antibiotic concentration of multiple antimicrobial agents. Precise definition of porin profiles is of critical importance to understand the role of porins in antimicrobial resistance. The objectives of this study are to compare the expression patterns of major outer membrane proteins (OMP) of clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae obtained with Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS), with those obtained with sodium-dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and to correlate porin expression patterns with the sequences of porins genes defined with whole genome sequencing (WGS).

Multiple studies have demonstrated the utility of sonication to improve culture yield in patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections.

Candida glabrata is the second most common cause of invasive candidiasis worldwide. In this study, we determined the clinical characteristics and drug sensitivity of C. glabrata isolates and investigated the associations between MSH2 gene mutations, sequence types (ST), and drug resistance.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is an emerging global threat, whereas its epidemiological characteristics in children are rarely reported. This study aims to analyze clinical and epidemiological characteristics of CRKP from children in Henan, China.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) poses a significant threat to immunocompromised populations, including lung transplant recipients. This study investigates mixed CRKP strains carrying either bla or bla following ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ/AVI) exposure, particularly in the context of lung transplantation. Mixed CRKP strains with shifting resistance phenotypes were frequently identified in patients exposed to CAZ/AVI. We aimed to elucidate the transitional state of bla variants by selecting CAZ/AVI-sensitive and -resistant CRKP strains from a lung transplantation patient.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia due to impaired insulin production or utilization, leading to severe health complications. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) represent a major complication, often exacerbated by polymicrobial infections involving Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii. These pathogens, notorious for their resistance to antibiotics, complicate treatment efforts, especially due to biofilm formation, which enhances bacterial survival and resistance. This study explores the synergistic effects of combining gentamicin, imipenem, and fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide with antimicrobial properties, against both planktonic and biofilm forms of S. aureus and A. baumannii.

This study elucidates the in vivo genetic mechanisms contributing to the emerging resistance to carbapenem in Shewanella algae through a lens of adaptive microbial evolution. Leveraging PacBio amplification-free sequencing, we tracked the evolution of β-lactam resistance in clinical isolates from a persistent S. algae bacteremia case amidst antimicrobial therapy. Our investigation spotlighted a recurrent G547W mutation in the sensor histidine kinase (pdsS), which was associated with the overexpression of an OmpA-like protein (pdsO) within a proteobacteria-specific sortase system. Intriguingly, we observed a recurrent switch between wild-type and G547W alleles, revealing an adaptive expansion and contraction of underlying cell subpopulations in response to β-lactam exposure. Comparative transcriptome analyses further demonstrated the overexpression of genes pivotal for membrane integrity, biofilm formation, immune evasion, and β-lactamase activation in resistant samples. This underscores the pre-existence of resistant cells at minuscule frequencies even without antibiotic pressure, potentially explaining the within-host emergence of resistance during antibiotic treatments. Our findings provide pivotal insights into the dynamic genetic adaptations of S. algae under therapeutic pressures, unmasking intricate resistance mechanisms and highlighting the critical role of subpopulation dynamics in treatment outcomes.

During prolonged FDC therapy, the emergence of FDC non-susceptibility in CRAB has been reported. Here, we report a transmission cluster of FDC-non-susceptible CRAB in four patients, all naïve to FDC treatment, characterized by a premature stop codon and amino acid deletion in the PirA protein.

Gram-negative bacteremia is a life-threatening infection with high morbidity and mortality. Its incidence is rising worldwide, and treatment has become more challenging due to emerging bacterial resistance. Little data is available on the burden and outcome of such infections in Lebanon.

Mycobacterium (M.) chelonae is responsible for a half of relatively rare nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) keratitis. We report a case of M. chelonae keratitis in a woman following sclerocorneal suture extraction after cataract surgery.

Pediatric patients are vulnerable to the threat of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) due to their limited immunity and few available antibiotics. Especially when these pathogens exhibit hypervirulent phenotypes, they are often associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Determination of SARS-CoV-2 variant is significant to prevent the spreads of COVID-19 disease.

It is presently considered that Corynebacterium especially Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii (CK) infection, is one of the important causes of granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM). However, the pathogen of mastitis in the past two years has been identified as a newly discovered Corynebacterium. But it is unclear whether the pathogen associated with the occurrence of GLM is also this bacterium.

The World Health Organization predicted 10.6 million new tuberculosis cases and 1.5 million deaths in 2022. Tuberculous meningitis, affecting 1% of active TB cases, is challenging to diagnose due to sudden onset, vague symptoms, and limited laboratory tests. Nanopore-targeted sequencing (NTS) is an emerging third-generation sequencing technology known for its sequencing capabilities. We compared its detection efficiency with Xpert, MTB culture, PCR, and AFB smear in cerebrospinal fluid samples to highlight the substantial potential of NTS in detecting intracranial tuberculosis.

This study aims to present a case of persistent mycetoma caused by Scedosporium boydii and undertake a systematic literature overview to elucidate the clinical characteristics and antifungal treatment exhibited by such patients.

Cutaneous infectious granulomas (CIG) are localized and chronic skin infection caused by a variety of pathogens such as protozoans, bacteria, worms, viruses and fungi. The diagnosis of CIG is difficult because microbiological examination shows low sensitivity and the histomorphological findings of CIG caused by different pathogens are commonly difficult to be distinguished.

Early detection and proper management of maternal sepsis caused by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) can significantly reduce severe complications and maternal mortality. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance profile, and management of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae among sepsis-suspected maternal cases in Ethiopia.

SQ109 is a promising candidate drug for the treatment of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of SQ109 against clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) from patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and pre-extensively drug-resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB), and to explore new drug-resistant mechanisms of SQ109.

This study explored the molecular epidemiology and resistance mechanisms of 271 non-duplicate Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) strains, isolated mainly from adults (209/271) in a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou between 2020 and 2021. Through whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics, the bacterial strains were classified into 46 serotypes and 54 sequence types (ST), with S. Enteritidis, S. 1,4,[5],12:i:-, and S. Typhimurium being the most prevalent serotypes and ST11, ST34, and ST19 the most common STs. The strains isolated from adults were primarily S. Enteritidis (59/209), while from children were mainly S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- (20/62). Worryingly, 12.55% strains were multi-drug resistant (MDR), with resistance rates to cefepime (FEP), ceftazidime (CAZ), ceftriaxone (CRO) and cefotaxime (CTX) of 7.38%, 9.23%, 15.87% and 16.24%, respectively, and resistance rates to levofloxacin (LEV) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) of 8.49% and 19.19%, respectively. It is worth noting that the resistance rates of CRO and CTX in children reached 30.65%. A total of 34 strains carried extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes, dominated by bla (13/34) and bla (12/34); it is notable that one strain of S. Saintpaul carried both bla and bla. The resistance mechanism to cephalosporins was mainly due to ESBL genes (20/43), and other genes included AmpC and β-lactamase genes. The strains resistant to quinolones mainly carried qnrS1 (27/53), and others included qnrB6, aac(6')-Ib-cr, and mutations in gyrA and parC. One strain did not carry common quinolone resistance genes but had a parC (p.T57S) mutation to cause CIP resistance. This research provides vital insights into the molecular epidemiology and resistance mechanisms of clinical S. enterica, implicating possible infection control strategies.

Accurate identification of the etiology of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) is crucial, particularly for immunocompromised patients with more complex etiologies. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enhanced the effectiveness of pathogen detection. However, assessments of the clinical diagnostic value of targeted NGS (tNGS) in immunocompromised patients with LRTI are limited.