Microbiology Research Articles

Microscopy and microbiology: Moving forward together

Abstract For more than four thousand years technological advances have enabled us to see the invisible through the invention and development of microscopes that have delivered magnification alongside resolution. Over the same timescale this has led to the discovery of microscopic organisms and the birth of the science of microbiology. From ancient theories that an invisible life form existed light microscopy established their presence in the 1600s. Over the next couple of centuries light microscopes were developed with improved illumination and precision as microbiologists created ways to grow and sample their microbes. In so doing microscopy and microbiology extended our understanding of infection transmission from generalised miasma and germ theories to linking specific diseases with particular microbes to make diagnosis and prevention more reliable. Electron and fluorescent microscopy provided step changes in the visualisation of the finer detail of microbes, enabling the characterisation of internal structures and the unravelling of the molecular mechanisms of biological processes. We are now within an era of imaging microbes in three dimensions over time with sensitivity and super resolution to study the microbes in their natural habitat such as within infected tissues. With the advent of multi-modal, correlative and molecular imaging the future holds the promise of a full interrogation of the internal machineries of microbes and real-time tracking of their lifecycle and interactions. This will help deliver the next generation of antibiotics and alternative prevention strategies to enable everyone to live longer, healthier lives.

Extracting and Characterizing Lactic Acid Bacteria from Human Milk

The greatest diet for babies is breast milk since it meets all of their nutritional needs and promotes healthy growth and development. Human milk contains thousands of different bacteria, the most prevalent ones being lactobacillus and Bifido bacterium. Since the use of probiotics is growing daily, it's important to comprehend their properties and health advantages. The combination of protein, fats, carbs, lipids, minerals, and vitamins found in breast milk helps to nourish an infant's body. Additionally, the bacteria in breast milk offer defense against infections. We will learn about lactic acid bacteria from this study so that we can commercially make probiotics from strains of these bacteria without utilizing lactose, as certain people are lactose intolerant and do not consume any lactose-containing products. The purpose of this article is to identify and isolate lactic acid bacteria while also discussing the advantages of probiotics for health. To understand the role lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from human milk play in the development and health of neonates, LAB must be extracted and identified. This study's objective was to identify, characterize, and segregate LAB strains from human milk samples obtained from nursing mothers in good health. The first isolation was carried out using selective medium, and then morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization were performed. Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the isolates were identified. All things considered, the development of the neonatal gut microbiota and the overall health of infants depend on lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This review's objective is to gather the most recent data on the identification and isolation of LAB from human milk, with an emphasis on the techniques employed, the types of LAB discovered, and any potential health risks. Human milk is an essential source of beneficial bacteria, including several species of lactobacilli (LAB), due to its complex and dynamic nature. Our ability to isolate and accurately identify these germs has improved due to technological advancements in the molecular and microbiological sciences. This paper provides an extensive overview of the methods utilized to extract LAB from human milk, the genera and species that are commonly detected, and the implications of these findings for the nutrition and health of neonates.

Spondylodiscitis: A Diagnostic and Management Dilemma.

Aims Spondylodiscitis (SpD), a debilitating infective condition of the spine, mandates early diagnosis and institution of appropriate therapy, for which accurate microbiology and histological evaluation of the affected tissue is vital. The objectives of the study were to assess the correlation between clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings with histopathology (HPE) and microbiology (MB) in clinically diagnosed spondylodiscitis. Settings and design This was a prospective study of 34 consecutive patients reporting at the outpatient department of a tertiary hospital with clinical and imaging features of SpD, who underwent image-guided/surgical biopsy of lesions. Methods and material The provisional diagnosis of SpD in all patients was made on the combined basis of clinical profile and MRI Spine findings. Tissue samples in all patients, obtained by either open surgery or CT-guided biopsy, were subjected to HPE and MB analysis. Results SpD has a bimodal age distribution with the majority of patients being males in the fourth to fifth decades. Only raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was consistently seen amongst laboratory parameters, with leucocytosis being added pointer towards pyogenic etiology. MRI remained the imaging modality of choice for SpD but was not dependable for etiologic differentiation. On HPE and MB evaluations, 24 patients (71%) had findings consistent with infective SpD, while combined results augmented etiologic confirmation for 28 patients (82.4%). HPE was more sensitive than traditional MB methods to determine etiology in SpD, but the addition of the GeneXpert (Cepheid,Sunnyvale, California, United States) technique improved the MB positivity rate, especially in patients with tubercular SpD. Six patients (17.6%) with both negative HPE and MB results were categorized as 'Non-specific' SpD. Conclusions SpD poses a challenge to determine the etiology for the administration of specific antimicrobial therapy. A stratified standard institutional approach needs adoption to systematically evaluate SpD patients by having a high index of clinical suspicion, early imaging, followed by tissue biopsy for HPE and MB. Despite efforts to reach a diagnosis, a subset of patients without conclusive etiologic agent identification would remain as 'Non-specific', needing empiric antibiotic treatment based on clinico-radiologic profile.

Food microbiology

Background: Food is imperative for continuation of life. However, it is also an important vehicle of entry of infections. Bacterial, viral and parasitic agents, causing these infections can all spread by food. Bacteria can produce many toxins and also be invasive sometimes, which can lead to diarrhoea and dysentery, respectively. This contamination takes place by risks like cooking food at improper temperature and keeping food open after cooking. These risks lead to various hazards. Also, microbes can help prepare different foods like fermented foods and kombucha tea. Modern society relies heavily on processed and ready-to eat foods, both of which can cause foodborne infections. Keeping all these things in mind, the science of food microbiology becomes very important in modern times. Aim: All these aspects of food microbiology and food safety have been discussed in this chapter. Objectives: Many points like food safety, cleanliness and other aspects like chilling of cooked food minimize risks of microbial food contamination and resultant hazards, have been elaborated upon. Methods: Scientific literature search was carried out to study the risk factors and related reports with respect to food microbiology, by food scientists and others. Results: Food contamination can be of microbial origin and a multitude of factors may lead to microbial contamination of food. These factors could be improper cooking, leaving cooked food uncovered, and other things. Conclusion: Food microbiology is a very important aspect of public health and quite neglected too. It should be given its due importance to mitigate microbial contamination of food and consequent foodborne infections.

Lessons learned from the successful polio vaccine experience not learned or applied with the development and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The eradication of polio during the latter half of the 20th century can be considered one of the greatest medical triumphs in history. This achievement can be attributed to the development of vaccines that received the public's almost unwavering acceptance of them, especially by parents who had been waiting/hoping for a medical breakthrough that would ensure that their children would not succumb to the devastating effects of infantile paralysis. Sixty years later, the worldwide population was now confronted with an equally devastating disease - Covid-19 - which by the 2020-2021 time period had reached pandemic levels not seen since the flu outbreak of 1918. Unlike polio, however, several vaccines against Covid-19 were rapidly developed and deployed due to advances in microbiologic and immunologic technology. But also, unlike the polio vaccine experience, there wasnot universal acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccines and this has led to continuation of the pandemic into 2023 (albeit at a reduced level). In addition, acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccines has been confronted with the uncertainty that they do not apparently prevent transmission in asymptomatic people, and the mutation rate of the virus requires periodic re-evaluation and possible upgrading of the vaccines. This review will focus on the various factors that have led to these contrasting attitudes towardthese two different vaccines and how resistance and hesitancy to vaccine use can be overcome by implementing various measures, after introducing the key roles that the sciences of microbiology and immunology have played in vaccine development over the past 250+ years.

“Micro World – Exploring the Microbial Kingdom”: design and testing of a microbial VR science product

ABSTRACT We designed a microbial science popularization product based on virtual reality technology, “Micro World – Exploring the Microbial Kingdom,” and conducted usability tests. Participants used head-mounted VR glasses to experience virtual scenarios teaching microbiological knowledge. The product’s user experience was evaluated through a User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ), and the results showed that our product provided both usefulness and enjoyment. In addition, the quality of participants’ relevant knowledge acquisition was measured using the Student Education of Educational Quality (SEEQ). The SEEQ results show that “Micro World” is an effective tool for popularizing microbiology science and can actively promote students’ independent learning and improve learning quality.

Robert Alekseevich Pshenichnov, Contribution to the Formation of Academic Microbiological Science in Perm

Robert Alekseevich Pshenichnov, Contribution to the Formation of Academic Microbiological Science in Perm

Surgeon-anatomist to robotic technician? The evolving role of the surgeon over three centuries.

In the 18th century, anatomy was the principal science underlying surgical practice. Over the next three centuries, the scientific basis of surgery changed dramatically. Morbid anatomy led to the understanding of organ-based pathologies that allowed surgeons to remove, reconstruct and in some cases replace internal organs. In the 19th century, the new science of microbiology facilitated antisepsis, then asepsis as surgery progressed from a craft to a scientific discipline. Yet many surgeons believed that surgery was not merely a science but also an art, in which the creativity of the doctor was necessary for progress. Surgical advancement depended on creative individuals with innovative flair, prepared to pioneer often risky procedures in the face of mainstream opposition. The 20th century saw a series of changes that made such individualism more difficult. 'Scientific Management' when applied to surgery decreed that procedures be performed according to predetermined schedules, a drive to uniformity producing better outcomes and diminishing individual variation. Yet inventive individuals continued to produce surgical advances. In the 21st century, moves toward standardisation developed further. The escalating safety culture in surgery moderates the introduction of novel, potentially riskier procedures, while more and more regulation increasingly requires surgeons to adhere to guidelines and protocols, further restricting surgical individualism. Moreover, the role of the individual is further diminished, as surgical care is delivered by teams, both in deciding management in major cases and in the operating theatre. The introduction of robotics into surgery has led to the suggestion that the role of the surgeon may become that of a technician. Will these constraints, and greater patient involvement in decisions, allow tomorrow's surgeons the freedom to innovate? We believe that the pioneering spirit, imagination and flair will not be lost. Tomorrow's surgeons must remain doctors, showing the compassion and empathy that robots cannot provide.

GETTING BY ANTHROPOCENE WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MICROBES

When modern man evolved in Africa 250,000 years ago by hunting and gathering, would he dream of megalopolis and flying machines? Would he ever understand how we managed to create and expand so much that this could cause our very decline like an Icarus that reached for the sun while the wax on his wings melts? Nowadays, as we find more and more evidence of the negative impacts we have caused to the biosphere, we are also looking for solutions to write a different future, a sustainable future. In this perspective, I present how a microbcentric approach can help achieve many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) based on the knowledge that microorganisms are the engines of life on Earth. The science of microbiology has shown that most microorganisms are not pathogens but live in close association with almost any plant or animal, with many advantages that can certainly be used in an evidence-based manner. Each of the 17 SDGs can be strengthened by considering microbes – from improving or restoring soil fertility to produce food to protecting blue carbon ecosystems, such as corals and mangroves. Recognizing that these minuscule beings hold one of the keys to a sustainable future is essential, which would be achieved by strengthening research, microbial literacy actions, and cooperation among scientists, stakeholders, decision-makers, and society. Microorganisms can help us create opportunities for the future, like a Daedalus that finally gets heard by an arrogant Icarus.
 Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals, bioeconomy, microbial innovations, sustainability, climate change.

Особливості викладання мікробіології іноземним студентам українською мовою

У статті наводиться досвід викладання мікробіології студентам-іноземцям, які навчаються українською мовою на кафедрі мікробіології та вірусології в Буковинському державному медичному університеті. Під час навчання студенти-іноземці стикаються з низкою проблем: недостатнім володінням українською мовою, часто слабкою підготовкою за профільними та спеціальними дисциплінами, відсутністю навичок самостійної роботи, несформованим алгоритмом використання на практичних заняттях теоретичного матеріалу та відчутною різницею між формами та методами навчання в українському вузі та у вищій школі на батьківщині студента. В основі організації та проведення практичних занять з іноземцями лежить принцип індивідуального підходу до кожного студента, що забезпечується використанням на заняттях завдань різного рівня складності. Самопідготовка студентів пов’язана з наявністю в них достатньої кількості навчально-методичних посібників, можливістю отримати консультативну допомогу викладача, а також з використанням технічних засобів навчання. Для кращого засвоєння студентами лекційного матеріалу викладачі наполегливо працюють над обранням оптимальної форми подання матеріалу: у вигляді схем, графологічних структур, рисунків, навчальних слайдів, відеофільмів та мультимедійних презентацій. Засвоєнню матеріалу практичного заняття сприяє комплексний контроль знань шляхом усного опитування, оцінювання виконання практичної роботи та вміння аналізувати результати досліджень та роботи висновки. З метою стандартизації оцінки знань студентів використовуються тестові питання, складені за типом ліцензійного іспиту «Крок‑1». Постійна робота над удосконаленням професійної майстерності, використання в навчальному процесі різноманітних випробованих часом та новітніх форм і методів викладання дозволяють добре розв’язувати сучасні завдання з підготовки спеціалістів із числа іноземних громадян.

Fields and fungicides: mixing microbiology and social science

Fields and fungicides: mixing microbiology and social science

Aerosol transmission of human pathogens: From miasmata to modern viral pandemics and their preservation potential in the Anthropocene record

Ongoing uncertainty over the relative importance of aerosol transmission of COVID-19 is in part rooted in the history of medical science and our understanding of how epidemic diseases can spread through human populations. Ancient Greek medical theory held that such illnesses are transmitted by airborne pathogenic emanations containing particulate matter (“miasmata”). Notable Roman and medieval scholars such as Varro, Ibn al-Khatib and Fracastoro developed these ideas, combining them with early germ theory and the concept of contagion. A widely held but vaguely defined belief in toxic miasmatic mists as a dominant causative agent in disease propagation was overtaken by the science of 19th century microbiology and epidemiology, especially in the study of cholera, which was proven to be mainly transmitted by contaminated water. Airborne disease transmission came to be viewed as burdened by a dubious historical reputation and difficult to demonstrate convincingly. A breakthrough came with the classic mid-20th century work of Wells, Riley and Mills who proved how expiratory aerosols (their “droplet nuclei”) could transport still-infectious tuberculosis bacteria through ventilation systems. The topic of aerosol transmission of pathogenic respiratory diseases assumed a new dimension with the mid-late 20th century “Great Acceleration” of an increasingly hypermobile human population repeatedly infected by different strains of zoonotic viruses, and has taken centre stage this century in response to outbreaks of new respiratory infections that include coronaviruses. From a geoscience perspective, the consequences of pandemic-status diseases such as COVID-19, produced by viral pathogens utilising aerosols to infect a human population currently approaching 8 billion, are far-reaching and unprecedented. The obvious and sudden impacts on for example waste plastic production, water and air quality and atmospheric chemistry are accelerating human awareness of current environmental challenges. As such, the “anthropause” lockdown enforced by COVID-19 may come to be seen as a harbinger of change great enough to be preserved in the Anthropocene stratal record.

Move Structure of Malaysian Undergraduate Microbiological Science Thesis Abstracts

Move Structure of Malaysian Undergraduate Microbiological Science Thesis Abstracts

Expert consensus on multidisciplinary management of intra-abdominal infections

Intra-abdominal infections(IAIs) are common surgical emergencies and complications, which usually need multidisciplinary management including surgeons, intensivists, infectious disease experts, microbiologists, and clinical pharmacists. Based on international and domestic guidelines and recent advances, a number of experts' statements of consensus, with a problem-oriented approach, were made on the cornerstones of effective treatment of IAIs such as early recognition, etiology identification, adequate source control, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Main recommendations include concepts of intra-abdominal infection, pathoqen diagnosis precautions; surgical intervention principles and strategies of specific causes including acute appendicitis, upper gastrointestinal perforation, lower gastrointestinal perforation, acute biliary infection, liver abscess, severe acute pancreatitis, pancreatic fistula, biliary fistula, anastomotic leakage, gastrointestinal perforation, as well as perforation due to endoscopic procedure etc.; principles of antimicrobial therapy, dosage of antibiotics in specific population and pathophysiological state; and systematic support of severe infection such as early resuscitation and nutrition support.

Lippincott Illustrated Reviews Microbiology.

Lippincott Illustrated Reviews Microbiology.

Do didactics improve clinical skills: A retrospective educational study

Introduction: As predoctoral dental students navigate through the dental curriculum, the knowledge of clinical dentistry is progressively gained from didactic lecture courses. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether there is an association between endodontic didactic knowledge and endodontic preclinical skills. Methods: The study utilized the existing preclinical endodontic assessments of 2nd-year dental students (105 students). Using ExamSoft, the nonclinical questions (e.g., microbiology and pulp biology) were excluded from the final didactic assessment, and a new didactic grade was calculated and assigned to each student. Each endodontic skill (access preparation, instrumentation and obturation, and combined) was matched with corresponding clinically related questions in the didactic assessment. For each student, the matched didactic grade was weighted against the practical grade using Kendall's τ correlation coefficient. To determine the effect of each predictor variable (didactic score and gender), an ordinal logistic regression was used. Results: For all portions of the examination, the correlation between preclinical and didactic grades was significant, P Conclusion: Only a weak association was found between didactic performance and preclinical skills. Lectures on clinical topics should be improved and sequenced accordingly to better link the theory of endodontic technique to the hands-on simulation laboratory.

Clinicolaboratory and treatment profile of dengue in children: Observations from a tertiary care hospital

Background: Dengue fever (DF) is an arboviral disease of public importance with high mortality and morbidity in tropics. The school-going children are at high risk of developing dengue as they are exposed to the vector, female Aedes aegypticus mosquito, during daytime. The paediatric patients may not present with typical symptoms like in adults. Aim: The aim of this study is to study the clinical and laboratory parameters in paediatric patients with emphasis on various haematological ratios. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted in the Clinical Microbiology Department of Tertiary Care Hospital in the coastal part of Karnataka, India, to compare the clinichaematological parameters in the paediatric patients diagnosed with DF. The data were retrospectively collected from January 2015 to December 2018 entered into Microsoft excel, and statistical analysis was done by the Student's t-test. P

Estudo imagético sobre microrganismos na web

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar concepções que perpassam as imagens de microrganismos, disponibilizadas on-line, avaliando se estas contribuem para a construção adequada, reducionista ou equivocada do ensino em microbiologia. O estudo, de caráter qualitativo, orientou-se pelo enfoque exploratório, utilizando como metodologia a construção de um banco de imagens selecionadas por meio da ferramenta Google Imagens de pesquisa na web. Foram analisadas 1421 imagens agrupadas pelas palavras-chave: “microrganismos” e “micro-organismos”, originando onze categorias de análise. Os resultados indicam que nas imagens on-line os microrganismos são lembrados por sua nocividade para a saúde humana. Em contrapartida, revelam uma escassez de recursos imagéticos no que tange aos benefícios proporcionados pelos microrganismos. Tal resultado contribui para uma concepção equivocada, cabendo ao professor utilizar as imagens de forma crítica e responsável.

Why has the authorization of microbial biological control agents been slower in the EU than in comparable jurisdictions?

The aim of this study was to identify reasons why the authorization of microbial pest control agents is lengthier under regulatory frameworks of the European Union (EU) than in comparable jurisdictions. A main conclusion is that although the EUʼs regulatory processes have strong scientific foundations, the most appropriate scientific concepts, knowledge and expertise have not been applied in the safety assessment of microorganisms and biological control. Tradition and conceptual legacies from assessments of conventional chemical pesticides have likely contributed to this by steering the evaluations of microorganisms in less appropriate directions. According to our investigation, the current framework for microbial plant protection products complies poorly with the principles that legislation should have legal predictability, proportionality, and that it should be non‐discriminative, for instance in comparison to corresponding regulations in comparable jurisdictions. We also found that existing possibilities to take non‐safety and ethical considerations into account can probably be used more. To rationalize the EUʼs authorization of microbial control products, both the basic legislation and the evaluations of agents and products need stronger rooting in fundamental microbiological science. © 2020 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

One of five genius of the world microbiology and immunology - Volodymyr Aronovych Haffkine

Actuality. The anniversary of his birth and significant achievements for world science and the fight against especially dangerous infections by Volodymyr Aronovych Haffkine prompted the authors to recall the glorious pages of history associated with his life and work. An outstanding scientist and inventor, according to the results of his research, saved thousands of people from diseases that, in the modern world, pose a serious threat to humanity.The aim of the work was to establish the historical role of V.A. Haffkine in the development of both microbiological science and medicine in general.Material and methods are based on the analysis of historical data and literature sources associated with the biography of V.A. Haffkine.Results. The end of the XIX and the beginning of the XX centuries is a time of monumental reorganizations in politics, economics, public life, as well as times of scientific discoveries, the emergence of new sciences, and grandiose changes in scientific thought. All this is reflected in the biography of V.A. Haffkine. Radical political activity in his youth and the anti-semitism of the Russian Empire virtually completely closed the possibilities for his work in the scientific field. Emigration to Europe with his teacher I.I. Mechnikov allowed not only to get promising work but also to form a scientific direction for further research by the scientist - protecting the human body from infectious diseases through the use of vaccines and immune serums. The first significant scientific achievement of V.A. Haffkine is considered to be the development of the first attenuated live vaccine against cholera, which in an improved form exists and is used in the modern world. The same decisive step was the creation of an anti-plague vaccine during an epidemic in Bombay.Conclusions. Life story of V.A. Haffkine remains an example for many scientists, bacteriologists and epidemiologists of our time. His scientific achievements have become one of the largest steps in the fight against infectious diseases.