Streptococcus Species Research Articles

Ocular trauma from Lawn mower accidents: Clinical insights, visual outcomes and microbial profiles

AimsTo characterize the clinical features of ocular trauma resulting from lawn mower, identify determinants of unfavorable final visual acuity (FVA), and assess the spectrum of microbial in posttraumatic endophthalmitis. MethodsThis retrospective study enrolled patients who experienced ocular trauma due to lawn mower at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from January 2013 to August 2021. Demographics, clinical features, isolated microorganisms, risk factors influencing reduced visual acuity, treatment regimens, and utilization of eyewear were collected. ResultsThe study included 140 participants (140 eyes) (49.47 ± 12.03 years, 95% male). The predominant injury manifestations were penetrating globe injuries (75.7%) and intraocular foreign bodies (51.4%). Endophthalmitis occurred in 35 cases (25%) and Bacillus cereus (23.5%) was the primary pathogen, followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (11.8%) and Streptococcus species (11.8%). Following the initial assessment, where 77.9% of patients had initial visual acuity (IVA) at grade IV (ranging from light perception to 4/200) and only 0.7% attained grade I (better than 20/40), post-treatment results revealed that 5.7% achieved FVA at grade I, with a concurrent decrease in patients with grade IV vision to 64.3%. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that injury protection (p < 0.001, OR = 0.237, 95% CI = 0.126–0.446), IVA (p = 0.001, OR = 4.102, 95% CI = 1.730–9.729), and retinal detachment (p = 0.042, OR = 8.105, 95% CI = 1.075–61.111) were significant independent risk factors impacting FVA. ConclusionLawn mower often cause severe ocular injuries, with high-velocity metal foreign bodies that can lead to infections, most commonly caused by Bacillus cereus. Correct use of protective gear, initial vision assessment, and detecting retinal detachment are crucial for visual prognosis.

Human saliva modifies growth, biofilm architecture, and competitive behaviors of oral streptococci.

Dental caries (tooth decay) is the most prevalent disease for both children and adults nationwide. Caries are initiated from demineralization of the enamel due to organic acid production through the metabolic activity of oral bacteria growing in biofilm communities attached to the tooth's surface. Mutans group streptococci are closely associated with caries development and initiation of the cariogenic cycle, which decreases the amount of acid-sensitive, health-associated commensal bacteria while selecting for aciduric and acidogenic species that then further drives the disease process. Defining the exchanges that occur between mutans group streptococci and oral commensals in a condition that closely mimics their natural environment is of critical need toward identifying factors that can influence odontopathogen establishment, persistence, and outgrowth. The goal of our research is to develop strategies, potentially through manipulation of microbial interactions characterized here, that prevent the emergence of mutans group streptococci while keeping the protective flora intact.

Efficacy of Ceragenins in Controlling the Growth of Oral Microorganisms: Implications for Oral Hygiene Management.

Ensuring proper dental hygiene is of paramount importance for individuals' general well-being, particularly for patients receiving medical care. There is a prevailing utilization of conventional oral hygiene items, including toothbrushes and mouthwashes, which have gained widespread acceptance; nevertheless, their limitations encourage investigating novel options in this domain. Our study indicates that ceragenins (CSAs) being lipid analogs of host defense peptides, well-recognized for their wide-ranging antimicrobial properties, may be a potentially efficacious means to augment oral hygiene in hospitalized individuals. We demonstrate that ceragenins CSA-13, CSA-44, and CSA-131 as well as undescribed to date CSA-255 display potent antimicrobial activities against isolates of fungi, aerobic, and anaerobic bacteria from Candida, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Bacteroides species, which are well-recognized representatives of microbes found in the oral cavity. These effects were further confirmed against mono- and dual-species fungal and bacterial biofilms. While the ceragenins showed similar or slightly diminished efficacy compared to commercially available mouthwashes, they demonstrated a highly favorable toxicity profile toward host cells, that may translate into better maintenance of host mucosal membrane stability. This suggests that incorporating ceragenins into oral hygiene products could be a valuable strategy for reducing the risk of both oral cavity-localized and secondary systemic infections and for improving the overall health outcomes of individuals receiving medical treatment.

MICROBIAL LOAD AND ANTIBIOTICS RESISTANCE PATTERNS OF BACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM NIGERIA NAIRA NOTES

In our society today, exchange of goods and services usually involves exchange of currency notes by hand. This can serve as a means of transferring microorganisms and antibiotics resistant bacterial isolates. This study was aimed at assessing the contamination of Naira notes in Ungwan Rimi area of Kaduna State and to determine the antibiotics resistance patterns of the isolated bacteria. A total of 160 samples of naira notes, were collected randomly from staff and students, marketers, hospital and pharmacies, food vendors and transporters at strategic spots in Ungwan Rimi. Bacteria isolation and identification of samples were carried out using spread plate technique on medium and standard biochemical characterization, respectively. Antibiotics susceptibility testing were carried out using agar disc diffusion method. Isolates that were non-susceptible to at least one antimicrobial agent in three or more antimicrobial classes were classified as multidrug resistant (MDR), those that remain susceptible to agent(s) in only one or two classes as extended drug resistant (XDR) while pandrug resistant (PDR) isolates were classified as those isolates that were resistant to all antibiotics used. Highest bacterial load was observed with N100 notes with marketers (5.33 x 105) while the least bacterial load was 1.2 x 104 in N50 notes from hospitals and pharmacies. The following bacteria were isolated Staphylococcus aureus 70 (26.8%), Bacillus spp 60 (23.0%), Clostridium spp 31 (11.9%), Escherichia coli 30 (11.5%), Streptococcus species 25 (9.6%), Klebsiella spp 24 (9.2%), Salmonella 15 (5.8%), Shigella species 4 (1.5%) and Pseudomonas species 2 (0.8%)...

Oral streptococci S. anginosus and S. mitis induce distinct morphological, inflammatory, and metabolic signatures in macrophages.

Oral streptococci, key players in oral biofilm formation, are implicated in oral dysbiosis and various clinical conditions, including dental caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. Specifically, Streptococcus anginosus is associated with esophageal, gastric, and pharyngeal cancers, while Streptococcus mitis is linked to oral cancer. However, no study has investigated the mechanistic links between these Streptococcus species and cancer-related inflammatory responses. As an initial step, we probed the innate immune response triggered by S. anginosus and S. mitis in RAW264.7 macrophages. These bacteria exerted time- and dose-dependent effects on macrophage morphology without affecting cell viability. Compared with untreated macrophages, macrophages infected with S. anginosus exhibited a robust proinflammatory response characterized by significantly increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and mediators, including TNF, IL-6, IL-1β, NOS2, and COX2, accompanied by enhanced NF-κB activation. In contrast, S. mitis-infected macrophages failed to elicit a robust inflammatory response. Seahorse Xfe96 analysis revealed an increased extracellular acidification rate in macrophages infected with S. anginosus compared with S. mitis. At the 24-h time point, the presence of S. anginosus led to reduced extracellular itaconate, while S. mitis triggered increased itaconate levels, highlighting distinct metabolic profiles in macrophages during infection in contrast to aconitate decarboxylase expression observed at the 6-h time point. This initial investigation highlights how S. anginosus and S. mitis, two Gram-positive bacteria from the same genus, can prompt distinct immune responses and metabolic shifts in macrophages during infection.IMPORTANCEThe surge in head and neck cancer cases among individuals devoid of typical risk factors such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection and tobacco and alcohol use sparks an argumentative discussion around the emerging role of oral microbiota as a novel risk factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). While substantial research has dissected the gut microbiome's influence on physiology, the oral microbiome, notably oral streptococci, has been underappreciated during mucosal immunopathogenesis. Streptococcus anginosus, a viridans streptococci group, has been linked to abscess formation and an elevated presence in esophageal cancer and OSCC. The current study aims to probe the innate immune response to S. anginosus compared with the early colonizer Streptococcus mitis as an important first step toward understanding the impact of distinct oral Streptococcus species on the host immune response, which is an understudied determinant of OSCC development and progression.

P1226 Determination of oral and gut mucosal microbiome profiles of patients with treatment-naïve ulcerative colitis

Abstract Background The oral microbiome in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and its role in the pathogenesis of the disease are still poorly understood. Although there are studies investigating the composition of oral microbiome in UC, there are no studies on concomitant analyses of oral and colonic mucosal samples in treatment-naïve patients. In this study, the oral and mucosal gut microbiome of UC patients and oral microbiota of healthy individuals (HC) were compared. Methods Sixty patients with newly-diagnosed active (mild-moderate severity) UC patients (n=30) and HC (n=30) were included in the study. Dietary habits were stable in the last three months of participants (checked by dietary recall questionnaires) and co-morbidities affecting microbiota profiles were excluded. Multiple colonic mucosa biopsies were obtained from inflamed areas before treatment in UC group. Simultaneously, subgingival plaque samples were analyzed. All samples were identified through next-generation DNA sequencing analysis, evaluated using bioinformatic tests. Results The potential signature bacterial species associated with UC were determined by examining of both gut and oral microbiomes. According to the Microbiome Lefse analysis, Prevotella copri emerged as the prominent common species in the colonic mucosal and subgingival plaque biopsies of UC group. Oral microbiome comparison between UC and HC patients revealed increased Haemophilus parainfluenza and Corynebacterium durum species and decreased F. prastnutzii and Akkermansia muciniphilia in the UC group (p&amp;lt;0.022). Comparative Boxplot analysis of bacterial abundance and alpha-diversity, as indicated by the Shannon index data, revealed that the HC group exhibited higher bacterial abundance and diversity in subgingival plaque samples than the UC group. We found significant association of Bacteroides vulgatus, Prevotella copri, Bacteroides fragilis, Parabacteroides merdae in both colonic mucosal and subgingival plaque samples (oral microbiome) of UC patients (p&amp;lt;0.044). Conclusion Our study is the first to show the oral and colonic mucosal microbiome relationship in UC. The presence of oral dysbiosis associated with UC in our study supports the hypothesis that UC could be associated not only with gut dysbiosis, as previously observed, but also with an imbalance in the oral microbial communities. Interestingly, we could not detect previously reported species of Streptococcus, Oribacterium, Rothia, Neisseria and Porphyromonas in the oral microbiome samples of the UC group. However, oral and gut microbiome profiles share some common microorganisms such as Prevotella copri and Bacteroides fragilis. Further studies are required for determining the potential role of oral dysbiosis is disease severity.

Loss of Airway Phylogenetic Diversity Is Associated with Clinical and Pathobiological Markers of Disease Development in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Rationale: The airway microbiome has the potential to shape chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis, but its relationship to outcomes in milder disease is unestablished. Objectives: To identify sputum microbiome characteristics associated with markers of COPD in participants of the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures of COPD Study (SPIROMICS). Methods: Sputum DNA from 877 participants was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Relationships between baseline airway microbiota composition and clinical, radiographic, and mucoinflammatory markers, including longitudinal lung function trajectory, were examined. Measurements and Main Results: Participant data represented predominantly milder disease (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage 0-2 obstruction in 732 of 877 participants). Phylogenetic diversity (i.e., range of different species within a sample) correlated positively with baseline lung function, decreased with higher Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage, and correlated negatively with symptom burden, radiographic markers of airway disease, and total mucin concentrations (P < 0.001). In covariate-adjusted regression models, organisms robustly associated with better lung function included Alloprevotella, Oribacterium, and Veillonella species. Conversely, lower lung function, greater symptoms, and radiographic measures of small airway disease were associated with enrichment in members of Streptococcus, Actinobacillus, Actinomyces, and other genera. Baseline sputum microbiota features were also associated with lung function trajectory during SPIROMICS follow-up (stable/improved, decline, or rapid decline groups). The stable/improved group (slope of FEV1 regression ⩾66th percentile) had greater bacterial diversity at baseline associated with enrichment in Prevotella, Leptotrichia, and Neisseria species. In contrast, the rapid decline group (FEV1 slope ⩽33rd percentile) had significantly lower baseline diversity associated with enrichment in Streptococcus species. Conclusions: In SPIROMICS, baseline airway microbiota features demonstrate divergent associations with better or worse COPD-related outcomes.

Comparison of Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations of Selected Antimicrobials for Non-Aureus Staphylococci, Enterococci, Lactococci, and Streptococci Isolated from Milk Samples of Cows with Clinical Mastitis.

The objective of this study was to compare the minimum inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobials included in a commercial broth microdilution panel among Gram-positive pathogens that caused non-severe clinical mastitis on three Michigan dairy farms. Duplicate quarter milk samples were collected from eligible quarters of cows enrolled in a randomized clinical trial, cultured in a university laboratory, and identified using MALDI-TOF. Etiologies were grouped by genus as Enterococcus species (n = 11), Lactococcus species (n = 44), non-aureus Staphylococcus species (n = 39), or Streptococcus species (n = 25). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the mastitis panel of a commercially available broth microdilution test. In vitro susceptibility was determined using approved guidelines and included breakpoints for mastitis pathogens, or when not available, breakpoints from other species. Most isolates were inhibited at or below breakpoints that demonstrated in vitro susceptibility. The proportions of susceptible isolates varied among pathogens for pirlimycin, penicillin, and tetracycline. The greatest proportion of resistance was observed for pirlimycin, tetracycline, and sulfadimethoxine. Survival analysis was performed to evaluate differences in MICs among pathogen groups. MIC values varied among pathogens for ceftiofur, cephalothin, erythromycin, penicillin, pirlimycin, and tetracycline. However, nearly all isolates were susceptible to ceftiofur and cephalothin, indicating that pathogen differences in MIC are not likely clinically relevant, as these are the two most commonly administered mastitis treatments in the United States. While differences in vitro susceptibility were observed for some antimicrobials, susceptibility was high to cephalosporin-based IMM treatments that are most commonly used and did not vary among pathogens.

Susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli and streptococcal isolates from bovine mastitis cases to antibiotics and selected South African plant extracts with known antibacterial activities

Bovine mastitis, an inflammatory condition affecting the mammary glands of dairy cattle, poses a significant economic burden on the dairy industry. Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus species and Escherichia coli are common pathogens. Managing mastitis typically involves antibiotics, but antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing concern, promoting further research exploring alternative treatments including plant extracts. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance of E. coli and streptococcal isolates from mastitis cases, and to investigate four indigenous South African plants for their selective antibacterial activities against these pathogens. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the bacterial strains was determined using a standard disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of acetone and ethanol extracts of Searsia lancea, Indigofera frutescens, Erythrina caffra and Antidesma venosum were determined against the bacterial isolates using a serial microdilution assay, and cytotoxicity was also investigated. The results showed that 82.14% of the clinical isolates tested were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent used, and 52.17% of the antibiotic resistant isolates were multidrug resistant. All plant extracts had antibacterial activity against all the bacterial isolates, but S. lancea demonstrated higher efficacy compared to other plants. The MIC values ranged from 0.01 to 2.50 mg/mL, with the lowest range obtained with the acetone extract of S. lancea (0.01 to 0.57 mg/mL). Furthermore, the extracts were relatively non-cytotoxic to bovine dermis and Vero cells, with the highest mean selectivity index value of 25.70 recorded with S. lancea. This study highlights the growing concern of AMR in livestock management, and demonstrates the promising therapeutic potential of the selected plant species, particularly S. lancea, in treating bovine mastitis. Further exploration of S. lancea is recommended to develop novel alternative or complementary formulations for mastitis management.

Bacteriology in Diagnosing Oral Odontogenic Infections: A Scoping Review

Background: Odontogenic infection is an invasion of pathogenic microbes that originate from the tooth or its supporting structures and can spread to the surrounding tissue. Bacteriological examination to support the diagnosis. Objective: This study aims to discuss the role of bacteriological examination in helping to diagnose odontogenic infections. Method: Scoping review research type. Search for research gaps using the PCC strategy. PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases were used to search for articles by entering keywords using Boolean Operators. Reporting of scoping review results using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Results: Oral Streptococcus species in caries samples included S. mutans, S. salivarius, S. mitis and S. sanguis with the dominant bacteria being S. mutans. Results: The highest bacterial prevalence of odontogenic infections was Staphylococcus bacteria with high sensitivity to penicillin antibiotics. Periodontal pocket samples showed the highest differences in bacterial prevalence from the three articles, including Staphylococcus aureus, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. Enterococcus was the dominant bacteria in two articles with samples taken from root canals. Odontogenic abscess samples showed that Gram-positive bacteria were more dominant than Gram-negative bacteria, which were the most common in the culture results of abscess patients. The spread of odontogenic infections in the facial space shows that Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are the dominant bacteria found. Conclusion: Bacteriological examination should be carried out to show the dominant bacteria that cause odontogenic infections, so that it has benefits to support the diagnosis and treatment plan by the dentist

Comparing NGS-Based identification of bloodstream infections to traditional culture methods for enhanced ICU care: a comprehensive study.

Accurate identification of infectious diseases using molecular techniques, such as PCR and NGS, is well-established. This study aims to assess the utility of Bactfast and Fungifast in diagnosing bloodstream infections in ICU settings, comparing them against traditional culture methods. The objectives include evaluating sensitivity and specificity and identifying a wide range of pathogens, including non-culturable species. We collected 500 non-duplicate blood samples from ICU patients between January 2023 and December 2023. Specimens underwent traditional culture, MALDI-TOF, VITEK®2 compact system, and NGS-based Bactfast and Fungifast analyses. Out of the 500 samples, 26.8% (n=134) showed bacterial growth via traditional culture methods, while 4.8% (n=24) were positive for fungal growth. MALDI-TOF and VITEK®2 compact system yielded comparable results, identifying 26.4% (n=132) of specimens with bacterial growth. NGS-based Bactfast detected bacterial presence in 38.2% (n=191) of samples, including non-culturable bacteria missed by traditional methods. However, NGS-based Fungifast showed concordant fungal detection rates with culture methods. Among identified pathogens by culture method included Klebsiella pneumoniae 20.89% (n=28), Enterococcus faecalis 18.65% (n=25), Escherichia coli 15.67% (n=21), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 12.68% (n=17), Acinetobacter baumannii 10.44% (n=14), various Streptococcus species 7.46% (n=10), Mycobacterium tuberculosis 6.71% (n=9), Mycobacterium abscessus 4.47% (n=6), and Salmonella spp 2.98% (n=4). Non-culture-based NGS identified additional (n=33) pathogens, including Klebsiella pneumoniae 27.27% (n=9), Bacteroides fragilis 21.21% (n=7), Aerococcus viridans 15.15% (n=5), Elizabethkingia anopheles 12.12% (n=4), Aeromonas salmonicida 9% (n=3), Clostridium 9% (n=3), and Bacteroides vulgatus 6% (n=2). Candida albicans was reported in 5% (n=24) of samples by both methods. NGS-based Bactfast and Fungifast demonstrate high sensitivity in identifying a wide array of bacterial and fungal pathogens in ICU patients, outperforming traditional culture methods in detecting non-culturable organisms. These molecular assays offer rapid and comprehensive diagnostic capabilities, potentially improving clinical outcomes through timely and accurate pathogen identification.

Advances and Obstacles in Reinforcement Learning : Unleashing AI's Potential, Practical Implementations, and the Roadmap for the Future

The bacteria are the most common naturally occurring organisms in an aquatic medium which are important for the degradation of the aquatic wastes, chemical substances and pollutants.. The normal bacteria of the fish is the flora of the medium in which they live. The heavy mortality that occurs in the cultured and the feral fish population is commonly caused by the bacterial diseases and affects fish living in the polluted waters. Therefore, the present study was aimed at studying the bacteria which can be easily identified by using biochemical parameters. During the present study bacteria of fish collected from the polluted water body was identified using various biochemical tests and compared with that of the fish from normal or comparatively less polluted water body .The polluted water fish are more prone to the bacterial ,fungal ,viral and parasitic infections than the fish living in the less contaminated waters. Therefore, a comparative study involving fish bacterial catalase ,peroxidase, and oxidase activities was qualitatively detected from fish obtained from both the normal water body and the polluted water body . The catalase activity was interpreted as positive for example Staphylococcus species and allied ones and negative for the streptococcus and related species. Peroxidase also showed similar results. The oxidase activity was found to be less than the other two enzyme activities. The difference in the enzyme activities are due to the differential breakdown of the pollutants by the bacteria present over the surface of the body of the fish and in the body fluids and more so in case of oxidase enzyme due to the low levels of oxygen as observed in the present study.

Advances and Obstacles in Reinforcement Learning : Unleashing AI's Potential, Practical Implementations, and the Roadmap for the Future

The bacteria are the most common naturally occurring organisms in an aquatic medium which are important for the degradation of the aquatic wastes, chemical substances and pollutants.. The normal bacteria of the fish is the flora of the medium in which they live. The heavy mortality that occurs in the cultured and the feral fish population is commonly caused by the bacterial diseases and affects fish living in the polluted waters. Therefore, the present study was aimed at studying the bacteria which can be easily identified by using biochemical parameters. During the present study bacteria of fish collected from the polluted water body was identified using various biochemical tests and compared with that of the fish from normal or comparatively less polluted water body .The polluted water fish are more prone to the bacterial ,fungal ,viral and parasitic infections than the fish living in the less contaminated waters. Therefore, a comparative study involving fish bacterial catalase ,peroxidase, and oxidase activities was qualitatively detected from fish obtained from both the normal water body and the polluted water body . The catalase activity was interpreted as positive for example Staphylococcus species and allied ones and negative for the streptococcus and related species. Peroxidase also showed similar results. The oxidase activity was found to be less than the other two enzyme activities. The difference in the enzyme activities are due to the differential breakdown of the pollutants by the bacteria present over the surface of the body of the fish and in the body fluids and more so in case of oxidase enzyme due to the low levels of oxygen as observed in the present study.

Colorimetric detection of oral bacteria using functionalized gold nanoparticles as a plasmonic biosensor array.

Early detection of specific oral bacterial species would enable timely treatment and prevention of certain oral diseases. In this work, we investigated the sensitivity and specificity of functionalized gold nanoparticles for plasmonic sensing of oral bacteria. This approach is based on the aggregation of positively charged gold nanoparticles on the negatively charged bacteria surface and the corresponding localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) shift. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized in different sizes, shapes and functionalization. A biosensor array was developed consisting of spherical- and anisotropic-shaped (1-hexadecyl) trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and spherical mercaptoethylamine (MEA) gold nanoparticles. It was used to detect four oral bacterial species (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Actinomyces naeslundii, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus oralis). The plasmonic response was measured and analysed using RGB and UV-vis absorbance values. Both methods successfully detected the individual bacterial species based on their unique responses to the biosensor array. We present an in-depth study relating the bacteria zeta potential and AuNP aggregation to plasmonic response. The sensitivity depends on multiple parameters, such as bacterial species and concentration as well as gold nanoparticle shape, concentration and functionalization.

Prevalence of Streptococcus Species in Horses with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. Systematic Meta-Analysis

Prevalence of Streptococcus Species in Horses with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. Systematic Meta-Analysis

Growth and Distribution of Bacteria in Contaminated Whole Blood and Derived Blood Components

Introduction: Bacterial contamination of blood products presumably occurs mainly during blood collection, starting from low initial concentrations of 10–100 colony-forming units (CFUs) per bag. As little is known about bacterial growth behavior and distribution in stored whole blood (WB) and WB-derived blood products, this study aims to provide data on this subject. Methods: WB units were inoculated with transfusion-relevant bacterial species (Acinetobacter baumannii, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica; n = 12 for each species), stored for 22–24 h at room temperature, and then centrifuged for separation into plasma, red blood cells (RBCs), and buffy coats (BCs). The latter were pooled with 3 random donor BCs and one unit of PAS-E each to yield plasma-reduced platelet concentrates (PCs). Samples for bacterial colony counting were collected after WB storage and immediately after blood component production. Sterility testing in PCs (n = 12 for each species) was performed by bacterial culture after 7 days of storage. Results: Bacterial growth in WB varied remarkably between donations and species. Streptococcus species produced the highest titers in WB, whereas Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas fluorescens did not multiply. Centrifugation resulted in preferential accumulation of bacteria in BCs, with titers of up to 3.5 × 103 CFU/mL in BCs and up to ≤0.9 × 103 CFU/mL in BC-derived PCs. Overall, 72/144 PCs (50%) tested positive for bacteria after storage. Sterility test results were species-dependent, ranging from 12 of 12 PCs tested positive for Streptococcus pyogenes to 1 of 12 PCs positive for Escherichia coli. Bacterial contamination of RBC and plasma units was much less common and was associated with higher initial bacterial counts in the parent WB units. Conclusions: Bacterial growth in WB is species-dependent and varies greatly between donations. Preferential accumulation of bacteria in BCs during manufacturing is a critical determinant of the contamination risk of BC-derived pooled PCs.

Optimization of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Reaction for Detecting Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotypes in Clinical Nasopharynx Swab Samples

Current molecular PCR-based methods for identifying Streptococcus pneumoniae, the primary cause of pneumonia, meningitis, and other invasive diseases, are accurate but require expensive infrastructure and have a long run time, which restricts their use, particularly in developing countries. LAMP, or loop-mediated isothermal amplification, is a low-cost alternative to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that can be used quickly because the reaction only takes place at a constant temperature. We aimed to develop a LAMP assay for rapid detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in nasopharynx swab samples. The LAMP primers were designed using a conserved region of the lytA gene. An incubation time range of 30 to 60 minutes was studied to optimize the LAMP reaction. The real-time fluorescence intensity was monitored during the amplification reaction. Clinical nasopharynx swab samples identified as Streptococcus pneumoniae and their serotypes were tested to evaluate the performance of LAMP. To investigate the specificity of the LAMP, Streptococcus species samples and non-Streptococcus species samples were analyzed. In conclusion, the optimized LAMP assay is capable of detecting Streptococcus pneumoniae and its serotypes in nasopharynx swab samples.

Comparative genomics analyses of fish pathogenic Streptococcus spp. isolated from tilapia and flounder

This comparative study was performed to analyze the whole genome sequences of three species of Streptococcus (S. agalactiae, S. iniae and S. parauberis) isolated from Tilapia and Flounder from six different countries (Brazil, China, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan and USA). The objectives were to compare the genomic features, virulence, and antibiotic resistance genes in the genome sequences of 11 isolates of Streptococcus spp. A total of 44 virulence genes were identified in the genomes of 11 strains. These genes are responsible for adherence, various enzyme production, immune evasion, immunoreactive antigen, and toxin production. Eight antibiotic resistance genes were identified in the eleven genome sequences of the Streptococcus sp. strains. All strains of S. agalactiae and S. iniae harbor macrolide resistance gene mreA. Although five secondary metabolites such as Arylpolyene (ary), Type III Polyketide synthases (T3PKS), RiPP-like peptide, linear azol(in)e-containing peptides (LAPs), RaS-RiPP antimicrobial compound, and T3PKS were detected in all 11 genomes; only T3PKS was common in all strains. Additionally, Cas cluster CAS-TypeIC and CAS-TypeIIA were identified among the ten strains of S. agalactiae and S. iniae. The findings indicated that the degree of pathogenicity of Streptococcus sp. remained closer regardless of origin, distribution and host. The results would be useful to understand the virulence factors of the Streptococcus sp. and the antibiotic resistance genes associated with their virulence in fish. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2023) 27 (2): 1-18

Microbial Analysis and Antibiogram of Bacteria and Fungi Isolated from Meat Sellers Tables in Dutsin-Ma Metropolis, Katsina State

The goal of the research project was to carry out microbiological analysis and antibiogram of bacteria and fungi associated with meat vendor tables in the city of Dutsin-Ma. This study made use of twenty samples in total. Five distinct locations at Wednesday Market and Darawa were chosen, and two samples from each table were taken using swab sticks. For analysis, the samples were then brought to the Federal University of Dutsin-ma microbiology laboratory department. The agars that were initially employed to isolate the bacteria and fungus were MacConkey, nutrient, mannitol salt, bile esculin, salmonella-shigella, eosin methylene blue, and potato dextrose agars. Bacterial species were identified using gram staining and biochemical tests while lactophenol cotton blue staining was used for the identification of fungal species. Bacterial isolates identified include Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus species and Staphylococcus aureus while the fungal isolates are Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. fumigatus, and Oidiodendron griseum. The antimicrobial susceptibility test findings showed that while some of the bacterial isolates were responsive to certain drugs, others were resistant. The results of this study's investigations therefore demonstrated how heavily polluted meat vendors' tables are with a wide variety of bacteria. This can be explained by the unsanitary procedures used in the meat sale industry as well as other environmental issues. Therefore, it is imperative that the government authorities tasked with these duties make sure that the vendors of these meat products adhere to standard and hygienic procedures. Raising public knowledge of the risks of foodborne illnesses associated with eating raw meats is another important goal of public health awareness campaigns.

Duodenal and pancreatic tissue microbiome profiles of PPI users and non-users

Factors that influence the pancreas microbiome are not well understood. Regular proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use induces significant alterations in the gut microbiome, including an increase in the abundance of Streptococcus, and may be associated with pancreatic cancer risk. The aim of this study was to examine whether PPI use is associated with pancreatic and duodenal tissue microbiomes. We compared 16S rRNA microbiome profiles of normal pancreatic and duodenal tissue from 103 patients undergoing pancreatic surgery for non-malignant indications, including 34 patients on PPIs, accounting for factors including age, smoking, body mass index and the presence of main pancreatic duct dilation. Histologically normal tissue from the pancreatic head had higher alpha diversity and enrichment of Firmicutes by phylum-level analysis and Streptococcus species compared to normal pancreas body/tail tissues (16.8 % vs 8.8 %, P = .02, and 5.9 % vs 1.4 %, P = .03, respectively). Measures of beta diversity differed significantly between the pancreas and the duodenum, but in subjects with main pancreatic duct dilation, beta diversity of pancreatic head tissue was more similar to normal duodenal tissue than those without pancreatic duct dilation. Duodenal tissue of PPI users had significant enrichment of Firmicute phyla (34.7 % vs. 14.1 %, P = .01) and Streptococcus genera (19.5 % vs. 5.2 %, P = .01) compared to non-users; these differences were not evident in pancreas tissues. By multivariate analysis, PPI use was associated with alpha diversity in the duodenum, but not in the pancreas. However, some differences in pancreas tissue beta diversity were observed between PPI users and non-users. In summary, we find differences in the microbiome profiles of the pancreas head versus the pancreatic body/tail and we find PPI use is associated with alterations in duodenal and pancreatic tissue microbiome profiles.