Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"<i>aac(6')-Iaq</i>, a novel aminoglycoside acetyltransferase gene identified from an animal isolate <i>Brucella intermedia</i> DW0551.","authors":"Naru Lin, Wanna Xu, Dawei Huang, Chaoqun Liu, Junwan Lu, Mei Zhu, Qiyu Bao, Wei Pan","doi":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1551240","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1551240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bacterial resistance to aminoglycoside antimicrobials is becoming increasingly severe due to their use as commonly prescribed antibiotics. The discovery of new molecular mechanisms of aminoglycoside resistance is critical for the effective treatment of bacterial infections.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Bacteria in goose feces were isolated by plate streaking. The identification and characterization of a novel resistance gene from the bacterial genome involved various techniques, including molecular cloning, drug susceptibility testing, protein expression and purification, and enzyme kinetic analysis. Additionally, whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic studies were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>Brucella intermedia</i> DW0551, isolated from goose feces, was resistant to 35 antibiotics, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was particularly high for most aminoglycoside antibiotics. The novel aminoglycoside resistance gene <i>aac(6')-Iaq</i> encoded by <i>B. intermedia</i> DW0551 conferred resistance to netilmicin, sisomicin, amikacin, kanamycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, and ribostamycin. The amino acid sequence of AAC(6')-Iaq shared the highest identity (52.63%) with the functionally characterized aminoglycoside acetyltransferase AAC(6')-If. AAC(6')-Iaq contained all the conserved sites of the acetyltransferase family NAT_SF. The enzyme exhibited strong affinity and catalytic activity toward netilmicin and sisomicin. The mobile genetic element (MGE) was not found in the flanking regions of the <i>aac(6')-Iaq</i> and <i>aac(6')-Iaq</i>-like genes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this work, a novel aminoglycoside acetyltransferase gene, designated <i>aac(6')-Iaq</i>, which conferred resistance to a variety of aminoglycoside antimicrobials, was identified in an animal <i>Brucella intermedia</i> isolate. Identification of new antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacteria isolated from animals could aid in the treatment of animal and human infectious diseases caused by related bacterial species.</p>","PeriodicalId":12458,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology","volume":"15 ","pages":"1551240"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11932996/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143709419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut microbiota: an emerging target connecting polycystic ovarian syndrome and insulin resistance.","authors":"Yufeng Mei, Wanzhen Li, Bingqi Wang, Zhenni Chen, Xinyi Wu, Yingrui Lin, Min Wang","doi":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1508893","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1508893","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a highly heterogeneous metabolic disorder, with oligomenorrhea and hirsutism as patients' primary complaints. Hyperinsulinemia is a crucial pathophysiological mechanism in the development of PCOS, with 50-70% of patients exhibiting insulin resistance (IR). This condition not only exacerbates ovulatory dysfunction but also leads to various adverse metabolic outcomes, such as dyslipidemia and diabetes, and increases the risk of cardiovascular events both before and after menopause. Gut microbiota is a microbial community within the host that possesses significant metabolic potential and is shaped by external environmental factors, the neuro-immune network, and metabolism. Recent studies have shown that gut microbiota dysbiosis is closely related to the development and progression of PCOS. Despite the growing recognition of the potential role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of PCOS, its clinical application remains in its infancy. Currently, most clinical guidelines and expert consensus still emphasize traditional therapeutic approaches, such as hormonal treatments, lifestyle modifications, and insulin sensitizers. However, accumulating evidence suggests that gut microbiota may influence the metabolic and reproductive health of PCOS patients through various mechanisms. Therefore, understanding the role of gut microbiota between PCOS and IR is essential. This review describes the changes in the gut microbiota of IR-PCOS patients, examines the potential mechanisms by which the gut microbiota contributes to IR in PCOS patients, and updates the evidence supporting the gut microbiota as a potential metabolic regulatory target in IR-PCOS. In summary, gut microbiota dysbiosis may be involved in the development and progression of IR in PCOS patients, and improving gut microbiota may offer metabolic stability benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":12458,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology","volume":"15 ","pages":"1508893"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11933006/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143709422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adaptive attenuation of virulence mediated by Wzc mutation in ST11-KL47 Carbapenem-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumonia</i>.","authors":"Yufeng Dai, Qiang Zhao, Huanhuan Yan, Kun Ye, Lifeng Wang, Ling Guo, Na Guo, Wenwen Li, Jiyong Yang","doi":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1561631","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1561631","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The impact of the hypermucoviscosity (HMV) phenotype in ST11-KL47 carbapenem-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (CRKp) pathogenicity warrants investigation for public health risk assessment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 230 clinical ST11-KL47 CRKp to identify the key factor in mucoviscosity acquisition via comparative genomic analysis. Sedimentation value served as the objective index to quantify HMV. The virulence <i>in vivo</i> was assessed using <i>Galleria mellonella</i> and mouse infection models. We employed genome engineering, capsular polysaccharides (CPS) quantification, and visualization to explore the role of Wzc mutation in CPS biosynthesis and HMV. The biological impact of Wzc-mediated HMV was investigated through competitive growth analysis, biofilm formation, serum resistance, anti-phagocytic ability, and adhesion assays. Transcriptomic analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to explore the relationship between polysaccharide composition, physical distribution, and changes in virulence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Wzc mutations are identified as the key to mucoviscosity acquisition. Unexpectedly, Wzc-mediated HMV CRKp exhibits reduced pathogenicity versus non-mucoviscosity (NMV) strains in different animal models, with competitive disadvantage, decreased biofilm formation, serum resistance, and adhesion, yet higher anti-phagocytic ability <i>in vitro</i>. CPS extraction and visualization of genome-engineered strains verify the Wzc mutations mediate HMV by standardizing CPS chain length and overproducing cell-free extracellular polysaccharides (cell-free EPS). Transcriptomic results, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) quantification, and SEM collectively indicate a downregulation of LPS synthesis and the masking of LPS in HMV strains.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings demonstrate that the Wzc-induced HMV attenuates ST11-KL47 CRKp virulence by modifying the exopolysaccharide composition and physical distribution.</p>","PeriodicalId":12458,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology","volume":"15 ","pages":"1561631"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11933079/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143709454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distinct gut microbiome features characterize <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> infection and predict triclabendazole treatment outcomes in Peruvian patients.","authors":"Giljae Lee, Bruce A Rosa, Martha V Fernandez-Baca, John Martin, Rodrigo A Ore, Pedro Ortiz, Miguel M Cabada, Makedonka Mitreva","doi":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1555171","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1555171","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Fasciola hepatica</i>, a globally distributed helminth, causes fasciolosis, a disease with significant health and economic impacts. Variability in triclabendazole (TCBZ) efficacy and emerging resistance are remaining challenges. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome influences host-helminth interactions and is associated with anthelmintic effects, but its association with human <i>F. hepatica</i> infection and TCBZ efficacy is not well understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we investigated the relationship between <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> infection and the gut microbiome through metagenomic shotgun sequencing of 30 infected and 60 age- and sex-matched uninfected individuals from Peru. Additionally, we performed a longitudinal analysis to evaluate microbiome dynamics in relation to TCBZ treatment response.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>Infection was associated with specific microbial taxonomic and functional features, including higher abundance of <i>Negativibacillus</i> sp900547015, <i>Blautia</i> A sp000285855, and <i>Prevotella</i> sp002299635 species, and enrichment of microbial pathways linked to survival under stress and depletion of pathways for microbial growth. Unexpectedly, we identified that responders to TCBZ treatment (who cleared infection) harbored many microbiome features significantly different relative to non-responders, both before and after treatment. Specifically, the microbiomes of responders had a higher abundance Firmicutes A and <i>Bacteroides</i> species as well as phospholipid synthesis and glucuronidation pathways, while non-responders had higher abundance of Actinobacteria species including several from the <i>Parolsenella</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> genera, and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> shunt and amino acid biosynthesis pathways.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings underscore the impact of helminth infection on gut microbiome and suggest a potential role of gut microbiota in modulating TCBZ efficacy, offering novel insights into <i>F. hepatica</i>-microbiome interactions and paving the way for microbiome-informed treatment approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":12458,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology","volume":"15 ","pages":"1555171"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11931013/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143700021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urinary microbiota changes among NMIBC patients during BCG therapy: comparing BCG responders and non-responders.","authors":"Toni Boban, Blanka Milić Roje, Dora Knezović, Ana Jerončić, Hrvoje Šošić, Marijan Šitum, Janoš Terzić","doi":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1479795","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1479795","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The gold standard for treating high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer involves the transurethral removal of cancerous tissue followed by BCG immunotherapy. So far, there is no reliable biomarker for predicting BCG efficacy and identifying patients who will or will not respond to BCG treatment. Emerging evidence suggests that urinary microbiota may play a crucial role in BCG efficacy. This study aimed to explore (i) changes in urinary microbiota during the six induction cycles of BCG and (ii) its potential predictive role in determining the outcome of BCG treatment. To this end, catheterized urine samples were collected before each of the six BCG doses and bacterial composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Patient inclusion criteria were male gender, no previous history of urothelial cancer, no other malignancies, no active infection, and no antibiotic usage for at least 20 days before the first BCG dose. We observed a significant decrease in biodiversity, measured by the Shannon Index, during the first week of therapy in 10 out of 12 patients (p=0.021). Additionally, differences in microbiota composition before the start of BCG therapy were noted between responders and non-responders to BCG therapy. Non-responders exhibited a 12 times higher abundance of genus <i>Aureispira</i> (p<0.001), and, at the species level, a 27-fold lower abundance of <i>Negativicoccus succinivorans</i> (p<0.001). Throughout the treatment, the abundance of the genus <i>Aureispira</i> decreased, showing an eightfold reduction by the end of therapy among non-responders (p<0.001). Our findings suggest that urinary microbiota plays an active role before and during the course of BCG therapy. However, this is a preliminary study, and further research involving larger patient cohorts is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":12458,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology","volume":"15 ","pages":"1479795"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11931020/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143700115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut microbiome is associated with radiotherapy response in lung cancer patients with brain metastases.","authors":"Fei Liang, Yichu Sun, Jing Yang, Ziqiang Shen, Guangfeng Wang, Jiangrui Zhu, Chong Zhou, Youyou Xia","doi":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1562831","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1562831","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To investigate the gut microbiome of lung cancer patients with brain metastases undergoing radiotherapy, identify key microorganisms associated with radiotherapy response, and evaluate their potential as biomarkers.</p><p><strong>Methods and materials: </strong>This study enrolled 55 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients with brain metastases. Fecal samples were collected before radiotherapy and analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing to assess the gut microbiome's composition and function. Patients were categorized into response (n=28) and non-response (n=27) groups based on treatment efficacy, and α-diversity, β-diversity, and functional pathways were compared between them. Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size was used to identify microbial features associated with treatment efficacy. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive capacity of clinical and microbial factors for treatment outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant difference in α-diversity was observed between the groups (P > 0.05), but β-diversity differed significantly (P = 0.036). Twelve characteristic microorganisms were identified in the response group, including <i>g_ Oscillibacter</i> and <i>g_ Blautia</i>, and nine in the non-response group, such as <i>f_ Desulfovibrionaceae</i> and <i>g_ Megamonas</i>. Metabolic pathways associated with treatment response included ketone body metabolism and pathways related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Multivariate analysis identified <i>g_Flavonifractor</i> (odds ratio [OR] = 6.680, P = 0.004), <i>g_Negativibacillus</i> (OR = 3.862, P = 0.014), C-reactive protein (OR = 1.054, P = 0.017), and systemic inflammation response index (OR = 1.367, P = 0.043) as independent predictors of radiotherapy response. The nomogram and microbiome models achieved area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.935 and 0.866, respectively, demonstrating excellent predictive performance. Decision curve analysis further confirmed these models provided significant net benefits across risk thresholds.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The composition and functional characteristics of the gut microbiome in lung cancer patients with brain metastases prior to radiotherapy are associated with therapeutic response and possess potential as predictive biomarkers. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12458,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology","volume":"15 ","pages":"1562831"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11931136/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143700113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of enterotoxigenic <i>Bacteroides fragilis</i> in patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Shijun Xia, Lijuan Ma, Hui Li, Yue Li, Linchong Yu","doi":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1525609","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1525609","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The gut microbiome, specifically enterotoxigenic <i>Bacteroides fragilis</i> (ETBF), has been reported to play a role in colorectal cancer development. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies to compare the prevalence of ETBF in patients with colorectal cancer and healthy controls as well as in various stages of colorectal cancer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library were systematically searched for studies published until May 2024. We utilized studies either comparing the prevalence of ETBF in patients with colorectal cancer and healthy control or examining its prevalence across different stages of colorectal cancer. The prevalence of ETBF colonization in biological samples from individuals with colorectal cancer compared to that in healthy controls or adjacent normal tissue as well as the association between the prevalence of ETBF and various stages of colorectal cancer were plotted using a random-effect or fixed-effect model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fourteen relevant articles were identified. Meta-analyses revealed that patients with colorectal cancer had a higher likelihood of having ETBF than healthy controls (odds ratio [OR]: 2.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.63-3.98, I² = 55%). Additionally, ETBF detection was lower in stage I/II than in stage III/IV colorectal cancer (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.41-0.91, I² = 41%).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The prevalence of ETBF was consistently higher in the tissue and fecal samples of patients with colorectal cancer than in those of controls. A difference in ETBF prevalence between stage I/II and stage III/IV colorectal cancer was noted, but further analysis revealed that the conclusion is unreliable.</p><p><strong>Systematic review registration: </strong>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD 42024548325.</p>","PeriodicalId":12458,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology","volume":"15 ","pages":"1525609"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11926129/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoy receptor 3 as a prognostic biomarker for sepsis and septic shock according to the Sepsis-3 definitions.","authors":"Long Chen, Xiao Lin, Xing Yu, Chunxia Yang, Rui Li, Qingqing Guo, Jingshi Shi, Xiuyu Liao, Xiaoli Chen, Zengyi Ma, Jiandong Lin","doi":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1529917","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1529917","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The present study was conducted to reappraise the prognostic value of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) for patients with sepsis and septic shock according to the latest Sepsis-3 definitions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Subjects suffering from sepsis or septic shock were enrolled within 6 h of admission. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and the plasma levels of DcR3, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and interleukin-6 were measured. Group comparisons were made based on the survival status on day 28 after onset. Predictors of mortality were assessed using the Cox proportional hazard models, and survival curves were plotted with the Kaplan-Meier method. Discriminative performances of single and combined indicators were evaluated via the areas under receiver operating characteristic curves.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 143 eligible sepsis cases, 77 developed septic shock, and the 28-day mortality rates were 32.2% and 45.5%, respectively. Regardless of the population (all sepsis or septic shock), non-survivors exhibited significantly higher DcR3 levels compared to survivors (median 4.19 vs. 2.64 ng/mL and 4.37 vs. 3.18 ng/mL, respectively; <i>p</i> < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). DcR3 levels were most correlated with organ dysfunction presented by SOFA scores (correlation coefficient = 0.347 and 0.308, respectively; p = 0.001 and 0.016, respectively) but did not differ among the various pathogenic microbes of infection. Multivariate Cox regression identified DcR3 as an independent predictor of mortality [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.570 (1.048-2.352) and 1.828 (1.047-3.194), respectively; p = 0.029 and 0.034, respectively]. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that elevated DcR3 concentrations were associated with significantly lower survival rates (p = 0.001 and 0.013, respectively). The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves of DcR3 alone for predicting outcome were superior to that of the other three biomarkers (0.731 and 0.711, respectively) and could be further improved when coupled with SOFA scores (0.803 and 0.784, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>DcR3 is a valuable prognostic biomarker for sepsis and septic shock, offering the potential to predict 28-day mortality in clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12458,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology","volume":"15 ","pages":"1529917"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of carbapenem-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in bloodstream infections: antibiotic resistance, virulence, and treatment strategies.","authors":"Chenglin Zhong, Shaohua Lin, Zeqi Li, Xuejing Yang","doi":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1541704","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1541704","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Carbapenem-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (CRKP) infections pose a major clinical challenge due to multidrug resistance. This study evaluated the clinical features, antibiotic resistance mechanisms, virulence factors, and the potential therapeutic impact of berberine hydrochloride (a traditional Chinese medicine) in CRKP infections.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ninety-four CRKP isolates from bloodstream infections at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University were characterized for carbapenemase genes, antibiotic susceptibility, and virulence determinants. Clinical data were analyzed to identify risk factors for CRKP infection, and the <i>in vitro</i> antibacterial activity of berberine hydrochloride was assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most of the isolates (71.3%) were from the intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The <i>bla</i> _KPC gene was the predominant resistance mechanism (62.77%), while the virulence genes <i>uge</i> (93.62%) and <i>wabG</i> (92.55%) were highly prevalent. ICU admission, male sex, respiratory diseases, invasive procedures, prior use of third-generation cephalosporinase inhibitors, and absence of traditional Chinese medicine treatment were linked to poorer outcomes. Importantly, berberine hydrochloride inhibited CRKP growth <i>in vitro</i>, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 125 mg/mL.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study reveals the multifaceted resistance and virulence profiles of CRKP in bloodstream infections and highlights the potential clinical value of berberine hydrochloride as an adjunctive therapeutic agent. These findings support further clinical investigations into incorporating traditional Chinese medicine to improve outcomes in patients with CRKP bloodstream infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":12458,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology","volume":"15 ","pages":"1541704"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925884/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbiological and clinical predictors of sepsis-associated encephalopathy in bloodstream infections: a retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Yunhan Fei, Zhaowei Hao, Xinwei Zheng, Xiang Ji, Wenjuan Zhao","doi":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1548370","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcimb.2025.1548370","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a common and severe complication of sepsis, significantly contributing to morbidity and mortality. The impact of specific blood-borne pathogens on SAE risk and prognosis remains unclear. This study investigates the microbiological and clinical factors associated with bloodstream infection-induced SAE.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed data from the MIMIC-IV database, including 16,141 sepsis patients who met inclusion criteria. Patients were divided into SAE and non-SAE groups for comparison. Multivariate regression identified independent risk factors for SAE and associated outcomes, including in-hospital mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) was identified as a key microbial risk factor for SAE (HR=1.919, P<0.001), though it was not associated with in-hospital mortality. Higher SOFA scores, mechanical ventilation, and prolonged antibiotic use significantly increased SAE risk. Laboratory tests revealed higher white blood cell counts, platelet levels, and metabolic abnormalities in SAE patients. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was linked to increased mortality in SAE patients (HR=3.423, P<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Coagulase-negative staphylococci is a significant risk factor for SAE development, but not for mortality. Advanced age, female gender, higher SOFA scores, and mechanical ventilation further contribute to SAE risk. Early identification and targeted management of pathogens, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, are crucial for improving SAE outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12458,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology","volume":"15 ","pages":"1548370"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925888/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}