Microbiology spectrum最新文献

{"title":"Molecular typing of rotaviruses in gastroenteritis cases detected in foreign-born children aged 0-5 years.","authors":"Salam Charbak, Mustafa Sağlam, Tekin Karsligil","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.02406-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02406-25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rotavirus is one of the causes of viral gastroenteritis in childhood. It is one of the most common causes of mortality and morbidity in developing countries. The objective of this study was to determine the molecular typing of rotaviruses in gastroenteritis cases detected in foreign-born children aged 0-5 years. Out of the 120 stool samples received by our laboratory between May 2022 and November 2023, samples from 74 patients who tested positive for rotavirus were included in the study. The study was carried out in the Microbiology Laboratory of Gaziantep University Şahinbey Research and Application Hospital. One Step RT-PCR was used for genotyping. Positivity rates were 32.4% for P4, 17.6% for P6, and 37.8% for P8. G genotypes were G1 in 32.4%, G4 in 18.9%, and G9 in 23% of the samples. P9 genotype was found in 9% of girls and 22% of boys (<i>P</i> < 0.05). G1P[8] and G2P[4] genotypes were the most common genotypes in cases with rotavirus infection. Although there were common serotypes in the region, different serotypes were found in foreign-born children.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Rotavirus gastroenteritis continues to pose a significant health challenge in early childhood, especially in developing regions where the burden of illness remains high. Understanding which rotavirus genotypes are circulating in a community is important for tracking epidemiological trends and improving preventive strategies, including vaccination programs. In areas such as Gaziantep, where migration has led to a growing population of foreign-born children, information on the molecular characteristics of rotavirus strains is still limited. By examining genotype distribution among foreign-born children aged 0-5 years, this study provides valuable data on circulating strains and helps clarify regional patterns, contributing to more effective surveillance and better-informed public health measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":" ","pages":"e0240625"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147840136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urinary tract infections at an Australian sexual health service: bacterial etiologies, antibiotic susceptibilities, and antimicrobial prescribing patterns.","authors":"S E Carter, E L Plummer, L A Vodstrcil, V De Petra, I Abbott, N Sherry, C K Fairley, C S Bradshaw","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.02674-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02674-25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections. Management of UTIs often involves empiric antibiotics, which can contribute to antibiotic overuse. We aimed to investigate the causative organisms, prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, and empiric prescribing practices to improve antibiotic use for UTIs. We conducted a retrospective audit of UTIs in premenopausal nonpregnant persons with a vagina aged 18-51 years attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre from 2 January 2018 to 24 January 2023. We calculated the proportion of culture samples with pathogen(s) isolated, and their antimicrobial resistance profiles with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed adherence to first-line Australian Therapeutic guideline recommendations for acute uncomplicated lower UTIs (trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin, and cefalexin) during our study period. We included 1,680 acute UTI episodes (<i>n</i> = 1,569 patients). Midstream urine culture was performed in 1,503 episodes, with 911 (60.6%, 95% CI: 58.1-63.1) classified as laboratory-defined UTIs. The most common isolate was <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>n</i> = 615/948; 64.9%, 95% CI: 61.7-67.9). Of the first-line Australian Therapeutic Guideline recommended antibiotics, <i>E. coli</i> isolates were most commonly resistant to trimethoprim (<i>n</i> = 195/612; 31.9%, 95% CI: 28.2-35.7). Empiric antibiotics were prescribed for 1,533 (91.3%, 95% CI: 89.8-92.6) episodes. Most prescriptions (<i>n</i> = 1,465/1,533; 95.6%, 95% CI: 94.4-96.5) adhered to first-line recommendations, and trimethoprim accounted for 842 (54.9%, 95% CI: 52.4-57.4) prescriptions. At Australia's largest sexual health service, <i>E. coli</i> caused two-thirds of UTIs, with one-third of <i>E. coli</i> isolates demonstrating trimethoprim resistance. Empiric antibiotics were commonly prescribed and compliant with national recommendations; trimethoprim accounted for >50% of empiric prescriptions. Trimethoprim resistance indicates changes to empiric recommendations could be needed.IMPORTANCE<i>Escherichia coli</i> was the most common uropathogen isolated in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) over the past 5 years. One-third of these infections were resistant to trimethoprim, an antibiotic recommended as first-line presumptive therapy for UTIs in Australia and prescribed in over 50% of these <i>E. coli</i> urinary tract infections. These data demonstrate higher than previously reported levels of trimethoprim resistance in community-acquired <i>E. coli</i> UTIs in Australia, and the need for changes to empiric antimicrobial recommendations.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":" ","pages":"e0267425"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147840199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SMAP29: an antibacterial peptide that possesses anti-inflammatory and fast bactericidal actions against colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria.","authors":"Ziyue Zeng, Mengjie Wei, Deyi Zhao, Huijing Zhou, Endian Sun, Xiaowei Lv, Yuhan Yang, Tieli Zhou, Chunquan Xu","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.02808-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02808-25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are threatening global public health. Since colistin (COL) is the last resort antibiotic for MDR gram-negative infections, the rise in colistin-resistant ‌(COL-R) bacteria could pose risks to people. The current research investigation explored the antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and anti-inflammatory capacities of SMAP29, a naturally generated cationic antibacterial peptide, against clinical COL-R <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, and explored its antibacterial mechanisms. The results demonstrated that SMAP29 exhibited a very low minimum inhibitory concentration against COL-R GNB and rapidly killed bacteria within 30 min. In addition, SMAP29 inhibited biofilm growth and eliminated it. According to another study's findings, SMAP29 could lead to the membrane's integrity being wiped out, which could result in the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Moreover, SMAP29 could effectively prevent RAW 264.7 macrophages in mice from generating the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Assays for cytotoxicity and hemolysis <i>in vitro</i> revealed that SMAP29 proved safe at the tested concentrations. <i>In vivo</i> experiments further demonstrated that the amount of bacteria in the infected mice's thighs was significantly reduced through SMAP29 treatment. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that SMAP-29's efficacy stems from its dual action: rapid bactericidal activity via lipopolysaccharide-mediated membrane disruption and concurrent anti-inflammatory effects. This multifaceted potency, validated both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>, positions SMAP-29 as a promising therapeutic candidate against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria have emerged as critical threats to global public health, driving intractable infections with steadily rising incidence. These pathogens exhibit formidable tolerance to virtually all classes of contemporary antibiotics, translating into persistently high mortality and formidable clinical challenges. This study elucidates the antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and anti-inflammatory activities of the antimicrobial peptide SMAP-29 against colistin-resistant gram-negative organisms while dissecting its underlying mechanisms. Our findings provide a mechanistic framework and a promising therapeutic avenue for combating multidrug-resistant infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":" ","pages":"e0280825"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147840172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk factors for <i>in vivo</i> emergence of ceftazidime-avibactam resistance in KPC-producing <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> and the associated resistance mechanisms: a case-control study.","authors":"Chien Chuang, Szu-Yu Liu, Yu-Chien Ho, Sheng-Hua Chou, Yi-Ru Huang, Wan Chin, Hsiang-Ling Ho, Liang Chen, Yi-Tsung Lin","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.00972-26","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00972-26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The emergence of ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> carbapenemase (KPC)-producing <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (CZA-R KPC-Kp), primarily due to KPC variants, poses a growing challenge to clinical practice. We aimed to investigate risk factors for <i>in vivo</i> development of CZA resistance in KPC-Kp and explore resistance mechanisms. A matched case-control study was conducted at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, including patients with sequential KPC-Kp isolates, between June 2019 and May 2025. Forty-five patients with CZA-R KPC-Kp and a prior CZA-susceptible KPC-Kp (i.e., cases) were matched 1:1 to controls with both the first and the second KPC-Kp isolates being CZA-susceptible, based on the interval between the first and second isolates. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for the emergence of CZA resistance. The median interval between the first and second isolates was 20 days. KPC variants accounted for 73.3% (33/45) of CZA-R KPC-Kp isolates, with 20 variant types identified. The most common KPC variant was KPC-33 (<i>n</i> = 11), followed by KPC-35 (<i>n</i> = 3). Most KPC variants-producing strains (81.8%, 27/33) exhibited restored imipenem susceptibility (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] ≤ 4 µg/mL). CZA use was an independent risk factor for the development of resistance (odds ratio [OR] = 9.47, <i>P</i> = 0.001), whereas carbapenem use was a protective factor (OR = 0.27, <i>P</i> = 0.015). In conclusion, CZA exposure was the only risk factor for CZA resistance development in KPC-Kp, whereas the use of carbapenem may reduce the risk, possibly due to restored imipenem susceptibility in most KPC variant-producing strains.IMPORTANCEThe emergence of ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA)-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> carbapenemase (KPC)-producing <i>K. pneumoniae</i> poses a new threat to public health. Our study found that 73.3% of CZA-resistant strains carried KPC variants, and KPC-33 was the most frequent. Most KPC variants (82%) regained imipenem susceptibility. Exposure to CZA independently predicted resistance in KPC-Kp, whereas carbapenem use was protective. These findings highlight the importance of antibiotic stewardship and warrant further comparative study of meropenem-vaborbactam or imipenem-cilastatin-relebactam versus CZA for KPC-producing <i>K. pneumoniae</i> infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":" ","pages":"e0097226"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147817588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The building blocks of phage therapy: from lytic phage identification to preclinical validation against antimicrobial-resistant critical priority bacteria.","authors":"Filipa F Vale","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.00507-26","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00507-26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The fight against antimicrobial resistance is bringing back phage therapy, consisting of the use of lytic phages against specific pathogenic bacteria. For this purpose, libraries of well-characterized lytic phages are crucial, as the phage-bacteria arms race can limit efficacy, making phage cocktails generally more effective. In a recent study by H. -Y. Kuo, C. J. B. Bregente, T. T. D. Thuy, J. H. Hidrosollo, et al. (Microbiol Spectr 13:e00835-25, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00835-25), 12 novel lytic phages were isolated against carbapenem-resistant <i>Enterobacter cloacae</i> complex, a WHO critical-priority pathogen. These phages showed antibacterial activity <i>in vitro</i> and a broad host range across a panel of 80 CR-ECC isolates, as well as improved survival in the invertebrate model <i>Galleria mellonella</i>. Testing the two most promising phages in a mouse model showed that one significantly enhanced survival, demonstrating its therapeutic potential. This study offers a roadmap for isolating, characterizing, and evaluating phages for therapeutic use.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":" ","pages":"e0050726"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147817569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ICP1 bacteriophage treatment antagonizes colonization of the zebrafish larval intestine by <i>Vibrio cholerae</i>.","authors":"Adam Sidi Mabrouk, Jamie S Depelteau, Chiara Foini, Annabel Kempff, Sebastiaan Jonker, Susanne Brenzinger, Ronald Limpens, Manuel Majrouh, Annemarie H Meijer, Ariane Briegel","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.03565-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.03565-25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Outbreaks of cholera pose a major threat to human health. Currently, antibiotics are the most effective treatment against the causative agent, the bacterium <i>Vibrio cholerae</i>. However, the use of antibiotics eventually leads to the emergence of resistant strains, which necessitates the need for alternative approaches. The use of bacteriophages to target the infection by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is one promising alternative. While clearance of <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> with the use of phages has been performed on several animal models, none of these models are naturalistic hosts of <i>V. cholerae</i>. Therefore, we set out to investigate the interaction between <i>V. cholerae</i> and bacteriophage ICP1 both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> in a naturalistic host, the zebrafish model, <i>Danio rerio</i>. To study the interplay between host, bacteria, and phages, we used a combination of light and ultrastructural imaging techniques, including confocal fluorescence microscopy, serial block face scanning electron microscopy (EM) imaging, and cryogenic EM, which allowed us to investigate both the colonization process by <i>V. cholerae</i> and clearance by the ICP1 bacteriophage. In addition, we determined the effects of the microbiome on this treatment by using germ-free, conventionalized, and monoassociated zebrafish larvae as a host. Independent of the presence and composition of microbiomes used here, <i>V. cholerae</i> efficiently colonized the larval intestine. Finally, we demonstrate significant <i>in vivo</i> clearance of <i>V. cholerae</i> N16961-dsRED by ICP1, underscoring the role of phage-bacteria dynamics in shaping pathogen colonization within the zebrafish larval host.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Cholera remains a life-threatening disease that causes recurring outbreaks and significant mortality, particularly in developing and conflict-affected regions. As antimicrobial resistance continues to rise, there is an urgent need to better understand the ecological and microbial dynamics that govern <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> colonization and persistence. This research investigates how <i>V. cholerae</i> interacts with bacteriophages, the host environment, and the resident microbiota within a natural vertebrate host, offering new insights into the factors that influence pathogen clearance and shaping of the gut ecosystem during infection. The powerful combination of serial block-face scanning and cryogenic electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and traditional colony/plaque counting methods revealed previously unobserved aspects of the interplay between host, pathogen, phages, and selected microsymbionts, highlighting phage-driven clearance of <i>V. cholerae</i> during colonization.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":" ","pages":"e0356525"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147817521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phylodynamics and molecular epidemiology of the respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein in China.","authors":"Muhammad Nabeel Amjad, Jing Wang, Bei Shen, Huiting Xu, Muhammad Awais Ashraf, Muhammad Asif Raza, Ghayyas Ud Din, Lingdie Chen, Ahsan Ali Bhutto, Lihuan Yue, Hammad Ul Hussan, Dan Qian, Wei Dong, Huajie Yan, Yihong Hu","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.02983-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02983-25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections have a high prevalence in young children, immunocompromised adults, and elderly, raising global concerns. Global RSV surveillance infers an 8%-27% mortality rate in preterm-born children, with 2.8 million/year. Continuous surveillance studies, coupled with molecular epidemiological investigations, are essential to comprehend the virus's evolutionary dynamics and devise effective preventive strategies. The study investigates the evolutionary dynamics and molecular characterization of the RSV F-protein using bioinformatic pipelines on NCBI and GISAID data sets and molecular analysis of clinical specimens collected from children. We found S255N/G, N262S, N268I, K272M/N, and S275F/A mutations in the heptad repeat region \"A\" that were associated with inducing resistance toward palivizumab from bioinformatics analysis of surveillance data sets. Molecular characterization of RSV F protein from clinical specimens found L45F mutations responsible for forming new clades, L172Q and S173L substitutions for suptavumab resistance, and N276S mutations for potentially impacting palivizumab resistance. Six N-glycosylation sites are found at 27, 70, 116, 120, 126, and 500 in all RSV strains. Purifying selection, maintaining fusion protein stability, was observed. Phylogenetic analysis reveals genetic variability, with RSV B showing higher diversity than RSV A, forming distinctive clades belonging to B.D (BA9) and A.D (ON1) strains of RSV B and A, respectively. The phylodynamics of RSV indicate a uniform increase in effective population size. Understanding the F protein's structure and dynamics is essential for elucidating the virus's pathogenic mechanisms and developing effective vaccines and antiviral therapies.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Respiratory syncytial virus remains a major cause of severe respiratory disease in infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised populations worldwide. Despite recent advances in monoclonal antibodies and vaccines, the virus continues to evolve, posing challenges for long-term control. The RSV fusion (F) protein is central to viral entry and the primary target for neutralizing antibodies, yet little is known about its global evolutionary dynamics and drug-resistance associated changes. By integrating large-scale surveillance data with clinical isolates, our study identifies critical mutations, glycosylation patterns, and evolutionary pressures that shape the diversity of the F protein. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how RSV adapts under immune and therapeutic pressure, highlighting both vulnerabilities and conserved features of the F protein. Continuous monitoring of these evolutionary patterns will be crucial for maintaining vaccine effectiveness and informing the development of next-generation therapeutics to reduce RSV-associated morbidity and mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":" ","pages":"e0298325"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147817546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IL-17B protects against uropathogenic <i>E. coli</i>-induced kidney injury via macrophage infiltration modulation.","authors":"Changying Wang, Min Liu, Luyue Wang, Yixin Zhang, Zihan Niu, Xue Liu, Huabao Xiong","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.02244-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02244-25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by uropathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (UPEC) are prevalent among women. UPEC infection can lead to kidney injury, and currently, there are no effective methods to mitigate this damage. Previous studies have shown that macrophage infiltration is closely associated with kidney injury induced by UTIs. However, the mechanisms underlying macrophage recruitment to the kidneys remain unclear. In this study, IL-17B may play a critical role in protecting against UPEC-induced kidney injury by modulating macrophage infiltration and bacterial colonization. Compared with wild-type (WT) mice, IL-17B^-/- mice exhibited significantly higher mortality and more M1-type macrophage infiltration, which was associated with renal injury. rIL-17B treatment significantly reduced macrophage infiltration in the kidneys of CFT073-infected mice. Additionally, analysis of chemokines indicated that IL-17B is a key regulator of macrophage recruitment by influencing the expression of CCL2, CCL3, and CCL7. Overall, IL-17B can serve as a crucial cytokine for treating urinary tract infections and mitigating kidney damage.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a prevalent bacterial infectious disease that significantly affects women due to their recurrent nature and tissue damage. The increase of M1-type macrophages in infected kidneys is related to kidney injury. Investigating the mechanisms regulating macrophage infiltration could provide novel insights and strategies for treating UTIs. Previous studies have demonstrated the crucial role of IL-17A in modulating inflammation induced by UTIs, while the function of IL-17B remains poorly understood. Our research revealed that IL-17B deficiency enhanced macrophage infiltration and significantly increased mortality rates in mice during UTIs. Recombinant IL-17B treatment markedly alleviates renal damage caused by inflammation. These findings suggest that IL-17B could serve as a potential adjunctive therapeutic approach for severe UTIs, effectively controlling excessive inflammation-induced renal injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":" ","pages":"e0224425"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147817544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of COPAN FecalSwab and eSwab collection systems for the detection of C<i>lostridioides difficile</i> using the BD MAX Cdiff assay.","authors":"Kelly Waters, Keltie Baldwin, Sarah Marttala, Doris Williams, David Bulir, Mohammad Rubayet Hasan, Marek Smieja, Jodi Gilchrist","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.00767-26","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00767-26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (CDI) requires accurate and timely diagnostic testing to guide treatment. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) offer high sensitivity and specificity, but most assays, including the Health Canada-approved BD MAX Cdiff assay, are validated only for unpreserved stool. This presents challenges for transport, stability, and specimen sharing between tests. Swab-based collection systems such as COPAN FecalSwab and eSwab may alleviate these limitations but have not been fully evaluated on the BD MAX Cdiff assay. Residual stool specimens submitted for CDI testing were used to prepare FecalSwab and eSwab aliquots and evaluated to determine the optimal volume for BD MAX Cdiff testing. Sensitivity, specificity, and agreement were calculated using unpreserved stool as the reference method. Stability of <i>C. difficile</i> DNA was assessed at 4°C, room temperature, and 37°C over 14 days. Minimal variation in <i>C. difficile</i> PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values was observed across varying volumes of FecalSwab and eSwab media, and 100 µL was selected. <i>C. difficile</i> DNA was detected in all specimen types up to 14 days at different temperatures. However, a gradual increase in Ct values was noted over time for all specimens and storage temperatures, except for FecalSwab specimens stored at 4°C. FecalSwab specimens demonstrated 98.5% sensitivity and 98.4% specificity, while eSwab specimens demonstrated 97.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity against unpreserved stool. Agreement between the two swab types was 98.4%. FecalSwab and eSwab specimens prepared from unpreserved stool demonstrate excellent agreement with unpreserved stool, and provide improved options for specimen transport and stability.IMPORTANCEThis study demonstrates the utility of FecalSwab and eSwab collection media on the BD Max Cdiff assay. This addresses an important gap in the diagnosis of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection by evaluating other specimen types beyond neat stool specimens. We demonstrate that swabs collected from stool into FecalSwab and eSwab media have excellent sensitivity and specificity compared to neat stool. Further, FecalSwab and eSwab media allow for preservation of <i>C. difficile</i> DNA at varying storage conditions. This could alleviate specimen transport challenges in remote or resource-limited settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":" ","pages":"e0076726"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147817579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revisiting cysteine protease function in <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>: implications for parasite egress and differentiation.","authors":"Sara De Grandis, Anne Niggli, Delia Bogenstätter, Gaelle Lentini","doi":"10.1128/spectrum.04132-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04132-25","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chagas disease is a major global health concern affecting millions of people worldwide, with limited therapeutic options in its chronic phase and no prophylactic vaccine. The causative agent, &lt;i&gt;Trypanosoma cruzi&lt;/i&gt;, is a unicellular eukaryotic parasite whose life cycle alternates between insect vectors and a wide range of mammalian hosts. In mammalian cells, parasite proliferation depends on iterative cycles of host cell invasion, intracellular multiplication, differentiation, and host cell rupture, releasing hundreds of infective parasites. The mechanisms governing the critical transition from replicative amastigotes to infective trypomastigotes (trypomastigogenesis) and subsequent egress remain poorly understood, largely due to the lack of robust analytical tools. Here, we combined real-time cellular impedance monitoring, stage-specific fluorescent parasites, ultrastructural expansion microscopy, and automated high-content imaging to dissect the late steps of the lytic cycle. We provide quantitative evidence that trypomastigogenesis is temporally coordinated with egress, ensuring the release of fully mature, infective trypomastigotes. Furthermore, we re-evaluate the effect of the cysteine protease inhibitor Z-Phe-Ala fluoromethyl ketone (Z-FA-FMK) at late stages of infection. Our results quantitatively support previous observations that Z-FA-FMK impairs trypomastigogenesis, causing an accumulation of amastigotes and blocking progression to mature trypomastigotes. This arrest delays egress and leads to the release of immature forms, highlighting the essential role of cysteine proteases in parasite differentiation. Together, our work establishes a quantitative framework for dissecting the tightly regulated, multi-step process of lytic cycle termination in &lt;i&gt;T. cruzi&lt;/i&gt; and offers a versatile platform for phenotypic screening and drug discovery.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Importance: &lt;/strong&gt;Chagas disease, caused by &lt;i&gt;Trypanosoma cruzi&lt;/i&gt;, affects millions worldwide and remains a major global health burden, causing chronic cardiac, digestive, and neurological complications. The disease, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations, lacks effective treatments for the chronic phase of the disease or a vaccine for its prevention. Parasite replication and host cell exit are tightly linked, but the mechanisms driving the transition from intracellular replicative parasites to infective forms and their subsequent release upon host cell lysis are poorly understood. Using real-time monitoring, fluorescent parasites, and high-resolution imaging, we provide quantitative evidence that cysteine proteases are critical for parasite maturation and that their inhibition uncouples differentiation from egress, leading to the release of immature parasites that are generally considered less infective. These findings reveal fundamental principles of parasite biology, provide a platform for drug discovery, and highlight new avenues to target Chagas disease at a ","PeriodicalId":18670,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology spectrum","volume":" ","pages":"e0413225"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147775735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}