International Journal of Medical Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Travel associated human coccidioidomycosis in Germany 2011–2023","authors":"M. Messal ,&nbsp;T. Störiko ,&nbsp;J. Gerkrath ,&nbsp;J. Michel ,&nbsp;S. Ackermann ,&nbsp;S.H. Tausch ,&nbsp;V. Rickerts","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151703","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study reviews proven coccidioidomycosis cases in Germany associated with travel between 2011 and 2023 to endemic regions. We characterize clinical presentation, diagnostic practices, antifungal susceptibility, and molecular epidemiology. Fifteen human cases were confirmed by culture (12 cases) and histology (3 cases), with infections caused by <em>Coccidioides posadasii</em> (10 cases) and <em>C. immitis</em> (2 cases). Patients ranged from 23 to 82 years old, mostly without significant comorbidities. Clinical manifestations included pulmonary (6 cases), CNS (2 cases), and disseminated disease (3 cases). Serologic testing showed high sensitivity for lateral flow assays (100 %) compared to immunodiffusion (82 %). In vitro susceptibility testing indicated strong activity of amphotericin B and azole antifungals. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that most infections originated from Arizona, clustering with known clades. The findings highlight that coccidioidomycosis is rarely diagnosed in Germany but does occur in previously healthy individuals with travel to endemic regions. Importantly, antibody detection via lateral flow assay is a useful screening tool in non-endemic settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50312,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 151703"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical utility of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the etiological diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in children","authors":"Rongjie Chen ,&nbsp;Zhengdong Li ,&nbsp;Dengran Li ,&nbsp;Xiuxiu Mao ,&nbsp;Zhe Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>CAP is a major cause of pediatric hospitalization on a global scale, particularly in developing countries where the morbidity and mortality rates remain high. The etiological diagnosis of CAP in children is challenging, particularly for children with severe and high-risk conditions, such as immunodeficiency. This is primarily due to the nonspecific distribution of the causative agent and the limitations of traditional detection methods. As an emerging molecular diagnostic technology, BALF mNGS has been shown to detect the nucleic acid sequences of bacterial, viral, fungal, and atypical pathogens directly from clinical samples. This is attributed to the technology's unbiased, high throughput, and high sensitivity, which significantly improves the detection rate of pathogens. Furthermore, BALF mNGS also improves the detection of mixed infections. This capacity for precise analysis is of significant value, as it facilitates the identification of drug-resistant genes and rare pathogens. Consequently, this enhanced diagnostic capability provides a reliable foundation for the precise treatment of childhood CAP. Nevertheless, its clinical application continues to encounter challenges, including high cost, invasive sampling methods, complex data analysis processes, and insufficient standardization of pre-analytical sample processing. The technical principles, clinical value and optimization strategies of BALF mNGS are systematically reviewed in this paper, with the aim of providing a reference for improving the pathogenetic diagnosis of CAP in children.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50312,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 151701"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The substrate-binding protein DppA modulates the virulence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae","authors":"Rongping Zhu ,&nbsp;Qingzhu Zheng ,&nbsp;Jiacheng Qiu ,&nbsp;Yingping Cao ,&nbsp;Xiaohong Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151697","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151697","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hypervirulent <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> (hvKp), one of the most significant pathogens in nosocomial infections, regulates the shift from long-term survival to pathogenicity via an intricate regulatory network. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which hvKp manages to uphold a variety of metabolic shifts occurring in its immediate vicinity could play a significant role in bolstering its virulence. Through the identification of DppA, a crucial component of the dipeptide (Dpp) transporter system, our findings revealed a link between DppA and the regulation of virulence and metabolism in hvKp. Significant phenotypic alterations were observed in the <em>dppA</em> deletion mutant, including increased biofilm formation, improved serum resistance, enhanced siderophores production, improved cell adhesion and infection, and, most crucially, in a mouse model of bloodstream infection, we demonstrated that the <em>dppA</em> deletion markedly increased the expression of the inflammatory mediator IL-6. Furthermore, approximately 2.5 % of the genes exhibited differential expression in the mutant, with virulence-associated genes (particularly those related to siderophores) showing substantially elevated expression levels. This study deciphers the role of DppA within the virulence and metabolic regulatory networks of hvKp, thereby establishing a foundation for future research into its pathogenic mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50312,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 151697"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization and antibiofilm efficacy of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage HKPH_J3","authors":"Jinyue Zhang ,&nbsp;Yao Li ,&nbsp;Tianheng Xue ,&nbsp;Haoyu Li ,&nbsp;Hanqi Wei ,&nbsp;Xiaoxiao Li ,&nbsp;Wanlian Zhang ,&nbsp;Shihao Song","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151706","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, due to the spread of antibiotic resistance, <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> has emerged as an ESKAPE super-resistant pathogen, posing a major threat to current therapies. Phage therapy is currently one of the most promising treatment methods. In this study, we isolated a novel strongly lytic phage HKPH_J3, which is a linear double-stranded DNA of 38008 bp with a GC content of 64.6 %, and contains no harmful genes. Phage HKPH_J3 is a member of the Casadabanvirus genus, and there are subtle genetic differences between it and homologous phages. Phenotypic analysis revealed that phage HKPH_J3 has efficient and stable lytic activity and strongly inhibits and degrades the biofilm of <em>P. aeruginosa</em> PAO1. Moreover, the phage HKPH_J3 significantly inhibited the cytotoxicity of <em>P. aeruginosa</em> PAO1, and in the <em>G. mellonella</em> model, phage HKPH_J3 significantly improved larval survival. In addition, we studied the phage-resistant <em>P. aeruginosa</em> mutant J3yd_PAO1. The infection pressure of phage HKPH_J3 causes a nonsense mutation in the type IV pili (T4P) biogenic protein PilP of <em>P. aeruginosa</em> PAO1, which hinders the folding of the functional domain of the PilP protein and may affect the expression of type IV pili (T4P), inhibiting the adsorption of phage HKPH_J3 and ultimately leading to phage resistance. In summary, phage HKPH_J3 has practical application value in treating drug-resistant <em>P. aeruginosa</em> infections. However, the development of phage resistance in bacteria hinders their application, and the resistance mechanism of bacteria is a key strategy for their survival and reproduction. And, the potential mechanism of bacteria-phage interaction is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the phage-resistance mechanism of J3yd_PAO1, which helps to increase our understanding of phage-resistant regulation and lays the foundation for the application of phage therapy and the study of bacteria-phage evolution mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50312,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 151706"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146133465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"mNGS-guided precision management of M. pneumoniae pneumonia: Pathogen load assessment and fungal co-detection patterns directing antibiotic optimization","authors":"Jiayin Li ,&nbsp;Haiting Wei ,&nbsp;Shuaifeng Wang ,&nbsp;Yudie Cai ,&nbsp;Ziyi Li ,&nbsp;Yangmiao Zhang ,&nbsp;Ang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151699","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151699","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Global <em>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</em> pneumonia (MPP) outbreaks show increasing refractory cases. Conventional diagnostics lack sensitivity, with limited evidence on factors affecting <em>M. pneumoniae</em> load in mNGS, co-<strong>detected</strong> fungi, and antibiotic optimization.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To investigate the pivotal role of mNGS in optimizing the diagnosis and treatment of MPP.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a retrospective analysis of 305 patients with confirmed MPP. Among them, 74 patients (64 serum IgM-negative, 15 PCR-negative, 5 both negative) tested negative by traditional methods but were positive for <em>M. pneumoniae</em> via mNGS. Spearman correlation analysis evaluated associations between <em>M. pneumoniae</em> sequence counts (SC) and inflammation markers. Logistic regression identified risk factors for high SC. The spectrum of fungal co-<strong>detections</strong> was characterized through frequency statistics and association rule mining (Apriori algorithm). The association between antibiotic adjustment and clinical outcomes was assessed using the chi-square test.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The mean age of the cohort was 27.92 ± 24.06 years. Common symptoms included cough (85.2 %) and fever (69.2 %). The median <em>M. pneumoniae</em> SC was 4.8 × 10⁴ ( 2.3 ×10 ³-2.6 ×10⁵). SC was significantly higher in the adolescent group (≤18 years) compared to the young adult group (18–45 years) (p = 0.007). Independent risk factors for high SC included fever (OR = 1.372 per 0.5°C increase), elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase level (OR = 1.005 per U/L increase), and decreased neutrophil percentage (OR = 0.969 per % decrease) (all p &lt; 0.05). Fungal co-detection was identified in 23.9 % (73/305) of patients; predominant pathogens were <em>Candida albicans</em> (11.80 %), <em>Aspergillus flavus</em> (8.52 %), and <em>Aspergillus fumigatus</em> (8.52 %). The strongest co-occurrence association was observed between <em>A. fumigatus</em> and <em>A. flavus</em> (lift = 4.72, p &lt; 0.001). Antibiotic adjustment was significantly associated with improved treatment effectiveness (OR = 5.33, p &lt; 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Adolescents exhibit higher <em>M. pneumoniae</em> pathogen loads than young adults. Serum LDH levels and fever demonstrate positive correlations with pathogen load. A synergistic co-<strong>detection</strong> pattern between <em>A. fumigatus</em> and <em>A. flavus</em> was identified. mNGS, by integrating pathogen load quantification and co-<strong>detection</strong> profiling, effectively guides MPP diagnosis and antibiotic therapy, delivering pivotal evidence for precision treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50312,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 151699"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lactobacillus gasseri suppresses the Helicobacter pylori-induced expression of the proliferation-associated factors HBEGF and TGF-α in gastric host cells","authors":"Tanvi Somiah,&nbsp;Priyodip Paul,&nbsp;Sarah Pilheden,&nbsp;James Trumbo,&nbsp;Ann-Beth Jonsson","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151694","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To date, various probiotic lactobacilli have been tested against <em>Helicobacter pylori</em>. However, a detailed molecular analysis of the various signaling pathways and their associated anti-proliferative activity remains poorly understood. In our previously published research, a disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) was proposed as a key target for anti-inflammatory activity in <em>H. pylori</em>-infected host macrophages. Therefore, in this study, the anti-<em>H. pylori</em> activity of selected lactobacilli was assessed based on expression of ADAM17 and two of its targets, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HBEGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α), which were measured in gastric epithelial cells. For this purpose, lactobacilli and <em>H. pylori</em> were either added together to the AGS cells (coincubation), or the cells were first exposed to lactobacilli before <em>H. pylori</em> infection (preincubation). In coincubation assays, lactobacilli had no effect on <em>H. pylori</em>-mediated ADAM17, HBEGF, and TGF-α upregulation at the protein level. However, in preincubation assays, <em>L. gasseri</em> downregulated the expression of ADAM17 and its substrates. Furthermore, the proliferation data demonstrated that <em>L. gasseri</em> suppressed <em>H. pylori</em>-induced cellular progression. Using an <em>in vivo</em> mouse model, the anti-inflammatory activity of selected lactobacilli was tested by measuring blood cytokine profiles and tissue staining. <em>L. gasseri</em> significantly decreased the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF and reduced immune cell infiltration in stained gastric tissues. Together, these findings suggest that certain lactobacilli can counteract the <em>H. pylori</em>-mediated induction of HBEGF and TGF-α expression, and indicate that ADAM17 could be targeted to inhibit the cancer-related effects of <em>H. pylori</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50312,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 151694"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145769810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology of gonococcal arthritis in Brittany - France (EpGAr study)","authors":"Valentin Lemoine ,&nbsp;Simon Rolland ,&nbsp;Sophie Reissier ,&nbsp;David Luque Paz ,&nbsp;Marion Souffez ,&nbsp;Mathilde Favalelli ,&nbsp;Victor Scavazzin ,&nbsp;Julie Brousseau ,&nbsp;Claudie Lamoureux ,&nbsp;Caroline Piau ,&nbsp;Vincent Cattoir ,&nbsp;François Caméléna ,&nbsp;Béatrice Berçot ,&nbsp;Geneviève Héry-Arnaud","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151692","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151692","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Gonococcal infections are sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), which in 0.5–3 % of cases, can progress to disseminated infections (DGI). This study aimed to characterize the epidemiology of septic arthritis and tenosynovitis caused by <em>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</em>, the two most common clinical manifestations of DGI (30–90 %).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective observational study was conducted in two French referral hospitals from June 2014 to June 2024. Adult patients treated for septic arthritis due to <em>N. gonorrhoeae</em> with a positive culture of joint fluid were included.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We identified ten cases (eight males and two females) with a mean age of 44 years. The infected joints were the wrist, knee, thumb, elbow, ankle, and hip. On average, it took 13 days from the onset of symptoms to the administration of appropriate antibiotic treatment. Among the ten cases, seven strains were available. Of these, five were resistant to fluoroquinolones and six to tetracyclines. All strains were susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins. All patients received ceftriaxone as first-line therapy and achieved complete recovery in 70 % (7/10) of cases at the one-year follow-up. Whole genome sequencing identified virulence-associated alleles, such as <em>porB1a</em>, but no clustering of hypervirulent clones was observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings highlight the variety of joints affected by septic arthritis caused by <em>N. gonorrhoeae</em>, as well as high level of resistance to both fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines. These results emphasize the importance of vigilance when diagnosing and managing gonococcal infections, particularly in high-risk populations, and highlight the need for further research into alternative treatments to address emerging resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50312,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 151692"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145739291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dehydroeffusol from Juncus effusus L. exhibits antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in vivo","authors":"Shengying Lou ,&nbsp;Wei Jin ,&nbsp;Minyang He ,&nbsp;Chunyan Dai ,&nbsp;Zhiqiang Zhu ,&nbsp;Peng Li ,&nbsp;Jichun Han ,&nbsp;Xingru Chen ,&nbsp;Miaolian Wu ,&nbsp;Xiangcheng Fan ,&nbsp;Xiaojun Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151696","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151696","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Dehydroeffusol (DHE) is a natural phenanthrene compound derived from <em>Juncus effusus L.</em>, traditionally used for its antimicrobial properties. Despite its historical use, its antibacterial efficacy and underlying mechanisms have not been fully explored.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To evaluate the antibacterial activity, safety profile, and mechanism of action of DHE against <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (<em>S. aureus</em>), including methicillin-resistant <em>S. aureus</em> (MRSA), and to assess its potential as a therapeutic agent.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>DHE was isolated and its antibacterial effects were assessed using broth microdilution, time-kill assays, and biofilm inhibition assays. The cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity of DHE were evaluated <em>in vitro</em> using several cell lines and red blood cells. Mechanistic studies included scanning electron microscopy, membrane potential and permeability assays, network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking, and untargeted metabolomic profiling.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>DHE exhibited appreciable bactericidal activity against <em>S. aureus</em> and MRSA with minimal cytotoxicity. It inhibited biofilm formation, disrupted bacterial membranes, and maintained bactericidal activity without rapid resistance, while synergizing with ciprofloxacin, streptomycin, and azithromycin. Network pharmacology and docking identified 56 infection-related targets (hub proteins EGFR, BCL2, HSP90AA1/B1, ESR1, SRC) enriched in PI3K–Akt/ErbB/EGFR pathways, supporting additional modulation of host infection-related signaling. In MRSA, untargeted metabolomics showed broad disturbances in amino acid, energy, and nucleotide metabolism, indicating disruption of essential biosynthetic and energy pathways. <em>In vivo</em>, DHE significantly reduced bacterial load and alleviated tissue damage in a murine MRSA infection model, demonstrating measurable protective effects.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>DHE is a promising natural antimicrobial agent with notable activity against <em>S. aureus</em> and MRSA. Its mechanism of action involves membrane disruption and biofilm inhibition, along with preliminary safety <em>in vitro</em>, supporting its potential for further development as an effective antimicrobial agent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50312,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 151696"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145776199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeting fimbriae adhesin of porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli by isoliquiritigenin","authors":"Hui Yu ,&nbsp;Nan Wang ,&nbsp;Changjiang Sun ,&nbsp;Bingfeng Leng ,&nbsp;Liping Sun ,&nbsp;Xuming Deng ,&nbsp;Lei Xu ,&nbsp;Zihao Teng ,&nbsp;Jianfeng Wang ,&nbsp;Lin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151704","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151704","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enterotoxigenic <em>Escherichia coli</em> (ETEC), a predominant pathogen responsible for neonatal animal diarrhea, poses a significant threat to global health and results in considerable economic losses in animal husbandry. The pathogenicity of ETEC is primarily mediated by its adherence to intestinal epithelial cells via fimbriae adhesins and the subsequent secretion of enterotoxins. We developed a high-throughput screening platform for chorionic inhibitors. By employing semi-solid motility assays, hemagglutination inhibition assays, and cell adhesion assays, we screened a panel of natural compounds and identified Isogliquiritin (ISL) as the active compound. Subsequent validation using transmission electron microscopy and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed that ISL significantly inhibits the synthesis and assembly of ETEC fimbriae, thereby reducing bacterial adhesion to host cells. After assessing its safety, we demonstrated through in vivo experiments that ISL attenuates ETEC-induced diarrhea. In the <em>Galleria mellonella</em> larval model, ISL increased the survival rate, meanwhile in a mouse diarrhea model, ISL reduced inflammation caused by ETEC C83902 and upregulated the expression of tight junction protein (ZO-1, claudin-1, and occluding) genes. Collectively, our findings highlight that ISL is a promising natural compound for the prevention and treatment of ETEC-induced diarrhea. By targeting bacterial virulence factors rather than bacterial growth, ISL provides a novel strategy against antimicrobial resistance and offers a safer alternative for managing ETEC infections in livestock.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50312,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 151704"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic comparison of Leptospira interrogans isolated from humans, dogs, and wild and feral animals in Japan","authors":"Tetsuya Kakita ,&nbsp;Kyosuke Takabe ,&nbsp;Masatomo Morita ,&nbsp;Sho Okano ,&nbsp;Katsuya Taira ,&nbsp;Tsuyoshi Kudeken ,&nbsp;Haruno Taira ,&nbsp;Hisako Kyan ,&nbsp;So Shinya ,&nbsp;Ryo Murata ,&nbsp;Yukihiro Akeda ,&nbsp;Makoto Ohnishi ,&nbsp;Nobuo Koizumi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em> spp., is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases worldwide. While whole genome sequencing (WGS) has revealed global genetic diversity of <em>Leptospira</em> spp., large-scale genomic comparisons between human and animal isolates remain limited, and their epidemiological relationships are not fully understood. In this study, we performed WGS on 204 <em>Leptospira</em> isolates obtained from humans, dogs, and wild or feral animals in Japan between 1989 and 2021. Among these, 146 isolates of <em>L. interrogans</em>—the most frequently isolated <em>Leptospira</em> species with epidemiological relevance—were analyzed using Bayesian analysis of population structure (BAPS) and core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). These strains were classified into 30 clonal groups (CGs), including 26 novel CGs. Each CG consistently corresponded to a single serogroup, highlighting the potential of cgMLST for serogroup prediction. BAPS analysis revealed that serogroup Hebdomadis—particularly clades Li20 and Li13—predominated among human infections on islands of Okinawa Prefecture. Li20/CG486 strains were also isolated from mongooses and Ryukyu mouse, suggesting that these animals may serve as reservoirs. Li3/CG6 strains of serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae were detected in both humans and brown rats in urban areas, underscoring the role of rats in transmission. Several canine isolates shared CGs with wildlife: Li20/CG481 with mongooses, Li20/CG486 with raccoons, Li6/CG485 with brown rats, and Li20/CG470 with large Japanese field mice, supporting environmental exposure as a likely route of canine infection. These findings demonstrate the utility of cgMLST and BAPS for high-resolution genotyping and emphasize the need for monitoring native and introduced wildlife to better understand and control leptospirosis in Japan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50312,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 151702"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}