Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection最新文献

{"title":"Neurological and psychiatric aspects of long COVID among vaccinated healthcare workers: An assessment of prevalence and reporting biases.","authors":"Yi-Chun Chen, Cheng-Hsun Chiu, Chih-Jung Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.06.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2025.06.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study assessed the prevalence and severity of neurological and psychiatric long COVID symptoms among healthcare workers (HCWs) based on their COVID-19 status, aiming to unravel the complexities associated with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cohort of 467 HCWs from a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan, who received at least three doses of COVID-19 vaccines, were surveyed for long COVID symptoms. Participants were categorized into symptomatic (n = 224), asymptomatic (n = 21), and absence of COVID-19 (n = 222) groups based on diagnostic criteria involving questionnaire responses, medical records, and anti-nucleoprotein antibody data. Through a comprehensive set of questionnaires, symptoms, memory dysfunction, anxiety, and depression were rigorously evaluated and statistically analyzed for group comparisons.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Despite meticulous data collection, the study revealed no statistically significant differences in the severity of neurological and psychiatric long COVID symptoms across the COVID-19 status groups. Noteworthy trends were observed, including higher instances of memory problems worsening over time, elevated anxiety levels in symptomatic cases, and subtle indicators of increased depression severity in this subgroup. The findings underscored the multifactorial nature of long COVID manifestations and the impact of COVID-19 history on reported symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study highlighted potential biases in symptom reporting that may inflate long COVID prevalence estimates. While the robust methodology shed light on diverse health profiles among HCWs, future research should focus on longitudinal designs and objective diagnostic measures to provide more accurate assessments of long COVID's burden.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144512814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Taiwan guideline for the diagnosis and management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Consensus statement of the Taiwan Academy of Pediatric Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.","authors":"Hai-Lun Sun, Yu-Hsuan Kao, Hsin-Hui Yu, Li-Chieh Wang, Chao-Yi Wu, Tsung-Chieh Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is one of the most common types of arthritis to affect children, with onset occurring under the age of 16. Primarily characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovium, JIA is actually a heterogenous disease, comprising several subtypes. It is therefore important to accurately identify the disease subtype, and subsequently prescribe treatments that can target the corresponding disease mechanisms. Regular monitoring during and after treatment is also necessary to mitigate related risks and adverse effects. In Taiwan, epidemiological research has shown that enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) is the predominant JIA subtype (38.6% of all cases), which differs from the epidemiological features in other countries. The Taiwan Academy of Pediatric Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (TAPAAI) therefore developed this guideline with these epidemiological characteristics in mind, and further draws upon the latest clinical evidence regarding JIA diagnosis, monitoring, and newly approved treatments, as well as recently published JIA guidelines from the United States and Germany. It is hoped that this guideline can serve as a practical and up-to-date reference for healthcare professionals, and support daily clinical practice for the enhancement of patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144295468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Successful surgical and antifungal treatment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis due to azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus in a kidney transplant recipient.","authors":"Jun-Yuan Zheng, Pei-Lun Sun, Chih-Yu Huang, Chin-Chan Lee, Jung-Jr Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.009","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144337290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential role of intratumoral Fusobacterium nucleatum and interleukin-1 beta in breast cancer cell growth.","authors":"Chun-Ming Chang, Long Yin Lam, Ho Yin Pekkle Lam, Pin-Ying Kao, Shih-Ting Hsu, Wen-Jui Wu, Kai-Chih Chang, Chih-Yang Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It has been shown that the human breast harbors a rich and diverse microbiome, with significant differences observed between tumor tissue and normal breast tissue. Recently, Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) has been shown to affect breast cancer growth, but the underlying mechanism remains enigmatic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Breast cancer tissues were obtained from clinical patients and analyzed for the microbiome composition using 16S rDNA sequencing and qPCR. Both serum and intratumoral cytokine levels were measured to assess their correlation with intratumoral F. nucleatum. Breast cancer cell lines and patient-derived cancer cells were infected with different strains of F. nucleatum, followed by different analyses. Additionally, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy individuals to investigate the immunoregulatory effect of F. nucleatum.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our results identified a higher abundance of F. nucleatum in breast cancer tissue compared to adjacent normal breast tissue, which strongly correlated with intratumoral IL-1β levels. In vitro studies confirmed this correlation, demonstrating that infection of breast cancer cells with F. nucleatum promotes tumor growth. Further investigation suggested that F. nucleatum induces IL-1β secretion in both breast cancer cells and PBMCs, but only IL-1β secreted by breast cancer cells stimulates cancer cell growth. Inhibition of NLRP3 reversed the growth-promoting effect of F. nucleatum on breast cancer cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results demonstrate the role of F. nucleatum in stimulating breast cancer cell growth. Therefore, targeting intratumoral F. nucleatum could provide a promising therapeutic approach to combat breast cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144287209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance of Galactomannan, Aspergillus-PCR, and Metagenomic sequencing for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in hematological patients.","authors":"Chun-Hui Xu, Li-Ning Zhang, Teng Liu, Guo-Qing Zhu, Yu-Ping Fan, Xin Chen, Yu-Yan Shen, Yue-Tian Yu, Yuan-Yuan Shi, Er-Lie Jiang, Si-Zhou Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/purpose(s): </strong>Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a serious fungal infection, and its diagnosis is diverse, especially in patients with hematological disorders. This study aims to determine the optimal diagnostic strategy for IPA in such patients by comparing various microbiological tests.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 490 blood and 138 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples collected from 182 IPA and 407 no-IPA patients (based on EORTC/MSGERC criteria) were retrospectively analyzed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), Aspergillus-PCR, and galactomannan (GM) (enzyme immunoassay [EIA] and lateral flow assay [LFA]).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In BALF samples, GM-EIA, GM-LFA, Aspergillus-PCR, and mNGS showed sensitivities of 68.1 %, 53.2 %, 83.0 %, and 59.6 %-all higher than in blood (43.7 %, 34.4 %, 51.7 %, 55.0 %). In blood samples, mNGS had the highest sensitivity (71.9 %) in neutropenic patients, which was further improved when combined with GM-EIA (77.1 %). In non-neutropenic patients, Aspergillus-PCR was the most sensitive assay (47.3 %), with sensitivity improving to 56.4 % when combined with GM-EIA. Blood test sensitivities were lower in patients with prolonged antifungal therapy (≥7 days) vs. <7 days (Aspergillus-PCR: 38.6 % vs. 57.0 %; mNGS: 31.8 % vs. 64.5 %; GM-EIA: 27.3 % vs. 50.5 %; all P < 0.05), with no impact on BALF results.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>BALF is critical for accurate IPA diagnosis, particularly in patients with prior antifungal therapy. BALF Aspergillus-PCR offers optimal sensitivity, while blood-based mNGS and PCR are recommended for neutropenic and non-neutropenic patients, respectively. Combining molecular methods with GM testing enhances diagnostic performances. Tailored strategies are essential to improve early detection and clinical outcomes in high-risk hematologic populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144287208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Splenic abscess following sleeve gastrectomy and complicating fungal empyema thoracis.","authors":"Chien-An Tu, Wen-Sen Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.010","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144337289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel σ^B regulatory module in staphylococcus aureus: Unraveling the multifaceted roles of RsbU domains in stress response mechanisms.","authors":"Yi-Hsi Huang, Wen-Bin Yeh, Renin Chang, Chien-Yen Chen, Michael Wing-Yan Chan, Mei-Chia Chou, Chien-Cheng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The σ^B factor in Staphylococcus aureus governs the environmental stress response and a wide spectrum of biological functions. σ^B activity is regulated by protein-protein interactions among RsbU, RsbV, RsbW, and σ^B. While the C-terminal PP2C phosphatase domain of RsbU is well-characterized, the function of its N-terminal domain remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To analyze the molecular weight distributions of Rsb proteins and RsbV phosphorylation states, S. aureus cell lysates were subjected to gel filtration and Phos-tag gel electrophoresis. Protein associations were investigated through coelution experiments, immunoprecipitation, and a bacterial two-hybrid assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Gel filtration revealed a shift in RsbV phosphorylation states following stress, with unphosphorylated monomeric RsbV predominating before stress and phosphorylated RsbV increasing afterward. This shift corresponded with a decrease in RsbV's ability to sequester RsbW. Under unstressed conditions, RsbU exhibited unexpectedly high phosphatase activity; however, unphosphorylated RsbV remained inactive in sequestering RsbW. Coelution and immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated potential associations among RsbU, RsbW, and σ^B. The bacterial two-hybrid assay showed direct interactions between full-length RsbU and RsbV, while RsbU interacted with RsbW only in the presence of both RsbV and σ^B. Further experiments identified the N-terminal domain of RsbU as mediating interactions with RsbW.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings reveal a novel σ^B regulatory module in S. aureus that integrates interactions among the N- and C-terminal domains of RsbU and other Rsb proteins. This module differs from σ^B regulatory mechanisms described in other bacteria, advancing our understanding of stress response regulation in S. aureus.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144267962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long COVID Clinical Features in Northern Taiwan: Insights from a Single Medical Center Study.","authors":"Liu Chia-Ying, Hsu Hsin-Sui, Liao Chun-Hsing","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), or long COVID, encompasses persistent symptoms following acute COVID-19, impacting quality of life. This study delineates the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and quality of life effects of long COVID in Northern Taiwan using data from the 2021 COVID-19 home quarantine telemedicine care system.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective cohort of 625 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients, diagnosed between April and October 2021, was monitored for 3-6 months post-recovery. We assessed persistent symptoms, quality of life via the EQ-5D questionnaire, and risk factors including age, sex, vaccination status, household clusters, and hospitalization.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among participants, 22 % reported malaise, 14 % dyspnea, and 7 % cough as persistent symptoms. Older age (≥65 years) and hospitalization were associated with greater quality of life impairment across EQ-5D domains (OR = 2.72, 95 % CI: 1.60-4.63, p < 0.001). Vaccinated individuals (7 %) showed a non-significant trend toward better EQ-5D scores (p = 0.116, 95 % CI: 0.05 to 0.20).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Older age and hospitalization significantly predict long-term quality of life impairment in long COVID. Targeted interventions for these groups and robust post-recovery support are essential. Limitations include reliance on self-reported data, a low vaccination rate (7 %), a 3-6 months follow-up, and a single-center design, which may limit generalizability. Multi-center studies with longer follow-ups and objective biomarkers are needed to enhance further understanding.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144227775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular mechanisms of baicalein in treating recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis Caused by Staphylococcus aureus: An in vitro study.","authors":"Chung-Ching Lin, Chien-Hsiang Su, Wei-Chien Huang, Yuan-Man Hsu","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/purpose(s): </strong>Staphylococcus aureus overgrowth contributes to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) through biofilm formation, bacterial invasion, and immune evasion. These factors lead to persistent infections and complications, especially in cases of refractory CRS. This study examines baicalein's effects on bacterial virulence and host responses using Calu-3 cells as an in vitro testing platform.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Baicalein's effects on S. aureus-induced epithelial damage were evaluated in a Calu-3 cell co-culture model. The analyses included bacterial clumping, biofilm formation, internalization, tight junction integrity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and key signaling pathways.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Baicalein inhibited bacterial clumping, biofilm formation, and internalization by downregulating key virulence genes (fnbpA, fnbpB, clfB, rot, sarA, and icaR). It also suppressed the Agr and LuxS/AI-2 quorum sensing systems, which regulate virulence and biofilm development. In host cells, baicalein reduced S. aureus-induced apoptosis by modulating the PI3K/Akt pathway and attenuated oxidative stress and autophagy. Furthermore, it restored epithelial barrier integrity by preserving ZO-1 localization.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Baicalein demonstrates potential as an alternative therapeutic strategy for reducing CRS recurrence and minimizing prolonged antibiotic use by effectively targeting S. aureus virulence and disrupting bacterial communication. This approach offers a promising solution for managing CRS and reducing reliance on antibiotics.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144183070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of COVID-19 vaccination and past SARS-CoV-2 infection on subsequent COVID-19 infection in people with HIV.","authors":"Xueying Yang, Fanghui Shi, Shujie Chen, Ziang Liu, Yangjianchen Xu, Gregory A Poland, Sharon Weissman, Bankole Olatosi, Jiajia Zhang, Xiaoming Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aims to estimate the time-varying effects of primary and booster COVID-19 vaccination and past SARS-CoV-2 infection on subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection (including new infection and re-infection) in people with HIV (PWH).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A population-based cohort was retrieved from the integrated statewide HIV electronic health record (EHR) dataset, COVID-19 vaccination dataset, and COVID-19 diagnoses dataset between March 2, 2020 and April 14, 2022. The pre-specified outcome was any SARS-CoV-2 infection. We used Cox regression to estimate the time-varying effects of primary and booster vaccination and past infection on the risks of subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 18,509 eligible PWH who had documentation of COVID-19 testing or COVID-19 vaccination records were included for analysis. The effectiveness of primary vaccination against infection, compared with being unvaccinated, was relatively low (26.70 %, 95 % CI: 12.10 %, 38.88 %) at two months, while the effectiveness of a booster dose after two months was high (43.53 %, 95 %CI: 27.54 %, 55.99 %), compared with primary vaccination only (e.g., first two doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or the single dose of Janssen). The effectiveness of past COVID-19 infection during Pre-Delta and Delta dominant periods at one month against reinfection was (67.43 %; 95 %CI: 52.74 %, 77.55 %) and (64.57 %; 95 %CI: 1.39 %, 87.27 %), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Natural immunity conferred from past COVID-19 infection in PWH against reinfection appeared to be higher than vaccine-induced immunity. Boosters were more effective than the primary series alone in preventing subsequent infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144217691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}