Journal of medical microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Latroeggtoxin-VI improves depression by regulating the composition and function of gut microbiota in a mouse model of depression.","authors":"Haiyan Wang, Zhixiang Lei, Yiwen Zhai, Minglu Sun, Si Chen, Panfeng Yin, Zhigui Duan, Xianchun Wang","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.001977","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.001977","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Depression has become one of the mental diseases that seriously affect human health. Its mechanism is very complex, and many factors influence the condition. An imbalance of the gut microbiota is being considered as a factor that impacts the occurrence and progression of depression. Future therapies may therefore tap into this connection, treating depression through manipulation of the gut microbiome.<b>Hypothesis/Gap Statement.</b> Latroeggtoxin-VI (LETX-VI), a proteinaceous neurotoxin from <i>Latrodectus tredecimguttatus</i> eggs, was previously demonstrated to inhibit excessive inflammation and improve depression behaviours, suggesting that it might be able to regulate the balance of gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of LPS and LETX-VI on depressive behaviours and gut microbiota and to analyse correlations between changes in the gut microbiota and depressive behaviours.<b>Methodology.</b> A murine model of depression was established, and the effects of LPS and LETX-VI treatment on depressive behaviours and gut microbiota were investigated.<b>Results.</b> In the murine model, depressive behaviour was induced by LPS; the ratio of <i>Firmicutes</i> to <i>Bacteroidetes</i> (F/B) and the number of pro-inflammatory bacteria in the gut microbiota increased (<i>P</i><0.01), while butyric acid-producing bacteria with anti-inflammatory effect decreased (<i>P</i><0.05). Furthermore, the metabolic function of the gut microbiota was disrupted, and the level of virulence factors among gut microbiota was up-regulated (<i>P</i><0.05). Association analysis showed that the changes in the composition and function of gut microbiota were closely related to the depression phenotype of mice, suggesting that the abnormal function of gut microbiota is linked to depression. However, when LETX-VI was applied before LPS injection, the LPS-induced changes in the gut microbiota were alleviated, and the depressive behaviour greatly improved.<b>Conclusion.</b> LETX-VI can prevent depressive behaviour by regulating the composition and/or function of the gut microbiota.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143813263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accurate identification of <i>Enterococcus lactis</i> causing bacteraemia by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.","authors":"Marhami Fahriani, Geoffrey W Coombs, Princy Shoby, Haley Hood, Denise A Daley, Christopher A Mullally, Shakeel Mowlaboccus","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.001995","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.001995","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> <i>Enterococcus faecium</i> clade B has recently been re-classified as <i>Enterococcus lactis</i>. Although <i>E. lactis</i> was previously associated with food products and probiotics, the recent re-classification has prompted the need for the accurate identification of this species and re-interpretation of its disease-causing ability. Since the re-classified <i>E. lactis</i> can currently only be identified by molecular techniques such as whole-genome sequencing, we constructed a MALDI Biotyper^® custom database to rapidly identify and differentiate <i>E. lactis</i> causing bacteraemia from <i>E. faecium</i>.<b>Hypothesis/Gap statement.</b> The re-classification of <i>E. faecium</i> clade B as <i>E. lactis</i> warrants the development of rapid and accurate identification methods to distinguish these species, particularly in clinical settings where <i>E. lactis</i> may be misidentified as <i>E. faecium</i>.<b>Aim.</b> The aim of this study was to construct a MALDI Biotyper^® custom database to rapidly identify and differentiate <i>E. lactis</i> causing bacteraemia from <i>E. faecium</i>.<b>Methodology.</b> A total of 97 enterococcal isolates, including 38 <i>E. lactis</i>, 51 <i>E. faecium</i> and 8 non-<i>E. faecium</i> non-<i>E. lactis</i> enterococci (<i>E. avium</i>, <i>E. casseliflavus</i>, <i>E. cecorum</i>, <i>E. durans</i>, <i>E. faecalis</i>, <i>E. faecium</i>, <i>E. gallinarum</i>, <i>E. lactis</i>, <i>E. mundtii</i> and <i>E. raffinosus</i>) were investigated. Whole-genome sequence analysis was used to confirm the species of each isolate. A MALDI Biotyper^® in-house database was constructed using 29 <i>E. lactis</i> isolates and the ethanol/formic acid/acetonitrile preparation protocol. The in-house database was validated using the 97 enterococcal isolates and the extended direct transfer preparation protocol.<b>Results.</b> Our in-house database correctly identified all isolates at the species level, including the <i>E. lactis</i> isolates, all of which were misidentified as <i>E. faecium</i> by the BioTyper^® MBT Compass reference library (2022). Of the 38 <i>E. lactis</i> isolates, 84.2% (<i>n</i>=32) were identified at the high probable species level (score ≥2.300), while the remaining 15.8% (<i>n</i>=6) were identified at the probable species level (score 2.000-2.299). Similarly, all <i>E. faecium</i> isolates (<i>n</i>=51) were accurately identified, including 84.3% (<i>n</i>=43/51) identified at the high probable species level and 15.7% (<i>n</i>=8/51) identified at the probable species level.<b>Conclusion.</b> Our study provides a ready-to-use custom MALDI spectral database that can be implemented in clinical diagnostic and research laboratories to accurately identify <i>E. lactis,</i> which is currently misidentified as <i>E. faecium</i> by the standard spectrum database available on commercial platforms.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11971485/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143782374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"JMM Profile: <i>Mycoplasma genitalium</i>: a small, yet significant pathogen.","authors":"Tia Rudman, Richard S Rowlands, Jorgen S Jensen, Michael L Beeton, On Behalf Of The Escmid Study Group For Mycoplasma And Chlamydia Infections Esgmac","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.001984","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.001984","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Mycoplasma genitalium</i> is characterized by a small genome and a lack of a cell wall, contributing to its unique biology. It is associated with reproductive tract infections, including non-gonococcal urethritis and pelvic inflammatory disease. It is nearly as common as chlamydia in most studies from high-income countries. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in <i>M. genitalium</i> raises concern about the long-term efficacy of current therapeutic strategies. Understanding its genomic intricacies and pathogenic mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted interventions to address the growing public health impact of this elusive microbe.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comments on 'Genotypic diversity of the <i>Helicobacter pylori vacA</i> c region and its correlation with gastric disease outcomes'.","authors":"Masoud Keikha","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002002","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.002002","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11975057/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143797445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phenotype and genotype of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in a teaching hospital in Shanghai, China.","authors":"Wei Ma, Yuxiang Wan, Xuejiao Li, Xiaochun Huang, Changzi Deng, Qin Qin","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.001960","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.001960","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (CR-hvKP) is an emerging pathogen associated with severe clinical outcomes, prompting an urgent investigation into its genomic characteristics and pathogenic potential.<b>Hypothesis/Gap Statement.</b> We hypothesize that CR-hvKP strains exhibit high-level resistance and high virulence, leading to their rapid spread in clinical settings and posing a serious threat to clinical treatment.<b>Aim.</b> The aim of the study was to investigate the phenotype and genotype of CR-hvKP strains, reveal their resistance- and virulence-related genomic characteristics and elucidate the biological characteristics of high-virulence and high-resistance strains to provide molecular epidemiological data for clinical use.<b>Methodology.</b> Carbapenem-resistant <i>K. pneumoniae</i> (CRKP) strains were obtained from clinical samples, from January 2013 to December 2018. PCR amplification was conducted to screen for carbapenem genes. To evaluate the virulence potential of the isolates, we conducted various tests, including a string test, Galleria mellonella larvae infection test, capsular polysaccharide synthesis genotyping and genetic sequencing analyses. We used PFGE, multilocus sequence typing and next-generation sequencing to detect the genetic relationship and homology of the strains.<b>Results.</b> In this study, we obtained 500 strains of CRKP, among which 18 strains were identified as CR-hvKP. All CR-hvKP strains were multidrug-resistant, exhibiting high-level resistance to most <i>β</i>-lactam antibiotics, including carbapenems. All CR-hvKP strains except N5 were positive for <i>bla</i>KPC-2, of which 14 isolates belonged to capsular serotype K64. Ten unrelated PFGE types were identified by PFGE analysis. Based on the results of PFGE, a total of 12 CR-hvKP isolates were selected from the 18 isolates for further testing, and 9 isolates had high homology with pLVPK virulence-related plasmids. All CR-hvKP strains showed high virulence in the Galleria mellonella infection model.<b>Conclusions.</b> The study revealed the resistance- and virulence-related genomic characteristics of CR-hvKP strains and confirmed the high virulence of these strains. These results are of great significance for understanding the epidemiological characteristics and clinical treatment of CR-hvKP and provide basic data for the formulation of corresponding prevention and control strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11897171/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143560423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial and antiparasitic potential of lupeol: antifungal effect on the <i>Candida parapsilosis</i> species complex and nematicidal activity against <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>.","authors":"Marrie da Silva Dutra, Paulo Ricardo Monteiro Araújo, Maria Gleiciane da Rocha, Vinícius Carvalho Pereira, Alyne Soares Freitas, Raissa Geovanna Pereira Lopes, Pedro Filho Noronha Souza, Raquel Carvalho Montenegro, Waldemiro de Aquino Pereira-Neto, Géssica Dos Santos Araújo, Rossana de Aguiar Cordeiro, José Júlio Costa Sidrim, Glaucia Morgana de Melo Guedes, Débora de Souza Collares Maia Castelo-Branco, Marcos Fábio Gadelha Rocha","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.001976","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.001976","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> There is growing concern about infections caused by non-<i>albicans Candida</i> species, including species of the <i>Candida parapsilosis</i> complex - which have seen a considerable increase in cases during the COVID-19 pandemic - in addition to concern about nematode resistance to currently used anthelmintics.<b>Gap Statement.</b> Lupeol is a triterpenoid phytosterol that has a wide range of biological activities, although its antifungal and antiparasitic potential is still poorly explored. Additionally, its effect on the biofilm of the <i>C. parapsilosis</i> species complex has not yet been studied.<b>Aim.</b> This study aimed to investigate the antifungal effect of lupeol against <i>C. parapsilosis</i> complex species, in planktonic cells and mature biofilms, as well as its nematicidal potential against <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. In addition, molecular docking was performed to identify potential target molecules for lupeol's antifungal effect.<b>Methodology.</b> Twelve strains of <i>C. parapsilosis</i> species complex were used. Planktonic susceptibility was performed through the broth microdilution assay, while the antibiofilm effect was investigated by measuring the biomass and metabolic activity. The antifungal mechanism of action of lupeol was investigated by target fishing. The evaluation of the nematicidal effect was performed using the <i>C. elegans</i> infection model.<b>Results.</b> Lupeol demonstrated antifungal activity against planktonic cells with a MIC between 64 and 512 µg ml^-1. In mature biofilms, lupeol was able to reduce biomass starting from a concentration of 1024 µg ml^-1 and reduce metabolic activity from a concentration of 64 µg ml^-1. It was observed that there was interaction of lupeol with the enzyme 14α-demethylase. Furthermore, lupeol had a nematicidal effect from a concentration of 64 µg ml^-1.<b>Conclusion.</b> Lupeol exhibits an antifungal effect on the <i>C. parapsilosis</i> species complex, in the planktonic and mature biofilm forms, possibly by affecting the ergosterol synthesis. Lupeol further demonstrated a nematicidal potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11936342/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143574930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of whole-genome sequencing protocols for detection of antimicrobial resistance, virulence factors and mobile genetic elements in antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.","authors":"Gabriel Cipriani, Karin Helmersen, Ricardo Ruiz Mazzon, Glauber Wagner, Hege Vangstein Aamot, Fabienne Antunes Ferreira","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.001990","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.001990","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical threat to global health, underscoring the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic tools. Methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (ESBL-Kp) are listed among the World Health Organization's priority pathogens.<b>Hypothesis.</b> A rapid nanopore-based protocol can accurately and efficiently detect AMR genes, virulence factors (VFs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in MRSA and ESBL-Kp, offering performance comparable to or superior to traditional sequencing methods.<b>Aim.</b> Evaluate whole-genome sequencing (WGS) protocols for detecting AMR genes, VFs and MGEs in MRSA and ESBL-Kp, to identify the most accurate and efficient tool for pathogen profiling.<b>Methodology.</b> Five distinct WGS protocols, including a rapid nanopore-based protocol (ONT20h) and four slower sequencing methods, were evaluated for their effectiveness in detecting genetic markers. The protocols' performances were compared across AMR genes, VFs and MGEs. Additionally, phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed to assess concordance with the genomic findings.<b>Results.</b> Compared to four slower sequencing protocols, the rapid nanopore-based protocol (ONT20h) demonstrated comparable or superior performance in AMR gene detection and equivalent VF identification. Although MGE detection varied among protocols, ONT20h showed a high level of agreement with phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing.<b>Conclusion.</b> The findings highlight the potential of rapid WGS as a valuable tool for clinical microbiology, enabling timely implementation of infection control measures and informed therapeutic decisions. However, further studies are required to optimize the clinical application of this technology, considering costs, availability of bioinformatics tools and quality of reference databases.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11923095/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143660220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic insights into extended-spectrum <i>β</i>-lactamase- and plasmid-borne AmpC-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> transmission between humans and livestock in rural Cambodia.","authors":"Ebraheem D Elmarghani, John H-O Pettersson, Clara Atterby, Rachel A Hickman, Sokerya Seng, Sorn San, Kristina Osbjer, Ulf Magnusson, Evangelos Mourkas, Josef D Järhult","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.001988","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.001988","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> The global spread of extended-spectrum cephalosporinase-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (producing extended-spectrum <i>β</i>-lactamase or plasmid-borne AmpC, hereafter ESC-Ec) is a major public health concern. Whilst extensively studied in high-income countries, the transmission pathways between humans and animals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain unclear. In rural Cambodia, the asymptomatic carriage and transmission dynamics of ESC-Ec between humans and animals living in close proximity are poorly understood, highlighting the need for targeted research in this area.<b>Gap statement.</b> An enhanced understanding of the genetic epidemiology of ESC-Ec can enable mitigation strategies to reduce the burden of disease and drug-resistant infections in LMIC settings.<b>Aim.</b> This study aimed to investigate the genetic relatedness and genotypic antibiotic resistance profiles of ESC-Ec strains from humans and livestock in rural Cambodia and to identify patterns of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene transmission between hosts and across households and villages.<b>Methodology.</b> Faecal samples were collected from 307 humans and 285 livestock in 100 households in or near Kampong Cham Province in rural Cambodia. From these samples, 108 ESC-Ec strains were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Core genome MLST (cgMLST) and phylogenetic analysis determined genetic relationships between strains. All strains were screened for the presence of antibiotic resistance genes and plasmids.<b>Results.</b> Human and livestock isolates were assigned to six phylogroups, with phylogroup A being the most common (56.5%). MLST identified 50 sequence types (STs), 17 of which were shared between humans and animals, with ST155 being the most prevalent. cgMLST revealed 97 distinct cgMLST sequence types (cgST), indicating strain sharing between humans and animals. Additionally, AMR gene analysis showed widespread resistance, with genes from the <i>bla</i> _CTX-M group detected in 84.2% of isolates. Notably, AMR genes such as <i>aph(3'')-Ib-sul2</i> co-occurred in 50% of isolates. Finally, plasmid analysis identified IncF plasmids in 75.9% of isolates, likely facilitating AMR gene transmission across hosts.<b>Conclusions.</b> Our findings demonstrate that ESC-Ec strains and their AMR genes are transmitted between humans and livestock in rural Cambodia, likely driven by both clonal spread and plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer. These results highlight the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship and infection control strategies to mitigate the spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens in both human and animal populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11915462/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143627255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Parachlamydia acanthamoebae</i>: disease-causing pathogen or opportunistic bystander?","authors":"Simone E Adams, Carole Kebbi-Beghdadi, Mirja Puolakkainen, Gilbert Greub, On Behalf Of The Escmid Study Group For Mycoplasma And Chlamydia Infections Esgmac","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.001953","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.001953","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> <i>Parachlamydia acanthamoebae</i> is an obligate intracellular bacterium related to disease-causing bacteria like <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> and <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i> and is thus classified within the <i>Chlamydiales</i> order. <i>Parachlamydia</i> was initially discovered within an <i>Acanthamoeba</i> strain isolated from water in a humidifier during an investigation of an outbreak of respiratory infections in humans.<b>Gap Statement.</b> The disease-causing potential of this bacterium is not fully understood, but <i>Parachlamydia</i> has been associated with bronchiolitis, bronchitis, aspiration pneumonia and community-acquired pneumonia in humans. Additionally, diagnostic testing for <i>Parachlamydia</i> infection is not routinely performed, indicating that prevalence is underreported.<b>Aim.</b> This JMM profile aims to gauge what is currently known about the pathogenic potential of <i>P. acanthamoebae</i> and bring awareness to gaps in knowledge.<b>Results.</b> Amoebae appear to be the main reservoir of <i>P. acanthamoebae</i> and likely enter the nasal passages through contaminated water sources or contact with contaminated animals. The infected amoebae may then descend to the lower respiratory tract where the lytic cycle is triggered, causing human infection.<b>Conclusion.</b> By implementing serology and molecular testing, as well as conducting additional epidemiological studies, a better understanding of the association of human colonization with disease outcomes can be achieved.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143660219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cases of high-consequence infectious diseases identified in the UK, 1962-2023.","authors":"Barry Atkinson, Mike Beadsworth, Jake Dunning","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.001982","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.001982","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The management of patients with acute infectious diseases can present significant challenges, especially if the causative agent has a propensity for person-to-person transmission. In such cases, effective patient management is dependent on both rapid identification of disease and the provision of necessary medical care while adhering to suitable infection prevention and control measures to reduce the potential for onwards transmission. The UK has operated a defined system for managing patients with high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) since the 1970s, when protocols were first implemented following the first descriptions of several viral haemorrhagic fever diseases, including Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever and Ebola virus disease (EVD). While more than 200 people with HCIDs have been treated in UK hospitals since the 1970s, most of these patients had COVID-19 or mpox during the early phases of new public health emergencies of international concern (PHEICs), prior to their removal from the UK HCID list in March 2020 and June 2022, respectively. Excluding PHEICs, 26 patients have been treated in HCID treatment centres between 1962 and 2023: 10 patients with Lassa fever, 7 with mpox prior to the 2022 PHEIC, 4 with Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), 4 with EVD and 1 with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). In total, 15 additional HCID patients were identified where treatment in a specialist centre did not occur due to retrospective diagnosis (4 patients with Lassa fever), mild or moderate illness [5 patients with avian influenza A(H5N1), 1 with MERS and 1 with CCHF] or death prior to transfer (2 patients with Lassa fever, 1 with CCHF and 1 with pneumonic plague). Here we summarize the UK HCID experience, including details about their detection, patient management and outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11903645/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143607487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}