Journal of medical microbiology最新文献

{"title":"<i>Clostridioides difficile</i> in the oral microbiome: an <i>in silico</i> analysis.","authors":"Jon J Vernon, Jack Lynch, Xia Yu, Thuy Do","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002188","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.002188","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> High rates of recurrent <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (CDI) and environmental contamination are attributed to its ability to form spores. Periodontal diseases are characterized by gingival inflammation, caused by dental plaque accumulation.<b>Hypothesis.</b> Periodontal plaque could harbour <i>C. difficile</i> spores, acting as a reservoir for reinfection.<b>Aim.</b> Compare the prevalence and abundance of <i>C. difficile</i> in metagenomic sequences of saliva and dental plaque from healthy and periodontal disease patients.<b>Methodology.</b> Publicly available metagenomic reads from oral samples of healthy (<i>n</i>=80) and periodontitis (<i>n</i>=204) patients were analysed for <i>C. difficile</i> presence through an in-house bioinformatic pipeline. Briefly, reads underwent quality control (cutadapt/fastQC) prior to subsampling of 3 million reads (seqtk). Reads and MEGAHIT-assembled contigs were aligned to a <i>C. difficile</i> reference genome (ASM1888508v1) or a full non-redundant protein DIAMOND database. Outputs were filtered, annotated (Entrez Direct) and top hits identified via National Center for Biotechnology Information blast. Abundance and prevalence were compared between cohorts.<b>Results.</b> Low levels of <i>C. difficile</i> sequences were observed, with significantly higher prevalence in periodontitis (7.4%, <i>n</i>=15/204) vs. healthy cohorts (5.0%, <i>n</i>=4/80) (<i>P</i>=0.0087) with reference genome alignment. Using the full non-redundant database, prevalence was also higher in periodontitis (14.2% vs. 3.8%; <i>P</i>=0.012), along with significantly greater average <i>C. difficile</i> sequence counts (0.608 vs. 0.075; <i>P</i>=0.018) and relative abundance (0.00029% vs. 0.0000003%; <i>P</i>=0.009).<b>Conclusion.</b> Sequences pertaining to <i>C. difficile</i> were detected in oral samples, with significantly more observed in periodontal disease compared to healthy cohorts. This highlights the possibility for dental plaque to act as a reservoir, potentially contributing to reinfection in CDI patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"75 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148551753","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":"Investigation of the efficacy of high-dose flucloxacillin therapy for borderline oxacillin-resistant (BORSA) <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> infections of <i>Galleria mellonella</i> larvae.","authors":"Dorian Jones, Benjamin J Parcell, Peter J Coote","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002180","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.002180","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Infections caused by borderline oxacillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (BORSA) isolates can be misdiagnosed as methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) or methicillin-sensitive <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MSSA), resulting in problems with antibiotic therapy.<b>Gap statement.</b> There is a paucity of data available describing the effectiveness of beta-lactam therapy on BORSA infections.<b>Aim</b>. Compare the efficacy of oxacillin, flucloxacillin and high-dose flucloxacillin therapy on MSSA, MRSA and BORSA infections <i>in vivo</i> using larvae of the greater wax moth, <i>Galleria mellonella</i>.<b>Methodology.</b> Clinical isolates of MSSA, MRSA and BORSA were used to infect larvae, and the effect of administration of oxacillin and flucloxacillin, including high-dose flucloxacillin, on survival was compared.<b>Results.</b> A typical dose of oxacillin or flucloxacillin administered to <i>G. mellonella</i> larvae infected with an MSSA strain resulted in effective therapy. The same doses given to larvae infected with MRSA or BORSA isolates conferred no therapeutic benefit. Similarly, treatment with high-dose flucloxacillin of larvae infected with the same isolates also offered no therapeutic benefit after 4 days.<b>Conclusion.</b> Treatment of BORSA infections of <i>G. mellonella</i> with high-dose flucloxacillin was not successful, implying that BORSA infections should be treated with non-penicillin antibiotics such as vancomycin. The study also confirmed the utility of using <i>G. mellonella</i> larvae for studying the efficacy of different antibiotic therapies against <i>S. aureus</i> infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"75 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148280473","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":"Whole-genome sequencing of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> from maternal and neonatal clinical isolates in Kuwait.","authors":"Ola H Moghnia, Aisha M Al-Haqqan, Hessah S Al-Otaibi, Abdallah B El-Kurdi, Habiba Y Mohammed, Ali Karkaba, Haneen Y Mohammed, Noura A Al-Sweih","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002181","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.002181","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> is a foodborne pathogen that poses a significant threat during pregnancy, frequently associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, including preterm birth, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and neonatal sepsis.<b>Hypothesis/Gap Statement.</b> Despite its clinical relevance, there is a lack of whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based data describing the genomic characteristics and circulating lineages of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> associated with maternal and neonatal infections in Kuwait, limiting regional epidemiological understanding.<b>Aim.</b> To genomically characterize <i>L. monocytogenes</i> isolates from maternal and neonatal clinical specimens at the Maternity Hospital, Kuwait.<b>Methodology.</b> Nine clinical isolates collected between 2017 and 2022, obtained from high vaginal swabs and blood cultures of unrelated mothers and neonates, were subjected to WGS. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the VITEK-2 system. Genomic analysis included determination of sequence types (STs), clonal complexes (CCs), genomic characterization using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), core-genome MLST (cgMLST), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants and virulence gene profiles.<b>Results.</b> Seven isolates (S2-S8) were ST2 and belonged to CC2, whereas S1 and S9 were classified as ST3 and ST308 and belonged to CC3 and CC1, respectively. Phenotypic susceptibility profiles were correlated with genotypic findings, with a conserved resistome dominated by <i>fosX</i> (fosfomycin resistance) and <i>vga(G</i>) (lincosamide resistance). All isolates harboured conserved core virulence genes associated with stress response, quorum sensing, nutrient regulation, host cell invasion and intercellular survival. The cgMLST analysis demonstrated ≥99.5% genetic similarity among ST2/CC2 isolates, which clustered together and were genetically distinct from older local isolates (S1, S9) and international reference strains.<b>Conclusion.</b> This first WGS-based genomic characterization of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> in Kuwait demonstrates the repeated detection of ST2/CC2 across multiple maternal and neonatal cases over several years. These findings provide baseline genomic data and highlight the need for integrated, expanded genomic surveillance linking clinical, food and environmental isolates to improve source attribution, early detection and public health interventions for listeriosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"75 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13313355/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148348054","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":"Clinical characterization of patients and genomic description of respiratory syncytial virus in adults and paediatric patients in a northeastern Mexican population.","authors":"Cristina L Hernandez-Balboa, Adrian Camacho-Ortiz, Daniel Salas-Trevino, Paola Bocanegra-Ibarias, Magaly Padilla-Orozco, K A Galan-Huerta, A M Rivas-Estilla, Julio Garza-Cabello, A F Ruiz-Higareda, Samantha Perez-Cavazos, Mariana Contreras-Ruiz, Cristian Dominguez-Rivera, Laura Nuzzolo-Shihadeh","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002154","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.002154","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a frequent cause of lower respiratory tract infections among children under 2 years old and adults over 60. Compared to other causes of viral pneumonia in adults, it is associated with a higher risk of intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation and 30-day mortality.<b>Hypothesis/Gap Statement.</b> Despite the global recognition of RSV as a cause of respiratory disease, the epidemiological information available on its distribution in Mexico and Latin America among adults is limited.<b>Aim.</b> To characterize the epidemiological, clinical and molecular features of RSV infections in the Mexican population during the 2023-2024 winter season.<b>Methodology.</b> An observational, retrospective and descriptive study was conducted including patients of all ages with RSV detected by reverse transcriptase/real-time PCR during the 2023-2024 winter season.<b>Results.</b> In our study, 50% of adults and 96% of paediatric patients with RSV were admitted for at least 24 h. The most frequent comorbidities in adults were systemic hypertension and diabetes. Approximately one-third of adults were over 65 years of age, and the overall in-hospital mortality in the adult group was 24%, in contrast to 6% in-hospital mortality in the paediatric population. Genomic analysis identified RSV serotype A as predominant. Complete genome sequencing revealed circulation of the A.D.1 clade, consistent with lineages from the southern USA, marking the first complete sequencing of RSV isolates from Mexican patients.<b>Conclusion.</b> RSV represents a significant cause of respiratory infection in Mexico across age groups, with substantial mortality in adults. The identification of the A.D.1 clade underscores the importance of continuous epidemiological and molecular surveillance for understanding RSV circulation patterns in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"75 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13237979/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148166196","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":"The Dynamiker cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay is an accurate, rapid and cost effective test comparable to culture for detection of cryptococcal meningitis.","authors":"Maddy Nagwovuma, Richard Kwizera, David Bisagaya Meya, Beatrice Achan","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002173","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.002173","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a leading cause of mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Sub-Saharan Africa, requiring rapid diagnosis. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Dynamiker cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay (CrAg LFA) offers a potential point-of-care solution, its use remains limited in high-burden settings.<b>Hypothesis/Gap statement:</b> Despite FDA approval of Dynamiker CrAg LFA for the diagnosis of CM, the underutilization of the test in settings with a high burden of CM is of particular concern. Therefore, there is a need to validate its performance for the diagnosis of CM.<b>Aim:</b> To evaluate the diagnostic performance, turnaround time and cost-effectiveness of the Dynamiker CrAg LFA for CM, using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture as the reference standard.<b>Methodology:</b> Stored CSF samples from 200 HIV-positive patients with suspected or confirmed CM (<i>n</i>=245) were tested using the Dynamiker CrAg LFA. Diagnostic metrics were calculated and compared to CSF fungal culture. Time to result and average test cost were also assessed.<b>Results:</b> The Dynamiker CrAg LFA showed a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 84.9%, with strong agreement (κ=0.83) with CSF culture. Median time to result was 30 s compared to 3 days for culture. The average cost per test was USD 3.41 versus USD 19.80-22.40 for CSF culture.<b>Conclusion:</b> The Dynamiker CrAg LFA is a rapid, accurate and affordable diagnostic tool for CM and holds promise for broader implementation in resource-limited settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"75 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13296643/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148321343","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":"Clinician perspectives on blood culture practice and diagnostic stewardship in regional emergency departments.","authors":"Elizabeth Thomas, Monalyssa Watson, Tim Inglis, Stephen MacDonald","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002171","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.002171","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Bloodstream infection is a critical cause of morbidity and mortality, and high-quality blood culture practice is essential for accurate diagnosis and antimicrobial stewardship, particularly in regional and remote healthcare settings.<b>Gap Statement.</b> Clinicians working in rural emergency departments (EDs) encounter unique systemic, workforce and logistical barriers to optimal blood culture practice, yet these challenges are not well characterized in the existing literature.<b>Aim.</b> To explore clinician-reported barriers and enablers to high-quality blood culture collection across regional EDs in Western Australia.<b>Methodology.</b> A qualitative study was conducted involving semi-structured interviews with doctors and nurses from three Western Australia Country Health Service EDs. Transcripts were analysed thematically to identify factors influencing blood culture ordering, collection technique, contamination and workflow integration.<b>Results.</b> Twenty-four clinicians participated, describing substantial delays between sample collection and laboratory processing, difficulty obtaining two sets per episode and limited feedback on contamination or blood volume adequacy. Workforce turnover, variable training and inconsistent guideline use contributed to practice variation. Key enablers included strong team culture, leadership from clinical champions, structured induction, refresher training and the use of dual-set kits and visual dashboards to provide timely, non-punitive feedback.<b>Conclusion.</b> High-quality blood culture practice in rural EDs is shaped by multifactorial systemic, workflow and workforce constraints and targeted, locally relevant interventions are essential to improve diagnostic yield and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"75 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13257355/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148221425","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":"Corrigendum: Cases of high consequence infectious diseases identified in the UK, 1962-2023.","authors":"Barry Atkinson, Mike Beadsworth, Jake Dunning","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002178","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.002178","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"75 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148260847","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":"R pyocin sensitivity of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> clinical isolates from different disease types.","authors":"Yanhan Deng, Meggie Wang, Chandni Chopra, Samuel A Shelburne, William R Miller, Natalia V Kirienko","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002179","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.002179","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction</b>. Multidrug-resistant infections by the opportunistic pathogen <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> are common in healthcare settings but are increasingly difficult to treat due to high rates of antimicrobial resistance.<b>Hypothesis/Gap Statement</b>. Interest has developed in using R pyocins, bacteriocins produced by <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, as a species-specific treatment. We hypothesize that understanding the connections between disease type and R pyocin sensitivity will inform future treatment development.<b>Aim</b>. To evaluate the patterns of R pyocin sensitivity across a library of 247 clinical <i>P. aeruginosa</i> isolates and compare sensitivity profiles of strains when categorizing based on disease type, O-antigen serotype and encoded R pyocin type.<b>Methodology</b>. A combination of genomic analysis and R pyocin sensitivity assays using growth kinetics was conducted on 247 clinical isolates to evaluate genotype, phenotype and disease presentation in the context of R pyocins. Genomic analysis allowed <i>in silico</i> identification of O-antigen serotype and encoded R pyocin type, and phylogenetic comparisons revealed genetic relationships between strains.<b>Results</b>. Comparative analysis of clinical isolates showed that certain conditions, such as chronic infection in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis, increased sensitivity to R pyocins. We also observed strong correlations between encoded R pyocin subtype, sensitivity and O-antigen serotype. Finally, our data showed that a large percentage of strains had shared, broad-spectrum sensitivity to R pyocins, suggesting that most clinical isolates may be treatable with R pyocins.<b>Conclusion</b>. Our study reveals connections between disease type, O-antigen serotype and R pyocin sensitivity, which may inform future strain analysis and predict the effectiveness of R pyocin treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"75 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13286288/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298080","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":"Eliminate <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> via HELZ2 and up-regulating ATG16L1 to promote macrophage autophagy.","authors":"Tao Wang, Lei Liu, Ying Lei","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002170","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.002170","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health threat, and its control is hindered by prolonged treatment and increasing drug resistance. Helicase with zinc finger 2 (HELZ2) has recently been identified as an RNA-binding protein up-regulated after <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> (Mtb) infection, yet its functional contribution to host defence is not fully understood.<b>Hypothesis/Gap Statement.</b> Although HELZ2 expression increases following Mtb infection, the molecular mechanism by which HELZ2 regulates macrophage immunity, particularly autophagy-mediated bacterial clearance, remains unclear.<b>Aim</b>. This study aimed to elucidate the role and underlying mechanism of HELZ2 in macrophage-mediated elimination of Mtb, with a specific focus on its regulation of autophagy.<b>Methodology.</b> HELZ2 expression was quantified in the peripheral blood of TB patients and in Mtb-infected monocyte-derived macrophages. By knocking out and overexpressing genes, phagocytosis, intracellular bacterial survival and autophagy were analysed. Co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase assays were employed to identify HELZ2-interacting proteins and downstream transcriptional targets.<b>Results.</b> HELZ2 was significantly up-regulated in patient samples and infected macrophages. HELZ2 silencing impaired phagocytosis, reduced autophagic flux and increased intracellular Mtb survival. Mechanistically, HELZ2 bound to and stabilized the MYC proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor (MYC), which directly activated transcription of the autophagy-related gene ATG16L1. Overexpression of MYC or ATG16L1 restored the autophagy disorder caused by HELZ2 deficiency and enhanced bacterial clearance.<b>Conclusion.</b> HELZ2 enhances macrophage autophagy and promotes intracellular Mtb elimination by interacting with MYC and up-regulating ATG16L1. This newly identified HELZ2-MYC-ATG16L1 regulatory axis provides mechanistic insight into host defence and suggests a potential target for host-directed TB therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"75 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13249140/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213812","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":"A simplified MALDI-TOF MS method for rapid fluconazole susceptibility testing in <i>Candida</i> species.","authors":"Bárbara Cipulo Legabão, João Pedro Guedes Xavier, Ana Luisa Perini Leme Giordano, Lais Pontes, Mauro Luiz Brandão Junior, Angélica Zaninelli Schreiber","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002172","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.002172","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is widely used for rapid micro-organism identification and has recently been explored for antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST).<b>Hypothesis.</b> Although MALDI-TOF MS has emerged as a promising tool for AFST, simplified and clinically applicable strategies for rapid fluconazole (FLZ) susceptibility detection in <i>Candida</i> spp. remain insufficiently validated. We hypothesized that a streamlined AFST-MS approach would demonstrate good categorical agreement (CA) with the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) reference method while significantly reducing turnaround time.<b>Aim.</b> To establish a simplified MALDI-TOF MS-based AFST approach for detecting FLZ resistance in <i>Candida</i> species.<b>Methodology.</b> Fifty-one clinical isolates and reference strains were incubated for 3 h in the presence of FLZ at two concentrations (32 and 4 µg ml^-1) and in drug-free controls. Spectral profiles were compared with the EUCAST reference method.<b>Results.</b> Overall CA between AFST-MS and EUCAST was 85.2% (κ=0.7306). Species-specific accuracy was 100% for <i>Candida auris, Pichia kudriavzevii</i> (formerly <i>Candida krusei</i>), <i>Candida tropicalis</i> and <i>Candida parapsilosis</i>; 92.9% for <i>Candida albicans</i> and 40% for <i>Nakaseomyces glabrata</i> (formerly <i>Candida glabrata</i>); however, these estimates should be interpreted cautiously given the limited number of isolates per species. All discrepancies were minor errors, with no major or very major errors observed. The method reduced analysis time from 24 to 3 h and enabled presumptive FLZ susceptibility detection with good overall agreement with the reference method<b>Conclusion.</b> These findings support the potential of MALDI-TOF MS as a rapid adjunct tool for antifungal susceptibility assessment and may contribute to earlier therapeutic decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"75 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13268205/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148255270","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}