Journal of medical microbiology最新文献

{"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":"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":"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":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12282306/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143813263","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":"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":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12282329/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781988","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":"Impact of maternal obesity and mode of delivery on the newborn skin and oral microbiomes.","authors":"Allison Seifert, Kelly Ingram, Embelle Ngalame Eko, Jaclyn Nunziato, Monica Ahrens, Brittany R Howell","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002000","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.002000","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Previous studies have shown vast differences in the skin and oral microbiomes of newborns based on delivery method [Caesarean section (C-section) vs vaginal]. Exposure to or absence of certain bacteria during delivery can impact the neonate's future susceptibility to infections, allergies or autoimmunity by altering immune functions. Few studies have focused on the impact of maternal obesity on the variations of newborn skin and oral microbiomes. Obese pregnant women typically have a higher vaginal microbiome diversity, and their pregnancies are at higher risk for adverse outcomes and complications.<b>Hypothesis.</b> We hypothesized that the skin and oral microbiomes of newborns born to obese mothers would include more diverse, potentially pathogenic bacteria and that the skin and oral microbiome in C-section delivered newborns would be less diverse than vaginally delivered newborns.<b>Aim.</b> We aim to begin to establish maternal obesity and mode of delivery as factors contributing to increased risk for negative newborn outcomes through impacts on newborn bacterial dysbiosis.<b>Methodology.</b> A skin swab was collected immediately following delivery of 39 newborns from 13 healthy weight body mass index (BMI 18.50-24.99), 11 overweight (BMI 25.0-29.99) and 15 obese (BMI ≥30.00) pregnant participants. An oral swab was collected immediately following delivery for 38 of these newborns from 13 healthy weight, 10 overweight and 15 obese pregnant participants. Bacterial genera were identified via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.<b>Results.</b> The newborn skin microbiome was comprised of typical skin bacteria (i.e. <i>Corynebacterium</i>). Newborns of obese participants had a higher relative abundance of <i>Peptoniphilus</i> in their skin microbiome compared to newborns of healthy weight participants (<i>P</i>=0.007). Neonates born via C-section had a higher relative abundance of <i>Ureaplasma</i> in their oral microbiome compared to neonates delivered vaginally (<i>P</i>=0.046).<b>Conclusion.</b> We identified differences in the newborn skin and oral microbiomes based on pre-pregnancy BMI and method of delivery. These differences could be linked to an increased risk of allergies, autoimmune disease and infections. Future longitudinal studies will be crucial in determining the long-term impact of these specific genera on newborn outcomes. Understanding these connections could lead to targeted interventions that reduce the risk of adverse outcomes and improve overall health trajectory.</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/PMC12282316/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144048558","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":"From coughs to complications: the story of <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i>.","authors":"Florian Tagini, Mirja Puolakkainen, Gilbert Greub, On Behalf Of The Escmid Study Group For Mycoplasma And Chlamydia Infections Esgmac","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.002006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i> is an obligate intracellular bacterium and a significant cause of respiratory infections. It is associated with upper and lower respiratory tract diseases, including bronchitis and pneumonia. The pathogen employs specific virulence factors, such as the Type III Secretion System (T3SS) and Inc proteins, to invade and subvert host cell machinery during its peculiar developmental life cycle. Chronic infections have been linked to asthma and, more controversially, to atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases. Diagnosis primarily relies on PCR-based molecular assays, while treatment includes macrolides, tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones. Despite its clinical relevance, research on <i>C. pneumoniae</i> has declined in recent years, highlighting the need for renewed scientific focus.</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/PMC12050420/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144048599","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":"Management of severe and fulminant <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection in adults.","authors":"Daisy Ubsdell, Nicola Louise Maddox, Ray Sheridan","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.001991","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.001991","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Clostridioides difficile</i> (formerly known as <i>Clostridium difficile</i>) is a significant cause of healthcare-associated infection with symptoms ranging from diarrhoea and abdominal pain to pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. Severe disease can pose a significant morbidity and mortality risk and is to be considered a medical emergency. The emergence of a new <i>C. difficile</i> ribotype with an estimated mortality rate of 20% (ribotype 995) has prompted a re-review of the evidence and guidelines around managing severe <i>C. difficile</i> infections (CDI). International guidance on the management of CDI varies regarding first-line antibiotic choice. Metronidazole is no longer favoured as first line due to concerns around resistance, and vancomycin and fidaxomicin are now recommended as first line options. Antibiotic therapy should be used in conjunction with good supportive measures and early consideration of surgical management. Faecal microbiota transplant can be utilized in recurrent CDI and may be useful in severe disease. Severe CDI is a significant ongoing threat to public health, and further research into effective management is essential to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":94093,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical microbiology","volume":"74 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12022265/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144061426","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":"Accuracy of classification of urinary Gram-stain findings by a computer-aided diagnosis app compared with microbiology specialists.","authors":"Kei Yamamoto, Goh Ohji, Isao Miyatsuka, Kei Furui-Ebisawa, Ataru Moriya, Shogo Maeta, Hidetoshi Nomoto, Masami Kurokawa, Kenichiro Ohnuma, Mari Kusuki, Yukari Uemura, Norio Ohmagari","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.002008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Timely and accurate diagnosis of bacterial infections enables early administration of appropriate antimicrobial treatment and improved outcomes.<b>Hypothesis/Gap Statement.</b> The accuracy of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) for identifying organisms on urine Gram stains has not been compared with that of microbiology specialists (MS).<b>Aim.</b> To compare the interpretation of urine Gram-stain results by MS and a CAD app designed using artificial intelligence.<b>Methodology.</b> Urine specimens from patients with urinary tract infections were used and collected at two tertiary hospitals between 1 April and 31 December 2022. Using non-inferiority analysis to assess whether CAD was non-inferior to expert interpretation, CAD-predicted microscopic findings of the Gram-stained slide generated from iPhone camera images from two hospitals were compared with those from ten MS. A total of 153 images were taken from each hospital, and CAD interpreted a total of 306. The primary endpoint was the prediction accuracy based on the morphology of the Gram-stained bacteria.<b>Results.</b> The accuracy (95% confidence interval) of MS and CAD predictions was 83.0% (81.6%-84.3%) and 87.9% (83.7%-91.3%), respectively, with a difference of -4.93% (-8.43% to -0.62%) indicating non-inferiority of CAD.<b>Conclusion.</b> CAD was non-inferior to MS predictions for identifying Gram-stained pathogens; therefore, CAD was suggested to have the potential for guiding empirical antibiotic selection in patients with urinary tract infections.</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/PMC12018707/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144055703","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":"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":"Causal relationship between gut microbiota and pyogenic arthritis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.","authors":"Ji-Ang Li, Chen-Han Zhou, Han-Dan Xiao, Hong-Bin Guo, Jie-Yu Liang, Yi Zhang","doi":"10.1099/jmm.0.002004","DOIUrl":"10.1099/jmm.0.002004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction.</b> Accumulating evidence indicates a significant association between gut microbiota and the risk of developing pyogenic arthritis (PA). However, their causal relationship has yet to be elucidated.<b>Hypothesis.</b> The gut microbiota is causally associated with the risk of PA.<b>Aim.</b> The Mendelian randomization (MR) methodology was employed to assess the potential causal effects of gut microbiota on the susceptibility to PA.<b>Methodology.</b> A two-sample MR study was performed using the summary statistics of gut microbiota from the largest available genome-wide association study meta-analysis (<i>n</i>=13,266) conducted by the MiBioGen consortium. The summary statistics of PA were obtained from the R11 release data provided by the FinnGen consortium (2,441 cases and 2,87,796 controls). Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) model, weighted median estimator model, weighted model-based method and MR-Egger regression (MER) model were used to examine the causal association between gut microbiota and PA. To assess the heterogeneity and pleiotropic effects of the identified instrumental variables (IVs), we utilized several analytical methods, including the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, the MR Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier test and Cochran's Q test.<b>Results.</b> Utilizing the IVW method, we identified six bacterial traits that were negatively correlated with PA: <i>Eubacterium eligens</i> group [OR: 0.6057; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.4525 to 0.8107; <i>P</i>=0.0007], <i>Barnesiella</i> (OR: 0.7456; 95 % CI: 0.5760 to 0.9651; <i>P</i>=0.0258), <i>Coprococcus2</i> (OR: 0.7257; 95 % CI: 0.5352 to 0.9840; <i>P</i>=0.0391), <i>Ruminococcaceae</i> UCG005 (OR: 0.7562; 95 % CI: 0.5920 to 0.9660; <i>P</i>=0.0252), <i>E. oxidoreducens</i> group (OR: 0.7311; 95 % CI: 0.5547 to 0.9637; <i>P</i>=0.0262) and <i>Lachnospiraceae FCS020</i> group (OR: 0.7825; 95 % CI: 0.6135 to 0.9981; <i>P</i>=0.0482), respectively. On the contrary, four bacterial traits were positively correlated with PA: <i>Adlercreutzia</i> (OR 1.3210, 95 % CI 1.0181-1.7141, <i>P</i>=0.0362), <i>Holdemania</i> (OR 1.2239, 95 % CI 1.0013-1.4960, <i>P</i>=0.0485), <i>Anaerostipes</i> (OR 1.3614, 95 % CI 1.0189-1.8191, <i>P</i>=0.0369) and <i>Butyricimonas</i> (OR 1.2627, 95 % CI 1.0016-1.5921, <i>P</i>=0.0484), respectively. No significant heterogeneity among IVs or evidence of horizontal pleiotropy was detected.<b>Conclusion.</b> Our research demonstrates a potential causal link between various gut microbiota and the risk of PA. Further research is imperative to elucidate the mechanisms by which gut microbiota influence the pathogenesis of PA.</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/PMC12282277/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144046701","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}