A Potent Anti-SpuE Antibody Allosterically Inhibits Type III Secretion System and Attenuates Virulence of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria infection is particularly severe within the designated ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species), which underscores the urgent need to explore alternative therapeutic strategies. The type III secretion system (T3SS) is considered to be a key virulence factor in many gram-negative bacteria, and T3SS is in turn regulated by SpuE in P. aeruginosa, which is a spermidine binding protein from an ATP-binding cassette transporter family and highly conserved within ESKAPE pathogens. Here, we identified a potent anti-SpuE antagonistic antibody that allosterically inhibits the expression of T3SS and attenuates virulence of P. aeruginosa. X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that binding of antibody to SpuE induces a change in the dynamics of SpuE, which in turn may reduce spermidine uptake by P. aeruginosa. The antibody could serve as a template for developing novel biologics to target a broad spectrum of gram-negative bacteria.     

EWOD silicon biosensor for multiple nucleic acids analysis

In this paper, a miniaturized biosensor containing 96 silicon microchambers electroloaded with nano-volumes of liquid (EW-chip) is presented. The liquid electroloading is achieved by the appropriate modulation of interface properties. The surface chemistries have been studied to guarantee effective interface properties for both electrowetting on dielectric actuation and biocompatibility versus biochemical reactions. The silicon microchambers are 200 nl in volume and are connected to a specific system of electrodes able to deliver liquid sample on each well. The device also integrates temperature sensors and heaters to perform biochemical reactions. On that, the effectiveness of this device has been successfully proven towards the nucleic acids detection via real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification. Hepatitis B virus genome target has been used to assess the device performance. Results show very uniform amplification over the 96 microchambers without any cross-contamination process. These features make this system a very appealing potential solution for genetic point-of-care devices where a high level of parallelism of analysis is required.     

Antimicrobial peptides containing unnatural amino acid exhibit potent bactericidal activity against ESKAPE pathogens

A series of 36 synthetic antimicrobial peptides containing unnatural amino acids were screened to determine their effectiveness to treat Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pnemoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species (ESKAPE) pathogens, which are known to commonly infect chronic wounds. The primary amino acid sequences of these peptides incorporate either three or six dipeptide units consisting of the unnatural amino acids Tetrahydroisoquinolinecarboxylic acid (Tic) and Octahydroindolecarboxylic acid (Oic). The Tic-Oic dipeptide units are separated by SPACER amino acids with specific physicochemical properties that control how these peptides interact with bacterial cell membranes of different chemical compositions. These peptides exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against these pathogens in the range from >100 to 6.25 μg/mL. The observed diversity of MIC values for these peptides against the various bacterial strains are consistent with our hypothesis that the complementarity of the physicochemical properties of the peptide and the lipid of the bacteria’s cell membrane determines the resulting antibacterial activity of the peptide.     

Microfluidic chips controlled with elastomeric microvalve arrays

Miniaturized microfluidic systems provide simple and effective solutions for low-cost point-of-care diagnostics and high-throughput biomedical assays. Robust flow control and precise fluidic volumes are two critical requirements for these applications. We have developed microfluidic chips featuring elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microvalve arrays that: 1) need no extra energy source to close the fluidic path, hence the loaded device is highly portable; and 2) allow for microfabricating deep (up to 1 mm) channels with vertical sidewalls and resulting in very precise features.The PDMS microvalves-based devices consist of three layers: a fluidic layer containing fluidic paths and microchambers of various sizes, a control layer containing the microchannels necessary to actuate the fluidic path with microvalves, and a middle thin PDMS membrane that is bound to the control layer. Fluidic layer and control layers are made by replica molding of PDMS from SU-8 photoresist masters, and the thin PDMS membrane is made by spinning PDMS at specified heights. The control layer is bonded to the thin PDMS membrane after oxygen activation of both, and then assembled with the fluidic layer. The microvalves are closed at rest and can be opened by applying negative pressure (e.g., house vacuum). Microvalve closure and opening are automated via solenoid valves controlled by computer software.Here, we demonstrate two microvalve-based microfluidic chips for two different applications. The first chip allows for storing and mixing precise sub-nanoliter volumes of aqueous solutions at various mixing ratios. The second chip allows for computer-controlled perfusion of microfluidic cell cultures.The devices are easy to fabricate and simple to control. Due to the biocompatibility of PDMS, these microchips could have broad applications in miniaturized diagnostic assays as well as basic cell biology studies.     

酸性土壤中耐铝细菌的筛选鉴定及其耐铝能力分析

以含有1mmol／LAl3＋的s—LB培养基作为筛选培养基,从酸性土壤中分离到13株耐铝的细菌菌株,选取其中6株进行形态学分析,结果观察到这些菌株的菌体均呈杆状,其中1株为革兰阳性反应,其余5株为革兰阴性反应。以细菌通用引物扩增这些菌株的16SrDNA并测序,将得到的序列与GenBank中的序列进行BLAST比对,利用MEGA4．0软件,按照Neighbor-joining法构建系统进化树,这6个菌株分别与Enterobacter endosymbiont,Serratia marcescens ,Pantoea agglomerans ,Enterobacter aerogenes .Bacillus subtilis 和 Enterobacter asburiae的亲缘关系最近。将这些菌株接种到加有2mmol／LAl3＋、pH4．5的s—LB固体培养基上培养时,它们都能生长,说明这些菌株具有较好的耐铝能力,这些菌株为进一步研究细菌的耐铝机制提供了极好的材料。     

Survival of coliforms and bacterial pathogens within protozoa during chlorination.

The susceptibility of coliform bacteria and bacterial pathogens to free chlorine residuals was determined before and after incubation with amoebae and ciliate protozoa. Viability of bacteria was quantified to determine their resistance to free chlorine residuals when ingested by laboratory strains of Acanthamoeba castellanii and Tetrahymena pyriformis. Cocultures of bacteria and protozoa were incubated to facilitate ingestion of the bacteria and then were chlorinated, neutralized, and sonicated to release intracellular bacteria. Qualitative susceptibility of protozoan strains to free chlorine was also assessed. Protozoa were shown to survive and grow after exposure to levels of free chlorine residuals that killed free-living bacteria. Ingested coliforms Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter agglomerans, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella oxytoca and bacterial pathogens Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella sonnei, Legionella gormanii, and Campylobacter jejuni had increased resistance to free chlorine residuals. Bacteria could be cultured from within treated protozoans well after the time required for 99% inactivation of free-living cells. All bacterial pathogens were greater than 50-fold more resistant to free chlorine when ingested by T. pyriformis. Escherichia coli ingested by a Cyclidium sp., a ciliate isolated from a drinking water reservoir, were also shown to be more resistant to free chlorine. The mechanism that increased resistance appeared to be survival within protozoan cells. This study indicates that bacteria can survive ingestion by protozoa. This bacterium-protozoan association provides bacteria with increased resistance to free chlorine residuals which can lead to persistence of bacteria in chlorine-treated water. We propose that resistance to digestion by predatory protozoa was an evolutionary precursor of pathogenicity in bacteria and that today it is a mechanism for survival of fastidious bacteria in dilute and inhospitable aquatic environments.     

A bio-fluidic device for adaptive sample pretreatment and its application to measurements ofEscherichia coli concentrations

In this paper, we describe a bio-fluidic device for adaptive sample pretreatment, in order to optimize the conditions under which absorbance assays can be conducted. This device can be successfully applied to the measurement ofEscherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations using adaptive dilution, with which the dilution ratio can be adjusted during the dilution. Although many attempts have been previously made to miniaturize complex biochemical analyses at the chip scale, very few sample pretreatment processes have actually been miniaturized or automated at this point. Due to the lack of currently available on-chip pretreatments, analytical instruments tend to suffer from a limited range of analysis. This occasionally hinders the direct and quantitative analysis of specific analytes obtained from real samples. In order to overcome these issues, we exploit two novel strategies: dilution with a programmable ratio, and to-and-fro mixing. The bio-fluidic device consists of a rectangular chamber constructed of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). This chamber has four openings, an inlet, an outlet, an air control, and an air vent. Each of the dilution cycles is comprised of four steps: detection, liquid drain, buffer injection, and to-and-fro mixing. When using adaptive sample pretreatment, the range in whichE. coli concentrations can be measured is broadened, to an optical density (O. D.) range of 0.3∼30. This device may prove useful in the on-line monitoring of cell concentrations, in both fermenter and aqueous environments.     

Biovalorization of saccharides derived from industrial wastes such as whey: a review

Whey is a liquid waste issued from the transformation of milk into cheese. Whey is a major environmental problem for the dairy industry due to its high organic load, linked to its high content of lactose. It can be valorized by biological processes based on lactose fermentation into different products such as (1) lactic acid (as food additive), (2) 2,3-butanediol (as feedstock to get products such as methyl-ethyl-ketone or 2-butene for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries), (3) biogas (to obtain energy). The production of 2,3-butanediol from saccharides, such as glucose, has been actively studied over previous decades using several types of microorganisms such as Enterobacter aerogenes, Paenibacillus polymyxa, Klebsiella sp., Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli. Some of these have even been genetically modified to improve the 2,3-butanediol production. The potential whey fermentation process into 2,3-butanediol depends on several operating conditions such as microorganisms, composition of the culture medium, temperature, pH and aeration. This review first presents a summary of the situation of milk and cheese production in Canada and around the world. It also describes the different kinds of whey and their treatment techniques. Finally, this paper describes the production of 2,3-butanediol from saccharides by various microorganisms under different operating conditions.     

糖尿病合并败血症病原菌和耐药性的分析探讨

目的 探讨糖尿病合并败血症菌种分布特点和耐药谱的变化,指导临床用药.方法 回顾性分析了1999年3月至2004年6月所有血培养阳性且经临床资料证实的18例糖尿病合并败血症.结果 共获阳性血培养株26份.G^＋菌4株;G^-菌17株,居前3位的是克雷伯菌、大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌;真菌5株,且全为院内感染.G^-菌出现多重耐药且耐药水平增高.结论 G^-菌仍占主流,真菌败血症继续升高,细菌耐药形势严峻,应重视细菌耐药性的动态监测,常规开展产酶菌检测,指导抗生素的合理应用,延缓预防耐药菌株的扩散流行.     

秸秆发酵中乳酸菌复合系SFC-2对杂菌的抑制作用

目的]为探明秸秆发酵用乳酸菌复合系SFC-2对杂菌的抑制作用.[方法]从秸秆自然发酵体系中.利用平板划线法、纸片扩散法和变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)筛选出13株菌作为研究该乳酸菌复合系抑菌作用的对象.[结果](1)通过16S rDNA序列分析显示13株分离菌中9株菌的近缘种为Enterobactercloacae,Klebsiella oxytoca,Bacillus cereus,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Citrobacter freundii,Klebsiellaterrigena、Citrobacter sp.,这些均为常见的致病菌或条件致病菌.(2)将筛选出的致病菌作为被测试菌株,用SFC-2的发酵上清液处理表明:SFC-2复合系的抑菌作用高于复合系分离的单一菌株和单一菌株人工组合的抑制作用.(3)SFC-2培养的14～48 h内动态检测结果表明:发酵上清液的有机酸含量有显著差异,但抑菌活性差异不显著;发酵上清液经热处理后抑菌活性不发生变化,蛋白酶K处理后抑菌活性部分丧失.     

Selection of Potential Probiotic Bacteria from Exclusively Breastfed Infant Faeces with Antagonistic Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant ESKAPE Pathogens

The past decade has brought a significant rise in antimicrobial resistance, and the ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species) have considerably aggravated a threat to public health, causing nosocomial infections worldwide. The objective of the current study was to isolate novel probiotic strain with antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens. For this purpose, eighteen breastfed infant faeces were collected and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with antagonistic activity were isolated. Out of 102 anaerobic LAB isolated, only nine exhibited inhibitory activity against all ESKAPE pathogens. These selected nine isolates were further characterized for their probiotic attributes such as lysozyme tolerance, simulated gastrointestinal tolerance, cellular auto-aggregation and cell surface hydrophobicity. Bile salt deconjugation and cholesterol-lowering capacity was also determined. Among all nine, isolate LBM220 was found to possess superior probiotic potential. Confirmatory identification of isolate LBM220 was done by both 16S rRNA sequence analysis and mass spectrometric analysis using MALDI-TOF. Based on BLAST result, isolate LBM220 was identified as Lactobacillus gasseri. Phylogenetic analysis of Lactobacillus gasseri LBM220 [accession number MN097539] was performed. Also, detailed safety evaluation study of Lact. gasseri LBM220 showed the presence of intrinsic antibiotic resistance and the absence of hemolytic, DNase, gelatinase and toxic mucinolytic activity. Time kill assay was also performed to confirm the strong kill effect of Lact. gasseri LBM220 on all six multidrug resistant ESKAPE pathogens. Thus, Lact. gasseri LBM220 can be utilized and explored as potential probiotic with therapeutic intervention.

     

1332例发热患者血液标本菌群及血清学分析

目的：探讨发热患者血液标本中菌群的种类及其分布情况,为临床的诊断与治疗提供实验依据。方法：采用常规细菌学分离培养和L型高渗培养法从1332例感染症患者的血液标本中分离细菌及L型。结果：1332例感染标本共检出细菌486株,检出率为36．5％,检出的细菌包括沙门菌,葡萄球菌,肠道杆菌及奈瑟菌,149例标本中检出细菌L型29株,检出率为19．5％。其中返祖的细菌包括葡萄球菌和奈瑟菌。结论：沙门菌和葡萄球菌及其L型是引起血液感染的常见病原菌。     

Monitoring of uropathogens and their susceptibility to antibiotics]

Samples of urine collected from patients with complicated urology infection and hospitalized to the Moscow Region Research Clinical Institute in 1986, 1991, 1995 and 1999 were analysed. Of 11,444 samples examined, bacteriuria was estimated in 7143 samples. 9786 strains (29 genus) of bacteria were isolated--56.9 per cent as mono culture and 43.1 per cent as associations. Susceptibility to 21 antibiotic was determined by disk diffusion method for 1607 strains; beta-lactamase production was determined in 198 strains, MIC was determined for 41 antibiotics. Gram-negative rods relative amount among pathogens decreased substantially (84.7 per cent in 1986 against 61.6 per cent in 1999), particularly Enterobacteriaceae (74.7 per cent in 1986 against 41.4 per cent in 1999). Nonfermenting Gram-negative rods (NFGNR) relative amount increased (10.8 per cent against 19.2 per cent), along with Gram-positive cocci (19.8 per cent against 64.2 per cent), particularly coagulasenegative staphylococci (CNS) (10.8 per cent against 35.9 per cent) and enterococci (5 per cent against 16.5 per cent) and candida and fungi (0.5 per cent in 1986 against 15.9 per cent in 1999). At the period 1986-1999 the main pathogens in urology infection were E. coli, Enterobacter spp., NFGNR (including P. aeruginosa), Staphylococcus, CNS, Enterococcus spp. The problem pathogens for urological department were the following: E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., Proteus spp., NFGNR including P. aeruginosa, CNS, Enterococcus spp., candida and fungi. At the period 1991-1997 Gram-negative pathogens susceptibility to amikacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, ceftazidime, cefotaxime was not changed in general, Gram-positive cocci (staphylococci and enterococci) retained the same susceptibility to vancomicin, cefamandol and amoxyclave. Staphylococci were also susceptible to amikacin, imipenem, rifampicin, oxacillin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin. Production of beta-lactamase was registered for 38.7 per cent of CNS, 26.5 per cent of E. coli, 38.5 per cent of K. pneumoniae, 25 per cent of P. mirabilis and 55.6 per cent of P. aeruginosa strains.     

马尾松毛虫肠道产细菌素细菌的筛选及抑菌特性

[背景]细菌素是一类由细菌产生的抗菌肽活性物质,对多种致病菌有抑制和杀灭作用.昆虫是世界上种类最多、肠道菌群资源最为丰富且多样的动物类群之一.昆虫肠道很可能蕴含着丰富的产细菌素菌种资源.[目的]以马尾松毛虫(Dendrolimuspunctatu)幼虫为研究材料,对其肠道细菌进行分离、培养和鉴定,获得对典型致病菌有明显...     

Chitinolytic Enterobacter agglomerans Antagonistic to Fungal Plant Pathogens

Three Enterobacter agglomerans strains which produce and excrete proteins with chitinolytic activity were found while screening soil-borne bacteria antagonistic to fungal plant pathogens. The chitinolytic activity was induced when the strains were grown in the presence of colloidal chitin as the sole carbon source. It was quantitated by using assays with chromogenic p-nitrophenyl analogs of disaccharide, trisaccharide, and tetrasaccharide derivatives of N-acetylglucosamine. A set of three fluorescent substrates with a 4-methylumbelliferyl group linked by (beta)-1,4 linkage to N-acetylglucosamine mono- or oligosaccharides were used to identify the chitinolytic activities of proteins which had been renatured following their separation by electrophoresis. This study provides the most complete evidence for the presence of a complex of chitinolytic enzymes in Enterobacter strains. Four enzymes were detected: two N-acetyl-(beta)-d-glucosaminidases of 89 and 67 kDa, an endochitinase with an apparent molecular mass of 59 kDa, and a chitobiosidase of 50 kDa. The biocontrol ability of the chitinolytic strains was demonstrated under greenhouse conditions. The bacteria decreased the incidence of disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani in cotton by 64 to 86%. Two Tn5 mutants of one of the isolates, which were deficient in chitinolytic activity, were unable to protect plants against the disease.     

High incidence of plant growth-stimulating bacteria associated with the rhizosphere of wheat grown on salinated soil in Uzbekistan

Soil salinization is increasing steadily in many parts of the world and causes major problems for plant productivity. Under these stress conditions, root-associated beneficial bacteria can help improve plant growth and nutrition. In this study, salt-tolerant bacteria from the rhizosphere of Uzbek wheat with potentially beneficial traits were isolated and characterized. Eight strains which initially positively affect the growth of wheat plants in vitro were investigated in detail. All eight strains are salt tolerant and have some of the following plant growth-beneficial properties: production of auxin, HCN, lipase or protease and wheat growth promotion. Using sequencing of part of the 16S rDNA, the eight new isolates were identified as Acinetobacter (two strains), Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Staphylococcus saprophyticus , Bacillus cereus , Enterobacter hormaechei , Pantoae agglomerans and Alcaligenes faecalis . All these strains are potential human pathogens. Possible reasons for why these bacteria present in the rhizosphere and establish there are discussed.     

Construction and operation of a multiplexed microfiltration device to facilitate rapid pathogen detection

Millions of Americans contract food poisoning or are affected by microbial pathogens each year. Rapid, sensitive detection of dilute levels of pathogens in foods, produce, water, and biomanufacturing process samples is key to consumer protection; however, current enrichment methods require as much as a full day to enrich viable bacterial pathogens to detectable levels. Our lab previously demonstrated the ability to concentrate and detect dilute levels of pathogens, within 8 hr, from various food matrices using microfiltration in our continuous cell concentration device (i.e., C3D) with one or two filter modules. This short communication describes the design, materials and construction, layout, and operational characteristics of a four filter module multiplexed system based on a four channel device. Benefits are a 2× greater sample capacity than an equivalent duplex system (achieving the same time to result of less than 8 hr from sample preparation to detection), simpler operation, and a footprint enabling operation inside a biosafety cabinet instead of requiring a BSL-2 room. Flow rate variability through four channels fit within an operational envelope of ±3%; flow rates are reproducible from one run to the next thus ensuring relatively simple, concurrent processing of samples.     

High-throughput microfluidic system for long-term bacterial colony monitoring and antibiotic testing in zero-flow environments

In this study, a high-throughput microfluidic system is presented. The system is comprised of seven parallel channels. Each channel contains 32 square-shaped microchambers. After simulation studies on samples loaded into the microchambers, and the solute exchange between the microchambers and channels, the long-term culture of Escherichia coli (E. coli) HB101 in the microchambers is realized. Using the principle that L-arabinose (L-Ara) can induce recombinant E. coli HB101 pGLO to synthesize green fluorescent protein (GFP), the real-time analysis of GFP expression in different initial bacterial densities is performed. The results demonstrate that higher initial loading densities of the bacterial colony cause bacterial cell to enter log-phase proliferation sooner. High or low initial loading densities of the bacterial cell suspension induce the same maximum growth rates during the log-phase. Quantitative on-chip analysis of tetracycline and erythromycin inhibition on bacterial cell growth is also conducted. Bacterial morphology changes during antibiotic treatment are observed. The results show that tetracycline and erythromycin exhibit different inhibition activities in E. coli cells. Concentrations of 3 μg/mL tetracycline can facilitate the formation of long filamentous bacteria with the average length of more than 50 μm. This study provides an on-chip framework for bacteriological research in a high-throughput manner and the development of recombinant bacteria-based biosensors for the detection of specific substances.     

颅脑损伤患者下呼吸道感染病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的 探讨桐乡市第一人民医院颅脑损伤患者下呼吸道感染病原菌的分布及耐药性,帮助临床合理使用抗菌药物.方法 采用VITEK-2细菌鉴定及药敏分析系统,对113例颅脑损伤患者下呼吸道感染痰标本分离出的病原菌进行鉴定和耐药性分析.结果 113例患者中共分离出病原菌179株,其革兰阴性杆菌122株,占68.1%,以肺炎克雷伯菌...     

The rhizosphere as a reservoir for opportunistic human pathogenic bacteria

During the last years, the number of human infections caused by opportunistic pathogens has increased dramatically. One natural reservoir of opportunistic pathogens is the rhizosphere, the zone around roots that is influenced by the plant. Due to a high content of nutrients, this habitat is a 'microbial hot-spot', where bacterial abundances including those with strong antagonistic traits are enhanced. Various bacterial genera, including Burkholderia, Enterobacter, Herbaspirillum, Ochrobactrum, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Staphylococcus and Stenotrophomonas, contain root-associated strains that can encounter bivalent interactions with both plant and human hosts. Mechanisms responsible for colonization of the rhizosphere and antagonistic activity against plant pathogens are similar to those responsible for colonization of human organs and tissues, and pathogenicity. Multiple resistances against antibiotics are not only found with clinical strains but also with strains isolated from the rhizosphere. High competition, the occurrence of diverse antibiotics in the rhizosphere, and enhanced horizontal gene transfer rates in this microenvironment appear to contribute to the high levels of natural resistances. While opportunistic bacteria from the rhizosphere have some properties in common, each of these emerging pathogens has its own features, which are discussed in detail for Burkholderia, Ochrobactrum and Stenotrophomonas.