In vitro activity of mastoparan-AF alone and in combination with clinically used antibiotics against multiple-antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from animals

The in vitro activity of mastoparan-AF, an amphipathic antimicrobial peptide isolated from the hornet venom of Vespa affinis, alone and in combination with various clinically used antibiotics, was investigated against 21 Escherichia coli isolates/strains. Most E. coli isolates tested were detected containing multiple-antimicrobial resistance genes. Antimicrobial activity of mastoparan-AF was measured by MIC, MBC, time-kill kinetic assay and chequerboard titration method. Mastoparan-AF exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against most multiple-antibiotic-resistant E. coli isolates at the concentrations ranging from 4 to 16 μg/ml. Combination studies showed that mastoparan-AF acts synergistically with certain antibiotics, i.e., cephalothin or gentamicin, against some multiple-antibiotic-resistant E. coli isolates. In conclusion, mastoparan-AF alone or in combination with other antibiotics could be promising as alternatives for combating multiple-antibiotic-resistant E. coli in future clinical applications.     

鲍曼不动杆菌中外排泵介导耐药机制的研究进展

外排泵的过表达是目前导致鲍曼不动杆菌多重耐药的最重要机制之一,详细了解这一复杂机制有助于尽快找到有效的防治策略。目前,鲍曼不动杆菌中已被报道的外排泵家族包括耐药结节细胞分化(resistance-nodulation-cell division,RND)家族、主要协同转运蛋白超家族(major facilitator superfamily,MFS)、多药及毒性化合物外排(multidrug and toxic compound extrusion,MATE)家族、小多重耐药(small multidrug resistance,SMR)家族。它们之中既有通过染色体介导的外排泵,也有通过质粒等遗传元件介导的外排泵。外排底物可呈现多样性,也可呈现专一性。本文就上述外排泵的种类、功能和调控机制进行综述。     

鲍曼不动杆菌对碳青霉烯类抗生素的耐药性分析

目的 了解鲍曼不动杆菌的耐药情况,并检测耐碳青霉烯类鲍曼不动杆菌的耐药基因,为指导临床合理用药、控制院内感染提供依据。方法 利用K-B法检测45株鲍曼不动杆菌临床分离株的耐药情况,通过改良Hodge试验、Carba NP试验和EDTA协同试验对多重耐药鲍曼不动杆菌的碳青霉烯酶进行表型检测,并采用PCR技术检测鲍曼不动杆菌携带OXA-23和NDM-1型耐药基因的情况。结果 45株鲍曼不动杆菌临床分离株中共筛出42株多重耐药菌株;利用改良Hodge试验和Carba NP试验检出36株碳青霉烯酶阳性菌株;采用PCR扩增出OXA-23,未扩增出NDM-1。结论 鲍曼不动杆菌耐药情况严重,且耐药基因OXA-23携带率高,治疗时应根据药敏试验结果合理用药。     

Specific and Selective Bacteriophages in the Fight against Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii causes serious infections especially in immunocompromised and/or hospitalized patients. Several A. baumannii strains are multidrug resistant and infect wounds, bones, and the respiratory tract. Current studies are focused on finding new effective agents against A. baumannii. Phage therapy is a promising means to fight this bacterium and many studies on procuring and applying new phages against A. baumannii are currently being conducted. As shown in animal models, phages against multidrug-resistant A. baumannii may control bacterial infections caused by this pathogen and may be a real hope to solve this dangerous health problem.     

Activity of Chitosans in combination with antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Chitosan and its derivative water soluble Chitosan oligosaccharide are used in a variety of applications in pharmaceutical preparations. In this study, 2 wild (ATCC 15729 and PAO1) and 2 mutant strains (PT121 and PT149) of P. aeruginosa are investigated for drug-drug interactions in vitro. 10 antimicrobial agents (antibiotics) are combined with different degree of deacetylated Chitosans and Chitosan oligosaccharide. All the chitosans show synergistic activity with sulfamethoxazole, a sulfonamide antimicrobial agent. It is interesting to observe that the MIC value for the MexEF-OprN overexpressing mutant strain of P. aeruginosa is 5 fold higher than the other strains under investigation suggesting a possible role of this efflux pump in Sulfamethoxazole efflux. The findings suggest on the use of chitosans as enhancing agent in combination with antibiotics in pharmaceutical preparations.     

心内科患者医院感染鲍氏不动杆菌的耐药性分析

目的了解心内科住院患者医院感染鲍氏不动杆菌的耐药性,为指导临床合理用药提供依据。方法从2010—2012年心内科住院患者送检标本中分离鲍氏不动杆菌,采用PHOENIX-100全自动细菌鉴定药敏系统进行细菌鉴定及药敏试验,并对结果进行统计分析。结果2010-2012年心内科住院患者共分离出166株鲍氏不动杆菌,其中泛耐药菌株34株,检出率为20．5％。药敏结果显示鲍氏不动杆菌对常用抗菌药物的耐药率呈逐年上升趋势,并显示出多重耐药性,对多粘菌素B、头孢哌酮／舒巴坦、亚胺培南和美罗培南等耐药率相对较低。结论鲍氏不动杆菌已成为医院感染重要病原菌,对多种抗菌药物耐药,临床应加强耐药性监测,根据药敏结果合理选用抗菌药物,以控制医院感染的暴发流行。     

鲍曼不动杆菌对碳青霉烯类抗生素的耐药性及其基因的分析

目的研究23株鲍曼不动杆菌对碳青霉烯类抗生素的耐药情况及对耐药基因分析,为临床用药提供依据。方法用珠海迪尔DL-96鉴定系统进行细菌鉴定及K-B法进行药敏试验,用碳青霉烯酶4种基因的特异性引物对其进行聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增和基因型分析,并通过网上GenBank进行比对以确定编码酶基因的类型。结果 23株鲍曼不动杆菌对哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、左旋氧氟沙星、丁胺卡那霉素、多黏菌素B的耐药率分别为80%、45%、30%、10%,对其他抗生素的耐药率均在90%以上。携带D类碳青霉烯酶OXA-23基因有18株(78%),携带OXA-51基因有15株(65%),OXA-24、OXA-58基因引物PCR扩增为阴性,随机各抽取3株OXA-23基因阳性株进行测序后通过在网上GenBank比对与OXA-23标准株99%同源,OXA-51基因阳性株与OXA-51标准株98%同源。结论耐碳青霉烯类抗生素的鲍曼不动杆菌对多黏菌素的耐药率最低,其次是丁胺卡那霉素,其中以携带OXA-23型碳青霉烯酶基因为主,应引起临床高度关注,防止在院内广泛传播。     

外排泵介导鲍曼不动杆菌耐药性的研究进展

目的鲍曼不动杆菌的多重耐药性问题日趋严重,该菌外膜上外排泵过表达是导致其耐药性的重要机制。详尽地研究多药外排泵的机制以及寻找阻断其功能的外排泵抑制剂,将为多耐药鲍曼不动杆菌的治疗开辟新的路径。本文就近年来鲍曼不动杆菌外排泵的研究现状进行综述,着重描述多药外排泵RND家族的耐药谱特征及其表达调控机制,同时,还阐述了MFS和MATE家族外排泵的研究进展。     

耐多药鲍曼不动杆菌耐药基因检测结果的样本聚类分析

目的 调查一组耐药鲍曼不动杆菌菌株间的亲缘关系.方法 收集2010年1月至2010年12月浙江某医院ICU患者痰液标本中分离的耐药鲍曼不动杆菌共20株,采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)的方法分析3种与耐药相关的看家基因(carO、gyrA、parC)和55种水平转移获得与β-内酰胺类、氨基糖苷类、喹诺酮类耐药相关基因以及12种接合性质粒、转座子、插入序列、整合子等可移动遗传元件遗传标记,再对检测结果作样本聚类分析.结果 20株耐药鲍曼不动杆菌共检出3种与耐药相关的看家基因carO、gyrA、parC,4种获得性β-内酰胺类耐药基因(TEM-1、ADC-30、ADC-60、OXA-23),5种获得性氨基糖苷类耐药基因[aac(3)-Ⅰ、aac(6')-Ⅰ b、ant(3”)-Ⅰ、aph(3’)-Ⅰ、armA],2种抗菌制剂外排泵基因(adeB、qacE△1),5种可移动遗传元件的遗传标记(int Ⅰ 1、tnpU、tnp513、IS26、ISaba1).样本聚类分析提示,20株耐药鲍曼不动杆菌可分为A与B二个簇,A簇群均为多耐药(MDR)株;A簇群又可分为A1(ADC-60阳性)与A2簇群(ADC-30阳性),均为克隆传播.B簇群均为泛耐药(PDR)株,除8号株外为克隆传播.结论 MDR和PDR菌株中均存在克隆传播.获得菌株之间的亲缘关系对院内感染实时监测和控制院内感染意义重大.     

Distribution and molecular profiling of class 1 integrons in MDR Acinetobacter baumannii isolates and whole genome-based analysis of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in a representative strain

The class 1 integron is an important driver of the nosocomial dissemination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, such as Acinetobacters. In this study, we characterized the gene cassette arrays of class 1 integrons in Acinetobacter baumannii, where the detailed structure of these integrons for 38 clinical strains was analyzed. The results showed that there are three types of gene cassette arrays that are carried by different class 1 integrons, among them the aac(6′)-IId-catB8-aadA1 array was the most prevalent. For detailed analysis of the integron structure, whole genome sequencing was carried out on strain AB16, and it was found that a single integron on its chromosome has a partial Tn21 transposon in its 5′ flanking region and two complete copies of the insertion element IS26 in both the 5′ and 3′ flanking regions, indicating that the integron could be acquired by horizontal gene transfer. Furthermore, there is one resistance island AbaR22, one bla gene containing a transposon, four intrinsic resistant genes and one efflux pump that together confer six types of antibiotic resistance.     

Antifungal activity of immunosuppressants used alone or in combination with fluconazole

Fungal infections remain a challenge to clinicians due to the limited available antifungals. With the increasing use of antifungals in clinical practice, drug resistance has been emerging continuously, especially to fluconazole (FLC). Thus, a search for new antifungals and approaches to overcome antifungal resistance is needed. However, the development of new antifungals is usually costly and time consuming; discovering the antifungal activity of non-antifungal agents is one way to address these problems. Interestingly, some researchers have demonstrated that several classes of immunosuppressants (calcineurin inhibitors, glucocorticoids, etc) also displayed potent antifungal activity when used alone or in combination with antifungals, especially with FLC. Some of them could increase FLC's susceptibility against resistant Candida albicans significantly reversing fungal resistance to FLC. This article reviews the antifungal activities of immunosuppressants used alone or in combination with antifungals and their potential antifungal mechanisms that have been discovered so far. Although immunosuppressive agents have been identified as risk factors for fungal infection, we believe these findings are very important for overcoming drug resistance and developing new antifungals.     

In-vitro activity of polymyxin B, rifampicin, tigecycline alone and in combination against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Singapore

Objective

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-AB) is an emerging cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. Combination therapy may be the only viable option until new antibiotics become available. The objective of this study is to identify potential antimicrobial combinations against CR-AB isolated from our local hospitals.

Methods

AB isolates from all public hospitals in Singapore were systematically collected between 2006 and 2007. MICs were determined according to CLSI guidelines. All CR-AB isolates were genotyped using a PCR-based method. Clonal relationship was elucidated. Time-kill studies (TKS) were conducted with polymyxin B, rifampicin and tigecycline alone and in combination using clinically relevant (achievable) unbound concentrations.

Results

31 CR AB isolates were identified. They are multidrug-resistant, but are susceptible to polymyxin B. From clonal typing, 8 clonal groups were identified and 11 isolates exhibited clonal diversity. In single TKS, polymyxin B, rifampicin and tigecycline alone did not exhibit bactericidal activity at 24 hours. In combination TKS, polymyxin plus rifampicin, polymyxin B plus tigecycline and tigecycline plus rifampicin exhibited bactericidal killing in 13/31, 9/31 and 7/31 isolates respectively at 24 hours. Within a clonal group, there may be no consensus with the types of antibiotics combinations that could still kill effectively.

Conclusion

Monotherapy with polymyxin B may not be adequate against polymyxin B susceptible AB isolates. These findings demonstrate that in-vitro synergy of antibiotic combinations in CR AB may be strain dependant. It may guide us in choosing a pre-emptive therapy for CR AB infections and warrants further investigations.     

Comparative genomic analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates reveals extensive genomic variation and diverse antibiotic resistance determinants

Background

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen that poses a serious health threat to immune-compromised patients. Due to its rapid ability to develop multidrug resistance (MDR), A. baumannii has increasingly become a focus of attention worldwide. To better understand the genetic variation and antibiotic resistance mechanisms of this bacterium at the genomic level, we reported high-quality draft genome sequences of 8 clinical isolates with various sequence types and drug susceptibility profiles.

Results

We sequenced 7 MDR and 1 drug-sensitive clinical A. baumannii isolates and performed comparative genomic analysis of these draft genomes with 16 A. baumannii complete genomes from GenBank. We found a high degree of variation in A. baumannii, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and large DNA fragment variations in the AbaR-like resistance island (RI) regions, the prophage and the type VI secretion system (T6SS). In addition, we found several new AbaR-like RI regions with highly variable structures in our MDR strains. Interestingly, we found a novel genomic island (designated as GI_BJ4) in the drug-sensitive strain BJ4 carrying metal resistance genes instead of antibiotic resistance genes inserted into the position where AbaR-like RIs commonly reside in other A. baumannii strains. Furthermore, we showed that diverse antibiotic resistance determinants are present outside the RIs in A. baumannii, including antibiotic resistance-gene bearing integrons, the bla_OXA-23-containing transposon Tn2009, and chromosomal intrinsic antibiotic resistance genes.

Conclusions

Our comparative genomic analysis revealed that extensive genomic variation exists in the A. baumannii genome. Transposons, genomic islands and point mutations are the main contributors to the plasticity of the A. baumannii genome and play critical roles in facilitating the development of antibiotic resistance in the clinical isolates.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1163) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

鲍曼不动杆菌感染的分布特点及药敏分析

目的了解鲍曼不动杆菌感染分布情况及对20种抗生素耐药性分析。方法送检标本按照《全国临床检验操作规程》（第2版）微生物方法操作,用Vitek—Systems ATB法国生物,梅里埃微生物分析仪,并结合传统手工非发酵微量生化管编码补充试验进行菌种鉴定;药敏试验采用K—B琼脂纸片扩散法及法国梅里埃ATB试条。结果112株鲍曼不动杆菌中有93株（83％）来自于上呼吸道（痰液及咽拭子）：药敏结果显示鲍曼不动杆菌对氨基糖苷类（阿米卡星、庆大霉索）,喹诺酮类（环丙沙星）,碳青酶烯类（亚胺培南）具有较高的敏感率。对β-呐酰胺类抗生素有较高的耐药性,在检测的112株鲍曼不动杆菌中,多重耐药菌株占54．5％（61／112）,三重耐药株占14．8％,而在这些多重耐药菌株中,大于三重耐药的菌株就占到69％。结论鲍曼不动杆菌对抗菌药物已产生多重耐药性,应重视该菌感染及耐药性监测,阻止多重耐药菌株的播散,预防医院感染的发生。     

694株鲍曼不动杆菌的耐药性分析

目的了解大连市友谊医院临床分离的鲍曼不动杆菌的分布及耐药状况,为临床治疗鲍曼不动杆菌感染提供参考。方法对该院2007年至2009年住院患者送检的标本中分离到的694株鲍曼不动杆菌的分布及药敏结果做回顾性分析。结果鲍曼不动杆菌2007年检出112株（7．1％）,2008年检出210（11．3％）株,2009年检出372（14．7％）株;在所有临床送检的标本中,痰标本中的检出率最高,占88．7％;在对13种抗生素的药敏试验中,对美罗培南最为敏感,其次对头孢哌酮／舒巴坦较为敏感。结论鲍曼不动杆菌的检出率逐年增高,耐药率也逐年增高。     

鲍曼不动杆菌的基因分型及耐药性分析

目的分析上海某综合性医院不同科室来源的鲍曼不动杆菌菌株的同源性及耐药状况,了解鲍曼不动杆菌院内感染流行情况。方法采用重复序列PCR技术（REP-PCR）,对51株临床分离的鲍曼不动杆菌菌株进行基因分型,并用纸片扩散法进行药敏试验。结果51株鲍曼不动杆菌分为13个基因型,其中A型16株,为主要流行型别;C型、D型各6株;M型有5株;E型、F型和G型各3株;B型、H型和K型各2株;I型、J型、L型各1株。药敏试验结果显示分离出的菌株对常用抗菌药呈现出多重耐药的现象。其中对阿米卡星和亚胺培南的耐药性最低,均为33.3%;对头孢唑啉耐药性最高,为100%。结论鲍曼不动杆菌基因的同源性分析表明,该院存在着以A型鲍曼不动杆菌为主的感染流行,估计该型菌株可能以克隆株的形式播散。鲍曼不动杆菌的耐药性很强,应加强其耐药性监测,合理使用抗菌药物。     

鲍曼不动杆菌的临床分布特点及耐药性分析

调查鲍曼不动杆菌的临床分布及其对抗菌药物的耐药情况,为临床合理用药提供依据。将哈尔滨医科大学第一附属医院临床各种来源的鲍曼不动杆菌1582株采用K-B法进行药敏试验,并对结果进行统计分析。2008至2010年共检出鲍曼不动杆菌1582株,临床分布以ICU最多(484株,占54.5%)。对抗菌药物的耐药率逐年增高,ICU抗菌药物的耐药率明显高于非ICU病区。该菌株对临床常用抗菌药物高度耐药和多重耐药,对亚胺培南和美罗培南耐药率高达90.9%和90.3%。鲍曼不动杆菌耐药情况相对严重,临床须重视鲍曼不动杆菌的感染,加强院內感染的控制及耐药性的监测,根据药敏结果选择合适抗生素,延缓耐药性进程。     

Antibacterial activity of 15-azasteroids alone and in combination with antibiotics.

A new class of 15-azasteroid analogues has been synthesized and tested for antimicrobial activity. The compounds 1, 10, 11, 11a-tetrahydro-7-methoxy-11a-methyl-2H-naphth (1,2-g) indol (methoxyimine) and 1,10,11,11a-tetrahydro-11a-methyl-2H-naphth (1,2-g) indol-7-ol (hydroxyimine) inhibit the growth of Bacillus subtillis and Escherichia coli at concentrations as low as 10-5 M. Addition of either compound to the growth medium casued a rapid inhibition in the transport of radioactive glucose, uracil and several amino acids. The inhibition of growth and substrate transport was reversed following removl of the steroid from the medium. The evidence is consistent with a site of steroid action at the cell periphery. Combining the methoxyimine with polyor circulin at subinhibitory concentrations produced greatly enhanced antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas fluorescens. Similar action was observed against B. subtilis when the azasteroid was combined with vancomycin or chloramphenicol. The inhibitory action of other antibiotics such as penicillin or erythromycin was not affected by addition of the test compound. The results suggest formation of a molecular complex between the azasteroid and antibiotic which is responsible for the enhanced biological activity.