Modelling parasite aggregation: disentangling statistical and ecological approaches

The overdispersion in macroparasite infection intensity among host populations is commonly simulated using a constant negative binomial aggregation parameter. We describe an alternative to utilising the negative binomial approach and demonstrate important disparities in intervention efficacy projections that can come about from opting for pattern-fitting models that are not process-explicit. We present model output in the context of the epidemiology and control of soil-transmitted helminths due to the significant public health burden imposed by these parasites, but our methods are applicable to other infections with demonstrable aggregation in parasite numbers among hosts.     

Ceramide: physiological and pathophysiological aspects

Ceramide generated in the cell membrane has been shown to be central for the induction of apoptosis by death receptors and many stress stimuli such as gamma-irradiation, UV-light or infection with pathogens. Ceramide reorganizes cell membranes and forms large ceramide-enriched membrane domains that serve the spatial and temporal organization of the cellular signalosome upon activation. Thus, ceramide-enriched membrane domains mediate clustering of CD95 and DR5 to facilitate apoptosis, and they are also critically involved in apoptosis after irradiation, UV-light and infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Since ceramide-enriched membrane domains amplify signals, their function is not restricted to the induction of apoptosis and it was shown that ceramide-enriched membrane domains are also involved in internalization of pathogens and the control of cytokine release from infected epithelial cells. Recent studies support the notion that changes of the ceramide metabolism are also critically involved in human diseases, for instance neurological disorders, cancer, infectious diseases and Wilson's disease.     

胃肠道手术患者术后感染病原菌及感染危险因素分析

目的 探究胃肠道手术患者术后感染病原菌及其感染高危因素,为该类患者的治疗提供参考。 方法 选择2017年1月至2019年10月于我院行胃肠道手术的106例患者为研究对象,检测感染患者病原菌分布,同时检测感染与非感染患者肠道菌群情况,分析患者术后感染的相关危险因素。 结果 106例胃肠道手术患者中感染18例(16.98%),共分离出病原菌23株,其中革兰阴性菌占52.17%(12/23),以大肠埃希菌(34.78%,8/23)为主;革兰阳性菌占43.48%(10/23),以金黄色葡萄球菌(26.09%,6/23)为主;真菌占4.35%(1/23)。感染患者肠道大肠埃希菌、肠杆菌数量均明显高于未感染患者,双歧杆菌数量明显低于未感染患者(均P60岁、急诊手术、普通手术室、参观手术人数>3人、手术时间>2 h、接台手术均为胃肠道手术患者术后感染的独立危险因素(均P结论 胃肠道手术患者术后感染风险较高,同时会出现肠道菌群失衡。重视患者高危因素对提高患者手术效果,调整肠道菌群失衡和改善患者预后意义重大。     

猪尾猴疟原虫（P.inui）广西株配子体感染性变化规律的实验研究

用P.inui广西株经蚊传和血传接种4只猴子,让大劣按蚊每6小时吸血感染1次,连续数周,以蚊胃感染情况判断配子体的感染性。结果发现:本虫株配子体发育成熟的需72n+K小时;配子体生理寿命约12小时;配子体的感染性具有每隔2天,在后半夜出现高峰的周期性变化;血中大环状体百分比高峰与蚊媒感染高峰一致。     

Investigation of protease-mediated cuticle-degradation of nematodes by using an improved immunofluorescence-localization method

In order to facilitate the understanding of the actual process of enzyme-based degradation of nematodes, we visualized the localization of BLG4, a cuticle-degrading protease from the nematophagous bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus G4, on nematode cuticle by using an improved immuno-labeled fluorescent method. Live nematodes, heat-killed nematodes and extracted nematode cuticles were exposed to the protease, and the localization of the protease and the resulting tissue degradation and destruction were observed microscopically. The bioassay findings showed that live nematodes were significantly more resistant to the protease than the dead nematodes and the extracted cuticles were. The observation of the immuno-labeling fluorescence for BLG4 revealed that the protease localized first in the tail region of the live target; and then spread over the entire target and ultimately destroyed it, including the cuticle. The results indicated the resistance of nematode cuticles to enzymatic attacks and the differences in protease susceptibilities at different regions on the nematode cuticles.     

Bdellovibrio-like parasite of cyanobacteria symbiotic in marine sponges

A bdellovibrio-like bacterium was observed infecting unicellular symbiotic cyanobacteria in two coral reef sponges, Neofibularia irata and Jaspis stellifera. The infecting bacterium, which was located between the cell wall and the cytoplasmic membrane of the cyanobacteria, was similar in size and appearance to previously described bdellovibrios. This observation is believed to extend the host range of the bdellovibrios.     

内毒素和降钙素原在妇科术后尿路感染中的鉴别诊断价值

目的评价中段尿内毒素和血清降钙素原在妇科术后不同种类细菌尿路感染中的鉴别诊断价值。方法收集临床1205例妇科术后患者中段尿进行细菌培养及内毒素检测,同时对患者进行血清降钙素原检测,比较结果对尿路感染的鉴别诊断价值。结果1205份标本中尿培养出阳性350例,感染率为29．04％,其中298例为均存在留置导尿管,而在剩余400例尿培养阴性的患者中仅仅120例留置导尿管。两组之间差异有统计学意义（χ2=26．78,P〈0．05）。其中革兰阴性杆菌189例（54％）,革兰阳性菌112例（32％）,真菌49例（14％）。在三组患者中,中段尿内毒素在革兰阴性菌引起的术后尿路感染较革兰阳性菌和真菌的患者中明显升高,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。而对于血清降钙素原在革兰阴性菌和革兰阳性菌感染的患者明显高于真菌尿路感染的患者,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。而在革兰阴性菌和革兰阳性菌感染的患者中差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论妇科术后尿路感染与留置导尿管密切相关,革兰阴性菌是引起妇科术后尿路感染的主要致病菌,中段尿内毒素有助于鉴别诊断出革兰阴性菌引起尿路感染,而血清PCT升高时则有助于排除真菌尿路感染。     

Green fluorescent protein-tagged Edwardsiella tarda reveals portal of entry in fish

The application of green fluorescent protein (GFP) to identify the portal(s) of entry of bacterial pathogens in animal hosts was studied using the fish pathogen Edwardsiella tarda and blue gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus. An immersion challenge model was utilized to mimic natural infection conditions in fish. Gastrointestinal tract, gills and the body surface of fish were found to be the sites of entry of virulent E. tarda (PPD130/91) by histological and infection kinetics studies. On the other hand, avirulent E. tarda (PPD125/87) was mainly found in the gastrointestinal tract, and the bacterial population in tissue declined over a period of 7 days.     

Development of a prototype wound dressing technology which can detect and report colonization by pathogenic bacteria

A new methodology for detecting the microbiological state of a wound dressing in terms of its colonization with pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been developed. Here we report how stabilized lipid vesicles containing self-quenched carboxyfluorescein dye are sensitive to lysis only by toxins/virulence factors from P. aeruginosa and S. aureus but not by a non-toxic Escherichia coli species. The development of the stabilized vesicles is discussed and their response to detergent (triton), bacterial toxin (α-hemolysin) and lipases (phospholipase A₂). Finally, fabrics with stabilized vesicles attached via plasma deposited maleic anhydride coupling are shown visibly responding to S. aureus (MSSA 476) and P. aeruginosa (PAO1) but not E. coli DH5α in a prototype dressing.     

Could cancer and infection be adverse effects of mesenchymal stromal cell therapy?

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells [also referred to as mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)] are a heterogeneous subset of stromal cells. They can be isolated from bone marrow and many other types of tissue. MSCs are currently being tested for therapeutic purposes(i.e., improving hematopoietic stem cell engraftment, managing inflammatory diseases and regenerating damaged organs). Their tropism for tumors and inflamed sites and their context-dependent potential for producing trophic and immunomodulatory factors raises the question as to whether MSCs promote cancer and/or infection. Thisarticle reviews the effect of MSCs on tumor establishment, growth and metastasis and also susceptibility to infection and its progression. Data published to date shows a paradoxical effect regarding MSCs, which seems to depend on isolation and expansion, cells source and dose and the route and timing of administration. Cancer and infection may thus be adverse or therapeutic effects arising form MSC administration.