scholarly journals Absence of Mycoplasma spp. in nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos) and blue (Cyanistes caeruleus) and great tits (Parus major) in Germany and its potential implication for evolutionary studies in birds

2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Fischer ◽  
Franca Möller Palau-Ribes ◽  
Silke Kipper ◽  
Michael Weiss ◽  
Conny Landgraf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Potential Implication ◽  
Free Ranging

AbstractMycoplasma spp. are important pathogens in poultry and cause high economic losses for poultry industry worldwide. In other bird species (e.g. white storks, birds of prey, and several waterfowl species), Mycoplasma spp. are regularly found in healthy individuals, hence, considered apathogenic or part of the microbiota of the upper respiratory tract. However, as Mycoplasma spp. are absent in healthy individuals of some wild bird species, they might play a role as respiratory pathogen in these bird species, e.g. Mycoplasma gallisepticum in house finches. The knowledge on the occurrence of Mycoplasma spp. in wild birds is limited. To evaluate the relevance of Mycoplasma spp. in free-ranging nightingales and tits, 172 wild caught birds were screened for the presence of mycoplasmas. The birds were sampled via choanal swabs and examined via molecular methods (n = 172) and, when possible, via culture (n = 142). The Mycoplasma sp. was determined by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S Intergenic Transcribed Spacer Region. All birds were tested negative for mycoplasmas via PCR and/or mycoplasmal culture. Hence, free-ranging nightingales and tits do not show any mycoplasma in their microbial flora of the respiratory tract. Therefore, these songbird species may suffer from clinical mycoplasmosis when being infected. We hypothesize that birds relying on their vocal ability for reproduction have excluded mycoplasmas from their respiratory flora compared to other bird species.

scholarly journals Identification of Pneumococcal Factors Affecting Pneumococcal Shedding Shows that thedltLocus Promotes Inflammation and Transmission

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ammar Zafar ◽  
Alexandria J. Hammond ◽  
Shigeto Hamaguchi ◽  
Weisheng Wu ◽  
Masamitsu Kono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Capsular Polysaccharide ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Transposon Mutagenesis ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Invasive Infection ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Upper Respiratory

ABSTRACTHost-to-host transmission is a necessary but poorly understood aspect of microbial pathogenesis. Herein, we screened a genomic library of mutants of the leading respiratory pathogenStreptococcus pneumoniaegenerated by mariner transposon mutagenesis (Tn-Seq) to identify genes contributing to its exit or shedding from the upper respiratory tract (URT), the limiting step in the organism’s transmission in an infant mouse model. Our analysis focused on genes affecting the bacterial surface that directly impact interactions with the host. Among the multiple factors identified was thedltlocus, which addsd-alanine onto lipoteichoic acids (LTA) and thereby increases Toll-like receptor 2-mediated inflammation and resistance to antimicrobial peptides. The more robust proinflammatory response in the presence ofd-alanylation promotes secretions that facilitate pneumococcal shedding and allows for transmission. Expression of thedltlocus is controlled by the CiaRH system, which senses cell wall stress in response to antimicrobial activity, including in response to lysozyme, the most abundant antimicrobial along the URT mucosa. Accordingly, in alysM−/−host, there was no longer an effect of thedltlocus on pneumococcal shedding. Thus, our findings demonstrate how a pathogen senses the URT milieu and then modifies its surface characteristics to take advantage of the host response for transit to another host.IMPORTANCEStreptococcus pneumoniae(the pneumococcus) is a common cause of respiratory tract and invasive infection. The overall effectiveness of immunization with the organism’s capsular polysaccharide depends on its ability to block colonization of the upper respiratory tract and thereby prevent host-to-host transmission. Because of the limited coverage of current pneumococcal vaccines, we carried out an unbiasedin vivotransposon mutagenesis screen to identify pneumococcal factors other than its capsular polysaccharide that affect transmission. One such candidate was expressed by thedltlocus, previously shown to addd-alanine onto the pneumococcal lipoteichoic acid present on the bacterial cell surface. This modification protects against host antimicrobials and augments host inflammatory responses. The latter increases secretions and bacterial shedding from the upper respiratory tract to allow for transmission. Thus, this study provides insight into a mechanism employed by the pneumococcus to successfully transit from one host to another.

scholarly journals MTOR Kinase is a Therapeutic Target for Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Coronaviruses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
HoangDinh Huynh ◽  
Ruth Levitz ◽  
Jeffrey Kahn
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Protein Production ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Syncytial Virus

Abstract Therapeutic interventions targeting viral infections remain a significant challenge for both the medical and scientific communities. While specific antiviral agents have shown success as therapeutics, viral resistance inevitably develops making many of these approaches ineffective. This inescapable obstacle warrants alternative approaches, such as targeting host cellular factors. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the major respiratory pathogen of infants and children worldwide, causes respiratory tract infection ranging from mild upper respiratory tract symptoms to severe life-threatening lower respiratory tract disease. Despite the fact that the molecular biology of the virus, which was originally discovered in 1956, is well described, there is no vaccine or effective antiviral treatment against RSV infection. Here, we demonstrate that targeting host factors, specifically, mTOR signaling, limits RSV protein production and viral replication. Further, we show that this approach is generalizable as inhibition of mTOR kinases reduces coronavirus gene expression, protein production and replication. Overall, defining virus replication-dependent host functions may be an effective means to combat viral infections, particular in the absence of antiviral drugs.

scholarly journals mTOR kinase is a therapeutic target for respiratory syncytial virus and coronaviruses

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
HoangDinh Huynh ◽  
Ruth Levitz ◽  
Rong Huang ◽  
Jeffrey S. Kahn
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Protein Production ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Progeny Virus ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Syncytial Virus

AbstractTherapeutic interventions targeting viral infections remain a significant challenge for both the medical and scientific communities. While specific antiviral agents have shown success as therapeutics, viral resistance inevitably develops, making many of these approaches ineffective. This inescapable obstacle warrants alternative approaches, such as the targeting of host cellular factors. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the major respiratory pathogen of infants and children worldwide, causes respiratory tract infection ranging from mild upper respiratory tract symptoms to severe life-threatening lower respiratory tract disease. Despite the fact that the molecular biology of the virus, which was originally discovered in 1956, is well described, there is no vaccine or effective antiviral treatment against RSV infection. Here, we demonstrate that targeting host factors, specifically, mTOR signaling, reduces RSV protein production and generation of infectious progeny virus. Further, we show that this approach can be generalizable as inhibition of mTOR kinases reduces coronavirus gene expression, mRNA transcription and protein production. Overall, defining virus replication-dependent host functions may be an effective means to combat viral infections, particularly in the absence of antiviral drugs.

scholarly journals Aspergillus fumigatusin Poultry

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Arné ◽  
Simon Thierry ◽  
Dongying Wang ◽  
Manjula Deville ◽  
Guillaume Le Loc'h ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Primary Site ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Severe Respiratory Distress ◽  
Inadequate Ventilation

Aspergillus fumigatusremains a major respiratory pathogen in birds. In poultry, infection byA. fumigatusmay induce significant economic losses particularly in turkey production.A. fumigatusdevelops and sporulates easily in poor quality bedding or contaminated feedstuffs in indoor farm environments. Inadequate ventilation and dusty conditions increase the risk of bird exposure to aerosolized spores. Acute cases are seen in young animals following inhalation of spores, causing high morbidity and mortality. The chronic form affects older birds and looks more sporadic. The respiratory tract is the primary site ofA. fumigatusdevelopment leading to severe respiratory distress and associated granulomatous airsacculitis and pneumonia. Treatments for infected poultry are nonexistent; therefore, prevention is the only way to protect poultry. Development of avian models of aspergillosis may improve our understanding of its pathogenesis, which remains poorly understood.

scholarly journals Mycoplasma testudineum sp. nov., from a desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) with upper respiratory tract disease

2004 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 1527-1529 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Brown ◽  
J. L. Merritt ◽  
E. R. Jacobson ◽  
P. A. Klein ◽  
J. G. Tully ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Gopherus Agassizii ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Disease ◽  
Sequence Comparisons ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Disease ◽  
Mohave Desert

Mycoplasma testudineum sp. nov., first cultured from the upper respiratory tract of a clinically ill tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mohave Desert, was distinguished from previously described mollicutes serologically and by 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons. It lacks a cell wall; ferments glucose, mannose, lactose and sucrose; does not produce ‘film and spots’; does not hydrolyse arginine, aesculin or urea; is sensitive to digitonin; and lacks phosphatase activity. The organism causes chronic rhinitis and conjunctivitis of tortoises. The type strain of M. testudineum is BH29T (=ATCC 700618T=MCCM 03231T).

CHRONIC UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASE OF FREE-RANGING DESERT TORTOISES (XEROBATES AGASSIZII)

1991 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. R. Jacobson ◽  
J. M. Gaskin ◽  
M. B. Brown ◽  
R. K. Harris ◽  
C. H. Gardiner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Disease ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract Disease ◽  
Tract Disease ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Bacterial communities of the upper respiratory tract of turkeys

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olimpia Kursa ◽  
Grzegorz Tomczyk ◽  
Anna Sawicka-Durkalec ◽  
Aleksandra Giza ◽  
Magdalena Słomiany-Szwarc
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Genus Level ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
And Performance

AbstractThe respiratory tracts of turkeys play important roles in the overall health and performance of the birds. Understanding the bacterial communities present in the respiratory tracts of turkeys can be helpful to better understand the interactions between commensal or symbiotic microorganisms and other pathogenic bacteria or viral infections. The aim of this study was the characterization of the bacterial communities of upper respiratory tracks in commercial turkeys using NGS sequencing by the amplification of 16S rRNA gene with primers designed for hypervariable regions V3 and V4 (MiSeq, Illumina). From 10 phyla identified in upper respiratory tract in turkeys, the most dominated phyla were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Differences in composition of bacterial diversity were found at the family and genus level. At the genus level, the turkey sequences present in respiratory tract represent 144 established bacteria. Several respiratory pathogens that contribute to the development of infections in the respiratory system of birds were identified, including the presence of Ornithobacterium and Mycoplasma OTUs. These results obtained in this study supply information about bacterial composition and diversity of the turkey upper respiratory tract. Knowledge about bacteria present in the respiratory tract and the roles they can play in infections can be useful in controlling, diagnosing and treating commercial turkey flocks.

scholarly journals Upper/Lower Respiratory Tract Microbiome Changes in AECOPD and COPD

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanyan Xu ◽  
Nailiang Liu ◽  
Dailing Yan ◽  
Shiyi Zhou ◽  
Kun Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Lower Respiratory Tract ◽  
Stable State ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Important Player

Abstract Background: Microbiome residing in the respiratory tract has emerged as an important player in the etiology and progression of COPD, but results are conflicting regarding the features of respiratory tract microbiome in COPD and at exacerbations and it is unknown whether these features differ by ethnicity and geography. Method: To address these questions, we enrolled healthy individuals and patients with COPD, including healthy-COPD pairs from same households, from four geographical regions of Yunan province, representative of different ethnicities and/or environmental exposures. Sputum and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from these healthy individuals and from COPD patients at stable state (COPD) or exacerbations (AECOPD) and subjected to 16S microbiome profiling. Results: Both COPD disease status and region had an impact on alpha-diversity of sputum and oropharyngeal microbiomes, with AECOPD having the lowest microbiome diversity. Shifts in the relative abundance (≥ 1.5 fold, adj. p < 0.05) of microbes at healthy, exacerbation and stable COPD. Microbes enriched at exacerbation COPD were primarily Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phylum in upper respiratory tract. In the lower respiratory tract, population-based study did not find any statistical differential abundance of microbe, however, paired-based study showed phylum of Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidota, Acidobacteriota, Desulfobacterota, Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobiota enriched in exacerbation COPD. Conclusions: COPD is associated with specific changes in upper and lower respiratory tract microbiomes, whereas exacerbation events confer additional alterations in respiratory tract microbiome compositions. These specific microbiome changes may inform future study on the pathogenesis or management of COPD.

scholarly journals Characterization of the upper respiratory tract microbiome of turkeys

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olimpia Kursa ◽  
Grzegorz Tomczyk ◽  
Anna Sawicka-Durkalec ◽  
Aleksandra Giza ◽  
Magdalena Słomiany-Szwarc
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Commercial Turkey

Abstract Background: The respiratory tracts of turkeys are the main route of infection therefore plays important roles in the overall health and performance of the birds. Understanding the poultry microbiome has the potential to offer better diagnosis and rational management of many poultry diseases. Characterization of microbial communities in the upper respiratory tract of turkeys could help better understand the role of pathogenic bacteria and other commensal or symbiotic microorganisms in the infection. The aim of this study was microbiome characterization of upper respiratory tracks of commercial turkeys using next-generation sequencing technologies. Results: The microbiome from samples collected from commercial turkey flocks was determined using 16S rRNA metagenomic approach. Taxonomic analysis of the microbiome was done by of the V3 and V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene (MiSeq, Illumina) amplification. The phylogenetic analysis identified the 10 bacterial phyla in turkey, the most abundant were phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, accounting for >99% of all the sequences. The turkey sequences represent 144 established bacterial genera. Differences between bacterial abundances were found at the family and genus level. Several defining markers of microbiome succession were identified, including the presence of Ornithobacterium and Mycoplasma. Conclusions: Understanding the turkey’s respiratory microbiome is very important. Unique informations about microbiome representing members of the four major phyla of the respiratory tract in turkeys was assembled. These results obtained in this study supply information about turkey microbiome and can be useful in controlling, diagnosing and treating commercial turkey flocks. Our study significantly broaden the knowledge of the upper respiratory tract microbiome of turkeys.

scholarly journals Experimental infection of specific-pathogen-free domestic lambs with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae causes asymptomatic colonization of the upper airways that is resistant to antibiotic treatment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thea Johnson ◽  
Kerri Jones ◽  
Bryan Tegner Jacobson ◽  
Julia Schaerer ◽  
Cassie Mosdal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Antibiotic Treatment ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Domestic Sheep ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Specific Pathogen Free ◽  
Specific Pathogen ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Mycoplasma Ovipneumoniae

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovipneumoniae) is a respiratory pathogen associated with the development of mild to moderate respiratory disease in domestic lambs and severe pneumonia outbreaks in wild ruminants such as bighorn sheep. However, whether M. ovipneumoniae by itself causes clinical respiratory disease in domestic sheep in the absence of secondary bacterial pathogens is still a matter of debate. The goal of our study was to better understand the role of M. ovipneumoniae as a respiratory pathogen in domestic sheep and to explore potential antibiotic treatment approaches. Therefore, we inoculated four-month-old, specific-pathogen-free lambs with field isolates of M. ovipneumoniae and monitored the lambs for eight weeks for colonization with the bacteria, M. ovipneumoniae-specific antibodies, clinical symptoms, and cellular and molecular correlates of lung inflammation. After eight weeks, lambs were treated with the macrolide antibiotic gamithromycin and observed for an additional four weeks. Stable colonization of the upper respiratory tract with M. ovipneumoniae was established in all four M. ovipneumoniae-inoculated, but in none of the four mock-infected lambs. All M. ovipneumoniae-infected lambs developed a robust antibody response to M. ovipneumoniae within 2 weeks. However, we did not observe significant clinical symptoms or evidence of lung damage or inflammation in any of the infected lambs. Interestingly, treatment with gamithromycin failed to reduce M. ovipneumoniae colonization. These observations indicate that, in the absence of co-factors, M. ovipneumoniae causes asymptomatic colonization of the upper respiratory tract of that is resistant to clearance by the host immune response as well as by gamithromycin treatment in domestic lambs.

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