Neonatal meningitis: giant enemy of the little brain

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes colibacillosis in avian species, and recent reports have suggested APEC as a potential foodborne zoonotic pathogen. Herein, we discuss the virulence and pathogenesis factors of APEC, review the zoonotic potential, provide the current status of antibiotic resistance and progress in vaccine development, and summarize the alternative control measures being investigated. In addition to the known virulence factors, several other factors including quorum sensing system, secretion systems, two-component systems, transcriptional regulators, and genes associated with metabolism also contribute to APEC pathogenesis. The clear understanding of these factors will help in developing new effective treatments. The APEC isolates (particularly belonging to ST95 and ST131 or O1, O2, and O18) have genetic similarities and commonalities in virulence genes with human uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) and neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC) and abilities to cause urinary tract infections and meningitis in humans. Therefore, the zoonotic potential of APEC cannot be undervalued. APEC resistance to almost all classes of antibiotics, including carbapenems, has been already reported. There is a need for an effective APEC vaccine that can provide protection against diverse APEC serotypes. Alternative therapies, especially the virulence inhibitors, can provide a novel solution with less likelihood of developing resistance.

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Neonatal Ureaplasma parvum meningitis complicated with subdural hematoma: a case report and literature review

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-05968-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Canyang Zhan ◽

Lihua Chen ◽

Lingling Hu

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Subdural Hematoma ◽

Central Nervous System Infection ◽

Neonatal Meningitis ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Ureaplasma Parvum ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Csf Analysis ◽

Empirical Antibiotics

Abstract Background Neonatal meningitis is a severe infectious disease of the central nervous system with high morbidity and mortality. Ureaplasma parvum is extremely rare in neonatal central nervous system infection. Case presentation We herein report a case of U. parvum meningitis in a full-term neonate who presented with fever and seizure complicated with subdural hematoma. After hematoma evacuation, the seizure disappeared, though the fever remained. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed inflammation with CSF pleocytosis (1135–1319 leukocytes/μl, mainly lymphocytes), elevated CSF protein levels (1.36–2.259 g/l) and decreased CSF glucose (0.45–1.21 mmol/l). However, no bacterial or viral pathogens in either CSF or blood were detected by routine culture or serology. Additionally, PCR for enteroviruses and herpes simplex virus was negative. Furthermore, the CSF findings did not improve with empirical antibiotics, and the baby experienced repeated fever. Thus, we performed metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to identify the etiology of the infection. U. parvum was identified by mNGS in CSF samples and confirmed by culture incubation on mycoplasma identification medium. The patient’s condition improved after treatment with erythromycin for approximately 5 weeks. Conclusions Considering the difficulty of etiological diagnosis in neonatal U. parvum meningitis, mNGS might offer a new strategy for diagnosing neurological infections.

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NEONATAL MENINGITIS AND CIRCUMCISION

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/j.1326-5377.1977.tb76718.x ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 1 (10) ◽

pp. 332-334 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jacqueline M. Scurlock ◽

Patrick J. Pemberton

Keyword(s):

Neonatal Meningitis

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Transcriptome analysis of Escherichia coli K1 after therapy with hesperidin conjugated with silver nanoparticles

BMC Microbiology ◽

10.1186/s12866-021-02097-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Abdulkader Masri ◽

Naveed Ahmed Khan ◽

Muhammad Zarul Hanifah Md Zoqratt ◽

Qasim Ayub ◽

Ayaz Anwar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration ◽

Inhibitory Concentration ◽

Neonatal Meningitis ◽

E Coli ◽

Drug Candidates ◽

Metabolic Genes ◽

Genetic Mechanisms ◽

Cell Stress Response

Abstract Backgrounds Escherichia coli K1 causes neonatal meningitis. Transcriptome studies are indispensable to comprehend the pathology and biology of these bacteria. Recently, we showed that nanoparticles loaded with Hesperidin are potential novel antibacterial agents against E. coli K1. Here, bacteria were treated with and without Hesperidin conjugated with silver nanoparticles, and silver alone, and 50% minimum inhibitory concentration was determined. Differential gene expression analysis using RNA-seq, was performed using Degust software and a set of genes involved in cell stress response and metabolism were selected for the study. Results 50% minimum inhibitory concentration with silver-conjugated Hesperidin was achieved with 0.5 μg/ml of Hesperidin conjugated with silver nanoparticles at 1 h. Differential genetic analysis revealed the expression of 122 genes (≥ 2-log FC, P< 0.01) in both E. coli K1 treated with Hesperidin conjugated silver nanoparticles and E. coli K1 treated with silver alone, compared to untreated E. coli K1. Of note, the expression levels of cation efflux genes (cusA and copA) and translocation of ions, across the membrane genes (rsxB) were found to increase 2.6, 3.1, and 3.3- log FC, respectively. Significant regulation was observed for metabolic genes and several genes involved in the coordination of flagella. Conclusions The antibacterial mechanism of nanoparticles maybe due to disruption of the cell membrane, oxidative stress, and metabolism in E. coli K1. Further studies will lead to a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying treatment with nanoparticles and identification of much needed novel antimicrobial drug candidates.

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NEONATAL MENINGITIS AND CIRCUMCISION

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/j.1326-5377.1977.tb130907.x ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 1 (15) ◽

pp. 568-568

Keyword(s):

Neonatal Meningitis

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hfqPlays Important Roles in Virulence and Stress Adaptation in Cronobacter sakazakii ATCC 29544

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.03161-14 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 83 (5) ◽

pp. 2089-2098 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Seongok Kim ◽

Hyelyeon Hwang ◽

Kwang-Pyo Kim ◽

Hyunjin Yoon ◽

Dong-Hyun Kang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Soft Agar ◽

Host Cells ◽

Neonatal Meningitis ◽

Animal Cells ◽

Content Type ◽

Flagellar Biosynthesis

Cronobacterspp. are opportunistic pathogens that cause neonatal meningitis and sepsis with high mortality in neonates. Despite the peril associated withCronobacterinfection, the mechanisms of pathogenesis are still being unraveled. Hfq, which is known as an RNA chaperone, participates in the interaction with bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) to regulate posttranscriptionally the expression of various genes. Recent studies have demonstrated that Hfq contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous species of bacteria, and its roles are varied between bacterial species. Here, we tried to elucidate the role of Hfq inC. sakazakiivirulence. In the absence ofhfq,C. sakazakiiwas highly attenuated in disseminationin vivo, showed defects in invasion (3-fold) into animal cells and survival (103-fold) within host cells, and exhibited low resistance to hydrogen peroxide (102-fold). Remarkably, the loss ofhfqled to hypermotility on soft agar, which is contrary to what has been observed in other pathogenic bacteria. The hyperflagellated bacteria were likely to be attributable to the increased transcription of genes associated with flagellar biosynthesis in a strain lackinghfq. Together, these data strongly suggest thathfqplays important roles in the virulence ofC. sakazakiiby participating in the regulation of multiple genes.

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