scholarly journals Ultrastructural Changes in Clinical and Microbiota Isolates ofKlebsiella pneumoniaeCarriers of GenesblaSHV,blaTEM,blaCTX-M, orblaKPCWhen Subject toβ-Lactam Antibiotics

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dyana Leal Veras ◽  
Ana Catarina de Souza Lopes ◽  
Grasielle Vaz da Silva ◽  
Gabriel Gazzoni Araújo Gonçalves ◽  
Catarina Fernandes de Freitas ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to characterize the ultrastructural effects caused byβ-lactam antibiotics inKlebsiella pneumoniaeisolates. ThreeK. pneumoniaeclinical isolates were selected for the study with resistance profiles for third-generation cephalosporins, aztreonam, and/or imipenem and with different resistance genes for extended-spectrumβ-lactamases (ESBL) orKlebsiella pneumoniaecarbapenemase (KPC). TwoK. pneumoniaeisolates obtained from the microbiota, which were both resistant to amoxicillin and ampicillin, were also analyzed. In accordance with the susceptibility profile, the clinical isolates were subjected to subminimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of cefotaxime, ceftazidime, aztreonam, and imipenem and the isolates from the microbiota to ampicillin and amoxicillin, for analysis by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. TheK. pneumoniaeisolates showed different morphological and ultrastructural changes after subjection toβ-lactams tested at different concentrations, such as cell filamentation, loss of cytoplasmic material, and deformation of dividing septa. Our results demonstrate thatK. pneumoniaeisolates harboring different genes that encode forβ-lactamases show cell alterations when subjected to differentβ-lactam antibiotics, thus suggesting that they possess residual activityin vitro, despite the phenotypic resistance presented in the isolates analyzed.

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 1767-1774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz de Astorza ◽  
Guadalupe Cortés ◽  
Catalina Crespí ◽  
Carles Saus ◽  
José María Rojo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The airway epithelium represents a primary site for contact between microbes and their hosts. To assess the role of complement in this event, we studied the interaction between the A549 cell line derived from human alveolar epithelial cells and a major nosocomial pathogen, Klebsiella pneumoniae, in the presence of serum. In vitro, we found that C3 opsonization of poorly encapsulated K. pneumoniae clinical isolates and an unencapsulated mutant enhanced dramatically bacterial internalization by A549 epithelial cells compared to highly encapsulated clinical isolates. Local complement components (either present in the human bronchoalveolar lavage or produced by A549 epithelial cells) were sufficient to opsonize K. pneumoniae. CD46 could competitively inhibit the internalization of K. pneumoniae by the epithelial cells, suggesting that CD46 is a receptor for the binding of complement-opsonized K. pneumoniae to these cells. We observed that poorly encapsulated strains appeared into the alveolar epithelial cells in vivo but that (by contrast) they were completely avirulent in a mouse model of pneumonia compared to the highly encapsulated strains. Our results show that bacterial opsonization by complement enhances the internalization of the avirulent microorganisms by nonphagocytic cells such as A549 epithelial cells and allows an efficient innate defense.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Dalila Mil-Homens ◽  
Maria Martins ◽  
José Barbosa ◽  
Gabriel Serafim ◽  
Maria J. Sarmento ◽  
...  

Klebsiella pneumoniae, one of the most common pathogens found in hospital-acquired infections, is often resistant to multiple antibiotics. In fact, multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae producing KPC or OXA-48-like carbapenemases are recognized as a serious global health threat. In this sense, we evaluated the virulence of K. pneumoniae KPC(+) or OXA-48(+) aiming at potential antimicrobial therapeutics. K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and the expanded-spectrum oxacillinase OXA-48 isolates were obtained from patients treated in medical care units in Lisbon, Portugal. The virulence potential of the K. pneumonia clinical isolates was tested using the Galleria mellonella model. For that, G. mellonella larvae were inoculated using patients KPC(+) and OXA-48(+) isolates. Using this in vivo model, the KPC(+) K. pneumoniae isolates showed to be, on average, more virulent than OXA-48(+). Virulence was found attenuated when a low bacterial inoculum (one magnitude lower) was tested. In addition, we also report the use of a synthetic polycationic oligomer (L-OEI-h) as a potential antimicrobial agent to fight infectious diseases caused by MDR bacteria. L-OEI-h has a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and exerts a significantly bactericidal activity within the first 5-30 min treatment, causing lysis of the cytoplasmic membrane. Importantly, the polycationic oligomer showed low toxicity against in vitro models and no visible cytotoxicity (measured by survival and health index) was noted on the in vivo model (G. mellonella), thus L-OEI-h is foreseen as a promising polymer therapeutic for the treatment of MDR K. pneumoniae infections.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Romanelli ◽  
Stefania Stolfa ◽  
Anna Morea ◽  
Luigi Ronga ◽  
Raffaele Del Prete ◽  
...  

Aim: Infections by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae represent a major challenge because of limited treatment strategies. New β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor associations may help to deal with this challenge. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae for meropenem/vaborbactam in comparison with ceftazidime/avibactam against. Materials and methods: Twenty-eight strains isolated from blood cultures were evaluated. Testing for susceptibility to meropenem/vaborbactam and ceftazidime/avibactam was performed by E-test gradient strip. Results: All the clinical isolates were susceptible to meropenem/vaborbactam, while one strain was resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam with a MIC of 32 μg/ml. The median MIC of ceftazidime/avibactam evaluated after standardization was higher compared with that of meropenem/vaborbactam. Conclusion: Meropenem/vaborbactam could be an important turning point in the treatment of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae infections, especially considering the emergence of ceftazidime/avibactam resistance.


Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Müller ◽  
Vera Manser ◽  
Andrew Hemphill

AbstractWe here assessed thein vitroefficacy of the naptho-quinone buparvaquone (BPQ) againstBesnoitia besnoititachyzoitesin vitro. BPQ is currently licensed for the treatment of theileriosis in cattle in many countries, but not in the EU. In 4-day treatment assays, BPQ massively impaired tachyzoite proliferation with an IC50of 10 ± 3 nm, and virtually complete inhibition was obtained in the presence of nmBPQ. Exposure to 1µmBPQ leads to ultrastructural changes affecting initially the mitochondrial matrix and the cristae. After 96 h, most parasites were largely distorted, filled with cytoplasmic amylopectin granules and vacuoles containing components of unknown composition. Host cell mitochondria did not appear to be notably affected by the drug. However, upon prolonged exposure (14–16 days) to increased BPQ concentrations,B. besnoititachyzoites exhibited the capacity to adapt, and they resumed proliferation at dosages of up to 10µmBPQ, albeit at a lower rate. These BPQ-adapted parasites maintained this lower susceptibility to BPQ treatment after freeze–thawing, and inspection by the transmission electron microscopy revealed that they underwent proliferation in the absence of structurally intact mitochondria.


1981 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-73
Author(s):  
J.H. Temmink ◽  
H. Spiele

Normal 3T3 cells were exposed to vinblastine and cytochalasin B in an attempt to correlate the morphological changes of the cell surface as seen in the scanning electron microscope with ultrastructural changes of the cytoskeletal elements as seen in critical-point-dried cells in the transmission electron microscope. Special attention was given to the changes in the cytoplasmic domains distinguished in a previous paper. Cytochalasin B primarily affects the ultrastructure of the cytocortical domain by inducing the formation of condensation foci on the cytoplasmic material. Vinblastine not only induces the depolymerization of microtubules and the perinuclear concentration of intermediate filaments, but it also causes the disappearance of stress fibres from the cortical cytoplasm and the widening of the cytocortex at the expense of the endoplasmic domain. These results support the hypothesis that the differentiation in ultrastructural domains is dependent on the spreading of the cells and their adhesion to substrate.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S285-S285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Yasmin ◽  
Steven Marshall ◽  
Michael Jacobs ◽  
Daniel D Rhoads ◽  
Laura J Rojas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Vaborbactam is a cyclic boronic acid β-lactamase inhibitor (BLI) developed to potently inhibit Ambler class A&C enzymes, including KPC carbapenemases. Metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) and some Class D oxacillinases (OXA) are not inactivated by vaborbactam. Meropenem-vaborbactam (MV) was recently approved for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae complicated urinary tract infections. Recent studies have identified outer membrane porin (Ompk35 and -36) mutations in Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) as a mechanism of decreased susceptibility to MV. We evaluated the activity of MV against a historical cohort of KP clinical isolates with these porin gene mutations. Methods WGS of carbapenem-resistant KP clinical isolates was performed and those harboring mutations in Ompk35 or Ompk36 were selected for testing. Strain KP ATCC BAA-1705 was used as a positive control. Meropenem and MV minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by broth microdilution (BMD) in custom 96-well plates (ThermoFisher Scientific) with a constant 8 µg/mL vaborbactam concentration. The MIC of ceftazidime–avibactam (CZA) was determined by standard BMD reference methods and interpreted according to CLSI criteria. Results A total of 105 KP isolates with either partial or complete mutations in outer membrane porin genes were included in the analysis. All isolates were resistant to Meropenem. The median MV MIC was 0.03 µg/mL (range, 0.015 to >16 µg/mL). Eleven isolates (10.4%) were resistant to MV. Sixteen additional isolates (16.1%) demonstrated higher than expected MV MICs ranging from 1 to 4 µg/mL. Only 1/11 resistant isolates harbored a gene for MBL production. Gene mutations in blaKPC were not detected. See Table 1 for characteristics of resistant isolates. Conclusion Resistance and decreased susceptibility to MV is demonstrated in a historical cohort of KP clinical isolates dating back to 2013. WGS reliably identifies porin variants secondary to gene mutations in Ompk35 and Ompk36 as the underlying mechanism of decreased susceptibility. CZA appears to retain activity against these isolates. Caution should be exercised regarding the empiric use of MV against increasingly resistant KP as a result of non-β-lactamase-mediated mechanisms. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S281-S281
Author(s):  
Andrew Walkty ◽  
James Karlowsky

Abstract Background There are limited options available for the treatment of infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae that produce an NDM metallo-β-lactamase. The purpose of this study was to compare the in vitro activity of aztreonam in combination with three different β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (ceftazidime–avibactam, amoxicillin-clavulanate, piperacillin–tazobactam) vs. NDM-positive Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates. Methods Seven Escherichia coli and three Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates (all NDM-positive by PCR) were included in this study. The in vitro activities of ceftazidime–avibactam, amoxicillin-clavulanate, piperacillin–tazobactam, and aztreonam were determined by disk diffusion as described by CLSI. For synergy testing, disks containing a β-lactamase inhibitor (ceftazidime–avibactam, amoxicillin-clavulanate, piperacillin tazobactam) were applied to Mueller–Hinton agar plates inoculated with the test organisms, and the plates were incubated for 1 hour. The disks were then removed and aztreonam disks were dropped on the previous disk sites. The plates were then incubated as per standard CLSI recommendations for disk diffusion testing. Results All ten isolates demonstrated phenotypic resistance to aztreonam, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and piperacillin–tazobactam, and eight were resistant to ceftazidime–avibactam (CLSI breakpoints). The zone diameter observed for aztreonam in combination with ceftazidime–avibactam was greater than for either antimicrobial on its own for nine isolates. Seven isolates (70%) had susceptibility to aztreonam restored (zone diameter ≥21 mm) in the presence of avibactam. Aztreonam in combination with amoxicillin-clavulanate demonstrated in increase in zone diameter for all isolates relative to the zone for each antimicrobial alone, but only two (20%) had aztreonam susceptibility restored. Aztreonam susceptibility was not restored for any of the isolates in combination with piperacillin–tazobactam. Conclusion Of the three β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor-aztreonam combinations evaluated, ceftazidime–avibactam plus aztreonam demonstrated the greatest in vitro activity vs. NDM-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2009 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 2133-2135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Souli ◽  
Panagiota Danai Rekatsina ◽  
Zoi Chryssouli ◽  
Irene Galani ◽  
Helen Giamarellou ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Using time-kill methodology, we investigated the interactions of an imipenem-colistin combination against 42 genetically distinct Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates carrying a bla VIM-1-type gene. Irrespective of the imipenem MIC, the combination was synergistic (50%) or indifferent (50%) against colistin-susceptible strains, while it was antagonistic (55.6%) and rarely synergistic (11%) against non-colistin-susceptible strains (with synergy being observed only against strains with colistin MICs of 3 to 4 μg/ml). The combination showed improved bactericidal activity against isolates susceptible either to both agents or to colistin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 511-514
Author(s):  
Elza Ferreira Firmo ◽  
Jorge Belém Oliveira Júnior ◽  
Alexsandra Maria Lima Scavuzzi ◽  
Luis Carlos Alves ◽  
Fábio André Brayner ◽  
...  

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Henn ◽  
Annette Venter ◽  
Christo Botha

Consumption of bufadienolide-containing plants are responsible for many livestock mortalities annually. Bufadienolides are divided into two groups; non-cumulative bufadienolides and cumulative bufadienolides. Cumulative bufadienolides are referred to as neurotoxic, as the chronic intoxication with this type of bufadienolide results in a paretic/paralytic syndrome known as ‘krimpsiekte’. The in vitro cytotoxicity of a non-cumulative bufadienolide, 1α,2α-epoxyscillirosidine, and a cumulative bufadienolide, lanceotoxin B, were compared using the MTT ((3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction) assay after exposing rat myocardial (H9c2) and mouse neuroblastoma (Neuro-2a) cell lines. The effect of these two bufadienolides on cell ultrastructure was also investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). H9c2 cells exhibited greater cytotoxicity when exposed to 1α,2α-epoxyscillirosidine, compared to lanceotoxin B. In contrast, Neuro-2a cells were more susceptible to lanceotoxin B. The EC50 (half maximal effective concentration) of lanceotoxin B exposure of Neuro-2a cells for 24–72 h ranged from 4.4–5.5 µM compared to EC50s of 35.7–37.6 µM for 1α,2α-epoxyscillirosidine exposure of Neuro-2a cells over the same period. 1α,2α-Epoxyscillirosidine induced extensive vacuolization in both cell types, with swollen RER (rough endoplasmic reticulum) and perinuclear spaces. Lanceotoxin B caused swelling of the mitochondria and sequestration of cytoplasmic material within autophagic vesicles. These results corroborate the notion that cumulative bufadienolides are neurotoxic.


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