scholarly journals role of stathmin microtubule-destabilizing activity in Shigella flexneri motility and tunneling

Author(s):  
Robert Rozman ◽  
Austin A. Barr ◽  
Radha Sharma

The infection of the intestinal mucosa by Shigella bacteria is a global health issue resulting in a variety of potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal complications. Their unique method of intracellular motility depends on microtubule destabilization to clear the dense host cytoskeletal network in a process called tunneling. It is hypothesized that the host protein stathmin may play a role in this process, due to its tubulin-sequestering capability. This proposal aims to provide potential methodologies to elucidate the function of stathmin with respect to Shigella flexneri motility. Three experiments are proposed, involving comparisons between human intestinal epithelial cell strains under varying levels of stathmin expression, each infected with S. flexneri. Respectively, the experiments examine tunnel widths via electron microscopy, microtubule densities via imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and bacterial movement patterns via live fluorescence microscopy. If microtubule destabilization and movement is impaired in null stathmin strains, as predicted, such findings may inform a novel therapeutic target for Shigellosis by preventing internal spreading. This is particularly significant in our current landscape, as antibiotic-resistant strains of Shigella are growing increasingly prevalent. 

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 372
Author(s):  
Sandra Maaß ◽  
Jürgen Bartel ◽  
Pierre-Alexander Mücke ◽  
Rabea Schlüter ◽  
Thomas Sura ◽  
...  

Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea but can also result in more serious, life-threatening conditions. The incidence of C. difficile infections in hospitals is increasing, both in frequency and severity, and antibiotic-resistant C. difficile strains are advancing. Against this background antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an interesting alternative to classic antibiotics. Information on the effects of AMPs on C. difficile will not only enhance the knowledge for possible biomedical application but may also provide insights into mechanisms of C. difficile to adapt or counteract AMPs. This study applies state-of-the-art mass spectrometry methods to quantitatively investigate the proteomic response of C. difficile 630∆erm to sublethal concentrations of the AMP nisin allowing to follow the cellular stress adaptation in a time-resolved manner. The results do not only point at a heavy reorganization of the cellular envelope but also resulted in pronounced changes in central cellular processes such as carbohydrate metabolism. Further, the number of flagella per cell was increased during the adaptation process. The potential involvement of flagella in nisin adaptation was supported by a more resistant phenotype exhibited by a non-motile but hyper-flagellated mutant.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-13
Author(s):  
Charles E. Middleton IV ◽  
William Daley ◽  
Neha Varshney

The clinical features of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are variable, but the majority of patients experience mild flu-like symptoms. The cases of severe disease include complications such as progressive pneumonia, acute kidney injury, multi-organ failure, and even death. This paper explores the association between COVID-19 and its effect on multiple organ systems and how the subsequent treatment of this disease can itself lead to morbidity and mortality. We present a case which emphasizes the life threatening gastrointestinal complications associated with treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) in a patient with COVID-19. We conclude that the patients whose treatment regimens utilize medical resins should be closely monitored for gastrointestinal complications so as to mitigate the known adverse effects associated with these drugs, such as colonic mucosal ulceration, perforation, or even death.


1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 1061-1065 ◽  
Author(s):  
A A Lima ◽  
J J Sidrim ◽  
N L Lima ◽  
W Titlow ◽  
M E Evans ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Elpis Vlachopapadopoulou ◽  
Dimitrios I. Fotiadis

In this chapter the evolution of mHealth solutions for monitoring and treatment of children suffering from obesity is discussed. Nowadays, obesity emerges as a major chronic health condition that affects the general population, both children and adults. mhealth solutions are already used for self-management, remote monitoring and counseling of several chronic conditions, including diabetes mellitus, heart failure, Parkinson's disease, etc. Today, those solutions can result to closed loops, which support health self-management for chronic diseases, in a personalized manner. Concerning childhood obesity, those solutions can combine targeted games and motivational approaches towards both physical activity and diet, which could help in addressing this serious and global health issue, in the direction of minimizing co-morbidities and eventually preventing serious, life threatening events.


2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 491-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. COLES ◽  
L. RAHMATHULLAH ◽  
R. KANUNGO ◽  
R. D. THULASIRAJ ◽  
J. KATZ ◽  
...  

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading bacterial cause of life-threatening infections in infants. Although antibiotic resistance affects management of pneumococcal infections, few data on patterns of resistance are available for India. We examined nasopharyngeal carriage of antibiotic-resistant pneumococci in 464 South Indian infants between 2 and 6 months. Newly acquired serotypes were screened for susceptibility to cotrimoxazole, erythromycin and penicillin using disk diffusion. Cumulative prevalence of pneumococcal carriage rose from 53·9% at 2 months to 70·2% at 6 months. The prevalence of strains that were not susceptible to penicillin, co-trimoxazole and erythromycin was 3·4, 81·1 and 37·2%, respectively. Carriage of erythromycin non-susceptible strains declined significantly between ages 4 months and 6 months (44·1 vs. 10·7%). More than 87% of the isolates screened were non-susceptible to [ges ]1 antibiotic. Serogroups/types that were most frequently non-susceptible to 1 or more antibiotics were 6, 9, 14, 19 and 23. Less than 1% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. Widespread use of antibiotics in South India has resulted in S. pneumoniae becoming non-susceptible to some commonly used antibiotics. Monitoring trends in antibiotic susceptibility and making antibiotics available only through prescription from a health care worker may slow the spread of resistant pneumococci and improve management of pneumococcal infections in South India.


1992 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 555-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
NISHA V. PADHYE ◽  
MICHAEL P. DOYLE

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is now recognized as an important human pathogen. Illnesses caused by E. coli O157:H7 infection can range from self-limited, watery diarrhea to life-threatening manifestations such as hemolytic uremic syndrome or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The mode of transmission is primarily through food; however, person-to-person transmission also has been identified in some day-care center and nursing home out-breaks. Studies to date indicate that cattle are an important reservoir of the organism. Although adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells and verotoxins are considered important virulence factors in the pathogenesis of the organism, more research is are necessary to determine the exact mechanism of pathogenicity. There is need for a rapid diagnostic test for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 in food and in clinical samples. Several useful research reagents have been developed for detecting E. coli O157:H7; however, they must be applied to a procedure that is specific, sensitive, rapid, easy to use, and commercially available so that microbiological laboratories can readily use them.


Gut ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Flamant ◽  
P. Aubert ◽  
M. Rolli-Derkinderen ◽  
A. Bourreille ◽  
M. R. Neunlist ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Uma Chikkaraddi ◽  
Namratha W Nandihal

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are common inhabitants of skin and mucous membrane, may act as pathogens causing fatal infections especially in immunocompromised patients. CoNS mainly cause infections involving biofilm on implanted biomaterials. Increase in antimicrobial resistance causes difficulties to treat life threatening infections. Despite their growing importance, their speciation is rarely done. Therefore, the present study is undertaken to identify CoNS to the species level and to know their antibiotic susceptibility pattern along with rate of MRCoNS.250 isolates from various clinical specimens were considered in this study. The isolates were identified by colony morphology, Gram staining, catalase, slide and tube coagulase test. Speciation was done by Novobiocin resistance, urease activity, ornithine decarboxylase, pyrrolidonylarylamidase and aerobic acid production from mannose. The antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by Kirby-Bauer's disc diffusion method as per CLSI guidelines.Among 250 CoNS isolates, commonest species identified was (59.2%) followed by (19.6%) and (12.4%). They were commonly isolated in the age group 21 to 30 years (26.8%) and among males(58%). Total of 33.2% were isolated from pus followed by blood(21.6%). Majority species expressed resistance towards nalidixic acid(97.2%) followed by Penicillin(94%), 74.4% to Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid and 66.4% to Cotrimoxazole. All the isolates were sensitive to Vancomycin. Methicillin resistance among CoNS was 73.2%. : The increased recognition of pathogenic potential in CoNS and emergence of drug resistance among them demonstrates the need to adopt simple laboratory methods to identify the species and determine the antibiotic resistant patterns to help the clinicians in treating the infections caused by CoNS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Olborska ◽  
Anna Janas-Naze ◽  
Łukasz Kaczmarek ◽  
Tomasz Warga ◽  
Dewi Suriyani Che Halin

AbstractThe dynamic development of the world economy entails an increasing exchange of goods and population. This means that we are globally struggling with increasing levels of nosocomial infections. The increasing use of antimicrobial agents triggers the microorganisms’ immune system, which in turn contributes to the increasing amount of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, making it necessary to control the development of unwanted microorganisms, including bacteria, especially those carried on the body and clothing.Currently, there is no unique method to combat the multiplication of microorganisms and eliminate threats to human health and life. For this reason, this article describes the possibilities of using graphene materials as a potential additive materials in fiber finishes as an antibacterial aspect in various areas of life. However, the literature does not explain the mechanisms behind the antibacterial properties of graphene, strongly limiting its textile application. The research is conducted using molecular dynamic simulations of interaction between graphene materials and murein. The obtained results suggest the electrostatic mechanism of blocking the growth and division of bacteria. Due to the physical interaction, bacterial cell becomes “trapped” without changing its growth parameters. This may lead to an increase of internal cell pressure, rupture of its wall and consequently its death.


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