Goblet cell breakdown: transcriptomics reveals Acinetobacter baumannii early and robust inflammatory response in differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells.

Background: The airway epithelium represents the first line of defense of the lungs, functioning both as a physical barrier as well as an active immune modulator. However, in the last years, pneumonia caused by the opportunistic pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii have become difficult to treat due to the increase of the number of extensively drug resistant strains. In this study, we report for the first time the use of an ex vivo air-liquid interface (ALI) model of differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells to unravel the early response to A.

A decade of genomic and phenotypic adaptation of carbapenem-resistant .

Introduction: exhibits high genomic plasticity, enabling it to acquire virulence factors and antibiotic resistance (AR). Understanding its evolutionary adaptations is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies.

Methods: Thirty clinical isolates collected from two distinct time periods, defined as older (2010-2013), and recent (2022-2023),- were compared phenotypically (antibiotic resistance, growth, biofilm formation, desiccation tolerance, invasiveness) and genotypically (whole-genome sequencing).

Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Uropathogenic From Community- and Hospital-Acquired Infections Show High Level of Antibiotic Resistance and Specific Virulence Traits.

is a leading cause of both community-acquired and nosocomial infections. In particular, is responsible for 90% of all uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and 65% of complicated UTIs. Among complicated UTIs, those caused by third-generation cephalosporin (3GC)-resistant strains, expressing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), are on the rise.

The periplasmic protein HslJ is the first-line of defense against oxidative stress in Acinetobacter baumannii.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii poses a significant threat globally, causing infections primarily in healthcare settings, with high mortality rates. Its adaptability to antibiotic resistance and tolerance to various stresses, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), contribute to its persistence in healthcare environments. Previous evidence suggested that the periplasmic heat shock protein, HslJ-like protein (ABUW_2868), could be involved in oxidative stress defense in A.

Anisakis extracellular vesicles elicit immunomodulatory and potentially tumorigenic outcomes on human intestinal organoids.

Background: Anisakis spp. are zoonotic nematodes causing mild to severe acute and chronic gastrointestinal infections. Chronic anisakiasis can lead to erosive mucosal ulcers, granulomas and inflammation, potential tumorigenic triggers.

Acinetobacter baumannii OmpA-like porins: functional characterization of bacterial physiology, antibiotic-resistance, and virulence.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a critical opportunistic pathogen associated with nosocomial infections. The high rates of antibiotic-resistance acquisition make most antibiotics ineffective. Thus, new medical countermeasures are urgently needed.

The virulence factor apyrase is released inside eukaryotic cells to hijack host cell fate.

In this paper, we demonstrated that apyrase is released within the host cell cytoplasm during infection to target the intracellular ATP pool. By degrading intracellular ATP, apyrase contributes to prevent caspases activation, thereby inhibiting the activation of pyroptosis in infected cells. Our results show, for the first time, that apyrase is involved in the modulation of host cell survival, thereby aiding this pathogen to dampen the inflammatory response.

Insightful Improvement in the Design of Potent Uropathogenic FimH Antagonists.

Selective antiadhesion antagonists of Uropathogenic (UPEC) type-1 Fimbrial adhesin (FimH) are attractive alternatives for antibiotic therapies and prophylaxes against acute or recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by UPECs. A rational small library of FimH antagonists based on previously described -linked allyl α-D-mannopyranoside was synthesized using Heck cross-coupling reaction using a series of iodoaryl derivatives. This work reports two new members of FimH antagonist amongst the above family with sub nanomolar affinity.

The model can explain the role of small non-coding RNAs as potential mediators of host-pathogen interactions.

Bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) research has accelerated over the past decade, boosted by advances in RNA-seq technologies and methodologies for capturing both protein-RNA and RNA-RNA interactions. The emerging picture is that these regulatory sRNAs play important roles in controlling complex physiological processes and are required to survive the antimicrobial challenge. In recent years, the RNA content of OMVs/EVs has also gained increasing attention, particularly in the context of infection.

Inflammatory Response in Caco-2 Cells Stimulated with Messengers of Pathogenicity.

: spp. third-stage larvae (L3) are the causative agents of human zoonosis called anisakiasis. The accidental ingestion of L3 can cause acute and chronic inflammation at the gastric, intestinal, or ectopic levels.

The Interleukin-1 (IL-1) Superfamily Cytokines and Their Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs).

Interleukins (ILs)-which are important members of cytokines-consist of a vast group of molecules, including a wide range of immune mediators that contribute to the immunological responses of many cells and tissues. ILs are immune-glycoproteins, which directly contribute to the growth, activation, adhesion, differentiation, migration, proliferation, and maturation of immune cells; and subsequently, they are involved in the pro and anti-inflammatory responses of the body, by their interaction with a wide range of receptors. Due to the importance of immune system in different organisms, the genes belonging to immune elements, such as ILs, have been studied vigorously.

Genetic Diversity of Antimicrobial Resistance and Key Virulence Features in Two Extensively Drug-Resistant Isolates.

In recent decades, emerged as a major infective menace in healthcare settings due to scarce therapeutic options to treat infections. Therefore, undertaking genome comparison analyses of multi-resistant strains could aid the identification of key bacterial determinants to develop innovative anti-virulence approaches. Following genome sequencing, we performed a molecular characterization of key genes and genomic comparison of two strains, #36 and #150, with selected reference genomes.

Adaptive strategies of uropathogenic Escherichia coli CFT073: from growth in lab media to virulence during host cell adhesion.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major concern in public health. The prevalent uropathogenic bacterium in healthcare settings is Escherichia coli. The increasing rate of antibiotic-resistant strains demands studies to understand E.

Gram-Negative Bacteria Holding Together in a Biofilm: The Way.

Bacterial biofilms are a serious public-health problem worldwide. In recent years, the rates of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria associated with biofilm-forming activity have increased worrisomely, particularly among healthcare-associated pathogens. is a critically opportunistic pathogen, due to the high rates of antibiotic resistant strains causing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs).

Urinary tract infections: Can we prevent uropathogenic infection with dietary intervention?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common causes of infections in women. Via the fecal-perineal-urethral route, uropathogenic (UPEC) can cause ascending urinary tract infections, including cystitis and pyelonephritis. These infections re-occur within six months or they account for, at least, three episodes within a year of recurrent UTIs (rUTIs).

: An Ancient Commensal with Weapons of a Pathogen.

is regarded as a life-threatening pathogen associated with community-acquired and nosocomial infections, mainly pneumonia. The rise in the number of antibiotic-resistant strains reduces effective therapies and increases mortality. Bacterial comparative genomic studies have unraveled the innate and acquired virulence factors of These virulence factors are involved in antibiotic resistance, environmental persistence, host-pathogen interactions, and immune evasion.

Acinetobacter baumannii Targets Human Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecules (CEACAMs) for Invasion of Pneumocytes.

Multidrug-resistant is regarded as a life-threatening pathogen mainly associated with nosocomial and community-acquired pneumonia. Here, we show that can bind the human carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) receptors CEACAM1, CEACAM5, and CEACAM6. This specific interaction enhances internalization in membrane-bound vacuoles, promptly decorated with Rab5, Rab7, and lipidated microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3).

SARS-CoV-2: Comparative analysis of different RNA extraction methods.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiologic agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although other diagnostic methods have been introduced, detection of viral genes on oro- and nasopharyngeal swabs by reverse-transcription real time-PCR (rRT-PCR) assays is still the gold standard. Efficient viral RNA extraction is a prerequisite for downstream performance of rRT-PCR assays.

The Global Emergency of Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): An Update of the Current Status and Forecasting.

Over the past two decades, there have been two major outbreaks where the crossover of animal to humans has resulted in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). In December 2019, a global public health concern started with the emergence of a new strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019 novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV) which has rapidly spread all over the world from its origin in Wuhan, China. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the genus, which includes human SARS-CoV, MERS and two other human coronaviruses (HCoVs), HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1.

Fecal microRNAs as Innovative Biomarkers of Intestinal Diseases and Effective Players in Host-Microbiome Interactions.

Over the past decade, short non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs), including circulating and fecal miRNAs have emerged as important modulators of various cellular processes by regulating the expression of target genes. Recent studies revealed the role of miRNAs as powerful biomarkers in disease diagnosis and for the development of innovative therapeutic applications in several human conditions, including intestinal diseases. In this review, we explored the literature and summarized the role of identified dysregulated fecal miRNAs in intestinal diseases, with particular focus on colorectal cancer (CRC) and celiac disease (CD).

FimH and Anti-Adhesive Therapeutics: A Disarming Strategy Against Uropathogens.

Chaperone-usher fimbrial adhesins are powerful weapons against the uropathogens that allow the establishment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). As the antibiotic therapeutic strategy has become less effective in the treatment of uropathogen-related UTIs, the anti-adhesive molecules active against fimbrial adhesins, key determinants of urovirulence, are attractive alternatives. The best-characterized bacterial adhesin is FimH, produced by uropathogenic (UPEC).