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Huang JM, Sung KC, Lin WC, Lai HY, Wang YJ. Enhancement of capsular hypermucoviscosity in Klebsiella pneumoniae by Acanthamoeba. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011541. [PMID: 37566587 PMCID: PMC10495012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acanthamoeba and Klebsiella pneumoniae are both environmental commensals. Recently, clinical harm caused by hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae has been observed. However, the interaction between these microbes and the origin of hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae have not been reported. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here, we report that the bacterial capsule is enlarged when co-cultured with Acanthamoeba using India ink staining, and this effect depends on the number of parasites present. This interaction results in an enhancement of capsular polysaccharide production in the subsequent generations of K. pneumoniae, even without co-culturing with Acanthamoeba. The hypermucoviscosity of the capsule was examined using the sedimentation assay and string test. We also screened other K. pneumoniae serotypes, including K1, K2, K5, and K20, for interaction with Acanthamoeba using India ink staining, and found the same interaction effect. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These findings suggest that the interaction between Acanthamoeba and K. pneumoniae could lead to harmful consequences in public health and nosocomial disease control, particularly hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Ming Huang
- School of Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ko-Chiang Sung
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chest Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chen Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Yue Lai
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jen Wang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Chang CW, Lin MH. Optimization of PMA-qPCR for Staphylococcus aureus and determination of viable bacteria in indoor air. INDOOR AIR 2018; 28:64-72. [PMID: 28683164 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus may cause infections in humans from mild skin disorders to lethal pneumonia. Rapid and accurate monitoring of viable S. aureus is essential to characterize human exposure. This study evaluated quantitative PCR (qPCR) with propidium monoazide (PMA) to quantify S. aureus. The results showed comparable S. aureus counts between exclusively live cells and mixtures of live/dead cells by qPCR with 1.5 or 2.3 μg/mL PMA (P>.05), illustrating the ability of PMA-qPCR to detect DNA exclusively from viable cells. Moreover, qPCR with 1.5 or 2.3 μg/mL PMA performed optimally with linearity over 103 -108 CFU/mL (R2 ≥0.9), whereas qPCR with 10, 23 or 46 μg/mL PMA significantly underestimated viable counts. Staphylococcus aureus and total viable bacteria were further determined with PMA-qPCR (1.5 μg/mL) from 48 samples from a public library and two university dormitories and four from outside. Viable bacteria averaged 1.9×104 cells/m3 , and S. aureus were detected in 22 (42%) samples with a mean of 4.4×103 cells/m3 . The number of S. aureus and viable bacteria were positively correlated (r=.61, P<.005), and percentages of S. aureus relative to viable bacteria averaged 12-44%. The results of field samples suggest that PMA-qPCR can be used to quantify viable S. aureus cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-W Chang
- Institute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Center for Research on Environmental and Occupational Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Research Center for Genes, Environmental and Human Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - M-H Lin
- Institute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Dobrowsky PH, Khan S, Khan W. Resistance of Legionella and Acanthamoeba mauritaniensis to heat treatment as determined by relative and quantitative polymerase chain reactions. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 158:82-93. [PMID: 28609649 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Legionella and Acanthamoeba spp. persist in harvested rainwater pasteurized at high temperatures (> 72°C) and the interaction mechanisms exhibited between these organisms need to be elucidated. The resistance of two Legionella reference strains (Legionella pneumophila ATCC 33152 and Legionella longbeachae ATCC 33462), three environmental strains [Legionella longbeachae (env.), Legionella norrlandica (env.) and Legionella rowbothamii (env.)] and Acanthamoeba mauritaniensis ATCC 50676 to heat treatment (50-90°C) was determined by monitoring culturability and viability [ethidium monoazide quantitative polymerase chain reaction (EMA-qPCR)]. The expression of metabolic and virulence genes of L. pneumophila ATCC 33152 (lolA, sidF, csrA) and L. longbeachae (env.) (lolA) in co-culture with A. mauritaniensis ATCC 50676 during heat treatment (50-90°C) was monitored using relative qPCR. While the culturability (CFU/mL) and viability (gene copies/mL) of the Legionella strains reduced significantly (p < 0.05) following heat treatment (60-90°C), L. longbeachae (env.) and L. pneumophila ATCC 33152 were culturable following heat treatment at 50-60°C. Metabolically active trophozoites and dormant cysts of A. mauritaniensis ATCC 50676 were detected at 50°C and 60-90°C, respectively. For L. pneumophila ATCC 33152, lolA expression remained constant, sidF expression increased and the expression of csrA decreased during co-culture with A. mauritaniensis ATCC 50676. For L. longbeachae (env.), while lolA was up-regulated at 50-70°C, expression was not detected at 80-90°C and in co-culture. In conclusion, while heat treatment may reduce the number of viable Legionella spp. in monoculture, results indicate that the presence of A. mauritaniensis increases the virulence of L. pneumophila during heat treatment. The virulence of Legionella spp. in co-culture with Acanthamoeba spp. should thus be monitored in water distribution systems where temperature (heat) is utilized for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope H Dobrowsky
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa.
| | - Sehaam Khan
- Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology,13 Storch Street, Private Bag 13388, Windhoek, Namibia.
| | - Wesaal Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa.
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Wang H, Bédard E, Prévost M, Camper AK, Hill VR, Pruden A. Methodological approaches for monitoring opportunistic pathogens in premise plumbing: A review. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 117:68-86. [PMID: 28390237 PMCID: PMC5693313 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 03/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Opportunistic premise (i.e., building) plumbing pathogens (OPPPs, e.g., Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium complex, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acanthamoeba, and Naegleria fowleri) are a significant and growing source of disease. Because OPPPs establish and grow as part of the native drinking water microbiota, they do not correspond to fecal indicators, presenting a major challenge to standard drinking water monitoring practices. Further, different OPPPs present distinct requirements for sampling, preservation, and analysis, creating an impediment to their parallel detection. The aim of this critical review is to evaluate the state of the science of monitoring OPPPs and identify a path forward for their parallel detection and quantification in a manner commensurate with the need for reliable data that is informative to risk assessment and mitigation. Water and biofilm sampling procedures, as well as factors influencing sample representativeness and detection sensitivity, are critically evaluated with respect to the five representative bacterial and amoebal OPPPs noted above. Available culturing and molecular approaches are discussed in terms of their advantages, limitations, and applicability. Knowledge gaps and research needs towards standardized approaches are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Emilie Bédard
- Department of Civil Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michèle Prévost
- Department of Civil Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Anne K Camper
- Center for Biofilm Engineering and Department of Civil Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Vincent R Hill
- Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Amy Pruden
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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Dobrowsky PH, Khan S, Cloete TE, Khan W. Molecular detection of Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria fowleri and Vermamoeba (Hartmannella) vermiformis as vectors for Legionella spp. in untreated and solar pasteurized harvested rainwater. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:539. [PMID: 27724947 PMCID: PMC5057267 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1829-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Legionella spp. employ multiple strategies to adapt to stressful environments including the proliferation in protective biofilms and the ability to form associations with free-living amoeba (FLA). The aim of the current study was to identify Legionella spp., Acanthamoeba spp., Vermamoeba (Hartmannella) vermiformis and Naegleria fowleri that persist in a harvested rainwater and solar pasteurization treatment system. Methods Pasteurized (45 °C, 65 °C, 68 °C, 74 °C, 84 °C and 93 °C) and unpasteurized tank water samples were screened for Legionella spp. and the heterotrophic plate count was enumerated. Additionally, ethidium monoazide quantitative polymerase chain reaction (EMA-qPCR) was utilized for the quantification of viable Legionella spp., Acanthamoeba spp., V. vermiformis and N. fowleri in pasteurized (68 °C, 74 °C, 84 °C and 93 °C) and unpasteurized tank water samples, respectively. Results Of the 82 Legionella spp. isolated from unpasteurized tank water samples, Legionella longbeachae (35 %) was the most frequently isolated, followed by Legionella norrlandica (27 %) and Legionella rowbothamii (4 %). Additionally, a positive correlation was recorded between the heterotrophic plate count vs. the number of Legionella spp. detected (ρ = 0.710, P = 0.048) and the heterotrophic plate count vs. the number of Legionella spp. isolated (ρ = 0.779, P = 0.0028) from the tank water samples collected. Solar pasteurization was effective in reducing the gene copies of viable V. vermiformis (3-log) and N. fowleri (5-log) to below the lower limit of detection at temperatures of 68–93 °C and 74–93 °C, respectively. Conversely, while the gene copies of viable Legionella and Acanthamoeba were significantly reduced by 2-logs (P = 0.0024) and 1-log (P = 0.0015) overall, respectively, both organisms were still detected after pasteurization at 93 °C. Conclusions Results from this study indicate that Acanthamoeba spp. primarily acts as the vector and aids in the survival of Legionella spp. in the solar pasteurized rainwater as both organisms were detected and were viable at high temperatures (68–93 °C).
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope H Dobrowsky
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - Sehaam Khan
- Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, 13 Storch Street, Private Bag 13388, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Thomas E Cloete
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - Wesaal Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa.
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Cancino-Faure B, Fisa R, Alcover MM, Jimenez-Marco T, Riera C. Detection and Quantification of Viable and Nonviable Trypanosoma cruzi Parasites by a Propidium Monoazide Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016; 94:1282-9. [PMID: 27139452 PMCID: PMC4889745 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular techniques based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) allow the detection and quantification of DNA but are unable to distinguish between signals from dead or live cells. Because of the lack of simple techniques to differentiate between viable and nonviable cells, the aim of this study was to optimize and evaluate a straightforward test based on propidium monoazide (PMA) dye action combined with a qPCR assay (PMA-qPCR) for the selective quantification of viable/nonviable epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi PMA has the ability to penetrate the plasma membrane of dead cells and covalently cross-link to the DNA during exposure to bright visible light, thereby inhibiting PCR amplification. Different concentrations of PMA (50-200 μM) and epimastigotes of the Maracay strain of T. cruzi (1 × 10(5)-10 parasites/mL) were assayed; viable and nonviable parasites were tested and quantified by qPCR with a TaqMan probe specific for T. cruzi. In the PMA-qPCR assay optimized at 100 μM PMA, a significant qPCR signal reduction was observed in the nonviable versus viable epimastigotes treated with PMA, with a mean signal reduction of 2.5 logarithm units and a percentage of signal reduction > 98%, in all concentrations of parasites assayed. This signal reduction was also observed when PMA-qPCR was applied to a mixture of live/dead parasites, which allowed the detection of live cells, except when the concentration of live parasites was low (10 parasites/mL). The PMA-qPCR developed allows differentiation between viable and nonviable epimastigotes of T. cruzi and could thus be a potential method of parasite viability assessment and quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Cancino-Faure
- Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Fundació Banc de Sang i Teixits de les Illes Balears, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Roser Fisa
- Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Fundació Banc de Sang i Teixits de les Illes Balears, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain
| | - M Magdalena Alcover
- Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Fundació Banc de Sang i Teixits de les Illes Balears, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Teresa Jimenez-Marco
- Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Fundació Banc de Sang i Teixits de les Illes Balears, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Cristina Riera
- Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Fundació Banc de Sang i Teixits de les Illes Balears, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain; IUNICS Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain
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Olofsson J, Berglund PG, Olsen B, Ellström P, Axelsson-Olsson D. The abundant free-living amoeba, Acanthamoeba polyphaga, increases the survival of Campylobacter jejuni in milk and orange juice. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2015; 5:28675. [PMID: 26387556 PMCID: PMC4576417 DOI: 10.3402/iee.v5.28675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Revised: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Campylobacter jejuni is a common cause of human bacterial diarrhea in most parts of the world. Most C. jejuni infections are acquired from contaminated poultry, milk, and water. Due to health care costs and human suffering, it is important to identify all possible sources of infection. Unpasteurized milk has been associated with several outbreaks of C. jejuni infection. Campylobacter has been identified on fresh fruit, and other gastrointestinal pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and Cryptosporidium have been involved in fruit juice outbreaks. C. jejuni is sensitive to the acidic environment of fruit juice, but co-cultures with the amoeba, Acanthamoeba polyphaga, have previously been shown to protect C. jejuni at low pH. METHODS To study the influence of A. polyphaga on the survival of C. jejuni in milk and juice, the bacteria were incubated in the two products at room temperature and at 4°C with the following treatments: A) C. jejuni preincubated with A. polyphaga before the addition of product, B) C. jejuni mixed with A. polyphaga after the addition of product, and C) C. jejuni in product without A. polyphaga. Bacterial survival was assessed by colony counts on blood agar plates. RESULTS Co-culture with A. polyphaga prolonged the C. jejuni survival both in milk and juice. The effect of co-culture was most pronounced in juice stored at room temperature. On the other hand, A. polyphaga did not have any effect on C. jejuni survival during pasteurization of milk or orange juice, indicating that this is a good method for eliminating C. jejuni in these products. CONCLUSION Amoebae-associated C. jejuni in milk and juice might cause C. jejuni infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Olofsson
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Petra Griekspoor Berglund
- Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Björn Olsen
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Zoonosis Science Center, IMBIM, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Patrik Ellström
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Zoonosis Science Center, IMBIM, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Diana Axelsson-Olsson
- Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
- Department of Medicine and Optometry, eHealth Institute, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
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