Migrations do not modify Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance rates: a 20-year retrospective study

Mycobacterium marinum mediates regulation of prostaglandin E2 expression on host immune response through cyclooxygenase pathway

PURPOSE

Investigate the role of COX signaling in activating the PGE2-EP2 pathway.

METHODS

Utilized a marine Mycobacterium infection model in zebrafish. Marine mycobacteria were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate. The COX inhibitor indomethacin, EP2 receptor inhibitor AH6809, EP4 receptor inhibitor AH23848 and clodronate Liposomes were used to investigate the role of COX, EP2, EP4 and macrophage whether participating in combat marine mycobacterial infection. The expression level of the target gene was detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR instrument.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that larvae exposed to the COX inhibitor indomethacin or the EP2 receptor inhibitor AH6809 demonstrated a significantly higher mortality rate due to marine mycobacterium infection than those in the control group. Administration of exogenous prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) rescued the survival of zebrafish infected with marine mycobacteria and treated with indomethacin. Additionally, a significant reduction in survival rate was noted in macrophage-depleted zebrafish infected with marine mycobacteria.

CONCLUSION

The host may combat marine mycobacterium infection via COX signaling, which activates the PGE2-EP2 pathway and mediates macrophage resistance.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Italy over the Past Five Years: A Systematic Review

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has become a global threat to public health systems around the world in recent decades. In 2017, Italy was placed among the worst-performing nations in Europe by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, due to worryingly high levels of AMR in Italian hospitals and regions. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the state of the art of research on AMR in Italy over the last five years. The PubMed database was searched to identify studies presenting original data. Forty-three of the 9721 records identified were included. Overall, AMR rates ranged from 3% (in a group of sheep farmers) to 78% (in a hospital setting). The methods used to identify the microorganisms, to test their susceptibility and the criteria adopted for the breakpoint were deficient in 7, 7 and 11 studies, respectively. The main findings of our review were that most studies (79.1%) considered hospitalised patients only, 4 studies (9.3%) analysed non-hospitalised populations only. In addition, only 7 studies were multicentric and no scientific literature on the subject was produced in 7 Italian regions. In order to have a solid basis on the topic for the interventions of public health professionals and other stakeholders, studies analysing the phenomenon should be conducted in a methodologically standardised manner, should include all areas of the country and should also focus on out-of-hospital and community-based care and work settings.