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Bustamante M, Koopman F, Martens J, Brons JK, DelaFuente J, Hackl T, Kuipers OP, van Doorn GS, de Vos MGJ. Community context influences the conjugation efficiency of Escherichia coli. FEMS MICROBES 2024; 5:xtae023. [PMID: 39170752 PMCID: PMC11338288 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtae023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In urinary tract infections (UTIs), different bacteria can live in a polymicrobial community consisting of different species. It is unknown how community members affect the conjugation efficiency of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. We investigated the influence of individual species often coisolated from urinary infections (UTI) on the conjugation efficiency of E. coli isolates in artificial urine medium. Pairwise conjugation rate experiments were conducted between a donor E. coli strain containing the pOXA-48 plasmid and six uropathogenic E. coli isolates, in the presence and absence of five different species commonly coisolated in polymicrobial UTIs to elucidate their effect on the conjugation efficiency of E. coli. We found that the basal conjugation rates of pOXA-48, in the absence of other species, are dependent on the bacterial host genetic background. Additionally, we found that bacterial interactions have an overall positive effect on the conjugation rate of pOXA-48. Particularly, Gram-positive enterococcal species were found to enhance the conjugation rates towards uropathogenic E. coli isolates. We hypothesize that the nature of the coculture and physical interactions are important for these increased conjugation rates in an artificial urine medium environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Floor Koopman
- GELIFES, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jesper Martens
- GELIFES, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jolanda K Brons
- GELIFES, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Thomas Hackl
- GELIFES, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- GBB, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marjon G J de Vos
- GELIFES, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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Xu W, Fang Y, Zhu K. Enterococci facilitate polymicrobial infections. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:162-177. [PMID: 37550091 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Enterococci are ubiquitous members of the gut microbiota in human beings and animals and are among the most important nosocomial organisms. Due to their opportunistic pathogenicity, enterococci are referred to as pathobionts and play decisive roles in a diverse array of polymicrobial infections. Enterococci can promote the colonization, pathogenesis, and persistence of various pathogens, compromise the efficacy of drugs, and pose a severe threat to public health. Most current treatments tend to focus on the sole pathogenic bacteria, with insufficient attention to the driving role of enterococci. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of enterococci in infections, the factors facilitating their outgrowth, as well as the sites and types of enterococci-associated polymicrobial infections. We present an overview of the underlying mechanisms of enterococci-mediated pathogenesis in polymicrobial infections. Furthermore, we discuss alternative strategies and potential intervention approaches to restrict such infections, shedding light on the discovery and development of new therapies against polymicrobial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Engineering Research Center of Animal Innovative Drugs and Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yuwen Fang
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Engineering Research Center of Animal Innovative Drugs and Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kui Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Engineering Research Center of Animal Innovative Drugs and Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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3
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Grealy L, Wilson P, Gillen C, Duffy É, Healy ML, Daly B, Polyzois I, Van Harten M, Dougall A, Brennan GI, Coleman DC, McManus BA. Immersion of debrided diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) tissue in electrochemically generated pH neutral hypochlorous acid significantly reduces the microbial bioburden: whole-genome sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus, the most prevalent species recovered. J Hosp Infect 2023:S0195-6701(23)00179-2. [PMID: 37308064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic foot ulcer infections (DFUIs) are the leading cause of lower limb amputations, mediated predominantly by Staphylococcus aureus. pH neutral electrochemically-generated hypochlorous acid (anolyte) is a non-toxic, microbiocidal agent with significant potential for wound disinfection. AIMS To investigate both the effectiveness of anolyte for microbial bioburden reduction in debrided ulcer tissues and the population of resident S. aureus. METHODS Fifty-one debrided tissues from 30 people with type II diabetes were aliquoted by wet weight and immersed in 1 or 10 ml volumes of anolyte (200 parts per million) or saline for three min. Microbial loads recovered were determined in colony forming units/g (CFU/g) of tissue following aerobic, anaerobic and staphylococcal-selective culture. Bacterial species were identified and 50 S. aureus isolates from 30 tissues underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS). FINDINGS The ulcers were predominantly superficial, lacking signs of infection (39/51, 76.5%). Of the 42/51 saline-treated tissues yielding ≥105 CFU/g, a microbial threshold reported to impede wound-healing, only 4/42 (9.5%) were clinically-diagnosed DFUIs. Microbial loads from anolyte-treated tissues were significantly lower than saline-treated tissues using 1 ml (1065-fold, 2.0 log) and 10 ml (8216-fold, 2.1 log) immersion volumes (p<0.0005). Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant species recovered (44/51, 86.3%) and 50 isolates underwent WGS. All were meticillin-susceptible and comprised 12 sequence types (STs), predominantly ST1, ST5 and ST15. Whole-genome multilocus sequence typing identified three clusters of closely related isolates from 10 patients indicating inter-patient transmission. CONCLUSIONS Short immersions of debrided ulcer tissue in anolyte significantly reduced microbial bioburden: a potential novel DFUI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Grealy
- Microbiology Research Unit, Division of Oral Biosciences, Dublin Dental University Hospital, The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Pauline Wilson
- Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Corey Gillen
- Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Éilish Duffy
- Microbiology Research Unit, Division of Oral Biosciences, Dublin Dental University Hospital, The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marie-Louise Healy
- Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Blánaid Daly
- Division of Public and Child Dental Health, Dublin Dental University Hospital, The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ioannis Polyzois
- Division of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Maria Van Harten
- Division of Public and Child Dental Health, Dublin Dental University Hospital, The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alison Dougall
- Division of Public and Child Dental Health, Dublin Dental University Hospital, The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gráinne I Brennan
- National MRSA Reference Laboratory, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David C Coleman
- Microbiology Research Unit, Division of Oral Biosciences, Dublin Dental University Hospital, The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Brenda A McManus
- Microbiology Research Unit, Division of Oral Biosciences, Dublin Dental University Hospital, The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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Matijević T, Talapko J, Meštrović T, Matijević M, Erić S, Erić I, Škrlec I. Understanding the multifaceted etiopathogenesis of foot complications in individuals with diabetes. World J Clin Cases 2023; 11:1669-1683. [PMID: 36970006 PMCID: PMC10037285 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i8.1669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus, a chronic disease of metabolism, is characterized by a disordered production or cellular utilization of insulin. Diabetic foot disease, which comprises the spectrum of infection, ulceration, and gangrene, is one of the most severe complications of diabetes and is the most common cause of hospitalization in diabetic patients. The aim of this study is to provide an evidence-based overview of diabetic foot complications. Due to neuropathy, diabetic foot infections can occur in the form of ulcers and minor skin lesions. In patients with diabetic foot ulcers, ischemia and infection are the main causes of non-healing ulcers and amputations. Hyperglycemia compromises the immune system of individuals with diabetes, leading to persistent inflammation and delayed wound healing. In addition, the treatment of diabetic foot infections is challenging due to difficulty in accurate identification of pathogenic microorganisms and the widespread issue of antimicrobial resistance. As a further complicating factor, the warning signs and symptoms of diabetic foot problems can easily be overlooked. Issues associated with diabetic foot complications include peripheral arterial disease and osteomyelitis; accordingly, the risk of these complications in people with diabetes should be assessed annually. Although antimicrobial agents represent the mainstay of treatment for diabetic foot infections, if peripheral arterial disease is present, revascularization should be considered to prevent limb amputation. A multidisciplinary approach to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetic patients, including those with foot ulcers, is of the utmost importance to reduce the cost of treatment and avoid major adverse consequences such as amputation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Matijević
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Center Osijek, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Jasminka Talapko
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Tomislav Meštrović
- University Centre Varaždin, University North, Varaždin 42000, Croatia
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and the Department for Health Metrics Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Marijan Matijević
- Department of Surgery, National Memorial Hospital Vukovar, Vukovar 32000, Croatia
| | - Suzana Erić
- Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek 31000, Croatia
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Ivan Erić
- Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek 31000, Croatia
- Department of Surgery, Osijek University Hospital Centre, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Ivana Škrlec
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek 31000, Croatia
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