1
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Meister TL, Kirchhoff L, Brüggemann Y, Todt D, Steinmann J, Steinmann E. Stability of pathogens on banknotes and coins: A narrative review. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29312. [PMID: 38100621 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
For the prevention of infectious diseases, knowledge about potential transmission routes is essential. Pathogens can be transmitted directly (i.e. respiratory droplets, hand-to-hand contact) or indirectly via contaminated surfaces (fomites). In particular, frequently touched objects/surfaces may serve as transmission vehicles for different clinically relevant bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. Banknotes and coins offer ample surface area and are frequently exchanged between individuals. Consequently, many concerns have been raised in the recent past, that banknotes and coins could serve as vectors for the transmission of disease-causing microorganisms. This review summarizes the latest research on the potential of paper currency and coins to serve as sources of pathogenic viral, bacterial, and fungal agents. In contrast to the current perception of banknotes and coins as important transmission vehicles, current evidence suggests, that banknotes and coins do not pose a particular risk of pathogen infection for the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Luise Meister
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Lisa Kirchhoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yannick Brüggemann
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Joerg Steinmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Infectiology, General Hospital Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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2
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Burot C, Bonin P, Simon G, Casalot L, Rontani JF. Singlet oxygen-induced alteration of bacteria associated with phytodetritus: Effect of irradiance. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:980-988. [PMID: 37578996 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Contrasting irradiation of senescent cells of the diatom Thalassiosira sp. in association with the bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri showed the effect of intensity of irradiance on the transfer of singlet oxygen (1 O2 ) to bacteria attached to phytoplanktonic cells. Under low irradiances, 1 O2 is produced slowly, favors the oxidation of algal unsaturated lipids (photodynamic effect), and limits 1 O2 transfer to attached bacteria. However, high irradiances induce a rapid and intense production of 1 O2 , which diffuses out of the chloroplasts and easily reaches the attached bacteria, where it efficiently oxidizes their unsaturated membrane components. Analysis of numerous sinking particle samples collected in different regions of the Canadian Arctic showed that the photooxidation state of attached bacteria increased from ice-covered areas to open water, in agreement with in vitro results. Photooxidation of bacteria appeared to be particularly intense in sea ice, where the sympagic algae-bacteria association is maintained at relatively high irradiances for long periods of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Burot
- Aix-Marseille University, Université de Toulon, CNRS/INSU/IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), Marseille, France
| | - Patricia Bonin
- Aix-Marseille University, Université de Toulon, CNRS/INSU/IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), Marseille, France
| | - Gwénola Simon
- Aix-Marseille University, Université de Toulon, CNRS/INSU/IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), Marseille, France
| | - Laurie Casalot
- Aix-Marseille University, Université de Toulon, CNRS/INSU/IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), Marseille, France
| | - Jean-François Rontani
- Aix-Marseille University, Université de Toulon, CNRS/INSU/IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), Marseille, France
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3
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Bleichert P, Bütof L, Rückert C, Herzberg M, Francisco R, Morais PV, Grass G, Kalinowski J, Nies DH. Mutant Strains of Escherichia coli and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Obtained by Laboratory Selection To Survive on Metallic Copper Surfaces. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 87:e01788-20. [PMID: 33067196 PMCID: PMC7755237 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01788-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial laboratory evolution was used to produce mutant strains of Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) able to survive on antimicrobial metallic copper surfaces. These mutants were 12- and 60-fold less susceptible to the copper-mediated contact killing process than their respective parent strains. Growth levels of the mutant and its parent in complex growth medium were similar. Tolerance to copper ions of the mutants was unchanged. The mutant phenotype remained stable over about 250 generations under nonstress conditions. The mutants and their respective parental strains accumulated copper released from the metallic surfaces to similar extents. Nevertheless, only the parental strains succumbed to copper stress when challenged on metallic copper surfaces, suffering complete destruction of the cell structure. Whole-genome sequencing and global transcriptome analysis were used to decipher the genetic alterations in the mutant strains; however, these results did not explain the copper-tolerance phenotypes on the systemic level. Instead, the mutants shared features with those of stressed bacterial subpopulations entering the early or "shallow" persister state. In contrast to the canonical persister state, however, the ability to survive on solid copper surfaces was adopted by the majority of the mutant strain population. This indicated that application of solid copper surfaces in hospitals and elsewhere has to be accompanied by strict cleaning regimens to keep the copper surfaces active and prevent evolution of tolerant mutant strains.IMPORTANCE Microbes are rapidly killed on solid copper surfaces by contact killing. Copper surfaces thus have an important role to play in preventing the spread of nosocomial infections. Bacteria adapt to challenging natural and clinical environments through evolutionary processes, for instance, by acquisition of beneficial spontaneous mutations. We wish to address the question of whether mutants can be selected that have evolved to survive contact killing on solid copper surfaces. We isolated such mutants from Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by artificial laboratory evolution. The ability to survive on solid copper surfaces was a stable phenotype of the mutant population and not restricted to a small subpopulation. As a consequence, standard operation procedures with strict hygienic measures are extremely important to prevent the emergence and spread of copper-surface-tolerant persister-like bacterial strains if copper surfaces are to be sustainably used to limit the spread of pathogenic bacteria, e.g., to curb nosocomial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucy Bütof
- Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Molecular Microbiology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Martin Herzberg
- Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Molecular Microbiology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Romeu Francisco
- CEMMPRE-Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paula V Morais
- CEMMPRE-Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Gregor Grass
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Jörn Kalinowski
- Bielefeld University, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Dietrich H Nies
- Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Molecular Microbiology, Halle (Saale), Germany
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4
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Martínez A, Di Cesare A, Mari-Mena N, García-Gómez G, Garcia-Herrero A, Corno G, Fontaneto D, Eckert EM. Tossed 'good luck' coins as vectors for anthropogenic pollution into aquatic environment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 259:113800. [PMID: 31887589 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Superstition has it that tossing coins into wells or fountains brings good luck, thereby causing a potential accumulation of microbially contaminated metal particles in the water. Here, we characterized the microbiota and the resistance profile in biofilm on such coins and their surrounding sediments. The study site was a tidal marine lake within a touristic center located in a natural reserve area. Notwithstanding the fact that coin-related biofilms were dominated by typical marine taxa, coin biofilms had specific microbial communities that were different from the communities of the surrounding sediment. Moreover, the communities were different depending on whether the coin were made mainly of steel or of copper. Sequences affiliated with putative pathogens were found on every third coin but were not found in the surrounding sediment. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were detected on most of the coins, and interestingly, sediments close to the area where coins accumulate had a higher frequency of ARGs. We suggest that the surface of the coins might offer a niche for ARGs and faecal bacteria to survive, and, thus, tossed coins are a potential source and vector for ARGs into the surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Martínez
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Cesare
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Neus Mari-Mena
- AllGenetics & Biology SL. Edificio CICA, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Guillermo García-Gómez
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy; School of Environment Sciences Earth, Ocean & Ecology Sciences Department, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Alvaro Garcia-Herrero
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Gianluca Corno
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Diego Fontaneto
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy
| | - Ester M Eckert
- MEG - Molecular Ecology Group, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRSA), Verbania, Italy.
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de Carvalho CCCR, Caramujo MJ. The Various Roles of Fatty Acids. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23102583. [PMID: 30304860 PMCID: PMC6222795 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23102583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 306] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipids comprise a large group of chemically heterogeneous compounds. The majority have fatty acids (FA) as part of their structure, making these compounds suitable tools to examine processes raging from cellular to macroscopic levels of organization. Among the multiple roles of FA, they have structural functions as constituents of phospholipids which are the "building blocks" of cell membranes; as part of neutral lipids FA serve as storage materials in cells; and FA derivatives are involved in cell signalling. Studies on FA and their metabolism are important in numerous research fields, including biology, bacteriology, ecology, human nutrition and health. Specific FA and their ratios in cellular membranes may be used as biomarkers to enable the identification of organisms, to study adaptation of bacterial cells to toxic compounds and environmental conditions and to disclose food web connections. In this review, we discuss the various roles of FA in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and highlight the application of FA analysis to elucidate ecological mechanisms. We briefly describe FA synthesis; analyse the role of FA as modulators of cell membrane properties and FA ability to store and supply energy to cells; and inspect the role of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and the suitability of using FA as biomarkers of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla C C R de Carvalho
- Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Maria José Caramujo
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Edifício C2-5º Piso, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
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6
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Characterization of Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Sudanese Banknotes and Determination of Their Resistance Profile. Int J Microbiol 2018; 2018:4375164. [PMID: 30344610 PMCID: PMC6174782 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4375164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Banknotes are one of the most exchangeable items in communities and always subject to contamination by pathogenic bacteria and hence could serve as vehicle for transmission of infectious diseases. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of contamination by pathogenic bacteria in Sudanese banknotes, determine the susceptibility of the isolated organisms towards commonly used antibiotics, and detect some antibiotic resistance genes. Methods This study was carried out using 135 samples of Sudanese banknotes of five different denominations (2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 Sudanese pounds), which were collected randomly from hospitals, food sellers, and transporters in all three districts of Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman. Bacterial prevalence was determined using culture-based techniques, and their sensitivity patterns were determined using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Genotypic identification was carried out using PCR and 16S rDNA sequencing. Antibiotic resistance genes of some isolates were detected using PCR technique. Results All Sudanese banknotes were found to be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae was found to be the most frequent isolate (23%), whereas Bacillus mycoides (15%) was the most abundant Gram-positive isolate. There was a significant relationship between the number of isolates and the banknote denomination with p value <0.05 (the lower denomination showed higher contamination level). Our study has isolated bacteria that are resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins. Multidrug-resistant strains harboring resistant genes (mecA, blaCTX-M, and blaTEM) were also detected. Conclusion All studied Sudanese banknotes were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains, and may play a significant role in the transmission of bacterial infections.
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Martina P, Leguizamon M, Prieto CI, Sousa SA, Montanaro P, Draghi WO, Stämmler M, Bettiol M, de Carvalho CCCR, Palau J, Figoli C, Alvarez F, Benetti S, Lejona S, Vescina C, Ferreras J, Lasch P, Lagares A, Zorreguieta A, Leitão JH, Yantorno OM, Bosch A. Burkholderia puraquae sp. nov., a novel species of the Burkholderia cepacia complex isolated from hospital settings and agricultural soils. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2017; 68:14-20. [PMID: 29095137 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.002293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria from the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) are capable of causing severe infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). These opportunistic pathogens are also widely distributed in natural and man-made environments. After a 12-year epidemiological surveillance involving Bcc bacteria from respiratory secretions of Argentinean patients with CF and from hospital settings, we found six isolates of the Bcc with a concatenated species-specific allele sequence that differed by more than 3 % from those of the Bcc with validly published names. According to the multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), these isolates clustered with the agricultural soil strain, Burkholderia sp. PBP 78, which was already deposited in the PubMLST database. The isolates were examined using a polyphasic approach, which included 16S rRNA, recA, Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), DNA base composition, average nucleotide identities (ANIs), fatty acid profiles, and biochemical characterizations. The results of the present study demonstrate that the seven isolates represent a single novel species within the Bcc, for which the name Burkholderia puraquae sp. nov. is proposed. Burkholderia puraquae sp. nov. CAMPA 1040T (=LMG 29660T=DSM 103137T) was designated the type strain of the novel species, which can be differentiated from other species of the Bcc mainly from recA gene sequence analysis, MLSA, ANIb, MALDI-TOF MS analysis, and some biochemical tests, including the ability to grow at 42 °C, aesculin hydrolysis, and lysine decarboxylase and β-galactosidase activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Martina
- CINDEFI, CONICET-CCT La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Present address: IBS, CONICET-CCT Nordeste, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Mariana Leguizamon
- CINDEFI, CONICET-CCT La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudia I Prieto
- CINDEFI, CONICET-CCT La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia A Sousa
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Walter O Draghi
- Fundación Instituto Leloir and IIBA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Buenos aires, Argentina.,IBBM, CONICET-CCT La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maren Stämmler
- Proteomics and Spectroscopy Unit (ZBS6) at the Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marisa Bettiol
- Sala de Microbiología, Hospital de Niños «Sor María Ludovica», La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla C C R de Carvalho
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Juliana Palau
- Sala de Microbiología, Hospital de Niños «Sor María Ludovica», La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Figoli
- CINDEFI, CONICET-CCT La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florencia Alvarez
- IBBM, CONICET-CCT La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvina Benetti
- Laboratorio Cemar D. S. L. A. C, Municipalidad de Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Sergio Lejona
- Laboratorio Cemar D. S. L. A. C, Municipalidad de Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Vescina
- Sala de Microbiología, Hospital de Niños «Sor María Ludovica», La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julián Ferreras
- IBS, CONICET-CCT Nordeste, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Peter Lasch
- Proteomics and Spectroscopy Unit (ZBS6) at the Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antonio Lagares
- IBBM, CONICET-CCT La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Angeles Zorreguieta
- Fundación Instituto Leloir and IIBA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Buenos aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge H Leitão
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Osvaldo M Yantorno
- CINDEFI, CONICET-CCT La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra Bosch
- CINDEFI, CONICET-CCT La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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8
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Using Biotechnology to Solve Engineering Problems: Non-Destructive Testing of Microfabrication Components. MATERIALS 2017; 10:ma10070788. [PMID: 28773149 PMCID: PMC5551831 DOI: 10.3390/ma10070788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In an increasingly miniaturised technological world, non-destructive testing (NDT) methodologies able to detect defects at the micro scale are necessary to prevent failures. Although several existing methods allow the detection of defects at that scale, their application may be hindered by the small size of the samples to examine. In this study, the application of bacterial cells to help the detection of fissures, cracks, and voids on the surface of metals is proposed. The application of magnetic and electric fields after deposition of the cells ensured the distribution of the cells over the entire surfaces and helped the penetration of the cells inside the defects. The use of fluorophores to stain the cells allowed their visualisation and the identification of the defects. Furthermore, the size and zeta potential of the cells and their production of siderophores and biosurfactants could be influenced to detect smaller defects. Micro and nano surface defects made in aluminium, steel, and copper alloys could be readily identified by two Staphylococcus strains and Rhodococcus erythropolis cells.
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9
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Santos R, Costa C, Mil-Homens D, Romão D, de Carvalho CCCR, Pais P, Mira NP, Fialho AM, Teixeira MC. The multidrug resistance transporters CgTpo1_1 and CgTpo1_2 play a role in virulence and biofilm formation in the human pathogen Candida glabrata. Cell Microbiol 2017; 19. [PMID: 27780306 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms of persistence and virulence associated with Candida glabrata infections are poorly understood, limiting the ability to fight this fungal pathogen. In this study, the multidrug resistance transporters CgTpo1_1 and CgTpo1_2 are shown to play a role in C. glabrata virulence. The survival of the infection model Galleria mellonella, infected with C. glabrata, was found to increase upon the deletion of either CgTPO1_1 or CgTPO1_2. The underlying mechanisms were further explored. In the case of CgTpo1_1, this phenotype was found to be consistent with the observation that it confers resistance to antimicrobial peptides (AMP), such as the human AMP histatin-5. The deletion of CgTPO1_2, on the other hand, was found to limit the survival of C. glabrata cells when exposed to phagocytosis and impair biofilm formation. Interestingly, CgTPO1_2 expression was found to be up-regulated during biofilm formation, but and its deletion leads to a decreased expression of adhesin-encoding genes during biofilm formation, which is consistent with a role in biofilm formation. CgTPO1_2 expression was further seen to decrease plasma membrane potential and affect ergosterol and fatty acid content. Altogether, CgTpo1_1 and CgTpo1_2 appear to play an important role in the virulence of C. glabrata infections, being at the cross-road between multidrug resistance and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Santos
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Biological Sciences Research Group, IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Catarina Costa
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Biological Sciences Research Group, IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Dalila Mil-Homens
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Biological Sciences Research Group, IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniela Romão
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Biological Sciences Research Group, IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carla C C R de Carvalho
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Biological Sciences Research Group, IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro Pais
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Biological Sciences Research Group, IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nuno P Mira
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Biological Sciences Research Group, IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Arsénio M Fialho
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Biological Sciences Research Group, IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Miguel C Teixeira
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Biological Sciences Research Group, IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
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10
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Liu S, Zhang XX. Small colony variants are more susceptible to copper-mediated contact killing for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. J Med Microbiol 2016; 65:1143-1151. [DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sha Liu
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
| | - Xue-Xian Zhang
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
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11
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de Carvalho CCCR, Caramujo MJ. Fatty acids as a tool to understand microbial diversity and their role in food webs of Mediterranean temporary ponds. Molecules 2014; 19:5570-98. [PMID: 24786844 PMCID: PMC6271346 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19055570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Revised: 04/27/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporary Mediterranean ponds are complex ecosystems which support a high diversity of organisms that include heterotrophic microorganisms, algae, crustaceans, amphibians and higher plants, and have the potential to supply food and a resting place to migratory birds. The role of heterotrophs at the base of the food web in providing energy to the higher trophic levels was studied in temporary ponds in Central and Southern Portugal. The relative quantification of the hetero and autotrophic biomass at the base of the food web in each pond was derived from the polar fatty acid (PLFA) composition of seston through the application of the matrix factorization program CHEMTAX that used specific PLFA and their relative proportion as markers for e.g., classes of bacteria, algae and fungi. The species composition of the culturable microbial communities was identified through their fatty acid profiles. The biomass in the lower trophic level of some ponds presented an even proportion of auto to heterotrophic organisms whilst either bacteria or algae dominated in others. In a selected subset of ponds, the incorporation of bacterial fatty acids was observed to occur in potentially herbivorous zooplankton crustacean. Zooplankton consumed and incorporated bacterial fatty acids into their body tissues, including into their phospholipids, which indicates that energy of heterotrophic origin contributes to the aquatic food webs of temporary ponds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla C C R de Carvalho
- IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre for Biological and Chemical Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, Lisbon 1049-001, Portugal.
| | - Maria-José Caramujo
- Centre for Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande C2, Lisbon 1749-016, Portugal.
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