Effective Identification of Ochrobactrum anthropi Isolated from Clinical Specimens

Fine Particulate Matter Perturbs the Pulmonary Microbiota in Broiler Chickens

(1) Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) seriously affects the respiratory tract health of both animals and humans. Growing evidence indicates that the pulmonary microbiota is involved in the development of respiratory tract health; however, there is still much that is unknown about the specific changes of pulmonary microbiota caused by PM2.5 in broilers. (2) In this experiment, a total of 48 broilers were randomly divided into a control group and PM-exposure group. The experiment lasted for 21 days. Microbiota, inflammation biomarkers, and histological markers in the lungs were determined. (3) On the last day of the experiment, PM significantly disrupted the structure of lung tissue and induced chronic pulmonary inflammation by increasing IL-6, TNFα, and IFNγ expression and decreasing IL-10 expression. PM exposure significantly altered the α and β diversity of pulmonary microbiota. At the phylum level, PM exposure significantly decreased the Firmicutes abundance and increased the abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. At the genus level, PM exposure significantly increased the abundance of Rhodococcus, Achromobacter, Pseudomonas, and Ochrobactrum. We also observed positive associations of the above altered genera with lung TNFα and IFNγ expression. (4) The results suggest that PM perturbs the pulmonary microbiota and induces chronic inflammation, and the pulmonary microbiota possibly contributes to the development of lung inflammation.

The Genus Ochrobactrum as Major Opportunistic Pathogens

Ochrobactrum species are non-enteric, Gram-negative organisms that are closely related to the genus Brucella. Since the designation of the genus in 1988, several distinct species have now been characterised and implicated as opportunistic pathogens in multiple outbreaks. Here, we examine the genus, its members, diagnostic tools used for identification, data from recent Ochrobactrum whole genome sequencing and the pathogenicity associated with reported Ochrobactrum infections. This review identified 128 instances of Ochrobactrum spp. infections that have been discussed in the literature. These findings indicate that infection review programs should consider investigation of possible Ochrobactrum spp. outbreaks if these bacteria are clinically isolated in more than one patient and that Ochrobactrum spp. are more important pathogens than previously thought.