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Rinaldi E, Drenkhahn C, Gebel B, Saleh K, Tönnies H, von Loewenich FD, Thoma N, Baier C, Boeker M, Hinske LC, Diaz LAP, Behnke M, Ingenerf J, Thun S. Author Correction: Towards interoperability in infection control: a standard data model for microbiology. Sci Data 2023; 10:919. [PMID: 38123586 PMCID: PMC10733418 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02853-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Rinaldi
- Berlin Institute of Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Cora Drenkhahn
- Institute of Medical Informatics (IMI), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Benjamin Gebel
- Klinik für Infektiologie und Mikrobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Kutaiba Saleh
- Data Integration Center, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | | | | | - Norbert Thoma
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claas Baier
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | - Luis Alberto Peña Diaz
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Behnke
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josef Ingenerf
- Institute of Medical Informatics (IMI), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sylvia Thun
- Berlin Institute of Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
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Kruppenbacher AS, Müller E, Aardema ML, Schäfer I, von Loewenich FD. Granulocytic anaplasmosis in cats from central Europe and molecular characterization of feline Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by ankA gene, groEL gene and multilocus sequence typing. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:348. [PMID: 37803346 PMCID: PMC10557162 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05954-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes. It is transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex and causes febrile illness called granulocytic anaplasmosis primarily in humans, horses, dogs, sheep, cattle and goats. In comparison, clinically apparent disease has been described rarely in cats especially compared to dogs and horses. It is currently unknown whether cats are less susceptible to A. phagocytophilum or whether granulocytic anaplasmosis might be underdiagnosed in cats. METHODS To address this question, we examined clinical signs and laboratory findings in seven A. phagocytophilum infected cats from Germany and Switzerland. We then genetically characterized feline A. phagocytophilum strains and compared them to those from other hosts showing clinically apparent disease. For this purpose, ankA-based, groEL-based and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were applied. Furthermore, the concordance between these typing methods was assessed. RESULTS Fever, lethargy and anorexia were the most common clinical signs in cats suffering from granulocytic anaplasmosis. The most frequent laboratory finding was thrombocytopenia. All three typing methods consistently indicated that the A. phagocytophilum strains found infecting cats are the same as those that cause disease in humans, dogs and horses. In general, the three typing methods applied exhibited high concordance. CONCLUSIONS The genetic characterization of the feline A. phagocytophilum strains indicates that strain divergence is not the explanation for the fact that granulocytic anaplasmosis is much less frequently diagnosed in cats than in dogs and horses. Otherwise, it may be possible that cats are less susceptible to the same strains than dogs and horse are. However, due to the unspecific clinical signs, it should be considered that granulocytic anaplasmosis may be under-diagnosed in cats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Matthew L. Aardema
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ USA
- Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY USA
| | - Ingo Schäfer
- LABOKLIN GmbH and Co. KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany
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Rinaldi E, Drenkhahn C, Gebel B, Saleh K, Tönnies H, von Loewenich FD, Thoma N, Baier C, Boeker M, Hinske LC, Diaz LAP, Behnke M, Ingenerf J, Thun S. Towards interoperability in infection control: a standard data model for microbiology. Sci Data 2023; 10:654. [PMID: 37741862 PMCID: PMC10517923 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02560-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear: sharing and exchanging data among research institutions is crucial in order to efficiently respond to global health threats. This can be facilitated by defining health data models based on interoperability standards. In Germany, a national effort is in progress to create common data models using international healthcare IT standards. In this context, collaborative work on a data set module for microbiology is of particular importance as the WHO has declared antimicrobial resistance one of the top global public health threats that humanity is facing. In this article, we describe how we developed a common model for microbiology data in an interdisciplinary collaborative effort and how we make use of the standard HL7 FHIR and terminologies such as SNOMED CT or LOINC to ensure syntactic and semantic interoperability. The use of international healthcare standards qualifies our data model to be adopted beyond the environment where it was first developed and used at an international level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Rinaldi
- Berlin Institute of Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Cora Drenkhahn
- Institute of Medical Informatics (IMI), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Benjamin Gebel
- Klinik für Infektiologie und Mikrobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Kutaiba Saleh
- Data Integration Center, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | | | | | - Norbert Thoma
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claas Baier
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | - Luis Alberto Peña Diaz
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Behnke
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josef Ingenerf
- Institute of Medical Informatics (IMI), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sylvia Thun
- Berlin Institute of Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
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R. Pfrommer L, Schoeps M, Blettner M, Wollschläger D, Herm-Stapelberg N, Mittnacht L, Kachel P, Jahn K, von Loewenich FD, Gianicolo EAL. Self-Reported Reactogenicity After Different COVID-19 Vaccination Regimens. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2022; 119:727-734. [PMID: 35972414 PMCID: PMC9975979 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2022.0298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Rhineland-Palatinate, most COVID-19 vaccinations are centrally registered by the Rhineland-Palatinate Division of Vaccine Documentation, which includes self-reported vaccination reactions (SRVR) and their level of perceived intensity. We analyzed the occurrence of SRVR reported between 12/2020 and 12/2021 in relation to the different vaccination regimens involving BioNTech/Pfizer (BNT) and Moderna (m1273) mRNA vaccines and AstraZeneca (ChAd) and Johnson & Johnson (Ad26) viral vector vaccines. METHODS Using sex-specific logistic regression models, we analyzed the occurrence of all local and systemic SRVR, as well as the occurrence of local and systemic SRVR that were self-rated as "severe" by the vaccinated persons, in relation to the vaccine of the first vaccination and the vaccination regimen of the second vaccination (BNT/BNT, ChAd/ChAd, m1273/m1273, ChAd/ BNT, ChAd/m1273). Vaccination with BNT or the BNT/BNT regimen formed the reference category for the estimated odds ratios (OR) with respective 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS Of all those vaccinated, 40.7% provided valid information on SRVR after the first vaccination and 33.8% after the second vaccination. As a result, 887 052 individuals were included in the analyses. Their median age was 60 years, and 58% were women. The most common vaccination regimen was BNT/BNT (67.3%). The most common SRVR were pain at the injection site and fatigue. Self-reported reactogenicity after the first vaccination was lowest for BNT. Self-reported systemic reactogenicity was notably higher after vaccination with a vector vaccine. After the second vaccination, self-reported reactogenicity was lowest after a ChAd/ChAd regimen and highest after an m1273 second vaccination. CONCLUSION With overall acceptable tolerability, differences in self-reported reactogenicity were evident depending on the particular COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination regimens in question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura R. Pfrommer
- Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
| | - Melissa Schoeps
- Division of Vaccine Documentation, Cancer Registry Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainz
| | - Maria Blettner
- Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
| | - Daniel Wollschläger
- Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
| | | | - Lukas Mittnacht
- Division of Vaccine Documentation, Cancer Registry Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainz
| | - Philipp Kachel
- Division of Vaccine Documentation, Cancer Registry Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainz
| | - Klaus Jahn
- Rhineland–Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health, Mainz
| | | | - Emilio A. L. Gianicolo
- Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz,Institute of Clinical Physiology of the Italian National Research Council (IFC-CNR), Lecce, Italy,*Institut für Medizinische Biometrie, Epidemiologie und Informatik Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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Baaity Z, von Loewenich FD, Nagy E, Orosz L, Burián K, Somogyvári F, Sóki J. Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Carbapenem-Heteroresistant Bacteroides fragilis Strains. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11050590. [PMID: 35625234 PMCID: PMC9138018 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11050590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Bacteroides fragilis strains usually emerge by an insertion sequence (IS) jump into the upstream region of the cfiA carbapenemase gene. However, intermediate or fully resistant cfiA-positive strains also exist. These do not have such IS element activations, but usually have heterogeneous resistance (HR) phenotypes, as detected by a disc diffusion or gradient tests. Heteroresistance is a serious antibiotic resistance problem, whose molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. We aim to characterize HR and investigate diagnostic issues in the set of cfiA-positive B. fragilis strains using phenotypic and molecular methods. Of the phenotypic methods used, the population analysis profile (PAP) and area under curve (AUC) measurements were the best prognostic markers for HR. PAP AUC, imipenem agar dilution and imipenemase production corresponded well with each other. We also identified a saturation curve parameter (quasi-PAP curves), which correlated well with these phenotypic traits, implying that HR is a stochastic process. The genes, on a previously defined ‘cfiA element’, act in a complex manner to produce the HR phenotype, including a lysine-acetylating toxin and a lysine-rich peptide. Furthermore, imipenem HR is triggered by imipenem. The two parameters that most correlate with the others are imipenemase production and ‘GNAT’ expression, which prompted us to suspect that carbapenem heteroresistance of the B. fragilis strains is stochastically regulated and is mediated by the altered imipenemase production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zain Baaity
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Centre and School of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary; (Z.B.); (E.N.); (L.O.); (K.B.); (F.S.)
| | | | - Elisabeth Nagy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Centre and School of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary; (Z.B.); (E.N.); (L.O.); (K.B.); (F.S.)
| | - László Orosz
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Centre and School of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary; (Z.B.); (E.N.); (L.O.); (K.B.); (F.S.)
| | - Katalin Burián
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Centre and School of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary; (Z.B.); (E.N.); (L.O.); (K.B.); (F.S.)
| | - Ferenc Somogyvári
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Centre and School of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary; (Z.B.); (E.N.); (L.O.); (K.B.); (F.S.)
| | - József Sóki
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Centre and School of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary; (Z.B.); (E.N.); (L.O.); (K.B.); (F.S.)
- Correspondence: author:
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Vaca DJ, Dobler G, Fischer SF, Keller C, Konrad M, von Loewenich FD, Orenga S, Sapre SU, van Belkum A, Kempf VAJ. Contemporary diagnostics for medically relevant fastidious microorganisms belonging to the genera Anaplasma, Bartonella, Coxiella, Orientia, and Rickettsia. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6530194. [PMID: 35175353 PMCID: PMC9300619 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Many of the human infectious pathogens—especially the zoonotic or vector-borne bacteria—are fastidious organisms that are difficult to cultivate because of their strong adaption to the infected host culminating in their near-complete physiological dependence on this environment. These bacterial species exhibit reduced multiplication rates once they are removed from their optimal ecological niche. This fact complicates the laboratory diagnosis of the disease and hinders the detection and further characterization of the underlying organisms, e.g. at the level of their resistance to antibiotics due to their slow growth. Here, we describe the current state of microbiological diagnostics for five genera of human pathogens with a fastidious laboratory lifestyle. For Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Orientia spp. and Rickettsia spp., we will summarize the existing diagnostic protocols, the specific limitations for implementation of novel diagnostic approaches and the need for further optimization or expansion of the diagnostic armamentarium. We will reflect upon the diagnostic opportunities provided by new technologies including mass spectrometry and next-generation nucleic acid sequencing. Finally, we will review the (im)possibilities of rapidly developing new in vitro diagnostic tools for diseases of which the causative agents are fastidiously growing and therefore hard to detect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana J Vaca
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Department of Virology and Rickettsiology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Germany
| | - Silke F Fischer
- National Consulting Laboratory for Coxiella burnetii, State Health Office Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | | | - Maik Konrad
- National Consulting Laboratory for Coxiella burnetii, State Health Office Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Volkhard A J Kempf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany
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Müller-Heupt LK, Vierengel N, Groß J, Opatz T, Deschner J, von Loewenich FD. Antimicrobial Activity of Eucalyptus globulus, Azadirachta indica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Rheum palmatum Extracts and Rhein against Porphyromonas gingivalis. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020186. [PMID: 35203789 PMCID: PMC8868162 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel plant-derived antimicrobials are of interest in dentistry, especially in the treatment of periodontitis, since the use of established substances is associated with side effects and concerns of antimicrobial resistance have been raised. Thus, the present study was performed to quantify the antimicrobial efficacy of crude plant extracts against Porphyromonas gingivalis, a pathogen associated with periodontitis. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Eucalyptus globulus leaf, Azadirachta indica leaf, Glycyrrhiza glabra root and Rheum palmatum root extracts were determined by broth microdilution for P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 according to CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute). The MICs for the E. globulus, A. indica and G. glabra extracts ranged from 64 mg/L to 1024 mg/L. The lowest MIC was determined for an ethanolic R. palmatum extract with 4 mg/L. The MIC for the anthraquinone rhein was also measured, as the antimicrobial activity of P. palmatum root extracts can be partially traced back to rhein. Rhein showed a remarkably low MIC of 0.125 mg/L. However, the major compounds of the R. palmatum root extract were not further separated and purified. In conclusion, R. palmatum root extracts should be further studied for the treatment of periodontitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Katharina Müller-Heupt
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, D-55131 Mainz, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Nina Vierengel
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10–14, D-55128 Mainz, Germany; (N.V.); (J.G.); (T.O.)
| | - Jonathan Groß
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10–14, D-55128 Mainz, Germany; (N.V.); (J.G.); (T.O.)
| | - Till Opatz
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10–14, D-55128 Mainz, Germany; (N.V.); (J.G.); (T.O.)
| | - James Deschner
- Department of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University Medical Center Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, D-55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Friederike D. von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstr. 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany;
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Müller BJ, Westheider A, Birkner K, Seelig B, Kirschnek S, Bogdan C, von Loewenich FD. Anaplasma phagocytophilum Induces TLR- and MyD88-Dependent Signaling in In Vitro Generated Murine Neutrophils. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:627630. [PMID: 33747981 PMCID: PMC7970703 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.627630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-transmitted obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium that replicates in neutrophils. It elicits febrile disease in humans and in animals. In a mouse model, elimination of A. phagocytophilum required CD4+ T cells, but was independent of IFN-γ and other classical antibacterial effector mechanisms. Further, mice deficient for immune recognition and signaling via Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4 or MyD88 were unimpaired in pathogen control. In contrast, animals lacking adaptor molecules of Nod-like receptors (NLR) such as RIP2 or ASC showed delayed clearance of A. phagocytophilum. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of further pattern recognition receptor (PRR) pathways to the control of A. phagocytophilum in vivo. Mice deficient for the NLR NOD2 had elevated bacterial loads in the early phase of infection, but were unimpaired in pathogen elimination. In contrast, animals lacking adaptor proteins of different C-type lectin receptors (CLR) such as DAP12, Fc-receptor γ-chain (FcRγ) and SYK controlled A. phagocytophilum as efficiently as wild-type mice. Further, we investigated which PRR pathways are involved in the sensing of A. phagocytophilum by in vitro generated Hoxb8 murine neutrophils. In vitro, recognition of A. phagocytophilum by murine neutrophils was dependent on TLR- and MyD88 signaling. However, it remained intact in the absence of the NLR NOD1, NOD2 and NALP3 and of the CLR adaptor molecules DAP12 and FcRγ. From these results, we conclude that TLR rather than NLR or CLR are critical for the detection of A. phagocytophilum by neutrophils although in vivo defective TLR-signaling is compensated probably because of the redundancy of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate J Müller
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Arne Westheider
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Birkner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Birte Seelig
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Kirschnek
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christian Bogdan
- Mikrobiologisches Institut-Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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9
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Langenwalder DB, Schmidt S, Gilli U, Pantchev N, Ganter M, Silaghi C, Aardema ML, von Loewenich FD. Corrigendum to "Genetic characterization of Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains from goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) by 16S rRNA gene, ankA gene and multilocus sequence typing" [Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 10 (2019) 101267]. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101640. [PMID: 33451970 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Denis B Langenwalder
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, Mainz, D-55131, Germany
| | - Sabine Schmidt
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, Mainz, D-55131, Germany
| | - Urs Gilli
- IDEXX Diavet, Schlyffistrasse 10, Bäch, CH-8806, Switzerland
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestrasse 28/3, Ludwigsburg, D-71636, Germany
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, Hannover, D-30173, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, Greifswald - Insel Riems, D-17493, Germany
| | - Matthew L Aardema
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA; Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Friederike D von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, Mainz, D-55131, Germany.
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Langenwalder DB, Schmidt S, Silaghi C, Skuballa J, Pantchev N, Matei IA, Mihalca AD, Gilli U, Zajkowska J, Ganter M, Hoffman T, Salaneck E, Petrovec M, von Loewenich FD. Correction to: The absence of the drhm gene is not a marker for human-pathogenicity in European Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:497. [PMID: 32998772 PMCID: PMC7526212 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04350-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Langenwalder DB, Schmidt S, Silaghi C, Skuballa J, Pantchev N, Matei IA, Mihalca AD, Gilli U, Zajkowska J, Ganter M, Hoffman T, Salaneck E, Petrovec M, von Loewenich FD. The absence of the drhm gene is not a marker for human-pathogenicity in European Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:238. [PMID: 32381072 PMCID: PMC7206706 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04116-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes. It is transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex and causes febrile illness in humans and animals. The geographical distribution of A. phagocytophilum spans the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. However, human disease predominantly occurs in North America but is infrequently reported from Europe and Asia. In North American strains, the absence of the drhm gene has been proposed as marker for pathogenicity in humans whereas no information on the presence or absence of the drhm gene was available for A. phagocytophilum strains circulating in Europe. Therefore, we tested 511 European and 21 North American strains for the presence of drhm and compared the results to two other typing methods: multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and ankA-based typing. RESULTS Altogether, 99% (478/484) of the analyzable European and 19% (4/21) of the North American samples from different hosts were drhm-positive. Regarding the strains from human granulocytic anaplasmosis cases, 100% (35/35) of European origin were drhm-positive and 100% (14/14) of North American origin were drhm-negative. Human strains from North America and Europe were both part of MLST cluster 1. North American strains from humans belonged to ankA gene clusters 11 and 12 whereas European strains from humans were found in ankA gene cluster 1. However, the North American ankA gene clusters 11 and 12 were highly identical at the nucleotide level to the European cluster 1 with 97.4% and 95.2% of identity, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The absence of the drhm gene in A. phagocytophilum does not seem to be associated with pathogenicity for humans per se, because all 35 European strains of human origin were drhm-positive. The epidemiological differences between North America and Europe concerning the incidence of human A. phagocytophilum infection are not explained by strain divergence based on MLST and ankA gene-based typing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis B Langenwalder
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sabine Schmidt
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jasmin Skuballa
- Chemical and Veterinary Investigations Office Karlsruhe (CVUA Karlsruhe), Weissenburgerstrasse 3, 76187, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestrasse 28/3, 71636, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Ioana A Matei
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Manastur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei D Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Manastur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Urs Gilli
- IDEXX Diavet AG, Schlyffistrasse 10, 8806, Bäch, Switzerland
| | - Joanna Zajkowska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Białystok, ul.Żurawia 14, 15-345, Białystok, Poland
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tove Hoffman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (IMBIM), Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erik Salaneck
- Department of Medical Sciences, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Miroslav Petrovec
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Friederike D von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
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12
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Langenwalder DB, Silaghi C, Nieder M, Pfeffer M, von Loewenich FD. Co-infection, reinfection and superinfection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains in a cattle herd based on ankA gene and multilocus sequence typing. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:157. [PMID: 32228658 PMCID: PMC7106686 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04032-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes. It is transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex and causes febrile illness in humans and animals. We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and ankA gene-based typing to study the molecular epidemiology of the A. phagocytophilum strains circulating in a German cattle herd over one pasture season. The aim was to investigate whether co-infection with two distinct variants, reinfection with the same and/or superinfection by a different strain occurred during one pasture season. Eight genetic loci were sequenced in 47 PCR-positive samples from 15 animals. RESULTS Five different sequence types (ST) and four ankA alleles were detected in the cattle herd. Three different ST caused clinically overt tick-borne fever in primary infected animals. The concordance between ST and ankA allele was 100%. Therefore, the housekeeping genes used for MLST and the highly variable ankA gene were concatenated to increase resolution. Co-infection could be proven because samples of chronologically close collection dates were included. Co-infecting A. phagocytophilum strains differed by 14 to 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Most superinfecting variants varied by 14 SNPs from the previous strain and appeared in median after a free interval of 31 days. Thus, it is unlikely that superinfecting strains arose by in-animal evolution. Immunity against re- or superinfection was assumed because the cattle developed clinical signs only during primary infection. CONCLUSIONS The tick-pathogen-vertebrate host interaction is probably much more complex than previously thought taking into account the frequently occurring events of co-infection, reinfection and superinfection. This complex situation could not be easily simulated in an experimental infection and underlines the value of field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis B. Langenwalder
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Marion Nieder
- Institute for Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute for Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Friederike D. von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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Mukhacheva TA, Shaikhova DR, Kovalev SY, von Loewenich FD. Phylogeographical diversity of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the Asian part of Russia based on multilocus sequence typing and analysis of the ankA gene. Infect Genet Evol 2020; 80:104234. [PMID: 32028054 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-transmitted bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes and elicits febrile disease in humans and animals; it is widely distributed in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. A. phagocytophilum is commonly regarded as a single species, but several genetic variants with distinct host distribution and geographical origin have been described. In a previous study, we used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to characterize 25 A. phagocytophilum strains from Ixodes spp. ticks collected in the Asian part of Russia. The obtained concatenated sequences formed two separate clades reflecting their Asiatic origin and/or the vector species. As one of the clades was related to A. phagocytophilum strains from European voles and shrews, we here extended our analysis to seven samples from the northern red-backed vole Myodes rutilus and included 38 additional strains of Asiatic origin from Ixodes persulcatus, I. pavlovskyi, and their hybrids. Further, the ankA gene was sequenced in 59 A. phagocytophilum strains from ticks and voles. The Russian strains belonged to the two new MLST clusters 5 (38/70) and 6 (32/70), previously referred to as clades within clusters 1 and 3, respectively. The total number of sequence types (STs) found was 27 including 12 new STs. The ankA sequences were unique and formed two new clusters: cluster 8 (34/59) and cluster 10 (25/59). The concordance between MLST and ankA-based typing was 100%. This means that at least two distinct genetic groups of A. phagocytophilum circulate in the Asian Part of Russia whose reservoir hosts and transmission cycles have to be further elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana A Mukhacheva
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biology, Ural Federal University, Lenin Avenue 51, Yekaterinburg 620000, Russia.
| | - Daria R Shaikhova
- Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers, Yekaterinburg, Popova street 30, Yekaterinburg 620014, Russia
| | - Sergey Y Kovalev
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biology, Ural Federal University, Lenin Avenue 51, Yekaterinburg 620000, Russia
| | - Friederike D von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany
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Langenwalder DB, Schmidt S, Gilli U, Pantchev N, Ganter M, Silaghi C, Aardema ML, von Loewenich FD. Genetic characterization of Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains from goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) by 16S rRNA gene, ankA gene and multilocus sequence typing. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:101267. [PMID: 31444126 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes. It is transmitted by ticks and causes tick-borne fever in domestic ruminants such as sheep, cattle and goats. However, in contrast to sheep and cattle little is known about the clinical course of infection in goats. We report here on three cases of symptomatic infection with A. phagocytophilum in two goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and one water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). The animals showed symptoms and laboratory findings similar to sheep and cattle. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the symptomatic infection of water buffalos with A. phagocytophilum. The infecting strains were genetically characterized by 16S rRNA gene, ankA gene and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Four other strains from asymptomatically infected goats were also included. The ankA sequences from five goats were part of the formerly described ankA gene clusters I and IV that are known to contain A. phagocytophilum strains from sheep and cattle. However, the sequences from one goat and from the water buffalo belonged to ankA gene cluster II that was formerly described to be restricted to roe deer. A similar observation was made for MLST as three goats clustered with sequences from sheep and cattle, whereas three other goats and the water buffalo were found to be part of the roe deer cluster. However, since most of the strains from sheep and cattle were distinct from the roe deer strains, roe deer might not represent major reservoir hosts for tick-borne fever in domestic ruminants. When differing parts of the 16S rRNA gene were used for typing the results were conflicting. This shows that the use of a standardized typing method such as MLST is highly desirable to generate easily comparable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis B Langenwalder
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Sabine Schmidt
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Urs Gilli
- IDEXX Diavet, Schlyffistrasse 10, CH-8806 Bäch, Switzerland.
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestrasse 28/3, D-71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany.
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, D-17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Matthew L Aardema
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA; Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA.
| | - Friederike D von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany.
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Henniger T, Henniger P, Grossmann T, Distl O, Ganter M, von Loewenich FD. Correction to: Congenital infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum in a calf in northern Germany. Acta Vet Scand 2019; 61:8. [PMID: 30700321 PMCID: PMC6354423 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-019-0444-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Kerz T, von Loewenich FD, Roberts J, Neulen A, Ringel F. Cerebrospinal fluid penetration of very high-dose meropenem: a case report. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2018; 17:47. [PMID: 30594199 PMCID: PMC6310956 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-018-0299-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Standard dosing of meropenem (2 g t.i.d.) produces CSF concentrations of only 1–2 mg/L which is inferior to the clinical breakpoint for most Gram-negative bacteria. There is therefore concern that dosing must be increased in order to achieve therapeutic CSF concentrations for bacteria with susceptibility close to clinical breakpoints. Yet, the effects of high-dose meropenem on CSF concentrations are not well described in literature. We therefore determined meropenem CSF-levels in a patient who was treated with 15 g/day of meropenem. Case presentation Our patient suffered from a brain trauma and an external ventricular drainage was implanted. Later, a carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii (OXA-23, NDM-1) was isolated from blood cultures and CSF. The MIC for meropenem was > 32 mg/L (R), and we opted for a combination therapy of meropenem, colistin and fosfomycin. Meropenem was given at an unusual high-dose (15 g/day) with the aim of achieving high CSF concentrations. CSF concentrations peaked at 64 mg/L. Yet, the patient succumbed to an intracranial bleed into a preexisting cerebral contusion. Conclusions High-dose meropenem can achieve CSF levels largely superior to those achieved with commonly recommended dosing regimens. Though our patient succumbed to an intracranial bleed which could be regarded as a severe adverse event, we suggest that meropenem dosing can be increased when pathogens with increased MICs are found in the CSF. More in vivo data are however needed to determine the safety of high-dose meropenem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kerz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
| | | | - Jason Roberts
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.,Pharmacy Department, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.,Centre for Translational Anti-infective Pharmacodynamics, School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Axel Neulen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Florian Ringel
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
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17
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Weiss E, Hanzelmann D, Fehlhaber B, Klos A, von Loewenich FD, Liese J, Peschel A, Kretschmer D. Formyl-peptide receptor 2 governs leukocyte influx in local Staphylococcus aureus infections. FASEB J 2017; 32:26-36. [PMID: 28855276 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201700441r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Leukocytes express formyl-peptide receptors (FPRs), which sense microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) molecules, leading to leukocyte chemotaxis and activation. We recently demonstrated that phenol-soluble modulin (PSM) peptides from highly pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus are efficient ligands for the human FPR2. How PSM detection by FPR2 impacts on the course of S. aureus infections has remained unknown. We characterized the specificity of mouse FPR2 (mFpr2) using a receptor-transfected cell line, homeobox b8 (Hoxb8), and primary neutrophils isolated from wild-type (WT) or mFpr2-/- mice. The influx of leukocytes into the peritoneum of WT and mFpr2-/- mice was analyzed. We demonstrate that mFpr2 is specifically activated by PSMs in mice, and they represent the first secreted pathogen-derived ligands for the mFpr2. Intraperitoneal infection with S. aureus led to lower numbers of immigrated leukocytes in mFpr2-/- compared with WT mice at 3 h after infection, and this difference was not observed when mice were infected with an S. aureus PSM mutant. Our data support the hypothesis that the mFpr2 is the functional homolog of the human FPR2 and that a mouse infection model represents a suitable model for analyzing the role of PSMs during infection. PSM recognition by mFpr2 shapes leukocyte influx in local infections, the typical infections caused by S. aureus-Weiss, E., Hanzelmann, D., Fehlhaber, B., Klos, A., von Loewenich, F. D., Liese, J., Peschel, A., Kretschmer, D. Formyl-peptide receptor 2 governs leukocyte influx in local Staphylococcus aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Weiss
- Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dennis Hanzelmann
- Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Beate Fehlhaber
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Klos
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike D von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany; and
| | - Jan Liese
- Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Peschel
- Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dorothee Kretschmer
- Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany;
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18
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Gussmann K, Kirschnek S, von Loewenich FD. Interferon-γ-dependent control of Anaplasma phagocytophilum by murine neutrophil granulocytes. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:329. [PMID: 28697801 PMCID: PMC5506630 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2274-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that is transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. It replicates in neutrophils and elicits febrile disease in humans and animals. Because of its striking tropism for neutrophils, A. phagocytophilum has been used as a model organism to study the immune response against obligate intracellular pathogens. In mice, the control of A. phagocytophilum in the early phase of infection is dependent on natural killer cell-derived interferon-γ (IFN-γ). In contrast, the final elimination strictly requires CD4+ T-cells. It is a matter of debate, whether neutrophils serve only as host cells or as killer cells as well. Results To study this, we used in vitro generated murine neutrophils with defects in major antimicrobial molecules such as NADPH-oxidase (gp91phox−/−), myeloperoxidase (MPO−/−) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS−/−). However, bacterial growth in gene-deficient neutrophils was comparable to that in wild-type cells. Whereas gp91phox and MPO expression remained unchanged, the infection led to an induction of iNOS. In neutrophils stimulated with IFN-γ, bacterial growth was significantly impaired, and iNOS was induced. However, the antibacterial effect of IFN-γ was still seen in iNOS−/− neutrophils. Conclusion Thus, murine in vitro generated neutrophils stimulated with IFN-γ seem to act as killer cells by an iNOS-independent mechanism. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2274-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Gussmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Kirschnek
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Friederike D von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, D-55131, Mainz, Germany.
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Silaghi C, Santos AS, Gomes J, Christova I, Matei IA, Walder G, Domingos A, Bell-Sakyi L, Sprong H, von Loewenich FD, Oteo JA, de la Fuente J, Dumler JS. Guidelines for the Direct Detection of Anaplasma spp. in Diagnosis and Epidemiological Studies. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:12-22. [PMID: 28055579 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.1960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Anaplasma (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) comprises obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria that are mainly transmitted by ticks, and currently includes six species: Anaplasma bovis, Anaplasma centrale, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, and Anaplasma ovis. These have long been known as etiological agents of veterinary diseases that affect domestic and wild animals worldwide. A zoonotic role has been recognized for A. phagocytophilum, but other species can also be pathogenic for humans. Anaplasma infections are usually challenging to diagnose, clinically presenting with nonspecific symptoms that vary greatly depending on the agent involved, the affected host, and other factors such as immune status and coinfections. The substantial economic impact associated with livestock infection and the growing number of human cases along with the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections, determines the need for accurate laboratory tests. Because hosts are usually seronegative in the initial phase of infection and serological cross-reactions with several Anaplasma species are observed after seroconversion, direct tests are the best approach for both case definition and epidemiological studies. Blood samples are routinely used for Anaplasma spp. screening, but in persistently infected animals with intermittent or low-level bacteremia, other tissues might be useful. These guidelines have been developed as a direct outcome of the COST action TD1303 EURNEGVEC ("European Network of Neglected Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases"). They review the direct laboratory tests (microscopy, nucleic acid-based detection and in vitro isolation) currently used for Anaplasma detection in ticks and vertebrates and their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Silaghi
- 1 National Center for Vector Entomology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ana Sofia Santos
- 2 Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge , Águas de Moura, Portugal
| | - Jacinto Gomes
- 3 Animal Health and Production Unit, National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research , Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Iva Christova
- 4 Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ioana Adriana Matei
- 5 Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca , Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gernot Walder
- 6 Department of Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Social Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ana Domingos
- 7 Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa , Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- 8 The Pirbright Institute , Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Hein Sprong
- 9 Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) , Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - José A Oteo
- 11 Infectious Diseases Department, Center of Rickettsioses and Arthropod-Borne Diseases , Hospital San Pedro- CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - José de la Fuente
- 12 SaBio. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain .,13 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University , Stillwater, Oklahoma
| | - J Stephen Dumler
- 14 Departments of Pathology and Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland , School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,15 Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences "America's Medical School," Bethesda, Maryland
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Aardema ML, von Loewenich FD. Varying influences of selection and demography in host-adapted populations of the tick-transmitted bacterium, Anaplasma phagocytophilum. BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:58. [PMID: 25888490 PMCID: PMC4383208 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0335-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The host range of a pathogenic bacterial strain likely influences its effective population size, which in turn affects the efficacy of selection. Transmission between competent hosts may occur more frequently for host generalists than for specialists. This could allow higher bacterial population densities to persist within an ecological community and increase the efficacy of selection in these populations. Conversely, specialist strains may be better adapted to their hosts and consequently achieve greater within-host population densities, with corresponding increases in selection efficacy. To assess these different hypotheses, we examined the effective population sizes of three strains of the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum and categorized the varying roles of selection and demography on patterns of genetic diversity and divergence in these populations. A. phagocytophilum is a tick-transmitted, obligately intracellular pathogen. Strains of A. phagocytophilum display varying degrees of host specialization, making this a good species for exploring questions regarding host range, effective population size and selection efficacy. Results We found that a roe deer specialist harbored the most genetic diversity of the three A. phagocytophilum strains and correspondingly had the largest effective population size. Another strain that is ecologically specialized on rodents and insectivores had the smallest effective population size. However, these mammalian hosts are distantly related evolutionarily. The third strain, a host generalist, was intermediate in its effective population size between the other two strains. Evolutionary constraint on non-synonymous sites was pervasive in all three strains, although some slightly deleterious mutations may also be segregating in these populations. We additionally found evidence of genome-wide selective sweeps in the generalist strain, whereas signals of repeated bottlenecks were detected in the strain with the smallest effective population size. Conclusions A. phagocytophilum is a diverse bacterial species that differs among distinct strains in its effective population size, as well as how genetic diversity and divergence have been influenced by selection and demographic changes. In this species, host specialization may facilitate increased population growth and allow more opportunities for selection to act. These results provide insights into how host range has influenced evolutionary patterns of strain divergence in an emerging zoonotic bacterium. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0335-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Aardema
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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Strašek Smrdel K, von Loewenich FD, Petrovec M, Avšič Županc T. Diversity of ankA and msp4 genes of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Slovenia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 6:164-6. [PMID: 25511457 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Granulocytic anaplasmosis is a tick transmitted emerging disease in Europe and worldwide. The agent, Anaplasma phagocytophilum is transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes and causes infections in humans and domestic animals. The analysis of different target genes showed that in nature several genetic variants of A. phagocytophilum were present. The purpose of our study was to genetically characterize A. phagocytophilum strains from eight humans, 16 dogs, 12 wild boars, one bear and 18 tick pools from Slovenia. Therefore, the ankA and msp4 genes of A. phagocytophilum were chosen. The same genetic ankA and msp4 variant of A. phagocytophilum was detected in humans, wild boar and a part of the pooled ticks indicating that it circulates in a zoonotic cycle between wild boar and ticks. In dogs, three ankA variants of A. phagocytophilum were detected. One of them was identical to the one that was found in humans. In contrast, all dogs harboured the same msp4 variant as humans and wild boar. In ticks, numerous ankA and msp4 variants were present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Strašek Smrdel
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zaloška 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Friederike D von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Medical Centre, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Miroslav Petrovec
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zaloška 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Tatjana Avšič Županc
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zaloška 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Schwab L, Goroncy L, Palaniyandi S, Gautam S, Triantafyllopoulou A, Mocsai A, Reichardt W, Karlsson FJ, Radhakrishnan SV, Hanke K, Schmitt-Graeff A, Freudenberg M, von Loewenich FD, Wolf P, Leonhardt F, Baxan N, Pfeifer D, Schmah O, Schönle A, Martin SF, Mertelsmann R, Duyster J, Finke J, Prinz M, Henneke P, Häcker H, Hildebrandt GC, Häcker G, Zeiser R. Neutrophil granulocytes recruited upon translocation of intestinal bacteria enhance graft-versus-host disease via tissue damage. Nat Med 2014; 20:648-54. [PMID: 24836575 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) considerably limits wider usage of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Antigen-presenting cells and T cells are populations customarily associated with GVHD pathogenesis. Of note, neutrophils are the largest human white blood cell population. The cells cleave chemokines and produce reactive oxygen species, thereby promoting T cell activation. Therefore, during an allogeneic immune response, neutrophils could amplify tissue damage caused by conditioning regimens. We analyzed neutrophil infiltration of the mouse ileum after allo-HCT by in vivo myeloperoxidase imaging and found that infiltration levels were dependent on the local microbial flora and were not detectable under germ-free conditions. Physical or genetic depletion of neutrophils reduced GVHD-related mortality. The contribution of neutrophils to GVHD severity required reactive oxygen species (ROS) because selective Cybb (encoding cytochrome b-245, beta polypeptide, also known as NOX2) deficiency in neutrophils impairing ROS production led to lower levels of tissue damage, GVHD-related mortality and effector phenotype T cells. Enhanced survival of Bcl-xL transgenic neutrophils increased GVHD severity. In contrast, when we transferred neutrophils lacking Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2), TLR3, TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9, which are normally less strongly activated by translocating bacteria, into wild-type C57BL/6 mice, GVHD severity was reduced. In humans, severity of intestinal GVHD strongly correlated with levels of neutrophils present in GVHD lesions. This study describes a new potential role for neutrophils in the pathogenesis of GVHD in both mice and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Schwab
- 1] Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. [2]
| | - Luise Goroncy
- 1] Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. [2] Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany. [3]
| | - Senthilnathan Palaniyandi
- 1] Division of Hematology and Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. [2] Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Utah School of Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. [3]
| | - Sanjivan Gautam
- 1] Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany. [2] Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. [3] Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Attila Mocsai
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University School of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Wilfried Reichardt
- Department of Radiology Medical Physics, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Fridrik J Karlsson
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
| | - Sabarinath V Radhakrishnan
- 1] Division of Hematology and Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. [2] Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Utah School of Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Kathrin Hanke
- 1] Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. [2] Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Annette Schmitt-Graeff
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marina Freudenberg
- 1] Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany. [2] Centre for Biological Signaling Studies BIOSS, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Philipp Wolf
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Leonhardt
- 1] Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. [2] Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nicoleta Baxan
- Department of Radiology Medical Physics, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dietmar Pfeifer
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Schmah
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anne Schönle
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan F Martin
- Allergy Research Group, Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, University Freiburg, Germany
| | - Roland Mertelsmann
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Justus Duyster
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Finke
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Prinz
- 1] Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany. [2] Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Henneke
- 1] Center of Chronic Immunodeficiency, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany. [2] Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hans Häcker
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Gerhard C Hildebrandt
- 1] Division of Hematology and Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. [2] Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of Utah School of Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. [3]
| | - Georg Häcker
- 1] Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. [2] Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany. [3]
| | - Robert Zeiser
- 1] Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. [2] Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany. [3] Centre for Biological Signaling Studies BIOSS, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany. [4]
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Huhn C, Winter C, Wolfsperger T, Wüppenhorst N, Strašek Smrdel K, Skuballa J, Pfäffle M, Petney T, Silaghi C, Dyachenko V, Pantchev N, Straubinger RK, Schaarschmidt-Kiener D, Ganter M, Aardema ML, von Loewenich FD. Analysis of the population structure of Anaplasma phagocytophilum using multilocus sequence typing. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93725. [PMID: 24699849 PMCID: PMC3974813 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophils. It is transmitted via tick-bite and causes febrile disease in humans and animals. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis is regarded as an emerging infectious disease in North America, Europe and Asia. However, although increasingly detected, it is still rare in Europe. Clinically apparent A. phagocytophilum infections in animals are mainly found in horses, dogs, cats, sheep and cattle. Evidence from cross-infection experiments that A. phagocytophilum isolates of distinct host origin are not uniformly infectious for heterologous hosts has led to several approaches of molecular strain characterization. Unfortunately, the results of these studies are not always easily comparable, because different gene regions and fragment lengths were investigated. Multilocus sequence typing is a widely accepted method for molecular characterization of bacteria. We here provide for the first time a universal typing method that is easily transferable between different laboratories. We validated our approach on an unprecedented large data set of almost 400 A. phagocytophilum strains from humans and animals mostly from Europe. The typability was 74% (284/383). One major clonal complex containing 177 strains was detected. However, 54% (49/90) of the sequence types were not part of a clonal complex indicating that the population structure of A. phagocytophilum is probably semiclonal. All strains from humans, dogs and horses from Europe belonged to the same clonal complex. As canine and equine granulocytic anaplasmosis occurs frequently in Europe, human granulocytic anaplasmosis is likely to be underdiagnosed in Europe. Further, wild boars and hedgehogs may serve as reservoir hosts of the disease in humans and domestic animals in Europe, because their strains belonged to the same clonal complex. In contrast, as they were only distantly related, roe deer, voles and shrews are unlikely to harbor A. phagocytophilum strains infectious for humans, domestic or farm animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Huhn
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christina Winter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Timo Wolfsperger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Wüppenhorst
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katja Strašek Smrdel
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jasmin Skuballa
- Department of Ecology and Parasitology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Miriam Pfäffle
- Department of Ecology and Parasitology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Trevor Petney
- Department of Ecology and Parasitology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Viktor Dyachenko
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Reinhard K. Straubinger
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Matthew L. Aardema
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
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Härtwig V, von Loewenich FD, Schulze C, Straubinger RK, Daugschies A, Dyachenko V. Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) from Brandenburg, Germany. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:277-80. [PMID: 24512760 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Revised: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular and tick-transmitted bacterium, which causes granulocytic anaplasmosis in animals and humans. Although infection with A. phagocytophilum in domestic animals and vector ticks is documented, there is sparse information on the occurrence of A. phagocytophilum in wild animals. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) as well as raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) are wildlife species highly abundant in certain areas of Germany and represent a potential wildlife reservoir for zoonotic diseases. To obtain data about the occurrence of A. phagocytophilum in these animals, red fox and raccoon dog carcasses (hunted or found dead) were collected from January to September 2009 in the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany. Lung tissue samples were subjected to DNA extraction and were examined for the presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA by means of real-time PCR. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in 10 out of 122 (8.2%) lungs of red foxes and in 3 out of 13 (23%) lungs of raccoon dogs. To the best of our knowledge, A. phagocytophilum was detected for the first time in red foxes and raccoon dogs in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Härtwig
- Institute of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Reinhard K Straubinger
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Department for Veterinary Science, Faculty for Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Arwid Daugschies
- Institute of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | - Viktor Dyachenko
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Department for Veterinary Science, Faculty for Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany.
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Majazki J, Wüppenhorst N, Hartelt K, Birtles R, von Loewenich FD. Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains from voles and shrews exhibit specific ankA gene sequences. BMC Vet Res 2013; 9:235. [PMID: 24283328 PMCID: PMC4220824 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative bacterium that replicates obligate intracellularly in neutrophils. It is transmitted by Ixodes spp. ticks and causes acute febrile disease in humans, dogs, horses, cats, and livestock. Because A. phagocytophilum is not transmitted transovarially in Ixodes spp., it is thought to depend on reservoir hosts to complete its life cycle. In Europe, A. phagocytophilum was detected in roe deer, red deer, wild boars, and small mammals. In contrast to roe deer, red deer and wild boars have been considered as reservoir hosts for granulocytic anaplasmosis in humans, dogs, and horses according to groESL- and ankA-based genotyping. A. phagocytophilum variants infecting small mammals in Europe have not been characterized extensively to date. Results We amplified the total ankA open reading frames of 27 strains from voles and shrews. The analysis revealed that they harboured A. phagocytophilum strains that belonged to a distinct newly described ankA gene cluster. Further, we provide evidence that the heterogeneity of ankA gene sequences might have arisen via recombination. Conclusions Based on ankA-based genotyping voles and shrews are unlikely reservoir hosts for granulocytic anaplasmosis in humans, dogs, horses, and livestock in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Majazki
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, Freiburg D-79104, Germany.
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Henniger T, Henniger P, Grossmann T, Distl O, Ganter M, von Loewenich FD. Congenital infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum in a calf in northern Germany. Acta Vet Scand 2013; 55:38. [PMID: 23634938 PMCID: PMC3648351 DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-55-38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative, obligate intracellular tick-transmitted bacterium that replicates in neutrophils. It causes tick-borne fever (TBF) in sheep and cattle, but also elicits febrile disease in humans as well as in other domestic animals such as dogs, horses, and cats. Although increasingly recognized in Europe, the first laboratory-confirmed case of TBF in cattle from Germany has been published only recently. We here present the unusual case of an intrauterine transmission of A. phagocytophilum in a calf from northern Germany. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such an event occurring under field conditions in cattle.
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Esser PR, Wölfle U, Dürr C, von Loewenich FD, Schempp CM, Freudenberg MA, Jakob T, Martin SF. Contact sensitizers induce skin inflammation via ROS production and hyaluronic acid degradation. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41340. [PMID: 22848468 PMCID: PMC3405137 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2012] [Accepted: 06/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) represents a severe health problem with increasing worldwide prevalence. It is a T cell-mediated skin disease induced by protein-reactive organic and inorganic chemicals. A key feature of contact allergens is their ability to trigger an innate immune response that leads to skin inflammation. Previous evidence from the mouse contact hypersensitivity (CHS) model suggests a role for endogenous activators of innate immune signaling. Here, we analyzed the role of contact sensitizer induced ROS production and concomitant changes in hyaluronic acid metabolism on CHS responses. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We analyzed in vitro and in vivo ROS production using fluorescent ROS detection reagents. HA fragmentation was determined by gel electrophoresis. The influence of blocking ROS production and HA degradation by antioxidants, hyaluronidase-inhibitor or p38 MAPK inhibitor was analyzed in the murine CHS model. Here, we demonstrate that organic contact sensitizers induce production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a concomitant breakdown of the extracellular matrix (ECM) component hyaluronic acid (HA) to pro-inflammatory low molecular weight fragments in the skin. Importantly, inhibition of either ROS-mediated or enzymatic HA breakdown prevents sensitization as well as elicitation of CHS. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These data identify an indirect mechanism of contact sensitizer induced innate inflammatory signaling involving the breakdown of the ECM and generation of endogenous danger signals. Our findings suggest a beneficial role for anti-oxidants and hyaluronidase inhibitors in prevention and treatment of ACD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp R. Esser
- Allergy Research Group, Medical Center, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (PRE); (SFM)
| | - Ute Wölfle
- Department of Dermatology, Competence Center Skintegral, Medical Center, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Dürr
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, Medical Center, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Christoph M. Schempp
- Department of Dermatology, Competence Center Skintegral, Medical Center, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Thilo Jakob
- Allergy Research Group, Medical Center, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan F. Martin
- Allergy Research Group, Medical Center, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (PRE); (SFM)
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Birkner K, Steiner B, Rinkler C, Kern Y, Aichele P, Bogdan C, von Loewenich FD. The elimination of Anaplasma phagocytophilum requires CD4+ T cells, but is independent of Th1 cytokines and a wide spectrum of effector mechanisms. Eur J Immunol 2009; 38:3395-410. [PMID: 19039769 DOI: 10.1002/eji.200838615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterium that exhibits a striking tropism for neutrophils. When we depleted mice of neutrophils, we found that murine susceptibility to anaplasmal infection was dependent on their presence. While serving as sites of bacterial replication, neutrophils do not seem to act as efficient killer cells in A. phagocytophilum infection, because mice deficient for antimicrobial effectors of neutrophils such as myeloperoxidase, granulocyte elastase, and cathepsin G were fully competent in pathogen elimination. To identify components of the immune system other than neutrophils that control A. phagocytophilum, we studied the course of infection in several gene-deficient mouse strains. IFN-gamma production by NK cells was important for initial defense, but not critical for pathogen elimination. In contrast, bacterial clearance was strictly dependent on CD4(+) T cells, but unexpectedly achieved in the absence of perforin, Fas/FasL and major Th1 cytokines such as IL-12, IFN-gamma, and MCP-1. These findings provide a novel paradigm for the control of an intracellular pathogen, which appears to be strikingly different from the CD4(+) T cell-, IL-12-, and IFN-gamma-dependent immunity to other intracellular bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Birkner
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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von Loewenich FD, Scorpio DG, Reischl U, Dumler JS, Bogdan C. Correction: Frontline: Control of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, an obligate intracellular pathogen, in the absence of inducible nitric oxide synthase, phagocyte NADPH oxidase, tumor necrosis factor, Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4, or the TLR adaptor mole. Eur J Immunol 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/eji.200990004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Scorpio DG, von Loewenich FD, Göbel H, Bogdan C, Dumler JS. Innate immune response to Anaplasma phagocytophilum contributes to hepatic injury. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2006; 13:806-9. [PMID: 16829620 PMCID: PMC1489578 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00092-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In mice, Anaplasma phagocytophilum control is independent of phagocyte oxidase (phox), inducible NO synthase (NOS2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and MyD88 Toll-like receptor signaling. We show that despite evasion of these host responses, phox, NOS2, TNF, and MyD88 are activated and contribute to inflammation and hepatic injury more than A. phagocytophilum itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana G Scorpio
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 459, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
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de la Fuente J, Massung RF, Wong SJ, Chu FK, Lutz H, Meli M, von Loewenich FD, Grzeszczuk A, Torina A, Caracappa S, Mangold AJ, Naranjo V, Stuen S, Kocan KM. Sequence analysis of the msp4 gene of Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains. J Clin Microbiol 2005; 43:1309-17. [PMID: 15750101 PMCID: PMC1081214 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.43.3.1309-1317.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The causative agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis was recently reclassified as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, unifying previously described bacteria that cause disease in humans, horses, dogs, and ruminants. For the characterization of genetic heterogeneity in this species, the homologue of Anaplasma marginale major surface protein 4 gene (msp4) was identified, and the coding region was PCR amplified and sequenced from a variety of sources, including 50 samples from the United States, Germany, Poland, Norway, Italy, and Switzerland and 4 samples of A. phagocytophilum-like organisms obtained from white-tailed deer in the United States. Sequence variation between strains of A. phagocytophilum (90 to 100% identity at the nucleotide level and 92 to 100% similarity at the protein level) was higher than in A. marginale. Phylogenetic analyses of msp4 sequences did not provide phylogeographic information but did differentiate strains of A. phagocytophilum obtained from ruminants from those obtained from humans, dogs, and horses. The sequence analysis of the recently discovered A. phagocytophilum msp2 gene corroborated these results. The results reported here suggest that although A. phagocytophilum-like organisms from white-tailed deer may be closely related to A. phagocytophilum, they could be more diverse. These results suggest that A. phagocytophilum strains from ruminants could share some common characteristics, including reservoirs and pathogenicity, which may be different from strains that infect humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- José de la Fuente
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
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von Loewenich FD, Scorpio DG, Reischl U, Dumler JS, Bogdan C. Frontline: control of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, an obligate intracellular pathogen, in the absence of inducible nitric oxide synthase, phagocyte NADPH oxidase, tumor necrosis factor, Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4, or the TLR adaptor molecule MyD88. Eur J Immunol 2004; 34:1789-97. [PMID: 15214027 DOI: 10.1002/eji.200425029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium that is related to rickettsial organisms and replicates in the hostile environment of neutrophils. Previous studies with SCID mice suggested that T and/or B cells are required for its control in vivo. Here, we used mice deficient for Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4, MyD88, tumor necrosis factor, inducible nitric oxide synthase, or phagocyte NADPH oxidase (gp91(phox-/-)) to define the pathways that are critical for the recognition and the killing of this pathogen. Whereas SCID mice developed a 60-fold higher bacterial load in the blood compared to wild-type mice and succumbed to infection, all other gene-deficient mouse strains were fully capable in overcoming a systemic infection with A. phagocytophilum. From these data we conclude that effector mechanisms that are crucial to the defense against numerous other intracellular pathogens are dispensable for the control of A. phagocytophilum.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum/immunology
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum/physiology
- Animals
- Antigens, Differentiation/genetics
- Antigens, Differentiation/metabolism
- Ehrlichiosis/enzymology
- Ehrlichiosis/genetics
- Ehrlichiosis/metabolism
- Ehrlichiosis/microbiology
- Membrane Glycoproteins/deficiency
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, SCID
- Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
- NADPH Oxidases/deficiency
- NADPH Oxidases/genetics
- NADPH Oxidases/metabolism
- Nitric Oxide Synthase/deficiency
- Nitric Oxide Synthase/genetics
- Nitric Oxide Synthase/metabolism
- Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
- Receptors, Cell Surface/deficiency
- Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics
- Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism
- Receptors, Immunologic/deficiency
- Receptors, Immunologic/genetics
- Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism
- Toll-Like Receptor 2
- Toll-Like Receptor 4
- Toll-Like Receptors
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/deficiency
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism
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von Loewenich FD, Baumgarten BU, Schröppel K, Geissdörfer W, Röllinghoff M, Bogdan C. High diversity of ankA sequences of Anaplasma phagocytophilum among Ixodes ricinus ticks in Germany. J Clin Microbiol 2004; 41:5033-40. [PMID: 14605135 PMCID: PMC262509 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.41.11.5033-5040.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In Germany humans with acute granulocytic ehrlichiosis have not yet been described. Here, we characterized three different genes of Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains infecting German Ixodes ricinus ticks in order to test whether they differ from strains in other European countries and the United States. A total of 1,022 I. ricinus ticks were investigated for infection with A. phagocytophilum by nested PCR and sequence analysis. Forty-two (4.1%) ticks were infected. For all positive ticks, parts of the 16S rRNA and groESL genes were sequenced. The complete coding sequence of the ankA gene could be determined in 24 samples. The 16S rRNA and groESL gene sequences were as much as 100% identical to known sequences. Fifteen ankA sequences were >/=99.37% identical to sequences derived from humans with granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Europe and from a horse with granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Germany. Thus, German I. ricinus ticks most likely harbor A. phagocytophilum strains that can cause disease in humans. Nine additional sequences were clearly different from known ankA sequences. Because these newly described sequences have never been obtained from diseased humans or animals, their biological significance is currently unknown. Based on this unexpected sequence heterogeneity, we propose to use the ankA gene for further phylogenetic analyses of A. phagocytophilum and to investigate the biology and pathogenicity of strains that differ in the ankA gene.
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