The ability of many bacteria to adhere to surfaces and to form biofilms has major implications in a variety of industries including the food industry, where biofilms create a persistent source of ...contamination. The formation of a biofilm is determined not only by the nature of the attachment surface, but also by the characteristics of the bacterial cell and by environmental factors. This review focuses on the features of the bacterial cell surface such as flagella, surface appendages and polysaccharides that play a role in this process, in particular for bacteria linked to food-processing environments. In addition, some aspects of the attachment surface, biofilm control and eradication will be highlighted.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Various cell surface molecules and structures have been implicated in biofilm formation in
Escherichia coli. This review presents an overview of the occurrence, production and interaction of these ...components, their influence at one or more developmental stages of biofilm formation, and their potential role as virulence factors in pathogenic
E. coli strains.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Four Cupriavidus metallidurans and eight Ralstonia pickettii isolates from the space industry and the International Space Station (ISS) were characterized in detail. Nine of the 12 isolates were able ...to form a biofilm on plastics and all were resistant to several antibiotics. R. pickettii isolates from the surface of the Mars Orbiter prior to flight were 2.5 times more resistant to UV-C 254nm radiation compared to the R. pickettii type strain. All isolates showed moderate to high tolerance against at least seven different metal ions. They were tolerant to medium to high silver concentrations (0.5—4 μM), which are higher than the ionic silver disinfectant concentrations measured regularly in the drinking water aboard the ISS. Furthermore, all isolates survived a 23-month exposure to 2 μM AgNO 3 in drinking water. These resistance properties are putatively encoded by their endogenous megaplasmids. This study demonstrated that extreme resistance is not required to withstand the disinfection and sterilization procedures implemented in the ISS and space industry. All isolates acquired moderate to high tolerance against several stressors and can grow in oligotrophic conditions, enabling them to persist in these environments.
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BFBNIB, EMUNI, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, SBMB, SBNM, UL, UM, UPUK
Over-the-counter intra-vaginal lactic-acid containing douches are marketed as vaginal hygiene products that support optimal vaginal pH balance. We report the effect of a commercially available douche ...(Etos®) on the vaginal microbiota (VM) in a prospective study.
Twenty-five healthy women were recruited through advertisements in 2015-2017 (ethical approval: METC-2014_413) and followed over three menstrual cycles. The participants had a median age of 24 years IQR: 22-29, were mostly Dutch-Caucasian (88%), and 60% used combined oral contraceptives. All participants douched three times a week during the second cycle, starting on the first day of that cycle. Participants completed a questionnaire at baseline, kept a daily diary to report douching, menses, and sexual activity, self-collected vaginal swabs every other day during the first and third cycle and daily during the second cycle, and measured vaginal pH mid-cycle. A median of 44 vaginal swabs inter-quartile range (IQR): 41-50 were assessed per participant by 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 region) sequencing and a Candida albicans PCR was done at four time-points. At baseline, 21 participants (84%) had Lactobacillus-dominated VM (Lactobacillus crispatus (n = 14), L. iners (n = 6), or diverse Lactobacillus species (n = 1) and 4 participants (16%) had VM consisting of diverse anaerobes. In multinomial logistic regression models, a trend towards increased odds were observed for having diverse anaerobic VM in the second and third cycle, compared to the first cycle, after adjusting for menses odds ratio (OR) = 1.4 (95% CI: 0.9-2.1) and OR = 1.7 (95% CI: 0.9-3.1), respectively (p = 0.376). Douching did not affect vaginal pH. Menses increased the odds for having VM consisting of diverse anaerobes almost two-fold (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.0-2.8), while douching during menses increased the odds 2.6 fold (OR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.0-6.5), compared to not menstruating (p = 0.099). Participants were more likely to test positive for C. albicans after cycle 2, compared to cycle 1 OR = 3.0 (95% CI: 1.2-7.2); p = 0.017.
The Etos® douche did not significantly affect the vaginal pH or VM composition, although increased odds for having diverse anaerobic VM was observed, especially when douching during menses. Furthermore, douching may promote C. albicans infections.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Vaginal microbiota composition is associated with spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), depending on ethnicity. Host-microbiota interactions are thought to play an important underlying role in this ...association between ethnicity, vaginal microbiota and sPTB.
In a prospective cohort of nulliparous pregnant women, we assessed vaginal microbiota composition, vaginal immunoglobulins (Igs), and local inflammatory markers. We performed a nested case-control study with 19 sPTB cases, matched based on ethnicity and midwifery practice to 19 term controls.
Of the 294 included participants, 23 pregnancies ended in sPTB. We demonstrated that Lactobacillus iners-dominated microbiota, diverse microbiota, and ethnicity were all independently associated with sPTB. Microbial Ig coating was associated with both microbiota composition and ethnicity, but a direct association with sPTB was lacking. Microbial IgA and IgG coating were lowest in diverse microbiota, especially in women of any ethnic minority. When correcting for microbiota composition, increased microbial Ig coating correlated with increased inflammation.
In these nulliparous pregnant women, vaginal microbiota composition is strongly associated with sPTB. Our results support that vaginal mucosal Igs might play a pivotal role in microbiota composition, microbiota-related inflammation, and vaginal community disparity within and between ethnicities. This study provides insight in host-microbe interaction, suggesting that vaginal mucosal Igs play an immunomodulatory role similar to that in the intestinal tract. Video Abstract.
Current international guidelines lack definite conclusions regarding repeat stool sampling for the detection of toxigenic
Clostridium difficile
. We assessed the value of repeat sampling and compared ...the diagnostic yield in an epidemic to a non-epidemic setting. Consecutive fecal samples obtained during two time frames were analyzed using direct stool immunoassay toxin testing (enzyme immunoassay EIA), direct stool real-time PCR toxin gene testing, and toxigenic culture. Samples collected within 7 days of the initial sample were considered repeat tests. In the epidemic setting 989 patients were analyzed, and in the non-epidemic setting 1,015. In the epidemic setting 204 patients had two or more specimens included for analysis and in the non-epidemic setting 287 patients. In the epidemic setting 136 samples yielded a positive results, either by EIA or toxigenic culture; of these, 108 were positive according to EIA and 123 according to toxigenic culture. In the first test round 98 (90.7 %, 95 % CI 85.3 to 96.2), 114 (92.7 %, 88.1 to 97.3), and 126 (92.6 %, 88.3 to 97.0) positives were detected. Subsequent test rounds yielded 10 (9.3 %, 3.8 to 14.7), 9 (7.3 %, 2.7 to 11.9), and 10 (7.4 %, 3.0 to 11.7) extra positives. In the non-epidemic setting EIA, toxigenic culture and PCR detected 33, 66, and 83 positives. The three tests combined 93 detected positives. In the first test round 30 (90.9 %, 81.1 to 100.7), 63 (95.5 %, 90.4 to 110.5), 76 (91.6 %, 85.6 to 97.5), and 87 (93.5 %, 88.6 to 98.5) positives were detected. Subsequent test rounds yielded 3 (9.1 %, −0.7 to 18.9), 3 (4.5 %, −0.5 to 9.6), 7 (8.4 %, 2.5 to 14.4), and 6 (6.5 %, 1.5 to 11.4) extra positives. In conclusion, repeat testing resulted in 4.5 % to 9.3 % extra positives. No significant difference between the settings studied could be demonstrated. Repeat sampling and multimodality testing may be chosen in an outbreak situation to detect all cases, effectively controlling nosocomial spread.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Summary In the Netherlands, the number of notified human Q fever cases showed a steep increase over the last three years and is not expected to disappear in the next few years. Since vaccination ...might be an option to prevent Q fever cases in the general population, evidence is needed about its effectiveness. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to determine the evidence base for effectiveness for Q fever vaccination in human populations. We calculated Mantel-Haenszel risk ratios and we used the following formula to calculate the vaccines effectiveness: (1 − mhRR) × 100%. Although individual and the pooled estimates showed a high effectiveness of Q fever vaccine, conclusions for the general population cannot be confidently drawn about vaccine effectiveness due to potential flaws in the design of the studies and the selected group of study participants.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
In the Netherlands the incidence of cervical cancer is higher among ethnic minority populations compared with the general Dutch population. We investigated the prevalence of, and risk factors ...associated with, vaginal high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection in women of six different ethnicities living in Amsterdam.
For this cross-sectional study we selected women aged 18-34 years old of six ethnicities from the large-scale multiethnic HEalthy LIfe in an Urban Setting study. Self-collected vaginal swabs were tested for HPV DNA and genotyped using a highly sensitive PCR and reverse line blot assay (short PCR fragment (SPF)10-PCR DNA enzyme immunoassay/LiPA25-system version-1, delft diagnostic laboratory (DDL)). Participants completed a questionnaire regarding demographics and sexual behaviour. Logistic regression using generalised estimating equations was used to assess risk factors of hrHPV, and to investigate whether prevalence of hrHPV differed among ethnicities.
The study population consisted of 592 women with a median age of 27 (IQR: 23-31) years. Dutch and African Surinamese women reported the highest sexual risk behaviour. HrHPV prevalence was highest in the Dutch (40%) followed by the African Surinamese (32%), Turkish (29%), Ghanaian (26%), Moroccan (26%) and South-Asian Surinamese (18%). When correcting for sexual risk behaviour, the odds to be hrHPV-positive were similar for all non-Dutch groups when compared with that of the Dutch group.
We found an overall higher hrHPV prevalence and higher sexual risk behaviour in the native Dutch population. Further research is needed to unravel the complex problem concerning cervical cancer disparities, such as differences in participation in the cervical cancer screening programme, or differences in clearance and persistence of hrHPV.
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