The objective was to explore presence/detection of microorganisms in the male reproductive tract (PMMRT) in asymptomatic patients undergoing infertility treatment and their effects on semen quality ...in our region. This study enrolled 205 men (mean age, 35.9 years) in a single‐centre, tertiary university hospital from December 2015 to December 2016. We used the modified Meares–Stamey test, real‐time polymerase chain reaction (rt‐PCR) and the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Sympton Index (NHI‐CPSI) questionnaire to address this issue. No patient met the prostatitis criteria by the modified Meares–Stamey 4‐sample test, 33 (16.1%) were positive for rt‐PCR in the first‐voided urine for any of the Mycoplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum/parvum, Mycoplasma hominis/genitalium) and C. trachomatis was detected in two cases (1%), and three for rt‐PCR in semen for HPV high‐risk genotypes non‐16/18 (1.5%). Significant statistical differences were reported among patients with and without PMMRT in terms of lower rate of progressive spermatozoa (PR) (p < .034), total motile sperm count (p < .028), normal morphologic forms, especially in the sperm head (p < .001) and highest viscosity (p < .012). It was concluded that PMMRT, specially Mycoplasmas, in asymptomatic infertility men, affects semen quality. The NIH‐CPSI questionnaire was not a valid initial screening to subsequently evaluate the presence of prostatitis/PMMRT.
•Although HBV genotypes A and D are the most prevalent in Spain, we found HBV subgenotype D4 as the predominant variant in Galicia following virological characterization of 320 HBV viremic ...carriers.•Compared to other chronic hepatitis B patients, HBV-D4 carriers tended to be older, HBeAg-negative, more often female, and rarely had cirrhosis, hepatitis C or HIV coinfection.•Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses suggested a strong association with historical migrant exchanges with Latin America, and especially with the Caribbean basin.•HBV subgenotype D4 is the most prevalent HBV variant in chronic hepatitis B patients living in the northwest of Spain, representing 33.4% of all chronic hepatitis B infections. This prevalence of HBV-D4 is among the highest described worldwide.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) comprises 9 genotypes and multiple subgenotypes that depict differences in geographic distribution, clinical outcome and response to antiviral therapy. However, the molecular epidemiology of HBV geno/subgenotypes is globally scarce. In Spain, HBV genotype D seems to be more prevalent in the northwestern regions compared to the rest of the country for unclear reasons.
HBV genotyping was performed using geno2pheno on a S gene fragment amplified from plasma collected from all chronic hepatitis B individuals attended at one reference hospital in Santiago de Compostela, the Galicia's capital town. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses using a fragment of 345 bp were performed in all viremic specimens. To avoid misleading allocation as consequence of short fragment analysis, several bioinformatic controls were used.
A total of 320 individuals with persistent serum HBsAg+ and detectable HBV-DNA were seen between 2000 and 2016 (male 68.4%; median age, 52 years-old; native Spaniards 83.8%). HBV genotype distribution was as follows: A 15.3%; B 1.6%; C 2.5%; D 71.6%; E 3.1%; F 2.2%; G 3.1%; and H 0.6%. HBV genotype D was mostly represented by D4 and D2 subgenotypes (33.4% and 15% of total, respectively). Compared to chronic hepatitis B patients with genotypes B, C, E and G, HBV-D4 carriers tended to be older (54.2% had >50 years-old) and HBeAg-negative (85%). Moreover, 43% were female, 4.7% had cirrhosis, 10.2% hepatitis C and 6.4% HIV coinfection. Phylogenetic analyses could be performed on 82 HBV-D4 specimens; and 79 were confirmed as HBV-D4 using PhyML. Phylogeography using FasTree suggested at least two distinct introductions of HBV-D4 in Galicia, one from the Caribbean and South America, and another from India.
HBV subgenotype D4 is the most prevalent HBV variant in chronic hepatitis B patients living in the northwest of Spain, representing 33.4% (107/320) of all chronic hepatitis B infections. This rate of HBV-D4 is among the highest reported worldwide. Epidemiological and phylogenetic analyses suggest a strong association with historical migrant exchanges with Latin America, and especially with the Caribbean basin.
spp. are found in all environments on Earth due to their extraordinary capacity to survive in the presence of physical and chemical stressors. In this study, we analyzed global gene expression in ...airborne
sp. strain 5-2Ac02 isolated from hospital environment in response to quorum network modulators and found that they induced the expression of genes of the acetoin/butanediol catabolism, volatile compounds shown to mediate interkingdom interactions. Interestingly, the
gene, annotated as a putative transcriptional regulator, was truncated in the downstream regulatory region of the induced acetoin/butanediol cluster in
sp. strain 5-2Ac02, and its functioning as a negative regulator of this cluster integrating quorum signals was confirmed in
ATCC 17978. Moreover, we show that the acetoin catabolism is also induced by light and provide insights into the light transduction mechanism by showing that the photoreceptor BlsA interacts with and antagonizes the functioning of AcoN in
, integrating also a temperature signal. The data support a model in which BlsA interacts with and likely sequesters AcoN at this condition, relieving acetoin catabolic genes from repression, and leading to better growth under blue light. This photoregulation depends on temperature, occurring at 23°C but not at 30°C. BlsA is thus a dual regulator, modulating different transcriptional regulators in the dark but also under blue light, representing thus a novel concept. The overall data show that quorum modulators as well as light regulate the acetoin catabolic cluster, providing a better understanding of environmental as well as clinical bacteria.
•The distribution of HBV genotypes in Spain varies based on age, sex, and origin.•HIV-coinfection, geography and epidemiology also affect HBV genotype distribution.•Our findings are informative to ...work towards to the 2030 elimination goals.
To study the prevalence and distribution of HBV genotypes in Spain for the period 2000–2016.
Retrospective study recruiting 2559 patients from 17 hospitals. Distribution of HBV genotypes, as well as sex, age, geographical origin, mode of transmission, HDV-, HIV- and/or HCV-coinfection, and treatment were recorded.
1924 chronically HBV native Spanish patients have been recruited. Median age was 54 years (IQR: 41–62), 69.6% male, 6.3% HIV-coinfected, 3.1% were HCV-coinfected, 1.7% HDV-co/superinfected. Genotype distribution was: 55.9% D, 33.5% A, 5.6% F, 0.8% G, and 1.9% other genotypes (E, B, H and C). HBV genotype A was closely associated with male sex, sexual transmission, and HIV-coinfection. In contrast, HBV genotype D was associated with female sex and vertical transmission. Different patterns of genotype distribution and diversity were found between different geographical regions. In addition, HBV epidemiological patterns are evolving in Spain, mainly because of immigration. Finally, similar overall rates of treatment success across all HBV genotypes were found.
We present here the most recent data on molecular epidemiology of HBV in Spain (GEHEP010 Study). This study confirms that the HBV genotype distribution in Spain varies based on age, sex, origin, HIV-coinfection, geographical regions and epidemiological groups.
Quorum sensing (QS) is a communication mechanism between bacteria that allows specific processes to be controlled, such as biofilm formation, virulence factor expression, production of secondary ...metabolites and stress adaptation mechanisms such as bacterial competition systems including secretion systems (SS). These SS have an important role in bacterial communication. SS are ubiquitous; they are present in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and in
sp. To date, 8 types of SS have been described (T1SS, T2SS, T3SS, T4SS, T5SS, T6SS, T7SS, and T9SS). They have global functions such as the transport of proteases, lipases, adhesins, heme-binding proteins, and amidases, and specific functions such as the synthesis of proteins in host cells, adaptation to the environment, the secretion of effectors to establish an infectious niche, transfer, absorption and release of DNA, translocation of effector proteins or DNA and autotransporter secretion. All of these functions can contribute to virulence and pathogenesis. In this review, we describe the known types of SS and discuss the ones that have been shown to be regulated by QS. Due to the large amount of information about this topic in some pathogens, we focus mainly on
and
spp.
Several studies have reported greater success of fertilisation by ART in couples who were not infected by Ureaplasma. Increased semen quality and better results have also been observed in couples who ...were treated with antibiotics to eradicate the infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of genital mycoplasmas in urine samples from male partners enrolled in the Assisted Reproduction Program (ARP) in our healthcare area so that, positive cases can be treated prior to the use of ART in order to increase the quality of semen, improve the embryo implantation rates and minimize the risk of adverse effects during pregnancy.
This study included couples enrolled in the ARP during 2016. Mycoplasma detection was made using real-time PCR. In positive cases, both members of the couple were treated with antibiotics until eradication of the microorganism. The antibiotics used were: azithromycin, doxycycline, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and clindamycin.
Of the 205 men studied, 33 were positive: Ureaplasma urealyticum 15.1%, Mycoplasma hominis 3.9%. Eradication treatment with azithromycin failed in 50% compared to 10.2% for doxycycline. Of the 5 cases treated with levofloxacin, only 2 achieved elimination of U. urealyticum.
We consider that genital mycoplasma routine screening could be useful in order to increase the quality of semen which could simplify the in vitro fertilisation procedures and raise the success rate of embryo implantation and pregnancy, especially when fast, sensitive and specific technics as real time PCR are used.
The emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria is jeopardizing the value of antimicrobials, which had previously changed the course of medical science. In this study, we identified ...endolysins ElyA1 and ElyA2 (GH108-PG3 family), present in the genome of bacteriophages Ab1051Φ and Ab1052Φ, respectively. The muralytic activity of these endolysins against MDR clinical isolates (Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae) was tested using the turbidity reduction assay. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of endolysin, colistin and a combination of endolysin and colistin were determined, and the antimicrobial activity of each treatment was confirmed by time kill curves. Endolysin ElyA1 displayed activity against all 25 strains of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa tested and against 13 out of 17 strains of K. pneumoniae. Endolysin ElyA2 did not display any such activity. The combined antimicrobial activity of colistin and ElyA1 yielded a reduction in the colistin MIC for all strains studied, except K. pneumoniae. These results were confirmed in vivo in G. mellonella survival assays and in murine skin and lung infection models. In conclusion, combining colistin (1/4 MIC) with the new endolysin ElyA1 (350 µg) enhanced the bactericidal activity of colistin in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This will potentially enable reduction of the dose of colistin used in clinical practice.
Perinatal stress experienced by mothers of very premature newborns may influence the mother’s milk and the infant’s intestinal microbiota. This prospective study of mothers of very preterm infants ...fed with mother’s own milk (MOM) was carried out in a tertiary hospital over a 2-year period. The assessment of maternal stress in 45 mothers of 52 very preterm newborns using the parental stress scale (PSS:NICU) revealed an inverse relationship between stress and MOM production in the first days of life (p = 0.012). The greatest contributor to stress was the one related to the establishment of a mother–child bond. Maternal stress was lower in mothers in whom the kangaroo method was established early (p = 0.011) and in those with a higher educational level (p = 0.032). Levels of fecal calprotectin (FC) decreased with the passage of days and were directly correlated with birthweight (p = 0.044). FC levels 7 days post-delivery were lower in newborns that received postnatal antibiotics (p = 0.027). High levels of maternal stress resulted in progressive decreases and increases in the proportions of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria species, respectively, over 15 days post-delivery, both in MOM and in fecal samples from premature newborns. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing and appropriately managing maternal stress in neonatal units, given its marked influence on both the microbiota of maternal milk and the intestinal microbiota of premature newborns.
Bacteriophages are important in bacterial ecology and evolution.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is the most prevalent bacterial pathogen in chronic bronchopulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis (CF). In this ...study, we used bioinformatics, microbiological and microscopy techniques to analyze the bacteriophages present in 24
P. aeruginosa
isolates belonging to the international CF clone (ST274-CC274). Interestingly, we detected the presence of five members of the
Inoviridae
family of prophages (Pf1, Pf4, Pf5, Pf6, Pf7), which have previously been observed in
P. aeruginosa
. In addition, we identified a new filamentous prophage, designated Pf8, in the
P. aeruginosa
AUS411.500 isolate belonging to the international CF clone. We detected only one prophage, never previously described, from the family
Siphoviridiae
(with 66 proteins and displaying homology with PHAGE_Pseudo_phi297_NC_016762). This prophage was isolated from the
P. aeruginosa
AUS531 isolate carrying a new gene which is implicated in the phage infection ability, named Bacteriophage Control Infection (
bci
). We characterized the role of the Bci protein in bacteriophage infection and in regulating the host Quorum Sensing (QS) system, motility and biofilm and pyocyanin production in the
P. aeruginosa
isogenic mutant AUS531Δ
bci
isolate. The findings may be relevant for the identification of targets in the development of new strategies to control
P. aeruginosa
infections, particularly in CF patients.
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