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Staphylococcus aureus, a prevalent human pathogen and a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, is increasingly evolving antibiotic-resistant strains, increasing mortality and morbidity rates. Anti-staphylococcal vaccine research for prevention and treatment has become a priority. Antibodies against specific S. aureus components, toxins, and polysaccharides have demonstrated encouraging results in animal studies regarding protection against colonization or infection. However, human immunization trials have yielded less optimistic outcomes, with no anti-staphylococcal having passed clinical trials up to now. Although multiple formulation attempts triggered strong antibody responses, the vaccines could not effectively prevent S. aureus infections. This article delves into the results of immunotherapeutic strategies against S. aureus in both animal and human studies, discussing the feasibility of adequate immunization approaches against S. aureus in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is a serious and, in some unfortunate cases, fatal disease caused by a parasite of the Plasmodium genus. It predominantly occurs in tropical areas where it is transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. The pathogenesis of malaria is complex and incompletely elucidated. During blood-stage infection, in response to the presence of the parasite, the host's immune system produces proinflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, and TNF, cytokines which play a pivotal role in controlling the growth of the parasite and its elimination. Regulatory cytokines such as transforming growth factor- (TGF-) β and IL-10 maintain the balance between the proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses. However, in many cases, cytokines have a double role. On the one hand, they contribute to parasitic clearance, and on the other, they are responsible for pathological changes encountered in malaria. Cytokine-modulating strategies may represent a promising modern approach in disease management. In this review, we discuss the host immune response in malaria, analyzing the latest studies on the roles of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute diarrheal disease remains a major public health issue. Salmonella spp. infection is one of the leading causes of acute diarrheal disease despite the preventive measures implemented. The clinical picture of salmonellosis varies from a common gastroenteritis to enteric fevers which are life-threatening diseases requiring a prompt and correct antibiotic treatment. In this review we present recent salmonellosis outbreaks and point out that Salmonella infections continue to be an important health issue. Numerous outbreaks of Salmonella spp. have been reported worldwide in recent years, indicating that prevention and control programs need to be improved as well as the infectious diseases surveillance, all over the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural medicines and in specially herbs spices and extracts for treatment of various diseases were the first medicines used from immemorial times. In treatment of fungal infection the traditional medicine provide a lot of possible extracts from plants with proved effects to cure superficial infections. This work reviews shortly the main remedies from alternative medicine used in different traditional and modern medicine from all over the world and new researches on the efficiency of the old methods of treatment against Candida infections. One of the targets of this paper is to describe the most interesting and active plant extracts in order to be use as alternatives to chemical antifungal products, in treatments against Candida species infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most important public health challanges all over the world. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that almost one third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Early diagnosis, an adequate therapy, and preventions measures of disease spread are essential for an efficient control of TB. Problems that arise are related to the clinical management and prevention of dissemination of the disease in the general population. In terms of diagnosis, of great importance is the early detection of M. tuberculosis and the detection of susceptibility to antituberculous drugs in the mycobacteriology laboratory. The advent of new and modern methods of molecular diagnosis has considerable shortened the time in which the bacteriological diagnosis and susceptibility tests to antituberculous drugs are established. Such a test is GenoTypeMDRTBplus. Studying the 234 pathological prelevates positive to microscopy from the period October - December 2013, we have revealed that 161 strains were sensitive to rifampicin and isoniazid, and 54 strains were resistant. Others results of the study will be presented in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis of chronic wounds (CW) involves a multifaceted interplay of biochemical, immunological, hematological, and microbiological interactions. Biofilm development is a significant virulence trait which enhances microbial survival and pathogenicity and has various implications on the development and management of CW. Biofilms induce a prolonged suboptimal inflammation in the wound microenvironment, associated with delayed healing. The composition of wound fluid (WF) adds more complexity to the subject, with proven pro-inflammatory properties and an intricate crosstalk among cytokines, chemokines, microRNAs, proteases, growth factors, and ECM components. One approach to achieve information on the mechanisms of disease progression and therapeutic response is the use of multiple high-throughput 'OMIC' modalities (genomic, proteomic, lipidomic, metabolomic assays), facilitating the discovery of potential biomarkers for wound healing, which may represent a breakthrough in this field and a major help in addressing delayed wound healing. In this review article, we aim to summarize the current progress achieved in host–microbiome crosstalk in the spectrum of CW healing and highlight future innovative strategies to boost the host immune response against infections, focusing on the interaction between pathogens and their hosts (for instance, by harnessing microorganisms like probiotics), which may serve as the prospective advancement of vaccines and treatments against infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obiective. Acest studiu și-a propus să efectueze o revizuire sistematică a literaturii existente pentru a evalua efectele COVID-19 la femeile însărcinate și la nou-născuții acestora, estimând, în același timp, posibilitatea transmiterii verticale. Materiale şi metode. Am efectuat o cercetare sistematică a literaturii folosind Pubmed și Google Scholar, acoperind perioada decembrie 2019-noiembrie 2020. Revizuirea a fost efectuată în conformitate cu ghidurile PRISMA. Rezultate. Am inclus 16 studii - recenzii sistematice și metaanalize publicate între mai 2020 și noiembrie 2020 - care s-au concentrat pe rezultatele perinatale ale femeilor însărcinate cu COVID-19 și 7 prezentări de cazuri ale nou-născuților cu transmitere verticală a COVID-19. În general, rata cazurilor de COVID-19 la nou-născuții din mame COVID-19 pozitive a fost de 3% cu CI 95% [1,86, 4,24]). Rata nașterii premature a fost de 16,4%, cu CI 95% [10,5, 22,3], iar rata mortalității și a deceselor fetale a fost de 1,4% (11 studii, 0 până la 4,8%). Dintre cei 7 nou-născuți cu transmitere verticală dovedită, majoritatea s-au născut prematuri, cu greutate bună la naștere și scor APGAR, iar manifestările clinice au fost heterogene; 4 au dezvoltat simptome severe. Evoluțiile atât pentru mamă, cât și pentru nou-născuţi au fost bune în 85% dintre cazuri. Concluzii. În ceea ce privește rata prematurității și rata mortalității la femeile cu COVID-19, rezultatul este similar cu populația generală. Transmiterea verticală este posibilă și pare să aibă loc în aproximativ 3% dintre cazuri. Prognosticul matern și perinatal este favorabil, iar prezentarea clinică a transmiterii în uter a SARS-CoV-2 la nou-născuți este heterogenă. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study aimed to perform a systematic review of existing literature to assess the outcomes of pregnancy in women with COVID-19 infection and their newborns while estimating the possibility of vertical transmission. Materials and methods. We conducted a systematic literature research using Pubmed and Google Scholar covering the period from December 2019 to 20th of November 2020. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Outcomes. We included 16 studies - systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between May 2020 and November 2020 - which focused on perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 and 7 case reports of neonates with congenital transmission of COVID-19. Overall, the rate of COVID-19 cases in neonates of COVID-19 positive mothers was 3% with 95% CI [1.86, 4.24]). The preterm birth rate was 16.4% with 95% CI [10.5, 22.3] and the rate of stillbirths and foetal deaths was 1.4% (11 studies, 0 to 4.8%). From the 7 newborns with proved vertical transmission, majority were born preterm, with good birth weight and APGAR score and heterogenous symptoms; 4 developed severe symptoms. Overall progress and evolution for both mother and newborn was good. Conclusions. COVID-19 impact on pregnancy outcome is similar to general population in regard to preterm rate and stillbirth rate. Vertical transmission is possible and it seems to occur in about 3% of cases. Overall maternal and perinatal outcome is favourable and clinical presentation of in utero transmission of SARSCoV-2 in newborns is heterogenous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health organization in early March 2020. The disease typically presents with viral respiratory symptoms that could progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Emerging evidence suggests different possible dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19, including: acral lesions (pernio-like, pseudo-chillblain), vesicular eruptions, macular and papular exanthema, urticaria, livedoid, purpuric and petechial rashes. However, specific skin manifestations of the COVID-19 disease have not yet been clearly established and the relationship between the appearance of skin lesions and SARS-CoV-2 infection is still unclear. These highly variable skin changes could represent a direct consequence of the viral infection, an immunological response to viral nucleotides, adverse reactions to drugs frequently used for the treatment of COVID-19, or other disorders. In a global effort to comprehend the exact cutaneous features of COVID-19, several international dermatological societies have initiated nationwide studies to analyze COVID-19 cutaneous manifestations during this pandemic. This paper represents a literature review of the scientific data available on the clinical characteristics and symptoms of the cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19. Such findings are extremely useful in establishing if dermatological manifestations in COVID-19 patients could harbor a diagnostic significance and subsequently be used as prognostic factors for outcomes of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic echinococcosis is an often-overlooked condition that otherwise negatively impacts both the individual and the community, prompting major public health concerns. Early diagnosis and treatment, as well as collaboration between specialties including surgery and parasitology, are essential for avoiding complications and disease relapse. To better illustrate this, we present the case of an elderly person with a rare localization of the disease at the muscular level. The patient underwent numerous surgical interventions, and received multiple courses of antiparasitic treatment over the course of 40 years as a result of the multivisceral dissemination of the parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of the pilosebaceous unit. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial and involves the overlap between four main processes: alteration of the keratinization, increased sebum production, colonization with Cutibacterium acnes, and inflammation. The role of oxidative stress (OS) has been intensively studied in inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, or atopic dermatitis. However, the involvement of OS in the pathogenesis of acne is less known. The evidence accumulated over the last decade suggests that in the case of acne patients, there is an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. In this review, we analyzed studies that evaluated markers of OS in patients with acne, published in the last ten years, with the aim of providing new insights into the pathogenesis of acne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Romania is one of the European countries reporting very high antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rates and consumption of antimicrobials. We aimed to characterize the AMR profiles and clonality of 304 multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) strains isolated during two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) from hospital settings, hospital collecting sewage tanks and the receiving wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in the main geographical regions of Romania. Methods: The strains were isolated on chromogenic media and identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and confirmation of ESBL- and CP- producing phenotypes and genotypes were performed. The genetic characterization also included horizontal gene transfer experiments, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), assembling, annotation and characterization. Results: Both clinical and aquatic isolates exhibited high MDR rates, especially the Ab strains isolated from nosocomial infections and hospital effluents. The phenotypic resistance profiles and MDR rates have largely varied by sampling point and geographic location. The highest MDR rates in the aquatic isolates were recorded in Galați WWTP, followed by Bucharest. The Ab strains harbored mostly blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaSHV, blaTEM and blaGES, while Pa strains blaIMP, blaVIM, blaNDM, blaVEB, blaGES and blaTEM, with high variations depending on the geographical zone and the sampling point. The WGS analysis revealed the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to other antibiotic classes, such as aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, sulphonamides, fosfomycin, phenicols, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole as well as class 1 integrons. The molecular analyses highlighted: (i) The presence of epidemic clones such as ST2 for Ab and ST233 and ST357 for Pa; (ii) The relatedness between clinical and hospital wastewater strains and (iii) The possible dissemination of clinical Ab belonging to ST2 (also proved in the conjugation assays for blaOXA-23 or blaOXA-72 genes), ST79 and ST492 and of Pa strains belonging to ST357, ST640 and ST621 in the wastewaters. Conclusion: Our study reveals the presence of CP-producing Ab and Pa in all sampling points and the clonal dissemination of clinical Ab ST2 strains in the wastewaters. The prevalent clones were correlated with the presence of class 1 integrons, suggesting that these isolates could be a significant reservoir of ARGs, being able to persist in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic infections represent an important burden on the healthcare system and have a significant impact on the patients' quality of life. While Staphylococcus spp. are commensal bacteria, they can become pathogenic, leading to various types of infections. In this study we aimed to characterize the virulence profiles of staphylococcal strains involved in difficult-to-treat skin and soft tissue infections, from both phenotypic and genotypic points of view. Phenotypic ability of the strains to secrete soluble virulence factors was assessed by a culturing dependent assay and their capacity to develop biofilms on inert substrate was screened by an adapted crystal violet microtiter method. We also tested the presence of several virulence genes by PCR. Most of the studied strains were isolated from purulent secretions of acne lesions and frequently secreted two or three soluble virulence factors. Most frequently secreted soluble virulence factors were caseinase (89%), lipase (71%) and lecithinase (67%). Almost half of the strains produced a well-represented biofilm. The molecular characterization showed the presence of the genes cna, hlg, clfA, and clfB. Staphylococcal strains that produce difficult-to-treat skin and soft tissue infections seem to be characterized by an enhanced ability to produce different soluble virulence factors and to develop biofilms in vitro. Further studies need to be developed in other Staphylococcus spp. infections in order to confirm this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study aims the characterization of antibiotic resistance phenotypes and encoding genes in bacterial strains isolated from some Romanian aquatic fishery lowland salted lakes. Material/Methods: This study was conducted on 44 bacterial strains, mainly belonging to species used as microbiological indicators of fecal pollution isolated from four natural fishery lakes. All strains were tested for their antibiotic susceptibility by disk diffusion method. Simplex and multiplex PCR were performed to identify the β-lactams antibiotic resistance genes (blaNMD, blaOXA−48, blaVIM, blaIMP, blaCTX−M, blaTEM), sulfonamides (Sul1, Sul2), tetracyclines (TetA, TetB, TetC, TetD, TetM), aminoglycosides (aac3Ia), vancomycin (VanA, VanB, VanC), macrolides (ermA, ermB, ermC) as well as the plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) markers (QnrA, QnrB, QnrS), and class 1 integrons (Int1, drfA1-aadA1). Results: The Enterococcus spp. isolates exhibited phenotypic resistance to vancomycin (35 %) and macrolides (erythromycin) (75 %); from the vancomycin – resistant strains, 5 % harboured VanA (E. faecalis), while the erythromycin resistant isolates were positive for the ermA gene (E. faecalis − 10 %, E. faecium − 5 %). The Gram- negative rods (GNR) exhibited a high level of resistance to β-lactams: cefuroxime (63 %), cefazolin (42 %), ceftriaxone (8 %), ceftazidime and aztreonam (4 % each). The genetic determinants for beta-lactam resistance were represented by blaCTX−M−like (33 %), blaNDM−like and blaIMP−like (8.33 %) genes. The resistance to non-β-lactam antibiotics was ascertained to the following genes: quinolones (QnrS − 4.16 %); sulfonamides (Sul1–75 %, Sul2–4.16 %); aminoglycosides (aac3Ia − 4.16 %); tetracyclines (tetA – 25 %, tetC − 15 %). The integrase gene was found in more than 50 % of the studied strains (58.33 %). Conclusions: The cultivable aquatic microbiota from fishery lakes is dominated by enterococci and Enterobacterales strains. The GNR strains exhibited high levels of β-lactam resistance mediated by extended spectrum beta-lactamases and metallo-β-lactamases. The Enterococcus sp. isolates were highly resistant to macrolides and vancomycin. The high level and diversity of resistance markers, correlated with a high frequency of integrons is suggesting that this environment could act as an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes with a great probability to be horizontally transmitted to other associated species from the aquatic sediments microbiota, raising the potential zoonotic risk for fish consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lately, the microbiome has received increasing attention, being a research theme frequently addressed in multiple studies. Through the new techniques and establishment of novel protocols, especially in the field of molecular biology, together with the results from in vitro, in vivo preclinical and clinical studies carried out on an impressive number of patients with various pathologies, scientists have established ample associations between the microbiome composition and certain cancers or the treatment response. In some types of cancer, the role of microorganisms has been incriminated, which by their presence can activate certain signaling pathways or produce some metabolites that ultimately affect the cellular functioning. For some microorganisms such as Fusobacterium nucleatum or toxigenic Bacteroides fragilis in colorectal cancer, the possible mechanisms of action have been already described. Despite this fact, numerous studies are still needed in order to determine whether bacterial presence triggers the neoplastic process or the gut microbial abundance in affected patients is the result of other changes taking place. The identification of specific microorganisms in people from high-risk groups, those with early stage or advanced/metastatic cancer or the ones with inadequate response to treatment, could represent the beginning of a novel approach in the field of cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of associated chronic systemic inflammatory immune-mediated rheumatic diseases affecting axial and peripheral joints and entheses. The aim of the present study was to identify what parameters are useful to determine in order to better understand the correlation between the disease activity/severity and the microbiological results/immune status against intestinal and/or urogenital pathogens. Microorganisms known to trigger SpA, including Klebsiella spp., Yersinia spp., Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. and Chlamydia spp., were analyzed in various specimens (stool, urine, synovial fluid and serum) collected from 27 randomly selected SpA patients and 26 healthy controls using a combined direct and indirect approach relying on conventional culture technique and nucleic acid-based assays together with serological testing by ELISA. Although Escherichia coli derived from phylogroup A prevailed in the gut microflora of the patients and controls, differences were observed regarding the representatives of the other phylogroups with a higher prevalence of E.coli members of phylogenetic group B1 in the stool specimens of patients. Antibodies against the targeted species were detected in SpA patients and controls, and the serological profiles of the former were more diverse and complex. In conclusion, the detection of anti-bacterial antibodies combined with other specific laboratory investigations should be more extensively used to monitor SpA patients in association with their symptoms and in order to determine and administer more effective therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lichen planus (LP) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease that particularly affects the skin and mucous membranes. Its etiology remains elusive, however some trigger factors, including viral or bacterial antigens, drugs and metals, have been postulated. There is a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among patients with LP, with some geographical variations. HCV is an enveloped RNA virus that belongs to the Flaviviridae family and in most instances causes chronic liver infections. It has been hypothesized that HCV may contribute to LP development, but the link between the two disorders is not fully understood. It is still debatable whether HCV leads to the occurrence of LP lesions directly by replication inside the infected cells or indirectly by activating immunological pathways. Molecular studies have revealed HCV RNA in specimens collected from patients with LP. The autoimmune theory was also suggested given that several studies have revealed viral replication and immune response activation associated with autoantibody synthesis. The aim of this review is to summarize the main potential mechanisms involved in the association between LP and HCV infection. Understanding the link between the two disorders may shed some light on the pathogenesis of LP, which is a challenging issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common tumour of the oral cavity, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is a multifactorial condition, both genetic and environmental factors being involved in its development and progression. Its pathogenesis is not fully elucidated, but a pivotal role has been attributed to inflammation, strong evidence supporting the association between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis. Moreover, an increasing number of studies have investigated the role of different mediators of inflammation in the early detection of OSCC. In this review, we have summarized the main markers of inflammation that could be useful in diagnosis and shed some light in OSCC pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a small double-stranded DNA virus with tropism for epithelial cells. To this date, over 150 genotypes are known and are classified into two major groups, low-risk and high-risk strains, depending on the ability of the virus to induce malignant transformation. The host's immunity plays a central role in the course of the infection; therefore, it may not be clinically manifest or may produce various benign or malignant lesions. The pathogenic mechanisms are complex and incompletely elucidated. Recent research suggests the role of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) in the pathogenesis of HPV infection and the associated carcinogenic processes. Chronic inflammation induces OS, which in turn promotes the perpetuation of the inflammatory process resulting in the release of numerous molecules which cause cell damage. Reactive oxygen species exert a harmful effect on proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Viral oncogenes E5, E6, and E7 are involved in the development of chronic inflammation through various mechanisms. In addition, HPV may interfere with redox homeostasis of host cells, inducing OS which may be involved in the persistence of the infection and play a certain role in viral integration and promotion of carcinogenesis. Knowledge regarding the interplay between chronic inflammation and OS in the pathogenesis of HPV infection and HPV-induced carcinogenesis has important consequences on the development of new therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, chronic wounds such as venous or arterial ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure sores, and nonhealing surgical wounds were brought into the spotlight of the medical community, due to their increasing prevalence and to their significant economic burden. Vascular impairment represents the main cause of chronic ulceration, while the infection is the most frequent complication. Chronic infections persist and progress despite an adequate antimicrobial regimen and are typically caused by mono- or polymicrobial biofilms. The persistent bacterial colonization of the wound, as well as the longterm use of antibiotics predispose to the development of nosocomial infections with resistant strains, with the risk of life-threatening septic complications, especially in immunocompromised individuals. In this article, we perform a thorough literature review, in order to answer the main controversies regarding the involvement of planktonic and/or biofilm bacteria in the healing process of chronic wounds. Furthermore, we aim to analyse the utility of antimicrobial treatment in non-healing wounds, and to establish its main end-points, for the optimal benefit of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound healing involves a complex interaction between immunity and other natural host processes, and to succeed it requires a well-defined cascade of events. Chronic wound infections can be mono- or polymicrobial but their major characteristic is their ability to develop a biofilm. A biofilm reduces the effectiveness of treatment and increases resistance. A biofilm is an ecosystem on its own, enabling the bacteria and the host to establish different social interactions, such as competition or cooperation. With an increasing incidence of chronic wounds and, implicitly, of chronic biofilm infections, there is a need for alternative therapeutic agents. Nanotechnology shows promising openings, either by the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles or their function as drug carriers. Nanoparticles and nanostructured coatings can be active at low concentrations toward a large variety of infectious agents; thus, they are unlikely to elicit emergence of resistance. Nanoparticles might contribute to the modulation of microbial colonization and biofilm formation in wounds. This comprehensive review comprises the pathogenesis of chronic wounds, the role of chronic wound colonization and infection in the healing process, the conventional and alternative topical therapeutic approaches designed to combat infection and stimulate healing, as well as revolutionizing therapies such as nanotechnology-based wound healing approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a growing public health problem worldwide. Infections with such bacteria lead to longer hospitalization times, higher healthcare costs and greater morbidity and mortality. Thus, there is a greater need for rapid detection methods in order to limit their spread. The ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp.) are a series of epidemiologically-important microorganisms of great concern due to their high levels of resistance. This review aimed to update the background information on the ESKAPE pathogens as well as to provide a summary of the numerous phenotypic and molecular methods used to detect their AMR mechanisms. While they are usually linked to hospital acquired infections, AMR is also spreading in the veterinary and the environmental sectors. Yet, the epidemiological loop closes with patients which, when infected with such pathogens, often lack therapeutic options. Thus, it was aimed to give the article a One Health perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although controlled by vaccination long ago, diphtheria may become a re-emergent disease as a result of at least two factors: the circulation of toxigenic strains in endemic areas (countries of former CSI, some of them neighbouring countries of Romania) and the lack of interest of the local health institutions for surveillance of this very low incidence disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the carriage of potentially toxigenic Corynebacterium strains in healthy people in Romania. In this study, 1120 biological samples were analysed consisting of swabs, nasal exudates and conjunctival secretions collected from 730 healthy individuals from eight different geographic regions of the country, in order to establish carriage of potentially toxigenic strains belonging to the Corynebacterium genus. 129 strains of the Corynebacterium species were isolated and identified by phenotypic and molecular methods: Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum (n = 76), C. propinquum (n = 34), C. striatum (n = 9), C. macginleyi (n = 2), C. glucuronolyticum/seminale (n = 2), C. group F1(n = 6). These species are saprophytic species for the upper respiratory tract, some of them being an opportunistic pathogen especially in immunocompromised hosts. The present data require the attention of clinicians, epidemiologists and microbiologists since diphtheria is an infectious disease that could re-emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: Purified protein derivative (PPD) is currently the only available skin test reagent used worldwide for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to develop a Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific skin test reagent, without false positive results due to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination using recombinant antigens. Methods: Proteins in PPD IC-65 were analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry and compared to proteins in M. tuberculosis culture filtrate; 54 proteins were found in common. Top candidates MPT64, ESAT 6, and CFP 10 were overexpressed in Escherichia coli expression strains and purified as recombinant proteins. To formulate optimal immunodiagnostic PPD cocktails, the antigens were evaluated by skin testing guinea pigs sensitized with M. tuberculosis H37Rv and BCG. Results: For single antigens and a cocktail mixture of these antigens, best results were obtained using 3 µg/0.1 ml, equivalent to 105 TU (tuberculin units). Each animal was simultaneously tested with PPD IC- 65, 2 TU/0.1 ml, as reference. Reactivity of the multi-antigen cocktail was greater than that of any single antigen. The skin test results were between 34.3 and 76.6 per cent the level of reactivity compared to that of the reference when single antigens were tested and 124 per cent the level of reactivity compared to the reference for the multi-antigen cocktail. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results showed that this specific cocktail could represent a potential candidate for a new skin diagnostic test for TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important public health issue, in terms of incidence and mortality, with approximately 1.8 million new cases reported worldwide in 2018. Advancements in understanding pathophysiological key steps in CRC tumorigenesis have led to the development of new targeted therapies such as those based on epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFR inhibitors). The cutaneous adverse reactions induced by EGFR inhibitors, particularly papulopustular rash, often require long-term antibiotic treatment with tetracycline agents (mostly minocycline and doxycycline). However, this raises several issues of concern: possible occurrence of gut dysbiosis in already vulnerable CRC patients, selection of highly antibiotic resistant and/or virulent clones, development of adverse reactions related to tetracyclines, interference of antibiotics with the response to oncologic therapy, with a negative impact on disease prognosis etc. In the context of scarce information regarding these issues and controversial opinions regarding the role of tetracyclines in patients under EGFR inhibitors, our aim was to perform a thorough literature review and discuss the main challenges raised by long-term use of tetracyclines in advanced CRC patients receiving this targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]