Metabolism and gene sequence variation in Turicella otitidis implies its adaptability and pathogenicity in extra-otic infection: a systematic review.

Turicella otitidis belongs to the Corynebacteriaceae family and is a normal inhabitant of the ear and exists in a commensal relationship with its host. In children, T. otitidis is frequently associated with otitis media. The emergence of Turicella otitidis as a pathogen is concerning, particularly due to the limited availability of data on its pathogenic properties. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of T. otitidis infections occurring in both the ear and other anatomical sites, and to summarize the differences in metabolism and genome sequences between isolates obtained from the ear and blood.

Extra-urogenital infection by Mycoplasma hominis in transplant patients: two case reports and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Mycoplasma hominis is a facultative anaerobic bacterium commonly present in the urogenital tract. In recent years, M. hominis has increasingly been associated with extra-urogenital tract infections, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. Detecting M. hominis in a diagnostic laboratory can be challenging due to its slow growth rate, absence of a cell wall, and the requirements of specialized media and conditions for optimal growth. Consequently, it is necessary to establish guidelines for the detection of this microorganism and to request the appropriate microbiological work-up of immunosuppressed patients. CASE PRESENTATION: We hereby present two cases of solid organ transplant patients who developed M. hominis infection. Microscopic examination of the bronchial lavage and pleural fluid showed no microorganisms. However, upon inoculating the specimens onto routine microbiology media, the organism was successfully identified and confirmation was performed using 16S rDNA sequencing. Both patients received appropriate treatment resulting in the resolution of M. hominis infection. CONCLUSIONS: The prompt detection of M. hominis in a clinical specimen can have a significant impact on patient care by allowing for early intervention and ultimately resulting in more favorable clinical outcomes, especially in transplant patients.

A historical perspective on diversity in Clinical Laboratory Sciences Programs.

OBJECTIVE: Diversity is integral for an effective learning environment and pedagogy. In this study, we aim to determine the student and faculty diversity in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences programs at Stony Brook University. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data over 20 years for the traditional program and 8 years for the hybrid program. RESULTS: Over 20 years, 502 students graduated from the traditional program, and 96 students graduated from the hybrid program. In the traditional program, an average of 25 students enrolled with 75% female and 25% male and in the hybrid program, an average of 12 students with 8.5 female and 3.5 male enrolled. The traditional program had the highest proportion of Asian students (50%), with White students making up 24.5%, whereas the highest proportions in the hybrid program were 35% White students and 24% Hispanic students. Among the 5 boroughs of New York City, the highest proportion of student representation was from Queens and Manhattan in both traditional (24.1%) and hybrid programs (16.7%). There were 30% male and 70% female faculty served in the traditional program whereas the current representation of fulltime faculty is 100% female. CONCLUSION: Our data show the diversity of students and faculty in clinical laboratory sciences programs at Stony Brook University institution.

Case report and literature review: double jeopardy - Exophiala dermatitidis and Mycobacterium canariasense central line-associated bloodstream infection in a patient.

Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is the most common nosocomial-acquired infection, affecting 38 000 patients in the USA annually. Approximately 8-10 % of inserted catheters lead to bloodstream infections, and ~25-30 % of infections are associated with mortality. Although proper line maintenance is essential to prevent infection, it is quite a challenge to avoid infection in patients with a long-term catheter. We present a case of a female in her 40s with a previous history of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who has had a central line for total parenteral nutrition for the past 2 years. The patient recently visited the emergency room with fever and generalized fatigue. Blood cultures sent to microbiology were positive for black mould, Exophiala dermatitidis. However, after a few days, microbiology reported an additional micro-organism, Mycobacterium canariasense , a pathogen rarely associated with bacteraemia. The patient was administered voriconazole and moxifloxacin for black mould and mycobacterium infection, respectively. We present an unusual case of rare opportunistic organisms causing bacteraemia and fungaemia in a patient with a long-term catheter. CLABSI remains a serious challenge for clinical facilities. Implementation and monitoring of effective strategies can prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections in patients with long-term catheters and can reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with CLABSI.

Early Dendritic Morphogenesis of Adult-Born Dentate Granule Cells Is Regulated by FHL2.

Dentate granule cells (DGCs), the progeny of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the sub-granular zone of the dentate gyrus (DG), must develop and functionally integrate with the mature cohort of neurons in order to maintain critical hippocampal functions throughout adulthood. Dysregulation in the continuum of DGC development can result in aberrant morphology and disrupted functional maturation, impairing neuroplasticity of the network. Yet, the molecular underpinnings of the signaling involved in adult-born DGC maturation including dendritic growth, which correlates with functional integration, remains incompletely understood. Given the high metabolic activity in the dentate gyrus (DG) required to achieve continuous neurogenesis, we investigated the potential regulatory role of a cellular metabolism-linked gene recently implicated in NSC cycling and neuroblast migration, called Four and a half LIM domain 2 (FHL2). The FHL2 protein modulates numerous pathways related to proliferation, migration, survival and cytoskeletal rearrangement in peripheral tissues, interacting with the machinery of the sphingosine-1-phosphate pathway, also known to be highly active especially in the hippocampus. Yet, the potential relevance of FHL2 to adult-born DGC development remains unknown. To elucidate the role of FHL2 in DGC development in the adult brain, we first confirmed the endogenous expression of FHL2 in NSCs and new granule cells within the DG, then engineered viral vectors for genetic manipulation experiments, investigating morphological changes in early stages of DGC development. Overexpression of FHL2 during early DGC development resulted in marked sprouting and branching of dendrites, while silencing of FHL2 increased dendritic length. Together, these findings suggest a novel role of FHL2 in adult-born DGC morphological maturation, which may open up a new line of investigation regarding the relevance of this gene in physiology and pathologies of the hippocampus such as mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE).

Genetic dissection of the neuro-glio-vascular machinery in the adult brain.

The adult brain actively controls its metabolic homeostasis via the circulatory system at the blood brain barrier interface. The mechanisms underlying the functional coupling from neuron to vessel remain poorly understood. Here, we established a novel method to genetically isolate the individual components of this coupling machinery using a combination of viral vectors. We first discovered a surprising non-uniformity of the glio-vascular structure in different brain regions. We carried out a viral injection screen and found that intravenous Canine Adenovirus 2 (CAV2) preferentially targeted perivascular astrocytes throughout the adult brain, with sparing of the hippocampal hilus from infection. Using this new intravenous method to target astrocytes, we selectively ablated these cells and observed severe defects in hippocampus-dependent contextual memory and the metabolically regulated process of hippocampal neurogenesis. Combined with AAV9 targeting of neurons and endothelial cells, all components of the neuro-glio-vascular machinery can be simultaneously labeled for genetic manipulation. Together, we demonstrate a novel method, which we term CATNAP (CAV/AAV Targeting of Neurons and Astrocytes Perivascularly), to target and manipulate the neuro-glio-vascular machinery in the adult brain.