The role of uropathogenic Escherichia coli adhesive molecules in inflammatory response- comparative study on immunocompetent hosts and kidney recipients.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTI) represent one of the most common contagious diseases in humans. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains are recognized as the most frequent causative agent, and these express a range of virulence factors including the adhesins. Immune response to UPEC under immunosuppression has not been fully understood yet. Interleukin 1ß (IL1ß), 6 (IL6) and 17 (IL17) represent clinically relevant markers of inflammation. AIM: The study aimed to investigate the interplay between UPEC genotype and hosts' immune status in shaping local inflammatory response in the course of an UTI episode. The respective numbers of: 18 kidney recipients with UPEC UTI, 28 immunocompetent hosts with UPEC UTI and 29 healthy controls were involved. Urine IL1ß, IL6, and IL17/creatinine ratios in relation to fimH, csgA, papC, tosA, and flu genes presence in UPEC isolated from the urine samples were analyzed. Apart from traditional statistics, also machine learning algorithms were applied. RESULTS: The urine levels of IL1ß and IL 6 were similar in kidney recipients and the immunocompetent hosts. IL1ß levels were higher in both kidney recipients and immunocompetent hosts than in controls, while IL6 levels were higher only in immunocompetent hosts than in controls. In the machine learning classification model, high urine IL17 levels were significantly more prevalent in controls, while low IL17 levels in urines infected with Ag43-positive UPEC strains, regardless of the host's immune status. In the traditional statistical analysis, IL17 levels appeared significantly higher in urine samples from kidney recipients infected with Ag43-negative UPEC strains. CONCLUSIONS: In the UTI- affected patients, the combination of the immune status of an individual and Ag43 status of the UPEC strain determined urine IL17 level in the analyzed group. However, IL17 levels above median were overall more prevalent in controls.

Urinary Tract Virome as an Urgent Target for Metagenomics.

Virome-a part of a microbiome-is a term used to describe all viruses found in the specific organism or system. Recently, as new technologies emerged, it has been confirmed that kidneys and the lower urinary tract are colonized not only by the previously described viruses, but also completely novel species. Viruses can be both pathogenic and protective, as they often carry important virulence factors, while at the same time represent anti-inflammatory functions. This paper aims to show and compare the viral species detected in various, specific clinical conditions. Because of the unique characteristics of viruses, new sequencing techniques and databases had to be developed to conduct research on the urinary virome. The dynamic development of research on the human microbiome suggests that the detailed studies on the urinary system virome will provide answers to many questions about the risk factors for civilization, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

Synergistic effect of fennel essential oil and hydrogen peroxide on bacterial biofilm.

INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcal biofilm formation significantly challenges wound management. The causes of difficult-to-treat wounds are not only methicillin-resistant staphylococci, but also methicillin-sensitive strains with different patterns of resistance. Bacterial biofilm significantly limits the access and activity of antimicrobials used in dermatological infections. AIM: To evaluate the synergistic effect of fennel essential oil (FEO) and H2O2 on biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA) reference strains. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined for FEO and H2O2 against S. aureus reference strains by the broth microdilution method. The combined effects of the FEO and H2O2 were calculated and expressed in terms of a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) using the checkerboard method. The FEO composition was analyzed by the GC-MS method. The data were analysed by one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Decreased MIC values for FEO combined with H2O2 were observed in comparison to FEO itself. The combinations of FEO and H2O2 determined synergistic effects on all S. aureus reference strains. Subinhibitory concentration of FEO alone and in combination with 0.5 MIC of H2O2 significantly decreased the production of biofilm biomass in S. aureus strains and reduced the metabolic activity of attached cells. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of fennel essential oil containing nearly 80% trans-anethole and H2O2 represents a potential for further basic and applied research on wound management.

The Influence of Essential Oil Compounds on Antibacterial Activity of Mupirocin-Susceptible and Induced Low-Level Mupirocin-Resistant MRSA Strains.

Because of the bacterial drug resistance development, it is reasonable to investigate chemical compounds capable of preventing the spread of resistance to mupirocin (MUP), commonly used in staphylococcal eradication. The objective of the study was to verify the influence of essential oil compounds (EOCs) on the antibacterial activity of MUP against mupirocin-susceptible (MupS) and induced low-level mupirocin-resistant (MupRL) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. The following parameters were examined: MRSAMupS and MRSAMupRL susceptibility to EOCs (1,8-cineole, eugenol, carvacrol, linalool, (-)-menthone, linalyl acetate, and trans-anethole), the bacterial cell size distribution, and chemical composition by the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies. The MRSAMupS and MRSAMupRL strains were susceptible to all tested EOCs. 1,8-cineole and (-)-menthone showed synergistic activity against MRSAMupS in combination with mupirocin, whereas 1,8-cineole exhibited synergistic activity against MRSAMupRL as well. In-depth analysis showed that both MRSAMupS and MRSAMupRL displayed similar distributions of the bacterial cell size. The FTIR and Raman spectra of the MRSAMupS and MRSAMupRL strains showed differences in some regions. New bands in the MRSAMupRL Raman spectrum were observed. It was concluded that the use of 1,8-cineole in combination with mupirocin can increase the mupirocin activity against the MRSAMupS and MRSAMupRL strains.

The Antibacterial Activity of Lavender Essential Oil Alone and In Combination with Octenidine Dihydrochloride against MRSA Strains.

In the post-antibiotic era the issue of bacterial resistance refers not only to antibiotics themselves but also to common antiseptics like octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT). This appears as an emerging challenge in terms of preventing staphylococcal infections, which are both potentially severe and easy to transfer horizontally. Essential oils have shown synergisms both with antibiotics and antiseptics. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of lavender essential oil (LEO) on OCT efficiency towards methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains (MRSA). The LEO analyzed in this study increased the OCT's susceptibility against MRSA strains. Subsequent FTIR analysis revealed cellular wall modifications in MRSA strain cultured in media supplemented with OCT or LEO/OCT. In conclusion, LEO appears to be a promising candidate for an efficient enhancer of conventional antiseptics.