Key processes required for the different stages of fungal carnivory by a nematode-trapping fungus.

Nutritional deprivation triggers a switch from a saprotrophic to predatory lifestyle in soil-dwelling nematode-trapping fungi (NTF). In particular, the NTF Arthrobotrys oligospora secretes food and sex cues to lure nematodes to its mycelium and is triggered to develop specialized trapping devices. Captured nematodes are then invaded and digested by the fungus, thus serving as a food source. In this study, we examined the transcriptomic response of A. oligospora across the stages of sensing, trap development, and digestion upon exposure to the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. A. oligospora enacts a dynamic transcriptomic response, especially of protein secretion-related genes, in the presence of prey. Two-thirds of the predicted secretome of A. oligospora was up-regulated in the presence of C. elegans at all time points examined, and among these secreted proteins, 38.5% are predicted to be effector proteins. Furthermore, functional studies disrupting the t-SNARE protein Sso2 resulted in impaired ability to capture nematodes. Additionally, genes of the DUF3129 family, which are expanded in the genomes of several NTF, were highly up-regulated upon nematode exposure. We observed the accumulation of highly expressed DUF3129 proteins in trap cells, leading us to name members of this gene family as Trap Enriched Proteins (TEPs). Gene deletion of the most highly expressed TEP gene, TEP1, impairs the function of traps and prevents the fungus from capturing prey efficiently. In late stages of predation, we observed up-regulation of a variety of proteases, including metalloproteases. Following penetration of nematodes, these metalloproteases facilitate hyphal growth required for colonization of prey. These findings provide insights into the biology of the predatory lifestyle switch in a carnivorous fungus and provide frameworks for other fungal-nematode predator-prey systems.

A comparative phenotypic and genomic analysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST45 isolates from cellulitis and from osteomyelitis in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sequence type (ST) 45 is a globally disseminated MRSA lineage. Herein, we investigated whether MRSA ST45 isolates from cellulitis and from osteomyelitis display distinctive phenotypic and genomic characteristics. METHODS: A total of 15 MRSA ST45 isolates from cellulitis (CL-MRSAs; n = 6) or osteomyelitis (OM-MRSAs; n = 9) were collected in a Taiwan hospital. These MRSA ST45 isolates were characterized for their antimicrobial susceptibility, biofilm-forming ability, cellular infectivity in vitro, and pathogenicity in vivo. Four CL-MRSA and six OM-MRSA ST45 isolates were selected for whole-genome sequencing (WGS). RESULTS: Antibiotic resistance tests showed that all OM-MRSA ST45 strains, but not CL-MRSA ST45 strains, were resistant to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gentamicin and doxycycline. Compared to the CL-MRSA ST45 isolates, the OM-MRSA ST45 isolates had stronger biofilm-forming ability and cellular infectivity, and caused more severe disease in mice. WGS analysis revealed that these OM-MRSA ST45 isolates carry multiple common mutations or polymorphisms in genes associated with antibiotic resistance and virulence. Moreover, the transposable elements IS256 and IS257R2 were found only in the OM-MRSA ST45 isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The emergence and spread of the highly pathogenic and multidrug-resistant ST45 MRSAs identified from osteomyelitis may pose a serious threat on public health.

Does Overhead Squat Performance Affect the Swing Kinematics and Lumbar Spine Loads during the Golf Downswing?

The performance of the overhead squat may affect the golf swing mechanics associated with golf-related low back pain. This study investigates the difference in lumbar kinematics and joint loads during the golf downswing between golfers with different overhead squat abilities. Based on the performance of the overhead squat test, 21 golfers aged 18 to 30 years were divided into the highest-scoring group (HS, N = 10, 1.61 ± 0.05 cm, and 68.06 ± 13.67 kg) and lowest-scoring group (LS, N = 11, 1.68 ± 0.10 cm, and 75.00 ± 14.37 kg). For data collection, a motion analysis system, two force plates, and TrackMan were used. OpenSim 4.3 software was used to simulate the joint loads for each lumbar joint. An independent t-test was used for statistical analysis. Compared to golfers demonstrating limitations in the overhead squat test, golfers with better performance in the overhead squat test demonstrated significantly greater angular extension displacement on the sagittal plane, smaller lumbar extension angular velocity, and smaller L4-S1 joint shear force. Consequently, the overhead squat test is a useful index to reflect lumbar kinematics and joint loading patterns during the downswing and provides a good training guide reference for reducing the risk of a golf-related lower back injury.

Natural diversity in the predatory behavior facilitates the establishment of a robust model strain for nematode-trapping fungi.

Nematode-trapping fungi (NTF) are a group of specialized microbial predators that consume nematodes when food sources are limited. Predation is initiated when conserved nematode ascaroside pheromones are sensed, followed by the development of complex trapping devices. To gain insights into the coevolution of this interkingdom predator-prey relationship, we investigated natural populations of nematodes and NTF that we found to be ubiquitous in soils. Arthrobotrys species were sympatric with various nematode species and behaved as generalist predators. The ability to sense prey among wild isolates of Arthrobotrys oligospora varied greatly, as determined by the number of traps after exposure to Caenorhabditis elegans While some strains were highly sensitive to C. elegans and the nematode pheromone ascarosides, others responded only weakly. Furthermore, strains that were highly sensitive to the nematode prey also developed traps faster. The polymorphic nature of trap formation correlated with competency in prey killing, as well as with the phylogeny of A. oligospora natural strains, calculated after assembly and annotation of the genomes of 20 isolates. A chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation were established for one of the most sensitive wild isolates, and deletion of the only G-protein ß-subunit-encoding gene of A. oligospora nearly abolished trap formation. In summary, our study establishes a highly responsive A. oligospora wild isolate as a model strain for the study of fungus-nematode interactions and demonstrates that trap formation is a fitness character in generalist predators of the nematode-trapping fungus family.

Anaerobic spondylodiscitis: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with anaerobic spondylodiscitis. METHODS: From a total of 382 patients with infectious spondylodiscitis, nine patients (2.4%; two male and seven female with an average age of 67 years) with anaerobic spondylodiscitis between March 2003 and March 2017 were analyzed. RESULTS: Most of the patients (77.8%) initially presented with afebrile back pain. Hematogenous spread occurred in seven patients and postoperative infection in two patients. Bacteroid fragilis was the most common pathogen isolated from three patients. Atypical radiographic characteristics, including a vertebral fracture with the preservation of disk height or coexisting spondylolytic spondylolisthesis, occurred in four patients with hematogenous anaerobic spondylodiscitis. The eradication rate of anaerobic infection was significantly higher in the patients with hematogenous infection than in those with postoperative infection (100% vs. 0%, p = 0.0476). Anaerobic spondylodiscitis accounted for 2.4% of cases of infectious spondylodiscitis and predominantly affected the female patients. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic delay may occur because of atypical spinal radiographs if the patient reports only back pain but no fever. Anaerobic infection following elective spinal instrumentation has a higher recurrence rate.

Molecular Characteristics and Distribution of Virulence Genes among Staphylococcus aureus Complex Isolates Derived from Vascular Access Infections.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that produces various virulence factors which promote the binding of bacteria to tissues and medical devices such as vascular access devices, thereby developing a wide range of invasive infections. Vascular access serves as an entry site for S. aureus and elevates the risk of infection in the hemodialysis population. Nevertheless, the distribution of virulence genes in Staphylococcus spp. associated with vascular access infections (VAIs) has not been studied previously. In this study, we determined the relationship between the molecular characteristics and virulence profiles of S. aureus isolates obtained from VAIs. We collected isolates from patients with VAIs between August 2017 and December 2020 and further analyzed the molecular characteristics, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and virulence gene distribution in the isolates. Overall, 15 sequence types (STs), including a new ST (ST6892) and 19 spa types, were identified among the 56 isolates. Of the 53 S. aureus isolates, ST8, ST239, ST45, and ST59 were the predominant STs, whereas ST2250 was the only ST in 3 S. argenteus isolates. ST45-SCCmecIV-t026 (abbreviated as ST45-IV-t026), ST59-V-t437, and ST8-IV-t008 were the predominant clones that belonged to agr type I. All isolates harbored clfB and eno, whereas all S. aureus isolates harbored clfA. In addition, 10 Panton-Valentine leucocidin-positive isolates belonged to ST8 and ST59, with ST8-IV-t008 and ST59-V-t437 being the predominant clones. In brief, the distribution of virulence genes associated with STs may assist in the spread of molecular types of Staphylococcus spp.

Different types of bullae of limbs with necrotizing fasciitis predict different outcome: a prospective study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an uncommon life-threatening necrotizing skin and soft tissue infection. Bullae are special skin manifestations of NF. This study was conducted to analyze the differences between different types of bullae of limbs with NF for providing the information to emergency treatment. METHODS: From April 2015 to August 2018, patients were initially enrolled based on surgical confirmation of limbs with NF. According to the presence of different bullae types, patients were divided into no bullae group (Group N), serous-filled bullae group (Group S), and hemorrhagic bullae group (Group H). Data such as demographics, clinical outcomes, microbiological results, presenting symptoms/signs, and laboratory findings were compared among these groups. RESULTS: In total, 187 patients were collected, with 111 (59.4%) patients in Group N, 35 (18.7%) in Group S, and 41 (21.9%) in Group H. Group H had the highest incidence of amputation, required intensive care unit care, and most patients infected with Vibrio species. In Group N, more patients were infected with Staphylococcus spp. than Group H. In Group S, more patients were infected with ß-hemolytic Streptococcus than Group H. Patients with bacteremia, shock, skin necrosis, anemia, and longer prothrombin time constituted higher proportions in Group H and S than in Group N. CONCLUSIONS: In southern Taiwan, patients with NF accompanied by hemorrhagic bullae appear to have more bacteremia, Vibrio infection, septic shock, and risk for amputation. If the physicians at the emergency department can detect for the early signs of NF as soon as possible, and more patient's life and limbs may be saved.

Bacteriology and mortality of necrotizing fasciitis in a tertiary coastal hospital with comparing risk indicators of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio vulnificus infections: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Vibrio vulnificus has been reported as the leading causative pathogen of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) and related fatality in the coastal area. Necrotizing fasciitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and V. vulnificus have high mortality rates. The purpose of this prospective study was to clarify the clinical characteristics between death and survival NF patients, to investigate bacteriologic profile and mortality of NF patients, and to compare risk indicators of MRSA and V. vulnificus NF patients. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in 184 consecutive NF patients over a period of three years in a tertiary coastal hospital. Differences in mortality, laboratory findings, microbiology and clinical outcomes were compared between the death and survival groups, and the V. vulnificus and MRSA subgroups. RESULTS: Twenty patients died, resulting in a mortality rate of 10.9%, and there were 108 patients with a monomicrobial infection (58.7%). The death group had a significantly higher incidence of shock at emergency room and bacteremia than did the survival group. Vibrio species (40 cases) and S. aureus (31 cases) were the two major pathogens. Significant differences with respect to hepatic dysfunction, shock, the event with seawater or seafood contact, bacteremia, C-reactive protein, mean platelet counts, and the Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score were observes between V. vulnificus and MRSA groups. CONCLUSIONS: NF patients with both hepatic dysfunction and diabetes mellitus, bacteremia and shock have significantly higher mortality. We should be aware of the increasing incidence of monomicrobial NF and higher mortality rates of Gram-negative pathogens in the warm coastal area. LRINEC score is not a suitable diagnostic indicator for V. vulnificus NF, which is more rapidly progressive and fulminant than MRSA NF. NF needed team works by early suspicion, immediate surgical intervention and aggressive care, which can successfully decrease mortality.

GMI, an Immunomodulatory Peptide from Ganoderma microsporum, Restrains Periprosthetic Joint Infections via Modulating the Functions of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Effector T Cells.

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection are difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. It is known that the biofilms from methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) promote expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to suppress T-cell proliferation and benefit bacterial infections. This study finds that GMI, a fungal immunomodulatory peptide isolated from Ganoderma microsporum, suppresses MDSC expansion to promote the proliferation of cytotoxic T cells. The enhancement is likely attributed to increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α and reduction in ROS expression. Similar beneficial effects of GMI on the suppression of MDSC expansion and IL-6 expression are also observed in the whole blood and reduces the accumulation of MDSCs in the infected bone region in a mouse PJI infection model. This study shows that GMI is potentially useful for treating S. aureus-induced PJIs.

Fungal feature tracker (FFT): A tool for quantitatively characterizing the morphology and growth of filamentous fungi.

Filamentous fungi are ubiquitous in nature and serve as important biological models in various scientific fields including genetics, cell biology, ecology, evolution, and chemistry. A significant obstacle in studying filamentous fungi is the lack of tools for characterizing their growth and morphology in an efficient and quantitative manner. Consequently, assessments of the growth of filamentous fungi are often subjective and imprecise. In order to remedy this problem, we developed Fungal Feature Tracker (FFT), a user-friendly software comprised of different image analysis tools to automatically quantify different fungal characteristics, such as spore number, spore morphology, and measurements of total length, number of hyphal tips and the area covered by the mycelium. In addition, FFT can recognize and quantify specialized structures such as the traps generated by nematode-trapping fungi, which could be tuned to quantify other distinctive fungal structures in different fungi. We present a detailed characterization and comparison of a few fungal species as a case study to demonstrate the capabilities and potential of our software. Using FFT, we were able to quantify various features at strain and species level, such as mycelial growth over time and the length and width of spores, which would be difficult to track using classical approaches. In summary, FFT is a powerful tool that enables quantitative measurements of fungal features and growth, allowing objective and precise characterization of fungal phenotypes.

Predictors for gram-negative monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis in southern Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare and life-threatening necrotizing skin and soft-tissue infection. Infectious pathogens of NF must be detected early and treated rapidly to prevent loss of limb or a fatal outcome. This study aimed to detect more reliable predictors between gram-negative and gram-positive monomicrobial NF of limbs. METHODS: A total of 100 patients with limb monomicrobial NF were diagnosed prospectively from April 2015 to July 2018. These monomicrobial NF pathogens can be divided into gram-negative and gram-positive groups according to the result of Gram staining and final bacterial reports. Data such as demographics, seawater or seafood contact history, infectious location, comorbidities, presenting signs and symptoms, and laboratory findings were recorded and compared. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients were infected with gram-negative organisms and 45 patients with gram-positive organisms. Among the 55 cases of monomicrobial gram-negative NF, 48 (87.3%) were caused mainly by Vibrio spp. (38, 69.1%) and Aeromonas spp. (10, 18.2%). A higher incidence of chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular accident, tachypnea, and septic shock; a higher rate of band forms of leukocytes of more than 3%, serum lactate of more than 20 mg/dL, and C-reactive protein level of less than 150 mg/dL; prolonged prothrombin time; and a lower fibrinogen level were observed in patients with gram-negative infection. In a multivariate analysis, a higher incidence of seawater or seafood contact history (odds ratio [OR]: 66.301; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.467-588.702), a higher rate of hyperlactatemia (OR: 7.904; 95% CI: 1.231-50.744), and a low fibrinogen level (OR: 1.013; 95% CI: 1.004-1.023) indicated gram-negative infection. CONCLUSIONS: In southern Taiwan, NF of limbs mainly affected the lower limbs, exhibited monomicrobial infection, and was predominated by gram-negative bacteria. Gram-negative monomicrobial NF of limbs often occurred in individuals with the more seawater or seafood contact history, hyperlactatemia, and low fibrinogen levels.

Vibrio cholerae non-O1 - the first reported case of keratitis in a healthy patient.

BACKGROUND: Vibrio cholerae non-O1 is a virulent pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality in humans. Herein, we report a case of corneal ulcer caused by this pathogen. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old fisherman with no systemic history was struck in the right eye by a marine shrimp and developed keratitis. Corneal scrapping culture revealed the presence of the V. cholerae non-O1, and its identification was confirmed by Analytical Profile Index 20E system and polymerase chain reaction. He was successfully treated with topical levofloxacin (0.3%) and fortified amikacin (12.5 mg/mL) for 2 weeks. The visual acuity recovered to 20/25 after treatment without complications. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first case report of keratitis caused by V. cholerae non-O1 strain. Ocular injury by marine creatures and contaminated seawater can contribute to severe corneal ulcer. Early diagnosis can be achieved by meticulous history taking and a comprehensive laboratory workup. Simultaneously, an effective antibiotic therapy can lead to a positive outcome.

Synchronous multifocal necrotizing fasciitis prognostic factors: a retrospective case series study in a single center.

PURPOSE: No reports have been published on synchronous multifocal necrotizing fasciitis (SMNF), a multifocal presence of necrotizing fasciitis in different extremities. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of SMNF. METHODS: Eighteen patients (14 men, 4 women; mean age: 59 years) diagnosed with SMNF of the extremities between January 2004 to December 2012 were enrolled and evaluated. RESULTS: Vibrio species were the most commonly (78%; n = 14) isolated; others were two cases (11%) of Aeromonas spp., one case (6%) of group A ß-hemolytic streptococcus, and one case of coagulase-negative staphylococcus. SMNF was in the bilateral lower limbs (72%; n = 13), bilateral upper limbs (17%; n = 3), and one patient with one upper and one lower limb (11%). Non-surviving patients had more bilateral lower limb involvement and thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with SMNF were male and had bilateral lower limb and marine Gram-negative bacteria involvement. The mortality of SMNF remained extremely high in patients with involvement of bilateral lower limb and initial thrombocytopenia.

Comparison of gram-negative and gram-positive hematogenous pyogenic spondylodiscitis: clinical characteristics and outcomes of treatment.

BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, no study has compared gram-negative bacillary hematogenous pyogenic spondylodiscitis (GNB-HPS) with gram-positive coccal hematogenous pyogenic spondylodiscitis (GPC-HPS) regarding their clinical characteristics and outcomes. METHODS: From January 2003 to January 2013, 54 patients who underwent combined antibiotic and surgical therapy in the treatment of hematogenous pyogenic spondylodiscitis were included. RESULTS: Compared with 37 GPC-HPS patients, the 17 GNB-HPS patients were more often found to be older individuals, a history of cancer, and a previous history of symptomatic urinary tract infection. They also had a less incidence of epidural abscess formation compared with GPC-HPS patients from findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Constitutional symptoms were the primary reasons for initial physician visits in GNB-HPS patients whereas pain in the affected spinal region was the most common manifestation in GPC-HPS patients at initial visit. The clinical outcomes of GNB-HPS patients under combined surgical and antibiotic treatment were not different from those of GPC-HPS patients. In multivariate analysis, independent predicting risk factors for GNB-HPS included a malignant history and constitutional symptoms and that for GPC-HPS was epidural abscess. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestations and MRI presentations of GNB-HPS were distinguishable from those of GPC-HPS.

Thermal-Driven Cobalt Intercalation Enhances Thermoelectric ZT of n-Type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3.

Layered materials have emerged as stars in the realm of nanomaterials, showcasing exceptional versatility in various fields. This investigation employed a thermally driven method to intercalate cobalt (Co) into the van der Waals gaps of (CuI)0.002Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 crystals and investigated the mechanism by which the intercalated Co enhances the thermoelectric performance of the material. Co intercalation decreases the carrier concentration, thereby improving the Seebeck coefficient and decreasing both the mobility and the electrical conductivity. These effects result in a significant enhancement of the power factor above 400 K. Theoretical electronic structure calculations provide insights into the role of Co in this material. Additionally, the presence of intercalated Co significantly enhances phonon scattering, thereby boosting the thermoelectric figure-of-merit, ZT to 1.33 at 350 K for 0.17% Co intercalation. These findings highlight the potential of Co incorporation for improving the thermoelectric energy efficiency of n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3, offering avenues for further optimization in thermoelectric applications.

Comparison of the Direct Identification and Short-Term Incubation Methods for Positive Blood Cultures via MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry.

Timely pathogen identification in bloodstream infections is crucial for patient care. A comparison is made between positive blood culture (BC) pellets from serum separator tubes using a direct identification (DI) method and colonies on agar plates from a short-term incubation (STI) method with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Biotyper for the evaluation of 354 monomicrobial BCs. Both the DI and STI methods exhibited similar identification rates for different types of bacteria, except for Gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria. The DI method's results aligned closely with the STI method's results for Enterobacterales, glucose-non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (GNB), and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. The DI method exhibited high concordance with the conventional method for GNB identification, achieving 88.2 and 87.5% accuracy at the genus and species levels, respectively. Compared with the STI method, the DI method showed a less successful performance for Gram-positive bacterial identification (50.5 vs. 71.3%; p < 0.01). The DI method was useful for anaerobic bacterial identification of slow-growing microorganisms without any need for colony growth, unlike in the STI method (46.7 vs. 13.3%; p = 0.04). However, both methods could not identify yeast in positive BCs. Overall, the DI method provided reliable results for GNB identification, offering many advantages over the STI method by significantly reducing the turnaround time and enabling quicker pathogen identification in positive BCs.

Does Deep Squat Quality Affect the Propulsion of Baseball Throwing?

This study investigates the influence of the quality of the "deep squat" movement, adapted from the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) system, on the lower extremity movement pattern during baseball throwing, and its potential impact on throwing performance and propulsion efficiency. Twenty-two baseball players were recruited and categorized into two groups: 13 in the high-score squat group (HSS) and 9 in the low-score squat group (LSS), based on their deep squat screening results. This research explored disparities in ball velocity, propulsion efficiency, propulsion ground reaction force (GRF) characteristics, and throwing kinematics between these two groups. The findings revealed no significant difference in ball velocity between the groups. However, the LSS group demonstrated a lower propulsion GRF efficiency (p < 0.030, ES = 0.46), along with a higher vertical peak GRF (p < 0.002, ES = 0.66). In the pivot leg, the HSS group exhibited significantly lower impulse forces in the Impulse Fresultant (p < 0.035, ES = 0.45), throwing direction (p < 0.049, ES = 0.42), and vertical direction (p < 0.048, ES = 0.42). Additionally, the contribution to the ball velocity of the pivot leg was significantly greater in the HSS group, along with significantly better efficiency in Impulse Fresultant (p < 0.035, ES = 0.45), throwing direction (p < 0.053, ES = 0.41), and vertical direction (p < 0.032, ES = 0.46). In the leading leg, the HSS group demonstrated significantly lower impulse forces in the Impulse Fresultant (p < 0.001, ES = 0.69), throwing direction (p < 0.007, ES = 0.58), and vertical direction (p < 0.001, ES = 0.70). Moreover, the contribution to the ball velocity of the leading leg was significantly greater in the HSS group, accompanied by significantly better efficiency in Impulse Fresultant (p < 0.003, ES = 0.63), throwing direction (p < 0.005, ES = 0.60), and vertical direction (p < 0.021, ES = 0.49). In conclusion, this study suggests that squat screening is a valuable tool for assessing propulsion efficiency. Coaches and trainers should be mindful of players with low squat quality but high throwing performance, as they may face increased impact and injury risks in the future.

Nanoparticles of Cs0.33WO3 as Antibiofilm Agents and Photothermal Treatment to Inhibit Biofilm Formation.

Metal oxide nanoparticles with photothermal properties have attracted considerable research attention for their use in biomedical applications. Cesium tungsten oxide (Cs0.33WO3) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit strong absorption in the NIR region due to localized surface plasmon resonance, through which they convert light to heat; hence, they can be applied to photothermal treatment for bacteria and biofilm ablation. Herein, Cs0.33WO3 NPs were synthesized through solid-phase synthesis, and their physical properties were characterized through Zetasizer, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM, respectively). Burkholderia cenocepacia isolates were cultured in tryptic soy broth supplemented with glucose, and the biofilm inhibition and antibiofilm effects of the NPs were determined using a crystal violet assay and the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The biofilm morphology and viability of NP-treated cultures after NIR irradiation were evaluated through SEM and confocal microscopy, respectively. The cytotoxicity of NPs to human macrophages was also assessed using the CCK-8 assay. The NPs effectively inhibited biofilm formation, with a formation rate of <10% and a viability rate of <50% at the concentration of ≥200 µg/mL. The confocal analysis revealed that NIR irradiation markedly enhanced biofilm cytotoxicity after treatment with the NPs. The assay of cytotoxicity to human macrophages demonstrated the biocompatibility of the NPs and NIR irradiation. In sum, the Cs0.33WO3 NPs displayed effective biofilm inhibition and antibiofilm activity at 200 µg/mL treatment concentration; they exhibited an enhancement effect under the NIR irradiation, suggesting Cs0.33WO3 NPs are a potential candidate agent for NIR-irradiated photothermal treatment in bacterial biofilm inhibition and antibiofilm.

The IFSD Score-A Practical Prognostic Model for Invasive Fungal Spondylodiscitis.

Objectives: Invasive fungal spondylodiscitis (IFSD) is rare and could be lethal in certain circumstances. The previous literature revealed limited data concerning its outcomes. This study aimed to establish a risk-scoring system to predict the one-year mortality rate of this disease. Methods: A total of 53 patients from a multi-centered database in Taiwan were included in this study. All the clinicopathological and laboratory data were retrospectively analyzed. Variables strongly related to one-year mortality were identified using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to express the performance of our IFSD scoring model. Results: Five strong predictors were included in the IFSD score: predisposing immunocompromised state, the initial presentation of either radiculopathy or myelopathy, initial laboratory findings of WBC > 12.0 or <0.4 103/µL, hemoglobin < 8 g/dL, and evidence of candidemia. One-year mortality rates for patients with IFSD scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0%, 16.7%, 56.3%, 72.7%, and 100%, respectively. The area under the curve of the ROC curve was 0.823. Conclusions: We developed a practical scoring model with easily obtained demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters to predict the probability of one-year mortality in patients with IFSD. However, more large-scale and international validations would be necessary before this scoring model is commonly used.

Exploration of agr types, virulence-associated genes, and biofilm formation ability in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from hemodialysis patients with vascular access infections.

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus, is a pathogen commonly encountered in both community and hospital settings. Patients receiving hemodialysis treatment face an elevated risk of vascular access infections (VAIs) particularly Staphylococcus aureus, infection. This heightened risk is attributed to the characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus, , enabling it to adhere to suitable surfaces and form biofilms, thereby rendering it resistant to external interventions and complicating treatment efforts. Methods: Therefore this study utilized PCR and microtiter dish biofilm formation assay to determine the difference in the virulence genes and biofilm formation among in our study collected of 103 Staphylococcus aureus, isolates from hemodialysis patients utilizing arteriovenous grafts (AVGs), tunneled cuffed catheters (TCCs), and arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) during November 2013 to December 2021. Results: Our findings revealed that both MRSA and MSSA isolates exhibited strong biofilm production capabilities. Additionally, we confirmed the presence of agr types and virulence genes through PCR analysis. The majority of the collected isolates were identified as agr type I. However, agr type II isolates displayed a higher average number of virulence genes, with MRSA isolates exhibiting a variety of virulence genes. Notably, combinations of biofilm-associated genes, such as eno-clfA-clfB-fib-icaA-icaD and eno-clfA-clfB-fib-fnbB-icaA-icaD, were prevalent among Staphylococcus aureus, isolates obtained from vascular access infections. Discussion: These insights contribute to a better understanding of the molecular characteristics associated with Staphylococcus aureus, infections in hemodialysis patients and provided more targeted and effective treatment approaches.