基因芯片技术检测环境中常见致病菌的初步研究

目的：为了快速，准确地检测环境中存在的致病菌，建立一种采用基因芯片技术对环境中常见致病检测和鉴定的实验方法。方法：采用合成后点样的方法把自行设计合成的一系列寡核苷酸探针固定在经过醛基化修饰的显微镜载玻片上，制成用于致病菌检测的基因芯片。结果：在相同的条件下，扩增了涉及12个菌属的151株细菌的165rDNA基因片段并与基因芯片杂交，经Scan-Array3000芯片阅读仪扫描得到特异性的交杂图，归纳这些杂交图，得到一套属（种）特异的典型杂交图谱。待检的样品菌与基因芯片进行杂交，得到的杂交结果与典型图谱比对即可判断出样品的种类。用这样的方法对从实际样品中分离的细菌进行检测，准确率表达了96．2％（25／26）。结论：该项技术的建立为今后更大规模的检测研究奠定了基础，可以推广应用于感染性疾病诊断，环境监测，食品卫生监督，商品检验检疫等领域。     

Segmentation of Bacteria Image Based on Level Set Method

In biology ferment engineering, accurate statistics of the quantity of bacteria is one of the most important subjects. In this paper, the quantity of bacteria which was observed traditionally manuauy can be detected automatically. Image acquisition and processing system is designed to accomplish image preprocessing, image segmentation and statistics of the quantity of bacteria. Segmentation of bacteria images is successfully realized by means of a region-based level set method and then the quantity of bacteria is computed precisely, which plays an important role in optimizing the growth conditions of bacteria.     

Comparative in vitro activity of BAY 12-8039 and five other antimicrobial agents against anaerobic bacteria

The in vitro activity of BAY 12-8039 against 360 anaerobic clinical isolates was determined by the agar dilution method and compared to that of five other antimicrobial agents. BAY 12-8039 and imipenem were the most active agents tested. The following MIC90 values were determined for BAY 12-8039Peptostreptococcus spp. (50 isolates), 1 mg/l;Propionibacterium acnes (30 isolates), 0.25 mg/l;Clostridium perfringens (30 isolates), 0.5 mg/l;Clostridium difficile (50 isolates), 2 mg/l;Bacteroides fragilis (50 isolates), 1 mg/l;non- fragilis Bacteroides, Porphyromonas, andPrevotella spp. (100 isolates), 2 mg/l; andFusobacterium spp. (50 isolates), 0.25 mg/l. The results of the present study show that BAY 12-8039 may be useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of anaerobic infections.     

Production of IL-12, IL-23 and IL-27p28 by bone marrow-derived conventional dendritic cells rather than macrophages after LPS/TLR4-dependent induction by Salmonella Enteritidis

Induction of the interleukin-12 (IL-12) cytokine family comprising IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-12p40 by intracellular pathogens is required for orchestration of cell-mediated immune responses. Macrophages (MΦ) have been shown to be a source of IL-12 following TLR4-dependent activation by Salmonella (S.). In this study another antigen-presenting cell type, the conventional dendritic cell (cDC), was analyzed and its cytokine responses compared with those of MΦ. We generated bone marrow-derived conventional dendritic cells (BMDC) and macrophages (BMMΦ) by incubating murine bone marrow cells with supernatants containing granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), respectively. Stimulation of BMDC and BMMΦ with S. enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) or LPS resulted in the release of IL-12 and IL-23 by BMDC but not by BMMΦ. Furthermore, BMDC secreted approx. 20-fold more IL-12p40 and IL-27p28 than BMMΦ. However, BMDC and BMMΦ produced similar levels of IL-10. Using BMDC originating from wild-type (wt), TLR2^def and TLR4^def mice, we show that in BMDC the induction of IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27p28 by SE is dependent on TLR4, whereas low-level production of p40 is also mediated by pattern recognition receptors (PRR) other than TLR4. Interestingly, LPS- and SE-provoked responses of BMDC were remarkably similar indicating that LPS is the primary danger molecule of SE. Taken together, our results point to cDC rather than MΦ as the major producers of the IL-12 family members during in vitro infection with SE. The mechanisms of recognition of SE, however, appear to be the same for cDC and MΦ     

Microbiology of subgingival plaque from children with localized prepubertal periodontitis

Localized prepubertal periodontitis has been described as a host-defect mediated form of bacterially induced periodontitis, with an early onset and rapid progression around a few teeth in children prior to puberty. To further our understanding of the etiology of this disease, we have examined the microbiological components of subgingival dental plaque in 9 children with localized prepubertal periodontitis to determine if patterns of putative pathogens existed, and have compared these results with those obtained from 4 children with no periodontitis. Subgingival plaque samples were plated onto a selective medium for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and onto a non-selective medium for anaerobes, and the predominant cultivable microbiota of 2 sites per child was determined. The subgingival microbiota of children with localized prepubertal periodontitis clearly differs from non-diseased children in the detection of high levels of several suspected pathogens, including A. actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides intermedius, Eikenella corrodens, and Capnocytophaga sputigena. These putative pathogens were found in various combinations. These findings suggest that localized prepubertal periodontitis is associated with specific subgingival bacteria which are generally not found in children without periodontitis.     

2016—2019年瓦房店地区公共场所公共用品用具卫生状况分析

目的 分析大连市瓦房店地区在2016—2019年公共场所公共用具卫生状况,为卫生监督管理提供依据。方法 按照国家双随机抽检要求,2016—2019年在大连市瓦房店地区内抽查公共场所共计352家,进行微生物指标监测和分析。结果 2016—2019年共抽检公共用品用具1 057份,微生物指标合格率92.62%(978/1 057),四年间合格率差异有统计学意义(χ2=7.98,P=0.046),以2018年最高,为94.61%(158/167);不同种类公共用品用具微生物指标合格率差异有统计学意义(χ2=18.55,P<0.001),其中毛巾最低,为87.34%(276/316);不同公共场所微生物指标合格率差异有统计学意义(χ2=10.42,P=0.003),以沐浴场所微生物指标合格率最低,为50.00(3/6)。结论 大连市瓦房店地区公共场所公共用品用具的卫生状况整体良好,沐浴场所以及毛巾类样品超标严重,需要加强消毒管理。     

Postbiotic Supplementation for Children and Newborn’s Health

It is now well known how the microbiota can positively or negatively influence humans health, depending on its composition. The microbiota’s countless beneficial effects have allowed it to be defined as a genuine symbiont for our species. In an attempt to positively influence the microbiota, research has focused on probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are viable beneficial bacteria of various strains. Prebiotics are specific substances able to favor the development of advantageous bacteria strains. Postbiotics are a new category of compounds capable of affecting the microbiota. According to the different definitions, postbiotics include both nonviable bacteria and substances deriving from bacterial metabolism. Postbiotics are particularly promising in pediatric settings, as they offer some advantages over probiotics, including the absence of the risk of intestinal translocation or worsening of local inflammation. For these reasons, their use in fragile population categories such as newborns, and even more prematures, seems to be the best solution for improving microbiota’s health in this population. This narrative review aims to collect the research conducted so far on postbiotics’ potential in the first stages of life.     

Effects of Coronavirus Disease Pandemic on Tuberculosis Notifications,Malawi

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic might affect tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and patient care. We analyzed a citywide electronic TB register in Blantyre, Malawi and interviewed TB officers. Malawi did not have an official COVID-19 lockdown but closed schools and borders on March 23, 2020. In an interrupted time series analysis, we noted an immediate 35.9% reduction in TB notifications in April 2020; notifications recovered to near prepandemic numbers by December 2020. However, 333 fewer cumulative TB notifications were received than anticipated. Women and girls were affected more (30.7% fewer cases) than men and boys (20.9% fewer cases). Fear of COVID-19 infection, temporary facility closures, inadequate personal protective equipment, and COVID-19 stigma because of similar symptoms to TB were mentioned as reasons for fewer people being diagnosed with TB. Public health measures could benefit control of both TB and COVID-19, but only if TB diagnostic services remain accessible and are considered safe to attend.     

Postoperative Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus Wound Infection,Switzerland

Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus is a nonvirulent organism found in human and ruminant microbiota. However, P. thiaminolyticus can act as an opportunistic pathogen in humans. We describe a case of abdominal wall hematoma secondarily infected by P. thiaminolyticus. Our findings emphasize the risk for unusual Paenibacillus infections in otherwise healthy persons.     

Fecal Excretion of Mycobacterium leprae,Burkina Faso

Mycobacterium leprae was detected by optical microscopy, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and molecular detection in feces collected for the diagnosis of Entamoeba coli enteritis in a leprosy patient in Burkina Faso. This observation raises questions about the role of fecal excretion of M. leprae in the natural history and diagnosis of leprosy.