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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Infectious Diseases, New Approaches to Old Problems
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Infectious Diseases, New Approaches to Old Problems

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 34033

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Eva Torres-Sangiao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Researh Institute IDIVAL, 39001 Santander, Spain
Interests: system biology; immunoproteome; infectious diseases; sexual transmission diseases; mass spectrometry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Monica Cartelle Gestal

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University (LSU), Health Science Center, Shreveport, LA 71103, USA
Interests: bacterial pathogenesis; type 3 secretion system; host-pathogen interaction; bacterial immunomodulators; eosinophils; mucosal responses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Infectious diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and past and current efforts focus on its prevention and treatment, with the expectation of reducing the morbidity, mortality, and the associated economic burden. In 1940, life expectancy was 47 years of age (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5354621/ ); however, with the appearance of antibiotics, life expectancy increased considerably, only to dramatically decrease, nowadays, as a result of the increase in antibiotic resistance. The distress of this new pandemic began in the human field several years ago; nevertheless, the concept of One Health has hallmarked the lack of prevention in control in other areas that have great implications in human health. Importantly, bacteria are not the only threat, with viruses and parasites also being a great hazard, and a challenge to prevent and treat. One common trait to most pathogens is their ability to modulate, manipulate, and escape host immune responses. Therefore, immunomodulation approaches, such as adjuvants, therapies, and vaccines, appear to be the most compelling methods to enhance an immune response, and appear to be highly promising.

This aim of this Special Issue is to unite several fields of the research to approach the problem from the One Health perspective. This Special Issue emerges as a result of the lack of strategies and solutions to overcome infectious diseases, in the framework of a technology and the interconnected world. This Issue will be also a platform to provide novel strategies for vaccine and therapeutic development, focusing on immunomodulation.

Dr. Eva Torres-Sangiao
Dr. Monica Cartelle Gestal
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Infectious diseases 
  • Antibiotic resistance 
  • Vaccine and therapies 
  • Biomarkers and diagnosis 
  • Mass spectrometry 
  • Immunomodulation 
  • Inflammation 
  • Systems biology

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 943 KiB  
Article
Prospective Study in Children with Complicated Urinary Tract Infection Treated with Autologous Bacterial Lysates
by Ulises Hernández-Chiñas, María E. Chávez-Berrocal, Ricardo E. Ahumada-Cota, Armando Navarro-Ocaña, Luz M. Rocha-Ramírez, Yolanda Pérez-del Mazo, Maribel Alvarado-Cabello, Gabriel Pérez-Soto, Luis A. León-Alamilla, Salvador E. Acevedo-Monroy, Diego Esquiliano, Atlántida M. Raya-Rivera and Carlos A. Eslava
Microorganisms 2021, 9(9), 1811; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9091811 - 26 Aug 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2700
Abstract
Antimicrobial bacteria resistance is an important problem in children with recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI), thus it is crucial to search for alternative therapies. Autologous bacterial lysates (ABL) may be a potential treatment for rUTI. Twenty-seven children with rUTI were evaluated for one [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial bacteria resistance is an important problem in children with recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI), thus it is crucial to search for alternative therapies. Autologous bacterial lysates (ABL) may be a potential treatment for rUTI. Twenty-seven children with rUTI were evaluated for one year, urine and stool cultures were performed, 10 colonies of each culture were selected and those identified as Escherichia coli were characterized by serology. For patients who presented ≥105 UFC/mL, an ABL was manufactured and administered orally (1 mL/day) for a month. Twelve children were monitored for ≥1-year, 218 urine and 11 stool samples were analyzed. E. coli (80.5%) was the main bacteria isolated from urine and feces (72%). E. coli of classical urinary serotypes (UPEC), O25:H4, O75:HNM, and O9:HNM were identified in patients with persistent urinary infection (pUTI). In 54% of patients treated with ABL, the absence of bacteria was observed in urine samples after 3 months of treatment, 42% of these remained without UTI between 10–12 months. It was observed that the use of ABL controlled the infection for almost 1 year in more than 60% of the children. We consider it necessary to develop a polyvalent immunogen for the treatment and control of rUTI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases, New Approaches to Old Problems)
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15 pages, 4239 KiB  
Article
Disrupting Bordetella Immunosuppression Reveals a Role for Eosinophils in Coordinating the Adaptive Immune Response in the Respiratory Tract
by Monica C. Gestal, Uriel Blas-Machado, Hannah M. Johnson, Lily N. Rubin, Kalyan K. Dewan, Claire Bryant, Michael Tiemeyer and Eric T. Harvill
Microorganisms 2020, 8(11), 1808; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8111808 - 17 Nov 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2393
Abstract
Recent findings revealed pivotal roles for eosinophils in protection against parasitic and viral infections, as well as modulation of adaptive immune responses in the gastric mucosa. However, the known effects of eosinophils within the respiratory tract remain predominantly pathological, associated with allergy and [...] Read more.
Recent findings revealed pivotal roles for eosinophils in protection against parasitic and viral infections, as well as modulation of adaptive immune responses in the gastric mucosa. However, the known effects of eosinophils within the respiratory tract remain predominantly pathological, associated with allergy and asthma. Simulating natural respiratory infections in mice, we examined how efficient and well-adapted pathogens can block eosinophil functions that contribute to the immune response. Bordetella bronchiseptica, a natural pathogen of the mouse, uses the sigma factor btrS to regulate expression of mechanisms that interfere with eosinophil recruitment and function. When btrS is disrupted, immunomodulators are dysregulated, and eosinophils are recruited to the lungs, suggesting they may contribute to much more efficient generation of adaptive immunity induced by this mutant. Eosinophil-deficient mice failed to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, to recruit lymphocytes, to organize lymphoid aggregates that resemble Bronchus Associated Lymphoid Tissue (BALT), to generate an effective antibody response, and to clear bacterial infection from the respiratory tract. Importantly, the failure of eosinophil-deficient mice to produce these lymphoid aggregates indicates that eosinophils can mediate the generation of an effective lymphoid response in the lungs. These data demonstrate that efficient respiratory pathogens can block eosinophil recruitment, to inhibit the generation of robust adaptive immune responses. They also suggest that some post-infection sequelae involving eosinophils, such as allergy and asthma, might be a consequence of bacterial mechanisms that manipulate their accumulation and/or function within the respiratory tract. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases, New Approaches to Old Problems)
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14 pages, 2568 KiB  
Article
Application of an O-Linked Glycosylation System in Yersinia enterocolitica Serotype O:9 to Generate a New Candidate Vaccine against Brucella abortus
by Jing Huang, Chao Pan, Peng Sun, Erling Feng, Jun Wu, Li Zhu and Hengliang Wang
Microorganisms 2020, 8(3), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8030436 - 20 Mar 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2832
Abstract
Brucellosis is a major zoonotic public health threat worldwide, causing veterinary morbidity and major economic losses in endemic regions. However, no efficacious brucellosis vaccine is yet available, and live attenuated vaccines commonly used in animals can cause human infection. N- and O [...] Read more.
Brucellosis is a major zoonotic public health threat worldwide, causing veterinary morbidity and major economic losses in endemic regions. However, no efficacious brucellosis vaccine is yet available, and live attenuated vaccines commonly used in animals can cause human infection. N- and O-linked glycosylation systems have been successfully developed and exploited for the production of successful bioconjugate vaccines. Here, we applied an O-linked glycosylation system to a low-pathogenicity bacterium, Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9 (Y. enterocolitica O:9), which has repeating units of O-antigen polysaccharide (OPS) identical to that of Brucella abortus (B. abortus), to develop a bioconjugate vaccine against Brucella. The glycoprotein we produced was recognized by both anti-B. abortus and anti-Y. enterocolitica O:9 monoclonal antibodies. Three doses of bioconjugate vaccine-elicited B. abortus OPS-specific serum IgG in mice, significantly reducing bacterial loads in the spleen following infection with the B. abortus hypovirulent smooth strain A19. This candidate vaccine mitigated B. abortus infection and prevented severe tissue damage, thereby protecting against lethal challenge with A19. Overall, the results indicated that the bioconjugate vaccine elicited a strong immune response and provided significant protection against brucellosis. The described vaccine preparation strategy is safe and avoids large-scale culture of the highly pathogenic B. abortus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases, New Approaches to Old Problems)
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10 pages, 1687 KiB  
Communication
OXA-48 Carbapenemase in Klebsiella pneumoniae Sequence Type 307 in Ecuador
by José E. Villacís, Jorge A. Reyes, Hugo G. Castelán-Sánchez, Sonia Dávila-Ramos, Miguel Angel Lazo, Ahmad Wali, Luis A. Bodero, Yadira Toapanta, Cristina Naranjo, Lorena Montero, Josefina Campos, Marcelo G. Galas and Mónica C. Gestal
Microorganisms 2020, 8(3), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8030435 - 19 Mar 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4067
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is on the rise, leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases. Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes bronchopneumonia, abscesses, urinary tract infection, osteomyelitis, and a wide variety of infections. The ubiquity of this microorganism [...] Read more.
Antibiotic resistance is on the rise, leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases. Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes bronchopneumonia, abscesses, urinary tract infection, osteomyelitis, and a wide variety of infections. The ubiquity of this microorganism confounds with the great increase in antibiotic resistance and have bred great concern worldwide. K. pneumoniae sequence type (ST) 307 is a widespread emerging clone associated with hospital-acquired infections, although sporadic community infections have also been reported. The aim of our study is to describe the first case of Klebsiella pneumoniae (ST) 307 harboring the blaOXA-48-like gene in Ecuador. We characterized a new plasmid that carry OXA-48 and could be the source of future outbreaks. The strain was recovered from a patient with cancer previously admitted in a Ukrainian hospital, suggesting that this mechanism of resistance could be imported. These findings highlight the importance of programs based on active molecular surveillance for the intercontinental spread of multidrug-resistant microorganisms with emergent carbapenemases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases, New Approaches to Old Problems)
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Review

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19 pages, 1684 KiB  
Review
Application and Perspectives of MALDI–TOF Mass Spectrometry in Clinical Microbiology Laboratories
by Eva Torres-Sangiao, Cristina Leal Rodriguez and Carlos García-Riestra
Microorganisms 2021, 9(7), 1539; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9071539 - 20 Jul 2021
Cited by 56 | Viewed by 12587
Abstract
Early diagnosis of severe infections requires of a rapid and reliable diagnosis to initiate appropriate treatment, while avoiding unnecessary antimicrobial use and reducing associated morbidities and healthcare costs. It is a fact that conventional methods usually require more than 24–48 h to culture [...] Read more.
Early diagnosis of severe infections requires of a rapid and reliable diagnosis to initiate appropriate treatment, while avoiding unnecessary antimicrobial use and reducing associated morbidities and healthcare costs. It is a fact that conventional methods usually require more than 24–48 h to culture and profile bacterial species. Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique that has emerged as a powerful tool in clinical microbiology for identifying peptides and proteins, which makes it a promising tool for microbial identification. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight MS (MALDI–TOF MS) offers a cost- and time-effective alternative to conventional methods, such as bacterial culture and even 16S rRNA gene sequencing, for identifying viruses, bacteria and fungi and detecting virulence factors and mechanisms of resistance. This review provides an overview of the potential applications and perspectives of MS in clinical microbiology laboratories and proposes its use as a first-line method for microbial identification and diagnosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases, New Approaches to Old Problems)
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16 pages, 282 KiB  
Review
Prevention of Clostridium difficile Infection and Associated Diarrhea: An Unsolved Problem
by Nicola Principi, Margherita Gnocchi, Martina Gagliardi, Alberto Argentiero, Cosimo Neglia and Susanna Esposito
Microorganisms 2020, 8(11), 1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8111640 - 23 Oct 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3152
Abstract
For many years, it has been known that Clostridium difficile (CD) is the primary cause of health-care-associated infectious diarrhea, afflicting approximately 1% of hospitalized patients. CD may be simply carried or lead to a mild disease, but in a relevant number of patients, [...] Read more.
For many years, it has been known that Clostridium difficile (CD) is the primary cause of health-care-associated infectious diarrhea, afflicting approximately 1% of hospitalized patients. CD may be simply carried or lead to a mild disease, but in a relevant number of patients, it can cause a very severe, potentially fatal, disease. In this narrative review, the present possibilities of CD infection (CDI) prevention will be discussed. Interventions usually recommended for infection control and prevention can be effective in reducing CDI incidence. However, in order to overcome limitations of these measures and reduce the risk of new CDI episodes, novel strategies have been developed. As most of the cases of CDI follow antibiotic use, attempts to rationalize antibiotic prescriptions have been implemented. Moreover, to reconstitute normal gut microbiota composition and suppress CD colonization in patients given antimicrobial drugs, administration of probiotics has been suggested. Finally, active and passive immunization has been studied. Vaccines containing inactivated CD toxins or components of CD spores have been studied. Passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies against CD toxins or the administration of hyperimmune whey derived from colostrum or breast milk from immunized cows has been tried. However, most advanced methods have significant limitations as they cannot prevent colonization and development of primary CDI. Only the availability of vaccines able to face these problems can allow a resolutive approach to the total burden due to this pathogen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases, New Approaches to Old Problems)
22 pages, 837 KiB  
Review
Postbiotics against Pathogens Commonly Involved in Pediatric Infectious Diseases
by Anastasia Mantziari, Seppo Salminen, Hania Szajewska and Jeadran Nevardo Malagón-Rojas
Microorganisms 2020, 8(10), 1510; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8101510 - 30 Sep 2020
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 5284
Abstract
The Sustainable Development goals for 2020 included reducing all causes associated with infant and perinatal mortality in their priorities. The use of compounds with bioactive properties has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy due to their stimulating effect on the host’s immune system. [...] Read more.
The Sustainable Development goals for 2020 included reducing all causes associated with infant and perinatal mortality in their priorities. The use of compounds with bioactive properties has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy due to their stimulating effect on the host’s immune system. Additionally, biotherapeutic products such as postbiotics, tentatively defined as compounds produced during a fermentation process that support health and well-being, promote intestinal barrier integrity without posing considerable risks to children’s health. Although this is a concept in development, there are increasing studies in the field of nutrition, chemistry, and health that aim to understand how postbiotics can help prevent different types of infections in priority populations such as minors under the age of five. The present review aims to describe the main mechanisms of action of postbiotics. In addition, it presents the available current evidence regarding the effects of postbiotics against pathogens commonly involved in pediatric infections. Postbiotics may constitute a safe alternative capable of modulating the cellular response and stimulating the host’s humoral response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases, New Approaches to Old Problems)
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