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Nat Commun 2022 Jun 24;13(1):3608. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.

Many key insights into actin regulation have been derived through examining how microbial pathogens intercept the actin cytoskeleton during infection. Mycobacterium marinum, a close relative of the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, polymerizes host actin at the bacterial surface to drive intracellular movement and cell-to-cell spread during infection. However, the mycobacterial factor that commandeers actin polymerization has remained elusive. Read More

Bioorg Chem 2022 Jun 7:105929. Epub 2022 Jun 7.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.

Twenty-three new riminophenazine and pyrido[3,2-b]quinoxaline derivatives were prepared and examined for their antimycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, taking clofazimine (1) as the lead. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis revealed that the introduction of a heterocycle or diethylamine substituted benzene moiety on the N-5 atom might be beneficial for activity. The most potent compound 7m also displayed enhanced activity against wild-type as well as multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB clinical isolates, with the MICs ranging from 0. Read More

mSphere 2022 Jun 13:e0015622. Epub 2022 Jun 13.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill Universitygrid.14709.3b, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

In mammalian cells, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are mainly repaired by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway. Ku (a heterodimer formed by Ku70 and Ku80 proteins) and DNA ligase IV are the core NHEJ factors. Ku could also be involved in other cellular processes, including telomere length regulation, DNA replication, transcription, and translation control. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 25;13:893611. Epub 2022 May 25.

Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

The NOD-like receptors (NLRs) have been shown to be involved in infection and autoinflammatory disease. Previously, we identified a zebrafish NLR, , required for macrophage homeostasis in the brain under physiological conditions. Here, we found that a deficiency of leads to decreased bacterial burden at a very early stage of infection, along with increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as and . Read More

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2022 Jun 9:102952. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

The Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining 272000, Shandong, China; Department of Dermatology, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Jining 272001, Shandong, China. Electronic address:

Cutaneous infectious granulomas are mainly caused by fungi and bacteria. Antibiotics are the primary therapeutic choices for the diseases, but the drug-resistant pathogens become increasingly prevalent. Thus, there is an urgent need to explore novel approaches to treating cutaneous infectious granulomas. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022 Jun 7;119(24):e2123100119. Epub 2022 Jun 7.

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

The ESX-1 (ESAT-6-system-1) system and the protein substrates it transports are essential for mycobacterial pathogenesis. The precise ways that ESX-1 substrates contribute to virulence remains unknown. Several known ESX-1 substrates are also required for the secretion of other proteins. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022 16;12:851197. Epub 2022 May 16.

Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a crucial factor in the control of () infection. Pathogenic mycobacteria can inhibit and/or regulate host cell TNF-α production in a variety of ways to evade antituberculosis (anti-TB) immunity as well as facilitate immune escape. However, the mechanisms by which TNF-α expression in host cells is modulated to the benefit of mycobacteria is still an interesting topic and needs further study. Read More

Infection 2022 May 24. Epub 2022 May 24.

Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy.

Mycobacterium marinum is a nontuberculous mycobacterium responsible of infections in humans, ranging from skin infection to disseminated infection in immunocompromised hosts. Clinical suspicion and prompt diagnosis are crucial to prescribe appropriate antimycobacterial treatment and avoid sequelae. Read More

Microb Pathog 2022 Jun 16;167:105590. Epub 2022 May 16.

Tuberculosis Research Program at the Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia; The University of Sydney, Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia; A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore. Electronic address:

Mycobacterium abscessus infections are of increasing global prevalence and are often difficult to treat due to complex antibiotic resistance profiles. While there are similarities between the pathogenesis of M. abscessus and tuberculous mycobacteria, including granuloma formation and stromal remodelling, there are distinct molecular differences at the host-pathogen interface. Read More

J Vet Res 2022 Mar 25;66(1):69-76. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Department of Biology and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland.

Introduction: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly recognised as causative agents of opportunistic infections in humans for which effective treatment is challenging. There is very little information on the prevalence of NTM drug resistance in Poland. This study was aimed to evaluate the susceptibility to antibiotics of NTM, originally isolated from diseased ornamental fish. Read More

Microbiol Spectr 2022 May 17:e0115821. Epub 2022 May 17.

Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgiagrid.213876.9, Athens, Georgia, USA.

Mycobacterium shottsii is a dysgonic, nonpigmented mycobacterium originally isolated from diseased striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in the Chesapeake Bay, USA. Genomic analysis reveals that M. shottsii is a Mycobacterium ulcerans/Mycobacterium marinum clade (MuMC) member, but unlike the superficially similar M. Read More

Life Sci Alliance 2022 09 11;5(9). Epub 2022 May 11.

Tuberculosis Research Program Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia

Pathogenic mycobacteria inhibit inflammasome activation to establish infection. Although it is known that potassium efflux is a trigger for inflammasome activation, the interaction between mycobacterial infection, potassium efflux, and inflammasome activation has not been investigated. Here, we use infection of zebrafish embryos and infection of THP-1 cells to demonstrate that pathogenic mycobacteria up-regulate the host WNK signalling pathway kinases SPAK and OXSR1 which control intracellular potassium balance. Read More

Pathog Dis 2022 04;80(1)

Tuberculosis Research Program at the Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.

Mycobacterial granuloma formation involves significant stromal remodeling including the growth of leaky, granuloma-associated vasculature. These permeable blood vessels aid mycobacterial growth, as antiangiogenic or vascular normalizing therapies are beneficial host-directed therapies in preclinical models of tuberculosis across host-mycobacterial pairings. Using the zebrafish-Mycobacterium marinum infection model, we demonstrate that vascular normalization by inhibition of vascular endothelial protein tyrosine phosphatase (VE-PTP) decreases granuloma hypoxia, the opposite effect of hypoxia-inducing antiangiogenic therapy. Read More

An Bras Dermatol 2022 May-Jun;97(3):366-368. Epub 2022 Apr 12.

Hospital Universitário Professor Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.

The number of skin infections caused by atypical mycobacteria has increased in recent decades. They usually appear after contact with wounds and interruptions in the integrity of the skin. The present report describes a case of cutaneous infection by Mycobacterium marinum, in a young, immunocompetent patient, with a prolonged evolution, diagnosed through a skin lesion culture (from a spindle biopsy of the skin). Read More

Front Immunol 2022 24;13:838425. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

IRMB, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France.

The molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with tissue degradation or regeneration in an infectious context are poorly defined. Herein, we explored the role of macrophages in orchestrating either tissue regeneration or degradation in zebrafish embryos pre-infected with the fish pathogen . Zebrafish were inoculated with different infectious doses of prior to fin resection. Read More

Skin Res Technol 2022 05 3;28(3):489-490. Epub 2022 Apr 3.

Shandong Provincial Hospital for Skin Diseases, Shandong First Medical University, Shandong, China.

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2022 Jun 31;38:102839. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

The Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong 272000, China; Department of Dermatology, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong 272001, China. Electronic address:

Background: Although 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) has been extensively used to treat various skin diseases, application for the treatment of cutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium marinum (M. marinum), especially drug-resistant M. marinum, is unclear. Read More

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2022 Jul 25;221:106097. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. Electronic address:

Members of the CYP51 family of cytochrome P450 enzymes are classified as sterol demethylases involved in the metabolic formation of cholesterol and related derivatives. The CYP51 enzyme from Mycobacterium marinum was studied and compared to its counterpart from Mycobacterium tuberculosis to determine the degree of functional conservation between them. Spectroscopic analyses of substrate and inhibitor binding of the purified CYP51 enzymes from M. Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2022 Mar 3;10(3). Epub 2022 Mar 3.

College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA.

The genus mycobacterium includes several species that are known to cause infections in humans. The microorganisms are classified into tuberculous and non-tuberculous based on their morphological characteristics, defined by the dynamic relationship between the host defenses and the infectious agent. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) include all the species of mycobacterium other than the ones that cause tuberculosis (TB). Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2022 Mar 15;23(6). Epub 2022 Mar 15.

Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic.

A series of eighteen 4-chlorocinnamanilides and eighteen 3,4-dichlorocinnamanilides were designed, prepared and characterized. All compounds were evaluated for their activity against gram-positive bacteria and against two mycobacterial strains. Viability on both cancer and primary mammalian cell lines was also assessed. Read More

Infection 2022 Mar 23. Epub 2022 Mar 23.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Hapseong-dong, Masanhoewon-gu, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam, Republic of Korea.

Purpose: We retrospectively investigated NTM musculoskeletal infections to understand the clinical characteristics as well as the diagnostic performance of molecular tests as a useful supplementary test.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2016 to December 2019. Intraoperative specimens for culture and pathological analysis were obtained during surgery under sterile conditions. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2022 Apr 16;9(4):ofac077. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Background: is a nontuberculous mycobacterium that causes skin and soft tissue infections. Treatment consists of multiple antibiotics, sometimes combined with surgical debridement. There is little evidence for the choice of antibiotics, the duration of treatment, and the role of susceptibility testing. Read More

Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022 05 18;64:128692. Epub 2022 Mar 18.

Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, LISM, IMM FR3479, Marseille, France. Electronic address:

With the aim to discover new antituberculous molecules, three novel series of 23 hydroxamic acids, 13 hydrazides, and 9O-alkyl/O-acyl protected hydroxamic acid derivatives have been synthesized, and fully characterized by spectral H NMR, C NMR, HRMS) analysis. These compounds were further biologically screened for their in vitro antibacterial activities against three pathogenic mycobacteria - M. abscessus S and R, M. Read More

Cureus 2022 Feb 10;14(2):e22105. Epub 2022 Feb 10.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.

Background In this study, we present our experience with community-acquired, culture-positive, non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections of the hand and wrist and compare the clinical features, risk factors, diagnostic delays, and treatment outcomes among patients referred for surgical consultation at our institution over a five-year period. Methodology We retrospectively identified patients on chart review who were diagnosed with culture-positive, extrapulmonary, cutaneous NTM infections between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018. Only patients with community-acquired NTM infections of the hand and wrist were included. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022 03 10;119(11):e2122161119. Epub 2022 Mar 10.

Molecular Immunity Unit, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB2 OQH Cambridge, United Kingdom.

SignificanceTuberculosis (TB), an ancient disease of humanity, continues to be a major cause of worldwide death. The causative agent of TB, , and its close pathogenic relative , initially infect, evade, and exploit macrophages, a major host defense against invading pathogens. Within macrophages, mycobacteria reside within host membrane-bound compartments called phagosomes. Read More

Microbiol Spectr 2022 04 10;10(2):e0044321. Epub 2022 Mar 10.

Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Torontogrid.17063.33, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Granulomas are the pathological hallmark of tuberculosis (TB). In individuals with latent TB infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells reside within granulomas in a nonreplicating dormant state, and a portion of them will develop active TB. Little is known on the bacterial mechanisms/factors involved in this process. Read More

J Invertebr Pathol 2022 05 2;190:107735. Epub 2022 Mar 2.

C.N.R. Water Research Institute (IRSA), Taranto, Italy.

Since early autumn 2016, Mass Mortality Events (MME) have drastically impacted the population of the fan mussel Pinna nobilis in the Mediterranean Sea. Haplosporidium pinnae, a newly described Haplosporidian species, has been considered the causative agent of the mortality outbreaks in association to opportunistic bacterial pathogens. In the present study, we first reported a cytological description of H. Read More

Cureus 2022 Jan 19;14(1):e21420. Epub 2022 Jan 19.

Infectious Disease, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, USA.

is a pathogen that causes skin and soft tissue infections in people who work with contaminated water, such as fish handlers. infection is mostly limited to patients with compromised immune systems. As per current guidelines, susceptibility testing is not routinely recommended although sporadic cases have been reported with resistance to routinely prescribed anti-tuberculous drugs. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2022 4;9:824122. Epub 2022 Feb 4.

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.

We present the first report of histology- and culture-proven infection diagnosed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). It took <2 days to make a microbiological diagnosis using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies' MinION device, compared to 20 days for the mycobacterium to be isolated from the tissue biopsy. NGS is particularly useful for culture-negative and slow-growing microorganism infections, such as mycobacterial, fungal and partially treated pyogenic bacterial infections. Read More

Can Vet J 2022 02;63(2):133-138

Laboratoire de santé animale de Saint-Hyacinthe, Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), 3220 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 7X9 (Chénier); Service vétérinaire à domicile pour oiseaux et animaux exotiques, 4145, rue Jean Renou, Lachine, Québec H8T 1N4 (Tremblay); Ottawa Laboratory (Fallowfield), Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario K2H 8P9 (Lloyd, Duceppe, Andrievskaia).

A commercial breeding colony of bearded dragons experienced an increase in mortality that affected females only. Before death, the animals had lost appetite and weight, were dehydrated, and some had labored breathing. Necropsy revealed granulomas in many organs (ovaries, lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, bone marrow) in which numerous acid-fast bacteria were identified. Read More