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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Han Y, Zhu S, Yan X. Impact of haze on potential pathogens in surface bioaerosol in urban environments. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 355:124164. [PMID: 38754692 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Air quality considerably affects bioaerosol dynamics within the atmosphere. Frequent haze events, with their associated alterations in bioaerosol composition, may pose potential health risks. This study investigated the microbial diversity, community structure, and factors of PM2.5 within an urban environment. We further examined the impact of haze on potentially pathogenic bacteria in bioaerosols, and analyzed the sources of haze pollution. Key findings revealed that the highest levels of microbial richness and diversity were associated with lightly polluted air conditions. While the overall bacterial community structure remained relatively consistent across different air quality levels, the relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa exhibited variations. Meteorological and environmental conditions, particularly sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide, exerted a greater influence on bacterial diversity and community structure compared to the physicochemical properties of the PM2.5 particles themselves. Notably, haze events were observed to strengthen interactions among airborne pathogens. Stable carbon isotope analysis suggested that coal combustion and automobile exhaust were likely to represent the primary source of haze during winter months. These findings indicate that adoption of clean energy alternatives such as natural gas and electricity, and the use of public transportation, is crucial to mitigate particle and harmful pollutant emissions, thereby protecting public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Yunping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Shuai Zhu
- School of Environment, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan, China.
| | - Xu Yan
- School of Environment, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan, China.
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Nathar S, Rajmichael R, Jeyaraj Pandian C, Nagarajan H, Mathimaran A, Kingsley JD, Jeyaraman J. Exploring Nocardia's ecological spectrum and novel therapeutic frontiers through whole-genome sequencing: unraveling drug resistance and virulence factors. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:76. [PMID: 38267747 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03799-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Nocardia farcinica is the leading pathogen responsible for nocardiosis, a life-threatening infection primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. In this study, the genomic sequence of a clinically isolated N. farcinica sample was sequenced. Subsequently, the assembled genome was annotated to identify antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, as well as plasmid and prophages. The analysis of the entire genome size was 6,021,225 bp, with a GC content of 70.78% and consists of 103 contigs and N50 values of 292,531 bp. The genome analysis revealed the presence of several antimicrobial resistance genes, including RbpA, mtrA, FAR-1, blaFAR-1, blaFAR-1_1, and rox. In addition, virulence genes such as relA, icl, and mbtH were also detected. The present study signifies that N. farcinica genome is pivotal for the understanding of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes is crucial for comprehending resistance mechanism, and developing effective strategies to combat bacterial infections effectively, especially adhesins and toxins. This study aids in identifying crucial drug targets for combating multidrug-resistant N. farcinica in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaslinah Nathar
- Structural Biology and Bio-Computing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Science Block, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Raji Rajmichael
- Structural Biology and Bio-Computing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Science Block, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Chitra Jeyaraj Pandian
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Umayal Ramanathan College for Women, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Hemavathy Nagarajan
- Structural Biology and Bio-Computing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Science Block, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ahila Mathimaran
- Structural Biology and Bio-Computing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Science Block, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jemima D Kingsley
- Orbito Asia Diagnostics Private Limited Coimbatore, Coimbatore, 641 045, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jeyakanthan Jeyaraman
- Structural Biology and Bio-Computing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Science Block, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Kim S, Shi HJ, Jeon CH, Kim SB, Yi J, Kim AR, Kim KH, Lim S. Clinical Characteristics of Nocardiosis: a Multicenter Retrospective Study in Korea. Infect Chemother 2023; 55:431-440. [PMID: 37674336 PMCID: PMC10771949 DOI: 10.3947/ic.2023.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nocardiosis is a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition. It is difficult to diagnose, and bacterial culture identification can be time consuming. We investigated the characteristics of nocardiosis and the suitability of the treatment approach in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study was conducted at 5 medical institutions between 2011 and 2021. We reviewed the medical records of patients with microbiologically confirmed nocardiosis. Appropriate antibiotic selection was defined as follows: (1) selecting antibiotics according to the species, (2) if the species of Nocardia was unknown, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-based therapy or linezolid-based therapy was administered, and (3) selection of antibiotics using the antibiotic susceptibility test. The appropriate treatment periods for antibiotics were defined as treatment maintained from 3 to 12 months, depending on involvement of the organs. Descriptive analysis and Fisher exact test were used. Statistical significance was set at P-values of <0.05. RESULTS Thirty patients were enrolled. Of these patients, 18 (60.0%) were male. The median age was 70.5 years. Among the diagnosed patients, 12 (40.0%) had an immunocompromised status. Eight (30.0%) patients received optimal treatment for the appropriate treatment period. Appropriate dosing duration was observed in 3 of the 12 (25.0%) immunocompromised patients. There was no significant difference between the presence or absence of immunosuppression and the adequacy of treatment for nocardiosis (P = 1.000). Skin and soft tissue (14 patients) were most frequently involved in this study. Nocardia species (spp.) were isolated from culture at a median of 6.0 days. There were 7 cases with N. farcinica (23.3%). CONCLUSION We found that 60.0% of the patients with nocardiosis did not have an immunocompromised status. Further, 26.7% of the total patients received adequate treatment for nocardiosis. The reasons for suboptimal management of nocardiosis in Korea are presumed to be diagnostic difficulties, lack of awareness about nocardiosis, and difficulties in selecting antibiotics for Nocardia spp. among clinicians. The lack of antibiotic susceptibility tests for Nocardia spp. could be the source of these problems. Nocardiosis should be suspected in cases of recurrent infections with skin and soft tissue, musculoskeletal, or respiratory system involvement with or without an immunocompromised status. Clinical microbiological support is required for the diagnosis and selection of antibiotics in Korea. High clinical index of suspicion and clinical microbiological support are required for the accurate diagnosis of nocardiosis in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seulki Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
- Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
| | - Hye Jin Shi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
| | - Cheon-Hoo Jeon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Korea
| | - Sun Bean Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jongyoun Yi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
- Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - A Reum Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
- Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
| | - Kye-Hyung Kim
- Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
| | - Seungjin Lim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
- Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
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Zhou Y, Yang N, Ruan S, Wu S, Yu D, Jin J. Lung cancer patient with Tropheryma whipplei and Nocardia co-infection. Ultrastruct Pathol 2023; 47:451-459. [PMID: 37533314 DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2023.2241888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
A 34-year-old male presented with lung shadow and was asymptomatic during medical examination. The patient had a prior history of thyroid tumors. Imaging manifestation showed a nodule in the medial segment of the right middle lobe, with partial obstruction of the distal bronchus within the lesion. Ground-glass and inflammatory nodules were observed in the anterior segment of the right upper lobe, as well as chronic inflammatory changes in the lower lobe of the right lung. Lung histopathological examination suggested invasive adenocarcinoma. A morphological examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed the presence of Tropheryma whipplei (TW) and Nocardia. Although TW infection has been reported in cancer patients, co-infection with Nocardia is a unique occurrence in this case. Opportunistic pathogens are common in immunocompromised patients but in this case, the patient was a young adult with normal immunity and an early-stage tumor with TW and Nocardia co-infection. We demonstrated the presence of rare microorganisms through imaging findings, combined with different staining methods of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue sections and evaluation of morphological characteristics. The aim of the present study was to provide early diagnosis and treatment of patients by improving microbial morphological detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuli Zhou
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.261 Huan Sha Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nan Yang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Senlin Ruan
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.261 Huan Sha Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shenghai Wu
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.261 Huan Sha Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Daojun Yu
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.261 Huan Sha Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Juan Jin
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
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Jose N, Thomas A, Jasper S, Jose D, Manesh A, Varughese S. All that Ulcers is not Vasculitis- The Case of a Mistaken Identity. Indian J Nephrol 2023; 33:392-393. [PMID: 37881750 PMCID: PMC10593293 DOI: 10.4103/ijn.ijn_182_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Jose
- Department of Nephrology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Athul Thomas
- Department of Nephrology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Smitha Jasper
- Department of Ophthalmology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Deepa Jose
- Department of Ophthalmology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abi Manesh
- Department of Infectious Disease, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Santosh Varughese
- Department of Nephrology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
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Yang W, Liu T. Disseminated Nocardiosis with Pulmonary Fungus and Secondary Epilepsy: A Case Report. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:3919-3925. [PMID: 35909935 PMCID: PMC9329676 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s371903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Disseminated nocardiosis is a rare, life-threatening disease that usually found in immunocompromised patients, and Nocardia farcinica is one of the most common causative pathogens. The difficulty in identifying the bacterium and the delay in initiating appropriate therapy often influence the prognosis of patients with disseminated nocardiosis. Here, we present a rare case of disseminated nocardiosis in a 61-year-old female with pulmonary fungus and secondary epilepsy. She received targeted antibiotic therapy and showed a great recovery in clinical symptoms and radiological signs. Disseminated nocardiosis can be easily overlooked due to the absence of characteristic symptoms and limitations of clinical examinations. Given the variability in antibiotic susceptibility patterns, the management of disseminated nocardiosis must be individualized. Therefore, early diagnosis and targeted antibiotic treatment are critical for the prognosis of disseminated nocardiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Yang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
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Wu J, Li X, Zhang T, Lin X, Chen YC. Disseminated Nocardia farcinica involves the spinal cord: a case report and review of the literature. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:1224. [PMID: 34876035 PMCID: PMC8650257 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06905-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Nocardia is a relatively rare opportunistic pathogenic bacteria group, commonly seen in patients with immunocompromised or defective immune system. It can affect multiple organs of the body and cause disseminated infection, among which most occurs in the lung, secondly in the nervous system, soft tissues, rare in the spinal cord and pituitary. No case has been reported involving lung, spinal cord, skin and pituitary gland at the same time. Case presentation We report a 55-year-old female with Nocardia infection involving the lung, skin, spinal cord, and pituitary gland. The patient underwent a full set of imaging examinations and showed typical imaging findings. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed multiple nodules with cavities in the lungs. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the vertebral body showed abnormal signal of the entire spinal cord with cavity formation and ring enhancement. The subcutaneous nodules of the abdomen were punctured under ultrasound. Through the etiological tissue culture of subcutaneous nodules and the second generation sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid, the diagnosis was finally confirmed. Conclusion Disseminated Nocardiosis is an uncommon disease. This article will report a rare case of disseminated Nocardiosis simultaneously involving the lung, spinal cord, subcutaneous soft tissue and pituitary gland, especially with neuropathy as the initial symptom. Imaging is helpful for the early diagnosis of the disease and pathological and microbiological examinations are helpful for its confirming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No.68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 21006, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoran Li
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No.68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 21006, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Lin
- Department of Laboratory, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Chen Chen
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No.68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 21006, People's Republic of China.
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Pan L, Wang XH, Meng FQ, Su XM, Li Y, Xu MT, Su FY, Kong DL, Wang W. Membranous Nephropathy Complicated with Disseminated Nocardia farcinica Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review. Infect Drug Resist 2021; 14:4157-4166. [PMID: 34675560 PMCID: PMC8517639 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s331737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Disseminated infection caused by Nocardia farcinica with primary nephrotic syndrome is exceedingly rare. A 66-year-old female visited the outpatient department due to fever and fatigue who had been diagnosed as membranous nephropathy and with a long-term prednisone and immunosuppressive therapy. After lung biopsy for many times, culture from space-occupying lesion of the right lung and species identification by mass spectrometry-based methods (MALDI-TOF) revealed Nocardia farcinica. By imaging examination, space-occupying lesions from the lungs, brain, abdominal cavity and kidney were found. After 2 weeks of meropenem intravenous and up to 6 months of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) therapy, our patient has remained relapse-free at that time of writing. Disseminated infection caused by Nocardia farcinica is usually subacute with complex clinical manifestations. In addition, it can be easily confused with diseases such as tumor and mycobacterial infection, and lead to fatal consequences. Therefore, we hope that we can remind clinicians considering by discussing common features of disseminated Nocardia farcinica infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Pan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China.,Liaoning Provincial Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu-Hao Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan-Qi Meng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Ming Su
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming-Tao Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng-Yuan Su
- China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - De-Lei Kong
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
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