Bordetella hinzii Pneumonia and Bacteremia in a Patient with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Chemical Synthesis and Antigenic Evaluation of Oligosaccharides of Bordetella hinzii O-Antigen Containing Unique Amidated 2,3-Diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-alduronic Acids

Bordetella hinzii is a zoonotic pathogen, which can cause brain abscess, pneumonia, bacteremia, and urinary tract infection. Vaccines are economical and effective means for combating infectious diseases. Herein, we present the first total synthesis of the highly functionalized mono- and oligosaccharides of B. hinzii O-antigen for vaccine development. The rare 2,3-diacetamidopyranoses were generated from 3-O-acetyl-2-nitroglycals via an organocatalyzed one-pot relay glycosylation method. The postglycosylation oxidation strategy was used to overcome the poor reactivity of 2,3-diacetamido-aldouronic acid building blocks in glycosylation reactions. Direct amidation of alduronic acid with NH3 in the late stage reduced the protecting group operation and increased the synthetic efficiency. Di-tert-butylsilylidene-directed α-galactosylation method was used to construct challenging 1,2-cis-glycosidic bond. Six oligosaccharides of B. hinzii O-antigen were obtained and further conjugated to human serum albumin for antigenicity evaluation (the sera antibodies were obtained from vaccinated mouse via inactivated B. hinzii). The terminal tetrasaccharide of B. hinzii O-antigen has been identified as a potential glycol-epitope and might be useful for vaccine development against B. hinzii.

Transcriptional diversification in a human-adapting zoonotic pathogen drives niche-specific evolution

Bacterial pathogens can undergo striking adaptive evolutionary change in the context of infection, driven by selection forces associated with host defenses and antibiotic treatment. In this work, we analyze the transcriptional landscape associated with adaptation in an emerging zoonotic pathogen, Bordetella hinzii, as it evolved during a 45-month infection in an IL12Rβ1-deficient immunocompromised host. We find evidence of multiple niche-specific modifications in the intravascular and gastrointestinal compartments, involving the superoxide dismutase system, glutamate and ectoine metabolism, chaperone-mediated protein folding, pilus organization, and peptide transport. Individual blood lineages displayed modifications in glutathione, phenylacetate, and 3-phenylpropionate metabolism, iron cluster assembly, and electron transport, whereas individual gastrointestinal lineages demonstrated changes relating to gluconeogenesis, de novo pyrimidine synthesis, and transport of peptides and phosphate ions. Down regulation of the flagellar operon with corresponding loss of flagellar structures occurred in multiple lineages, suggesting an evolutionary tradeoff between motility and host immune evasion. Finally, methylome analysis demonstrates alteration of global genome methylation associated with loss of a Type III methyltransferase. Our findings reveal striking plasticity in how pathogen transcriptomes explore functional space as they evolve in the context of host infection, and demonstrate that such analysis may uncover phenotypic adaptations not apparent from genomic analysis alone.

Uncovering the Unseen: Bordetella hinzii Emerges in a Lung Transplant Recipient

Bordetella hinzii (B. hinzii), a Gram-negative bacillus commonly associated with respiratory infections in animals, has garnered attention for its sporadic cases in humans, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Despite its opportunistic nature, there remains limited understanding regarding its pathogenicity, diagnostic challenges, and optimal treatment strategies, especially in the context of immunosuppression. Herein, we present the first documented case of acute bronchitis caused by B. hinzii in an immunocompromised patient following double-lung transplantation. The patient, a former smoker with sarcoidosis stage IV, underwent transplant surgery and subsequently developed a febrile episode, leading to the identification of B. hinzii in broncho-alveolar lavage samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed resistance to multiple antibiotics, necessitating tailored treatment adjustments. Our case underscores the importance of heightened awareness among clinicians regarding B. hinzii infections and the imperative for further research to elucidate its epidemiology and optimal management strategies, particularly in immunocompromised populations.

Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella pertussis: Similarities and Differences in Infection, Immuno-Modulation, and Vaccine Considerations

Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica belong to the genus Bordetella, which comprises 14 other species. B. pertussis is responsible for whooping cough in humans, a severe infection in children and less severe or chronic in adults. These infections are restricted to humans and currently increasing worldwide. B. bronchiseptica is involved in diverse respiratory infections in a wide range of mammals. For instance, the canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), characterized by a chronic cough in dogs. At the same time, it is increasingly implicated in human infections, while remaining an important pathogen in the veterinary field. Both Bordetella can evade and modulate host immune responses to support their persistence, although it is more pronounced in B. bronchiseptica infection. The protective immune responses elicited by both pathogens are comparable, while there are important characteristics in the mechanisms that differ. However, B. pertussis pathogenesis is more difficult to decipher in animal models than those of B. bronchiseptica because of its restriction to humans. Nevertheless, the licensed vaccines for each Bordetella are different in terms of formulation, route of administration and immune responses induced, with no known cross-reaction between them. Moreover, the target of the mucosal tissues and the induction of long-lasting cellular and humoral responses are required to control and eliminate Bordetella. In addition, the interaction between both veterinary and human fields are essential for the control of this genus, by preventing the infections in animals and the subsequent zoonotic transmission to humans.

Piezoelectric Nanozyme for Dual-Driven Catalytic Eradication of Bacterial Biofilms

Catalytic nanomedicine can in situ catalytically generate bactericidal species under external stimuli to defend against bacterial infections. However, bacterial biofilms seriously impede the catalytic efficacy of traditional nanocatalysts. In this work, MoSe2 nanoflowers (NFs) as piezoelectric nanozymes were constructed for dual-driven catalytic eradication of multi-drug-resistant bacterial biofilms. In the biofilm microenvironment, the piezoelectricity of MoSe2 NFs was cascaded with their enzyme-mimic activity, including glutathione oxidase-mimic and peroxidase-mimic activity. As a result, the oxidative stress in the biofilms was sharply elevated under ultrasound irradiation, achieving a 4.0 log10 reduction of bacterial cells. The in vivo studies reveal that the MoSe2 NFs efficiently relieve the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacterial burden in mice under the control of ultrasound at a low power density. Moreover, because of the surface coating of antioxidant poly(ethyleneimine), the dual-driven catalysis of MoSe2 NFs was retarded in normal tissues to minimize the off-target damage and favor the wound healing process. Therefore, the cascade of piezoelectricity and enzyme-mimic activity in MoSe2 NFs reveals a dual-driven strategy for improving the performance of catalytic nanomaterials in the eradication of bacterial biofilms.

Bordetella hinzii Pneumonia in Patient with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 might have bacterial and fungal superinfections develop. We describe a clinical case of coronavirus disease with pulmonary aspergillosis associated with Bordetella hinzii pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient in France. B. hinzii infections are rare in humans and develop secondary to immunosuppression or debilitating diseases.