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Kara SS, Polat M, Erdeniz EH, Donmez AS. Pediatric Oropharyngeal Tularemia Cases: Challenges in Management. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024. [PMID: 38651622 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Tularemia is one of the most prevalent zoonoses across the world. Patients in Turkiye mostly contract the oropharyngeal form, acquired through drinking, or contact with microorganism-contaminated water. Methods: Patients with oropharyngeal tularemia aged under 18 years and diagnosed between January 01, 2017, and December 31, 2020, were evaluated retrospectively. Tularemia was diagnosed in patients with compatible histories, symptoms, clinical presentations, and laboratory test results. Results: The mean age of 38 children was 12.1 ± 3.4 years, and the female/male ratio was 0.58 (14/24). The mean duration of symptoms on admission was 33.8 ± 26.2 days. All children had enlarged lymph nodes. Malaise, fever, and loss of appetite were other frequent symptoms. Patients were treated with antibiotics for a mean of 26.2 ± 18.8 days. Gentamycin was the most frequently used antibiotic (either alone or in combination) (n = 29, 76.3%). Twenty-six (68.4%) patients underwent surgical procedures in addition to antibiotherapy. Five (13.2%) required secondary total excision. Patients with higher leukocyte counts at admission received a combination of antibiotherapy plus surgery, rather than antibiotics alone. No relapses, reretreatment requirement, or mortality were observed after 12 months of follow-up. Conclusions: Oropharyngeal tularemia in children can require longer courses of antibiotic treatment with more than one drug and more frequent surgery than previously suggested in the literature, especially if the patients are admitted late to the hospital, symptom duration is prolonged, and appropriate treatment is initiated late. Higher leukocyte counts on admission may be prognostic for longer antibiotic treatment course and suppurative complications that require surgery. Raising awareness among patients and physicians is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soner Sertan Kara
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkiye
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkiye
| | - Meltem Polat
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkiye
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkiye
| | - Emine Hafize Erdeniz
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkiye
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Samsun Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkiye
| | - Ayşe Sena Donmez
- Department of Pediatrics, Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkiye
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2
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Maddock KJ, Rickey CV, Pecoraro HL. Wild lagomorphs as potential sources of Francisella tularensis in an urban zoo: a case study. J Vet Diagn Invest 2024:10406387241248608. [PMID: 38653738 DOI: 10.1177/10406387241248608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
A 9-y-old captive male Pallas' cat (Otocolobus manul) had a 1-mo history of worsening lameness and was euthanized. The animal was submitted to the North Dakota State University-Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for autopsy with differential diagnoses of suspected degenerative joint disease or neoplasia. Autopsy revealed icteric tissues and pinpoint foci in the liver, spleen, and all lung lobes. PCR testing was positive for Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia. Additional cases of tularemia were later identified in wild eastern cottontail rabbits found dead at the same urban zoo. Tularemia has been reported in captive non-human primates and rodent populations with one case linked to wild lagomorph exposure, which was likely the route of exposure in our Pallas' cat case. Tularemia is an occupational risk for zoo staff and laboratorians. Pest management and disease surveillance of wild lagomorph populations in zoos are important preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli J Maddock
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | | | - Heidi L Pecoraro
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
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Pavkova I, Bavlovic J, Kubelkova K, Stulik J, Klimentova J. Protective potential of outer membrane vesicles derived from a virulent strain of Francisella tularensis. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1355872. [PMID: 38533334 PMCID: PMC10963506 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1355872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis secretes tubular outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that contain a number of immunoreactive proteins as well as virulence factors. We have reported previously that isolated Francisella OMVs enter macrophages, cumulate inside, and induce a strong pro-inflammatory response. In the current article, we present that OMVs treatment of macrophages also enhances phagocytosis of the bacteria and suppresses their intracellular replication. On the other hand, the subsequent infection with Francisella is able to revert to some extent the strong pro-inflammatory effect induced by OMVs in macrophages. Being derived from the bacterial surface, isolated OMVs may be considered a "non-viable mixture of Francisella antigens" and as such, they present a promising protective material. Immunization of mice with OMVs isolated from a virulent F. tularensis subsp. holarctica strain FSC200 prolonged the survival time but did not fully protect against the infection with a lethal dose of the parent strain. However, the sera of the immunized animals revealed unambiguous cytokine and antibody responses and proved to recognize a set of well-known Francisella immunoreactive proteins. For these reasons, Francisella OMVs present an interesting material for future protective studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jana Klimentova
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Military Faculty of Medicine, University of Defence, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
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Herron ICT, Laws TR, Nelson M. Marmosets as models of infectious diseases. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1340017. [PMID: 38465237 PMCID: PMC10921895 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1340017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal models of infectious disease often serve a crucial purpose in obtaining licensure of therapeutics and medical countermeasures, particularly in situations where human trials are not feasible, i.e., for those diseases that occur infrequently in the human population. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a Neotropical new-world (platyrrhines) non-human primate, has gained increasing attention as an animal model for a number of diseases given its small size, availability and evolutionary proximity to humans. This review aims to (i) discuss the pros and cons of the common marmoset as an animal model by providing a brief snapshot of how marmosets are currently utilized in biomedical research, (ii) summarize and evaluate relevant aspects of the marmoset immune system to the study of infectious diseases, (iii) provide a historical backdrop, outlining the significance of infectious diseases and the importance of developing reliable animal models to test novel therapeutics, and (iv) provide a summary of infectious diseases for which a marmoset model exists, followed by an in-depth discussion of the marmoset models of two studied bacterial infectious diseases (tularemia and melioidosis) and one viral infectious disease (viral hepatitis C).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C. T. Herron
- CBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Salisbury, United Kingdom
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Cantlay S, Garrison NL, Patterson R, Wagner K, Kirk Z, Fan J, Primerano DA, Sullivan MLG, Franks JM, Stolz DB, Horzempa J. Phenotypic and transcriptional characterization of F. tularensis LVS during transition into a viable but non-culturable state. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1347488. [PMID: 38380104 PMCID: PMC10877056 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1347488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative, intracellular pathogen which can cause serious, potentially fatal, illness in humans. Species of F. tularensis are found across the Northern Hemisphere and can infect a broad range of host species, including humans. Factors affecting the persistence of F. tularensis in the environment and its epidemiology are not well understood, however, the ability of F. tularensis to enter a viable but non-culturable state (VBNC) may be important. A broad range of bacteria, including many pathogens, have been observed to enter the VBNC state in response to stressful environmental conditions, such as nutrient limitation, osmotic or oxidative stress or low temperature. To investigate the transition into the VBNC state for F. tularensis, we analyzed the attenuated live vaccine strain, F. tularensis LVS grown under standard laboratory conditions. We found that F. tularensis LVS rapidly and spontaneously enters a VBNC state in broth culture at 37°C and that this transition coincides with morphological differentiation of the cells. The VBNC bacteria retained an ability to interact with both murine macrophages and human erythrocytes in in vitro assays and were insensitive to treatment with gentamicin. Finally, we present the first transcriptomic analysis of VBNC F. tularensis, which revealed clear differences in gene expression, and we identify sets of differentially regulated genes which are specific to the VBNC state. Identification of these VBNC specific genes will pave the way for future research aimed at dissecting the molecular mechanisms driving entry into the VBNC state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Cantlay
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, United States
| | - Nicole L. Garrison
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, United States
| | - Rachelle Patterson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, United States
| | - Kassey Wagner
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, United States
| | - Zoei Kirk
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, United States
| | - Jun Fan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Donald A. Primerano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Mara L. G. Sullivan
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jonathan M. Franks
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Donna B. Stolz
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Joseph Horzempa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, United States
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Azimi T, Nasrollahian S, Sabour S, Hadi N, Azimi L, Fallah F, Pourmand MR. Detection of Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp. in Rattus norvegicus captured from Tehran, Iran. Future Microbiol 2024. [PMID: 38305237 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2023-0138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The present study aims to determine the presence of Yersinia spp., Yersinia pestis, Yersinia enterocolitica pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Francisella tularensis and Borrelia spp. in brown rats of Tehran, Iran. Methods: PCR was used to detect various bacteria in 100 brown rats, Also, ELISA was used to detect antibodies against the F. tularensis and Borrelia spp. Results: A total of 16% and 13% of fecal samples were positive for Yersinia spp. and Y. enterocolitica pathogen. ELISA results were negative for F. tularensis and Borrelia. No specific antibodies (IgG) were against these bacteria. Conclusion: According to the results of our analysis, rats are significant transmitters and carriers of a variety of illnesses that can spread to both people and other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taher Azimi
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, 7134845794, Iran
| | - Sina Nasrollahian
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, 7134845794, Iran
| | - Sahar Sabour
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, 6135715794, Iran
| | - Nahal Hadi
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, 7134845794, Iran
| | - Leila Azimi
- Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 1985717443, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Fallah
- Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 1985717443, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammed Reza Pourmand
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417613151, Iran
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Mlynek KD, Toothman RG, Martinez EE, Qiu J, Richardson JB, Bozue JA. Mutation of wbtJ, a N-formyltransferase involved in O-antigen synthesis, results in biofilm formation, phase variation and attenuation in Francisella tularensis. Microbiology (Reading) 2024; 170:001437. [PMID: 38421161 PMCID: PMC10924466 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Two clinically important subspecies, Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis (type A) and F. tularensis subsp. holarctica (type B) are responsible for most tularaemia cases, but these isolates typically form a weak biofilm under in vitro conditions. Phase variation of the F. tularensis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been reported in these subspecies, but the role of variation is unclear as LPS is crucial for virulence. We previously demonstrated that a subpopulation of LPS variants can constitutively form a robust biofilm in vitro, but it is unclear whether virulence was affected. In this study, we show that biofilm-forming variants of both fully virulent F. tularensis subspecies were highly attenuated in the murine tularaemia model by multiple challenge routes. Genomic sequencing was performed on these strains, which revealed that all biofilm-forming variants contained a lesion within the wbtJ gene, a formyltransferase involved in O-antigen synthesis. A ΔwbtJ deletion mutant recapitulated the biofilm, O-antigen and virulence phenotypes observed in natural variants and could be rescued through complementation with a functional wbtJ gene. Since the spontaneously derived biofilm-forming isolates in this study were a subpopulation of natural variants, reversion events to the wbtJ gene were detected that eliminated the phenotypes associated with biofilm variants and restored virulence. These results demonstrate a role for WbtJ in biofilm formation, LPS variation and virulence of F. tularensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D. Mlynek
- Bacteriology Division, US ARMY Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ronald G. Toothman
- Bacteriology Division, US ARMY Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Elsie E. Martinez
- Bacteriology Division, US ARMY Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ju Qiu
- Regulated Research Administration Division, USAMRIID, Frederick, MD, USA
| | | | - Joel A. Bozue
- Bacteriology Division, US ARMY Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, MD, USA
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Maurin M, Pondérand L, Hennebique A, Pelloux I, Boisset S, Caspar Y. Tularemia treatment: experimental and clinical data. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1348323. [PMID: 38298538 PMCID: PMC10827922 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1348323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by the Gram negative, facultative intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis. This disease has multiple clinical presentations according to the route of infection, the virulence of the infecting bacterial strain, and the underlying medical condition of infected persons. Systemic infections (e.g., pneumonic and typhoidal form) and complications are rare but may be life threatening. Most people suffer from local infection (e.g., skin ulcer, conjunctivitis, or pharyngitis) with regional lymphadenopathy, which evolve to suppuration in about 30% of patients and a chronic course of infection. Current treatment recommendations have been established to manage acute infections in the context of a biological threat and do not consider the great variability of clinical situations. This review summarizes literature data on antibiotic efficacy against F. tularensis in vitro, in animal models, and in humans. Empirical treatment with beta-lactams, most macrolides, or anti-tuberculosis agents is usually ineffective. The aminoglycosides gentamicin and streptomycin remain the gold standard for severe infections, and the fluoroquinolones and doxycycline for infections of mild severity, although current data indicate the former are usually more effective. However, the antibiotic treatments reported in the literature are highly variable in their composition and duration depending on the clinical manifestations, the age and health status of the patient, the presence of complications, and the evolution of the disease. Many patients received several antibiotics in combination or successively. Whatever the antibiotic treatment administered, variable but high rates of treatment failures and relapses are still observed, especially in patients treated more then 2-3 weeks after disease onset. In these patients, surgical treatment is often necessary for cure, including drainage or removal of suppurative lymph nodes or other infectious foci. It is currently difficult to establish therapeutic recommendations, particularly due to lack of comparative randomized studies. However, we have attempted to summarize current knowledge through proposals for improving tularemia treatment which will have to be discussed by a group of experts. A major factor in improving the prognosis of patients with tularemia is the early administration of appropriate treatment, which requires better medical knowledge and diagnostic strategy of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Maurin
- Centre National de Référence Francisella tularensis, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Translational Innovation in Medicine and Complexity (TIMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Grenoble, France
| | - Léa Pondérand
- Centre National de Référence Francisella tularensis, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Commissariat à l’énergie atomique (CEA), CNRS, Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Grenoble, France
| | - Aurélie Hennebique
- Centre National de Référence Francisella tularensis, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Translational Innovation in Medicine and Complexity (TIMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Grenoble, France
| | - Isabelle Pelloux
- Centre National de Référence Francisella tularensis, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Sandrine Boisset
- Centre National de Référence Francisella tularensis, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Commissariat à l’énergie atomique (CEA), CNRS, Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Grenoble, France
| | - Yvan Caspar
- Centre National de Référence Francisella tularensis, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Commissariat à l’énergie atomique (CEA), CNRS, Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Grenoble, France
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Kuhnert P, Brodard I, Ackermann S, Schierack P, Jores J. Serological and molecular detection as well as typing of Leptospira spp. in foxes, raccoons, and other wild carnivores in North-Eastern Germany, 2021-2022. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23268. [PMID: 38163163 PMCID: PMC10756992 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. While the latter are reported from various mammal hosts such as humans, dogs, or rodents, less is known about their presence in wild carnivores. We therefore investigated the presence of Leptospira spp. in foxes, raccoons, badgers, raccoon dogs, and martens in North-Eastern Germany. Kidney, urine, and blood specimens obtained from legally hunted or road-killed animals were tested by real-time PCR and by serogroup specific antibody detection for the presence of Leptospira spp. Additionally, kidney and urine specimens were tested by real-time PCR for the presence of Brucella spp. and Francisella tularensis, with all being negative for these two zoonotic pathogens. Leptospira spp. were detected by PCR in 12.6 % (n = 21/166) and serologically in 26.2 % (n = 53/202) of tissue and serum samples, respectively. Antibodies to 15 different serogroups were identified with Javanica (n = 25) and Bataviae (n = 12) being predominant. A high sero-prevalence of 34.0 % and 18.6 % in foxes and raccoons, respectively, and the presence of ST17 associated with human and animal leptospirosis indicates a reservoir and the zoonotic potential of these wild animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kuhnert
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Brodard
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Ackermann
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Schierack
- Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty Environment and Natural Sciences, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
- Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
| | - Joerg Jores
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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10
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Isidro J, Escudero R, Luque-Larena JJ, Pinto M, Borges V, González-Martín-Niño R, Duarte S, Vieira L, Mougeot F, Vidal D, Herrera-Rodríguez D, Rodríguez-Pastor R, Herrero-Cófreces S, Jubete-Tazo F, Gomes JP, Lopes de Carvalho I. Strengthening the genomic surveillance of Francisella tularensis by using culture-free whole-genome sequencing from biological samples. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1277468. [PMID: 38249473 PMCID: PMC10797068 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1277468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious bacterium that causes the zoonotic disease tularemia. The development of genotyping methods, especially those based on whole-genome sequencing (WGS), has recently increased the knowledge on the epidemiology of this disease. However, due to the difficulties associated with the growth and isolation of this fastidious pathogen in culture, the availability of strains and subsequently WGS data is still limited. Methods To surpass these constraints, we aimed to implement a culture-free approach to capture and sequence F. tularensis genomes directly from complex samples. Biological samples obtained from 50 common voles and 13 Iberian hares collected in Spain were confirmed as positive for F. tularensis subsp. holarctica and subjected to a WGS target capture and enrichment protocol, using RNA oligonucleotide baits designed to cover F. tularensis genomic diversity. Results We obtained full genome sequences of F. tularensis from 13 animals (20.6%), two of which had mixed infections with distinct genotypes, and achieved a higher success rate when compared with culture-dependent WGS (only successful for two animals). The new genomes belonged to different clades commonly identified in Europe (B.49, B.51 and B.262) and subclades. Despite being phylogenetically closely related to other genomes from Spain, the detected clusters were often found in other countries. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis, integrating 599 F. tularensis subsp. holarctica genomes, showed that most (sub)clades are found in both humans and animals and that closely related strains are found in different, and often geographically distant, countries. Discussion Overall, we show that the implemented culture-free WGS methodology yields timely, complete and high-quality genomic data of F. tularensis, being a highly valuable approach to promote and potentiate the genomic surveillance of F. tularensis and ultimately increase the knowledge on the genomics, ecology and epidemiology of this highly infectious pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Isidro
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Raquel Escudero
- Reference and Research Laboratory on Special Pathogens, National Centre for Microbiology (CNM), Carlos II Health Institute (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan José Luque-Larena
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Gestión Forestal Sostenible (iuFOR), E.T.S. Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Valladolid, Palencia, Spain
| | - Miguel Pinto
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vítor Borges
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rosa González-Martín-Niño
- Reference and Research Laboratory on Special Pathogens, National Centre for Microbiology (CNM), Carlos II Health Institute (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sílvia Duarte
- Technology and Innovation Unit, Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Luís Vieira
- Technology and Innovation Unit, Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - François Mougeot
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Dolors Vidal
- Área de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Catilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Daniel Herrera-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
- Área de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Catilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Ruth Rodríguez-Pastor
- Department of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain, Zaragoza, Spain
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Silvia Herrero-Cófreces
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Gestión Forestal Sostenible (iuFOR), E.T.S. Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Valladolid, Palencia, Spain
| | - Fernando Jubete-Tazo
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Gestión Forestal Sostenible (iuFOR), E.T.S. Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Valladolid, Palencia, Spain
| | - João Paulo Gomes
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
- Veterinary and Animal Research Center (CECAV), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes de Carvalho
- Emergency and Biopreparedness Unit, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
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11
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Mlynek KD, Cline CR, Biryukov SS, Toothman RG, Bachert BA, Klimko CP, Shoe JL, Hunter M, Hedrick ZM, Dankmeyer JL, Mou S, Fetterer DP, Qiu J, Lee ED, Cote CK, Jia Q, Horwitz MA, Bozue JA. The rLVS Δ capB/ iglABC vaccine provides potent protection in Fischer rats against inhalational tularemia caused by various virulent Francisella tularensis strains. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2277083. [PMID: 37975637 PMCID: PMC10760400 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2277083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is one of the several biothreat agents for which a licensed vaccine is needed. To ensure vaccine protection is achieved across a range of virulent F. tularensis strains, we assembled and characterized a panel of F. tularensis isolates to be utilized as challenge strains. A promising tularemia vaccine candidate is rLVS ΔcapB/iglABC (rLVS), in which the vector is the LVS strain with a deletion in the capB gene and which additionally expresses a fusion protein comprising immunodominant epitopes of proteins IglA, IglB, and IglC. Fischer rats were immunized subcutaneously 1-3 times at 3-week intervals with rLVS at various doses. The rats were exposed to a high dose of aerosolized Type A strain Schu S4 (FRAN244), a Type B strain (FRAN255), or a tick derived Type A strain (FRAN254) and monitored for survival. All rLVS vaccination regimens including a single dose of 107 CFU rLVS provided 100% protection against both Type A strains. Against the Type B strain, two doses of 107 CFU rLVS provided 100% protection, and a single dose of 107 CFU provided 87.5% protection. In contrast, all unvaccinated rats succumbed to aerosol challenge with all of the F. tularensis strains. A robust Th1-biased antibody response was induced in all vaccinated rats against all F. tularensis strains. These results demonstrate that rLVS ΔcapB/iglABC provides potent protection against inhalational challenge with either Type A or Type B F. tularensis strains and should be considered for further analysis as a future tularemia vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D. Mlynek
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Curtis R. Cline
- Pathology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Sergei S. Biryukov
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ronald G. Toothman
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Beth A. Bachert
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Christopher P. Klimko
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Shoe
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Melissa Hunter
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Zander M. Hedrick
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Dankmeyer
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Sherry Mou
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - David P. Fetterer
- Regulated Research Administration Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ju Qiu
- Regulated Research Administration Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Eric D. Lee
- Pathology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Christopher K. Cote
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Qingmei Jia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marcus A. Horwitz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joel A. Bozue
- Bacteriology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, USA
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12
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Hušková J, Hušek J. Population Density of European Hare Predicts Risk of Tularemia Infection, Czech Republic, 2006-2022. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:615-618. [PMID: 37589998 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Over 200 different animal species are susceptible to infection by tularemia, highly infectious disease caused by Francisella tularensis. Hares (Lepus sp.) and small rodents, such as common vole (Microtus arvalis), have been acknowledged as the most significant sources of human tularemia infection in most European countries. Our objective was to verify ability of these species in predicting incidence of human tularemia in a Central European country, the Czech Republic. Materials and Methods: We used 17 years of data on densities of European hare (Lepus europaeus) and common vole, and climate variability to test effects of these factors on temporal dynamics of tularemia incidence. The data were obtained from annual reports available from online e-repositories. Results: The analysis showed that 33% of the yearly variation in human tularemia incidence was explained solely by the abundance of European hare in the Czech Republic during 2007-2022. Density of common vole and North Atlantic Oscillation index, a measure of climate variability, did not significantly explain tularemia incidence. While hare population declined severely during 1993-2022, we did not detect any clear accompanied decrease in the prevalence of tularemia in humans and hares. Conclusion: Contrary to expectations, only hares proved capable in predicting yearly dynamics in human tularemia incidence in the Czech Republic. We call for continued monitoring of infection rates in hares and advocate the use of hunter estimates of hare abundance as a cheap and effective means of predicting the risk of tularemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Hušková
- Department of Microbiology, Regional Hospital Kolín, Kolín, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Hušek
- Department of Zoology, National Museum of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
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13
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Heger F, Schindler S, Pleininger S, Fueszl A, Blaschitz M, Lippert K, Hyden P, Hufnagl P, Mutschlechner D, Gremmel T, Hofer E, Markowicz M, Indra A. Three Cases of Tickborne Francisella tularensis Infection, Austria, 2022. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:2349-2352. [PMID: 37877608 PMCID: PMC10617340 DOI: 10.3201/eid2911.230460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tularemia is increasing in Austria. We report Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica isolated from 3 patients who had been bitten by arthropods. Next-generation sequencing showed substantial isolate similarity. Clinicians should consider bloodstream F. tularensis infections for patients with signs/symptoms of ulceroglandular tularemia, and surveillance of potential vectors should be intensified.
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14
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Mehl C, Mätz-Rensing K, Linde J, Struve B, Ismer G, van Hümmel C, Ulrich RG, Tomaso H. Case report: tularaemia in a white-handed gibbon ( Hylobates lar), Germany. Int J Vet Sci Med 2023; 11:121-125. [PMID: 38125824 PMCID: PMC10732199 DOI: 10.1080/23144599.2023.2264084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2021, a white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) succumbed to illness shortly after transfer from one zoo to another in Germany, due to Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica infection. To determine the source of infection, whole genome sequencing of the gibbon-derived isolate was performed and wild pest rodents (and captive squirrels) from both zoos were screened for F. tularensis. The F. tularensis whole genome sequence obtained from the gibbon was closely related to previous subclade B.281 sequences obtained from hares from Baden-Wuerttemberg, the same region where the gibbon was first housed. However, F. tularensis DNA was detected in one Norway rat from the receiving zoo. Therefore, neither zoo can be excluded as the source of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin Mehl
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases (INNT), Greifswald, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel- Riems, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kerstin Mätz-Rensing
- German Primate Center GmbH (DPZ), Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Linde
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Jena, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Rainer G. Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases (INNT), Greifswald, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel- Riems, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Herbert Tomaso
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Jena, Germany
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15
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Mäki-Koivisto V, Korkala M, Simola L, Suutari-Kontio S, Koivunen S, Puhto T, Junttila IS. Positive Francisella tularensis meningitis outcome despite delayed identification: a case report. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2023; 22:92. [PMID: 37875923 PMCID: PMC10598999 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-023-00642-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative bacteria, that may cause a zoonotic disease, tularemia. Here, we describe a patient case, where a previously healthy young woman in Northern Finland contacted health care because of fever and headache. Due to the symptoms and lack of further diagnostic tools in primary health care, she was transferred to University Hospital (UH) where ampicillin and ceftriaxone was given empirically. A cerebrospinal fluid sample (CSF) was drawn showing small Gram-negative rods that grew on chocolate agar after 2 days of incubation. Matrix-assisted laser-desorption-ionization time of-flight (Maldi-tof) did not provide identification, but the bacteria was interpreted as sensitive to ciprofloxacin and the treatment was changed to ciprofloxacin. During the time the patient was infected, there were several positive tularemia samples found in the area. Therefore, an in house tularemia nucleic acid method (PCR) was used on the bacterial culture. Additionally, 16S rDNA sequencing was performed and these methods identified the bacteria as F. tularensis. Fortunately, the patient recovered completely with ciprofloxacin and was discharged without any complications. Our case underlines the need to understand the limits of specific diagnostic methods, such as Maldi-tof, used in clinical laboratory settings. It also highlights the need of both clinicians and laboratory staff to be aware of the many clinical presentations of tularemia when working in an endemic area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ilkka S Junttila
- NordLab, Oulu, Finland.
- University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
- Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
- Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland.
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16
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Mohammed RR, Enferadi A, Sidiq KR, Sarani S, Khademi P, Jaydari A, Ahmed AK. Molecular Detection of Francisella tularensis Isolated from Ticks of Livestock in Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:514-519. [PMID: 37582218 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes tularemia in both human and animals. Tularemia is a potential serious zoonotic disease that is transmitted by different routes, including tick bites. Materials and Methods: This study deals with investigating the prevalence of F. tularensis in the ticks of local animal farms in Kurdistan region since the farmers are normally in close contact with livestock. We used molecular methods for this purpose. A total of 412 tick and 126 blood samples were gathered from goat, sheep, and cow flocks. The existence of F. tularensis 16Sr RNA gene was examined in the samples using nested-PCR technique. Results: In the animal blood specimens, no F. tularensis was found. The incidence of F. tularensis was 1.7% (7 out of 412) in the tick samples, representing a very lower possibility of tuleremia infection. Moreover, the two subspecies of F. tularensis novicida and holarctica were identified based on the sequencing of pdpD and RD genes, respectively. The F. tularensis subsp. novicida was isolated from four species of ticks, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus annulatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Ornithodoros spp., whereas the F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was isolated from Haemaphysalis parva and Hyalomma dromedarii species of ticks. Conclusion: Although its prevalence is very low, the isolation of F. tularensis subsp. holarctica from the ticks of farm animals suggests possible transmission of Tularemia through tick bite in Kurdistan region of Iraq. Ref: IR-UU-AEC-3/22.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebin Rafaat Mohammed
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, West Azerbaijan, Iran
| | - Ahmad Enferadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, West Azerbaijan, Iran
| | - Karzan R Sidiq
- Charmo Centre for Research, Training and Consultancy, Charmo University, Chamchamal, Iraq
| | - Saeedeh Sarani
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zabol University, Sistan and Balochistan, Iran
| | - Peyman Khademi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorram Abad, Iran
| | - Amin Jaydari
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorram Abad, Iran
| | - Avin Kawa Ahmed
- Sulaimani Veterinary Directorate, Chamchamal Veterinary Hospital, Sulaimani, Iraq
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17
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Trautmann HS, Schmidt SS, Gregory ST, Ramsey KM. Ribosome heterogeneity results in leader sequence-mediated regulation of protein synthesis in Francisella tularensis. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0014023. [PMID: 37676009 PMCID: PMC10521369 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00140-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although ribosomes are generally examined in aggregate, ribosomes can be heterogenous in composition. Evidence is accumulating that changes in ribosome composition may result in altered function, such that ribosome heterogeneity may provide a mechanism to regulate protein synthesis. Ribosome heterogeneity in the human pathogen Francisella tularensis results from incorporation of one of three homologs of bS21, a small ribosomal subunit protein demonstrated to regulate protein synthesis in other bacteria. Loss of one homolog, bS21-2, results in genome-wide post-transcriptional changes in protein abundance. This suggests that bS21-2 can, either directly or indirectly, lead to preferential translation of particular mRNAs. Here, we examine the potential of bS21-2 to function in a leader sequence-dependent manner and to function indirectly, via Hfq. We found that the 5´ untranslated region (UTR) of some bS21-2-responsive genes, including key virulence genes, is sufficient to alter translation in cells lacking bS21-2. We further identify features of a 5´ UTR that allow responsiveness to bS21-2. These include an imperfect Shine-Dalgarno sequence and a particular six nucleotide sequence. Our results are consistent with a model in which a bS21 homolog increases the efficiency of translation initiation through interactions with specific leader sequences. With respect to bS21-2 indirectly regulating translation via the RNA-binding protein Hfq, we found that Hfq controls transcript abundance rather than protein synthesis, impacting virulence gene expression via a distinct mechanism. Together, we determined that ribosome composition in F. tularensis regulates translation in a leader sequence-dependent manner, a regulatory mechanism which may be used in other bacteria. IMPORTANCE Ribosome heterogeneity is common in bacteria, and there is mounting evidence that ribosome composition plays a regulatory role in protein synthesis. However, mechanisms of ribosome-driven gene regulation are not well understood. In the human pathogen Francisella tularensis, which encodes multiple homologs for the ribosomal protein bS21, loss of one homolog impacts protein synthesis and virulence. Here, we explore the mechanism behind bS21-mediated changes in protein synthesis, finding that they can be linked to altered translation initiation and are dependent on specific sequences in the leaders of transcripts. Our data support a model in which ribosome composition regulates gene expression through translation, a strategy that may be conserved in diverse organisms with various sources of ribosome heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S. Trautmann
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Sierra S. Schmidt
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Steven T. Gregory
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Kathryn M. Ramsey
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
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18
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Benziger PT, Kopping EJ, McLaughlin PA, Thanassi DG. Francisella tularensis disrupts TLR2-MYD88-p38 signaling early during infection to delay apoptosis of macrophages and promote virulence in the host. mBio 2023; 14:e0113623. [PMID: 37404047 PMCID: PMC10470500 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01136-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic pathogen and the causative agent of tularemia. F. tularensis replicates to high levels within the cytosol of macrophages and other host cells while subverting the host response to infection. Critical to the success of F. tularensis is its ability to delay macrophage apoptosis to maintain its intracellular replicative niche. However, the host-signaling pathway(s) modulated by F. tularensis to delay apoptosis are poorly characterized. The outer membrane channel protein TolC is required for F. tularensis virulence and its ability to suppress apoptosis and cytokine expression during infection of macrophages. We took advantage of the F. tularensis ∆tolC mutant phenotype to identify host pathways that are important for activating macrophage apoptosis and that are disrupted by the bacteria. Comparison of macrophages infected with wild-type or ∆tolC F. tularensis revealed that the bacteria interfere with TLR2-MYD88-p38 signaling at early times post infection to delay apoptosis, dampen innate host responses, and preserve the intracellular replicative niche. Experiments using the mouse pneumonic tularemia model confirmed the in vivo relevance of these findings, revealing contributions of TLR2 and MYD88 signaling to the protective host response to F. tularensis, which is modulated by the bacteria to promote virulence. IMPORTANCE Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative intracellular bacterial pathogen and the causative agent of the zoonotic disease tularemia. F. tularensis, like other intracellular pathogens, modulates host-programmed cell death pathways to ensure its replication and survival. We previously identified the outer membrane channel protein TolC as required for the ability of F. tularensis to delay host cell death. However, the mechanism by which F. tularensis delays cell death pathways during intracellular replication is unclear despite being critical to pathogenesis. In the present study, we address this gap in knowledge by taking advantage of ∆tolC mutants of F. tularensis to uncover signaling pathways governing host apoptotic responses to F. tularensis and which are modulated by the bacteria during infection to promote virulence. These findings reveal mechanisms by which intracellular pathogens subvert host responses and enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of tularemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Todd Benziger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Erik J. Kopping
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Patrick A. McLaughlin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - David G. Thanassi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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19
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Hahn MM, Triplett CA, Anderson MS, Smart JI, Litherland K, Keech S, von Siebenthal F, Jones M, Phipps AJ, Henning LN. Ceftobiprole Medocaril Is an Effective Post-Exposure Treatment in the Fischer 344 Rat Model of Pneumonic Tularemia. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1337. [PMID: 37627757 PMCID: PMC10451734 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12081337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis is a category-A biothreat agent that can cause lethal tularemia. Ceftobiprole medocaril is being explored as a medical countermeasure for the treatment of pneumonic tularemia. The efficacy of ceftobiprole medocaril against inhalational tularemia was evaluated in the Fischer 344 rat model of infection. The dose was expected to be effective against F. tularensis isolates with ceftobiprole minimum inhibitory concentrations ≤0.5 µg/mL. Animals treated with ceftobiprole medocaril exhibited a 92% survival rate 31 days post-challenge, identical to the survival of levofloxacin-treated rats. By comparison, rats receiving placebo experienced 100% mortality. Terminally collected blood, liver, lung, and spleen samples confirmed disseminated F. tularensis infections in most animals that died prior to completing treatments (placebo animals and a rat treated with ceftobiprole medocaril), although levels of bacteria detected in the placebo samples were significantly elevated compared to the ceftobiprole-medocaril-treated group geometric mean. Furthermore, no evidence of infection was detected in any rat that completed ceftobiprole medocaril or levofloxacin treatment and survived to the end of the post-treatment observation period. Overall, survival rates, body weights, and bacterial burdens consistently demonstrated that treatment with ceftobiprole medocaril is efficacious against otherwise fatal cases of pneumonic tularemia in the rat model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jennifer I. Smart
- Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd., 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Karine Litherland
- Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd., 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Stephen Keech
- Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd., 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | | | - Mark Jones
- Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd., 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
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20
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De Pascalis R, Bhargava V, Espich S, Wu TH, Gelhaus HC, Elkins KL. In vivo and in vitro immune responses against Francisella tularensis vaccines are comparable among Fischer 344 rat substrains. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1224480. [PMID: 37547680 PMCID: PMC10400713 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1224480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying suitable animal models and standardizing preclinical methods are important for the generation, characterization, and development of new vaccines, including those against Francisella tularensis. Non-human primates represent an important animal model to evaluate tularemia vaccine efficacy, and the use of correlates of vaccine-induced protection may facilitate bridging immune responses from non-human primates to people. However, among small animals, Fischer 344 rats represent a valuable resource for initial studies to evaluate immune responses, to identify correlates of protection, and to screen novel vaccines. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of three Fischer rat substrains to determine potential differences in immune responses, to evaluate methods used to quantify potential correlates of protection, and to evaluate protection after vaccination. To this end, we took advantage of data previously generated using one of the rat substrains by evaluating two live vaccines, LVS and F. tularensis SchuS4-ΔclpB (ΔclpB). We compared immune responses after primary vaccination, adaptive immune responses upon re-stimulation of leukocytes in vitro, and sensitivity to aerosol challenge. Despite some detectable differences, the results highlight the similarity of immune responses to tularemia vaccines and challenge outcomes between the three substrains, indicating that all offer acceptable and comparable approaches as animal models to study Francisella infection and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto De Pascalis
- Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Varunika Bhargava
- Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Scott Espich
- Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Terry H. Wu
- Center for Infectious Disease and Immunity and Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | | | - Karen L. Elkins
- Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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21
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Gavina K, Whitacre BE, Meyer TL, Van Benten K, Glazier M, Emery CL, Lavik JP, Relich RF. The Brief Case: Suspicious Gram-Negative Coccobacilli-Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida Isolated from an Immunocompromised Patient. J Clin Microbiol 2023; 61:e0078722. [PMID: 37338229 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00787-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Gavina
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Brynne E Whitacre
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | | | - Mark Glazier
- Indiana Department of Health Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Christopher L Emery
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - John-Paul Lavik
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Ryan F Relich
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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22
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Escovar J, Patil SM, Roland W. Acute left knee prosthetic joint infection by Francisella tularensis with literature review. IDCases 2023; 33:e01812. [PMID: 37645536 PMCID: PMC10461113 DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2023.e01812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Tularemia is a severe zoonotic disease caused by gram-negative bacillus Francisella tularensis. F. tularensis species account for most cases in the United States of America (USA). Apart from the six classical clinical presentations that include glandular, ulceroglandular, oculoglandular, pharyngeal, typhoidal, and pneumonic, skeletal disease is uncommon. Rare clinical manifestations include primary and secondary skin rashes, erythema nodosum, and erythema multiforme. Infrequent skeletal manifestations have presented as osteomyelitis and prosthetic joint infections. Prosthetic joint infection by F. tularensis is a rarity. PubMed literature review revealed a total of five prosthetic joint infection cases. Here we report the sixth and the third case in the USA in a 73-year-old white male with an acute left knee prosthetic joint infection (occurring after a recent episode of left lower extremity cellulitis with septic shock) successfully treated with 14 days of doxycycline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Escovar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Fellow, University of Missouri Hospital and Clinic, 1 Hospital Dr, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Sachin M. Patil
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, University of Missouri Hospital and Clinic, 1 Hospital Dr, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - William Roland
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Missouri Hospital and Clinic, 1 Hospital Dr, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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23
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Schepens N, Verniest T, Verstreken I, Henckaerts L. Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica bacteraemia in an immunocompetent male. Respir Med Case Rep 2023; 45:101882. [PMID: 37334032 PMCID: PMC10275714 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2023.101882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Tularemia is a rare zoonotic disease caused by the two predominant subspecies of Francisella tularensis, namely subspecies tularensis and subspecies holarctica. The latter is less virulent than the former, is endemic in Europe, and usually has a mild disease course, although respiratory involvement and bacteraemia can occur. Tularemia in Belgium is rare, but the incidence seems to be increasing. It therefore seems prudent to raise awareness among clinicians for this potentially severe disease. We report the first case of pneumonic tularemia with bacteraemia from Belgium, and want to recommend including Francisella tularensis in the differential diagnosis of pneumonia when an unfavorable evolution is seen with standard treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Schepens
- Department of General Internal Medicine, KU Leuven-University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thessa Verniest
- Department of Pneumology, Heilig Hart Hospital, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Liesbet Henckaerts
- Department of General Internal Medicine, KU Leuven-University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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24
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Ponderand L, Guimard T, Lazaro E, Dupuy H, Peuchant O, Roch N, Deroche P, Ferry T, Maurin M, Hennebique A, Boisset S, Pelloux I, Caspar Y. Case Studies and Literature Review of Francisella tularensis-Related Prosthetic Joint Infection. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:1118-1126. [PMID: 37209668 DOI: 10.3201/eid2906.221395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tularemia is a zoonotic infection caused by Francisella tularensis. Its most typical manifestations in humans are ulceroglandular and glandular; infections in prosthetic joints are rare. We report 3 cases of F. tularensis subspecies holarctica-related prosthetic joint infection that occurred in France during 2016-2019. We also reviewed relevant literature and found only 5 other cases of Francisella-related prosthetic joint infections worldwide, which we summarized. Among those 8 patients, clinical symptoms appeared 7 days to 19 years after the joint placement and were nonspecific to tularemia. Although positive cultures are typically obtained in only 10% of tularemia cases, strains grew in all 8 of the patients. F. tularensis was initially identified in 2 patients by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry; molecular methods were used for 6 patients. Surgical treatment in conjunction with long-term antimicrobial treatment resulted in favorable outcomes; no relapses were seen after 6 months of follow-up.
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25
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Patnaik A, Rai SK, Dhaked RK. Recent Advancements and Novel Approaches Contributing to the Present Arsenal of Prophylaxis and Treatment Strategies Against Category A Bacterial Biothreat Agents. Indian J Microbiol 2023; 63:161-172. [PMID: 37325016 PMCID: PMC10220334 DOI: 10.1007/s12088-023-01075-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens have always been a part of the ecosystem in which we thrive. Some pathogens have caused deadly outbreaks in the past and have been exploited as an agent of threat. Natural hotspots for these biological pathogens are widely distributed throughout the world and hence they remain clinically important. Technological advancement and change in general lifestyle has driven the evolution of these pathogens into more virulent and resistant variants. There has been a growing concern over the development of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains that could be used as bioweapons. This rapid change in pathogens also propels the field of science to develop and innovate new strategies and methodologies which are superior and safer to the existing ones. Some bacterial agents like-Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis and toxins produced by strains of Clostridium botulinum, have been segregated as Category A substances as they pose imminent threat to public health with a history of life threatening and catastrophic disease. This review highlights some encouraging developments and value additions in the current plan of action for protection against these select biothreat bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinandan Patnaik
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research and Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, MP 474002 India
| | - Sharad Kumar Rai
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research and Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, MP 474002 India
| | - Ram Kumar Dhaked
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research and Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, MP 474002 India
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26
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Whelan AO, Cooper I, Ooi N, Orr D, Blades K, Kirkham J, Lyons A, Barnes KB, Richards MI, Salisbury AM, Craighead M, Harding SV. In Vitro Activity of Novel Topoisomerase Inhibitors against Francisella tularensis and Burkholderia pseudomallei. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:983. [PMID: 37370302 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12060983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a global issue, and the investigation of alternative therapies that are not traditional antibiotics are warranted. Novel bacterial type II topoisomerase inhibitors (NBTIs) have recently emerged as a novel class of antibiotics with reduced potential for cross-resistance to fluoroquinolones due to their novel mechanism of action. This study investigated the in vitro activity of a series of cyclohexyl-oxazolidinone bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors against type strains of Francisella tularensis and Burkholderia pseudomallei. Broth microdilution, time-kill, and cell infection assays were performed to determine activity against these biothreat pathogens. Two candidates were identified that demonstrated in vitro activity in multiple assays that in some instances was equivalent to ciprofloxacin and doxycycline. These data warrant the further evaluation of these novel NBTIs and future iterations in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam O Whelan
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
| | - Ian Cooper
- Infex Therapeutics Ltd., Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Nicola Ooi
- Infex Therapeutics Ltd., Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
| | - David Orr
- Infex Therapeutics Ltd., Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Kevin Blades
- Infex Therapeutics Ltd., Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
| | - James Kirkham
- Infex Therapeutics Ltd., Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Amanda Lyons
- Redx Anti-Infectives Ltd., Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Kay B Barnes
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
| | - Mark I Richards
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
| | | | - Mark Craighead
- Redx Anti-Infectives Ltd., Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Sarah V Harding
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
- School of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
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27
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Alqahtani M, Ma Z, Miller J, Yu J, Malik M, Bakshi CS. Comparative analysis of absent in melanoma 2-inflammasome activation in Francisella tularensis and Francisella novicida. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1188112. [PMID: 37266012 PMCID: PMC10230036 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1188112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a highly virulent Gram-negative bacterium that causes the fatal zoonotic disease tularemia. The mechanisms and signaling pathways leading to the absent in melanoma 2 (Aim2) inflammasome activation have been elegantly elucidated using Francisella novicida as a model. Although not pathogenic for humans, F. novicida can cause tularemia in mice, and the inflammatory response it triggers is the polar opposite to that observed in mice infected with F. tularensis strains. This study aimed to understand the mechanisms of Aim2 inflammasome activation in F. tularensis-infected macrophages. The results reveal that macrophages infected with the F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS) induce lower levels of Aim2-dependent IL-1β than those infected with F. novicida. The suppression/weak activation of Aim2 in F. tularensis LVS-infected macrophages is due to the suppression of the cGAS-STING DNA-sensing pathway. Furthermore, the introduction of exogenous F. tularensis LVS DNA into the cytosol of the F. tularensis LVS-infected macrophages, alone or in conjunction with a priming signal, failed to restore IL-1β levels similar to those observed for F. novicida-infected macrophages. These results indicated that, in addition to the bacterial DNA, DNA from some other sources, specifically from the damaged mitochondria, might contribute to the robust Aim2-dependent IL-1β levels observed in F. novicida-infected macrophages. The results indicate that F. tularensis LVS induces mitophagy that may potentially prevent the leakage of mitochondrial DNA and the subsequent activation of the Aim2 inflammasome. Collectively, this study demonstrates that the mechanisms of Aim2 inflammasome activation established for F. novicida are not operative in F. tularensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Alqahtani
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Zhuo Ma
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Jacob Miller
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Jen Yu
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Meenakshi Malik
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Chandra Shekhar Bakshi
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
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Zaman A, French JB, Carpino N. The Sts Proteins: Modulators of Host Immunity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8834. [PMID: 37240179 PMCID: PMC10218301 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The suppressor of TCR signaling (Sts) proteins, Sts-1 and Sts-2, are a pair of closely related signaling molecules that belong to the histidine phosphatase (HP) family of enzymes by virtue of an evolutionarily conserved C-terminal phosphatase domain. HPs derive their name from a conserved histidine that is important for catalytic activity and the current evidence indicates that the Sts HP domain plays a critical functional role. Sts-1HP has been shown to possess a readily measurable protein tyrosine phosphatase activity that regulates a number of important tyrosine-kinase-mediated signaling pathways. The in vitro catalytic activity of Sts-2HP is significantly lower than that of Sts-1HP, and its signaling role is less characterized. The highly conserved unique structure of the Sts proteins, in which additional domains, including one that exhibits a novel phosphodiesterase activity, are juxtaposed together with the phosphatase domain, suggesting that Sts-1 and -2 occupy a specialized intracellular signaling niche. To date, the analysis of Sts function has centered predominately around the role of Sts-1 and -2 in regulating host immunity and other responses associated with cells of hematopoietic origin. This includes their negative regulatory role in T cells, platelets, mast cells and other cell types, as well as their less defined roles in regulating host responses to microbial infection. Regarding the latter, the use of a mouse model lacking Sts expression has been used to demonstrate that Sts contributes non-redundantly to the regulation of host immunity toward a fungal pathogen (C. albicans) and a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen (F. tularensis). In particular, Sts-/- animals demonstrate significant resistance to lethal infections of both pathogens, a phenotype that is correlated with some heightened anti-microbial responses of phagocytes derived from mutant mice. Altogether, the past several years have seen steady progress in our understanding of Sts biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Zaman
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
| | - Jarrod B. French
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801 16th Ave NE, Austin, MN 55912, USA;
| | - Nick Carpino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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29
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Linde J, Brangsch H, Hölzer M, Thomas C, Elschner MC, Melzer F, Tomaso H. Comparison of Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technology for genome analysis of Francisella tularensis, Bacillus anthracis, and Brucella suis. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:258. [PMID: 37173617 PMCID: PMC10182678 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09343-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial epidemiology needs to understand the spread and dissemination of strains in a One Health context. This is important for highly pathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus anthracis, Brucella species, and Francisella tularensis. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has paved the way for genetic marker detection and high-resolution genotyping. While such tasks are established for Illumina short-read sequencing, Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) long-read sequencing has yet to be evaluated for such highly pathogenic bacteria with little genomic variations between strains. In this study, three independent sequencing runs were performed using Illumina, ONT flow cell version 9.4.1, and 10.4 for six strains of each of Ba. anthracis, Br. suis and F. tularensis. Data from ONT sequencing alone, Illumina sequencing alone and two hybrid assembly approaches were compared. RESULTS As previously shown, ONT produces ultra-long reads, while Illumina produces short reads with higher sequencing accuracy. Flow cell version 10.4 improved sequencing accuracy over version 9.4.1. The correct (sub-)species were inferred from all tested technologies, individually. Moreover, the sets of genetic markers for virulence, were almost identical for the respective species. The long reads of ONT allowed to assemble not only chromosomes of all species to near closure, but also virulence plasmids of Ba. anthracis. Assemblies based on nanopore data alone, Illumina data alone, and both hybrid assemblies correctly detected canonical (sub-)clades for Ba. anthracis and F. tularensis as well as multilocus sequence types for Br. suis. For F. tularensis, high-resolution genotyping using core-genome MLST (cgMLST) and core-genome Single-Nucleotide-Polymorphism (cgSNP) typing produced highly comparable results between data from Illumina and both ONT flow cell versions. For Ba. anthracis, only data from flow cell version 10.4 produced similar results to Illumina for both high-resolution typing methods. However, for Br. suis, high-resolution genotyping yielded larger differences comparing Illumina data to data from both ONT flow cell versions. CONCLUSIONS In summary, combining data from ONT and Illumina for high-resolution genotyping might be feasible for F. tularensis and Ba. anthracis, but not yet for Br. suis. The ongoing improvement of nanopore technology and subsequent data analysis may facilitate high-resolution genotyping for all bacteria with highly stable genomes in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Linde
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany.
| | - Hanka Brangsch
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Hölzer
- Genome Competence Center (MF1), Methodology and Research Infrastructure, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Thomas
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Mandy C Elschner
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Falk Melzer
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Herbert Tomaso
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Jena, Germany
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Jakielaszek C, Hilliard JJ, Mannino F, Hossain M, Qian L, Fishman C, Chou YL, Henning L, Novak J, Demons S, Hershfield J, O'Dwyer K. Efficacy of Intravenously Administered Gepotidacin in Cynomolgus Macaques following a Francisella tularensis Inhalational Challenge. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0138122. [PMID: 37097147 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01381-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis (F. tularensis) is a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) category "A" Gram-negative biothreat pathogen. Inhalation of F. tularensis can cause pneumonia and respiratory failure and is associated with high mortality rates without early treatment. Gepotidacin is a novel, first-in-class triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic that inhibits bacterial DNA replication by a distinct mechanism of action. Gepotidacin selectively inhibits bacterial DNA replication via a unique binding mode, has activity against multidrug-resistant target pathogens, and has demonstrated in vitro activity against diverse collections of F. tularensis isolates (MIC90 of 0.5 to 1 μg/mL). Gepotidacin was evaluated in the cynomolgus macaque model of inhalational tularemia, using the SCHU S4 strain, with treatment initiated after exposure and sustained fever. Macaques were dosed via intravenous (i.v.) infusion with saline or gepotidacin at 72 mg/kg/day to support a human i.v. infusion dosing regimen of 1,000 mg three times daily. The primary study endpoint was survival, with survival duration and bacterial clearance as secondary endpoints. Gepotidacin treatment resulted in 100% survival compared to 12.5% in the saline-treated control group (P < 0.0001) at Day 43 postinhalational challenge. All gepotidacin-treated animals were blood and organ culture negative for F. tularensis at the end of the study. In contrast, none of the saline control animals were blood and organ culture negative. Gepotoidacin's novel mechanism of action and the efficacy data reported here (aligned with the Food and Drug Administration Animal Rule) support gepotidacin as a potential treatment for pneumonic tularemia in an emergency biothreat situation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Frank Mannino
- GSK Pharmaceuticals, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Lian Qian
- GSK Pharmaceuticals, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cindy Fishman
- GSK Pharmaceuticals, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ying-Liang Chou
- Battelle Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Lisa Henning
- Battelle Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Joseph Novak
- Battelle Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Samandra Demons
- U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeremy Hershfield
- U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Karen O'Dwyer
- GSK Pharmaceuticals, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
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31
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Zaide G, Cohen-Gihon I, Shifman O, Israeli O, Aftalion M, Maoz S, Chitlaru T, Ber R, Zvi A, Steinberger-Levy I. Global transcriptomic analysis of Francisella tularensis SchuS4 differentially expressed genes in response to doxycycline or ciprofloxacin exposure. BMC Genom Data 2023; 24:23. [PMID: 37076811 PMCID: PMC10114481 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-023-01125-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE As part of a research aiming at presenting an alternative approach for rapid determination of antimicrobial susceptibility by quantification of changes in expression levels of specific marker genes and gene sets, cultures of the virulent bacterial strain Francisella tularensis SchuS4 were grown in the presence of inhibitory/sub-inhibitory concentrations of either ciprofloxacin or doxycycline and their transcriptomic profiles were elucidated using differential expression analysis followed by functional annotation. DATA DESCRIPTION RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to exposure of F. tularensis SchuS4 to either ciprofloxacin or doxycycline, the antibiotics of choice for Tularemia therapy. Accordingly, RNA samples were collected 2 h post antibiotic exposure and subjected to RNA sequence analysis. Transcriptomic quantification of RNA representing duplicated samples generated highly similar gene expression data. Exposure to sub-inhibitory concentration [0.5 x MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration)] of doxycycline or ciprofloxacin modulated the expression of 237 or 8 genes, respectively, while exposure to an inhibitory concentration (1 x MIC) resulted in the modulation of 583 or 234 genes, respectively. Amongst the genes modulated upon doxycycline exposure upregulation of 31 genes encoding for translation-functions could be distinguished, as well as downregulation of 14 genes encoding for functions involved in DNA transcription and repair. Ciprofloxacin exposure impacted differently the RNA sequence profile of the pathogen, resulting in upregulation of 27 genes encoding mainly DNA replication and repair functions, transmembrane transporters and molecular chaperons. In addition, 15 downregulated genes were involved in translation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galia Zaide
- Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel.
| | | | - Ohad Shifman
- Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Ofir Israeli
- Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Moshe Aftalion
- Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Sharon Maoz
- Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | | | - Raphael Ber
- Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Anat Zvi
- Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
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32
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Saranovic M, Milic M, Radic I, Katanic N, Vujacic M, Gasic M, Bogosavljevic I. Tularemia in Pregnant Woman, Serbia, 2018. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:806-808. [PMID: 36958014 PMCID: PMC10045689 DOI: 10.3201/eid2904.221318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tularemia was diagnosed for a 33-year-old pregnant woman in Serbia after a swollen neck lymph node was detected at gestation week 18. Gentamicin was administered parenterally (120 mg/d for 7 d); the pregnancy continued with no complications and a healthy newborn was delivered. Treatment of tularemia optimizes maternal and infant outcomes.
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33
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Bavlovic J, Pavkova I, Balonova L, Benada O, Stulik J, Klimentova J. Intact O-antigen is critical structure for the exceptional tubular shape of outer membrane vesicles in Francisella tularensis. Microbiol Res 2023; 269:127300. [PMID: 36641863 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious Gram-negative coccobacillus which causes the disease tularemia. The potential for its misuse as a biological weapon has led disease control and prevention centers to classify this bacterium as a category A agent. Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are spherical particles 20-250 nm in size produced by all Gram-negative bacteria and constitute one of the major secretory pathways. Bacteria use them in interacting with both other bacterial cells and eukaryotic (host) cells. OMVs of Francisella contain number of its so far described virulence factors and immunomodulatory proteins. Their role in host-pathogen interactions can therefore be presumed, and the possibility exists also for their potential use in a subunit vaccine. Moreover, Francisella microbes produce both usual spherical and unusual tubular OMVs. Because OMVs emerge from the outermost surface of the bacterial cell, we focused on the secretion of OMVs in several mutant Francisella strains with disrupted surface structures (namely the O-antigen). O-antigen in Francisella is not only the structural component of LPS but also forms another important virulence factor: the O-antigen polysaccharide capsule. Mutant strain phenotypes were evaluated by growth curves, vesiculation rates, their sensitivity to the complement contained in serum, and proliferation inside murine bone marrow macrophages. Morphologies of both OMVs and the bacteria were visualized by electron microscopy. The O-antigen mutant strains were considerably attenuated in serum resistance and intracellular proliferation. All the strains showed lower ability to form the tubular OMVs. Some strains formed tubular protrusions from their outer membrane but their stability was weak. Some hypervesiculating strains were revealed that will serve as source of OMVs for further studies of their protective potential. Our results suggest the presence of LPS and the O-antigen capsule on the surface of Francisella to be critical not only for its virulence but also for the exceptional tubular shape of its OMVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Bavlovic
- University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Třebešská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Ivona Pavkova
- University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Třebešská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Balonova
- University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Třebešská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Oldrich Benada
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Krč, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Stulik
- University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Třebešská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Klimentova
- University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Třebešská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
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Bishop A, Wang HH, Donaldson TG, Brockinton EE, Kothapalli E, Clark S, Vishwanath T, Canales T, Sreekumar K, Grant WE, Teel PD. Tularemia cases increase in the USA from 2011 through 2019. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis 2023; 3:100116. [PMID: 36865594 PMCID: PMC9972391 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Tularemia is a rare but potentially serious bacterial zoonosis, which has been reported in the 47 contiguous states of the USA during 2001-2010. This report summarizes the passive surveillance data of tularemia cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2011 through 2019. There were 1984 cases reported in the USA during this period. The average national incidence was 0.07 cases per 100,000 person-years (PY), compared to 0.04 cases per 100,000 PY during 2001-2010. The highest statewide reported case 2011-2019 was in Arkansas (374 cases, 20.4% of total), followed by Missouri (13.1%), Oklahoma (11.9%), and Kansas (11.2%). Regarding race, ethnicity, and sex, tularemia cases were reported more frequently among white, non-Hispanic, and male patients. Cases were reported in all age groups; however, individuals 65 years-old and older exhibited the highest incidence. The seasonal distribution of cases generally paralleled the seasonality of tick activity and human outdoor activity, increasing during spring through mid-summer and decreasing through late summer and fall to winter lows. Improved surveillance and education of ticks and tick- and water-borne pathogens should play a key role in efforts to decrease the incidence of tularemia in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Bishop
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Hsiao-Hsuan Wang
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA,Corresponding author.
| | - Taylor G. Donaldson
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Emily E. Brockinton
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Esha Kothapalli
- The Department of Public Health Studies, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Scott Clark
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Tanvi Vishwanath
- Department of Mathematics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Tatyana Canales
- Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Krishnendu Sreekumar
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - William E. Grant
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Pete D. Teel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX, USA
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Schaudinn C, Rydzewski K, Meister B, Grunow R, Heuner K. Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica wild-type is able to colonize natural aquatic ex vivo biofilms. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1113412. [PMID: 36860486 PMCID: PMC9969146 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1113412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are a matrix-associated lifestyle of microbial communities, often enabling survivability and persistence of such bacteria. The objective of this study was to investigate the survival of the wild-type strain A-271 of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica (Fth) in a natural aquatic ex vivo biofilm. To that purpose, we allowed Fth A-271 to produce its own biofilm on solid surfaces but also to colonize naturally formed biofilms from aquatic habitats, which were infected with Francisella in the laboratory. The survival rates of the bacteria in biofilms were compared to those of planktonic bacteria as a function of the employed culture condition. It could be shown by light- and electron microscopy that Fth is able to form a complex, matrix-associated biofilm. The biofilm form of Francisella showed longer cultivability on agar plates in natural water when compared to planktonic (free-living) bacteria. Be it as a part of the existing ex vivo biofilm or free-floating above as planktonic bacteria, more than 80% of Francisella were not only able to survive under these conditions for 28 days, but even managed to establish microcolonies and areas with their own exclusive biofilm architecture within the ex vivo biofilm. Here, we can demonstrate for the first time that a Francisella tularensis wild-type strain (Type B) is able to successfully colonize an aquatic multi-species ex vivo biofilm. It is worthwhile to speculate that Fth might become more persistent in the environment when it forms its own biofilm or integrates in an existing one. Multi-species biofilms have been shown to be more resistant against stress compared to single-species biofilms. This may have an important impact on the long-term survival of Francisella in aquatic habitats and infection cycles in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Schaudinn
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS 4), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerstin Rydzewski
- Working Group: Cellular Interactions of Bacterial Pathogens, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms (ZBS 2), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany,Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms (ZBS 2), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Beate Meister
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms (ZBS 2), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roland Grunow
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms (ZBS 2), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Heuner
- Working Group: Cellular Interactions of Bacterial Pathogens, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms (ZBS 2), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany,Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms (ZBS 2), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Klaus Heuner, ✉
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Davarcı İ, Eryıldız C, Renders DP, Berberoğlu U, Gürcan Ş. Tularemia seroprevalence in humans in the region of the Hittite-Arzawa War (Inner Aegean Region), where the first biological weapon was used 3300 years ago. Turk J Med Sci 2023; 53:310-315. [PMID: 36945928 PMCID: PMC10388056 DOI: 10.55730/1300-0144.5586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND : According to Egyptian records, tularemia emerged in the Canaan region, where it was first identified and spread to Anatolia over the Euphrates. It was used as an active biological weapon for the first time in the Hittite-Arzawa War in 1320-1318 BC. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of tularemia in the Inner Aegean Region, which is thought to be the region where this war was fought 3300 years ago. METHODS Tularemia seropositivity in humans was investigated in 27 villages/neighborhoods in 3 districts in each of Manisa, Kütahya, and Uşak provinces. Before the study, the participants were informed about the disease via posters, and their blood samples were taken following filling out the questionnaire. Microagglutination tests were performed using in-house tularemia antigen and V plate for serological experiments. Rose-Bengal test was also performed on seropositive sera. RESULTS Of the total of 410 people, 226 (55.12%) were male. The mean age of the volunteers was 43.72 years. The highest participation was from Kütahya Province. According to the results of the tularemia microagglutination test, seropositivity was detected in 6 cases. It was determined that all of the seropositive volunteers were in Kütahya. When the tularemia antibody titers were examined, seropositivity was determined at 1/20-1/160 titers. No positivity was detected in the Rose-Bengal test for cross-reaction. DISCUSSION Kütahya has been identified as a risky region in terms of tularemia in the Inner Aegean Region. In order to use the resources in the country economically, first of all, the risk areas in terms of tularemia should be determined by serological studies in all regions. In order to increase awareness about the disease, physicians and filiation teams should be trained in risky areas. Surveillance studies should be conducted to identify and monitor possible sources in areas identified as risky.
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Affiliation(s)
- İsmail Davarcı
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Canan Eryıldız
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Duygu Perçin Renders
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kütahya Health Sciences University, Kütahya, Turkey
| | - Ufuk Berberoğlu
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Uşak University, Uşak, Turkey
| | - Şaban Gürcan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
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Hoffman T, Olsen B, Lundkvist Å. The Biological and Ecological Features of Northbound Migratory Birds, Ticks, and Tick-Borne Microorganisms in the African-Western Palearctic. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11010158. [PMID: 36677450 PMCID: PMC9866947 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying the species that act as hosts, vectors, and vehicles of vector-borne pathogens is vital for revealing the transmission cycles, dispersal mechanisms, and establishment of vector-borne pathogens in nature. Ticks are common vectors for pathogens causing human and animal diseases, and they transmit a greater variety of pathogenic agents than any other arthropod vector group. Ticks depend on the movements by their vertebrate hosts for their dispersal, and tick species with long feeding periods are more likely to be transported over long distances. Wild birds are commonly parasitized by ticks, and their migration patterns enable the long-distance range expansion of ticks. The African-Palearctic migration system is one of the world's largest migrations systems. African-Western Palearctic birds create natural links between the African, European, and Asian continents when they migrate biannually between breeding grounds in the Palearctic and wintering grounds in Africa and thereby connect different biomes. Climate is an important geographical determinant of ticks, and with global warming, the distribution range and abundance of ticks in the Western Palearctic may increase. The introduction of exotic ticks and their microorganisms into the Western Palearctic via avian vehicles might therefore pose a greater risk for the public and animal health in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tove Hoffman
- Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Olsen
- Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
- Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Åke Lundkvist
- Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence:
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Copur B, Surme S. Water-borne oculoglandular tularemia: Two complicated cases and a review of the literature. Travel Med Infect Dis 2023; 51:102489. [PMID: 36334909 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study, we presented two cases of late diagnosed complicated oculoglandular tularemia and reviewed the clinical features of oculoglandular tularemia in cases reported in the last ten years. METHOD Tularemia was diagnosed when serum microagglutination test (MAT) was ≥ 1/160 titer or when there was at least a four-fold increase in MAT titers measured over a two-week interval. We searched the oculoglandular tularemia cases reported in the last 10 years in the PubMed and Google Academic engines. RESULTS Case 1 (19 M) and case 2 (15 M) had complaints of fever and burning in the eye. In both cases, the diagnosis of tularemia was delayed. Lymph node suppuration developed in both cases. A total of 19 cases of tularemia were found within the search. In the cases of oculoglandular tularemia reported in the last 10 years, submandibular and preauricular lymphadenopathy were most common after ocular findings and fever. The mean time to diagnosis was 41 ± 94 days, and the complication rate was 31.5%. CONCLUSION Tularemia should definitely be considered in cases of fever and ocular findings, especially in endemic areas. In non-endemic areas, a good anamnesis and clinical suspicion can help diagnose the disease early and reduce the complication rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betul Copur
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Haseki Training & Research Hospital, Istanbul, 34096, Turkey.
| | - Serkan Surme
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Haseki Training & Research Hospital, Istanbul, 34096, Turkey; Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Graduate Studies, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 34098, Turkey
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Buhler K, Bouchard É, Elmore S, Samelius G, Jackson J, Tomaselli M, Fenton H, Alisauskas R, Jenkins E. Tularemia above the Treeline: Climate and Rodent Abundance Influences Exposure of a Sentinel Species, the Arctic Fox ( Vulpes lagopus), to Francisella tularensis. Pathogens 2022; 12:pathogens12010028. [PMID: 36678376 PMCID: PMC9861794 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tularemia is a zoonotic disease found throughout most of the northern hemisphere that may experience range expansion with warming temperatures. Rodents and lagomorphs are reservoirs for the disease, and outbreaks of tularemia often follow peaks in their abundance. As small mammals dominate the diet of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus), we determined whether they may serve as sentinels by identifying antibodies in live-captured and harvested foxes from northern Canada. Overall seroprevalence was 2% (CI95 1-2%) in 176 foxes harvested in 2018-2019 compared to 17% (CI95 12-22%) of 230 foxes captured live in 2011-2021. Prevalence was at an all-time high in 2018, following a peak in vole abundance in 2017. Antibodies were identified in fox pups born in 2018 and 2019, suggesting that F. tularensis was actively transmitted during the summers. High precipitation during the summer, increased snow cover and colder temperatures in May, and a higher abundance of voles were all associated with increased seroprevalence in live-captured foxes. Thus, exposure to F. tularensis is largely mediated through climate and rodent populations in the Canadian Arctic, and arctic foxes are useful sentinels for F. tularensis in northern ecosystems. Further studies should investigate whether infection impacts arctic fox survival and reproductive success in the circumpolar North.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Buhler
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
- Correspondence:
| | - Émilie Bouchard
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Stacey Elmore
- Division of Natural Sciences, University of Maine Fort Kent, 23 University Drive, Fort Kent, MA 04743, USA
| | - Gustaf Samelius
- Snow Leopard Trust, 4649 Sunnyside Ave North, Suite 325, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Jessica Jackson
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Matilde Tomaselli
- Canadian High Arctic Research Station, Polar Knowledge Canada, 1 Uvajuq Road, P.O. Box 2150, Cambridge Bay, NU X0B 0C0, Canada
| | - Heather Fenton
- Government of The Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 5th Floor Scotiabank Centre, P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P9, Canada
- Australian Wildlife Health Registry, Taronga Zoo, P.O. Box 20, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
| | - Ray Alisauskas
- Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre, Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Emily Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
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Mlynek KD, Bozue JA. Why vary what's working? Phase variation and biofilm formation in Francisella tularensis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1076694. [PMID: 36560950 PMCID: PMC9763628 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1076694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The notoriety of high-consequence human pathogens has increased in recent years and, rightfully, research efforts have focused on understanding host-pathogen interactions. Francisella tularensis has been detected in an impressively broad range of vertebrate hosts as well as numerous arthropod vectors and single-celled organisms. Two clinically important subspecies, F. tularensis subsp. tularensis (Type A) and F. tularensis subsp. holarctica (Type B), are responsible for the majority of tularemia cases in humans. The success of this bacterium in mammalian hosts can be at least partly attributed to a unique LPS molecule that allows the bacterium to avoid detection by the host immune system. Curiously, phase variation of the O-antigen incorporated into LPS has been documented in these subspecies of F. tularensis, and these variants often display some level of attenuation in infection models. While the role of phase variation in F. tularensis biology is unclear, it has been suggested that this phenomenon can aid in environmental survival and persistence. Biofilms have been established as the predominant lifestyle of many bacteria in the environment, though, it was previously thought that Type A and B isolates of F. tularensis typically form poor biofilms. Recent studies question this ideology as it was shown that alteration of the O-antigen allows robust biofilm formation in both Type A and B isolates. This review aims to explore the link between phase variation of the O-antigen, biofilm formation, and environmental persistence with an emphasis on clinically relevant subspecies and how understanding these poorly studied mechanisms could lead to new medical countermeasures to combat tularemia.
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Makdasi E, Atiya-Nasagi Y, Gur D, Glinert I, Shmaya S, Milrot E, Chitlaru T, Mamroud E, Laskar O, Schuster O. Iron-Modified Blood Culture Media Allow for the Rapid Diagnosis and Isolation of the Slow-Growing Pathogen Francisella tularensis. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0241522. [PMID: 36190401 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02415-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The life-threatening disease tularemia is caused by Francisella tularensis, an intracellular Gram-negative bacterial pathogen. Due to the high mortality rates of the disease, as well as the low respiratory infectious dose, F. tularensis is categorized as a Tier 1 bioterror agent. The identification and isolation from clinical blood cultures of F. tularensis are complicated by its slow growth. Iron was shown to be one of the limiting nutrients required for F. tularensis metabolism and growth. Bacterial growth was shown to be restricted or enhanced in the absence or addition of iron. In this study, we tested the beneficial effect of enhanced iron concentrations on expediting F. tularensis blood culture diagnostics. Accordingly, bacterial growth rates in blood cultures with or without Fe2+ supplementation were evaluated. Growth quantification by direct CFU counts demonstrated significant improvement of growth rates of up to 6 orders of magnitude in Fe2+-supplemented media compared to the corresponding nonmodified cultures. Fe2+ supplementation significantly shortened incubation periods for successful diagnosis and isolation of F. tularensis by up to 92 h. This was achieved in a variety of blood culture types in spite of a low initial bacterial inoculum representative of low levels of bacteremia. These improvements were demonstrated with culture of either Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis or subsp. holarctica in all examined commercial blood culture types routinely used in a clinical setup. Finally, essential downstream identification assays, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), immunofluorescence, or antibiotic susceptibility tests, were not affected in the presence of Fe2+. To conclude, supplementing blood cultures with Fe2+ enables a significant shortening of incubation times for F. tularensis diagnosis, without affecting subsequent identification or isolation assays. IMPORTANCE In this study, we evaluated bacterial growth rates of Francisella tularensis strains in iron (Fe)-enriched blood cultures as a means of improving and accelerating bacterial growth. The shortening of the culturing time should facilitate rapid pathogen detection and isolation, positively impacting clinical diagnosis and enabling prompt onset of efficient therapy.
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Cantlay S, Kaftanic C, Horzempa J. PdpC, a secreted effector protein of the type six secretion system, is required for erythrocyte invasion by Francisella tularensis LVS. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:979693. [PMID: 36237421 PMCID: PMC9552824 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.979693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a gram negative, intracellular pathogen that is the causative agent of the potentially fatal disease, tularemia. During infection, F. tularensis is engulfed by and replicates within host macrophages. Additionally, this bacterium has also been shown to invade human erythrocytes and, in both cases, the Type Six Secretion System (T6SS) is required for these host-pathogen interaction. One T6SS effector protein, PdpC, is important for macrophage infection, playing a role in phagolysosomal escape and intracellular replication. To determine if PdpC also plays a role in erythrocyte invasion, we constructed a pdpC-null mutant in the live vaccine strain, F. tularensis LVS. We show that PdpC is required for invasion of human and sheep erythrocytes during in vitro assays and that reintroduction of a copy of pdpC, in trans, rescues this phenotype. The interaction with human erythrocytes was further characterized using double-immunofluorescence microscopy to show that PdpC is required for attachment of F. tularensis LVS to erythrocytes as well as invasion. To learn more about the role of PdpC in erythrocyte invasion we generated a strain of F. tularensis LVS expressing pdpC-emgfp. PdpC-EmGFP localizes as discrete foci in a subset of F. tularensis LVS cells grown in broth culture and accumulates in erythrocytes during invasion assays. Our results are the first example of a secreted effector protein of the T6SS shown to be involved in erythrocyte invasion and indicate that PdpC is secreted into erythrocytes during invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joseph Horzempa
- Department of Biological Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, United States
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Sadiku I, Namani S, Ndrejaj Berisha V, Ponosheci Biçaku A, Hyseni S. Tularemia in children during the last outbreak in Kosovo. J Infect Dev Ctries 2022; 16:1364-1369. [PMID: 36099382 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.14886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that primarily affects adults and children in rural areas. Late diagnosis in children is often associated with treatment failure and accessory surgical procedures. OBJECTIVE To analyze the diagnostic and treatment options of pediatric tularemia during the last outbreak in Kosovo during years 2014 and 2015. METHODOLOGY This retrospective study includes 36 children treated for Tularemia at pediatric department. The diagnosis was based on clinical, serological, and PCR testing. RESULTS Of the 230 patients treated for tularemia, 36 (16%) were children with a median age of 9.4 years old (range 2-15 years). Major clinical manifestations included fever (97%) and swelling of lymph glands (94%), and the duration of symptoms prior to hospitalization was two weeks (range 3-60 days). Leukocytosis (41%), along with an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (97%) characterized the laboratory findings. Both serology and PCR were used to confirm tularemia in children in 100% of cases. Due to abscess formation, suppuration, and high prevalence of tuberculosis, surgical procedures were used as accessory therapy and for diagnosis in half of the patients (50%). Gentamycin was the first drug of choice (97%), while 3 patients experienced relapses. Since the majority of the patients (72%) used unsafe water from wells in rural regions, the outbreak was thought to be water-related. CONCLUSIONS Every febrile child with swollen glands should be suspected of having tularemia. Gentamycin continues to be the preferred treatment for unilateral cervical glandular type. Successful therapy depends on early diagnosis and supplemental surgical procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izet Sadiku
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtinë, Kosovo
| | - Sadie Namani
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtinë, Kosovo.
| | - Vera Ndrejaj Berisha
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtinë, Kosovo
| | | | - Saranda Hyseni
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtinë, Kosovo
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Dominguez SR, Whiles S, Deobald KN, Kawula T. Francisella tularensis Exploits AMPK Activation to Harvest Host-Derived Nutrients Liberated from Host Lipolysis. Infect Immun 2022;:e0015522. [PMID: 35916521 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00155-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic, facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen that replicates in a variety of cell types during infection. Following entry into the cell and phagosome escape, the bacterium replicates rapidly in the cytoplasm. F. tularensis intracellular growth depends on the availability of metabolizable essential nutrients to support replication. However, the mechanism by which metabolizable nutrients become available to the bacterium in the intracellular environment is not fully understood. We found that F. tularensis-infected cells had significantly smaller and fewer lipid droplets than uninfected cells. Inhibition of triacylglycerol degradation significantly reduced bacterial growth, whereas inhibition of triacylglycerol formation did not reduce bacterial growth, suggesting that triacylglycerols sequestered within lipid droplets are important nutrient sources for F. tularensis. We found that F. tularensis-infected cells had increased activation of lipolysis and the upstream regulatory protein AMP protein kinase (AMPK). These data suggest that F. tularensis exploits AMPK activation and lipid metabolism to use host-derived nutrients. Finally, we found that AMPK activation is correlated with an increased bacterial burden, which suggests that it is a host-mediated response to nutrient starvation that results from increased bacterial replication. Altogether, we conclude that F. tularensis exploits AMPK activation to access nutrients sequestered in lipid droplets, specifically glycerol and fatty acids, to undergo efficient bacterial replication and cause successful infection.
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Kinkead LC, Krysa SJ, Allen LAH. Neutrophil Survival Signaling During Francisella tularensis Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:889290. [PMID: 35873156 PMCID: PMC9299441 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.889290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are the most abundant and shortest-lived leukocytes in humans and tight regulation of neutrophil turnover via constitutive apoptosis is essential for control of infection and resolution of inflammation. Accordingly, aberrant neutrophil turnover is hallmark of many disease states. We have shown in previous work that the intracellular bacterial pathogen Francisella tularensis markedly prolongs human neutrophil lifespan. This is achieved, in part, by changes in neutrophil gene expression. Still unknown is the contribution of major neutrophil pro-survival signaling cascades to this process. The objective of this study was to interrogate the contributions of ERK and p38 MAP kinase, Class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K), AKT, and NF-κB to neutrophil survival in our system. We demonstrate that both ERK2 and p38α were activated in F. tularensis-infected neutrophils, but only p38α MAPK was required for delayed apoptosis and the rate of cell death in the absence of infection was unchanged. Apoptosis of both infected and uninfected neutrophils was markedly accelerated by the pan-PI3K inhibitor LY2094002, but AKT phosphorylation was not induced, and neutrophil death was not enhanced by AKT inhibitors. In addition, isoform specific and selective inhibitors revealed a unique role for PI3Kα in neutrophil survival after infection, whereas only simultaneous inhibition of PI3Kα and PI3kδ accelerated death of the uninfected controls. Finally, we show that inhibition of NF-κB triggered rapid death of neutrophil after infection. Thus, we defined roles for p38α, PI3Kα and NF-κB delayed apoptosis of F. tularensis-infected cells and advanced understanding of Class IA PI3K isoform activity in human neutrophil survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren C. Kinkead
- Inflammation Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Samantha J. Krysa
- Inflammation Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, United States,Molecular Medicine Training Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Lee-Ann H. Allen
- Inflammation Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, United States,Molecular Medicine Training Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States,Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States,*Correspondence: Lee-Ann H. Allen,
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Esmaeili S, Ghasemi A, Esmaeili P, Rezaie F, Mohraz M, Maurin M, Mostafavi E. A case report of ulceroglandular tularemia caused by Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica in Iran. Acta Trop 2022; 234:106570. [PMID: 35752204 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that has been reported in many countries of the Northern Hemisphere. However, in some countries, such as Iran, this disease has been neglected by the health care system, and it is under-reported. CASE PRESENTATION Here we report an unusual case of ulceroglandular tularemia occurring in a 35-year-old woman who presented with a skin lesion of the left flank, inguinal lymphadenopathy, and an abdominal abscess. The serological and real-time PCR tests for tularemia were positive for this patient, and infection by Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS It is necessary to implement various educational programs to increase the awareness of physicians with tularemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saber Esmaeili
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Ghasemi
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Esmaeili
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farshid Rezaie
- Center for Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
| | - Minoo Mohraz
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Max Maurin
- Universite Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC-IMAG, 38000 Grenoble, Grenoble, France
| | - Ehsan Mostafavi
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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Sullivan AP, Nicholson C, Bradbury-Squires DJ, King A, Daley P. Two cases of tularemia in hunters from rural Newfoundland. J Assoc Med Microbiol Infect Dis Can 2022; 7:135-139. [PMID: 36337354 PMCID: PMC9608108 DOI: 10.3138/jammi-2020-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tularemia is a rare zoonosis caused by Francisella tularensis, a small gram-negative intracellular coccobacillus. Transmission occurs through direct contact with small mammals such as hares and rabbits, exposure to ticks, or ingestion or inhalation of aerosolized particles. It is a highly variable disease with six subtypes based on clinical features. Tularemia is a very rare disease in Canada, with only 0.01 cases per 100,000 people reported in 2017. METHODS In this case report, we describe two cases of tularemia affecting hunters from rural Newfoundland and Labrador. RESULTS The first case describes a patient with glandular tularemia diagnosed with serology; the second describes a patient with typhoidal tularemia diagnosed on blood culture. Both patients recovered after treatment with gentamicin. DISCUSSION These cases highlight the importance of eliciting a careful social history from patients presenting with an unexplained febrile illness. Tularemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fever after hunting in rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Sullivan
- Discipline of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland
| | - Catherine Nicholson
- Discipline of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland
| | | | - Amy King
- Discipline of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland
| | - Peter Daley
- Discipline of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland
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Krysa SJ, Allen LAH. Metabolic Reprogramming Mediates Delayed Apoptosis of Human Neutrophils Infected With Francisella tularensis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:836754. [PMID: 35693822 PMCID: PMC9174434 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.836754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PMNs) have a distinctively short lifespan, and tight regulation of cell survival and death is imperative for their normal function. We demonstrated previously that Francisella tularensis extends human neutrophil lifespan, which elicits an impaired immune response characterized by neutrophil dysfunction. Herein, we extended these studies, including our transcriptional profiling data, and employed Seahorse extracellular flux analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite analysis, flow cytometry and several other biochemical approaches to demonstrate that the delayed apoptosis observed in F. tularensis-infected neutrophils is mediated, in part, by metabolic reprogramming. Specifically, we show that F. tularensis-infected neutrophils exhibited a unique metabolic signature characterized by increased glycolysis, glycolytic flux and glucose uptake, downregulation of the pentose phosphate pathway, and complex glycogen dynamics. Glucose uptake and glycolysis were essential for cell longevity, although glucose-6-phosphate translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum was not, and we identify depletion of glycogen as a potential trigger of apoptosis onset. In keeping with this, we also demonstrate that ablation of apoptosis with the pan-caspase inhibitor Q-VD-OPh was sufficient to profoundly increase glycolysis and glycogen stores in the absence of infection. Taken together, our data significantly advance understanding of neutrophil immunometabolism and its capacity to regulate cell lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J. Krysa
- Inflammation Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Molecular Medicine Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Lee-Ann H. Allen
- Inflammation Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Molecular Medicine Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, United States,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States,Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States,Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States,*Correspondence: Lee-Ann H. Allen,
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Ma Z, Higgs M, Alqahtani M, Bakshi CS, Malik M. ThioredoxinA1 Controls the Oxidative Stress Response of Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain (LVS). J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0008222. [PMID: 35475633 PMCID: PMC9112935 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00082-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is an intracellular, Gram-negative bacterium known for causing a disease known as tularemia in the Northern Hemisphere. F. tularensis is classified as a category A select agent by the CDC based on its possible use as a bioterror agent. F. tularensis overcomes oxidative stress encountered during its growth in the environment or host macrophages by encoding antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutases, catalase, and alkylhydroperoxy reductase. These antioxidant enzymes are regulated by the oxidative stress response regulator, OxyR. In addition to these antioxidant enzymes, F. tularensis also encodes two thioredoxins, TrxA1 (FTL_0611) and TrxA2 (FTL_1224); however, their role in the oxidative stress response of F. tularensis is not known. This study investigated the role of thioredoxins of F. tularensis in the oxidative stress response and intracellular survival. Our results demonstrate that TrxA1 but not TrxA2 plays a major role in the oxidative stress response of F. tularensis. Most importantly, this study elucidates a novel mechanism through which the TrxA1 of F. tularensis controls the oxidative stress response by regulating the expression of the master regulator, oxyR. Further, TrxA1 is required for the intramacrophage survival and growth of Francisella. Overall, this study describes a novel role of thioredoxin, TrxA1, in regulating the oxidative stress response of F. tularensis. IMPORTANCE The role of thioredoxins in the oxidative stress response of F. tularensis is not known. This study demonstrates that of the two thioredoxins, TrxA1 is vital to counter the oxidative stress in F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS). Furthermore, this study shows differences in the well-studied thioredoxins of Escherichia coli. First, the expression of TrxA1 of F. tularensis is independent of the oxidative stress response regulator, OxyR. Second and most importantly, TrxA1 regulates the expression of oxyR and, therefore, the OxyR-dependent oxidative stress response of F. tularensis. Overall, this study reports a novel regulatory role of TrxA1 of F. tularensis in the oxidative stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Ma
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Matthew Higgs
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Maha Alqahtani
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA
| | - Chandra Shekhar Bakshi
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA
| | - Meenakshi Malik
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, New York, USA
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Kaya E, Üçer H. Tularemia research activity: a bibliometric analysis between 1980 and 2020. Infection 2022; 50:1507-1515. [PMID: 35507235 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01837-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tularemia disease attracts attention as an important contagious zoonosis that has increased its impact in recent years. The aim of the study is to analyze the publications on tularemia between 1980 and 2020. METHODS We performed literature retrieval in the Web of Science (WoS) on 22 September 2021. Search terms were "Francisella tularensis" and "Tularemia" in the article title for the period between January 1980 and December 2020. We determined the number of articles, keywords, countries, authors, and institutions for each publication. We visualized the data with the VOS viewer tool. RESULTS After all inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied finally, 1688 articles were analyzed. The number of articles has increased in recent years. The three most productive countries in tularemia were the USA (777 articles 46.03%), Sweden (113 articles 6.69%), and Turkey (95 articles, 5.63%). Most of the articles were from the journal of Infection and Immunity (II), Plos one, Journal of Clinical Microbiology (JCM), Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID), and Vaccine. Sjostedt A. and Umea University-Sweden were the most influential author and institution. CONCLUSIONS Productivity trend has been shown to increase in tularemia. High-income countries had a great influence on the literature in the field. Publications from the USA were in a high percentage among all articles. Related work may lead to the future direction of this dossier in the next years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erhan Kaya
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras city, Turkey.
| | - Hüseyin Üçer
- Department of Family Medicine, Public Health Directorate of Kahramanmaraş, Kahramanmaraş city, Turkey
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