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Acta Microbiol. Hell., Volume 69, Issue 1 (March 2024) – 6 articles

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9 pages, 1130 KiB  
Communication
Development of a 3D Microfluidic Analytical Device for the Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria in Commercial Food Samples with Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification
by Spyridon-Andreas Papatheodorou, Dimitra Houhoula, Sotirios Magoulas, Andreas G. Tsantes, Efstathia Tsakali, Simen Akkermans, Jan Van Impe, Panagiotis Halvatsiotis and Argyrios E. Tsantes
Acta Microbiol. Hell. 2024, 69(1), 41-49; https://doi.org/10.3390/amh69010006 - 14 Mar 2024
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Abstract
Traditional methods of detecting foodborne pathogens take several days to produce the required results. Furthermore, various molecular techniques (e.g., PCR) that also produce reliable results in the detection of pathogenic bacteria have been introduced, but the cost–time ratio required does not allow them [...] Read more.
Traditional methods of detecting foodborne pathogens take several days to produce the required results. Furthermore, various molecular techniques (e.g., PCR) that also produce reliable results in the detection of pathogenic bacteria have been introduced, but the cost–time ratio required does not allow them to be considered a substantial solution to this specific problem. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology provides the ability to design and manufacture microfluidic analytical devices using conventional 3D printers, which, in combination with colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), may further simplify the process. The overall reduction in time and cost may provide the opportunity to upscale this diagnostic modality. Moreover, unlike most microfluidic analytical devices, this technique is simpler and more user-friendly, as it does not require any expertise or additional equipment apart from a conventional oven. A 3D-printed microfluidic analytical device in combination with LAMP was developed and tested for the simultaneous detection of foodborne pathogens in food samples. A total of 150 commercial food specimens (50 milk, 50 chicken, 50 lettuce samples) were analyzed for possible contamination with Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli. The 3D-printed microfluidic device was 100% precise for both negative (80 samples) and positive samples (7 samples were positive for S. typhimurium, 28 for L. monocytogenes, and 35 for E. coli) for all pathogens. Overall, the amount of data analyzed led to a high level of confidence in the precision of this device. As such, this new 3D device in combination with LAMP provides a precise detection method for food pathogens with a low detection limit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Microbiology in 2024)
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12 pages, 10615 KiB  
Article
Histomorphology of Chorionic Villi of Term Placentae of Mothers Exposed to Retroviral and Hepatitis B Viruses
by John Ahenkorah, Stephen Opoku-Nyarko, Kevin Kofi Adutwum-Ofosu, Bismarck Hottor, Joana Twasam, Emmanuel Afutu, Clement Nyadroh, Fleischer C. N. Kotey, Eric S. Donkor, Nicholas T. K. D. Dayie, Edem M. A. Tette and Patience B. Tetteh-Quarcoo
Acta Microbiol. Hell. 2024, 69(1), 29-40; https://doi.org/10.3390/amh69010005 - 26 Feb 2024
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Abstract
Retroviral and hepatitis B infections can be potential threats to foetomaternal health through inducing distortions of the architecture and structure of the placenta. Improved insights into the effects of these infections on placental morphology would be integral to our understanding of maternal and [...] Read more.
Retroviral and hepatitis B infections can be potential threats to foetomaternal health through inducing distortions of the architecture and structure of the placenta. Improved insights into the effects of these infections on placental morphology would be integral to our understanding of maternal and neonatal health. Aim: To histomorphologically and stereologically investigate selected placental structures in virus-infected (HIV [human immunodeficiency virus] and hepatitis B virus [HBV]) and uninfected women at term. Method: This cross-sectional study involved the screening of 237 placentae collected at term (38 ± 2 weeks) from the maternity delivery units and surgical theatres of the LEKMA and Weija/Gbawe Municipal Hospitals in Accra. Venous blood samples from the umbilical vein and placenta basal plate blood were screened for HIV, HBV, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) using serological test kits (RDT). A total of 34 placentae were selected, comprising 20 cases and 14 controls that were gestational age-matched. Using stereology and a systematic random sampling technique with test point and intersection counting of photomicrographs, the mean volume densities of syncytial knots, syncytial denudations, foetal capillaries, and intervillous spaces of the placentae were estimated on a total of 2720 photomicrographs. Results: On stereological assessment, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean volume densities of syncytial knots (HIV-infected = 0.562 ± 0.115, HBV-infected = 0.516 ± 0.090, control group = 0.171 ± 0.018, p = 0.001), syncytial denudations (HIV-infected = 0.121 ± 0.022, HBV-infected = 0.111 ± 0.016, control group = 0.051 ± 0.00, p = 0.004), and foetal capillaries (HIV-infected = 0.725 ± 0.152, HBV-infected = 0.902 ± 0.078, control group = 0.451 ± 0.064, p = 0.006) among the different groups of placentae (control) at term. A statistically significant decrease in intervillous space (p = 0.022) was recorded in HBV-infected placentae compared to the control (from 15.450 ± 1.075 to 11.32 ± 0.952). Conclusion: Placental viral infections might lead to significant increases in syncytial knots, foetal capillaries, and syncytial denuded areas of the chorionic villi and a significant decrease in intervillous spaces. This finding could signify evidence of advanced gestation, placental malperfusion, hypermaturity of the placenta, and a possible vertical transmission of the viral antigen to the foetus, which may be crucial in understanding perinatal outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Microbiology in 2024)
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15 pages, 1134 KiB  
Systematic Review
Endometrial Microbiome and Its Correlation to Female Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Panagiota Foteinidou, Maria Exindari, Dimitrios Chatzidimitriou and Georgia Gioula
Acta Microbiol. Hell. 2024, 69(1), 14-28; https://doi.org/10.3390/amh69010004 - 26 Feb 2024
Viewed by 2138
Abstract
The endometrial cavity was considered sterile until the second half of the 20th century. Through modern technological advances and the sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, it was proven that the area possesses its own unique microbiome, which can be categorised into [...] Read more.
The endometrial cavity was considered sterile until the second half of the 20th century. Through modern technological advances and the sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, it was proven that the area possesses its own unique microbiome, which can be categorised into two types, Lactobacillus-dominant (LD, with a Lactobacillus spp. abundance percentage greater than 90%) and non-Lactobacillus-dominant (non-LD, with a Lactobacillus spp. abundance percentage smaller than 90%), with other species like Bifidobacterium, Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Streptococcus also being prominent. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlation of the endometrial microbiome to female infertility, through the identification and appraisal of studies published in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Moreover, 12 studies met the research criteria, including the analysis of endometrial fluid or tissue samples from infertile women through PCR, culturomics-based, or NGS methods. According to most of these studies, a eubiotic LD-type microbiome seems to be best for maximising endometrial receptivity and pregnancy chances, whereas a dysbiotic non-LD-type microbiome, with increased α-diversity and a higher number of pathogens, has a harmful effect. There were few studies that presented contradictory results without, however, a satisfactory explanation. Thus, more time and a greater number of studies are required to clarify contradictions and achieve more certain results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Microbiology in 2024)
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11 pages, 1894 KiB  
Article
Bibliographic Insights into Biofilm Engineering
by Shan Chen and Yuanzhao Ding
Acta Microbiol. Hell. 2024, 69(1), 3-13; https://doi.org/10.3390/amh69010003 - 26 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1344
Abstract
Biofilms exert a profound impact on various facets of human life. Positive instances of biofilm usage involve their capacity to immobilize pollutants such as heavy metals, while adverse cases result in infections like urinary tract infections. Therefore, the study of biofilm engineering emerges [...] Read more.
Biofilms exert a profound impact on various facets of human life. Positive instances of biofilm usage involve their capacity to immobilize pollutants such as heavy metals, while adverse cases result in infections like urinary tract infections. Therefore, the study of biofilm engineering emerges as crucial. Employing a bibliographic research approach, this paper delves into biofilm engineering, identifying key species like Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, among others. The investigation also unveils major research subjects and corresponding institutions dedicated to biofilm research. A comprehensive understanding of biofilm engineering holds profound implications for advancing knowledge in this domain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Microbiology in 2024)
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1 pages, 147 KiB  
Editorial
Publisher’s Note: Acta Microbiologica Hellenica—Continued Publication by MDPI
by Maria Fotiou
Acta Microbiol. Hell. 2024, 69(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/amh69010002 - 1 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1415
Abstract
Acta Microbiologica Hellenica was launched in 1956 as the official bimonthly journal of the Hellenic Society for Microbiology, aiming to provide a constant educational platform for biopathologists, clinical microbiologists, and every scientist involved in laboratory and clinical medicine [...] Full article
1 pages, 161 KiB  
Editorial
Acta Microbiologica Hellenica: A New Era of a Historical Journal
by Athanasios Tsakris
Acta Microbiol. Hell. 2024, 69(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/amh69010001 - 1 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1153
Abstract
The first issue of Acta Microbiologica Hellenica, a bimonthly journal in Greek, was published in 1956 by the Hellenic Society for Microbiology, one of the oldest and most respected scientific Greek medical societies, founded in 1932 [...] Full article
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