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Microorganisms
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State-of-the-Art Medical Microbiology in the USA (2023, 2024)
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State-of-the-Art Medical Microbiology in the USA (2023, 2024)

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 8765

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Deepak Shukla

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Guest Editor
1. Marion Schenk Esq. Professor of the Aging Eye Research and Director of Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Interests: herpes simplex virus infection; viral glycoproteins; antiviral agents; viral vaccines; ocular infection; heparan sulfate proteoglycans; heparanase
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art medical microbiology in the USA. We encourage American researchers from related fields to contribute papers highlighting the latest developments in medical microbiology, or to invite relevant experts and colleagues to do so. This Special Issue will publish full research articles and comprehensive reviews.

Prof. Dr. Deepak Shukla
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3702 KiB  
Article
McFarland Standards-Based Spectrophotometry Method for Calculating Approximate Multiplicity of Infection for an Obligate Intracellular Bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum
by P. P. Mahesh, Jaydeep Kolape, Hameeda Sultana and Girish Neelakanta
Microorganisms 2025, 13(3), 662; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13030662 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 631
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium that causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Assessing the number of these bacteria is important for in vitro and in vivo infection studies. Colony count is used to set references for the multiplicity of infections in the [...] Read more.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium that causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Assessing the number of these bacteria is important for in vitro and in vivo infection studies. Colony count is used to set references for the multiplicity of infections in the case of culturable bacteria. However, the number of bacteria present inside the host cells, in which the bacteria are maintained, can be considered in the case of obligate intracellular bacteria. McFarland standards are a series of turbidity-based standards used to visually assess the approximate number of culturable bacteria. The turbidity of each standard can be related to their respective absorbances or optical densities (ODs). In this study, we describe a simple method to assess the approximate number of A. phagocytophilum based on McFarland standards. The ODs of cell-free crude extracts of A. phagocytophilum were used to assess the approximate number of bacteria while considering that the cell debris also contributes to the ODs. The consistency of this method was also tested using the bacterial cultures grown at different times. In summary, we provide a simple method to estimate the number of obligate intracellular bacteria for use in in vitro infection studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Medical Microbiology in the USA (2023, 2024))
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12 pages, 960 KiB  
Article
Low 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Post-Kidney Transplant Is Associated with Increased Risk of BK Polyomavirus-Associated Nephropathy
by Suseela A. Raj, Angela L. Zhou, Ekaterina Fedorova, Zhongyu Yuan, Didier A. Mandelbrot, Brad C. Astor and Sandesh Parajuli
Microorganisms 2024, 12(12), 2588; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122588 - 13 Dec 2024
Viewed by 704
Abstract
BK viremia (BKPyV-DNAemia) and nephropathy (BKPyVAN) are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Vitamin D supports immune function, yet low 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is common among KTRs. The association between serum 25(OH)D, measured 61 days to 2 years [...] Read more.
BK viremia (BKPyV-DNAemia) and nephropathy (BKPyVAN) are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Vitamin D supports immune function, yet low 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is common among KTRs. The association between serum 25(OH)D, measured 61 days to 2 years post-transplant, and subsequent incident BKPyV-DNAemia and BKPyVAN was examined in KTRs without previous BKPyV-DNAemia or BKPyVAN, respectively. Out of 3308 KTRs, 399 (12%) were vitamin D deficient [25(OH)D ≤ 20 ng/mL], and 916 (27.7%) were insufficient [25(OH)D 21–29 ng/mL]. A total of 184 KTRs developed BKPyV-DNAemia and 44 developed BKPyVAN. The incidence rate (/100 person-years) for BKPyV-DNAemia was 2.88 in the 25(OH)D sufficient group, 2.22 in the insufficient group, and 2.37 in the deficient group. The incidence rate (/100 person-years) for BKPyVAN was 0.30 in the 25(OH)D sufficient group, 0.75 in the insufficient group, and 1.28 in the deficient group. Vitamin D deficiency (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] compared to 25(OH)D sufficiency: 3.92; 95% CI: 1.66–9.23) and insufficiency (aHR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.11–4.45) remained significantly associated with the incidence of BKPyVAN after adjustment for baseline characteristics. Low serum 25(OH)D was associated with an increased risk of BKPyVAN but not BKPyV-DNAemia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Medical Microbiology in the USA (2023, 2024))
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11 pages, 1763 KiB  
Article
Persistence of Daptomycin-Resistant and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Hospitalized Patients with Underlying Malignancies: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study
by Lynn El Haddad, Georgios Angelidakis, Yuting Zhai, Layale Yaghi, Cesar A. Arias, Samuel A. Shelburne, Kwangcheol Casey Jeong and Roy F. Chemaly
Microorganisms 2024, 12(8), 1676; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12081676 - 14 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1323
Abstract
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) commonly colonize the gut of individuals with hematologic malignancies or undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) and may cause bacteremia. In 2012, we identified VRE isolates from patients and patients’ rooms and showed transmission networks of highly genetically related daptomycin-resistant (DR)-VRE [...] Read more.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) commonly colonize the gut of individuals with hematologic malignancies or undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) and may cause bacteremia. In 2012, we identified VRE isolates from patients and patients’ rooms and showed transmission networks of highly genetically related daptomycin-resistant (DR)-VRE strains. This is a follow-up study performing whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and phylogenetic analyses on 82 clinical VRE strains isolated from stools and blood cultures of patients with leukemia and HCT between 2015 and 2019. Here, we observed transmission of highly genetically related strains between rooms on the same or on different floors, including a DR-VRE strain identified in 2012. Eleven of twenty-eight patients with DR-VRE were never exposed to daptomycin, suggesting horizontal transmission. Fifteen of the twenty-eight patients with DR-VRE died within 30 days of positive blood cultures. Amongst those, one DR-VRE strain belonging to ST1471 had the virulence gene bopD responsible for biofilm formation. Additionally, to our knowledge, this is the first report of a DR-VRE strain belonging to ST323 in the United States. In summary, our study demonstrated the emergence and persistence of VRE strains, especially DR-VRE, in our hospital. Adding WGS to routine infection control measures may timely identify potential horizontal VRE transmission including multi-drug-resistant isolates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Medical Microbiology in the USA (2023, 2024))
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Review

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18 pages, 3313 KiB  
Review
Herpesvirus Infections of the Corneal Endothelium
by Jessie Wang, Behnam Rabiee, Chandani Patel, Mansab Jafri, Hamad Hussain, Aaila Chaudhry, Imtiaz Chaudhry, Layla Kamoun, Iftikhar Chaudhry, Lewis Oh, Fatima I. Bobat, Deepak Shukla and Asim V. Farooq
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040778 - 28 Mar 2025
Viewed by 341
Abstract
Corneal endotheliitis is an inflammatory process, most commonly of viral etiology, that manifests clinically with features including corneal edema, keratic precipitates, and a mild anterior chamber reaction. Several studies have implicated human herpesviruses from the Herpesviridae family as primary causes of corneal endotheliitis, [...] Read more.
Corneal endotheliitis is an inflammatory process, most commonly of viral etiology, that manifests clinically with features including corneal edema, keratic precipitates, and a mild anterior chamber reaction. Several studies have implicated human herpesviruses from the Herpesviridae family as primary causes of corneal endotheliitis, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2). This review critically evaluates the present literature surrounding herpesvirus infections of the corneal endothelium. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Medical Microbiology in the USA (2023, 2024))
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29 pages, 1748 KiB  
Review
Viral Infection and Dissemination Through the Lymphatic System
by Morgan E. Brisse and Heather D. Hickman
Microorganisms 2025, 13(2), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13020443 - 18 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1312
Abstract
Many viruses induce viremia (virus in the blood) and disseminate throughout the body via the bloodstream from the initial infection site. However, viruses must often pass through the lymphatic system to reach the blood. The lymphatic system comprises a network of vessels distinct [...] Read more.
Many viruses induce viremia (virus in the blood) and disseminate throughout the body via the bloodstream from the initial infection site. However, viruses must often pass through the lymphatic system to reach the blood. The lymphatic system comprises a network of vessels distinct from blood vessels, along with interconnected lymph nodes (LNs). The complex network has become increasingly appreciated as a crucial host factor that contributes to both the spread and control of viral infections. Viruses can enter the lymphatics as free virions or along with migratory cells. Once virions arrive in the LN, sinus-resident macrophages remove infectious virus from the lymph. Depending on the virus, macrophages can eliminate infection or propagate the virus. A virus released from an LN is eventually deposited into the blood. This unique pathway highlights LNs as targets for viral infection control and for modulation of antiviral response development. Here, we review the lymphatic system and viruses that disseminate through this network. We discuss infection of the LN, the generation of adaptive antiviral immunity, and current knowledge of protection within the infected node. We conclude by sharing insights from ongoing efforts to optimize lymphatic targeting by vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Understanding the lymphatic system’s role during viral infection enhances our knowledge of antiviral immunity and virus–host interactions and reveals potential targets for next-generation therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Medical Microbiology in the USA (2023, 2024))
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14 pages, 285 KiB  
Review
Heartland Virus Disease—An Underreported Emerging Infection
by Zygmunt F. Dembek, Jerry L. Mothershead, Christopher M. Cirimotich and Aiguo Wu
Microorganisms 2024, 12(2), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12020286 - 29 Jan 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3704
Abstract
First recognized 15 years ago, Heartland virus disease (Heartland) is a tickborne infection contracted from the transmission of Heartland virus (HRTV) through tick bites from the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and potentially other tick species. Heartland symptoms include a fever [...] Read more.
First recognized 15 years ago, Heartland virus disease (Heartland) is a tickborne infection contracted from the transmission of Heartland virus (HRTV) through tick bites from the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and potentially other tick species. Heartland symptoms include a fever <100.4 °F, lethargy, fatigue, headaches, myalgia, a loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, arthralgia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. We reviewed the existing peer-reviewed literature for HRTV and Heartland to more completely characterize this rarely reported, recently discovered illness. The absence of ongoing serosurveys and targeted clinical and tickborne virus investigations specific to HRTV presence and Heartland likely contributes to infection underestimation. While HRTV transmission occurs in southern and midwestern states, the true range of this infection is likely larger than now understood. The disease’s proliferation benefits from an expanded tick range due to rising climate temperatures favoring habitat expansion. We recommend HRTV disease be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with a reported exposure to ticks in areas where HRTV has been previously identified. HRTV testing should be considered early for those matching the Heartland disease profile and nonresponsive to initial broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment. Despite aggressive supportive therapy, patients deteriorating to sepsis early in the course of the disease have a very grim prognosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Medical Microbiology in the USA (2023, 2024))
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