TY - GEN A1 - Kuhnert, Peter A1 - Brodard, Isabelle A1 - Ackermann, Stefanie A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Jores, Joerg A1 - Heliyon, J. T1 - Serological and molecular detection as well as typing of Leptospira spp. in foxes, raccoons, and other wild carnivores in North-Eastern Germany, 2021–2022 T2 - Heliyon Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23268 SN - 2405-8440 VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 6 PB - Elsevier BV ER - TY - GEN A1 - Khan, Muhammad Moman A1 - Sidorczuk, Katarzyna A1 - Becker, Juliane A1 - Aleksandrowicz, Adrianna A1 - Baraniewicz, Karolina A1 - Ludwig, Christina A1 - Ali, Aamir A1 - Kingsley, Robert A. A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Kolenda, Rafał T1 - Characterization of clumpy adhesion of Escherichia coli to human cells and associated factors influencing antibiotic sensitivity T2 - Microbiology Spectrum N2 - Escherichia coli intestinal infection pathotypes are characterized by distinct adhesion patterns, including the recently described clumpy adhesion phenotype. Here, we identify and characterize the genetic factors contributing to the clumpy adhesion of E. coli strain 4972. In this strain, the transcriptome and proteome of adhered bacteria were found to be distinct from planktonic bacteria in the supernatant. A total of 622 genes in the transcriptome were differentially expressed in bacteria present in clumps relative to the planktonic bacteria. Seven genes targeted for disruption had variable distribution in different pathotypes and nonpathogenic E. coli, with the pilV and spnT genes being the least frequent or absent from most groups. Deletion (Δ) of five differentially expressed genes, flgH, ffp, pilV, spnT, and yggT, affected motility, adhesion, or antibiotic stress. ΔflgH exhibited 80% decrease and ΔyggT depicted 184% increase in adhesion, and upon complementation, adhesion was significantly reduced to 13%. ΔflgH lost motility and was regenerated when complemented, whereas Δffp had significantly increased motility, and reintroduction of the same gene reduced it to the wild-type level. The clumps produced by Δffp and ΔspnT were more resistant and protected the bacteria, with ΔspnT showing the best clump formation in terms of ampicillin stress protection. ΔyggT had the lowest tolerance to gentamicin, where the antibiotic stress completely eliminated the bacteria. Overall, we were able to investigate the influence of clump formation on cell surface adhesion and antimicrobial tolerance, with the contribution of several factors crucial to clump formation on susceptibility to the selected antibiotics. KW - Infectious Diseases KW - Cell Biology KW - Microbiology (medical) KW - Genetics KW - General Immunology and Microbiology KW - Ecology KW - Physiology Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02606-23 SN - 2165-0497 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Azam, Hafiz Muhammad Husnain A1 - Rößling, Rosa Ilse A1 - Geithe, Christiane A1 - Khan, Muhammad Moman A1 - Dinter, Franziska A1 - Hanack, Katja A1 - Prüß, Harald A1 - Husse, Britta A1 - Roggenbuck, Dirk A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Rödiger, Stefan T1 - MicroRNA biomarkers as next-generation diagnostic tools for neurodegenerative diseases: a comprehensive review T2 - Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience N2 - Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by abnormalities within neurons of the brain or spinal cord that gradually lose function, eventually leading to cell death. Upon examination of affected tissue, pathological changes reveal a loss of synapses, misfolded proteins, and activation of immune cells—all indicative of disease progression—before severe clinical symptoms become apparent. Early detection of NDs is crucial for potentially administering targeted medications that may delay disease advancement. Given their complex pathophysiological features and diverse clinical symptoms, there is a pressing need for sensitive and effective diagnostic methods for NDs. Biomarkers such as microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as potential tools for detecting these diseases. We explore the pivotal role of miRNAs in the context of NDs, focusing on Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The review delves into the intricate relationship between aging and NDs, highlighting structural and functional alterations in the aging brain and their implications for disease development. It elucidates how miRNAs and RNA-binding proteins are implicated in the pathogenesis of NDs and underscores the importance of investigating their expression and function in aging. Significantly, miRNAs exert substantial influence on post-translational modifications (PTMs), impacting not just the nervous system but a wide array of tissues and cell types as well. Specific miRNAs have been found to target proteins involved in ubiquitination or de-ubiquitination processes, which play a significant role in regulating protein function and stability. We discuss the link between miRNA, PTM, and NDs. Additionally, the review discusses the significance of miRNAs as biomarkers for early disease detection, offering insights into diagnostic strategies. KW - neurodegenerative diseases KW - microRNA KW - biomarkers KW - nervous system KW - diagnostic tools KW - therapeutic tools KW - protein post-translational modifications KW - limitations Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2024.1386735 SN - 1662-5099 VL - 17 PB - Frontiers Media S.A. ER - TY - GEN A1 - Frost, Fabian A1 - Weiss, Stefan A1 - Hertel, Johannes A1 - Rühlemann, Malte A1 - Bang, Corinna A1 - Franke, Andre A1 - Nauck, Matthias A1 - Dörr, Marcus A1 - Völzke, Henry A1 - Roggenbuck, Dirk A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Völker, Uwe A1 - Homuth, Georg A1 - Aghdassi, Ali A. A1 - Sendler, Matthias A1 - Lerch, Markus M. A1 - Weiss, Frank U. T1 - Fecal glycoprotein 2 is a marker of gut microbiota dysbiosis and systemic inflammation T2 - Gut Pathogens N2 - Background autoantigenic glycoprotein 2 (GP2) is an important component of the innate immune system which originates from the exocrine pancreas as well as from the small intestines. The relationship of GP2 with the intestinal microbiome as well as the systemic implications of increased fecal GP2 levels are, however, still unclear. Therefore, fecal samples from 2,812 individuals of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) were collected to determine GP2 levels (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and gut microbiota profiles (16 S rRNA gene sequencing). These data were correlated and associated with highly standardised and comprehensive phenotypic data of the study participants. Results Fecal GP2 levels were increased in individuals with higher body mass index and smokers, whereas lower levels were found in case of preserved exocrine pancreatic function, female sex or a healthier diet. Moreover, higher GP2 levels were associated with increased serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, loss of gut microbial diversity and an increase of potentially detrimental bacteria (Streptococcus, Haemophilus, Clostridium XIVa, or Collinsella). At the same time, predicted microbial pathways for the biosynthesis of beneficial short-chain fatty acids or lactic acid were depleted in individuals with high fecal GP2. Of note, GP2 exhibited a stronger association to overall microbiome variation than calprotectin. Conclusion Fecal GP2 is a biomarker of gut microbiota dysbiosis and associated with increased systemic inflammation. The intestines may be more important as origin for GP2 than pancreatic acinar cells. Future studies need to investigate the potential clinical value in disease specific patient cohorts. Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-024-00657-1 SN - 1757-4749 VL - 16 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC ER - TY - GEN A1 - Sidorczuk, Katarzyna A1 - Burdukiewicz, Michał A1 - Cerk, Klara A1 - Fritscher, Joachim A1 - Kingsley, Robert A. A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Hildebrand, Falk A1 - Kolenda, Rafał T1 - AdhesiomeR: a tool for Escherichia coli adhesin classification and analysis T2 - BMC Genomics N2 - AbstractAdhesins are crucial factors in the virulence of bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli. However, to date no resources have been dedicated to the detailed analysis of E. coli adhesins. Here, we provide adhesiomeR software that enables characterization of the complete adhesin repertoire, termed the adhesiome. AdhesiomeR incorporates the most comprehensive database of E. coli adhesins and facilitates an extensive analysis of adhesiome. We demonstrate that adhesiomeR achieves 98% accuracy when compared with experimental analyses. Based on analysis of 15,000 E. coli genomes, we define novel adhesiome profiles and clusters, providing a nomenclature for a unified comparison of E. coli adhesiomes. Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10525-6 SN - 1471-2164 VL - 25 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kittl, Sonja A1 - Frey, Caroline F. A1 - Brodard, Isabelle A1 - Scalisi, Nadia A1 - Vargas Amado, Maria Elena A1 - Thomann, Andreas A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Jores, Joerg T1 - Zoonotic bacterial and parasitic intestinal pathogens in foxes, raccoons and other predators from eastern Germany T2 - Environmental Microbiology Reports N2 - AbstractIn this study, we investigated faecal specimens from legally hunted and road‐killed red foxes, raccoons, raccoon dogs, badgers and martens in Germany for parasites and selected zoonotic bacteria. We found that Baylisascaris procyonis, a zoonotic parasite of raccoons, had spread to northeastern Germany, an area previously presumed to be free of this parasite. We detected various pathogenic bacterial species from the genera Listeria, Clostridium (including baratii), Yersinia and Salmonella, which were analysed using whole‐genome sequencing. One isolate of Yersinia enterocolitica contained a virulence plasmid. The Salmonella Cholerasuis isolate encoded an aminoglycoside resistance gene and a parC point mutation, conferring resistance to ciprofloxacin. We also found tetracycline resistance genes in Paeniclostridium sordellii and Clostridium baratii. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the isolates were polyclonal, indicating the absence of specific wildlife‐adapted clones. Predators, which scavenge from various sources including human settlements, acquire and spread zoonotic pathogens. Therefore, their role should not be overlooked in the One Health context. Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-2229.13261 SN - 1758-2229 VL - 16 IS - 3 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Wiley ER - TY - GEN A1 - Lopens, Steffi A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Krause, Jenny A1 - Piaszczyński, Michał A1 - Król, Robert A1 - Staroń, Robert A1 - Krupa, Łukasz A1 - Gutkowski, Krzysztof A1 - Kruk, Beata A1 - Grąt, Michał A1 - Krawczyk, Marek A1 - Patkowski, Waldemar A1 - Glaser, Fabian A1 - Rödiger, Stefan A1 - Grossmann, Kai A1 - Pająk, Jacek A1 - Milkiewicz, Piotr A1 - Lammert, Frank A1 - Zieniewicz, Krzysztof A1 - Schramm, Christoph A1 - Roggenbuck, Dirk A1 - Krawczyk, Marcin T1 - Antimicrobial glycoprotein 2 (GP2) in gallstones, bile fluid and peribiliary glands of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis T2 - Clinica Chimica Acta Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2024.119841 SN - 0009-8981 VL - 562 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Elsevier BV ER - TY - GEN A1 - Geithe, Christiane A1 - Zeng, Bo A1 - Schmidt, Carsten A1 - Dinter, Franziska A1 - Roggenbuck, Dirk A1 - Lehmann, Werner A1 - Dame, Gregory A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Hanack, Katja A1 - Rödiger, Stefan T1 - A multiplex microchamber diffusion assay for the antibody-based detection of microRNAs on randomly ordered microbeads T2 - Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosx.2024.100484 SN - 2590-1370 VL - 18 (2024) SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Elsevier BV ER - TY - GEN A1 - Naz, Fizza A1 - Ahmad, Abrar A1 - Sarwar, Yasra A1 - Khan, Muhammad Moman A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Rauf, Waqar A1 - Ali, Aamir T1 - Characterization of Salmonella enterica Biofilms and Antibiofilm Effect of Carvacrol and 2-Aminobenzimidazole T2 - Foodborne Pathogens and Disease Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2023.0044 SN - 1535-3141 VL - 21 IS - 1 SP - 52 EP - 60 PB - Mary Ann Liebert Inc. ER - TY - GEN A1 - Khan, Muhammad Moman A1 - Mushtaq, Muhammad Ahmed A1 - Abbas, Nayyar A1 - Fatima, Fariha A1 - Gibbon, Marjorie J. A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Mohsin, Mashkoor T1 - Occurrence, antimicrobial resistance and genomic features of Klebsiella pneumoniae from broiler chicken in Faisalabad, Pakistan T2 - Frontiers in Veterinary Science N2 - IntroductionThe dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in critical priority pathogens is a significant threat. Non-clinical reservoirs of AMR, such as agriculture and food production facilities, may contribute to the transmission of clinically relevant pathogens such as multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae. There is currently very limited knowledge regarding the population structure and genomic diversity of K. pneumoniae in poultry production in Pakistan.MethodsWe explored healthy broilers in a commercial farm from Faisalabad, Pakistan, and identified six K. pneumoniae strains from 100 broiler birds. We characterized the strains, determining clonality, virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes using next generation sequencing.ResultsThe evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility revealed that all the strains were MDR. Genomic analysis showed that 3/6 strains belonged to ST152, harbouring acquired resistance aminoglycosides [aadA2, aph(4′)-Ia], β-lactams (blaSHV-187, blaLAP2), fosfomycin (fosA6), tetracycline (tetA), trimethoprim (dfrA12), quinolone (qnrS1), sulphonamides (sul2) and phenicol (floR). All the strains harboured the efflux pump genes oqxA, oqxB, emrR, kpnG, kpnH, kpnF, baeR, mtdB and mtdC. All six strains encoded identical virulence profiles possessing six genes, i.e., ureA, iutA, entB, allS, fimH and mrkD. Phylogenomic analysis of the dominant sequence type (ST152) present in our dataset with publicly available genomes showed that the isolates clustered to strains mainly from human sources and could pose a potential threat to food safety and public health.DiscussionThe combination of these findings with antimicrobial use data would allow a better understanding of the selective pressures that may be driving the spread of AMR. This is the first report of MDR K. pneumoniae isolated from broiler hens in Pakistan, and the finding suggests that routine surveillance of WHO critical priority pathogens in such settings would be beneficial to the development of effective control strategies to reduce AMR. KW - antimicrobial resistance KW - poultry KW - genomics KW - sequence type Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1433124 SN - 2297-1769 VL - 11 PB - Frontiers Media S.A. ER -