A5082781816- Burkholderia infections and melioidosis
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Chemical Looping and Thermochemical Processes
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Diabetes and associated disorders
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Infections and bacterial resistance
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Cystic Fibrosis Research Advances
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Brucella: diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment
- Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Galectins and Cancer Biology
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
Medical University of Graz
2016-2025
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut
2013-2023
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene
2004-2023
Center For Biomarker Research In Medicine
2022
Institut für Hygiene und Umwelt
2009-2020
University of Graz
2016-2020
Universitätsmedizin Greifswald
2009-2018
Universität Greifswald
2008-2017
General Department of Preventive Medicine
2013
Erasmus MC
2013
In the context of chronic lung infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF), attention has been focused on presence most common mucoid phenotype. this study, small-colony variants (SCVs) P. respiratory tract specimens from patients with CF was investigated, and clinical conditions predisposing SCVs were analyzed. isolated 33 86 aeruginosa-positive over a 2-year period. Fast-growing revertants larger surface colonies could be SCV populations. Electron microscopy revealed no...
ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is both a successful human commensal and major pathogen. The elucidation of the molecular determinants virulence, in particular assessment contributions genetic background versus those mobile elements (MGEs), has proved difficult this variable species. To address this, we simultaneously determined backgrounds ( spa typing) distributions all 19 known superantigens exfoliative toxins A D (multiplex PCR) as markers for MGEs. Methicillin- sensitive S. strains from...
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic human pathogen and ubiquitous environmental bacterium, is capable of forming specialized bacterial communities, referred to as biofilm. The results this study demonstrate that the unique environment cystic fibrosis (CF) lung seems select for a subgroup autoaggregative hyperpiliated P. aeruginosa small-colony variants (SCVs). These morphotypes showed increased fitness under stationary growth conditions in comparison with clonal wild-types fast-growing...
Abstract The US Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise convened subject matter experts at the 2010 HHS Burkholderia Workshop to develop consensus recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis against and treatment pseudomallei B. mallei infections, which cause melioidosis glanders, respectively. Drugs recommended by of participants are ceftazidime or meropenem initial intensive therapy, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole amoxicillin/clavulanic acid eradication therapy. For...
The bacterial pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei invades host cells, escapes from endocytic vesicles, multiplies intracellularly, and induces the formation of actin tails membrane protrusions, leading to direct cell-to-cell spreading. This study was aimed at identification B. genes responsible for different steps this intracellular life cycle. transposon mutants were screened a reduced ability form plaques on PtK2 cell monolayers as result intercellular Nine plaque assay with insertions in...
The gram-negative bacillus Burkholderia pseudomallei is a saprophyte and the cause of melioidosis. Natural infection most commonly reported in northeast Thailand northern Australia but also occurs other parts Asia, South America, Caribbean. Melioidosis develops after bacterial inoculation or inhalation, often relation to occupational exposure areas where disease endemic. Clinical has peak incidence between fourth fifth decades; with diabetes mellitus, excess alcohol consumption, chronic...
Melioidosis is a severe disease that can be difficult to diagnose because of its diverse clinical manifestations and lack adequate diagnostic capabilities for suspected cases. There broad interest in improving detection diagnosis this not only melioidosis-endemic regions but also outside these melioidosis may underreported poses potential bioterrorism challenge public health authorities. Therefore, workshop academic, government, private sector personnel from around the world was convened...
To determine the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production in Enterobacteriaceae retail chicken meat Germany. A total 399 samples from nine supermarket chains, four organic food stores and one butcher's shop two geographically distinct regions (Berlin Greifswald) were screened for ESBL using selective agar. Phenotypic isolates tested blaTEM, blaCTX-M blaSHV genes PCR DNA sequencing. Antibiotic coresistances determined strain typing was performed PCR-based phylogenetic...
Abstract Aims To investigate the seroconversion following first and second COVID‐19 vaccination in people with type 1 2 diabetes relation to glycaemic control prior analyse response comparison individuals without diabetes. Materials methods This prospective, multicentre cohort study analysed a glycated haemoglobin level ≤58 mmol/mol (7.5%) or >58 (7.5%), respectively, healthy controls. Roche's Elecsys anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S immunoassay targeting receptor‐binding domain was used quantify...
Next-generation whole-genome sequencing is essential for high-resolution surveillance of bacterial pathogens, example, during outbreak investigations or source tracking and escape variant analysis. However, current global bioinformatic bottlenecks a long time to result with standard technologies demand new approaches.
Pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is controlled to a major extent by the two quorum-sensing systems las and rhl. The previously uncharacterized gene PA2591 was identified as virulence regulator, vqsR, in hierarchy. vqsR member LuxR family possesses box its upstream region. Transposon inactivation abrogated production N-acylhomoserine lactones secretion exoproducts diminished bacterial for Caenorhabditis elegans. Cytotoxicity towards macrophages not affected. mRNA expressed more strongly...
Burkholderia cepacia H111, which was isolated from a cystic fibrosis patient, effectively kills the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Depending on medium used for growth of bacterium two different killing modes were observed. On high-osmolarity nematodes became paralysed and died within 24 h. Using filter assays we provide evidence that this mode involves production an extracellular toxin. occurs over course 2–3 days accumulation bacteria in intestinal lumen C. We demonstrate cep...
ABSTRACT Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, an infectious disease, which increasingly recognized as important public health problem in various tropical regions. This study describes identification and characterization a heat-stable extracellular toxin B. . After cultivation liquid media, heated cell-free supernatant was concentrated by ultrafiltration. The concentrate exhibited cytotoxic hemolytic activity showed remarkable resistance against alkaline acidic...
ABSTRACT Population-based studies on Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization are scarce. We examined the prevalence, resistance, and molecular diversity of S. in general population Northeast Germany. Nasal swabs were obtained from 3,891 adults large-scale population-based Study Health Pomerania (SHIP-TREND). Isolates characterized using spa genotyping, as well antibiotic resistance virulence gene profiling. observed an prevalence 27.2%. carriage was associated with male sex inversely...
The role of schools in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is much debated. We aimed to quantify reliably prevalence infections at detected with reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-qPCR).This nationwide prospective cohort study monitors a representative sample pupils (grade 1-8) and teachers Austrian throughout school year 2020/2021. repeatedly test participants for infection using gargling solution RT-qPCR. herein report on first two rounds examinations. used mixed-effects...
The heterogeneous environment of the lung cystic fibrosis (CF) patient gives rise to Pseudomonas aeruginosa small colony variants (SCVs) with increased antibiotic resistance, autoaggregative growth behavior, and an enhanced ability form biofilms. In this study, oligonucleotide DNA microarrays were used perform a genome-wide expression study highly adherent P. SCV 20265 isolated from CF patient's in comparison its clonal wild type revertant generated vitro population. Most strikingly, showed...
Infection with the soil bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei can result in a variety of clinical outcomes, including asymptomatic infection. The initial immune defense mechanisms which might contribute to various outcomes after environmental contact B. are largely unknown. We have previously shown that relatively resistant C57BL/6 mice restrict bacterial growth more efficiently within 1 day infection than highly susceptible BALB/c mice. By using this model, our study aimed investigate role...
Measures to prevent transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus (TT-CMV) infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) include transfusion of CMV antibody-negative blood units and/or leukoreduced cellular products. We assessed the incidence TT-CMV in CMV-seronegative patients receiving HSC transplants, who were transfused with products not tested for anti-CMV.In a prospective observational study between 1999 and 2009, all HSCT received anti-CMV. Patients screened serostatus...
The cytosolic pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei and causative agent of melioidosis has been shown to regulate IL-1β IL-18 production through NOD-like receptor NLRP3 pyroptosis via NLRC4. Downstream signalling pathways those receptors other cell death mechanisms induced during B. infection have not addressed so far in detail. Furthermore, the role factors inflammasome activation is still ill defined. In present study we show that caspase-1 processing exclusively dependent on NLRC4, but early...
The human pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei and the related species thailandensis are facultative intracellular bacteria characterized by ability to escape into cytosol of host cell stimulate formation multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs). MNGC is induced via an unknown mechanism bacterial type VI secretion system 5 (T6SS-5), which essential virulence factor in both species. Despite vital role life cycle pathogenesis bacteria, range types permissive for initiation completion poorly defined....
Immunocompromised patients are considered high-risk and prioritized for vaccination against COVID-19. We aimed to analyze B-cell subsets in these identify potential predictors of humoral response. Patients (n=120) suffering from hematologic malignancies or other causes immunodeficiency healthy controls (n=79) received a full series with an mRNA vaccine. were analyzed prior vaccination. Two independent anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) trimeric S protein...
ABSTRACT Nanopore sequencing has shown the potential to democratize genomic pathogen surveillance due its ease of use and low entry cost. However, recent genotyping studies showed discrepant results compared gold-standard short-read sequencing. Furthermore, although essential for widespread application, reproducibility nanopore-only remains largely unresolved. In our multicenter performance study involving five laboratories, four public health-relevant bacterial species were sequenced with...