Research

A selection of links to recent research papers available online and may be free to access. 

The conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the WMSoc.

Predicting Legionella contamination in cooling towers and evaporative condensers from microbiological and physicochemical parameters – ScienceDirect

Highlights The main aim of this study was to assess the risk of Legionella colonisation in cooling towers (CT) and evaporative condensers (EC) in Barcelona, Spain. Legionella was analysed in 789 samples collected from 127 CT and EC in 46 companies in Catalonia from 2002 to 2019. Legionella was isolated in 8.49% of the 789… Read more »

Molecular mechanism of topoisomerase poisoning by the peptide antibiotic albicidin – Nature Catalysis

Highlights The peptide antibiotic albicidin is a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor with low-nanomolar bactericidal activity towards fluoroquinolone-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. However, its mode of action is poorly understood. Albicidin employs a dual binding mechanism where one end of the molecule obstructs the crucial gyrase dimer interface, while the other intercalates between the fragments of cleaved DNA substrate…. Read more »

Vehicle Windshield Wiper Fluid as Potential Source of Sporadic Legionnaires’ Disease in Commercial Truck Drivers

Abstract Sporadic Legionnaires’ disease is frequently detected in commercial truck drivers. We report 2 sporadic cases of this disease in Barcelona, Spain, that occurred during December 2019 and September 2020. Laboratory findings were consistent with windshield wiper fluid without added screen wash as a possible source of infection for both cases.   LINK TO PAPER… Read more »

Epidemiological analysis of Legionnaires’ disease in Scotland: a genomic study

Highlights: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) can be applied to trace environmental origins of L pneumophila infections. This study explored the evolutionary and epidemiological relationships in a 36-year Scottish L pneumophila reference isolate collection. The data revealed the existence of previously undetected endemic clones of L pneumophila that existed for many years in hospital, community, and travel-associated environments. In light of these findings,… Read more »

Cell-free production of personalized therapeutic phages targeting multidrug-resistant bacteria

Highlights: Bacteriophages are potent therapeutics against biohazardous bacteria, which rapidly develop multidrug resistance. Routine administration of phage therapy is hampered by a lack of rapid production, safe bioengineering, and detailed characterization of phages. A cell-free platform has been developed for a broad spectrum of phages and which produced effective doses against enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC),… Read more »

Drugs of abuse in tap water from eight European countries: Determination by use of supramolecular solvents and tentative evaluation of risks to human health – PubMed (nih.gov)

Muñiz-Bustamante L, Caballero-Casero N, Rubio S. Drugs of abuse in tap water from eight European countries: Determination by use of supramolecular solvents and tentative evaluation of risks to human health. Environ Int. 2022 Jun;164:107281. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107281. Epub 2022 May 6. PMID: 35561596.   Highlights Recent research findings have confirmed the presence of illicit drugs in… Read more »

Novel application of in vitro disinfection for modeling the biofilm formation inhibition, antimicrobial susceptibility and antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a study of free and combined chlorine compounds – PubMed (nih.gov)

Nabizadeh Nodehi R, Golpayegani A, Douraghi M, Alimohammadi M, Rezaei F. Novel application of in vitro disinfection for modeling the biofilm formation inhibition, antimicrobial susceptibility and antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a study of free and combined chlorine compounds. J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2022 Jan 18;20(1):167-180. doi: 10.1007/s40201-021-00764-0. PMID: 35669826; PMCID: PMC9163233.   Highlights Biofilm formation and… Read more »

Disinfection methods of dental unit waterlines contamination: a systematic review – PubMed (nih.gov)

Wu M, Shi Z, Yu X, Xu Y, Jin X, Zhang L, Fu B. Disinfection methods of dental unit waterlines contamination: a systematic review. J Med Microbiol. 2022 Jun;71(6). doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.001540. PMID: 35670283.   Highlights Severe contamination of dental unit waterlines was found in healthcare settings. This review systematically evaluated disinfection methods in contamination control… Read more »

Comparison of disinfection-residual-bacteria (DRB) after seven different kinds of disinfection: Biofilm formation, membrane fouling and mechanisms – PubMed (nih.gov)

Wang HB, Wu YH, Wang WL, Chen Z, Chen GQ, Luo LW, Xue S, Tong X, Zhang ZW, Ikuno N, Ishii K, Hu HY. Comparison of disinfection-residual-bacteria (DRB) after seven different kinds of disinfection: Biofilm formation, membrane fouling and mechanisms. Sci Total Environ. 2022 Jun 29:157079. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157079. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35779720.  … Read more »

Toxoflavin secreted by Pseudomonas alcaliphila inhibits the growth of Legionella pneumophila and Vermamoeba vermiformis – PubMed (nih.gov)

Faucher SP, Matthews S, Nickzad A, Vounba P, Shetty D, Bédard É, Prévost M, Déziel E, Paranjape K. Toxoflavin secreted by Pseudomonas alcaliphila inhibits the growth of Legionella pneumophila and Vermamoeba vermiformis. Water Res. 2022 Jun 1;216:118328. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118328. Epub 2022 Mar 19. PMID: 35364354.   Highlights Most large outbreaks are caused by cooling towers… Read more »

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