Highlights Over several years of molecular and genome-based monitoring, Legionella isolates from different geographical locations were collected and 39 of them were sequenced. In addition they were typed by standard culture and MALDI-TOF. Four potential new species in the Legionella genus were identified, which still need to be characterised fully. This study assists in the… Read more »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »