Effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of costus (Saussurea lappa) against Pneumococcal TIGR4 growth

A long historical reputation for folk plant therapy has gained the trust of people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that 80% of the world's population relies on traditional medicinal plants. The roots of Saussurea lappa (S. lappa) were extracted by both aqueous and ethanol solutions before being investigated against Streptococcus pneumoniae ( S. pneumoniae) TIGR4. Inhibition zones were also measured. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the aqueous extract of S. lappa had an obvious bacteriostatic effect, whereas the ethanolic extract suppressed the bacterial cell densities at all experimental times. The bacterial viable counts showed that all pneumococci died at 5 hr post-inoculation when using 1% of 4 mg/ml S. lappa. On the other hand, live bacterial cells were detected until 11 hr in the absence of the plant extract. Moreover, disc diffusion methods illustrated a clear biological effect against S. pneumoniae. This highlights strong promise for S. lappa against this aggressive bacterium and might offer an alternative natural preventative candidate that possibly facilitates complications following respiratory viral infection (RVIs), such as coronaviruses.

The drop in reported invasive pneumococcal disease among adults during the first COVID-19 wave in the Netherlands explained.

OBJECTIVES: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading bacterial pathogen causing respiratory infections. Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, less invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) was identified by surveillance systems worldwide. Measures to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 also reduce transmission of pneumococci, but this would gradually lead to lower disease rates. DESIGN: Here, we explore additional factors contributing to the instant drop in pneumococcal disease cases captured in surveillance. RESULTS: Our observations on referral practices and other impediments to diagnostic testing indicate that residual IPD has likely occurred but remained undetected by conventional hospital-based surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the setting, we discuss alternative monitoring strategies that could improve understanding of pneumococcal disease dynamics.

In silico designing of a novel epitope-based candidate vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae with introduction of a new domain of PepO as adjuvant.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading reason for invasive diseases including pneumonia and meningitis, and also secondary infections following viral respiratory diseases such as flu and COVID-19. Currently, serotype-dependent vaccines, which have several insufficiency and limitations, are the only way to prevent pneumococcal infections. Hence, it is plain to need an alternative effective strategy for prevention of this organism. Protein-based vaccine involving conserved pneumococcal protein antigens with different roles in virulence could provide an eligible alternative to existing vaccines. METHODS: In this study, PspC, PhtD and PsaA antigens from pneumococcus were taken to account to predict B-cell and helper T-cell epitopes, and epitope-rich regions were chosen to build the construct. To enhance the immunogenicity of the epitope-based vaccine, a truncated N-terminal fragment of pneumococcal endopeptidase O (PepO) was used as a potential TLR2/4 agonist which was identified by molecular docking studies. The ultimate construct was consisted of the chosen epitope-rich regions, along with the adjuvant role (truncated N-PepO) and suitable linkers. RESULTS: The epitope-based vaccine was assessed as regards physicochemical properties, allergenicity, antigenicity, and toxicity. The 3D structure of the engineered construct was modeled, refined, and validated. Molecular docking and simulation of molecular dynamics (MD) indicated the proper and stable interactions between the vaccine and TLR2/4 throughout the simulation periods. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time this work presents a novel vaccine consisting of epitopes of PspC, PhtD, and PsaA antigens which is adjuvanted with a new truncated domain of PepO. The computational outcomes revealed that the suggested vaccine could be deemed an efficient therapeutic vaccine for S. pneumoniae; nevertheless, in vitro and in vivo examinations should be performed to prove the potency of the candidate vaccine.

Rational Development of a Polysaccharide–Protein-Conjugated Nanoparticle Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Adv. Mater. 21/2022)

Nanoparticle Vaccines In article number 2200443, Liangzhi Xie, Chengfeng Qin, and co-workers develop a novel bivalent nanoparticle vaccine that confers protection against infection of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants and Streptococcus pneumoniae. This universal polysaccharide?protein-conjugated vaccine platform provides a powerful tool to fight against cocirculating viral and bacterial pathogens worldwide.

Rational Development of a Polysaccharide-Protein-Conjugated Nanoparticle Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to millions of deaths worldwide. Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) remains a major cause of mortality in underdeveloped countries. A vaccine that prevents both SARS-CoV-2 and S. pneumoniae infection represents a long-sought "magic bullet". Herein, a nanoparticle vaccine, termed SCTV01B, is rationally developed by using the capsular polysaccharide of S. pneumoniae serotype 14 (PPS14) as the backbone to conjugate with the recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The final formulation of conjugated nanoparticles in the network structure exhibits high thermal stability. Immunization with SCTV01B induces potent humoral and Type 1/Type 2 T helper cell (Th1/Th2) cellular immune responses in mice, rats, and rhesus macaques. In particular, SCTV01B-immunized serum not only broadly cross-neutralizes all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including the most recent Omicron variant, but also shows high opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) against S. pneumoniae serotype 14. Finally, SCTV01B vaccination confers protection against challenges with the SARS-CoV-2 mouse-adapted strain and the original strain in established murine models. Collectively, these promising preclinical results support further clinical evaluation of SCTV01B, highlighting the potency of polysaccharide-RBD-conjugated nanoparticle vaccine platforms for the development of vaccines for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Current Take on Systemic Sclerosis Patients' Vaccination Recommendations.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease. The prevalence of SSc ranges from 7 to 700 cases per million worldwide. Due to multiple organ involvement and constant inflammatory state, this group of patients presents an increased risk of infectious diseases. This paper aimed to gather the up-to-date evidence on vaccination strategies for patients with SSc and to be a useful tool for the prevention and management of infectious diseases. The authors conducted a scoping review in which each paragraph presents data on a specific vaccine's safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy. The work deals with the following topics: SARS-CoV-2, seasonal influenza, S. pneumoniae, HAV, HBV, HZV, N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, HPV, and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis.

Pneumococcal superinfection in COVID-19 patients: A series of 5 cases.

BACKGROUND: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic the risk of misdiagnosis of other causes of respiratory infection is likely. In this work we aim to describe the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of pneumococcal infection in COVID-19 patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Every COVID-19 patient presenting with concomitant pneumococcal pneumonia during March 2020 in a tertiary teaching Hospital In Barcelona, Spain. RESULTS: Five patients with PCR confirmed COVID19 or clinical and radiological suspicion were diagnosed of pneumococcal infection. In all cases chest X-ray were abnormal, with unilateral or bilateral infiltrates. Procalcitonin showed to be not sensitive enough to detect pneumococcal infection. Antibiotherapy was promptly started in all five cases with subsequent satisfactory evolution. CONCLUSION: International guidelines do not include the universal screening for bacterial co-infection. Radiological pattern of COVID-19 can be indistinguishable from that of pneumococcus pneumonia and frequency of co-infection is not well stablished, therefore clinicians should be aware of the possible SARS-CoV-2-pneumococcus association to avoid misdiagnosis and delay antibiotic therapy.

INTRODUCCIÓN: En el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19 el riesgo de errores en el diagnóstico de otras causas de infección respiratoria es elevado. En este trabajo describimos las características clínicas, el tratamiento y la evolución de los pacientes con coinfección por COVID-19 y neumococo. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Todos los pacientes con COVID-19 que presentaron neumonía neumocócica durante marzo 2020 en un hospital universitario de Barcelona, España. RESULTADOS: Cinco pacientes con COVID-19 confirmada por PCR o sospecha radiológica fueron diagnosticados de infección por neumococo. En todos los casos la radiografía de tórax era patológica con infiltrado unilateral o bilateral. La procalcitonina demostró no ser suficientemente sensible para detectar la infección neumocócica. La antibioterapia fue iniciada de manera precoz en los 5 casos con evolución satisfactoria. CONCLUSIONES: Las guías internacionales no incluyen el cribado universal para coinfección bacteriana. El patrón radiológico del COVID-19 puede ser indistinguible de la neumonía neumocócica, y la frecuencia de la coinfección no ha sido establecida. Los clínicos deben de ser conscientes de la posible asociación de SARS-CoV-2 y neumococo para evitar errores diagnósticos y retrasos en el tratamiento antibiótico.

Pneumococcal carriage in children with COVID-19.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 is the new virus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most important pathogens affecting humans. However, we do not yet know whether these microorganisms interact. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between Streptococcus pneumoniae and SARS-CoV-2 in pediatric patients.Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively by means of medical records of pediatric patients who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 between March 11 and June 04, 2020, in the University of Health Sciences, Ankara Educating and Training Hospital and Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine.Results: We evaluated 829 pediatric patients for S. pneumoniae and SARS-CoV-2 from their nasopharyngeal specimen. Of 115 children positive for SARS-CoV-2, 32.2% had a positive S. pneumoniae test, whereas of 714 children negative for SARS-CoV-2, 14.1% had a positive S. pneumoniae test (p < .01). We compared patients with positive vs. negative SARS-CoV-2 tests according to S. pneumoniae positivity There were no statistically significant differences in terms of gender, underlying disease, fever, cough, leukocytosis, lymphopenia, increased CRP, increased procalcitonin, findings of chest x-ray, severity of disease, and treatment.Conclusion: The nasopharyngeal S. pneumoniae carriage rate in patients with COVID-19 was higher than in non-infected children, while S. pneumoniae carriage did not affect the course of COVID-19 disease. Pneumococcal vaccination is significant, such that we do not know the outcomes of increased pneumococcal carriage for the upcoming months of pandemic.