ABSTRACT
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1008585.].
ABSTRACT
Background: The influence of the host genome on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) susceptibility and severity is supported by reports on monozygotic (MZ) twins where both were infected simultaneously with similar disease outcomes, including several who died due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection within days apart. However, successive exposures to pathogens throughout life along with other environmental factors make the immune response unique for each individual, even among MZ twins. Case presentation and methods: Here we report a case of a young adult monozygotic twin pair, who caught attention since both presented simultaneously severe COVID-19 with the need for oxygen support despite age and good health conditions. One of the twins, who spent more time hospitalized, reported symptoms of long-COVID even 7 months after infection. Immune cell profile and specific responses to SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated as well as whole exome sequencing. Conclusion: Although the MZ twin brothers shared the same genetic mutations which may be associated with their increased risk of developing severe COVID-19, their clinical progression was different, reinforcing the role of both immune response and genetics in the COVID-19 presentation and course. Besides, post-COVID syndrome was observed in one of them, corroborating an association between the duration of hospitalization and the occurrence of long-COVID symptoms.
ABSTRACT
Purpose. This study aimed to characterize 27 Escherichia coli isolates obtained from peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis that occurred at the University Hospital of Botucatu Medical School, Brazil, between 1997 and 2015.Methodology. These isolates were characterized regarding the occurrence of 22 virulence factor-encoding genes, antimicrobial resistance and biofilm production. We then evaluated whether these factors influenced the clinical outcome.Results. Over an 18-year period, 726 episodes of PD-related peritonitis were diagnosed, with 27 of them (3.7â%) being due to E. coli. The majority of the isolates were classified in phylogroups B1 (33.3â%), B2 (30.0â%) or F (18.0â%). fimH (100.0â%), ompT (66.7â%) and irp2 (51.9â%) were the most prevalent genes, while papA, papC, iha, sat, irp2, iucD, ireA, ibe10, ompT and kpsMTII were significantly more prevalent among isolates belonging to phylogroups B2 and F (P<0.05). Non-susceptibility to quinolones was detected in six isolates, which harboured chromosomal and/or plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants, while two CTX-M extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing E. coli were identified. Virulence factor-encoding genes (alone or in combination) and antimicrobial resistance were not associated with non-resolution outcomes. However, there was a trend for the ability to produce biofilm to be associated with treatment failure, although this association was not statistically significant.Conclusion. The E. coli isolates were heterogeneous in terms of the features investigated, and were susceptible to most of the antimicrobial drugs tested, despite the unsuccessful treatment observed in more than 50.0â% of the patients. Studies including more cases could help to clarify if biofilm production can influence the outcome in patients with PD-related peritonitis.
