Characterisation of trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatases from bacterial pathogens.

The trehalose biosynthesis pathway has recently received attention for therapeutic intervention combating infectious diseases caused by bacteria, helminths or fungi. Trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) is a key enzyme of the most common trehalose biosynthesis pathway and a particularly attractive target owing to the toxicity of accumulated trehalose-6-phosphate in pathogens. Here, we characterised TPP-like proteins from bacterial pathogens implicated in nosocomial infections in terms of their steady-state kinetics as well as pH- and metal-dependency of their enzymatic activity. Analysis of the steady-state kinetics of recombinantly expressed enzymes from Acinetobacter baumannii, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Pseudomonas stutzeri yielded similar kinetic parameters as those of other reported bacterial TPPs. In contrast to nematode TPPs, the divalent metal ion appears to be bound only weakly in the active site of bacterial TPPs, allowing the exchange of the resident magnesium ion with other metal ions. Enzymatic activity comparable to the wild-type enzyme was observed for the TPP from P. stutzeri with manganese, cobalt and nickel. Analysis of the enzymatic activity of S. maltophilia TPP active site mutants provides evidence for the involvement of four canonical aspartate residues as well as a strictly conserved histidine residue of TPP-like proteins from bacteria in the enzyme mechanism. That histidine residue is a member of an interconnected network of five conserved residues in the active site of bacterial TPPs which likely constitute one or more functional units, directly or indirectly cooperating to enhance different aspects of the catalytic activity.

Quiste odontogénico inflamatorio: aislamiento de Pseudomonas stutzeri. Relevancia diagnóstica / Isolation of Pseudomonas stutzeri from an odontogenic inflammatory cyst: Diagnostic relevance

Pseudomonas stutzeri se encuentra ampliamente distribuido en el medio ambiente, ocupando diversos nichos ecológicos; pero su aparición en procesos infecciosos de interés clínico es el de patógeno oportunista. El aislamiento de P. stutzeri en un quiste inflamatorio odontogénico es un verdadero hallazgo microbiológico que no presenta antecedentes en la bibliografía científica odontológica. En este caso particular, el aislamiento se obtuvo a partir de material quirúrgico proveniente de un quiste odontogénico inflamatorio ubicado en la pieza dentaria 1.2 con necrosis pulpar concomitante. Se emplearon técnicas diagnósticas complementarias como radiografías, tomografías, estudios anatomopatológicos y microbiológicos. Los resultados permitieron clasificar el proceso como quiste inflamatorio infectado con P. stutzeri. La tipificación y la caracterización del perfil de sensibilidad de la cepa aislada permitieron adecuar la terapéutica antibiótica de manera específica. El análisis microbiológico permitió establecer la etiología del proceso infeccioso, la adecuación del tratamiento y el restablecimiento de los tejidos comprometidos.

Pseudomonas stutzeri is distributed widely in the environment, and occupies different ecological niches. However, it is found in clinically relevant infections as an opportunistic pathogen. Isolation of P. stutzeri from an odontogenic inflammatory cyst is an uncommon microbiological finding that has not been reported to date. In the case presented here, the bacterium was isolated from surgical material obtained from excision of an inflammatory odontogenic cyst located in the tooth 1.2, and presenting with concomitant pulp necrosis. Complementary techniques such as radiographs, CAT scans, and histopathological and microbiological studies were used to establish definitive diagnosis. The obtained results allowed classifying the process as an inflammatory cyst infected by P. stutzeri. Biotyping and characterization of the susceptibility profile of the isolated strain allowed adjusting the antibiotic therapy more specifically. The microbiological studies allowed establishing the etiology of the infectious process, adjusting the treatment plan, and re-establishing tissue integrity.

Biology of Pseudomonas stutzeri.

Pseudomonas stutzeri is a nonfluorescent denitrifying bacterium widely distributed in the environment, and it has also been isolated as an opportunistic pathogen from humans. Over the past 15 years, much progress has been made in elucidating the taxonomy of this diverse taxonomical group, demonstrating the clonality of its populations. The species has received much attention because of its particular metabolic properties: it has been proposed as a model organism for denitrification studies; many strains have natural transformation properties, making it relevant for study of the transfer of genes in the environment; several strains are able to fix dinitrogen; and others participate in the degradation of pollutants or interact with toxic metals. This review considers the history of the discovery, nomenclatural changes, and early studies, together with the relevant biological and ecological properties, of P. stutzeri.

[Ecthyma gangrenosum caused by Pseudomonas stutzeri with bacteraemia and systemic vascularitis]. / Ecthyma gangrenosum avec septicémie à Pseudomonas stutzeri s'accompagnant d'une vascularite systémique.

INTRODUCTION: Ecthyma gangrenosum is a cutaneous manifestation of Pseudomonas infections. This condition may be associated with bacteraemia but can also occur in the absence of bacteraemia. EXEGESIS: The authors report the case of a 66-year-old woman presented with necrotic ulcerations on the face associated with fever, arthralgia, myalgia, fatigue and neutropenia. Blood cultures and skin cultures were positive for Pseudomonas stutzeri. Her condition improved under appropriate antibiotic therapy. However, the patient further developed clinical and biological symptoms of systemic vasculitis and mixed cryoglubulinemia. Complete healing was finally obtained after a course of corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: Ecthyma gangrenosum should be suspected in people who have typical clinical presentation. This disease could sometimes be associated with systemic vasculitis.

Reevaluation of production of paralytic shellfish toxin by bacteria associated with dinoflagellates of the Portuguese coast.

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are potent neurotoxins produced by certain dinoflagellate and cyanobacterial species. The autonomous production of PSTs by bacteria remains controversial. In this study, PST production by two bacterial strains, isolated previously from toxic dinoflagellates, was evaluated using biological and analytical methods. Analyses were performed under conditions determined previously to be optimal for toxin production and detection. Our data are inconsistent with autonomous bacterial PST production under these conditions, thereby challenging previous findings for the same strains.