| 1. |
- Niward, Katarina, 1971-
(författare)
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Towards individualised treatment of tuberculosis
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Each year, around 10 million of individuals develop active tuberculosis (TB). Worldwide, TB is the leading cause of death from an infectious agent surpassing both malaria and HIV. Current treatment regimens are long and therefore encompass a risk of nonadherence and development of acquired drug-resistance, reflected in the increase of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB. Indeed, this calls for prudent use of existing TB drugs and improvement of TB treatment strategies. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the current drug susceptibility testing (DST) breakpoints for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of TB treatment and to explore the role of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for optimising TB treatment.Drug resistance in M. tuberculosis is expressed over a continuous scale and for some drugs it may be identified as low- and high-level resistance. This has been poorly reflected in currently used binary susceptibility breakpoints for TB drugs. Results from genome sequencing and phenotypic DST of ofloxacin and levofloxacin were compared in study I and current breakpoints were found to misclassify up to 25% of M. tuberculosis isolates with resistance mutations in gyrA as susceptible to fluoroquinolones. This finding may have implications for the classification of XDR-TB, treatment of MDR-TB and the evaluation of fluoroquinolones in clinical studies.Study II was a prospective cohort study of susceptible TB in Sweden, where drug concentrations of first-line TB drugs were measured along with the susceptibility level of the bacteria defined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of M. tuberculosis. First-line drug concentrations below the reference range (16-42%) were common and most pronounced for rifampicin (13/31, 42%). An exploratory investigation of PK/PD parameters displayed a wide distribution of ratios between drug exposures and MICs. Rifampicin exhibited higher level of individual fluctuations over time during TB treatment compared with isoniazid. In study III the plasma drug concentrations of rifampicin were compared to the tuberculosis drug activity assay (TDA) and results showed that rifampicin drug levels, but not drug levels of the other first-line drugs, correlated with TDA. Patients with rifampicin drug levels below 8 mg/L had significantly lower median TDA. This finding supports the use of TDA as a potential indicator for low rifampicin exposure in resource-constrained settings without access to drug concentration analysis. The study design in study II has been further developed in study IV, which is a prospective cohort study of MDR-TB in China, where drug exposure will be explored in relation to individual bacterial MIC and measurements of treatment outcome.In summary, the work in this thesis emphasises the importance of reliable DST of M. tuberculosis and the need to re-evaluate the currently used breakpoints. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) based on drug concentrations and MICs is a useful tool to avoid suboptimal drug exposure and to individualise TB treatments. Such strategies may improve treatment regimens and avoid further development of resistance.
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| 2. |
- Tjernberg, Ivar, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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C6-peptide serology as diagnostic tool in neuroborreliosis
- 2008
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Ingår i: APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 1600-0463 .- 0903-4641. ; 116:5, s. 393-399
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of borrelia serology (Quick ELISA C6 Borrelia assay kit) as a diagnostic tool in cases of suspected neuroborreliosis. A retrospective patient material consisting of 124 paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples with a positive anti-borrelia antibody index (AI) using the IDEIA Lyme Neuroborreliosis test was compared with 124 Al-negative matched control subjects. The patients were divided into four groups based on presence of pleocytosis and age above or below 12 years. The presence of positive C6 serology in AI-positive patients with pleocytosis was 89% (83/93), significantly different (p < 0.01) from in patients without pleocytosis (58%, 18/31). In AI-positive patients aged >= 12 years with pleocytosis, 94% (51/54) had a positive C6 serology. Of AI-positive patients with a symptom duration of more than 30 days, 93% (27/29) were positive by the C6 test. We conclude that the C6 serum test, together with clinical evaluation, is a powerful diagnostic tool in adult (>= 12 years) European patients with suspected neuroborreliosis with a symptom duration of more than 30 days. Patients with suspected neuroborreliosis and positive C6 results should be further investigated by lumbar puncture for definite diagnosis.
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| 3. |
- Bewket, Gezahegn, et al.
(författare)
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Helminth species specific expansion and increased TNF-alpha production of non-classical monocytes during active tuberculosis
- 2021
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Ingår i: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. - : Public Library of Science. - 1935-2727 .- 1935-2735. ; 15:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Author summary Monocytes are important cells for the early innate immune response and play an integral part during inflammation and infection. Classical monocytes, the dominant monocyte subset during homeostasis and health, have been linked to efficient TB protection. Intermediate or non-classical monocytes have instead been associated with uncontrolled inflammation (TNF-alpha), cell death, and poor protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In areas endemic for intestinal helminths, the immunoregulatory effects of monocytes may affect development or progression of TB disease. The role of monocyte subsets during helminth/TB coinfection have not been studied. In Gondar, Ethiopia, we show that in patients with helminth infection, a helminth species dependent expansion of non-classical monocytes is triggered, where Ascaris and hookworm had the strongest effect in coinfected pulmonary TB-patients. The increase in non-classical monocytes was mainly detected in coinfected patients with a low-to-intermediate disease severity. Only coinfection with helminths and TB induced an increased TNF-alpha response in monocytes. Thus, we found a helminth species-specific dysregulation of monocyte subset distribution and functionality in coinfected TB-patients which could affect TB pathogenesis. Both Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and helminths may affect innate immune mechanisms such as differential effects on monocytes towards the non-classical and intermediate subsets that favor bacterial persistence. Our aim, was to investigate helminth species specific effects on the frequency and functional activity of monocyte subsets in patients with active tuberculosis and healthy subjects. HIV-negative patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and community controls (CCs) in Gondar, Ethiopia were screened for helminth infection by stool microscopy. Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and ex vivo stimulation with purified protein derivative (PPD) and helminth antigens were used to characterize the distribution of monocyte subsets and their function. A total of 74 PTB patients and 57 CCs with and without helminth infection were included. Non-classical monocytes were increased in PTB patients with Ascaris and hookworm infection but not in Schistosoma-infected patients. Ascaris had the strongest effect in increasing the frequency of non-classical monocytes in both PTB patients and CCs, whereas PTB without helminth infection did not affect the frequency of monocyte subsets. There was a helminth specific increase in the frequency of TNF-alpha producing non-classical monocytes in hookworm infected PTB patients, both with and without PPD-stimulation. Low-to-intermediate TB disease severity associated with increased frequency of non-classical monocytes only for helminth-positive PTB patients, and the frequency of TNF-alpha producing monocytes were significantly higher in intermediate and non-classical monocytes of helminth positive PTB patients with an intermediate disease score. Helminth infection affected the frequency of monocyte subsets and function both in TB patients and controls which was helminth species dependent in TB patients. The clinical role of this potential immunomodulatory effect needs further study and may affect the response and protection to tuberculosis in areas where helminth infections are endemic.
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| 4. |
- Dahl, Victor Naestholt, et al.
(författare)
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Global trends of pulmonary infections with nontuberculous mycobacteria: a systematic review
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Infectious Diseases. - : Elsevier. - 1201-9712 .- 1878-3511. ; 125, s. 120-131
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To describe the global trends of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection and disease.Methods: A systematic review of studies including culture-based NTM data over time. Studies reporting on pulmonary NTM infection and/or disease were included. Information on the use of guideline-based criteria for disease were collected, in which, infection is defined as the absence of symptoms and radiological findings compatible with NTM pulmonary disease. The trends of change for incidence/prevalence were evaluated using linear regressions, and the corresponding pooled estimates were calculated.Results: Most studies reported increasing pulmonary NTM infection (82.1%) and disease (66.7%) trends. The overall annual rate of change for NTM infection and disease per 100,000 persons/year was 4.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.2-4.8) and 4.1% (95% CI: 3.2-5.0), respectively. For absolute numbers of NTM infection and disease, the overall annual change was 2.0 (95% CI: 1.6-2.3) and 0.5 (95% CI: 0.3-0.7), respectively. An increasing trend was also seen for Mycobacterium avium complex infection (n = 15/19, 78.9%) and disease (n = 10/12, 83.9%) and for Mycobacterium abscessus complex (n = 15/23, 65.2%) infection (n = 11/17, 64.7%) but less so for disease (n = 2/8, 25.0%).Conclusion: Our data indicate an overall increase in NTM worldwide for both infection and disease. The explanation to this phenomenon warrants further investigation.
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| 5. |
- Eimer, Johannes, et al.
(författare)
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Spiroplasma ixodetis Infections in Immunocompetent and Immunosuppressed Patients after Tick Exposure, Sweden
- 2022
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Ingår i: Emerging Infectious Diseases. - : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). - 1080-6040 .- 1080-6059. ; 28:8, s. 1681-1685
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report 2 cases of Spiroplasma ixodetis infection in an immunocompetent patient and an immunocompromised patient who had frequent tick exposure. Fever, thrombocytopenia, and increased liver aminotransferase levels raised the suspicion of anaplasmosis, but 16S rRNA PCR and Sanger sequencing yielded a diagnosis of spiroplasmosis. Both patients recovered after doxycycline treatment.
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| 6. |
- Ekelund, Oskar, et al.
(författare)
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Rapid high-resolution detection of colistin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria using flowcytometry : a comparison with broth microdilution, a commercial screening test and WGS
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. - : Oxford University Press. - 0305-7453 .- 1460-2091. ; 76:12, s. 3183-3191
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Even though both EUCAST and CLSI consider broth microdilution (BMD) as the reference method for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of colistin, the method exhibits potential flaws related to properties of the colistin molecule.OBJECTIVES: To develop a flow cytometry method (FCM) for colistin AST and to validate it against BMD, a commercial screening test and WGS.METHODS: Colistin-mediated loss of membrane integrity in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. was detected with the fluorescent probe YoPro-1 by FCM. An international collection of 65 resistant and 109 susceptible isolates were analysed and the colistin concentration required to reach the EC50 was compared with the BMD MIC and the presence of genotypic resistance markers.RESULTS: The overall FCM sensitivity and specificity for colistin resistance was 89% and 94%, with E. coli > K. pneumoniae > P. aeruginosa, whereas the performance for Acinetobacter spp. was poor. All tested E. coli were correctly categorized. Three K. pneumoniae isolates with genotypic findings consistent with colistin resistance were detected by FCM but not BMD. Compared with BMD, FCM delivered AST results with a 75% reduction of time.CONCLUSIONS: Here, we present a rapid FCM-based AST assay for qualitative and quantitative testing of colistin resistance in E. coli and K. pneumoniae. The assay revealed probable chromosomal colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae that was not detected by BMD. If confirmed, these results question the reliability of BMD for colistin testing.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Hernández-Pando, R., et al.
(författare)
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Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitrotyrosineduring the evolution of experimental pulmonary tuberculosis
- 2001
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Ingår i: Experimental and Toxicological Pathology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0940-2993 .- 1618-1433. ; 53:4, s. 257-265
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nitric oxide (NO) is a relevant antimycobacterial factor in mouse macrophages. NO is a product of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). NO toxicity is greatly enhanced by reacting with superoxide to form peroxynitrite that reacts with many biological molecules. Tyrosine is one of the molecules with which NO reacts and the product is nitrotyrosine (NT). The production of peroxynitrite and the nitrosylation of proteins might play a role in bacterial killing and also in mediating host injury. In this study, we used a well-characterized mouse model of pulmonary tuberculosis to examine the local kinetics of expression and cellular distribution of iNOS and NT at the cellular and subcellular level. The histopathological study showed two phases of the disease: early and late. The early phase was characterized by mononuclear inflammation and granuloma formation. During this phase, high percentages of activated macrophages were observed that were immunostained for iNOS and NT. Immuno-electronmicroscopy showed NT immunoreactivity in lysosomes and mycobacterial wall and cytoplasm. The concentration of iNOS mRNA and NO metabolites were also elevated. The late phase was characterized by progressive pneumonia with focal necrosis and a decrease of iNOS mRNA and NO metabolites. The strongest NT immunostained areas were the necrotic tissue. Macrophages became foamy cells with scarce iNOS immunostaining but strong NT immunoreactivity. At the ultrastructural level, these cells showed NT immunolabeling in cytoskeleton, mitochondria, lysosomes and cell membrane. NT was also located in bronchial epithelial cell mitochondria, in cell membranes and cytoplasm of endothelial cells and in actin bundles within smooth muscle cells. These results suggest an important role of NO in mycobacterial killing, particularly during the early phase of the infection. They also suggest an important participation by NO in tissue damage during the late phase of the disease.
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| 10. |
- Kalsum, Sadaf, et al.
(författare)
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A high-throughput screening assay based on automated microscopy for monitoring antibiotic susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis phenotypes
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMC Microbiology. - : BMC. - 1471-2180. ; 21:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundEfficient high-throughput drug screening assays are necessary to enable the discovery of new anti-mycobacterial drugs. The purpose of our work was to develop and validate an assay based on live-cell imaging which can monitor the growth of two distinct phenotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and to test their susceptibility to commonly used TB drugs.ResultsBoth planktonic and cording phenotypes were successfully monitored as fluorescent objects using the live-cell imaging system IncuCyte S3, allowing collection of data describing distinct characteristics of aggregate size and growth. The quantification of changes in total area of aggregates was used to define IC50 and MIC values of selected TB drugs which revealed that the cording phenotype grew more rapidly and displayed a higher susceptibility to rifampicin. In checkerboard approach, testing pair-wise combinations of sub-inhibitory concentrations of drugs, rifampicin, linezolid and pretomanid demonstrated superior growth inhibition of cording phenotype.ConclusionsOur results emphasize the efficiency of using automated live-cell imaging and its potential in high-throughput whole-cell screening to evaluate existing and search for novel antimycobacterial drugs.
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