PURPOSE: Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Proteus species are causative agents in a variety of opportunistic nosocomial infections, and their ability to form biofilms is known to be a virulence factor. In this study, the influence of co-cultivation with Proteus vulgaris (P. vulgaris) and Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) on C. albicans biofilm formation and its underlying mechanisms were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: XTT reduction assays were adopted to measure biofilm formation, and viable colony counts were performed to quantify yeast growth. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the expression of yeast-specific genes (rhd1 and rbe1), filament formation inhibiting genes (tup1 and nrg1), and hyphae-related genes (als3, ece1, hwp1, and sap5). RESULTS: Candida biofilm formation was markedly inhibited by treatment with either living or heat-killed P. vulgaris and P. mirabilis. Proteus-cultured supernatant also inhibited Candida biofilm formation. Likewise, treatment with live P. vulgaris or P. mirabilis or with Proteus-cultured supernatant decreased expression of hyphae-related C. albicans genes, while the expression of yeast-specific genes and the filament formation inhibiting genes of C. albicans were increased. Heat-killed P. vulgaris and P. mirabilis treatment, however, did not affect the expression of C. albicans morphology-related genes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that secretory products from P. vulgaris and P. mirabilis regulate the expression of genes related to morphologic changes in C. albicans such that transition from the yeast form to the hyphal form can be inhibited.
Biofilms* ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Cross Infection ; Mirabilis ; Proteus mirabilis* ; Proteus vulgaris* ; Proteus* ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Virulence ; Yeasts

No abstract available.
Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Ecthyma* ; Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia* ; Humans ; Proteus vulgaris* ; Proteus*

Pyogenic liver abscess causes various clinical manifestations and resulted in complications in 30-50 % of cases. Pericarditis due to pyogenic liver abscess is a very rare complication, the result of which is usually fatal without treatment. We report a case of 60-year-old female who had pyogenic liver abscess by Proteus vulgaris complicated with acute purulent pericarditis. Another 3 cases in previous Korean literature were also reviewed.
Female ; Humans ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic* ; Middle Aged ; Pericarditis* ; Proteus vulgaris* ; Proteus*

Pyogenic liver abscess causes various clinical manifestations and resulted in complications in 30-50 % of cases. Pericarditis due to pyogenic liver abscess is a very rare complication, the result of which is usually fatal without treatment. We report a case of 60-year-old female who had pyogenic liver abscess by Proteus vulgaris complicated with acute purulent pericarditis. Another 3 cases in previous Korean literature were also reviewed.
Female ; Humans ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic* ; Middle Aged ; Pericarditis* ; Proteus vulgaris* ; Proteus*

Endophthalmitis after cataract surgery causes a profound visual loss. In this study, we performed bacterial cultures from conjuncitival swab atthe beginning of operation and of aqueous humor at the end of operation in 213 uncomplicated cataract surgery to examine the kinds of microorganisms being able to induce an endophthalmitis. Among five positive cultures from conjunctival swabs, Staphylococcus aureus was positive in four cases and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was positive in one case. In bacterial culture of aqueous humor, two microorganisms were observed, in which one case was Staphylococcus epidermidis and the other was Proteus vulgaris. However, ther was no case showing bacterial positive concurrently of conjunctiva and aqueous humor. In addition, there was no case of endophthalmitis. With these results, we could find that various microorganisms existed in conjunctival surface and in aqueous humor. However, itseems to be under the control of self-defense mechanis suppressing an endophthalmitis postoperatively in case of intact posterior capsule. Nevertheless, cataract surgeons should be careful to avoid an endophthalmitis with meticulous aseptic technique forundesirable events.
Anterior Chamber ; Aqueous Humor* ; Cataract ; Conjunctiva ; Endophthalmitis ; Proteus vulgaris ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis

Antibacterial activity of EA, a preparation of water soluble components made from carpophores of Elfvingia applanata (Pers.) Karst, was examined by macrobroth diltution method against a number of bacterial species. Antibacterial effects of EA were expressed as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for growth. Among twelve species of bacteria tested, six strains of each gram positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria, EA showed the most potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Proteus vulgaris, of which MICs were 1.25 mg/ml of EA. To investigate the antibacterial effects of combinations of EA with third generation cepholosporins, such as cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, and cefixime, the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) were determined by macrodilution checkerboard assay for twelve bacterial strains. Combinations of EA and third generation cephalosporins exhibited either additive or indifferent effects in most instances. However, synergistic effects were observed in six instances. No antagonistic effect was observed in any cases.
Bacteria ; Cefixime ; Cefotaxime ; Ceftazidime ; Ceftriaxone ; Cephalosporins* ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Proteus vulgaris ; Staphylococcus epidermidis

A preparation of water soluble components(EA) was made from carpophores of Elfvingia applanata(Pers.) Karst and its in vitro antibacterial activity on a number of bacterial species was examined by macrobroth dilution assay. Among 16 species of bacteria tested, the most potent antibacterial activity was observed against Staphylococcus epiderrnidis and Proteus vulgaris, of which MICs were 1.25 mg/ml. To investigate the antibacterial effects in combinations of EA with quinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin, the fractional inhibitory concentrations(FICs) and the fractional inhibitory concentration indices(FICIs) for four bacterial strains were determined by macrobroth dilution checkerboard assay. Combinations of EA and quinolones exhibited either additive or indifferent effects of antibacterial activity in most instances. However, both synergistic and antagonistic effects were not observed in any cases.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Ciprofloxacin ; Enoxacin ; Norfloxacin ; Ofloxacin ; Proteus vulgaris ; Quinolones* ; Staphylococcus

The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation of cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) and biofilm formation or adhesion in Candida albicans (C. albicans) and several pathogenic bacteria. All of C. albicans (n=82) and 7 bacterial species (Escherichia coli, n=25; Klebsiella pneumoniae, n=33; Morganella morganii, n=21; Proteus mirabilis, n=33; Proteus vulgaris, n=12; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, n=31; Staphylococcus aureus, n=31) were isolated clinically. CSH was quantified with microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons. Biofilm formation was determined by tetrazolium salt reduction assay. Adhesion assay was performed by counting colonies after culture the microbes adhered to HeLa cells. Although high CSH-expressing bacterial species showed greater adherence to HeLa cells and larger amounts of biofilm formation on polystyrene, the significant relationships within same species were not shown. In C. albicans, however, strong positive correlations were observed between CSH and biofilm formation (r =0.708; p < 0.05) or cell adhesion (r =0.509; p < 0.05). These results suggest that hydrophobic force of bacteria may play a minor role in adhesion and biofilm formation, but CSH of C. albicans may be an important factor for adherence on surface and biofilm forming process.
Bacteria ; Biofilms* ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Cell Adhesion ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions* ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Morganella morganii ; Polystyrenes ; Proteus mirabilis ; Proteus vulgaris ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND: At antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), clinical isolates may appear susceptible sometimes to the antibiotics that are clinically ineffective or due to technical errors in the testing. So an interpretive reading of AST should be done, but most hospitals do not perform it routinely. Here, we developed and evaluated a computerized expert system to interpret AST of Enterobacteriaceae to beta-lactam antibiotics. METHODS: We made a rule-based expert system according to the natural resistance of the members of Enterobacteriaceae and the common phenotypes of resistance mechanisms for Enterobacteriacae. Antimicrobial suceptibility testings were performed using the disk diffusion method with 12 beta-lactam antibiotics for a total of 1, 016 clinical isolates. Then we compared the raw and expert results of AST. RESULTS: An overall discrepancy rate due to natural resistance was 5.9%; 10.4% for Klebsiella spp. and Citrobacter diversus, 15.0% for Enterobacter spp., 2.6% for Serratia marcescens, 31.6% for Morganella morganii and Providencia stuartti. Accoriding to acquired antimicrobial resistant mechanisms, overall resistant discrepancy was 21.8%; 18.8% for Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella and Shigella spp., 25.9% for Citrobacter diversus and Klebsiella spp., 21.6% for Citrobacter freundii and Enterobacter spp., 45.6% for Morganella morganii, 10.0% for Proteus vulgaris, 12.2% for Serratia spp.. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the application of the expert system for interpretation of antimicrobial susceptibility test may provide more reliable data for the treating physician. Additional information should be applied on the software for new resistant mechanisms or some misinterpretive readings.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; beta-Lactams* ; Citrobacter freundii ; Citrobacter koseri ; Diffusion ; Enterobacter ; Enterobacteriaceae* ; Escherichia coli ; Expert Systems* ; Immunity, Innate ; Klebsiella ; Morganella morganii ; Phenotype ; Proteus mirabilis ; Proteus vulgaris ; Providencia ; Reading ; Salmonella ; Serratia ; Serratia marcescens ; Shigella

Contamination with sanitary microorganisms from Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Staphylococcaceae, Micrococcaceae and Bacillaceae families in flower bee pollen from Bulgaria after one-year vacuum-packed cold storage has been found. Dried flower bee pollens intended for human consumption were with high incidence rate of contamination with Pantoea sp. (P. agglomerans and P. agglomerans bgp6) (100%), Citrobacter freundii (47%), Proteus mirabilis (31.6%), Serratia odorifera (15.8%) and Proteus vulgaris (5.3%). Bee pollens were also positive for the culture of microorganisms from Staphylococcaceae, Micrococcaceae and Bacillaceae families: Staphylococcus hominis subsp hominis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Arthrobacter globiformis, Bacillus pumilis, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. It was concluded that, if consumed directly, the vacuum-packed cold stored dried bee pollen, harvested according hygienic requirements from bee hives in industrial pollution-free areas without intensive crop production, is not problem for healthy human.
Arthrobacter ; Bacillaceae ; Bacillus ; Bacillus subtilis ; Bees* ; Bulgaria ; Citrobacter freundii ; Crop Production ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Flowers* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Micrococcaceae ; Pantoea ; Pollen* ; Proteus mirabilis ; Proteus vulgaris ; Pseudomonadaceae ; Serratia ; Staphylococcaceae ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Staphylococcus hominis ; Urticaria ; Vacuum*