Mind Your Binomials: a Guide to Are Human Pathogens (N

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Mind Your Binomials: a Guide to Are Human Pathogens (N STI Online First, published on December 16, 2014 as 10.1136/sextrans-2014-051937 Editorial Sex Transm Infect: first published as 10.1136/sextrans-2014-051937 on 16 December 2014. Downloaded from colonise humans and animals, but only two Mind your binomials: a guide to are human pathogens (N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis).7 Sometimes, the species microbial nomenclature and spelling can be divided into subspecies. For Sexually Transmitted Infections example, we use the binomial Treponema in pallidum to refer to the sexually transmit- ted infection syphilis, but there are three 1 2 3,4 5 Nicola Low, Kelly Stroud, David A Lewis, Jackie A Cassell subspecies: T. pallidum subspecies pallidum causes syphilis; T. p all id um subsp. pertenue causes yaws; and T. p all id um subsp. Here is a quick quiz: nomenclature and abbreviations for bac- endemicum causes bejel.8 Chlamydia is a teria, protozoa and viruses and the infec- bacterium with a contentious taxonomic Question 1: In which published articles is/are the tions they cause. name of the organism or condition spelled correctly? history, having been called Miyaganawella, A. N. gonorrheae1 Bedsonia and Rakeia in the past,9 and B. Trichamoniasis2 WHAT IS BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE? having initially been thought to be a virus10 3 C. Chlamydiae trachomatis All living organisms have two names or a protozoan.11 D. Neisseria gonorrhoea4 E. Neisseria gonorrhea5 (binomial) to describe them: a genus Answer: At the end of this piece. (generic name for a group of closely related VIRUSES fi Question 2: Do you like it when someone misspells organisms) and a species (speci c name that Virologists have adopted different criteria your name? distinguishes individual types within for nomenclature, partly because viruses 6 Answer: We don’t like it and you probably don’t the group). Knapp et al nicely summarised are not living organisms.12 Viruses often either. the origins of the system, which were have names in English, for example hepa- invented by Carl Linnæus, a Swedish titis B virus, but they can also have Latin There are several reasons for expecting botanist in the 18th century. Linnæus names, for example herpes simplex virus authors to spell scientific terms correctly. suggested two-word ‘nomina trivialia’ to (herpes comes from the Greek herpein, to First, the conventions for scientificnames make it easier to remember the names of creep). The generic names of viruses such are meant to allow scientists to communi- organisms, which were originally descrip- as HIV are not written in italics; italics are cate precisely and accurately with each tive phrases (‘nomina specifica’) that only used for the virus species name or its other. Incorrect spelling or terminology of changed as knowledge accrued. The rules family. They are not capitalised unless the the names of microorganisms can cause for nomenclature have changed over time name is a proper noun, for example Ebola confusion and perpetuate mistakes. Second, and differences between zoology, botany virus. an incorrectly spelled name in the title34of and microbiology have emerged.6 an article means that scientists searching for WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO GET fi your article might not nd it. Third, and BACTERIA THENAMERIGHT? maybe unfairly, poor spelling gives editors Bacteria have names in Latin. All bacteria Authors probably expect copy editors to and reviewers the impression that you do are named in five taxonomic categories: correct their spelling and editors expect not know or do not care about the subject class, order, family, genus and species. The authors to proofread carefully. As our pub- of your research. genus and species form the binomial that lished examples show, failures at both stages A quick look at the mistakes made when we use to identify the organism (table 1). result in errors in the printed version. But http://sti.bmj.com/ spelling Neisseria gonorrhoeae and The name of the genus can come from the getting to print is the end of a long process Chlamydia trachomatis suggests that people person who discovered it, for example, and editors and reviewers will read a manu- are confused about when to use the Latin Neisseria,fromAlbertNeisser,oracharac- script before it is accepted. Authors are name for the pathogen or its common teristic of the organism, for example, responsible for checking their spelling and descriptive name and about differences Chlamydia, which is Greek for a cloak and terminology before submitting a manu- between UK and US English spelling. It describes its intracellular nature. The genus script. First impressions are important so it ’ on October 1, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. didn t take long to put together the errors might have more than one distinct species. makes sense to get the spelling and format- listed above, so we conclude that there is a For example, many species of Neisseria ting right before submission. real problem. Now is a good time to remind ourselves of the conventions for using and fi writing scienti c names and to let authors Table 1 Nomenclature for bacteria and general principles for formatting know of our new guidance for Formatting Example Genus Italicised, uppercase first letter Neisseria 1 Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University Species Italicised, lowercase gonorrhoeae of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; 2BMJ Publishing Group, London, UK; 3Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Condition Not italicised, lowercase except when used Gonorrhoea (UK), gonorrhea (US) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; 4Centre for at start of a sentence Infectious Diseases and Microbiology & Marie Bashir Abbreviation May be used when several species from the “The sample contained Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, of genus same genus are being named or the same N. meningitidis and N. lactamica” Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, species is mentioned repeatedly. Write the Australia; 5Department of Primary Care, Brighton and genus in full the first time, then abbreviate Sussex Medical School, East Sussex, UK with a full stop after the initial “ ” Correspondence to Professor Nicola Low, Institute of Unknown If the precise species is not known, use sp. The condition was caused by a Neisseria sp. “ Social and Preventive Medicine, Finkenhubelweg 11, species If there is more than one species, use spp. They identified several Neisseria spp. in the ” University of Bern, Bern, CH-3012, Switzerland; sample [email protected] Low N, et al. Sex Transm Infect Month 2014 Vol 0 No 0 1 Copyright Article author (or their employer) 2014. Produced by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd under licence. Editorial Sex Transm Infect: first published as 10.1136/sextrans-2014-051937 on 16 December 2014. Downloaded from Table 2 Organism names and abbreviations for bacteria and protozoa Abbreviation of Abbreviation of Binomial name Genus organism name Condition* infection name† Chlamydia trachomatis Chlamydia C. trachomatis Chlamydia CT Mycoplasma genitalium Mycoplasma M. genitalium M. genitalium infection‡ MG Neisseria gonorrhoeae§ Neisseria N. gonorrhoeae Gonorrhoea§ NG¶ Treponema pallidum Treponema T. pallidum Syphilis TP Trichomonas vaginalis Trichomonas T. vaginalis Trichomoniasis TV *Only capitalise first letter if used at the start of a sentence, otherwise lowercase. †In general, we discourage the use of abbreviated names for conditions. These abbreviations can be used in tables and figures where space is limited. They still need to be spelled out at the first use. ‡There is no agreed name at present. §Please note the ‘e’ at the end of the Latin species name. There is no ‘e’ at the end of the name of the condition. We use UK English spelling, which has an extra ‘o’ in the name of the condition. ¶GC cannot be used to abbreviate Neisseria gonorrhoeae. GC is used mainly in the UK as an abbreviation of gonococcus, the shape of the bacterium (see table 3). Table 3 Adjectives for describing shapes of bacteria Shape singular/plural Description Example Plural Adjective Coccus/cocci Spherical bacteria; can be in pairs (diplococci) Gonococcus Gonococci Gonococcal or chains (streptococci) Pneumococcus Pneumococci Pneumococcal Bacillus/bacilli* Rod-shaped bacteria Bacillary Spiral Spiral-shaped bacteria Spirochaete† Spirochaetes Spirochaetal *Not to be confused with Bacillus the genus. †Most common example for sexually transmitted pathogens, that is, Treponema pallidum. Alternative forms are vibrio and spirillum. ADVICE FOR AUTHORS Provenance and peer review Commissioned; emergency department. Sex Transm Infect – Editors and production staff at Sexually internally peer reviewed. 2013;89:489 4. 6 Knapp S, Lamas G, Lughadha EN, et al. Stability or To cite Low N, Stroud K, Lewis DA, et al. Sex Transm Transmitted Infections have come up with stasis in the names of organisms: the evolving codes Infect Published Online First: [please include Day some guidance for authors (tables 1, 2 of nomenclature. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci Month Year] doi:10.1136/sextrans-2014-051937 and 3). This combines published conven- 2004;359:611–22. tions for scientific nomenclature, sum- Received 6 November 2014 7 Bennett JS, Jolley KA, Earle SG, et al. A genomic Accepted 9 November 2014 approach to bacterial taxonomy: an examination and marised by the journal Emerging fi 13 Sex Transm Infect 2014;0:1–2. proposed reclassi cation of species within the genus Infectious Diseases, and the opinions of – doi:10.1136/sextrans-2014-051937 Neisseria. Microbiol 2012;158(Pt 6):1570 80. the editors. We try to cover spelling and 8 Lukehart SA. Biology of treponemes. Chapter 36. abbreviations of both organisms and con- In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Stamm WE, Piot P, ditions for the most common sexually REFERENCES Wasserheit JN, Corey L, Cohen MS, Watts DH, eds. http://sti.bmj.com/ Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 4th edn. New York: transmitted infections (table 2). 1 Grad YH, Kirkcaldy RD, Trees D, et al. Genomic epidemiology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with reduced McGraw-Hill Medical, 2008:647–59.
Recommended publications
  • Official Nh Dhhs Health Alert
    THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NH DHHS HEALTH ALERT Distributed by the NH Health Alert Network [email protected] May 18, 2018, 1300 EDT (1:00 PM EDT) NH-HAN 20180518 Tickborne Diseases in New Hampshire Key Points and Recommendations: 1. Blacklegged ticks transmit at least five different infections in New Hampshire (NH): Lyme disease, Anaplasma, Babesia, Powassan virus, and Borrelia miyamotoi. 2. NH has one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the nation, and 50-60% of blacklegged ticks sampled from across NH have been found to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. 3. NH has experienced a significant increase in human cases of anaplasmosis, with cases more than doubling from 2016 to 2017. The reason for the increase is unknown at this time. 4. The number of new cases of babesiosis also increased in 2017; because Babesia can be transmitted through blood transfusions in addition to tick bites, providers should ask patients with suspected babesiosis whether they have donated blood or received a blood transfusion. 5. Powassan is a newer tickborne disease which has been identified in three NH residents during past seasons in 2013, 2016 and 2017. While uncommon, Powassan can cause a debilitating neurological illness, so providers should maintain an index of suspicion for patients presenting with an unexplained meningoencephalitis. 6. Borrelia miyamotoi infection usually presents with a nonspecific febrile illness similar to other tickborne diseases like anaplasmosis, and has recently been identified in one NH resident. Tests for Lyme disease do not reliably detect Borrelia miyamotoi, so providers should consider specific testing for Borrelia miyamotoi (see Attachment 1) and other pathogens if testing for Lyme disease is negative but a tickborne disease is still suspected.
    [Show full text]
  • Phagocytosis of Borrelia Burgdorferi, the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Potentiates Innate Immune Activation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Monocytes Adriana R
    University of Connecticut OpenCommons@UConn UCHC Articles - Research University of Connecticut Health Center Research 1-2008 Phagocytosis of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Potentiates Innate Immune Activation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Monocytes Adriana R. Cruz University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry Meagan W. Moore University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry Carson J. La Vake University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry Christian H. Eggers University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry Juan C. Salazar University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://opencommons.uconn.edu/uchcres_articles Part of the Medicine and Health Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Cruz, Adriana R.; Moore, Meagan W.; La Vake, Carson J.; Eggers, Christian H.; Salazar, Juan C.; and Radolf, Justin D., "Phagocytosis of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Potentiates Innate Immune Activation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Monocytes" (2008). UCHC Articles - Research. 182. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/uchcres_articles/182 Authors Adriana R. Cruz, Meagan W. Moore, Carson J. La Vake, Christian H. Eggers, Juan C. Salazar, and Justin D. Radolf This article is available at OpenCommons@UConn: https://opencommons.uconn.edu/uchcres_articles/182 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY, Jan. 2008, p. 56–70 Vol. 76, No. 1 0019-9567/08/$08.00ϩ0 doi:10.1128/IAI.01039-07 Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. Phagocytosis of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Potentiates Innate Immune Activation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Monocytesᰔ Adriana R. Cruz,1†‡ Meagan W. Moore,1† Carson J.
    [Show full text]
  • Genomics 98 (2011) 370–375
    Genomics 98 (2011) 370–375 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Genomics journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ygeno Whole-genome comparison clarifies close phylogenetic relationships between the phyla Dictyoglomi and Thermotogae Hiromi Nishida a,⁎, Teruhiko Beppu b, Kenji Ueda b a Agricultural Bioinformatics Research Unit, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan b Life Science Research Center, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Japan article info abstract Article history: The anaerobic thermophilic bacterial genus Dictyoglomus is characterized by the ability to produce useful Received 2 June 2011 enzymes such as amylase, mannanase, and xylanase. Despite the significance, the phylogenetic position of Accepted 1 August 2011 Dictyoglomus has not yet been clarified, since it exhibits ambiguous phylogenetic positions in a single gene Available online 7 August 2011 sequence comparison-based analysis. The number of substitutions at the diverging point of Dictyoglomus is insufficient to show the relationships in a single gene comparison-based analysis. Hence, we studied its Keywords: evolutionary trait based on whole-genome comparison. Both gene content and orthologous protein sequence Whole-genome comparison Dictyoglomus comparisons indicated that Dictyoglomus is most closely related to the phylum Thermotogae and it forms a Bacterial systematics monophyletic group with Coprothermobacter proteolyticus (a constituent of the phylum Firmicutes) and Coprothermobacter proteolyticus Thermotogae. Our findings indicate that C. proteolyticus does not belong to the phylum Firmicutes and that the Thermotogae phylum Dictyoglomi is not closely related to either the phylum Firmicutes or Synergistetes but to the phylum Thermotogae. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Trichomonas Vaginalis
    Trichomonas Vaginalis Trichomonas Vaginalis - the basics It is a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a protozoon called Trichomonas vaginalis, or ‘TV’. Protozoa are tiny germs similar to bacteria. TV can infect the vagina, urethra (water passage), and underneath the foreskin. Women may notice a change in vaginal discharge, and may have vulval itching or pain on passing urine. Men may notice a discharge from the tip of the penis, pain on passing urine or soreness of the foreskin. Testing is available at any specialised sexual health or Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinic and in some GP surgeries and contraceptive services. If you have TV we recommend that you have tests for other STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV. How common is TV? In 2011 just over 6,000 cases were diagnosed in England. In contrast, more than 186,000 cases of chlamydia were reported in the same year. Over 90% of TV cases are diagnosed in women. How do you catch TV? TV is passed on- through unprotected vaginal sex, insertion of fingers into the vagina or sharing sex toys with someone who has TV from an infected mother to her baby during normal childbirth (vaginal delivery) TV cannot be caught from hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools or toilet seats What would I notice if I had TV? Women may not notice anything wrong but they can still pass on TV to their sexual partner. Some women may notice one or more of the following: increased vaginal discharge an unpleasant vaginal smell ‘cystitis’ or burning pain when passing urine vulval itching or soreness pain in the vagina during sex Most men will not feel anything wrong but they can still pass TV on to their sexual partner.
    [Show full text]
  • METABOLIC EVOLUTION in GALDIERIA SULPHURARIA By
    METABOLIC EVOLUTION IN GALDIERIA SULPHURARIA By CHAD M. TERNES Bachelor of Science in Botany Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma 2009 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May, 2015 METABOLIC EVOLUTION IN GALDIERIA SUPHURARIA Dissertation Approved: Dr. Gerald Schoenknecht Dissertation Adviser Dr. David Meinke Dr. Andrew Doust Dr. Patricia Canaan ii Name: CHAD M. TERNES Date of Degree: MAY, 2015 Title of Study: METABOLIC EVOLUTION IN GALDIERIA SULPHURARIA Major Field: PLANT SCIENCE Abstract: The thermoacidophilic, unicellular, red alga Galdieria sulphuraria possesses characteristics, including salt and heavy metal tolerance, unsurpassed by any other alga. Like most plastid bearing eukaryotes, G. sulphuraria can grow photoautotrophically. Additionally, it can also grow solely as a heterotroph, which results in the cessation of photosynthetic pigment biosynthesis. The ability to grow heterotrophically is likely correlated with G. sulphuraria ’s broad capacity for carbon metabolism, which rivals that of fungi. Annotation of the metabolic pathways encoded by the genome of G. sulphuraria revealed several pathways that are uncharacteristic for plants and algae, even red algae. Phylogenetic analyses of the enzymes underlying the metabolic pathways suggest multiple instances of horizontal gene transfer, in addition to endosymbiotic gene transfer and conservation through ancestry. Although some metabolic pathways as a whole appear to be retained through ancestry, genes encoding individual enzymes within a pathway were substituted by genes that were acquired horizontally from other domains of life. Thus, metabolic pathways in G. sulphuraria appear to be composed of a ‘metabolic patchwork’, underscored by a mosaic of genes resulting from multiple evolutionary processes.
    [Show full text]
  • Expanding the Chlamydiae Tree
    Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 2040 Expanding the Chlamydiae tree Insights into genome diversity and evolution JENNAH E. DHARAMSHI ACTA UNIVERSITATIS UPSALIENSIS ISSN 1651-6214 ISBN 978-91-513-1203-3 UPPSALA urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-439996 2021 Dissertation presented at Uppsala University to be publicly examined in A1:111a, Biomedical Centre (BMC), Husargatan 3, Uppsala, Tuesday, 8 June 2021 at 13:15 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The examination will be conducted in English. Faculty examiner: Prof. Dr. Alexander Probst (Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen). Abstract Dharamshi, J. E. 2021. Expanding the Chlamydiae tree. Insights into genome diversity and evolution. Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 2040. 87 pp. Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. ISBN 978-91-513-1203-3. Chlamydiae is a phylum of obligate intracellular bacteria. They have a conserved lifecycle and infect eukaryotic hosts, ranging from animals to amoeba. Chlamydiae includes pathogens, and is well-studied from a medical perspective. However, the vast majority of chlamydiae diversity exists in environmental samples as part of the uncultivated microbial majority. Exploration of microbial diversity in anoxic deep marine sediments revealed diverse chlamydiae with high relative abundances. Using genome-resolved metagenomics various marine sediment chlamydiae genomes were obtained, which significantly expanded genomic sampling of Chlamydiae diversity. These genomes formed several new clades in phylogenomic analyses, and included Chlamydiaceae relatives. Despite endosymbiosis-associated genomic features, hosts were not identified, suggesting chlamydiae with alternate lifestyles. Genomic investigation of Anoxychlamydiales, newly described here, uncovered genes for hydrogen metabolism and anaerobiosis, suggesting they engage in syntrophic interactions.
    [Show full text]
  • Compendium of Measures to Control Chlamydia Psittaci Infection Among
    Compendium of Measures to Control Chlamydia psittaci Infection Among Humans (Psittacosis) and Pet Birds (Avian Chlamydiosis), 2017 Author(s): Gary Balsamo, DVM, MPH&TMCo-chair Angela M. Maxted, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl ACVPM Joanne W. Midla, VMD, MPH, Dipl ACVPM Julia M. Murphy, DVM, MS, Dipl ACVPMCo-chair Ron Wohrle, DVM Thomas M. Edling, DVM, MSpVM, MPH (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council) Pilar H. Fish, DVM (American Association of Zoo Veterinarians) Keven Flammer, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian) (Association of Avian Veterinarians) Denise Hyde, PharmD, RP Preeta K. Kutty, MD, MPH Miwako Kobayashi, MD, MPH Bettina Helm, DVM, MPH Brit Oiulfstad, DVM, MPH (Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists) Branson W. Ritchie, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl ABVP, Dipl ECZM (Avian) Mary Grace Stobierski, DVM, MPH, Dipl ACVPM (American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine) Karen Ehnert, and DVM, MPVM, Dipl ACVPM (American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine) Thomas N. Tully JrDVM, MS, Dipl ABVP (Avian), Dipl ECZM (Avian) (Association of Avian Veterinarians) Source: Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 31(3):262-282. Published By: Association of Avian Veterinarians https://doi.org/10.1647/217-265 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1647/217-265 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use.
    [Show full text]
  • Metagenomic Shotgun Sequencing Analysis of Canalicular Concretions in Lacrimal Canaliculitis Cases
    Article Metagenomic Shotgun Sequencing Analysis of Canalicular Concretions in Lacrimal Canaliculitis Cases Yukinobu Okajima 1,*, Takashi Suzuki 1, Chika Miyazaki 2, Satoshi Goto 3, Sho Ishikawa 4 , Yuka Suzuki 1, Kotaro Aoki 5 , Yoshikazu Ishii 5, Kazuhiro Tateda 5 and Yuichi Hori 1 1 Department of Ophthalmology, Toho University, 6-11-1 Omori-nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8541, Japan; [email protected] (T.S.); [email protected] (Y.S.); [email protected] (Y.H.) 2 Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki General Medical Center, 2-17-77 Higashi-nanba cho, Amagasaki 661-0892, Japan; [email protected] 3 Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, The Jikei University, 3-19-18 Shinbashi-nishi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8471, Japan; [email protected] 4 Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Saitama University, 38 Morohongo Moroyama-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama 350-0495, Japan; [email protected] 5 Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Toho University, 6-11-1 Omori-nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8541, Japan; [email protected] (K.A.); [email protected] (Y.I.); [email protected] (K.T.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +81-3-3762-4151; Fax: +81-3-3298-0030 Abstract: Lacrimal canaliculitis is a rare infection of the lacrimal canaliculi with canalicular con- cretions formed by aggregation of organisms. Metagenomic shotgun sequencing analysis using next-generation sequencing has been used to detect pathogens directly from clinical samples. Using Citation: Okajima, Y.; Suzuki, T.; this technology, we report cases of successful pathogen detection of canalicular concretions in lacrimal Miyazaki, C.; Goto, S.; Ishikawa, S.; canaliculitis cases.
    [Show full text]
  • Trichomoniasis — “Trich” for Short — Is an Infection That Is Most Common in Sexually Active Women Age 16 to 35
    FACT SHEET FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES Trichomoniasis What is trichomoniasis? Trichomoniasis — “trich” for short — is an infection that is most common in sexually active women age 16 to 35. (Men can have trich, too, but usually have fewer symptoms and often don’t need treatment to clear up the infection.) If you have trich, you need medication to stop your symptoms and prevent spreading the infection to sex partners. This handout gives you basic information on trichomoniasis, how it’s treated, and what you can do to prevent it. What causes it? Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite, a tiny organism called Trichomonas vaginalis. Trich is passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Trich is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections or diseases (STIs or STDs) among young, sexually active women. Recent studies suggest that more Most common in young women, than 2 million women in the U.S. currently have trichomoniasis is a curable infection. trichomoniasis. Why is it a concern? What are the symptoms? Trich is completely curable, but you shouldn’t ignore A woman with trichomoniasis may have one or it. Trich can cause annoying and painful symptoms more of these common symptoms, which may (see the list at right) and may make it easier to catch come and go: another STI such as HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. • Vaginal discharge. The discharge may be gray, If you’re pregnant, trich brings these additional risks: yellow, or green. It may be thin or foamy and may • Your baby may be born too soon smell bad.
    [Show full text]
  • Borrelia Burgdorferi and Treponema Pallidum: a Comparison of Functional Genomics, Environmental Adaptations, and Pathogenic Mechanisms
    PERSPECTIVE SERIES Bacterial polymorphisms Martin J. Blaser and James M. Musser, Series Editors Borrelia burgdorferi and Treponema pallidum: a comparison of functional genomics, environmental adaptations, and pathogenic mechanisms Stephen F. Porcella and Tom G. Schwan Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA Address correspondence to: Tom G. Schwan, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, Montana 59840, USA. Phone: (406) 363-9250; Fax: (406) 363-9445; E-mail: [email protected]. Spirochetes are a diverse group of bacteria found in (6–8). Here, we compare the biology and genomes of soil, deep in marine sediments, commensal in the gut these two spirochetal pathogens with reference to their of termites and other arthropods, or obligate parasites different host associations and modes of transmission. of vertebrates. Two pathogenic spirochetes that are the focus of this perspective are Borrelia burgdorferi sensu Genomic structure lato, a causative agent of Lyme disease, and Treponema A striking difference between B. burgdorferi and T. pal- pallidum subspecies pallidum, the agent of venereal lidum is their total genomic structure. Although both syphilis. Although these organisms are bound togeth- pathogens have small genomes, compared with many er by ancient ancestry and similar morphology (Figure well known bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Mycobac- 1), as well as by the protean nature of the infections terium tuberculosis, the genomic structure of B. burgdorferi they cause, many differences exist in their life cycles, environmental adaptations, and impact on human health and behavior. The specific mechanisms con- tributing to multisystem disease and persistent, long- term infections caused by both organisms in spite of significant immune responses are not yet understood.
    [Show full text]
  • Pdf/Bookshelf NBK368467.Pdf
    BMJ 2019;365:l4159 doi: 10.1136/bmj.l4159 (Published 28 June 2019) Page 1 of 11 Practice BMJ: first published as 10.1136/bmj.l4159 on 28 June 2019. Downloaded from PRACTICE CLINICAL UPDATES Syphilis OPEN ACCESS Patrick O'Byrne associate professor, nurse practitioner 1 2, Paul MacPherson infectious disease specialist 3 1School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada; 2Sexual Health Clinic, Ottawa Public Health, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5P9; 3Division of Infectious Diseases, Ottawa Hospital General Campus, Ottawa, Ontario What you need to know Box 1: Symptoms of syphilis by stage of infection (see fig 1) • Incidence rates of syphilis have increased substantially around the Primary world, mostly affecting men who have sex with men and people infected • Symptoms appear 10-90 days (mean 21 days) after exposure with HIV http://www.bmj.com/ • Main symptom is a <2 cm chancre: • Have a high index of suspicion for syphilis in any sexually active patient – Progresses from a macule to papule to ulcer over 7 days with genital lesions or rashes – Painless, solitary, indurated, clean base (98% specific, 31% sensitive) • Primary syphilis classically presents as a single, painless, indurated genital ulcer (chancre), but this presentation is only 31% sensitive; – On glans, corona, labia, fourchette, or perineum lesions can be painful, multiple, and extra-genital – A third are extragenital in men who have sex with men and in women • Diagnosis is usually based on serology, using a combination of treponemal and non-treponemal tests. Syphilis remains sensitive to • Localised painless adenopathy benzathine penicillin G Secondary on 24 September 2021 by guest.
    [Show full text]
  • Avoidance of Mechanisms of Innate Immune Response by Neisseria Gonorrhoeae
    ADVANCEMENTS OF MICROBIOLOGY – POSTĘPY MIKROBIOLOGII 2019, 58, 4, 367–373 DOI: 10.21307/PM–2019.58.4.367 AVOIDANCE OF MECHANISMS OF INNATE IMMUNE RESPONSE BY NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE Jagoda Płaczkiewicz* Department of Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw Submitted in July, accepted in October 2019 Abstract: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) is a Gram-negative bacteria and an etiological agent of the sexually transmitted disease – gonorrhea. N. gonorrhoeae possesses many mechanism to evade the innate immune response of the human host. Most are related to serum resistance and avoidance of complement killing. However the clinical symptoms of gonorrhea are correlated with a significant pres- ence of neutrophils, whose response is also insufficient and modulated by gonococci. 1. Introduction. 2. Adherence ability. 3. Serum resistance and complement system. 4. Neutrophils. 4.1. Phagocytosis. 4.1.1. Oxygen- dependent intracellular killing. 4.1.2. Oxygen-independent intracellular killing. 4.2. Neutrophil extracellular traps. 4.3. Degranulation. 4.4. Apoptosis. 5. Summary UNIKANIE MECHANIZMÓW WRODZONEJ ODPOWIEDZI IMMUNOLOGICZNEJ PRZEZ NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE Streszczenie: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonokok) to Gram-ujemna dwoinka będąca czynnikiem etiologicznym choroby przenoszonej drogą płciową – rzeżączki. N. gonorrhoeae posiada liczne mechanizmy umożliwiające jej unikanie wrodzonej odpowiedzi immunologicznej gospodarza. Większość z nich związana jest ze zdolnością gonokoków do manipulowania układem dopełniacza gospodarza oraz odpor- nością tej bakterii na surowicę. Jednakże symptomy infekcji N. gonorrhoeae wynikają między innymi z obecności licznych neutrofili, których aktywność jest modulowana przez gonokoki. 1. Wprowadzenie. 2. Zdolność adherencji. 3. Surowica i układ dopełniacza. 4. Neutrofile. 4.1. Fagocytoza. 4.1.1. Wewnątrzkomórkowe zabijanie zależne od tlenu. 4.1.2.
    [Show full text]