Comparative study of virulence potential, phylogenetic origin, CRISPR-Cas regions and drug resistance of Escherichia coli isolates from urine and other clinical materials

IntroductionUrinary tract infections (UTI), among which the main etiological factor is uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC, E. coli), remain an important issue for clinicians. The aim of the study was to demonstrate clear differences in the pathogenic properties of urine-derived E. coli compared to other extraintestinal E. coli clinical isolates (derived from: blood, lower respiratory tracts, sputum, reproductive tract, body fluids, perianal pus, other pus, wound, postoperative wound and other sources).MethodsThe collection of 784 E. coli isolates was collected from various materials of hospitalized patients. They were analyzed in terms of virulence-associated genes (papC, sfaD/sfaE, cnf1, usp., fimG/H, hlyA), belonging to phylogenetic groups and the presence of CRISPR-Cas regions using PCR. In addition, the epidemiological data and the antibiotic resistance profiles provided by the hospital’s microbiology department were included for statistical analyses.ResultsUrine-derived E. coli showed significantly greater virulence potential compared to other isolates, but they were generally unremarkable in terms of drug resistance. The isolates most often belonged to phylogenetic group B2. Drug resistance was negatively correlated with CRISPR 2 presence and high average virulence score, but positively correlated with CRISPR 4 presence. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report significant differences in sputum-derived isolates—they revealed the lowest virulence potential and, at the same time, the highest drug resistance.DiscussionIn conclusion, we demonstrated significant differences of urinary-derived E. coli compared to other clinical E. coli isolates. We would like to suggest excluding penicillins from use in E. coli infection at this time and monitoring strains with a high pathogenicity potential

Recent Developments in Lactone Monomers and Polymer Synthesis and Application

Lactones are a group of compounds that have been known for several decades. The commercial importance of lactones results from the possibility of manufacturing of a broad scope of derivatives and polymers with a wide spectrum of applications. In this work the synthesis and characterization of simple lactones are described, which due to the easy methods of the synthesis are of high importance for the industry. The chemical as well as biochemical methods are included with special attention paid to the methods that avoid metal catalysts, initiators or toxic solvents, allowing the use of the final products for the medical applications, e.g., for controlled drug-release systems, resorbable surgical threads, implants, tissue scaffolds or for the production of drugs. Lactone-based derivatives, such as polymers, copolymers, composites or three-dimensional structures are also presented. The work is focused on the methods for the synthesis of lactones and lactones derivates, as well as on the special properties and application of the studied compounds

Selective Oxidation of Cyclohexanone to Adipic Acid Using Molecular Oxygen in the Presence of Alkyl Nitrites and Transition Metals as Catalysts

This paper presents a not previously reported catalytic system consisting of transition metals Co2+ and Mn2+ and alkyl nitrites R-ONO for the oxidation of cyclohexanone with oxygen to adipic acid. The influence of type and amount of catalyst, temperature, time, and type of raw material on conversion and product composition were determined. In addition, the oxidation of selected cyclic ketones such as cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, cyclooctanone, cyclododecanone, 2-methylcyclohexanone, 3-methylcyclohexanone, and 4-methylcyclohexanone in acetic acid as solvent was performed. The results showed that R-ONO systems, under established reaction conditions, form NO·radicals, which oxidize to NO2 under a strong oxidization reaction environment. The Co2+/Mn2+/NO2 system was shown to be highly active in the oxidation of cyclic ketones with oxygen

Oxidation of Cyclohexanone with Peracids—A Straight Path to the Synthesis of ε-Caprolactone Oligomers

During Baeyer–Villiger (BV) oxidation of cyclohexanone with peracids, oligo(ε-caprolactone) (OCL) may be formed. In this work, a two-step one-pot method for the synthesis of OCL involving the BV oxidation of cyclohexanone with peracids and then oligomerization of the resulting ε-caprolactone has been developed. The process was carried out in two solvents: toluene and cyclohexane. Based on the studies, it was determined that the increased temperature (45–55 °C) and the longer reaction time (4 h) favor the formation of OCls. Among the tested peracids (perC8-C12), perC10 turned out to be the most effective oxidant. Moreover, the obtained oligomers were characterized by means of NMR, MS MALDI TOF, and TGA analyses, which made it possible to determine the structure of oligomers (length and terminal groups of the chains). Additionally, the oligomers obtained after the distillation of the reaction mixture were analyzed

Oxidation of Cyclohexane/Cyclohexanone Mixture with Oxygen as Alternative Method of Adipic Acid Synthesis

Herein, an alternative method for adipic acid (AA) synthesis of industrial importance has been reported. The proposed novel method involves the one-step, solvent-free oxidation of a cyclohexane/cyclohexanone (CH/CH=O) mixture, with a cheap oxidizing agent such as O2 or air under mild conditions in the presence of N-hydroxyphtalimide (NHPI) and transition metals as catalysts. It has been showed that CH/CH=O mixture under applied mild conditions oxidized faster than CH and CH=O separately. This was due to the greater oxidizability of CH=O compared to CH. The peroxyl radicals formed by CH=O oxidation initiated the oxidation of the less reactive CH. Additionally, CH=O increased the polarity of the reaction mixture, promoting the solubility of NHPI. The influence of type and amount of catalyst, cyclohexane to cyclohexanone ratio, temperature, time, type of oxidizing agent on the composition of CH/CH=O oxidation products have been reported

Remote opportunities for scholars in Ukraine

Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine has destroyed civilian infrastructure, including universities, research centers, and other academic infrastructure (1). Many Ukrainian scholars and researchers remain in Ukraine, and their work has suffered from major setbacks (2–4). We call on international scientists and institutions to support them

Scientists without borders: Lessons from Ukraine

Conflicts and natural disasters affect entire populations of the countries involved and, in addition to the thousands of lives destroyed, have a substantial negative impact on the scientific advances these countries provide. The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are just a few examples. Millions of people have been killed or displaced, their futures uncertain. These events have resulted in extensive infrastructure collapse, with loss of electricity, transportation, and access to services. Schools, universities, and research centers have been destroyed along with decades’ worth of data, samples, and findings. Scholars in disaster areas face short- and long-term problems in terms of what they can accomplish now for obtaining grants and for employment in the long run. In our interconnected world, conflicts and disasters are no longer a local problem but have wide-ranging impacts on the entire world, both now and in the future. Here, we focus on the current and ongoing impact of war on the scientific community within Ukraine and from this draw lessons that can be applied to all affected countries where scientists at risk are facing hardship. We present and classify examples of effective and feasible mechanisms used to support researchers in countries facing hardship and discuss how these can be implemented with help from the international scientific community and what more is desperately needed. Reaching out, providing accessible training opportunities, and developing collaborations should increase inclusion and connectivity, support scientific advancements within affected communities, and expedite postwar and disaster recovery

Antidotes in Clinical Toxicology—Critical Review

Poisoning and overdose are very important aspects in medicine and toxicology. Chemical weapons pose a threat to civilians, and emergency medicine principles must be followed when dealing with patients who have been poisoned or overdosed. Antidotes have been used for centuries and modern research has led to the development of new antidotes that can accelerate the elimination of toxins from the body. Although some antidotes have become less relevant due to modern intensive care techniques, they can still save lives or reduce the severity of toxicity. The availability of antidotes is crucial, especially in developing countries where intensive care facilities may be limited. This article aims to provide information on specific antidotes, their recommended uses, and potential risks and new uses. In the case of poisoning, supportive therapies are most often used; however, in many cases, the administration of an appropriate antidote saves the patient’s life. In this review, we reviewed the literature on selected antidotes used in the treatment of poisonings. We also characterised the antidotes (bio)chemically. We described the cases in which they are used together with the dosage recommendations. We also analysed the mechanisms of action. In addition, we described alternative methods of using a given substance as a drug, an example of which is N-acetylcysteine, which can be used in the treatment of COVID-19. This article was written as part of the implementation of the project of the Polish Ministry of Education and Science, “Toxicovigilance, poisoning prevention, and first aid in poisoning with xenobiotics of current clinical importance in Poland”, grant number SKN/SP/570184/2023