Vanessa Sosa

Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable

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Pablo Zunino

Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable

Geraldine Schlapp

Institut Pasteur de Montevideo

Duncan J. Maskell

University of Melbourne

Andrew G. Allen

University of Melbourne

Andrew Preston

University of Bath

Ana Umpiérrez

Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable

Umberto Galvalisi

Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable

Sofía Acquistapace

Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable

Paola Scavone

Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable

Rafael Pellegrino

Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable

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Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable

Ministerio de Educación y Cultura

Universidad de la República

University of Cambridge

Universidad Católica de Córdoba

Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

University of Melbourne

University of Guelph

Imperial College London

Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

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Proteus mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) are important for both bladder and kidney colonization in mice

Microbiology (2003)

Pablo Zunino Vanessa Sosa Andrew G. Allen Andrew Preston Geraldine Schlapp

Proteus mirabilis expresses different types of fimbriae simultaneously. Several fimbrial types have been described and their role in the colonization of the urinary tract is under study. Previously, P. mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) have been shown to be associated with bacterial colonization of the lower urinary tract but not of the kidneys. In this study, a pmfA mutant was generated and used in several in vivo and in vitro studies. Two different urinary tract infection models in the mouse and two in vitro assays of bacterial adhesion to uroepithelial cells were performed. Expression of PmfA in a collection of P. mirabilis strains of different sources was also assessed. The results shown here indicate that PMF are involved in both bladder and kidney colonization by P. mirabilis and that these fimbriae are widely distributed among P. mirabilis isolates from different origins since all strains tested expressed PmfA.

Proteus Infections

10.1099/mic.0.26534-0

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Citations (57)

Assessment of effectiveness and safety of Ibicella lutea extract in the control of experimental Proteus mirabilis urinary tract infection

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries (2010)

Vanessa Sosa Pablo Zunino

Introduction: Proteus mirabilis is an important cause of complicated urinary tract infections (UTI). Like many other microorganisms, P. mirabilis has acquired resistance to many antibiotics. Due to the serious effects associated with uropathogenic P. mirabilis and the problems related to the use of antibiotics, alternative strategies for its control must be developed. Previously, we studied the effect of Ibicella lutea extract, a South American indigenous plant, on in vitro uropathogenicity of P. mirabilis. We observed that I. lutea extract had an effect on various attributes associated with P. mirabilis urovirulence. The objective of this study was to assess I. lutea extract against UTI by P. mirabilis. Methodology: This study was based on the effect of I. lutea extract to prevent or treat P. mirabilis experimental UTI in mice and the influence of this administration on the normal intestinal flora. Also, we studied the toxicity, mutagenicity, and antimutagenicity of the extract. Results: In this study, while I. lutea administration showed an effect in the prevention and treatment of UTI in the mouse, the intestinal microflora did not change. The I. lutea extract was neither toxic nor mutagenic although the extract showed antimutagenic properties. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the administration of I. lutea extract could represent an interesting new strategy to control P. mirabilis UTI.

Flora

10.3855/jidc.1151

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Diversidad y distribución de genes de virulencia de M. bovis y M. bovoculi en la queratoconjuntivitis infecciosa bovina en Uruguay

Ana Umpiérrez Sofía Acquistapace Vanessa Sosa Patricia Acuña Eduardo Reolón

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Effect of Ibicella lutea on uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis growth, virulence, and biofilm formation

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries (2009)

Vanessa Sosa Pablo Zunino

Background: Proteus mirabilis, an important uropathogen that can cause complicated urinary tract infections (UTI), has emerged as a therapeutic problem following mutations that compromise the use of antimicrobial drugs. Due to the serious effects associated with uropathogenic P. mirabilis and the problems related to the use of antibiotics, it is necessary to develop alternative strategies for its control. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of Ibicella lutea extract, a South American indigenous plant, on growth, virulence and biofilm production of uropathogenic P. mirabilis. Methodology: This study was based on the extract generation and the assessment of its effect on bacterial features related to virulence. These assays involved determination of antibacterial activity, swarming motility, Western blot to assess expression of fimbriae and flagella, biofilms formation, haemagglutination, haemolysis, and electron microscopy. Results and Conclusions: I. lutea extract had an effect on bacterial growth rate and bacterial morphology. It also affected P. mirabilis swarming differentiation, hemagglutination and biofilm formation on glass and polystyrene. These findings suggest that I. lutea may have a role as an agent for the control of P. mirabilis UTI.

Swarming motility

Swarming (honey bee)

10.3855/jidc.232

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Citations (22)

Virulence genes in Moraxella spp. isolates from infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis cases

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries (2015)

Vanessa Sosa Ana Umpiérrez Sofía Acquistapace Pablo Zunino

Introduction: Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) is an important ocular disease which affects cattle worldwide. To advance towards IBK effective prevention and treatment strategies, it is important to define the distribution and genetic diversity of potential virulence factors present in M. bovis and M. bovoculi. The objective of this work was to identify and to analyze Moraxella spp. potential virulence factor genes in a collection of clinical isolates. Methodology: The presence and diversity of virulence factors in a collection of Moraxella spp. strains isolated since 1983 to 2009 in Uruguay was analyzed by PCR using primers for partial amplification of tolC, omp79, plb, fur and mbxA. The selection criterion of these genes was based on the fact that they encode virulence factors which could be present and conserved within strains, an important issue for the development of vaccines. Results: Differences in PCR amplification were observed within tolC (84%), omp79 (80%), plb (76%) and fur (44%) in M. bovis strains, whereas mbxA was amplified in all M. bovis and M. bovoculi strains. Regarding genetic diversity, the tolC nucleotide sequences were the less diverse within all M. bovis and mbxA were the less diverse within all M. bovis and M. bovoculi strains. Conclusions: PCR amplifications suggest the occurrence of differences between both Moraxella species, related to evaluated genes within Moraxella spp. strains and suggests that both species may have different pathogenic attributes. MbxA and the outer membrane protein TolC might be considered for future studies to develop new vaccines against IBK.

Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis

Keratoconjunctivitis

10.3855/jidc.6222

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The Use of the Ames Test as a Tool for Addressing Problem-Based Learning in the Microbiology Lab

Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education (2012)

Eliana Rodríguez Claudia Piccini Vanessa Sosa Pablo Zunino

Our environment is full of potential carcinogens such as UV light, industrial pollutants, pesticides, and food additives, among others. It is estimated that 90% of all carcinogens are also mutagens. The Ames test is one of the most common tests for mutagens. In this problem-based learning activity, undergraduate biology students used the Ames test to screen a substance they provided, to see if it could be considered a mutagen. The idea of surveying substances used in everyday life appealed to our students, and helped engage them in this activity.

Ames test

10.1128/jmbe.v13i2.421

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Citations (8)

New aspects of the role of MR/P fimbriae inProteus mirabilisurinary tract infection

FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology (2001)

Pablo Zunino Liliana Geymonat Andrew G. Allen Andrew Preston Vanessa Sosa

Proteus mirabilis, a common cause of urinary tract infection (UTI), produces a number of different fimbriae including mannose-resistant Proteus-like fimbriae (MR/P). The precise role of different P. mirabilis fimbriae in ascending UTI has not yet been elucidated. In this study, a clinical isolate of P. mirabilis and an isogenic mutant unable to express MR/P were tested using different experimental approaches. They were tested for their ability to cause infection in an ascending co-infection model of UTI and in a haematogenous model in the mouse. In both models, the mutant was less able than the wild-type strain to colonise the lower and upper urinary tracts although infectivity was not abolished. In vitro adherence to uroepithelial cells was also assessed. Significant differences in adherence between both strains were observed at 1 h but not at 15 min post infection. We have also shown that a wild-type strain carries two copies of the mrpA gene. These data reinforce the importance of MR/P fimbriae in P. mirabilis UTI although other virulence factors may be necessary for efficient colonisation and development of infection.

Infectivity

Proteus Infections

10.1111/j.1574-695x.2001.tb00507.x

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Citations (39)

Molecular and phenotypic analysis of Moraxella spp. associated with infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis in Uruguay

The Veterinary Journal (2012)

Vanessa Sosa Pablo Zunino

Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis

Dendrogram

Homology

Keratoconjunctivitis

10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.01.011

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Citations (6)

Proteus mirabilis isolates of different origins do not show correlation with virulence attributes and can colonize the urinary tract of mice

Microbiology (2006)

Vanessa Sosa Geraldine Schlapp Pablo Zunino

Proteus mirabilis has been described as an aetiological agent in a wide range of infections, playing an important role in urinary tract infections (UTIs). In this study, a collection of P. mirabilis isolates obtained from clinical and non-clinical sources was analysed in order to determine a possible correlation between origin, virulence factors and in vivo infectivity. Isolates were characterized in vitro, assessing several virulence properties that had been previously associated with P. mirabilis uropathogenicity. Swarming motility, urease production, growth in urine, outer-membrane protein patterns, ability to grow in the presence of different iron sources, haemolysin and haemagglutinin production, and the presence and expression of diverse fimbrial genes, were analysed. In order to evaluate the infectivity of the different isolates, the experimental ascending UTI model in mice was used. Additionally, the Dienes test and the enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR assay were performed to assess the genetic diversity of the isolates. The results of the present study did not show any correlation between distribution of the diverse potential urovirulence factors and isolate source. No significant correlation was observed between infectivity and the origin of the isolates, since they all similarly colonized the urinary tract of the challenged mice. Finally, all isolates showed unique ERIC-PCR patterns, indicating that the isolates were genetically diverse. The results obtained in this study suggest that the source of P. mirabilis strains cannot be correlated with pathogenic attributes, and that the distribution of virulence factors between isolates of different origins may correspond to the opportunistic nature of the organism.

Infectivity

Hemolysin

Swarming motility

Swarming (honey bee)

10.1099/mic.0.28846-0

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Citations (48)

Mucosal vaccination of mice with recombinant Proteus mirabilis structural fimbrial proteins

Microbes and Infection (2004)

Paola Scavone Vanessa Sosa Rafael Pellegrino Umberto Galvalisi Pablo Zunino

10.1016/j.micinf.2004.04.006

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Citations (41)