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Bacterial slime helps cause serious disease
May 05, 2008Leptospirosis is a serious but neglected emerging disease that infects humans through contaminated water. Now research published in the May issue of the journal Microbiology shows for the first time how bacteria that cause the disease survive in the environment.
Leptospirosis is a major public health problem in South East Asia and South America, with over 500,000 severe cases every year. Between 5% and 20% of these cases are fatal. Rats and other mammals carry the disease-causing pathogen Leptospira interrogans in their kidneys. When they urinate, they contaminate surface water with the bacteria, which can survive in the environment for long periods.
"This led us to see if the bacteria build a protective casing around themselves for protection," said Professor Mathieu Picardeau from the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France. Previously, scientists believed the bacteria were 'planktonic', living freely in the water. But Professor Picardeau and his team have shown that L. interrogans can make biofilms, which could be one of the main factors controlling survival and disease transmission.
Many different bacteria make biofilms, which protect them against harsh conditions and make them more resistant to antibiotics. They do this by producing a slime, in which the colony can grow unharmed. "90% of the species of Leptospira we tested could form biofilms. It takes L. interrogans an average of 20 days to make a biofilm," said Professor Picardeau.
This ability may contribute to the long-term survival of the bacteria in environmental water and even help them cause disease in humans. Biofilm formation might also play an important role in keeping the bacteria alive in the kidneys of animals such as rats without causing disease.
"This finding is a step forward in our understanding of Leptospirosis. We now need to study the mechanism of biofilm formation in both fresh water and renal tubules in animal kidneys," said Professor Picardeau. "We hope our research will lead to the identification of new strategies to diagnose and prevent this neglected emerging disease."
Society for General Microbiology
Many different bacteria make biofilms, which protect them against harsh conditions and make them more resistant to antibiotics. They do this by producing a slime, in which the colony can grow unharmed. "90% of the species of Leptospira we tested could form biofilms. It takes L. interrogans an average of 20 days to make a biofilm," said Professor Picardeau.
This ability may contribute to the long-term survival of the bacteria in environmental water and even help them cause disease in humans. Biofilm formation might also play an important role in keeping the bacteria alive in the kidneys of animals such as rats without causing disease.
"This finding is a step forward in our understanding of Leptospirosis. We now need to study the mechanism of biofilm formation in both fresh water and renal tubules in animal kidneys," said Professor Picardeau. "We hope our research will lead to the identification of new strategies to diagnose and prevent this neglected emerging disease."
Society for General Microbiology
The Marine Mammal Center begins new leptospirosis study in California
The Marine Mammal Center is seeing a large number of leptospirosis cases in California sea lions this year and is leading a study to determine when and why the sea lions contract this disease.
Researchers track Lyme disease spirochetes
Microbiologists at the University of Calgary have demonstrated the first direct visualization of the dissemination of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
Urban slum conditions are a source of leptospirosis
A study conducted in an urban slum setting in Salvador, Brazil has found that open sewers, accumulations of refuse, and inadequate floodwater drainage are acting as sources for transmission of the disease leptospirosis. The study is published in this week's PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Poor Americans in the United States suffer hidden burden of parasitic and other neglected diseases
Large numbers of the poorest Americans living in the United States are suffering from some of the same parasitic infections that affect the poor in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, says the Editor-in-Chief of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Hurricane aftermath: Infectious disease threats from common, not exotic, diseases
In the wake of Katrina, the public health threats from infectious diseases in hurricane-devastated areas are more likely to come from milder, more common infections rather than exotic diseases. These common infections can often be prevented using simple hygiene measures and a little common sense.
More Leptospirosis Current Events and Leptospirosis News Articles
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Leptospirosis Medical Guide by Qontro Medical Guides (Author) The Leptospirosis Medical Guide is a publication which has been designed to better help readers understand Leptospirosis. This Qontro Medical Guide has been designed with the reader in mind, and is a useful information source for readers at all levels looking to learn more about Leptospirosis. The Leptospirosis Medical Guide is highly recommended for those interested in understanding and learning more about Leptospirosis. |
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Leptospirosis: Webster's Timeline History, 1886 - 2007 by Icon Group International (Author) Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Leptospirosis," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Leptospirosis in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Leptospirosis when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social... |
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Lepto Vax 4 (25 doses) by Fort Dodge The number of canine leptospirosis cases has risen dramatically in recent years, impacting urban and rural dogs. Leptospirosis is a potentially life-threatening disease, and is now the number one infectious cause of acute renal failure in dogs. Leptospirosis may pose a zoonotic (transmissible) risk to owners. |
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Zoophilia and health: Zoophilia, Zoonosis, Leptospirosis, Brucellosis, Q fever, Rabies, Dipylidium caninum, Echinococcosis, Campylobacter by John McBrewster (Editor), Frederic P. Miller (Editor), Agnes F. Vandome (Editor) Zoophilia and health - Zoophilia, Zoonosis, Leptospirosis, Brucellosis, Q fever, Rabies, Dipylidium caninum, Echinococcosis, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidiosis, Cysticercosis, Giardia, Salmonella, Toxocariasis, Henipavirus, Pasteurella, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, Allergy, Anaphylaxis, Dog attack, Zoosexuality and the law, Zoosexuality, Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia |
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Leptospira & Leptospirosis by Solomon Faine (Author) This text provides an interdisciplinary account of the bacteria Leptospira and their relatives. It covers current knowledge of basic microbiology, genetics, classification and special features of manipulation of these unique bacteria. Faine discusses pathogenesis, immunity, epidemiology and prevention in humans and animals. Special methods for studying leptospirosis or leptospires are presented, and an historical section featuring previously unpublished material is included. Each of the integrated sections is complete, independent and fully referenced. | |
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Leptospirosis during dengue outbreak, Bangladesh.(DISPATCHES): An article from: Emerging Infectious Diseases by Regina C. LaRocque (Author), Robert F. Breiman (Author), Mary D. Ari (Author), Roger E. Morey (Author), Firdous Ara Janan (Author), John Mosely Hayes (Author), M. Anowar Hossain (Author), W. Abdullah Brooks (Author), Paul N. Levett (Author) This digital document is an article from Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases on May 1, 2005. The length of the article is 2715 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Leptospirosis during dengue outbreak, Bangladesh.(DISPATCHES) Author: Regina C. LaRocque Publication: Emerging Infectious Diseases (Refereed) Date: May 1, 2005 Publisher: U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases Volume: 11 Issue: 5 Page: 766(4) Distributed by Thomson... | |
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Murine typhus and leptospirosis as causes of acute undifferentiated fever, Indonesia.(DISPATCHES)(Report): An article from: Emerging Infectious Diseases by M. Hussein Gasem (Author), Jiri F.P. Wagenaar (Author), Marga G.A. Goris (Author), Mateus S. Adi (Author), Bambang B. Isbandrio (Author), Rudy A. Hartskeerl (Author), Jean-Marc Rolain (Author), Didier Raoult (Author), Eric C.M. van Gorp (Author) This digital document is an article from Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases on June 1, 2009. The length of the article is 2051 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Murine typhus and leptospirosis as causes of acute undifferentiated fever, Indonesia.(DISPATCHES)(Report) Author: M. Hussein Gasem Publication: Emerging Infectious Diseases (Magazine/Journal) Date: June 1, 2009 Publisher: U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases Volume: 15 Issue: 6 Page: 975(3) Article Type: Report Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage... | |
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Leptospirosis in Germany, 1962-2003.(RESEARCH): An article from: Emerging Infectious Diseases by Andreas Jansen (Author), Irene Schoneberg (Author), Christina Frank (Author), Katharina Alpers (Author), Thomas Schneider (Author), Klaus Stark (Author) This digital document is an article from Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases on July 1, 2005. The length of the article is 4900 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Leptospirosis in Germany, 1962-2003.(RESEARCH) Author: Andreas Jansen Publication: Emerging Infectious Diseases (Magazine/Journal) Date: July 1, 2005 Publisher: U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases Volume: 11 Issue: 7 Page: 1048(7) Distributed by Thomson... | |
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In limbo with lepto: a new substrain of leptospirosis might leave your herd vulnerable to infection.: An article from: Dairy Today by Jim Dickrell (Author) This digital document is an article from Dairy Today, published by Farm Journal Media on February 1, 2003. The length of the article is 580 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: In limbo with lepto: a new substrain of leptospirosis might leave your herd vulnerable to infection. Author: Jim Dickrell Publication: Dairy Today (Magazine/Journal) Date: February 1, 2003 Publisher: Farm Journal Media Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Page: 16 Distributed by Thomson... | |
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Leptospirosis: Very Common But Often Misdiagnosed.(Brief Article): An article from: Family Practice News by Barbara Baker (Author) This digital document is an article from Family Practice News, published by International Medical News Group on August 15, 1999. The length of the article is 1468 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Leptospirosis: Very Common But Often Misdiagnosed.(Brief Article) Author: Barbara Baker Publication: Family Practice News (Magazine/Journal) Date: August 15, 1999 Publisher: International Medical News Group Volume: 29 Issue: 16 Page: 17 Article Type: Brief Article Distributed by Thomson... |
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