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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Ocular Infections and Microbiota in Health and Disease
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Ocular Infections and Microbiota in Health and Disease

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 19978

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marilena Galdiero

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Naples, Italy
Interests: ophthalmology; ocular infection; Candida albicans; fungal biofilms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Nicola Rosa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, “Scuola Medica Salernitana” University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
Interests: ophthalmology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The ocular surface microbiome is composed of bacteria such as coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Corynebacterium spp., but also viruses, fungi and sometimes protozoa. The normal microbiota plays a protective immunological role in defending against the proliferation of pathogenic species . The disruption of the normal ocular surface microbiota may play a significant role as a cofactor in the pathogenesis of ophthalmic diseases. The ocular surface microbiota can be altered by several environmental influences and pathological states including dry eye syndrome, contact lens wear, keratoprosthesis, antibiotics, and infection.

Focus:

With this Special Issue, we would like to present readers with the state-of-the-art in the field of ocular infections and microbiota health and disesase. We invite experts to contribute thier original research, whether basic or clinical, on microbiota and eye infection to this Special Issue. Authors can also submit review articles describing the evolution of scientific discoveries for relationships between the microbiome and eye disease.

Prof. Marilena Galdiero
Prof. Nicola Rosa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • infection
  • microbiome
  • microbiota
  • ocular surface
  • ophthalmic disease
  • ophthalmology
  • bacterial pathogenesis

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 2572 KiB  
Article
Characterization and Comparison of Ocular Surface Microbiome in Newborns
by Francesco Petrillo, Arianna Petrillo, Maddalena Marrapodi, Carlo Capristo, Maria Francesca Gicchino, Paolo Montaldo, Elisabetta Caredda, Michele Reibaldi, Lara M. V. Boatti, Federica Dell’Annunziata, Veronica Folliero and Marilena Galdiero
Microorganisms 2022, 10(7), 1390; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071390 - 10 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2429
Abstract
The ocular microbiome is of fundamental importance for immune eye homeostasis, and its alteration would lead to an impairment of ocular functionality. Little evidence is reported on the composition of the ocular microbiota of term infants and on the impact of antibiotic prophylaxis. [...] Read more.
The ocular microbiome is of fundamental importance for immune eye homeostasis, and its alteration would lead to an impairment of ocular functionality. Little evidence is reported on the composition of the ocular microbiota of term infants and on the impact of antibiotic prophylaxis. Methods: A total of 20 conjunctival swabs were collected from newborns at birth and after antibiotic treatment. Samples were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing via system MiSeq Illumina. The data were processed with the MicrobAT software and statistical analysis were performed using two-way ANOVA. Results: Antibiotic prophylaxis with gentamicin altered the composition of the microbiota. In detail, a 1.5- and 2.01-fold reduction was recorded for Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) and Massilia timonae (M. timonae), respectively, whereas an increase in Staphylococcus spp. of 6.5 times occurred after antibiotic exposure. Conclusions: Antibiotic prophylaxis altered the ocular microbiota whose understanding could avoid adverse effects on eye health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Infections and Microbiota in Health and Disease)
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16 pages, 1496 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Pathogenic Potential of Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Eye Infections
by Pedro Henrique Soares Nunes, Tiago Barcelos Valiatti, Ana Carolina de Mello Santos, Júllia Assis da Silva Nascimento, José Francisco Santos-Neto, Talita Trevizani Rocchetti, Maria Cecilia Zorat Yu, Ana Luisa Hofling-Lima and Tânia Aparecida Tardelli Gomes
Microorganisms 2022, 10(6), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10061084 - 25 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2983
Abstract
While primarily Gram-positive bacteria cause bacterial eye infections, several Gram-negative species also pose eye health risks. Currently, few studies have tried to understand the pathogenic mechanisms involved in E. coli eye infections. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the pathogenic potential of E. [...] Read more.
While primarily Gram-positive bacteria cause bacterial eye infections, several Gram-negative species also pose eye health risks. Currently, few studies have tried to understand the pathogenic mechanisms involved in E. coli eye infections. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the pathogenic potential of E. coli strains isolated from eye infections. Twenty-two strains isolated between 2005 and 2019 from patients with keratitis or conjunctivitis were included and submitted to traditional polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to define their virulence profile, phylogeny, clonal relationship, and sequence type (ST). Phenotypic assays were employed to determine hemolytic activity, antimicrobial susceptibility, and adhesion to human primary corneal epithelial cells (PCS-700-010). The phylogenetic results indicated that groups B2 and ST131 were the most frequent. Twenty-five virulence genes were found among our strains, with ecp, sitA, fimA, and fyuA being the most prevalent. Two strains presented a hemolytic phenotype, and resistance to ciprofloxacin and ertapenem was found in six strains and one strain, respectively. Regarding adherence, all but one strains adhered in vitro to corneal cells. Our results indicate significant genetic and virulence variation among ocular strains and point to an ocular pathogenic potential related to multiple virulence mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Infections and Microbiota in Health and Disease)
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8 pages, 2286 KiB  
Article
Ocular Surface Infection by SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 Pneumonia Patients Admitted to Sub-Intensive Unit: Preliminary Results
by Mario Troisi, Carla Zannella, Salvatore Troisi, Maddalena De Bernardo, Massimiliano Galdiero, Gianluigi Franci and Nicola Rosa
Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020347 - 2 Feb 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2282
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to check the relationship between virus detection on the conjunctival swabs by RT-PCR and the systemic and ocular clinical data, treatments, and to the modalities of administration of supplemental oxygen. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA reverse-transcriptase PCR assay [...] Read more.
The aim of the present study is to check the relationship between virus detection on the conjunctival swabs by RT-PCR and the systemic and ocular clinical data, treatments, and to the modalities of administration of supplemental oxygen. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA reverse-transcriptase PCR assay of conjunctival brushing samples and the corneal/conjunctival clinical findings were evaluated in 18 eyes of 9 consecutive patients admitted to the COVID-19 Sub-intensive Unit of Salerno Hospital University, Italy. Conjunctival swabs were positive for SARS-CoV-2 in 13 eyes of 7 patients; corneal epithelial defects were detected in 9 eyes. The seven patients with ocular involvement from SARS-CoV-2 had undergone treatment with a full-face mask or oxygen helmet in the last week, while the two subjects with negative conjunctival swabs had been treated with high flow nasal cannula. The positivity to the conjunctival test for SARS-CoV-2 was higher (72%) than that reported in the literature (10–15%) and related in all cases to the use of facial respiratory devices. These results suggest that exposure of unprotected eyes to aerosols containing high concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 could cause a keratoconjunctival viral infection. Further studies are needed to verify the causal link with the use of respiratory facial devices in patients suffering from COVID-19 pneumonia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Infections and Microbiota in Health and Disease)
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14 pages, 1978 KiB  
Article
Infection of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells with Dengue Virus Strains Isolated during Outbreaks in Singapore
by Liam M. Ashander, Amanda L. Lumsden, Abby C. Dawson, Yuefang Ma, Lisia B. Ferreira, Genevieve F. Oliver, Binoy Appukuttan, Jillian M. Carr and Justine R. Smith
Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020310 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2661
Abstract
Prevalence of dengue retinopathy varies across epidemics, with the disease linked to circulation of dengue virus serotype 1 (DENV-1). The retinal pigment epithelium has been implicated in the pathology. We investigated infectivity, molecular response, and barrier function of epithelial cells inoculated with DENV [...] Read more.
Prevalence of dengue retinopathy varies across epidemics, with the disease linked to circulation of dengue virus serotype 1 (DENV-1). The retinal pigment epithelium has been implicated in the pathology. We investigated infectivity, molecular response, and barrier function of epithelial cells inoculated with DENV strains from different outbreaks in Singapore. Monolayers of human retinal pigment epithelial cells (multiple primary cell isolates and the ARPE-19 cell line) were inoculated with six DENV strains, at multiplicity of infection of 10; uninfected and recombinant strain-infected controls were included where relevant. Infectivity and cell response were assessed primarily by RT-qPCR on total cellular RNA, and barrier function was evaluated as electrical resistance across monolayers. Higher viral RNA loads were measured in human retinal pigment epithelial cells infected with DENV-1 strains from the 2005 Singapore epidemic, when retinopathy was prevalent, versus DENV-1 strains from the 2007 Singapore epidemic, when retinopathy was not observed. Type I interferon (IFN) transcripts (IFN-β and multiple IFN-stimulated genes) were up-regulated, and impact on barrier function was more pronounced, for cells infected with DENV-1 strains from the 2005 versus the 2007 Singapore epidemics. Aside from serotype, strain of DENV may determine the potential to induce retinal pathology. Identification of molecular markers of disease-associated DENV strains may provide insights into the pathogenesis of dengue retinopathy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Infections and Microbiota in Health and Disease)
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10 pages, 2166 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Efficacy of Contact Lens Solutions Assessed by ISO Standards
by Cindy McAnally, Rhonda Walters, Allison Campolo, Valerie Harris, Jamie King, Megan Thomas, Manal M Gabriel, Paul Shannon and Monica Crary
Microorganisms 2021, 9(10), 2173; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9102173 - 19 Oct 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3152
Abstract
Microbial keratitis (MK) is an eye infection caused by opportunistic bacteria or fungi, which may lead to sight-threatening corneal ulcers. These microorganisms can be introduced to the eye via improper contact lens usage or hygiene, or ineffective multipurpose solutions (MPSs) to disinfect daily [...] Read more.
Microbial keratitis (MK) is an eye infection caused by opportunistic bacteria or fungi, which may lead to sight-threatening corneal ulcers. These microorganisms can be introduced to the eye via improper contact lens usage or hygiene, or ineffective multipurpose solutions (MPSs) to disinfect daily wear contact lenses. Thus, the patient’s choice and use of these MPSs is a known risk factor for the development of MK. It is then critical to determine the efficacy of popular MPSs against ubiquitous ocular microorganisms. Therefore, we compare the efficacy of nine major MPSs on the global market against four different microorganism species, and with four different common contact lenses. In accordance with International Standards Organization protocol 14729 and 18259, the microorganisms were inoculated into each MPS with and without contact lenses, and held for the manufacturer’s disinfection time, 24 h, and 7 days after challenge with Serratia marcescens or Fusarium spp. Plates were incubated for 2–7 days and plate counts were conducted to determine the number of surviving microorganisms. The majority of MPSs demonstrated significantly higher disinfection efficacies without contact lenses. Broadly, among the microorganisms tested, the OPTI-FREE products (Puremoist, Express, and Replenish) maintained the highest disinfection efficacies at the manufacturer’s stated disinfection time when paired with any contact lens, compared with other MPSs. These were followed closely by RevitaLens and renu Advanced. MPSs containing dual biocides polyquaternium-1 and myristamidopropyl dimethylamine possessed the highest disinfection efficacy against multiple ocular pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Infections and Microbiota in Health and Disease)
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7 pages, 246 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Susceptibility, Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations, and Clinical Profiles of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Endophthalmitis
by Ming-Chih Ho, Ching-Hsi Hsiao, Ming-Hui Sun, Yih-Shiou Hwang, Chi-Chun Lai, Wei-Chi Wu and Kuan-Jen Chen
Microorganisms 2021, 9(9), 1840; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9091840 - 30 Aug 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2360
Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has been reported in various ocular infections, including keratitis, conjunctivitis, preseptal cellulitis, and endophthalmitis, all of which may lead to vision loss. However, the S. maltophilia strain is resistant to a wide variety of antibiotics, including penicillins, third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and [...] Read more.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has been reported in various ocular infections, including keratitis, conjunctivitis, preseptal cellulitis, and endophthalmitis, all of which may lead to vision loss. However, the S. maltophilia strain is resistant to a wide variety of antibiotics, including penicillins, third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and imipenem. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics, antibiotic susceptibility, antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and visual outcomes for S. maltophilia endophthalmitis. The data of 9 patients with positive S. maltophilia cultures in a tertiary referral center from 2010 to 2019 were reviewed. Cataract surgery (n  =  8, 89%) was the most common etiology, followed by intravitreal injection (n  =  1, 11%). S. maltophilia’s susceptibility to levofloxacin and moxifloxacin was observed in 6 cases (67%). Seven isolates were resistant to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (78%). The MIC90 for S. maltophilia was 256, 256, 256, 8, 12, 12, 12, and 8 μg/mL for amikacin, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, tigecycline, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, levofloxacin, galtifloxacin, and moxifloxacin, respectively. Final visual acuity was 20/200 or better in 5 patients (56%). Fluoroquinolones and tigecycline exhibited low antibiotic MIC90. Therefore, the results suggest that fluoroquinolones can be used as first-line antibiotics for S. maltophilia endophthalmitis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Infections and Microbiota in Health and Disease)
11 pages, 2461 KiB  
Article
Inhibitory Effect of Ophthalmic Solutions against SARS-CoV-2: A Preventive Action to Block the Viral Transmission?
by Francesco Petrillo, Annalisa Chianese, Maddalena De Bernardo, Carla Zannella, Marilena Galdiero, Michele Reibaldi, Teresio Avitabile, Giovanni Boccia, Massimiliano Galdiero, Nicola Rosa and Gianluigi Franci
Microorganisms 2021, 9(8), 1550; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9081550 - 21 Jul 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2698
Abstract
In 2020, a global pandemic was declared following the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19. The risk of infection is high due to the ease of transmission, which can occur orally, through droplets, or via contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. [...] Read more.
In 2020, a global pandemic was declared following the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19. The risk of infection is high due to the ease of transmission, which can occur orally, through droplets, or via contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. It has also been demonstrated that the ocular surface can constitute a transmission route, especially in hospital settings, where health care workers can become a dangerous source of infection. In order to increase prevention and reduce the spread of the virus on the ocular surface, the antiviral activity of already-marketed eye drops against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated. Iodim, Ozodrop, Septavis, and Dropsept were tested against SARS-CoV-2 in plaque-assay experiments at different stimulation times. Furthermore, the expression levels of early and late genes were evaluated through molecular assays. Results indicated that three of the four ophthalmic solutions showed a considerable dose-dependent inhibition of viral replication, highlighting their use as potential antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 and preventing other ocular infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Infections and Microbiota in Health and Disease)
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