title: The high PMNs phagocytosis resistance of enterococcal isolates from RTx patients.
abstract: Infections caused by opportunistic pathogens such as enterococci remain difficult to manage, especially in immunocompromised patients. Because of infections' limited symptoms in such patients the additional problems are to find proper diagnostic criteria and the management of infection. Here we aimed to compare the resistance of commensal enterococcal strains and RTx patients' isolates, to PMNs phagocytosis. Thirty-six enterococcal urine and faecal isolates from RTx patients and 17 faecal isolates from healthy volunteers were cultured in planktonic and biofilm forms in 37°C or 42°C. Another tested variable was the addition of immunosuppressant to the culture media. Bacterial cells were stained with fluorescent reporter (CFDA, PI) and incubated with PMNs. Results of phagocytosis were estimated as a mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of PMNs using flow cytometry. Commensal enterococci cultured in all abovementioned (37°C and 42°C/the addition of immunosuppressant) conditions were less resistant to phagocytosis compared to RTx isolates. Observed significant difference in phagocytosis resistance suggests that patients in immunosuppression are colonized with high risk strains which may lead to the development of infection.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Do Studzienki 38 Street, 80-227 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: Tomasz
authors: 0000-0002-1622-1807
authors: T
authors: Jarzembowski
authors: Department of Pathology and Experimental Rheumatology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 7 Street, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Daca
authors: Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 7 Street, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: Jacek M
authors: JM
authors: Witkowski
authors: Department of Pathology and Experimental Rheumatology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 7 Street, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Bryl
authors: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 7 Street, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: Bolesław
authors: B
authors: Rutkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology*