Infections caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter spp. have generated worldwide attention. With the increasing isolation of non-baumannii Acinetobacter, the nature of associated infection and resistance needs to be explored. This study aimed to analyse the characteristics of New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase-1 (NDM-1)-producing Acinetobacter haemolyticus (named sz1652) isolated from Shenzhen city, China. The antibiotic spectrum was analysed after antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Combined disk test (CDT) was used to detect the metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs). Transferability of carbapenem resistance was tested by filter mating experiments and plasmid transformation assays. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed using HiSeq 2000 and PacBio RS system. The Acinetobacter haemolyticus strain sz1652 was resistant to carbapenems and other tested agents except for amikacin, tigecycline and colistin. Production of MBLs was confirmed by CDT. Transfer of carbapenem resistance was unsuccessful. WGS analysis showed that the genome of sz1652 comprised a chromosome and two plasmids; 16 genomic islands (GIs) were predicted. Genes associated with resistance were found in this strain, including the beta-lactamase genes blaNDM-1, blaOXA-214 and blaLRA-18, the fluoroquinolone resistant-related mutations [GyrA subunits (Ser81Ile) and ParC subunits (Ser84Tyr)], and efflux pump genes related to tetracycline and macrolide resistance. Analysis of the genetic environment showed that blaNDM-1 was embedded in Tn125 transposon. The Tn125 structure was chromosomally located and shared > 99% sequence identity with the previously reported blaNDM-1 carrying region. The NDM-1-producing Acinetobacter haemolyticus coexisted with multiple drug-resistant determinants. The acquisition of the blaNDM-1 gene was probably facilitated by Tn125 in this strain. Non-Acinetobacter baumannii species also contained GIs.

Oseltamivir is a widely used influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor that prevents the release of new virus particles from host cells. However, oseltamivir-resistant strains have emerged, but effective drugs against them have not yet been developed. Elucidating the binding mechanisms between NA and oseltamivir may provide valuable information for the design of new drugs against NA mutants resistant to oseltamivir. Here, we conducted large-scale (353.4 μs) free-binding molecular dynamics simulations, together with a Markov State Model and an importance-sampling algorithm, to reveal the binding process of oseltamivir and NA. Ten metastable states and five major binding pathways were identified that validated and complemented previously discovered binding pathways, including the hypothesis that oseltamivir can be transferred from the secondary sialic acid binding site to the catalytic site. The discovery of multiple new metastable states, especially the stable bound state containing a water-mediated hydrogen bond between Arg118 and oseltamivir, may provide new insights into the improvement of NA inhibitors. We anticipated the findings presented here will facilitate the development of drugs capable of combating NA mutations.

Arsenic, a ubiquitous environmental toxicant with various forms and complex food matrix interactions, can reportedly exert differential effects on the liver compared to drinking water exposure. To examine its specific liver-related harms, we targeted the liver in C57BL/6 J mice (n=48, 8-week-old) fed with arsenic-contaminated food (30 mg/kg) for 60 days, mimicking the rice arsenic composition observed in real-world scenarios (iAs^V: 7.3%, iAs^III: 72.7%, MMA: 1.0%, DMA: 19.0%). We then comprehensively evaluated liver histopathology, metabolic changes, and the potential role of the gut-liver axis using human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and microbiota/metabolite analyses. Rice arsenic exposure significantly altered hepatic lipid (fatty acids, glycerol lipids, phospholipids, sphingolipids) and metabolite (glutathione, thioneine, spermidine, inosine, indole-derivatives, etc.) profiles, disrupting 33 metabolic pathways (bile secretion, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, ferroptosis, etc.). Pathological examination revealed liver cell necrosis/apoptosis, further confirmed by ferroptosis induction in HepG2 cells. Gut microbiome analysis showed enrichment of pathogenic bacteria linked to liver diseases and depletion of beneficial strains. Fecal primary and secondary bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, and branched-chain amino acids were also elevated. Importantly, mediation analysis revealed significant correlations between gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, and liver metabolic alterations, suggesting fecal metabolites may mediate the impact of gut microbiota and liver metabolic disorders. Gut microbiota and its metabolites may play significant roles in arsenic-induced gut-liver injuries. Overall, our findings demonstrate that rice arsenic exposure triggers oxidative stress, disrupts liver metabolism, and induces ferroptosis.

We fabricated a two-dimensional (2D) molecularly imprinted sol-gel thin film-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) for the rapid detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) by combining organosilanes and the template protein SEB on the surface of piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) Au-electrode by in-situ immobilization. The detection process was monitored by the QCM's frequency shift (Δf). The working range of this method was 1.0 × 10⁻¹–1.0 × 10³ µg/mL. The detection limit was 6.1 ng/mL, which was lower than that of the PQC immunosensor, and the detection period was within 0.5 h. The reproducibility of the imprinted film-coated QCM was satisfactory due to no significant statistical difference (P > 0.05) in the rapid detection of SEB between intra- and inter-batch. The selectivity of the imprinted sol-gel film showed that it could discriminate the template molecule from its analogues and other guest molecules. Compared with immunochip, the imprinted film-coated QCM is more advantageous in terms of simplicity, rapidity, low cost, and sensitivity. Moreover, in real sample analysis, the recoveries of this method were 89.4–106.63%, which can be considered a favorable and applicable method for the rapid determination of SEB in real samples.