The evidence of association between sexually transmitted infection and prostatic inflammation in human prostate cancer (PCa) is limited. Here, we sought to examine the potential association of prostatic infection with the inflammatory environment and prostate carcinogenesis. We screened surgical and biopsy specimens from 45 patients with PCa against a panel of sexually transmitted infection-related organisms using polymerase chain reaction and examined the severity of intraprostatic inflammation by pathologic examination. Among tested organisms, the rate of Mycoplasma genitalium (Mg) infection was significantly different between the prostate cancer cohort and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) cohort (P = 0.03). Mg infection in the surgical specimens was associated with younger patients. The rate of extensive disease (pT2c–3b) was higher in Mg-positive patients than in Mg-negative patients (P = 0.027). No significant correlation was observed between Mg infection status and the grade of intraprostatic inflammation. The detection sensitivity of biopsy specimens was 61% for Mg and 60% for human papillomavirus (HPV)18, indicating possible clinical application of this material. A comprehensive understanding of the correlation between the urogenital microbiome and inflammation would facilitate the development of strategies for PCa prevention. Further studies are required to explore its clinical utility in recommendations of early re-biopsy, close follow-up, and treatment by antibiotics.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) cause severe health care-associated infections, and their increasing prevalence is a serious concern. Recently, natural ecosystems have been recognized as important reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes. We investigated the prevalence and genetic characteristics of CPE isolated from the environment (hospital sewage and river water) in the Philippines and found several CPE, including Escherichia coli and other species, with different carbapenemases. The most prevalent carbapenemase gene type was NDM, which is endemic in clinical settings. This study revealed that isolates belonging to carbapenemase-producing E. coli CC10 and K. pneumoniae sequence type 147 (ST147), which are often detected in clinical settings, were dominant in the natural environment. Our work here provides a report on the presence and characteristics of CPE in the environment in the Philippines and demonstrates that both hospital sewage and river water are contaminated by CPE strains belonging to clinically important clonal groups.

Photocatalysts are promising materials for solid-state antiviral coatings to protect against the spread of pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This paper reports that copper oxide nanoclusters grafted with titanium dioxide (Cu_xO/TiO₂) inactivated the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, including its Delta variant, even under dark condition, and further inactivated it under illumination with a white fluorescent bulb. To investigate its inactivation mechanism, the denaturation of spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 was examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition to spike proteins, fragmentation of ribonucleic acids in SARS-CoV-2 was investigated by real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). As a result, both spike proteins and RNAs in the SARS-CoV-2 virus were damaged by the Cu_xO/TiO₂ photocatalyst even under dark condition and were further damaged under white fluorescent bulb illumination. Based on the present antiviral mechanism, the Cu_xO/TiO₂ photocatalyst will be effective in inactivating other potential mutant strains of SARS-CoV-2. The Cu_xO/TiO₂ photocatalyst can thus be used to reduce the infectious risk of COVID-19 in an indoor environment, where light illumination is turned on during the day and off during the night.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae represent a serious public health threat worldwide. Carbapenemase genes, harbored on a transferable plasmid, have been isolated globally with distinct geographical features. Klebsiella pneumoniae, included in Enterobacteriaceae, also produces carbapenemase and often shows hypervirulence. Overlapping carbapenem resistance and hypervirulence in K. pneumoniae have been reported, but such strains have not yet been found in Japan. Here, we screened 104 carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates collected from 37 hospitals and outpatient clinics in Japan between September 2014 and July 2015. PCR and DNA sequencing demonstrated IMP-1 in 21 isolates and IMP-6 in 83 isolates, 77 of which coharbored CTX-M-2. Most of the isolates showed low MICs toward imipenem and meropenem but high MICs toward penicillin and cephalosporins. Conjugation experiments with an Escherichia coli J53 recipient showed that most of the plasmids in IMP-6 producers were transferable, whereas only one-half of the plasmids in IMP-1 producers were transferable. PCR-based replicon typing and multiplex PCR identified five isolates belonging to the CG258 non-tonB79 cluster and no isolate belonging to the CG258-tonB79 cluster or sequence type 307 (ST307). Four K1-ST23 isolates, 10 K2-ST65 isolates, and 7 K2-ST86 isolates were detected that harbored virulence genes. The resistance genes in 85 isolates were transferable, but the virulence genes were not transferred. These results demonstrate the acquisition of IMP-type carbapenemase genes and CTX-M-type genes among hypervirulence isolates in Japan, warranting further attention and countermeasures. In this study, we have determined the molecular characteristics and epidemiology of IMP-6 producers that coharbored various CTX-M genes in Japan. IMPORTANCE Carbapenems serve as a last resort for the clinical treatment of multidrug-resistant infections. Therefore, the rapid spread of carbapenemase-producing strains represents a serious public health threat, further limiting antibiotic choices. The current findings of hypervirulent carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates in Japan demonstrate the potential broad spread and transfer of these genes, necessitating close surveillance.

To provide data on the molecular characteristics of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates in Japan. A total of 100 clinical isolates of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae collected throughout Japan between June and July 2018 were studied. ESBL genes were analyzed using PCR and DNA sequencing. Transferability of ESBL genes was investigated by conjugation experiments. Plasmid replicon types, virulence genes (rmpA, rmpA2, iucA, iroB, and peg-344) associated with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp), and capsule types were detected using PCR. Genotyping was performed using multilocus sequence typing. All ESBL-producing isolates carried bla_CTX-M genes. The most predominant CTX-M-type identified was CTX-M-15 (n=55). We identified 24 sequence types (STs) among the CTX-M-15 producers, with ST25 (n=8) being the most common. Most of the transconjugants carrying bla_CTX-M-15 contained the FIIk replicon. Of the 100 ESBL-producing isolates, 31 were hvKp defined by the presence of the virulence genes. These ESBL-producing hvKp isolates belonged to eight STs (STs 23, 25, 36, 65, 86, 268, 412, and 4492), with five capsule types (K1, K2, K20, K57, and undefined). CTX-M-15 was the predominant ESBL among K. pneumoniae isolates from Japan. This study shows that ESBL-producing hvKp strains comprising various clones are emerging in Japan.

An ozone-assisted photocatalytic water-purification unit using a TiO₂ modified titanium-mesh sheet (TMiP) was investigated. Significant decomposition of biological and chemical contaminants has been achieved by highly active intermediates formed by catalytic decomposition and photocatalysis.