OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in atherosclerotic plaques. DESIGN 31 coronary atherosclerotic plaque specimens were studied by immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and reverse transcription PCR for the presence of C pneumoniae antigen and genomic DNA, and of MMP-9 protein and transcripts. RESULTS...

Rapid and accurate identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae is important for appropriate and prudent antimicrobial use in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infection. It is difficult to separate S. pneumoniae from commensal viridans group streptococci either by classical techniques or molecular methods. Aim of this study was to compare a commercially available multiplex PCR assay Seepl...

During a 30-month prospective study in The Netherlands, the distribution of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and respiratory viruses among 1172 patients with acute respiratory infection (ARI) who were treated in the outpatient general practitioner setting was studied. M. pneumoniae, as detected by polymerase chain reaction analysis, was present in 39 (3.3%) patients. The infection rate was similar in all ...

1. Hammerschlag MR. Chlamydia pneumoniae and asthma in children. Clin Infect Dis 2004; 38:1251–2. 2. Biscardi S, Lorrot M, Marc E, et al. Mycoplasma pneumoniae and asthma in children. Clin Infect Dis 2004; 38:1341–6. 3. Chlamydia Professional. Available at http:// www.chlamydiae.com. Accessed on 23 September 2004. 4. Freymuth F, Vabret A, Brouard J, et al. Detection of viral, Chlamydia pneumoni...

The seroprevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in hantavirus seronegative patients, who had symptoms and signs compatible with pneumonia was established. For this purpose we used the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Titers > or = 1:16 for C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae were found in 8.6% and 17.1% of the serum, respectively, showing evidence of recent or current infect...

Macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae plays an important role in refractory M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Here, we present the whole-genome sequencing of the macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae strain S355. The annotated full-genome sequence might provide a new insight into drug resistance in M. pneumoniae and can help pediatricians recognize the disease earlier.

Chlamydia pneumoniae has been implicated as a cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in several studies. However, there has been no comprehensive study of the role of Chlamydia species (C. pneumoniae, C. psittaci (avian and feline strains) and C. pecorum) as a cause of CAP. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of C. pneumoniae, C. psittaci and C. pecorum as causes of CAP....

The obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae is known to be associated with some chronic inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Interaction between C. pneumoniae and immune cells is important in the development of such diseases. However, susceptibility of immune cells, particularly lymphocytes, to C. pneumoniae infection has not been reported, even though ly...

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), a commensal across the nasal passages, is responsible for the majority of infectious pneumonia cases worldwide. Previous studies have shown that hormonal factors may be influential in regulating S. pneumoniae's transition from a non-pathogen to a pathogenic state. The current study investigated the effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), a pep...

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a wide-spread nosocomial pathogen. A rapid and sensitive molecular method for the detection of K. pneumoniae in clinical samples is needed to guide therapeutic treatment. In this study, we first described a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for the rapid detection of capsular polysaccharide synthesis regulating gene rcsA from K. pneumoniaein clinical ...