Author Interviews, Infections / 05.02.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Prof. Vishnu Chaturvedi, Ph.D., HCLD Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology New York Medical College Department of Pathology, Westchester Medical Center Valhalla, New York, MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? How does Candida auris differ from Candida albicans, ie in clinical presentation or treatment?    
  1. Candida aurisis a newly discovered yeast that is considered a global health threat by the CDC and WHO. The sudden emergence and rapid spread of this multidrug-resistant pathogen is being explained by several published hypotheses. These include global warming, salt water tolerance, or agriculture use of fungicides as plausible causes. In the US, the NY-NJ metropolitan area was the first to suffer from drug-resistant Candia auris clade I genotype. None of the earlier hypotheses could explain the appearance in NY-NJ. Here, we set out to answer two related questions: “why NY-NJ?” and “why clade I?”
  2. Candida albicansis a well-known commensal yeast that frequents human mucosal surfaces in the mouth, vagina, etc. In contrast, Candida auris is a newly discovered yeast that colonizes the skin of hospitalized patients and long-term care residents. A small subset of those colonized develop Candida auris bloodstream and deep tissue infections.
  3. Candida auris differs from  albicans in its ability to cause healthcare-associated infection outbreaks. Candida auris is also prone to rapid acquisition of the resistance of multiple antifungal drugs. Finally, C. auris bloodstream infections cause high mortality.
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Author Interviews, Infections, Pharmaceutical Companies / 08.07.2019

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr Mark Blaskovich PhD Institute for Molecular Bioscience's Centre for Superbug Solutions The University of Queensland In collaboration with Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?   Response: Botanix is a company that has been developing topical formulations of CBD for treatment of skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and acne, based on its reported anti-inflammatory properties. However, these diseases are also associated with bacterial infection, so they were interested in looking at potential antimicrobial activity, as there are some previous literature reports suggesting it is active. They contacted us to do some more in-depth investigations. (more…)
Author Interviews, C. difficile, Microbiome, Pain Research / 09.01.2019

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: David M. Aronoff, MD, FIDSA, FAAM Professor & Addison B. Scoville Jr. Chair in Medicine Director, Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical Center MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major cause of antibiotic-associated colitis and diarrhea and a leading cause of hospital-acquired infection. It is caused by the toxin-producing, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium Clostridium difficile. Antibiotic use is a major risk factor for CDI but epidemiological studies suggest that other factors, some modifiable, some not, can also increase the risk for CDI. Older age is an example of a non-modifiable risk factor for CDI. Some epidemiological studies suggested that taking the prostaglandin synthesis inhibiting drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might also increase the risk for CDI. NSAIDs include medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin, and others. Because NSAID use is so common, if it is a risk factor for the acquisition of, or severity of, CDI, that would be important because that would be a modifiable risk factor. We therefore sought to determine the impact of NSAID exposure on CDI severity in a mouse model of antibiotic-associated CDI. We also sought evidence for possible mechanisms whereby NSAIDs might increase the risk for CDI. (more…)