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Salmonellosis associated with reptiles is a well‐researched topic, particularly in China and the United States, but it occurs less frequently in Europe. The growth of the human population and changes in the environment could potentially increase the interaction between humans and free‐living reptiles, which are an unidentified source of Salmonella species. In this study, we sought to explore this issue by comparing the microbiota of free‐living European grass snakes, scientifically known as Natrix natrix, with that of captive banded water snakes, or Nerodia fasciata. We were able to isolate 27 strains of Salmonella species from cloacal swabs of 59 N. natrix and 3 strains from 10 N. fasciata. Our findings revealed that free‐living snakes can carry strains of Salmonella species that are resistant to normal human serum (NHS). In contrast, all the Salmonella species strains isolated from N. fasciata were sensitive to the action of the NHS, further supporting our findings. We identified two serovars from N. natrix: Salmonella enterica subspecies diarizonae and S. enterica subspecies houtenae. Additionally, we identified three different virulotypes (VT) with invA, sipB, prgH, orgA, tolC, iroN, sitC, sifA, sopB, spiA, cdtB and msgA genes, and β‐galactosidase synthesised by 23 serovars. The identification of Salmonella species in terms of their VT is a relatively unknown aspect of their pathology. This can be specific to the serovar and pathovar and could be a result of adaptation to a new host or environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kazimierz Wójtowicz (born 1948) is a contemporary priest-poet. In his lyrical works, he constantly develops the biblical theme of Emmaus. He has written over 80 songs about this theme. This article discusses six ekphrases written by Kazimierz Wójtowicz about paintings by baroque masters, depicting the scene that took place in Emmaus. These are the following poems: Caravaggio: Christ in Emmaus (1601), Diego Velázquez: Kitchen girl with a supper scene in Emmaus in the background (1618), Diego Velázquez: Supper in Emmaus (1620), Rembrandt: Christ in Emmaus (drawing, 1629), Rembrandt: Supper in Emmaus (1629) and Rembrandt: Christ in Emmaus (1648). Describing baroque canvases using the language of poetry, Wójtowicz draws attention primarily to the evangelical meaning of the paintings. Usually, he is interested in the dynamics of the scene, the emotionality of the painted characters, and the lively gestures of the apostles. He is somewhat less interested in the other baroque features of the paintings, incl. vivid colors, operating with light, contrasts. Rembrandt's ekphrase: Supper in Emmaus (1629) is based on an interesting concept consisting in a perfunctory treatment of the most important element of a work (in the opinion of art historians, which determines the uniqueness of a painting) and focusing on secondary motives. In the poems analyzed by Wójtowicz, only the baroque style resonates. The author diversifies the lyrical monologue with metaphors, antitheses, and biblical quotations, but artistic media appear with a moderate intensity. Wójtowicz's ekphrases are "baroque" because of the topic taken up, not because of the organization of the linguistic layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the Polish translation of Emily Dickinson's poetry and correspondence. It is a continuation of the reflection in The Emily Dickinson Journal's pages, which started in 2022. This time we present translations of Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna, Andrzej Szuba, Krystyna Lenkowska, Ryszard Mierzejewski, Tadeusz Sławek, Teresa Pelka, Artur Międzyrzecki, Lilla Latus, Agnieszka Osiecka, Agnieszka Kreczmar and Ewa Kuryluk. We discuss a selection of Dickinson's letters translated by Danuta Piestrzyńska. We emphasize the characteristic features of each of the discussed translations. Although Iłłakowiczówna discovered Dickinson for Polish readers, her translations are perceived as archaic. Szuba mainly translates aphoristic texts. Lenkowska makes an effort to be faithful to the original. The newest translators introduce Poles to unknown poems and make new translations of the texts previously rendered into Polish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi belonging to the Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattii species complex (CNGSC) are pathogens causing severe infections in humans and animals, that for humans may result in a mortality rate ranging up to 70%. The CNGSC is divided into eight major molecular types, that may differ in their virulence and susceptibility. In order to fully understand the epidemiology of cryptococcosis, it is important to study the world distribution and population structure of these pathogens. The present study is the first presenting a population of strains isolated in Poland and one of the few using a multi-species animal group as a source of the specimen. The pathogen was present in 2.375% of the tested animals. The URA5-RFLP and MALDI-TOF MS analyses have revealed that the population consisted exclusively of C. neoformans strains, with a predominance of major molecular type VNIV (C. neoformans var. neoformans). The MALDI-TOF MS was used to perform the CNGSC strains identification on both the species and sub-species level. Despite the fact that the animals providing the specimens were not treated with 5-fluorocytosine, around 10% of the tested population presented MIC values exceeding 64 mg/L, indicating the existence of the 5-fluorocytosine-resistant strains in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Poznan Theological Studies / Poznanskie Studia Teologiczne is the property of Adam Mickiewicz University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses poetic reflection of Wacław Oszajca on the masterpieces of world painting. In his lyric, the priest-poet describes paintings belonging to the classics of painting: Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, paintings by Rembrandt (Return of the prodigal son, Sacrifice of Abraham), Hans Memling's triptych The Last Judgment, and The Last Supper of Salvador Dali. His poems are very short, they are always an attempt to capture the dramatic character of the scene. Among the analyzed poems by Oszajcy, the most interesting, the most valuable one seems to be the work about the image of Rembrandt The return of the prodigal son. It brings accusation of the title character; the author omits important biblical themes - mercy and remorse. Oszajca's poem describes not only masterpieces of painting, but also serves to recall the lesser known paintings -- Crayer or Marian Malarz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the effectiveness of various methods for the identification of Staphylococcus spp. other than S. aureus isolated from intramammary infections of cows on 3 dairy farms in Lower Silesia, Poland. A total of 131 isolates belonging to 18 Staphylococcus species were identified by sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA and dnaJ genes, as well using a commercial identification system (ID 32 STAPH; bioMérieux) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS; Bruker Daltonics). Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was found to have low discriminatory value because only 43% of isolates were recognized unequivocally. Much better results were obtained with the dnaJ gene (all isolates were correctly identified at the species level). However, some of these isolates achieved a low similarity level (<97%) and required a confirmatory test (sequencing of the rpoB gene). The performance of ID 32 STAPH was poor. Regardless of the probability level used (80% or 90%), the commercial system obtained identification rates <40%. Using MALDI-TOF MS and the commercial Bruker database, 67% of isolates were identified correctly with scores ≥2.0 (acceptable species-level identification) but this number increased to 97% after the database was expanded. The definitive identification of Staphylococcus spp. other than S. aureus causing intramammary infections in cattle often requires a combination of different procedures, and the existing databases should be updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Respectus Philologicus is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Respectus Philologicus is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Respectus Philologicus is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Respectus Philologicus is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fungi belonging to the Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattii species complex (CNGSC) are etiological agents of serious and not infrequently fatal infections in both humans and animals. Trees are the main ecological niche and source of potential exposition concerning these pathogens. With regard to epidemiology of cryptococcosis, various surveys were performed worldwide, enabling the establishment of a map of distribution and genetic structure of the arboreal population of the CNGSC. However, there are regions, among them Central and Eastern Europe, in which the data are lacking. The present study shows the results of such an environmental study performed in Wrocław, Poland. The CNGSC strains were detected in 2.2% of the tested trees belonging to four genera. The obtained pathogen population consisted exclusively of C. neoformans, represented by both the major molecular type VNI and VNIV. Within the tested group of isolates, resistance to commonly used antimycotics was not found, except for 5-fluorocytosine, in which about 5% of the strains were classified as a non-wild type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) on the microbiomic and pathogenic phenomena occurring in humans and other warm-blooded animals is relatively well-recognized. At the same time, there are scant data concerning the role of E. coli strains in the health and disease of cold-blooded animals. It is presently known that reptiles are common asymptomatic carriers of another human pathogen, Salmonella, which, when transferred to humans, may cause a disease referred to as reptile-associated salmonellosis (RAS). We therefore hypothesized that reptiles may also be carriers of specific E. coli strains (reptilian Escherichia coli, RepEC) which may differ in their genetic composition from the human uropathogenic strain (UPEC) and avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Therefore, we isolated RepECs (n = 24) from reptile feces and compared isolated strains' pathogenic potentials and phylogenic relations with the aforementioned UPEC (n = 24) and APEC (n = 24) strains. To this end, we conducted an array of molecular analyses, including determination of the phylogenetic groups of E. coli, virulence genotyping, Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis-Restriction Analysis (RA-PFGE) and genetic population structure analysis using Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST). The majority of the tested RepEC strains belonged to nonpathogenic phylogroups, with an important exception of one strain, which belonged to the pathogenic group B2, typical of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. This strain was part of the globally disseminated ST131 lineage. Unlike RepEC strains and in line with previous studies, a high percentage of UPEC strains belonged to the phylogroup B2, and the percentage distribution of phylogroups among the tested APEC strains was relatively homogenous, with most coming from the following nonpathogenic groups: C, A and B1. The RA-PFGE displayed a high genetic diversity among all the tested E. coli groups. In the case of RepEC strains, the frequency of occurrence of virulence genes (VGs) was lower than in the UPEC and APEC strains. The presented study is one of the first attempting to compare the phylogenetic structures of E. coli populations isolated from three groups of vertebrates: reptiles, birds and mammals (humans). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Lactobacillus includes, among others, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, species that are collectively referred to as the Lactobacillus casei group. Many studies have shown that strains belonging to this group may decrease lactose intolerance, the effects of inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, constipation, food allergies and even colon cancer. Moreover, evidences exists of positive effects of these bacteria on mucosal immunity and blood cholesterol level. Because of their beneficial influence on human health, many of them are used as food additives and probiotic pharmaceuticals. It should be stressed that health-promoting properties are not attributed at the species level, but to specific strains. Therefore, procedures are necessary to allow specific identification at each phylogenetic level—genus, species and strain. In this paper we present a practical overview of molecular methods for the identification and differentiation of L. casei bacteria. The research included 30 bacterial strains belonging to three species: L.casei,L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus. Among the tested procedures were genus- and species-specific PCR, multiplex-PCR, Real-Time HRM analysis, RFLP-PCR, rep-PCR, RAPD-PCR, AFLP-PCR, and proteomic methods such as MALDI-TOF MS typing and SDS-PAGE fingerprinting. The obtained results showed that multiplex-PCR and MALDI-TOF MS turned out to be the most useful methods to identify the tested bacteria at the species level. At the strain level, the AFLP-PCR method showed the highest discriminatory power. We hope that the presented results will allow for the easy selection of an appropriate procedure, depending on the experiment conducted and the equipment capabilities of any given laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbiome as a broad term defines the most dynamic ecological system in which, apart from the biocenosis, there is unique niche for its development, equally dynamic, because host-derived, contrary to physical environment in ecology. Although for years, antibodies, was recognized as a key element of the mucosal barrier, there is still no progress in comprehensive linking microbes and humoral elements. Which organism is a pathogen and which is a commensal - there are still no exact answers (and criteria). Also the discrepancy between experimental research, using more and more sophisticated techniques -showing the existence of nearly 900 bacterial species in our mouth was observed. On the contrary, bacterial infections caused by novel species have not been recognised in patients with humoral immunodeficiencies, apart from the capsular cocci and H. influenzae. Research on human virome, including CMV, is also focused on the cellular immunity, but in many situations in the clinic the humoral compartment are the exclusive, still effective, barrier against viral replication., Aim: The aim of study was to perform an integrated microbiome analysis (microbiota and host) for strict linking various microbiota constelation and end-stage clinical manifestation in humoral immunodeficiency., Materials and Methods: This cross-study based on own clinical experience reveal crucial gap in the literature., Results: It indicate the natural competition: why the sentinel microorganism in humoral deficiency - S. pneumoniae dominates in some patients, and in others - Viridans Group Streptococci. Crucial role of high specific IgM level in several CVID complication was described. Furthermore, respiratory microbiota translocation with cancer regression and influence of therapeutic regimen on clinical sequel (predominantly infectious or malignant) were presented. The studies indicates numerous methodological and microecological classification difficulties, which are the source of inadequate, often contradictory conclusions from experimental research., Conclusions: Microecology describe ecosystem that consists of all the organisms and the abiotic physical environment with which they interact: i.e. biocenosis and biotope but clinical immunology -microorganisms in biotic (cellular) niche in host. Unfortunately, these studies are focused on the anecdotal "healthy" biocenosis (healthy microbiome), without analyzing other elements of the niche, for example cancer. Overall, focusing on the gut microbiota clearly restrict our knowledge on the manifestation of humoral deficiencies in respiratory system. The work is a summary of the search for representative clinical models and microbiological methods (diagnostic chain) in clinical immunology practice., (© 2022 MEDPRESS.)

Fungi belonging to the Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattii species complex (CNGSC) are etiological agents of serious and not infrequently fatal infections in both humans and animals. Trees are the main ecological niche and source of potential exposition concerning these pathogens. With regard to epidemiology of cryptococcosis, various surveys were performed worldwide, enabling the establishment of a map of distribution and genetic structure of the arboreal population of the CNGSC. However, there are regions, among them Central and Eastern Europe, in which the data are lacking. The present study shows the results of such an environmental study performed in Wrocław, Poland. The CNGSC strains were detected in 2.2% of the tested trees belonging to four genera. The obtained pathogen population consisted exclusively of C. neoformans , represented by both the major molecular type VNI and VNIV. Within the tested group of isolates, resistance to commonly used antimycotics was not found, except for 5-fluorocytosine, in which about 5% of the strains were classified as a non-wild type.