Biology subjects

Banerji, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Banerji, S..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Dual species interactions shield Campylobacter against multiple antibiotics

BackgroundCampylobacter is a major food-borne pathogen causing diarrhea. In severe cases, treatment typically involves fluoroquinolones (FQ) and macrolides. However, high proportions of FQ resistance (FQR) have made macrolides the remaining first-line treatment option. As part of the Campylobacter surveillance program in Germany, we investigated multidrug resistance (MDR) in clinical Campylobacter samples collected 2010 to 2022. MethodsA total of 6,980 samples was single-colony purified and analyzed for antimicrobial resistance phenotypes. Genome sequencing was performed for 2,912 samples, and antimicrobial resistance genes were mapped. Cultures showing MDR were further analyzed for contaminating DNA and studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FindingsWe found that 453 (6%) Campylobacter samples were resistant to both FQ and macrolides. Two of the C. jejuni samples were resistant to antibiotics from ten different classes. Genome analysis revealed that these samples, despite being derived from single colonies, contained >10% Enterococcus DNA reads. SEM confirmed the presence of coccoid bacteria interspersed with spiral-shaped Campylobacter. Additional culture-based purification resulted in pure C. jejuni isolates that retained FQR but lost macrolide resistance. We further showed that presence of MDR Enterococcus spp. in the mixed samples protected C. jejuni from above-MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) of several ribosome-targeting antimicrobials whereas pure Campylobacter were susceptible. These findings revealed that Campylobacter may gain antimicrobial resistance advantages through close interactions with Enterococcus spp. InterpretationMDR phenotypes in Campylobacter cultures may arise through close, dual-species interactions with other highly resistant intestinal bacteria, such as MDR Enterococcus spp. and may have practical implications for antibiotic treatment. FundingThis study was funded by the German Ministry of Health dedicated to the National Reference Centre for Salmonella and other Bacterial Enteric Pathogens.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Apoptosis reveals human evolutionary heritage sequestered in non-coding DNA

Cell-free chromatin particles (cfChPs), primarily derived from non-coding DNA (ncDNA) and released from apoptotic cells into the bloodstream, can be horizontally transferred into living cells. However, their potential role in generating ncDNA within recipient cells remains unknown. We previously reported that cfChP- sized fragments generated upon sonicating high-molecular-weight DNA can indiscriminately transmit themselves into foreign cells across species and kingdom boundaries. We hypothesized that cfChP-like DNA-protein complexes generated following organismal death have been exchanged among species and have progressively accumulated to form a dense patchwork that now constitutes the ncDNA, and that apoptosis may dissociate these complexes, rendering them amenable to detection. To test this hypothesis, we used species-specific DNA fluorescent in situ hybridisation probes and antibodies against archaea, eubacteria, plants, algae, fungi, protozoa, Drosophila, fish, chicken, mouse, rat, pig, dog, and monkey on intact and apoptotic human cells. We detected no reactivity with intact cells but strong reactivity with the ncDNA component of apoptotic cells. These findings indicate that ncDNA represents a dense conglomeration of DNA-protein complexes derived from different species that become detectable following apoptosis. This suggests that human evolutionary heritage is conserved within ncDNA formed through progressive accumulation of genetic fragments transferred horizontally following organismal death.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Can genome-based analysis be the new gold-standard for routine Salmonella serotyping?

Salmonella enterica is the second most reported bacterial cause of food-borne infections in Europe. Therefore molecular surveillance activities based on pathogen subtyping are an important measure of controlling Salmonellosis by public health agencies. In Germany, at the federal level, this work is carried out by the National Reference Center for Salmonella and other Bacterial Enteric Pathogens (NRC). With rise of next generation sequencing techniques, the NRC has introduced whole-genome-based typing methods for S. enterica in 2016. In this study we report on the feasibility of genome-based in silico serotyping in the German setting using raw sequence reads. We found that SeqSero and seven gene MLST showed 98% and 95% concordance, respectively, with classical serotyping for the here evaluated serotypes, including the most common German serotypes S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium as well as less frequently found serotypes. The level of concordance increased to >99% when the results of both in silico methods were combined. However, both tools exhibited misidentification of monophasic variants, in particular monophasic S. Typhimurium and therefore need to be fine-tuned for reliable detection of this epidemiologically important variant. We conclude that with adjustments Salmonella genome-based serotyping might become the new gold standard.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

A Study of Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a growing problem, especially in developing countries. People suffering from diabetes have an increased risk of developing a number of serious health problems. Consistently high blood glucose levels can lead to serious diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidney, etc. In addition, people with diabetes also have a higher risk of developing infections.\n\nThis paper aims to use suitable data mining and classification techniques which include the Logit model, the Probit model, the Classification tree technique, Artificial Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, Ridge Regression technique and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator(LASSO) in order to determine the best method which can be used to classify the patients as suffering from gestational diabetes or not. The misclassification rate is calculated for different methods and the method having the least misclassification rate is said to be the most suitable to be applied to the given data, which is the PIMA Indians diabetes dataset.

bioinformatics↗