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Muhvich, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Muhvich, J..

2 recordsLinked to original sources
bioRxiv2024

Microplastics as a novel substrate for antimicrobial resistance: Effects of concentration, composition, and size on E. coli multidrug resistance

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a significant environmental pollutant with profound implications for public health, particularly as substrates to facilitate bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Recently, studies have shown that MPs may accommodate microbial communities, chemical contaminants and genetic material containing AMR genes. This study investigated the effects of MP concentration, composition, and size on the development of multidrug resistance in Escherichia coli. Specifically, we exposed E. coli to varying concentrations of different MP types, including polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP), across a range of sizes (3-10 {micro}m, 10-50 {micro}m, and 500 {micro}m). Results indicated a direct correlation between MP presence and elevated multidrug-resistant (MDR) in E. coli. Notably, MPs exhibited a higher propensity for facilitating resistance than control substrates such as glass, likely due to their hydrophobicity, greater adsorption capacities, and surface chemistries. Furthermore, we observed that co-culture with MPs resulted in biofilm formation. Notably, we found that the bacteria from passaged MPs formed stronger biofilms once the MPs were removed, associated with changes in motility. Thus, we find that MPs also select for cells that are better at forming biofilms, which can lead to recalcitrant infections in the environment and healthcare setting. Our study highlights the immediate need for comprehensive environmental management strategies to mitigate the risk posed by MPs. ImportanceAntimicrobial resistance is one of the worlds most pressing global health crises, with an estimated 10 million deaths per year forecasted by 2050. With the pipeline of antibiotics running dry, it is imperative that mitigation strategies understand the mechanisms that drive the genesis of antimicrobial resistance. One emerging dimension of antimicrobial resistance is the environment. This study highlights the relationship between a widespread environmental pollutant, (MPs), and the rise of drug-resistant bacteria. While it is known that MPs facilitate resistance through several modes (biofilm formation, plastic adsorption rates, etc.), this study fills the knowledge gap on how different types of MPs are contributing to antimicrobial resistance.

microbiology↗
bioRxiv2022

Probing lung function at high spatiotemporal resolution using a novel crystal ribcage

Understanding the dynamic pathogenesis and treatment response in pulmonary diseases requires probing the lung at cellular resolution in real-time. Despite recent progress in intravital imaging, optical imaging of the lung during active respiration and circulation has remained challenging. Here, we introduce the crystal ribcage: a transparent ribcage that (i) allows truly multiscale optical imaging of the lung in health and disease from whole-organ to single cell, (ii) enables the modulation of lung biophysics and immunity through intravascular, intrapulmonary, intraparenchymal, and optogenetic interventions, and (iii) preserves the 3-D architecture, air-liquid interface, cellular diversity, and respiratory-circulatory functions of the lung. Utilizing these unprecedented capabilities on murine models of primary and metastatic lung tumors, respiratory infection, pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, and acute lung injury we probed how disease progression remodels the respiratory-circulatory functions at the single alveolus and capillary levels. In cancer, we identified the earliest stage of tumorigenesis that compromises alveolar and capillary functions, a key state with consequences on tumor progression and treatment response. In pneumonia, we mapped mutual links between the recruited immune cells and the alveolar-capillary functions. We found that neutrophil migration is strongly and reversibly responsive to vascular pressure with implications for understanding of how lung physiology, altered by disease and anatomical location, affects immune cell activities. The crystal ribcage and its broad applications presented here will facilitate further studies of real-time remodeling of the alveoli and capillaries during pathogenesis of nearly any pulmonary disease, leading to the identification of new targets for treatment strategies.

bioengineering↗