Biology subjects

Toth, A. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Toth, A. G..

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Prevention of mRNA vaccine-induced anaphylaxis by peripheral cyclooxygenase inhibitors in an anti-PEG hyperimmune pig model: clinical relevance for nanomedicine-induced infusion reactions

Anti-polyethylene glycol (PEG) hyperimmune pigs, immunized against PEG, provide a sensitive experimental model for the rare anaphylactic reactions induced by mRNA-PEGylated lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based COVID-19 vaccines, such as Comirnaty. These pseudo-allergic infusion reactions can usually be prevented or attenuated by multicomponent anti-inflammatory premedication regimens; however, no established protocol exists for mRNA-LNP-based COVID-19 vaccines. The aim of the present study was to identify an effective premedication strategy capable of preventing or attenuating these reactions in hypersensitive subjects, using the hyperimmune porcine model. We compared the protective effects of individual pretreatment components; dexamethasone, famotidine, levocetirizine, acetaminophen, diclofenac, indomethacin, by analyzing hemodynamic endpoints (systemic and pulmonary arterial pressure, pulse pressure). All tested compounds modulated Comirnaty-induced anaphylactic responses; however, only cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors provided complete protection against anaphylaxis and other abnormal processes. This finding is consistent with the low incidence of infusion reactions to cancer nanomedicines at the Shaare Zedek Oncology Center in Israel which uses COX-inhibitors as premedication. Given that most currently used human infusion-reaction prevention protocols do not include COX inhibitors, and that steroid-containing regimens may potentially counteract vaccine efficacy, our results suggest that COX inhibitors may offer a clinically effective standalone option or form the basis of simplified premedication regimens for preventing this life-threatening condition.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2025

Reports of Lipoptena fortisetosa on dogs and in the environment, and evidence of its widespread establishment in Hungary

Lipoptena fortisetosa is a louse fly of East Asian origin that is considered a potential vector of several pathogenic bacteria and is most commonly associated with deer (Cervidae). The species has been detected in multiple countries in Europe; however, its exact distribution range is unknown. A single individual was detected on a dog at a veterinary clinic in Budapest, Hungary, a country where the presence of L. fortisetosa has not yet been confirmed. After acquiring information regarding the recent whereabouts of the dog, targeted louse fly collection with insect nets was performed in a forest in Central Transdanubia. Of the 30 flying, unfed specimens of Lipoptena spp., 23 were morphologically identified as L. fortisetosa. Following this, louse fly collections have been conducted across Hungary during the fall of 2025. According to these results, L. fortisetosa can be considered widespread in the country, and that this parasite can be effectively transported by dogs. The findings draw attention to the potential medical and veterinary significance of the emergence of novel vectors that may have been introduced through animal transport.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2025

First record of Argulus japonicus infestation onCyprinus carpio in Hungary, and the first descriptionof Argulus japonicus subsp. europaeus subsp. nov.Keve, 2025

Species belonging to the genus Argulus are globally distributed fish parasites. Their veterinary significance primarily lies in their disruptive presence and their role as mechanical vectors. Although Argulus japonicus Thiele, 1900 is a widely distributed representative of this genus that feeds on freshwater fish, only Argulus foliaceus (Linnaeus, 1758) had previously been reported in Hungary. The aim of this study was to investigate the fish louse fauna in a local common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) population. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the occurrence of A. japonicus in Hungary. Our detailed molecular analyses, including the complete mitochondrial genome, revealed for the first time that the A. japonicus specimens found in Hungary differ significantly from their Far Eastern counterparts. Furthermore, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) sequence analysis -- a region known to be stable within the species -- showed that while our sequences were nearly identical to those of other European specimens, they differed markedly from the available Asian isolates. The phylogenetic analysis also confirmed this divergence. The European A. japonicus sequences form a clearly distinct sister group to the Asian lineages. In light of these findings, and based on thorough morphological examinations, the authors propose that the specimens found in Hungary represent a new subspecies, Argulus japonicus subsp. europaeus subsp. nov. Keve, 2025.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2024

Impact of Mycotoxins and Glyphosate residue on the Gut Microbiome and Resistome of European Fallow Deer

Mycotoxins and herbicides residue significant threats to animal health. This study investigated the impact of these toxins on the gut microbiome of the fallow deer, a valuable game species. We analyzed the intestinal contents of deer exposed to varying levels of zearalenone (ZEA) and other mycotoxins and toxic compounds such as aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1 and glyphosate residues. Metagenomic analysis revealed significant alterations in the bacterial community composition, particularly in the abundance of specific taxa. Higher ZEA levels were associated with decreased alpha diversity, whereas higher aflatoxin levels had the opposite effect. We also observed changes in the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), suggesting a potential link between mycotoxin exposure and antimicrobial resistance. Furthermore, five complete bacterial genomes were assembled from the metagenomic data. These findings highlight the complex interplay between environmental toxins, the gut microbiota, and animal health. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate the negative effects of toxin exposure on wildlife populations.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2024

Metagenomic peek into a corn mummy

Numerous studies have shown that metagenomics has opened a dimension in reading the contents of archaeological remains as time capsules. Corn mummies are ritual objects from ancient Egypt, created by forming human-shaped figures from cereal grains grown in a mixture of water and earth. The aim of our study was to determine whether ancient DNA could be preserved in the mummy, and if so, which organisms it might have originated from. To find answers, we performed metagenomic analyses on samples taken from a corn mummy dating to the second half of the third century BC. Alongside a number of clearly modern contaminants, we identified organisms that cannot be excluded as being of historical origin. Besides considerable amounts of bacterial sequences belonging to the genus Bacillus, Mesobacillus, Metabacillus, Neobacillus, Niallia, Peribacillus and Paenibacillus, we also found traces of plants, animals, and humans. Sequences assigned to the genus Triticum showed the highest similarity to ancient T. turgidum ssp. dicoccum specimens from Egypt and the southern Levant. The fragments identified as of Lepidopteran origin showed the greatest similarity to Sphingidae genomes. Analysis of the human-derived sequences revealed L3 (mtDNA), E, and J (Y chromosome) haplotypes, which are common lineages in Africa today.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2024

Clinical considerations on antimicrobial resistance potential of complex microbiological samples

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of our greatest public health challenges. Targeted use of antibiotics (AB) can reduce the occurrence and spread of AMR and boost the effectiveness of treatment. This requires knowledge of the antibiotic susceptibility (AS) of the pathogens involved in the disease. Therapeutic recommendations based on classical antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) are based on the analysis of only a fraction of the bacteria present in the disease process. Next and third generation sequencing technologies allow the identification of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) present in a bacterial community. Using this genomic approach, we can map the antimicrobial resistance potential (AMRP) of a complex, multi-bacterial microbial sample. The same approach can be used to identify antibiotics without any ARGs in the sample that interfere with their activity. Our paper summarises the clinical interpretation opportunities of genomic analysis results from 574 Escherichia coli strains and a complex microbiological sample from canine external otitis. In clinical metagenomics, AMRP may be an important approach to make AB therapy more targeted and effective. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=110 SRC="FIGDIR/small/594174v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (46K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@d84733org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@12aa447org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@873811org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1721aba_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

genomics↗

bioRxiv2024

A One Health approach metagenomic study on the antimicrobial resistance traits of canine saliva

According to the One Health concept, physical proximity among pets and their owners facilitates the spread of various bacteria. Interspecies bacterial transfer media include canine saliva that can be transmitted by licking and biting. Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) are the natural constituents of the bacterial genome. However, human activity can increase the prominence of ARGs. To assess factors that may affect the resistome of the canine oral cavity, the shotgun metagenomic sequencing dataset of 1830 canine saliva samples was bioinformatically analyzed and supplemented with survey results of the physical and behavioral traits of the dogs. Bacteriome and resistome associated with the canine saliva samples were described throughout the analysis. Moreover, the subset of higher public health ARGs and ESKAPE pathogen-related (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) higher public health ARGs were also collected. Further on, the set and subsets of ARGs were studied considering the surveyed traits of the sampled dogs. Overall, 318 ARG types reached sufficiently high detection rates. These ARGs can affect 31 antibiotic drug classes by various resistance mechanisms. ARGs against tetracyclines and cephalosporins appeared in the highest number of samples. However, surprisingly, another CIA group, peptides were represented by ARGs in the third-highest number of samples. Considering further ARG appearance rates in the samples, Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIAs, WHO), such as aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, or macrolides, were among the most frequently affected drug classes by higher public health risk ARGs and ESKAPE pathogen related higher public health risk ARGs. Bacteria in the saliva of white and diluted (merle, gray) color dogs and dogs characterized with decreased activity and decreased aggression more often harbored ARGs. Reduced playfulness could have been specifically associated with higher public health risk ARG presence. Even though the oral microbiome of the owners is unknown, One Health and public health implications of the close human-pet bonds and factors potentially underlying the rise in salivary ARG numbers should be considered, mostly in the light of the presence of ARGs affecting critically important drugs for human medicine.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2023

First animal source metagenome assembly of Lawsonella clevelandensis from canine external otitis

External otitis is one of the most common conditions in dogs to be presented to the veterinarian. Moreover, the disorder is often difficult to manage. The range and role of microorganisms involved in the pathogenesis are currently not fully understood. Therefore, the condition has been studied using third-generation sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technology) to gain a more complete picture of the pathogens involved. Throughout the metagenome assembly of a sample harvested from the ear canal of an 11-year-old female Yorkshire terrier suffering from chronic external otitis, a genome of Lawsonella clevelandensis was compiled. To our knowledge, this result is the first of its type of animal origin. The outcome of the assembly (CP140010) is a single circular chromosome with a length of 1,878,509 bp, and 1,826 predicted protein-coding genes. No open reading frames associated with antimicrobial resistance could have been identified.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2023

Apis mellifera filamentous virus from a honey bee gut microbiome survey in Hungary

In Hungary, as part of a nationwide, climatically balanced survey for a next-generation sequencing-based study of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut microbiome, repeated sampling was carried out during the honey production season (March and May 2019). Among other findings, the presence of Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) was detected in all samples, some at very high levels. AmFV-derived reads were more abundant in the March samples than in the May samples. In March, a higher abundance of AmFV-originated reads was identified in samples collected from warmer areas compared to those collected from cooler areas. A lower proportion of AmFV-derived reads were identified in samples collected in March from the wetter areas than those collected from the drier areas. AmFV-read abundance in samples collected in May showed no significant differences between groups based on either environmental temperature or precipitation. The AmFV abundance correlated negatively with Bartonella apihabitans, Bartonella choladocola, and positively with Frischella perrara, Gilliamella apicola, Gilliamella sp. ESL0443, Lactobacillus apis, Lactobacillus kullabergensis, Lactobacillus sp. IBH004. De novo metagenome assembly of four samples resulted in almost the complete AmFV genome. According to phylogenetic analysis based on DNA polymerase, the Hungarian strains are closest to the strain CH-05 isolated in Switzerland.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2023

Shotgun metagenomic analysis of the skin mucus bacteriome of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The skin mucus bacteriome of fish plays an important role in the health of their hosts. Despite the economic importance of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), research on its skin bacteriome composition is still missing. To date, most studies on the composition of fish skin bacteriome have used amplicon sequencing, despite the limitations associated with this method. In our study, a shotgun metagenomic approach was applied to characterize the external mucus bacteriome of 8 carp specimens from two different ponds on a fish farm in Hungary. Besides the carp samples, water was also sequenced from the two corresponding ponds. Each carp skin sample was dominated by the phylum Proteobacteria, followed by Actinobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria and Planctomycetota. Additionally, we have found strong concordance between the water and carp skin mucus samples, despite most studies describing an opposite relationship. Furthermore, shotgun metagenomics allowed us to apply functional annotation to the metagenomes, which revealed several metabolic functions. We present, to our knowledge, the first description of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) skin mucus bacteriome. Even though our results showed a high level of host genome contamination, we could still provide valuable insight into the external bacterial community of this species. The presented data can provide a basis for future metagenome studies of carp or other fish species.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Porcine cytomegalovirus detection by nanopore-based metagenomic sequencing in a Hungarian pig farm

The rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases has an essential impact on their control, treatment and recovery. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing opens up a new dimension in applying clinical metagenomics. In a large-scale pig farm in Hungary, four fattening and one piglet nasal swab pooled samples were sequenced using ONT for metagenomic analysis. Long reads covering 53.69% of the porcine cytomegalovirus genome were obtained in the piglet sample. The 650 bp long read matching the glycoprotein B gene of the virus is sequentially most similar to Japanese, Chinese and Spanish isolates.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

Antimicrobial resistance gene lack in tick-borne pathogenic bacteria

Tick-borne infections, including those of bacterial origin, are significant public health issues. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, is driven by specific genetic determinants, primarily by the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) of bacteria. In our work, we investigated the occurrence of ARGs in the genomes of tick-borne bacterial species that can cause human infections. For this purpose, we processed short/long reads of 1550 bacterial isolates of the genera Anaplasma (n=20), Bartonella (n=131), Borrelia (n=311), Coxiella (n=73), Ehrlichia (n=13), Francisella (n=959) and Rickettsia (n=43) generated by second/third generation sequencing that have been freely accessible at the NCBI SRA repository. From Francisella tularensis, 98.9% of the samples contained the FTU-1 gene, and 16.3% contained additional ARGs. Only 2.2% of isolates from other genera (Bartonella: 2, Coxiella: 8, Ehrlichia: 1, Rickettsia: 2) contained any ARG. We found that the odds of ARG occurrence in Coxiella samples were significantly higher in isolates related to farm animals than from other sources. Our results describe a lack in ARGs in these bacteria and suggest that antibiotic susceptibility testing might be considered before the treatment of tick-borne infections in farm animals.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

A climatically representative analysis of Hungarian Ixodes ricinus tick bacteriome

BackgroundThe microbial communities of disease vectors may represent a key feature in several biological functions and thus deserve special attention in light of climate change and the consequent need to develop novel control strategies. Nevertheless, vector-borne microbial networks are still poorly understood. Assessing vectors microbial interactions and climatic dependencies may contribute to better-estimating pathogen transmission characteristics, public health risks and the urgency for control steps to be taken. MethodsIn a climatically representative country-wide survey, Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from 17 locations in Hungary. Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, the bacteriome composition was analyzed by investigating the relationship between the abundances of nymphs and females in various climatic environments. ResultsBacterial composition on the genus level revealed a significant difference between the samples from females and nymphs. Within the core bacteriome, females and nymphs showed significant variation in the following genera: Arsenophonus, Bacillus, Candidatus Midichloria, Rhodococcus, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Wolbachia. Among females, according to temperature strata, the following were found differentiating: Curtobacterium, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas. There was no genus with a significant difference in precipitation categories for females. In the nymphs, Curtobacterium showed significant variation between temperature and Bacillus and Curtobacterium for various precipitation levels. Based on the full sample set, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia correlated positively which we assumed to have occurred due to the presence of I. hookeri. ConclusionsThe composition of vector-borne bacteriome members showed significant alterations at sampling points with different climatic conditions and development stages of the tick hosts. Our findings not only pave the way towards understanding tick-borne bacterial networks and interdependencies but also shed light on the high potential for the presence of a possible biological tick control species, the tick parasitoid, Ixodiphagus hookeri based on related bacteriome patterns. The results of conscious tick microbiome assessment studies may contribute to precision tick control strategies of the future.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

First detection of Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from multiple locations of Hungary

The parasiotid wasp, Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is the natural enemy of a wide range of hard and soft tick species. While these encyrtid wasps are supposed to be distributed worldwide, only few studies report about its actual appearance patterns around the globe. Within a shotgun sequencing based metagenome analysis, the occurrence of I. hookeri was screened at multiple Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) tick sampling points of Hungary, to contribute to the assessment of the appearance patterns of the parasitoid wasps in Central Europe. To our knowledge, the first report of the species in Hungary and the description of the southernmost I. hookeri associated geoposition in Central Europe took place within our study. I. hookeri infested I. ricinus nymphs were detected at five sampling points of Hungary. The results show that the exact distribution range of I. hookeri is still barely studied. At the same time, unprecedented public health issues being brought by climate change might require steps towards the exploitation of the tick biocontrol potential or ecological bioindicator role of the parasitoid wasp in the future.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

Canine saliva is a source of interspecies antimicrobial resistance gene transfer

While the One Health issues of intensive animal farming are commonly discussed, keeping companion animals is less associated with the interspecies headway of antimicrobial resistance. With the constant advance of veterinary standards, antibiotics are regularly applied in companion animal medicine. Due to the close coexsistance of dogs and humans, dog bites and other casual encounters with dog saliva (e.g. licking the owner) are common. According to our metagenome studies based on 26 new generation sequencing canine saliva datasets from 2020 and 2021 reposited in NCBI SRA by The 10,000 Dog Genome Consortium and the Broad Institute within Darwins Ark project, canine saliva is rich in bacteria with predictably transferable antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). In the genom of potentially pathogenic Bacteroides, Capnocytophaga, Corynebacterium, Fusobacterium, Pasteurella, Porphyromonas, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species, that are some of the most relevant bacteria in dog bite infections, ARGs against aminoglycosides, carbapenems, cephalosporins, glycylcyclines, lincosamides, macrolides, oxazolidinone, penams, phenicols, pleuromutilins, streptogramins, sulfonamides and tetracyclines could be identfied. Several ARGs, including ones against amoxicillin-clavulanate, the most commonly applied antibiotic by dog bites, was predicted to be potentially transferable based on their association with mobile genetic elements (e.g. plasmids, phages, integrated mobile genetic elements). According to our findings canine saliva may be a source of transfer of ARG-rich bacteria, that can either colonize the human body or transport ARGs to the host bacteriota and thus can be considered as a risk in the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

A survey on antimicrobial resistance genes of frequently used bacteria in kefir and yoghurt

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the foremost threats facing the treatment of infectious diseases worldwide. Recent studies have highlighted the potential for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in fermented foods to contribute to AMR via horizontal gene transfer (HGT). The focus of our study was investigating the ARG content (resistome) and mobility potential of the ARGs (mobilome) of bacterial strains commonly used in probiotic products, namely yoghurt and kefir. We performed metagenomic analyses on freely available data sets (n=584) originating from various kefir and yoghurt strains using next generation sequencing (NGS) in order to gain an insight into the ARG diversity, frequency and mobility. Our study shows that kefir and yoghurt products carry diverse and significant amounts of ARGs and that these genes may often be associated with iMGEs or plasmids, conferring mobility. Certain bacteria species such as Bifidobacterium animalis and Streptococcus thermophilus were found to have higher ARG content. Overall, our results support the hypothesis that ARGs are present in fermented foods, namely yoghurt and kefir, and have the potential to contribute to AMR.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2021

Antimicrobial resistance determinants in silage

Animal products may play a role in developing and spreading antimicrobial resistance in several ways. On the one hand, residues of antibiotics not adequately used in animal farming can enter the human body via food. But resistant bacteria may also be present in animal products, which can transfer the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) to the bacteria in the consumers body by horizontal gene transfer. As previous studies have shown that fermented foods have a meaningful ARG content, it is indicated that such genes may also be present in silage used as mass feed in the cattle sector. In our study, we aspired to answer what ARGs occur in silage and what mobility characteristics they have? For this purpose, we have analyzed bioinformatically 52 freely available deep sequenced silage samples from shotgun metagenome next-generation sequencing. A total of 17 perfect matched ARGs occurred 55 times in the samples. More than half of these ARGs are mobile because they can be linked to integrative mobile genetic elements, prophages or plasmids. Our results point to a neglected but substantial ARG source in the food chain.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2021

Mobile antimicrobial resistance genes in probiotics

Even though people around the world tend to consume probiotic products for their beneficial health effects on a daily basis, recently, concerns were outlined regarding the uptake and potential intestinal colonisation of the bacteria that they transfer. These bacteria are capable of executing horizontal gene transfer (HGT) which facilitates the movement of various genes, including antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), among the donor and recipient bacterial populations. Within our study, 47 shotgun sequencing datasets deriving from various probiotic samples (isolated strains and metagenomes) were bioinformatically analysed. We detected more than 70 ARGs, out of which rpoB mutants conferring resistance to rifampicin, tet(W/N/W) and potentially extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) coding TEM-116 were the most common. Numerous ARGs were associated with integrated mobile genetic elements, plasmids or phages promoting the HGT. Our findings raise clinical and public health concerns as the consumption of probiotic products may lead to the transfer of ARGs to human gut bacteria.

genomics↗