Matthias Merker
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View article: Evidence for early circulation of the M1UK sublineage of Streptococcus pyogenes in Germany, 2015–2023
Evidence for early circulation of the M1UK sublineage of Streptococcus pyogenes in Germany, 2015–2023 Open
Our findings confirm the pre-pandemic circulation of M1UK in Germany. While the clinical impact of M1UK remains unclear, integrating clinical data with high-resolution molecular surveillance may improve early detection of emerging high-ris…
View article: A novel mechanism of unstable heteroresistance via reversible ompP2 mutations in Haemophilus influenzae
A novel mechanism of unstable heteroresistance via reversible ompP2 mutations in Haemophilus influenzae Open
We discovered a novel mechanism of unstable heteroresistance in H. influenzae, mediated by reversible structural changes in the gene ompP2. Rapid phenotypic switching was induced by ceftriaxone exposure and likely reflects the mutational p…
View article: Evolution of beta-lactam resistance causes fitness reductions and several cases of collateral sensitivities in the human pathogen <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i>
Evolution of beta-lactam resistance causes fitness reductions and several cases of collateral sensitivities in the human pathogen <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i> Open
The evolution of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens poses a global health threat, and it is unclear if evolutionary trajectories to resistance lead to predictable phenotypes. We analyzed antimicrobial resistance (AMR) evolution in the human…
View article: A novel mechanism of unstable heteroresistance via reversible ompP2 mutations in Haemophilus influenzae
A novel mechanism of unstable heteroresistance via reversible ompP2 mutations in Haemophilus influenzae Open
Heteroresistance, the presence of a resistant subpopulation within a predominantly susceptible bacterial isolate, is usually difficult to detect and may cause treatment failure. Mechanisms driving unstable heteroresistant phenotypes, which…
View article: Serratia sp. traits distinguish the lung microbiome of patients with tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung diseases
Serratia sp. traits distinguish the lung microbiome of patients with tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung diseases Open
Background Pathogenic mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (Mtbc), and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs) can cause severe chronic pulmonary infections. However, not all infected patients develop active disease, and it…
View article: The mutant selection window of moxifloxacin and bedaquiline resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
The mutant selection window of moxifloxacin and bedaquiline resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Open
Global health is threatened by the rise of antibiotic resistance. Bacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (Mtbc) are a major contributor to this antibiotic crisis, with about 450,000 new multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)…
View article: Evolution of beta-lactam resistance causes fitness reductions and several cases of collateral sensitivities in the human pathogen <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i>
Evolution of beta-lactam resistance causes fitness reductions and several cases of collateral sensitivities in the human pathogen <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i> Open
The evolution of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) pathogens poses a global health threat and it is unclear if evolutionary trajectories to resistance lead to predictable phenotypes. We analyzed AMR-evolution in the human pathogen Haemophilus …
View article: Genomic insights into the plasmidome of non-tuberculous mycobacteria
Genomic insights into the plasmidome of non-tuberculous mycobacteria Open
Background Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a diverse group of environmental bacteria that are increasingly associated with human infections and difficult to treat. Plasmids, which might carry resistance and virulence factors, remain…
View article: GlnA3 <i> <sub>Mt</sub> </i> is able to glutamylate spermine but it is not essential for the detoxification of spermine in <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>
GlnA3 <i> <sub>Mt</sub> </i> is able to glutamylate spermine but it is not essential for the detoxification of spermine in <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Open
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is well adapted to survive and persist in the infected host, escaping the host’s immune response. Since polyamines such as spermine, which are synthesized by infected macrophages, are able to inhibit the growth o…
View article: Towards unraveling antimicrobial resistance dynamics: A longitudinal exploration of rectal swab metagenomes
Towards unraveling antimicrobial resistance dynamics: A longitudinal exploration of rectal swab metagenomes Open
The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses significant challenges in clinical settings. In particular, early screening and detection of colonization by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in patients at admission i…
View article: A composite reference standard is needed for bedaquiline antimicrobial susceptibility testing for<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>complex
A composite reference standard is needed for bedaquiline antimicrobial susceptibility testing for<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>complex Open
A composite reference standard minimises false-susceptible AST results for bedaquiline https://bit.ly/3wAVvFm
View article: <i>Serratia sp</i>. dominates the lung microbiome of patients with tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung diseases
<i>Serratia sp</i>. dominates the lung microbiome of patients with tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung diseases Open
Background Pathogenic mycobacteria, such as the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (Mtbc), and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs) can cause severe chronic pulmonary infections. However, not all infected patients develop active disease. Ye…
View article: Refined understanding of the impact of the <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> complex diversity on the intrinsic susceptibility to pretomanid
Refined understanding of the impact of the <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> complex diversity on the intrinsic susceptibility to pretomanid Open
Previous work reported unprecedented differences in the intrinsic in vitro susceptibility of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) to pretomanid (Pa) using the Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) system. We tested 125 phyloge…
View article: Quantitative measurement of antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis reveals genetic determinants of resistance and susceptibility in a target gene approach
Quantitative measurement of antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis reveals genetic determinants of resistance and susceptibility in a target gene approach Open
The World Health Organization has a goal of universal drug susceptibility testing for patients with tuberculosis. However, molecular diagnostics to date have focused largely on first-line drugs and predicting susceptibilities in a binary m…
View article: GlnA3<i><sub>Mt</sub></i>is able to glutamylate spermine but it is not essential for the detoxification of spermine in<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>
GlnA3<i><sub>Mt</sub></i>is able to glutamylate spermine but it is not essential for the detoxification of spermine in<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Open
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is well adapted to survive and persist in the infected host, escaping the host immune response. Since polyamines, which are synthesized by infected macrophages are able to inhibit the growth of M. tuberculosis , …
View article: Two-stage tuberculosis diagnostics: combining centrifugal microfluidics to detect TB infection and Inh and Rif resistance at the point of care with subsequent antibiotic resistance profiling by targeted NGS
Two-stage tuberculosis diagnostics: combining centrifugal microfluidics to detect TB infection and Inh and Rif resistance at the point of care with subsequent antibiotic resistance profiling by targeted NGS Open
Two-stage tuberculosis diagnostics from a single sample.
View article: Impact of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain type on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis severity, Republic of Moldova
Impact of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain type on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis severity, Republic of Moldova Open
To the Editor,
View article: <i>In vitro</i> activity of new combinations of β-lactam and β-lactamase inhibitors against the <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> complex
<i>In vitro</i> activity of new combinations of β-lactam and β-lactamase inhibitors against the <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> complex Open
As meropenem-clavulanic acid is recommended for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis, the repurposing of new carbapenem combinations may provide new treatment options, including oral alternatives. Therefore, we studied the in vitro…
View article: Transmission Dynamics of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Outbreak in an Indigenous Population in the Colombian Amazon Region
Transmission Dynamics of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Outbreak in an Indigenous Population in the Colombian Amazon Region Open
The Colombian Amazon around Puerto Nariño has a high tuberculosis burden with a prevalence of 1,267/100,000 people in 2016. Recently, an outbreak of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) bacteria among the indigenous populations was id…
View article: Limited Nosocomial Transmission of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Moldova
Limited Nosocomial Transmission of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Moldova Open
Applying whole-genome-sequencing, we aimed to detect transmission events of multidrug-resistant/rifampin-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex at a tuberculosis hospital in Chisinau, Moldova. We recorded ward, room, and b…
View article: Periostin as a blood biomarker of muscle cell fibrosis, cardiomyopathy and disease severity in myotonic dystrophy type 1
Periostin as a blood biomarker of muscle cell fibrosis, cardiomyopathy and disease severity in myotonic dystrophy type 1 Open
Periostin might serve as a novel stratification biomarker for DM1 correlating with disease severity, presence of cardiac malfunction and fibrosis.
View article: Clinical implications of molecular drug resistance testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a 2023 TBnet/RESIST-TB consensus statement
Clinical implications of molecular drug resistance testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a 2023 TBnet/RESIST-TB consensus statement Open
Drug-resistant tuberculosis is a substantial health-care concern worldwide. Despite culture-based methods being considered the gold standard for drug susceptibility testing, molecular methods provide rapid information about the Mycobacteri…
View article: Experiences from 4 Years of Organization of an External Quality Assessment for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Whole-Genome Sequencing in the European Union/European Economic Area
Experiences from 4 Years of Organization of an External Quality Assessment for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Whole-Genome Sequencing in the European Union/European Economic Area Open
The wider availability of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) coupled to new developments in bioinformatic tools and databases to interpret Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex WGS data has accelerated the adoption of this method for the routine p…
View article: Transcontinental spread and evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis W148 European/Russian clade toward extensively drug resistant tuberculosis
Transcontinental spread and evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis W148 European/Russian clade toward extensively drug resistant tuberculosis Open
Transmission-driven multi-/extensively drug resistant (M/XDR) tuberculosis (TB) is the largest single contributor to human mortality due to antimicrobial resistance. A few major clades of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex belonging to…