Jacek Dutkiewicz

Mushroom compost worker's lung (MCWL) is a hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) entity occurring in workers employed at preparing compost for the cultivation of white button mushrooms. The aim of the study is to identify the strains of thermophilic actinobacteria as the potential causative agents of MCWL symptoms in workers. Clinical examinations included chest X-ray, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), pulmonary function tests comprising spirometric measurements, DLCO measurements, body pletysmography, and arterial - blood gas tests. Identification of thermophilic actinobacteria was performed by microscopy, culture and genetic methods. Allergological tests included the agar gel precipitation test and inhalation challenge with actinomycetal antigens. Among a group of 20 patients, 15 showed in HRCT ground-glass attenuations solely and were diagnosed with acute HP, 3 showed ground-glass attenuations with pulmonary fibrosis and were diagnosed with subacute HP, while 2 patients were diagnosed with Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS). Thermobifida fusca and Laceyella sacchari strains were isolated from the symptom-causing mushroom compost. In 3 workers, strong precipitin reactions to Th. fusca were found, whereas there were no reactions to L. sacchari. Four workers showed a positive inhalation response to small doses of Th. fusca antigen. The results of this study indicate that Th. fusca is most probably a major causative agent of MCWL and should be considered in the diagnosis of HP in workers of the mushroom compost facility.

Introduction: In 2022-2023, examinations were carried out for the presence of a pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetable products (sprouts and vegetable mixtures and salads) sold for immediate consumption in retail shops located in Lublin, eastern Poland. The identification of Listeria strains were performed according to the Polish Standard and accomplished with the Microgen Listeria-ID System. Results: A high prevalence of L. monocytogenes infections was found in the unprocessed sprouts of plants belonging to the cabbage (Brassicaceae) family - kale (30.8%), broccoli (18.8%) and radish (7.1%). The mean prevalence of infections in this family (18.6%) was significantly higher compared to the sprouts of plants belonging to other families, none of which were infected (P<0.05). In the minimally processed RTE mixtures and salads, L. monocytogenes was detected in 6.1% of samples. The presence of following non-pathogenic species of the Listeria genus was also found In the examined RTE products: L. innocua, L. grayi, and L. seeligeri, which occurred both in sprouts and vegetable mixtures and salads in the prevalence of 13.8% and 10.2%, respectively. Conclusions: The obtained results demonstrate a high prevalence of L. monocytogenes in sprouts, especially those of the cabbage family, which was markedly greater compared to vegetable mixtures. The results suggest a need for continuation of research on the occurrence of L. monocytogenes in the sprouts of plants belonging to the cabbage family. If the results of this study are subsequently confirmed, the application of suitable prevention measures are to be highly recommended.

Pulmonary fibrosis is becoming an increasingly common pathology worldwide. Unfortunately, this disorder is characterized by a bad prognosis: no treatment is known, and the survival rate is dramatically low. One of the most frequent reasons for pulmonary fibrosis is hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). As the main mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis is a pathology of the repair of wounded pulmonary epithelium with a pivotal role in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), we assumed that EMT silencing could prevent disease development. Because of several biological features including wound healing promotion, an ideal candidate for use in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis seems to be cathelicidin. The aim of the studies was to understand the influence of cathelicidin on the EMT process occurring during lung fibrosis development in the course of HP. Cathelicidin’s impact on EMT was examined in a murine model of HP, wherein lung fibrosis was induced by chronic exposure to extract of Pantoea agglomerans (SE-PA) by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Studies revealed that mouse exposure to cathelicidin did not cause any side changes in the expression of investigated genes/proteins. Simultaneously, cathelicidin administered together or after SE-PA decreased the elevated level of myofibroblast markers (Acta2/α-smooth muscle actin, Cdh2/N-cadherin, Fn1/Fibronectin, Vim/vimentin) and increased the lowered level of epithelial markers (Cdh1/E-cadherin, Ocln/occludin). Cathelicidin provided with SE-PA or after cessation of SE-PA inhalations reduced the expression of EMT-associated factors (Ctnnd1/β-catenin, Nfkb1/NFκB, Snail1/Snail, Tgfb1/TGFβ1 Zeb1/ZEB1, Zeb2/ZEB2) elevated by P. agglomerans. Cathelicidin’s beneficial impact on the expression of genes/proteins involved in EMT was observed during and after the HP development; however, cathelicidin was not able to completely neutralize the negative changes. Nevertheless, significant EMT silencing in response to cathelicidin suggested the possibility of its use in the prevention/treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Introduction and objective: Cathelicidin (CRAMP) is a defence peptide with a wide range of biological responses including antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and wound healing. Furthermore, our previous studies suggested the possibility of using cathelicidin in the prevention and treatment of...

Over two billion people worldwide are exposed to organic dust, which can cause respiratory disorders. The discovery of the cathelicidin peptide provides novel insights into the lung’s response to organic dust; however, its role in the lung’s response to organic dust exposure and chronic lung diseases remains limited. We conducted a scoping review to map the current evidence on the role of cathelicidin LL-37/CRAMP in response to organic dust exposure and related chronic lung diseases: hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. We included a total of n = 53 peer-reviewed articles in this review, following the process of (i) a preliminary screening; (ii) a systematic MEDLINE/PubMed database search; (iii) title, abstract and full-text screening; (iv) data extraction and charting. Cathelicidin levels were shown to be altered in all clinical settings investigated; its pleiotropic function was confirmed. It was found that cathelicidin contributes to maintaining homeostasis and participates in lung injury response and repair, in addition to exerting a positive effect against microbial load and infections. In addition, LL-37 was found to sustain continuous inflammation, increase mucus formation and inhibit microorganisms and corticosteroids. In addition, studies investigated cathelicidin as a treatment modality, such as cathelicidin inhalation in experimental HP, which had positive effects. However, the primary focus of the included articles was on LL-37’s antibacterial effect, leading to the conclusion that the beneficial LL-37 activity has not been adequately examined and that further research is required.

Introduction: Between 2015–2020, the concentrations and diversity of filamentous fungi as well as the levels of mycotoxins in 4 classes of vegetables and fruits were studied in samples from farms located in eastern Poland. The short communication summarizes the results with the use of...

Introduction and objective: The aim of the study was to determine the presence, concentration and generic composition of filamentous fungi. Selected mycotoxins were also determined: total aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol. Material and methods: In 2017–2018, 40 samples of strawberry fruits...

Occurrence: Gram-negative bacteria occur commonly in the inner tissues of stored coniferous and deciduous timber, showing a marked variation in numbers. The greatest maximal numbers are found in the sapwood of coniferous timber. The common constituents of the Gram-negative biota are potentially pathogenic species of Enterobacteriaceae family of the genera Rahnella, Pantoea, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella. The air of wood-processing facilities is polluted with the wood-borne Gram-negative bacteria and produced by them endotoxin, as demonstrated worldwide by numerous studies. Effects: There are three potential pathways of the pathogenic impact of wood-borne Gram-negative bacteria on exposed woodworkers: allergic, immunotoxic, and infectious. Allergic impact has been underestimated for a long time with relation to Gram-negative bacteria. Hopefully, the recent demonstration of the first documented case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) in woodworkers caused by Pantoea agglomerans which developed in extremely large quantities in birch sapwood, would speed up finding of new wood-related cases of HP caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The second pathway is associated with endotoxin, exerting strong immunotoxic (excessively immunostimulative) action. It has been demonstrated that endotoxin is released into wood dust in the form of nano-sized microvesicles, by peeling off the outer membrane of bacteria. Endotoxin microvesicles are easily inhaled by humans together with dust because of small dimensions and aerodynamic shape. Afterwards, they cause a nonspecific activation of lung macrophages, which release numerous inflammatory mediators causing an inflammatory lung reaction, chest tightness, fever, gas exchange disorders, and bronchospasm, without radiographic changes. The resulting disease is known as “Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome” or “toxic pneumonitis.” The potential third pathway of pathogenic impact is infection. The suspected species is Klebsiella pneumoniae that may occur commonly in wood dust; however, until now this pathway has not been confirmed. Conclusion: Summarizing, Gram-negative bacteria-inhabiting timber should be considered, besides filamentous fungi and actinobacteria, as important risk factors of occupational disease in woodworkers that could be either HP with allergenic background or toxic pneumonitis elicited by endotoxin.