RESUMEN

In this work, the antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation capability, and clonal relatedness of 50 A. baumannii isolates collected from three hospitals in Ardabil city, Iran, were evaluated. Antibiotic sensitivity and biofilm formation of isolates were determined by disk diffusion and microtiter-plate methods, respectively. Molecular typing of isolates was also performed using repetitive sequence-based PCR (REP-PCR). The majority of isolates were resistant to cephems, aminoglycosides, and carbapenems, with 80 % classified as multi-drug resistant (MDR). While, only isolates collected from blood and tracheal were resistant to colistin. Additionally, 42 isolates (84 %) had biofilm formation capability. According to rep-PCR results, 34 isolates showed similar banding patterns, while 16 isolates had unique banding patterns. Finally, based on the molecular analysis, there was a direct relationship between biofilm formation and the antibiotic resistance of isolates. In other words, MDR isolates had a higher ability to form biofilm.

Asunto(s)

Infecciones por Acinetobacter , Acinetobacter baumannii , Antibacterianos , Biopelículas , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Biopelículas/crecimiento & desarrollo , Biopelículas/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Infecciones por Acinetobacter/microbiología , Irán , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple/genética , Acinetobacter baumannii/efectos de los fármacos , Acinetobacter baumannii/genética , Acinetobacter baumannii/aislamiento & purificación , Acinetobacter baumannii/fisiología , Tipificación Molecular , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Colistina/farmacología , Adulto , Hospitales , Masculino , Femenino , Genotipo , Persona de Mediana Edad

RESUMEN

Introduction. The global spread of Acinetobacter spp., particularly the Acinetobacter calcoaceticusbaumannii (ACB) complex, has led to its recognition as a significant pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). The increasing resistance of the ACB complex to multiple antibiotics presents a challenge for treatment, necessitating accurate antibiotic susceptibility profiling after isolation.Hypothesis or gap statement. There is limited understanding of the antimicrobial resistance and chlorhexidine, a biocide, susceptibility profiles of ACB complex strains, especially in clinical settings in Turkey.Aim. This study aimed to identify ACB complex strains recovered from various clinical specimens at Hacettepe University Hospitals in Ankara, Turkey, in 2019, and to assess identification, their antibiotic and chlorhexidine susceptibility profiles, and genomic relatedness.Methodology. Eighty-two ACB complex strains were identified using MALDI-TOF MS. Susceptibility testing to 12 antibiotics was conducted using the disc diffusion method, and colistin, chlorhexidine susceptibility was assessed using the broth microdilution technique, following the latest EUCAST and CLSI guidelines. ACB complex members with reduced chlorhexidine sensitivity were further analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for bacterial typing.Results. Among the isolates, 1.2% were multidrug-resistant (MDR), 73.2% were extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and 12.2% were pandrug-resistant (PDR). Carbapenem resistance was found in 86.7% of MDR, PDR, and XDR strains. Colistin resistance was observed in 15.8% of isolates, and 18.2% exhibited decreased susceptibility to chlorhexidine. PFGE revealed seven different clones among strains with reduced chlorhexidine sensitivity, indicating vertical transmission within the hospital.Conclusion. This study highlights the reduced susceptibility to chlorhexidine in ACB complex members and provides epidemiological insights into their spread. The findings underscore the importance of screening for antimicrobial resistance and biocide susceptibility profiles to effectively manage healthcare-associated infections.

Asunto(s)

Infecciones por Acinetobacter , Acinetobacter baumannii , Antibacterianos , Clorhexidina , Electroforesis en Gel de Campo Pulsado , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Clorhexidina/farmacología , Turquía/epidemiología , Humanos , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Infecciones por Acinetobacter/microbiología , Infecciones por Acinetobacter/epidemiología , Acinetobacter baumannii/efectos de los fármacos , Acinetobacter baumannii/genética , Acinetobacter baumannii/aislamiento & purificación , Acinetobacter calcoaceticus/efectos de los fármacos , Acinetobacter calcoaceticus/genética , Acinetobacter calcoaceticus/clasificación , Acinetobacter calcoaceticus/aislamiento & purificación , Femenino , Adulto , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Tipificación Molecular/métodos , Adulto Joven , Anciano , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Lactante , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple/genética , Anciano de 80 o más Años

RESUMEN

Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis is caused by the emerging fungal pathogen Sporothrix brasiliensis and constitutes a significant public health issue that affects people living in resource-poor urban centers in Brazil. The lack of knowledge about transmission dynamics makes it difficult to propose public health policies to contain the advance of sporotrichosis. We describe the recent emergence of 1,176 cases of sporotrichosis in cats (2016 to 2021) in the metropolitan region of Recife, Brazil, leading to significant zoonotic transmission and an overwhelming occurrence of S. brasiliensis as the etiological agent. Most cases were from cats in the cities of Olinda (408/1,176; 34.70%), Jaboatão dos Guararapes (332/1,176; 28.23%), and Recife (237/1,176; 20.15%). Molecular typing using amplified fragment length polymorphism (EcoRI-GA/MseI-AG) revealed low polymorphic information content (PIC = 0.2499) and heterozygosity (H = 0.2928), typical of an outbreak scenario. Dendrogram and multivariate cluster analysis revealed that isolates from Pernambuco are closely related to Rio de Janeiro isolates. We report a substantial occurrence of MAT1-2 idiomorphs in the metropolitan region of Recife (0:60 ratio; χ2 = 60.000, P < 0.0001). The limited population differentiation and genetic diversity of the isolates from Pernambuco suggest a recent introduction, possibly via a founder effect, from the parental population in Rio de Janeiro. Our findings emphasize the critical importance of molecular surveillance of S. brasiliensis for outbreak response. A comprehensive one-health strategy is mandatory to control the spread of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis driven by S. brasiliensis, encompassing sanitary barriers, quick diagnosis, and treatment.

Asunto(s)

Enfermedades de los Gatos , Sporothrix , Esporotricosis , Esporotricosis/transmisión , Esporotricosis/microbiología , Esporotricosis/veterinaria , Esporotricosis/epidemiología , Gatos , Brasil/epidemiología , Sporothrix/genética , Sporothrix/aislamiento & purificación , Sporothrix/clasificación , Animales , Enfermedades de los Gatos/microbiología , Enfermedades de los Gatos/transmisión , Enfermedades de los Gatos/epidemiología , Tipificación Molecular , Zoonosis/transmisión , Zoonosis/microbiología , Análisis del Polimorfismo de Longitud de Fragmentos Amplificados , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/transmisión , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/microbiología , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/epidemiología , Genotipo , Filogenia

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: Tinea capitis, a common scalp infection primarily affecting children, is caused by keratinophilic dermatophytic fungi, notably Microsporum and Trichophyton species. Microsporum canis, primarily transmitted from cats and dogs to humans, is rarely reported in non-endemic regions like India. We report a cases involving three family members from Delhi, India, diagnosed with tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis. The index case, a five-year-old boy, contracted the infection through contact with a cat, while his younger brother and sister acquired it through human-to-human transmission within the family. METHODS: Clinical examination, microscopic analysis, and molecular identification techniques confirmed the diagnosis. Antifungal susceptibility testing revealed sensitivity to itraconazole and terbinafine but resistance to griseofulvin. RESULTS: Treatment with oral terbinafine and topical ketoconazole cream led to successful outcomes for all three patients. Molecular typing confirmed clonality of the isolates, indicating human-to-human transmission. CONCLUSION: This case study underscores the significance of considering atypical sources of infection and human-to-human transmission in the diagnosis and management of tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis in non-endemic regions. It emphasizes the necessity of thorough contact history assessment and appropriate antifungal therapy for effective control of the infection.

Asunto(s)

Antifúngicos , Microsporum , Terbinafina , Tiña del Cuero Cabelludo , Humanos , Microsporum/genética , Microsporum/aislamiento & purificación , Microsporum/clasificación , Microsporum/efectos de los fármacos , Tiña del Cuero Cabelludo/microbiología , Tiña del Cuero Cabelludo/tratamiento farmacológico , Tiña del Cuero Cabelludo/diagnóstico , Masculino , India , Antifúngicos/uso terapéutico , Antifúngicos/farmacología , Preescolar , Terbinafina/uso terapéutico , Gatos , Femenino , Animales , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Itraconazol/uso terapéutico , Naftalenos/uso terapéutico , Naftalenos/farmacología , Resultado del Tratamiento , Cetoconazol/uso terapéutico , Tipificación Molecular , Familia , Niño , Griseofulvina/uso terapéutico

RESUMEN

Nosocomial outbreaks of Burkholderia cepacia complex, transmitted through contaminated medical surfaces or equipment have been reported. Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) is recognized as the "gold standard" for molecular subtyping, yet studies on clonal relationships in India are limited. PFGE was used to study the clonal relationships of 22 isolates of Burkholderia cenocepacia from 12 patients admitted to a critical care unit during 2 months (November and December 2021). PFGE revealed three different profiles with 15 isolates belonging to a single cluster suggesting a common source within the hospital, emphasizing the need for preventive measures to control B. cenocepacia transmission.

Asunto(s)

Infecciones por Burkholderia , Burkholderia cenocepacia , Infección Hospitalaria , Brotes de Enfermedades , Electroforesis en Gel de Campo Pulsado , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos , Centros de Atención Terciaria , Humanos , Infecciones por Burkholderia/epidemiología , Infecciones por Burkholderia/microbiología , Burkholderia cenocepacia/genética , Burkholderia cenocepacia/clasificación , Burkholderia cenocepacia/aislamiento & purificación , Infección Hospitalaria/epidemiología , Infección Hospitalaria/microbiología , India/epidemiología , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Tipificación Molecular/métodos

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: To investigate genetic relatedness and antibiotic resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae from retail meat samples, clinical source samples, and hospital environmental samples in Wuhan, China. METHODS: Hypermucoviscosity and biofilm formation of K. pneumoniae were assessed by string test and crystal violet staining. MICs of 18 antimicrobials were determined by broth microdilution. PCR detected 14 antibiotic resistance genes. Genetic relatedness and clonal dissemination were analyzed by PFGE. RESULTS: Among 5,730 samples, 46 were tested positive for K pneumoniae, with higher rates observed in meat (23.4%) than in clinical samples (0.6%) and hospital environmental samples (8.0%). Meat-derived isolates showed high resistance to tetracycline (36.4%, 4/11), sulfonamide (27.3%, 3/11), and gentamicin (27.3%, 3/11), whereas clinical isolates exhibited significant resistance to ampicillin-sulbactam (32.3%, 10/31). Multidrug resistance was observed in 17.4% (8/46) of the isolates, particularly in hospital environmental samples (3/4). Biofilm production was observed in 88.1% (37/42) of K pneumoniae. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed patient-to-patient K pneumoniae transmission, transmission between patients and hospital environment, as well as cross-contamination between markets. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the importance of comprehensive surveillance, infection control, and judicious antibiotic use in mitigating the impact of K pneumoniae on public health, especially in the food chain and health care settings.

Asunto(s)

Antibacterianos , Biopelículas , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Electroforesis en Gel de Campo Pulsado , Microbiología de Alimentos , Infecciones por Klebsiella , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Klebsiella pneumoniae/efectos de los fármacos , Klebsiella pneumoniae/genética , Klebsiella pneumoniae/aislamiento & purificación , China/epidemiología , Humanos , Infecciones por Klebsiella/microbiología , Infecciones por Klebsiella/epidemiología , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Biopelículas/crecimiento & desarrollo , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , Tipificación Molecular , Virulencia/genética , Genotipo , Epidemiología Molecular , Carne/microbiología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa

RESUMEN

Syphilis remains a significant public health concern, with serological assays being the primary method for diagnosis. However, molecular techniques have proven to be reliable tools for the diagnosis and understanding of the transmission dynamics of Treponema pallidum infection. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of syphilis treatment using molecular assays, perform Enhanced Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) typing, and analyze resistance (macrolide and doxycycline) in the T. pallidum isolate. PCR assay amplified treponemal DNA only from the lesion sample, whereas qPCR was able to amplify DNA in both lesion and blood samples before treatment. Throughout the treatment follow-up, qPCR effectively did not identify treponemal DNA in the blood for up to one to two weeks after treatment. ECDC typing revealed the genotype 14 e/g in the Brazilian T. pallidum isolate, and the presence of the A2058G mutation in 23 S rRNA gene, indicating macrolide resistance. Although, the G1058C mutation in 16 S rRNA gene was not detected. Notably, qPCR demonstrated its potential for diagnosing T. pallidum in blood samples, even when the treponemal DNA levels were low, enabling more accurate and sensitive diagnosis and guiding better syphilis therapy. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first identification of subtype 14 e/g and azithromycin resistance in a Brazilian T. pallidum isolate.

Asunto(s)

Antibacterianos , Sífilis , Treponema pallidum , Treponema pallidum/genética , Treponema pallidum/aislamiento & purificación , Treponema pallidum/clasificación , Treponema pallidum/efectos de los fármacos , Sífilis/microbiología , Sífilis/diagnóstico , Sífilis/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Brasil , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Genotipo , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , ADN Bacteriano/genética , Masculino , Macrólidos/farmacología , Tipificación Molecular/métodos , Doxiciclina/uso terapéutico , Adulto , ARN Ribosómico 23S/genética , Estudios de Seguimiento

RESUMEN

The aim of this study was to go through the molecular methods used for typing of carbapenem-resistant Acientobacter baumannii (CRAB) isolates for investigating the molecular epidemiology all over the world. Multiple typing techniques are required to understand the source and nature of outbreaks caused by Acientobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) and acquired resistance to antimicrobials. Nowadays, there is gradual shift from traditional typing methods to modern molecular methods to study molecular epidemiology and infection control. Molecular typing of A. baumannii strains has been revolutionized significantly in the last 2 decades. A few sequencing-based techniques have been proven as a breakthrough and opened new prospects, which have not been achieved by the traditional methods. In this review, discussed different pre-existing and recently used typing methods to explore the molecular epidemiology of A. baumannii pertaining in context with human infections.

Asunto(s)

Infecciones por Acinetobacter , Acinetobacter baumannii , Epidemiología Molecular , Tipificación Molecular , Acinetobacter baumannii/genética , Acinetobacter baumannii/aislamiento & purificación , Humanos , Epidemiología Molecular/métodos , Infecciones por Acinetobacter/epidemiología , Infecciones por Acinetobacter/microbiología , Tipificación Molecular/métodos , Técnicas de Tipificación Bacteriana/métodos

RESUMEN

Metastasis is a multistep process by which cancer cells break away from their original location and spread to distant organs, and is responsible for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths. Preventing early metastatic dissemination would revolutionize the ability to fight cancer. Unfortunately, the relatively poor understanding of the molecular underpinnings of metastasis has hampered the development of effective anti-metastatic drugs. Although it is now accepted that disseminating tumour cells need to acquire multiple competencies to face the many obstacles they encounter before reaching their metastatic site(s), whether these competencies are acquired through an accumulation of metastasis-specific genetic alterations and/or non-genetic events is often debated. Here we review a growing body of literature highlighting the importance of both genetic and non-genetic reprogramming events during the metastatic cascade, and discuss how genetic and non-genetic processes act in concert to confer metastatic competencies. We also describe how recent technological advances, and in particular the advent of single-cell multi-omics and barcoding approaches, will help to better elucidate the cross-talk between genetic and non-genetic mechanisms of metastasis and ultimately inform innovative paths for the early detection and interception of this lethal process.

Asunto(s)

Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Neoplasias , Animales , Humanos , Metástasis de la Neoplasia/tratamiento farmacológico , Metástasis de la Neoplasia/genética , Neoplasias/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias/genética , Neoplasias/patología , Análisis de la Célula Individual , Multiómica , Tipificación Molecular , Reprogramación Celular

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: To assess the residual risk of waterborne contamination by Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a water network colonized by a single genotype [sequence type (ST) 299] despite the presence of antimicrobial filters in a medical intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: During the first 19-month period since the ICU opened, contamination of the water network was assessed monthly by collecting water upstream of the filters. Downstream water was also sampled to assess the efficiency of the filters. P. aeruginosa isolates from patients were collected and compared with the waterborne ST299 P. aeruginosa by multiplex-rep polymerase chain reaction (PCR), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole-genome sequencing. Cross-transmission events by other genotypes of P. aeruginosa were also assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 1.3% of 449 samples of filtered water were positive for P. aeruginosa in inoculum, varying between 1 and 104 colony-forming units/100 mL according to the tap. All P. aeruginosa hydric isolates belonged to ST299 and displayed fewer than two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Among 278 clinical isolates from 122 patients, 10 isolates in five patients showed identical profiles to the hydric ST299 clone on both multiplex-rep PCR and PFGE, and differed by an average of fewer than five SNPs, confirming the water network reservoir as the source of contamination by P. aeruginosa for 4.09% of patients. Cross-transmission events by other genotypes of P. aeruginosa were responsible for the contamination of 1.75% of patients. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Antimicrobial filters are not sufficient to protect patients from waterborne pathogens when the water network is highly contaminated. A microbiological survey of filtered water may be needed in units hosting patients at risk of P. aeruginosa infections, even when all water points-of-use are fitted with filters.

Asunto(s)

Electroforesis en Gel de Campo Pulsado , Genotipo , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos , Infecciones por Pseudomonas , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Microbiología del Agua , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genética , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/aislamiento & purificación , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/clasificación , Humanos , Infecciones por Pseudomonas/microbiología , Infecciones por Pseudomonas/transmisión , Filtración/instrumentación , Secuenciación Completa del Genoma , Tipificación Molecular , Infección Hospitalaria/microbiología , Infección Hospitalaria/prevención & control , Medición de Riesgo

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: In Taiwan, sequence type (ST) 239 and ST59 were two major clones among meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates in the past two decades. USA300 (ST8) prevailed in the Americas but not in outside areas. Recently USA300 (ST8) emerged and was increasingly identified in Taiwan; we thus conducted an island-wide study to explore the role of USA300 among MRSA isolates. METHODS: One hundred MRSA bloodstream isolates identified in 2020 from each of the six participating hospitals in Taiwan were collected and characterized. The first 10 ST8 isolates from each hospital were further analysed by whole-genome sequencing. RESULTS: Of the 590 confirmed MRSA isolates, a total of 22 pulsotypes and 21 STs were identified. The strain of pulsotype AI/ST8 was the most common lineage identified, accounting for 187 isolates (31.7%) and dominating in five of six hospitals, followed by pulsotype A/ST239 (14.7%), pulsotype C/ST59 (13.9%) and pulsotype D/ST59 (9.2%). Of the 187 pulsotype AI/ST8 isolates, 184 isolates were characterized as USA300 and clustered in three major sub-pulsotypes, accounting for 78%. Ninety per cent of the 60 ST8 isolates for whole-genome sequencing were clustered in three major clades. CONCLUSIONS: In 2020, USA300 became the most common clone of MRSA in Taiwan, accounting for >30% of MRSA bloodstream isolates island wide. Most of USA300 isolates circulating in Taiwan might have been imported on multiple occasions and evolved into at least three successful local clades. MRSA USA300 has successfully established its role in Taiwan, an area outside of the Americas.

Asunto(s)

Genotipo , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina , Infecciones Estafilocócicas , Secuenciación Completa del Genoma , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/genética , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/clasificación , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/aislamiento & purificación , Taiwán/epidemiología , Humanos , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/microbiología , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/epidemiología , Epidemiología Molecular , Hospitales/estadística & datos numéricos , Bacteriemia/microbiología , Bacteriemia/epidemiología , Tipificación Molecular

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Serratia marcescens is known to cause outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Traditionally epidemiological data, antimicrobial resistance patterns and epidemiological typing have been used to guide infection prevention methods. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) applications such as core-genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST) applied during an outbreak would potentially yield more information. AIM: To use cgMLST to acquire detailed information on the source and spread of bacteria, enabling more efficient control measures during an S. marcescens outbreak at a NICU. METHODS: Neonates admitted to the NICU of the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) during an outbreak between September 2023 and January 2024, with S. marcescens being cultured, were included. Environmental samples were taken to search for a common source, antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed, and antimicrobial resistance genes were analysed. FINDINGS: S. marcescens strains from 17 of the 20 positive patients were available for molecular typing. The cgMLST scheme revealed five different complex types consisting of four separate clusters. Multiple clusters made an unidentified persistent environmental source as cause of the outbreak less likely, leading to a quick downscaling of infection prevention measures. Differences were shown in aminoglycoside resistance patterns of isolates within the same complex types and patients. CONCLUSION: The use of ad-hoc cgMLST provided timely data for rational decision-making during an S. marcescens outbreak at the NICU. Antibiotic phenotyping alone was found not to be suitable for studying clonal spread during this outbreak with S. marcescens.

Asunto(s)

Infección Hospitalaria , Brotes de Enfermedades , Control de Infecciones , Unidades de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal , Infecciones por Serratia , Serratia marcescens , Humanos , Serratia marcescens/genética , Serratia marcescens/efectos de los fármacos , Serratia marcescens/clasificación , Serratia marcescens/aislamiento & purificación , Infecciones por Serratia/epidemiología , Infecciones por Serratia/microbiología , Recién Nacido , Control de Infecciones/métodos , Infección Hospitalaria/epidemiología , Infección Hospitalaria/microbiología , Infección Hospitalaria/prevención & control , Tipificación Molecular , Países Bajos/epidemiología , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Masculino , Tipificación de Secuencias Multilocus , Femenino , Secuenciación Completa del Genoma , Epidemiología Molecular

RESUMEN

Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide and is now largely confined to around 40 low- and middle-income countries. It is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), a contagious intracellular bacterium. The World Health Organization recommends mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin for treatment and control of ocular Ct infections, alongside improving facial cleanliness and environmental conditions to reduce transmission. To understand the molecular epidemiology of trachoma, especially in the context of MDA and transmission dynamics, the identification of Ct genotypes could be useful. While many studies have used the Ct major outer membrane protein gene (ompA) for genotyping, it has limitations. Our study applies a typing system novel to trachoma, Multiple Loci Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis combined with ompA (MLVA-ompA). Ocular swabs were collected post-MDA from four trachoma-endemic zones in Ethiopia between 2011-2017. DNA from 300 children with high Ct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) loads was typed using MLVA-ompA, utilizing 3 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) loci within the Ct genome. Results show that MLVA-ompA exhibited high discriminatory power (0.981) surpassing the recommended threshold for epidemiological studies. We identified 87 MLVA-ompA variants across 26 districts. No significant associations were found between variants and clinical signs or chlamydial load. Notably, overall Ct diversity significantly decreased after additional MDA rounds, with a higher proportion of serovar A post-MDA. Despite challenges in sequencing one VNTR locus (CT1299), MLVA-ompA demonstrated cost-effectiveness and efficiency relative to whole genome sequencing, providing valuable information for trachoma control programs on local epidemiology. The findings suggest the potential of MLVA-ompA as a reliable tool for typing ocular Ct and understanding transmission dynamics, aiding in the development of targeted interventions for trachoma control.

Asunto(s)

Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa , Chlamydia trachomatis , Genotipo , Repeticiones de Minisatélite , Tracoma , Chlamydia trachomatis/genética , Chlamydia trachomatis/aislamiento & purificación , Chlamydia trachomatis/clasificación , Tracoma/epidemiología , Tracoma/microbiología , Tracoma/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Etiopía/epidemiología , Repeticiones de Minisatélite/genética , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/genética , Femenino , Masculino , Preescolar , Tipificación Molecular/métodos , Azitromicina/uso terapéutico , Variación Genética , Lactante , Niño , Antibacterianos/farmacología , ADN Bacteriano/genética

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The main causes of hospital- and community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a group of Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains with multiple virulence factors known as uropathogenic E. coli. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred E. coli isolates from the urine specimens of hospital- and community-acquired UTI patients were characterized based on their virulence factors and genetic relatedness using PCR and RAPD‒PCR, respectively. Among all, the traT (71%), sitA (64%), ompT (54%), malX (49%), ibeA (44%), tsh (39%), hlyD (18%) and cnf1 (12%) genes had the highest to lowest frequencies, respectively. There was no significant difference between the frequency of tested virulence genes in E. coli isolates from inpatients and outpatients. The frequency of the hlyD gene was significantly greater in E. coli isolates from patients hospitalized in gynecology, dermatology and intensive care unit (ICU) wards than in those from other wards. Eight virulence gene patterns were common among the isolates of inpatients in different wards of the same hospital, of which five patterns belonged to the isolates of inpatients in the same ward. More E. coli isolates with similar virulence gene patterns and greater genetic similarity were found in female patients than in male patients. The analysis of the RAPD‒PCR dendrograms revealed more genetic similarities among the E. coli isolates from inpatients than among those from outpatients. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate the presence of a wide variety of virulence factors in E. coli isolates and the possibility of spreading the same clones in different wards of the hospital.

Asunto(s)

Infecciones por Escherichia coli , Infecciones Urinarias , Escherichia coli Uropatógena , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Infecciones por Escherichia coli/tratamiento farmacológico , Virulencia/genética , Técnica del ADN Polimorfo Amplificado Aleatorio , Infecciones Urinarias/tratamiento farmacológico , Hospitales , Tipificación Molecular , Factores de Virulencia/genética , Escherichia coli Uropatógena/genética , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The incidence of breast cancer ranks highest among cancers and is exceedingly heterogeneous. Immunohistochemical staining is commonly used clinically to identify the molecular subtype for subsequent treatment and prognosis. PURPOSE: Raman spectroscopy and support vector machine (SVM) learning algorithm were utilized to identify blood samples from breast cancer patients in order to investigate a novel molecular typing approach. METHOD: Tumor tissue coarse needle aspiration biopsy samples, and peripheral venous blood samples were gathered from 459 invasive breast cancer patients admitted to the breast department of Sichuan Cancer Hospital between June 2021 and September 2022. Immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization were performed on the coarse needle aspiration biopsy tissues to obtain their molecular typing pathological labels, including: 70 cases of Luminal A, 167 cases of Luminal B (HER2-positive), 57 cases of Luminal B (HER2-negative), 84 cases of HER2-positive, and 81 cases of triple-negative. Blood samples were processed to obtained Raman spectra taken for SVM classification models establishment with machine algorithms (using 80% of the sample data as the training set), and then the performance of the SVM classification models was evaluated by the independent validation set (20% of the sample data). RESULTS: The AUC values of SVM classification models remained above 0.85, demonstrating outstanding model performance and excellent subtype discrimination of breast cancer molecular subtypes. CONCLUSION: Raman spectroscopy of serum samples can promptly and precisely detect the molecular subtype of invasive breast cancer, which has the potential for clinical value.

Asunto(s)

Neoplasias de la Mama , Receptor ErbB-2 , Espectrometría Raman , Máquina de Vectores de Soporte , Humanos , Femenino , Neoplasias de la Mama/sangre , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Espectrometría Raman/métodos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Receptor ErbB-2/metabolismo , Receptor ErbB-2/análisis , Receptor ErbB-2/sangre , Adulto , Biomarcadores de Tumor/sangre , Tipificación Molecular/métodos , Anciano , Pronóstico , Invasividad Neoplásica

RESUMEN

Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were recovered from surface river water samples in La Rioja region (Spain) to characterise their antibiotic resistance, molecular typing and virulence mechanisms. Fifty-two P. aeruginosa isolates were isolated from 15 different water samples (45.4%) and belonged to 23 different pulsed-field electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns. All isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics tested, except one carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa that showed a premature stop codon in OprD porin. Twenty-two sequence types (STs) (six new ones) were detected among 29 selected P. aeruginosa (one strain with a different PFGE pattern per sample), with ST274 (14%) being the most frequent one. O:6 and O:3 were the predominant serotypes (31%). Seven virulotypes were detected, being 59% exoS-exoY-exoT-exoA-lasA-lasB-lasI-lasR-rhlAB-rhlI-rhlR-aprA-positive P. aeruginosa. It is noteworthy that the exlA gene was identified in three strains (10.3%), and the exoU gene in seven (24.1%), exoS in 18 (62.1%), and both exoS and exoU genes in one strain. High motility ranges were found in these strains. Twenty-seven per cent of strains produced more biofilm biomass, 90% more pyorubin, 83% more pyocyanin and 65.5% more than twice the elastase activity compared with the PAO1 strain. These results highlight the importance of rivers as temporary reservoirs and sources of P. aeruginosa transmission, and show the importance of their epidemiological surveillance in the environment.

Asunto(s)

Infecciones por Pseudomonas , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Humanos , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genética , Virulencia/genética , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Ríos , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , Tipificación Molecular , Factores de Virulencia/genética , Agua

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen which is an important cause of hospital-acquired and antibiotic resistance infections. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the frequency of resistance to antibiotics, as well as the molecular typing of the associated isolates, and compare multiple-locus VNTR analysis (MLVA) and Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ERIC-PCR) methods to specify the degree to which distinctions can be separated from each other. METHODS AND MATERIALS: One hundred K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from different sources of infections from patients admitted to hospitals. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was then performed by applying the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Typing of K. pneumoniae was done by utilizing MLVA and ERIC-PCR methods. RESULTS: Eighty-six multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae isolates were identified, which resistance to ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ceftriaxone was the most frequent in the considered isolates (100, 93, and 93%, respectively). A total of 50 different antibiotic susceptibility patterns were observed among the MDR K. pneumonia, with the most frequent pattern being resistance to all antibiotics (12.79%) and resistance to all antibiotics except amikacin (10.47%). The isolates were then divided into 37 different MLVA types and seven clonal complexes were obtained from the minimum spanning tree analysis. Finally, the isolates were assigned to 38 different ERIC types. The discriminatory power of MLVA and ERIC methods also showed a value of 0.958, and 0.974. CONCLUSION: Both PCR-typing methods with phenotypic patterns can be useful for the epidemiological typing of K. pneumoniae isolates with the highest performance in discriminating isolates.

Asunto(s)

Infecciones por Klebsiella , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Humanos , Klebsiella pneumoniae/genética , Infecciones por Klebsiella/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones por Klebsiella/epidemiología , Infecciones por Klebsiella/microbiología , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Tipificación Molecular/métodos , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Enterobacteriaceae

RESUMEN

AIM: Norway has a low prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and reporting of all MRSA cases has been mandatory, including infections and carriage, since 1995 and 2005 accordingly. This provides a unique window to study the spread of MRSA in Norway over time. The aim of this study was to analyze the nationwide trends in the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in Norway over a period of 10 years. METHODS: Clinical and epidemiological data as well as bacterial genotype (spa-type and PVL) were analyzed for all reported MRSA cases in Norway in the period 2008-2017. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 15,200 MRSA cases reported in Norway, from 14,386 patients. The notification rate per 100,000 population increased by 15% annually, rising from 14.2 in 2007 to 48.6 in 2017. This increase was primarily driven by MRSA carriage and community-associated MRSA cases. The incidence of invasive infections remained stable and low, at less than 0.5. The incidence of healthcare-associated MRSA showed an increasing trend, while the number of outbreak-related cases, particularly those associated with nursing homes, decreased. Overall, there were significantly more MRSA infections in males than females. Interestingly, there was a significantly higher prevalence of MRSA infections in female young adolescents compared to males. spa-typing revealed a very heterogeneous MRSA population (D = 0.97), predominantly impacted by international travel and migration patterns, and less by domestic spread in the community. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that Norway, while still classified as a low-prevalence country, has experienced a significant increase in the incidence of MRSA between 2008 and 2017, which can predominantly be attributed to CA-MRSA and MRSA carriage.

Asunto(s)

Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina , Infecciones Estafilocócicas , Masculino , Adolescente , Humanos , Femenino , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/genética , Epidemiología Molecular , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/microbiología , Casas de Salud , Noruega/epidemiología , Genotipo , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Tipificación Molecular

RESUMEN

This study was conducted for identifying phylogenetic relationships between 15 scab-causing Streptomyces species including S. bottropensis, S. europaeiscabiei, S. scabiei, S. stelliscabiei and, other 11 Streptomyces sp. All of the strains were originally isolated from symptomatic potatoes in Erzurum Province, The Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. Some morphological and biochemical properties of the strains were defined in our former research. Then, 16 s rRNA regions of them were sequenced. After the sequence data assembly, phylogenetic analyzes were performed. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that the strains are involved in the same major group and, substantially similar to reference strains. Additionally, some subgroup formations were also recorded. Moreover, Repetitive element-based PCR (Rep-PCR), Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC-PCR), and BOX-PCR fingerprinting molecular typing methods were used for as molecular typing methods. According to our knowledge, this is the first report on phylogenetic relationships of scab-causing Streptomyces species from Turkey. However, the identification of most pathogenic strains remained at the species level.

Asunto(s)

Enterobacteriaceae , Streptomyces , Turquía , Filogenia , Tipificación Molecular , Streptomyces/genética

RESUMEN

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide prevalence that is caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This study aimed to summarize available data on genotyping T. gondii strains based on the GRA6 gene marker in different hosts around the world. We conducted a comprehensive literature search using five international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) from inception until December 2021. We identified 32 papers eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. The majority of studies (50%) were carried out in Iran (n = 16) to identify T. gondii genotypes based on the GRA6 gene. Other countries with reported studies include China, Japan, Sweden, and Italy (n = 2 each). Out of 3,434 samples collected from various hosts, most studies (n = 11) focused on human samples (34.4%), followed by ovine (n = 7), pig (n = 4), goat (n = 3) and soil and cattle (n = 2).Using various molecular methods such as conventional PCR, nested-PCR, real-time PCR, microsatellite analysis, and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), we found DNA positive results in 805 out of 3,434 samples. Of these, 285 (35.40%), 207 (25.71%), 182 (22.60%), 65 (8.07%), and 18 (2.23%) were infected with types I, II, III, mix I, II, III, and mix II, III, respectively. Our data demonstrate that the GRA6 gene marker has sufficient polymorphism to detect three types of T. gondii genotypes in various hosts. Identifying the specific genotype could be valuable in developing new strategies for treatment, vaccination, diagnosis, control, and prevention of T. gondii infection.

Asunto(s)

Antígenos de Protozoos , Tipificación Molecular , Proteínas Protozoarias , Toxoplasma , Animales , Bovinos , Humanos , Antígenos de Protozoos/genética , Marcadores Genéticos , Genotipo , Cabras/parasitología , Irán/epidemiología , Tipificación Molecular/métodos , Polimorfismo de Longitud del Fragmento de Restricción , Proteínas Protozoarias/análisis , Proteínas Protozoarias/genética , Ovinos , Porcinos , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasma/clasificación , Toxoplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Toxoplasmosis Animal/parasitología