Clinical Science and Epidemiology
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyAnalysis of Global Collection of Group A Streptococcus Genomes Reveals that the Majority Encode a Trio of M and M-Like ProteinsWhile the GAS M protein has been the leading vaccine target for decades, the bacteria encode many other virulence factors of interest for vaccine development. In this work, we show that emm-like genes are encoded in a remarkable majority of GAS genomes and expressed at a level similar to that for the emm gene. In collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, we developed molecular definitions of the...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyOrigin of OXA-23 Variant OXA-239 from a Recently Emerged Lineage of Acinetobacter baumannii International Clone VA. baumannii is a major cause of nosocomial infections all over the world. Although many isolates from developed countries have been studied in terms of their genome sequence, isolates from Latin America have been much less studied. In this study, using a population genomics approach considering the whole genomes of 148 isolates, we describe the recent emergence of...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyMultilaboratory Comparison of Pneumococcal Multiplex Immunoassays Used in Immunosurveillance of Streptococcus pneumoniae across EuropeSerology of Streptococcus pneumoniae is challenging due to existence of multiple clinically relevant serotypes and the introduction of multivalent vaccines in national immunization programs. Multiplex immunoassays (MIAs) are applied as high-throughput cost-effective methods for serosurveillance, and yet laboratories use their own protocols. The aims of this study were...
Observation | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyOccurrence and Genomic Characterization of Two MCR-1-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from the Same Mink FarmerColistin resistance is a real threat for both human and animal health. The mobile colistin resistance gene mcr has contributed to the persistence and transmission of colistin resistance at the interfaces of animals, humans, and ecosystems. Although mcr genes have usually been recovered from food animals, patients, and healthy humans, transmission of mcr genes at the animal-human interface remains largely...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyReduced Fitness Costs of mcr-1.2 Compared to Mutated pmrB in Isogenic Colistin-Resistant KPC-3-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniaeOur study shows a successful prolonged human colonization by a colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate harboring mcr-1.2. An intense antibiotic therapy contributed to the maintenance of this microorganism through the acquisition of new resistance genes. The isolates carrying mcr-1.2 showed fewer fitness costs than isogenic isolates with a...
Observation | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyIMP-68, a Novel IMP-Type Metallo-β-Lactamase in Imipenem-Susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniaeIMP-type metallo-β-lactamases comprise one group of the “Big 5” carbapenemases. Here, a novel blaIMP-68 gene encoding IMP-68 (harboring a Ser262Gly point mutant of IMP-11) was discovered from meropenem-resistant but imipenem-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae TA6363. The Ser262Gly substitution was previously identified as important for substrate...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyMolecular Epidemiology of Noninvasive and Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections in Cape TownThe development of a vaccine for group A streptococcus (GAS) is of paramount importance given that GAS infections cause more than 500,000 deaths annually across the world. This prospective passive surveillance laboratory study evaluated the potential coverage of the M protein-based vaccine currently under development. While a number of GAS strains isolated from this sub-Sahara African study were included in the current vaccine...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyGenetic Characterization of Plasmid-Borne blaOXA-58 in Distinct Acinetobacter SpeciesAlthough the blaOXA-58 gene has been infrequently described in Brazil, contrasting with other bordering South American countries, we verified the maintenance of this resistance determinant over time among carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter species isolates, not only in nosocomial settings but also in the environment. In addition, to the best of our...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyComparative Genomics Reveals a Well-Conserved Intrinsic Resistome in the Emerging Multidrug-Resistant Pathogen Cupriavidus gilardiiCupriavidus gilardii is a bacterium that is gaining increasing attention both as an infectious agent and because of its potential use in the detoxification of toxic compounds and other biotechnological applications. In recent years, however, there has been an increasing number of reported infections, some of them fatal, caused by...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyMultiple β-Lactam Resistance Gene-Carrying Plasmid Harbored by Klebsiella quasipneumoniae Isolated from Urban Sewage in JapanIn our investigation of urban wastewater in Japan, carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. quasipneumoniae was isolated that carried the pTMSNI47-1 plasmid, which carries four β-lactamase genes and has transferability among Enterobacteriaceae. pTMSNI47-1 was found to encode a rarely reported carbapenemase, KHM-1. Cooperative effects of...