Development and evaluation of latex agglutination tests for the detection of human antibodies to the lipopolysaccharides of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) serogroups O157 and non-O157.

Latex agglutination tests (LAT) were developed and evaluated for the rapid detection of LPS antibodies against E. coli serogroup O157, O26, O104, O111 and O145. The latex tests have been proved to be sensitive, fast, easy-to-perform and cost-efficient tools for the screening serodiagnosis of VTEC infections causing haemolytic-uraemic syndrome.

Usefulness of in-house obtained recombinant proteins Yop of Yersinia enterocolitica as highly specific antigens in ELISA and recom-dot performed in the serodiagnosis of yersiniosis.

Introduction: Proper analysis of the human immune response is crucial in the laboratory diagnosis of many bacterial infections-The current serological diagnosis of yersiniosis often is carried out using ELISA with native antigens. However, recombinant proteins increase the specificity of the serological assays, particularly in patients with chronic, non- specific infections. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of in-house obtained recombinant proteins Yop of Yersinia enterocolitica as highly specific antigens in ELISA and recom-dot performed in the serodiagnosis of yersiniosis.

[The occurrence of infections caused by Francisella tularensis in humans in Poland and laboratory diagnosis of tularemia].

Tularemia is a serious infectious zoonotic disease, caused by Gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis. Natural reservoir of infection are small mammals such a mice, voles, squirrels and rabbits. Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected animals or contaminated environments, or through arthropod vectors.

[Use of selected recombinant proteins in serodiagnosis of infections caused by verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in humans].

Introduction: Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) are a significant cause of haemor- rhagic colitis (HC) and haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. Because VTEC isolates are usually present in patients' feces for only a limited period of time serodiagnosis based on the purified antigens have become the useful tool for laboratory diagnosis and monitoring of prevalence of VTEC infections.

[Health risks associated with the environmental presence of toxigenic moulds].

This study reviews the occurrence and most common health effect of exposure to moulds in different environment. The short characteristic of chosen toxigenic fungi and the major mycotoxin classes was also presented. Exposure to allergens may cause human disease, including allergic rhinitis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis asthma and sick building syndrome.

Development and evaluation of a latex agglutination test for the rapid serodiagnosis of tularemia.

A latex agglutination test (LAT) was developed for a rapid detection of antibodies against Francisella tularensis. The assay is performed by mixing serum with antigen-coated latex beads and read within 5 min. Developed LAT has been proved to be a specific, sensitive, fast, easy-to-perform and cost-efficient tool for the routine diagnosis of tularemia.

[Problems in the serological diagnosis of atypical pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila and Mycoplasma pneumoniae].

Introduction: The clinical presentation of atypical pneumonia is often similar to the presentation of more typical bacterial pneumonias and the etiological agent must be confirmed by laboratory diagnosis. This article will discuss the problems in the serological diagnosis of atypical pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila and Mycoplasma pneumoniae which are the agents most commonly associated with atypical pneumonia. Specifically, seeking the possibility of non-specific response, we evaluated the prevalence of antibodies to M.

Usefulness of the (GTG)4-PCR for typing of monophasic Salmonella enterica isolates with antigenic shame l,4,[5],12:i:-.

Introduction: Monophasic Salmonella enterica strains presenting the antigenic shame 1,4,[5],12:i:- are becoming more prevalent. Accurate identification of such strains is hard with routine using biochemical and serological tests. Such strains can be identified with molecular tests.

Molecular Methods for Identification of Monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium Strains.

Two molecular biology methods were used to differentiate Salmonella enterica 1,4,[5],12:i:- strains: "Salmonella Check&Trace microarray" (CT) and multiplex PCR (mPCR). For 92 strains in CT result "Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:-" were obtained. Those strains were confirmed in mPCR as monophasic fljB-lack Salmonella Typhimurium.

Co-existence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants and mutations in gyrA and parC among fluoroquinolone-resistant clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolated in a tertiary hospital in Warsaw, Poland.

Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants and the distribution of mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA and parC were investigated in 215 ciprofloxacin-resistant (MIC>1mg/L) clinical Enterobacteriaceae collected during a 6-month prospective study in a tertiary hospital in Warsaw, Poland. PMQR determinants were present in 49 isolates (22.8%), among which aac(6')-Ib-cr and qnrB1 predominated (85.

[Occurrence and characterization of monophasic Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica with antigenic formula 1,4, [5], 12: i:-isolated in Poland in 2007-2012].

Introduction: Salmonella is significant etiological agent of bacterial intestinal infections in Poland and other European Union countries. Since the 90's increasing incidence of monophasic Salmonella antigenic formula 1,4,[5],12:i:-has been observed, which are divided into two lineages: Spanish and European. More common European lineage are characterized by antimicrobial resistance ASSuT and DT193 phagetype.

[Occurrence and characterisation of aac(6')-Ib-cr gene encoding fluoroquinolone-modifying enzyme in clinical ciprofloxacin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated in Poland].

Introduction: The aac(6')-Ib-cr gene encodes a variant of aminoglycoside acetyltransferase that confers reduced susceptibility to hydrophilic fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. AAC(6')-Ib-cr has two amino acid changes, Trp 102Arg and Asp179Tyr, which together are necessery and sufficient for the enzyme's ability to reduce the activity of fluoroquinolones, including ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevelance of aac(6')-Ib-cr determinant among 15 Enterobacteriaceae isolates randomly chosen from 215 fluorochinolone resistant strains recovered during the 6 months of 2010.

[Prevalence of qnr genes in clinical Enterobacteriaceae non-susceptible to fluoroquinolone in Poland].

Introduction: Fluoroquinolone are broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents extensively used by physicians. This widespread use has been associated with increased level ofquinolone resistance strains, particularly in Enterobacteriaceae. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) including Qnr determinants with the potential for horizontal transfer confer to quinolone resistance.

Molecular epidemiology of a household outbreak of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli in Poland due to secondary transmission of STEC O104:H4 from Germany.

We characterized two STEC O104 : H4 clinical isolates collected in Poland from a 7-year-old boy with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and his nanny. This household outbreak began on 29 May 2011. Because of its time-frame, the outbreak was assumed to be part of the international STEC O104 : H4 outbreak that arose in Germany in May 2011.

[Molecular investigation of enteroaggregative, shiga toxin-producing E. coli O104:H4 isolated in Poland during the recent international outbreak--characteristic of epidemic clone].

Since early May 2011 a large food-borne outbreak caused by E. coli O104:H4 affected Germany then spread over 13 European countries, U.S.