Assessment of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels among university students vaccinated with different COVID-19 primary and booster doses - fall 2021, Wisconsin.

Background: University students commonly received COVID-19 vaccinations before returning to U.S. campuses in the Fall of 2021.

Rapid Diagnostic Testing for Response to the Monkeypox Outbreak - Laboratory Response Network, United States, May 17-June 30, 2022.

As part of public health preparedness for infectious disease threats, CDC collaborates with other U.S. public health officials to ensure that the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) has diagnostic tools to detect Orthopoxviruses, the genus that includes Variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox.

The Role of Isavuconazonium Sulphate for the Treatment of Blastomycosis: A Case Series and Antifungal Susceptibility.

Background: spp, the etiologic agents of blastomycosis, are endemic dimorphic fungi that require prolonged antifungal therapy, which can be complicated by adverse drug effects. Isavuconazonium sulphate (ISA) is a triazole with in vitro and in vivo activity against spp, but there is a paucity of clinical data supporting its use for treatment of blastomycosis.

Methods: This retrospective case series identified 14 patients with blastomycosis at least partially treated with ISA at the University of Wisconsin between 2015 and 2019.

A cohort study measuring SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion and serial viral testing in university students.

Background: To improve understanding of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we examined seroprevalence, incidence of infection, and seroconversion among a cohort of young adults living on university campuses during the fall of 2020.

Methods: At the beginning (semester start) and end (semester end) of an 11-week period, serum collected from 107 students was tested using the qualitative Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG and AdviseDx SARS-CoV-2 IgG II assays. Results were matched to interim weekly surveillance viral testing and symptom data.

Performance of Repeat BinaxNOW Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antigen Testing in a Community Setting, Wisconsin, November 2020-December 2020.

Repeating the BinaxNOW antigen test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 using 2 groups of readers within 30 minutes resulted in high concordance (98.9%) in 2110 encounters. Same-day repeat antigen testing did not significantly improve test sensitivity (77.

Attempted Isolation of Cryptococcus Species and Incidental Isolation of Exophiala dermatitidis from Human Oral Cavities.

Recent molecular studies suggest that Cryptococcus may inhabit the normal human mouth. We attempted to isolate Cryptococcus from 21 adult non-acutely ill patients and 40 volunteer medical and non-medical staff in Southeastern Wisconsin, USA. An upper lip sulcus culture and an oral rinse specimen were inoculated separately onto Staib (birdseed) agar containing chloramphenicol and incubated in gas impermeable zip lock bags at 35 °C.

Urine Antigen Testing is Equally Sensitive to and Infections.

Introduction: Blastomycosis is endemic in Wisconsin with and responsible for infections. Urine antigen testing is a non-invasive diagnostic method for blastomycosis with up to 93% test sensitivity. However, the test's sensitivity has not been evaluated with relationship to infections.

An Unusual Case of Actinomucor elegans: A Challenging Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND Actinomucor elegans is an unusual cause of mucormycosis and can be difficult to identify by conventional methods. Mucormycosis has a very high mortality rate, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Due to the morbid and progressive nature of opportunistic fungal infections, early diagnosis is paramount for effective disease management.

Two Cases Illustrating the Diagnostic Challenge of Pediatric Blastomycosis Presenting as Osteomyelitis.

Blastomyces dermatitidis is a dimorphic fungus endemic to the United States and Canada. Although both Histoplasma and Blastomyces are found in similar geographic regions, Blastomyces is many times more likely to cause dissemination in the immunocompetent host, frequently involving the bone. However, given the indolent nature of this fungal infection and more prevalent bacterial etiologies of osteomyelitis, diagnosis and treatment are often significantly delayed.

Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes in Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Patients With Blastomycosis.

Background: Blastomyces is a dimorphic fungus that infects persons with or without underlying immunocompromise. To date, no study has compared the clinical features and outcomes of blastomycosis between immunocompromised and immunocompetent persons.

Methods: A retrospective study of adult patients with proven blastomycosis from 2004-2016 was conducted at the University of Wisconsin.

Strengthening Public Health in Wisconsin Through the Wisconsin Clinical Laboratory Network.

The Wisconsin Clinical Laboratory Network (WCLN) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a partnership of 138 clinical and public health laboratories (as of February 2019) coordinated by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. This article describes the WCLN, its current activities, and lessons learned through this partnership. A laboratory technical advisory group, which consists of representatives from clinical laboratories, provides clinical laboratory perspective to the WCLN and fosters communication among laboratories.

The Shock of Strep: Rapid Deaths Due to Group a Streptococcus.

, also known as group A beta-hemolytic strep, is a Gram positive coccus responsible for several million infections every year. The types of infections vary widely from pharyngitis to myositis, but all can advance to severe life threatening invasive disease. Of those infected, approximately 1100 to 1600 people die each year due to invasive disease.

Serratia marcescens Bacteremia: Nosocomial Cluster Following Narcotic Diversion.

OBJECTIVE To describe the investigation and control of a cluster of Serratia marcescens bacteremia in a 505-bed tertiary-care center. METHODS Cluster cases were defined as all patients with S. marcescens bacteremia between March 2 and April 7, 2014, who were found to have identical or related blood isolates determined by molecular typing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

First described case of prosthetic joint infection with Clostridium disporicum.

An orthopedic hardware infection with Clostridium disporicum is described. C. disporicum is a gram positive anaerobic bacillus which can contain two subterminal spores.

Blastomycosis in Wisconsin: Beyond the Outbreaks.

In the summer of 2015, many individuals visiting the Little Wolf River in Waupaca County were exposed to the pathogenic fungus, Over time, 59 confirmed and 39 probable cases were reported to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (W-DHS), making this one of the largest outbreaks in recent state history. Though most instances of blastomycosis are not associated with common source outbreaks, cases such as this highlight the need for vigilance regarding this preventable cause of death. In the state of Wisconsin, an average of 118.

Macrolide and Clindamycin Resistance in Group a Streptococci Isolated From Children With Pharyngitis.

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is responsible for 15%-30% of cases of acute pharyngitis in children. Macrolides such as azithromycin have become popular for treating GAS pharyngitis. We report macrolide resistance rates in a primary care setting in our geographic area over the past 5 years and discuss the implications of resistance in making treatment decisions.

Fungal Mimicry of a Mammalian Aminopeptidase Disables Innate Immunity and Promotes Pathogenicity.

Systemic fungal infections trigger marked immune-regulatory disturbances, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. We report that the pathogenic yeast of Blastomyces dermatitidis elaborates dipeptidyl-peptidase IVA (DppIVA), a close mimic of the mammalian ectopeptidase CD26, which modulates critical aspects of hematopoiesis. We show that, like the mammalian enzyme, fungal DppIVA cleaved C-C chemokines and GM-CSF.

Calnexin induces expansion of antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells that confer immunity to fungal ascomycetes via conserved epitopes.

Fungal infections remain a threat due to the lack of broad-spectrum fungal vaccines and protective antigens. Recent studies showed that attenuated Blastomyces dermatitidis confers protection via T cell recognition of an unknown but conserved antigen. Using transgenic CD4(+) T cells recognizing this antigen, we identify an amino acid determinant within the chaperone calnexin that is conserved across diverse fungal ascomycetes.

The unappreciated intracellular lifestyle of Blastomyces dermatitidis.

Blastomyces dermatitidis, a dimorphic fungus and the causative agent of blastomycosis, is widely considered an extracellular pathogen, with little evidence for a facultative intracellular lifestyle. We infected mice with spores, that is, the infectious particle, via the pulmonary route and studied intracellular residence, transition to pathogenic yeast, and replication inside lung cells. Nearly 80% of spores were inside cells at 24 h postinfection with 10(4) spores.

Complement component 3C3 and C3a receptor are required in chitin-dependent allergic sensitization to Aspergillus fumigatus but dispensable in chitin-induced innate allergic inflammation.

Levels of the anaphylatoxin C3a are increased in patients with asthma compared with those in nonasthmatics and increase further still during asthma exacerbations. However, the role of C3a during sensitization to allergen is poorly understood. Sensitization to fungal allergens, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, is a strong risk factor for the development of asthma.

Aptamer-based multiplexed proteomic technology for biomarker discovery.

Background: The interrogation of proteomes ("proteomics") in a highly multiplexed and efficient manner remains a coveted and challenging goal in biology and medicine.

Methodology/principal Findings: We present a new aptamer-based proteomic technology for biomarker discovery capable of simultaneously measuring thousands of proteins from small sample volumes (15 µL of serum or plasma). Our current assay measures 813 proteins with low limits of detection (1 pM median), 7 logs of overall dynamic range (~100 fM-1 µM), and 5% median coefficient of variation.