Publications by authors named "Alice J Fraser"
Article Synopsis
- Infections caused by Enterobacterales are becoming harder to treat due to increasing antimicrobial resistance, particularly following the switch from chloramphenicol to ceftriaxone for suspected sepsis in Malawi in 2004.
- Surprisingly, while extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria emerged, resistance to chloramphenicol decreased in certain E. coli and Klebsiella strains, hinting at a potential comeback for chloramphenicol.
- Research shows that 31% of the tested Malawian E. coli and Klebsiella isolates have mismatched chloramphenicol susceptibility genotypes and phenotypes; significant changes in cat gene stability suggest chloramphenicol could be reintroduced as
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs), with mutations linked to increased transmissibility, vaccine escape and virulence, has necessitated the widespread genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. This has placed a strain on global sequencing capacity, especially in areas lacking the resources for large scale sequencing activities. Here we have developed three separate multiplex high-resolution melting assays to enable the identification of Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron VOCs.
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- * Found that the TZP-R/3GC-S phenotype appeared across various genetic sequences and had a diverse set of plasmids, suggesting multiple origins for the resistance rather than just one.
- * Identified multiple mechanisms contributing to resistance, including increased production of specific enzymes and new mutations; emphasized the importance of ongoing monitoring to detect and predict these complex resistance patterns.
Background: There are an abundance of commercially available lateral flow assays (LFAs) that detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Whilst these are usually evaluated by the manufacturer, externally performed diagnostic accuracy studies to assess performance are essential. Herein we present an evaluation of 12 LFAs.
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- - The study analyzed antibody responses (IgG) in 177 individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection in London from March to May 2020, linking antibody levels to patient demographics and outcomes.
- - Findings revealed that 2.0%-8.5% of participants did not develop antibodies after 3-6 weeks, and those who did were generally older, had more health issues, and higher inflammatory markers.
- - Additionally, non-White participants had stronger antibody responses that persisted over time, suggesting that serologic assays could help monitor immune responses and inform public health strategies.
A phenotype of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, resistant to piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) but susceptible to carbapenems and 3rd generation cephalosporins, has emerged. The resistance mechanism associated with this phenotype has been identified as hyperproduction of the β-lactamase TEM. However, the mechanism of hyperproduction due to gene amplification is not well understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPCR of upper respiratory specimens is the diagnostic standard for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. However, saliva sampling is an easy alternative to nasal and throat swabbing. We found similar viral loads in saliva samples and in nasal and throat swab samples from 110 patients with coronavirus disease.
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