Brumadinho dam collapse induces changes in the microbiome and the antibiotic resistance of the Paraopeba River (Minas Gerais, Brazil).

The rupture of the Córrego do Feijão dam in Brumadinho (January 25, 2019) caused serious damage to the Paraopeba River and compromised the quality of its waters for human consumption. However, the possible effects of the dam collapse on the river microbiome and its antibiotic resistance profiles are unknown. The present study aims to analyse the possible shifts in microbial diversity and enhancement of antibiotic resistance in the Paraopeba River.

Changes in Group B Colonization among Pregnant Women before and after the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal infections. The genitourinary and gastrointestinal tract of pregnant women are the main source of transmission to newborns. This work investigated the prevalence and characterized GBS from pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, comparing the periods before (January 2019 to March 2020; 521) and during (May 2020 to March 2021; 285) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virulence-Associated Characteristics of Serotype 14 and Serogroup 9 Clones Circulating in Brazil: Association of Penicillin Non-susceptibility With Transparent Colony Phenotype Variants.

remains a major agent of invasive diseases, especially in children and the elderly. The presence of pneumococcal capsule, pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), and pilus type 1 (PI-1) and the ability of colony phase variation are assumed to play important roles in the virulence potential of this microorganism. Differences in the capsular polysaccharide allow the characterization of more than 90 pneumococcal serotypes; among them, serotype 14 and serogroup 9 stand out due to their prevalence in the pre- pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era and frequent association with penicillin non-susceptibility.

Biofilm production and distribution of pilus variants among isolated from human and animal sources.

(group B , GBS) is a major pathogen in humans and animals. Pili and biofilm may be important virulence factors in this bacterial species. Here, biofilm production and the distribution of pilus variants among 134 GBS isolates from human and animal sources were evaluated.

Streptococcus agalactiae carriage among pregnant women living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, over a period of eight years.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) carriage by pregnant women is the primary risk factor for early-onset GBS neonatal sepsis. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) can prevent this transmission route, and two main approaches are recommended to base the selection of pregnant women to be submitted to IAP: the risk-based and the culture-based strategies. In Brazil, compliance to such recommendations is poor, and not much is known about GBS carriage.

Recovered from Humans, Food, and Recreational Waters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

is an important agent of urinary tract infection (UTI) in young women, but information about this pathogen in human microbiota and in common environment is lacking. The aim of this study was to characterize isolates from genitoanal microbiota of 621 pregnant women, 10 minas cheese packs, and five beaches in Rio de Janeiro city and compare PFGE profiles of these isolates with five UTI PFGE clusters described in this city. We investigated 65 isolates from microbiota, 13 from minas cheese, and 30 from beaches and 32 UTI isolates.

Potential of MALDI-TOF MS as an alternative approach for capsular typing Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates.

Streptococcus pneumoniae can be classified in more than 90 capsular types, as traditionally determined by serological methods and more recently by PCR-based techniques. Such methods, however, can be expensive, laborious or unable to accurately discriminate among certain serotypes. Therefore, determination of capsular types, although extremely important for epidemiological purposes and for estimating the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, is mainly restricted to research laboratories, being rarely performed in the clinical setting.

Streptococcus agalactiae in Brazil: serotype distribution, virulence determinants and antimicrobial susceptibility.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a major cause of neonatal sepsis and is also associated with invasive and noninvasive infections in pregnant women and non-pregnant adults, elderly and patients with underlying medical conditions. Ten capsular serotypes have been recognized, and determination of their distribution within a specific population or geographical region is important as they are major targets for the development of vaccine strategies. We have evaluated the characteristics of GBS isolates recovered from individuals with infections or colonization by this microorganism, living in different geographic regions of Brazil.

Group B Streptococcus in a cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women: prevalence of colonization, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility profile.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of infectious morbidity in newborns. We describe the prevalence of GBS colonization and the serotypes and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of isolates obtained from a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women. This was a cross-sectional study at a centre for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Maternal group B streptococcal immunization: capsular polysaccharide (CPS)-based vaccines and their implications on prevention.

Group B streptococcal (GBS) capsular polysaccharide (CPS)-based conjugate vaccine, which includes types Ia, Ib, II, III, and V, could potentially prevent neonatal, pediatric, adult, and pregnancy-associated diseases. However, since GBS CPS types included in that vaccine are prevalent serotypes found in North America and Europe, it may not provide the necessary protection for individuals in countries in which other capsular types have been found.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of group B streptococcal isolates in southern Brazil.

One-hundred sixty-eight group B streptococcal (GBS) isolates from a Brazilian hospital were phenotypically and genotypically characterized. Isolates were recovered from human sources from April 2006 to May 2008 and classified as either invasive, noninvasive, or colonizing isolates. Classical methods for serotyping and antibiotic resistance profiling were employed.