Genetic Characterization of Intimin Gene () in Clinical Shiga Toxin-Producing Strains from Pediatric Patients in Finland.

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing (STEC) infections cause outbreaks of severe disease in children ranging from bloody diarrhea to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The adherent factor intimin, encoded by , can facilitate the colonization process of strains and is frequently associated with severe disease. The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze the prevalence and polymorphisms of in clinical STEC strains from pediatric patients under 17 years old with and without HUS, and to assess the pathogenic risk of different subtypes.

Genome-wide association study of hemolytic uremic syndrome causing Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli from Sweden, 1994-2018.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection can cause clinical manifestations ranging from diarrhea to potentially fatal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This study is aimed at identifying STEC genetic factors associated with the development of HUS in Sweden. A total of 238 STEC genomes from STEC-infected patients with and without HUS between 1994 and 2018 in Sweden were included in this study.

The Local Tumor Microbiome Is Associated with Survival in Late-Stage Colorectal Cancer Patients.

The gut microbiome is associated with survival in colorectal cancer. Single organisms have been identified as markers of poor prognosis. However, imaging of tumors demonstrate a polymicrobial tumor-associated community.

High Prevalence and Persistence of Escherichia coli Strains Producing Shiga Toxin Subtype 2k in Goat Herds.

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a zoonotic pathogen with the ability to cause severe diseases like hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Shiga toxin (Stx) is the key virulence factor in STEC and can be classified into two types, Stx1 and Stx2, and different subtypes. Stx2k is a newly reported Stx2 subtype in E.

Genomic Characterization of O8 Strains Producing Shiga Toxin 2l Subtype.

Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) can cause diseases ranging from mild diarrhea to fatal extra-intestinal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Shiga toxin (Stx) is the key virulence factor in STEC, two Stx types (Stx1 and Stx2) and several subtypes varying in sequences, toxicity, and host specificity have been identified. Stx2l is a newly-designated subtype related to human disease but lacks thorough characterization.

Comparative Genomics of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Pediatric Patients with and without Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome from 2000 to 2016 in Finland.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection can cause mild to severe illness, such as nonbloody or bloody diarrhea, and the fatal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The molecular mechanism underlying the variable pathogenicity of STEC infection is not fully defined so far. Here, we performed a comparative genomics study on a large collection of clinical STEC strains collected from STEC-infected pediatric patients with and without HUS in Finland over a 16-year period, aiming to identify the bacterial genetic factors that can predict the risk to cause HUS and poor renal outcome.

Characterization of a outbreak caused by PCR ribotype 046, associated with increased mortality.

This study describes a large nosocomial outbreak of infections (CDI) dominated by ribotype (RT) 046 in a Swedish hospital. The present study aimed to examine the pathogenicity of this RT, explore epidemiological links by whole genome sequencing (WGS), and evaluate different interventions implemented to stop the outbreak. Clinical isolates ( =  366) collected during and after the outbreak were ribotyped and 246 isolates were subjected to WGS.

Genomic Characteristics of Stx2e-Producing Strains Derived from Humans, Animals, and Meats.

Shiga toxin (Stx) can be classified into two types, Stx1 and Stx2, and different subtypes. Stx2e is a subtype commonly causing porcine edema disease and rarely reported in humans. The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Stx2e-producing (Stx2e-STEC) strains from humans compared to strains from animals and meats in China.

Molecular Detection of Bacteria in Cerebrospinal Fluid-Optimisation of Pre-Analytical Sample Handling for Increased Analytical Sensitivity.

The main tools for clinical diagnostics of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) are based on serology, i.e., detection of antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Whole-genome characterization of hemolytic uremic syndrome-causing Shiga toxin-producing in Sweden.

Shiga toxin-producing , a foodborne bacterial pathogen, has been linked to a broad spectrum of clinical outcomes ranging from asymptomatic carriage to fatal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Here, we collected clinical data and STEC strains from HUS patients from 1994 through 2018, whole-genome sequencing was performed to molecularly characterize HUS-associated STEC strains, statistical analysis was conducted to identify bacterial genetic factors associated with severe outcomes in HUS patients. O157:H7 was the most predominant serotype (57%) among 54 HUS-associated STEC strains, followed by O121:H19 (19%) and O26:H11 (7%).

Genomic Insights Into Clinical Shiga Toxin-Producing Strains: A 15-Year Period Survey in Jönköping, Sweden.

Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) are important foodborne pathogens that can cause human infections ranging from asymptomatic carriage to bloody diarrhea (BD) and fatal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). However, the molecular mechanism of STEC pathogenesis is not entirely known. Here, we demonstrated a large scale of molecular epidemiology and in-depth genomic study of clinical STEC isolates utilizing clinical and epidemiological data collected in Region Jönköping County, Sweden, over a 15-year period.

Molecular Characterization of the Enterohemolysin Gene () in Clinical Shiga Toxin-Producing Isolates.

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing (STEC) is an important foodborne pathogen with the ability to cause bloody diarrhea (BD) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Little is known about enterohemolysin-encoded by . Here we investigated the prevalence and diversity of in 239 STEC isolates from human clinical samples.

Molecular characteristics of -positive clinical Shiga toxin-producing in Sweden.

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing (STEC) can cause a wide range of symptoms from asymptomatic carriage, mild diarrhea to bloody diarrhea (BD) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Intimin, encoded by the gene, also plays a critical role in STEC pathogenesis. Herein, we investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of among clinical STEC isolates from patients with diarrhea, BD, HUS as well as from asymptomatic STEC-positive individuals in Sweden with whole-genome sequencing.

Protozoan infections are under-recognized in Swedish patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.

In acute gastroenteritis (GE), identification of the infectious agent is important for patient management and surveillance. The prevalence of GE caused by protozoa may be underestimated in Swedish patients. The purpose was to compare the prevalence of E.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in children: incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcome.

Background: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a multisystemic disease. In a nationwide study, we characterized the incidence, clinical course, and prognosis of HUS caused by Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains with emphasis on risk factors, disease severity, and long-term outcome.

Methods: The data on pediatric HUS patients from 2000 to 2016 were collected from the medical records.

Genetic diversity of the intimin gene (eae) in non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains in China.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important foodborne pathogen. The increasing incidence of non-O157 STEC has posed a great risk to public health. Besides the Shiga toxin (Stx), the adherence factor, intimin, coded by eae gene plays a critical role in STEC pathogenesis.

Digital twins to personalize medicine.

Personalized medicine requires the integration and processing of vast amounts of data. Here, we propose a solution to this challenge that is based on constructing Digital Twins. These are high-resolution models of individual patients that are computationally treated with thousands of drugs to find the drug that is optimal for the patient.

Impact of ribotype on Clostridioides difficile diagnostics.

This study investigates the performance of diagnostic methods for detection of Clostridioides difficile infection in Sweden, including impact of PCR ribotype on diagnostic performance. Between 2011 and 2016, a total of 17,878 stool samples from 26 laboratories were tested by either well-type enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), membrane bound EIAs, cell cytotoxicity neutralization assay (CTA), or nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and subsequently cultured for C. difficile.

Escherichia coli strains producing a novel Shiga toxin 2 subtype circulate in China.

Shiga toxin (Stx) is the key virulence factor in Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), which can cause diarrhea and hemorrhagic colitis with life-threatening complications. Stx comprises two toxin types, Stx1 and Stx2. Several Stx1/Stx2 subtypes have been identified in E.

An algorithm-based meta-analysis of genome- and proteome-wide data identifies a combination of potential plasma biomarkers for colorectal cancer.

Screening programs for colorectal cancer (CRC) often rely on detection of blood in stools, which is unspecific and leads to a large number of colonoscopies of healthy subjects. Painstaking research has led to the identification of a large number of different types of biomarkers, few of which are in general clinical use. Here, we searched for highly accurate combinations of biomarkers by meta-analyses of genome- and proteome-wide data from CRC tumors.

Optimization of routine microscopic and molecular detection of parasitic protozoa in SAF-fixed faecal samples in Sweden.

Nucleic acid-based methods are increasingly used for screening of gastrointestinal parasites. Microscopy is still used and Swedish routine protocol consists of formalin ethyl-acetate concentration and do not include screening for trophozoites or spp. This study aimed to compare detection with the Swedish routine microscopy method to an extended method that includes screening for trophozoites and Cryptosporidium.

Serological diagnostics of Lyme borreliosis: comparison of assays in twelve clinical laboratories in Northern Europe.

Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, is the most common tick-borne infection in Europe. Laboratory diagnosis of LB is mainly based on the patients' medical history, clinical signs and symptoms in combination with detection of Borrelia-specific antibodies where indirect enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most widely used technique. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivities and specificities) of serological tests that are currently in use for diagnosis of LB in clinical laboratories in Northern Europe, by use of a large serum panel.

A validated single-cell-based strategy to identify diagnostic and therapeutic targets in complex diseases.

Background: Genomic medicine has paved the way for identifying biomarkers and therapeutically actionable targets for complex diseases, but is complicated by the involvement of thousands of variably expressed genes across multiple cell types. Single-cell RNA-sequencing study (scRNA-seq) allows the characterization of such complex changes in whole organs.

Methods: The study is based on applying network tools to organize and analyze scRNA-seq data from a mouse model of arthritis and human rheumatoid arthritis, in order to find diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.