Genetic Concordance of Staphylococcus aureus From Oropharyngeal and Sputum Cultures in People With Cystic Fibrosis.

Background: People with cystic fibrosis (CF) may not expectorate sputum at young ages or after they receive CFTR modulators. While oropharyngeal swabs are commonly used to test for lower airway pathogens, it is unknown whether Staphylococcus aureus from the oropharynx matches the strain(s) infecting the lungs. Our goal was to determine whether oropharyngeal and sputum isolates of S.

A two-variant model of SARS-COV-2 transmission: estimating the characteristics of a newly emerging strain.

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has been characterized by the emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants, each with distinct properties influencing transmission dynamics, immune escape, and virulence, which, in turn, influence their impact on local populations. Swift analysis of the properties of newly emerged variants is essential in the initial days and weeks to enhance readiness and facilitate the scaling of clinical and public health system responses.

Methods: This paper introduces a two-variant metapopulation compartmental model of disease transmission to simulate the dynamics of disease transmission during a period of transition to a newly dominant strain.

Multiple sclerosis patient-derived spontaneous B cells have distinct EBV and host gene expression profiles in active disease.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an aetiologic risk factor for the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the role of EBV-infected B cells in the immunopathology of MS is not well understood. Here we characterized spontaneous lymphoblastoid cell lines (SLCLs) isolated from MS patients and healthy controls (HC) ex vivo to study EBV and host gene expression in the context of an individual's endogenous EBV.

Parallel evolution of linezolid-resistant in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Linezolid is an antibiotic used to treat serious infections. Resistance to linezolid is considered rare but could emerge with repeated dosing. We recently reported widespread prescription of linezolid for a cohort of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Parallel Evolution of Linezolid Resistant in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis.

Background: Linezolid is an antibiotic used to treat serious infections. Resistance to linezolid is considered rare but could emerge with repeated dosing. We recently reported widespread prescription of linezolid for a cohort of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Unstable EBV latency drives inflammation in multiple sclerosis patient derived spontaneous B cells.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a known etiologic risk factor, and perhaps prerequisite, for the development of MS. EBV establishes life-long latent infection in a subpopulation of memory B cells. Although the role of memory B cells in the pathobiology of MS is well established, studies characterizing EBV-associated mechanisms of B cell inflammation and disease pathogenesis in EBV (+) B cells from MS patients are limited.

High frequency of increased triclosan MIC among CC5 MRSA and risk of misclassification of the SCCmec into types.

Background: Typing of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) elements is commonly used for studies on the molecular epidemiology of MRSA.

Objectives: To perform an investigation centred on uncovering the reasons for misclassification of MRSA clonal complex 5 (CC5) SCCmec type II clinical isolates in our laboratory.

Methods: MRSA isolates from CC5 were subjected to WGS and SCCmec typing.