The Emergence and Impact of the M1 Lineage on Invasive Group A Streptococcus Disease in Aotearoa New Zealand.

M1 is associated with current surges in invasive infection globally, partly due to increased production of superantigen streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A. We show that M1 is now the dominant invasive 1 lineage in Aotearoa New Zealand and is genomically related to community infections, suggesting that measures that effectively prevent group A pharyngitis in children could reduce invasive disease.

Evaluation of ssrA-targeted real time PCR for the detection of Bartonella species in human clinical samples and reflex sequencing for species-level identification.

The genus Bartonella includes species capable of causing disease in animals and humans. Due to its fastidious nature, direct detection of Bartonella causing human infection relies largely on molecular microbiological methods. Thus, it is imperative that diagnostic assays in use have the ability to detect a range of Bartonella species associated with human disease.

The emergence of azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus complex in New Zealand.

Background: Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is increasing globally. A pan-azole-resistant isolate prompted genetic analysis of local azole-resistant isolates to determine resistance genotypes.

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius M18 on head and neck cancer patients post-radiotherapy: a pilot study.

Xerostomia detrimentally affects the oral health of many head and neck cancer patients who undergo radiotherapy. Its sequelae become an ongoing burden for patients that often manifest as periodontal disease and dental decay. Bacteria play a major role in the pathogenesis of these conditions and here we explore the use of an oral probiotic to beneficially modulate the oral bacterial community post-radiotherapy.

bacteremia in a returning traveler.

Of the non- (NHPH) species, is an emerging cause of infection in humans. Here we report a novel clinical presentation of infection: a case of fever in a returning traveler. A 31 year old previously fit and well male presented with onset of fever 24 h after returning from travel in Singapore and Indonesia.

Mycoplasma genitalium Antimicrobial Resistance in Community and Sexual Health Clinic Patients, Auckland, New Zealand.

Our retrospective study compared genotypic antimicrobial resistance in Mycoplasma genitalium-positive specimens collected from 48 community and 33 sexual health clinic (SHC) patients. Macrolide resistance was similar in community (75%) and SHC (76%) patients. We observed no significant difference in fluoroquinolone resistance between community (19%) and SHC (27%) patients (p = 0.

Oral microbial influences on oral mucositis during radiotherapy treatment of head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Oral mucositis (OM) remains a significant complication developed by many patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) to the head and neck region. Emerging data suggest oral microbes may contribute to the onset and severity of this acute side effect.

Methods: In this study, saliva and oral swabs from head and neck cancer patients undergoing RT were collected.

Microbial and inflammatory-based salivary biomarkers of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients often present with poor oral health, making it difficult to assess the relationship between oral microbes, inflammation, and carcinoma. This study investigates salivary microbes and inflammatory cytokines as biomarkers for HNSCC, with consideration of oral health. Saliva was collected from 30 participants, including 14 HNSCC patients and 16 participants representing both dentally compromised and healthy individuals.

Characterizing the Human Mycobiota: A Comparison of Small Subunit rRNA, ITS1, ITS2, and Large Subunit rRNA Genomic Targets.

Interest in the human microbiome has increased dramatically in the last decade. However, much of this research has focused on bacteria, while the composition and roles of their fungal counterparts remain less understood. Furthermore, a variety of methodological approaches have been applied, and the comparability between studies is unclear.

Evaluating the Impact of DNA Extraction Method on the Representation of Human Oral Bacterial and Fungal Communities.

The application of high-throughput, next-generation sequencing technologies has greatly improved our understanding of the human oral microbiome. While deciphering this diverse microbial community using such approaches is more accurate than traditional culture-based methods, experimental bias introduced during critical steps such as DNA extraction may compromise the results obtained. Here, we systematically evaluate four commonly used microbial DNA extraction methods (MoBio PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit, QIAamp® DNA Mini Kit, Zymo Bacterial/Fungal DNA Mini PrepTM, phenol:chloroform-based DNA isolation) based on the following criteria: DNA quality and yield, and microbial community structure based on Illumina amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 region of fungi.