Draft genome sequences of strains isolated from ocular surface of CD36-knockout mice (B6.129S1-/J) with keratitis.

Three strains were cultured from the eyes of CD36-knockout mice (B6.129S1-/J) with and without keratitis housed at a biomedical research institute. Bacteria were sequenced using Illumina MiSeq technology for subsequent phylogenetic characterization and identification of virulence factor genes conferring pathogenic potential.

Gastric coinfection with thiopeptide-positive decreases FOXM1 and pro-inflammatory biomarker expression in a murine model of -induced gastric cancer.

infects half of the world population and is the leading cause of gastric cancer. We previously demonstrated that gastric cancer risk is associated with gastric microbiota. Specifically, gastric urease-positive and had contrasting effects on -associated gastric pathology and immune responses in germ-free INS-GAS mice.

Evaluation and comparison of pharmacokinetic profiles and safety of two extended-release buprenorphine formulations in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).

While sustained-release buprenorphine (BSR) is used as a long-lasting opioid analgesic in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), there are no published studies on pharmaceutical-grade extended-release buprenorphine options such as Ethiqa XR (EXR) for this species. However, BSR is a compounded product and has been reported to cause injection site reactions in multiple species, including marmosets. Additionally, now with the availability of EXR, a pharmaceutical-grade veterinary product, the use of BSR in laboratory animals is not compliant with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide) unless scientifically justified and approved by the IACUC.

Shotgun Metagenomics of Gastric Biopsies Reveals Compositional and Functional Microbiome Shifts in High- and Low-Gastric-Cancer-Risk Populations from Colombia, South America.

Along with infection, the gastric microbiota is hypothesized to modulate stomach cancer risk in susceptible individuals. Whole metagenomic shotgun sequencing (WMS) is a sequencing approach to characterize the microbiome with advantages over traditional culture and 16S rRNA sequencing including identification of bacterial and non-bacterial taxa, species/strain resolution, and functional characterization of the microbiota. In this study, we used WMS to survey the microbiome in extracted DNA from antral gastric biopsy samples from Colombian patients residing in the high-risk gastric cancer town Túquerres ( = 10, -positive = 7) and low-risk town of Tumaco ( = 10, -positive = 6).

The Epidemiology of Invasive, Multipleantibiotic-resistant Infection in a Breeding Colony of Immunocompromised NSG Mice.

() is a gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that causes severe pneumonia, pyelonephritis, and sepsis in immunocompromised hosts. During a 4-mo interval, several NOD./SzJ (NSG) breeders and pups in our facilities were diagnosed with infections.

Gastric Non-Helicobacter pylori Urease-Positive Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus salivarius Isolated from Humans Have Contrasting Effects on H. pylori-Associated Gastric Pathology and Host Immune Responses in a Murine Model of Gastric Cancer.

In populations with similar prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection, cancer risk can vary dramatically. Changes in composition or structure of bacterial communities in the stomach, either at the time of exposure or over the course of H. pylori infection, may contribute to gastric pathology.

Characterization of genotoxin-encoding Escherichia coli isolated from specific-pathogen free cats with impaired fertility.

Escherichia coli strains encoding colibactin (pks), hemolysin-associated cytotoxic necrotizing factor (cnf), and cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) are associated with intestinal inflammation and cancer, urinary tract infection, and septicemia in susceptible hosts. Over a 2-year period, an inbred laboratory colony of specific-pathogen free (SPF) cats (∼25) presented with resorptions, stillbirths, and pyometras in >50 % of pregnancies. Hemolytic E.

Helicobacter pylori Antimicrobial Resistance and Gene Variants in High- and Low-Gastric-Cancer-Risk Populations.

Colombia, South America has one of the world's highest burdens of infection and gastric cancer. While multidrug antibiotic regimens can effectively eradicate , treatment efficacy is being jeopardized by the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Moreover, the spectrum of and genetic mechanisms for antibiotic resistance in Colombia is underreported.

Cytotoxic Escherichia coli strains encoding colibactin, cytotoxic necrotizing factor, and cytolethal distending toxin colonize laboratory common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).

Cyclomodulins are virulence factors that modulate cellular differentiation, apoptosis, and proliferation. These include colibactin (pks), cytotoxic necrotizing factor (cnf), and cytolethal distending toxin (cdt). Pathogenic pks+, cnf+, and cdt+ E.

Campylobacter taeniopygiae sp. nov., Campylobacter aviculae sp. nov., and Campylobacter estrildidarum sp. nov., Novel Species Isolated from Laboratory-Maintained Zebra Finches.

Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) are laboratory animal species commonly used for modeling neurobiology and learning. Historically, using bacterial culture, biochemical analysis, and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, bacterial isolates from feces of finches housed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology had been presumptively diagnosed as Campylobacter jejuni, which is commonly isolated from both domestic and wild birds. Although the zebra finches were not clinically affected, C.

sp. nov. and sp. nov., isolated from grey short-tailed opossums () with endemic cloacal prolapses.

In a search for potential causes of increased prolapse incidence in grey short-tailed opossum colonies, samples from the gastrointestinal tracts of 94 clinically normal opossums with rectal prolapses were screened for species by culture and PCR. Forty strains of two novel species which differed from the established taxa were isolated from opossums with and without prolapses. One of the species was spiral-shaped and urease-negative whereas the other strain had fusiform morphology with periplasmic fibres and was urease-positive.

Draft Genome Sequences of Novel Species Isolated from Nonhuman Primates.

species are being increasingly isolated and associated with disease in humans and animals. Here, we describe four draft genome sequences of species from nonhuman primates. These include , isolated from wild chimpanzees, and two likely new species isolated from a lemur, common marmoset, and cotton-top tamarin.

Natural Transmission of Helicobacter saguini Causes Multigenerational Inflammatory Bowel Disease in C57/129 IL-10 Mice.

Cotton-top tamarins (CTTs) are an ideal model of human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) because these animals develop multigenerational, lower bowel cancer. We previously isolated and characterized a novel enterohepatic species, , from CTTs with IBD and documented that infection in germfree C57BL IL-10 mice recapitulates IBD, suggesting that influences IBD etiopathogenesis. In this study, we utilized a germfree IL-10 model to illustrate that infection can naturally transmit and infect four generations and cause significant intestinal inflammatory pathology.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Mycobacterium porcinum Strain Isolated from a Pet Cat with Atypical Mycobacterial Panniculitis.

A fast-growing species was cultured from draining, purulent lesions on the caudal abdomen of a 12-year-old male domestic long-haired cat. Whole-genome sequencing identified the organism as .

Intestinal colonization of genotoxic Escherichia coli strains encoding colibactin and cytotoxic necrotizing factor in small mammal pets.

Escherichia coli encoding colibactin (clb), cytolethal distending toxin (cdt), and hemolysin-associated cytotoxic necrotizing factor (cnf) are associated with various intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases in humans and animals. Small mammal pets are not evaluated for genotoxin-encoding E. coli.

Draft Genome Sequences of Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains Isolated from Immunocompromised NOD-scid Gamma Research Mice.

Thirteen isolates cultured from feces, intestines, liver, lungs, and blood from immunocompromised NOD-scid gamma (NSG) mice with clinical illness, housed at a biomedical research institute, were sequenced using Illumina MiSeq technology for elucidation of pathogenic potential and genes encoding antibiotic resistance.

Genotoxic Strains Encoding Colibactin, Cytolethal Distending Toxin, and Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor in Laboratory Rats.

Although many strains are considered commensals in mammals, strains encoding the cyclomodulin genotoxins are associated with clinical and subclinical disease in the urogenital and gastrointestinal tracts, meningitis, and inflammatory disorders. These genotoxins include the polyketide synthase () pathogenicity island, cytolethal distending toxin (), and hemolysin-associated cytotoxic necrotizing factor (). strains are not excluded from rodents housed under SPF conditions in academic or vendor facilities.

Characterization of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter upsaliensis, and a novel Campylobacter sp. in a captive non-human primate zoological collection.

Background: The aim of this study was to longitudinally investigate the prevalence and characterization of Campylobacter spp. from non-human primates primate (NHP) with a history of endemic diarrhea housed at Como Park Zoo.

Methods: Fecal samples from 33 symptom-free NHP belonging to eight different species were collected weekly for 9 weeks.

Comparative genomics analysis to differentiate metabolic and virulence gene potential in gastric versus enterohepatic Helicobacter species.

Background: The genus Helicobacter are gram-negative, microaerobic, flagellated, mucus-inhabiting bacteria associated with gastrointestinal inflammation and classified as gastric or enterohepatic Helicobacter species (EHS) according to host species and colonization niche. While there are over 30 official species, little is known about the physiology and pathogenic mechanisms of EHS, which account for most in the genus, as well as what genetic factors differentiate gastric versus EHS, given they inhabit different hosts and colonization niches. The objective of this study was to perform a whole-genus comparative analysis of over 100 gastric versus EHS genomes in order to identify genetic determinants that distinguish these Helicobacter species and provide insights about their evolution/adaptation to different hosts, colonization niches, and mechanisms of virulence.

Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase expression by Helicobacter saguini, an enterohepatic Helicobacter species isolated from cotton top tamarins with chronic colitis.

Background: Helicobacter saguini is a novel enterohepatic Helicobacter species isolated from captive cotton top tamarins with chronic colitis and colon cancer. Monoassociated H. saguini infection in gnotobiotic IL-10 mice causes typhlocolitis and dysplasia; however, the virulent mechanisms of this species are unknown.

Helicobacter pylori-infected C57BL/6 mice with different gastrointestinal microbiota have contrasting gastric pathology, microbial and host immune responses.

C57BL/6 (B6) mice from Taconic Sciences (Tac) and the Jackson Laboratory (Jax) were infected with H. pylori PMSS1 (Hp) for 16 week; there was no significant difference in the gastric histologic activity index between Hp infected Tac and Jax B6. However, the degree of gastric mucous metaplasia and Th1-associated IgG2c levels in response to Hp infection were increased in Tac mice over Jax mice, whereas the colonization levels of gastric Hp were higher by 8-fold in Jax B6 compared with Tac B6.

Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance in Isolated From Macaques.

Non-human primates (NHPs) for biomedical research are commonly infected with spp. that can cause acute dysentery or chronic episodic diarrhea. These animals are often prophylactically and clinically treated with quinolone antibiotics to eradicate these possible infections.

Cytotoxic Escherichia coli strains encoding colibactin isolated from immunocompromised mice with urosepsis and meningitis.

Immune-compromised mouse models allow for testing the preclinical efficacy of human cell transplantations and gene therapy strategies before moving forward to clinical trials. However, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of the Wsh/Wsh mouse strain to create an immune-compromised model lacking function of Rag2 and Il2rγ led to unexpected morbidity and mortality. This warranted an investigation to ascertain the cause and predisposing factors associated with the outbreak.

Cytotoxic strains encoding colibactin and cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF) colonize laboratory macaques.

Background: Many strains are considered to be a component of the normal flora found in the human and animal intestinal tracts. While most strains are commensal, some strains encode virulence factors that enable the bacteria to cause intestinal and extra-intestinal clinically-relevant infections. Colibactin, encoded by a genomic island ( island), and cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF), encoded by the gene, are genotoxic and can modulate cellular differentiation, apoptosis and proliferation.

Novel urease-negative Helicobacter sp. 'H. enhydrae sp. nov.' isolated from inflamed gastric tissue of southern sea otters.

A total of 31 sea otters Enhydra lutris nereis found dead or moribund (and then euthanized) were necropsied in California, USA. Stomach biopsies were collected and transected with equal portions frozen or placed in formalin and analyzed histologically and screened for Helicobacter spp. in gastric tissue.