digestion of ESC-resistant from poultry meat and evaluation of human health risk.

Introduction: The spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a threat against human and animal health. Third and fourth generation cephalosporins have been defined as critically important antimicrobials by The World Health Organization. Exposure to Extended spectrum cephalosporin-resistant may result in consumers becoming carriers if these bacteria colonize the human gut or their resistance genes spread to other bacteria in the gut microbiota.

Characterization of Shiga Toxin 2a Encoding Bacteriophages Isolated From High-Virulent O145:H25 Shiga Toxin-Producing .

Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) may cause severe disease mainly due to the ability to produce Shiga toxins (Stx) encoded on bacteriophages. In Norway, more than 30% of the reported cases with STEC O145:H25 develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and most cases, with known travel history, acquired the infection domestically. To describe phage characteristics associated with high virulence, we extracted the Stx2a phage sequences from eight clinical Norwegian O145:H25 STEC to conduct in-depth molecular characterization using long and short read sequencing.

Characterization of Bacillus cereus sensu lato isolates from milk for consumption; phylogenetic identity, potential for spoilage and disease.

This study addresses the biodiversity of Bacillus cereus group population present along the value chain of milk for consumption. The B. cereus population did not grow and remained mainly unaltered during storage of milk at 4 °C while storage at a suboptimal temperature at 8 °C (representative of a broken cold chain) caused a major shift in its composition.

Whole Genome Sequencing and Characterization of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Bacterial Strains Isolated From a Norwegian University Campus Pond.

The presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria in environmental sources has been reported worldwide and constitutes a serious risk of community-acquired infections with limited treatment options. The current study aimed to explore the presence of these worrisome bacteria in a pond located at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Ås, Norway. A total of 98 bacterial isolates survived growth on selective chromogenic media and were identified by 16S rRNA Sanger sequencing.

High frequency of hybrid Escherichia coli strains with combined Intestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli (IPEC) and Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) virulence factors isolated from human faecal samples.

Background: Classification of pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) has traditionally relied on detecting specific virulence associated genes (VAGs) or combinations thereof. For E.

Implications of stx loss for clinical diagnostics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli.

The dynamics related to the loss of stx genes from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli remain unclear. Current diagnostic procedures have shortcomings in the detection and identification of STEC. This is partly owing to the fact that stx genes may be lost during an infection or in the laboratory.

Expression of Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) in highly virulent Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) carrying different anti-terminator (q) genes.

Shiga toxins (Stx) are key virulence factors of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) during development of haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). It has been suggested that not only specific stx2 subtypes, but also the amount of Stx2 expressed might be essential for STEC pathogenicity. We aimed to investigate if various anti-terminator (q) genes might influence the expression level of Stx2 in highly virulent STEC.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR / HER-1) gatekeeper mutation T790M is present in European patients with early breast cancer.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the major oncogenes identified in a variety of human malignancies including breast cancer (BC). EGFR-mutations have been studied in lung cancer for some years and are established as important markers in guiding therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In contrast, EGFR-mutations have been reported to be rare if not absent in human BC, although recent evidence has suggested a significant worldwide variation in somatic EGFR-mutations.

Shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli infections in Norway, 1992-2012: characterization of isolates and identification of risk factors for haemolytic uremic syndrome.

Background: Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection is associated with haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Therefore Norway has implemented strict guidelines for prevention and control of STEC infection.

Exploiting the explosion of information associated with whole genome sequencing to tackle Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in global food production systems.

The rates of foodborne disease caused by gastrointestinal pathogens continue to be a concern in both the developed and developing worlds. The growing world population, the increasing complexity of agri-food networks and the wide range of foods now associated with STEC are potential drivers for increased risk of human disease. It is vital that new developments in technology, such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), are effectively utilized to help address the issues associated with these pathogenic microorganisms.

PCR-based detection and molecular characterization of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains in a routine microbiology laboratory over 16 years.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a heterogeneous group of bacteria causing disease ranging from asymptomatic carriage and mild infection to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Here, we describe patients with STEC infection and characterize the STEC strains detected in our laboratory by use of PCR for stx1, stx2, and eae from 1996 through 2011. Patient information was collected from referral forms and from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases.

Use of used vs. fresh cheese brines and the effect of pH and salt concentration on the survival of Listeria monocytogenes.

The aim of the study was to investigate how the use of fresh cheese brines compared with used brines and various combinations of pH and NaCl concentrations affected the survival of Listeria monocytogenes. Cheese brines from five Norwegian small scale cheese producers were analysed and showed great variations in pH (4·54-6·01) and NaCl concentrations (14·1-26·9 %). The survival of five strains of List.

A Shigella sonnei outbreak traced to imported basil--the importance of good typing tools and produce traceability systems, Norway, 2011.

On 9 October 2011, the University Hospital of North Norway alerted the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) about an increase in Shigella sonnei infections in Tromsø. The isolates had an identical ‘multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis’ (MLVA) profile. Most cases had consumed food provided by delicatessen X.

Genotypes and virulence characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O104 strains from different origins and sources.

Sixty-two Escherichia coli strains carrying the wzxO104-gene from different sources, origins and time periods were analyzed for their serotypes, virulence genes and compared for genomic similarity by pulsed-field gel-electrophoresis (PFGE). The O104 antigen was present in 55 strains and the structurally and genetically related capsular antigen K9 in five strains. The presence of 49 genes associated with enteropathogenic E.

Molecular characterization of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolated from human, food, and animal sources in Malaysia.

Salmonella Typhimurium is an important nontyphoidal Salmonella serovar associated with foodborne diseases in many parts of the world. This organism is the major causative agent of nontyphoidal salmonellosis in Malaysia. We aimed to investigate the genetic profiles of the strains isolated from clinical, zoonotic, and dietary sources in Malaysia using multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

Use of multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) in eight European countries, 2012.

Genotyping of important medical or veterinary prokaryotes has become a very important tool during the last decades. Rapid development of fragment-separation and sequencing technologies has made many new genotyping strategies possible. Among these new methods is multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA).

Two outbreaks of diarrhoea in nurseries in Norway after farm visits, April to May 2009.

During a 2009 nationwide outbreak of sorbitolfermenting Escherichia coli O157 in Norway, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health was notified of diarrhoea outbreaks in two nurseries. A link to the nationwide outbreak was suspected and investigated, including retrospective cohort studies. Both nurseries had recently visited farms.

A multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from Norwegian salmon-processing factories and from listeriosis patients.

The objective of this study was to characterize Listeria monocytogenes isolated from farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and the processing environment in three different Norwegian factories, and compare these to clinical isolates by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). The 65 L. monocytogenes isolates obtained gave 15 distinct MLVA profiles.

Yersinia enterocolitica outbreak associated with ready-to-eat salad mix, Norway, 2011.

In 2011, an outbreak of illness caused by Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 in Norway was linked to ready-to-eat salad mix, an unusual vehicle for this pathogen. The outbreak illustrates the need to characterize isolates of this organism, and reinforces the need for international traceback mechanisms for fresh produce.

Multi-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis for rapid and accurate typing of virulent multidrug resistant Escherichia coli clones.

One hundred E. coli isolates from Norway (n = 37), Sweden (n = 24), UK (n = 20) and Spain (n = 19), producing CTX-M-type - (n = 84), or SHV-12 (n = 4) extended spectrum β-lactamases, or the plasmid mediated AmpC, CMY-2 (n = 12), were typed using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and multi-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). Isolates clustered into 33 Sequence Types (STs) and 14 Sequence Type Complexes (STCs), and 58 MLVA-Types (MTs) and 25 different MLVA-Type Complexes (MTCs).

Spread of a distinct Stx2-encoding phage prototype among Escherichia coli O104:H4 strains from outbreaks in Germany, Norway, and Georgia.

Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O104:H4 caused one of the world's largest outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome in Germany in 2011. These strains have evolved from enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) by the acquisition of the Stx2 genes and have been designated enteroaggregative hemorrhagic E.

Norwegian sheep are an important reservoir for human-pathogenic Escherichia coli O26:H11.

A previous national survey of Escherichia coli in Norwegian sheep detected eae-positive (eae(+)) E. coli O26:H11 isolates in 16.3% (80/491) of the flocks.

Identification of the anti-terminator qO111:H)- gene in Norwegian sorbitol-fermenting Escherichia coli O157:NM.

Sorbitol-fermenting Escherichia coli O157:NM (SF O157) is an emerging pathogen suggested to be more virulent than nonsorbitol-fermenting Escherichia coli O157:H7 (NSF O157). Important virulence factors are the Shiga toxins (stx), encoded by stx1 and/or stx2 located within prophages integrated in the bacterial genome. The stx genes are expressed from p(R) (') as a late protein, and anti-terminator activity from the Q protein is necessary for read through of the late terminator t(R) (') and activation of p(R) (') .

Rapid and high resolution genotyping of all Escherichia coli serotypes using 10 genomic repeat-containing loci.

Our laboratory has previously published two multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeats analysis (MLVA) methods for rapid genotyping of Escherichia coli (E. coli), which are now in routine use for surveillance and outbreak detection. The first assay developed was specific for E.