Comparative genome analysis of the genus unravels the association of key genetic traits with known and potential pathogenic lineages.

spp. are Gram-negative rods widely disseminated in aquatic niches that can also be found in human-associated environments. In recent years, reports of infections caused by these bacteria have increased significantly.

Novel Mobile Integrons and Strain-Specific Integrase Genes within spp. Unveil Multiple Lateral Genetic Transfer Events within The Genus.

spp. are Gram-negative bacteria that thrive in aquatic niches and also can cause infectious diseases as opportunistic pathogens. Chromosomal (CI) and mobile integrons (MI) were previously described in some isolates.

Long-run bacteria-phage coexistence dynamics under natural habitat conditions in an environmental biotechnology system.

Bacterial viruses are widespread and abundant across natural and engineered habitats. They influence ecosystem functioning through interactions with their hosts. Laboratory studies of phage-host pairs have advanced our understanding of phenotypic and genetic diversification in bacteria and phages.

Genomic Analysis of two NDM-1 Providencia stuartii Strains Recovered from a Single Patient.

In the last years, an increasing number of untreatable infections caused by drug-resistant microbes have impacted the health care system. Worldwide, infections caused by carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative bacilli have dramatically increased. Among the CR-Gram-negative bacilli, those producing carbapenemases, such as NDM-1, are the main concern.

Crucial Role of the Accessory Genome in the Evolutionary Trajectory of Global Clone 1.

is one of the most important nosocomial pathogens able to rapidly develop extensive drug resistance. Here, we study the role of accessory genome in the success of the globally disseminated clone 1 (GC1) with functional and genomic approaches. Comparative genomics was performed with available GC1 genomes ( = 106) against other high-risk and sporadic clones.

ICE SXT vs. ICESh95: Co-existence of Integrative and Conjugative Elements and Competition for a New Host.

Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are mobile genetic elements that contribute to horizontal gene transfer. The aim of this work was to study different types of ICEs in clinical isolates of the emergent pathogen Shewanella spp., to compare their transfer efficiency and their ability to integrate a new host.

Insights Into Non-coding RNAs as Novel Antimicrobial Drugs.

Multidrug resistant bacteria are a serious worldwide problem, especially carbapenem-resistant (such as and ), and . Since the emergence of extensive and pan-drug resistant bacteria there are few antibiotics left to treat patients, thus novel RNA-based strategies are being considered. Here, we examine the current situation of different non-coding RNAs found in bacteria as well as their function and potential application as antimicrobial agents.

Functional annotation and distribution overview of RNA families in 27 Streptococcus agalactiae genomes.

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as Group B Streptococcus (GBS), is a Gram-positive bacterium that colonizes the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract of humans. This bacterium has also been isolated from various animals, such as fish and cattle. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) can act as regulators of gene expression in bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes.

Current scenario of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in Latin America.

Colistin resistance can occur by chromosomal mutations and by acquisition of plasmid-carrying determinants, mainly mcr-1. In the recent years, we have observed the outburst of this resistance gene in our region. Due to the risk of the rapid dissemination of mcr-1, this finding has worried and alerted different actors from the health field and has become one of the most prolific topics.

Genetic analysis of a PER-2-producing Shewanella sp. strain harbouring a variety of mobile genetic elements and antibiotic resistance determinants.

The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms explaining the multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype found in a novel clinical Shewanella sp. strain (Shew256) recovered from a diabetic patient. Whole-genome shotgun sequencing was performed using Illumina MiSeq-I and Nextera XT DNA library.

The Genetic Analysis of an Acinetobacter johnsonii Clinical Strain Evidenced the Presence of Horizontal Genetic Transfer.

Acinetobacter johnsonii rarely causes human infections. While most A. johnsonii isolates are susceptible to virtually all antibiotics, strains harboring a variety of β-lactamases have recently been described.

Genome analysis of a clinical isolate of Shewanella sp. uncovered an active hybrid integrative and conjugative element carrying an integron platform inserted in a novel genomic locus.

Shewanella spp. are currently considered to be emerging pathogens that can code for a blaOXA carbapenemase in their chromosome. Complete genome analysis of the clinical isolate Shewanella sp.

Draft Genome of Shewanella frigidimarina Ag06-30, a Marine Bacterium Isolated from Potter Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica.

We present the draft genome of Shewanella frigidimarina Ag06-30, a marine bacterium from King George Island, Antarctica, which encodes the carbapenemase SFP-1. The assembly contains 4,799,218 bp (G+C content 41.24%).

The Ll.LtrB intron from Lactococcus lactis excises as circles in vivo: insights into the group II intron circularization pathway.

Group II introns are large ribozymes that require the assistance of intron-encoded or free-standing maturases to splice from their pre-mRNAs in vivo. They mainly splice through the classical branching pathway, being released as RNA lariats. However, group II introns can also splice through secondary pathways like hydrolysis and circularization leading to the release of linear and circular introns, respectively.

RalR (a DNase) and RalA (a small RNA) form a type I toxin-antitoxin system in Escherichia coli.

For toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems, no toxin has been identified that functions by cleaving DNA. Here, we demonstrate that RalR and RalA of the cryptic prophage rac form a type I TA pair in which the antitoxin RNA is a trans-encoded small RNA with 16 nucleotides of complementarity to the toxin mRNA. We suggest the newly discovered antitoxin gene be named ralA for RalR antitoxin.

"Distribution and functional identification of complex class 1 integrons".

The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases and plasmid-mediated resistance to quinolones has been previously found to be associated with the dissemination of complex class 1 integrons in Argentina. In this study, we analyzed their distribution through time and evaluated the functionality of the Orf513 protein, which is the putative recombinase of the ISCR1 mobile element. We investigated the presence of the orf513, blaCTX-M-2, dfrA3b, qnrB10 and blaDHA-1 genes by PCR and DNA sequencing as well as their linkage to class 1 integrons in 451 non-epidemiologically related nosocomial strains resistant to at least one expanded-spectrum cephalosporin and to one aminoglycoside, isolated between 1989 and 2010 from 7 hospitals from Buenos Aires City.

A new type V toxin-antitoxin system where mRNA for toxin GhoT is cleaved by antitoxin GhoS.

Among bacterial toxin-antitoxin systems, to date no antitoxin has been identified that functions by cleaving toxin mRNA. Here we show that YjdO (renamed GhoT) is a membrane lytic peptide that causes ghost cell formation (lysed cells with damaged membranes) and increases persistence (persister cells are tolerant to antibiotics without undergoing genetic change). GhoT is part of a new toxin-antitoxin system with YjdK (renamed GhoS) because in vitro RNA degradation studies, quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR and whole-transcriptome studies revealed that GhoS masks GhoT toxicity by cleaving specifically yjdO (ghoT) mRNA.

[Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory: Argentine version].

Introduction And Objectives: The Dizziness Handicap Inventory is a useful tool for quantifying self-perceived handicap in patients with vertigo, dizziness or unsteadiness and its impact on daily living activities. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory identifies functional, physical and emotional disorders related to balance disturbance. Our objective was to cross-culturally adapt the Peninsular Spanish version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory for use in Argentina and validate the adapted Argentinian version.

Contribution of base-pairing interactions between group II intron fragments during trans-splicing in vivo.

Group II introns are mobile genetic elements that self-splice from pre-mRNA transcripts. Some fragmented group II introns found in chloroplastic and mitochondrial genomes are able to assemble and splice in trans. The Ll.

Diversity and strength of internal outward-oriented promoters in group IIC-attC introns.

Integrons are genetic elements that incorporate mobile gene cassettes by site-specific recombination and express them as an operon from a promoter (Pc) located upstream of the cassette insertion site. Most gene cassettes found in integrons contain only one gene followed by an attC recombination site. We have recently shown that a specific lineage of group IIC introns, named group IIC-attC introns, inserts into the bottom strand sequence of attC sites.

Using genomic data to determine the diversity and distribution of target site motifs recognized by class C-attC group II introns.

The attC sites are well-known integrase-targeted elements involved in the insertion and excision of gene cassettes from integrons. Recently, functional analysis of Sma.I2, a class C-attC group II intron, showed that this mobile element invades the attC sites through a specific process.

The S.ma.I2 class C group II intron inserts at integron attC sites.

We previously found the class C S.ma.I2 group II (GII) intron in Serratia marcescens SCH909 inserted into the variable region of a class 1 integron within the attC site of the ant(2'')-Ia gene cassette.