Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Northwest marine and freshwater recreational beaches.

The aim of the study was to determine the spatial distribution of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at two marine and one freshwater recreational beaches in the Seattle area. Fifty-six marine water, 144 freshwater, and 96 sand samples were collected from June through August 2010. Isolates were biochemically verified as MRSA.

Survival of environmental and clinical strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] in marine and fresh waters.

Recent studies have found variable levels of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] in marine water from temperate and warmer climates suggesting that temperature may play a role in survival of MRSA in the environment. The aim of the study was to compare the survival of clinical and environmental MRSA and MSSA strains in fresh and marine water incubated at 13 °C and 20 °C over 14 days. Seven different MRSA strains and the MSSA ATCC 25923 were tested.

Investigating the host binding signature on the Plasmodium falciparum PfEMP1 protein family.

The Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family plays a central role in antigenic variation and cytoadhesion of P. falciparum infected erythrocytes. PfEMP1 proteins/var genes are classified into three main subfamilies (UpsA, UpsB, and UpsC) that are hypothesized to have different roles in binding and disease.

Quantification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in marine and freshwater samples by the most-probable-number method.

Recreational beach environments have been recently identified as a potential reservoir for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); however, accurate quantification methods are needed for the development of risk assessments. This novel most-probable-number approach for MRSA quantification offers improved sensitivity and specificity by combining broth enrichment with MRSA-specific chromogenic agar.