Analysis of Escherichia Coli O104:H4 Outbreak in Germany in 2011 Using Differentiation Method for Unusual Epidemiological Events.

Aim: The aim of the study was to further clarify the origin of Escherichia coli O104:H4 outbreak in Germany in 2011 (German Ec) as the likelihood of a deliberate act has not been excluded in previous analyses.

Methods: We use an original and the most detailed scoring method so far, with 33 parameters pertaining to the source of infection/reservoir or possible perpetrator, pathogen or biological agent, transmission mechanism/factors or means/media of delivery, and population at risk or target.

Results: Total scores for a deliberate or accidental epidemic indicate that the outbreak was more probably caused unintentionally, presumably due to technical accidents or hygienic shortcomings in the food chain.

Attempted passive prophylaxis with a monoclonal anti-Burkholderia pseudomallei exopolysaccharide antibody in a murine model of melioidosis.

Melioidosis is a severe gram-negative infection caused by the facultative intracellular bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is responsible for a broad spectrum of symptoms in both humans and animals. No licensed vaccine currently exists. This study evaluated the protective effect of a monoclonal antibody (Mab Ps6F6) specific to B.