Human bocavirus in stool: A true pathogen or an innocent bystander?

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a parvovirus that was discovered only a decade ago and currently includes four genotypes. HBoV-1 is predominantly found in the respiratory tract, whereas HBoV-2, HBoV-3, and HBoV-4 are mainly detected in stool. HBoV-1 is known to be associated with respiratory tract infections.

Rapid and generic identification of influenza A and other respiratory viruses with mass spectrometry.

The rapid identification of existing and emerging respiratory viruses is crucial in combating outbreaks and epidemics. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a rapid and reliable identification method in bacterial diagnostics, but has not been used in virological diagnostics. Mass spectrometry systems have been investigated for the identification of respiratory viruses.

Contribution of the enterococcal surface protein Esp to pathogenesis of Enterococcus faecium endocarditis.

The enterococcal surface protein Esp, specifically linked to nosocomial Enterococcus faecium, is involved in biofilm formation. To assess the role of Esp in endocarditis, a biofilm-associated infection, an Esp-expressing E. faecium strain (E1162) or its Esp-deficient mutant (E1162Δesp) were inoculated through a catheter into the left ventricle of rats.

Enterococcal surface protein transiently aggravates Enterococcus faecium-induced urinary tract infection in mice.

The role that the enterococcal surface protein Esp plays in the capacity of Enterococcus faecium to adhere to uroepithelial cells and the role that it plays in urinary tract infection and peritonitis was investigated in vitro and in vivo, respectively, using Esp-expressing E. faecium (E1162) and its isogenic Esp-deficient mutant (E1162 Delta esp). Esp expression enhanced in vitro binding to bladder and kidney epithelial cells.

Enterococcal surface protein Esp is not essential for cell adhesion and intestinal colonization of Enterococcus faecium in mice.

Background: Enterococcus faecium has globally emerged as a cause of hospital-acquired infections with high colonization rates in hospitalized patients. The enterococcal surface protein Esp, identified as a potential virulence factor, is specifically linked to nosocomial clonal lineages that are genetically distinct from indigenous E. faecium strains.

Identification of a novel genomic island specific to hospital-acquired clonal complex 17 Enterococcus faecium isolates.

Hospital-acquired clonal complex 17 (CC17) Enterococcus faecium strains are genetically distinct from indigenous strains and are enriched with resistance genes and virulence genes. We identified a genomic island in CC17 E. faecium tentatively encoding a metabolic pathway involved in carbohydrate transport and metabolism, which may provide a competitive advantage over the indigenous E.

Enterococcal surface protein Esp is important for biofilm formation of Enterococcus faecium E1162.

Enterococci have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens with resistance to multiple antibiotics. Adhesion to abiotic materials and biofilm formation on medical devices are considered important virulence properties. A single clonal lineage of Enterococcus faecium, complex 17 (CC17), appears to be a successful nosocomial pathogen, and most CC17 isolates harbor the enterococcal surface protein gene, esp.