Complete genome sequences of Providencia bacteriophages PibeRecoleta, Stilesk and PatoteraRojo.

Objectives: Providencia is a genus of gram-negative bacteria within the order Enterobacterales, closely related to Proteus and Morganella. While ubiquitous in the environment, some species of Providencia, such as P. rettgeri and P.

Correlation of macrolide susceptibility with the ability to adhere and invade human respiratory epithelial cells.

Recently, the prevalence of macrolide-resistant has been reported, especially among Chinese children. The fitness cost of resistance is reported to render the resistant bacteria less virulent. To investigate the correlation between macrolide susceptibility of and pathogenicity, the whole genome of 70 isolates belonging to four clonal complexes with different macrolide susceptibilities was sequenced.

Exploring beyond the limit: How comparative stochastic performance affects retesting outcomes in six commercial SARS CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests.

Objectives: To examine the comparative stochasticity profile of six commercial SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and how this may affect retesting paradigms.

Methods: Commercial quality control (QC) material was serially diluted in viral transport media to create a panel covering 10-10,000 copies/ml. The panel was tested across six commercial NAATs.

Multi-site implementation of whole genome sequencing for hospital infection control: A prospective genomic epidemiological analysis.

Background: Current microbiological methods lack the resolution to accurately identify multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) transmission, however, whole genome sequencing can identify highly-related patient isolates providing opportunities for precision infection control interventions. We investigated the feasibility and potential impact of a prospective multi-centre genomics workflow for hospital infection control.

Methods: We conducted a prospective genomics implementation study across eight Australian hospitals over 15 months (2017,2018), collecting all clinical and screening isolates from inpatients with VRE, MRSA, ESBL (ESBL-Ec), or ESBL (ESBL-Kp).

Novel Drexlerviridae bacteriophage KMI8 with specific lytic activity against Klebsiella michiganensis and its biofilms.

The bacterial genus Klebsiella includes the closely related species K. michiganensis, K. oxytoca and K.

Pilot study of a combined genomic and epidemiologic surveillance program for hospital-acquired multidrug-resistant pathogens across multiple hospital networks in Australia.

Objectives: To conduct a pilot study implementing combined genomic and epidemiologic surveillance for hospital-acquired multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) to predict transmission between patients and to estimate the local burden of MDRO transmission.

Design: Pilot prospective multicenter surveillance study.

Setting: The study was conducted in 8 university hospitals (2,800 beds total) in Melbourne, Australia (population 4.

Lytic Bacteriophage EFA1 Modulates HCT116 Colon Cancer Cell Growth and Upregulates ROS Production in an Co-culture System.

is an opportunistic pathogen in the gut microbiota that's associated with a range of difficult to treat nosocomial infections. It is also known to be associated with some colorectal cancers. Its resistance to a range of antibiotics and capacity to form biofilms increase its virulence.

Understanding occult hepatitis C infection.

Background: Occult hepatitis C infection (OCI) is a type of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, defined as the presence of HCV RNA in hepatocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the absence of HCV RNA in serum.

Study Design And Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify articles that characterized OCI as a disease, including its epidemiology, mode of transmission, pattern of infection, progression, and treatment.

Results: OCI patients experience a milder degree of inflammatory and cirrhotic changes than patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Characterization of Novel Lytic Bacteriophages of Isolated from a Pneumonia Patient.

spp. are becoming increasingly associated with lung infections in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). , which is closely related to , has been isolated from the lungs of CF patients and other human infections.

Intraoral human herpes viruses detectable by PCR in majority of patients.

Objectives: To identify factors which influence the intraoral prevalence of human herpes viruses (HHVs) using mucosal swabs, saliva samples and qPCR analysis.

Methodology: In this cross-sectional observational study, matched saliva and oral swabs were collected from a total of 115 subjects: 70 immunocompetent subjects with no mucosal abnormalities, 22 with mucosal abnormalities and 23 therapeutically immunocompromised individuals. Extracted DNA was analysed by multiplex qPCR for detection and quantification of HHVs 1-6.

Novel Bacteriophages Capable of Disrupting Biofilms From Clinical Strains of .

The increase in global warming has favored growth of a range of opportunistic environmental bacteria and allowed some of these to become more pathogenic to humans. is one such organism. Surviving in moist conditions in temperate climates, these bacteria have been associated with a range of diseases in humans, and in systemic infections can cause mortality in up to 46% of cases.

Australian consensus statements for the regulation, production and use of faecal microbiota transplantation in clinical practice.

Objective: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has proved to be an extremely effective treatment for recurrent infection, and there is interest in its potential application in other gastrointestinal and systemic diseases. However, the recent death and episode of septicaemia following FMT highlights the need for further appraisal and guidelines on donor evaluation, production standards, treatment facilities and acceptable clinical indications.

Design: For these consensus statements, a 24-member multidisciplinary working group voted online and then convened in-person, using a modified Delphi approach to formulate and refine a series of recommendations based on best evidence and expert opinion.

Bacteriophages in Natural and Artificial Environments.

Bacteriophages (phages) are biological entities that have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. They have been reported as the most abundant biological entities on the planet and their ability to impact the composition of bacterial communities is of great interest. In this review, we aim to explore where phages exist in natural and artificial environments and how they impact communities.

Genomic, morphological and functional characterisation of novel bacteriophage FNU1 capable of disrupting Fusobacterium nucleatum biofilms.

Fusobacterium nucleatum is an important oral bacterium that has been linked to the development of chronic diseases such as periodontitis and colorectal cancer. In periodontal disease, F. nucleatum forms the backbone of the polymicrobial biofilm and in colorectal cancer is implicated in aetiology, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance.

No evidence for widespread Babesia microti transmission in Australia.

Background: A fatal case of autochthonous Babesia microti infection was reported in Australia in 2012. This has implications for Australian public health and, given that babesiosis is transfusion transmissible, has possible implications for Australian blood transfusion recipients. We investigated the seroprevalence of antibodies to B.

Utilizing genomic analyses to investigate the first outbreak of vanA vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus in Australia with emergence of daptomycin non-susceptibility.

Introduction: The majority of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) in Australia is of the vanB genotype. An outbreak of vanA VREfm emerged in our haematology/oncology unit between November 2014 and May 2015. The first case of daptomycin non-susceptible E.

Health service impact of testing for respiratory pathogens using cartridge-based multiplex array versus molecular batch testing.

There is increasing demand for access to rapid microbiological testing, with a view to improving clinical outcomes. The possibility of rapid testing has been facilitated by development of cartridge-based random access molecular technologies that are now widely available. Whether the expense of cartridge-based assays is justified in terms of clinical or laboratory cost savings is controversial.

Semi-Solid and Solid Dosage Forms for the Delivery of Phage Therapy to Epithelia.

The delivery of phages to epithelial surfaces for therapeutic outcomes is a realistic proposal, and indeed one which is being currently tested in clinical trials. This paper reviews some of the known research on formulation of phages into semi-solid dosage forms such as creams, ointments and pastes, as well as solid dosage forms such as troches (or lozenges and pastilles) and suppositories/pessaries, for delivery to the epithelia. The efficacy and stability of these phage formulations is discussed, with a focus on selection of optimal semi-solid bases for phage delivery.

Ross River virus in Australian blood donors: possible implications for blood transfusion safety.

Background: Emerging transfusion-transmissible pathogens, including arboviruses such as West Nile, Zika, dengue, and Ross River viruses, are potential threats to transfusion safety. The most prevalent arbovirus in humans in Australia is Ross River virus (RRV); however, prevalence varies substantially around the country. Modeling estimated a yearly risk of 8 to 11 potentially RRV-viremic fresh blood components nationwide.

Characterization and formulation into solid dosage forms of a novel bacteriophage lytic against Klebsiella oxytoca.

Aim: To isolate and characterize bacteriophage lytic for the opportunistic pathogen Klebsiella oxytoca and their formulation into a range of solid dosage forms for in-vitro testing.

Methods And Results: We report the isolation, genomic and functional characterization of a novel bacteriophage lytic for Klebsiella oxytoca, which does not infect the closely related Klebsiella pneumoniae. This bacteriophage was formulated into suppositories and troches and shown to be released and lyse underlying Klebsiella oxytoca bacteria in an in-vitro model.

Hepatitis E virus RNA in Australian blood donations.

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) poses a risk to transfusion safety. In Australia, locally acquired HEV is rare and cases are mainly reported in travelers returning from countries endemic for HEV. The risk posed by HEV to transfusion safety in Australia is unknown; therefore, we aimed to measure the rate of current HEV infection in Australian blood donations.

The infectious disease blood safety risk of Australian hemochromatosis donations.

Background: It has been suggested that blood donors with hereditary hemochromatosis may pose an increased infectious disease risk and adversely affect recipient outcomes. This study compares the infectious disease risk of whole blood (WB) donors enrolled as therapeutic (T) donors to voluntary WB donors to evaluate the safety of blood products provided by the T donors.

Study Design And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all WB donations at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service who donated between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2013, comparing a yearly mean of 11,789 T donors with 107,773 total donations and a yearly mean of 468,889 voluntary WB donors with 2,584,705 total donations.