Human Toll-like receptor activation by pathogenic Arcobacter species.

The increase of Arcobacter spp. infection cases in humans, coupled with varying symptomatology, highlights the need to study the virulence mechanisms of these bacteria. Arcobacter butzleri can induce the release of several proinflammatory cytokines in human monocytic-derived macrophages, but the mechanism used to achieve this is still unclear.

Genes involved in the adhesion and invasion of Arcobacter butzleri.

Arcobacter butzleri is a foodborne pathogen that mainly causes enteritis in humans, but the number of cases of bacteraemia has increased in recent years. However, there is still limited knowledge on the pathogenic mechanisms of this bacterium. To investigate how A.

Foodborne and waterborne Arcobacter species exhibit a high virulent activity in Caco-2.

Infection mechanisms of Arcobacter remain uncertain. This study aimed to determine whether 65 food and waterborne isolates of at least six species were able to adhere and invade Caco-2 cells; and whether this ability could be related to cadF, cj1349, ciaB, and/or hecA, specific genetic markers related to host cell adhesion and invasion. All adhered and invaded the cells, and harboured at least two virulence markers.

Virulence genotype and phenotype of two clinical isolates of Arcobacter butzleri obtained from patients with different pathologies.

The surge in human arcobacteriosis has increased interest in determining the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of Arcobacter butzleri. Here, genomic analyses and in vitro Caco-2 infection, motility, urease and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) assays were used to characterise the virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants of strains HC-1, isolated from a patient with travellers' diarrhoea, and HC-2, isolated from another with pruritus. AMR determinants conferring resistance to tetracycline (tetO, present in both genomes) and to ampicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (bla3, present in HC-2) were identified.

A Practical Bioinformatics Workflow for Routine Analysis of Bacterial WGS Data.

The use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for bacterial characterisation has increased substantially in the last decade. Its high throughput and decreasing cost have led to significant changes in outbreak investigations and surveillance of a wide variety of microbial pathogens. Despite the innumerable advantages of WGS, several drawbacks concerning data analysis and management, as well as a general lack of standardisation, hinder its integration in routine use.

Biofilms: Insights into the Genes Beneath Their Formation.

, the most prevalent species of the genus, has the demonstrated ability to adhere to various surfaces through biofilm production. The biofilm formation capability has been related to the expression of certain genes, which have not been characterized in . In order to increase the knowledge of this foodborne pathogen, the aim of this study was to assess the role of six biofilm-associated genes in campylobacteria (, , , , and ) in the biofilm formation ability of .

Genetic characterization and biofilm formation of potentially pathogenic foodborne Arcobacter isolates.

Various species of the genus Arcobacter are regarded as emerging food pathogens and can be cause of human gastroenteric illness, among others. In order to gain knowledge on the risk associated with the presence of arcobacters in retail foods, this study aimed to determine their presence in a variety of products; to evaluate the genetic diversity and the occurrence of virulence and biofilm-associated genes in the isolated strains; and to assess their biofilm activity on polystyrene, borosilicate and stainless steel. Arcobacters were detected in the 22.

Fungal Diversity and Composition of the Continental Solar Saltern in Añana Salt Valley (Spain).

The Añana Salt Valley in Spain is an active continental solar saltern formed 220 million years ago. To date, no fungal genomic studies of continental salterns have been published, although DNA metabarcoding has recently expanded researchers' ability to study microbial community structures. Accordingly, the aim of this present study was to evaluate fungal diversity using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) metabarcoding at different locations along the saltern (springs, ponds, and groundwater) to describe the fungal community of this saline environment.

Molecular Epidemiology, Antimicrobial Surveillance, and PK/PD Analysis to Guide the Treatment of Infections.

The aim of this study was to apply molecular epidemiology, antimicrobial surveillance, and PK/PD analysis to guide the antimicrobial treatment of gonococci infections in a region of the north of Spain. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed on all isolates (2017 to 2019, = 202). A subset of 35 isolates intermediate or resistant to at least two antimicrobials were selected to search for resistance genes and genotyping through WGS.

Prevalence of in Free-Range Pigs: Risk Factors and Intestinal Microbiota Composition.

Extensive pig systems are gaining importance as quality production systems and as the standard for sustainable rural development and animal welfare. However, the effects of natural foods on epidemiology remain unknown. Herein, we assessed the presence of and the composition of the gut microbiota in pigs from both -free and high prevalence farms.

sp. nov., isolated from hypersaline Añana Salt Valley spring water, a continental thalassohaline-type solar saltern.

A novel salt-tolerant alpha-proteobacterium, designated SALINAS58, was isolated from Santa Engracia hypersaline spring water in the Añana Salt Valley, Álava, Spain. The isolate was Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, rod-shaped and formed orange colonies on marine agar. Optimal growth was observed at pH 6.

Genotyping Study of 4,[5],12:i:- Monophasic Variant of Serovar Typhimurium and Characterization of the Second-Phase Flagellar Deletion by Whole Genome Sequencing.

After Enteritidis and Typhimurium, 4,[5],12:i:- is the most reported serovar in human clinical cases. During the past 20 years, many tools have been used for its typing and second-phase flagellar deletion characterization. Currently, whole genome sequencing (WGS) and different bioinformatic programs have shown the potential to be more accurate than earlier tools.

Virulotyping of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi isolates from Pakistan: Absence of complete SPI-10 in Vi negative isolates.

The pathogenesis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), the cause of typhoid fever in humans, is mainly attributed to the acquisition of horizontally acquired DNA elements. Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) are indubitably the most important form of horizontally acquired DNA with respect to pathogenesis of this bacterium.

Draft Genome Sequence of an Oceanobacillus sp. Strain Isolated from Soil in a Burial Crypt.

We present the draft genome of an Oceanobacillus sp. strain isolated from spores found in soil samples from a burial crypt of the Cathedral of Sant'Antonio Abate in Castelsardo, Italy. The data obtained indicated the closest relation of the strain with Oceanobacillus caeni.

Reprint of "Identification of staphylococcal species based on variations in protein sequences (mass spectrometry) and DNA sequence (sodA microarray)".

This report is among the first using sequence variation in newly discovered protein markers for staphylococcal (or indeed any other bacterial) speciation. Variation, at the DNA sequence level, in the sodA gene (commonly used for staphylococcal speciation) provided excellent correlation. Relatedness among strains was also assessed using protein profiling using microcapillary electrophoresis and pulsed field electrophoresis.

Online exercise for the design and simulation of PCR and PCR-RFLP experiments.

Background: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism of PCR products (PCR-RFLP) are extensively used molecular biology techniques. An exercise for the design and simulation of PCR and PCR-RFLP experiments will be a useful educational tool.

Findings: An online PCR and PCR-RFLP exercise has been create that requires users to find the target genes, compare them, design primers, search for restriction endonucleases, and finally to simulate the experiment.

Identification of staphylococcal species based on variations in protein sequences (mass spectrometry) and DNA sequence (sodA microarray).

This report is among the first using sequence variation in newly discovered protein markers for staphylococcal (or indeed any other bacterial) speciation. Variation, at the DNA sequence level, in the sodA gene (commonly used for staphylococcal speciation) provided excellent correlation. Relatedness among strains was also assessed using protein profiling using microcapillary electrophoresis and pulsed field electrophoresis.

Intra- and inter-laboratory evaluation of an improved multiplex-PCR method for detection and typing of Salmonella.

Introduction: We developed and evaluated a multiplex-PCR method for rapid detection of the most common Salmonella serovars in both developed and developing countries. Additionally, the stability of the premixed reagents at high room temperature was studied.

Methodology: Fifty-two Salmonella strains belonging to the collections of the University of Sassari, Italy, and to the University of the Basque Country, Spain, and a collection of a hundred blinded strains, were used to evaluate the multiplex-PCR.

Validation of double digest selective label database for sequenced prokaryotic genomes.

Summary: A database for simulation of double digest selective label (DDSL) typing technique has been created and validated against a sequenced strain (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain LT2). In silico bands were in agreement with experimental, and the technique was able to discriminate among strains belonging to the same species. When compared with other strain discrimination techniques, DDSL showed a higher discriminatory power.