The association between antimicrobial resistance mutations and treatment outcomes for infections from 2018 to 2022: a cross-sectional study from Auckland, New Zealand.

Background New Zealand has among the highest rates of antimicrobial resistance in Mycoplasma genitalium in the world. The aim of this study was to correlate treatment outcomes with 23S rRNA and parC mutations associated with macrolide and fluroquinolone resistance, respectively, in a cohort of sexual health clinic patients. Methods Laboratory and clinical data were collected for patients with M.

Female RNA concussion (FeRNAC) study: assessing hormone profiles and salivary RNA in females with concussion by emergency departments in New Zealand: a study protocol.

Background: Females of reproductive age with concussion report a greater number of symptoms that can be more severe and continue for longer than age matched males. Underlying mechanisms for sex differences are not well understood. Short non-coding Ribonucleic Acids (sncRNAs) are candidate salivary biomarkers for concussion and have been studied primarily in male athletes.

Epidemiology of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in New Zealand.

Aim: Carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii have limited treatment options and a propensity to cause hospital outbreaks. In recent years an increase in their detection has been observed in New Zealand. This study aimed to describe the molecular epidemiology of these isolates.

Evaluation of ssrA-targeted real time PCR for the detection of Bartonella species in human clinical samples and reflex sequencing for species-level identification.

The genus Bartonella includes species capable of causing disease in animals and humans. Due to its fastidious nature, direct detection of Bartonella causing human infection relies largely on molecular microbiological methods. Thus, it is imperative that diagnostic assays in use have the ability to detect a range of Bartonella species associated with human disease.

Evaluation of extraction and amplification assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 at Auckland Hospital laboratory during the COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand.

Utilising diverse molecular platforms has formed a solid foundation in New Zealand's COVID-19 response. We evaluated multiple extraction and PCR assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. We included 65 positive samples which were run on the Panther Fusion using a laboratory developed test (LDT, E gene target).

bacteremia in a returning traveler.

Of the non- (NHPH) species, is an emerging cause of infection in humans. Here we report a novel clinical presentation of infection: a case of fever in a returning traveler. A 31 year old previously fit and well male presented with onset of fever 24 h after returning from travel in Singapore and Indonesia.

Mycoplasma genitalium Antimicrobial Resistance in Community and Sexual Health Clinic Patients, Auckland, New Zealand.

Our retrospective study compared genotypic antimicrobial resistance in Mycoplasma genitalium-positive specimens collected from 48 community and 33 sexual health clinic (SHC) patients. Macrolide resistance was similar in community (75%) and SHC (76%) patients. We observed no significant difference in fluoroquinolone resistance between community (19%) and SHC (27%) patients (p = 0.

Long-read sequencing based clinical metagenomics for the detection and confirmation of Pneumocystis jirovecii directly from clinical specimens: A paradigm shift in mycological diagnostics.

The advent of next generation sequencing technologies has enabled the characterization of the genetic content of entire communities of organisms, including those in clinical specimens, without prior culturing. The MinION from Oxford Nanopore Technologies offers real-time, direct sequencing of long DNA fragments directly from clinical samples. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of unbiased, genome-wide, long-read, shotgun sequencing using MinION to identify Pneumocystis jirovecii directly from respiratory tract specimens and to characterize the associated mycobiome.

Utility of whole genome sequencing for multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in a reference TB laboratory in New Zealand.

New Zealand has a low burden of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), but with increased mobility within the population, rapid detection and treatment of MDR-TB is a priority from the public health point of view. Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory in LabPLUS, Auckland City Hospital receives referred Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates from all over New Zealand for second-line drug susceptibility testing (DST) and 24-loci MIRU VNTR genotyping. Between 2002 and 2013, 38 multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) isolates were recorded by culture-based DST.

Differential carriage of virulence-associated loci in the New Zealand Rangipo outbreak strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background: The Rangipo strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis achieved notoriety in New Zealand due to its role in several tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks. Why this strain should be the source of relatively large clusters of the disease is unknown. In this work, we performed an in-depth analysis of the genome of the Rangipo strain to determine whether it offers clues to understanding its prevalence.

Draft Genome Sequence of a New Zealand Rangipo Strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The Rangipo genotype of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex has been associated with a number of tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks in New Zealand. We report here the draft whole-genome sequence of a representative isolate of this strain.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Drug-Susceptible New Zealand Isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lineage 3.

We report here the draft whole-genome sequence of a drug-susceptible lineage 3 (East-African Indian) isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from New Zealand (NZ3DS1) and compare it to a multidrug-resistant lineage 3 isolate (NZ3MDR1) with an identical 24-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive-unit-variable-number tandem-repeat profile.

Lymphogranuloma venereum in men who have sex with men: evidence of local transmission in New Zealand.

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Five laboratory confirmed cases of LGV were detected in MSM (men who have sex with men) in the upper North Island; four in Auckland between September and December 2013 and a fifth case was detected in Waikato in June 2014. The absence of a recent travel history for four cases supports the likelihood of local transmission of this uncommon infection.

Draft Genome Sequence of the First Isolate of Extensively Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in New Zealand.

Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis has now been described in >90 countries worldwide. The first case of XDR tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in New Zealand was recorded in 2010. We report the draft whole-genome sequence of the New Zealand isolate, NZXDR1, and describe a number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms that relate to drug resistance.

Improved detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile using the Cepheid Xpert C difficile assay and impact on C difficile infection rates in a tertiary hospital: a double-edged sword.

Recent recommendations suggest implementation of a 2-step diagnostic algorithm for the laboratory detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile. We found that the rate of toxigenic C difficile detection in our laboratory doubled after the introduction of an algorithm that incorporated polymerase chain reaction testing. This led to an abrupt 70% increase in the overall rate of C difficile infection in our institution.

An evaluation of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay and detection of false-positive rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Recent reports suggest that false-positive rifampicin resistance may be assigned by the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. We analysed 169 specimens using the MTB/RIF assay. Using culture as the gold standard, we found that the assay had 100% sensitivity and specificity for detecting M.

Crystal structures of the staphylococcal toxin SSL5 in complex with sialyl Lewis X reveal a conserved binding site that shares common features with viral and bacterial sialic acid binding proteins.

Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen. Among its large repertoire of secreted toxins is a group of staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs). These are homologous to superantigens but do not have the same activity.

The staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 7 binds IgA and complement C5 and inhibits IgA-Fc alpha RI binding and serum killing of bacteria.

The staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs) are close relatives of the superantigens but are coded for by a separate gene cluster within a 19-kb region of the pathogenicity island SaPIn2. rSSL7 (formally known as SET1) bound with high affinity (K(D), 1.1 nM) to the monomeric form of human IgA1 and IgA2 plus serum IgA from primate, pig, rat, and horse.

Antiviral activity of shiga toxin requires enzymatic activity and is associated with increased permeability of the target cells.

This study expanded our earlier finding that Shiga toxin type 1 (Stx1) has activity against bovine leukemia virus (BLV) (W. A. Ferens and C.