Whole-genome phylogenetic analysis of complex from clinical respiratory samples.

Unlabelled: The complex (MAC) is a common causative agent causing nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease worldwide. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on a total of 203 retrospective MAC isolates from respiratory specimens. Phylogenomic analysis identified eight subspecies and species.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales incidence in the South-East Asia region: an observational study.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an initial increase in the incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) from clinical cultures in South-East Asia hospitals, which was unsustained as the pandemic progressed. Conversely, there was a decrease in CRE incidence from surveillance cultures and overall combined incidence. Further studies are needed for future pandemic preparedness.

A hydrophilic polyimidazolium antibiotic targeting the membranes of Gram-negative bacteria.

Objectives: The rise of MDR Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), especially those resistant to last-resort drugs such as carbapenems and colistin, is a global health risk and calls for increased efforts to discover new antimicrobial compounds. We previously reported that polyimidazolium (PIM) compounds exhibited significant antimicrobial activity and minimal mammalian cytotoxicity. However, their mechanism of action is relatively unknown.

Genomic epidemiology of human candidaemia isolates in a tertiary hospital.

Invasive candida infections are significant infections that may occur in vulnerable patients with high rates of mortality or morbidity. Drug-resistance rates also appear to be on the rise which further complicate treatment options and outcomes. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence, molecular epidemiology, and genetic features of bloodstream isolates in a hospital setting.

Stapled β-Hairpin Antimicrobial Peptides with Improved Stability and Activity against Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Different stapling techniques have been used recently to address the subpar performance of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in clinical trials with ample focus on α-helical AMPs. In comparison, a systematic evaluation of such strategies on β-hairpin AMPs is lacking. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a library of all-hydrocarbon-stapled β-hairpin AMPs with variation in key parameters intended as potent therapeutics against drug-resistant pathogens.

Rifaximin potentiates clarithromycin against and in zebrafish.

Background: is a non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) that causes chronic pulmonary infections. Because of its extensive innate resistance to numerous antibiotics, treatment options are limited, often resulting in poor clinical outcomes. Current treatment regimens usually involve a combination of antibiotics, with clarithromycin being the cornerstone of NTM treatments.

Genome Sequence of a Clinical Blood Isolate of Kodamaea ohmeri.

Kodamaea ohmeri is a rarely occurring yeast that can cause human infections. We describe the whole-genome sequence of a K. ohmeri clinical blood isolate.

Dominant Carbapenemase-Encoding Plasmids in Clinical Enterobacterales Isolates and Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae, Singapore.

Dissemination of carbapenemase-encoding plasmids by horizontal gene transfer in multidrug-resistant bacteria is the major driver of rising carbapenem-resistance, but the conjugative mechanics and evolution of clinically relevant plasmids are not yet clear. We performed whole-genome sequencing on 1,215 clinical Enterobacterales isolates collected in Singapore during 2010-2015. We identified 1,126 carbapenemase-encoding plasmids and discovered pKPC2 is becoming the dominant plasmid in Singapore, overtaking an earlier dominant plasmid, pNDM1.

Epidemiology and Characteristics of spp. Infections in Southeast Asia.

spp. is a ubiquitous pathogenic bacterium that has been identified as the causal agent for a variety of conditions such as meningitis, pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, endophthalmitis, and sepsis and is emerging as a global threat including in Southeast Asia. infections tend to be associated with high mortality rates (18.

Molecular epidemiology and phylogenomic analysis of clinical isolates in an Asian population.

comprises three subspecies. These closely related strains are typically multi-drug-resistant and can cause difficult-to-treat infections. Dominant clusters of isolates with increased pathogenic potential have been demonstrated in pulmonary infections in the global cystic fibrosis (CF) population.

sp. nov., a new member of the complex, isolated from human clinical specimens.

and are the newest members of the complex. The number of clinical reports attributed to these new complex members is limited. In a retrospective clinical laboratory study conducted over a 4-month period investigating the prevalence of and , a total of 43 isolates were selected.

Manipulating turn residues on de novo designed β-hairpin peptides for selectivity against drug-resistant bacteria.

Synthetic β-hairpin antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a useful source for the development of novel antimicrobial agents. β-hairpin peptides generally consist of two side strands bridged by a reverse turn. In literature, most studies focused on the modifications of the side strands to manipulate the stability and activity of β-hairpin peptides, and much less is known about the impact of the turn region.

Genomic Characterization of Klebsiella quasipneumoniae from Clinical Specimens in Singapore.

A total of 1,281 specimens from 1,024 patients were screened. Phylogenetic analysis classified 44 of these isolates as Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. (44/1,281 [3.

Whole genome sequencing of Salmonella enterica serovar Saintpaul for elucidating the mechanisms of resistance to third generation cephalosporins.

An increase in the number of Salmonella enterica serovar Saintpaul observed in Singapore in 2015-2016 in humans was accompanied by increased resistance to third generation cephalosporins. We aimed to understand the genetic mechanisms contributing to this resistance. Whole genome sequencing using MiSeq was performed on 49 S.