Antimicrobial sensitivity trends and virulence genes in Shigella spp. from the Oceania region.

Shigella is a common cause of diarrhoea in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and other Oceania countries. However, little is known about the strains causing infection. Archived Shigella isolates (n = 72) were obtained from research laboratories in PNG and reference laboratories in Australia.

MDCK-SIAT1 cells show improved isolation rates for recent human influenza viruses compared to conventional MDCK cells.

The ability to isolate and propagate influenza virus is an essential tool for the yearly surveillance of circulating virus strains and to ensure accurate clinical diagnosis for appropriate treatment. The suitability of MDCK-SIAT1 cells, engineered to express increased levels of alpha-2,6-linked sialic acid receptors, as an alternative to conventional MDCK cells for isolation of circulating influenza virus was assessed. A greater number of influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and B viruses from stored human clinical specimens collected between 2005 and 2007 were isolated following inoculation in MDCK-SIAT1 cells than in MDCK cells.

Neuraminidase inhibitor drug susceptibility differs between influenza N1 and N2 neuraminidase following mutagenesis of two conserved residues.

Neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors are a class of antivirals designed to target the conserved residues of the influenza NA active site. While there are many conserved residues in the NA active site that are involved in NA inhibitor binding, only a few have been demonstrated to confer resistance. As such, little is known regarding the potential of the other conserved residues in the NA active site to cause NA inhibitor resistance.