Metagenomic Evaluation of Bacteria from Voles.

Voles (Arvicolinae, Rodentia) are known carriers of zoonotic bacteria such as Bartonella spp. and Francisella tularensis. However, apart from F.

Generation of a CRISPR database for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex and role of CRISPR-based immunity in conjugation.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat - CRISPR-associated genes (CRISPR-Cas) system is used by bacteria and archaea against invading conjugative plasmids or bacteriophages. Central to this immunity system are genomic CRISPR loci that contain fragments of invading DNA. These are maintained as spacers in the CRISPR loci between direct repeats and the spacer composition in any bacterium reflects its evolutionary history.

The role of microbes in the pathogenesis of acute rhinosinusitis in young adults.

Objectives/hypothesis: To provide information on the course of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) with sequential nasal and paranasal microbiological data and their correlation with clinical outcomes.

Study Design: We conducted a prospective cohort study among 50 Finnish military recruits with clinically diagnosed ARS in spring 2012.

Methods: We collected symptom, nasal endoscopy, and cone-beam CT (CBCT) scores during the early (2-3 days from onset) and later phases (9-10 days).

Detection of Francisella tularensis in voles in Finland.

Francisella tularensis is a highly virulent intracellular bacterium causing the zoonotic disease tularemia. It recurrently causes human and animal outbreaks in northern Europe, including Finland. Although F.

Bacterial DNA signatures in carotid atherosclerosis represent both commensals and pathogens of skin origin.

Infectious agents have been suggested to be involved in atherosclerosis. By using a novel subtraction broad-range PCR approach, we defined bacterial DNA signatures in surgically removed sterile carotid artery endarterectomy plaques of patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Eighty partial bacterial 16S rDNA nucleotide sequences from eight patients were studied.

Detection of influenza A viruses with a portable real-time PCR instrument.

Timely identification of respiratory pathogens is essential for appropriate patient care and cohorting. In order to do rapid identification-technology near the patient we utilized the field-deployable RAZOR EX-thermocycler with a reverse transcription real-time PCR assay that detects all subtypes of influenza A virus. In addition, we developed a RT PCR assay for specific detection of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus.

A multiplatform real-time polymerase chain reaction detection assay for Vibrio cholerae.

We report a multiplatform real-time polymerase chain reaction methodology based on genes encoding for the regulatory toxR activator and enterotoxin A protein to determine enterotoxigenic Vibrio cholerae types from other vibrios. This assay, which was successfully validated on a collection of 87 bacterial strains, including 63 representatives of V. cholerae and 8 noncholera vibrios provides a rapid tool for detection and identification of cholera.