Publications by authors named "Koji Yahara"

Article Synopsis
  • Tigecycline is an antimicrobial with effectiveness against a wide range of bacteria, but resistance genes, specifically tnfxB-tmexCD-toprJ, have been spreading globally, raising concerns about their prevalence in Japan.
  • A study analyzed genome sequences from 5143 Enterobacterales clinical isolates collected in Japan to investigate the presence of the tnfxB-tmexCD-toprJ gene cluster.
  • The study found two Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates carrying the tnfxB1-tmexCD1-toprJ1 cluster along with other antibiotic resistance genes, indicating a potential public health threat from multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales even in regions with low clinical use of tigecycline.
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Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a crucial strategy to combat AMR. Using routine surveillance data, we could detect and control hospital outbreaks of AMR bacteria as early as possible. Previously, we developed a framework for automatic detection of clusters of AMR bacteria using SaTScan, a free cluster detection tool integrated into WHONET.

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  • Researchers identified a new species of bacteria related to skin infections in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) by analyzing lesions and conducting genome sequencing.
  • The isolated bacteria produce a protein similar to staphylococcal enterotoxin Y (SEY), which activates T cells in a different way than other known superantigens, primarily through the T-cell receptor (TCR) Vα pathway.
  • Immunological tests showed that this new protein, called SargEY, can stimulate T-cell proliferation and has the potential to worsen skin conditions in AD patients.
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  • The study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the occurrence of certain respiratory bacteria, highlighting significant changes in their epidemiology due to new social behaviors and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs).
  • Researchers analyzed data from a national surveillance database from 2018 to 2021, comparing cases of four bacteria before and after the pandemic, focusing on different age groups and specimen sources.
  • Findings showed a significant drop in cases of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and S. pyogenes between 2019 and 2020, with a resurgence in 2021, particularly among young children, indicating the varied impact of NPIs on different bacteria and demographics.
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To isolate specific bacteria from samples constituting the microbiota, it is essential to employ selective media that suppress the growth of resident bacteria other than specific target bacteria. Selective media for clinically important (including , which was previously taxonomically classified as part of the genus ) have been limited because they have been designed for a limited range of species within the genus and require ingredients which are difficult to prepare and handle. This study aimed to develop a selective medium [referred to as and Selective Medium (ASSM)] for the isolation of a broad range of and species from samples mixed with resident bacteria.

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Objectives: The treatment options available for infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens are often limited. Cefiderocol (CFDC) is a novel siderophore cephalosporin that exhibits activity against these pathogens. Several studies have reported the in vitro activity of CFDC against isolates from Europe, the United States, and China, but the activity against carbapenem-resistant bacteria with IMP-type carbapenemase has not been extensively studied.

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Background: The spread of transmissible plasmids with carbapenemase genes has contributed to a global increase in carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales over the past two decades, with and among the most prevalent carbapenemase genes.

Objectives: To characterize an isolate co-carrying and (JBEHAAB-19-0176) that was isolated in the Japan Antimicrobial Resistant Bacterial Surveillance in 2019-20, and to evaluate the functional advantage of carrying both genes as opposed to only one.

Methods: The whole-genome sequence of the isolate was determined using long- and short-read sequencing.

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  • Osteomyelitis of the jaw is a serious condition classified into chronic bacterial and nonbacterial types, with unclear links to specific microbes.
  • A study using advanced DNA sequencing analyzed saliva from patients with chronic bacterial osteomyelitis and chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis, revealing significant increases in a bacteria called Mogibacterium in the bacterial type but not in the nonbacterial type.
  • The research highlights Mogibacterium's potential as a differentiating marker for chronic bacterial osteomyelitis, despite the limitations of a small sample size.
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Recombination of short DNA fragments via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) can introduce beneficial alleles, create genomic disharmony through negative epistasis, and create adaptive gene combinations through positive epistasis. For non-core (accessory) genes, the negative epistatic cost is likely to be minimal because the incoming genes have not co-evolved with the recipient genome and are frequently observed as tightly linked cassettes with major effects. By contrast, interspecific recombination in the core genome is expected to be rare because disruptive allelic replacement is likely to introduce negative epistasis.

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Japan is a country with an approximate 10% prevalence rate of carbapenem-resistant (CRPA). Currently, a comprehensive overview of the genotype and phenotype patterns of CRPA in Japan is lacking. Herein, we conducted genome sequencing and quantitative antimicrobial susceptibility testing for 382 meropenem-resistant CRPA isolates that were collected from 78 hospitals across Japan from 2019 to 2020.

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  • A study was conducted to compare the disease and economic burden of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections versus methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections, and between MRSA infections and MRSA colonization.
  • Data from 496 in-patients with infections and 1178 with MRSA colonization were analyzed to evaluate factors like in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and hospital charges.
  • Results showed no significant difference in mortality rates between MRSA and MSSA or MRSA infections and colonization; however, MRSA infections led to longer hospital stays and higher hospital charges compared to MSSA and colonization.
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  • Monitoring antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and understanding their impact on the human microbiome and resistome is essential for public health, especially in long-term care facilities where residents often harbor ARB.
  • This study used shotgun metagenome sequencing on oral and stool samples from these residents to analyze the effects of antimicrobial treatment, finding increased abundance of certain archaea and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in those with recent treatment histories.
  • Interestingly, the research showed that taxonomic diversity in gut microbiota did not decrease during antimicrobial treatment, indicating that the impact of a single drug might be less significant than previously believed, particularly in older adults.
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  • Staphylococcus aureus is normally harmless in humans, but it can cause infections like skin diseases and pneumonia, especially in older adults.
  • This study examined the prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA in the oral cavity and feces of residents in long-term care facilities, finding significant rates of both in the participants.
  • The research indicated that MRSA presence in the mouth was linked to factors such as tube feeding, highlighting the need for preventive measures against MRSA infections in these facilities.
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Background: Antimicrobial use (AMU) in primary care is a contributing factor to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. We assessed the potential effects of AMU on the prevalence of a combination of resistance phenotypes in bacteraemic Escherichia coli in outpatient care settings between primary care facilities ('clinics') and hospitals.

Methods: Population-weighted total AMU calculated from the national database was expressed as DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID).

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  • * The study involved genome sequencing and testing of 4,195 bacterial isolates from Japan to identify mechanisms of 3GC resistance and found that certain resistance genes were often located on similar plasmids.
  • * Findings included strains that were resistant to carbapenems but appeared susceptible in standard testing, highlighting the need for national genomic surveillance to better understand and combat antibiotic resistance.
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IncX3 plasmids harboring play a major role in the spread of carbapenem resistance in Asia, particularly in China, in clinical and environmental settings. In this study, we present that Enterobacterales isolates carrying IncX3 plasmids harboring have been disseminated in Japan, where their identification was previously rare. In addition, , a single-nucleotide variant of , was found to be carried by an identical IncX3 plasmid.

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is an opportunistic food-borne bacterium that is capable of infecting humans with high rates of hospitalization and mortality. Natural populations are genotypically and phenotypically variable, with some lineages being responsible for most human infections. The success of is linked to its capacity to persist on food and in the environment.

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  • The study examines the rising rates of anaerobic bacteremia worldwide, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring of these infections.
  • It analyzes data from a significant longitudinal study in Japan (2011-2020), focusing on antibiotic resistance among various anaerobic bacteria isolated from blood cultures.
  • Results show a notable increase in bacteremia cases linked to specific species, with some antibiotic resistances increasing, which suggests a connection to factors like colorectal cancer incidence and advances in detection methods.
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Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most common healthcare-associated infections. Laparoscopy is increasingly being used in various surgical procedures. However, no study has examined the association between the proportion of laparoscopic procedures and the incidence of SSIs in digestive surgery using nationwide surveillance data.

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Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacterial infections caused by clinically important bacteria, including ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) and mycobacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria), have become a global public health threat. Their epidemic and pandemic clones often accumulate useful accessory genes in their genomes, such as AMR genes (ARGs) and virulence factor genes (VFGs). This process is facilitated by horizontal gene transfer among microbial communities via mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as plasmids and phages.

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  • A study found third-generation-cephalosporin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in the mouths of residents in a long-term care facility, prompting an investigation into how these bacteria respond to various disinfectants.
  • Researchers tested the susceptibility of these bacteria, including Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, to several disinfectants like povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine, comparing results from oral and rectal isolates.
  • The results showed that oral antibiotic-resistant bacteria also have disinfectant resistance, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, indicating a growing concern about the prevalence of resistant bacteria in healthcare settings.
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Helicobacter pylori lives in the human stomach and has a population structure resembling that of its host. However, H. pylori from Europe and the Middle East trace substantially more ancestry from modern African populations than the humans that carry them.

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