A core microbiota dominates a rich microbial diversity in the bovine udder and may indicate presence of dysbiosis.

The importance of the microbiome for bovine udder health is not well explored and most of the knowledge originates from research on mastitis. Better understanding of the microbial diversity inside the healthy udder of lactating cows might help to reduce mastitis, use of antibiotics and improve animal welfare. In this study, we investigated the microbial diversity of over 400 quarter milk samples from 60 cows sampled from two farms and on two different occasions during the same lactation period.

Whole Genome Sequencing and Characterization of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Bacterial Strains Isolated From a Norwegian University Campus Pond.

The presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria in environmental sources has been reported worldwide and constitutes a serious risk of community-acquired infections with limited treatment options. The current study aimed to explore the presence of these worrisome bacteria in a pond located at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Ås, Norway. A total of 98 bacterial isolates survived growth on selective chromogenic media and were identified by 16S rRNA Sanger sequencing.

A preliminary study on the potential of Nanopore MinION and Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize building-dust microbiomes.

There is a growing awareness of the importance of indoor microbiomes for human health. Given their complexity, these microbiomes can only be adequately surveyed using high throughput sequencing techniques. Oxford Nanopore's MinION is the newest third generation sequencing technology on the market.

TaME-seq: An efficient sequencing approach for characterisation of HPV genomic variability and chromosomal integration.

HPV genomic variability and chromosomal integration are important in the HPV-induced carcinogenic process. To uncover these genomic events in an HPV infection, we have developed an innovative and cost-effective sequencing approach named TaME-seq (tagmentation-assisted multiplex PCR enrichment sequencing). TaME-seq combines tagmentation and multiplex PCR enrichment for simultaneous analysis of HPV variation and chromosomal integration, and it can also be adapted to other viruses.

Evaluating gut microbiota profiles from archived fecal samples.

Background: Associations between colorectal cancer and microbiota have been identified. Archived fecal samples might be valuable sample sources for investigating causality in carcinogenesis and biomarkers discovery due to the potential of performing longitudinal studies. However, the quality, quantity and stability of the gut microbiota in these fecal samples must be assessed prior to such studies.

Human papillomavirus prevalence and type distribution in urine samples from Norwegian women aged 17 and 21 years: A nationwide cross-sectional study of three non-vaccinated birth cohorts.

Background: The aim of the current study was to assess the HPV prevalence in unscreened and unvaccinated young women living in Norway, to provide important baseline data for early estimation of the impact of the HPV vaccination program.

Methods: A total of 13,129 self-sampled urine samples from two complete birth-cohorts of 17-year old women born in 1994 and 1996 and one third of a birth-cohort of 21-year old women born in 1990, were analysed for the presence of 37 HPV types using PCR and a DNA hybridization technique.

Results: In the two birth cohorts of 17-year old women, HPV was detected in 19.

erm gene distribution among Norwegian Bacteroides isolates and evaluation of phenotypic tests to detect inducible clindamycin resistance in Bacteroides species.

The aims of this study were to describe the distribution of the most common erm genes in a collection of Norwegian Bacteroides isolates and to investigate whether the phenotypic tests for determining inducible clindamycin resistance among Bacteroides species recommended by EUCAST, NordicAST and the manufacturer of E-test, are effective. We investigated 175 unique Bacteroides isolates for the presence of erm(B), erm(F) and erm(G) genes, determined their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to clindamycin and categorised their susceptibility according to EUCAST breakpoints. 27 isolates were resistant to clindamycin.

Genotypic diversity of anogenital human papillomavirus in women attending cervical cancer screening in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Although anogenital cancers have been on a gradual rise in developing countries in the past few decades, they have been understudied. The objective was to investigate genotypic diversity of anogenital HPV amongst women reporting for routine cervical cancer screening in Harare in Zimbabwe. A cross-sectional study that enrolled 144 women ≥18 years from a cervical cancer-screening clinic was performed.

HPV Genotyping of Modified General Primer-Amplicons Is More Analytically Sensitive and Specific by Sequencing than by Hybridization.

Sensitive and specific genotyping of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is important for population-based surveillance of carcinogenic HPV types and for monitoring vaccine effectiveness. Here we compare HPV genotyping by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to an established DNA hybridization method. In DNA isolated from urine, the overall analytical sensitivity of NGS was found to be 22% higher than that of hybridization.

Massive parallel sequencing provides new perspectives on bacterial brain abscesses.

Rapid development within the field of massive parallel sequencing (MPS) is about to bring this technology within reach for diagnostic microbiology laboratories. We wanted to explore its potential for improving diagnosis and understanding of polymicrobial infections, using bacterial brain abscesses as an example. We conducted a prospective nationwide study on bacterial brain abscesses.

Streptococcus pyogenes isolates causing severe infections in Norway in 2006 to 2007: emm types, multilocus sequence types, and superantigen profiles.

To investigate the epidemiological patterns and genetic characteristics of disease caused by group A Streptococcus (GAS), all available isolates from invasive cases in Norway during 2006 to 2007 (262 isolates) were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, T serotyping, emm typing, and multilocus sequence typing and screened for known streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (Spe) genes, smeZ, and ssa. The average incidence rate was 3.1 cases per 100,000 individuals.

Molecular characteristics of pharyngeal and invasive emm3 Streptococcus pyogenes strains from Norway, 1988-2003.

A major virulence factor of group A streptococci (GAS) is the M protein. Strains with the M3 type are more often associated with necrotizing fasciitis (NF) and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, and have a higher case fatality rate than strains of other M types. To better understand the epidemiology of M3 GAS strains in Norway, we analyzed 59 invasive and 69 pharyngeal isolates with respect to prophage content, allelic variation in emm3, mtsR encoding the metal transporter of Streptococcus repressor (mtsR), and sclB coding for streptococcal collagen-like protein B.

Sequence type and emm type diversity in Streptococcus pyogenes isolates causing invasive disease in Norway between 1988 and 2003.

The incidence of invasive group A streptococcal disease has increased in Norway since the 1980s. Analysis of 100 isolates recovered from 1988 to 2003 showed an increased genotypic diversity over time, while the prevalence of the strain that dominated in 1988, sequence type (ST)-28/emm-1, decreased. Necrotizing fasciitis was often associated with ST-15/emm-3.

Multilocus sequence typing scheme for bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group.

In this study we developed a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group. This group, which includes the species B. cereus, B.