Rapid detection and discrimination of potentially toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis by multiplex real-time PCR and amplicon melting curve analysis.

We developed a multiplex real-time PCR assay with amplicon melting curve analysis to rapidly discriminate Corynebacterium ulcerans from Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and detect the bacterial diphtheria toxin gene. This assay should be a valuable tool for identification of potentially toxigenic C. ulcerans.

Comparison of Neutralizing Antibody Titers against Japanese Encephalitis Virus Genotype V Strain with Those against Genotype I and III Strains in the Sera of Japanese Encephalitis Patients in Japan in 2016.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an acute viral disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). JEV strains are classified into 5 genotypes (I-V). JEV genotype V strains have never been detected in Japan to date, but they were recently detected in South Korea.

First Identification of Human Adenovirus 57 (HAdV-57) in Japan.

Neutralization tests have been routinely used for the identification of human adenovirus C species (HAdV-C) in Japan until 2007. The aim of this study was to clarify the serological cross-reactivity of antiserum that has been used exclusively in Japan and to describe the first identification of HAdV type 57 (HAdV-57) in Japan. Anti-HAdV serum to HAdV-1, 2, 5, and 6 was quantitatively evaluated for cross-reactivity to the HAdV-57 isolates.