Spoligotype-based population structure and isoniazid-resistance gene mutation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Thailand.

Objectives: The present study aims to investigate the population structure of Thai Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates and anti-tuberculosis (TB) drug resistance and to determine the most frequent genetic mutations conferring isoniazid (INH) resistance.

Methods: Genomic DNA from 287 MTB clinical isolates were extracted and used for spoligotyping, amplification and sequencing analysis of the region of different (RD) 105, and of the INH resistance (IR) associated genes, inhA, katG and oxyR-ahpC genes.

Results: Eighty-one clinical isolates were resistant to at least one first-line drug; 53 of these were resistant to INH.

Mutations in Streptomycin Resistance Genes and Their Relationship to Streptomycin Resistance and Lineage of Thai Isolates.

Background: Streptomycin (SM) is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a part of standard regimens for retreating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases. The incidence of MDR-TB in retreatment cases was 19% in Thailand. To date, information on SM resistance (SMR) gene mutations correlated to the SMR of Thai isolates is limited.

Virulence genes and genetic diversity of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 isolates from Thailand.

Isolates of Streptococcus suis from different Western countries as well as those from China and Vietnam have been previously well characterized. So far, the genetic characteristics and relationship between S. suis strains isolated from both humans and pigs in Thailand are unknown.

Hybrid & El Tor variant biotypes of Vibrio cholerae O1 in Thailand.

Background & Objectives: El Tor Vibrio cholerae O1 carrying ctxB C trait, so-called El Tor variant that causes more severe symptoms than the prototype El Tor strain, first detected in Bangladesh was later shown to have emerged in India in 1992. Subsequently, similar V. cholerae strains were isolated in other countries in Asia and Africa.

Heterosubtypic immunity to influenza mediated by liposome adjuvanted H5N1 recombinant protein vaccines.

A non-egg, non-culture based influenza vaccine that intervenes large influenza outbreaks and protects against heterosubtypic infections is needed. Candidates of such vaccine are likely to be conserved influenza virus proteins or their coding DNA. The vaccine must be conveniently produced at reasonable cost, safe, highly immunogenic and should be able to recall rapidly the immunological memory upon the antigenic re-exposure.