Unearthing New ccr Genes and Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Elements in Staphylococci Through Genome Mining.

Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing is crucial for investigating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), relying primarily on the combination of ccr and mec gene complexes. To date, 19 ccr genes and 10 ccr gene complexes have been identified, forming 15 SCCmec types. With the vast release of bacterial genome sequences, mining the database for novel ccr gene complexes and SCC/SCCmec elements could enhance MRSA epidemiological studies.

Genetic mutations in adaptive evolution of growth-independent vancomycin-tolerant Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: Antibiotic tolerance allows bacteria to overcome antibiotic treatment transiently and potentially accelerates the emergence of resistance. However, our understanding of antibiotic tolerance at the genetic level during adaptive evolution of Staphylococcus aureus remains incomplete. We sought to identify the mutated genes and verify the role of these genes in the formation of vancomycin tolerance in S.

Antibiotics trigger initiation of SCCmec transfer by inducing SOS responses.

The rise of antimicrobial resistance limits therapeutic options for infections by methicillin-resistant staphylococci. The staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) is a mobile genetic element as the only carrier of the methicillin-resistance determinants, the mecA or mecC gene. The use of antibiotics increases the spread of antibiotic resistance, but the mechanism by which antibiotics promote horizontal dissemination of SCCmec is largely unknown.

Effect of bla regulators on the susceptible phenotype and phenotypic conversion for oxacillin-susceptible mecA-positive staphylococcal isolates.

Objectives: The bla regulatory system is critical in the regulation of mecA expression particularly when staphylococci lack the mec regulator. We sought to evaluate the effect of bla regulators on the cryptic methicillin-resistant phenotype and resistance conversion under β-lactam exposure in oxacillin-susceptible or oxacillin-resistant mecA-positive staphylococcal isolates.

Methods: Methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolates, NW19 and DY39, and their mutants, were used in this study.

Screening of immunomodulatory and adhesive Lactobacillus with antagonistic activities against Salmonella from fermented vegetables.

The purpose of this study was to select strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) by their in vitro adhesive and immunomodulatory properties for potential use as probiotics. In this study, 16 randomly selected LAB strains from fermented vegetables (sauerkraut, bean and cabbage) were first screened for their tolerance to acid, bile salts, pepsin and pancreatin, bacterial inhibitory activities and abilities to adherence to Caco-2 cells. Then, 4 strains with the highest adhesion abilities were selected for further studies of their immunomodulatory properties and inhibitory effects against Salmonella adhesion and invasion to Caco-2 cells in vitro.

The use of fine nets to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes on dry farmland in southern Taiwan.

Objectives: The stagnate water stored in buckets traditionally used by farmers in southern Taiwan to irrigate their dry farmland, serves as favorable breeding ground for Aedes aegypti, the vector of the dengue virus. The public health bureau there distributed fine nets to the farmers to cover their buckets to reduce vector breeding sites. The goal of this study was to compare the container index (CI) in Alian and Tianliao Townships, Kaohsiung County in southern Taiwan over a 2-year period, for 1 year before the fine nets were distributed and 1 year after.