Clinical evaluation and cost analysis of a Trioplex real-time PCR assay for the detection and differentiation of herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 in cutaneous and mucocutaneous lesions.

Purpose: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common lifelong sexually transmitted infection. HSV-1 typically manifests as oral cold sores, while HSV-2 is more traditionally associated with sexual transmission and infection. We have developed a real-time PCR (Trioplex) for the simultaneous detection of HSV-1 and -2 and the bacterial phage internal control (IC) MS2.

Treated with Artemisinin-based Combined Therapy Exhibits Enhanced Mutation, Heightened Cortisol and TNF-α Induction.

The artemisinin-based combined therapy (ACT) post-treatment illness in -endemic areas is characterized by vague malaria-like symptoms. The roles of treatment modality, persistence of parasites and host proinflammatory response in disease course are unknown. We investigated the hypothesis that ACT post-treatment syndrome is driven by parasite genetic polymorphisms and proinflammatory response to persisting mutant parasites.

Surveillance Study of Influenza Occurrence and Immunity in a Wisconsin Cohort During the 2009 Pandemic.

Background: Antibody and T-cell immunity to conserved influenza virus antigens can protect animals against infection with diverse influenza strains. Although immunity against conserved antigens occurs in humans, whether such responses provide cross-protection in humans and could be harnessed as the basis for universal influenza vaccines is controversial. The 2009 pandemic provided an opportunity to investigate whether pre-existing cross-reactive immunity affected susceptibility to infection.

Whole-Genome Sequence for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strain ATCC BAA-1680.

We report here the whole-genome sequence of the USA300 strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), designated ATCC BAA-1680, and commonly referred to as community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). This clinical MRSA isolate is commercially available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and is widely utilized as a control strain for research applications and clinical diagnosis. The isolate was propagated in ATCC medium 18, tryptic soy agar, and has been utilized as a model S.

Preponderance of toxigenic Escherichia coli in stool pathogens correlates with toxin detection in accessible drinking-water sources.

Since early detection of pathogens and their virulence factors contribute to intervention and control strategies, we assessed the enteropathogens in diarrhoea disease and investigated the link between toxigenic strains of Escherichia coli from stool and drinking-water sources; and determined the expression of toxin genes by antibiotic-resistant E. coli in Lagos, Nigeria. This was compared with isolates from diarrhoeal stool and water from Wisconsin, USA.