Publications by authors named "S Niemann"
Background: The integration of genomic and geospatial data into infectious disease transmission analyses typically includes residential locations and excludes other activity spaces where transmission may occur ( work, school, or social venues). The objective of this analysis was to explore residential as well as other activity spaces of tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks to identify potential geospatial 'hotspots' of transmission.
Methods: We analyzed data that included geospatial coordinates for residence and other activity spaces collected during 2012-2016 for the Kopanyo Study, a population-based study of TB transmission in Botswana.
Article Synopsis
- Haemophilus influenzae is a bacterial pathogen that can cause serious infections, and the rise of certain resistant strains is complicating treatment options for patients.
- A study was conducted to analyze the relationship between genetic mutations in a specific protein (PBP3) and the bacteria's resistance to ampicillin and cefotaxime using a large dataset of clinical isolates.
- Results showed that particular groups of PBP3 mutations were linked to increased resistance, while some strains previously thought to be susceptible actually displayed low specificity for ampicillin resistance, suggesting the need for updated diagnostic criteria.
Article Synopsis
- Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms and various risk factors like age, sex, and HIV status, but the role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (Mtbc) strain lineage is still debated.
- A study analyzed clinical data from 1,035 patients over 15 years, finding that those with lineage 1 strains had higher odds of EPTB, but lineage was not a significant predictor when other factors were considered.
- Geographic origin, female sex, and age were identified as stronger predictors for developing EPTB than the specific strain type, indicating a need for more research on how host factors interact with the pathogen.
Article Synopsis
- EnteroBase is a web-based platform that offers curated databases of genome sequences from over 1.1 million bacterial isolates, including notable pathogens like Streptococcus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- The platform now features tools for detecting antimicrobial resistance and a new bubble plot tool for visualizing bacterial genomic structures.
- Enhanced access and functionalities are provided through a user-friendly interface and a RESTful API, with ongoing development by an international consortium to improve and maintain the system.