Evaluation of cobas® Liat® Cdiff, STANDARD™ M10 C. difficile and Xpert® C. difficile BT assays for rapid detection of toxigenic Clostridioides difficile.

We evaluated the analytical performance of three commercial molecular assays for rapid detection of Clostridioides difficile toxin B in stool samples. The results were compared with results from the BD MAX™ Cdiff assay. We analyzed forty negative and thirty-two positive stool samples with three rapid assays: Roche cobas® Liat® Cdiff, SD Biosensor STANDARD™ M10 C.

The Prevalence of HSV, HHV-6, HPV and in positive and Negative Urogenital Samples among Young Women in Finland.

, , herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) cause sexually transmitted infections. In addition, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) may be a genital co-pathogen. The prevalence rates of HSV, HHV-6, HPV, , and the genotypes were investigated by PCR in urogenital samples of the nucleic acid amplification test positive (n = 157) and age-, community- and time-matched negative (n = 157) women.

Transcriptional Expression of the , , and Genes of Clinical Isolates at Different Stages of the Developmental Cycle.

The transcriptional gene expression patterns of have mainly been studied using reference strains propagated in cultured cells. Here, using five low-passage-number clinical isolates that originated from asymptomatic or symptomatic female patients, the in vitro expression of the , , , and genes was studied with reverse transcriptase real-time PCR during the chlamydial developmental cycle. We observed dissimilarities in the gene expression patterns between the low-passage-number clinical isolates and the reference strains.

Comprehensive global genome dynamics of show ancient diversification followed by contemporary mixing and recent lineage expansion.

is the world's most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection and leading infectious cause of blindness, yet it is one of the least understood human pathogens, in part due to the difficulties of in vitro culturing and the lack of available tools for genetic manipulation. Genome sequencing has reinvigorated this field, shedding light on the contemporary history of this pathogen. Here, we analyze 563 full genomes, 455 of which are novel, to show that the history of the species comprises two phases, and conclude that the currently circulating lineages are the result of evolution in different genomic ecotypes.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection induces replication of latent HHV-6.

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) exists in latent form either as a nuclear episome or integrated into human chromosomes in more than 90% of healthy individuals without causing clinical symptoms. Immunosuppression and stress conditions can reactivate HHV-6 replication, associated with clinical complications and even death. We have previously shown that co-infection of Chlamydia trachomatis and HHV-6 promotes chlamydial persistence and increases viral uptake in an in vitro cell culture model.

Genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis in rectal and pharyngeal specimens: identification of LGV genotypes in Finland.

Objectives: Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis L types have recently emerged in Europe among HIV-positive men having sex with men. Our aim was to introduce a genotyping strategy suitable for a diagnostic laboratory using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for detection of C trachomatis and to investigate the prevalence of LGV types in rectal and pharyngeal specimens in Finland.

Methods: Aptima Combo 2 (Gen-Probe) was used to detect C trachomatis in swabs.