Publications by authors named "Tomaso H"

Article Synopsis
  • Francisella tularensis is a highly dangerous bioterrorism agent that causes tularemia, with its subspecies type A having a high mortality rate of 30-60% when untreated.
  • While a live attenuated vaccine for type B offers limited protection, significant immunity has been observed through isolation and utilization of its O-antigen capsular polysaccharide in mice.
  • Researchers have synthesized specific glycan epitopes from F. tularensis that could lead to new diagnostics and treatments for tularemia, with two disaccharides identified as key sites for antibody binding.
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  • * Researchers analyzed 84 bacterial isolates from milk of cows with clinical mastitis and found a mix of genetically different strains, some closely related, while most were sensitive to key antibiotics like ampicillin and vancomycin.
  • * A significant percentage of strains showed resistance to various antibiotics, with concerns about multi-drug resistant strains, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring and judicious use of antimicrobials in livestock.
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Contagious bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC), also known as bovine venereal campylobacteriosis, is a disease relevant to international trade listed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). It is caused by subsp. (), one of three subspecies of .

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  • A white-handed gibbon in Germany died from a subsp. infection shortly after being transferred between zoos in 2021.
  • Researchers performed whole genome sequencing on the gibbon's isolate and examined wild rodents and captive squirrels at both zoos to trace the infection source.
  • The gibbon's genomic data closely matched previous sequences found in local hares, but DNA from the pathogen was also found in a Norway rat at the receiving zoo, making it unclear which zoo was the source.
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In the northernmost German federal state Schleswig-Holstein, populations of European brown hares () show diverse densities and varying courses over the years. To examine differences in pathomorphological findings and infectious diseases as possible reasons for varying population dynamics, we assessed 155 hunted hares from three locations in Schleswig-Holstein from 2016 to 2020. We investigated the association of location, year, age, and sex of animals to certain pathomorphological findings and infectious diseases.

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  • - The study investigates genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance in bacteria causing bovine mastitis, a disease that leads to significant economic losses in dairy farming, particularly focusing on isolates from 17 farms in Thuringia, Germany.
  • - Out of 40 collected isolates, 75% were found to be methicillin-resistant, showing high resistance rates against several antibiotics like penicillin and tetracycline, while exhibiting susceptibility to others like linezolid and vancomycin.
  • - The isolates were categorized into five sequence types, with the majority being ST398, and shared resistance genes linked to antibiotic resistance, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in dairy farming practices.
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  • - Salmonella infections are a major public health concern, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where some non-typhoidal serovars are linked to severe diseases in children; this study focused on identifying and analyzing these resistant and virulent strains in Nigeria.
  • - Over a period from December 2017 to May 2019, researchers collected 2,522 samples from humans, animals, and the environment, followed standard microbiological methods for analysis, and conducted antibiotic susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing (WGS) for deeper insights.
  • - The study isolated 48 non-typhoidal Salmonella strains, with varying prevalence rates, identified several serovars, and found that all isolates possessed multiple antibiotic resistance and
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  • The study investigates the effectiveness of Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) long-read sequencing compared to Illumina short-read sequencing for understanding the genetic makeup of highly pathogenic bacteria like Bacillus anthracis, Brucella species, and Francisella tularensis.* -
  • Results show that ONT produces ultra-long reads suitable for near-complete assembly of bacterial genomes, while Illumina offers higher accuracy in sequencing. Improvements were noted with ONT flow cell version 10.4 compared to version 9.4.1.* -
  • Both technologies successfully identified genetic markers for virulence and clades of the bacteria, with ONT's version 10.4 achieving results comparable to Illumina for certain
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  • - The study focused on the zoonotic bacterium's epidemiology and genetic variation from turkey farms in Germany, utilizing whole-genome sequencing to analyze 66 isolates collected from meat turkey flocks between 2010 and 2011.
  • - Researchers identified 28 different genetic types and found significant genetic diversity among the isolates, with various resistance and virulence genes associated with diseases and antibiotic resistance being characterized through advanced bioinformatics tools.
  • - Key findings included the detection of multiple resistance genes, including those linked to ampicillin and tetracycline, as well as a mutation associated with fluoroquinolone resistance, highlighting public health implications due to the observed genetic resistance patterns.
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The European brown hare () is a quite adaptable species, but populations have been decreasing for several decades in different countries, including Germany. To investigate infectious diseases as possible influences on observed population decline in the German federal state Schleswig-Holstein, 118 deceased free-ranging European brown hares were collected between 2017 and 2020 and underwent detailed postmortem examination with extended sampling. Infectious diseases were a major cause of death (34.

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  • - The text discusses bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC), a disease causing major reproductive issues in cattle and recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health, leading to economic challenges and strict control measures in various countries.
  • - A study conducted in Germany analyzed 63 BGC strains collected over 30 years using whole-genome sequencing, revealing a genetically conserved population with geographical clusters.
  • - Results indicate that BGC control efforts in Germany have been effective, with no reported outbreaks since 2015, and suggest that the German strains share a common lineage that likely originated in the 19th century.
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Anthrax is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterium (BA). Specific identification of this pathogen often relies on targeting genes located on two extrachromosomal plasmids, which represent the major pathogenicity factors of BA. However, more recent findings show that these plasmids have also been found in other closely related species.

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  • - Poultry, especially turkeys, are significant sources of multidrug-resistant pathogens, primarily due to widespread antibiotic use in farming practices in regions like the Nile delta in Egypt.
  • - In a study, 250 cloacal swabs from healthy turkey flocks were analyzed, revealing that all 26 isolates identified were multidrug-resistant, with some showing different strains even within the same sample.
  • - Although the isolates were generally susceptible to imipenem, they exhibited resistance to several other antibiotics, with specific resistance genes for beta-lactam and chloramphenicol identified in most samples, highlighting the problem of antibiotic resistance in poultry.
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Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing global problem and complicates successful treatments of bacterial infections in animals and humans. We conducted a longitudinal study in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to compare the occurrence of ESBL-producing ( in three conventional and four organic pig farms. ESBL-positive , especially of the CTX-M type, were found in all fattening farms, confirming that antimicrobial resistance is widespread in pig fattening and affects both conventional and organic farms.

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Background: We benchmarked sequencing technology and assembly strategies for short-read, long-read, and hybrid assemblers in respect to correctness, contiguity, and completeness of assemblies in genomes of Francisella tularensis. Benchmarking allowed in-depth analyses of genomic structures of the Francisella pathogenicity islands and insertion sequences. Five major high-throughput sequencing technologies were applied, including next-generation "short-read" and third-generation "long-read" sequencing methods.

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is a commensal resident of the skin and nasal cavities of humans and can cause various infections. Some toxigenic strains can contaminate food matrices and cause foodborne intoxications. The present study aimed to provide relevant information (clonal complex lineages, types, virulence and antimicrobial resistance-associated genes) based on DNA microarray analyses as well as the origins and dissemination of several circulating clones of 60 isolated from food matrices ( = 24), clinical samples ( = 20), and nasal carriers ( = 16) in northern Algeria.

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  • Salmonella enterica subsp. serovar Dublin is a type of bacteria mainly affecting cattle, causing enteritis and other diseases, with varying prevalence across different regions in Germany.
  • A study analyzed 74 strains of this bacteria using whole-genome sequencing to understand its genetic traits, patterns of spread, and epidemiology within Germany, revealing persistent populations and limited multidrug resistance.
  • Findings suggest that to effectively manage and control the spread of Dublin, it is crucial to gather detailed information on cattle farm management and interactions between farms.
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  • Researchers analyzed 23 isolates from Vietnamese slaughterhouses and markets in 2013, using various methods including whole-genome sequencing, to uncover the presence of ARGs and assess the resistance patterns.
  • Results indicated that 86.9% of samples were resistant to at least one antibiotic, with significant occurrences of multidrug resistance, and similar ARGs and plasmid profiles were found clustered among strains, suggesting potential spread along the pork supply chain.
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Aims: Molecular characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) among Salmonella Kentucky and Typhimurium isolates: partial sequence analysis of the types of β-lactamases found in these isolates, clonality, resistance and supposed emergence of ESBL-producing strains.

Methods And Results: A retrospective study surveyed the ESBLs occurring in a total of 1404 Salmonella Kentucky and Typhimurium isolates collected over a 5-year period in Tunisia. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests, ESBL phenotype determination (double-disc synergy) were performed.

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subspecies serovar Derby (. Derby) is one of the most frequent causes for salmonellosis in humans and animals. Understanding the genetic diversity of .

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Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has been established for bacterial subtyping and is regularly used to study pathogen transmission, to investigate outbreaks, and to perform routine surveillance. Core-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) is a bacterial subtyping method that uses WGS data to provide a high-resolution strain characterization. This study aimed at developing a novel cgMLST scheme for Bacillus anthracis, a notorious pathogen that causes anthrax in livestock and humans worldwide.

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and are two rarely detected species. In the study, we analyzed the antimicrobial susceptibility and provide detailed insights into the genotype and phylogeny of both species using whole-genome sequencing. Thermophilic species are the most common bacterial foodborne pathogens causing gastroenteritis in humans worldwide.

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  • * Out of 50 milk samples collected, a total of 17 enterococci and 8 coliform isolates were successfully grown, revealing a high rate of vancomycin resistance and confirming that all isolates were ESBL-producing using the VITEK 2 system.
  • * Genetic testing identified multiple resistance-associated genes, with the presence of various virulence genes and specific serotypes, indicating significant antimicrobial resistance and potential health risks related to dairy products.
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  • An emerging foodborne and zoonotic pathogen is being studied for its transmission through contaminated food and water, with a focus on assessing its resistance and virulence profiles.
  • Researchers analyzed 45 strains from poultry farms in Thuringia, Germany, discovering high genetic diversity and notable resistance to various antibiotics such as erythromycin and streptomycin.
  • The study found specific gene mutations linked to antibiotic resistance and identified a range of potential virulence factors present in all strains, including a complete lipid A cluster.
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