Novel pneumococcal capsule type 33E results from the inactivation of glycosyltransferase WciE in vaccine type 33F.

The polysaccharide (PS) capsule is essential for immune evasion and virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Existing pneumococcal vaccines are designed to elicit anticapsule antibodies; however, the effectiveness of these vaccines is being challenged by the emergence of new capsule types or variants. Herein, we characterize a newly discovered capsule type, 33E, that appears to have repeatedly emerged from vaccine type 33F via an inactivation mutation in the capsule glycosyltransferase gene, wciE.

Nasopharyngeal competition dynamics are likely to be altered following vaccine introduction: bacteriocin prevalence and diversity among Icelandic and Kenyan pneumococci.

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria to inhibit other bacteria in the surrounding environment. is a leading cause of disease worldwide and colonises the healthy human nasopharynx, where it competes for space and nutrients. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have reduced the incidence of disease, but they also restructure the bacterial population, and this restructuring likely alters the nasopharyngeal competition dynamics.

Whole genome sequencing of Ethiopian isolates expands the known diversity of an early branching sub-Saharan African lineage.

Brucellosis remains one of the most significant zoonotic diseases globally, responsible for both considerable human morbidity and economic losses due to its impacts on livestock productivity. Despite this, there remain significant evidence gaps in many low- and middle-income countries, including those of sub-Saharan Africa. Here we report the first molecular characterisation of sp.

Discovery and Characterization of Pneumococcal Serogroup 36 Capsule Subtypes, Serotypes 36A and 36B.

Streptococcus pneumoniae can produce a wide breadth of antigenically diverse capsule types, a fact that poses a looming threat to the success of vaccines that target pneumococcal polysaccharide (PS) capsule. Yet, many pneumococcal capsule types remain undiscovered and/or uncharacterized. Prior sequence analysis of pneumococcal capsule synthesis () loci suggested the existence of capsule subtypes among isolates identified as "serotype 36" according to conventional capsule typing methods.

Dissemination of carbapenemase-producing in Ireland from 2012 to 2017: a retrospective genomic surveillance study.

The spread of carbapenemase-producing (CPE) is of major public health concern. The transmission dynamics of CPE in hospitals, particularly at the national level, are not well understood. Here, we describe a retrospective nationwide genomic surveillance study of CPE in Ireland between 2012 and 2017.

Wind-driven upwelling of iron sustains dense blooms and food webs in the eastern Weddell Gyre.

The Southern Ocean is a major sink of anthropogenic CO and an important foraging area for top trophic level consumers. However, iron limitation sets an upper limit to primary productivity. Here we report on a considerably dense late summer phytoplankton bloom spanning 9000 km in the open ocean of the eastern Weddell Gyre.

complex genomics and transmission in a London hospital.

Background: Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental microorganisms and opportunistic pathogens in individuals with pre-existing lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis. While recent studies of have identified transmission within single CF centres as well as nationally and globally, transmission of other NTM species is less well studied.

Methods: To investigate the potential for transmission of the complex (MAC) we sequenced 996 isolates from 354 CF and non-CF patients at the Royal Brompton Hospital (London, UK; collected 2013-2016) and analysed them in a global context.

Safety and efficacy of inclisiran in South African patients at high cardiovascular risk: A subanalysis of the ORION phase III clinical trials.

Inclisiran significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD risk equivalents (type 2 diabetes, familial hypercholesterolaemia or a 10-year risk of a cardiovascular event ≥20%) in the ORION phase III clinical trials. Infrequent dosing at days 1, 90, 270 and 450 resulted in a mean LDL-C reduction of ~50%. A total of 298 participants from South Africa (SA) were enrolled.

RNA-based therapy in the management of lipid disorders: a review.

This review focuses on antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering ribonucleic acid therapies approved or under development for the management of lipid disorders. Recent advances in RNA-based therapeutics allow tissue-specific targeting improving safety. Multiple potential target proteins have been identified and RNA-based therapeutics have the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients with or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Genomic Insights Into the Mechanism of Carbapenem Resistance Dissemination in Enterobacterales From a Tertiary Public Heath Setting in South Asia.

Summary: 10.6% patients were CRE positive. Only 27% patients were prescribed at least 1 antibiotic to which infecting pathogen was susceptible.

Exploring challenges and support structures of mothers with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United Arab Emirates.

Background: Mothers with children with ASD, often being primary caregivers, experience high levels of parenting stress and hold essential information about their children's wellbeing. There is however lack of information about their experiences in the UAE.

Aims: The study aims to explore challenges and support structures of mothers with children with ASD in the UAE.

Predicted structural mimicry of spike receptor-binding motifs from highly pathogenic human coronaviruses.

Viruses often encode proteins that mimic host proteins in order to facilitate infection. Little work has been done to understand the potential mimicry of the SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV spike proteins, particularly the receptor-binding motifs, which could be important in determining tropism and druggability of the virus. Peptide and epitope motifs have been detected on coronavirus spike proteins using sequence homology approaches; however, comparing the three-dimensional shape of the protein has been shown as more informative in predicting mimicry than sequence-based comparisons.

Genomic and temporal analyses of in southern Brazil.

is a causal agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), one of the most important diseases currently facing the cattle industry worldwide. Tracing the source of infections of livestock is an important tool for understanding the epidemiology of bTB and defining control/eradication strategies. In this study, whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 74 .

Population structure and transmission of in Ethiopia.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is endemic in cattle in Ethiopia, a country that hosts the largest national cattle herd in Africa. The intensive dairy sector, most of which is peri-urban, has the highest prevalence of disease. Previous studies in Ethiopia have demonstrated that the main cause is , which has been investigated using conventional molecular tools including deletion typing, spoligotyping and Mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR).

The therapeutic management of South African dyslipidaemic patients at very high cardiovascular risk (CARDIO TRACK): a cross-sectional study.

Background: Dyslipidaemia is a major modifiable risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. At the time the study was conducted, guidelines recommended a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target of less than 1.8 mmol/l and a reduction of at least 50% if the baseline LDL-C was between 1.

A New Pneumococcal Capsule Type, 10D, is the 100th Serotype and Has a Large Fragment from an Oral Streptococcus.

(pneumococcus) is a major human pathogen producing structurally diverse capsular polysaccharides. Widespread use of highly successful pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) targeting pneumococcal capsules has greatly reduced infections by the vaccine types but increased infections by nonvaccine serotypes. Herein, we report a new and the 100th capsule type, named serotype 10D, by determining its unique chemical structure and biosynthetic roles of all capsule synthesis locus () genes.

Relationships among streptococci from the mitis group, misidentified as Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The aim of our study was to investigate phenotypic and genotypic features of streptococci misidentified (misID) as Streptococcus pneumoniae, obtained over 20 years from hospital patients in Poland. Sixty-three isolates demonstrating microbiological features typical for pneumococci (optochin susceptibility and/or bile solubility) were investigated by phenotypic tests, lytA and 16S rRNA gene polymorphism and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). All isolates had a 6-bp deletion in the lytA 3' terminus, characteristic for Mitis streptococc and all but two isolates lacked the pneumococcal signature cytosine at nucleotide position 203 in the 16S rRNA genes.

Visualizing variation within Global Pneumococcal Sequence Clusters (GPSCs) and country population snapshots to contextualize pneumococcal isolates.

Knowledge of pneumococcal lineages, their geographic distribution and antibiotic resistance patterns, can give insights into global pneumococcal disease. We provide interactive bioinformatic outputs to explore such topics, aiming to increase dissemination of genomic insights to the wider community, without the need for specialist training. We prepared 12 country-specific phylogenetic snapshots, and international phylogenetic snapshots of 73 common Global Pneumococcal Sequence Clusters (GPSCs) previously defined using PopPUNK, and present them in Microreact.

PCSK9 Inhibitors: From Nature's Lessons to Clinical Utility.

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are a novel class of non-statin lipid lowering therapy that reduce LDL-cholesterol by 50 - 60%. PCSK9 inhibitors decrease LDL-cholesterol by preventing intracellular degradation of LDL receptors; subsequently, a greater number of LDL-receptors are available on the cell surface to extract circulating LDL.

Objective: To describe the origins of PCSK9 inhibitors and their current use in clinical practice.

A mosaic tetracycline resistance gene tet(S/M) detected in an MDR pneumococcal CC230 lineage that underwent capsular switching in South Africa.

Objectives: We reported tet(S/M) in Streptococcus pneumoniae and investigated its temporal spread in relation to nationwide clinical interventions.

Methods: We whole-genome sequenced 12 254 pneumococcal isolates from 29 countries on an Illumina HiSeq sequencer. Serotype, multilocus ST and antibiotic resistance were inferred from genomes.