Genome Sequence of Cronobacter sakazakii Serogroup O:4, Sequence Type 4 Strain CDC 2009-03746, Isolated from a Fatal Case of Infantile Meningitis.

We report the draft genome sequence of a Cronobacter sakazakii serogroup O:4, sequence type 4 strain, CDC 2009-03746 (=NM1240=2009-06-01), isolated from a fatal case of infantile meningitis. The draft genome has a size of 4,492,904 bp and a G+C% content of 56.7.

A proposed harmonized LPS molecular-subtyping scheme for Cronobacter species.

Cronobacter are opportunistic pathogens, which cause infections in all age groups. To aid the characterization of Cronobacter in foods and environments a harmonized LPS identification scheme for molecular serotyping is needed. To this end, we studied 409 Cronobacter isolates representing the seven Cronobacter species using two previously reported molecular serotyping schemes, described here as Mullane-Jarvis (M-J) and Sun schemes.

Development of a Custom-Designed, Pan Genomic DNA Microarray to Characterize Strain-Level Diversity among Cronobacter spp.

Cronobacter species cause infections in all age groups; however neonates are at highest risk and remain the most susceptible age group for life-threatening invasive disease. The genus contains seven species:Cronobacter sakazakii, Cronobacter malonaticus, Cronobacter turicensis, Cronobacter muytjensii, Cronobacter dublinensis, Cronobacter universalis, and Cronobacter condimenti. Despite an abundance of published genomes of these species, genomics-based epidemiology of the genus is not well established.

Re-examination of the taxonomic status of Enterobacter helveticus, Enterobacter pulveris and Enterobacter turicensis as members of the genus Cronobacter and their reclassification in the genera Franconibacter gen. nov. and Siccibacter gen. nov. as Franconibacter helveticus comb. nov., Franconibacter pulveris comb. nov. and Siccibacter turicensis comb. nov., respectively.

Recently, a taxonomical re-evaluation of the genus Enterobacter, based on multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) analysis, has led to the proposal that the species Enterobacter pulveris, Enterobacter helveticus and Enterobacter turicensis should be reclassified as novel species of the genus Cronobacter. In the present work, new genome-scale analyses, including average nucleotide identity, genome-scale phylogeny and k-mer analysis, coupled with previously reported DNA-DNA hybridization values and biochemical characterization strongly indicate that these three species of the genus Enterobacter are not members of the genus Cronobacter, nor do they belong to the re-evaluated genus Enterobacter. Furthermore, data from this polyphasic study indicated that all three species constitute two new genera.

Genome Sequence of an Enterobacter helveticus Strain, 1159/04 (LMG 23733), Isolated from Fruit Powder.

We report the draft genome sequence of Enterobacter helveticus strain LMG 23733, isolated from fruit powder. The draft genome assembly for E. helveticus strain LMG 23733 has a size of 4,635,476 bp and a G+C content of 55.

Genome Sequences of Two Enterobacter pulveris Strains, 601/05T (=LMG 24057T =DSM 19144T) and 1160/04 (=LMG 24058 =DSM 19146), Isolated from Fruit Powder.

We report the draft genome sequences of the Enterobacter pulveris strains 601/05(T) (=LMG24057(T) =DSM19144(T)) and 1160/04 (=LMG24058 =DSM19146), isolated from fruit powder. The genome assemblies for the E. pulveris type strain, LMG24057, and strain LMG24058 have sizes of 4,708,624 and 4,811,103 bp and G+C contents of 56.

Persistence of transforming and nontransforming Epstein-Barr virus in high passages of P3HR-1 cell lines.

At least three laboratories have reported that the P3HR-1 line, which had originally produced transforming Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), now produces only the nontransforming variant. Studies to determine whether these findings were universal or a consequence of specific cell lines or culture conditions were undertaken in P3HR-1 cultures of identical HLA types from five sources. All of the EBV preparations derived from cell lines cultured at 32, 34, and 35 degrees C transformed cord blood lymphocytes, whereas virus propagated at 37 degrees C did not usually transform.