Genomic characterization of harbouring an exogenous resistance gene.

Reports of β-lactamase-producing are increasing worldwide.. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular characteristics and evolution of β-lactamase-producing .

Molecular characterization of a novel putative pathogen, sp. nov., isolated from sputum culture.

Unlabelled: Reports of novel species of α-hemolytic have increased recently. However, limited information exists regarding the pathogenicity of these species, with the exception of and . In this study, a quinolone-resistant α- strain, MTG105, was isolated from the sputum of a patient with pneumonia.

Development of a rapid detection method for the macrolide resistance gene in using the amplification refractory mutation system-loop-mediated isothermal amplification method.

Macrolide antibiotics such as clarithromycin (CLR) and azithromycin are the key drugs used in multidrug therapy for complex (MAC) diseases. For these antibacterial drugs, drug susceptibility has been correlated with clinical response in MAC diseases. We have previously demonstrated the correlation between drug susceptibility and mutations in the 23S rRNA gene, which confers resistance to macrolides.

The Association between Transformation Ability and Antimicrobial Resistant Potential in Haemophilus influenzae.

The prevalence of quinolone low-susceptible Haemophilus influenzae has increased in Japan. Low quinolone susceptibility is caused by point mutations in target genes; however, it can also be caused by horizontal gene transfer via natural transformation. In this study, we examined whether this horizontal gene transfer could be associated with resistance to not only quinolones but also other antimicrobial agents.

Contribution of amino acid substitutions in ParE to quinolone resistance in Haemophilus haemolyticus revealed through a horizontal transfer assay using Haemophilus influenzae.

Background: In 2019, a high-level quinolone-resistant Haemophilus haemolyticus strain (levofloxacin MIC = 16 mg/L) was isolated from a paediatric patient. In this study, we aimed to determine whether the quinolone resistance of H. haemolyticus could be transferred to Haemophilus influenzae and to identify the mechanism underlying the high-level quinolone resistance of H.

A Rapid Screening Assay for Clarithromycin-Resistant Mycobacterium avium Complex Using Melting Curve Analysis with Nonfluorescent Labeled Probes.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) thrives in various environments and mainly causes lung disease in humans. Because macrolide antibiotics such as clarithromycin or azithromycin are key drugs for MAC lung disease, the emergence of macrolide-resistant strains prevents the treatment of MAC. More than 95% of macrolide-resistant MAC strains are reported to have a point mutation in 23S rRNA domain V.

Alternative quinolone-resistance pathway caused by simultaneous horizontal gene transfer in Haemophilus influenzae.

Background: Quinolone-resistant bacteria are known to emerge via the accumulation of mutations in a stepwise manner. Recent studies reported the emergence of quinolone low-susceptible Haemophilus influenzae ST422 isolates harbouring two relevant mutations, although ST422 isolates harbouring one mutation were never identified.

Objectives: To investigate if GyrA and ParC from quinolone low-susceptible isolates can be transferred horizontally and simultaneously to susceptible isolates.

Quinolone Resistance Is Transferred Horizontally via Uptake Signal Sequence Recognition in Haemophilus influenzae.

The presence of Haemophilus influenzae strains with low susceptibility to quinolones has been reported worldwide. However, the emergence and dissemination mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, a total of 14 quinolone-low-susceptible H.

Salmonella fimbrial protein StcD induces cyclooxygenase-2 expression via Toll-like receptor 4.

Introduction: The genome of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium contains 13 operons with homology to fimbrial genes.

Methods: To investigate the involvement of these fimbrial gene clusters in the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which is an inducible enzyme involved in the synthesis of prostanoids, in J774 macrophages infected with S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, we constructed strains carrying a mutation in genes encoding the putative subunit proteins in 12 fimbrial operons.

Correction to: Cell-free synthesis of functionally active HSPB5.

In the original publication, the given name of the last author was incorrectly displayed as the name must read: Katsuyoshi Masuda.

Cell-free synthesis of functionally active HSPB5.

Human αB-crystallin (HSPB5) is frequently modified post-translationally by UV radiation, oxidation, and age-associated processes, which complicates functional analyses of the protein using natural sources. Thus, determining the biological function of HSPB5 at the molecular structure level requires unmodified protein. Here, we employed an Escherichia coli cell-free protein synthesis system to prepare unmodified, functionally active human HSPB5.

Moxifloxacin resistance and genotyping of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare isolates in Japan.

Background: Although fluoroquinolones are considered as alternative therapies of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease, the association between fluoroquinolone resistance and MAC genotypes in clinical isolates from individuals not previously treated for MAC infection is not fully clear.

Methods: Totals of 154 M. avium isolates and 35 Mycobacterium intracellulare isolates were obtained from treatment-naïve patients with pulmonary MAC disease at the diagnosis of MAC infection at 8 hospitals in Japan.

Biochemical and cellular activity of chemically synthesized elastase inhibitor (S-AFUEI) from Aspergillus fumigatus.

Purpose: Elastase, produced by Aspergillus fumigatus and A. flavus, is an important pathogenic factor in pulmonary aspergillosis. We investigated the possibility of using A.

Fimbrial Protein FimH Is Involved in Expression of Proinflammatory Cytokines in a Toll-Like Receptor 4-Dependent Manner.

Type 1 fimbriae are proteinaceous filamentous structures present on bacterial surfaces and are mainly composed of the major fimbrial protein subunit FimA and the adhesive protein FimH, which is located at the tip of the fimbrial shaft. Here, we investigated the involvement of type 1 fimbriae in the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages infected with serovar Typhimurium. The level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA was lower in macrophages infected with or mutant strains than in those infected with wild-type Treatment of macrophages with purified recombinant FimH protein, but not FimA, resulted in the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor κB signaling pathways, leading to the expression of not only IL-1β but also other proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Antibiotic Susceptibility and Genotyping of Mycobacterium avium Strains That Cause Pulmonary and Disseminated Infection.

subsp. mainly causes disseminated infection in immunocompromised hosts, such as individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and pulmonary infection in immunocompetent hosts. However, many aspects of the different types of subsp.

Comparative genome analyses of Mycobacterium avium reveal genomic features of its subspecies and strains that cause progression of pulmonary disease.

Pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is increasing worldwide. Mycobacterium avium is the most clinically significant NTM species in humans and animals, and comprises four subspecies: M. avium subsp.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN A pMAH135 PLASMID AND THE PROGRESSION OF PULMONARY DISEASE CAUSED BY MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM.

Background: Pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria has a variable clinical course. Although this is possibly the result of not only host factors, but also bacterial factors, many questions remain to be answered regarding these manifestations.

Methods: To assess the relationship between the progression of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium disease and bacterial factors we performed variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) typing analysis of M.

Genetic diversity of clinical Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis and Mycobacterium intracellulare isolates causing pulmonary diseases recovered from different geographical regions.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections are increasing annually in many countries. MAC strains are the most common nontuberculous mycobacterial pathogens isolated from respiratory samples and predominantly consist of two species, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare. The aim of this study was to analyze the molecular epidemiology and genetic backgrounds of clinical MAC isolates collected from The Netherlands, Germany, United States, Korea and Japan.

Characterization of a novel plasmid, pMAH135, from Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) causes mainly two types of disease. The first is disseminated disease in immunocompromised hosts, such as individuals infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The second is pulmonary disease in individuals without systemic immunosuppression, and the incidence of this type is increasing worldwide.

Okinalysin, a novel P-I metalloproteinase from Ovophis okinavensis: biological properties and effect on vascular endothelial cells.

A novel hemorrhagic metalloproteinase, okinalysin, was isolated from the venom of Ovophis okinavensis. It possessed caseinolytic and hemorrhagic activities, and also hydrolyzed fibrinogen and collagen. These activities were inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) but not by p-amidinophenyl methanesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride (APMSF).

Characterization and identification of partial amino acid sequence of a novel elastase inhibitor, Asnidin from Aspergillus nidulans.

A novel elastase inhibitor from Aspergillus nidulans NBRC 4340, Asnidin, was isolated, and biochemical properties and partial amino acid sequence were examined. Column chromatography using diethylaminoethyl (DE) 52-Cellulose and reversed-phase HPLC were used to purify the inhibitor. Purified Asnidin was found to be homogeneous as indicated by reversed-phase HPLC and TOF-MS (Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry).

Comparative genome analysis of Mycobacterium avium revealed genetic diversity in strains that cause pulmonary and disseminated disease.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection causes disseminated disease in immunocompromised hosts, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, and pulmonary disease in persons without systemic immunosuppression, which has been increasing in many countries. In Japan, the incidence of pulmonary MAC disease caused by M. avium is about 7 times higher than that caused by M.

[Extensive genetic analysis of clinical tuberculosis isolates and analysis of host factors to evaluate rapid development of multidrug resistance during initial treatment].

Introduction: In this study, we aimed at determining the cause of resistance to tuberculosis treatment by performing genetic analyses of bacteria obtained from a patient who developed multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) during the initial course of treatment for tuberculosis.

Methods: Specimens obtained before and after the development of MDR-TB were subjected to spoligotyping, drug-resistance gene analysis, and variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) typing. The patient's clinical background was also reviewed.

X-ray structure analysis and characterization of AFUEI, an elastase inhibitor from Aspergillus fumigatus.

Elastase from Aspergillus sp. is an important factor for aspergillosis. AFUEI is an inhibitor of the elastase derived from Aspergillus fumigatus.