Molecular genotyping reveals multiple carbapenemase genes and unique bla (oxaAb) alleles among clinically isolated Acinetobacter baumannii from a Philippine tertiary hospital.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii continued to be an important Gram-negative pathogen of concern in the clinical context. The resistance of this pathogen to carbapenems due to the production of carbapenemases is considered a global threat. Despite the efforts to track carbapenemase synthesis among A.

Sandwich enzyme-linked aptamer-based assay for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis.

Trichomoniasis is the most prevalent curable, non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI), with an estimated 156 million new infections in 2020. It can potentially result in adverse birth outcomes as well as infertility in men, whilst it also increases the risk of acquiring HIV and contracting other vaginal infections. It is mostly prevalent among women in low-income countries and especially in Africa and the Americas.

Colorimetric Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assays Accurately Detect and Genes from in Pure Cultures and Spiked Human Sera.

Carbapenem resistance in is a critical global health threat attributed to transferrable carbapenemase genes. Carbapenemase genotyping using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) presents a challenge in resource-limited settings because of its technical requirements. This study designed new loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) primers using multiple sequence alignment-based workflows, validated the primer performance against multiple target variants , and developed novel LAMP assays (LAntRN-OXA23 and LAntRN-ISAba1) to detect the transferable carbapenemase genes and elements in pure cultures and -spiked serum samples.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay detects multiple alleles of genes in and other Gram-negative bacteria despite primer-template mismatches.

The known intrinsic and polymorphic genes of were recently reported in other non- Gram-negative pathogens. Accurate detection of this potentially transferrable carbapenemase gene in the clinical setting is critical. This study developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targetting multiple alleles of genes.

Subtype-host patterns and genetic differentiation of sp. in the Philippines.

sp. is a gastrointestinal protozoan commonly encountered in humans and animals. Specificity to certain hosts may be associated with 38 known subtypes (STs) and 8 nonmammalian and avian STs (NMASTs).

Microeukaryotic plankton evolutionary constraints in a subtropical river explained by environment and bacteria along differing taxonomic resolutions.

Microeukaryotic plankton communities are keystone components for keeping aquatic primary productivity. Currently, variations in microeukaryotic plankton diversity have often been explained by local ecological factors but not by evolutionary constraints. We used amplicon sequencing of 100 water samples across five years to investigate the ecological preferences of the microeukaryotic plankton community in a subtropical riverine ecosystem.

Development of a closed-tube, calcein-based loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay to detect Salmonella spp. in raw meat samples.

Foodborne pathogens compromise food safety and public health, and Salmonella spp. are among the major pathogenic bacteria that cause outbreaks worldwide. Proper surveillance through timely and cost-effective detection methods across the food animal production chain is crucial to prevent Salmonella outbreaks and agricultural losses.

Source tracking of fecal contamination in Asian green mussels () harvested in Manila Bay, Philippines by molecular detection and genotyping of spp.

Manila Bay, a multipurpose body of water located around Metro Manila, Philippines, is progressively deteriorating because of massive pollution. Reports have shown that the bay and its aquatic resources (i.e.

Genomic analysis of from Metropolitan Manila abattoirs and markets reveals insights into circulating virulence and antimicrobial resistance genotypes.

The integration of next-generation sequencing into the identification and characterization of resistant and virulent strains as well as the routine surveillance of foodborne pathogens such as have not yet been accomplished in the Philippines. This study investigated the antimicrobial profiles, virulence, and susceptibility of the 105 isolates from swine and chicken samples obtained from slaughterhouses and public wet markets in Metropolitan Manila using whole-genome sequence analysis. Four predominant serovars were identified in genotypic serotyping, namely, Infantis (26.

A brief history of metal recruitment in protozoan predation.

Metals and metalloids are used as weapons for predatory feeding by unicellular eukaryotes on prokaryotes. This review emphasizes the role of metal(loid) bioavailability over the course of Earth's history, coupled with eukaryogenesis and the evolution of the mitochondrion to trace the emergence and use of the metal(loid) prey-killing phagosome as a feeding strategy. Members of the genera Acanthamoeba and Dictyostelium use metals such as zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), and possibly metalloids, to kill their bacterial prey after phagocytosis.

Genotypic detection of β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates obtained from Seven Crater Lakes of San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines.

The extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli is becoming a global public health concern. More comprehensive surveillance of β-lactam resistance in E. coli would improve monitoring strategies and control resistance transmission in contaminated environments.

Host-Associated 16S rDNA-Based Markers for Source Tracking of Fecal Pollution in Laguna Lake, Philippines.

Sources of fecal contamination in Laguna Lake, Philippines, were identified using a library-independent microbial source tracking method targeting host-associated 16S rDNA-based markers. Water samples from nine lake stations were assessed for the presence of the fecal markers HF183 (human), BoBac (cattle), Pig-2-Bac (swine), and DuckBac (duck) from August 2019 to January 2020. HF183 (average concentration = 1.

Roles of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in mediating soil legacy phosphorus availability.

Phosphorus (P), an essential macronutrient for all life on Earth, has been shown to be a vital limiting nutrient element for plant growth and yield. P deficiency is a common phenomenon in terrestrial ecosystems across the world. Chemical phosphate fertilizer has traditionally been employed to solve the problem of P deficiency in agricultural production, but its application has been limited by the non-renewability of raw materials and the adverse influence on the ecological health of the environment.

Phylogenetic relationship of nonmammalian and avian isolates and conventional subtypes.

Unlabelled: is an intestinal protist commonly identified in human and animal feces. At present, there are 28 proposed subtypes (STs) identified based on the small subunit rRNA gene, 13 of which are found in both humans and animals. In general, nonmammalian and avian groups are infected by the nonmammalian and avian subtypes (NMASTs).

In Silico Approaches for the Identification of Aptamer Binding Interactions to spp. Cell Surface Proteins.

Aptamers are nucleic acids that can bind with high affinity and specificity to a range of target molecules. However, their functionality relies on their secondary and tertiary structures such that the combination of nucleotides determines their three-dimensional conformation. In this study, the binding mechanisms of candidate aptamers and their interactions with selected target proteins found in the cell surface of were predicted to select high-affinity aptamers.

Genotypic virulence profiles and associations in Salmonella isolated from meat samples in wet markets and abattoirs of Metro Manila, Philippines.

Background: Salmonella are pathogenic foodborne bacteria with complex pathogenicity from numerous virulence genes housed in Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs), plasmids, and other gene cassettes. However, Salmonella virulence gene distributions and mechanisms remain unestablished. In the Philippines, studies mainly report Salmonella incidences and antimicrobial resistance, but little to none on virulence profiles, their associations to animal sources, collection sites and Salmonella serogroups.

DNA fingerprinting using BOX-A1R and (GTG) primers identify spatial variations of fecal contamination along Pasig River, Philippines.

Pasig River is one of the most economically important rivers in Metro Manila, Philippines. It traverses some of the region's major cities, and because of its strategic location, it is utilized as a means of transportation, as a source of water for domestic and industrial uses, and for recreational purposes. However, due to population growth, industrialization, and land use, the river's water quality is deteriorating.

Variations in active proteases of sp. obtained from water and animal isolates from the Philippines.

sp. is a commonly encountered gut protozoan with unclear pathogenicity. The presence of proteases in this organism may be related to its potential pathogenicity or other physiological differences.

Development of a salivary IgA detection method for accurate diagnosis of amebiasis.

An amebiasis detection method was developed based on identifying anti- IgA in the saliva of infected individuals. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based detection method was tested along with microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on saliva and stool samples from 110 asymptomatic individuals visiting the Manila Health Department - Public Health Laboratory of the City of Manila, Philippines. A receiver operating curve (ROC) was constructed to compare the ELISA results with PCR results.

Corrigendum: Recent Progress in Recombinant Influenza Vaccine Development Toward Heterosubtypic Immune Response.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.

Recent Progress in Recombinant Influenza Vaccine Development Toward Heterosubtypic Immune Response.

Flu, a viral infection caused by the influenza virus, is still a global public health concern with potential to cause seasonal epidemics and pandemics. Vaccination is considered the most effective protective strategy against the infection. However, given the high plasticity of the virus and the suboptimal immunogenicity of existing influenza vaccines, scientists are moving toward the development of universal vaccines.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Frequency of and Genes in Isolated from Slaughtered Pigs.

is known as one of the most common foodborne pathogens worldwide. While salmonellosis is usually self-limiting, severe infections may require antimicrobial therapy. However, increasing resistance of to antimicrobials, particularly fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, is of utmost concern.

Bacteriological and histopathological findings in cetaceans that stranded in the Philippines from 2017 to 2018.

The relatively high frequency of marine mammal stranding events in the Philippines provide many research opportunities. A select set of stranders (n = 21) from 2017 to 2018 were sampled for bacteriology and histopathology. Pertinent tissues and bacteria were collected from individuals representing eight cetacean species (i.

Application of simplified MLST scheme for direct typing of clinical samples from human leptospirosis cases in a tertiary hospital in the Philippines.

Despite the major threat of leptospirosis to public health in the Philippines, its epidemiologic data remain scarce. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is a method often used for identification of circulating Leptospira species and disease surveillance. Unfortunately, molecular typing of Leptospira isolates is not routinely done in most hospital settings.