Evaluation of a new chromogenic medium, chromID Vibrio, for the isolation and presumptive identification of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus from human clinical specimens.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the chromID Vibrio medium for the detection of Vibrio cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus in stool and swab specimens in comparison with thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose (TCBS) medium. A total of 96 samples including 30 fresh stool, 32 stool, and 34 swab specimens originating from routine laboratories were tested.

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare contamination of mammalian cell cultures.

Mycobacterium avium contamination has been described as a putative contaminant of nonphagocytic mammalian cells. Screening of numerous cultured nonphagocytic mammalian cell lines revealed the presence of intracellular bacteria that were identified as M. avium-intracellulare.

Analysis of the specificity of Panton-Valentine leucocidin and gamma-hemolysin F component binding.

In this study, the binding of F components of the staphylococcal bicomponent leukotoxins Panton-Valentine leucocidin (LukF-PV) and gamma-hemolysin (HlgB) on polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), monocytes, and lymphocytes was determined using labeled mutants and flow cytometry. Leukotoxin activity was evaluated by measuring Ca(2+) entry or pore formation using spectrofluorometry or flow cytometry. Although HlgB had no affinity for cells in the absence of an S component, LukF-PV had high affinity for PMNs (dissociation constant [K(d)], 6.

[Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a dermatology outpatient clinic].

Background: Community-acquired cutaneous infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a growing concern. These bacteria may produce Panton-Valentine leucocidin potentially leading to necrotizing pneumonia. We studied the prevalence of MRSA and Panton-Valentine leucocidin in dermatology clinic outpatients in order to adapt therapy where possible.