[Identification and characterization of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus isolated in Okinawa, Japan].

We experienced hospital-acquired infection in March 2008 that three nurses became infected with Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Accordingly, we performed the retrospective study to determine the prevalence of PVL-positive S. aureus in Okinawa.

[Laboratory-based evaluation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to detect Cryptosporidium oocyst and Giardia lamblia cyst in stool specimens].

To establish an alternative and more sensitive test method to detect oocyst of Cryptosporidium parvum and cyst of Giardia lamblia in clinical stool specimens, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was evaluated. Minimum cell concentrations at which LAMP assay could detect C. parvum oocyst and G.

[Flow cytometric analysis using live/dead staining for yeast cells which were autoclaved and treated with various disinfectants].

Flow cytometric analysis using live/dead staining dyes was applied to discriminate yeast cells treated with autoclave and various disinfectants. One fluorogenic dye, propidium iodide cannot leak into live cells with intact membranes, whereas another fluorogenic dye, thiazole orange is permeant and can enter all cells, live and dead. Thus a combination of these two dyes can classify cell populations into live, injured and dead cells.