Synergistic impacts of propargite exposure and deformed wing virus infection on the health of western honey bees.

This study aimed to elucidate the possible synergistic effects of chemical pesticides and viral infections. Our experiments demonstrated that the Varroa mite-borne deformed wing virus (DWV) by itself had a minimal impact on bees. Conversely, when bees were simultaneously treated with acaricides, their mortality rate increased.

Kaposi Sarcoma as a Possible Cutaneous Adverse Effect of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 Vaccine: A Case Report.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the rapid development of vaccines, including the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 (AstraZeneca) vaccine. While effective, adverse effects have been reported, including cutaneous manifestations. Kaposi sarcoma (KS), a vascular tumor linked to Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), has seen increased detection during the pandemic.

High hemolytic activity in Staphylococcus aureus t1081/ST45 due to increased hla protein production and potential RNAIII-independent regulation.

Background: α-Hemolysin, encoded by hla, is a major virulence factor of Staphylococcus aureus. Sequence type (ST) 45 is a globally spread clone with increasing clinical prevalence in Taiwan. Our previous study showed that among the CC45 isolates, the spa type t1081 isolates presented greater hemolytic activity.

High hemolytic activity of the Staphylococcus aureus spa t1081 among clonal complex 45 in Taiwan.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sequence type (ST) 45 was first reported in Taiwan in 2006. Since then, the prevalence of ST45 MRSA in clinical isolates has increased. This study was carried out to understand the changes in the proportions, evolutionary relationships, and infection advantages of ST45 and its related clones.

Comparison of ERIC carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae test, BD Phoenix CPO detect panel, and NG-test CARBA 5 for the detection of main carbapenemase types of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales.

Background: This study aimed to assess the performance of three commercial panels, the ERIC Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Test (ERIC CRE test), the NG-Test CARBA 5 (NG CARBA 5), and the BD Phoenix CPO Detect Panel (CPO panel), for the detection of main types of carbapenemases among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE).

Methods: We collected 502 isolates of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) demonstrating intermediate or resistant profiles to at least one carbapenem antibiotic (ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem, or doripenem). Carbapenemase genes and their specific types were identified through multiplex PCR and sequencing methods.

sp. nov., Isolated from Soymilk.

A novel coagulase-negative strain (H164) was isolated from soymilk in Taiwan. Comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the H164 strain is a member of the genus . We used multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) and phylogenomic analyses to demonstrate that the novel strain was closely related to , , , and .

Prediction of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae from flagged blood cultures by combining rapid Sepsityper MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry with machine learning.

This study investigated combination of the Rapid Sepsityper Kit and a machine learning (ML)-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) approach for rapid prediction of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) from positive blood culture bottles. The study involved 461 patients with monomicrobial bloodstream infections. Species identification was performed using the conventional MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper system and the Rapid Sepsityper protocol.

Potentials of organic tellurium-containing compound AS101 to overcome carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli.

Background: The issue of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli was aggravated yearly. The previous studies reported the varied but critical epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant E. coli among which the carbapenemase-producing strains were regarded as one of the most notorious issues.

Direct prediction of carbapenem-resistant, carbapenemase-producing, and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from routine MALDI-TOF mass spectra using machine learning and outcome evaluation.

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid prediction method for carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) and colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae (ColRKP) based on routine MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) results in order to formulate a suitable and rapid treatment strategy. A total of 830 CRKP and 1462 carbapenem-susceptible K.

Cryptococcus tetragattii Meningitis Associated with Travel, Taiwan.

Meningitis caused by Cryptococcus tetragattii fungus is rare and has been found in specific geographic regions. We report a case of meningitis caused by C. tetragattii (molecular type VGIV) in an immunocompetent patient in Taiwan.

Evaluation of the Rapid Sepsityper protocol and specific MBT-Sepsityper module for the identification of bacteremia and fungemia using Bruker Biotyper MALDI-TOF MS.

The rapid identification method, the Rapid Sepsityper protocol with a specific MBT-Sepsityper module (Bruker Daltonics), based on the MALDI Biotyper platform, accurately identified 93.5% (116/124) of microorganisms at the species level in the 124 flagged blood culture samples from patients with monomicrobial bloodstream infections. Gram-negative bacilli (95.

sp. nov., isolated from human blood.

A novel coagulase-negative strain (NTUH-S172) was isolated from human blood culture in Taiwan with preliminary identification of . 16S rRNA gene analysis and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) showed that NTUH-S172 was most closely related to . The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values with the whole genome sequence were <95 % and<70 % when compared to the related species.

Haplotype distribution of SARS-CoV-2 variants in low and high vaccination rate countries during ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2021.

The widespread severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continuously impacts our economic and public health. The potential of emerging variants to increase transmissibility and evade vaccine-induced immunity lets us put more effort to research on viral mutations and explore the pathogenic haplotypes. In this study, we characterized the haplotype and sub-haplotype diversity of SARS-CoV-2 global variants in January-March and the areas with low and high COVID19 vaccination rates in May 2021 by analyzing viral proteome of complete genome sequences published.

Potentially conjugative plasmids harboring Tn6636, a multidrug-resistant and composite mobile element, in Staphylococcus aureus.

Objectives: This study aimed to provide detailed genetic characterization of Tn6636, a multidrug-resistant and composite mobile element, in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

Methods: A total of 112 ermB-positive methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and 224 ermB-positive methicillin-resistant S.

Emergence of aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'')-Ia-positive enterococci with non-high-level gentamicin resistance mediated by IS1216V: adaptation to decreased aminoglycoside usage in Taiwan.

Objectives: To explore the mechanisms mediating the different levels of gentamicin resistance in enterococci.

Methods: Susceptibility testing with gentamicin and PCR of resistance determinants were performed in 149 enterococcal isolates. Genetic relatedness was characterized by MLST and PFGE analysis.

The extent of molecular variation in novel SARS-CoV-2 after the six-month global spread.

The pandemic spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still ongoing since severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is identified as the etiologic pathogen late December 2019. After over six-month spread of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 causes critical threats to global public health and economy. The investigations on evolution and genotyping on genetic variations are of great importance, therefore, the present study characterized the molecular variation of SARS-CoV-2 by analyzing 4230 complete genome sequences from the worldwide samples collected during the first 6-month pandemic.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluations of β-Lactam/β-Lactamase Mono- and Combined Therapies against Carbapenem-Nonsusceptible Enterobacteriaceae in Taiwan.

Increasing carbapenem resistance rates worldwide underscored the urgent need of novel antimicrobials. Ceftazidime-avibactam and aztreonam-avibactam combinations are developed to combat carbapenem resistance, but biological and geographic variations must be considered for antibiotic susceptibility patterns varied. Thus, we sought to assess the susceptibilities of ceftazidime-avibactam and aztreonam-avibactam against 660 carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacteriaceae isolates (472 and 188 ) collected during an earlier Taiwan surveillance study.

A Possible Role of Insertion Sequence IS in Dissemination of Multidrug-Resistant Elements MES and MES between and ST59 .

Sequence type 59 (ST59) is the dominant type of community-associated methicillin-resistant (MRSA) in Taiwan. Previously, we reported that ST59 MRSA harbors enterococcal IS-mediated multidrug-resistant composite transposons MES or MES. The MES were found to have a mosaic structure, largely originating in enterococci and partly native to .

Heterogeneity of Molecular Characteristics among Clinical Isolates (ST2250, ST2793, ST1223, and ST2198) in Northern Taiwan.

is an emerging pathogen that is recognized as non-pigmented . However, the molecular characteristics of and its virulence factors have not been well studied. The present study analyzed 96 isolates of recovered from blood.

Rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing of bacteria from patients' blood via assaying bacterial metabolic response with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Blood stream infection is one of the major public health issues characterized with high cost and high mortality. Timely effective antibiotics usage to control infection is crucial for patients' survival. The standard microbiological diagnosis of infection however can last days.

Long-Term Surveillance of Antibiotic Prescriptions and the Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Non-Fermenting Gram-Negative Bacilli.

The increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has been recognized as a public health threat worldwide. Hospitalized patients and outpatients are commonly infected by non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB), particularly the - complex (ACB) and . Antimicrobial agents are critical for treating the nosocomial infections caused by NFGNB.

Distribution of antibiotic resistance genes among Staphylococcus species isolated from ready-to-eat foods.

We investigated antibiotic resistance of staphylococci isolated from 1128 samples of high-circulating RTE foods in Taiwan. A total of 111 Staphylococcus aureus and 709 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) comprising 23 species were isolated. The prevalence of S.