Improved DNA extraction and purification with magnetic nanoparticles for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Molecular methods offer fast, safe and cost-efficient detection of pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These tests depend on a rapid extraction of bacterial DNA. The aim of this study was to compare an optimized DNA extraction and purification protocol for MRSA using magnetic nanoparticles with the original method.

Seroprevalence, biogeographic distribution and risk factors for Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infections in Swiss cats.

The metastrongyloid nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is a worldwide occurring feline lungworm. The spectrum of clinical signs in infected cats ranges from mild (e.g.

Contribution of the Cpx envelope stress system to metabolism and virulence regulation in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

The Cpx-envelope stress system regulates the expression of virulence factors in many Gram-negative pathogens. In Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium deletion of the sensor kinase CpxA but not of the response regulator CpxR results in the down regulation of the key regulator for invasion, HilA encoded by the Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1). Here, we provide evidence that cpxA deletion interferes with dephosphorylation of CpxR resulting in increased levels of active CpxR and consequently in misregulation of target genes.

A Core Genome Multilocus Sequence Typing Scheme for Enterococcus faecalis.

Among enterococci, occurs ubiquitously, with the highest incidence of human and animal infections. The high genetic plasticity of complicates both molecular investigations and phylogenetic analyses. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) enables unraveling of epidemiological linkages and putative transmission events between humans, animals, and food.

Helminth infections of wild European gray wolves (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) in Lower Saxony, Germany, and comparison to captive wolves.

This study aimed to investigate the endoparasite fauna of wild European gray wolves, which are currently recolonizing Germany. In total, 69 fecal samples of wild wolves were collected in Lower Saxony, Germany, from 2013 to 2015, analyzed by the sedimentation-flotation and McMaster techniques and compared to previous results on captive European Gray wolves living in zoological gardens in Germany. In addition to coproscopy, taeniid-positive samples from wild as well as captive wolves were differentiated by amplification and sequencing of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and NADH dehydrogenase 1 (nad1) gene fragments.

Association of a Gene Polymorphism with Chronic Lymphatic Filariasis in a South Indian Cohort.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic infection, caused by three closely related nematodes, namely , , and . Previously, we have shown that lysate from microfilariae induces the expression of interleukin and programmed death-ligand on monocytes, which lead to inhibition of CD4 T-cell responses. In this study, we investigated associations of and programmed cell death pathway gene polymorphisms with clinical manifestation in LF.

species in laboratory mice: species survey and antimicrobial resistance.

The extra-hospital epidemiology of infections is a subject of debate. In recent years, the prevalence of animal multidrug-resistant infections has increased considerably. The goal of the present study was to specify species isolated from laboratory mice and to test them for their antimicrobial susceptibility.

Plasmid-located extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene blaROB-2 in Mannheimia haemolytica.

Objectives: To identify and analyse the first ESBL gene from Mannheimia haemolytica.

Methods: Susceptibility testing was performed according to CLSI. Plasmids were extracted via alkaline lysis and transferred by electrotransformation.

Draft Genome Assembly of the Poultry Red Mite, .

The poultry red mite, , is a major worldwide concern in the egg-laying industry. Here, we report the first draft genome assembly and gene prediction of , based on combined PacBio and MinION long-read sequencing. The ∼959-Mb genome is predicted to encode 14,608 protein-coding genes.

Intracellular Accumulation of Linezolid and Florfenicol in OptrA-Producing and .

The gene, which confers transferable resistance to oxazolidinones and phenicols, is defined as an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter but lacks transmembrane domains. The resistance mechanism of and whether it involves antibiotic efflux or ribosomal protection remain unclear. In this study, we determined the MIC values of all bacterial strains by broth microdilution, and used ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry to quantitatively determine the intracellular concentrations of linezolid and florfenicol in and .

Seroprevalence and current infections of canine vector-borne diseases in Nicaragua.

Background: Vector-borne diseases constitute a major problem for veterinary and public health, especially in tropical regions like Central America. Domestic dogs may be infected with several vector-borne pathogens of zoonotic relevance, which may also severely compromise canine health.

Methods: To assess the prevalence of canine vector-borne diseases in Nicaragua, 329 dogs from seven cities, which were presented to the veterinarian for various reasons, were included in this study.

Equine Methicillin-Resistant Sequence Type 398 (MRSA) Harbor Mobile Genetic Elements Promoting Host Adaptation.

Continuing introduction of multi-drug resistant, zoonotic pathogens such as methicillin-resistant (MRSA) in horse clinics challenges the biosafety of employees and animal patients. This study was aimed to determine the occurrence of mobile genetic elements facilitating survival in the early stages of invasive infection in different host species, including humans and horses, in MRSA carried by equine patients admitted to a large horse clinic. A total of 341 equine patients were investigated for carriage of MRSA by hygiene screening directly at hospital admission.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alter the Community Structure of Ammonia Oxidizers at High Fertility via Competition for Soil NH.

Nitrification represents a central process in the cycling of nitrogen (N) which in high-fertility habitats can occasionally be undesirable. Here, we explore how arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) impacts nitrification when N availability is not limiting to plant growth. We wanted to test which of the mechanisms that have been proposed in the literature best describes how AM influences nitrification.

Molecular Analysis of Two Different MRSA Clones ST188 and ST3268 From Primates ( spp.) in a United States Primate Center.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) were identified in macaques, their environmental facility, and nasal cultures of personnel from the Washington National Primate Research Center [WaNPRC] and included MRSA ST188 SCC IV and MRSA ST3268 SCC V. The aim of the current study was to determine the carriage of virulence genes, antibiotic resistance genes, and other characteristics of the primate MRSA isolates to determine if there were any obvious differences that would account for differences in transmission within the WaNPRC facility. In total, 1,199 samples from primates were tested for the presence of MRSA resulting in 158 MRSA-positive samples.

Genomics of experimental adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to a natural combination of insect antimicrobial peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are highly conserved immune effectors across the tree of life and are employed as combinations. In the beetle Tenebrio molitor, a defensin and a coleoptericin are highly expressed in vivo after inoculation with S. aureus.

The olfactory epithelium as a port of entry in neonatal neurolisteriosis.

Bacterial infections of the central nervous system (CNS) remain a major cause of mortality in the neonatal population. Commonly used parenteral infection models, however, do not reflect the early course of the disease leaving this critical step of the pathogenesis largely unexplored. Here, we analyzed nasal exposure of 1-day-old newborn mice to Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).

Small Antimicrobial Resistance Plasmids in Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant CC398.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant (LA-MRSA) isolates of the clonal complex 398 are often resistant to a number of antimicrobial agents. Studies on the genetic basis of antimicrobial resistance in these bacteria identified SCC cassettes, various transposons and plasmids of different sizes that harbor antimicrobial resistance genes. While large plasmids that carry multiple antimicrobial resistance genes - occasionally together with heavy metal resistance genes and/or virulence genes - are frequently seen in LA-MRSA ST398, certain resistance genes are also associated with small plasmids of up to 15 kb in size.

Comparative Secretome Analyses of Human and Zoonotic Isolates CC8, CC22, and CC398.

The spread of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) in the community, hospitals and in livestock is mediated by highly diverse virulence factors that include secreted toxins, superantigens, enzymes and surface-associated adhesins allowing host adaptation and colonization. Here, we combined proteogenomics, secretome and phenotype analyses to compare the secreted virulence factors in selected isolates of the dominant human- and livestock-associated genetic lineages CC8, CC22, and CC398. The proteogenomic comparison revealed 2181 core genes and 1306 accessory genes in 18 isolates reflecting the high genome diversity.

Association of farm-related factors with characteristics profiles of extended-spectrum β-lactamase- / plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates from German livestock farms.

Resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, including third-generation cephalosporins, is of major concern for animal and human health. In this study, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) / plasmid-mediated AmpC (pAmpC) β-lactamase -producing Escherichia coli isolates from German livestock farms were characterised and associations of these isolate characteristics with farm-related factors were investigated across different types of livestock. A total of 469 isolates originating from 150 farms (34 broiler farms, 38 fattening pig farms, 43 dairy cattle farms, 35 beef cattle farms) was included in the analyses.

Development and evaluation of a broth macrodilution method to determine the biocide susceptibility of bacteria.

In comparison to biocide efficacy testing, biocide susceptibility testing of bacteria so far lacks standardized methods for routine use. The aims of the present study were to develop a broth macrodilution method to test bacterial pathogens for their biocide susceptibility and to evaluate this method in an interlaboratory trial. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538 was tested for its susceptibility to benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine and isopropanol comparing test strain suspension preparations, test volumes and incubation times.

Microevolution of epidemiological highly relevant non-O157 enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli of serogroups O26 and O111.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are a cause of bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and the potentially fatal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). While O157:H7 is the dominant EHEC serotype, non-O157 EHEC have emerged as serious causes of disease. In Germany, the most important non-O157 O-serogroups causing one third of EHEC infections, including diarrhea as well as HUS, are O26, O103, O111 and O145.

Detection of Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia amblyommatis in ticks collected from dogs in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

The neotropical climate of Central America provides ideal conditions for ticks, which may transmit several human pathogens, including spotted-fever group Rickettsia. Dogs may act as sentinels or reservoirs for human tick-borne diseases due to shared tick species. Here, ticks were collected from 680 client-owned dogs in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and a total of 316 tick pools were investigated for Rickettsia infection by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) targeting the gltA gene.

Ectoparasite communities of small-bodied Malagasy primates: seasonal and socioecological influences on tick, mite and lice infestation of Microcebus murinus and M. ravelobensis in northwestern Madagascar.

Background: Ectoparasitic infections are of particular interest for endangered wildlife, as ectoparasites are potential vectors for inter- and intraspecific pathogen transmission and may be indicators to assess the health status of endangered populations. Here, ectoparasite dynamics in sympatric populations of two Malagasy mouse lemur species, Microcebus murinus and M. ravelobensis, were investigated over an 11-month period.