Characterization of a novel plasmid in Serratia marcescens harbouring bla isolated from a nosocomial outbreak in Japan.

Serratia marcescens is a nosocomial pathogen with carbapenem resistance, which limits the availability of effective treatment options. In this study, molecular characterization of GES-5 carbapenemase-producing S. marcescens isolated from an outbreak in Japan was undertaken.

Comparison of RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, and Antigen Quantification Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

A rapid and simple alternative test to real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is required for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to help curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In the present study, we compared the RT-PCR method with chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). We observed that the number of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies and the CLEIA antigen quantification values were highly correlated.

Occurrence of Carriage of Multidrug Resistant Enterobacteriaceae among Pregnant Women in the Primary Health Center and Hospital Setting in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The incidence of healthy individuals carrying multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E), especially extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing (ESBL-EC) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing (ESBL-KP), is increasing worldwide. Although ESBL-E causes early or late onset of neonatal sepsis, the prevalence of ESBL-E carriage among pregnant women in Indonesia is not clear. In the present study, we compared the occurrence of carriage of ESBL-E among pregnant women in a primary health center (PHC) versus two hospitals.

[Evaluation of the Pesticide analysis in Agricultural Products Using the Self-Cleaning Ion Source GC-MS/MS].

We evaluated an analytical method to detect pesticide residues in agricultural products through the use of a self-cleaning ion source GC-MS/MS. The self-cleaning ion source minimizes ion source contamination by ensuring that hydrogen is pumped into the source at a fixed pressure after or during measurement. When we employed our self-cleaning ion source GC-MS/MS technique to analyze pesticides residues in agricultural products, we observed that pollution of the ion source surface was considerably reduced.

[Evaluation of an Analytical Method Using GC-MS/MS and a 3-Layer Solid Phase Extraction Mini-Column for Pesticide Residues in Agricultural Products].

We developed a simple rapid analysis of multi-pesticide residues in agricultural products. In this study, we attempted to simplify the purification process, and reduce the amount and type of solvent used. The test solution was prepared by clean-up, a 0.

Higher genome mutation rates of Beijing lineage of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during human infection.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains of Beijing lineage have caused great concern because of their rapid emergence of drug resistance and worldwide spread. DNA mutation rates that reflect evolutional adaptation to host responses and the appearance of drug resistance have not been elucidated in human-infected Beijing strains. We tracked and obtained an original Mtb isolate of Beijing lineage from the 1999 tuberculosis outbreak in Japan, as well as five other isolates that spread in humans, and two isolates from the patient caused recurrence.

Human iPS cell-derived astrocytes support efficient replication of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy-type JC polyomavirus.

JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) causes progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, in immunocompromised patients. Although PML used to be rare, recently the incidence of PML has risen due to an increase in immunosuppressive therapy. An in vitro JCPyV infection system could be used for anti-drug screening and investigation of tropism changes, but study of JCPyV in vitro has been limited due to the difficulty of efficiently propagating the virus in cultured cells.

Agglutination of Human Polyomaviruses by Using a Tetravalent Glycocluster as a Cross-Linker.

Two kinds of tetravalent double-headed sialo-glycosides with short/long spacers between the Neu5Acα2,6Galβ1,4GlcNAc unit and ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) scaffold were found to be capable of binding to virus-like particles of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV-LP). The binding process and time course of interaction between the tetravalent ligand and MCPyV-LP were assessed by dynamic light scattering (DLS). On the addition of increasing concentrations of ligand to MCPyV-LP, larger cross-linked aggregates formed until a maximum size was reached.

Characterization of JC Polyomavirus Derived from COS-IMRb Cells.

JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) causes progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system affecting immunocompromised patients. The study of PML-type JCPyV in vitro has been limited owing to the inefficient propagation of the virus in cultured cells. In this study, we carried out long-term culture of COS-7 cells (designated as COS-IMRb cells) transfected with PML-type M1-IMRb, an adapted viral DNA with a rearranged non-coding control region (NCCR).

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus exhibiting reduced susceptibility to baloxavir due to a PA E23K substitution detected from a child without baloxavir treatment.

Human-to-human transmission of PA I38 mutant influenza A(H3N2) viruses with reduced baloxavir susceptibility has been reported in Japan. In December 2019, we detected a PA E23K mutant A(H1N1)pdm09 virus from a child without baloxavir treatment. The PA E23K mutant virus exhibited reduced baloxavir susceptibility but remained susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors.

[Pesticide Analysis in Agricultural Products by GC-MS/MS Using STQ Method].

As a method to detect pesticide residues in agricultural products, we evaluated the pretreatment of agricultural product samples by the solid-phase extracton technique with QuEChERS (STQ) method followed by GC-MS/MS with large-volume injection using a stomach-type glass-lined injector. This method satisfied the target criteria of recovery (70-120%) and the standard deviation of repeatability (RSD<25%) in 238-282 pesticides found in six types of agricultural products.

Bacterial population kinetics in heteroresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis harbouring rare resistance-conferring mutations in gyrA and rpoB imply an epistatic interaction of mutations in a pre-XDR-TB patient.

Objectives: Bacterial population kinetics of strains harbouring drug resistance-conferring mutations within a patient often show cryptic resistance in clinical practice. We report a case that showed emergence and dominance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with uncommon rpoB and gyrA mutations, followed by an rpoC compensatory mutation, during treatment.

Methods: A pre-XDR-TB patient showed heteroresistance to rifampicin and levofloxacin during treatment as a result of intermittent self-cessation.

T serotyping of group a streptococcus isolated from patients with pharyngitis or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome in Japan between 2005 and 2017.

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus; GAS) is an important gram-positive human pathogen capable of causing diseases ranging from mild superficial skin and pharyngeal infections to more severe invasive diseases, including streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). GAS produces a T protein, and T serotyping has considerable discriminatory power for epidemiological characterization of GAS. To clarify the relationship between STSS and pharyngitis in Japan, we examined the T serotypes of GAS strains isolated from clinical specimens of streptococcal infections (STSS, 951 isolates; pharyngitis, 16268 isolates) from 2005 to 2017.

The recombination-cold region as an epidemiological marker of recombinogenic opportunistic pathogen Mycobacterium avium.

Background: The rapid identification of lineage remains a challenge in the genotyping of clinical isolates of recombinogenic pathogens. The chromosome of Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH), an agent of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease, is often mosaic and is composed of chromosomal segments originating from different lineages.

Evaluation of Q Gene Mycobacteria: A novel and easy nucleic acid chromatography method for mycobacterial species identification.

Objectives: A simple, rapid, and new diagnostic test for mycobacteria, named Q Gene Mycobacteria, has been developed. It is based on multiplex PCR using primers harbouring DNA tags combined with a dipstick nucleic acid chromatography method, which does not require the denaturation of PCR products for hybridization and can identify five species of mycobacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium kansasii, and Mycobacterium gordonae. This study aimed to evaluate Q Gene Mycobacteria for the accurate identification of these five species.

Vibrio cholerae Infection in Japan Not Associated with Overseas Travel.

A 74-year-old Japanese man who was taking antacids presented with profuse diarrhea. Stool culture revealed Vibrio cholerae O1 strain, serogroup Ogawa, biotype El tor. He recalled he had consumed some sashimi but denied any history of travelling abroad, and another cholera case with almost the same strain was reported at the same time in a remote prefecture in the Kanto area.

Analysis of Genetic Characterization and Clonality of Isolated from Cooling Towers in Japan.

We investigated the genetic characteristics of 161 strains isolated over a period of 10 years from cooling towers in Japan. Minimum spanning tree analysis based on the sequence-based typing (SBT) of them identified three clonal complexes (CCs); CC1 (105/161, 65.2%), CC2 (22 /161, 13.