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Diversity, abundance, and activity of archaeal populations in oil-contaminated groundwater accumulated at the bottom of an underground crude oil storage cavity.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization has shown that cells labeled with an Archaea-specific probe (ARCH915) accounted for approximately 10% of the total cell count in oil-contaminated groundwater accumulated at the bottom of an underground crude oil storage cavity. Although chemical analyses have revealed vigorous consumption of nitrate in cavity groundwater, the present study found that the methane production rate was higher than the nitrate consumption rate. To characterize the likely archaeal populations responsible for methane production in this system, fragments of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were amplified by PCR using eight different combinations of universal and Archaea-specific primers. Sequence analysis of 324 clones produced 23 different archaeal sequence types, all of which were affiliated with the kingdom EURYARCHAEOTA: Among them, five sequence types (KuA1, KuA6, KuA12, KuA16, and KuA22) were obtained in abundance. KuA1 and KuA6 were closely related to the known methanogens Methanosaeta concilii (99% identical) and Methanomethylovorans hollandica (98%), respectively. Although no closely related organism was found for KuA12, it could be affiliated with the family METHANOMICROBIACEAE: KuA16 and KuA22 showed substantial homology only to some environmental clones. Both of these branched deeply in the Euryarchaeota, and may represent novel orders. Quantitative competitive PCR showed that KuA12 was the most abundant, accounting for approximately 50% of the total archaeal rDNA copies detected. KuA1 and KuA16 also constituted significant proportions of the total archaeal rDNA copies (7 and 17%, respectively). These results suggest that limited species of novel archaea were enriched in the oil storage cavity. An estimate of specific methane production rates suggests that they were active methanogens.

Archaea↗

Comparison of traditional and molecular methods of typing isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

Fifty-nine Staphylococcus aureus isolates and 1 isolate of Staphylococcus intermedius were typed by investigators at eight institutions by using either antibiograms, bacteriophage typing, biotyping, immunoblotting, insertion sequence typing with IS257/431, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, restriction analysis of plasmid DNA, pulsed-field or field inversion gel electrophoresis, restriction analysis of PCR-amplified coagulase gene sequences, restriction fragment length polymorphism typing by using four staphylococcal genes as probes, or ribotyping. Isolates from four well-characterized outbreaks (n = 29) and a collection of organisms from two nursing homes were mixed with epidemiologically unrelated stock strains from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Several isolates were included multiple times either within or between the sets of isolates to analyze the reproducibilities of the typing systems. Overall, the DNA-based techniques and immunoblotting were most effective in grouping outbreak-related strains, recognizing 27 to 29 of the 29 outbreak-related strains; however, they also tended to include 3 to 8 epidemiologically unrelated isolates in the same strain type. Restriction fragment length polymorphism methods with mec gene-associated loci were less useful than other techniques for typing oxacillin-susceptible isolates. Phage typing, plasmid DNA restriction analysis, and antibiogram analysis, the techniques most readily available to clinical laboratories, identified 23 to 26 of 29 outbreak-related isolates and assigned 0 to 6 unrelated isolates to outbreak strain types. No single technique was clearly superior to the others; however, biotyping, because it produced so many subtypes, did not effectively group outbreak-related strains of S. aureus.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Distribution and sequence variations of selected virulence genes among group A streptococcal isolates from western Norway.

In order to compare the distribution of selected virulence genes among group A streptococci recovered from invasive disease and superficial infections, 42 isolates were screened for mga, speB, speA, ssa and ska, by PCR. The isolates were predominantly of the sequence types emm1, emm3 and emm6, but also included a few of the types emm22, emm28, emm75 and emm78. The phage-mediated speA seemed to be prevalent in emm types 1 and 3, and its distribution was not related to disease severity. The other genes were present in all isolates. The mga, speB and speA were further studied by sequence analysis. Although allotypic associations with invasiveness were not found, allelic specificity to the emm sequence type was observed. In addition, the mga sequences indicated two lineages, related to opacity factor production. A possible recombination between these two main divergent mga genes was observed in isolates of the types emm22 and emm75. A logical nomenclature of the alleles of mga and speB is suggested.

Alleles↗

Allele-specific competitive blocker-PCR detection of rare base substitution.

Methods that detect rare base substitutions within populations of DNA molecules are valuable tools for studying the DNA-damaging effects of chemicals and for pool screening for single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Allele-specific competitive blocker-polymerase chain reaction (ACB-PCR) uses a mutant-specific PCR primer with more 3'-terminal mismatches to an abundant or wild-type sequence than to a rare or mutant sequence in order to amplify specifically an allele that differs from the wild-type by a single base pair. ACB-PCR reactions include a blocker primer to reduce the amount of background signal generated from the abundant wild-type template. The nonextendable blocker primer preferentially anneals to the wild-type DNA sequence, thereby excluding the annealing of the extendable mutant-specific primer to the wild-type sequence. Inclusion of single-strand DNA binding protein in the ACB-PCR reaction and use of the Stoffel fragment of Taq DNA polymerase both significantly increase allele discrimination. The concurrent analysis of mutant fraction standards and equivalent PCR products amplified from genomic DNA samples makes ACB-PCR a quantitative method that can detect a base pair substitution in the presence of a 105-fold excess of wild-type DNA. Methods for the ACB-PCR measurement of the mouse H-ras codon 61 CAA --> AAA mutation are presented.

Alleles↗

Generation of velogenic Newcastle disease viruses from a nonpathogenic waterfowl isolate by passaging in chickens.

A benign Newcastle disease virus (NDV) recently became highly virulent during replication in domestic chickens. It is still unclear whether NDVs circulating among wild waterfowl also have the potential to become highly pathogenic (velogenic) in chickens. To demonstrate experimentally the generation of velogenic NDV from a nonpathogenic waterfowl isolate, we passaged an avirulent goose isolate in chickens. After nine consecutive passages by air-sac inoculation, followed by five passages in chick brain, the virus became highly virulent in chickens, producing a 100% mortality rate, and demonstrating typical velogenic properties in pathogenicity tests. Sequence analysis at the fusion protein cleavage site showed that the original isolate contained the typical avirulent type sequence, E-R-Q-E-R/L, which progressed incrementally to a typical virulent type, K-R-Q-K-R/F, during repeated passage in chickens. These results demonstrate that avirulent viruses, maintained in wild waterfowl in nature and bearing the consensus avirulent type sequence, have the potential to become velogenic after transmission to and circulation in chicken populations. The results also suggest that chickens provide a mechanism for the selection of virulent viruses from an avirulent background.

Animals↗

Evidence of recombination in Porphyromonas gingivalis and random distribution of putative virulence markers.

The association of Porphyromonas gingivalis to periodontal disease is not clearly understood. Similar proportions of P. gingivalis may be cultivated from both inactive and actively degrading periodontal pockets. Differences in virulence among strains of P. gingivalis exist, but the molecular reason for this remains unknown. We examined the population structure of P. gingivalis to obtain a framework in which to study pathogenicity in relation to evolution. Phylogenetic trees derived from the sequencing of fragments of four housekeeping genes, ahp, thy, rmlB, and infB, in 57 strains were completely different with no correlation between clustering of strains in the four dendrograms. Combining the various alleles of the four gene fragments sequenced resulted in 41 different sequence types. The index of association, I(A), based on a single representative of each sequence type was 0.143 +/- 0.202, indicating a population at linkage equilibrium. Inclusion of all isolates for the calculation of I(A) resulted in a value of 0.206 +/- 0.171. This suggests an epidemic population structure supported by the finding of genetically identical strains in different parts of the world. We observed a random distribution of two virulence-associated mobile genetic elements, the ragB locus and the insertion sequence IS1598, among 132 strains tested. In conclusion, P. gingivalis has a nonclonal population structure characterized by frequent recombination. Our study suggests that particular genotypes, possibly with increased pathogenic potential, may spread successfully in the human population.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Juxtaposed short sequence repeat types and haplotypes near exon 3 of the insulin receptor locus among Mexican Americans.

The insulin receptor has been sequenced on numerous occasions and reports suggest several potential polymorphisms, as do a number of reports of single base changes. Examining these reports identifies five potential polymorphisms at or near exon 3. Three of these--codon 233 (CTG to CCG), codon 234 (GAC to GAT), and codon 276 (CAG to CAA)--predict restriction site differences. Just 5' of exon 3, the sequence suggests the presence of two short sequence repeats (SSRs), one with ATTT repeats and one with TC dinucleotide repeats. Amplification of exon 3 using the polymerase chain reaction followed by appropriate restriction digestion demonstrated no variation in a sample of 50 Mexican Americans. The codon 276 results were surprising given several reports showing the putative differences. An additional 91 mixed samples were examined and no variation was detected, suggesting that the reported differences likely resulted from sequencing artifacts. Amplification of a smaller fragment demonstrated 10 phenotypes and 7 alleles for the SSR region. Digestion with MnlI permitted scoring each motif separately and when coupled with the uncut results permits unequivocal classification of haplotypes without familial data. These juxtaposed SSRs should be useful for linkage analysis and investigations of gene structure and evolution.

Alleles↗

Emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Singapore: a further six cases.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical features and molecular epidemiology of further cases of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection in Singapore are described. METHODS: Six cases of CA-MRSA infection that occurred between April and October 2004 are described. The bacterial isolates were tested for the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes and typed via pulsedfield gel electrophoresis, staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) and multi-locus sequence typing. The results were compared with that of previously-reported local and international CA-MRSA isolates. RESULTS: There were four cases of cutaneous abscesses and one each of chronic osteomyelitis and endocarditis. CA-MRSA isolates from the last two cases tested negative for PVL genes. Three isolates were identical and related to the Oceanian clone, and one isolate to the predominant Taiwanese clone. The isolate causing osteomyelitis had a novel sequence type. CONCLUSION: CA-MRSA, though uncommon, is being isolated with increasing frequency in Singapore. A predominant clone (ST30- MRSA-IV) seems to be emerging locally.

Adult↗

Normal IncA expression and fusogenicity of inclusions in Chlamydia trachomatis isolates with the incA I47T mutation.

To investigate the correlation between the incA I47T mutation in Chlamydia trachomatis and the nonfusogenic phenotype, the incA genes of 25 isolates were sequenced. Four major sequence types were identified. Seven isolates (28%) had the I47T mutation. Isolates representing the four sequence types expressed IncA in the membrane of one large single inclusion. In conclusion, the incA I47T mutation is not associated with the nonfusogenic phenotype.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Systematic analysis of the type VII secretion system in Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus reveals genomic diversity and functional associations.

Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (Sgg) is an opportunistic pathobiont associated with bacteremia, infective endocarditis, and colorectal cancer. However, the genomic diversity of this subspecies and the distribution of key virulence determinants, particularly the type VII secretion system (T7SS), remain poorly characterized. Here, we performed genomic analyses of 76 Sgg strains from diverse geographic and host origins. Core- and pan-genome analyses, multi locus sequence typing, and phylogenetic reconstruction revealed dominant sequence types (STs) that correlate with geographic origin or source of isolation. Furthermore, systematic characterization of the T7SS locus identified five new T7SS subtypes and demonstrated a strong association between T7SS subtype and ST. We further expanded the known repertoire of T7SS LXG domain-containing polymorphic toxins (LXG toxins) in Sgg substantially through genome-wide searches. Distinct distribution patterns were observed for the LXG toxins across the strains. Lastly, our data indicated that T7SS subtype was significantly associated with biofilm formation capacity of Sgg strains. Together, these findings advance our understanding of Sgg genomic diversity, reveal substantial lineage-associated variation in T7SS architecture and effector repertoires, and suggest a previously unrecognized connection between T7SS and biofilm formation in Sgg.

LXG toxins↗

Erythromycin resistance in invasive serotype 14 pneumococci is highly related to clonal type.

Sixty-seven serotype 14 pneumococci, isolated from invasive disease in Scotland during the first 6 months of 2003, were characterized. Serotype 14 pneumococci accounted for 18.2 % of the total number of cases. Serotyping, multilocus sequence typing and antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed 10 different sequence types (STs), predominantly ST 9 and ST 124; most ST 9 pneumococci were erythromycin-resistant whilst those of ST 124 were not.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Molecular cloning and analysis of functional envelope genes from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 sequence subtypes A through G. The WHO and NIAID Networks for HIV Isolation and Characterization.

Present knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope immunobiology has been derived almost exclusively from analyses of subtype B viruses, yet such viruses represent only a minority of strains currently spreading worldwide. To generate a more representative panel of genetically diverse envelope genes, we PCR amplified, cloned, and sequenced complete gp160 coding regions of 35 primary (peripheral blood mononuclear cell-propagated) HIV-1 isolates collected at major epicenters of the current AIDS pandemic. Analysis of their deduced amino acid sequences revealed several important differences from prototypic subtype B strains, including changes in the number and distribution of cysteine residues, substantial length differences in hypervariable regions, and premature truncations in the gp41 domain. Moreover, transiently expressed glycoprotein precursor molecules varied considerably in both size and carbohydrate content. Phylogenetic analyses of full-length env sequences indicated that the panel included members of all major sequence subtypes of HIV-1 group M (clades A to G), as well as an intersubtype recombinant (F/B) from an infected individual in Brazil. In addition, all subtype E and three subtype G viruses initially classified on the basis of partial env sequences were found to cluster in subtype A in the 3' half of their gp41 coding region, suggesting that they are also recombinant. The biological activity of PCR-derived env genes was examined in a single-round virus infectivity assay. This analysis identified 20 clones, including 1 from each subtype (or recombinant), which expressed fully functional envelope glycoproteins. One of these, derived from a patient with rapid CD4 cell decline, contained an amino acid substitution in a highly conserved endocytosis signal (Y721C), as mediated virus entry with very poor efficiency, although they did not contain sequence changes predicted to alter protein function. These results indicate that the env genes of primary HIV-1 isolates collected worldwide can vary considerably in their genetic, phylogenetic, and biological properties. The panel of env constructs described here should prove valuable for future structure-function studies of naturally occurring envelope glycoproteins as well as AIDS vaccine development efforts targeted against a broader spectrum of viruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. in an Italian general intensive care unit.

Following the identification of two clinical isolates of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) from intensive care unit (ICU) patients, a surveillance programme detected that six of eight ICU patients were colonised by VRE. Standard epidemic control measures were instituted in the ICU. During a 16-month period, 13 (2.5%) of 509 ICU patients had VRE-positive swabs upon admission, and 43 (8.7%) of 496 VRE-negative patients were colonised by VRE in the ICU. Patients who acquired VRE in the ICU had a longer ICU stay (p < 0.0001). No other statistically significant differences were demonstrated. Two patients had documented infection (infection/colonisation index, 3.6%; overall VRE infection frequency, 0.4%), but both recovered and were discharged. VRE colonisation did not increase the mortality rate. Automated ribotyping identified three clusters containing, respectively, the first 52 Enterococcus faecium isolates, two Enterococcus faecalis isolates, and two further isolates of E. faecium. Multilocus sequence typing demonstrated that two E. faecium isolates representative of the two ribotypes belonged to sequence types 78 and 18, and that these two isolates belonged to the epidemic lineage C1, which includes isolates with a wide circulation in northern Italy. The outbreak was controlled by continuous implementation of the infection control programme, and by the opening of a new unit with an improved structural design and hand-washing facilities.

Adult↗

Genetic diversity among community methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains causing outpatient infections in Australia.

Increasing reports of the appearance of novel nonmultiresistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA (MRSA) strains in the community and of the spread of hospital MRSA strains into the community are cause for public health concern. We conducted two national surveys of unique isolates of S. aureus from clinical specimens collected from nonhospitalized patients commencing in 2000 and 2002, respectively. A total of 11.7% of 2,498 isolates from 2000 and 15.4% of 2,486 isolates from 2002 were MRSA. Approximately 54% of the MRSA isolates were nonmultiresistant (resistant to less than three of nine antibiotics) in both surveys. The majority of multiresistant MRSA isolates in both surveys belonged to two strains (strains AUS-2 and AUS-3), as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and resistogram typing. The 3 AUS-2 isolates and 10 of the 11 AUS-3 isolates selected for multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) analysis were ST239-MRSA-III (where ST is the sequence type) and thus belonged to the same clone as the eastern Australian MRSA strain of the 1980s, which spread internationally. Four predominant clones of novel nonmultiresistant MRSA were identified by PFGE, MLST, and SCCmec analysis: ST22-MRSA-IV (strain EMRSA-15), ST1-MRSA-IV (strain WA-1), ST30-MRSA-IV (strain SWP), and ST93-MRSA-IV (strain Queensland). The last three clones are associated with community acquisition. A total of 14 STs were identified in the surveys, including six unique clones of novel nonmultiresistant MRSA, namely, STs 73, 93, 129, 75, and 80slv and a new ST. SCCmec types IV and V were present in diverse genetic backgrounds. These findings provide support for the acquisition of SCCmec by multiple lineages of S. aureus. They also confirm that both hospital and community strains of MRSA are now common in nonhospitalized patients throughout Australia.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

The three major Spanish clones of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae are the most common clones recovered in recent cases of meningitis in Spain.

One hundred six isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae recovered in Spain from patients with meningitis in 1997 and 1998 were characterized by multilocus sequence typing. A heterogeneous collection of genotypes was associated with meningitis in Spain: 65 different sequence types were resolved and, even at a genetic distance of 0.43, there were 37 distinct lineages. Thirty-eight percent of the isolates, including all isolates of serotypes 6B, 9V, 14, and 23F, were resistant to penicillin, and 24% of the isolates were members of the three major Spanish penicillin-resistant or multidrug-resistant clones of serotypes 6B, 9V, and 23F or serotype variants of these clones. These three clones (MICs, 1 to 2 microg of penicillin/ml) were the most common clones associated with pneumococcal meningitis in Spain during 1997 and 1998. Only two of the other clones associated with meningitis were penicillin resistant (MICs, 0.12 to 0.5 microg/ml). One of the two most prevalent penicillin-susceptible clones causing meningitis (serotype 3) has not been detected outside of Spain, whereas the other (serotype 18C) has been recovered from patients with meningitis in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Denmark. The prevalence of meningitis caused by isolates of the three major Spanish penicillin-resistant or multiply antibiotic-resistant clones, which are now globally distributed, is disturbing and clearly establishes their ability to cause life-threatening disease.

Base Sequence↗

Molecular epidemiology of hospital-acquired vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains are a significant cause of nosocomial infections in predisposed patients. Multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) has been validated recently by use of a global strain collection. In this report, we applied MLVA together with multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to type 14 isolates from three clusters of patients colonized or infected with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and another 10 epidemiologically unrelated isolates from the same hospital. The clusters could be distinguished by all three typing methods, which proved to be concordant. PFGE patterns provided the highest resolution. We observed seven sequence types (ST), six MLVA types (MT), and nine distinct ST/MT combinations. The combination of MLST and MLVA may be an alternative to PFGE in hospital epidemiology, providing the benefits of high accuracy, reproducibility, and portability.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Purification and characterization of UDP-GlcNAc:Gal beta 1-4Glc(NAc) beta-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (poly-N-acetyllactosamine extension enzyme) from calf serum.

UDP-GlcNAc:Gal beta 1-4Glc(NAc) beta-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase is involved in the initiation and the extension of poly-N-acetyllactosamine biosynthesis. This enzyme has been purified to about 125,000-fold with a 0.2% yield from calf serum. The purification was achieved by ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose, DEAE-Toyopearl, SP-Toyopearl, Sephacryl S-200, AF-Blue-Toyopearl, and Mono Q columns. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band corresponding to an apparent M(r) of 70,000. This component was specifically photoaffinity-labeled with 4-thiouridine diphosphate. Exoglycosidase digestion and methylation analysis of the reaction products demonstrated that the enzyme catalyzed the transfer of one N-acetylglucosamine to position C-3 of the terminal galactosyl residue of lactose or N-acetyllactosamine in the beta linkage. The enzyme required Mn2+ ions for its activity and showed a broad pH optimum around 7.0. Apparent Km values for lactose, N-acetyllactosamine, and UDP-GlcNAc were 18.2, 19.6, and 0.129 mM, respectively. Acceptor specificity was tested using several oligosaccharides. The results indicated that terminal Gal beta 1-4Glc(NAc) sequences (type II chains) were preferred substrates for the enzyme. Terminal Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc sequences (type I chains), Lewis X trisaccharides (Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc), and monosaccharides (galactose) did not serve as substrates.

Animals↗