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One of the greatest challenges to the use of molecular methods for diagnostic purposes is the detection of target DNA that is present only in low concentrations. One major factor that negatively impacts accuracy, diagnostic sensitivity, and specificity is the sample matrix, which hinders the attainment of the required detection limit due to the presence of residual background DNA. To address this issue, various methods have been developed to enhance sensitivity through targeted pre-amplification of marker sequences. Diagnostic sensitivity to the single molecular level is critical, particularly when identifying bloodstream infections. In cases of clinically manifest sepsis, the concentration of bacteria in the blood may reach as low as one bacterial cell/CFU per mL of blood. Therefore, it is crucial to achieve the highest level of sensitivity for accurate detection. In the present study, we have established a method that fills the analytical gap between low concentrations of molecular markers and the minimum requirements for molecular testing. For this purpose, a sample preparation of whole blood samples with a directly downstream pre-amplification was developed, which amplifies specific species and resistance markers in a multiplex procedure. When applying pre-amplification techniques, the sensitivity of the pathogen detection in whole blood samples was up to 100 times higher than in non-pre-amplified samples. The method was tested with blood samples that were spiked with several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. By applying this method to artificial spiked blood samples, it was possible to demonstrate a sensitivity of 1 colony-forming unit (CFU) per millilitre of blood for S. aureus and E. faecium . A detection limit of 28 and 383 CFU per ml of blood was achieved for E. coli and K. pneumoniae , respectively. If the sensitivity is also confirmed for real clinical blood samples from septic patients, the novel technique can be used for pathogen detection without cultivation, which might help to accelerate diagnostics and, thus, to decrease sepsis mortality rates.

The authenticity of political candidates receives increasing attention in political and academic discourse. Although being perceived as authentic is seen as a success factor in contemporary political communication, little attention has been paid to how citizens evaluate politicians' authenticity. The state of research thus lacks a valid instrument to measure citizens' perceptions of politicians' authenticity. This article addresses this gap in the literature and proposes a new multidimensional scale of perceived political authenticity. We conducted three consecutive studies to test the instrument's composition, performance, and validity and present a final 12-item scale. Results from an expert panel and two online quota surveys (Sample 1: N = 556, Sample 2: N = 1,210) show that citizens rely on three political authenticity dimensions to judge politicians' authenticity: ordinariness, consistency, and immediacy. Factor analyses were used to establish construct validity and demonstrate that the new scale is a robust and reliable measure. Finally, we find that higher perceived political authenticity for specific politicians is positively associated with party identification and the intention to vote for politicians., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Luebke, Engelmann. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Poultry is one of the most important reservoirs for zoonotic multidrug-resistant pathogens. The indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in poultry production is a leading factor for development and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolated from healthy turkey flocks of different ages in Nile delta region, Egypt. In the current investigation, 250 cloacal swabs were collected from 12 turkey farms in five governorates in the northern Egypt. Collected samples were cultivated on Brilliance TM ESBL agar media supplemented with cefotaxime (100 mg/L). The E. coli isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS and confirmed by a conventional PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA-DNA. The phenotypic antibiogram against 14 antimicrobial agents was determined using the broth micro-dilution method. DNA-microarray-based assay was applied for genotyping and determination of both, virulence and resistance-associated gene markers. Multiplex real-time PCR was additionally applied for all isolates for detection of the actual most relevant Carbapenemase genes. The phenotypic identification of colistin resistance was carried out using E-test. A total of 26 E. coli isolates were recovered from the cloacal samples. All isolates were defined as multidrug-resistant. Interestingly, two different E. coli strains were isolated from one sample. Both strains had different phenotypic and genotypic profiles. All isolates were phenotypically susceptible to imipenem, while resistant to penicillin, rifampicin, streptomycin, and erythromycin. None of the examined carbapenem resistance genes was detected among isolates. At least one beta-lactamase gene was identified in most of isolates, where bla TEM was the most commonly identified determinant (80.8%), in addition to bla CTX-M9 (23.1%), bla SHV (19.2%) and bla OXA-10 (15.4%). Genes associated with chloramphenicol resistance were flo R (65.4%) and cml A1 (46.2%). Tetracycline- and quinolone-resistance-associated genes tet A and qnr S were detected in (57.7%) and (50.0%) of isolates, respectively. The aminoglycoside resistance associated genes aad A1 (65.4%), aad A2 (53.8%), aph A (50.0%), str A (69.2%), and str B (65.4%), were detected among isolates. Macrolide resistance associated genes mph and mrx were also detected in (53.8%) and (34.6%). Moreover, colistin resistance associated gene mcr -9 was identified in one isolate (3.8%). The class 1 integron integrase int I1 (84.6%), transposase for the transposon tnp ISEcp1 (34.6%) and OqxB -integral membrane and component of RND-type multidrug efflux pump oqx B (7.7%) were identified among the isolates. The existing high incidence of ESBL/colistin-producing E. coli identified in healthy turkeys is a major concern that demands prompt control; otherwise, such strains and their resistance determinants could be transmitted to other bacteria and, eventually, to people via the food chain.

While many data on molecular epidemiology of MRSA are available for North America, Western Europe and Australia, much less is known on the distribution of MRSA clones elsewhere. Here, we describe a poorly known lineage from the Middle East, CC1153, to which several strains from humans and livestock belong. Isolates were characterised using DNA microarrays and one isolate from the United Arab Emirates was sequenced using Nanopore technology. CC1153 carries agr II and capsule type 5 genes. Enterotoxin genes are rarely present, but PVL is common. Associated spa types include t504, t903 and t13507. PVL-positive CC1153-MSSA were found in Egyptian cattle suffering from mastitis. It was also identified among humans with skin and soft tissue infections in Saudi Arabia, France and Germany. CC1153-MRSA were mainly observed in Arabian Gulf countries. Some isolates presented with a previously unknown SCCmec/SCCfus chimeric element in which a mec B complex was found together with the fusidic acid resistance gene fusC and accompanying genes including ccrA/B-1 recombinase genes. Other isolates carried SCCmec V elements that usually also included fusC. Distribution and emergence of CC1153-MRSA show the necessity of molecular characterization of MRSA that are resistant to fusidic acid. These strains pose a public health threat as they combine resistance to beta-lactams used in hospitals as well as to fusidic acid used in the community. Because of the high prevalence of fusC-positive MRSA in the Middle East, sequences and descriptions of SCC elements harbouring fusC and/or mecA are reviewed. When comparing fusC and its surrounding regions from the CC1153 strain to available published sequences, it became obvious that there are four fusC alleles and five distinct types of fusC gene complexes reminiscent to the mec complexes in SCCmec elements. Likewise, they are associated with different sets of ccrA/B recombinase genes and additional payload that might include entire mec complexes or SCCmec elements.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing global health concern reducing options for therapy of infections and also for perioperative prophylaxis. Many Enterobacteriaceae cannot be treated anymore with third generation cephalosporins (3GC) due to the production of certain 3GC hydrolysing enzymes (extended spectrum beta-lactamases, ESBLs). The role of animals as carriers and vectors of multi-resistant bacteria in different geographical regions is poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated the occurrence and molecular characteristics of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) in wild birds and slaughtered cattle in Ibadan, Nigeria. Cattle faecal samples (n = 250) and wild bird pooled faecal samples (cattle egrets, Bubulcus ibis, n = 28; white-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata, n = 24) were collected and cultured on cefotaxime-eosin methylene blue agar. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by agar diffusion assays and all 3GC resistant isolates were genotypically characterised for AMR genes, virulence associated genes (VAGs) and serotypes using DNA microarray-based assays., Results: All 3GC resistant isolates were E. coli: cattle (n = 53), egrets (n = 87) and whistling duck (n = 4); cultured from 32/250 (12.8%), 26/28 (92.9%), 2/24(8.3%), cattle, egrets and whistling duck faecal samples, respectively. blaCTX-M gene family was prevalent; blaCTX-M15 (83.3%) predominated over blaCTX-M9 (11.8%). All were susceptible to carbapenems. The majority of isolates were resistant to at least one of the other tested antimicrobials; multidrug resistance was highest in the isolates recovered from egrets. The isolates harboured diverse repositories of other AMR genes (including strB and sul2), integrons (predominantly class 1) and VAGs. The isolates recovered from egrets harboured more AMR genes; eight were unique to these isolates including tetG, gepA, and floR. The prevalent VAGs included hemL and iss; while 14 (including sepA) were unique to certain animal isolates. E. coli serotypes O9:H9, O9:H30 and O9:H4 predominated. An identical phenotypic microarray profile was detected in three isolates from egrets and cattle, indicative of a clonal relationship amongst these isolates., Conclusion: Wild birds and cattle harbour diverse ESBL-producing E. coli populations with potential of inter-species dissemination and virulence. Recommended guidelines to balance public health and habitat conservation should be implemented with continuous surveillance.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Shigella spp./enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) are common diarrheagenic bacteria that cause sporadic diseases and outbreaks. Clinical manifestations vary from mild symptoms to severe complications. For microbiological diagnosis, culture confirmation of a positive stool screening PCR test is challenging because of time-consuming methods for isolation of strains, wide variety of STEC pathotypes, and increased emergence of non-classical strains with unusual serotypes. Therefore, molecular assays for the rapid identification of suspect colonies growing on selective media are very useful. In this study, the performance of the newly introduced eazyplex® EHEC assay based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was evaluated using 18 representative STEC and Shigella strains and 31 isolates or positive-enrichment broths that were collected from clinical stool samples following screening by BD MAX™ EBP PCR. Results were compared to real-time PCR as a reference standard. Overall, sensitivities and specificities of the eazyplex® EHEC were as follows: 94.7% and 100% for Shiga toxin 1 (stx1), 100% and 100% for stx2, 93.3% and 97.1% for intimin (eae), 100% and 100% for enterohemolysin A (ehlyA), and 100% and 100% for invasion-associated plasmid antigen H (ipaH) as Shigella spp./EIEC target, respectively. Sample preparation for LAMP took only some minutes, and the time to result of the assay ranged from 8.5 to 13 min. This study shows that eazyplex® EHEC is a very fast and easy to perform molecular assay that provides reliable results as a culture confirmation assay for the diagnosis of STEC and Shigella spp./EIEC infections.

Aim: A newly designed multiplex real-time PCR (rt-PCR) was validated to detect four clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa)., Materials & Methods: Serial dilutions of genomic DNA were used to determine the limit of detection. Colony PCR was performed with isolates of the four selected species and other species as negative controls. Isolates were characterized genotypically and phenotypically to evaluate the assay., Results: Specific signals of all target genes were detected with diluted templates comprising ten genomic equivalents. Using colony rt-PCR, all isolates of the target species were identified correctly. All negative control isolates were negative., Conclusion: The genes gad, basC, khe and ecfX can reliably identify these four species via multiplex colony rt-PCR.

Aim: A DNA microarray-based assay for the detection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes was used to study carbapenemase-producing organisms at the Kidney Center of Rawalpindi, Pakistan., Methods: The evaluation of this assay was performed using 97 reference strains with confirmed AMR genes. Testing of 7857 clinical samples identified 425 Gram-negative bacteria out of which 82 appeared carbapenem resistant. These isolates were analyzed using VITEK-2 for phenotyping and the described AMR assay for genotyping., Results: The most prevalent carbapenemase gene was blaNDM and in 12 isolates we detected two carbapenemase genes (e.g., blaNDM/blaOXA-48)., Conclusion: Our prevalence data from Pakistan show that - as in other parts of the world - carbapenemase-producing organisms with different underlying resistance mechanisms are emerging, and this warrants intensified and constant surveillance.

A novel multiplex real-time PCR was designed to detect the clinically most important carbapenemase genes, blaKPC, blaVIM, blaNDM and blaOXA-48. The multiplex assay was verified testing genomic DNA of 24 carbapenemase-producing strains. It was validated using a blinded panel of 82 carbapenemase-producing and 50 non-producing isolates by direct colony PCR., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Shiga toxin (Stx) producing Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) (STEC) is the most frequent cause of diarrhoea-positive haemolytic uraemic syndrome (D + HUS) in humans. In 2011, a huge outbreak with an STEC O104:H4 strain in Germany highlighted the limited possibilities for causative treatment of this syndrome. The responsible STEC strain was found to combine Stx production with adherence mechanisms normally found in enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC). Pathotypes of E. coli evolve and can exhibit different adhesion mechanisms. It has been shown previously that neonatal gnotobiotic piglets are susceptible for infection with STEC, such as STEC O157:H7 as well as for EAEC, which are considered to be the phylogenetic origin of E. coli O104:H4. This study was designed to characterise the host response to infection with the STEC O104:H4 outbreak strain in comparison to an STEC O157:H7 isolate by evaluating clinical parameters (scoring) and markers of organ dysfunction (biochemistry), as well as immunological (flow cytometry, assessment of cytokines/chemokines and acute phase proteins) and histological alterations (light- and electron microscopy) in a gnotobiotic piglet model of haemolytic uraemic syndrome., Results: We observed severe clinical symptoms, such as diarrhoea, dehydration and neurological disorders as well as attaching-and-effacing lesions (A/E) in the colon in STEC O157:H7 infected piglets. In contrast, STEC O104:H4 challenged animals exhibited only mild clinical symptoms including diarrhoea and dehydration and HUS-specific/severe histopathological, haematological and biochemical alterations were only inconsistently presented by individual piglets. A specific adherence phenotype of STEC O104:H4 could not be observed. Flow cytometric analyses of lymphocytes derived from infected animals revealed an increase of natural killer cells (NK cells) during the course of infection revealing a potential role of this subset in the anti-bacterial activity in STEC disease., Conclusions: Unexpectedly, E. coli O104:H4 infection caused only mild symptoms and minor changes in histology and blood parameters in piglets. Outcome of the infection trial does not reflect E.   coli O104:H4 associated human disease as observed during the outbreak in 2011. The potential role of cells of the innate immune system for STEC related disease pathogenesis should be further elucidated.

Introduction: Industrial livestock farming is a possible source of multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including producers of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) conferring resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporins. Limited information is currently available on the situation of ESBL producers in livestock farming outside of Western Europe. A surveillance study was conducted from January to May in 2014 in four dairy cattle farms in different areas of the Nile delta, Egypt., Materials and Methods: In total, 266 samples were collected from 4 dairy farms including rectal swabs from clinically healthy cattle (n = 210), and environmental samples from the stalls (n = 56). After 24 h pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water, all samples were screened for 3rd generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli using Brilliance™ ESBL agar. Suspected colonies of putatively ESBL-producing E. coli were sub-cultured and subsequently genotypically and phenotypically characterized. Susceptibility testing using the VITEK-2 system was performed. All suspect isolates were genotypically analyzed using two DNA-microarray based assays: CarbDetect AS-1 and E. coli PanType AS-2 kit (ALERE). These tests allow detection of a multitude of genes and their alleles associated with resistance toward carbapenems, cephalosporins, and other frequently used antibiotics. Serotypes were determined using the E. coli SeroGenotyping AS-1 kit (ALERE)., Results: Out of 266 samples tested, 114 (42.8%) ESBL-producing E. coli were geno- and phenotypically identified. 113 of 114 phenotypically 3rd generation cephalosporin-resistant isolates harbored at least one of the ESBL resistance genes covered by the applied assays [blaCTX-M15 (n = 105), blaCTX-M9 (n = 1), blaTEM (n = 90), blaSHV (n = 1)]. Alarmingly, the carbapenemase genes blaOXA-48 (n = 5) and blaOXA-181 (n = 1) were found in isolates that also were phenotypically resistant to imipenem and meropenem. Using the array-based serogenotyping method, 66 of the 118 isolates (55%) could be genotypically assigned to O-types., Conclusion: This study is considered to be a first report of the high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in dairy farms in Egypt. ESBL-producing E. coli isolates with different underlying resistance mechanisms are common in investigated dairy cattle farms in Egypt. The global rise of ESBL- and carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria is a big concern, and demands intensified surveillance.

Background: Clostridium difficile can cause antibiotic-associated diarrhea and a possibility of outbreaks in hospital settings warrants molecular typing. A microarray was designed that included toxin genes (tcdA/B, cdtA/B), genes related to antimicrobial resistance, the slpA gene and additional variable genes., Results: DNA of six reference strains and 234 clinical isolates from South-Western and Eastern Germany was subjected to linear amplification and labeling with dUTP-linked biotin. Amplicons were hybridized to microarrays providing information on the presence of target genes and on their alleles. Tested isolates were assigned to 37 distinct profiles that clustered mainly according to MLST-defined clades. Three additional profiles were predicted from published genome sequences, although they were not found experimentally., Conclusions: The microarray based assay allows rapid and high-throughput genotyping of clinical C. difficile isolates including toxin gene detection and strain assignment. Overall hybridization profiles correlated with MLST-derived clades.

Spoligotyping is a widely used typing method for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Protocols and platforms can be adapted for direct use on patient samples. Serial dilutions of genomic DNA from Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain DSM45071 were spoligotyped by array hybridization using 32 different commercial PCR polymerase preparations. In samples with very low concentrations of mycobacterial DNA, commercially available PCR polymerases differed in their performance, and some yielded no, or false, identification. Direct spoligotyping from samples with very low concentrations of mycobacterial DNA thus requires careful selection of polymerase and strict standardization., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we developed a new rapid, economic, and automated microarray-based genotyping test for the standardized subtyping of Shiga toxins 1 and 2 of Escherichia coli. The microarrays from Alere Technologies can be used in two different formats, the ArrayTube and the ArrayStrip (which enables high-throughput testing in a 96-well format). One microarray chip harbors all the gene sequences necessary to distinguish between all Stx subtypes, facilitating the identification of single and multiple subtypes within a single isolate in one experiment. Specific software was developed to automatically analyze all data obtained from the microarray. The assay was validated with 21 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) reference strains that were previously tested by the complete set of conventional subtyping PCRs. The microarray results showed 100% concordance with the PCR results. Essentially identical results were detected when the standard DNA extraction method was replaced by a time-saving heat lysis protocol. For further validation of the microarray, we identified the Stx subtypes or combinations of the subtypes in 446 STEC field isolates of human and animal origin. In summary, this oligonucleotide array represents an excellent diagnostic tool that provides some advantages over standard PCR-based subtyping. The number of the spotted probes on the microarrays can be increased by additional probes, such as for novel alleles, species markers, or resistance genes, should the need arise., (Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

In this study, an improvement in the oligonucleotide-based DNA microarray for the genoserotyping of Escherichia coli is presented. Primer and probes for additional 70 O antigen groups were developed. The microarray was transferred to a new platform, the ArrayStrip format, which allows high through-put tests in 96-well formats and fully automated microarray analysis. Thus, starting from a single colony, it is possible to determine within a few hours and a single experiment, 94 of the over 180 known O antigen groups as well as 47 of the 53 different H antigens. The microarray was initially validated with a set of defined reference strains that had previously been serotyped by conventional agglutination in various reference centers. For further validation of the microarray, 180 clinical E. coli isolates of human origin (from urine samples, blood cultures, bronchial secretions, and wound swabs) and 53 E. coli isolates from cattle, pigs, and poultry were used. A high degree of concordance between the results of classical antibody-based serotyping and DNA-based genoserotyping was demonstrated during validation of the new 70 O antigen groups as well as for the field strains of human and animal origin. Therefore, this oligonucleotide array is a diagnostic tool that is user-friendly and more efficient than classical serotyping by agglutination. Furthermore, the tests can be performed in almost every routine lab and are easily expanded and standardized., (© 2013 The Societies and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Membrane-based spoligotyping has been converted to DNA microarray format to qualify it for high-throughput testing. We have shown the assay's validity and suitability for direct typing from tissue and detecting new spoligotypes. Advantages of the microarray methodology include rapidity, ease of operation, automatic data processing, and affordability.

The recently described phenol-soluble modulin PSM-mec was detected in Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus fleuretti, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus simulans and Staphylococcus vitulinus from different hosts (humans, goats, dogs, cats, pigs, cattle and turkeys). It was identified in isolates harbouring SCCmec types II, IIA, IIB, IID, III, VIII and in some irregular or truncated elements., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)