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The escalating transmission of hospital-acquired infections, especially those due to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, is a major health challenge worldwide. In this study, a culturomic analysis of bacterial community in a tertiary care hospital in the western region of Saudi Arabia is performed using environmental samples. The genome sequencing of four Acinetobacter baumannii was performed on isolates recovered from an intensive care unit (ICU) environment and clinical samples. A total of 361 bacterial isolates from surface and air samples were identified by MALDI-TOF technique or 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolates were classified into 70 distinct species, including ESKAPE pathogens. Resistance in Gram-positive isolates was mainly found to be against benzylpenicillin, azithromycin, ampicillin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Carbapenem- and multidrug-resistant isolates of A. baumannii and Klebsiella pneumonia were found on the ICU surfaces. Genome sequencing revealed that the carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolate from ICU environment was linked with those of clinical origin. The isolate Ab133-HEnv was classified as a novel sequence type (ST2528) based on a new allele of Oxf_gdhB-286. Three beta-lactam-antibiotic-resistance genes, blaADC-25, blaOXA-23, and blaOXA-66, were found in most of the analyzed genomes. Collectively, the results of this study highlight the spread of antimicrobial-resistant nosocomial pathogens in a health care facility in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanobacillus picturae is a strain of a moderately halophilic bacterium, first isolated from a mural painting. We demonstrate, for the first time, the culture of human Oceanobacillus picturae, strain S1, whose genome is described here, from a stool sample collected from a 25-year-old Saoudian healthy individual. We used a slightly modified standard culture medium adding 100 g/L of NaCl. We provide a short description of this strain including its MALDI-TOF spectrum, the main identification tool currently used in clinical microbiology. The 3,675,175 bp long genome exhibits a G + C content of 39.15 % and contains 3666 protein-coding and 157 RNA genes. The draft genome sequence of Oceanobacillus picturae has a similar size to the Oceanobacillus kimchii (respectively 3.67 Mb versus 3.83 Mb). The G + C content was higher compared with Oceanobacillus kimchii (respectively 39.15 % and 35.2 %). Oceanobacillus picturae shared almost identical number of genes (3823 genes versus 3879 genes), with a similar ratio of genes per Mb (1041 genes/Mb versus 1012 genes/Mb). The genome sequencing of Oceanobacillus picturae strain S1 isolated for the first time in a human, will be added to the 778 genome projects from the gastrointestinal tract listed by the international consortium Human Microbiome Project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium jeddahense strain JCD (= CSUR P693 = DSM 27834) is the type strain of C. jeddahense sp. nov. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of an obese 24 year-old Saudian male (BMI=52 kg/m). Clostridium jeddahense strain JCD is an obligate Gram-positive bacillus. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 3,613,503 bp long genome (1 chromosome, no plasmid) exhibits a G+C content of 51.95% and contains 3,462 protein-coding and 53 RNA genes, including 4 rRNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corynebacterium jeddahense sp. nov., strain JCB, is the type strain of Corynebacterium jeddahense sp. nov., a new species within the genus Corynebacterium. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from fecal flora of a 24-year-old Saudi male suffering from morbid obesity. Corynebacterium jeddahense is a Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, nonsporulating bacillus. Here, we describe the features of this bacterium, together with the complete genome sequencing and annotation, and compare it to other member of the genus Corynebacterium. The 2,472,125 bp-long genome (1 chromosome but not plasmid) contains 2,359 protein-coding and 53 RNA genes, including 1 rRNA operon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]