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Yibin Lin,1,2 Lehua Liu,1 Siyang Lu,1 Linqi Fan,1 Huaqi Hu,1 Xuanyin Wang,1 Jichao Zhu,3 Xinhua Qiang,4 Jie He,5 Hongchang Zhou,1,2,6 Shengwen Shao,1,6 Gaoming Zheng7 1School of Medicine, Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory for Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Huzhou University, Huzhou, 31300, People’s Republic of China; 3Clinical Laboratory, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, 313000, People’s Republic of China; 4Clinical Laboratory, First People’s Hospital Affiliated to Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, People’s Republic of China; 5Infectious Diseases Department, First People’s Hospital Affiliated to Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, People’s Republic of China; 6Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, People’s Republic of China; 7Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310015, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Gaoming Zheng; Shengwen Shao, Email zheng151031@sina.com; shaoshw@zjhu.edu.cnBackground: Bacillus cereus is a common bacterium found in the environment. Some strains can cause food poisoning, and very few can cause clinically severe infections, leading to death. Here, we characterized the genome sequence of B. cereus LIN78 isolated from teeth with deep caries and compared it with those of 25 other related species.Methods: Third-generation sequencing technology, bacteriological analyses, biochemistry, and mass spectrometry were applied to characterize the drug-resistance genes and virulence factors of B. cereus LIN78.Results: The complete genome sequence of B. cereus Lin78 consists of 5647 genes distributed on a circular chromosome, a 393 kbp plasmid, and 928 pseudogenes (37.4% of whole-genome DNA). The LIN78 genome contains 14 sets of 16s, 23s, and 5s ribosomal RNA operons; 106 tRNA genes, one tmRNA, 12 genomic islands, six prophases, 64 repeats; 37 antibiotic-resistant genes; and 1119 putative virulence genes, including enterotoxins and cytolysins. The B. cereus LIN78 genome carries multiple copies of non-ribosomal polypeptide synthetase (NRPS) and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Phylogenetic analysis of the 26 B. cereus strains showed that B. cereus LIN78 is evolutionarily closely related to B. thuringiensis ATCC 10792 and B. cereus ATCC 14579.Conclusion: The newly isolated B. cereus carries many virulence genes, including enterotoxins and hemolysins, similar to B. anthracis, and multiple antibiotic resistance genes. These findings suggest that the strain has a potential risk of causing disease. Our studies are vital for further exploration of the evolution of B. cereus, its pathogenic mechanisms, and the control and treatment of bacterial infections.Keywords: bacillus cereus, whole-genome DNA sequencing, virulence factor, drug resistance gene, human teeth

【Objective】The causative agent was isolated from the diseased Micropterus salmoides tissue. The physiological properties of the pathogenic bacteria were identified, and their virulence genes and drug resistance genes were analyzed, with an aim to provide guidance for the scientific use of drugs in clinical practice.【Method】Samples were collected from pathologic tissues of diseased M. salmoides from a fish breeding factory in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, China. The bacteria were isolated by dilution coating method, the 16S rRNA sequence comparison and biochemical tests were performed to identify the species, and the virulence genes, drug resistance genes and drug sensitivity characteristics were also identified.【Result】Bacteria with round colony morphology, smooth milky white surface and opaque color were isolated from pathologic tissues of M. salmoides, and numbered as MSB-2, which was identified as Aeromonas in Gram-negative bacteria through phenotypic identification by Gram staining and physiological and biochemical reactions. By amplifying the 16S rRNA gene sequence and constructing a phylogenetic tree, the bacterium was further identified as A. veronii. The strain had virulence-related genes such as act, aer and aexT and resistance-related genes such as tetC, tetA and sull. The results of the drug sensitivity test showed that the bacterium was sensitive to carbenicillin, doxycycline, cefalexin, neomycin, gentamicin, cefradine, minocycline, cefazolin and etc. Artificial regression of healthy M. salmoides infected with A. veronii showing clinical signs similar to those of diseased fish, which were the same as those of the naturally occurring disease, such as congestion of the ventral and pectoral fin bases, redness and swelling of the anus, and obvious enlargement of the abdomen, etc. And a large amount of fluid in the abdominal cavity was found by autopsy.【Conclusion】The above results indicate that A. veronii is the pathogenic bacterium causing this disease of M. salmoides, and the approved fishery drugs such as neomycin and doxycycline can be used to control the disease during the breeding process.

【Objective】The causative agent was isolated from the diseased Micropterus salmoides tissue. The physiological properties of the pathogenic bacteria were identified, and their virulence genes and drug resistance genes were analyzed, with an aim to provide guidance for the scientific use of drugs in clinical practice.【Method】Samples were collected from pathologic tissues of diseased M. salmoides from a fish breeding factory in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, China. The bacteria were isolated by dilution coating method, the 16S rRNA sequence comparison and biochemical tests were performed to identify the species, and the virulence genes, drug resistance genes and drug sensitivity characteristics were also identified. 【Result】Bacteria with round colony morphology, smooth milky white surface and opaque color were isolated from pathologic tissues of M. salmoides, and numbered as MSB-2, which was identified as Aeromonas in Gram-negative bacteria through phenotypic identification by Gram staining and physiological and biochemical reactions. By amplifying the 16S rRNA gene sequence and constructing a phylogenetic tree, the bacterium was further identified as A. veronii. The strain had virulencerelated genes such as act, aer and aexT and resistance-related genes such as tetC, tetA and sull. The results of the drug sensitivity test showed that the bacterium was sensitive to carbenicillin, doxycycline, cefalexin, neomycin, gentamicin, cefradine, minocycline, cefazolin and etc. Artificial regression of healthy M. salmoides infected with A. veronii showing clinical signs similar to those of diseased fish, which were the same as those of the naturally occurring disease, such as congestion of the ventral and pectoral fin bases, redness and swelling of the anus, and obvious enlargement of the abdomen, etc. And a large amount of fluid in the abdominal cavity was found by autopsy.【Conclusion】The above results indicate that A. veronii is the pathogenic bacterium causing this disease of M. salmoides, and the approved fishery drugs such as neomycin and doxycycline can be used to control the disease during the breeding process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gut microbiota plays a vital role in the development of sepsis and in protecting against pneumonia. Previous studies have demonstrated the existence of the gut-lung axis and the interaction between the gut and the lung, which is related to the prognosis of critically ill patients; however, most of these studies focused on chronic lung diseases and influenza virus infections. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on Klebsiella pneumoniae-related pulmonary infection via the gut-lung axis and to compare the effects of FMT with those of traditional antibiotics to identify new therapeutic strategies. Methods: We divided the mice into six groups: the blank control (PBS), pneumonia-derived sepsis (KP), pneumonia-derived sepsis + antibiotic (KP + PIP), pneumonia-derived sepsis + faecal microbiota transplantation(KP + FMT), antibiotic treatment control (KP+PIP+PBS), and pneumonia-derived sepsis+ antibiotic + faecal microbiota transplantation (KP + PIP + FMT) groups to compare the survival of mice, lung injury, inflammation response, airway barrier function and the intestinal flora, metabolites and drug resistance genes in each group. Results: Alterations in specific intestinal flora can occur in the gut of patients with pneumonia-derived sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Compared with those in the faecal microbiota transplantation group, the antibiotic treatment group had lower levels of proinflammatory factors and higher levels of antiinflammatory factors but less amelioration of lung pathology and improvement of airway epithelial barrier function. Additionally, the increase in opportunistic pathogens and drug resistance-related genes in the gut of mice was accompanied by decreased production of favourable fatty acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, decanoic acid, and secondary bile acids such as chenodeoxycholic acid 3-sulfate, isodeoxycholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, and 3-dehydrocholic acid; the levels of these metabolites were restored by faecal microbiota transplantation. Faecal microbiota transplantation after antibiotic treatment can gradually ameliorate gut microbiota disorder caused by antibiotic treatment and reduce the number of drug resistance genes induced by antibiotics. Conclusion: In contrast to direct antibiotic treatment, faecal microbiota transplantation improves the prognosis of mice with pneumonia-derived sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae by improving the structure of the intestinal flora and increasing the level of beneficial metabolites, fatty acids and secondary bile acids, thereby reducing systemic inflammation, repairing the barrier function of alveolar epithelial cells, and alleviating pathological damage to the lungs. The combination of antibiotics with faecal microbiota transplantation significantly alleviates intestinal microbiota disorder, reduces the selection for drug resistance genes caused by antibiotics, and mitigates lung lesions; these effects are superior to those following antibiotic monotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveLaboratory pathogenic analysis of Salmonella that caused a foodborne outbreak in a university in Chongqing were carried out.MethodsBiochemical characterization and serotyping of 11 strains of Salmonella were carried out based on national standard method （GB 4789.4—2016）；antibiotics sensitivity testingwere tested by micro-broth dilution method； the molecular typing， virulence and drug resistance genes were analyzed by pulsed-Field gel electrophoresis （PFGE）and whole genome sequencing （WGS）.ResultsA total of 11 strains of Salmonella were Salmonella typhimurium； among the 15 antibiotics tested， all strains were only resistant to tetracycline； The PFGE bands of all strains are consistent； WGS identification is consistent with the results of serological phenotype experiments， and all strains carry 2 tetracycline resistance genes and 10 virulence islands； The traceability analysis results showed that all strains had the same ST type， and the wgSNP evolutionary tree showed that all strains could cluster together in same branch.ConclusionThe 11 strains of Salmonella typhimurium have highly homologous sequences， indicating that the source of the patient， environment， and food isolates are the same. Based on epidemiological investigation results， it is determined that the outbreak of foodborne diseases was caused by food contamination caused by food processors not distinguishing between raw and cooked food when using utensils.

ObjectiveTo provide scientific basis for rational clinical use and traceability of outbreaks of foodborne Salmonellosis， the drug resistance and molecular typing characteristics of foodborne Salmonella in Ganzhou City was understood， and a database of drug resistance and molecular fingerprinting of foodborne Salmonella in Ganzhou City was established.MethodsSerotyping， drug susceptibility testing， whole genome sequencing （WGS） and pulsed field gel electrophoresis （PFGE） were performed on 136 strains of Salmonella isolated from the active surveillance of foodborne diseases in Ganzhou City from 2020 to 2022. And drug resistance gene annotation and graphical clustering analysis were performed.ResultsThe highest rate of foodborne Salmonella in Ganzhou City was found for STR resistance （83.09%）， followed by TET （78.68%） and AMP （76.47%）. Multi-drug resistant strains accounted for 76.47%， with a wide range of resistance spectrum types， and the main prevalent resistance spectrum type was AMP-TET-CHL-STR-SXT. WGS predicted a total of 61 resistance genes in 7 categories， with the highest rate of aminoglycoside resistance genes （99.19%） and the lowest rate of macrolides （8.87%）. 136 strains of Salmonella with S. typhimurium variant and S. typhimurium as the dominant serotype were classified into 98 band types by PFGE molecular typing.ConclusionFoodborne Salmonella in Ganzhou City has a serious drug resistance status， with a high rate of drug resistance gene carriage and diverse genotypes. The PFGE molecular type is polymorphic. The dominant serotype may cause outbreaks and epidemics， and surveillance and research should be strengthened.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is closely associated with the occurrence of puerperal metritis in dairy cows. E. coli carries some the virulence and multi-drug resistant genes, which pose a serious threat to the health of postpartum cows. In this study, E. coli was isolated and identified from the uterine contents of postpartum cows with puerperal metritis in the Ningxia region of China, and its phylogenetic subgroups were determined. Meanwhile, virulence and drug resistance genes carried by E. coli and drug sensitivity were detected, and the characteristics of virulence and drug resistance genes distribution in E. coli phylogroups were further analyzed. The results showed that the isolation rate of E. coli in puerperal metritis samples was 95.2%. E. coli was mainly divided into phylogroups B2 and D, followed by groups A and B1, and was more connected to O157:H7, O169:H4, and ECC-1470 type strains. The virulence genes were mainly dominated by ompF (100%), traT (100%), fimH (97%), papC (96%), csgA (95%), Ang43 (93.9%), and ompC (93%), and the resistance genes were dominated by TEM (99%), tetA (71.7%), aac(3)II (66.7%), and cmlA (53.5%). Additionally, it was observed that the virulence and resistance gene phenotypes could be divided into two subgroups, with subgroup B2 and D having the highest distributions. Drug sensitivity tests also revealed that the E. coli was most sensitive to the fluoroquinolones enrofloxacin, followed by macrolides, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, β-lactams, peptides and sulfonamides, and least sensitive to lincosamides. These results imply that pathogenic E. coli, which induces puerperal metritis of dairy cows in the Ningxia region of China, primarily belongs to the group B2 and D, contains multiple virulence and drug resistance genes, Moreover, E. coli has evolved resistance to several drugs including penicillin, lincomycin, cotrimoxazole, and streptomycin. It will offer specific guidelines reference for the prevention and treatment of puerperal metritis in dairy cows with E. coli infections in the Ningxia region of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine / Zhongguo Yufang Shouyi Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective To analyze the genetic characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains and drug resistance gene mutations in 54 cases of retreated rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) patients. Methods Fiftyfour retreated RR-TB patients who retained both initial and recurrent MTB strains were included in the study. A total of 54 pairs (108 strains) of MTB were collected at the time of initial and recurrent treatment, and their genotypes were detected by RD105 gene deletion method. 15-locus variable number tandem repeat genotyping experiment (MIRU-VNTR) was used to determine the cause of the recurrent disease. We constructed a minimum spanning tree (MST) based on the MIRUVNTR results of 54 cases of recurrent MTB, and analyzed the genetic characteristics of the strains. Molecular linear probe assay was used to analyze the mutations of rifampicin-resistant rpoB gene and isoniazid-resistant katG and inhA genes in retreated RR-TB strains. Results All 108 MTB strains from the patients with retreated RR-TB were Beijing genotype. The proportion of endogenous reactivation in retreated RR-TB patients was 77. 8% (42/54）, while the proportion of exogenous reinfection was 22. 2% (12/54）. MST showed that 54 retreated RR-TB strains were divided into 3 clone complexes (CC1, CC2, CC3) and 13 unique genotypes； they had 48 genotypes in total, with a clustering rate of 11. 1%. Molecular linear probe assay showed that there were 40 cases of mutations in the isoniazid-resistance genes katG and inhA, with a multidrug resistance rate of 74. 1% (40/54）. The rifampicin-resistant rpoB gene was mainly mutated at the S531L site (63. 0%，34/ 54）, while the isoniazid-resistant katG gene was mainly mutated at the S315T1 site (75. 0%，30/40）. Conclusions Endogenous reactivation was the main cause of retreated RR-TB patients in Beijing area. The predominant strain was the Beijing genotype, showing high genetic diversity and low clustering rate. Most of the multidrug-resistant gene mutation sites were rpoB gene S531L site and katG gene S315T1 site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand the changes in drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus in patients with lower respiratory tract infections in the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Congjiang County People's Hospital, Guizhou Province, to understand the main drug-resistant genes and disinfectant-resistant genes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and to analyze some strains Perform homology analysis. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the changes in Staphylococcus aureus drug resistance in patients with lower respiratory tract infections in the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Congjiang County People's Hospital, Guizhou Province from 2018 to 2021, and used correlation analysis (pearson) statistical methods to explore the relationship between bacterial resistance and antibacterial drugs medication frequency (defined daily dose system, DDDs). Totally 40 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from specimens submitted by patients with lower respiratory tract infections in the Department of Critical Care Medicine over the past four years were used as the research objects. Instrumental methods were used to identify the test strains and their drug susceptibility, and PCR technology was used to determine the resistance genes (mecA, SCCmec, femB) and disinfectant resistance genes (qacA/B) detection. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method was used to analyze the homology of 40 strains of test bacteria. Results: The annual average resistance rate of Staphylococcus aureus shows that the penicillin resistance rate has always been higher than 92%. The resistance rates to tetracycline, clindamycin, and cotrimoxazole continued to increase again after declining in 2019. The resistance rates of erythromycin, oxacillin, levofloxacin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin shows an increasing trend year by year. No strains resistant to linezolid, vancomycin, and tigecycline were found. Correlation analysis shows that there is a significant positive correlation between the penicillin resistance rate and oxacillin DDDs (r=0.99, P<0.05), there is a significant negative correlation between the oxacillin resistance rate and erythromycin DDDs, etc., and the resistance rates of other antibacterial drugs. There is no statistical significance in the correlation with DDDs of each drug. Genetic testing found that the detection rate of mecA in 40 strains of resistant MRSA was 97.5%, the SCC-mec and femB genes were not detected, and the detection rate of qacA/B genes was 15%. The MLST typing results show that there are 7 sequence types in total, among which ST59 type has the highest proportion and is the dominant type, accounting for 42.5%, followed by ST45 type, accounting for 25%, ST239 type, ST28 type, ST188 type, ST1 type and ST630 account for 12.5%, 7.5% and 5%, 5% and 2.5% respectively. Conclusion: The drug resistance rate of Staphylococcus aureus in lower respiratory tract infections in the Department of Critical Care Medicine is increasing year by year, and the antibiotics available are limited. The development of bacterial resistance is related to the frequency of drug use. Carrying the mecA and qacA/B genes is the main reason for the development of drug resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MLST results indicate the presence of intrafamily clonal strains in the ICU ward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the drug resistance phenotype, drug resistance gene, and virulence gene of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in patients with failed eradication therapy, and to provide reference for remedial therapy. Methods Hp was isolated and cultured from gastric mucosa of patients with failed eradication therapy. Drug sensitivity test was used to detect the resistance of isolated strains to Metronidazole (MTZ), Clarithromycin (CLA), Levofloxacin (LEV), Amoxicillin (AMX), Tetracycline (TET), and Furazolidone (FZ). CLA and LEV resistance genes 23S rRNA, gyrA and virulence genes cagA, vacA, iceA, oipA were amplified by PCR, to further explore the relationship between drug resistance phenotype and drug resistance and virulence genes. Results In total 40 strains of Hp were isolated from 58 patients (69.0%). The resistance rates to MTZ, CLA, LEV, AMX, TET, and FZ were 100.0%, 82.5%, 72.5%, 0%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. The most common mutations of 23S rRNA and gyrA genes were T2182C (78.6%) and N87K (32.0%), respectively, and new C2165T and A2219G mutations were found in CLA resistant strains. In addition, the positive rates of virulence genes cagA, vac A si, vacA s2, vacA ml, vacA m2, tceAl, tceA2, and oipA were 97.1%, 100.0%, 0%, 42.9%, 57.1%, 62.9%, 11.4%, and 68.6%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion The resistance of Hp isolates to MTZ, CLA and LEV in patients with failed eradication therapy in this area is serious, and AMX, TET and FZ are recommended for remedial therapy. The relationship between CLA resistance and C2165T and A2219G mutation and LEV resistance and vacA m2 warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To understand the distribution, serotype, and drug resistance of Salmonella in domestic sewage in Jining city, and to analyze the whole genome sequencing so as to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of Salmonella. Methods From February to March in 2023, two samples of sewage from the intake of 3 urban sewage plants with 500 ml each were collected continuously for 7 weeks. A total of 42 sewage samples were collected for culture, isolation, and identification of Salmonella. The isolated Salmonella was tested for serum agglutination test and fluorescent quantitative PCR serotyping. In total 41 strains of Salmonella were tested for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 17 drugs in 9 classes by microbroth dilution method, followed by genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results The isolation rate of Salmonella from domestic sewage in Jining city was high. Among 24 positive samples, 41 strains of Salmonella were isolated, belonging to 9 serotypes, mainly S.Agona and S.Kentucky. Liying and Jidong sewage treatment plants had their own unique serotypes. Only one strain of S.Give was not resistant, and the other 40 strains of Salmonella were multi-drug resistant. The resistance rates to sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, ampicillin, and streptomycin were more than 90%, and the resistance rate to ampicillin/sulbactam was more than 80%. There were 19 kinds of drug resistance spectra, of which SXT-TET-STR-AMP-AMS ranked the first place. The resistance spectra of different serotypes of Salmonella were different. S.Kentucky, S.Gold Coast, and S.Infant were multi-drug resistant seriously. The resistance spectrum of the same serotype was also inconsistent in different sewage plants, and the resistance was the most serious in Liying sewage plant. The CARD database was used to prediet drug resistance genes, mainly predicting 18 drug resistance genes in 8 types of drug resistance families, and the drug resistance phenotypes and drug resistance genes were almost all consistent. The ST types of different serotypes of Salmonella were different, and ST13 S.Agona was dominant. The phylogenetic tree was divided into 6 clusters, and strains in different sewage plants were in different branches, indicating that their genomes were different and had different sources. Conclusion There are various serotypes of salmonella in domestic sewage in Jining city, suggesting that they might have exist and spread in the population. Almost all strains are multi-drug resistant bacteria, carrying resistance genes extensively. Some types of strains live persistently and distribute across regions, leading to the potential risk to population. It is necessary to carry out continuous monitor, and scientific prevention and control measures need to be formulated to control the epidemic of salmonella and the aggravation of drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio rotiferianus is a pathogenic bacterium that is widely distributed in the ocean and can cause diseases in a variety of marine animals, including fish, shrimp and shellfish. In this study, we isolated and identified V. rotiferianus strain TO-01 from diseased Trachinotus ovatus. Infected fish exhibited a range of pathological symptoms, including lethargy in swimming, blackened body coloration, skin ulceration and erratic side swimming. Tissue section examination revealed pronounced damage to the liver, spleen and gills of the infected fish. An analysis of immune factor expression revealed a significant increase in the expression of inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-6 receptor and IL-21, in the spleen and kidney of fish infected with TO-01 at 6 h post-infection. To gain a more in-depth comprehension of the pathogenicity and drug resistance of V. rotiferianus, we conducted whole genome sequencing. The total genome length of V. rotiferianus was 4734,075 bp, and 74 virulence factors were predicted within the genome. Most of these virulence genes were associated with bacterial adhesion and flagellar motility. A gene associated with group sensing, cqsA, and a gene associated with hemolysin, tlh, were also identified. The prediction of drug resistance genes was in agreement with the results of drug sensitivity assays, both of which indicated that TO-01 has significant resistance to β-lactams. The findings of this study significantly enhance our understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of V. rotiferianus and give crucial insights into disease prevention and control in the management of T. ovatus.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections pose a significant public health challenge worldwide, affecting individuals across a wide spectrum of immune statuses. Recent epidemiological studies indicate rising incidence rates in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent populations, underscoring the need for enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. NTM infections often present with symptoms similar to those of tuberculosis, yet with less specificity, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis and potentially adverse outcomes for patients. Consequently, rapid and accurate identification of the pathogen is crucial for precise diagnosis and treatment. Traditional detection methods, notably microbiological culture, are hampered by lengthy incubation periods and a limited capacity to differentiate closely related NTM subtypes, thereby delaying diagnosis and the initiation of targeted therapies. Emerging diagnostic technologies offer new possibilities for the swift detection and accurate identification of NTM infections, playing a critical role in early diagnosis and providing more accurate and comprehensive information. This review delineates the current molecular methodologies for NTM species and subspecies identification. We critically assess the limitations and challenges inherent in these technologies for diagnosing NTM and explore potential future directions for their advancement. It aims to provide valuable insights into advancing the application of molecular diagnostic techniques in NTM infection identification.

[Objective] The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of pig manure irrigation on the quality and yield of green crisp plum, soil properties, soil microbial community and antibiotic resistance genes. [Method] The five-year-old green crisp plum trees were used as the test materials, and the field experiments were conducted with pig manure water replacing chemical fertilizers at different ratios (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 0%). The effects of different fertilization treatments on the quality and yield of green crisp plum were evaluated based on appearance indicators such as single fruit weight and single fruit diameter, as well as fruit quality indicators such as vitamin C and soluble solids. The effects of different fertilization treatments on the physical and chemical properties of the soil under the plum tree were analyzed based on physicochemical indicators such as pH and organic matter content. The Illumina Hiseq 4000 sequencing platform was used to sequence the macrogenome of the soil under the plum tree, and the effects of pig manure irrigation on changes in soil microbial communities and the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes were analyzed. [Result] The results of the study on the quality and yield of green crisp plum under different fertilization treatments showed that the '75% pig manure + 25% chemical fertilizer' and the 50% pig manure + 50% chemical fertilizer' treatments had better appearance quality of green crisp plum, and the 50% pig manure + 50% chemical fertilizer' treatment had the highest yield per 667 m². The results of the study on the physical and chemical properties of the soil under the plum tree showed that there were no significant differences in organic matter, available nitrogen, and other physicochemical indicators among the different treatments (P>0.05). The results of the metagenome sequencing analysis showed that the dominant bacterial group in the '100% pig manure' group was Actinobacteria, while the dominant bacterial groups in the other four groups were Pseudomonas; A total of 39 antibiotics (ARO) were identified, and the species and relative abundance of ARO in soil samples decreased with the decrease of water consumption in pig manure. [Conclusion] Under the conditions of the study, it is feasible to partially replace fertilizer with pig manure water to fertilize green plum tree, and 50% pig manure +50% fertilizer' is the best fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine / Zhongguo Yufang Shouyi Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wanyang Dong,1,&ast; Qi Peng,1,&ast; Xiaohua Tang,1,2,&ast; Tian Zhong,1 Shunan Lin,1 Ziling Zhi,1 Jingyi Ye,1 Bixia Yang,1 Ning Sun,1,3 Wenchang Yuan1 1Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, KingMed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, People’s Republic of China; 2Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510150, People’s Republic of China; 3Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510180, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ning Sun; Wenchang Yuan, Email ning.sun@connect.polyu.hk; yuanwenchang95@163.comBackground: Staphylococcus haemolyticus is an opportunistic pathogen that belongs to coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS). Increasing infection and multi-drug resistance cases caused by this strain have been reported and thus it poses a great health threat.Methods: The third-generation sequencing technology was performed on a S. haemolyticus SH-1 isolated from a clinical sample to analyze the drug resistance genes, which included vancomycin resistance related genes. In addition, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, transmission electron microscopy and Triton X-100 stimulated autolysis were conducted to understand its biological characteristics.Results: The study shows that this clinical isolate is a vancomycin intermediate-resistant strain. Genome comparison also revealed that WalK(N70K) and WalK(R280Q) mutations may contribute to the vancomycin resistant phenotype. Besides, S. haemolyticus SH-1 exhibit common features of thicker cell wall and decreased autolytic activity.Conclusion: S. haemolyticus SH-1 with WalKR mutations shows typical characteristics of vancomycin resistant strains. Combining the genome features and biological properties, our findings may provide important information for the understanding of the molecular mechanism of S. haemolyticus to vancomycin intermediate-resistance.Keywords: Staphylococcus haemolyticus, drug resistance gene, vancomycin intermediate-resistance, whole genome sequencing

Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) is a pathogen causing bovine mastitis that results in considerable economic losses in the livestock sector. To understand the distribution and drug resistance characteristics of S. agalactiae from dairy cow mastitis cases in China, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was carried out and the serotypes and drug resistance characteristics of the bacteria in the region were analysed.

In order to understand the drug resistance phenotype and genotype carried of Escherichia coli in healthy chickens from three villages in Zhaosu area, Yili, Xinjiang, and guide drug pertinently, 300 chicken anal swab samples were collected from Kemarkgar village, Sentas village and Uklegar village in Zhaosu, Yili and Escherichia coli was isolated and identified. The agar dilution method was used in order to check the drug resistance (MIC) of 9 antibiotics in 6 categories, and PCR was applied to test the corresponding drug resistance genes. The results showed that 289 strains were isolated from the 3 villages, which the separation rates of Sentas village, Kemagar village and Uklegar village were 100.0%, 97.0% and 93.8%. 289 strains of Escherichia coli had high resistance rates to ampicillin, florfenicol and tetracycline, which were 31.5%, 26.0% and 20.1%, respectively. The severity of drug resistance from high to low was Sentas village, Kemakgar village, Uklegar village. The drug resistance rates of Escherichia coli from chicken in Sentas village to ampicillin, cefazolin, florfenicol, enrofloxacin and colistin sulfate were 40.0%, 35.0%, 45.0%, 40.0% and 30.0%, respectively. The drug resistance rate of Escherichia coli from chicken in Uklegar village was the lowest, no more than 20.0%. The richness of drug resistance spectrum of Escherichia coli in different villages was different. Among them, the drug resistance spectrum of Escherichia coli from chicken in Kemakgar village was the most abundant, up to 32 species. Also, the drug resistance spectrums of other 2 villages were more than 10. Gene test results showed that 9 drug resistance genes were detected, of which the detection rates of floR, tet (A) and blaTEM genes were 25.6%, 18.0% and 18.0%, respectively. 9 kinds of drug resistance genes were detected in Escherichia coli from chicken in Kemakgar village, including blaTEM, blaCTX-M, floR, oqxA, oqxB, tet (A), tet (M), ant (3")-Ia, mcr-1; 6 kinds of drug resistance genes were detected in Escherichia coli from chicken in Uklegar Village, including blaTEM, blaCTX-M, floR, oqxA, oqxB, tet (A) ; however, only tet (A), floR, blaCTX-M and blaTEM were detected in Escherichia coli from chicken in Sentas village. To sum up, Escherichia coli from healthy chicken in Zhaosu, Yili, Xinjiang had the characteristics of high isolation rate, high drug resistance rate, rich drug resistance spectrum and low carrying rate of drug resistance genes. At the same time of strengthening the supervision of antibiotics, farms could adopt different drug regimens according to drug sensitivity test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to master the drug resistance and drug resistance gene carried by Enterococcus faecalis from different animal sources in Zhaosu, Yili, Xinjiang, a total of 1 120 samples from cloacal swabs (chicken), nasal swabs and anal swabs (sheep, cattle) were collected from free-range farmers in Zhaosu, Yili, Xinjiang. Enterococcus faecalis was isolated from swabs. Drug susceptibility of Enterococcus faecalis were tested by agar dilution method, and the related resistance genes were detected by PCR method. The results showed a total of 263 strains of Enterococcus faecalis were isolated and identified with an isolation rate of 23.5%. The resistance of different animal-derived Enterococcus faecalis from high to low was sheep, chicken and cattle sources. The resistances of Enterococcus faecalis from sheep were more than 75.0% to erythromycin, tetracycline, florfenicol and doxycycline, which was significantly higher than chicken-derived and cattle-derived Enterococcus faecalis; the resistance rates of Enterococcus faecalis from chicken were 0-50.0%; the resistance rates of Enterococcus faecalis from cattle were lower than 21.1%; all Enterococcus faecalis were fully sensitive to ampicillin and vancomycin. The detection rates of efflux pump gene emeA in Enterococcus faecalis from different sources were all higher than 80.0%. The detection rates of ermB, fexA, optrA, tet (M) and aph (3') -III genes from sheep were more than 70.0%, which were basically the same as drug resistance situation. The genes of cfr, ermC and poxtA were not detected. Different animal-derived Enterococcus faecalis showed different degrees of resistance to antibiotics, and the drug-resistant genotypes were basically the same as the drug-resistant phenotype. It was recommended to strengthen the regular detection of drug resistance and drug resistance genes of animal-derived Enterococcus faecalis, and arranged rational drug administration for different animals according to the prevalence of drug resistance and drug resistance genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corynebacterium striatum is a Gram-positive bacterium that is straight or slightly curved and non-spore-forming. Although it was originally believed to be a part of the normal microbiome of human skin, a growing number of studies have identified it as a cause of various chronic diseases, bacteremia, and respiratory infections. However, despite its increasing importance as a pathogen, the genetic characteristics of the pathogen population, such as genomic characteristics and differences, the types of resistance genes and virulence factors carried by the pathogen and their distribution in the population are poorly understood. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted a pan-genomic analysis of 314 strains of C. striatum isolated from various tissues and geographic locations. Our analysis revealed that C. striatum has an open pan-genome, comprising 5692 gene families, including 1845 core gene families, 2362 accessory gene families, and 1485 unique gene families. We also found that C. striatum exhibits a high degree of diversity across different sources, but strains isolated from skin tissue are more conserved. Furthermore, we identified 53 drug resistance genes and 42 virulence factors by comparing the strains to the drug resistance gene database (CARD) and the pathogen virulence factor database (VFDB), respectively. We found that these genes and factors are widely distributed among C. striatum, with 77.7% of strains carrying 2 or more resistance genes and displaying primary resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, lincomycin, macrolides, and streptomycin. The virulence factors are primarily associated with pathogen survival within the host, iron uptake, pili, and early biofilm formation. In summary, our study provides insights into the population diversity, resistance genes, and virulence factors of C. striatum from different sources. Our findings could inform future research and clinical practices in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of C. striatum -associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The widespread use of antibiotics in animal agriculture has increased the resistance of Escherichia coli, and pathogenic E. coli often harbor complex virulence factors. Antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria can cause public health problems. Correlation analyses of the resistance, virulence, and serotype data from the pathogenic bacteria found on farms and in the surrounding environment can thus provide extremely valuable data to help improve public health management. Methods: In this investigation, we have assessed the drug resistance and virulence genes as well as the molecular typing characteristics of 30 E. coli strains isolated from duck farms in the Zhanjiang area of China. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the drug resistance and virulence genes as well as serotypes, and whole-genome sequencing was used to analyze the multilocus sequence typing. Results: The detection rates for the oqxA resistance gene and fimC virulence gene were highest (93.3%, respectively). There were no correlations between the drug resistance and virulence gene numbers in the same strain. The epidemic serotype was O81 (5/24), ST3856 was an epidemic sequence type, and strains I-9 and III-6 carried 11 virulence genes. The E. coli strains from the duck farms in the Zhanjiang area were thus found to have a broad drug resistance spectrum, various virulence genes, complex serotypes, and certain pathogenicity and genetic relationship. Discussion: Monitoring the spread of pathogenic bacteria and the provision of guidance regarding the use of antibiotics in the livestock and poultry industries will be required in the future in the Zhanjiang area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Traditional fermented soybean ("bekang-um") is widely consumed by the indigenous Mizo tribe in Mizoram and plays a significant part of the local staple food. They are commonly prepared with herbs like culantro and often with just locally dried chilli flakes, implying it is mostly consumed raw without further cooking. Though it plays a staple part of the diet because of its unique taste, awareness on proper and regulated hygienic conditions during its preparation and fermentation processes is quite negligent. The fermentation process often warrants for the growth of not only commensal lactic acid fermenter bacteria like Acinetobacter spp., Lactobacillus spp., but also provides ample growth conditions for harmful bacteria like Salmonella spp., Clostridium spp., Intestinal Pathogenic E.Coli (IPEC) and Bacillus cereus. Aim: Phenotypic and molecular characterisation of Salmonella spp. isolated from the fermented food product bekang-um. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted within three months (October to December, 2020) in Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), Zoram Medical College in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, CVSc and AH, Central Agricultural University, Selesih, Mizoram. A total of 18 stool samples were collected from patients (living in Chite, a small locality in Aizawl) who were still exhibiting symptoms of food poisoning (diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea) after consumption of fermented soybean all bought from their local neighbourhood fermenter and seller of the food item. The data was tabulated and statistically analysed using Microsoft Excel and sensitivity/resistance patterns were expressed in percentages. Results: Salmonella spp. was isolated from 17 out of 18 stool samples collected. Out of 17 samples, 15 exhibited Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR) phenotypically to clinically relevant and widely used antibiotics like cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Alarmingly, resistance genes like blaCTX-M1 (70.6%), blaCTX-M2 (35.3%), blaSHV (70.6%), blaTEM (52.9%), blaNDM (5.8%), blaAmpC (100%), blaKPC (29.4%), blaVIM (23.5%), blaIMP (11.8%) were commonly detected. Moreover, Salmonella virulence determinants like invA (41.2%), stn (41.2%), and biofilm-associated virulence genes like csgA (11.8%), csgD (70.6%) and adrA (5.9%) were also identified. Conclusion: The identification and characterisation of Salmonella spp. isolated from a widely consumed food product "bekangum" (fermented soybean) with co-occurring crucial virulence, biofilm-producing and resistance gene determinants is quite alarming. The findings suggest the urgent need of implementing food safety conditions and proper preparation standards of the exotic food item, and the seriousness of the potential threat it can cause in cases of unhygienic fermentation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the carrying status and homology of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in our hospital. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2017, 52 strains of acinetobacter baumannii isolated from the bacteria room of the clinical laboratory of Baogang hospital in Inner Mongolia were selected as the research object. KB disk diffusion method and Vitek-2 were used to determine the drug sensitivity of Acinetobacter baumannii. The drug resistance gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its homology was analyzed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results: Except for Cefoperazone/sulbactam, other antibiotics were resistant to ab. The detection rate of drug resistance gene class C b-lactamases (ADC) was 100%, and the higher detection rates of other drug resistance genes were class D b-lactamases (OXA)-51 (36 strains, 90.0%), disinfectant gene qacE1-sull (32 strains, 80.0%), and klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) gene was not detected. 2-8 drug resistance genes were detected in each CRAB strain, and the strains with 6 drug resistance genes were the most (15 strains, 37.5%); Among the detected drug-resistant gene combinations, ADC+OXA-23 + OXA-51 gene was detected at the same time (29 strains, 72.5%), followed by ADC+ intl1 + qacE1-sull gene (26 strains, 65.0%), ADC + qacE 1-sull + ant (3") -i gene (19 strains, 47.5%), and 11 strains (27.5%). There were 19 different types in PFGE homology test, each type was 1-9 strains, including 9 strains of A5 type and 8 strains of A18 type, mainly from intensive care unit. Conclusion: CRAB in the hospital is highly resistant to common clinical antibiotics. OXA-23 and OXA-51 genes are most likely to be the main factors causing drug resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii in the hospital. Homology analysis showed that there was CRAB nosocomial infection transmission in different wards of the hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the drug resistance and drug resistance genes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -infected patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Zhengzhou, Henan province, so as to provide reference for effective diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection complicated with TB. Methods 3 270 registered HIV-infected (and) or TB patients in Zhengzhou, Henan province were screened for tuberculosis between January 2018 and December 2020. The epidemiology, drug resistance and drug resistance genes were studied. Results The incidence of HIV infection complicated with TB was 6.27%. Among the HIV-infected patients with TB, the majority patients were under 30 years old, 47.80% of the patients were infected with HIV through sexual transmission, 62.93% received not longer than 6 months of anti-tuberculosis treatment, 11.22% had delayed treatment, and 62.93% were initially treated for TB. The drug resistance rate was 45.37%, and mainly to isoniazid (15.12%), rifampicin (11.22%), and streptomycin (8.29%). A total of 103 drug-resistant strains were detected, and the rpoB gene mutation rate was 57.28%. katG and/or inhA gene mutations, with a mutation rate of 39.81%. Conclusions The risk of HIV infection with TB is high in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. Young adults are high-risk groups. Most of them receive short-term anti-TB treatment and initial treatment of TB. The distribution of drug resistance and drug resistance genes in HIV infected patients with TB is similar to those patients with simple TB. It is recommended to strengthen screening and prevention and control of high-risk groups in this area. If necessary, treatment plans for these groups can be developed based on drug resistance spectrum of TB.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and their CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) are an adaptive immune system involved in specific defenses against the invasion of foreign mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids and phages. This study aims to analyze the gene structure and to explore the function of the CRISPR system in the Enterococcus genome, especially with regard to drug resistance. The whole genome information of 110 enterococci was downloaded from the NCBI database to analyze the distribution and the structure of the CRISPR-Cas system including the Cas gene, repeat sequences, and spacer sequence of the CRISPR-Cas system by bioinformatics methods, and to find drug resistance-related genes and analyze the relationship between them and the CRISPR-Cas system. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of enterococci was performed against the reference MLST database. Information on the drug resistance of Enterococcus was retrieved from the CARD database, and its relationship to the presence or absence of CRISPR was statistically analyzed. Among the 110 Enterococcus strains, 39 strains (35.45%) contained a complete CRISPR-Cas system, 87 CRISPR arrays were identified, and 62 strains contained Cas gene clusters. The CRISPR system in the Enterococcus genome was mainly type II-A (59.68%), followed by type II-C (33.87%). The phylogenetic analysis of the cas1 gene sequence was basically consistent with the typing of the CRISPR-Cas system. Of the 74 strains included in the study for MLST typing, only 19 (25.68%) were related to CRISPR-Cas typing, while the majority of the strains (74.32%) of MLST typing were associated with the untyped CRISPR system. Additionally, the CRISPR-Cas system may only be related to the carrying rate of some drugresistant genes and the drug-resistant phenotype. In conclusion, the distribution of the enterococcus CRISPR-Cas system varies greatly among different species and the presence of CRISPR loci reduces the horizontal transfer of some drug resistance genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine is the property of Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of South China Agricultural University is the property of Gai Kan Bian Wei Hui and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ABSTRACT: Infectious serositis is a common disease caused by Riemerella anatipestifer (R. anatipestifer) in ducks, characterized by respiratory distress, septicemia, and neurological symptoms. In this study, 1,020 samples (brain and liver) were collected from ducks with suspected R. anatipestifer infection from March 2020 to March 2022 in Shandong Province, of which 171 R. anatipestifer strains were identified by PCR and isolation culture. The serotype of all strains was analyzed, and 74 strains were subjected to drug sensitivity tests and drug resistance genes detection. The results showed that the overall prevalence rate of R. anatipestifer in Shandong Province was 16.7% (171/1,020), with most strains coming from brain samples of ducklings under 3-mo old collected from September to December each year. Histopathological examination showed that heart vessels of the diseased duck were highly dilated and filled with red blood cells, with obvious fibrin exudates outside the pericardium, and fatty degeneration of liver cells. There were 45 strains of serotype 1, 45 strains of serotype 2, 2 strains of serotype 4, 33 strains of serotype 6, 44 strains of serotype 7, and 2 strains of serotype 10. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 10 common antibiotics against 74 representative strains was determined by the agar dilution method. It was found that 74 strains had the most severe resistance to gentamicin (77%) and fully susceptible to ceftriaxone, but the 81.1% isolated strains were multidrug resistant. Resistance genes testing of 74 R. anatipestifers showed that tetracycline resistance gene tet X had the highest detection rate of 95.9%, followed by macrolide resistance gene ermF with 77%, and the rate of β-lactam resistance gene blaTEM is the lowest (10.8%). The animal experiment of 4 R. anatipestifer strains with different serotypes showed that they had strong pathogenicity to 7-day-old ducklings, which could cause nervous symptoms, and the mortality rate was 58% to 70%. The autopsy showed obvious pathological changes. These findings of this study on R. anatipestifer will help us to understand the latest prevalence, drug resistance characteristics, and pathogenicity of R. anatipestifer in Shandong, China, and provide a scientific guide for the treatment and control of the disease.

Introduction: Traditional fermented soybean (“bekang-um”) is widely consumed by the indigenous Mizo tribe in Mizoram and plays a significant part of the local staple food. They are commonly prepared with herbs like culantro and often with just locally dried chilli flakes, implying it is mostly consumed raw without further cooking. Though it plays a staple part of the diet because of its unique taste, awareness on proper and regulated hygienic conditions during its preparation and fermentation processes is quite negligent. The fermentation process often warrants for the growth of not only commensal lactic acid fermenter bacteria like Acinetobacter spp., Lactobacillus spp., but also provides ample growth conditions for harmful bacteria like Salmonella spp., Clostridium spp., Intestinal Pathogenic E.Coli (IPEC) and Bacillus cereus. Aim: Phenotypic and molecular characterisation of Salmonella spp. isolated from the fermented food product bekang-um. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted within three months (October to December, 2020) in Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), Zoram Medical College in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, CVSc and AH, Central Agricultural University, Selesih, Mizoram. A total of 18 stool samples were collected from patients (living in Chite, a small locality in Aizawl) who were still exhibiting symptoms of food poisoning (diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea) after consumption of fermented soybean all bought from their local neighbourhood fermenter and seller of the food item. The data was tabulated and statistically analysed using Microsoft Excel and sensitivity/resistance patterns were expressed in percentages. Results: Salmonella spp. was isolated from 17 out of 18 stool samples collected. Out of 17 samples, 15 exhibited Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR) phenotypically to clinically relevant and widely used antibiotics like cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Alarmingly, resistance genes like blaCTX-M1 (70.6%), blaCTX-M2 (35.3%), blaSHV (70.6%), blaTEM (52.9%), blaNDM (5.8%), blaAmpC (100%), blaKPC (29.4%), blaVIM (23.5%), blaIMP (11.8%) were commonly detected. Moreover, Salmonella virulence determinants like invA (41.2%), stn (41.2%), and biofilm-associated virulence genes like csgA (11.8%), csgD (70.6%) and adrA (5.9%) were also identified. Conclusion: The identification and characterisation of Salmonella spp. isolated from a widely consumed food product “bekang-um” (fermented soybean) with co-occurring crucial virulence, biofilm-producing and resistance gene determinants is quite alarming. The findings suggest the urgent need of implementing food safety conditions and proper preparation standards of the exotic food item, and the seriousness of the potential threat it can cause in cases of unhygienic fermentation processes.

ABSTRACT: Animal-derived Enterobacteriaceae bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) are important food-borne zoonotic bacilli that exist widely in the broiler-breeding industry. Although carbapenem antibiotics are considered to be the last line of defense against multidrug-resistant bacteria, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) break through them. In our study, we therefore, examined the prevalence of CRE and characteristics of antimicrobial resistance in 6 conventional broiler-fattening farms in Shandong Province, China. Our study revealed isolation rates of 3.57% (6/168) for carbapenem-resistant E. coli, 10% (5/50) for carbapenem-resistant P. mirabilis, and 3.03% (1/33) for carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae. All 12 CRE bacterial strains showed varying degrees of resistance to 27 antibiotics in 8 classes and were multidrug-resistant. The rate of the strains containing blaNDM genes, at 91.67% (11/12), was especially high. Among other results, the carrying rate of integrons in CRE bacteria was 91.67% (11/12), and 2 strains carried both class I and class II integrons, which accelerated the lateral transmission of resistant bacteria. Our first-ever finding of the 3 CRE bacteria E. coli, P. mirabilis, and K. pneumoniae on the same broiler farm suggests that poultry-derived CRE strains may pose a risk to humans. Moreover, our findings from surveillance can inform current understandings of the prevalence and characteristics of multidrug-resistant CRE in Shandong Province and, in turn, help to curb threats to food safety and public health and better prevent and control infectious zoonotic diseases.

Corynebacterium striatum is a Gram-positive bacterium that is straight or slightly curved and non-spore-forming. Although it was originally believed to be a part of the normal microbiome of human skin, a growing number of studies have identified it as a cause of various chronic diseases, bacteremia, and respiratory infections. However, despite its increasing importance as a pathogen, the genetic characteristics of the pathogen population, such as genomic characteristics and differences, the types of resistance genes and virulence factors carried by the pathogen and their distribution in the population are poorly understood. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted a pan-genomic analysis of 314 strains of C. striatum isolated from various tissues and geographic locations. Our analysis revealed that C. striatum has an open pangenome, comprising 5692 gene families, including 1845 core gene families, 2362 accessory gene families, and 1485 unique gene families. We also found that C. striatum exhibits a high degree of diversity across different sources, but strains isolated from skin tissue are more conserved. Furthermore, we identified 53 drug resistance genes and 42 virulence factors by comparing the strains to the drug resistance gene database (CARD) and the pathogen virulence factor database (VFDB), respectively. We found that these genes and factors are widely distributed among C. striatum, with 77.7% of strains carrying 2 or more resistance genes and displaying primary resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, lincomycin, macrolides, and streptomycin. The virulence factors are primarily associated with pathogen survival within the host, iron uptake, pili, and early biofilm formation. In summary, our study provides insights into the population diversity, resistance genes, and virulence factors of C. striatum from different sources. Our findings could inform future research and clinical practices in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of C. striatum-associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine / Zhongguo Yufang Shouyi Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles and genotypes of Streptococcus suis in Heilongjiang Province, China. A total of 29 S. suis were isolated from 332 samples collected from 6 pig farms. The results showed that serotypes 2, 4 and 9 were prevalent, and all the clinical isolates were resistant to at least two antibacterial drugs. The most resisted drugs were macrolides, and the least resisted drugs were fluoroquinolones. Resistant genes ermB and aph (3′)-IIIa were highly distributed among the isolates, with the detection rates of 79.31% and 75.86%. The formation of biofilm could be observed in all the isolated S. suis, among which D-1, LL-1 and LL-3 strains formed stronger biofilm structure than other strains. The results indicate that S. suis in Heilongjiang Province presents a multi-drug resistance to commonly used antimicrobial drugs, which was caused by the same target gene, the dissemination of drug resistance genes, and bacterial biofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To identify the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) -tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) - related genes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on transcriptome data and molecular docking, and to observe their effect on the sensitivity to EGFR-Tkis drugs (Afatinib, AZD-9291, Erlotinib, Gefitinib). Methods The differen‐ tially expressed genes of EGFR-TKIs resistant cell lines and sensitive cell lines in four gene datasets of GEO database were collected to obtain common differentially expressed genes. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between common differentially expressed genes and the IC50 of EGFR-TKIs based on CellMiner data. Gene-drug pairs were initially screened, and molecular docking method was used to screen and verify gene-drug pairs. Results The EGFRTKIs sensitive cell lines in the four gene datasets shared 42 up-regulated genes and 14 down-regulated genes. A total of 16 gene-drug pairs meeting the criteria were initially screened out, including 7 EGFR-TKIs-related genes, namely LITAF, MUC16, ERBB2, C1orf116, MBNL3, SYK and TSPAN4. The expression levels of LITAF, MUC16, ERBB2, C1orf116, MBNL3 and SYK were negatively correlated with the IC50 of EGFR-TKIs (all P<0. 05), and the expression of TSPAN4 was positively correlated with the IC50 of EGFR-TKIs (P<0. 05). Molecular docking results showed that only 5 pairs of key com‐ ponents of EGFR-TKIs had good binding activity with corresponding targets, including ErBB2-Afatinib, Erbb2-AZD9291, Erbb2-Erlotinib, MUC16-Afatinib, MUC16-Erlotinib and MUC16-Gefitinib, respectively. Conclusions The core genes related to EGFR-TKIs sensitivity/resistance in NSCLC are MUC16 and ERBB2. Overexpression of MUC16 can improve their sensitivity to Afatinib and Erlotinib, and overexpression of ERBB2 can improve their sensitivity to Afatinib, Erlotinib and AZD-9291. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Dalian Ocean University is the property of Journal of Dalian Ocean University Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ObjectiveTo examine genotype distribution of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) strains isolated from meat product specimens in Beijing and genetic correlations among the strains with whole genome sequencing (WGS). MethodsTotally 110 Lm strains were sequenced with WGS and analyzed with multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Gene assembly, prediction and function annotation for WGS results of the strains were performed using relevant softwares. The Comprehensive Antibiotic Research Database (CARD) and the Virulence Factors Database (VFDB) were used to screen drug resistance genes and pathogenic genes of the isolated Lm strains. ResultsThe 110 Lm strains were classified into 17 sequence type (ST) types; among the 17 ST types, there was a unknown ST type (namely STnew1) and ST9 was the dominant ST type. The STnew1 has multiple drug resistance genes including genes against macrolides, aminoglycosides, oxazolidinones, chloramphenicols, tetracyclines, and trimethoprim and gene deletion of prfA, hpt, plcA, plcB, inlC, and hlyA. Of the 110 Lm strains, all carried the Listeria monocytogenes pathogenicity island (LIPI-1) gene, except for 6 non-pathogenic strains, and 20.9% carried drug resistance genes. ConclusionMultiple drug resistance genes are prevalence in Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from meat products and LIPI-1 gene is dominant among the drug resistance genes. The results suggest that contamination of Listeria monocytogenes in meat products needs to be monitored and controlled to reduce the risk of foodborne diseases caused by the bacteria.

ObjectiveTo explore the carrying status and homology of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in our hospital.MethodsFrom January 2015 to December 2017, 52 strains of acinetobacter baumannii isolated from the bacteria room of the clinical laboratory of Baogang hospital in Inner Mongolia were selected as the research object. K-B disk diffusion method and Vitek-2 were used to determine the drug sensitivity of Acinetobacter baumannii. The drug resistance gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its homology was analyzed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).ResultsExcept for Cefoperazone/sulbactam, other antibiotics were resistant to ab. The detection rate of drug resistance gene class C β-lactamases (ADC) was 100%, and the higher detection rates of other drug resistance genes were class D β-lactamases (OXA)-51 (36 strains, 90.0%),disinfectant gene qacE△1-sull (32 strains, 80.0%), and klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) gene was not detected. 2-8 drug resistance genes were detected in each CRAB strain, and the strains with 6 drug resistance genes were the most (15 strains, 37.5%); Among the detected drug-resistant gene combinations, ADC+OXA-23 + OXA-51 gene was detected at the same time (29 strains, 72.5%), followed by ADC+ intl1 + qacE △ 1-sull gene (26 strains, 65.0%), ADC + qacE △ 1-sull + ant (3 ‘‘) -i gene (19 strains, 47.5%), and 11 strains (27.5%). There were 19 different types in PFGE homology test, each type was 1-9 strains, including 9 strains of A5 type and 8 strains of A18 type, mainly from intensive care unit.ConclusionCRAB in the hospital is highly resistant to common clinical antibiotics. OXA-23 and OXA-51 genes are most likely to be the main factors causing drug resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii in the hospital. Homology analysis showed that there was CRAB nosocomial infection transmission in different wards of the hospital.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: This study assessed the incidence and resistance of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in children in Qingdao, China, in 2019. Methods: We detected MP infection in 78 pharyngeal swabs from children with pneumonia by qPCR. The RepMP4 element in the P1 adhesin gene, domain V of the 23S rRNA gene, and the L4/L22 ribosomal proteins were amplified by nested PCR. Evolutionary analysis was conducted based on the P1 gene sequence. Resistance mutations in domain V of the 23S rRNA gene and L4/L22 ribosomal proteins were analysed. Results: The incidence of MP infection in children with pneumonia was 59.0% (46/78). The mean duration of MP infection was longer than that of non-MP infection. According to P1 gene sequencing of 21 samples, 12 (57.1%) were type 1 and 9 (42.9%) were type 2. Drug resistance mutations A2063G in domain V of 23S rRNA gene and T508C in L22 were identified from all sequenced MP. However, mutations at positions 2064 and 2617 were not found in this study. C162A mutation appeared in most type 2 samples. A430G mutation appeared in one type 1 sample and in several type 2 samples. T279C mutation in L22 was mostly found in type 2 samples. Conclusion: The incidence of MP infection was 59.0% in children with pneumonia in Qingdao in 2019. Type 1 MP infection was slightly more common than type 2, indicating that the genotype of MP is gradually shifting from type 1 to type 2. Macrolide resistance mutation A2063G could be detected in all sequenced MP.

Objective：To investigate the carbapenem drug resistance of the intensive care unit (ICU) patients infected with Acinetobacter baumannii (AB), and to clarify the clinical application value of realtime fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) method for the detection of drug resistance genes. Methods：A total of 285 sputum specimens from the ICU patients were collected for identification of the drug susceptibility by traditional culture method and detection of the drug resistance genes by RT-qPCR method. Statistical analysis was performed on the detection rate of the carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), the coincidence rate of the drug resistance gene detection and the drug resistance of other antibiotics. Results：A total of 151 strains of AB were obtained, the detection rate was 52. 98%. The drug resistance rate of AB to carbapenem was 72. 20%. There was no significant difference in the coincidence rate of OXA-51 gene detected by RT-qPCR method compared with the traditional culture method (P>0. 05). There was no significant difference in the coincidence rate of CRAB detected by OXA-23 gene compared with the traditional culture method (P>0. 05). The drug resistance rates of 108 OXA-23 positive specimens infected with AB to minocycline, cefoperazone/sulbactam, myxin, and tegacyclin were lower. Conclusion：The detection rate of carbapenem resistant drugs of AB identified by sputum culture of the ICU patients is high. Compared with traditional culture method, RT-qPCR method is simpler, faster and has a higher consistent rate of detection. The drug resistance rates of CRAB to minocycline, cefoperazone/sulbactam, myxin and tegacyclin are low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Hypoxia spontaneously forms in the interior of glioma tissues and regulates the expression of various genes. However, the status of hypoxia-driven genes in glioma tissues is not completely known. In the current study, RNA-seq data of 695 glioma tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were set as a discovery cohort and were used to identify hypoxia-driven genes and construct a novel gene signature. The prognostic values of that signature were verified in data from the TCGA and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). The expression and diagnostic values of hypoxia-driven genes were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and receiver operator characteristic curves. Finally, the effects of hypoxia-driven genes on temozolomide (TMZ) resistance were analyzed by western blot, CCK-8 and colony formation assay. A total of 169 hypoxia-driven genes were identified, which were associated with a poor outcome in glioma patients. Among them, 22 genes had a degree score =10 and 6 genes (WT1, HOXA2, HOXC6, MMP9, SHOX2 and MYOD1) were selected to construct a signature to classify glioma patients into low- or high-risk groups. That signature had a remarkable prognostic value for glioma patients in TCGA and CGGA. The expression of HOXC6, MMP9, SHOX2 and MYOD1 was associated with hypoxia degree in glioma tissues and in recurrent cases, had a remarkable diagnostic value and a significant relationship with disease free survival in glioma patients. Moreover, SHOX2 was highly expressed in glioma tissues with O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT)- unmethylation and temozolomide (TMZ) resistant glioma cell lines, and associated with MGMT expression. Knockdown the expression of SHOX2 significantly reduced the TMZ-resistance induced by hypoxia in glioma cells. Ultimately, we identified six novel hypoxia-driven genes for reliable prognostic prediction in gliomas and found that SHOX2 might be a potential target to overcome the TMZ resistance induced by hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To investigate the clinical features and outcomes of patients with mechanical ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab), and to characterize the drug resistance of pathogenic strains and carbapenem resistance-associated genes. Methods Clinical data were collected from the PICU of Shengjing Hospital. Patients who met the diagnostic criteria of VAP and for whom Ab was a pathogen were selected as study participants. The patients were divided into carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) and carbapenem-sensitive A. baumannii (CSAB) groups. The genes closely associated with Ab resistance to carbapenems and the efflux pump-related genes were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and results compared between the two groups. Results The total mechanical ventilation time and the administration time of antibiotics after a diagnosis of Ab infection were significantly higher in the CRAB group. And the CRAB group strains were only sensitive to amikacin, cephazolin, compound sulfamethoxazole, and tigecycline. Genetic test results indicated that IPM expression was not significantly different between two groups. The OXA-51 and OXA-23 in the CRAB group was markedly higher than that in the CSAB group, while OXA-24 expression was markedly lower. The expression of AdeABC and AdeFGH was significantly greater in the CRAB compared to CSAB group. Conclusion In pediatric patients with VAP caused by Ab infection, the detection rate of CRAB strains is far higher than that of CSAB strains; The abnormal expression of β-lactamase-producing genes (OXA-23, OXA-24, and OXA-51) and efflux pump-related genes (AdeABC and AdeFGH) is closely related to the production of CRAB.

Antibiotic resistance genes in aquaculture have different breeding effects on different kinds of aquatic animals. Therefore, the pollution characteristics and diffusion mechanism of antibiotic resistance genes in aquaculture were studied. Based on the whole genome selection model, the growth parameters were calculated, the genomic breeding values of different traits of animals were estimated, and the overall relationship matrix of pedigree structure was obtained; The noise variable is introduced to reduce breeding algebra, the influence of external environmental variables on genes and systems is comprehensively considered, and the noise statistical standard deviation is calculated; Trace the genetic breeding pedigree of aquaculture animals, construct the genetic breeding pedigree structure of aquaculture animals, and study the pollution characteristics and diffusion mechanism of antibiotic resistance genes in aquaculture. The experimental results show that the research content can better optimize and improve the genetic breeding of aquaculture animals and improve the yield of aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A novel multidrug resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli (E.coli) strain J2_5 was isolated from a patient’s mid stream urine sample. According to the genome sequence of J2_5, we analyzed its evolutionary classification, drug resistance genes and virulence genes, providing theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and drug selection for drug resistant bacterial infection. Methods: Genome DNA of J2_5 was isolated and sequenced by high throughput sequencing technology, after analyzed the high throughput sequencing data and compared it with known databases by a variety of bioinformatics tools, a high integrity genome of J2_5 was obtained. Results: The total length of the whole genome of J2_5 was 4.7Mb and GC content was 50.78%. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that J2_ 5’genome was closely related to that of wild type E. coli strain MG1655. But Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis revealed ST type of J2_5 was ST2491, which was different from that of MG1655 (ST10) . Furthermore, CARD database analysis showed that the genome of J2_5 encodes 65 drug resistance genes, which make the strain obtain drugresistant ability through four different mechanisms (antibiotic efflux pump, antibiotic inactivation, antibiotic target change, reduced permeability to antibiotics) . VFDB database analysis showed that there were 40 virulence genes in 7 categories, encoding adhesive proteins, invasion proteins, autonomic transporters and other toxin proteins. After analyzing the whole genome of J2_5 through the Prophage Hunter online tool, we found that there were three prophages in the genome of J2_5, and a virulence gene was carried by one of the prophages. Conclusion: The whole genome sequencing results showed that J2_5 carries some virulence genes and drug resistance genes, which makes the strain obtain strong pathogenicity and resistance ability to a variety of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Tropical Medicine is the property of China Tropical Medicine Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of China Tropical Medicine is the property of China Tropical Medicine Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial therapy plays an important role in mastitis control caused by Staphylococcus aureus but has become less effective due to widespread drug resistance. The purpose of this study was to detect antibiotic resistance, drug resistance gene, and virulence gene of S. aureus strains. In this study, 2,962 milk samples were collected from 43 dairy farms located in 16 provinces of China and cultured for isolation of S. aureus. Antibiotic resistance, capsular polysaccharide, spa typing, virulence genes, and drug resistance genes of the strains were analyzed. Of 2,962 samples, 298 strains were isolated and identified as S. aureus. The strains exhibited high percentages of resistance to penicillin G (91.95%). Moreover, all strains showed resistance to more than one antimicrobial agent but were sensitive to nitrofurantoin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. The results indicate that type 8 was the dominant capsular polysaccharide serotype and t459 was the dominant spa type. The most prevalent virulence gene was clfA (98%). The resistance genes of several antibiotics were detected, among which the blaZ gene (92.95%) was the highest. In conclusion, we present the antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes of S. aureus in this study which are of importance for mastitis control. IMPORTANCE Bovine mastitis is a serious disease associated with both high incidence and economic loss, posing a major challenge to the dairy industry worldwide. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens to cause bovine mastitis, and antimicrobial therapy plays an important role in mastitis control caused by S. aureus but has become less effective due to widespread drug resistance. The purpose of this study was to detect antibiotic resistance, drug resistance gene, and virulence gene of S. aureus strains, which would be helpful to mastitis control.