Project description:Introduction Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) are increasingly isolated, with USA300-0114 being the predominant clone in the USA. Comparative whole genome sequencing of USA300 isolates collected in 2002, 2003 and 2005 showed a limited number of single nucleotide polymorphisms and regions of difference. This suggests that USA300 has undergone rapid clonal expansion without great genomic diversification. However, whole genome comparison of CA-MRSA has been limited to isolates belonging to USA300. The aim of this study was to compare the genetic repertoire of different CA-MRSA clones with that of HA-MRSA from the USA and Europe through comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to identify genetic clues that may explain the successful and rapid emergence of CA-MRSA. Materials and Methods Hierarchical clustering based on CGH of 48 MRSA isolates from the community and nosocomial infections from Europe and the USA revealed dispersed clustering of the 19 CA-MRSA isolates. This means that these 19 CA-MRSA isolates do not share a unique genetic make-up. Only the PVL genes were commonly present in all CA-MRSA isolates. However, 10 genes were variably present among 14 USA300 isolates. Most of these genes were present on mobile elements. Conclusion The genetic variation present among the 14 USA300 isolates is remarkable considering the fact that the isolates were recovered within one month and originated from a confined geographic area, suggesting continuous evolution of this clone. Data is also available from <ahref=http://bugs.sgul.ac.uk/E-BUGS-108 target=_blank>BuG@Sbase</a>
Project description:BACKGROUND: Infections with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) are emerging worldwide. We investigated an outbreak of severe CA-MRSA infections in children following out-patient vaccination. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We carried out a field investigation after adverse events following immunization (AEFI) were reported. We reviewed the clinical data from all cases. S. aureus recovered from skin infections and from nasal and throat swabs were analyzed by pulse-field gel electrophoresis, multi locus sequence typing, PCR and microarray. In May 2006, nine children presented with AEFI, ranging from fatal toxic shock syndrome, necrotizing soft tissue infection, purulent abscesses, to fever with rash. All had received a vaccination injection in different health centres in one District of Ho Chi Minh City. Eight children had been vaccinated by the same health care worker (HCW). Deficiencies in vaccine quality, storage practices, or preparation and delivery were not found. Infection control practices were insufficient. CA-MRSA was cultured in four children and from nasal and throat swabs from the HCW. Strains from children and HCW were indistinguishable. All carried the Panton-Valentine leukocidine (PVL), the staphylococcal enterotoxin B gene, the gene complex for staphylococcal-cassette-chromosome mec type V, and were sequence type 59. Strain HCM3A is epidemiologically unrelated to a strain of ST59 prevalent in the USA, although they belong to the same lineage. CONCLUSIONS: We describe an outbreak of infections with CA-MRSA in children, transmitted by an asymptomatic colonized HCW during immunization injection. Consistent adherence to injection practice guidelines is needed to prevent CA-MRSA transmission in both in- and outpatient settings. Data is also available from http://bugs.sgul.ac.uk/E-BUGS-45
Project description:Primary objectives: The primary objective is to investigate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via deep sequencing for mutation detection and by whole genome sequencing for copy number analyses before start (baseline) with regorafenib and at defined time points during administration of regorafenib for treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer patients in terms of overall survival (OS).
Primary endpoints: circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via deep sequencing for mutation detection and by whole genome sequencing for copy number analyses before start (baseline) with regorafenib and at defined time points during administration of regorafenib for treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer patients in terms of overall survival (OS).
Project description:BACKGROUND: Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections remain important medical and veterinary challenges. The MRSA isolated from dogs and cats typically belong to dominant hospital-associated clones, in the UK mostly EMRSA-15 (CC22 SCCmecIV), suggesting original human-to-animal transmission. Nevertheless, little is known about host-specific genetic variation within the same S. aureus lineage. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To identify host-specific variation amongst MRSA CC22 SCCmecIV by comparing isolates from pets with those from in-contact humans using whole-genome microarray. METHODS: Six pairs of MRSA CC22 SCCmecIV from human carriers (owners and veterinary staff) and their respective infected in-contact pets were compared using a 62-strain whole-genome S. aureus microarray (SAM-62). The presence of putative host-specific genes was subsequently determined in a larger number of human (n = 47) and pet isolates (n = 93) by PCR screening. RESULTS: Variation in mobile genetic elements (MGEs) occurred frequently and appeared largE: The variation found amongst MGEs highlights that genetic adaptation in MRSA continues. However, host-specific MGEs were not detected, which supports the hypothesis that pets may not be natural hosts of MRSA CC22 and emphasizes that rigorous hygiene measures are critical to prevent contamination and infection of dogs and cats. The host specificity of individual heavy-metal resistance genes warrants further investigation into different selection pressures in humans and animals.
Project description:Diffuse outbreak investigation and development of rapid screening method by using whole genome sequences of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O121
Project description:Three types of phenotypic expression of ß-lactam resistance has been reported in MRSA: heterogeneous-, homogeneous-, and Eagle-type resistance. Heterogeneous to homogeneous (hetero-to-homo) conversion of ß-lactam resistance is postulated to be caused by a chromosomal mutation (chr*) together with mecA-gene expression. The Eagle-type resistance is a special pattern of chr* expression in the pre-MRSA strain N315 under the strong mecI-gene mediated repression of mecA gene transcription. Here, for the identification of chr*, experiments were conducted using an in-vitro derived homogeneously imipenem-resistant MRSA strain N315∆IPH5 (∆IPH5). The strain was selected with imipenem 8 mg/L from the heterogeneously imipenem-resistant MRSA strain N315∆IP (∆IP). The whole genome sequencing of ∆IPH5 revealed the presence of a unique mutation in the rpoB gene, rpoB(N967I), causing the amino-acid (AA) substitution of Asp by Ile at the 967th AA position of the RNA polymerase ß subunit. The effect of the mutation on the phenotypic change was confirmed by constructing and studying the phenotype of the strains H5rpoB(I967N), a ∆IPH5-derived strain cured of the rpoB mutation, and N315rpoB(N967I), a N315-derived strain introduced with the mutated rpoB gene. H5rpoB(I967N) regained the hetero-MRSA phenotype, and the mutant strain N315rpoB(N967I) showed an Eagle-type phenotype similar to that of N315h4. Furthermore, subsequent whole genome sequencing revealed that N315h4 also had a missense mutation in the rpoB gene rpoB(R644H). The rpoB mutations caused decreased autolysis, prolonged doubling-time, and tolerance to bactericidal concentrations of methicillin. We concluded that the certain rpoB mutations are chr* responsible for the hetero-to-homo phenotypic conversion of MRSA.
Project description:Three types of phenotypic expression of M-CM-^_-lactam resistance has been reported in MRSA: heterogeneous-, homogeneous-, and Eagle-type resistance. Heterogeneous to homogeneous (hetero-to-homo) conversion of M-CM-^_-lactam resistance is postulated to be caused by a chromosomal mutation (chr*) together with mecA-gene expression. The Eagle-type resistance is a special pattern of chr* expression in the pre-MRSA strain N315 under the strong mecI-gene mediated repression of mecA gene transcription. Here, for the identification of chr*, experiments were conducted using an in-vitro derived homogeneously imipenem-resistant MRSA strain N315M-bM-^HM-^FIPH5 (M-bM-^HM-^FIPH5). The strain was selected with imipenem 8 mg/L from the heterogeneously imipenem-resistant MRSA strain N315M-bM-^HM-^FIP (M-bM-^HM-^FIP). The whole genome sequencing of M-bM-^HM-^FIPH5 revealed the presence of a unique mutation in the rpoB gene, rpoB(N967I), causing the amino-acid (AA) substitution of Asp by Ile at the 967th AA position of the RNA polymerase M-CM-^_ subunit. The effect of the mutation on the phenotypic change was confirmed by constructing and studying the phenotype of the strains H5rpoB(I967N), a M-bM-^HM-^FIPH5-derived strain cured of the rpoB mutation, and N315rpoB(N967I), a N315-derived strain introduced with the mutated rpoB gene. H5rpoB(I967N) regained the hetero-MRSA phenotype, and the mutant strain N315rpoB(N967I) showed an Eagle-type phenotype similar to that of N315h4. Furthermore, subsequent whole genome sequencing revealed that N315h4 also had a missense mutation in the rpoB gene rpoB(R644H). The rpoB mutations caused decreased autolysis, prolonged doubling-time, and tolerance to bactericidal concentrations of methicillin. We concluded that the certain rpoB mutations are chr* responsible for the hetero-to-homo phenotypic conversion of MRSA. We compared the gene expression profiles of the wild-type strain and rpoB mutant (N967I) using a 60mer oligo array.