Project description:The goal of this project was to screen soil samples for bacteria that may harbor B. anthracis virulence-associated genes (VAGs). There is currently no information about the prevalence of these types of organisms in the environment. Due to increased environmental monitoring of select agents by programs such as BioWatch and biodetection systems in place at the United States Post Offices and Department of State locations, it has become critical that we not only better understand the natural range of B. anthracis but also how widespread B. anthracis virulence genes are in environmental communities. Naturally occurring isolates containing the B. anthracis virulence genes could generate false-positive results in tests that detect the anthrax toxins, capsule or their associated genes. Understanding the true diversity and pathogenic potential of Bacillus spp. and particularly the B. cereus group is crucial not only in terms of understanding data from environmental monitoring but also diagnosing patients with clinical presentations similar to anthrax in the future. Severe and fatal disease caused by strains similar to B. anthracis could unnecessarily initiate emergency responses if anthrax was incorrectly suspected. Conversely, these strains may be used as bioterror agents requiring science-based responses; presently our limited understanding of these organisms does not permit data-driven decision making. We have investigated 700 aerobic sporoform soil isolates obtained from two areas in the Southwest of the US. Soil samples from the first site had been taken from public access land approximately 50 meters across from the work site of a fatal pneumonia case in a welding factory. This took place in year 2003 when B. cereus was isolated from a metal worker. The second site was targeted because of a recent case involving a deceased mule suspected to have died of a B. anthracis infection. Soil samples were initially analyzed at the CDC. Isolates were obtained by heating the soil at 65 degrees Celcius for 30 minutes followed by plating on agar media. All isolates were screened by PCR for the presence of B. anthracis genomic traits such as toxin genes (cya, lef and pag) as well as chromosomal markers. All isolates were also tested for their hemolytic activity as well as phage sensitivity.

Project description:Purpose: Patients with locally advanced prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy are candidates for secondary therapy. However, this higher risk population is heterogeneous. Many cases do not metastasize even when conservatively managed. Given the limited specificity of pathological features to predict metastasis, newer risk prediction models are needed. We report a validation study of a genomic classifier that predicts metastasis after radical prostatectomy in a high risk population. Method:A case-cohort design was used to sample 1,010 patients after radical prostatectomy at high risk for recurrence who were treated from 2000 to 2006. Patients had preoperative prostate specific antigen greater than 20 ng/ml, Gleason 8 or greater, pT3b or a Mayo Clinic nomogram score of 10 or greater. Patients with metastasis at diagnosis or any prior treatment for prostate cancer were excluded from analysis. A 20% random sampling created a subcohort that included all patients with metastasis. We generated 22-marker genomic classifier scores for 235 patients with available genomic data. ROC and decision curves, competing risk and weighted regression models were used to assess genomic classifier performance. Patients treated with RP between 2000 and 2006 were identified from the Mayo Clinic tumor registry for a case-cohort study design. This involved identification of all patients with metastasis and a representative of the full cohort .Thus, men at high risk of recurrence post-RP (open/robotic) with no prior neoadjuvant/prostate cancer treatment were selected based on any of preoperative PSA >20 ng/mL, pathological Gleason score (GS) â¥8, SVI, or GPSM (GS; preoperative PSA; SVI; margins) score â¥10.The cohort of 1,010 men included 73 cases with metastasis as evidenced by CT or bone scan. A 20% random sample (n=202) was drawn from the cohort. This included 19 of 73 metastatic cases. To increase sampling of metastasis, the remaining 54 metastatic cases were added, resulting in a final study set of 256 patients. 21 samples did not pass QC and were eliminated from this study. Patients not experiencing metastasis regardless of BCR (defined as follow-up PSA â¥0.4 ng/mL >30 days post-RP) were censored at last follow-up. The study was approved by Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board.

Dataset Information

Isolation of M.canis

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets