Group B Streptococcus Infections Caused by Improper Sourcing and Handling of Fish for Raw Consumption, Singapore, 2015-2016.

We assessed microbial safety and quality of raw fish sold in Singapore during 2015-2016 to complement epidemiologic findings for an outbreak of infection with group B Streptococcus serotype III sequence type (ST) 283 associated with raw fish consumption. Fish-associated group B Streptococcus ST283 strains included strains nearly identical (0-2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms) with the human outbreak strain, as well as strains in another distinct ST283 clade (57-71 single-nucleotide polymorphisms). Our investigations highlight the risk for contamination of freshwater fish (which are handled and distributed separately from saltwater fish sold as sashimi) and the need for improved hygienic handling of all fish for raw consumption. These results have led to updated policy and guidelines regarding the sale of ready-to-eat raw fish dishes in Singapore.

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the dissociation energy (D0) and dynamics of the water trimer, (H2O)3.

We report a joint experimental-theoretical study of the predissociation dynamics of the water trimer following excitation of the hydrogen bonded OH-stretch fundamental. The bond dissociation energy (D0) for the (H2O)3 → H2O + (H2O)2 dissociation channel is determined from fitting the speed distributions of selected rovibrational states of the water monomer fragment using velocity map imaging. The experimental value, D0 = 2650 ± 150 cm(-1), is in good agreement with the previously determined theoretical value, 2726 ± 30 cm(-1), obtained using an ab initio full-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) together with Diffusion Monte Carlo calculations [ Wang ; Bowman . J. Chem. Phys. 2011 , 135 , 131101 ]. Comparing this value to D0 of the dimer places the contribution of nonpairwise additivity to the hydrogen bonding at 450-500 cm(-1). Quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculations using this PES help elucidate the reaction mechanism. The trajectories show that most often one hydrogen bond breaks first, followed by breaking and re-forming of hydrogen bonds (often with different hydrogen bonds breaking) until, after many picoseconds, a water monomer is finally released. The translational energy distributions calculated by QCT for selected rotational levels of the monomer fragment agree with the experimental observations. The product translational and rotational energy distributions calculated by QCT also agree with statistical predictions. The availability of low-lying intermolecular vibrational levels in the dimer fragment is likely to facilitate energy transfer before dissociation occurs, leading to statistical-like product state distributions.

Experimental and theoretical investigations of energy transfer and hydrogen-bond breaking in the water dimer.

The hydrogen bonding in water is dominated by pairwise dimer interactions, and the predissociation of the water dimer following vibrational excitation is reported here. Velocity map imaging was used for an experimental determination of the dissociation energy (D(0)) of (D(2)O)(2). The value obtained, 1244 ± 10 cm(-1) (14.88 ± 0.12 kJ/mol), is in excellent agreement with the calculated value of 1244 ± 5 cm(-1) (14.88 ± 0.06 kJ/mol). This agreement between theory and experiment is as good as the one obtained recently for (H(2)O)(2). In addition, pair-correlated water fragment rovibrational state distributions following vibrational predissociation of (H(2)O)(2) and (D(2)O)(2) were obtained upon excitation of the hydrogen-bonded OH and OD stretch fundamentals, respectively. Quasi-classical trajectory calculations, using an accurate full-dimensional potential energy surface, are in accord with and help to elucidate experiment. Experiment and theory find predominant excitation of the fragment bending mode upon hydrogen bond breaking. A minor channel is also observed in which both fragments are in the ground vibrational state and are highly rotationally excited. The theoretical calculations reveal equal probability of bending excitation in the donor and acceptor subunits, which is a result of interchange of donor and acceptor roles. The rotational distributions associated with the major channel, in which one water fragment has one quantum of bend, and the minor channel with both water fragments in the ground vibrational state are calculated and are in agreement with experiment.

Imaging H2O photofragments in the predissociation of the HCl-H2O hydrogen-bonded dimer.

The state-to-state vibrational predissociation (VP) dynamics of the hydrogen-bonded HCl-H(2)O dimer was studied following excitation of the dimer's HCl stretch by detecting the H(2)O fragment. Velocity map imaging (VMI) and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) were used to determine pair-correlated product energy distributions. Following vibrational excitation of the HCl stretch of the dimer, H(2)O fragments were detected by 2 + 1 REMPI via the C (1)B(1) (000) ← X (1)A(1) (000) transition. REMPI spectra clearly show H(2)O from dissociation produced in the ground vibrational state. The fragments' center-of-mass (c.m.) translational energy distributions were determined from images of selected rotational states of H(2)O and were converted to rotational state distributions of the HCl cofragment. The distributions were consistent with the previously measured dissociation energy of D(0) = 1334 ± 10 cm(-1) and show a clear preference for rotational levels in the HCl fragment that minimize translational energy release. The usefulness of 2 + 1 REMPI detection of water fragments is discussed.

Communication: determination of the bond dissociation energy (D0) of the water dimer, (H2O)2, by velocity map imaging.

The bond dissociation energy (D(0)) of the water dimer is determined by using state-to-state vibrational predissociation measurements following excitation of the bound OH stretch fundamental of the donor unit of the dimer. Velocity map imaging and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) are used to determine pair-correlated product velocity and translational energy distributions. H(2)O fragments are detected in the ground vibrational (000) and the first excited bending (010) states by 2 + 1 REMPI via the C̃ (1)B(1) (000) ← X̃ (1)A(1) (000 and 010) transitions. The fragments' velocity and center-of-mass translational energy distributions are determined from images of selected rovibrational levels of H(2)O. An accurate value for D(0) is obtained by fitting both the structure in the images and the maximum velocity of the fragments. This value, D(0) = 1105 ± 10 cm(-1) (13.2 ± 0.12 kJ/mol), is in excellent agreement with the recent theoretical value of D(0) = 1103 ± 4 cm(-1) (13.2 ± 0.05 kJ∕mol) suggested as a benchmark by Shank et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 130, 144314 (2009)].

Imaging the state-specific vibrational predissociation of the hydrogen chloride-water hydrogen-bonded dimer.

The state-to-state vibrational predissociation dynamics of the hydrogen-bonded HCl-H(2)O dimer were studied following excitation of the HCl stretch of the dimer. Velocity-map imaging and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) were used to determine pair-correlated product energy distributions. Following vibrational excitation of the HCl stretch of the dimer, HCl fragments were detected by 2 + 1 REMPI via the f (3)Delta(2) <-- X (1)Sigma(+) and V (1)Sigma(+) <-- X (1)Sigma(+) transitions. REMPI spectra clearly show HCl from dissociation produced in the ground vibrational state with J'' up to 11. The fragments' center-of-mass translational energy distributions were determined from images of selected rotational states of HCl and were converted to rotational state distributions of the water cofragment. All the distributions could be fit well when using a dimer dissociation energy of D(0) = 1334 +/- 10 cm(-1). The rotational distributions in the water cofragment pair-correlated with specific rotational states of HCl appear nonstatistical when compared to predictions of the statistical phase space theory. A detailed analysis of pair-correlated state distributions was complicated by the large number of water rotational states available, but the data show that the water rotational populations increase with decreasing translational energy.

Imaging the state-specific vibrational predissociation of the ammonia-water hydrogen-bonded dimer.

The state-to-state vibrational predissociation (VP) dynamics of the hydrogen-bonded ammonia-water dimer were studied following excitation of the bound OH stretch. Velocity-map imaging (VMI) and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) were used to determine pair-correlated product energy distributions. Following vibrational excitation of the bound OH stretch fundamental, ammonia fragments were detected by 2 + 1 REMPI via the B1E" <-- X1A1' transition. The REMPI spectra show that NH3 is produced with one and two quanta of the symmetric bend (nu2 umbrella mode) excitation, as well as in the ground vibrational state. Each band is quite congested, indicating population in a large number of rotational states. The fragments' center-of-mass (c.m.) translational energy distributions were determined from images of selected rotational levels of ammonia with zero, one, or two quanta in nu2 and were converted to rotational state distributions of the water cofragment. All the distributions could be fit well by using a dimer dissociation energy of D0 = 1538 +/- 10 cm(-1). The rotational state distributions in the water cofragment pair-correlated with specific rovibrational states of ammonia are broad and include all the J(KaKc) states allowed by energy conservation. The rotational populations increase with decreasing c.m. translational energy. There is no evidence for ammonia products with significant excitation of the asymmetric bend (nu4) or water products with bend (nu2) excitation. The results show that only restricted pathways lead to predissociation, and these do not always give rise to the smallest possible translational energy release, as favored by momentum gap models.

A peridomestic Aedes malayensis population in Singapore can transmit yellow fever virus.

The case-fatality rate of yellow fever virus (YFV) is one of the highest among arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Although historically, the Asia-Pacific region has remained free of YFV, the risk of introduction has never been higher due to the increasing influx of people from endemic regions and the recent outbreaks in Africa and South America. Singapore is a global hub for trade and tourism and therefore at high risk for YFV introduction. Effective control of the main domestic mosquito vector Aedes aegypti in Singapore has failed to prevent re-emergence of dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses in the last two decades, raising suspicions that peridomestic mosquito species untargeted by domestic vector control measures may contribute to arbovirus transmission. Here, we provide empirical evidence that the peridomestic mosquito Aedes malayensis found in Singapore can transmit YFV. Our laboratory mosquito colony recently derived from wild Ae. malayensis in Singapore was experimentally competent for YFV to a similar level as Ae. aegypti controls. In addition, we captured Ae. malayensis females in one human-baited trap during three days of collection, providing preliminary evidence that host-vector contact may occur in field conditions. Finally, we detected Ae. malayensis eggs in traps deployed in high-rise building areas of Singapore. We conclude that Ae. malayensis is a competent vector of YFV and re-emphasize that vector control methods should be extended to target peridomestic vector species.