Antihypertensive Effect of Milk Fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum K79 on Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether milk fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum K79, which exhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity, has an effect on lowering the blood pressure of hypertensive rats and to investigate biomarker changes in their blood. Experimental group: normal group (NG, Wistar-Kyoto rats): distilled water, control group [NCG, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)]: distilled water, high treatment group (HTG, SHR): 500 mg/kg/day, medium treatment group (SHR): 335 mg/kg/day, low treatment group (SHR): 170 mg/kg/day, positive control group (PCG, SHR): Enalapril, 10 mg/kg/day. The experimental animals used in this study were divided into groups composed of 8 animals. In terms of weight change, a significant difference was observed between the NG and the SHR group, but there was no significant difference between the SHR group. After 8 wk of feeding, blood pressure was lowered more significantly in the HTG (209.9±13.3 mmHg) than in the NCG (230.8±7.3 mmHg). The treatment group has an effect of lowering blood pressure by significantly suppressing blood pressure-related biomarker protein expression than NG. The results obtained can be used as an antihypertensive material in a variety of food raw materials.

Fusobacterium nucleatum induces a tumor microenvironment with diminished adaptive immunity against colorectal cancers.

Background & Aims: Fusobacterium nucleatum (FN) plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of colorectal cancer by modulating antitumor immune responses. However, the impact of FN on immune regulation in the tumor microenvironment has not been fully elucidated. Methods: The abundance of FN was measured in 99 stage III CRC tumor tissues using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Gene expression profiles were assessed and annotated using consensus molecular subtypes (CMS), Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, and deconvolution of individual immune cell types in the context of FN abundance. Immune profiling for tumor infiltrating T cells isolated from human tumor tissues was analyzed using flow cytometry. Ex vivo tumor-infiltrating T cells were stimulated in the presence or absence of FN to determine the direct effects of FN on immune cell phenotypes. Results: Gene expression profiles, CMS composition, abundance of immune cell subtypes, and survival outcomes differed depending on FN infection. We found that FN infection was associated with poorer disease-free survival and overall survival in stage III CRC patients. FN infection was associated with T cell depletion and enrichment of exhausted CD8+ and FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment. The presence of FN in tumors was correlated with a suppressive tumor microenvironment in a T cell-dependent manner. Conclusion: FN enhanced the suppressive immune microenvironment with high depletion of CD8+ T cells and enrichment of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in human colorectal cancer cases. Our findings suggest a potential association for FN in adaptive immunity, with biological and prognostic implications.

Risk factors and microbiological features of recurrent Escherichia coli bloodstream infections.

Understanding the risk factors and microbiological features in recurrent Escherichia coli BSI is helpful for clinicians. Data of patients with E. coil BSI from 2017 to 2018 were collected. Antimicrobial resistance rates of E. coli were determined. We also identified the ST131 and ESBL genotype to evaluate the molecular epidemiology of E. coli. Whole genome sequencing was conducted on the available ESBL-producing E. coli samples. Of 808 patients with E. coli BSI, 57 (6.31%) experienced recurrence; 29 developed at 4-30 days after initial BSI (early onset recurrence) and 28 at 31-270 days after initial BSI (late onset recurrence). One hundred forty-nine patients with single episode, whose samples were available for determining the molecular epidemiology, were selected for comparison. Vascular catheterization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.588; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.049-20.068), ESBL phenotype (aOR, 2.037; 95% CI, 1.037-3.999) and SOFA score ≥9 (aOR, 3.210; 95% CI, 1.359-7.581) were independent risk factors for recurrence. The proportion of ST131 and ESBL genotype was highest in early onset recurrent BSI (41.4% and 41.4%, respectively), from which E. coil had the highest resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents. Whole genome sequencing on 27 of ESBL-producing E. coli (11 from single episode, 11 from early onset recurrence, and 5 from late onset recurrence) demonstrated that various virulence factors, resistant genes, and plasmid types existed in isolates from all types of BSI. Risk factors contributing to the recurrence and microbiological features of E. coli causing recurrent BSI may be helpful for management planning in the clinical setting.

CD8α+ dendritic cells potentiate antitumor and immune activities against murine ovarian cancers.

Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapies have been shown to be a potential treatment option for various cancers; however, the exact strategies in ovarian cancer remain unknown. Here, we report the effectiveness of mouse CD8α+ DCs derived from bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (BM-HSCs), equivalent to human CD141+ DCs, which have proven to be a highly superior subset. Mono-DCs from monocytes and stem-DCs from HSCs were characterized by CD11c+ CD80+ CD86+ and CD8α+ Clec9a+ expression, respectively. Despite a lower dose compared with Mono-DCs, mice treated with pulsed Stem-DCs showed a reduced amount of ascitic fluid and lower body weights compared with those of vehicle-treated mice. These mice treated with pulsed stem-DCs appeared to have fewer tumor implants, which were usually confined in the epithelium of tumor-invaded organs. All mice treated with DCs showed longer survival than the vehicle group, especially in the medium/high dose pulsed Stem-DC treatment groups. Moreover, the stem-DC-treated group demonstrated a low proportion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells, high interleukin-12 and interferon-γ levels, and accumulation of several tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Together, these results indicate that mouse CD8α+ DCs derived from BM-HSCs decrease tumor progression and enhance antitumor immune responses against murine ovarian cancer, suggesting that better DC vaccines can be used as an effective immunotherapy in EOC treatment. Further studies are necessary to develop potent DC vaccines using human CD141+ DCs.

The impact of COVID-19 on the format and nature of academic conferences in mathematics education.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to re-examine the possibility of organising virtual conferences in mathematics education, in which the social needs of participants can also be addressed. In this study we investigated the future impact that this change may have on the format and nature of mathematics education conferences. The study was conducted in two phases. We used an online questionnaire in which we asked participants to give us some input on the issues above. In the second phase of the project, focus group interviews were conducted with international mathematics education researchers. This study is an exploratory study, in which the sample was not developed in a way that could generate comparisons. The aim of the study was to raise possibilities about what may be the future of mathematics education conferences. Findings indicate that although academics are pro-actively thinking about alternative conference formats, the proven value of face-to-face conferences is still very real, showing that it is too early for us to have a clear vision of the future format of academic conferences.

Performance Comparison Between Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy-based IR Biotyper and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for Strain Diversity.

Background: Development of an accessible method to routinely evaluate the clonality of strains is needed in microbiology laboratories. We compared the discriminatory power of the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy-based IR Biotyper (Bruker Daltonics GmbH, Bremen, Germany) to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as the reference method. Methods: Eighty-three extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates were tested using WGS, MALDI-TOF MS, and IR Biotyper. Simpson's diversity index (SDI), a statistical analysis for testing the homogeneity of a dendrogram, and the adjusted Rand index (aRI) were used to compare the discriminatory ability between typing tests. Results: The SDI (95% confidence interval) was 0.969 (0.952-0.985) for WGS, 0.865 (0.807-0.924) for MALDI-TOF MS, and 0.974 (0.965-0.983) for IR Biotyper. Compared with WGS, IR Biotyper showed compatible diversity, whereas MALDI-TOF MS did not. The concordance and aRI improved from 66.3% to 84.3% and from 0.173 to 0.538, respectively, for IR Biotyper versus MALDI-TOF MS with WGS as the reference method. IR Biotyper showed substantially improved performance in strain typing compared with MALDI-TOF MS. Conclusions: IR Biotyper is useful for diversity analysis with improved discriminatory power over MALDI-TOF MS in comparison with WGS as a reference method. IR Biotyper is an accessible method to evaluate the clonality of strains and could be applied in epidemiological analysis during an outbreak of a health care facility, as well as for research on the transmission of resistant bacteria in community settings.

Comparative Analysis of the Molecular Characteristics of Group B Streptococcus Isolates Collected from Pregnant Korean Women Using Whole-genome Sequencing.

Background: The incidence of early- and late-onset sepsis and meningitis in neonates due to maternal rectovaginal group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization may differ with serotype distribution and clonal complex (CC). CC17 strains are associated with hypervirulence and poor disease outcomes. GBS serotypes are distinguished based on the polysaccharide capsule, the most important virulence factor. We determined the sequence type distribution of GBS isolates from pregnant women in Korea and validated whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based prediction of antimicrobial susceptibility and capsular serotypes in GBS isolates. Methods: Seventy-five GBS isolates collected from pregnant Korean women visiting Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju, Korea between 2017 and 2019 were subjected to WGS using the NovaSeq 6000 system (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). Multilocus sequence types, serotypes, antimicrobial resistance genes, and hemolysin operon mutations were determined by WGS, and the latter three were compared with the results of conventional phenotypic methods. Results: The predominant lineage was CC1 (37.3%), followed by CC19 (32.0%), CC12 (17.3%), and CC17 (4.0%). All isolates were cps typeable (100%, (75/75), and 89.3% of cps genotypes (67/75) were concordant with serotypes obtained using latex agglutination. The cps genotypes of the 75 isolates were serotypes III (24.0%), V (22.7%), and VIII (17.3%). All isolates harboring intact ermB and tet were non-susceptible to erythromycin and tetracycline, respectively. Three non-hemolytic strains had 1-bp frameshift insertions in cylE. Conclusions: The low prevalence of CC17 GBS colonization may explain the low frequency of neonatal GBS infections. WGS is a useful tool for simultaneous genotyping and antimicrobial resistance determination.

A regression-based machine learning approach for pH and glucose detection with redox-sensitive colorimetric paper sensors.

Colorimetric paper sensors are used in various fields due to their convenience and intuitive manner. However, these sensors present low accuracy in practical use because it is difficult to distinguish color changes for a minute amount of analyte with the naked eye. Herein, we demonstrate that a machine learning (ML)-based paper sensor platform accurately determines the color changes. We fabricated a colorimetric paper sensor by adsorbing polyaniline nanoparticles (PAni-NPs), whose color changes from blue to green when the ambient pH decreases. Adding glucose oxidase (GOx) to the paper sensor enables colorimetric glucose detection. Target analytes (10 µL) were aliquoted onto the paper sensors, and their images were taken with a smartphone under the same conditions in a darkroom. The red-green-blue (RGB) data from the images were extracted and used to train and test three regression models: support vector regression (SVR), decision tree regression (DTR), and random forest regression (RFR). Of the three regression models, RFR performed the best at estimating pH levels (R2 = 0.957) ranging from pH 2 to 10 and glucose concentrations (R2 = 0.922) ranging from 0 to 10 mg mL-1.

Fast Responsive, Reversible Colorimetric Nanoparticle-Hydrogel Complexes for pH Monitoring.

Hydrogels containing redox-sensitive colorimetric nanoparticles (NPs) have been used to sense ambient pH in many fields owing to their simple and fast visualization capabilities. However, real-time pH monitoring still has limitations due to its poor response rate and irreversibility. Herein, we developed a fast responsive colorimetric hydrogel called ferrocene adsorption colorimetric hydrogel (FACH). Ferrocene, an organometallic compound, plays a vital role as an electron transfer mediator (i.e., redox catalyst) within the hydrogel network. FACH shows fast color change performance with high reactivity and penetrability to ambient pH changes. In detail, FACH shows distinct color change within 2 min under various pH conditions from four to eight, with good reliability. The speed for color change of FACH is approximately six times faster than that of previously developed colorimetric hydrogels, suggesting the fastest hydrogel-based colorimetric pH sensor. Furthermore, FACH shows reversibility and repeatability of the redox process, indicating scalable utility as a sustainable pH monitoring platform.

Prevalence and Genetic Analysis of Resistance Mechanisms of Linezolid-Nonsusceptible Enterococci in a Tertiary Care Hospital Examined via Whole-Genome Sequencing.

(1) Background: Linezolid plays an important role in the treatment of invasive infections caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci after its introduction to clinical practice. However, a detailed examination of linezolid-nonsusceptible enterococci (LNSE) is required. In this study, we attempted to analyze the mechanisms of LNSE strains isolated from a tertiary care hospital. (2) Methods: From 2019 to 2020, 18 Enterococcus faecalis, 14 E. faecium, and 2 E. gallinarum clinical isolates were collected at Severance Hospital. Agar dilution was performed to evaluate precise linezolid minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Short-read whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to analyze resistance determinants. (3) Results: The presence of the optrA gene was likely the primary resistance mechanism in these three species, typically demonstrating a MIC value of 8 µg/mL. The co-existence of the cfr(D) and poxtA2 gene was the second major mechanism, primarily predicting a phenotype showing intermediate susceptibility to linezolid. G2576U mutation on 23S rRNA was only found in E. faecium; it mediated the most significant increase in linezolid MIC. (4) Conclusion: This is the first report examining poxtA2-cfr(D) co-harboring clinical enterococcal isolates in Korea and demonstrating the poxtA EF9F6-harboring clinical E. gallinarum strain worldwide. The comparison with resistance-gene-containing fragments in the isolates obtained from different countries and different sources demonstrated the spread of linezolid-resistance genes and suggested the possibility of foodborne transmission.

Identification of Fusobacterium Species Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry by Updating ASTA CoreDB.

PURPOSE: Fusobacterium species can cause infections, and associations with cancer are being increasingly reported. As their clinical significance differs, accurate identification of individual species is important. However, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry has not been found to be effective in identifying Fusobacterium species in previous studies. In this study, we aimed to improve the accuracy and efficacy of identifying Fusobacterium species in clinical laboratories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 229 Fusobacterium isolates were included in this study. All isolates were identified at the species level based on nucleotide sequences of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and/or DNA-dependent RNA polymerase ß-subunit gene (rpoB). Where necessary, isolates were identified based on whole genome sequences. Among them, 47 isolates were used for updating the ASTA database, and 182 isolates were used for the validation of Fusobacterium spp. identification. RESULTS: Fusobacterium isolates used for validation (182/182) were correctly identified at the genus level, and most (180/182) were correctly identified at the species level using the ASTA MicroIDSys system. Most of the F. nucleatum isolates (74/75) were correctly identified at the subspecies level. CONCLUSION: The updated ASTA MicroIDSys system can identify nine species of Fusobacterium and four subspecies of F. nucleatum in good agreement. This tool can be routinely used in clinical microbiology laboratories to identify Fusobacterium species and serve as a springboard for future research.

A Retrospective National Study on Colonization Rate and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Streptococcus agalactiae in Pregnant Korean Women, 2018-2020.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant Korean women is increasing; however, nationwide studies are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to analyze regional colonization rates and antimicrobial susceptibility for GBS in pregnant Korean women through a nationwide survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2018 to December 2020, data from the Seoul Clinical Laboratories on vaginal swab cultures were retrospectively analyzed to detect maternal GBS carriers. Each swab specimen was inoculated onto a 5% blood agar plate and incubated at 35℃-37℃ in a 5% CO2 incubator for 24 h. GBS isolates were identified using a Microflex MALDI Biotyper. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed using the Vitek 2 automated system. RESULTS: The overall nationwide GBS colonization rate in pregnant Korean women was found to be 10.6% (3578/33721). The maternal GBS colonization rates ranged from 10.5%-10.8% over the 3-year study period. The GBS colonization rates by province, in descending order, were as follows: Jeolla-do, 13.2%; Gangwon-do, 12.0%; Chungcheong-do, 11.8%; Gyeonggi-do, 11.3%; Seoul, 10.2%; and Gyeongsang-do, 9.6%. During the study period, the resistance rates against chloramphenicol, levofloxacin, clindamycin, erythromycin, and tetracycline were 2.6%-2.7%, 18.2%-19.6%, 33.4%-35.7%, 35.6%-36.8%, and 50.5%-53.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In pregnant Korean women, GBS colonization rates were in the range of 9.6%-13.2%, with Gyeongsang-do being the lowest and Jeolla-do the highest. The resistance rate against clindamycin was high (33.4%-35.7%). GBS colonization rates during pregnancy should be studied nationwide according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended guidelines with periodic antimicrobial resistance monitoring.

Development of Ammonia Emission Factor for Industrial Waste Incineration Facilities Considering Incinerator Type.

In this study, the emission factor and concentration of ammonia from industrial waste incineration facilities were analyzed through actual measurements. The ammonia emission factor was calculated and the difference in ammonia emission factor for each type of incineration was confirmed through the Mann−Whitney U test. As a result of analyzing 279 samples, the NH3 emission factor of the SNCR facility of stoker types was 0.012 kgNH3/ton, and the NH3 emission factor of the SNCR facility of the rotary kiln methods was 0.014 kgNH3/ton. Additionally, the NH3 emission factor of this study was higher than the NH3 emission factor (0.003 kgNH3/ton) suggested by Kang's study (0.009 kgNH3/ton) and EMEP/EEA (2006). There is a need to develop an NH3 emission factor that takes into account the characteristics of Korea, since it is largely different from the NH3 emission factor of EMEP/EEA. As a result of statistical analysis of the stoker type and the rotary kiln method, the null hypothesis that there is no difference between each type was adopted (p-value > 0.05), indicating that there was no statistical difference in the ammonia emission factors of the stoker type and the rotary kiln type.

Clinical Differences in Patients Infected with Fusobacterium and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Fusobacterium Isolates Recovered at a Tertiary-Care Hospital in Korea.

Background: Fusobacterium species are obligately anaerobic, gram-negative bacilli. Especially, F. nucleatum and F. necrophorum are highly relevant human pathogens. We investigated clinical differences in patients infected with Fusobacterium spp. and determined the antimicrobial susceptibility of Fusobacterium isolates. Methods: We collected clinical data of 86 patients from whom Fusobacterium spp. were isolated from clinical specimens at a tertiary-care hospital in Korea between 2003 and 2020. In total, 76 non-duplicated Fusobacterium isolates were selected for antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the agar dilution method, according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines (M11-A9). Results: F. nucleatum was most frequently isolated from blood cultures and was associated with hematologic malignancy, whereas F. necrophorum was mostly prevalent in head and neck infections. Anti-anaerobic agents were more commonly used to treat F. nucleatum and F. varium infections than to treat F. necrophorum infections. We observed no significant difference in mortality between patients infected with these species. All F. nucleatum and F. necrophorum isolates were susceptible to the antimicrobial agents tested. F. varium was resistant to clindamycin (48%) and moxifloxacin (24%), and F. mortiferum was resistant to penicillin G (22%) and ceftriaxone (67%). ß-Lactamase activity was not detected. Conclusions: Despite the clinical differences among patients with clinically important Fusobacterium infections, there was no significant difference in the mortality rates. Some Fusobacterium spp. were resistant to penicillin G, ceftriaxone, clindamycin, or moxifloxacin. This study may provide clinically relevant data for implementing empirical treatment against Fusobacterium infections.

Graphs in the COVID-19 news: a mathematics audit of newspapers in Korea.

Visual displays in the news media become critical during escalating events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as they facilitate the communication of complex information to the public. This article investigates the use of graphs in Korea's news media during the COVID-19 outbreak. We selected 12 dates that represent turning points in the outbreak of the disease and collected news stories including graphs from seven Korean daily newspapers issued on those dates. First, we analyzed the usage of graphs in COVID-19 news stories. Quantitative analysis of the types and frequency of graphs used in COVID-19 news stories and qualitative analysis of the content of news stories containing graphs were conducted. Second, we identified cases in which readers may be biased by the mathematical misuse of graphs in the news stories covering COVID-19. The implications of these findings for future teaching and learning of graph literacy in school mathematics courses are discussed.

Prevalence and Molecular Epidemiology of Extended-Spectrum-ß-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Escherichia coli from Multiple Sectors of Poultry Industry in Korea.

The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular epidemiology of extended-spectrum-ß-lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) from poultry, the poultry farm environment, and workers in Korea. A total of 1376 non-duplicate samples were collected from 21 poultry farms, 20 retail stores, 6 slaughterhouses, and 111 workers in a nationwide study in Korea from January 2019 to August 2019. The overall positive rate of ESBL-EC was 6.8%, with variable positive rates according to sources (0.9% of worker, 5.2% of poultry, 10.0% of chicken meat, and 14.3% of environment). Common ESBL types were CTX-M-55 and CTX-M-14 in a total of 93 ESBL-EC isolates. Whole genome sequencing revealed that 84 ESBL-EC isolates had an outstanding accumulation of numerous antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes associated with resistance to various classes of antimicrobials for human use and well-known antimicrobial gene (ARG)-carrying plasmids. Core gene multi locus sequence typing, using 2390 core genes, indicated no dominant clone or common type in each province. In conclusion, the isolation rates of ESBL-EC were not negligible in the poultry industry-related samples, sharing common ESBL types of human ESBL-EC isolates in Korea.

CLOCK Gene Variation Is Associated with the Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome Modulated by Monounsaturated Fatty Acids.

The circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) gene plays a crucial role in regulating circadian rhythms through its transcription factor gene product. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between CLOCK rs1801260 and the incidence of metabolic syndrome modulated by dietary monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake in Korean adults. Using a dataset from the Ansan-Ansung Cohort Study of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, 3608 Korean adults were included after an average of nine years of follow-up. Men who were minor allele carriers (G allele) of CLOCK rs1801260 had a 18% higher incidence of metabolic syndrome than non-carriers [hazard ratio (HR), 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00-1.40; p Value = 0.047]. By dichotomizing dietary MUFA intake, we observed that men who were minor allele carriers (G allele) of CLOCK rs1801260 had a 42% increased incidence of metabolic syndrome when dietary MUFA intake was ≤3.5% (HR: 1.42, 95% CI 1.23-1.81; p Value = 0.004). No significant association was found between CLOCK rs1801260 and the incidence of metabolic syndrome modulated by dietary MUFA intake in women. CLOCK polymorphisms affected metabolic syndrome, modulated by dietary MUFA intake in men. These results suggest the significance of CLOCK genes in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and the modulating role of dietary MUFA intake and provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms connecting the circadian system, dietary factors, and metabolic syndrome.

Evaluation of Disk carbapenemase test using improved disks for rapid detection and differentiation of clinical isolates of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

OBJECTIVES: Rapid detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) is important to control spread of the resistance. We previously reported that imipenem disks prepared from injectable imipenem-cilastatin could rapidly detect KPC- and NDM-type carbapenemases. In the present study, we evaluated performance of disks of IPM and combined disks of imipenem-tazobactam and imipenem-EDTA, which were prepared from powders of imipenem and inhibitors. METHODS: Isolates of Enterobacterales were recovered from specimens of patients at a tertiary care hospital in Korea during January 2017 and March 2018. Routine CPE detection was performed by the CPE surveillance personnel whereas evaluation of the Disk carbapenemase test (DCT) was performed by the other personnel without knowing the results of surveillance. The DCT was carried out by pressing disks on to colonies and rehydrating in Petri plates and observing color change. RESULTS: The DCT differentiated 688 of 694 (sensitivity 99.1%) carbapenemase-producing isolates in 2.5-20 min: 630 with KPC, 51 with NDM, three with IMP, one with VIM, two with KPC and IMP, and one with NDM and OXA-181. The DCT failed to detect six OXA- 48-like enzyme-producing isolates, but the modified method using 96-well flat-bottom microplates with mineral oil cover detected all 29 OXA-48-like enzyme-producing isolates in 20-120 min. The DCT was negative for all 440 ertapenem-nonsusceptible, carbapenemase gene-negative isolates (specificity 100%). CONCLUSION: The procedure of DCT is simple and can differentiate isolates of Enterobacterales with KPC-, NDM-, IMP- and VIM-type carbapenemases rapidly, and the modified DCT can detect isolates with OXA-48-like enzymes rapidly.

Comparative Analysis of the Productivity and Immunogenicity of an Attenuated Classical Swine Fever Vaccine (LOM) and an Attenuated Live Marker Classical Swine Fever Vaccine (Flc-LOM-BErns) from Laboratory to Pig Farm.

Herein, we compared the productivity of pigs inoculated with one of two classical swine fever (CSF) vaccines (low virulent of Miyagi (LOM) or Flc-LOM-BErns) plus the swine erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (SE) vaccine. The feed intake and weight increase of the pigs inoculated with Flc-LOM-BErns + SE were normal. However, the feed intake of the pigs inoculated with LOM + SE dropped sharply from four days post-vaccination (dpv). In addition, the slaughter date was an average of eight days later than that of the pigs inoculated with Flc-LOM-BErns + SE. All pigs inoculated with the Flc-LOM-BErns + SE vaccine were completely differentiated at 14 days against CSF Erns antibody and at approximately 45 days against the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) Erns antibody; the titers were maintained until slaughter. Leucopenia occurred temporarily in the LOM + SE group, but not in the Flc-LOM-BErns + SE group. Expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IFN-γ was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the LOM + SE group than in the mock (no vaccine) group. When conducting the same experiment on a breeding farm, the results were similar to those of the laboratory experiments. In conclusion, the biggest advantage of replacing the CSF LOM vaccine with the Flc-LOM-BErns vaccine is improved productivity.