Genomic Insights into Achromobacter mucicolens IA Antibiotic Resistance.

Achromobacter denitrificans is an environmental opportunistic pathogen that is infecting a large number of immunocompromised patients. A more recently identified strain from the historical collection of strains of Achromobacter denitrificans is Achromobacter mucicolens. In hosts with a variety of underlying diseases, Achromobacter spp. can induce a wide spectrum of disorders. Because of the bacterium's intrinsic genetic constitution and resistance gained over time, antibiotics are challenged to handle A. mucicolens. Due to the fact that A. mucicolens is rare and its taxonomy is not completely understood, it is difficult to define clinical symptoms, acquisition risk factors, and thus the best therapeutic course of action. To help comprehend this intrinsic and acquired resistance, we analyzed the entire genome of the A. mucicolens IA strain and utilized bioinformatics methods to estimate the strain's probable drug resistance profile. In our study, we have isolated and cultured a clinically important A. mucicolens strain and subjected it to antimicrobial susceptibility tests against antibiotics in the Vitek 2 testing system. The strain's genome sequence as well as an investigation of 27 of its phenotypic traits provides important information regarding this pathogen. The genome of this A. mucicolens IA strain possesses a number of antibiotic resistance genes that code for efflux pump systems and other antibiotic-regulating as well as -modifying enzymes. Our research analysis predicted genes involved in drug resistance, including genes for efflux pump systems, antibiotic efflux, antibiotic inactivation, and antibiotic target alteration. In vitro studies validated the genomic evidence for its ability to exhibit resistance against a wide range of antibiotics. Our investigation paves the way for more research on understanding the functioning of the key discovered genes that contribute toward the pathogenicity of A. mucicolens and hence gives new information and treatment options for this emerging pathogen. IMPORTANCEAchromobacter species are well-known opportunistic human pathogens that can be found in water and soil and most commonly in hospital settings. They thrive in immunocompromised individuals, producing sporadic cases of pneumonia, septicemia, peritonitis, urinary tract infections, and other illnesses. Achromobacter strains are inherently resistant to a wide spectrum of antibiotics, making them difficult to treat promptly. The strain under study, A. mucicolens, was notably resistant to various antibiotics, and the infection could be controlled only after several rounds of prescription medications at different doses. This consumed a lot of time and put the already immunosuppressed leukemic patient through a great ordeal. The study aimed to raise awareness about the importance of the Achromobacter bacterium's lethality, and doctors should evaluate the bacterium's potential for resistance before prescribing antibiotics. Sanitation and other precautions should also be implemented in hospitals and other public places.

Genetic Determinants in HLA and Cytochrome P450 Genes in the Risk of Aromatic Antiepileptic-Induced Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions.

Adverse drug reaction (ADR) is a pressing health problem, and one of the main reasons for treatment failure with antiepileptic drugs. This has become apparent in the event of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), which can be life-threatening. In this review, four hypotheses were identified to describe how the immune system is triggered in the development of SCARs, which predominantly involve the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins. Several genetic variations in HLA genes have been shown to be strongly associated with the susceptibility to developing SCARs when prescribed carbamazepine or phenytoin. These genetic variations were also shown to be prevalent in certain populations. Apart from the HLA genes, other genes proposed to affect the risk of SCARs are genes encoding for CYP450 drug-metabolising enzymes, which are involved in the pharmacokinetics of offending drugs. Genetic variants in CYP2C9 and CYPC19 enzymes were also suggested to modulate the risk of SCARs in some populations. This review summarizes the literature on the manifestation and aetiology of antiepileptic-induced SCARs, updates on pharmacogenetic markers associated with this reaction and the implementation of pre-emptive testing as a preventive strategy for SCARs.

Development of hen antihepatitis B antigen IgY-based conjugate for ELISA assay.

BACKGROUND: Chicken antibodies have many advantages to the mammalian antibodies and have several important differences against mammalian IgG with regard to their specificity and large-scale production. In this study, the production, purification, and HRP conjugation of polyclonal IgY against hepatitis virus surface antigen (HBsAg) were carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single Comb White Leghorn hens were immunized intramuscularly with hepatitis B vaccine in combination with Freund's adjuvants. Blood and eggs were collected before and during ten weeks after the first immunization. RESULTS: A highly purified of 180 KDa with specific activity of 200 mIU/ml was obtained by our purification protocol. One milligram of the purified IgY was labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Sandwich ELISA was used to determine the optimum titer of anti-HbsAg IgY-conjugate which was found to be 1:20. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that laying hens can be used as an alternative source for production of polyclonal antibodies against HBsAg and anti-HBs IgY could be labeled with HRP enzyme and could subsequently be used successfully as secondary antibody in ELISA for detection of HBsAg in the patients sera.

Identification of virulence factors in Vibrio cholerae isolated from Iraq during the 2007-2009 outbreak.

Thousands of people were infected with Vibrio cholerae during the outbreak in Iraq in 2007-2009. Vibrio cholerae was shown to be variable in its content of virulence determinants and in its antibiotic sensitivity. This study was designed to isolate and characterize clinical and environmental V. cholerae isolates and to determine antibiotic sensitivity, enzyme and toxin production, and the presence of virulence genes. Eighty clinical and five environmental bacterial isolates were collected and diagnosed by subjecting them to microscopic, biochemical, serological, and molecular analysis. The results revealed that 55% of clinical isolates belonged to the Inaba serotype, 32.5% to the Ogawa serotypes, and 12.5% to the Non-O1 serotype. All environmental V. cholerae isolates belonged to the Non-O1 serotype. All environmental isolates were sensitive to all examined antimicrobial agents, while all clinical isolates showed a high sensitivity (100%) to ampicillin, gentamicin, cephalothin, tetracycline, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin, and a high resistance (97.5%) to co-trimoxazole, nalidixic acid, and chloramphenicol. It was found that all V. cholerae (O1) isolates were resistant to the Vibrio static O129 and all Non-O1 V. cholerae isolates were sensitive to the Vibrio static O129. All clinical and environmental isolates produced hemolysin (100%) and lecithinase (100%), while they showed various production rates of protease (90% of clinical and 60% of environmental) and lipase (50% of clinical and 20% of environmental). The ompW gene was amplified in all the clinical and environmental V. cholerae isolates, but not in other related and nonrelated bacteria. Multiplex PCR analysis showed that the toxR gene was amplified in all clinical and environmental isolates, while ctxA, ctxB, tcpA genes were amplified only in clinical (O1) isolates. This study indicates the differences in the production of some enzymes and toxins and in the content of virulence genes between clinical and environmental isolates in Iraq during the outbreak (2007-2009).