Microbiological epidemiological history of meningococcal disease in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The main objectives of the present study were to investigate the clinical and laboratory features of meningococcal disease in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the overlap of 2 epidemics in the 1990s. We conducted a study of a series of cases of meningococcal disease admitted in a Meningitis Reference Hospital. All clinical isolates available were analyzed by means of microbiological epidemiological markers. In 1990, Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B:4,7:P1.19,15, 1.7,1 sulfadiazine-resistant of the ET-5 complex emerged causing epidemic disease. Despite mass vaccination campaign (VaMengoc B+C®), the ET-5 clone remained hyperendemic after the epidemic peaked. In 1993 to 1995, an epidemic of serogroup C belonged to the cluster A4 overlapped, with a significant shift in the age distribution toward older age groups and an increase of sepsis. Serogroup C epidemics are a recurrent problem in Rio de Janeiro, which can be hindered with the introduction of a conjugate vaccine. We hope the data presented here brings useful information to discuss vaccines strategies and early management of suspected cases.

Microbiological epidemiological history of meningococcal disease in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The main objectives of the present study were to investigate the clinical and laboratory features of meningococcal disease in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the overlap of 2 epidemics in the 1990s. We conducted a study of a series of cases of meningococcal disease admitted in a Meningitis Reference Hospital. All clinical isolates available were analyzed by means of microbiological epidemiological markers. In 1990, Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B:4,7:P1.19,15, 1.7,1 sulfadiazine-resistant of the ET-5 complex emerged causing epidemic disease. Despite mass vaccination campaign (VaMengoc B+C®), the ET-5 clone remained hyperendemic after the epidemic peaked. In 1993 to 1995, an epidemic of serogroup C belonged to the cluster A4 overlapped, with a significant shift in the age distribution toward older age groups and an increase of sepsis. Serogroup C epidemics are a recurrent problem in Rio de Janeiro, which can be hindered with the introduction of a conjugate vaccine. We hope the data presented here brings useful information to discuss vaccines strategies and early management of suspected cases.

Genetic relatedness of a non-motile variant O157 enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strain and E. coli strains belonging to pathogenic related groups.

The study was undertaken to determine the clonal relationship and the genetic diversity among Escherichia coli isolates by comparing a non-motile O157 variant with three O157:H7 EHEC isolates and one O55:H7 enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) strain. E. coli strains were characterized by sorbitol phenotype, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, random amplification polymorphic DNA, and the presence of specific virulence genes (stx, E-hly and LEE genes). Sorbitol fermentation was observed in O157:H- (strain 116I), O55:H7 and O157:H7 (strain GC148) serotypes. stx1 or stx2 and E-hly genes were only detected among O157:H7 isolates. LEE typing revealed specific allele distribution: eaegamma, tirgamma, espAgamma, espBgamma associated with EPEC O55:H7 and EHEC O157:H7 strains (B1/1 and EDL 933), eaealpha, tiralpha, espAalpha, espBalpha related to the 116I O157:H- strain and the GC148 strain presented non-typable LEE sequences. Multilocus enzyme profiles revealed two main clusters associated with specific LEE pathotypes. E. coli strains were discriminated by random amplification of polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis methodologies. The molecular approaches used in this study allowed the determination of the genetic relatedness among E. coli strains as well as the detection of lineage specific group markers.

Genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance of clinical and environmental Vibrio Cholerae suggests that many serogroups are reservoirs of resistance.

Vibrio cholerae is an important human pathogen and the cause of cholera. Since genetic variation and antibiotic resistance of strains have implications for effective treatment of the disease, we examined the genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance profile in 92 clinical strains (serogroup O1) and 56 environmental strains (O1 antigen, 42 strains; non-O1 antigen, 14 strains) isolated in Brazil between 1991 and 1999. Clinical and environmental O1 strains showed greater drug resistance compared to environmental non-O1 strains. Nearly all clinical O1 strains were resistant to one or more antibiotics while half of the environmental O1 and non-O1 strains were resistant to one or more antibiotics. No plasmids or class 1 integrons were detected in the strains by PCR analysis. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis analysis (MLEE) suggests most of the O1 strains belong to a single (South American) clone that is related but different to seventh-pandemic strains isolated from other parts of the world. Our results show that there is a close genetic relationship between clinical and environmental O1 strains and that many serogroups and the environment can be a reservoir for antibiotic resistance.

Genetic diversity of Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, evaluated by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis.

AIMS: To analyse Neisseria meningitidis isolates from meningococcal meningitis cases in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) from 1990 to 1993 and 1999-2002, to determine the genetic and relatedness with hypervirulent and epidemic strains. METHODS AND RESULTS: The isolates were analysed by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE) clustering into 83 electrophoretic types (ET). All isolates from 1999 to 2002, formed a cluster which included one strain of the ET-5 complex worldwide associated with epidemics. CONCLUSIONS: The overall results suggested a panmictic structure probably because of recombination events. The observation of a separated cluster including isolates from 1999 to 2002 and an ET-5 complex strain, also suggested the introduction of strains genetically related with this hypervirulent complex in the State of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) over the last 5 years. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The presence of strains related to the ET-5 complex in several states of Brazil was already described elsewhere, but this is the first time it was reported in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Our findings reinforce the necessity to genetically determine the clones which should be considered to produce a national vaccine against meningococcal meningitis.

Genotypic diversity among Brevibacillus laterosporus strains.

In comparison with other entomopathogenic Bacillus species, the genome of Brevibacillus laterosporus is poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to examine genetic variability in B. laterosporus by using a range of typing methodologies. Strains of B. laterosporus were examined for variation in 13 chromosomal genes encoding enzymes by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Optimal conditions of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA were established that allowed analysis of the genome of B. laterosporus. None of these techniques allowed the identification of a convenient molecular marker for entomopathogenic strains, although one specific primer amplified only DNA from almost all mosquitocidal strains.

Genetic relationships among the different phenotypes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae strains.

The species Streptococcus dysgalactiae was proposed to accommodate a heterogeneous group of streptococci associated with infections in animals and human beings. This taxon is now considered to include animal isolates of alpha-haemolytic group C streptococci, previously called S. dysgalactiae; animal and human isolates of beta-haemolytic group C streptococci, previously called 'S. equisimilis'; beta-haemolytic group L strains associated with infections in animals and, rarely, in humans; and beta-haemolytic group G strains isolated from humans. DNA-DNA reassociation experiments (hydroxyapatite method) and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE) were performed on reference strains and clinical isolates to determine the genetic relationships among these different phenotypic categories. DNA-DNA hybridization tests showed that they were related at the species level, despite the phenotypic and host heterogeneity. Both genotypic and phenotypic characterization indicated that S. dysgalactiae could be separated into two major sub-groups. The first sub-group contained alpha-haemolytic strains that showed levels of DNA relatedness with the type strain of S. dysgalactiae ranging from 84 to 90% and from 82 to 88% under optimal (55 degrees C) and stringent (70 degrees C) conditions, respectively. The second sub-group contained beta-haemolytic strains showing levels of relatedness ranging from 71 to 79% (55 degrees C) and from 62 to 73% (70 degrees C). Percentage divergence varied from 0.5 to 1.0% (alpha-haemolytic group) and from 2.0 to 3.5% (beta-haemolytic group). A dendrogram based on phenotypic similarity between the enzyme bands produced by MEE showed a Jaccard similarity coefficient of 0.45 between the subclusters formed by the two sub-groups. The results of phenotypic and genotypic characterization were consistent with a published proposal to divide S. dysgalactiae into two subspecies, S. dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae and S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, with a few modifications.

Serotype H5a5b is a major clone within mosquito-pathogenic strains of Bacillus sphaericus.

Seventy six mosquito pathogenic strains of Bacillus sphaericus and 10 non-pathogens were examined by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI-digested chromosomal DNA. Non-pathogenic strains were clearly distinguished from the entomopathogenic types which were assigned to 21 groups (SmaI restriction patterns; SRPs). Some agreement between SRP based on PFGE and serotyping was noted, in particular all 39 strains of serotype 5a5b examined revealed identical SRPs indicating total conservation of the SmaI restriction site in these bacteria. Serotype 5a5b (SRP 12) strains comprise a widely distributed and abundant clonal lineage. Most serotypes, however, were divided into several SRPs. Seven strains from serotype 2a2b were covered in five SRPs in which toxin synthesis was correlated with chromosomal structure. Similarly, toxicity correlated with SRP in strains from serotypes 3 and 6.

Distribution and characterization of mosquitocidal toxin genes in some strains of Bacillus sphaericus.

The binary toxin of Bacillus sphaericus strains forms a crystal in sporulating cells, while the mosquitocidal toxin is located in the cytoplasm of vegetative cells. The distribution of binary toxin (btx) and mosquitocidal toxin (mtx) genes in 53 strains of B. sphaericus was determined by hybridization of specific gene probes to chromosomal DNA in Southern blots. btx genes were found in all strains of serotype 5a5b examined and in some strains of serotypes 1a, 3, 6, 25, and 48, while mtx genes were detected in strains of serotypes 1a, 2a2b, 5a5b, 6, 9a9c, 25, and 48. Serotype 26a26b strains lacked both toxin genes, as did some strains of serotypes 2a2b, 3, 6, and 48. Partial DNA sequences of btx genes from five strains, together with published sequences, revealed four types of toxin among mosquitocidal B. sphaericus strains. most of the 42-kDa toxin gene of btx was identical in strains from serotypes 1a, 3, 6, and 48, and the gene is here classified as a type 1 btx gene. A serotype 3 strain isolated in Singapore possessed a unique 42-kDa toxin gene, here designated type 4; while the btx genes from strains of serotypes 5a5b and 25 are referred to as types 2 and 3, respectively.

Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis study of Bacillus sphaericus.

Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) has been used in the study of some Bacillus species. In this work we applied MLEE and numerical analysis in the study of the Bacillus sphaericus group. B. sphaericus can be distinguished from other entomopathogenic Bacillus by a unique allele (NP-4). Within the species, all insect pathogens were recovered in the same phenetic cluster and all of these strains have the same band position (electrophoresis migration) on the agarose gel (ADH-2). The entomopathogenic group of B. sphaericus seems to be a clonal population, having two widespread frequent genotypes (zymovar 59 and zymovar 119).

Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis on agarose gel as an aid to the identification of entomopathogenic Bacillus sphaericus strains.

Sixty strains of Bacillus sphaericus, including 31 insect pathogens were studied by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and were classified into 44 zymovars (electrophoretic types). Among the entomopathogenic strains, 11 belong to the same zymovar (Z59) indicating a widespread frequent genotype. Bands of enzyme activity were not detected among the strains for the loci GPI (E.C.5.3.1.9), G6P (E.C.1.1.1.49), 6PG (E.C.1.1.1.44) and ME (E.C.1.1.1.40). The enzymatic loci NP (E.C.2.4.2.1) and ACON (E.C.4.2.1.3) were monomorphic while the other enzymes, MDH (E.C.1.1.1.37), LeDH (E.C.1.4.1.9), ADH (E.C.1.4.1.1), EST (E.C.3.1.1.1), PEP-2 (E.C.3.4.11.1), PEP-3 (E.C.3.4.11) and PEP-D (E.C. 3.4.13.9) were polymorphic. The genetic variation in the non-insect pathogenic group seemed to be greater than in the entomopathogenic group. This latter group appears to be distinct from other strains of these species. All insect pathogens were recovered in the same phenetic cluster and a diagnostic allele is reported for the identification of entomopathogenic strains.

A comparative study of enzyme variation in Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis.

Thirty-two strains of Bacillus spp. were examined in a multilocus enzyme study by agarose gel electrophoresis. The organisms were Bacillus thuringiensis (21 strains, B. cereus (8), including two of var. mycoides, and B. megaterium (3). Strains having similar enzyme variants were grouped into zymovars. A total of 10 of 11 enzyme loci studied were polymorphic and 27 zymovars were distinguished among the 32 strains. The results were subjected to numerical analysis, phenetic affinities and genetic distances between the strains were calculated. The numerical analysis was unable to differentiate between B. thuringiensis and B. cereus. Our results indicated that based on this multilocus enzyme study these zymovars should be considered as belonging to the same species. A mycoides variant of B. cereus was the most distinctive strain studied and clearly belonged to a separate species, B. mycoides. The technique also allowed for identification of contamination and mislabelling of strains.