Characterisation of a novel SCCmec VI element harbouring fusC in an emerging Staphylococcus aureus strain from the Arabian Gulf region.

Fusidic acid is a steroid antibiotic known since the 1960s. It is frequently used in topical preparations, i.e., ointments, for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. There is an increasing number of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains that harbour plasmid-borne fusB/far1 or fusC that is localised on SCC elements. In this study we examined a series of related CC30-MRSA isolates from the Arabian Gulf countries that presented with SCCmec elements and fusC, including a variant that-to the best of our knowledge-has not yet formally been described. It consisted of a class B mec complex and ccrA/B-4 genes. The fusidic acid resistance gene fusC was present, but contrary to the previously sequenced element of HDE288, it was not accompanied by tirS. This element was identified in CC30 MRSA from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that usually also harbour the Panton-Valentin leukocidin (PVL) genes. It was also identified in CC8 and ST834 isolates. In addition, further CC30 MRSA strains with other SCCmec VI elements harbouring fusC were found to circulate in the Arabian Gulf region. It can be assumed that MRSA strains with SCCmec elements that include fusC have a selective advantage in both hospital and community settings warranting a review of the use of topical antibiotics and indicating the necessity of reducing over-the-counter sale of antibiotics, including fusidic acid, without prescription.

Evolution and Global Transmission of a Multidrug-Resistant, Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Lineage from the Indian Subcontinent.

The evolution and global transmission of antimicrobial resistance have been well documented for Gram-negative bacteria and health care-associated epidemic pathogens, often emerging from regions with heavy antimicrobial use. However, the degree to which similar processes occur with Gram-positive bacteria in the community setting is less well understood. In this study, we traced the recent origins and global spread of a multidrug-resistant, community-associated Staphylococcus aureus lineage from the Indian subcontinent, the Bengal Bay clone (ST772). We generated whole-genome sequence data of 340 isolates from 14 countries, including the first isolates from Bangladesh and India, to reconstruct the evolutionary history and genomic epidemiology of the lineage. Our data show that the clone emerged on the Indian subcontinent in the early 1960s and disseminated rapidly in the 1990s. Short-term outbreaks in community and health care settings occurred following intercontinental transmission, typically associated with travel and family contacts on the subcontinent, but ongoing endemic transmission was uncommon. Acquisition of a multidrug resistance integrated plasmid was instrumental in the emergence of a single dominant and globally disseminated clade in the early 1990s. Phenotypic data on biofilm, growth, and toxicity point to antimicrobial resistance as the driving force in the evolution of ST772. The Bengal Bay clone therefore combines the multidrug resistance of traditional health care-associated clones with the epidemiological transmission of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Our study demonstrates the importance of whole-genome sequencing for tracking the evolution of emerging and resistant pathogens. It provides a critical framework for ongoing surveillance of the clone on the Indian subcontinent and elsewhere.IMPORTANCE The Bengal Bay clone (ST772) is a community-associated and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus lineage first isolated from Bangladesh and India in 2004. In this study, we showed that the Bengal Bay clone emerged from a virulent progenitor circulating on the Indian subcontinent. Its subsequent global transmission was associated with travel or family contact in the region. ST772 progressively acquired specific resistance elements at limited cost to its fitness and continues to be exported globally, resulting in small-scale community and health care outbreaks. The Bengal Bay clone therefore combines the virulence potential and epidemiology of community-associated clones with the multidrug resistance of health care-associated S. aureus lineages. This study demonstrates the importance of whole-genome sequencing for the surveillance of highly antibiotic-resistant pathogens, which may emerge in the community setting of regions with poor antibiotic stewardship and rapidly spread into hospitals and communities across the world.

Controlling intestinal colonization of high-risk haematology patients with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae: a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicentre, Phase II trial (CLEAR).

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the efficacy and safety of an oral antimicrobial regimen for short- and long-term intestinal eradication of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-EC/KP) in immunocompromised patients. METHODS: We performed a randomized (2:1), double-blind multicentre Phase II study in four haematology-oncology departments. Patients colonized with ESBL-EC/KP received a 7 day antimicrobial regimen of oral colistin (2 × 106 IU 4×/day), gentamicin (80 mg 4×/day) and fosfomycin (three administrations of 3 g every 72 h), or placebo. Faecal, throat and urine specimens were collected on day 0, 6 ± 2, 11 ± 2, 28 ± 4 and 42 ± 4 after treatment initiation, and the quantitative burden of ESBL-EC/KP, resistance genes and changes in intestinal microbiota were analysed. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01931592. RESULTS: As the manufacture of colistin powder was suspended worldwide, the study was terminated prematurely. Overall, 29 (18 verum/11 placebo) out of 47 patients were enrolled. The short-term intestinal eradication was marginal at day 6 (verum group 15/18, 83.3% versus placebo 2/11, 18.2%; relative risk 4.58, 95% CI 1.29-16.33; Fisher's exact test P = 0.001) and not evident at later timepoints. Quantitative analysis showed a significant decrease of intestinal ESBL-EC/KP burden on day 6. Sustained intestinal eradication (day 28 + 42) was not achieved (verum, 38.9% versus placebo, 27.3%; P = 0.299). In the verum group, mcr-1 genes were detected in two faecal samples collected after treatment. Microbiome analysis showed a significant decrease in alpha diversity and a shift in beta diversity. CONCLUSIONS: In this prematurely terminated study of a 7 day oral antimicrobial eradication regimen, short-term ESBL-EC/KP suppression was marginal, while an altered intestinal microbiota composition was clearly apparent.

Molecular characterisation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from dogs and the description of their SCCmec elements.

In recent years an increasing number of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) has been observed in both, healthy and clinically infected dogs. The aim of the study was the characterisation of MRSP isolates from clinical routine diagnostics of a German laboratory in order to assess the abundancy of resistance genes and SCCmec elements. 97 isolates from 96 dogs were analysed using microarrays detecting resistance genes and SCCmec-associated markers. All isolates harboured mecA and blaZ. Other abundant resistance markers (in >80% of isolates) included aacA-aphD, aphA3 and sat as well as erm(B). Tetracycline resistance genes (tet(K), tet(M)) and cat also were common (in >20%). The vast majority (n = 59) of isolates carried SCCmec III elements. SCCmec IV and V elements were identified in 21 and 15 isolates, respectively. Irregular or pseudo-SCCmec elements were found in 2 isolates. The high degree of uniformity of hybridisation patterns of tested strains suggest that the majority of MRSP infections was caused by one single strain and comparison to previously published reports and sequences suggest that this was the ST71-SCCmec III strain that also predominates elsewhere in Western Europe.

Characterization of mecC gene-carrying coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. isolated from various animals.

The presence of the methicillin resistance gene mecC in coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (CoNS) is scarce. The aim of this study was to characterize mecC-positive CoNS isolated from various wild and domestic animals. The presence of the mecC gene was screened in 4299 samples from wild animals and domestic animals. Fifteen coagulase-negative staphylococci, that displayed a cefoxitin-resistant phenotype, were tested mecC-positive by PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for all isolates. The 15 isolates were genotyped by sequencing of the entire class E mec gene complex (blaZ-mecC-mecR1-mecI), the ccrA and ccrB recombinase genes and other determinants within the type XI SCCmec element. DNA microarray analysis was performed and five selected isolates were additionally whole genome sequenced and analyzed. S. stepanovicii (n = 3), S. caprae (n = 1), S. warneri (n = 1), S. xylosus (n = 1) and S. sciuri (n = 9) were detected. All but the S. sciuri isolates were found to be susceptible to all non-beta lactams. The entire class E mec gene complex was detected in all isolates but ccrA and ccrB genes were not identified in S. stepanovicii and S. xylosus. The genes erm(B) and fexA (n = 4, each) were the most predominant non-beta lactam resistance genes detected in the S. sciuri isolates. Even though the presence of the mecC gene among CoNS is a rare observation, this study further expands our knowledge by showing that the mecC gene, including its allotypes, are present in more staphylococcal species from different animal species than has been previously described.

Rapid microarray-based assay for detection of pyrazinamide resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a key antibiotic for the treatment of drug susceptible tuberculosis. PZA-resistance is mainly mediated by mutations in the pncA gene; however the current gold standard is a phenotypic drug susceptibility test requiring a well-adjusted pH-value for reliable results. Our melting curve assay detects a non-wild type genotype in selected pncA regions in at least 3750 gene copies/mL within 2.5 hours. The prototype assay was further evaluated by analyzing 271 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates from Swaziland originating from a previously published drug resistance survey and including 118 isolates with pncA mutations. Sensitivity was 83% (95% CI 75-89%) and specificity was 100% (95% CI 98-100%). Under consideration of further improvements with regard to the target range our melting curve assay has the potential as a rapid rule-in test for PZA susceptibility (wild type pncA), however false resistant results (mutant pncA, but PZA susceptible) cannot be ruled out completely.

A novel multidrug-resistant PVL-negative CC1-MRSA-IV clone emerging in Ireland and Germany likely originated in South-Eastern Europe.

This study investigated the recent emergence of multidrug-resistant Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-negative CC1-MRSA-IV in Ireland and Germany. Ten CC1-MSSA and 139 CC1-MRSA isolates recovered in Ireland between 2004 and 2017 were investigated. These were compared to 21 German CC1-MRSA, 10 Romanian CC1-MSSA, five Romanian CC1-MRSA and two UAE CC1-MRSA, which were selected from an extensive global database, based on similar DNA microarray profiles to the Irish isolates. All isolates subsequently underwent whole-genome sequencing, core-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) analysis and enhanced SCCmec subtyping. Two PVL-negative clades (A and B1) were identified among four main clades. Clade A included 20 German isolates, 119 Irish isolates, and all Romanian MRSA and MSSA isolates, the latter of which differed from clade A MRSA by 47-130 cgSNPs. Eighty-six Irish clade A isolates formed a tight subclade (A1) exhibiting 0-49 pairwise cgSNPs, 80 of which harboured a 46 kb conjugative plasmid carrying both ileS2, encoding high-level mupirocin resistance, and qacA, encoding chlorhexidine resistance. The resistance genes aadE, aphA3 and sat were detected in all clade A MRSA and the majority (8/10) of clade A MSSA isolates. None of the clade A isolates harboured any enterotoxin genes other than seh, which is universally present in CC1. Clade B1 included the remaining German isolate, 17 Irish isolates and the two UAE isolates, all of which corresponded to the Western Australia MRSA-1 (WA MRSA-1) clone based on genotypic characteristics. MRSA within clades A and B1 differed by 188 cgSNPs and clade-specific SCCmec characteristics were identified, indicating independent acquisition of the SCCmec element. This study demonstrated the existence of a European PVL-negative CC1-MRSA-IV clone that is distinctly different from the well-defined PVL-negative CC1-MRSA-IV clone, WA MRSA-1. Furthermore, cgSNP analysis revealed that this newly defined clone may have originated in South-Eastern Europe, before spreading to both Ireland and Germany.

Fast, economic and simultaneous identification of clinically relevant Gram-negative species with multiplex real-time PCR.

AIM: A newly designed multiplex real-time PCR (rt-PCR) was validated to detect four clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). MATERIALS & METHODS: Serial dilutions of genomic DNA were used to determine the limit of detection. Colony PCR was performed with isolates of the four selected species and other species as negative controls. Isolates were characterized genotypically and phenotypically to evaluate the assay. RESULTS: Specific signals of all target genes were detected with diluted templates comprising ten genomic equivalents. Using colony rt-PCR, all isolates of the target species were identified correctly. All negative control isolates were negative. CONCLUSION: The genes gad, basC, khe and ecfX can reliably identify these four species via multiplex colony rt-PCR.

Molecular Typing of ST239-MRSA-III From Diverse Geographic Locations and the Evolution of the SCCmec III Element During Its Intercontinental Spread.

ST239-MRSA-III is probably the oldest truly pandemic MRSA strain, circulating in many countries since the 1970s. It is still frequently isolated in some parts of the world although it has been replaced by other MRSA strains in, e.g., most of Europe. Previous genotyping work (Harris et al., 2010; Castillo-Ramírez et al., 2012) suggested a split in geographically defined clades. In the present study, a collection of 184 ST239-MRSA-III isolates, mainly from countries not covered by the previous studies were characterized using two DNA microarrays (i) targeting an extensive range of typing markers, virulence and resistance genes and (ii) a SCCmec subtyping array. Thirty additional isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and, together with published WGS data for 215 ST239-MRSA-III isolates, were analyzed using in-silico analysis for comparison with the microarray data and with special regard to variation within SCCmec elements. This permitted the assignment of isolates and sequences to 39 different SCCmec III subtypes, and to three major and several minor clades. One clade, characterized by the integration of a transposon into nsaB and by the loss of fnbB and splE was detected among isolates from Turkey, Romania and other Eastern European countries, Russia, Pakistan, and (mainly Northern) China. Another clade, harboring sasX/sesI is widespread in South-East Asia including China/Hong Kong, and surprisingly also in Trinidad & Tobago. A third, related, but sasX/sesI-negative clade occurs not only in Latin America but also in Russia and in the Middle East from where it apparently originated and from where it also was transferred to Ireland. Minor clades exist or existed in Western Europe and Greece, in Portugal, in Australia and New Zealand as well as in the Middle East. Isolates from countries where this strain is not epidemic (such as Germany) frequently are associated with foreign travel and/or hospitalization abroad. The wide dissemination of this strain and the fact that it was able to cause a hospital-borne pandemic that lasted nearly 50 years emphasizes the need for stringent infection prevention and control and admission screening.

Intra-Hospital, Inter-Hospital and Intercontinental Spread of ST78 MRSA From Two Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Outbreaks Established Using Whole-Genome Sequencing.

From 2009 to 2011 [transmission period (TP) 1] and 2014 to 2017 (TP2), two outbreaks involving community-associated clonal complex (CC) 88-MRSA spa types t186 and t786, respectively, occurred in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of an Irish hospital (H1). This study investigated the relatedness of these isolates, their relationship to other CC88 MRSA from Ireland and their likely geographic origin, using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). All 28 CC88-MRSA isolates identified at the Irish National MRSA Reference Laboratory between 2009 and 2017 were investigated including 20 H1 patient isolates, two H1 isolates recovered from a single healthcare worker (HCW) 2 years apart, three patient isolates from a second hospital (H2) and one patient isolate from each of three different hospitals (H3, H4, and H5). All isolates underwent DNA microarray profiling. Thirteen international isolates with similar microarray profiles to at least one Irish isolate were selected from an extensive global database. All isolates underwent Illumina MiSeq WGS. The majority of Irish isolates (25/28; all H1 isolates, two H2 isolates and the H3 isolate) were identified as ST78-MRSA-IVa and formed a large cluster, exhibiting 1-71 pairwise allelic differences, in a whole-genome MLST-based minimum spanning tree (MST) involving all Irish isolates. A H1/H2, H1/H3, and H1 HCW/patient isolate pair each exhibited one allelic difference. The TP2 isolates were characterised by a different spa type and the loss of hsdS. The three remaining Irish isolates (from H2, H4, and H5) were identified as ST88-MRSA-IVa and dispersed at the opposite end of the MST, exhibiting 81-211 pairwise allelic differences. Core-genome MLST and sequence-based plasmid analysis revealed the recent shared ancestry of Irish and Australian ST78-MRSA-IVa, and of Irish and French/Egyptian ST88-MRSA-IVa. This study revealed the homogeneity of isolates recovered during two NICU outbreaks (despite spa type and hsdS carriage variances), HCW involvement in the outbreak transmission chain and the strain's spread to two other Irish hospitals. The outbreak strain, CC88/ST78-MRSA-IVa, was likely imported from Australia, where it is prevalent. CC88/ST88-MRSA-IVa was also identified in Irish hospitals and was likely imported from Africa, where it is predominant, and/or a country with a large population of African descent.

Prevalence of carbapenemase-producing organisms at the Kidney Center of Rawalpindi (Pakistan) and evaluation of an advanced molecular microarray-based carbapenemase assay.

AIM: A DNA microarray-based assay for the detection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes was used to study carbapenemase-producing organisms at the Kidney Center of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. METHODS: The evaluation of this assay was performed using 97 reference strains with confirmed AMR genes. Testing of 7857 clinical samples identified 425 Gram-negative bacteria out of which 82 appeared carbapenem resistant. These isolates were analyzed using VITEK-2 for phenotyping and the described AMR assay for genotyping. RESULTS: The most prevalent carbapenemase gene was blaNDM and in 12 isolates we detected two carbapenemase genes (e.g., blaNDM/blaOXA-48). CONCLUSION: Our prevalence data from Pakistan show that - as in other parts of the world - carbapenemase-producing organisms with different underlying resistance mechanisms are emerging, and this warrants intensified and constant surveillance.

Variability of SCCmec elements in livestock-associated CC398 MRSA.

The most common livestock-associated lineage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Western Europe is currently clonal complex (CC) 398. CC398-MRSA spread extensively across livestock populations in several Western European countries, and livestock-derived CC398-MRSA strains can also be detected in humans. Based on their SCCmec elements, different CC398 strains can be distinguished. SCCmec elements of 100 veterinary and human CC398-MRSA isolates from Germany and Austria were examined using DNA microarray-based assays. In addition, 589 published SCC and/or genome sequences of CC398-MRSA (including both, fully finished and partially assembled sequences) were analysed by mapping them to the probe sequences of the microarrays. Several isolates and sequences showed an insertion of a large fragment of CC9 genomic DNA into the CC398 chromosome. Fifteen subtypes of SCCmec elements were detected among the 100 CC398 isolates and 41 subtypes could be discerned among the published CC398 sequences. Eleven of these were also experimentally detected within our strain collection, while four subtypes identified in the isolates where not found among the sequences. A high prevalence of heavy metal resistance genes, especially of czrC, was observed among CC398-MRSA. A possible co-selection of resistances to antibiotics and zinc/copper supplements in animal feed as well as a spill-over of SCCmec elements that have evolved in CC398-MRSA to other, possibly more virulent and/or medically relevant S. aureus lineages might pose public health problems in future.

Rapid Microarray-Based Detection of Rifampin, Isoniazid, and Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Use of a Single Cartridge.

The rapid and robust identification of mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) strains mediating multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) phenotypes is crucial to combating the MDR tuberculosis (TB) epidemic. Currently available molecular anti-TB drug susceptibility tests either are restricted to a single target or drug (i.e., the Xpert MTB/RIF test) or present a risk of cross-contamination due to the design limitations of the open platform (i.e., line probe assays). With a good understanding of the technical and commercial boundaries, we designed a test cartridge based on an oligonucleotide array into which dried reagents are introduced and which has the ability to identify MTBC strains resistant to isoniazid, rifampin, and the fluoroquinolones. The melting curve assay interrogates 43 different mutations in the rifampin resistance-determining region (RRDR) of rpoB, rpoB codon 572, katG codon 315, the inhA promoter region, and the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of gyrA in a closed cartridge system within 90 min. Assay performance was evaluated with 265 clinical MTBC isolates, including MDR/XDR, non-MDR, and fully susceptible isolates, from a drug resistance survey performed in Swaziland in 2009 and 2010. In 99.5% of the cases, the results were consistent with data previously acquired utilizing Sanger sequencing. The assay, which uses a closed cartridge system in combination with a battery-powered Alere q analyzer and which has the potential to extend the current gene target panel, could serve as a rapid and robust point-of-care test in settings lacking a comprehensive molecular laboratory infrastructure to differentiate TB patients infected with MDR and non-MDR strains and to assist clinicians with their early treatment decisions.

PVL overexpression due to genomic rearrangements and mutations in the S. aureus reference strain ATCC25923.

OBJECTIVE: ATCC25923 is a Staphylococcus aureus strain that is positive for the Panton Valentin leukocidin. It has been used for decades as reference strain. We observed that two separately maintained clones of ATCC25923 ("G477 and G478") differed grossly in the expression of this toxin. For that reason, both clones were sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq instrument. After assembling, the final sequences were analyzed and mapped to a previously published ATCC25923 sequence (GenBank CP009361) using bl2seq from the NCBI Blast2 package. RESULTS: The genomes of G477 and G478 size 2778,859 and 2792,213 nucleotides, respectively. Both genomes include a circular plasmid of 27,490 nucleotides. The sequence of the G477 chromosome maps nearly exactly to CP009361. G478 has a slightly larger size because of the presence of an additional transposable element tnp13k. The second copy of that tnp13k element is located in an intergenic region between the genes mazF and rsbU. The sequences of the ATCC25923 clones G477 and G478 differ mainly in the insertion of a second tnp13k element between the genes mazF and rsbU. That insertion may lead to a different transcription of that genome region resulting in upregulation of the expression of the Panton-Valentine leukocidin in the ATCC25923 clone G478.

Investigating a rare methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain: first description of genome sequencing and molecular characterization of CC15-MRSA.

PURPOSE: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC15 strains (CC15-MRSA) have only been sporadically described in literature. This study was carried out to describe the genetic make-up for this rare MRSA strain. METHODS: Four CC15-MRSA isolates collected in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2013 and 2014 were studied. Two isolates were from clinical infection and 2 from retail meat products. Whole genome sequencing was carried out using Illumina HiSeq2500 genome analyzer. RESULTS: All the CC15-MRSA isolates had the multilocus sequence typing profile ST1535, 13-13-1-1-81-11-13, which is a single locus variant of ST15. Of the 6 contigs related to the SCC element, one comprised a recombinase gene ccrAA, ccrC-PM1, fusC and a helicase, another one included mvaS, dru, mecA and 1 had yobV and Q4LAG7. The SCC element had 5 transposase genes, namely 3 identical paralogs of tnpIS431 and 2 identical paralogs of tnpIS256. Two identical copies of a tnpIS256-based insertion element flank the aacA-aphD gene. Two copies of this insertion element were present with 1 located in the SCC element and another inserted into the sasC gene. A short 3 kb region, which lacks any bacteriophage structural genes and site-specific DNA integrase, was inserted into the hlb gene. The hsdM and the 5'-part of the hsdS gene are replaced by a copy of the hsdM/hsdS paralogs from νSaß giving rise to a new chimeric paralog of hsdS in νSaα. CONCLUSION: CC15-MRSA shows a novel SCCmecV/SCCfus composite element. Its variant of hsdM/hsdS probably facilitated uptake of foreign mobile genetic elements that promoted emergence of CC15-MRSA. Close surveillance is needed to monitor spread and emergence of further CC15 MRSA strains.

An application of competitive reporter monitored amplification (CMA) for rapid detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are essential parameters in molecular diagnostics and can be used for the early detection and clinical prognosis in various diseases. Available methods for SNP detection are still labor-intensive and require a complex laboratory infrastructure, which are not suitable for the usage in resource-limited settings. Thus, there is an urgent need for a simple, reliable and rapid approach. In this paper we modified the previously developed competitive reporter monitored amplification (CMA) technique for the detection of resistance mediating SNPs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) strains. As a proof-of-principle for the application of the CMA-based SNP assay in routine molecular tuberculosis diagnostic, we show that the assay recognizes resistance mediating SNPs for rifampicin, isoniazid and ethambutol from either isolated DNA or heat inactivated M. tuberculosis cell cultures. The CMA-based SNP assay can identify the most prevalent resistance mediating mutations in the genes rpoB, katG, embB, and the promotor region of inhA within one hour.

Rapid genotyping of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 strains by a novel DNA microarray-based assay during the outbreak investigation in Warstein, Germany 2013.

Between 1 August and 6 September 2013, an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease (LD) with 78 cases confirmed by positive urinary antigen tests occurred in Warstein, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Legionella (L.) pneumophila, serogroup (Sg) 1, monoclonal antibody (mAb) subgroup Knoxville, sequence type (ST) 345, was identified as the epidemic strain. This strain was isolated from seven patients. To detect the source of the infection, epidemiological typing of clinical and environmental strains was performed in two consecutive steps. First, strains were typed by monoclonal antibodies. Indistinguishable strains were further subtyped by sequence-based typing (SBT) which is the internationally recognized standard method for epidemiological genotyping of L. pneumophila. In an early stage of the outbreak investigation, many environmental isolates were found to belong to the mAb subgroup Knoxville, but to two different STs, namely to ST 345, the epidemic strain, and to ST 600. A majority of environmental isolates belonged to ST 600 whereas the epidemic ST 345 strain was less common in environmental samples. To rapidly distinguish both Knoxville strains, we applied a novel typing method based on DNA-hybridization on glass chips. The new assay can easily and rapidly discriminate L. pneumophila Sg 1 strains. Thus, we were able to quickly identify the sources harboring the epidemic strain, i.e., two cooling towers of different companies, the waste water treatment plants (WWTP) of the city and one company as well as water samples of the river Wester and its branches.

In silico serine ß-lactamases analysis reveals a huge potential resistome in environmental and pathogenic species.

The secretion of antimicrobial compounds is an ancient mechanism with clear survival benefits for microbes competing with other microorganisms. Consequently, mechanisms that confer resistance are also ancient and may represent an underestimated reservoir in environmental bacteria. In this context, ß-lactamases (BLs) are of great interest due to their long-term presence and diversification in the hospital environment, leading to the emergence of Gram-negative pathogens that are resistant to cephalosporins (extended spectrum BLs = ESBLs) and carbapenems (carbapenemases). In the current study, protein sequence databases were used to analyze BLs, and the results revealed a substantial number of unknown and functionally uncharacterized BLs in a multitude of environmental and pathogenic species. Together, these BLs represent an uncharacterized reservoir of potentially transferable resistance genes. Considering all available data, in silico approaches appear to more adequately reflect a given resistome than analyses of limited datasets. This approach leads to a more precise definition of BL clades and conserved motifs. Moreover, it may support the prediction of new resistance determinants and improve the tailored development of robust molecular diagnostics.

Diversity of SCCmec Elements in Staphylococcus aureus as Observed in South-Eastern Germany.

SCCmec elements are very important mobile genetic elements in Staphylococci that carry beta-lactam resistance genes mecA/mecC, recombinase genes and a variety of accessory genes. Twelve main types and a couple of variants have yet been described. In addition, there are also other SCC elements harbouring other markers. In order to subtype strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) based on variations within their SCCmec elements, 86 markers were selected from published SCC sequences for an assay based on multiplexed primer extension reactions followed by hybridisation to the specific probes. These included mecA/mecC, fusC, regulatory genes, recombinase genes, genes from ACME and heavy metal resistance loci as well as several genes of unknown function. Hybridisation patterns for published genome or SCC sequences were theoretically predicted. For validation of the microarray based assay and for stringent hybridisation protocol optimization, real hybridization experiments with fully sequenced reference strains were performed modifying protocols until yielded the results were in concordance to the theoretical predictions. Subsequently, 226 clinical isolates from two hospitals in the city of Dresden, Germany, were characterised in detail. Beside previously described types and subtypes, a wide variety of additional SCC types or subtypes and pseudoSCC elements were observed as well as numerous composite elements. Within the study collection, 61 different such elements have been identified. Since hybridisation cannot recognise the localisation of target genes, gene duplications or inversions, this is a rather conservative estimate. Interestingly, some widespread epidemic strains engulf distinct variants with different SCCmec subtypes. Notable examples are ST239-MRSA-III, CC5-, CC22-, CC30-, and CC45-MRSA-IV or CC398-MRSA-V. Conversely, identical SCC elements were observed in different strains with SCCmec IVa being spread among the highest number of Clonal Complexes. The proposed microarray can help to distinguish isolates that appear similar or identical by other typing methods and it can be used as high-throughput screening tool for the detection of putative new SCC types or variants that warrant further investigation and sequencing. The high degree of diversity of SCC elements even within so-called strains could be helpful for epidemiological typing. It also raises the question on scale and speed of the evolution of SCC elements.

A clonal complex 12 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain, West Australian MRSA-59, harbors a novel pseudo-SCCmec element.

A West Australian methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain (WA MRSA-59) was characterized by microarray and sequencing. Its pseudo-staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) element comprised dcs, Q9XB68-dcs, mvaS-SCC, Q5HJW6, dru, ugpQ, ydeM, mecA-mecR-mecI, txbi mecI, tnp IS431, copA2-mco (copper resistance), ydhK, arsC-arsB-arsR (arsenic resistance), open reading frame PT43, and per-2. Recombinase genes, xylR (mecR2), and PSM-mec (phenol-soluble modulin) were absent. We suggest that mec complex A should be split into two subtypes. One harbors PSM-mec and xylR (mecR2). It is found in SCCmec types II, III, and VIII. The second subtype, described herein, is present in WA MRSA-59 and some coagulase-negative staphylococci.