Uncertainty estimation for deep learning-based pectoral muscle segmentation via Monte Carlo dropout.

Objective. Deep Learning models are often susceptible to failures after deployment. Knowing when your model is producing inadequate predictions is crucial. In this work, we investigate the utility of Monte Carlo (MC) dropout and the efficacy of the proposed uncertainty metric (UM) for flagging of unacceptable pectoral muscle segmentations in mammograms.Approach. Segmentation of pectoral muscle was performed with modified ResNet18 convolutional neural network. MC dropout layers were kept unlocked at inference time. For each mammogram, 50 pectoral muscle segmentations were generated. The mean was used to produce the final segmentation and the standard deviation was applied for the estimation of uncertainty. From each pectoral muscle uncertainty map, the overall UM was calculated. To validate the UM, a correlation between the dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and UM was used. The UM was first validated in a training set (200 mammograms) and finally tested in an independent dataset (300 mammograms). ROC-AUC analysis was performed to test the discriminatory power of the proposed UM for flagging unacceptable segmentations.Main results. The introduction of dropout layers in the model improved segmentation performance (DSC = 0.95 ± 0.07 versus DSC = 0.93 ± 0.10). Strong anti-correlation (r= -0.76,p< 0.001) between the proposed UM and DSC was observed. A high AUC of 0.98 (97% specificity at 100% sensitivity) was obtained for the discrimination of unacceptable segmentations. Qualitative inspection by the radiologist revealed that images with high UM are difficult to segment.Significance. The use of MC dropout at inference time in combination with the proposed UM enables flagging of unacceptable pectoral muscle segmentations from mammograms with excellent discriminatory power.

Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities of Novel Antimicrobial Peptides against Multidrug-Resistant Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli.

Post-weaning diarrhea due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a common disease of piglets and causes great economic loss for the swine industry. Over the past few decades, decreasing effectiveness of conventional antibiotics has caused serious problems because of the growing emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Various studies have indicated that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have potential to serve as an alternative to antibiotics owing to rapid killing action and highly selective toxicity. Our previous studies have shown that AMP GW-Q4 and its derivatives possess effective antibacterial activities against the Gram-negative bacteria. Hence, in the current study, we evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of GW-Q4 and its derivatives against MDR ETEC and their minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) values were determined to be around 2~32 µg/mL. Among them, AMP Q4-15a-1 with the second lowest MIC (4 µg/mL) and the highest minimal hemolysis concentration (MHC, 256 µg/mL), thus showing the greatest selectivity (MHC/MIC = 64) was selected for further investigations. Moreover, Q4-15a-1 showed dose-dependent bactericidal activity against MDR ETEC in time-kill curve assays. According to the cellular localization and membrane integrity analyses using confocal microscopy, Q4-15a-1 can rapidly interact with the bacterial surface, disrupt the membrane and enter cytosol in less than 30 min. Minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of Q4-15a-1 is 4× MIC (16 µg/mL), indicating that Q4-15a-1 is effective against MDR ETEC biofilm. Besides, we established an MDR ETEC infection model with intestinal porcine epithelial cell-1 (IPEC-1). In this infection model, 32 µg/mL Q4-15a-1 can completely inhibit ETEC adhesion onto IPEC-1. Overall, these results suggested that Q4-15a-1 may be a promising antibacterial candidate for treatment of weaned piglets infected by MDR ETEC.

Multiple Displacement Amplification as a Solution for Low Copy Number Plasmid Sequencing.

Plasmids play a major role in bacterial adaptation to environmental stress and often contribute to antibiotic resistance and disease virulence. Although the complete sequence of each plasmid is essential for studying plasmid biology, most antibiotic resistance and virulence plasmids in Salmonella are present only in a low copy number, making extraction and sequencing difficult. Long read sequencing technologies require higher concentrations of DNA to provide optimal results. To resolve this problem, we assessed the sufficiency of multiple displacement amplification (MDA) for replicating Salmonella plasmid DNA to a satisfactory concentration for accurate sequencing and multiplexing. Nine Salmonella enterica isolates, representing nine different serovars carrying plasmids for which sequence data are already available at NCBI, were cultured and their plasmids isolated using an alkaline lysis extraction protocol. We then used the Phi29 polymerase to perform MDA, thereby obtaining enough plasmid DNA for long read sequencing. These amplified plasmids were multiplexed and sequenced on one single molecule, real-time (SMRT) cell with the Pacific Biosciences (Pacbio) Sequel sequencer. We were able to close all Salmonella plasmids (sizes ranged from 38 to 166 Kb) with sequencing coverage from 24 to 2,582X. This protocol, consisting of plasmid isolation, MDA, and multiplex sequencing, is an effective and fast method for closing high-molecular weight and low-copy-number plasmids. This high throughput protocol reduces the time and cost of plasmid closure.

Neurological deterioration as a result of improper neck position detected by intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in a cervical stenosis patient: A case report.

RATIONALE: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is widely used in spinal surgeries to prevent iatrogenic spinal cord injury (SCI). Most surgeons focus on avoiding neurological compromise intraoperatively, while ignoring the possibility of nerve damage preoperatively, such as neck positioning. Thus, this study aims to report a case with transient neurological deterioration due to improper neck position detected by IONM during cervical surgery. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 63-year-old male patient had been suffering from hypoesthesia of the upper and lower extremities for three years. DIAGNOSES: Severe cervical stenosis (C5-C7) and cervical ossification of a posterior longitudinal ligament. INTERVENTIONS: The cervical stenosis patient underwent an anterior cervical corpectomy decompression and fusion (ACDF) surgery with the assistance of IONM. When the lesion segment was exposed, the SSEP and MEP suddenly elicited difficulty indicating that the patient may have developed SCI. All the technical causes of IONM events were eliminated, and the surgeon suspended operation immediately and suspected that the IONM alerts were caused by cervical SCI due to the improper position of the neck. Subsequently, the surgeon repositioned the neck of the patient by using a thinner shoulders pad. OUTCOMES: At the end of the operation, the MEP and SSEP signals gradually returned to 75% and 80% of the baseline, respectively. Postoperatively, the muscle strength of bilateral biceps decreased from grade IV to grade III. Besides, the sensory disturbance of both upper extremities aggravated. However, the muscle power and hypoesthesia were significantly improved after three months of neurotrophic therapy and rehabilitation training, and no complications of nerve injury were found at the last follow-up visit. LESSONS: IONM, consisting of SSEP and MEP, should be applied throughout ACDF surgery from the neck positioning to suture incisions. Besides, in the ward 1to 2 days before operation, it is necessary for conscious patients with severe cervical stenosis to simulate the intraoperative neck position. If the conscious patients present signs of nerve damage, they can adjust the neck position immediately until the neurological symptoms relieve. Therefore, intraoperatively, the unconscious patient can be placed in a neck position that was confirmed preoperatively to prevent SCI.

A radiomics model for preoperative prediction of brain invasion in meningioma non-invasively based on MRI: A multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Prediction of brain invasion pre-operatively rather than postoperatively would contribute to the selection of surgical techniques, predicting meningioma grading and prognosis. Here, we aimed to predict the risk of brain invasion in meningioma pre-operatively using a nomogram by incorporating radiomic and clinical features. METHODS: In this case-control study, 1728 patients from Beijing Tiantan Hospital (training cohort: n = 1070) and Lanzhou University Second Hospital (external validation cohort: n = 658) were diagnosed with meningiomas by histopathology. Radiomic features were extracted from the T1-weighted post-contrast and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator was used to select the most informative features of different modalities. The support vector machine algorithm was used to predict the risk of brain invasion. Furthermore, a nomogram was constructed by incorporating radiomics signature and clinical risk factors, and decision curve analysis was used to validate the clinical usefulness of the nomogram. FINDINGS: Sixteen features were significantly correlated with brain invasion. The clinicoradiomic model derived from the fusing MRI sequences and sex resulted in the best discrimination ability for risk prediction of brain invasion, with areas under the curves (AUCs) of 0•857 (95% CI, 0•831-0•887) and 0•819 (95% CI, 0•775-0•863) and sensitivities of 72•8% and 90•1% in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. INTERPRETATION: Our clinicoradiomic model showed good performance and high sensitivity for risk prediction of brain invasion in meningioma, and can be applied in patients with meningiomas. FUNDING: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81772006, 81922040); the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (grant numbers 2019136); special fund project for doctoral training program of Lanzhou University Second Hospital (grant numbers YJS-BD-33).

Genome sequence analysis of 91 Salmonella Enteritidis isolates from mice caught on poultry farms in the mid 1990s.

A total of 91 draft genome sequences were used to analyze isolates of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis obtained from feral mice caught on poultry farms in Pennsylvania. One objective was to find mutations disrupting open reading frames (ORFs) and another was to determine if ORF-disruptive mutations were present in isolates obtained from other sources. A total of 83 mice were obtained between 1995-1998. Isolates separated into two genomic clades and 12 subgroups due to 742 mutations. Nineteen ORF-disruptive mutations were found, and in addition, bigA had exceptional heterogeneity requiring additional evaluation. The TRAMS algorithm detected only 6 ORF disruptions. The sefD mutation was the most frequently encountered mutation and it was prevalent in human, poultry, environmental and mouse isolates. These results confirm previous assessments of the mouse as a rich source of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis that varies in genotype and phenotype.

Complete Genome Sequences of Two Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Anatum Strains Isolated from Papaya.

Salmonella enterica is a major global foodborne pathogen that causes gastroenteritis and, in some cases, death. Salmonella serovar Anatum has been increasingly associated with foodborne salmonellosis outbreaks. In this report, we announce two complete genome sequences of Salmonella Anatum isolated from papaya fruit.

Comparison of Escherichia coli surface attachment methods for single-cell microscopy.

For in vivo, single-cell imaging bacterial cells are commonly immobilised via physical confinement or surface attachment. Different surface attachment methods have been used both for atomic force and optical microscopy (including super resolution), and some have been reported to affect bacterial physiology. However, a systematic comparison of the effects these attachment methods have on the bacterial physiology is lacking. Here we present such a comparison for bacterium Escherichia coli, and assess the growth rate, size and intracellular pH of cells growing attached to different, commonly used, surfaces. We demonstrate that E. coli grow at the same rate, length and internal pH on all the tested surfaces when in the same growth medium. The result suggests that tested attachment methods can be used interchangeably when studying E. coli physiology.

Radiomics analysis of placenta on T2WI facilitates prediction of postpartum haemorrhage: A multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Identification of pregnancies with postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) antenatally rather than intrapartum would aid delivery planning, facilitate transfusion requirements and decrease maternal complications. MRI has been increasingly used for placenta evaluation. Here, we aim to build a nomogram incorporating both clinical and radiomic features of placenta to predict the risk for PPH in pregnancies during caesarian delivery (CD). METHODS: A total of 298 pregnant women were retrospectively enrolled from Henan Provincial People's Hospital (training cohort: n = 207) and from The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (external validation cohort: n = 91). These women were suspected with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders and underwent MRI for placenta evaluation. All of them underwent CD and were singleton. PPH was defined as more than 1000 mL estimated blood loss (EBL) during CD. Radiomic features were selected based on their correlations with EBL. Radiomic, clinical, radiological, clinicoradiological and clinicoradiomic models were built to predict the risk of PPH for each patient. The model with the best prediction performance was validated with its discrimination ability, calibration curve and clinical application. FINDINGS: Thirty-five radiomic features showed strong correlation with EBL. The clinicoradiomic model resulted in the best discrimination ability for risk prediction of PPH, with AUC of 0.888 (95% CI, 0.844-0.933) and 0.832 (95% CI, 0.746-0.913), sensitivity of 91.2% (95% CI, 85.8%-96.7%) and 97.6% (95% CI, 92.7%-100%) in the training and validation cohort respectively. For patients with severe PPH (EBL more than 2000 mL), 53 out of 55 pregnancies (96.4%) in the training cohort and 18 out of 18 (100%) pregnancies in the validation cohort were identified by the clinicoradiomic model. The model performed better in patients without placenta previa (PP) than in patients with PP, with AUC of 0.983 compared with 0.867, sensitivity of 100% compared with 90.8% in the training cohort, AUC of 0.832 compared with 0.815, sensitivity of 97.6% compared with 97.2% in the validation cohort. INTERPRETATION: The clinicoradiomic model incorporating both prenatal clinical factors and radiomic signature of placenta on T2WI showed good performance for risk prediction of PPH. The predictive model can identify severe PPH with high sensitivity and can be applied in patients with and without PP.

A Putative Microcin Amplifies Shiga Toxin 2a Production of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen implicated in various multistate outbreaks. It encodes Shiga toxin on a prophage, and Shiga toxin production is linked to phage induction. An E. coli strain, designated 0.1229, that amplified Stx2a production when cocultured with E. coli O157:H7 strain PA2 was identified. Growth of PA2 in 0.1229 cell-free supernatants had a similar effect, even when supernatants were heated to 100°C for 10 min, but not after treatment with proteinase K. The secreted molecule was shown to use TolC for export and the TonB system for import. The genes sufficient for production of this molecule were localized to a 5.2-kb region of a 12.8-kb plasmid. This region was annotated, identifying hypothetical proteins, a predicted ABC transporter, and a cupin superfamily protein. These genes were identified and shown to be functional in two other E. coli strains, and bioinformatic analyses identified related gene clusters in similar and distinct bacterial species. These data collectively suggest that E. coli 0.1229 and other E. coli strains produce a microcin that induces the SOS response in target bacteria. Besides adding to the limited number of microcins known to be produced by E. coli, this study provides an additional mechanism by which stx2a expression is increased in response to the gut microflora.IMPORTANCE How the gut microflora influences the progression of bacterial infections is only beginning to be understood. Antibiotics are counterindicated for E. coli O157:H7 infections, limiting treatment options. An increased understanding of how the gut microflora directs O157:H7 virulence gene expression may lead to additional treatment options. This work identified E. coli strains that enhance the production of Shiga toxin by O157:H7 through the secretion of a proposed microcin. Microcins are natural antimicrobial peptides that target specific species, can act as alternatives to antibiotics, and mediate microbial competition. This work demonstrates another mechanism by which non-O157 E. coli strains may increase Shiga toxin production and adds to our understanding of microcins, a group of antimicrobials less well understood than colicins.

Design of Hierarchical Beads for Efficient Label-Free Cell Capture.

Defined hierarchical materials promise cell analysis and call for application-driven design in practical use. The further issue is to develop advanced materials and devices for efficient label-free cell capture with minimum instrumentation. Herein, the design of hierarchical beads is reported for efficient label-free cell capture. Silica nanoparticles (size of ≈15 nm) are coated onto silica spheres (size of ≈200 nm) to achieve nanoscale surface roughness, and then the rough silica spheres are combined with microbeads (≈150-1000 µm in diameter) to assemble hierarchical structures. These hierarchical beads are built via electrostatic interaction, covalent bonding, and nanoparticle adherence. Further, after functionalization by hyaluronic acid (HA), the hierarchical beads display desirable surface hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and chemical/structural stability. Due to the controlled surface topology and chemistry, HA-functionalized hierarchical beads afford high cell capture efficiency up to 98.7% in a facile label-free manner. This work guides the development of label-free cell capture techniques and contributes to the construction of smart interfaces in bio-systems.

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Virulence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Plasmid Profiles of Salmonella Dublin Isolated from Sick Cattle, Retail Beef, and Humans in the United States.

Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin is a host-adapted serotype associated with typhoidal disease in cattle. While rare in humans, it usually causes severe illness, including bacteremia. In the United States, Salmonella Dublin has become one of the most multidrug-resistant (MDR) serotypes. To understand the genetic elements that are associated with virulence and resistance, we sequenced 61 isolates of Salmonella Dublin (49 from sick cattle and 12 from retail beef) using the Illumina MiSeq and closed 5 genomes using the PacBio sequencing platform. Genomic data of eight human isolates were also downloaded from NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) for comparative analysis. Fifteen Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) and a spv operon (spvRABCD), which encodes important virulence factors, were identified in all 69 (100%) isolates. The 15 SPIs were located on the chromosome of the 5 closed genomes, with each of these isolates also carrying 1 or 2 plasmids with sizes between 36 and 329 kb. Multiple antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), including blaCMY-2, blaTEM-1B, aadA12, aph(3')-Ia, aph(3')-Ic, strA, strB, floR, sul1, sul2, and tet(A), along with spv operons were identified on these plasmids. Comprehensive antimicrobial resistance genotypes were determined, including 17 genes encoding resistance to 5 different classes of antimicrobials, and mutations in the housekeeping gene (gyrA) associated with resistance or decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones. Together these data revealed that this panel of Salmonella Dublin commonly carried 15 SPIs, MDR/virulence plasmids, and ARGs against several classes of antimicrobials. Such genomic elements may make important contributions to the severity of disease and treatment failures in Salmonella Dublin infections in both humans and cattle.

Genomic features of colistin resistant Escherichia coli ST69 strain harboring mcr-1 on IncHI2 plasmid from raw milk cheese in Egypt.

There is emerging evidence that food of animal origin may be responsible for the spread of multidrug resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli in the community. Here, we describe the emergence of colistin resistance gene, mcr-1, in a strain belonging to the dominant uropathogenic E. coli ST69 lineage. E. coli strain CFSAN061770 was isolated during monitoring of the popular Egyptian raw milk cheese, karish cheese, for the presence of colistin resistance. The complete genome of E. coli strain CFSAN061770 comprises a chromosome of 5,292,297 bp with a G + C content of 50.6%. Further, three plasmids named pEGY1-MCR-1, pEGY2 and pEGY3 of 228,947 bp, 103,234 bp and 87,012 bp were detected, respectively. Plasmid pEGY1-MCR-1 belongs to the IncHI2 incompatibility group and carries the colistin resistance mcr-1 gene flanked by two ISApl1 elements and forms a composite transposon. It mediates resistance to aminoglycosides (aadA1 and aadA2), phenicol (cmlA1 and floR), sulfonamides (sul3), and tetracycline (tet(A)), and these loci were found clustered in a multidrug resistant region. Plasmid pEGY3 carries a complex multiple resistance locus (CMR) (aph(3')-Ia, strA, strB, sul2, and blaTEM-1) encoding resistance to different classes of antibiotics. Interestingly, the closest plasmids to plasmid pEGY1-MCR-1 detected from the NCBI Blast search belonged to the incompatibility group IncHI2 and were from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar which suggests a dissemination of pEGY1-MCR-1-like plasmids in the Middle East. Most striking, and of great public health concern is that strain CFSAN061770 carries five virulence genes (iss, fimH, iutA, kpsMIII and kpsTIII) which were identified in clinical extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. Besides that, it carries the astA gene, which codes for the enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable toxin 1 (EAST1).

Retrospective whole-genome sequencing analysis distinguished PFGE and drug-resistance-matched retail meat and clinical Salmonella isolates.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella is a leading cause of outbreak and sporadic-associated foodborne illnesses in the United States. These infections have been associated with a range of foods, including retail meats. Traditionally, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) have been used to facilitate public health investigations of Salmonella infections. However, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has emerged as an alternative tool that can be routinely implemented. To assess its potential in enhancing integrated surveillance in Pennsylvania, USA, WGS was used to directly compare the genetic characteristics of 7 retail meat and 43 clinical historic Salmonella isolates, subdivided into 3 subsets based on PFGE and AST results, to retrospectively resolve their genetic relatedness and identify antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses revealed that the retail meat isolates within S. Heidelberg, S. Typhimurium var. O5- subset 1 and S. Typhimurium var. O5- subset 2 were separated from each primary PFGE pattern-matched clinical isolate by 6-12, 41-96 and 21-81 SNPs, respectively. Fifteen resistance genes were identified across all isolates, including fosA7, a gene only recently found in a limited number of Salmonella and a ≥95 % phenotype to genotype correlation was observed for all tested antimicrobials. Moreover, AMR was primarily plasmid-mediated in S. Heidelberg and S. Typhimurium var. O5- subset 2, whereas AMR was chromosomally carried in S. Typhimurium var. O5- subset 1. Similar plasmids were identified in both the retail meat and clinical isolates. Collectively, these data highlight the utility of WGS in retrospective analyses and enhancing integrated surveillance for Salmonella from multiple sources.

Closed Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica Serovar Richmond Strain CFSAN000191, Obtained with Nanopore Sequencing.

Here we report the genome sequence of Salmonella enterica serovar Richmond strain CFSAN000191, isolated from tilapia from Thailand in 2005. The genome was determined by a combination of long-read and short-read sequencing. This strain was used for source tracking in a 2012 Salmonella enterica serovar Bareilly foodborne outbreak in the United States.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Vancomycin-Resistant Sequence Type 203 Enterococcus faecium Strain with vanA Belonging to Complex Type 859.

In 2014, the first vancomycin-resistant (encoded by vanA) Enterococcus faecium isolate belonging to sequence type 203 (ST203) and complex type 859 (CT859) was detected in Denmark. In 2016, 64% of the Danish clinical vanA E. faecium isolates belonged to ST203 and CT859. Using Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) RS II sequencing, we describe the genome of ST203 CT859 vanA E. faecium.

First Complete Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Worthington Strain CFSAN051295, Isolated from Pistachio.

We report here, using third-generation, single-molecule, real-time DNA sequencing, the first complete genome sequence of Salmonella enterica serovar Worthington CFSAN051295, isolated from pistachios in the United States. The genome consists of a single 4.9-Mb chromosome.

Genes significantly associated with lineage II food isolates of Listeria monocytogenes.

BACKGROUND: Listeria monocytogenes is a widespread foodborne pathogen that can cause listeriosis, a potentially fatal infection. L. monocytogenes is subdivided into four phylogenetic lineages, with the highest incidence of listeriosis occurring within lineage I followed by lineage II. Strains of L. monocytogenes differ in their phenotypic characteristics, including virulence. However, the genetic bases for these observed differences are not well understood, and current efforts to monitor L. monocytogenes in food consider all strains to be equally virulent. We use a comparative genomics approach to identify genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 174 clinical and food isolates of L. monocytogenes that potentially contribute to virulence or the capacity to adapt to food environments. RESULTS: No SNPs are significantly associated with food or clinical isolates. No genes are significantly associated with food or clinical isolates from lineage I, but eight genes consisting of multiple homologues are associated with lineage II food isolates. These include three genes which encode hypothetical proteins, the cadmium resistance genes cadA and cadC, the multi-drug resistance gene ebrB, a quaternary ammonium compound resistance gene qac, and a regulatory gene. All eight genes are plasmid-borne, and most closed L. monocytogenes plasmids carry at least five of the genes (24/27). In addition, plasmids are more frequently associated with lineage II food isolates than with lineage II clinical isolates. CONCLUSIONS: We identify eight genes that are significantly associated with food isolates in lineage II. Interestingly, the eight genes are virtually absent in lineage II outbreak isolates, are composed of homologues which show a nonrandom distribution among lineage I serotypes, and the sequences are highly conserved across 27 closed Listeria plasmids. The functions of these genes should be explored further and will contribute to our understanding of how L. monocytogenes adapts to the host and food environments. Moreover, these genes may also be useful as markers for risk assessment models of either pathogenicity or the ability to proliferate in food and the food processing environment.

Closed Genome Sequence of Clostridium botulinum Strain CFSAN064329 (62A).

Clostridium botulinum is a strictly anaerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium that produces botulinum neurotoxin, a potent and deadly proteinaceous exotoxin. Clostridium botulinum strain CFSAN064329 (62A) produces an A1 serotype/subtype botulinum neurotoxin and is frequently utilized in food challenge and detection studies. We report here the closed genome sequence of Clostridium botulinum strain CFSAN064329 (62A).