Food safety news events classification via a hierarchical transformer model.

In light of the significance of regulatory authorities and the rising demand for information disclosure, a vast amount of information on food safety news reports is readily accessible on the Internet. The extraction of such information for precise classification and provision of appropriate safety alerts based on their respective categories has emerged as a challenging problem for academic research. Given that most food safety-related events in news reports comprise lengthy text, the pre-trained language models currently employed for text analysis are generally limited in their capability to handle long documents. This paper proposes a long-text classification model utilising hierarchical Transformers. We categorise information in long documents into two distinct types: (1) multiple text chunks meeting the length constraint and (2) essential sentences within long documents, such as headings, paragraph start and end sentences, etc. Initially, our proposed model utilises the text chunks as input to the BERT model. Then, it concatenates the output of the BERT model with the important sentences from the document and use them as input to the Transformer model for feature transformation. Finally, we utilise a classifier for food safety news classification. We conducted several comparative experiments with various commonly used text classification models on a dataset constructed from publicly available information on food regulatory websites. Our proposed method outperforms existing methods, establishing itself as the leading approach in terms of performance.

A correlation graph attention network for classifying chromosomal instabilities from histopathology whole-slide images.

The chromosome instability (CIN) is one of the hallmarks of cancer and is closely related to tumor metastasis. However, the sheer size and resolution of histopathology whole-slide images (WSIs) already challenges the capabilities of computational pathology. In this study, we propose a correlation graph attention network (MLP-GAT) that can construct graphs for classifying multi-type CINs from the WSIs of breast cancer. We construct a WSIs dataset of breast cancer from the Cancer Genome Atlas Breast Invasive Carcinoma (TCGA-BRCA). Extensive experiments show that MLP-GAT far outperforms accepted state-of-the-art methods and demonstrate the advantages of the constructed graph networks for analyzing WSI data. The visualization shows the difference among the tiles in a WSI. Furthermore, the generalization performance of the proposed method was verified on the stomach cancer. This study provides guidance for studying the relationship between CIN and cancer from the perspective of image phenotype.

An Entropy-Based Method with a New Benchmark Dataset for Chinese Textual Affective Structure Analysis.

Affective understanding of language is an important research focus in artificial intelligence. The large-scale annotated datasets of Chinese textual affective structure (CTAS) are the foundation for subsequent higher-level analysis of documents. However, there are very few published datasets for CTAS. This paper introduces a new benchmark dataset for the task of CTAS to promote development in this research direction. Specifically, our benchmark is a CTAS dataset with the following advantages: (a) it is Weibo-based, which is the most popular Chinese social media platform used by the public to express their opinions; (b) it includes the most comprehensive affective structure labels at present; and (c) we propose a maximum entropy Markov model that incorporates neural network features and experimentally demonstrate that it outperforms the two baseline models.

Effects of virtual reality-based intervention on depression in stroke patients: a meta-analysis.

As one of the most common neuropsychiatric complications after stroke, post-stroke depression can significantly affect the initiative of rehabilitation exercise and the rehabilitation of neurological function of patients. Virtual reality (VR) has been widely used in health-related fields in recent years. There is some evidence that VR-based interventions have benefits for depression. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of VR-based intervention on depression in stroke patients. A total of 752 patients with stroke from 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studies were included in this meta-analysis and the studies derived from seven electronic databases searched from database inception to August 2021. Different tools were used to measure depression. For continuous results, the standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to synthesize the effects. We assessed the risk of bias by using the Cochrane Collaboration criteria. The results showed that compared to the control group, VR-based interventions significantly decreased the depression scale score (SMD = - 0.75, 95% CI - 1.35, - 0.15). The meta-analysis indicated that VR-based intervention had a moderate effect on depression in stroke patients compared to control group. There was no evidence of potential publication bias as assessed by visual inspection of funnel plots in Egger and Begg tests. Substantial heterogeneity between studies was observed, meta-regression analysis showed that mean age might be the source of heterogeneity.

Epstein-Barr Virus in Burkitt Lymphoma in Africa Reveals a Limited Set of Whole Genome and LMP-1 Sequence Patterns: Analysis of Archival Datasets and Field Samples From Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL), but the contribution of EBV variants is ill-defined. Studies of EBV whole genome sequences (WGS) have identified phylogroups that appear to be distinct for Asian versus non-Asian EBV, but samples from BL or Africa, where EBV was first discovered, are under-represented. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of EBV WGS and LMP-1 sequences obtained primarily from BL patients in Africa and representative non-African EBV from other conditions or regions using data from GenBank, Sequence Read Archive, or Genomic Data Commons for the Burkitt Lymphoma Genome Sequencing Project (BLGSP) to generate data to support the use of a simpler biomarker of geographic or phenotypic associations. We also investigated LMP-1 patterns in 414 eBL cases and 414 geographically matched controls in the Epidemiology of Burkitt Lymphoma in East African children and minors (EMBLEM) study using LMP-1 PCR and Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct genetic patterns of African versus Asian EBV sequences. We identified 281 single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in LMP-1 promoter and coding region, which formed 12 unique patterns (A to L). Nine patterns (A, AB, C, D, F, I, J, K and L) predominated in African EBV, of which four were found in 92% of BL samples (A, AB, D, and H). Predominant patterns were B and G in Asia and H in Europe. EBV positivity in peripheral blood was detected in 95.6% of EMBLEM eBL cases versus 79.2% of the healthy controls (odds ratio [OR] =3.83; 95% confidence interval 2.06-7.14). LMP-1 was successfully sequenced in 66.7% of the EBV DNA positive cases but in 29.6% of the controls (ORs ranging 5-11 for different patterns). Four LMP-1 patterns (A, AB, D, and K) were detected in 63.1% of the cases versus 27.1% controls (ORs ranges: 5.58-11.4). Dual strain EBV infections were identified in WGS and PCR-Sanger data. In conclusion, EBV from Africa is phylogenetically separate from EBV in Asia. Genetic diversity in LMP-1 formed 12 patterns, which showed promising geographic and phenotypic associations. Presence of multiple strain infection should be considered in efforts to refine or improve EBV markers of ancestry or phenotype. Lay Summary: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, a ubiquitous infection, contributes to the etiology of both Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, yet their global distributions vary geographically with no overlap. Genomic variation in EBV is suspected to play a role in the geographical patterns of these EBV-associated cancers, but relatively few EBV samples from BL have been comprehensively studied. We sought to compare phylogenetic patterns of EBV genomes obtained from BL samples in Africa and from tumor and non-tumor samples from elsewhere. We concluded that EBV obtained from BL in Africa is genetically separate from EBV in Asia. Through comprehensive analysis of nucleotide variations in EBV's LMP-1 gene, we describe 12 LMP-1 patterns, two of which (B and G) were found mostly in Asia. Four LMP-1 patterns (A, AB, D, and F) accounted for 92% of EBVs sequenced from BL in Africa. Our results identified extensive diversity of EBV, but BL in Africa was associated with a limited number of variants identified, which were different from those identified in Asia. Further research is needed to optimize the use of PCR and sequencing to study LMP-1 diversity for classification of EBV variants and for use in epidemiologic studies to characterize geographic and/or phenotypic associations of EBV variants with EBV-associated malignancies, including eBL.

The Role of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width in the Severity and Prognosis of Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to unravel the correlation between RDW and the severity and prognosis of CAP, as well as exploring RDW with the inflammatory markers white blood cells (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT). Methods: According to the data characteristics, appropriate statistical methods were selected to analyze the relationship between RDW and the severity and prognosis of CAP patients and to determine whether RDW is associated with the inflammatory markers WBC, CRP, and PCT. Results: The results show that with the increase of PSI and CURB-65 values, the proportion of patients with RDW ≥ 12.987% is significantly higher than that of RDW < 12.987% (P < 0.01). When RDW is combined with PSI or CURB-65 to predict the 90-day mortality of CAP patients, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve increased prominently, and if RDW, PSI, and CURB-65 are combined, the area under the ROC curve is maximized. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the higher RDW value is associated with short-term adverse outcomes in CAP patients. We also find that when RDW, PSI, and CURB-65 are combined, the best performance is achieved to predict CAP 90-day mortality risk.

Draft Genome Sequences of Blastococcus sp. Clones TML/M2B and TML/C7B, with Different Motilities, Isolated in a Laboratory.

Two novel Blastococcus sp. clones, TML/M2B and TML/C7B, with 2 different stable growth phenotypes, were isolated from a laboratory tissue culture. The draft genome sequences generated through genomic sequencing of clones TML/M2B and TML/C7B contain 4 and 2 contigs, respectively. The respective genome sizes are 4.10 Mb and 4.11 Mb, with G+C contents of 74.17% and 74.14%, respectively.

Comparative Genomics, Infectivity and Cytopathogenicity of American Isolates of Zika Virus that Developed Persistent Infections in Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK293) Cells.

Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission can cause serious fetal neurological abnormalities. ZIKV persistence in various human cells and tissues can serve as infectious reservoirs and post serious threats to public health. The human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cell line with known neuronal developmental properties was readily infected by ZIKV in a strain-dependent fashion. Significant cytopathic effect in HEK293 cells infected by the prototype MR 766 strain of ZIKV resulted in complete loss of cells, while small numbers of HEK293 cells infected by contemporary ZIKV isolates (PRV or FLR strain) continued to survive and regrow to confluency in the culture around two months after initial infection. Most, if not all, of the cells in the two resulting persistently ZIKV-infected HEK293 cell lines tested positive for ZIKV antigen. Compared to HEK293 control cells, the persistently ZIKV-infected HEK293 cells had slower growth rates with some cells undergoing apoptosis in culture. The "persistent ZIKVs" produced constitutively by both PRV and FLR strains ZIKV-infected HEK293 cells had significantly attenuated cell infectivity and/or cytopathogenicity. Comparative genome sequence analyses between the persistent ZIKVs and the original inoculum ZIKVs showed no clonal selection with specific gene mutations in the prolonged process of establishing persistently PRV strain ZIKV-infected HEK293 cells; while selection of ZIKV subclones with mutations in the envelope, protein pr and multiple NS genes was evident in developing persistently FLR strain ZIKV-infected HEK293 cell line. Our study provides molecular insights into the complex interplays of ZIKV and human host cells in establishing ZIKV persistence.

Time-resolved fluorescent immunochromatographic assay-based on three antibody labels for the simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1 and zearalenone in Chinese herbal medicines.

A time-resolved fluorescent immunochromatographic assay (TRFICA) was successfully developed for the sensitive, simultaneous, and quantitative detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN) in Chinese herbal medicines. Eu-nanospheres (EuNPs) with unique optical properties increased the stability and sensitivity of the immunochromatographic assay. To obtain stable quantitative results, we applied a three-label system in which monoclonal antibodies for AFB1 and ZEN were conjugated to the EuNPs as detection probes on the test line (T line), and EuNP-labelled chicken IgY conjugates acted as the reference on the control line (C line). The fluorescence intensities of the T and C lines were recorded, and the T/C ratio was employed as the quantitative signal for the elimination of strip variation and matrix effects. The parameters that affected the TRFICA were optimised. Under optimal conditions, the established TRFICA gave good linear ranges from 0.60 µg/kg to 3.92 µg/kg for AFB1 and from 0.40 µg/kg to 1.28 µg/kg for ZEN. The limits of detection for AFB1 and ZEN were as low as 0.60 and 0.40 µg/kg, respectively, in Chinese herbal medicines Semen coicis, Rhizoma dioscoreae, and Platycodon grandiflorus, respectively. The average recoveries of the spiked samples were 73%-95% for AFB1 and 75.83%-90% for ZEN, both with a relative standard deviation of < 9.08%. The results of 15 actual samples detected by the developed TRFICA showed a satisfactory correlation with those of ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Therefore, the TRFICA is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach to quantitatively detect mycotoxins in Chinese herbal medicines.

Comparative genomics, infectivity and cytopathogenicity of Zika viruses produced by acutely and persistently infected human hematopoietic cell lines.

Zika virus (ZIKV), an arthropod-borne virus, has emerged as a major human pathogen. Prolonged or persistent ZIKV infection of human cells and tissues may serve as a reservoir for the virus and present serious challenges to the safety of public health. Human hematopoietic cell lines with different developmental properties revealed differences in susceptibility and outcomes to ZIKV infection. In three separate studies involving the prototypic MR 766 ZIKV strain and the human monocytic leukemia U937 cell line, ZIKV initially developed only a low-grade infection at a slow rate. After continuous culture for several months, persistently ZIKV-infected cell lines were observed with most, if not all, cells testing positive for ZIKV antigen. The infected cultures produced ZIKV RNA (v-RNA) and infectious ZIKVs persistently ("persistent ZIKVs") with distinct infectivity and pathogenicity when tested using various kinds of host cells. When the genomes of ZIKVs from the three persistently infected cell lines were compared with the genome of the prototypic MR 766 ZIKV strain, distinct sets of mutations specific to each cell line were found. Significantly, all three "persistent ZIKVs" were capable of infecting fresh U937 cells with high efficiency at rapid rates, resulting in the development of a new set of persistently ZIKV-infected U937 cell lines. The genomes of ZIKVs from the new set of persistently ZIKV-infected U937 cell lines were further analyzed for their different mutations. The 2nd generation of persistent ZIKVs continued to possess most of the distinct sets of mutations specific to the respective 1st generation of persistent ZIKVs. We anticipate that the study will contribute to the understanding of the fundamental biology of adaptive mutations and selection during viral persistence. The persistently ZIKV-infected human cell lines that we developed will also be useful to investigate critical molecular pathways of ZIKV persistence and to study drugs or countermeasures against ZIKV infections and transmission.

Frequency of EBV LMP-1 Promoter and Coding Variations in Burkitt Lymphoma Samples in Africa and South America and Peripheral Blood in Uganda.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is linked to several cancers, including endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL), but causal variants are unknown. We recently reported novel sequence variants in the LMP-1 gene and promoter in EBV genomes sequenced from 13 of 14 BL biopsies. Alignments of the novel sequence variants for 114 published EBV genomes, including 27 from BL cases, revealed four LMP-1 variant patterns, designated A to D. Pattern A variant was found in 48% of BL EBV genomes. Here, we used PCR-Sanger sequencing to evaluate 50 additional BL biopsies from Ghana, Brazil, and Argentina, and peripheral blood samples from 113 eBL cases and 115 controls in Uganda. Pattern A was found in 60.9% of 64 BL biopsies evaluated. Compared to PCR-negative subjects in Uganda, detection of Pattern A in peripheral blood was associated with eBL case status (odds ratio [OR] 31.7, 95% confidence interval: 6.8⁻149), controlling for relevant confounders. Variant Pattern A and Pattern D were associated with eBL case status, but with lower ORs (9.7 and 13.6, respectively). Our results support the hypothesis that EBV LMP-1 Pattern A may be associated with eBL, but it is not the sole associated variant. Further research is needed to replicate and elucidate our findings.

Preparation of high affinity antibody for ribavirin with new haptens and residue analysis in chicken muscle, eggs and duck muscle.

In this work, high affinity polyclonal antibodies for ribavirin (RBV) from new haptens were prepared and were used to analyse RBV residues in chicken muscle, eggs and duck muscle. The new haptens were synthesised with different spacers, and the best antibody was obtained with an IC50 value as low as 0.61 ng/mL in indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The cross-reactivities with another five antiviral drugs including amantadine, rimantadine, moroxydine, zanamivir and oseltamivir were less than 0.1%, which indicated the good specificity of the antibody. An ELISA was developed based on the antibody and applied to detect RBV in multi-food matrices. The sample preparation prior to detection only needed simple dilution after trichloroacetic acid extraction. The limits of detection were 1.07, 1.18 and 1.03 µg/kg in chicken muscle, eggs and duck muscle, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 89.0% to 112.7% with coefficients of variation below 13.0%. Ten blind samples of chicken muscle were analysed simultaneously by ELISA and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and a good correlation between the methods was observed. The results indicated that the high affinity antibody could be applied for the simple and fast detection of RBV in multi-food matrices.

NUCKS nuclear elevated expression indicates progression and prognosis of ovarian cancer.

NUCKS (nuclear, casein kinase, and cyclin-dependent kinase substrate) is implicated in the tumorigenesis of several human malignancies, but its role in ovarian cancer remains unknown. We aim to investigate NUCKS expression and its clinical significance in ovarian cancer. The messenger RNA expression of NUCKS was determined in normal and malignant ovarian tissues using quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the status of NUCKS protein expression in 121 ovarian cancer tissues. NUCKS protein high expression was detected in 52 (43.0%) of 121 patients. NUCKS messenger RNA expression was gradually upregulated in non-metastatic ovarian cancers ( n = 20), metastatic ovarian cancers ( n = 20), and its matched metastatic lesions ( n = 20) in comparison with that in normal ovarian tissues ( n = 10; p < 0.05). Elevated expression of NUCKS in ovarian cancer was associated significantly with the Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage ( p = 0.037), histological grade ( p = 0.003), residual disease ( p = 0.013), lymph node metastasis ( p = 0.002), response to chemotherapy ( p < 0.001), and recurrence ( p = 0.013). In the multivariate Cox analysis, NUCKS expression was an independent prognostic marker for overall survival and disease-free survival in ovarian cancer with p values of <0.001 for both. Especially, NUCKS overexpression had prognostic potential for overall survival and disease-free survival ( p < 0.001 for both) in advanced ovarian cancers and only for disease-free survival in early ovarian cancers ( p = 0.017). Our data suggest that NUCKS overexpression may contribute to progression and poor prognosis in ovarian cancer especially in advanced ovarian cancer.

A new chemotype inhibitor for the human organic cation transporter 3 (hOCT3).

Human organic cation transporters (OCTs) represent an understudied neurotransmitter uptake mechanism for which no selective agents have yet been identified. Several neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin, norepinephrine) are low-affinity substrates for these transporters, but possess higher affinity for other transporters (e.g. the serotonin or norepinephrine transporters; SERT and NET, respectively). We have identified a new class of OCT inhibitors with a phenylguanidine structural scaffold. Here, we examine the actions of a series of such compounds and report preliminary structure-activity relationships (SARs) - the first dedicated SAR study of OCT3 action. Initial results showed that the presence of a substituent on the phenyl ring, as well as its position, contributes to the phenylguanidines' inhibitory potency (IC50 values ranging from 2.2 to >450µM) at hOCT3. There is a trend towards enhanced inhibitory potency of phenylguanidines with increased lipophilic character and the size of the substituent at the phenyl 4-position, with the latter reaching a ceiling effect. The first PiPT-based hOCT3 homology models were generated and are in agreement with our biological data.

First report of the multiresistance gene cfr in Streptococcus suis.

The multiresistance gene cfr was identified for the first time in streptococci, namely, in porcine Streptococcus suis isolate S10. The cfr gene was detected on the ~100-kb plasmid pStrcfr, where it was bracketed by two copies of the novel insertion sequence ISEnfa5, located in the same orientation. The detection of a cfr- and ISEnfa5-containing amplicon by inverse PCR suggests that ISEnfa5 may play a role in the dissemination of cfr.

Co-carriage of qnrS1, floR, and bla(CTX-M-14) on a multidrug-resistant plasmid in Escherichia coli isolated from pigs.

Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants were widely distributed among Enterobacteriaceae. The objectives of the present study were to analyze PMQR-positive Escherichia coli isolates from pigs, and to investigate the association between these determinants and other resistant genes. A total of 129 porcine E. coli isolates were included in this study. The presence of PMQR, floR, bla(CTX-M-14), and bla(TEM-1) genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and confirmed by subsequent sequencing. The PMQR-positive isolates were subjected to plasmid profiling, and transformation experiments were conducted to identify the quinolone resistance plasmids. The qnrS1 region of a quinolone resistance plasmid was cloned and sequenced. Among the 129 E. coli isolates, the positive rate for PMQR determinants was 42.6%, and the prevalence of qnr genes, aa(6')-Ib-cr, and qepA were 23.3%, 18.6%, and 0.8%, respectively. A qnrS1-carrying plasmid of 81 kb, named plasmid T078 (pT078), was detected from one multidrug-resistant isolate. Hybridization and PCR analysis confirmed that floR, bla(CTX-M-14), and bla(TEM-1) genes were also located on this plasmid. Sequence analysis identified the qnrS1 gene flanked by a truncated transposase gene. Moreover, complete tetracycline resistance genes tet(A) and tet(R) were found upstream of the qnrS1 gene, and floR gene was found downstream of the qnrS1 gene on the plasmid pT078. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the occurrence of qnrS1, floR, bla(CTX-M-14), bla(TEM-1), and tet(A) on one plasmid in E. coli isolated from food animals.

Identification of New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase 1 in Acinetobacter lwoffii of food animal origin.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the presence of metallo-ß-lactamase (MBL) genes and the genetic environment of the New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase gene bla(NDM-1) in bacteria of food animal origin. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Gram-negative bacteria with low susceptibility to imipenem (MIC>8 µg/mL) were isolated from swab samples collected from 15 animal farms and one slaughterhouse in eastern China. These bacteria were selected for phenotypic and molecular detection of known MBL genes and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. For the bla(NDM-1) positive isolate, conjugation and transformation experiments were carried out to assess plasmid transfer. Southern blotting was conducted to localize the bla(NDM-1) genes, and DNA sequencing was performed to determine the sequences of bla(NDM-1) and the flanking genes. In total, nine gram-negative bacteria of four different species presented a MBL phenotype. bla(NDM-1) was identified on a mobile plasmid named pAL-01 in an Acinetobacter lwoffii isolate of chicken origin. Transfer of pAL-01 from this isolate to E. coli J53 and JM109 resulted in resistance to multiple ß-lactams. Sequence analysis revealed that the bla(NDM-1) gene is attached to an intact insertion element ISAba125, whose right inverted repeat (IR-R) overlaps with the promoter sequence of bla(NDM-1). Thus, insertion of ISAba125 likely enhances the expression of bla(NDM-1). CONCLUSION: The identification of a bla(NDM-1)- carrying strain of A. lwoffii in chickens suggests the potential for zoonotic transmission of bla(NDM-1) and has important implications for food safety.

A novel phenicol exporter gene, fexB, found in enterococci of animal origin.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate two porcine Enterococcus isolates for the genetic basis of phenicol resistance and to determine the location and the genetic environment of the novel resistance gene. METHODS: A total of 391 isolates with reduced florfenicol susceptibility (MIC ≥ 16 mg/L), obtained from 557 nasal swabs of individual pigs, were screened by PCR for the known florfenicol resistance genes. Isolates that were negative in these PCRs were analysed for their species assignment and antimicrobial susceptibility. Plasmids were extracted and subjected to transformation and conjugation assays. Restriction fragments of the phenicol resistance plasmids were cloned and sequenced. The sequences obtained were analysed and compared with sequences deposited in the databases. RESULTS: The two isolates, Enterococcus faecium EFM-1 and Enterococcus hirae EH-1, exhibited MICs of chloramphenicol and florfenicol of 64 mg/L and carried a new phenicol resistance gene, designated fexB. This gene codes for a phenicol exporter of 469 amino acids organized in 14 transmembrane domains. The fexB gene was located on the 35 kb pEFM-1 from E. faecium and on the 25.3 kb pEH-1 from E. hirae, respectively. Both plasmids were non-conjugative. The fexB gene was found to be embedded in virtually the same genetic environment of 14.8 kb in both plasmids. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the new florfenicol exporter gene fexB. Based on its plasmid location, horizontal transfer from the enterococci to other bacteria is possible.