Isolation and whole-genome sequencing analysis of Escherichia fergusonii harboring a heat-labile enterotoxin gene from retail chicken meat in Okinawa, Japan.

This study aimed to reveal the prevalence of heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) gene-positive Escherichia fergusonii in retail chicken meat and genetically characterize these strains. E. fergusonii harboring LT gene was isolated from 6 out of 60 (10%) retail chicken samples in Okinawa, Japan. Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed that LT gene-positive E. fergusonii from chicken meat and feces contain an IncFII plasmid harboring elt1AB, and suggested to spread clonally to retail chicken through fecal contamination. Additionally, it was found that these strains harbor multidrug-resistant genes on their plasmids. Their pathogenicity and continuous monitoring are required for confirmation.

Synthesis and photochemical properties of caged peroxides for photocontrol of cellular oxidative stress.

We developed a caged hydroperoxide, BhcTBHP, releasing prooxidant TBHP under blue light irradiation. MitoTBHP with triphenylphosphonium at position 7 triggered selective oxidative stress and membrane depolarization in mitochondria upon photoirradiation. This study presents a powerful tool for studying redox signaling and oxidative stress in living cells.

The Spread of Heat-Labile Enterotoxin-Harboring Escherichia fergusonii in Broiler Chickens and Pigs in Okinawa, Japan.

In 2012, Escherichia fergusonii harboring a heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) was isolated from healthy chickens in South Korea. However, little is known regarding the prevalence, spread, and pathogenicity of these strains in humans and animals. This study aimed to understand the public health threats, such as the distribution, antimicrobial resistance, and genetic diversity of E. fergusonii carrying LTs. E. fergusonii containing LT was isolated from 15.0% (52/346) of chicken fecal samples from all three tested chicken farms but not from 360 pig fecal samples. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that over 75% of strains were resistant to ampicillin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, streptomycin, or tetracycline; additionally, 71.2% (37/52) of strains were resistant to all five of these antimicrobials. The 52 strains were clustered into eight pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) types, with types V and type VI accounting for 84.6% (44/52). In the present study, multiple chicken farms harbored E. fergusonii with similar antimicrobial resistance patterns and genetic clonality. Since the pathogenicity of LT-bearing E. fergusonii in humans and animals, such as food poisoning and sporadic diarrhea via meat, the transmission of the strains, and the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes are unknown, additional research is required.