The Complete Genome Sequence of a Gossypol-Degrading Bacterial Strain, Raoultella sp. YL01.

Cottonseed meal is an important source of plant protein for the meal fodder materials. But its usage in animal breeding industry is limited by a type of toxic phenol, gossypol, that has toxic effects on animal health. Microbial degradation is a promising way to lower down gossypol in cottonseed meal. However, the molecular mechanisms of bio-degradation of gossypol is still unclear. In this study we isolated a gossypol-degrading bacterial strain, YL01, and sequenced its complete genome via Oxford Nanopore sequencing method. There is a chromosome (5,737,005 bp) and a plasmid (136,446 bp) in YL01. 5489 protein coding genes in total were functionally annotated. 16S rRNA analysis showed that YL01 taxonomically belongs to the genus of Raoultella. YL01 is the first published complete genome sequence of microbes capable of gossypol degradation. Gene function annotation showed that 126 protein coding genes may involve in gossypol catabolism. Sequence similarity analysis showed that, as the only gossypol-degrading strain in the genus of Raoultella, YL01 uniquely holds 260 genes that are not possessed by other Raoultella strains. Our work gives a preliminary list for genes responsible for gossypol degradation but further investigations are needed to completely disclose this molecular processes.

Determination of Elemental Contents and Microbiological and Chemical Properties of Çökelek Cheeses Consumed in Turkey.

The Çökelek samples what 30 different were collected from randomly local bazaars to investigate heavy metal contaminant and mineral levels and some physicochemical and microbiological properties of samples. While the Pb was identified in 6 of the 30 samples, the As was only found in 4 of the samples. The mean major and trace element contents of Çökelek samples were ordered as Na > P > Ca > K > Mg and Al > Zn > Ni > Cu, respectively. The physicochemical properties indicated a high deviation among samples. The mean total solids, ash, salt, fat, protein waters soluble nitrogen contents, and sample ripening index were 29.83%, 1.88%, 0.68%, 4.31%, 19.84%, 0.33%, and 1.79%, respectively. The mean total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB) count of Çökelek samples was found as 8.26 log CFU g-1. The coliform bacteria and yeast-mold counts were detected in 11 and 27 of 30 samples, respectively. The mean coliform and yeast-mold counts were 1.82 log CFU g-1 and 7.11 log CFU g-1, respectively. Traditional cheeses are not mentioned in legal laws such as the Turkish Food Codex. So, there is no legal limit and standard production processes. This situation is a problem in terms of traditional cheese quality. For this reason, traditional cheese should perform further studied, and determine the legal limits.

Evaluation of canine raw food products for the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase- and carbapenemase-producing bacteria of the order Enterobacterales.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential contamination of commercial raw dog food products with bacteria of the Enterobacterales order that produce extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase enzymes, determine risk factors for contamination, and understand isolate genetic diversity. SAMPLES: A total of 200 canine raw food products. METHODS: Products were cultured on selective chromogenic agar following enrichment steps. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for isolates that were confirmed to produce an ESBL. Isolates were characterized by antimicrobial resistance genes, and multilocus sequences typing, and compared to other isolates in the NCBI database for clonality. Preservation method and protein sources were assessed as potential risk factors for contamination with ESBL and carbapenemase-producing bacteria of the Enterobacterales order. RESULTS: No carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) were identified, but ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bacteria were isolated from 20/200 products (10.0%; 95% CI, 7.3 to 16.5%), all of which were frozen. Pork-derived protein source products were 8.1 times (P = .001; 95% CI, 2.53 to 26.2) more likely to carry ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bacteria than other protein sources. WGS analysis confirmed the presence of ESBL genes in a total of 25 distinct isolates (19 Escherichia coli, 5 Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 1 Citrobacter braakii). Genes encoding CTX-M type ESBL enzymes were the most common (24/25 isolates, 96.0%) with blaCTX-M-27 being the most common allele (8/25, 32.0%). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Frozen, raw food products may serve as a route of transmission of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bacteria to companion animals. Veterinarians should advise owners about the risks of raw food diets, including potential exposure to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

Gastrointestinal colonization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria among children below five years of age hospitalized with fever in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

OBJECTIVES: Gastrointestinal colonization of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) is of concern because prior colonization increases risk for subsequent infections. To date, the link between ESBL-PE faecal carriage and the risk of subsequent ESBL-PE infection has not been well established, and information on carriage of such pathogens among children with invasive infections such as bloodstream infections (BSI) remains to be explored worldwide. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among children under the age of 5 years admitted for febrile illness in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, between March 2017 and July 2018. We used rectal swabs to screen for ESBL-PE using selective media, ChromID ESBL. Bacterial isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF. Blood cultures were drawn from all children. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done using a disk diffusion method. ESBL alleles were identified by real-time PCR and sequencing. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of ESBL-PE carriage was 56% (112/200) and was highest among children 4 to 6 months old (17/21, 81%) (P = 0.05). Children with BSI had high ESBL-PE carriage (78.4%) compared to those without BSI (53.1%) (P = 0.02; aOR 3.4, 95% confidence interval 1.20-9.58). The most common isolate was E. coli (64/112, 45%). Sixteen pairs of ESBL-PE isolates (from the gut and from blood) had a similar antimicrobial susceptibility profile. We detected blaCTX-M gene in 97% of all phenotypically detected ESBL-PE; among those, blaCTX-M-15 was dominant (99%). CONCLUSION: We report a high prevalence of ESBL-PE faecal carriage among children with BSI in Tanzania. Colonization of ESBL-PE was a risk factor for ESBL-BSI.

Regional Differences in Antibiotic-resistant Enterobacterales Urine Isolates in the United States: 2018-2020.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can complicate effective management of urinary tract infections. We conducted a retrospective study of AMR in Enterobacterales urine isolates from ambulatory and hospitalized adult patients from 2018-2020 (BD Insights Research Database) to evaluate regional differences in isolates with an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing phenotype and those not susceptible to beta-lactams, fluoroquinolone (FQ), nitrofurantoin (NFT), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), or multiple antibiotic classes (≥ 2 or ≥ 3). Our analyses included 349,741 Enterobacterales urine isolates from 321 inpatient facilities and 980,354 isolates from 338 ambulatory care facilities. In multivariable analyses, the highest rate of resistance was to beta-lactams (60.8% and 55.8% for inpatient and ambulatory settings, respectively), followed by FQ (27.5%), NFT (27.0%), and TMP/SMX (25.4%) for inpatients and by TMP/SMX (22.4%), FQ (21.6%), and NFT (21.6%) for ambulatory patients. Isolates with an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing phenotype (13.2% and 8.6% for inpatient and ambulatory settings, respectively) and multidrug resistance (inpatient and ambulatory rates of 23.4% and 17.7% for ≥ 2 drugs; 9.9% and 6.4% for ≥ 3 drugs) were also prevalent. Statistically significant differences by geographic region (P ≤ 0.005) were observed for AMR classes in both inpatient and ambulatory settings, but the rates remained above the thresholds recommended for empiric urinary tract infection therapy across most regions.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in sink drains of 40 healthcare facilities in Sindh, Pakistan: A cross-sectional study.

In Pakistan, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is expected to greatly increase the already high mortality and morbidity rates attributed to infections, making AMR surveillance and prevention a priority in the country. The aims of the project were to characterize the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in healthcare facility sink drains in Pakistan and to characterize how physical characteristics of sinks and healthcare facility rooms were associated with CRE in those sinks. The study took place in 40 healthcare facilities in Jamshoro Pakistan. Swabs were collected from sink drains in each facility that had a sink, and structured observations of sinks and facilities were performed at each facility. Swabs were plated on CHROMagar KPC to screen for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, which were then isolated on Mueller-Hinton agar plates. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion method to assess resistance to carbapenems, cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones. Thirty-seven of the healthcare facilities had at least one sink, and thirty-nine total sinks were present and sampled from those healthcare facilities. Sinks in these facilities varied in quality; at the time of sampling 68% had water available, 51% had soap/alcohol cleanser at the sink, 28% appeared clean, and 64% drained completely. Twenty-five (64%) of the sink samples grew Enterobacteriaceae on CHROMagar KPC, sixteen (41%) of which were clinically non-susceptible to ertapenem. Seven of the 39 sampled sinks (18%) produced Enterobacteriaceae that were resistant to all three antibiotic classes tested. Several facilities and sink characteristics were associated with CRE. Sinks and drains can serve as undetected reservoirs for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Control and remediation of such environments will require both systemic strategies and physical improvements to clinical environments.

Emergence of High Prevalence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase and Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Species among Patients in Northwestern Ethiopia Region.

BACKGROUND: World Health Organization identified some Enterobacteriaceae as superbugs because of their high production and spread of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemases. Moreover, their resistance against commonly prescribed antibiotics left few choices of drugs to treat infection. This study is aimed at determining the magnitude of ESBL and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance pattern. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out from February to April 2019 in the Northwestern Ethiopia region. A total of 384 patients presumptive for bacterial infections were conveniently enrolled in the study. Specimens were collected and processed following standard bacteriological procedures. Drug susceptibility tests were performed using disk diffusion technique. ESBL and carbapenemase enzymes were tested by double disk diffusion and modified carbapenem inhibition methods, respectively. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software, and descriptive statistics were summarized in tables and graphs. RESULTS: Out of 384 clinical specimens processed 100 (26%) were culture positive for Enterobacteriaceae. The proportion of Enterobacteriaceae infection was relatively higher among in-patients 86 (32.6%) than out-patients 14 (11.7%). Overall, Escherichia coli 35 (9.1%) was the leading isolate followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 31 (8.1%). Klebsiella pneumoniae 15 (15.6%) was the most frequent isolate from bloodstream infection and is the leading isolate from intensive care unit patients 15 (38.3%). Overall, 44 (44%) of Enterobacteriaceae were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers. Among them, Citrobacter spp. was the leading one 4 (80%) followed by Enterobacter cloacae 6 (60%) and K. pneumoniae 18 (58.1%). Furthermore, 6 (6%) of Enterobacteriaceae were carbapenemase-producers, in which 5 (50%) of E. cloacae and 3 (9.7%) of K. pneumoniae had highest percentage. Conclusions. ESBL and carbapenemase-producing isolates of Enterobacteriaceae are alarmingly spreading in the study area. Thus, improving the infection prevention strategy and further screening at the national level is recommended to develop the optimal use of antibiotics.

Tenebrionibacter intestinalis gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of a novel genus of the family Enterobacteriaceae, isolated from the gut of the plastic-eating mealworm Tenebrio molitor L.

A Gram-negative, white-pigmented, motile and rod-shaped strain, BIT-L3T, was isolated from the gut of plastic-eating mealworm Tenebrio molitor L. Its taxonomic position was determined by using a polyphasic approach. A preliminary analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence (1445 bp) revealed that this strain was closely related to the members within the family Enterobacteriaceae. Phylogenetic trees based on the concatenated partial sequences of seven housekeeping genes (atpD, gyrB, infB, rpoB, pyrG, fusA, leuS) and genome sequences further showed that strain BIT-L3T constituted a separate lineage within the family Enterobacteriaceae. In silico DNA-DNA hybridization values and average nucleotide identity values between strain BIT-L3T and its closest related species within the family Enterobacteriaceae were less than 21.8 and 76.7 %, respectively. The major fatty acids (>5 %) of strain BIT-L3T were C16 : 0, C14 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo, summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c), summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) and summed feature 2 (comprising iso-C16 : 1 I/C14 : 0 3-OH and/or C12 : 0 aldehyde and/or an unknown fatty acid of equivalent chain length 10.9525). Its genomic DNA G+C content was 53.7 mol%. Based on the results of phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical analyses, strain BIT-L3T is considered to represent a novel species of a novel genus within the family Enterobacteriaceae, for which the name Tenebrionibacter intestinalis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BIT-L3T (=CCTCC AB 2020371T=LMG 32222T=TBRC 14825T).

Detection of beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a veterinary hospital environment / Detecção de Enterobactérias produtoras de beta-lactamases em ambiente hospitalar veterinário

Due to the strong selective pressure resulting from the misuse of antibiotics, the natural process of bacterial resistance has been accelerated, leading to the increasingly constant appearance of multiresistant isolates. The high number of multi-resistant bacteria is a one health problem. Enterobacteriaceae are usually commensal bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract. However, they can cause infections, and the most important resistance characteristic among them is the production of ß-lactamases. This study aimed to identify ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae of types of TEM, SHV, and the CTX-Mgroups. To isolate the enterobacteria, swabs were collected by swiping objects that had contact with the patients and professionals, and the water of the hospital environment. Ten collections were carried out, yielding 306 samples, from which 118 enterobacteria were identified: Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Proteus mirabilis, Serratiaspp., and Citrobacter spp. Isolates. The genes TEM and CTX-M, for the production of ß-lactamases, were detected in 12.7% of the 118 enterobacterial isolates. It is very important to know the bacterial population circulating in the veterinary hospital environment and its resistance to antimicrobials so that professionals can take appropriate measures to minimize the risks of transmission, especially from cages and consultation tables. In addition, the correct control of the microbiological quality of the supply water, as well as environmental cleaning procedures, are essential to prevent the transmission of these microorganisms.(AU)

Devido à grande pressão seletiva decorrente do uso indevido de antibióticos, tem se acelerado o processo natural de resistência das bactérias, levando ao aparecimento cada vez mais constante de isolados multirresistentes. O elevado número de bactérias multirresistentes identificadas é um problema da saúde única. As enterobactérias são bactérias geralmente comensais do trato gastrointestinal, entretanto podem causar infecções, e a característica de resistência mais importante entre elas é a produção de ß-lactamases. Buscando caracterizar melhor os microrganismos circulantes e potencialmente causadores de infecções em ambiente hospitalar veterinário, este estudo objetivou identificar as enterobactérias produtoras de ESBL do tipo TEM, SHV e os cinco grupos de CTX-M presentes em isolados circulantes em hospital veterinário. Foi realizada coleta de suabes de arrasto de objetos que entram em contato com os pacientes e com os profissionais que ali trabalham, bem como de água, para a identificação das enterobactérias. Foram realizadas 10 coletas, obtendo-se 306 amostras, dessas, 118 enterobactérias foram identificadas: Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia e Citrobacter. Dentre as enterobactérias identificadas, alguns isolados possuíam genes para a produção de ß-lactamases, do tipo TEM e CTX-M. É de grande importância conhecer a população bacteriana circulante no ambiente hospitalar veterinário, e a sua resistência aos antimicrobianos, para que os profissionais possam tomar medidas apropriadas para minimizar os riscos de transmissão, principalmente a partir de gaiolas e mesas de atendimento. Além disso, o correto controle da qualidade microbiológica da água de abastecimento, bem como dos procedimentos de higienização do ambiente, são fundamentais para evitar a transmissão destes microrganismos.(AU)

Assessment of Ceftazidime-Avibactam 30/20-µg Disk, Etest versus Broth Microdilution Results When Tested against Enterobacterales Clinical Isolates.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the correlation between inhibitory zones and MIC when testing ceftazidime-avibactam using disk diffusion, Etest, and broth microdilution method established by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Four-hundred and 58 isolates of Enterobacterales isolated from 54 medical centers from the China Antimicrobial Surveillance Network (CHINET) in 2016 to 2020 were collected. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using broth microdilution, Etest, and disk diffusion were performed according to the CLSI. Of the 458 Enterobacterales, 17.2% (79/458) and 82.8%(379/458) were resistant or susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam by broth microdilution, respectively. Compared with the broth microdilution method, the categorical agreement (CA) and essential agreement (EA) of the Etest were 99.6% (456/458) and 94.8% (434/458), respectively; the major error (ME) and very major error (VME) were both 0.2% (1/458). For disk diffusion, the CA and VME were 99.8% (457/458) and 0.2% (1/458), respectively. For Escherichia coli, the CA and EA of the Etest were 100% and 97.1% (135/139), respectively. The CA of the disk diffusion was 100%. For Klebsiella pneumoniae, the CA and EA of the Etest were 99.3% (288/290) and 93.4% (271/290), respectively, the ME and VME were both 0.3% (1/290). The CA and VME of disk diffusion were 99.7% (289/290) and 0.3% (1/290), respectively. For other Enterobacterales, the CA and EA of the Etest were 100% and 96.6% (28/29), respectively. The CA of the disk diffusion was 100%. Ceftazidime-avibactam disk diffusion (30/20-µg disks) and Etest demonstrated good performance for ceftazidime-avibactam susceptibility testing against Enterobacterales clinical isolates. IMPORTANCE Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, especially for extended-spectrum ß-lactamases-producing and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales, are disseminating rapidly around the world. Treatment options for these infections are limited, which prompt the development of novel or combinational therapies to combat the infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. The newly available ß-lactam combination agent ceftazidime-avibactam has been demonstrated good in vitro and in vivo activity against ESBL, AmpC, KPC-2, or OXA-48-like-producing isolates and has shown promise in treating carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales infections. Concerningly, there are few available automated systems for ceftazidime-avibactam susceptibility testing, and the broth microdilution method is hard to perform in most routine laboratories. Therefore, we urgently need an economical and practical method for the accurate detection of ceftazidime-avibactam activity against Gram-negative bacilli. Here, we evaluate the performance of the disk diffusion and Etest compared with the reference broth microdilution method against Enterobacterales clinical strains.

Intestinal gluconeogenesis shapes gut microbiota, fecal and urine metabolome in mice with gastric bypass surgery.

Intestinal gluconeogenesis (IGN), gastric bypass (GBP) and gut microbiota positively regulate glucose homeostasis and diet-induced dysmetabolism. GBP modulates gut microbiota, whether IGN could shape it has not been investigated. We studied gut microbiota and microbiome in wild type and IGN-deficient mice, undergoing GBP or not, and fed on either a normal chow (NC) or a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFHS) diet. We also studied fecal and urine metabolome in NC-fed mice. IGN and GBP had a different effect on the gut microbiota of mice fed with NC and HFHS diet. IGN inactivation increased abundance of Deltaproteobacteria on NC and of Proteobacteria such as Helicobacter on HFHS diet. GBP increased abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria on NC-fed WT mice and of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria on HFHS-fed WT mice. The combined effect of IGN inactivation and GBP increased abundance of Actinobacteria on NC and the abundance of Enterococcaceae and Enterobacteriaceae on HFHS diet. A reduction was observed in the amounf of short-chain fatty acids in fecal (by GBP) and in both fecal and urine (by IGN inactivation) metabolome. IGN and GBP, separately or combined, shape gut microbiota and microbiome on NC- and HFHS-fed mice, and modify fecal and urine metabolome.

The molecular mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance found in rectal swab isolates of Enterobacterales from men undergoing a transrectal prostate biopsy: the rationale for targeted prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx) is considered an essential urological procedure for the histological diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is, however, considered a "contaminated" procedure which may lead to infectious complications. Recent studies suggest a significant share of fluoroquinolone-resistant rectal flora in post-biopsy infections. METHODS: The molecular mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance, including PMQR (plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance) as well as mutation in the QRDRs (quinolone-resistance determining regions) of gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE, among Enterobacterales isolated from 32 of 48 men undergoing a prostate biopsy between November 2015 and April 2016 were investigated. Before the TRUS-Bx procedure, all the patients received an oral antibiotic containing fluoroquinolones. RESULTS: In total, 41 Enterobacterales isolates were obtained from rectal swabs. The MIC of ciprofloxacin and the presence of common PMQR determinants were investigated in all the isolates. Nine (21.9%) isolates carried PMQR with qnrS as the only PMQR agent detected. DNA sequencing of the QRDRs in 18 Enterobacterales (E. coli n = 17 and E. cloacae n = 1) isolates with ciprofloxacin MIC ≥ 0.25 mg/l were performed. Substitutions in the following codons were found: GyrA-83 [Ser → Leu, Phe] and 87 [Asp → Asn]; GyrB codon-605 [Met → Leu], ParC codons-80 [Ser → Ile, Arg] and 84 [Glu → Gly, Met, Val, Lys], ParE codons-458 [Ser → Ala], 461 [Glu → Ala] and 512 [Ala → Thr]. Six isolates with ciprofloxacin MIC ≥ 2 mg/l had at least one mutation in GyrA together with qnrS. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides information on the common presence of PMQRs among Enterobacterales isolates with ciprofloxacin MIC ≥ 0.25 mg/l, obtained from men undergoing TRUS-Bx. This fact may partially explain why some men develop post-TRUS-Bx infections despite ciprofloxacin prophylaxis.

Prolonged carriage of ESBL-producing enterobacterales and potential cross-transmission among residents in geriatric long-term care facilities.

Previous studies indicated residents in geriatric long-term care facilities (LTCFs) had much higher prevalence of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) carriage than the general population. Most ESBL-E carriers are asymptomatic. The study tested the hypothesis that residents with ESBL-E carriage may accumulate inside geriatric LTCFs through potential cross-transmission after exposure to residents with prolonged ESBL-E carriage. 260 residents from four Japanese LTCFs underwent ESBL-E testing of fecal specimens and were divided into two cohorts: Cohort 1,75 patients with ≥ 2 months residence at study onset; Cohort 2, 185 patients with < 2 months residence at study onset or new admission during the study period. Three analyses were performed: (1) ESBL-E carriage statuses in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2; (2) changes in ESBL-E carriage statuses 3-12 months after the first testing and ≥ 12 months after the second testing; and (3) lengths of positive ESBL-E carriage statuses. Compared with the residents in Cohort 1, a significantly larger proportion of residents in Cohort 2 were positive for ESBL-E carriage (28.0% in Cohort 1 vs 40.0% in Cohort 2). In the subsequent testing results, 18.3% of residents who were negative in the first testing showed positive conversion to ESBL-E carriage in the second testing, while no patients who were negative in the second testing showed positive conversion in the third testing. The maximum length of ESBL-E carriage was 17 months. The findings indicated that some residents acquired ESBL-E through potential cross-transmission inside the LTCFs after short-term residence. However, no residents showed positive conversion after long-term residence, which indicates that residents with ESBL-E carriage may not accumulate inside LTCFs. Practical infection control and prevention measures could improve the ESBL-E prevalence in geriatric LTCFs.

Cross-feeding between intestinal pathobionts promotes their overgrowth during undernutrition.

Child undernutrition is a global health issue associated with a high burden of infectious disease. Undernourished children display an overabundance of intestinal pathogens and pathobionts, and these bacteria induce enteric dysfunction in undernourished mice; however, the cause of their overgrowth remains poorly defined. Here, we show that disease-inducing human isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteroidales spp. are capable of multi-species symbiotic cross-feeding, resulting in synergistic growth of a mixed community in vitro. Growth synergy occurs uniquely under malnourished conditions limited in protein and iron: in this context, Bacteroidales spp. liberate diet- and mucin-derived sugars and Enterobacteriaceae spp. enhance the bioavailability of iron. Analysis of human microbiota datasets reveals that Bacteroidaceae and Enterobacteriaceae are strongly correlated in undernourished children, but not in adequately nourished children, consistent with a diet-dependent growth synergy in the human gut. Together these data suggest that dietary cross-feeding fuels the overgrowth of pathobionts in undernutrition.

Fecal Carriage and Molecular Characterization of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales in the Pediatric Population in Qatar.

Whole-genome sequencing was used to characterize carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) strains recovered from rectal screening swab samples obtained from children at a tertiary-care pediatric hospital in Qatar during a 3-year period. A total of 72 CPE isolates recovered from 61 fecal carriers were characterized. Escherichia coli (47 isolates [65.3%]) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (22 isolates [30.6%]) were the most common species identified. High levels of genetic diversity were observed for both species. These 72 isolates produced 78 carbapenemases, characterized as either NDM-type (41 enzymes [52.6%]) or OXA-48-type (37 enzymes [47.4%]). NDM-5 (24 enzymes [30.8%]), NDM-1 (15 enzymes [19.2%]), and OXA-181 (15 enzymes [19.2%]) were the most common variants detected within each type. Twenty-three NDM producers exhibited difficult-to-treat resistance, compared with only 2 of the OXA-48 producers. Multiple comorbidities were identified in 88.5% of the patients, whereas recent travel history to countries in which CPE are endemic was documented for 57.4% of the patients. All 9 blaOXA-48-type-gene-containing E. coli sequence type 38 (ST38) strains were isolated from patients without international travel history. The mean quarterly incidence of fecal carriage decreased more than 6-fold after the implementation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related international travel restrictions in Qatar in mid-March 2020. Our data suggest that NDM-type and OXA-48-type carbapenemases expressed by a large diversity of E. coli and K. pneumoniae genotypes are largely dominant in the pediatric population of Qatar. Although our data indicate successful local expansion of E. coli ST38 strains harboring blaOXA-244 genes, at least within health care settings, blaOXA-48-type and blaNDM-type genes appear to have been mainly introduced sporadically by asymptomatic carriers who visited or received health care in some nearby countries in which the genes are endemic. IMPORTANCE To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study addressing the molecular characteristics of CPE in a pediatric population in Qatar using whole-genome sequencing. Since several countries in the Arabian Peninsula share relatively similar demographic patterns and international links, it is plausible that the molecular characteristics of CPE in children, at least in the middle and eastern parts of the region, are similar to those observed in our study.

Rare Lelliottia nimipressuralis from a wound infection case report using whole genome sequencing-based bacterial identification.

Identification of clinical bacterial isolates is an essential first step to provide guidelines for treatment of pathogenic bacterial infection. Infection occurred in a laceration along the medial aspect of left upper arm of a 71-year-old female. Conventional biochemical testing and MALDI-TOF MS identification failed to correctly identify a bacterial isolate. Using whole genome sequencing, the isolate was identified as Lelliottia nimipressuralis. WGS can overcome the limitations of conventional phenotypic and molecular identification methods and successfully identified a rare pathogen. This case is the first report of a human infection of L. nimipressuralis.

Novel Quadruplex PCR for detecting and genotyping mobile colistin resistance genes in human samples.

Since 2016, several mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes have been identified worldwide. It's worth noting that only mcr-1, mcr-3, mcr-8, and mcr-10 have been reported isolated directly from clinical samples which created greater risk to human health than other mcr gene types. A novel Quadruplex polymerase chain reaction (Quad-PCR) protocol was developed to detect and genotype transferable colistin-resistance genes (mcr-1, mcr-3, mcr-8, mcr-10) in Enterobacteria for clinical laboratory purposes. The protocol was validated by testing 11 clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and 3 clinical isolates of Klebsiella of human origin, each well characterized and prospectively validated. The Quad-PCR assay showed full concordance with whole-genome sequence data and displayed higher sensitivity and 100% specificity. The Quad-PCR assay achieved genotyping of mcr alleles (as singleton and mixture with double or triple gene types) described in one test.

Role of biliary stent and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the pancreatic tumor microbiome.

BACKGROUND: Intra-tumor microbiota have been implicated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) development, treatment response and post-treatment survivorship. Moreover, therapeutic interventions targeting microbiota may improve the response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, further emphasizing the critical need to understand the origins of and growth of bacteria within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Here, we studied the role of several clinical factors on the bacterial colonization of PDAC. RESULTS: We obtained matched tumor and normal pancreatic tissue specimens from 27 patients who had undergone surgical resection for PDAC between 2011 and 2015 from the University of Minnesota Biological Materials Procurement Network (BioNet). We found that 26 (48%) out of 54 pancreatic tissue samples harbored detectable bacterial communities using real-time PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Bacterial colonization was detected significantly more frequently in samples from patients who had pancreatic head tumors, underwent Whipple procedure, or had preoperative biliary stent placement. There was also a significantly greater relative abundance of microbiota from the family Enterobacteriaceae among samples from patients who underwent biliary stent placement or neoadjuvant treatment with a combination of Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that biliary stent placement and neoadjuvant chemotherapy are associated with specific alterations that promote the infiltration and growth of intra-tumor bacteria in the setting of PDAC. Further studies exploring whether specific bacterial communities could contribute to increased chemoresistance will be essential for optimizing medical therapies in the future.

Pseudocitrobacter anthropi reduces heavy metal uptake and improves phytohormones and antioxidant system in Glycine max L.

Heavy metal contamination due to anthropogenic activities is a great threat to modern humanity. A novel and natural technique of bioremediation using microbes for detoxification of heavy metals while improving plants' growth is the call of the day. In this study, exposing soybean plants to different concentrations (i.e., 10 and 50 ppm) of chromium and arsenic showed a severe reduction in agronomic attributes, higher reactive oxygen species production, and disruption in the antioxidant system. Contrarily, rhizobacterial isolate C18 inoculation not only rescued host growth, but also improved the production of nonenzymatic antioxidants (i.e., flavonoids, phenolic, and proline contents) and enzymatic antioxidants i.e., catalases, ascorbic acid oxidase, peroxidase activity, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, lower reactive oxygen species accumulation in leaves. Thereby, lowering secondary oxidative stress and subsequent damage. The strain was identified using 16 S rDNA sequencing and was identified as Pseudocitrobacter anthropi. Additionally, the strain can endure metals up to 1200 ppm and efficient in detoxifying the effect of chromium and arsenic by regulating phytohormones (IAA 59.02 µg/mL and GA 101.88 nM/mL) and solubilizing inorganic phosphates, making them excellent phytostimulant, biofertilizers, and heavy metal bio-remediating agent.