Intestinal microbiota profiles in a genetic model of colon tumorigenesis correlates with colon cancer biomarkers.

Faecal (FM) and colon mucosal associated microbiota (MAM) were studied in a model of colorectal cancer (CRC), the Apc-mutated Pirc rats, and in age-paired wt F344 rats. Principal Coordinates Analysis indicated that samples' distribution was driven by age, with samples of young rats (1 month old; without tumours) separated from older ones (11-month-old; bearing tumours). Diversity analysis showed significant differences between FM and MAM in older Pirc rats, and between MAM of both Pirc and wt rats and the tumour microbiota, enriched in Enterococcus, Escherichia/Shigella, Proteus and Bifidobacteriaceae. In young animals, Pirc FM was enriched in the genus Delftia, while wt FM was enriched in Lactobacillus and Streptococcus. Some CRC biomarkers and faecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were also measured. Colon proliferation and DClK1 expression, a pro-survival mucosal marker, were higher in Pirc than in wt rats, while the mucin MUC2, was lower in Pirc rats. Branched SCFAs were higher in Pirc than in wt animals. By Spearman analysis CRC biomarkers correlated with FM (in both young and old rats) and with MAM (in young rats), suggesting a specific relationship between the gut microbiota profile and these functional mucosal parameters deserving further investigation.

The prevailing O serogroups among the serologically differentiated clinical Proteus spp. strains in central Poland.

In the years 2006-2011, 617 Proteus spp. strains isolated mostly from urine and wounds or other clinical sources were collected in Lódz, Poland, to determine the offensive O serotypes frequently occurring among patients. P. mirabilis exhibited the most intensive swarming growth and was dominating species (86.9%), followed by P. genomospecies, P. vulgaris, and P. penneri. Ninety four per cent strains were recognized as S (smooth) forms. Serological studies (involving ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting using native and adsorbed rabbit antisera) enabled classification of 80% S isolates into respective Proteus O serogroups among the 83 ones, described so far. The remaining strains seemed to be serologically unique. Despite the observed big serological variety of Proteus spp. isolates, we found the O78 serogroup recently described in Poland as dominating and identified other widespread serotypes: O3, O6, O10, O11, O27, O28, and O30 reported earlier as predominating also in other countries; O77 and O79 detected lately in Poland; O16, O18, O20, and O50. No unique structural feature of the prevalent O serotypes has been indicated. However, the prevalence of some O serogroups indicates that particular serotypes may be in some ways beneficial to the strains producing these kinds of O antigen.

Impact of diet and synbiotics on selected gut bacteria and intestinal permeability in individuals with excess body weight - A Prospective, Randomized Study.

Overweight and obese individuals may have leaky intestinal barrier and microbiome dysbiosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether body mass reduction with diet and synbiotics in an adult person with excess body mass has an influence on the gut microbiota and zonulin concentration. The study was a single blinded trial. 60 persons with excess body mass were examined. Based on randomization, patients were qualified either to the intervention group (Synbiotic group) or to the control group (Placebo group). Anthropometric measurements, microbiological assessment of faecal samples and zonulin concentration in the stool were performed before and after observation. After 3-months, an increase in the variety of intestinal bacteria (increase in the Shannon-Weaver index and the Simpson index) and a decrease in concentration of zonulin in faecal samples were observed in the Synbiotic group. Also, statistically significant correlation between zonulin and Bifidobacterium spp. (Spearman test, R=-0.51; p=0.0040) was noticed. There were no significant relationships between the body mass, BMI and changes in the intestinal microbiota or zonulin concentrations. The use of diet and synbiotics improved the condition of the microbiota and intestinal barrier in patients in the Synbiotic group.

Proteus empyema as a rare complication from an infected renal cyst, a case report.

BACKGROUND: The most commonly isolated organisms in a parapneumonic effusion include S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and S. aureus. If unusual organisms are isolated from the pleural space, further investigation is warranted to locate the primary source. We present a patient with an infected chronic renal cyst found to have an empyema secondary to Proteus mirabilis to highlight the importance of further diagnostic workup when encountering unusual organisms in the pleural space. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old African-American female, with a past medical history of asthma and sickle cell trait, presented with 5 weeks of upper respiratory tract symptoms and chest pain. A computed tomography angiogram (CTA) of the chest was negative for a pulmonary embolism but revealed a loculated left sided pleural effusion with associated left-lower lobe consolidation. She was started on empiric antibiotics, and a chest tube was inserted with drainage of frank pus. Fluid gram stain was positive for gram negative rods. Intrapleural fibrinolytics were administered for 72 h given the presence of loculations. With no improvement following fibrinolytics, she was taken to the operating room for large bore chest tube placement and left visceral pleura decortication. Pleural fluid cultures speciated to Proteus mirabilis, so further cross-sectional imaging of her abdomen/pelvis was pursued to evaluate for a primary source. A complex cystic lesion in the upper pole of the left kidney that communicated with the ipsilateral diaphragm was identified. Subsequent drainage and culture of the renal cyst was positive for Proteus mirabilis. Given clinical improvement following these interventions she was discharged with an extended course of antibiotics with plans for repeat imaging following completion of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: While cases of Proteus mirabilis empyema have previously been reported as a consequence of conditions such as pyelonephritis, we present, to our knowledge, the first case of a Proteus mirabilis empyema as a consequence of an infected renal cyst communicating with the pleural space. This study highlights that further evaluation with cross-sectional imaging is warranted when unusual organisms are found in the pleural space. Anatomic abnormalities that become apparent on imaging may help elucidate the source of infection.

Leukocyte populations in peripheral blood of dromedary camels with clinical endometritis.

Endometritis represents the main cause of reproductive failure in dromedary camels. In dromedary camels, associations between endometritis-causing pathogen-species, disease severity, and systemic changes in the immune system have not been evaluated. In the current study, there was use of flow cytometry and immunofluorescence of membrane proteins for the evaluation of leukocyte subsets and the cellular phenotype in blood of camels with clinical endometritis and evaluations of associations with disease severity and endometritis-causing pathogens. Animals with endometritis had markedly larger numbers of total leukocytes and neutrophils. Although total lymphocyte and monocyte counts did not differ between camels with and without clinical endometritis, there were lesser numbers of total and effector CD4-positive T cells in camels with endometritis. Among monocytes, number of camel inflammatory monocytes (Mo-II) was markedly greater, whereas Mo-III numbers were less in the blood of camels with clinical endometritis. Number of inflammatory monocytes was also indicative of endometritis severity grade. Among camels with clinical endometritis, E. coli- and S. aureus-infected animals had similar endometritis grades and comparable phenotype and composition patterns of leukocytes. Neutrophils and monocytes of camels with clinical endometritis had fewer cell adhesion molecules (i.e., CD11a and CD18). Collectively, the results from the current study allowed for identification of associations between endometritis severity grade and larger numbers of inflammatory monocytes. The results also indicate there is no association between endometritis pathogen-species and changes in phenotype or composition of blood leukocytes.

Multilocus sequence analysis for the taxonomic updating and identification of the genus Proteus and reclassification of Proteus genospecies 5 O'Hara et al. 2000, Proteus cibarius Hyun et al. 2016 as later heterotypic synonyms of Proteus terrae Behrendt et al. 2015.

BACKGROUND: Members of the genus Proteus are mostly opportunistic pathogens that cause a variety of infections in humans. The molecular evolutionary characteristics and genetic relationships among Proteus species have not been elucidated to date. In this study, we developed a multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) approach based on five housekeeping genes (HKGs) to delineate phylogenetic relationships of species within the genus Proteus. RESULTS: Of all 223 Proteus strains collected in the current study, the phylogenetic tree of five concatenated HKGs (dnaJ, mdh, pyrC, recA and rpoD) divided 223 strains into eleven clusters, which were representative of 11 species of Proteus. Meanwhile, the phylogenetic trees of the five individual HKGs also corresponded to that of the concatenated tree, except for recA, which clustered four strains at an independent cluster. The evaluation of inter- and intraspecies distances of HKG concatenation indicated that all interspecies distances were significantly different from intraspecies distances, which revealed that these HKG concatenations can be used as gene markers to distinguish different Proteus species. Further web-based DNA-DNA hybridization estimated by genome of type strains confirmed the validity of the MLSA, and each of eleven clusters was congruent with the most abundant Proteus species. In addition, we used the established MLSA method to identify the randomly collected Proteus and found that P. mirabilis is the most abundant species. However, the second most abundant species is P. terrae but not P. vulgaris. Combined with the genetic, genomic and phenotypic characteristics, these findings indicate that three species, P. terrae, P. cibarius and Proteus genospecies 5, should be regarded as heterotypic synonyms, and the species should be renamed P. terrae, while Proteus genospecies 5 has not been named to date. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that MLSA is a powerful method for the discrimination and classification of Proteus at the species level. The MLSA scheme provides a rapid and inexpensive means of identifying Proteus strains. The identification of Proteus species determined by the MLSA approach plays an important role in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of Proteus infection.

Uropathogens and antibiotic resistance in the community and hospital-induced urinary tract infected children.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed at identifying community and hospital-induced uropathogens isolated in urinary tract infection (UTI) determining the regional antibiotic resistance and the antibiotic preferences in empirical treatment in Sanliurfa/Turkey. METHODS: The urinary culture results of the 842 paediatric patients, who were aged between 0 and 18 years, admitted to Department of Pediatrics, Harran University Medi-cal Faculty Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey with UTI complaints, diagnosed with UTI and in whose urine cultures production was detected, were retrospectively evaluated. Age, gender, clinical findings and culture results of the patients were examined in terms of reproducing pathogens, the frequency of their being community and hospital induced, Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase production of reproduced pathogens, sensitivity and resistance to antibiotics. RESULTS: A total of 842 patients, 472 (56.1%) girl were included in the study. According to the results of urine culture, Escherichia coli was detected in (58.9%) of the patients, Klebsiella (17.9%) and Proteus (15.8%). While high resistance to ampicillin (87.3%), cefuroxime (71.6%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (60.8%) was found for all microorganisms, the lowest resistance to nitrofurantoin (21.4%), piperacillin/tazobactam (19.1), imipenem (8.6%), meropenem (8.8%), amikacin (6.2%) and cefoperazone/sulbactam (CSL) (4.7%) were determined in descending order. Resistance rates were higher in inpatients with UTI than in outpatients. CONCLUSIONS: We think that the most appropriate antibiotic to be chosen for the outpatients for empirical treatment in all age groups in our region, is as oral nitrofurantoin and parenteral amikacin. Also the appropriate parenteral antibiotics that should be selected for the empirical treatment of inpatients UTI in all age groups are the CSL, amikacin and carbapenems.

Oropharyngeal microbiome of an HIV-positive patient.

Studies on understanding the human microbiome continue to grow rapidly; nonetheless, reports on alterations in the microbiome post HIV infection are limited. Human microbiome is an aggregate of bacteria, fungi, viruses and archaea that have co-evolved with humans. These microbes have important roles in immune modulation, vitamin synthesis, metabolism etc. The human pharyngeal microbiome, which resides in the junction between digestive and respiratory tracts, might have a key role in the prevention of respiratory tract infections, akin to the actions of the intestinal microbiome against enteric infections. The respiratory tract is constantly exposed to various environmental and endogenous microbes; however, unlike other similar mucosal surfaces, there has been limited investigation of the microbiome of the respiratory tract. HIV infection is associated with alterations in the respiratory microbiome. The aim of this study was to use next-generation sequencing to determine the composition of the oropharyngeal microbiome in a HIV-positive individual. The bacterial composition was determined by illumina sequencing using MiSeq of partial 16S rRNA genes (V3-V4). A total of 3, 57,926 reads were analyzed. Overall, the genera Proteus, Enterococcus, Bacteroides, Prevotella and Clostridium were most prevalent bacterial populations in the oropharynx of an HIV positive patient.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and bloodstream infection in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the risk of bloodstream (BSI) and urinary tract infection (UTI) and describe antibiotic use in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). STUDY DESIGN: The Children's Hospitals Neonatal Database was queried for infants with CDH and ECMO treatment from 2010 to 2016. The outcomes included BSI, UTI, and antimicrobial medication. Member institutions completed a survey on infection practices. RESULT: Eighteen of the 338 patients identified (5.3%) had ≥1 BSI during their ECMO course. The likelihood of BSI increased with time: 1.2/1000 ECMO days; 0.6% (2/315) in the first week and rising to 14.6/1000; 8.6% (5/58) after 21 days (p = 0.002). More than 95% of patients received antibiotics each week on ECMO. CONCLUSIONS: Confirmed BSI is rare in infants with CDH treated with ECMO in the first week, but increases with the duration of ECMO. Use of antibiotics was extensive and did not correspond to infection frequency.

Antimicrobial resistance patterns of urine culture specimens from 27 nursing homes: Impact of a two-year antimicrobial stewardship intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Identify changes in the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of potentially pathogenic bacteria in urine cultures during a 2-year antimicrobial stewardship intervention program in nursing homes (NHs). DESIGN: Before-and-after intervention study. SETTING: The study included 27 NHs in North Carolina. METHODS: We audited all urine cultures ordered before and during an antimicrobial stewardship intervention. Analyses compared culture rates, culture positive rates, and pathogen antimicrobial resistance patterns. RESULTS: Of 6,718 total urine cultures collected, 68% were positive for potentially pathogenic bacteria. During the intervention, significant reductions in the urine culture and positive culture rates were observed (P = .014). Most of the identified potentially uropathogenic isolates were Escherichia coli (38%), Proteus spp (13%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (12%). A significant decrease was observed during the intervention period in nitrofurantoin resistance among E. coli (P ≤ .001) and ciprofloxacin resistance among Proteus spp (P ≤ .001); however carbapenem resistance increased for Proteus spp (P ≤ .001). Multidrug resistance also increased for Proteus spp compared to the baseline. The high baseline resistance of E. coli to the commonly prescribed antimicrobials ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) did not change during the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The antimicrobial stewardship intervention program significantly reduced urine culture and culture-positive rates. Overall, very high proportions of antimicrobial resistance were observed among common pathogens; however, antimicrobial resistance trended downward but reductions were too small and scattered to conclude that the intervention significantly changed antimicrobial resistance. Longer intervention periods may be needed to effect change in resistance patterns.

Defining a clinically significant struvite stone: a non-randomized retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between a stone's struvite content and clinical outcomes and to determine a clinically significant cutoff for defining struvite stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent ureteroscopy or PCNL at our institution between 2012 and 2017 and had any component of struvite in the stone analysis. Patients were divided into four groups based on percent struvite content: A (1-25%), B (26-50%), C (51-75%), and D (76-100%). Bacterial characteristics were compared between groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the association between struvite content and postoperative SIRS. Log-rank test was used to compare between the four groups' recurrence rates. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients were included in the study. Positive preoperative urine culture was found in 31%, 81%, 87%, and 90% of patients from group A, B, C, and D, respectively. E. Coli was the most common pathogen in group A (54%), while Proteus was the most common pathogen in groups C (53%) and D (47%). Enterococci isolation rates remained similar between groups A-D, ranging from 23 to 33%. Postoperative SIRS occurred in 2.4%, 21.3%, 26.7%and 47.4% of the patients from groups A, B, C, and D, respectively, and was associated with struvite content and age on multivariate analysis. Increasing struvite content was associated with higher 2-year recurrence rate. CONCLUSIONS: Higher struvite content is associated with a higher frequency of traditional urea splitting bacteria in urine culture, higher risk for postoperative SIRS, and higher recurrence rate. Struvite content greater than 25% can be used to define a clinically significant struvite stone.

Proteus faecis sp. nov., and Proteus cibi sp. nov., two new species isolated from food and clinical samples in China.

Eight swarming motile bacteria were isolated from food and clinical samples in China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic and rod-shaped (0.5-0.8×1.0-3.0 µm) with hairlike pili and flagella. The 16S rRNA and partial rpoB housekeeping gene sequence analyses indicated that the strains belong to the genus Proteusin the family Enterobacteriaceae. Of the eight strains studied, seven and a single isolate formed two separate clades in the phylogeny of Proteusspecies, indicating two separate species. Both the in silico DNA-DNA hybridization and the average nucleotide identity values between these two groups and to the type strains of the genus Proteuswere below the recommended threshold for signifying their candidature as two separate species. The DNA G+C contents of strains TJ1636T and FJ2001126-3T were 37.8 and 38.1 mol%, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of the two novel type strains were C16:0, cyclo C17:0, summed feature 3 and summed feature 8. The results supported that the strains belong to different taxonomic positions in the genus Proteus. The isolates were named Proteus faecis sp. nov., with type strain TJ1636T (=DSM 106180T=GDMCC 1.1245T), and Proteuscibi sp. nov., with type strain FJ2001126-3T (=DSM 106178T =GDMCC 1.1244T).

Characterizing the microbial diversity and major metabolites of Sichuan bran vinegar augmented by Monascus purpureus.

This research aimed to evaluate the impacts of Monascus purpureus on the microbial community and major metabolites of Cupei and vinegar of Sichuan bran vinegar (SBV). Cupei is the mixture of fermented materials and vinegar is the liquid leached from Cupei. The characteristics of microbial community were revealed by Illumina-MiSeq. The result suggested that inoculation of M. purpureus decreased the microbial diversities and inhibited several pathogens related microbes including Erwinia, Proteus and Ignatzschineria of Cupei. The dominant genera of SBV were Lactobacillus, Acetobacter, Trichoderma and Candida. With addition of M. purpureus, the total relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Acetobacter was increased from 75.14% to 99.79%. Furthermore, the major metabolites in corresponding vinegar were investigated by HPLC and HS-SPME-GC-MS. The result indicated that the addition of M. purpureus significantly promoted the accumulation of organic acids, aromatic esters and alcohols, whose contents were increased by 1.95, 2.30 and 3.55 times, respectively. Meanwhile acetic acid, lactic acid, phenethyl acetate and ß-phenethyl alcohol were the dominant components in organic acids, esters and alcohols, respectively. In addition, the relationship between dominant microbes and major metabolites explored by redundancy analysis displayed that Lactobacillus, Acetobacter, Candida and Monascus were closely related with seven volatiles and five organic acids. This study provided an insight on regulation of microbial community and metabolic function of traditional fermented foods by bioaugmentation.

Laboratory Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis and Potential Pathogens Other Than Group B Streptococcus in Vaginal Swab of Pregnant Women in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Pathogenic microorganisms are important cause of maternal and neonatal infections which are transmitted from colonized vagina of mother. The purpose of the present study was to detect the potential pathogens other than Group B Streptococcus in vaginal swab of pregnant women. This prospective cross sectional study was conducted from July 2013 to June 2014 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 224 vaginal swab samples were studied. Gram stain Nugent score was applied for all vaginal smear to detect bacterial vaginosis. Organisms were isolated and identified by wet film microscopy, Gram stain, biochemical tests, culture and PCR. Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 gene and drug resistance genes such as mecA, vanA, vanB were detected among isolated Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrobial susceptibility was done by disc diffusion method. Double disc synergy test was used to detect ESBL (Extended spectrum beta lactamases) producers. MIC (Minimum inhibitory concentration) of oxacillin and vancomycin were done for Staphylococcus aureus to detect MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and VRSA (Vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Of the 224 samples, 44(19.64%) were Staphylococcus aureus, 22(9.8%) were Escherichia coli. Bacterial vaginosis was found in 12(5.36%) cases. Among the 9(21.43%) phenotypically identified ESBL producers, 4(18.18%) were Escherichia coli, 2(25%) were Klebsiella pneumoniae. Ninety six percent and 91% of the Escherichia coli were sensitive to colistin and imipenem. All the Klebsiella spp. was sensitive to colistin and all the Proteus spp. and the Pseudomonas aeruginosa were sensitive to imipenem and colistin. Of the 44 Staphylococcus aureus, 5(11.36%) were MRSA, 2(4.54%) were VRSA, 2MRSA were PVL gene positive and 2(4.54%) were positive for TSST-1 gene by PCR. All the isolated MRSA and VRSA were sensitive to linezolid. One of the two VRSA strains had MIC of vancomycin 64µg/ml and another had 128µg/ml. VRSA strains were positive for vanB gene, no VRSA was positive for vanA gene. Vaginal ecosystem study with the detection of pathogens can be helpful in the prevention of preterm delivery, premature rupture of membrane, chorioamnionitis, neonatal, puerperal and maternal-fetal infections.

Indigo- and indirubin-producing strains of Proteus and Psychrobacter are associated with purple rind defect in a surface-ripened cheese.

The rinds of surface-ripened cheeses have expected aesthetic properties, including distinct colors, that contribute to overall quality and consumer acceptance. Atypical rind pigments are frequently reported in small-scale cheese production, but the causes of these color defects are largely unknown. We provide a potential microbial explanation for a striking purple rind defect in a surface-ripened cheese. A cheese producer in the United States reported to us several batches of a raw-milk washed-rind cheese with a distinctly purple rind. We isolated a Proteus species from samples with purple rind defect, but not from samples with typical rind pigments, suggesting that this strain of Proteus could be causing the defect. When provided tryptophan, a precursor in the indigo and indirubin biosynthesis pathway, the isolated strain of Proteus secreted purple-red pigments. A Psychrobacter species isolated from both purple and normal rinds also secreted purple-red pigments. Using thin-layer chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we confirmed that these bacteria produced indigo and indirubin from tryptophan just as closely related bacteria make these compounds in purple urine bag syndrome in medical settings. Experimental cheese communities with or without Proteus and Psychrobacter confirmed that these Proteobacteria cause purple pigmentation of cheese rinds. Reports of purple rinds in two other cheeses from Europe and the observation of pigment production by Proteus and Psychrobacter strains isolated from other cheese rinds suggest that purple rind defect has the potential to be widespread in surface-ripened cheeses.

Incidence of antibiogram, antibiotic resistance genes and class 1 and 2 integrons in tribe Proteeae with IMP27 gene for the first time in Providencia sp. isolated from pet turtles.

Proteeae is a tribe which consists of three genera: Proteus, Providencia and Morganella. The objective of this study was to determine antimicrobial resistance profile, virulence genotype and class 1 and 2 integrons in Proteeae isolated from pet turtles and to determine the impact of antibiotic resistance on virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes. Integron-positive isolates were used to detect their gene cassette array. Sixty four Proteeae were isolated and all were resistant to macrolides (100%). Among 64 isolates 56, 52, 36 and 25 were resistant to nitrofurans, ß-lactams, tetracycline and aminoglycoside respectively. Sixteen (25%) isolates were positive for intI1 while 14 (21·87%) were positive for integrase 2 (intI2). Eleven (17·18%) isolates were positive for class 1 variable region while 7 (10·93%) were positive for class 2 variable region. IMP27, a novel metallo ß-lactamase gene was found in Providencia isolates. Proteus sp. were positive for every tested virulence genes and UreC gene was detected in 48·44% followed by zapA (17·19%), mrpA (17·19%) and hlyA (14·06%) genes. In this study, integron associated-antibiotic resistance genes have been identified in Proteeae isolates in a considerable range representing clear threats to public health. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In this study, multidrug-resistant Proteeae isolates had several antibiotic resistance genes. Integrons are important contributors to the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistance. We could detect both class 1 and 2 integrons and several gene cassette arrays in class 1 integron. The gene cassette arrays of the Class 2 integrons contained IMP27-dfrA1-aadA1-catB2-ybeA-ybgA in two isolates. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study to report detection of IMP27 in Providencia rettgeri isolates. All results indicate that healthy pet turtles act as potential reservoirs for Proteeae species with zoonotic potential.

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of asymptomatic bacteriuria among women with pelvic organ prolapse in Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is the herniation of pelvic organs from its anatomical confines, and it is of considerable importance to the practicing gynaecologist in middle and low income countries. It is commonly associated with, urinary tract infection (UTI), both symptomatic and asymptomatic due to anatomical and physiological changes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among women with pelvic organ prolapse, to know the organisms commonly implicated and the sensitivity pattern. METHODS: This study was conducted among 96 women with POP at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre Abakaliki. A cross sectional descriptive study was done. Standard microbial technique was used to analyze the urine. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17. RESULTS: Out of the 96 patients, 76 were found to have asymptomatic bacteriuria giving a prevalence of 79.2%. Nine different bacteria species isolated include E. Coli (34.2%), Streptococcus pneumonia (23.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (7.9%), Proteus Spp (7.9%) others (5.3%). The highest level of microbial sensitivity to the antimicrobials was with Ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is very high among women with POP. More than 50% of the bacterial isolates were mainly E.coli and Streptococcus pneumonia. The highest level of microbial sensitivity was with ciprofloxacin while the least was with cotrimoxazole.

Proteus alimentorum sp. nov., isolated from pork and lobster in Ma'anshan city, China.

Two strains of Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic short-rod bacteria were recovered from two different food samples in Ma'anshan city, Anhui province, China in 2008. The bacteria were characterized in a polyphasic taxonomic study that included phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic methodologies. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene demonstrated that the two strains belonged to the genus Proteus and were most similar to Proteus vulgaris ATCC 29905T with a score of 99.7 %. Phylogenetic analysis of the rpoB gene placed the two strains into a cluster with a distinctly interspecies phylogenetic branch that was clearly separated from six type strains of the genus Proteus, with the most closely related species being Proteus mirabilis ATCC 29906T. In silico genomic comparisons, including in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (isDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis showed that the representative strain, 08MAS0041T, and all six Proteus species share less than 70 % isDDH and have a 95 % ANI cutoff level, supporting the designation of the two strains as a novel species of the genus Proteus. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain 08MAS0041T were C16 : 0 (24.8 %), C16 : 1ω7c/16 : 1ω6c (16.5 %), C18 : 1ω6c/C18 : 1ω7c (14.5 %), C17 : 0 cyclo (12.6 %) and C16 : 1iso I/C14 : 0 3-OH (10.6 %). The analysis of biochemical, phylogenetic and genomic data confirmed that the two strains were clearly different from all recognized species of the genus Proteus and represent a novel Proteus species, for which the name Proteus alimentorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 08MAS0041T (=DSM 104685T=CGMCC 1.15939T).

Bacteriocinogenic properties of Escherichia coli P2C isolated from pig gastrointestinal tract: purification and characterization of microcin V.

The aim of this study was to isolate and investigate the bacteriocinogenic and probiotic potential of new Gram-negative isolates. Of 22 bacterial isolates from pig intestine and chicken crops, ten isolates had demonstrated a good activity, and the most potent five strains were identified as four E. coli and one as Proteus sp. No virulence factors were detected for E. coli strains isolated from pig intestine. The semi-purified microcins proved to be resistant to temperature and pH variation, but sensitive to proteolytic enzymes. Of particular interest, strain E. coli P2C was the most potent, free of virulence genes and sensitive to tested antibiotics. Purification procedure revealed the presence of a single pure peak having a molecular mass of 8733.94 Da and matching microcin V (MccV). The sequence obtained by LC-MS/MS confirmed the presence of MccV. Purified MccV showed a good activity against pathogenic coliforms, especially E. coli O1K1H7 involved in avian colibacillosis. The present study provides evidence that E. coli strains isolated from pig intestine produce microcin-like substances. E. coli P2C is a safe MccV producer that could be a good candidate for its application as novel probiotic strain to protect livestock and enhance growth performance.