Leptospire genomic diversity revealed by microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization.

Comparative genomic hybridization was used to compare genetic diversity of five strains of Leptospira (Leptospira interrogans serovars Bratislava, Canicola, and Hebdomadis and Leptospira kirschneri serovars Cynopteri and Grippotyphosa). The array was designed based on two available sequenced Leptospira reference genomes, those of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni and L. interrogans serovar Lai. A comparison of genetic contents showed that L. interrogans serovar Bratislava was closest to the reference genomes while L. kirschneri serovar Grippotyphosa had the least similarity to the reference genomes. Cluster analysis indicated that L. interrogans serovars Bratislava and Hebdomadis clustered together first, followed by L. interrogans serovar Canicola, before the two L. kirschneri strains. Confirmed/potential virulence factors identified in previous research were also detected in the tested strains.

Japanese encephalitis virus in culicine mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) collected at Daeseongdong, a village in the demilitarized zone of the Republic of Korea.

In total, 22,846 (17,793 culicines and 5,053 Anopheles spp.) female mosquitoes were captured by a Mosquito Magnet trap at Daeseongdong, a small village adjacent to the military demarcation line (center of the demilitarized zone) in northern Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea (ROK). Culicine mosquitoes were identified to species, placed in pools of up to 30 mosquitoes each, and screened for flavivirus using a SYBR Green I-based real-time polymerase chain reaction. In total, 51/660 pools positive for flaviviruses and confirmed by DNA sequencing of the NS5 region, were positive for Japanese encephalitis virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, JEV) (50 Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles and one Culex bitaeniorhynchus Giles). The JEV maximum likelihood estimations (MLEs) (estimated number of viral RNA-positive mosquitoes per 1,000) for Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. bitaeniorhynchus were 9.7 and 0.9, respectively. This is the first report of a Cx. bitaeniorhynchus positive for JEV in the ROK. JEV is a local civilian and military health threat and a significant concern for nonimmune (unvaccinated) U.S. soldiers, civilians, and family members deployed to the ROK.

Display of Escherichia coli Phytase on the Surface of Bacillus subtilis Spore Using CotG as an Anchor Protein.

Escherichia coli phytase (AppA) has been widely used as an exogenous feed enzyme for monogastric animals; however, the production of this enzyme has been examined primarily in E. coli and yeast expression systems. As an alternative to production of soluble phytase, an enzyme immobilization method using the Bacillus subtilis spore outer-coat protein CotG as an anchoring motif for the display of the AppA was attempted. Using this motif, AppA was successfully produced on the spore surface of B. subtilis as verified by Western blot analysis and phytase activity measurements. Analysis of the pH stability indicated that more than 50% activity was retained after incubation at four different pH values (2.0, 4.0, 7.0, and 8.0) for up to 12 h, with maximum activity observed at pH 4.5. The highest enzyme activity seen at 55 °C and thermal stability measurements demonstrated that more than 30% activity remained after 30 min incubation at 60 °C. The spore surface-displayed AppA was resistant to pepsin, and more stable than phytase produced previously using a yeast expression system. Furthermore, we present data indicating that the use of peptide linkers may help improve the bioactivity of displayed enzymes on the spore surface of B. subtilis.

In vitro evaluation of candidate Bacillus spp. for animal feed.

The aim of this study was to select aerobic spore-formers for animal feed based on their in vitro probiotic potential, including their enzyme-producing ability and safety assessment. Seven isolates out of 187 spore-forming bacteria were selected for their ability to produce cellulase (89.21-1668.32 U/ml), xylanase (1399.68-4351.10 U/ml), and phytase (2.72-28.70 U/ml). Among seven isolates, five had activities towards a broad range of p-nitrophenyl esters with acyl chain lengths from C2 to C12. The probiotic properties of all selected isolates varied with respect to their acid and bile salt tolerance under simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions, and their adherence ability to human intestinal cell lines (Caco-2 and HT-29). The safety assessment revealed that the isolate CM40 was not cytotoxic to Caco-2 and HT-29, did not exhibit hemolytic activity, carried no enterotoxin or emetic toxin genes, and was susceptible to ten antibiotics, including six key antibiotics (chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, tetracycline, streptomycin, and kanamycin) as recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Co-incubation of isolate CM40 with enteric bacteria (Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Enteritidis 1781, and Escherichia coli) demonstrated that CM40 significantly decreased the number of pathogens (about 30-48%) adhering to Caco-2 and HT-29 (P < 0.05). Analysis of gene encoding 16S rRNA, gyrase A (gyrA) and the cheA histidine kinase revealed that CM40 belongs to Bacillus subtilis. On the basis of probiotic properties and basic safety aspects, the B. subtilis strain CM40 was found to possess desirable in vitro probiotic properties, and may be a potential candidate for supplementation of animal feed.

Local dissemination of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clones in a Thai hospital.

A total of 83 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from patients attending a tertiary care university hospital in Thailand were investigated for their clonal relatedness, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and integron carriage. Susceptibility profiles showed that 56 (67%) of these isolates exhibited multiple drug resistance (MDR). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed that 73% of these resistant isolates were clustered into three predominant PFGE types: 6, 7, and 36. This suggested that the high number of isolates exhibiting MDR phenotypes observed in the hospital is, to some extent, due to the spread of these three resistant clones. Class 1 integrase genes were detected in all MDR isolates belonging to PFGE type 6, most MDR isolates belonging to PFGE type 7 and none of the isolates belonging to PFGE type 36. Five different class 1 gene cassette arrays, dfrA1-orfC, bla(IMP-14)-aac6', aacA4- catB8-aadA1, aacC1-orfX-orfX'-aadA1a, and aacC1-orfX-orfX-orfX'-aadA1a, were identified, of which the bla(IMP-14)-aac6' array has only been found in Thai isolates. Two isolates identified in this study carried a class 2 integrase gene with a 2.2 kb cassette array containing aadA1-sat-dfrA1.