Multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli in diarrhoeagenic foals: Pulsotyping, phylotyping, serotyping, antibiotic resistance and virulence profiling

Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) possess the ability to cause extraintestinal infections such as urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis and sepsis. While information is readily available describing pathogenic E. coli populations in food-producing animals, studies in companion/sports animals such as horses are limited. In addition, many antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of equine infections are also utilised in human medicine, potentially contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance determinants among pathogenic strains. The aim of this study was to phenotypically and genotypically characterise the multidrug resistance and virulence associated with 83 equine E. coli isolates recovered from foals with diarrhoeal disease. Serotyping was performed by both PCR and sequencing. Antibiotic resistance was assessed by disc diffusion. Phylogenetic groups, virulence genes, antibiotic resistance genes and integrons were determined by PCR. Thirty-nine (46%) of the isolates were classified as ExPEC and hence considered to be potentially pathogenic to humans and animals. Identified serogroups O1, O19a, O40, O101 and O153 are among previously reported human clinical ExPEC isolates. Over a quarter of the E. coli were assigned to pathogenic phylogroups B2 (6%) and D (23%). Class 1 and class 2 integrons were detected in 85% of E. coli, revealing their potential to transfer MDR to other pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. With 65% of potentially pathogenic isolates harbouring one or more TEM, SHV and CTX-M-2 group β-lactamases, in addition to the high levels of resistance to fluoroquinolones observed, our findings signal the need for increased attention to companion/sport animal reservoirs as public health threats

Documentation of weathered architectural heritage with visible, near infrared, thermal and laser scanning data

[EN] Documentation of cultural heritage requires simple, quick and easy to use multi-sensor approaches to determine the state of conservation of monuments and sites. The documentation of a highly weathered architectural heritage such as the Obelisk Tomb is a good example to test the performance integrating multispectral imagery and laser scanning data. The Obelisk Tomb is the first important façade that a visitor sees while entering to the archaeological site of Petra in Jordan. The rich architectural formations carry Egyptian, Hellenistic and Nabataean influences. The damage that was inflicted on this unique monument led us to study it applying a number of modern digital techniques including 3D scanning, multispectral photography with visible and near infrared images, and thermography. All the multiband content is initially registered onto different multispectral bands. The multispectral information is enhanced and eventually draped onto the 3D laser scanning model in order to improve documentation and analysis of the state of conservation. Our results integrating the multispectral data, thermography and terrestrial laser scanning clearly enhance the power of diagnosis over the Obelisk Tomb with state-of-the-art optical equipment and image processing software. Furthermore, the capacity to examine, analyse and detect the existing damages is enhanced by the false colour processing of the input photographic data. Weathering effects are highlighted onto the 3D model and shed some light on the causes of the damages.The authors would like to thank the support provided by the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) to the project A/025999/09 and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation to the project HAR2010–18620.Lerma García, JL.; Cabrelles López, M.; Akasheh, TS.; Haddad, N. (2012). Documentation of weathered architectural heritage with visible, near infrared, thermal and laser scanning data. International Journal of Heritage in the Digital Era. 1(2):251-276. doi:10.1260/2047-4970.1.2.251S25127612Alba, M. I., Barazzetti, L., Scaioni, M., Rosina, E., & Previtali, M. (2011). Mapping Infrared Data on Terrestrial Laser Scanning 3D Models of Buildings. Remote Sensing, 3(9), 1847-1870. doi:10.3390/rs3091847Akasheh T.S., 2000. A Database for Petra, Kuhlenthal M., Fischer H. (Eds.), Petra, The Restoration of the Rockcut Tomb Facades, Arbeitshefte des bayerischen Landesites fur Denkmalpelege, Band 105, Karl M. Lipp Verlag, Munich, 2000, pp. 124–131 and 230–240.Barazzetti L., 2011. Automatic tie point extraction from markerless image blocks in close-range photogrammetry. PhD Thesis, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 155 pp.Clark, M. ., McCann, D. ., & Forde, M. . (2003). Application of infrared thermography to the non-destructive testing of concrete and masonry bridges. NDT & E International, 36(4), 265-275. doi:10.1016/s0963-8695(02)00060-9DANESE, M., DEMŠAR, U., MASINI, N., & CHARLTON, M. (2009). INVESTIGATING MATERIAL DECAY OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS USING VISUAL ANALYTICS WITH MULTI-TEMPORAL INFRARED THERMOGRAPHIC DATA. Archaeometry, 52(3), 482-501. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4754.2009.00485.xHaddad, N. A. (2011). From ground surveying to 3D laser scanner: A review of techniques used for spatial documentation of historic sites. Journal of King Saud University - Engineering Sciences, 23(2), 109-118. doi:10.1016/j.jksues.2011.03.001Heinrichs, K. (2008). Diagnosis of weathering damage on rock-cut monuments in Petra, Jordan. Environmental Geology, 56(3-4), 643-675. doi:10.1007/s00254-008-1358-1Lerma, J. L. (2001). Multiband Versus Multispectral Supervised Classification of Architectural Images. The Photogrammetric Record, 17(97), 89-101. doi:10.1111/0031-868x.00169Lerma, J. L. (2005). Automatic Plotting of Architectural Facades with Multispectral Images. Journal of Surveying Engineering, 131(3), 73-77. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9453(2005)131:3(73)Lerma, J. L., Cabrelles, M., & Portalés, C. (2011). Multitemporal thermal analysis to detect moisture on a building façade. Construction and Building Materials, 25(5), 2190-2197. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.10.007Lerma J. L., Navarro S., Cabrelles M., Seguí A., Haddad N., Akasheh T., 2011c. Integration of Laser Scanning and Imagery for Photorealistic 3D Architectural Documentation, Wang C. (Ed.), Laser Scanning, Theory and Applications, InTech, Rijeka, pp. 413–430.Lerma, J. L., Navarro, S., Cabrelles, M., & Villaverde, V. (2010). Terrestrial laser scanning and close range photogrammetry for 3D archaeological documentation: the Upper Palaeolithic Cave of Parpalló as a case study. Journal of Archaeological Science, 37(3), 499-507. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2009.10.011Ludwig, N., Redaelli, V., Rosina, E., & Augelli, F. (2004). Moisture detection in wood and plaster by IR thermography. Infrared Physics & Technology, 46(1-2), 161-166. doi:10.1016/j.infrared.2004.03.020Navarro, S., Segui, A. E., Portales, C., Lerma, J. L., Akasheh, T., & Haddad, N. (2009). Integration of TLS Data and Non-metric Imagery to Improve Photo Models and Recording - A Case Study on Djin Block No. 9, Petra (Jordan). 2009 15th International Conference on Virtual Systems and Multimedia. doi:10.1109/vsmm.2009.15Remondino F., Campana S., 2007. Fast and detailed digital documentation of archaeological excavations and heritage artifacts, Posluschny A., Lambers K., Herzog I. (Eds.), Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology, Berlin, Germany, pp. 36–42.Remondino, F., & El-Hakim, S. (2006). Image-based 3D Modelling: A Review. The Photogrammetric Record, 21(115), 269-291. doi:10.1111/j.1477-9730.2006.00383.xRosina, E., & Robison, E. C. (2002). Applying Infrared Thermography to Historic Wood-Framed Buildings in North America. APT Bulletin, 33(4), 37. doi:10.2307/1504807Verhoeven, G. (2008). Imaging the invisible using modified digital still cameras for straightforward and low-cost archaeological near-infrared photography. Journal of Archaeological Science, 35(12), 3087-3100. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2008.06.01

Increased Adiposity in Annexin A1-Deficient Mice

Production of Annexin A1 (ANXA1), a protein that mediates the anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticoids, is altered in obesity, but its role in modulation of adiposity has not yet been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate modulation of ANXA1 in adipose tissue in murine models of obesity and to study the involvement of ANXA1 in diet-induced obesity in mice. Significant induction of ANXA1 mRNA was observed in adipose tissue of both C57BL6 and Balb/c mice with high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity versus mice on chow diet. Upregulation of ANXA1 mRNA was independent of leptin or IL-6, as demonstrated by use of leptin-deficient ob/ob mice and IL-6 KO mice. Compared to WT mice, female Balb/c ANXA1 KO mice on HFD had increased adiposity, as indicated by significantly elevated body weight, fat mass, leptin levels, and adipocyte size. Whereas Balb/c WT mice upregulated expression of enzymes involved in the lipolytic pathway in response to HFD, this response was absent in ANXA1 KO mice. A significant increase in fasting glucose and insulin levels as well as development of insulin resistance was observed in ANXA1 KO mice on HFD compared to WT mice. Elevated plasma corticosterone levels and blunted downregulation of 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in adipose tissue was observed in ANXA1 KO mice compared to diet-matched WT mice. However, no differences between WT and KO mice on either chow or HFD were observed in expression of markers of adipose tissue inflammation. These data indicate that ANXA1 is an important modulator of adiposity in mice, with female ANXA1 KO mice on Balb/c background being more susceptible to weight gain and diet-induced insulin resistance compared to WT mice, without significant changes in inflammation