Antimicrobial resistance, biofilm synthesis and virulence genes in Salmonella isolated from pigs bred on intensive farms

Salmonella is the second cause of foodborne infection in humans in the USA and Europe. Pigs represent the second most important reservoir for the pathogen and the consumption of pork meat is a major risk factor for human salmonellosis. Here, we evaluated the virulence patterns of eleven Salmonella isolated from pigs (carcasses and faces) bred in intensive farms in the north of Italy. The two serotypes identified were S. Typhimurium and its monophasic variant 1,4,5,12:i:-. None of the isolates was an ESBL producer, as confirmed also by PCR. However, the presence of a multidrug resistant pattern was evident, with all the isolates being resistant to at least to five antimicrobial agents belonging to various classes. Moreover, six out of eleven isolates showed important resistance profiles, such as resistance against colistin and ciprofloxacin, with nine to twelve recorded resistances. The isolates were negative for the biofilm synthesis test, while four different virulotypes were characterized. All the isolates showed the presence of invA, hilA, stn, ssrA, sipC. One sample also harbored ssaR and spvC genes. One strain was positive for all the virulence genes tested and was resistant to 12 antimicrobial agents. The present study contributes new data to the surveillance program for antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, the presence of eleven highly virulent isolates poses concern for human health in relation to their diffusion in the environment

Correlation of Left Ventricular Myocardial Work Indices with Invasive Measurement of Stroke Work in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the correlation between left ventricular (LV) myocardial work (MW) indices and invasively-derived LV stroke work index (SWI) in a cohort of patients with advanced heart failure (AHF) considered for heart transplantation. BackgroundLeft ventricular MW has emerged as a promising tool for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in heart failure (HF) but its relationship with hemodynamic data derived from right heart catheterization (RHC) has not been assessed in patients with advanced heart failure yet. Materials and methodsConsecutive patients with AHF considered for heart transplantation from 2016 to 2021 performing RHC and echocardiography as part of the workup were included. Conventional LV functional parameters and LV MW indices, including LV global work index (GWI), LV global constructive work (GCW), LV global wasted work (GWW), LV global work efficiency (GWE), and other were calculated and compared with invasively-measured LV SWI. ResultsThe population included 44 patients. Median time between RHC and echocardiography was 0 days (IQR: 0-24). Median age was 60 years (IQR: 54-63). For the most part, etiology of HF was non-ischemic (61.4%) and all patients were either on class NYHA II (61.4%) or III (27.3%). Median left ventricular ejection fraction was 25% (IQR: 22.3-32.3), median NT-proBNP 1,377 pg/ml (IQR: 646-2570). LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) significantly correlated with LV SWI (r = -0.337; p = 0.031), whereas, LV ejection fraction (EF) did not (r = 0.308; p = 0.050). With regard to LV MW indices, some of them demonstrated correlation with LV SWI, particularly LV GWI (r = 0.425; p = 0.006), LV GCW (r = 0.506; p = 0.001), LV global positive work (LV GPW; r = 0.464; p = 0.003) and LV global systolic constructive work (GSCW; r = 0.471; p = 0.002). ConclusionAmong LV MW indices, LV GCW correlated better with invasively-derived SWI, potentially representing a powerful tool for a more comprehensive evaluation of myocardial function

Characterization of Escherichia coli producers of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) in the pig chain and biofilm production.

Escherichia coli è un batterio Gram negativo, appartenente alla famiglia delle Enterobacteriaceae, che si ritrova comunemente nel tratto gastrointestinale dell’uomo e degli animali e si comporta da commensale. Numerosi ceppi possiedono o possono acquisire fattori di virulenza e di resistenza in grado di determinare forme patogene nell’uomo e negli animali. Escherichia coli è anche un batterio ubiquitario, con un’elevata capacità di sopravvivenza nell’ambiente esterno, e la diffusione ambientale avviene attraverso la contaminazione fecale (Poolman JT, 2017; Martelli et al, 2013). Gli Escherichia coli commensali sono una delle specie monitorate per la diffusione dell’antibiotico resistenza, un fenomeno di primaria importanza in quanto determina l’inefficacia dei trattamenti terapeutici antibiotici con un aumento dei decessi e dei costi della sanità (ECDC/EFSA/EMA,2017). La resistenza agli antibiotici in E. coli si traduce in un aumento della diffusione e della persistenza di patologie infettive nell’uomo, in particolare di origine ospedaliera, come infezioni del tratto urinario e della cute, ma anche in ogni settore della veterinaria. Inoltre, Escherichia coli rappresenza uno dei principali vettori di geni di resistenza, localizzati su elementi genetici mobili, come plasmidi e trasposoni (Tal et al, 2015; Carattoli A, 2008). L’elevata capacità di trasmissione dei geni di resistenza è anche mediata dalla possibilità da parte di E. coli di persistere nell’ambienete e sulle superfici, attraverso la formazione di comunità cellulari complesse dette biofilm (Ranjith et al, 2017). Il monitoraggio di questo microganismo riguarda in particolar modo la resistenza verso le cefalosporine di III generazione, che risultano inattivate dalla produzione di enzimi, detti -lattamasi a spettro esteso (ESBL): sono stati identificati tre famiglie principali, codificate dai geni blaCTX-M, che attualmente risulta prevalente nella popolazione batterica sia in Europa sia in Italia, blaTEM e blaSHV (EFSA, 2011). L’elevata capacità di trasmissione dei geni di resistenza è anche mediata dalla possibilità da parte di E. coli di persistere nell’ambienete e sulle superfici, attraverso la formazione di comunità cellulari complesse dette biofilm (Ranjith et al, 2017). Nel presente lavoro di tesi sono stati analizzati 500 campioni provenienti dalla filiera suina (feci, carcasse, alimenti), in cui sono stati isolati ceppi di E. coli, successivamente indagati per valutare le resistenze alle cefalosporine di III e IV generazione sia a livello fenotipico sia mediante PCR Real Time, andando a rilevare la prevalenza dei geni di resistenza. Inoltre è stata indagata la capacità dei ceppi positivi per ESBL di produrre biofilm in vitro e mediante valutazione della minima concentrazione inibente è stato saggiato un pannello di antibiotici (EUCAST) per determinare la presenza di multi-resistenza

Analisis de la interpretacion de un discurso de Leonard Cohen

El presente trabajo consta de un análisis y evaluación de errores de una interpretación simultánea desde el inglés hacia el español de un discurso oficial del cantautor y poeta Leonard Cohen

Resistance to rusts (uromyces pisi and u. viciae-fabae) in pea

Pea is the second most important food legume crop in the world. Rust is a pea disease widely distributed, particularly in regions with warm, humid weather. Pea rust can be incited by Uromyces viciae-fabae and by U. pisi. U. viciae-fabae prevails in tropical and subtropical regions such as India and China, while U. pisi prevails in temperate regions. Chemical control of rust is possible, but the use of host plant resistance is the most desired means of rust control. In this paper we revise and discuss the occurrence and incidence of both pathogens on peas, the availability of resistance sources and the present state of the art in pea breeding against this disease.Peer Reviewe

Benzothiadiazole and BABA improve resistance to Uromyces pisi (Pers.) Wint. in Pisum sativum L. with an enhancement of enzymatic activities and total phenolic content

Benzothiadiazole (BTH) and DL-β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) induced systemic resistance was investigated in susceptible and resistant pea genotypes against Uromyces pisi. Resistance was characterized by reduced infection frequency mainly due to decreases in appressorium formation, stomatal penetration, growth of infection hyphae and haustorium formation. Changes in β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and peroxidase activities and in total phenolics content, demonstrate that U. pisi resistance is induced by BTH and BABA treatments at early and late stages of the fungal infection process, but that the chemicals operate via different mechanisms. In fact, our study showed that BTH treatment primed the activity of pathogenesis related-proteins such as β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase and peroxidase in both susceptible and resistant genotypes. On the other hand, BABA treatment did not increase the enzymatic activities in the studied genotypes, but significantly increased their total phenolic contents. © 2010 KNPVThe authors are greatly indebted to the Spanish AGL2008-01239/AGR and Andalusian P07-AGR- 02883 projects for financial support.Peer Reviewe

Inhibitory activity of secondary metabolites from BTH- and BABA-treated pea against Uromyces pisi infection

Póster presentado en la First Legume Society Conference, celebrada en Novi Sad (Serbia) del 9 al 11 de mayo de 2013.Pea rust (Uromyces pisi) is a widespread disease of pea (Pisum sativum) worldwide. We previously reported induction of systemic acquired resistance to rust infection in pea by exogenous applications of BTH and BABA based on a reduction of appressorium formation, as well as growth of infection hyphae and haustorium formation. This was related to activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway increasing levels of total phenolic compounds. In this work we attempted to discern by high performance liquid chromatography the particular phenolic compounds involved in reducing rust infection in pea following BABA and BTH induction of resistance. For the experiment we used cv. Messire, susceptible, and PI347321 characterized with partial resistance to U. pisi no associated with host cell death. Following SAR in ducer application we observed an increase in the amount of total but a lso in the excreted fraction of coumarins, particularly scopoletin, medicarpin and pisatin although the nature and proportion of the particular coumarins differed between treatments. Interestingly BTH treatment was more actively related with phenolic accumulation than BABA suggest ing differing pathways for the induction of resistance. In addition, exogenous application of scopoletin, medicarpin and pisatin to the leaves lead to a reduction of the different fungal growth stages. Thus, the data suggested that BTH and BABA had an effect on the production and secret ion of particular phytoalexins and other unknown fungitoxic compounds to the leaf surface that hampered pre and post penetration fungal stages. Further studies are being carried out to determine the nature of the unknown phenolic compounds induced by BABA and BTH.Peer Reviewe

BTH and BABA induce resistance in pea against rust (Uromyces pisi) involving differential phytoalexin accumulation

It has been previously shown that rust (Uromyces pisi) infection can be reduced in pea (Pisum sativum) by exogenous applications of systemic acquired resistance elicitors such as BTH and BABA. This protection is known to be related with the induction of the phenolic pathway but the particular metabolites involved have not been determined yet. In this work, we tackled the changes induced in phytoalexin content by BTH and BABA treatments in the context of the resistance responses to pea rust. Detailed analysis through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed qualitative and quantitative differences in the content, as well as in the distribution of phytoalexins. Thus, following BTH treatment, we observed an increase in scopoletin, pisatin and medicarpin contents in all, excreted, soluble and cell wall-bound fraction. This suggests fungal growth impairment by both direct toxic effect as well as plant cell wall reinforcement. The response mediated by BTH was genotype-dependent, since coumarin accumulation was observed only in the resistant genotype whereas treatment by BABA primed phytoalexin accumulation in both genotypes equally. Exogenous application to the leaves of scopoletin, medicarpin and pisatin lead to a reduction of the different fungal growth stages, confirming a role for these phytoalexins in BTH- and BABA-induced resistance against U. pisi hampering pre- and postpenetration fungal stages.The authors are greatly indebted to the Spanish AGL2014-52871-R and Spanish-Italian HI2007-0233 projects for financial support. Dr. E. Barilli was granted by JAE-Doc program, co- financed by the European Social FoundationPeer reviewe

Occurrence and Antimicrobial Profile of Bacterial Pathogens in Former Foodstuff Meat Products Used for Pet Diets

European legislation stipulates that food no longer intended for human consumption, due to commercial reasons, manufacturing problems, or some defect, can be used in pet feed. However, the presence of former foodstuffs in pet diets could constitute a public health issue because pets can act as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes. In this study, for the first time, biological hazards due to the presence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella in former foodstuff meat products were evaluated. Among the 112 samples of packaged fresh meat (poultry, pork, and beef) collected from cold storage warehouses of a mass market retailer, the overall prevalence of E. coli and Salmonella, the prevalence of strains with multidrug resistance, the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of strains that produce extended-spectrum β-lactamase, and the presence of biofilm producers were assessed. A high prevalence of E. coli was observed in former foodstuffs of poultry (100%), pork (100%), and beef (93.3%). Salmonella Derby and Salmonella Typhimurium were found in 11.5% of the poultry samples, and Salmonella Typhimurium was found in 13.3% of the pork samples. Salmonella was not recovered from the beef samples. Multidrug resistance was found in E. coli and Salmonella isolates from poultry, pork, and beef. Overall, 18.2% of E. coli isolates and 20% of Salmonella isolates were resistant to various types of antibiotics with various mechanisms of action. Salmonella isolates from pork are an important source of extended-spectrum β-lactamase production. Both E. coli and Salmonella were carriers of antibiotic resistance marker genes (blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M) associated with β-lactamase production in poultry and pork. Approximately 30% of the E. coli isolates from the various types of meat were phenotypically biofilm producers, and all carried the fimH gene. These findings indicate that the use of former foodstuff meat products in pet diets can represent a risk for public health